Are you the kind of person who loves surprise parties? Or, are you the first to run when someone even mentions the words? There are few events that divide public opinion more than the surprise party. Maybe you think they're a little passé, or maybe you've developed negative associations from memories of being crouched in a dark lounge room for half an hour longer than you wanted to be. But when they're done right, everyone will agree that a surprise party is always something worth doing. There's a reason this type of party has stood the test of time – it's exciting, exhilarating, and it makes the surprisee oh-so happy that all their friends have come together just for them. In partnership with Rekorderlig, here's our guide to getting all your friends together and throwing the ultimate surprise party. THE SURPRISE The key to a great surprise party is making sure the big surprise moment is one to remember. You can do this by doing a double down on your surprise by having a room full of the nearest and dearest surprise first, but then bring out a secret interstate guest or family member as a secondary surprise. Otherwise, you could throw them a party when it's not their birthday. Pick a date a month or week prior and get the jump on them. General rules for a good surprise are handing out glitter or streamers, having people hiding in all sorts of random places and leaping out, and having loads of balloons drop from on high as they arrive. [caption id="attachment_589828" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wendy's Secret Garden.[/caption] THE LOCATION Make the location as special as the surprise itself by hiring a really incredible waterfront venue in the city, a rooftop bar, or throwing the party on a beach. You could hire the penthouse of an awesome Airbnb (providing parties are permitted, of course) or have a party in Wendy's Secret Garden, one of Sydney's finest hidden parks. The venue could make your party one to remember, so be sure to give it plenty of thought. THE DECORATIONS Having a theme will make things easier for you. Give a gentle nod in the direction of a cuisine or idea, and choosing food, drinks and décor will become a whole lot easier. If you have a backyard, a failsafe option is to turn it into a garden-party wonderland by winding fairy lights around trees, popping tea light candles into mason jars and having lots of outdoor seating. Lighting is integral to a good party, and can't be forgotten. Too bright and people will feel like they're getting drunk in a 7-11. Too dim and they won't be able to find the chips and dip. Get it right. THE FOOD Make sure that there's plenty to eat and plenty to drink. Head to the deli and lay out a few cheese boards or antipasti platters, and don't forget fairy bread (it's a classic for a reason) and and party pies and sausage rolls. For party drinks, make sure you're catering to all tastes – so cider for those who aren't partial to beer, wine, and soft drink for those who don't drink. Getting creative and making punch is a nice little twist, or you could grab a few Rekorderlig Cocktail Cans to keep it interesting. Make sure you have ice, plenty of eskies and plenty of fridge space. [caption id="attachment_592224" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Parlour Gigs.[/caption] THE UNEXPECTED EXTRAS Why not go all out and throw a live gig in your backyard? You can, thanks to Parlour Gigs. This live music initiative from Melbourne musician Matt Walters came about after playing a house concert where he had such a great time that he started up Parlour Gigs to share the love. With over 800 musicians signed up and available to perform you can pretty much be guaranteed of finding the perfect musical act for your party. Other notable mentions for fun things to do are: hire a karaoke machine and sing a bunch of 80s hair metal, have your friend with good music taste DJ for the night, have a bouncy castle (they're surprisingly affordable), or just play a massive game of pass the parcel.
Enjoy a breakfast of champions at whatever hour you please, courtesy of Australia's first ever cereal cafe. Opening its doors in Melbourne in just over a week, this pop-up snack hub will be serving all your childhood and/or late-night share house favourites, including Froot Loops, Coco Pops and Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut. Launching February 12, Cereal Anytime is the latest temporary tenant of Richmond’s year-long food and retail precinct, Swan Street Chamber of Commerce. Supposedly, the aim of the cafe is “educating people on foods in moderation”, which might get tricky given the sugar content of what they serve. Perhaps a limit of one bowl of Frosted Flakes per customer? The cafe will operate via a “pay-it-forward” payment system. Upon entry, diners simply peel a Post-it note off the wall, which they can then use to pay for their bowl of cereal. The Post-its can be replenished for $4 a pop, ensuring that those who are a little less fortunate don’t miss out. A recent cereal cafe that opened in London served over 120 different kinds of cereal, 13 milks and more than 20 additional toppings, so our iteration has something of a reputation to live up to. It sparked huge demand, followed by something of a culture war when some very practical types balked at paying £3.50 for flakes out of a box. Melbourne's version, with its element of feelgoodery, should sidestep that issue. Hungry members of the public can help decide the cafe’s final menu and gain entry on day one (February 12) via a ballot on their Cereal Anytime Facebook page.
In concurrence with the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, The National Gallery of Australia, in partnership with Wesfarmers Arts, is hosting its 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial. This major exhibition, titled Defying Empire, will run from May 26 through September 10 and brings together both established and emerging Indigenous artists from across Australia in a showcase that focuses on themes of identity, racism, displacement and country. Among the 30 participating artists are Brenda L. Croft, whose art looks at themes of home, Fiona Foley, who focuses on race relations, Tony Albert, who examines war and its aftermath and Brook Andrew, who explores themes of ancestry. Other artists delve into heavy issues of nuclear testing, sovereignty and the stolen generations, using a mix of media from canvas painting, video and photography to weaving, sculpture, metalwork and glasswork. The exhibition reinforces the significance of Indigenous art in Australia's cultural identity and the ongoing struggle for equality. Image: Daniel Boyd by Nikki To, Megan Cope by Pat Scala/Fairfax Media.
At long last SPECTRE — the 24th film in the iconic James Bond franchise — has made its way to screens around the country, and to mark the occasion, Heineken is giving fans a bunch of prizes to make them sharper than Bond himself. To help celebrate its long-standing partnership with Bond, Heineken has teamed up with the boutique experience cultivators over at Mr Aristotle for a brand new project, The Catch. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens — like this one, where you and your mates head off on an exclusive personal tailoring adventure through some of Brisbane's premier male fashion outlets and stores. Winners secure the expert advice of a top-tier fashion consultant to accompany you around town for a full three hours. You'll have what every indecisive shopper dreams of: your very own personal stylist advising on your needs, style and personality. They won't tell you how to dress — they'll tell you how to dress perfectly for you. No time-wasting, no queues and, most importantly, no buyer's remorse. It doesn't matter if you're keen for a complete overhaul or the simple addition of a few key pieces, your consultant will be there to offer their years of experience and VIP access to some of Brisbane's fashion meccas. You'll finish up at celebrated men's clothing establishment Calibre — fitting name. To be in the running for prizes like this, sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Then dive into your wardrobe and get cracking on that long overdue stocktake review — because if you win, you'll need to make some space.
It seems you can never have too many burger joints or American-style eateries, so another is joining Brisbane’s ranks. Meet 5 Boroughs, the newest addition to the busy Greenslopes and Stones Corner area. Just don’t expect its blend of casual dining and New York-influenced food to be like all the rest. Already trading ahead of its official opening on March 31, 5 Boroughs endeavours to fill in the gaps in what is becoming a sizeable US food scene. That means looking beyond the usual, to dishes influenced by the Big Apple’s multiculturalism across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, The Bronx and Queens. It also means an opening day special of two-for-one meals, and every tenth burger free, too. Yes, the good ol' meat-and-bun combo is a mainstay, complete with artisan bread baked daily and fresh, handcrafted beef patties (particularly taking cues from Le Parker Meridien's Burger Joint in NYC) . Yes, the drinks list includes staples such as craft beers, whiskey and classic cocktails. However, the 5B menu also features quite a few other Noo Yawk classics. As well as picking from a hefty list of sliders and fries, customers can also choose street bites and what 5 Boroughs is calling 'drinking food'. Think steamed bao buns, Cubano and Reuben sandwiches, soft snapper tacos, duck and plum gyoza and more. To wash it all down, think spiced rum and bottomless iced tea. "New York food is about so much more than burgers," says Todd Clayton, co-owner with his wife Marisa. "We love New York for its melting pot of the cultures and cuisines. In true New York City spirit, our menu will take the best of these cuisines, ensuring it is continually evolving.” 5 Boroughs was inspired by the pair's extensive travels and love for New York, with the eatery their attempt to put their affection into practice. Marisa explains, "We're passionate about translating our travels and experiences into venue concepts that don't just follow trends, but expand on them and bring longevity to the table." Visit 5 Boroughs at 9/401-405 Logan Rd, Stones Corner Village, Greenslopes or visit their Facebook page for more information. Image: Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien, New York City.
The adverse effects of climate change have already been well-documented. Rising sea levels. An increase in extreme weather events. Hundreds of millions of people potentially displaced. Yet the most disturbing cost of environmental degradation is only now being driven home. We don't mean to alarm you, but the verdict is in: global warming is going to change the taste of your beer. Commissioned by Earth Hour and produced by the good sports at Willie the Boatman craft brewery, Drought Draught is a brand new beer brewed under drought-affected conditions. Made using poor quality barley and hops, along with artificial supplements standing in for cost prohibitive natural alternatives, the result has been described as "average tasting beer," one that lets beer lovers "actually taste the effects of climate change." Lucky for Sydneysiders, the intentionally sub-par brew will debut at Feather and Bone in Marrickville this Saturday, as part of Earth Hour's Save the Ales campaign. The event is part of a broader Earth Hour initiative that draws attention to the impact of global warming on Australian farmers. People are also being encouraged to upload their #NoBeerSelfie to social media, with the best entries winning a beer tasting event in Sydney, Adelaide or Perth, along with a bunch of other prizes courtesy of craft brewers Young Henrys. More than 500 community events are expected to take place around the country this Saturday March 28 as part of Earth Hour 2015, in the lead-up to the annual 'lights out' at 8.30pm. For an event near you, visit the Earth Hour website.
Have you found yourself standing in the Australian breeze lately and thought, "Do I feel in this breeze a touch of whimsy; whimsy and the slight lilt of literary references spoken in Glaswegian accents?" You have? Sure sign that Belle and Sebastian are on their way. After four years the ever-enduring Glaswegian collective, who have long held the title of indie-pop royalty, have released their ninth studio album just in time for an Australian tour. Belle and Sebastian are never a band to ignore their roots, so longtime fans can look forward to performances that celebrate everything from indie-pop classics from early albums Tigermilk and If You're Feeling Sinister to their newest dance-y ventures 'The Party Line' and 'Enter Sylvia Plath' off the new album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. Supported by Twerps. We caught up with Stuart Murdoch for a chat about B&S's stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one’s honour and putting politics in pop. Check out the interview right here.
Well, this is rather excellent branding. Britpop kings and experts in cheesemaking Blur are selling its own ice cream for their latest album tour. Coinciding with Blur's newest album The Magic Whip, the new edible merch is an attempt to recreate the neon sign on the cover; taking something like Gelato Messina's Jack White flavour next level. Damon Albarn and the lads teamed up with UK based ice cream company The Licktators, whose previous music-themed flavours include 'John Lemon' and 'Jiggy Pop'. But the company really made its headline-worthy reputation after releasing 'Baby Gaga' for the royal baby — an ice cream flavour made with human breast milk. Yep. Really. Blur's own escapade into iced confection will, of course, be called 'Magic Whip' after the new album. Attempting to mimic the cover art, the ice cream will be vanilla custard flavour with raspberry sauce. Unfortunately, 'Magic Whip' will be available exclusive at the legendary foursome's concerts and at a few London co-ops this year. We're not sure whether the ice cream will make it to Australia for their highly anticipated Splendour appearance and stadium tour, but until we're sure we'll be cooking up our own Blur dessert using the recipe hidden within the video for lead album single 'Go Out'. Via AV Club.
For more than a decade, French cuisine-loving Brisbanites made a beeline to Paddington for soufflés, steak frites and Friday night five-course degustations. Now, feasting on Gallic gastronomy at Montrachet means heading to the other side of town — and enjoying their new boulangerie. Montrachet said au revoir to Given Terrace and bonjour Bowen Hills' King Street at the beginning of December; however moving to the city's new foodie precinct wasn't enough for the award-winning restaurant. In a case of marching onwards and upwards, their bigger digs on the corner of King and Machinery streets now includes an all-day takeaway patisserie pumping out baked goods that'll make you think you're in provincial France. Opening its doors on December 16, the boulangerie boasts an array of freshly baked baguettes and artisan pastries through its village-style entryway, as initially overseen by Lyonnaise baker Patrick Delbar. The third-generation pastry whiz left France for the first time to share his skills and secrets with the Montrachet team, and while he isn't staying for good, you'll be able to taste the end results in their croissants, sourdough loaves, eclairs and more. Open from 6.30am to 2.30pm from Tuesday to Friday, and from 6.30am to midday on Saturdays, the bread and dessert haven joins a huge dining room and an in-house wine cellar among the highlights of Montrachet's new 240-square-metre site. And, it means that you can devour one of their tasty treats even when you're not feeling cashed up enough for the full restaurant experience. Très bon. Find Montrachet's at King Street, Bowen Hills. Head to their website and Facebook page for further information.
Just when you thought New York-style nosh had the American food trend covered in Brisbane, along comes a different interstate taste sensation. The latest Brisbane eatery about to open its doors at Portside Wharf is taking inspiration from the flavours of New Orleans. Indeed, NOLA's name says it all — it's an abbreviation of New Orleans, Louisiana, after all. The city's famed blend of Cajun specialities and French influences are certain to feature on a smoky bourbon sauce and chipotle-heavy menu. There'll be ’N’awlins bites’ like naked oysters ($3 each), popcorn shrimp with New Orleans remoulade ($14), Southern wings with bourbon and maple sauce ($12 for eight pieces), Corn cobs with chipotle butter ($6) and shoestring fries with smoky aioli ($8). Our stomachs are already rumbling. In addition to the delicious-sounding tapas, live music and innovatively-themed cocktails will keep things spicy down by the water. With NOLA following in the footsteps of Papa Jack's and Bourbon Street Louisiana Creole, perhaps we'll soon see crab cakes, jambalaya, po boys and gumbo replace burgers and fries as everyone's favourite go-to meal. The new venture from the folks behind The Crosstown Eating House at Woollongabba doesn't open until mid-year, with an exact date yet to be announced and a full menu announce set for June; however there's good news for those who just can't wait that long. Portside's Restaurant Manx is giving diners a sneak peek of the menu to come, courtesy of some aforementioned tapas teasers (available from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday). Who's hungry? NOLA will open in June at 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton. For more details, check out the restaurant's Facebook page.
One wrote novels that explored the loves and lives of well-to-do Britons during the 18th century. The other makes films that provide sharp, humorous looks at specific, highly interconnected sections of society. And yet, while Whit Stillman took inspiration from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park for his 1990 debut feature Metropolitan — which the filmmaker himself notes is considered "a stealth adaptation" by some Austen fans — it has taken him 26 years and five features to craft an official screen version of one of the author's works. Based on Austen's unfinished epistolary novella Lady Susan, the end result is Love & Friendship, a comedy of manners, match-making and possible marriages. Kate Beckinsale plays the recently widowed Lady Susan Vernon, who won't let rumours about her romantic entanglements get in the way of securing her next husband — or finding a suitable paramour for her teenage daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark). When she's not trying to win the affections of the young and handsome Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel) and setting up Frederica with the buffoonish Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett), she's confiding her schemes to her close friend Alicia (Chloë Sevigny). A sparkling satire of societal expectations ensues — and from the witty banter between characters to the light yet insightful way the story unravels, Love & Friendship feels like the film Stillman was destined to make. In the lead up to the movie's Australian release, we spoke with the writer/director about taking the time to see the project come to fruition, balancing his own sensibilities with the source material, and reuniting with after Beckinsale and Sevigny after his 1998 effort The Last Days of Disco. ON ADAPTING JANE AUSTEN "I happened upon the material, the story of Lady Susan Vernon — which her nephew, when he published it a century after her death, gave it the title Lady Susan, which is not Jane Austen's title. I thought it was really funny and different. And I had sort of not entirely admired all the Jane Austen adaptations because a lot of them lost the humour and her true perspective, and so I thought this is a way of having something very funny and very entertaining — a sort of pre-Oscar Wilde sort of comedy by Jane Austen and in her world. It intrigued me. "I wanted to take my time on it, and work on it when I didn't have paying jobs and could just do it at my own pace, just exactly as slow as it needed to be done. This kind of thing is like cooking — when you have a thing that is going to take a lot of time, it is going to take 12 hours of simmering something down. And so I knew that this was the 12 years of simmering something down. Well, maybe not that many years. But I knew it would take an amount of time." ON TACKLING A LESSER-KNOWN AUSTEN STORY "It was hugely liberating. Hugely liberating. A real benefit. But I also noticed that the film adaptations I liked best were often of non-masterpieces. So flawed novels sometimes make really, really good adaptations. And I was hopeful that this would fall into that category where there's enough things to be done to give the people working on the film a canvas to work on. What's really challenging and frustrating is to take a masterpiece and reduce it to a film, because it is an issue of reduction." ON CHANGING THE TITLE FROM LADY SUSAN TO LOVE & FRIENDSHIP "For me, it was a big thing. It was the first decision I made. I wouldn't have done the film as Lady Susan — it was the first thing I thought of. I hated the title Lady Susan, it wasn't Jane Austen's title. And I know that these character name titles don't work in most translation territories. "I really think that Love & Friendship is a wonderful Jane Austen title that she thought of herself, and she wasted it on a story I don't take seriously at all. There was a good title on an unimportant story, so let's put the good title on the good novella." ON BALANCING AUSTEN'S TRADEMARKS WITH STILLMAN'S OWN STYLE "Everything is tricky. Everything is a balancing act to the very end. When we were putting in the sound, at the very end, the laughter in the dancing scene, it's like, 'Do we have too much of James Martin laughing? Are we making this too broad, too ridiculous?' And we actually dialled that back. And so, yeah there's always this balance. I had been so immersed in this novel for so long, so immersed in the period — it's a lifelong interest — that it sort of felt that we could handle that and do that balancing." ON CASTING AUSTRALIAN ACTOR XAVIER SAMUEL "Woody Allen and other directors have talked about this — it is almost impossible to find good romantic leading men and this sort of classic mould, and Xavier was a godsend when we found him. "We almost lost him to a competing Australian film — his agent wanted him to take this higher-paying job in Australia. And, my gosh, I was so upset at the possibility of losing him that I told him that I didn't want to make the film if he wouldn't be in it. He is really important for the film." ON REUNITING KATE BECKINSALE AND CHLOË SEVIGNY AFTER THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO "That was really inadvertent. Chloë was actually in the film before Kate Beckinsale. I started so far back that I was actually in touch with Elizabeth Hurley, I think, about this when I first started thinking of it. Kate was far too young then, she was still in her twenties. But I always thought it was a lovely idea for Kate Beckinsale, but at the very start she was too young. And then, I think Sienna Miller was attached to the film as Lady Susan for a while. And then the clouds parted, the sun came out, and we were able to get Kate to play the part — and it is the part for which she was destined, and she was actually wonderful in it, and she was great to work with." Love & Friendship opens in Australian cinemas on July 21.
Some of Australia's best bar teams will go head-to-head to nab mad bragging rights, an epic photo shoot and a huge trip to Glasgow this winter, with the announcement of the 12 finalists for Auchentoshan's national Distilled Different competition. Each bar team was invited to conjure up a unique new cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak for the competition, with entries open since April 2016. Why'd they all do it? Oh, just a cheeky chance at winning a casual a trip to Glasgow, home of Auchentoshan — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. Triple distilled, people. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will find their talented faces featured in a national exhibition, Dare to be Distilled Different, with their submitted cocktail entry. So who's in the top 12? AUCHENTOSHAN DISTILLED DIFFERENT 2016 AUSTRALIAN FINALISTS: Della Hyde (NSW) Donny's Bar (NSW) Stitch Bar (NSW) Doris and Beryl's Bridge Club and Tea House (NSW) Ramblin' Rascal Tavern (NSW) Eau de Vie Sydney (NSW) Kittyhawk (NSW) Highlander Bar (VIC) 1806 (VIC) The Gresham (QLD) Mr Goodbar (SA) Dominion League (WA) Here's a little sneak peek at the concotions that made the cut: Flight of Fancy // Auchentoshan American Oak, Fortified Sour Grapefruit, Honeyed Walnut Syrup, Salted Apricot and Goats Cheese Bitters, Orange Blossom Egg White // #DistilledDifferentAU A photo posted by Kittyhawk (@kittyhawksyd) on Jul 19, 2016 at 11:25pm PDT • The Shake & Bake • 🍰 Auchentoshan American Oak, Cacao, spiced berry patisserie syrup & lemon. This bad boy goes live tomorrow at Della Hyde. See you at the bar 👌🏼 #distilleddifferentau #auchentoshan #americanoak #dellahyde #cocktails #darlinghurst #theexchange #liquiddessert #stopit A photo posted by Lachlan Sturrock (@lachysturrock) on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:22am PDT Late night creations! Our #hot #whisky #cocktail the #OakenToastan is perfect for this freezing #winter night in #melbourne! Made with #auchentoshan #americanoak! #distilleddifferentau A photo posted by Highlander (@highlanderbar) on Jul 12, 2016 at 7:35am PDT The team's been hard at work preparing our new cocktail list, and we're almost ready to let the cat out of the bag. Here's a little teaser for you to get your tastebuds ready: #Auchentoshan American Oak, Pineau Charente, honeycomb & rose vermouth with tannic acid and walnut. #DistilledDifferentAU #whisky #cocktails #darlinghurst #drinkporn A photo posted by Eau De Vie Sydney (@eaudeviebar) on Jul 19, 2016 at 11:34pm PDT Our Gordon Hunter created for the national Auchentoshan competition..! #DistilledDifferentAU #cocktails #cocktailporn #drinks #bar #auchentoshan @theauchentoshan #whiskey #picoftheday #instagood #honey #good #manly #AU @the_blend #mixology #donnysbar #manly A photo posted by Donny's Bar & Restaurant (@donnysbar) on Jul 11, 2016 at 8:16pm PDT Introducing the swing low(land) 🍸Auchentoshan American oak, fig and allspice syrup with pear. Our entry into the Auchentoshan distill different cocktail competition. #distilleddifferentau #auchentoshan #mrgoodbar #agoodplacetosin A photo posted by Kate O'Donnell (@kateivyo) on Jun 30, 2016 at 7:31am PDT
Prepare to say goodbye to that problematic daily necessity — aka agonising over what to do for dinner. In good news for indecisive people everywhere, and for those just too busy to whip something up, not in the mood to dine out or simply sick of the usual takeaway options, Brisbane is getting a new dinner delivery service. Meet Din Din Club, or your new local personal saviour. The Teneriffe-based business is partnering with a range of local providers to serve up freshly prepared meals of the organic, vegan, vegetarian and paleo variety. Sun and Earth Organics is Din Din's first food partner, which means salads and wholegrain sushi rolls are on the menu. Sounds like Din Din really is trying to make your life easier — right down to their mode of delivery. After ordering online, you'll find their cute Dutch cargo bikes at selected spots such as the Teneriffe Ferry Terminal, waiting for you to collect your tasty wares. To the joy of tastebuds everywhere, this means that snacking on whatever you can grab on your way home — or whatever lurks in the back of your fridge — is no longer the fate awaiting the time-poor. Neither is shopping, cooking and even washing up, too, with Din Din's dishes ready to eat from their containers. Now that's convenient. For more information, check out Din Din's Facebook page, or sign up to their mailing list via their website.
Simple Pleasures Camping Co. is taking over the grounds of Oberon's Mayfield Garden for its next luxurious eco-friendly camping retreat. Glamping in the Garden will pop up from March 23 through April 30 in one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens. Located three hours west of Sydney's CBD, the gardens are seriously impressive and include an 80-metre waterfall, a walled kitchen garden, an Islamic-style pond and a six-acre water garden — plus a bluestone chapel, aviary and rose garden. Bookings include three-day passes to all 160-acres, with exclusive nighttime access for glamping guests. There's plenty to do apart from moseying around, including romantic canoe rides, interactive garden games, tours and workshops, with the garden's Autumn Festival also on during April. The intimate campsite will include only 15 two-person tents, situated next to the picturesque obelisk pond. The bell-shaped tents are fitted with Hugo Sleep queen mattresses, IN BED linens, goosefeather pillows, bedside tables, solar lighting and vintage rugs from around the world. The experience also comes complete with towels, an outdoor table and chairs to sit at, lanterns and torches, along with on-site bathrooms and showers, which are exclusive to the glamping area. Bookings also include a 'paddock and garden-to-plate' barbecue menu for two, with 80 percent of the produce sourced on-site and 20 percent handpicked from local suppliers. The cook-it-yourself menu includes steaks, marinated chicken, a fresh vegetable platter and vegan salad, with all cookware provided and communal barbecues and alfresco dining area available on the campground. If you really want to be greeted to your personal oasis in style, you can add on a drink and food package, which includes bubbles, cheese and charcuterie on arrival. Bookings for Glamping in the Garden are now open. Each tent costs $290 per night and includes dinner for two, with the option of drinks ($45) and charcuterie ($26) on arrival and family packages are also available. If you're looking for more glamping options, check out our ten favourite glamping spots near Sydney. Glamping in the Garden will run from March 23 until April 30 at Mayfield Garden, 530 Mayfield Road, Oberon. Check out the website to book or for more information.
Uber's switched on marketing team are at it again. Less than a week after teaming with Optus on an Australia Day stunt that saw cricket umpires dispatched to backyards around the country, the ridesharing service have announced their latest promotion. From 11am on Sunday January 31, Uber users will be able to summon a driver to collect unwanted gifts and second-hand clothes for donation to the Red Cross. The promotion is being run in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, in partnership with local Red Cross Shops. Users wishing to donate can simply log in to the app between 11am and 4pm and select the 'Clothing Drive' option. The Red Cross asks that people bag up their donations, and only include items that can be resold. "The more donations we receive the more we are able to support the work of Red Cross around Australia," said Red Cross Shops Marketing Manager Kate Dear. Proceeds from sales at Red Cross Shops go directly to support the daily work of the organisation. Here's hoping people respond to this Uber promotion with the same enthusiasm that they did to ones involving kittens and ice-cream. Sure, helping people in need might not be as exciting as cats on demand, but you'd be hard pressed to argue it isn't a little bit more worthwhile. For more information visit the Uber newsroom.
Plenty of film festivals might call Brisbane home, but only one is dedicated to showcasing the best in queer cinema. That'd be the long-running Brisbane Queer Film Festival, which not only celebrates its 17th year this February, but also offers up a whole heap of must-watch movies to mark the occasion. Take BQFF's glittering opener, for example: the '90s-made, '70s-set disco cult classic, 54: The Director's Cut. And while everyone loves a bit of Ryan Phillippe and Neve Campbell drama, that's not the only gem in the program. Here's our pick of the five best films to see at this year's BQFF — the acerbic, the emotional and the offbeat among them. GRANDMA Who hasn't wished that Lily Tomlin was their grandmother? The actress and comedian has proven a force to be reckoned with since the '60s, and does so again in the movie that makes our dreams the fictional Sage's (Julia Garner) reality. When the teenager needs help finding cash and dealing with a problem, she turns to Tomlin's feisty family matriarch. The likes of Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, John Cho and Sam Elliott also join in the episodic antics, though Grandma's title gives away the true star of the show, offering the veteran performer a potent role and a poignant character study suited to her talents. REMEMBERING THE MAN Maybe you first discovered the real-life story of Tim Conigrave and John Caleo in 2015 Aussie feature Holding the Man. Maybe you had already read Conigrave's best-selling book of the same name. Either way, you'll want to see Remembering the Man, the latest effort to recount their tragic romance from their first meeting as Melbourne schoolboys in the late '70s to the cruel blow that the '80s AIDS epidemic served them. This time, documentarians Nickolas Bird and Eleanor Sharpe not only chart a familiar tale in factual form, but offer up previously unseen footage of and unheard details about Conigrave and Caleo's relationship. Our advice: bring tissues. EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO No one makes movies like Peter Greenaway. If you've seen The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover or The Pillow Book, then you no doubt agree — and if you haven't, Eisenstein in Guanajuato will bring you around to our way of thinking. With his usual flair and fondness for the explicit and the unsubtle, the British director hones in on another filmmaker, Soviet Battleship Potemkin helmer Sergei Eisenstein. After the titular figure made the movie all film students still study to this day, he apparently went on a Mexican odyssey, one which Greenaway recreates and fictionalises with ample experimentation of both the cinematic and sexual kind. THE NEW MAN Richard Linklater isn't the only filmmaker capable of taking his time to tell stories. Uruguayan director Aldo Garay has followed the plight of Stephania for more than two decades — from her former existence in Nicaragua as a boy called Roberto, to her current struggles for acceptance as a transwoman. Interviews and observational footage of Stephania's life intertwine to provide an intimate look at her journey, while also dissecting the political upheaval that has characterised Latin America since the 1970s. The powerful end result won the 2015 Berlin Film Festival Teddy Award winner for Best Documentary. GIRLS LOST Body swap comedies and supernatural teen exploits combine in Girls Lost — however, the Swedish feature does something a bit more interesting with the two genres than most. As based on a young adult novel, it examines sexual identity, awakenings and confusion as three outcast friends drink a strange juice and transform from girls into boys. Expect a range of genres to colour this inventive take on gender fluidity, which comes to Brisbane after making its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Expect more than the usual high school-set fare too, as well as a delicate balance of humour and honesty. The Brisbane Queer Film Festival runs from February 18 to 28 at New Farm Cinemas. Visit the festival website for the full program.
We know you guys are probably tiring of the food truck trend, but hear us out on this one. Now, we're not entirely sure how to feel, so we're just gonna lay out the facts. There's a new food truck doing the rounds that specialises in… gourmet dog food. The Canine Wellness Kitchen (heh) is Australia's first food truck for dogs — which, honestly, is a sentence we never thought we'd write. Founders and 'canine chefs' Katie Crandon and Laura Yeomans aren't new to this game — they founded 'dog superfood' (apparently a thing) label Because I Luv My Dog, specialising in healthy pooch snacks for on-the-go doggos. It'll be the first food truck of its kind in Australia, offering a range of dog-friendly goods including dehydrated snacks, raw food, chicken necks and organic bone broth. And… again, not sure how to take this… a beer for dogs. It's named Freddie's Froth and it's not actual beer guys, it's bone broth, geez. The whole venture is a little tongue in cheek and pokes fun at the food truck revolution. This is a little snippet from the menu: "Forget the super smoothies, our bone broth is the ultimate detoxifier. Get your active wear on, this is all the warm up you need for a workout." Look, in your heart of hearts, you know this is one business that'll go incredibly well. We're on board. Canine Wellness Kitchen will be making their first appearance on September 24 at the Hank Marvin Markets in St Kilda.
Come the end of next year, you won't need to hit the beach to catch a few waves. A site near Tullamarine, around 23 kilometres outside the Melbourne CBD, is set to become the location of Australia's first ever urban surf park. Owned and operated by Perth company Wave Park Group, Urbnsurf Melbourne will boast a 320 metre long pool and employ Wavegarden technology to generate man-made waves between 0.6 and 1.9 metres high. The facility will cater to both experienced surfers and beginners, while LED lagoon lighting will ensure visitors can keep surfing after dark. Wavegarden technology is currently utilised at the Surf Snowdonia wave park in Wales, while another park is set to open in Austin, Texas later this year. In addition to the wave pool, Urbnsurf will include a licensed cafe, a surf shop, board and wetsuit rental services, surf classes, playgrounds, a rock climbing wall, skate ramps and a mountain bike course. Wave Park Group founder Andrew Ross told The Age that the park would eliminate typical marine hazards that come with surfing on the ocean, and described the facility as a kind of "driving range for surfers." Entry prices are yet to be confirmed, although Ross estimated a one-hour session would cost between $20 and $50 depending on the season. Urbnsurf Melbourne is currently slated to open in late 2017. To stay up to date, visit their website or check them out on Facebook. Via The Age. Header image via Dollar Photo Club.
If one man's trash is another man's treasure, then a trunk full of junk may as well be a treasure chest. Suitcase Rummage gets that when it comes to shopping, second-hand reaps the best bang for your buck. For years they've been hosting regular events at Brisbane Square, but now they're upgrading and upsizing to the Powerhouse and adding a craft workshop to the mix. The Suitcase Rummage and Crafternoon takes place from 11am to 4pm, and will feature a crowd of open suitcases filled with the type of clothes, knick-knacks and craft you probably don't need but definitely deserve. Plus, join Emily Lush for a workshop on Woven Wallhangings, where you'll learn the basics of tapestry weaving (even how to make your own lap loom from upcycled materials). You can have your own shot at weaving something beautiful, and if you really know how to take advantage of a situation, pop it in an open suitcase and smack a $20 pricetag on it. Entry for Suitcase Rummage and Crafternoon is free, and if you're interested in running a stall, register here.
You've gotta hand it to Doughnut Time. Brisbane's number one source of iced, filled orbs of deliciousness is as addicted to opening up new stores as the city's residents are to eating their sweet treats — so much so that they're about to unleash yet another shop upon the hungry masses whether we want it or not. From September 12, the space at 142 Albert Street will become Doughnut Time's latest inner-city outlet. Yes, you've grabbed a Ferrero No Share (with dark chocolate glaze, roasted hazelnuts and a Ferrero Rocher) or a Sia Later (a red velvet doughnut with vegan butter cream frosting and freeze-dried raspberries) from the same vicinity before. In fact, the fresh addition to the doughy pastry empire is right next door to Topshop — the site of their first-ever Brisbane CBD store. Right. Next. Door. This is getting out of hand. Okay, okay, so the Topshop store is no longer listed on their website, which could explain why they're opening up so close by. However given that Doughnut Time sets up new shops as fast as they bake their titular treats, nothing would surprise us anymore. A new Everton Park setup started serving just last week, after all. If Brisbane hasn't reached peak doughnut yet, we're just about to. Manly, Perth and Tokyo — you're next. Of course, you don't open 24 stores around the country in 18 months by holding back. Given that Doughnut Time is blissfully ignoring the fact that there might be a limit to how many doughnuts we can eat, and how often, it's little wonder that they're leaning in to the pastry frenzy and handing out freebies from 4-6pm on September 12. They've even created a new doughnut limited edition Albert Street doughnut named 'In The Air Tonight', complete with purple signature glaze, Oreo pieces and squares of Dairy Milk Chocolate, to mark the occasion. Fine, we'll admit it: we're growing increasingly wary of doughnut overload, but we're still tempted. Find Doughnut Time's new CBD store at 142 Albert Street, Brisbane from September 12 — and stop by for a free doughnut between 4-6pm that afternoon. For more information, keep an eye on Doughnut Time's website and Facebook page.
Why make one drink when you can make ten? Batched cocktails have grown significantly in popularity across the cocktail world. They're a great, easy option for the amateur bartender — particularly useful when you're hosting a party, because you're not going to be stuck behind the bar all night mixing drinks if you plan ahead. You'd expect that bartenders would turn up their nose at a pre-mixed cocktail, but the trend has caught on in multiple Australasian venues — it turns out they love pre-mixing too. One of the main reasons why is that it's much more practical for bartender and consumer. They don't have to spend 15 minutes mixing and muddling up a complex cocktail, and you don't have to wait. Cocktail ingredients are pre-prepared (bars usually pre-mix cocktails two to three hours before opening), and the ingredients in the drink are left to infuse. When you're using gin, this means there's enough time for botanicals to infuse with the other ingredients, and richer, bolder flavours appear. In partnership with Bombay Sapphire, we asked Sean Forsyth (the Bombay Sapphire Australian ambassador) to show us how to mix up a big batch of Coffee Negronis — literally just the Negroni cocktail you know and love with cold-drip coffee added. Like a Negroni, coffee is sweet, bitter and complex — so it's the perfect ingredient to complement and spice up this famous gin cocktail. Get your hands on some cold-drip and you've got yourself a breakfast-appropriate cocktail. "If you walk into a bar and they don't know how to make a Negroni, leave," Forsyth says. He's right. To make a Negroni you just need to know how to mix gin, vermouth and Campari — it's easy. To make a batch of Coffee Negronis, you need water, a one-litre measuring jug, a funnel and a one-litre glass bottle instead of a shaker. It's getting much, much easier to make good cocktails. THE COFFEE NEGRONI (Serves 10) Ingredients: 250ml Bombay Sapphire 200ml Martini Rosso 200ml Campari 100ml cold drip espresso 250ml water 1 litre sealable glass bottle Method: Using a funnel and a one-litre measuring jug, build ingredients into a clean one-litre glass bottle Shake and add into the freezer one hour before service Pour into rocks glass filled with cubed ice Garnish with an orange slice Images: Kimberley Low.
The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is back for its 26th year and with 49 feature films to be screened at cinemas across eight cities, you'd best prepare yourself for everything from the flirting, whimsy, mishaps and misunderstandings that come with French comedy to the passion, ennui, coming-of-age rebellion, thrilling crime and non-conformist romance that come with French drama. Highlights include: gala opening night feature Gemma Bovery, an endearing comedy starring Gemma Arterton that drops the characters of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary into a small Normandy town; the Saint Laurent biopic exploring the inspirations and struggles of the acclaimed designer Yves Saint Laurent at the height of his career; and Samba, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and star of The Intouchables Omar Sy in a cross-cultural romance that looks at the hardships faced by French immigrants. See more of our highlights in this list of top five films to see at the French Film Festival. The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is on around Australia in March. Catch it in Sydney from March 3-22, Melbourne from March 4-22 and Brisbane from March 13 – April 1. Thanks to the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival, we have ten double passes to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The passes are valid for one festival session of your choice (excluding opening/closing nights, special events and public holidays). To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Lovers of mountains and adrenaline junkies, meet your new bucket-lister. An old-school ski resort in Switzerland's Kandersteg Mountains is giving you a way to get your thrills and your incredible panoramas at the same time. It's an epic bobsled (better known in Europe as rodelbahn) that twists and turns down nearby mountains for 750 metres. Introducing Mountain Coaster. Frequenters of attractions Jamberoo Action Park or Merimbula's Magic Mountain might already know the drill — both parks are home to bobsleds that have featured in many a South Coaster's childhood. But the Mountain Coaster experience is looking far more spectacular. Rather than cruising around open hillsides, it plunges you down steep slopes and deep into some of Switzerland's most famous wilderness. In fact, its territory is smack bang in the centre of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is renowned for its extraordinary High Alps and numerous glaciers. Actually, you'll find the biggest glacier in Eurasia right here. Watch some of the runs on YouTube, they're nuts. Once you've conquered the Mountain Coaster, you might want to consider taking matters to scarier heights with the Alpine Coaster. Also found in Switzerland, it's the highest rodelbahn in the world and takes you through a kilometre of curves, waves, jumps and bridges, including a giddying 520-degree spin. Via Infinite Legroom. Image: Aleš Novotný.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing a little adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the Brisbane landmarks and institutions we all love. This week, discover and rediscover the things that make Brisbane so great, with seven different detours through our city's classic spots. From Monday to Sunday, channel that Brissie spirit, and enrich your everyday with one completely achievable, time-honoured activity that helps bypass any mundane roadblocks in your routine. This week, rediscover the classics of Brisbane we know and love, from the tasting menu at e'cco bistro, to stargazing at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, to cruisy bowls along the river. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
When the Mountain Goat Valley Crawl kicked off in 2016, it did so in simple but great style. Recognising that the key to many a good night out is a multi-venue itinerary, it made hopping between Fortitude Valley's finest hangouts a streamlined, well-organised yet still laidback experience — with brews aplenty and an ace live music soundtrack. That was then. Now, the same idea and aim remain; however everyone's favourite multi-venue mini music and beer festival is even bigger and better in its fourth year. After expanding from four venues in its initial outing to five the second time around, and then to seven after that, 2019's event will see attendees jump between ten spots to see 51 interstate and local artists. The simultaneous sonic fun takes place on Saturday, February 16, at returning spaces The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry, Black Bear Lodge, Barbara, The Flying Cock and Crowbar, plus new additions Blutes, Greaser and Sabotage Social. As always, the agenda includes running between each to sip frosty beverages and catch crackin' sets, with the entertainment once again sponsored by a brewery. The whole shindig kicks off at 5pm, so the only thing left for you to do is clear your calendar for an ace day of tunes, brews and hopping around the Valley. Well, that and check out the full lineup — although just who will play where will be revealed closer to the event. MOUNTAIN GOAT VALLEY CRAWL 2019: IV League RAAVE TAPES San Mei Mosquito Coast Sunscreen The Jensens Keeskea Sports Bra sleepclub Between You And Me Cry Club Bloom Parade Pool Shop L. Flora Oh Boy Minor Premiers Inigo LÂLKA Sometime Sonny Felivand STUMPS Flowermouth Gooby Jim & The Goobs Being Jane Lane Ascot Stabber Peach Fur Royal & The Southern Echo Bad Sext Vladik Tiny Castle Rap Kitchen The Bonnie Doons CNT EVN Friend & Me Double Bummer Jumbo Dragon Wildheart Electric Zebra Selfish Sons The Ancient Bloods Georgie Neilson & The Growing Pains Jack Spider Warcries Perve Endings Requin Mantashade Jbox Venice on Fire Bayview Terrace Nightwoods Blood Bank Updated December 3.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That’s why we’re reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. Or you could just go see Star Wars for the sixth time. That's also a totally valid option. JOY See it if: you can't get enough J-Law in your life. We give it: 3.5 stars Jennifer Lawrence stars in the latest film by David O. Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook), a fictionalised account of the rise of a real-life home shopping network star. Joy is a rags-to-riches tale of a battler trying to improve herself and her situation. Wrestling Russell's current patterns and preferences into a canny character study, the film watches on as a woman fights for agency and control, despite constantly being told that she should take care of others and rein in her go-getting ways. Weaving in surreal soap opera segments, it's an astute and engaging dissection of the power of selling a fantasy. Read our full review here. SUFFRAGETTE See it if: you want to be inspired. We give it: 3.5 stars Sarah Gavron's Suffragette may play out somewhat conventionally, but that doesn't make its impact any less resounding. Carey Mulligan is fantastic as Maud Watts, a downtrodden washerwoman in early 20th century London who becomes involved in the fight for women's suffrage. It's a timely tale that will no doubt strike a chord with many modern viewers, reminding us of how far we have come and how much further we still have to go. Just don't expect much Meryl Streep. Despite being a major part of the marketing campaign, she's in the film for less than five minutes. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9p0qnj4OC4 THE BELIER FAMILY See it if: you love a good coming of age tale. We give it: 3.5 stars A box office smash in its native France, The Belier Family is an immensely charming holiday crowd-pleaser. The film tells the story of 16-year-old Paula, who acts as an interpreter for her deaf parents and brother in the running of the family dairy farm. But her future becomes uncertain when her music teacher encourages her to apply to a prestigious singing school in Paris. The film is overlong, a tad melodramatic and gets bogged down at various points in underdeveloped side-plots. But the family drama remains compelling — and surprisingly poignant — throughout, as does the remarkable performance from singer-turned-actress Louane Emera. THE GOOD DINOSAUR See it if: you're hoping to get in touch with your inner child. We give it: 2.5 stars In their stories and themes, Pixar often play in the same territory over and over. And yet, when it comes to visuals, they rarely do the same thing twice; each new Pixar movie might feel somewhat similar, but they always look different. The Good Dinosaur, the animation studio's latest effort, demonstrates both extremes. The tale of a dinosaur and his primitive human friend trying to make their way back home, the film takes a routine narrative that pales in comparison to the animated splendour that surrounds it. It's not often that the background proves more engaging than the figures at the centre of the frame, yet that's frequently the case here. The photorealistic details evident in images of fields, mountains, waterfalls, trees and other natural features are the real stars of the show. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhVDSzj2Lrw YOUTH See it if: you want something pretty to look at. We give it: 2.5 stars Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel wonder about days gone by, while Rachel Weisz and Jane Fonda deliver verbal tirades designed to awaken the ageing men from their apathy. All four spend their time in an expensive Swiss spa, and in a film as visually luxurious as their lush surroundings, Paolo Sorrentino's Youth unravels — its seasoned cast and opulent images its obvious selling points. Musings about life, love and legacy have rarely looked as exquisite, even if the movie's charms remain somewhat surface level. It's a decadent picture about watching the world go by, rather than really experiencing it. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqe1kFb0xTk PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT See it if: you're an art addict yourself. We give it: 2 stars Audio snippets from the eponymous art addict are all that keep this unremarkable doco afloat. Director Lisa Immordino Vreeland struggles with tone, never quite knowing whether to interrogate the gossip that surrounded Guggenheim's personal affairs or to simply recount the rumours. It still makes for pleasant-enough viewing, particularly for art addicts themselves — but it just never manages to fully do Guggenheim justice. In fact, it's only her vocal presence that stops the movie from amounting to little more than an interesting video of a Wikipedia listing. Read our full review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arhMMJx7tCU DADDY'S HOME See it if: you're a sucker for punishment. We give it: 1 star Apologies to fans of Will Ferrell, but watching Daddy's Home is one of the more agonising experiences we've had in a cinema all year. Ferrell stars as a dweebish music exec married to an improbably tolerant wife (Linda Cardellini), who is forced to compete for the love of his step-children when their cool but irresponsible biological father (Mark Wahlberg) rolls back into town. Cue a mind-numbing comedy that mixes kindergarten-level humour with weirdly adult sex gags and feels about three times as long as its 96-minute runtime. Stand-up comic Hannibal Buress manages to scrape a few laughs here and there, but otherwise it's slim pickings. Do yourself a favour and steer well clear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkSYE6HiOE ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROADCHIP See it if: ...yeah, we've got nothing. We give it: N/A Look, we're going to level with you here: we didn't actually see this. Life's too short. But if you want to go out and spend your hard earned money on a ticket for a film about a group of wise-cracking rodents, feel free to let us know what you thought. If you're looking to steer well clear of cinemas on Boxing Day, take a look at our list of the year's ten best films that hardly anyone saw here. Words by Tom Clift and Sarah Ward.
Australian musicians, wish you could play for more people, more often? People with houses — or rooms or sheds or backyards — wish you could see more music, more often, and closer to home? Bingo. A new online start-up platform by the name of Parlour Gigs is making your wishes come true. That’s the both of you. And indie acts like Thelma Plum, Grand Salvo and Caitlin Harnett are already taking advantage of it. Here’s how it works. (Hint, if you use Airbnb already, you’ll have some idea). Musicians, jump on the site, hit the 'I want to play' button and fill out the form. People with houses, jump on the site, hit the 'I want to host' button and fill out a form. If the Parlour folks are happy with your superior form-filling skills (i.e. you sound pretty talented or your place looks music-friendly), they’ll hook the two of you up. Tickets are then sold to the general public via the Parlour website. The man behind the initiative is Matt Walters, a singer-songwriter from Melbourne. "[Parlour's] not dissimilar to the Airbnb model; cutting out the middlemen and allowing people to negotiate and stage gigs where they like,” he told Tone Deaf. "From being signed to a major label, to touring with some incredible international artists, I've certainly experienced all the ups and downs the music business has to offer. "But for some time now, I’ve felt a change coming on. Of course, with the traditional music model well and truly behind us, there is more emphasis than ever on playing live... For most musicians — especially those up and coming — it's hardly worth it. The experience of playing a great show can be a reward unto itself, but at the end of the day artists, like all working people, need to get paid for their work." Get started on Parlour over here. Via Tone Deaf. Images: Parlour.
They've made fireworks you can eat, cooked T-bone steaks with lava and served bespoke cocktails tailor made to match your DNA. But this past week in London, culinary wizards Sam Bompas and Harry Parr may have outdone themselves yet again. Hosted in a converted warehouse in partnership with deals website bespokeoffers.co.uk, The 200 Club can claim the title of the world's longest tasting menu, featuring 200 different dishes over 24 non-stop hours of service. Eight chefs toiled away in the kitchen creating the tasting plates, which ranged from truffle bubbles to coffee-compressed watermelon. A two hour sitting cost between £49 and £99 depending on the time of day, or you could attempt the entire gastronomic marathon for £2,000 per couple. Only four people have the stomach for the latter option, but we have to imagine they were happy with their decision. Of course it wouldn't be a Bompas & Parr affair without a little additional visual theatre. As such, each sitting was differentiated by the colour of the food, a move inspired by the monochromatic feasts of Emperor Nero. Check out the menu, as well as some photographic highlights, below. 200 CLUB MENU Yellow Breakfast: A morning repast that zings with citrus, caffeine and craft. This culinary explosion will hybridise flavours of the East and West in a high-energy, high-end display of homely food love. White Elevenses: A British tradition bejewelled in surreal sparkle. Expect custards, shortbread, quiches, clouds of confection sugar and a dreamy sweet vision of the classic treats. Green Lunch: This meal will be a rustic yet refined version of the garden snacking of yore. Look forward to leafy eating including the freshest greens, meats and cheeses, plus a procession of fluorescent jellies. Blue Afternoon Snack: A powerhouse of flavour for the lazy hours of the day. Taste an otherworldly array of vibrant and dusty turquoises in the form of naturally tinted roots and skilfully prepared fish. Purple Five O’Clock Tiffin: Rooted in the wild and rich darkness of summer, enjoy ingredients such as wild game and dark summer fruits. Dishes will speak to simple food traditions reinterpreted with modern culinary craft. Pink Dinner: Forget “trendy” food items like burgers or hot dogs. Your table will be buzzing with eye-popping fuchsia, cured meats, and smouldering wood smoke. Red Party Time: A sultry explosion of party vibes and hot weather flavours. You’ll see Australian and Asian influences, balancing classic spice and tropical tangs with modern style. Orange Drunchies: The extension of a great night out. Expect contradicting textures, bleeding edge techniques, and lashings of moreishness to tantalise the palate. Brown Blackout: Indulge in a meal of carnal urges – sweet, hot and savoury dishes. The chef will keep you on your toes with coffee, chocolate, black garlic, squid ink, soy sauce, and liquorice. Multicolour Final Countdown: A communal carousal of globally-inspired festival food. Mark the culmination of The 200 Club with a multinational flavour and colour explosion, using vibrant colours with grand presentations. Images by Adam Laycock via Bespoke Offers.
"Joey, there's no living with...with a killing" explains Alan Ladd's character in the 1953 cowboy epic Shane. "There's no going back from it. Right or wrong, it's a brand, a brand that sticks. There's no going back. Now you run on home to your mother and tell her...tell her everything's alright, and there aren't any more guns in the valley". Twice in Logan we hear this same passage, and it sets the theme for the entire film. Hugh Jackman's Logan, aka Wolverine, is one of modern cinema's greatest tortured souls: a near-invincible soldier of fortune forever seeking memories of better days lost to amnesia, whilst drinking to forget the ones even amnesia refuses to ensnare. Time has been no friend to the man unburdened by it, with lovers long since dead and buried, friends gone the same way, and no new mutants, we learn, born for the past twenty five years. Even his own body is at last breaking down, like an old turbine with grinding parts and blunt, malfunctioning blades. The immortal man is somehow dying, and he can't welcome it quickly enough. If it's not already obvious, Logan represents something of a seismic shift for the X-Men franchise – a billion dollar film series that has, until now, consisted largely of family-friendly crowd-pleasers. Ultra-violent and with Scorsese level foul language, Logan at long last unleashes the true, brutal fury of the eponymous beast whose gruesome deeds have, for the past seventeen years, only ever been teased out or implied. Limbs are severed and skulls are skewered with bloody repetition, yet neither the frequency nor the intensity of the violence ever feels gratuitous. This is a dark, gritty and yet soulful production that finally honours the character behind so much of the X-Men saga's enduring popularity. In the lead roll, Jackman imbues Logan with all the rage, self-loathing and pain befitting a man who's literally seen it all. With greying hair and a weathered face hidden beneath a wild, bushy beard, the actor limps and heaves his way through every scene with palpable discomfort. Alongside him, Patrick Stewart returns as the wheelchair-bound Professor Charles Xavier, now a prisoner to his own failing (yet terrifyingly powerful) mind, the implications of which are brilliantly woven into the script. Stephen Merchant, too, joins the franchise in a wonderfully soulful turn, whilst the film's villains are this time embodied by Narcos' Boyd Holbrook and the ever-reliable Richard E Grant. Then, finally, there's newcomer Dafne Keen as a young mutant named Laura, and if you've seen the film's trailer you'll likely have already guessed her connection to both this story and its key characters. In the interest of preserving what surprises we can, the less said about Keen the better, except to note that her performance is outstanding and her scenes with Jackman ground the film in a deeply personal way. This is a bold offering from director James Mangold and an extraordinary conclusion to an otherwise ho-hum trilogy of Wolverine-centric spinoffs (see also: X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine). In an age of unending sequels and computer-generated chaos, Logan is a timely reminder that for all of their spectacle, the best superhero films can begin and end with human-driven stories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH3OxVFvTeg
Famed graffiti artist Banksy has unveiled a number of new artworks in response to the Syrian migrant crisis, including one piece featuring late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Sprayed onto the wall of 'The Jungle,' a refugee camp in Calais, France, which is currently home to thousands of people facing an uncertain future, the most significant of the new pieces depicts Jobs in his trademark black turtleneck, with an early generation Mac in one hand and a bag thrown over his shoulder. A photograph of the artwork on Banksy's website is accompanied by a caption that reads "the son of a migrant from Syria," in reference to Jobs' biological father who emigrated from Syria to the United States in the years following the Second World War. "We’re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country’s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant," said the anonymous artist in a statement to the British press. "Apple is the world’s most profitable company, it pays over $7bn a year in taxes – and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs." Authorities in Calais have pledged to preserve the mural behind glass or transparent plastic to ensure that it is not defaced or stolen. "It is very good and it has a message," said Mayor Natacha Bouchart to local newspaper Nord Littoral. Other pieces left by Banksy during his recent trip to the port city include a silhouette of a child with a telescope looking out over the ocean towards the UK, and an image of shipwreck survivors clinging to a raft and signalling desperately to a passing yacht on the horizon. The latter work is an homage to The Raft of the Medusa by 19th century artist Theodore Gericault, and is tagged on Banksy's website with the caption "we're not all in the same boat." Banksy has been focused on the Syrian refugee crisis for some time now. In September, he pledged to send the timber and fixtures from his pop-up amusement park, Dismaland, to Calais, where they could be used to build shelters for migrants. Via ABC News.
Seasonal change is finally settling into Melbourne and with it comes one of the NGV's best annual exhibitions: the Winter Masterpieces series. This year, it's no secret they've snagged a true master, Vincent Van Gogh, the poster boy for post-impressionism and dramatic self-mutilation. Set to open on April 28 and running until July 19, blockbuster exhibition Van Gogh and the Seasons has been years in the making, and is expected by NGV to draw one of the gallery's biggest audiences yet. Curator Sjraar Van Heugten has fine tuned a thematic exhibition after Van Gogh's own heart, an exploration of the seasons in over 60 works. "In the seasons, he [Van Gogh] has perceived infinity, something larger than humanity. The seasons represent ongoing life," he says. Inside the exhibition, you'll find a fascinating investigation into Van Gogh's life, alongside some of his best naturalist pieces. The artist's character, and his fluctuating mental health, often receive as much attention as his best works. The story of his life, and his death, are expounded wonderfully (and sensitively, snaps for not stigmatising mental health) through quotes, correspondence and essays. Although the collection itself doesn't feature his most famous works, you'll leave with a window into the artist's true persona and an understanding of the sheer breadth of his talent. Structurally, Van Gogh and the Seasons is broken into (you guessed it) the four seasons, that masterfully weave a narrative through the artist's life. The NGV has produced a short accompanying film, narrated by David Stratton and David Wenham, that's worth a watch before you proceed through the exhibition, as it explains the structure of the exhibition and sets the mood. We'll let you experience the exhibition for yourself, but in case you'd like a little guidance in your visit, here are five works you shouldn't miss. A WHEATFIELD WITH CYPRESSES, 1889 This painting is perhaps one of the exhibition's best known pieces. You'll see it emblazoned on all the NGV's marketing collateral and once you're standing in front of it, you can feel why. The vibrant colours and rolling cloud banks are euphoric. There's nothing more to say except this painting is worth the ticket price alone. TREE TRUNKS IN THE GRASS, 1890 The composition of this painting is a departure from the Van Gogh tradition. It's an awkward close-up of a tree trunk and surrounding vegetation but it stands out for the detail, the peaceful atmosphere, and the perfectly balanced colours. Van Gogh painted this in the spring (April) of 1890, just after a period of severe mental illness and only months before taking his own life. VIEW OF SAINTES-MARIES-DE-LA-MER, 1888 Love a good Cezanne town landscape? Don't miss this work. Painstakingly composed and one Van Gogh's more structured pieces, View of Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer will catch you off-guard. While his style was overwhelmingly more fluid and impressionist, this scene is clearly defined and an interesting counterpoint to the rest of the spring and summer pieces. ORCHARD IN BLOSSOM, 1889 This is part of a series in the 'spring' section that is collectively stunning. The delicate pastels used in this season represent Van Gogh's time in Paris, living with his doting brother Theo in Montmartre, where his style lightened and evolved into what we know today as his best works. As a lover of nature, the fertile spring inspired some of his most beautiful pieces. SELF PORTRAIT, 1887 And at the very end of the exhibition, we get a final glimpse of the man who had previously remained faceless. A small but articulate self portrait of a weary looking artist, rendered three years before he died. Van Gogh's final words, spoken to his brother Theo, were famously, "The sadness will last forever". There's a lot of sadness in this exhibition. If you can, we recommend you walk through alone and take it all in. Van Gogh and the Seasons runs April 28 to July 19 at NGV. Installation images: Tom Ross.
Fans of stunning audio design and generally beautiful things, listen up. There's a father/son duo in Seattle who want to take your money and turn it into a stunning, stunning wood turntable. You've never played 'Norwegian Wood' like this. Silvan Audio Workshop is one of Kickstarter's latest gems, unearthed by Stoney Roads and seemingly worth every last cent in your piggy bank. Created from individual slices of wood, and audio components from English turntable specialists Rega — including a glass platter for your record, one beautiful tonearm and a low vibration, low noise belt drive — these Silvan turntables are all constructed by hand by the Walters. The Silvan comes in three different models: the Archer, the Champion and the Sampo (increasing in quality of parts as you spend more, obviously) and they'll even align the cartridge and set the counterweight so you can plug in and play. The turntables range from $750 up to $2250, so they're pretty exxy. But hey, handcrafted walnut decks were never going to come cheap. "Our vision is to make one-of-a-kind objects of art that will be the centrepiece of any home entertainment system," says the Kickstarter schpiel. "We believe that if your music is unique, if it has soul and life and beauty, the things you use to play it should have all the same character. Mass-produced just isn’t good enough." Silvan are looking for $14,000 to fund their workshop, so they can crank out more turntables in an more efficient space with less sawdust in every crevice — and get a little publicity while they're at it. Plus, they don't live in the same town, so schleppin' back and forth to your dad's house gets pricey. At the time of writing, they've raised $6,152 so far, from just 44 backers. Perks range from stickers and posters for teeny donations, and whole turntables in the $2250 realms. UPDATE 25/2: It's been brought to our attention that a company called Audiowood has been doing an undeniably similar design since 2009. Maker Joel Scilley told us, "The copy's concept is the same down to the same parts used, glass platter, spike feet, etc. My original design is the 'Audiowood Barky Turntable'. Silvan Audio knew the design already existed and are presenting it as their design... I've asked them to stop stealing my intellectual property, and to remove their Kickstarter, and so far they have refused. " Silvan Audio issued this statement yesterday on Facebook: "It's been a very big day, with coverage from a bunch of places (Hello, Boing Boing, Alternative Press, and Engadget! Thanks for the coverage!) and a good conversation with a great guy named Joel Scilley. Joel has a company called Audiowood, and he makes incredible things. One of them is a turntable very much like what we're making, so he's a bit put out that we'd be making what we're making. "It might cost us some support (this whole thing could rub some of you the wrong way, and we completely respect that), but regardless of the impact, we owe you the respect of being completely open and transparent. We added an FAQ to the page today with this info, but we want to be even more proactively honest with you: we're doing something very similar to what Audiowood has been doing for a while. We were pointed to Joel's work during the build of our first turntable, and we still think it's absolutely awesome. Our initial idea was "original" in that we weren't copying anything we knew of when we set out, but of course it's no more of an Original Idea to us than it was to Audiowood or anyone else who's brainstormed or made something similar at some point. (Google the back cover of Jethro Tull's "Songs from the Wood" at some point.) "Ultimately, what we're jumping into is the market of using factory parts in custom plinths. (Rega parts, specifically, because they're radically easy to work with, the quality is great, and the construction is very straightforward.) Audiowood is in that market, and others — hobbyists as well as resellers — are as well, making cool things from all kinds of materials. Our hope is that the world is big enough that all of us can continue to do a thing that we've really enjoyed so far without getting in each other's way. "We don't have a corner on or a legal claim to Rega's parts, and we certainly don't have a claim to trees either, so our intent is honest and completely friendly competition in an area we arrived at sincerely and really believe we're completely free to work in. "Some of you might be disappointed, or you'd rather support the guy who actually got into the shop and mass produced this idea first, and that's completely fine. The last thing we want is to damage Joel Scilley's business — he seems like a really good guy doing good, honest work. For those who want to enable us to go after an idea we also came by honestly, we appreciate the support." Check out the Silvan Audio Workshop Kickstarter page here. Check out Audiowood over here. Via Stoney Roads.
Cinephiles of Brisbane, prepare to starting spend a whole heap of time at Palace Centro. If you've dropped by recently, you would've noticed that the New Farm venue is in the midst of a massive makeover — and given that they're adding three more screens, and increasing their movie lineup as a result, we really do mean massive. Come December when the renovations open to eager film-goers — and when the cinema celebrates its 16th birthday — the James Street mainstay will boast seven theatres. Two existing screens have been torn down to make way for five new darkened rooms, which will seat between 40 to 80 patrons, and allow Centro to boost their selection of content. That includes their range of Centro exclusives, which have included Swiss Army Man and High-Rise in recent months. The venue will still house a 35mm projector, too, for retrospectives and festivals. Across town in Petrie Terrace, Centro's sibling cinema at Barracks hasn't escaped the revamping bug either. Courtesy of new couches and carpet, the cinema's lobby has undergone a soft refurbishment, making having a pre-film drink even comfier. At Centro in particular, the renovations come at a time when the area around the venue is changing rapidly, with the under-construction space immediately across the road about to become The Calile, a new resort-like haunt. Palace is expanding rapidly interstate — announcing new cinemas in Sydney's Double Bay and Chippendale just this year — so future Brisbane Palace expansions aren't out of the question. Palace Centro's renovations will be completed by December 2016. It's partially open now at 39 James Street, Fortitude Valley.
Think enjoying a pint and making a difference are mutually exclusive activities? Think again. Thanks to The Good Beer Co., the next drink you knock back could help save the world — or at least the Great Barrier Reef. The Good Beer Co. is Australia’s first social enterprise beer company, with a mission to match nice drinks with nice deeds. The company aims to pair the nation's top craft brewers with worthy causes — as their maiden beverage demonstrates. That'd be the aptly named Great Barrier Beer, as brewed in Bundaberg by the local legends at the Bargara Brewing Company. Once it hits the shelves, they'll donate 50% of the profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. To get to that point, though, The Good Beer Co. needs your help, which is why they're launching a crowdfunding campaign. You can assist them with brewing, distributing and promoting the Great Barrier Beer, and with startup costs to get established and roll out the idea to other great causes. Backers will enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling of supporting something good, as well as the chance to taste the tipple before anybody else. You'll also get the opportunity to have a say in future recipes, labels and causes. So if you like beer and are keen to help the planet, it really is a win-win situation. After all, who doesn't want to put their beverage consumption to good use? For more information about The Good Beer Co, visit their website. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree. The festive season is well and truly upon us, and with it come some of the biggest films of the year. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end of year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. ST VINCENT See it if: you've always dreamed of having Bill Murray for a neighbour We give it: 4 stars A crotchety old man gets a new lease of life when he becomes the reluctant babysitter to the 12-year-old kid next door. Sounds pretty unbearable, until you factor in that the old man is played by Bill Murray. First time writer-director Theodore Melfi doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the film's formulaic plotting is offset by sharp dialogue and the natural comedic chemistry of its cast. Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd are standouts in supporting roles, while newcomer Jaeden Lieberher is a revelation. Unsurprisingly though it's Murray who steals the show, delivering the perfect mix of irritable wit and genuine emotion. Read our full review. MR TURNER See it if: you're an art lover We give it: 4 stars Grunting and wheezing, Timothy Spall gives one of the best performances of the year as famed British painter J.M.W. Turner, in this two-and-a-half hour biopic from writer-director Mike Leigh. Strictly for arthouse crowds, the film doesn't have much of a narrative through-line, but as a portrait of a lonely artist it's surprisingly compelling. The film also contains some absolutely gorgeous cinematography, the painterly quality achieved by director of photography Dick Pope seemingly inspired by the work of Turner himself. Read our full review. BIG HERO 6 See it if: you're babysitting, or just want to indulge your inner child We give it: 3.5 stars Disney's follow-up to the phenomenon that was Frozen is an adaptation of a Marvel comic book about a plucky teenaged inventor who joins forces with an inflatable robot named Baymax in order to bring down a supervillain who is terrorising the city. As animated superhero films go, it's not a patch on The Incredibles, but kids will gets a kick out of it, and there's some great physical comedy courtesy of the film's plus-size robotic co-star. Frankly, if Baymax toys aren't flying off the shelf come January, someone in the Disney merchandising department should be out of a job. Read our full review. THE WATER DIVINER See it if: you're a really big Russell Crowe fan We give it: 2.5 stars Russell Crowe's directorial debut follows a father searching for the bodies of his sons after they're killed in combat at Gallipoli. Given Australia's tendency to mythologise that particular battle, it's refreshing to see how measured Crowe is in his approach, presenting the Turkish perspective as well as our own. Unfortunately, on a more technical level, Rusty still has quite a lot to learn. Flat photography and harsh lighting makes the film look as though it was shot for community television, while the overly earnest dialogue likewise leaves a lot to be desired. Read our full review. THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES See it if: you really, truly can't be bothered reading the book We give it: 1.5 stars We've had mostly nice things to say about this series up until this point, but that all ends now. After beginning with a dragon-sized anti-climax, the final part of Peter Jackson's painful protracted Tolkien adaptation turns out to be exactly what we all feared it would be: 2 hours and 20 minutes of padding. Comprised of one long, generic battle sequence, it's difficult to think of a recent film in which you feel less invested in the outcome. It's a sad, flabby end to what will likely be remembered as one of the most pointless movie trilogies of all time. Read our full review. Also out on Boxing Day: family flick Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (whos pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. [caption id="attachment_566976" align="alignnone" width="1200"] YouTube[/caption] The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. The DI$COUNT UNIVER$E It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition will run from November 29 - December 9 at 32-34 Wellington Street, Collingwood. Image: Daniel Good John.
Stop everything and find a Frenchie to flip. Instagram has finally created its own collage-creating software — yep, finally. The social media giant launched their brand new standalone app today, dubbed (rather uncatchily) Layout from Instagram. The new app lets you easily combine multiple photos into one masterpiece of a 'gram. Though it seems Instagram were a little slow off the mark with this, the Instateam have taken their time to create one genuinely great editing app. According to Instagram, one in five monthly active users are sharing images that combine multiple photos — using external apps like Framatic, Photo Collage Maker and InstaCollage and importing the photos into Instagram later. So the team decided to make their own little editor and keep things in-house. So how does it work? Super easy to use, Layout accesses your photo gallery and does most of the work for you. The Faces option shows you all the photos in your camera roll that feature people — so you can cut the crap and go straight to making hella sick selfies. Speaking of selifes, you can take countdown photobooth shots in the app, but only using the frontal camera — because YOU. Apparently 90 percent of photos in collage images shared to Instagram are of people, and 50 percent of non-collage photos on Instagram are of people. It's all about your big beautiful self-promoting faces. Once you've picked your image, you can drag and drop photos to arrange them all nice and pretty like, pinch to zoom or pull the sides of each image to tweak its size, even flip and rotate to mirror your face on your face. Like George here: Layout masterpieces can be shared directly to your Instagram or Facebook, or saved to your camera roll to access and glorious sharing later. Things are going to get freaky in your feed. Layout from Instagram is available from today for iOS devices in Apple’s App Store. It’s currently only available for iOS. Layout from Instagram will be available for Android in the coming months.
What’s that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, you dunces, this is actually a 26-metre-high aerial playground that’s opening in Adelaide next month. The aptly named Mega Adventure Park (for, you know, mega adventures) is currently being finished on the West Beach foreshore, and while it looks like an alien spacecraft come earthward to take all our women for breeding, it’s actually an extreme jungle gym for adults. So what's on the maxtreme menu for kidults? Scramble nets, rope bridges, beams, swings, log steps, mega bungee trampoline, aerial surfboards and Adelaide wine barrel steps. Boom. There’ll be 54 activity stations for those who want to push themselves to the extremes, viewing platforms for the resters, and a Mega Adventure Kiosk for those who want to kick back with a vino and watch the madness unfold. It’s basically American Ninja Warrior but for people who lack upper arm strength and need to be securely fastened at all times. And if you're way too chill to be jumpin' off of crazy stuff, you can instead head straight to the top and take in some pretty breathtaking views of Adelaide. Find Mega Adventure Park at 4 Hamra Avenue, Adelaide Shores, West Beach. For more info, give 1300 634 269 a buzz. Images: Mega Adventure Park/Facebook.
The show must go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. 15 years after the release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine is coming to the stage. The lavish adaptation is currently in its early stages, and will be directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Writing duties will be handled by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes the recent James Bond outing Skyfall as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. The show is being developed by entertainment group Global Creatures, who previously worked on the theatrical adaptation of King Kong and helped bring Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom to the stage. A premiere date and location for Moulin Rouge! has yet to be announced.
Brisbane's contemporary art scene is brimming with talent, risk-taking and innovation, the result of decades of dedicated practitioners, curators and gallerists supporting the newest, most controversial and strangest art in the local game. From West End to Woolloongabba, art spaces have popped up all over the city over the years, with big guns like QAGOMA sitting alongside smaller unconventional spaces and pop-ups. And they're usually free — realms where you can view groundbreaking modern work for nothing. Clear your schedules and start pounding the pavement to visit some of the best free art available in Brisbane. Your itinerary starts here. [caption id="attachment_626236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Meagan Streader, W-inter (exhibition installation image), 2016. Image: Louis Lim.[/caption] METRO ARTS Metro Arts is a solid institution in the Brisbane art scene. The space opened in 1981, and over the years has evolved to reflect the needs of the artists and the community. It's a space for expression and risk, exhibiting bold local contemporary art and facilitating a range of other creative outlets including workshops, seminars and performance. Metro Arts has a reputation for being at the forefront of creative scene in Brisbane, a role they take seriously. They also place a major focus on social inclusion and accessibility. When visiting Metro Arts don't forget to make time to drop into Verve Restaurant and Cider-House, the New York-style basement bar underneath Metro Arts, where, since last century, a whole spectrum of Brisbane artists have gathered to eat, drink and generate debate and discussion. CLUTCH COLLECTIVE CLUTCH Collective is a Brisbane-based artist-run initiative hosting one-night exhibitions in the back of a three tonne truck. Local artists are encouraged to find innovative ways to respond directly to the limitations of the space. The project aims to invigorate the Brisbane ARI scene with an alternative, unconventional and experimental approach to exhibiting. CLUTCH has a full calendar of artists lined up until September. If you want to witness art that's all about thinking outside the box, well, inside a box, follow CLUTCH Collective on Facebook to check where this pop-up gallery will be heading next. WOOLLOONGABBA ART GALLERY WAG is a stunning two-storey space situated in the heart of Woolloongabba. Since its establishment in 2004, WAG has quickly become one of Queensland's best art galleries, with a reputation for regularly exhibiting stylistically varied, high quality contemporary work — including many works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. If you're heading to Woolloongabba for drinks and nibbles at one of the area's many bars and restaurants, take some time to visit WAG. You might just miss your dinner reservation getting lost in some remarkable shows. POP GALLERY While you're in Woolloongabba, why not pop into POP Gallery? Griffith University has a number of galleries associated with it but the 'Postgraduate and Other Projects Gallery' is one of the best (yeah, POP's a much catchier name). POP started as a research space primarily for postgraduate and research student from QCA. Now in its newly refurbished venue, POP has been transformed into a premium art space, presenting a diverse program of research-based art to a broad public audience. This venue is open five days a week and anyone is welcome. Keep an eye on POP's calendar for upcoming events — opening nights often include art's characteristically indulgent siblings: wine and cheese. QUT ART MUSEUM While we're poking around university art galleries, QUT Art Museum is another vibrant Brisbane gallery that is always well worth a visit. From June to August, they'll be exhibiting the work of 2016 Archibald Prize winner Louise Hearman. This will be Hearman's first major museum survey featuring paintings and drawings from across her 25-year practice. QUT Art Museum also hosts a reoccurring event called Texta Book Club, a book club specifically for people who love art. The next event will use the occasion of Louise Hearman's exhibition to discuss popular novel Burial Rites by one of QUT's very own Hannah Kent. The event is free and includes a glass of wine. Art, literature and wine, for free — what more could we ask for? MAUD CREATIVE Maud Creative is one of the only dedicated photography galleries in Brisbane. Since opening in 2014, the gallery has has significant impact on the Brisbane art scene. According to director Irena Prikryl, this gallery is a true passion project. "We don't make any money off it, we just keep propping it up," she says. The gallery showcases the works of award-winning photographers as well as supporting new and emerging talent in a stunning contemporary space. They also encourage creativity by providing a darkroom for members and hosting regular workshops. Maud Creative is currently exhibiting a series of spectacular aerial images of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park in South Australia by Light Collective. Clear your schedule, because these photographs demand long periods of attention. MILANI GALLERY Focused exclusively on contemporary works of art, Milani is another Woolloongabba art space. The gallery is clean, light and minimalistic — the classic no-interruption aesthetic. Recent exhibitions include Tim Johnson's Metamodernism, a collection of new works alongside work from key periods influencing the artists' practice. The gallery also recently hosted the works of Richard Bell for his exhibition Dredging up the past. SPIRO GRACE ART ROOMS SGAR is a contemporary art space tucked away in Spring Hill. Established in 2010, SGAR's founder Paul Spiro and gallery manager Miranda Hine are both established members of the art scene in Queensland and are passionate about cultivating the career development of local Queensland artists. Currently showing is an exhibition entitled Here, where everything lands by Franz Ehmann. For over 20 years, Ehmann's work has explored the processes of food production and waste, themes that are strongly reiterated in this latest exhibition. The works have been created in collaboration with Ehmann's bees (that's right, bees) and explores the uses and processes of beeswax. HONOURABLE MENTION: HOUSE CONSPIRACY While it's not a conventional gallery per se, House Conspiracy is an exciting new project that launched in Brisbane earlier this year and should be right on your radar. The project is located in a beautiful historic Queenslander situated in the lively creative hub of West End. The House was purchased in 2015 by an anonymous owner who bought it with the goal of keeping it in the community. This is a vision House Conspiracy founders Jonathan O'Brien, Lewis Holmes, Cinnamon Smith and Elizabeth Cowie are working hard to fulfil. In 2017, more than 100 artists will receive support from House Conspiracy. At least 68 of these artists will participate in the Emerging Artist Residencies program. The house will also be available for hire, welcoming Brisbane artists to make the most of the space for collaboration, meetings, rehearsals and performances. According to one of the project's founders, Jonathan O'Brien, the idea of the project is to provide low cost and often free space for artists who need it. "By giving artists space to work, and documenting that work we hope that we create a sort of touchstone for artists to say I was here. I did this." Top image: Benjamin Crowley, Walking to the edge of a small cliff, 2016. Installation view, shown at CLUTCH Collective.
Located in buzzing Kelvin Grove's Queensland University of Technology creative precinct, Room 60 is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of student life. The intimate space emits a cosy and comfortable feeling achieved by the dark hue of the walls and friendly faces behind the bar. Low hanging lights, stacks of vinyl records and mis-matched furniture ooze a vibe of mature coolness, making it a perfect setting for drinks or a light meal. The bar contains a raised stage enabling it to host regular events such as talks, music and public readings. Room 60's drinks list is not your stock standard selection. Their fridge is full of locally brewed beer and cider and interesting options on the menu display creativity and flair. Elderflower cordial is a common choice of drink in the UK, but more of a rarity amongst Brisbane watering holes, however, Room 60 has made excellent use of this refreshing ingredient. Drinks such as the elderflower apple and lime cider or Wybrowa vodka and elderflower cordial with fresh lemon and soda are both lip-smackingly good. Another exciting quirk on the drinks list is their range of deconstructed cocktails that offer an overall flavour experience. The #2 Sweet and Smooth features Canqueray gin, Japanese lychee marble drink and dark bitter organic chocolate. Each ingredient is presented separately and the flavours beautifully compliment each other to create a special treat for those with a wicked sweet tooth. The #3 Strong and Savoury showcases the delicious Croatian Orahovac liqueur, a delectable dried fig and crisp clean soda. One item on the menu manages to combine the very best things in life – ice cream and alcohol. The adult's only ice-cream defines the word 'delicious' as the combination of coffee and vanilla ice-cream, a sprinkling of raspberries all smothered with Baileys Irish Cream is devilishly delightful. From its interesting décor to inventive drinks list, Room 60 offers an enjoyable and unique experience for its guests. Don't miss their quirky regular events such as the romance novel readings, trash movie nights or literary salon.
Returning for its third year, and quickly becoming a canonical part of Brisbane's independent scene, The End of the Line Festival has just dropped its 2016 lineup — and given it was curated by West-End-record-store-owning-musical-and-cultural-powerhouse Shannon Logan of Jet Black Cat Music, no-one will be surprised to see an eclectic range of local and inter-state up-and-comers on the bill. This year, Melbourne acts, Fraser A Gorman, Totally Mild and Christopher Port join beloved locals like Banff, Major Leagues, Good Boy, Mid Ayr and Desmond Cheese to name a few. Despite the colossal pressure associated with curating a festival (and pretty much putting your music taste on stage for Brisbane to see) Logan has committed her locally renowned image as music lover to the festival this year, saying that within the combination of bands playing there "surely will be something for everyone". A big claim, but more than substantiated by the lineup, from the dole-wave sounds of Good Boy, the retro space-chords of the Vulture St Tape Gang, to the Kate-Bush-esque power pop of Feeding Fauna, it's going to be represented in Woolloongabba on November 5. And that means, importantly, it's as much an opportunity for well-deserved local bands to play, as it is audiences to hear a range of sounds they mightn't usually. Taking place in the beautiful inner-city Woolloongabba Village Precinct, The End of the Line is as much about the music as it is about community. In previous festival years, the shut-off street has been occupied by the precinct's local coffeemakers, restaurateurs and shop owners serving festival-themed menus and wares, and this year, their presence will be greater and presumably yummier than ever. On top of the food, drinks, great crowd, inner-city aesthetic, and of course music, there will the addition major artistic contributions from the Queensland College of Art's POP Gallery and the Aboriginal Centre of the Performing Arts through dance, visual and performance art. This year The End of the Line promises to catch the unique taste of Brisbane, an opportunity afforded to people of all ages, free of charge. Starting at 10am, and finishing at 11pm, the festival will be heard and smelt all over Woolloongabba. Alright, alright, here's what you came here for. THE END OF THE LINE FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP: Fraser A Gorman Totally Mild Christopher Port Banff Major Leagues Good Boy Mid Ayr Desmond Cheese Pool Shop the Vulture St Tape Gang Superfeather Low Dive Francis Wolves In Caves Feeding Fauna The End of the Line Festival is happening November 5 in the Woolloongabba Village Precinct from 10am-11pm. Entry is free. For more info, head to the festival website.
Somebody's closer. Netflix announced its Australian pricing today, officially giving the finger to main schoolyard rivals Presto and Stan. The US streaming service has officially set its pricing tiers, with entry level membership sitting at $8.99 a month — cheapest of 'em all in Australia — then $11.99 (high definition, can stream on two screens at once), and $14.99 for the big kahuna (fastest, high def 4K streaming, can stream on up to four screens at once). Pricing leaked online yesterday thanks to the snooping legends at Reddit, but was announced formally today. This pricing is cheaper than Fairfax/Nine's unfortunately-named Stan service, priced at $10 a month. But according to Fairfax, it's all about definition (because of course they'd bring that up). Netflix's lowest tier will apparently only stream in standard definition, whereas Stan's will be all up in high def. Foxtel/Seven's Presto service is sitting at $9.99 (also a big ol' one-cent-less ner to Stan), but is in the same situation as Netflix — streaming in standard def. If you're thinking of sneakily buying Netflix's US version and streaming via proxy (Who said that? Was it you? Nothing to see here.) the US prices are pretty similar: $US7.99 for the lowest, standard definition tier. Netflix launches in Australia on March 24. What's in store for users? Reddit posted this image of what you can expect from the Australian Netflix library, whether it's real or not. Hold on to your butts. Via SMH.
Who needs to go to a bar or restaurant when you can go to a food and beverage pavilion? Yes, it does sound a little fancier and intimidating, but there's more to it than that. Think of this as the wondrous nucleus where all the dining and drinking options you could want combine in one venue. It's like a permanent mini-food festival, in a sense. The new venue is coming to Newstead thanks to the folks behind Hatch & Co; the eateries everyone has been flocking to at Garden City, Post Office Square and Gasworks Plaza. Soon the latter spot will have a sibling in the same precinct, however it's not just a rehash of their same tasty seasonal food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Set up marketplace-style, it will also play host to a juice station, express coffee window, open-plan kitchen, takeaway service and large, shared dining tables. Plus, the pavilion will feature 12 craft and local beers on tap, plus a sizeable range of wines and curated cocktails. Yep, it really does sound like the kind of spot that's going to be all kinds of excellent, and there's more to the story. This is a place for people to hangout, and it's also a place the owners want the city to feel a sense of ownership for. Thankfully, they've worked out the best way to do just that, throwing open the job of naming the joint to the general public. All is revealed on June 9, and the person behind it will win lifelong glory, of course, as well as a $1000 dining experience. Who knows, you might just have a new favourite spot that's been given its moniker by one of your mates. That's bragging you can get used to. For more information, visit www.wedonthavea.name. Find the new venue at the Gasworks Plaza Precinct, 100 Skyring Terrace, Newstead. Image: Kgbo.
Bunnings Warehouse is supercharging its usual sausage sizzle, to support a few Aussie communities that are doing it pretty tough. Next Friday, November 22, all of the hardware giant's stores will host a special pre-weekend edition of their legendary snag sessions, raising coin for those impacted by drought and the current bushfires. All of the day's sausage profits will go to to Givit, a national non-profit that works with charities and community groups to connect disadvantaged people with the things that they need. The organisation also works with local councils and state governments to assist communities during disasters and emergencies — of which there are several happening at the moment. Some areas of the country have been struggling with a years-long drought and, this week, bushfires have destroyed hundreds of homes, and displaced thousands of people, across NSW and Queensland. Dangerous fire conditions continue today and into the weekend, too, with out-of-control fires still burning in both states. For updates and advice on Queensland bushfires, head to the Rural Fire Service Queensland website. So, on Friday, grab a snag in bread and show those in need some love. The sausage sizzles will run from 9am–4pm across all Bunnings Warehouses in Queensland.
Last winter, the NGV saw over 200 works from New York's famed MoMA and over summer it housed the Escher x Nendo: Between Two Worlds — an exhibition showcasing the works of both Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. So, it had some big space to fill. Its 2019–20 summer blockbuster is Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines — yep, the NGV has succeeded in bringing yet another world-class exhibition to Australian shores. Similar to the Escher x Nendo and 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition, this one showcases an intersection between the two artists' careers (which were hugely influential in the late-20th century art world) and lives (which were both prolific, and tragically short). The world-premiere retrospective is exclusive to Melbourne and delves into their radicalism, socio-political standings and distinctive imagery. Haring's iconic dancing figures and Basquiat's crown and head motifs can be found throughout the 300 works — which spans paintings, sculpture, objects, drawings, photographs, notebooks and pieces in public spaces. The exhibition will also house the artists' collaborations with some of the world's most-celebrated pop culture icons, including Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and Madonna. Images: Tom Ross.
Returning for its third year, and quickly becoming a canonical part of Brisbane's independent scene, The End of the Line Festival has a huge 2016 lineup — and given it was curated by West-End-record-store-owning-musical-and-cultural-powerhouse Shannon Logan of Jet Black Cat Music, no-one will be surprised to see an eclectic range of local and inter-state up-and-comers on the bill. This year, Melbourne acts, Fraser A Gorman, Totally Mild and Christopher Port join beloved locals like Banff, Major Leagues, Good Boy, Mid Ayr and Desmond Cheese to name a few. Despite the colossal pressure associated with curating a festival (and pretty much putting your music taste on stage for Brisbane to see) Logan has committed her locally renowned image as music lover to the festival this year, saying that within the combination of bands playing there "surely will be something for everyone". A big claim, but more than substantiated by the lineup, from the dole-wave sounds of Good Boy, the retro space-chords of the Vulture St Tape Gang, to the Kate-Bush-esque power pop of Feeding Fauna, it's going to be represented in Woolloongabba on November 5. And that means, importantly, it's as much an opportunity for well-deserved local bands to play, as it is audiences to hear a range of sounds they mightn't usually. Taking place in the beautiful inner-city Woolloongabba Village Precinct, The End of the Line is as much about the music as it is about community. In previous festival years, the shut-off street has been occupied by the precinct's local coffeemakers, restaurateurs and shop owners serving festival-themed menus and wares, and this year, their presence will be greater and presumably yummier than ever. On top of the food, drinks, great crowd, inner-city aesthetic, and of course music, there will the addition major artistic contributions from the Queensland College of Art's POP Gallery and the Aboriginal Centre of the Performing Arts through dance, visual and performance art. This year The End of the Line promises to catch the unique taste of Brisbane, an opportunity afforded to people of all ages, free of charge. Starting at 10am, and finishing at 11pm, the festival will be heard and smelt all over Woolloongabba. THE END OF THE LINE FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP: Fraser A Gorman Totally Mild Christopher Port Banff Major Leagues Good Boy Mid Ayr Desmond Cheese Pool Shop the Vulture St Tape Gang Superfeather Low Dive Francis Wolves In Caves Feeding Fauna The End of the Line Festival is happening November 5 in the Woolloongabba Village Precinct from 10am-11pm. Entry is free. For more info, head to the festival website.
