Like eating? Like South Bank? Then you're going to love the combination of the two. Yes, it's Regional Flavours time again. If you haven't made it along to the inner-city precinct's signature food and wine festival over the past seven years, don't make that same mistake again. For two days, the length and breadth of the parklands will become a culinary wonderland, complete with themed spaces for all of your favourite taste sensations. At Queensland Taste, you'll find wine, cheese and live music. At the Hunting Club, you'll enjoy beef, lamb and brewed beverages. At the Epicurious Garden, you'll discover where your food comes from. And there's no prizes for guessing what's on offer at Sweet Escape or the Picnic Patch. Want more? How about classes, demonstrations and presentations on everything from recipes for longevity, fuss-free cooking, fancy toast toppings, making Instagram-worthy dishes and turning savoury ingredients sweet, featuring celebrity chefs such as Maggie Beer, George Calombaris, Matt Preston, Adriano Zumbo and Lola Berry? Or a producer showcase where you can shop for the freshest ingredients? Or a long line of food trucks serving up meals for $8 or less? As long as you have a healthy appetite, there's something delicious here for everyone.
The QAGOMA Store is an obvious choice for those who like their gifts with a splash of creativity. However, there's nothing obvious about the selection on display at Brisbane's major art gallery. Items linked with their previous and current exhibitions are just the start. Books — of both the picturesque coffee table and the quirky in prose and presentation variety — are probably the store's strongest drawcard, with something on the shelves to suit all tastes. There's more, of course, so expect silly stationery items, artistic umbrellas, the cutest children's toys and even hard-to-find DVDs.
Take a Brisbane pub, spruce it up, get the beverages and bites flowing: Australian Venue Co has now deployed that tried-and-tested approach at the Royal Hotel. The Nundah pub has undergone a $1.1-million refurbishment, reopening in July 2023 complete with a 200-person entertainment space upstairs that can host everything from bands to comedy, plus a refreshed bistro that's slinging brisket burgers and doughnut fries. Before its makeover, this watering hole was known as The Royal; however, that hasn't always been its name. A pub has sat at the Sandgate Road location in Nundah since 1888, pouring brews for Brisbane's northsiders. Back when it first swung open its doors 135 years ago, the site was also known as — you guessed it — Royal Hotel. Reclaiming its original moniker, adding that 200-person first-floor entertainment venue, refreshing the food range and outdoor terrace: that's all part of this do-over. The heritage-listed pub's facade remains the same, of course, as designed by the same architect as Crown Hotel all those years back. Now, Mel Porter Design has taken care to blend the pub's heritage features with modern details. The upstairs space has been dubbed Royal Quarters, and will cycle through different entertainment options on different nights. Head along on Thursdays to get giggling, Friday nights for piano bar sessions, Saturday evenings for live gigs and Sundays for bingo. Downstairs, the public bar is also doing trivia on Tuesdays. As for Royal Hotel's bistro and terrace, that revamp spans greenery aplenty, marble-look tables, checkerboard floors and wooden accents, giving the pub a 120-seater — and family-friendly — dining space. The new menu covers pub classics and seasonal dishes, with other highlights including Moreton Bay bug rolls, pressed lamb shoulder, pan-seared barramundi, Stone & Wood-battered fish and chips, and four types of pizzas. Pasta marinara, mini fish ceviche tacos and baked brie cheesecake also feature. And yes, both chicken schnitzel and chicken parmi are on offer, too, plus three steak options. The front bar and al fresco area have also received a new lease on life. Here, five big TV screens show sports t0 80 folks if you're just keen to catch whichever game you prefer over a pint.
King Arthur is from the team behind much-loved Merriweather Cafe in South Brisbane and is already proving to be a crowd favourite. The digs are tucked away on Arthur Street, a mere stone's throw from the bustle of James Street. Upon entering you'll be met with the delights of the day as the beautifully tiled counter is brimming with fresh bread alongside homemade pastries and cakes. Grab a flaky croissant and a cup of Coffee Supreme brew to go, or take a seat for breakfast, brunch or lunch any day of the week. The split-level dining space not only creates more room to chew, but the loft exudes an effortless cool and relaxed atmosphere. Minimalist tables and bench seating is available alongside a majestic wooden table — perfect for large groups or engaging in communal dining. Following in the footsteps of Merriweather, the philosophy behind the food at King Arthur Cafe is grounded in using local, sustainable and seasonal produce to create inspired dishes. The menu is simple yet refreshing, with some surprisingly delightful offerings changing throughout the year.
If you haven't spotted festive decorations popping up around Brisbane yet, that means that you haven't been anywhere in Brisbane since Halloween ended and November arrived. Otherwise, you would've seen the obvious: it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the River City. Come Thursday, November 23 until the big day, the Brisbane CBD will be brimming with even more festive cheer — whether you're keen on shopping your way through markets, peering at dazzling lights or searching for tiny doors. Brisbane City Council and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner have unveiled the lineup of Christmas events that'll be decking out the city, and it's filled with highlights. Some, like the Enchanted Garden in Roma Street, are popular favourites set to delight again. Others, such as a Christmas party at Victoria Park / Barrambin that'll livestream the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols, are fresh additions to your seasonal itinerary. It all kicks off on Thursday, November 23 with the return of Enchanted Garden, aka glowing sights filling Roma Street Parkland for you to wander around, which runs until Wednesday, December 20. Then, to welcome December — taking place on Friday, December 1, in fact — the annual lighting of King George Square's 22-metre-tall Christmas tree will herald a cavalcade of merriment showering the inner city. For nabbing gifts, Brisbane Arcade's two-day Christmas markets are back, as are the BrisStyle twilight Christmas markets in King George Square — both joining the city's hefty list of places to browse and buy beyond shopping centres. In the CBD, there'll also be nightly light shows at City Hall, running from 7.30pm–12am from Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 24; daily roving performances in the mall from Friday, December 1–Sunday, December 24; and the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols on Saturday, December 9 at the Riverstage, plus the broadcast over to Herston. For the latter, entry is free and picnic baskets are encouraged, with food trucks also popping up. As for the tiny doors, they're all handmade and will be scattered throughout the city from Friday, December 1–Sunday, December 31, ready for you to find and marvel at their cuteness. The rest of the festive lineup includes a free Christmas show in the Queen Street Mall on three Fridays — December 8, 15 and 22 — plus singers and dancers taking to the same stage from Saturday, December 16–Sunday, December 24. And, at Uptown (RIP the Myer Centre), Queens Plaza and the Wintergarden, you'll have a heap of chances to get Santa snaps.
Perhaps it's because we watch them in our homes, and in our lounge rooms and bedrooms where we're at our comfiest. Maybe it's because spending hours getting to know on-screen characters makes us feel like we know them. Either way, a beloved TV show is like an old friend — we miss them when they're gone and we can't wait for them to return. In 2022, including after hefty pandemic-related delays in some cases, the small screen welcomed back a lengthy list of already-proven hits. Some served up second seasons as ace as their first. Others have several years worth of past ace episodes under their belts (or in their coffins). And, because all good things really do come to an end, a few said goodbye. Whichever category fits whichever show, the past year hasn't been short on excellent TV among repeat players, spanning everything from crime dramas and savvy comedies through to mind-bending animation and playful murder-mysteries. Midyear, we rounded up our standout shows between January and June. A number held their place in our hearts over the full year — but they have new company. Ready for end-of-year catch-ups and 2023 revisits, here are the best 15 returning TV shows that hit television and streaming across 2022. BETTER CALL SAUL The best show on television for the past seven years — other than the one-season return of Twin Peaks — came to an end in 2022. Viewers knew this was coming but it's still monumental, especially given that Better Call Saul is the spinoff to an also-phenomenal series. Alas, unlike when Breaking Bad wrapped, there's no future immediately in sight for this excellent franchise. Perhaps that's fitting; everything has to fade away at some point, including the canny and resourceful run of an Albuquerque-based lawyer born Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody), nicknamed 'Slippin' Jimmy' during his early con-artist days and rebadged Gene Takavic when he flees for a Cinnabon-serving new Nebraskan life. Of course, this franchise best knows him as Saul Goodman after he leans into shady criminal law with well-oiled charm, becoming a charismatic but shifty defence attorney aiding Walter White (Bryan Cranston, Your Honor) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Westworld). Thanks to Breaking Bad and its gripping New Mexico-set crime-drama antics, we knew where Saul's choices were heading. Better Call Saul's sixth season reckons with that knowledge. It interrogates it, toys with it and expands upon it as well. But in the first trailer for the show's swan song, which was broken into two parts — the first started in April, the second returned in July — fellow Breaking Bad favourite-turned-Better Call Saul key player Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks, The Comey Rule) might've said it best. "Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is," the ex-cop advised. How true that proved as creator Vince Gilligan chronicled life's bleak and heartbreaking realities via a meticulous and twisty character study, including the fates awaiting Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep), Salamanca family footsoldier Nacho Varga (Michael Mando, Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Hector Salamanca's (Mark Margolis, Snowpiercer) alluringly crafty nephew Lalo (Tony Dalton, Hawkeye). TV rarely gets any better than this, and didn't in 2022. Better Call Saul streams via Stan. Read our full review of season six. THE WHITE LOTUS Lives of extravagant luxury. Globe-hopping getaways. Whiling away cocktail-soaked days in gorgeous beachy locales. Throw in the level of wealth and comfort needed to make those three things an easy, breezy everyday reality, and the world's sweetest dreams are supposedly made of this. On TV since 2021, HBO's hit dramedy The White Lotus has been, too. Indeed, in its Emmy-winning first season, the series was a phenomenon of a biting satire, scorching the one percent, colonialism and class divides in a twisty, astute, savage and hilarious fashion. It struck such a chord, in fact, that what was meant to be a one-and-done limited season was renewed for a second go-around, sparking an anthology. That Sicily-set second effort once again examines sex, status, staring head-on at mortality and accepting the unshakeable fact that life is short for everyone but truly sweet for oh-so-few regardless of bank balance — and with writer/director/creator Mike White (Brad's Status) still overseeing proceedings, the several suitcase loads of smart, scathing, sunnily shot chaos that The White Lotus brings to screens this time around are well worth unpacking again. Here, another group of well-off holidaymakers slip into another splashy, flashy White Lotus property and work through their jumbled existences. Another death lingers over their trip, with The White Lotus again starting with an unnamed body — bodies, actually — then jumping back seven days to tell its tale from the beginning. Running the Taormina outpost of the high-end resort chain, Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore, Across the River and Into the Trees) is barely surprised by the corpse that kicks off season two. She's barely surprised about much beforehand, either. That includes her dealings with the returning Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (Jennifer Coolidge, The Watcher), her husband Greg (Jon Gries, Dream Corp LLC) and assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson, After Yang); three generations of Di Grasso men, aka Bert (F Murray Abraham, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), Hollywood hotshot Dominic (Michael Imperioli, The Many Saints of Newark) and the Stanford-educated Albie (Adam DiMarco, The Order); and tech whiz Ethan (Will Sharpe, Defending the Guilty) and his wife Harper (Aubrey Plaza, Best Sellers), plus his finance-bro college roommate Cameron (Theo James, The Time Traveller's Wife) and his stay-at-home wife Daphne (Meghann Fahy, The Bold Type). The White Lotus streams via Binge. Read our full review of season two. RESERVATION DOGS One of the best new TV shows of 2021 returned for a second season in 2022 — and it quickly cemented its spot on this list. That series: the gloriously heartfelt and perceptive Reservation Dogs, which may riff on a Quentin Tarantino movie with its moniker, and also started with a heist when it first hit the screen, but proves dedicated to diving deep into what it's like to be an Indigenous North American teenager today. Bear (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Beans), Elora (Devery Jacobs, Rutherford Falls), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and Cheese (debutant Lane Factor) are those restless Oklahoma adolescents, and they've shared a California dream since the show began. But when the first season wrapped up with a tornado, as well as a figurative storm of hard truths and buried feelings, the gang's relocation fantasy didn't play out as expected. The lure of family and culture remained strong, as did holding onto a past that's brought happiness as well as pain (getting a fresh start after losing a friend is a big motivation for their escape plan). That said, Elora still attempts to go anyway. In season two, the more things change, the more they stay the same — until they don't. For Bear, Willie Jack and Cheese, staying on the reservation requires facing life on the reservation. For Elora, being on the road with enemy-turned-travelling companion Jackie (Elva Guerra, Dark Winds) gets tumultuous. Made with such an evident commitment to minutiae, and to feeling lived-in at every moments, Reservation Dogs spins both its episodic stories and its long-running coming-of-age arcs, themes and emotions into something wonderful again and again. Co-creator/executive producer/writer Sterlin Harjo (Mekko) deserves all the kudos that can be showered his way, and so does Taika Waititi as one of the series' fellow creators, executive producers and writers. There are many reasons to be thankful for the New Zealand filmmaker as his resume keeps attesting (including fellow recent sitcom Our Flag Means Death); however, using his fame to help bring this insightful gift into the world is one of them. Reservation Dogs streams via Binge. Read our full review of season two. BARRY Three seasons into the sitcom that bears his name, all that Barry Berkman (Bill Hader, Noelle) wants is to be an actor — and to also no longer kill people for a living. That's what he's yearned for across the bulk of this HBO gem, which has given Saturday Night Live alum Hader his best-ever role; however, segueing from being an assassin to treading the boards or standing in front of the camera is unsurprisingly complicated. One of the smartest elements of the always-fantastic Barry is how determined it is to weather all the chaos, darkness, rough edges and heart-wrenching consequences of its central figure's choices, though. That's true of his actions not only in the past, but in the show's present. Hader and series co-creator Alec Berg (Silicon Valley) know that viewers like Barry. You're meant to. But that doesn't mean ignoring that he's a hitman, or that his time murdering people — and his military career before that — has repercussions, including for those around him. One of the most layered and complex comedies currently airing, Barry's third season is as intricate, thorny, textured and hilarious as the first two. Indeed, it's ridiculously easy to see how cartoonish its premise would be in lesser hands, or how it might've leaned on a simple odd-couple setup given that Anthony Carrigan (Bill & Ted Face the Music) plays Chechen gangster Noho Hank with such delightful flair. But Barry keeps digging into what makes its namesake tick, why, and the ripples he causes. It does the same with his beloved acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch) as well. With visual precision on par with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, it's also as phenomenal at staging action scenes as it is at diving deep into its characters — and, as every smartly penned episode just keeps proving, it's downright stellar at that. Barry streams via Binge. Read our full review of season three. MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN Origin stories: everyone's getting them. Caped crusaders like Batman and Spider-Man have several; Hercule Poirot's moustache even has its own. Originally played by Aaron Pedersen on both the big and small screens, Mystery Road's Jay Swan doesn't particularly need one, given that plenty about why he's the man and detective he is, and the balancing act he's forced to undertake as an Indigenous cop as well, has already been teased out. But Mystery Road: Origin isn't jumping on a trend, repeating itself or prolonging a long-running saga. It isn't trying to justify having someone else play Swan, either. Rather, this latest entry in Australia's best crime saga leaps backwards because this franchise has always danced with history anyway. It has to; you can't explore the reality of life in Australia today, the racial and cultural divides that've long festered across this sunburnt country, and all that Swan encounters and tussles with, otherwise. In Mystery Road: Origin, it's 1999 — and, when its six episodes begin, Swan isn't quite a detective yet. He's already a man of weighty thoughts and few words, though, and he's played by Mark Coles Smith (Occupation: Rainfall), who couldn't do a more impressive job of stepping into Pedersen's (High Ground) shoes. The series initially spies Swan as he's driving along sweeping salt plains. His destination: Jardine, his Western Australian home town, population 1000. Resident sergeant Peter Lovric (Steve Bisley, Doctor Doctor) welcomes Swan back eagerly, but his return isn't all cheers, especially when he stumbles across a robbery en route and gets cuffed by senior constable Max Armine (Hayley McElhinney, How to Please a Woman). Tensions also linger with Swan's estranged dad Jack (Kelton Pell, The Circuit), the town's old rodeo hero, and with his hard-drinking elder brother Sputty (Clarence Ryan, Moon Rock for Monday). Indeed, that early stickup, the crimewave waged by culprits in Ned Kelly masks that it's soon a part of, and those persistent family struggles will all define the detective's homecoming. Mystery Road: Origin streams via ABC iview. Read our full review. ATLANTA You can't escape yourself. As Atlanta sent Earnest 'Earn' Marks (Donald Glover, Guava Island), his cousin and rapper Alfred 'Paper Boi' Miles (Brian Tyree Henry, Bullet Train), their Nigerian American pal Darius (Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah) and Earn's ex Vanessa (Zazie Beetz, also Bullet Train) around Europe in the show's third season — and first of two in 2022 — that truth became inescapable, too. Hopping everywhere from Amsterdam to Paris and London, the group saw the daily reality of being Black Americans linger with them at every destination — and their personal ups and downs as well — no matter how wild, weird, bleak or hopeful the circumstances they were in. Arriving mere months later, season four kicked off by also exploring that point, including in a debut episode that sees Atlanta, the city, haunt the show's main players. They're back home and there's no way they couldn't know it, whether they're on scavenger hunts, stuck in carparks or being chased. Across its ten-episode run, Atlanta's fourth season also examines another truth that's always sat at the core of the show: that for better and for worse, there's no place like home. That applies to the physical location, but also to the homes we make with other people — family, friends and everything in-between. Earn and Van gravitate closer together, but their relationship has always ebbed and flowed. Al keeps pondering what success really means, too, and Darius does the same with reality. In the process, Glover's superbly smart, blistering and often-surreal unpacking of race relations lays bare the nation it usually calls home, as it did so incisively in its first two seasons, while never failing to challenge, surprise and swing big. That the show's final season also clearly muses on legacies obviously couldn't be more fitting — and ending in a thoroughly unpredictable and yet also ridiculously apt way, it'll always be a great on Glover, Henry, Stanfield and Beetz's resumes. Atlanta streams via SBS On Demand. Read our full review of season three. KEVIN CAN F**K HIMSELF Not once, not even jokingly, does Annie Murphy utter the words "ew, David" in Kevin Can F**k Himself. She's never ever just a little bit Alexis, either. Murphy is just as exceptional and awards-worthy here, however, in a superb show that's a clever and cutting dark comedy — and, perhaps more accurately, offers a clear-eyed unpacking of what sitcoms usually mean (Schitt's Creek excluded, obviously) for women. In its first season in 2021, Kevin Can F**k Himself cast its star as Allison Devine-McRoberts, wife to the manchild of a titular figure (Eric Petersen, Sydney to the Max), and clearly in the kind of TV show about obnoxious husbands and their put-upon spouses that've been a small-screen mainstay for far too long. In those segments of the series, the lights glow, the McRoberts home looks like every other abode in every other program of its ilk, multiple cameras observe the action and viewers can be forgiven for expecting Kevin James to show up. Also, canned laughter chuckles — always unearned. Consider the above setup Kevin Can F**k Himself's starting point, though, because the show itself does. From there, creator Valerie Armstrong (Lodge 49) exposes what life is truly like for Allison — who is considered Kevin's wife first and foremost by almost everyone around her — including by switching looks, hues and camera arrangements whenever its namesake isn't around. The visible change is smart and effective, with this two-season show keeping digging into Allison's bleak situation from there. In the spirit of the series' title, she's trying to rid herself of her horrible marriage, including with help from neighbour Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden, The Righteous Gemstones). Alas, as this second and sadly last batch of episodes shows — as its first did as well — nothing is ever that easy. In a better world, Kevin Can F**k Himself would've had more time to unfurl and interrogate its story, but in this world it doesn't put a foot wrong with the time it's been given. Murphy and Inboden make one of TV's best duos, too; fingers crossed that someone reteams them again sometime soon. Kevin can F**k Himself streams via AMC+. Read our full review of 2021's season one. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Live life long enough and anything can happen. Enjoy an undead existence for hundreds of years and that feeling only multiplies, or so the wealth of movies and TV shows that've let vampires stalk through their frames frequently remind viewers. A sharehouse-set mockumentary focused on bloodsucking roommates who've seen more than a few centuries between them, What We Do in the Shadows embraces that idea like little else — as a Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi-starring movie, aka one of the funniest New Zealand comedies of this century, and then as a hilarious American TV spinoff. The premise has always been ridiculously straightforward, and always reliably entertaining. A camera crew captures the lives of the fanged and not-at-all furious, squabbles about chores, a rising body count and avoiding sunlight all included. Their domesticity may involve sinking their teeth into necks, blood splatters aplenty, sleeping in coffins and shapeshifting into bats, but it also covers arguing about paying bills, keeping the house clean and dealing with the neighbours. The TV version's stellar fourth season picks up after a climactic end to the show's prior batch of episodes, which only finished airing back in October 2021. Its bloodsucking roommates were all set for their own adventures, but a year has passed in the show, bringing them back together. Nandor (Kayvan Novak, Cruella) returns from exploring his ancestral homeland, and he's more determined than ever to find a wife. He also thinks that one of his many from the Middle Ages could be the one again; bringing back a Djinn (Anoop Desai, Russian Doll) to grant his wishes helps. After a stint in London with the Supreme Vampiric Council, Nadja has big ambitions, too, setting her sights on opening a vampire nightclub. As for her beloved Laszlo (Matt Berry, Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown), he's still taking care of the baby-turned-boy that burst its way out of energy vampire Colin Robinson's (Mark Proksch, The Office) body. For the fourth time around, nothing about this delight sucks, not for a second, with season four as wonderful as ever. What We Do in the Shadows streams via Binge. Read our full review of season four. GIRLS5EVA When it first hit streaming in 2021 with an avalanche of quickfire jokes — as all Tina Fey-executive produced sitcoms do, such as 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Great News and Mr Mayor — Girls5eva introduced viewers to its eponymous band. One-hit wonders in the late 90s and early 00s, their fame had fizzled. Indeed, reclaiming their stardom wasn't even a blip on their radars — until, unexpectedly, it was. Dawn Solano (Sara Bareilles, Broadway's Waitress), Wickie Roy (Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton), Summer Dutkowsky (Busy Philipps, I Feel Pretty) and Gloria McManus (Paula Pell, AP Bio) had left their days as America's answer to the Spice Girls behind, barely staying in contact since the group split and their fifth member, Ashley Gold (Ashley Park, Emily in Paris), later died in an infinity pool accident. But then rapper Lil Stinker (Jeremiah Craft, Bill & Ted Face the Music) sampled their single 'Famous 5eva', and they were asked to perform backing vocals during his Tonight Show gig. Jumping back into the spotlight reignited dreams that the surviving Girls5eva members thought they'd extinguished long ago — well, other than walking attention-magnet Wickie, who crashed and burned in her attempts to go solo, and was happy to fake it till she made it again. That's the tale the show charts once more in its second season, which is filled with more rapid-fire pop-culture references and digs; the same knowing, light but still sincere tone; and a new parade of delightful tunes composed by Jeff Richmond, Fey's husband and source of music across every sitcom she's produced. One of the joys of Girls5eva — one of many — is how gleefully absurd it skews, all while fleshing out its central quartet, their hopes and desires, and their experiences navigating an industry that treats them as commodities at best. The comedy's sophomore run finds much to satirise, of course, but also dives deeper and pushing Wickie, Dawn, Summer and Gloria to grow. Obviously, it's another gem. Girls5eva streams via Stan. Read our full review of season two. STARSTRUCK It's official: after a dream of a first season, Rose Matafeo's rom-com sitcom Starstruck worked its magic a second time. In season two, it makes viewers fall head over heels for its 21st-century take on dating a famous actor all over again. It's also official for Matafeo's (Baby Done) Jessie, who is now dating Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral), the celebrity she had a one-night stand with on New Year's Eve, then navigated an awkward will-they-won't-they dance around every time they ran into each other in London. But this next batch of six episodes poses a key question: once you've enjoyed the wild meet-cute, ridden the courtship rollercoaster and been bowled over by a grand romantic gesture (see: Starstruck's The Graduate-style season-one finale), what comes next? It's the stuff that rom-com movie sequels might cover, except that for all of Hollywood's eagerness to rinse and repeat its most popular fare, this genre is sparse in the follow-up department. Season two picks up exactly where its predecessor left off, with Jessie and Tom's bus ride segueing into a WTF realisation — as in "WTF do we do now?". That's a query that Jessie isn't ready to answer, even though she's made the big leap and missed her flight home. So, she avoids even tackling the situation at first, and then eschews fully committing even when she's meant to be in the throes of romantic bliss. Basically, it's messy, and the kind of chaos that rom-coms don't show when they end with a happily-ever-after moment. Like everyone, Jessie and Tom endure plenty. In the process, this gem of a show's second season is light but also deep, a screwball delight while also sharp and relatable, and still filled with fellow romantic-comedy references. And, as well as continuing to showcase Matafeo at her best, it remains a rom-com that's as aware of what relationships in 2022 are really like as it is about how romance is typically portrayed in its genre. Starstruck streams via ABC iView. Read our full review of season two. RAMY In the dramedy that bears his name, Ramy Youssef (Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot) is a quintuple threat. He created Ramy, plays Ramy, executive produces, and also frequently writes and directs — and, in a show about a Queens-born first-generation American Muslim raised in New Jersey to Egyptian parents, as Youssef himself is, there's no doubting that the stories he's telling are personal. There's a difference between bringing your own exact existence to the screen and conveying the truth behind your experiences, however, with Ramy falling into the second category as it charts its eponymous figure's struggles as his faith conflicts with his lifestyle. Since its first season in 2019, the series has always been so deeply steeped in the lived reality of feeling torn between two cultures, and so specific in its details, too. And yet, it's also so universal and relatable in its emotions and insights. None of the above changes in season three, welcomely so, in what's one of Ramy's finest moments yet. In this ten-episode third run, the lives of Ramy and his loved ones are rarely blessed with fine moments — and Ramy Hassan, Youssef's on-screen alter-ego, keeps threatening his own heart, mind and soul with his choices. Season two ended with a short-lived marriage and the fallout still lingers, but Ramy has thrown himself into making his Uncle Naseem's (Laith Nakli, Ms Marvel) diamond business a success as a distraction. He has money, his own place and, soon, his own jewellery outfit, although that doesn't herald happiness. For his sister Dena (May Calamawy, Moon Knight), nor has striving hard to take the bar exam, especially when her parents Maysa (Hiam Abbass, Succession) and Farouk (Amr Waked, Wonder Woman 1984) are open about how differently they see her and her future to Ramy. As the elder Hassans also grapple with Farouk being out of work, plus decades of feeling like they're treading water, Ramy remains a stunningly perceptive and engaging exploration of the battle to remain true to oneself — and one's hopes, dreams and religion — while also proving a rich, poignant and devastatingly well-acted comedy. May more come. Ramy streams via Stan. Read our full review of season three. UNDONE Returning for its second season three years after its first — which was one of the best shows of 2019 — the gorgeously and thoughtfully trippy multiverse series Undone is fixated on one idea: that life's flaws can be fixed. It always has been from the moment its eight-episode initial season appeared with its vivid rotoscoped animation and entrancing leaps into surreal territory; however, in season two it doubles down. Hailing from BoJack Horseman duo Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, it also remains unsurprisingly concerned with mental illness, and still sees its protagonist caught in an existential crisis. (The pair have a type, but Undone isn't BoJack Horseman 2.0). And, it deeply understands that it's spinning a "what if?" story, and also one about deep-seated unhappiness. Indeed, learning to cope with being stuck in an imperfect life, being unable to wish it away and accepting that fate beams brightly away at the heart of the show. During its debut outing, Undone introduced viewers to 28-year-old Alma Winograd-Diaz (Rosa Salazar, Alita: Battle Angel), who found everything she thought she knew pushed askew after a near-fatal car accident. Suddenly, she started experiencing time and her memories differently — including those of her father, Jacob Winograd (Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul), who died over 20 years earlier. In a vision, he tasked her with investigating his death, which became a quest to patch up the past to stop tragedy from striking. Undone didn't necessarily need a second season, but this repeat dive into Alma's story ponders what happens in a timeline where everything seems to glimmer with all that its protagonist has ever wanted, and yet sorrow still lingers. Once again, the end result is deeply rich and resonant, as intelligent and affecting as sci-fi and animation alike get, and dedicated to thinking and feeling big while confronting everyday truths. Undone streams via Prime Video. Read our full review of season two. HACKS In 2021, Hacks' first season quickly cemented itself as one of 2021's best new TV shows — one of two knockout newbies starring Jean Smart last year, thanks to Mare of Easttown as well — and it's just as ace the second time around. It's still searingly funny, nailing that often-elusive blend of insight, intelligence and hilarity. It retains its observational, wry tone, and remains devastatingly relatable even if you've never been a woman trying to make it in comedy. And it's happy to linger where it needs to to truly understand its characters, but never simply dwells in the same place as its last batch of episodes. Season two is literally about hitting the road, so covering fresh territory is baked into the story; however, Hacks' trio of key behind-the-scenes creatives — writer Jen Statsky (The Good Place), writer/director Lucia Aniello (Rough Night) and writer/director/co-star Paul W Downs (The Other Two) — aren't content to merely repeat themselves with a different backdrop. Those guiding hands started Hacks after helping to make Broad City a hit. Clearly, they all know a thing or two about moving on from the past. That's the decision both veteran comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her twentysomething writer-turned-assistant Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, North Hollywood) had to make themselves in season one, with the show's second season now charting the fallout. So, Deborah has farewelled her residency and the dependable gags that kept pulling in crowds, opting to test out new and far-more-personal material on a cross-country tour instead. Ava has accepted her role by Deborah's side, and is willing to see it as a valid career move rather than an embarrassing stopgap. But that journey comes a few narrative bumps. Of course, Hacks has always been willing to see that actions have consequences, not only for an industry that repeatedly marginalises women, but for its imperfect leading ladies. Hacks streams via Stan. Read our full review of season two. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Born out of the world's recent true-crime and podcasting obsessions — and the intersection of the two in the likes of Serial — Only Murders in the Building boasts its own version of Sarah Koenig. In this marvellous murder-mystery comedy, she's called Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, Girls5eva). As viewers of the show's impressive and entertaining first season know, though, she's not the main focus. Instead, Only Murders in the Building hones in on three New Yorkers residing in the Arconia apartment complex — where, as the program's name makes plain, there's a murder. There's several, but it only takes one to initially bring actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) together. The trio then turn amateur detectives, and turn that sleuthing into their own podcast, which also shares the show's title. In season two, the series returns to the same scene. Yes, there's another killing. No time has passed for Only Murders in the Building's characters — and, while plenty has changed since the series' debut episode last year, plenty remains the same. Viewers now know Charles, Oliver and Mabel better, and they all know each other better, but that only makes things more complicated. Indeed, there's a lived-in vibe to the program and its main figures this time around, rather than every episode feeling like a new discovery. Among the many things that Only Murders in the Building does exceptionally well, finding multiple ways to parallel on- and off-screen experiences ranks right up there. That applies to true-crime and podcast fixations, naturally, and also to getting to know someone, learning their ins and outs, and finding your comfort zone even when life's curveballs keep coming. Only Murders in the Building streams via Disney+. Read our full review of season two. EUPHORIA From the very first frames of its debut episode back in June 2019, when just-out-of-rehab 17-year-old Rue Bennett (Zendaya, Spider-Man: No Way Home) gave viewers the lowdown on her life, mindset, baggage, friends, family and everyday chaos, Euphoria has courted attention — or, mirroring the tumultuous teens at the centre of its dramas, the Emmy-winning HBO series just knew that eyeballs would come its way no matter what it did. The brainchild of filmmaker Sam Levinson (Malcolm & Marie), adapted from an Israeli series by the same name, and featuring phenomenal work by its entire cast, it's flashy, gritty, tense, raw, stark and wild, and manages to be both hyper-stylised to visually striking degree and deeply empathetic. In other words, if teen dramas reflect the times they're made — and from Degrassi, Press Gang and Beverly Hills 90210 through to The OC, Friday Night Lights and Skins, they repeatedly have — Euphoria has always been a glittery eyeshadow-strewn sign of today's times. That hasn't changed in the show's second season. Almost two and a half years might've elapsed between Euphoria's first and second batch of episodes — a pair of out-of-season instalments in late 2020 and early 2021 aside — but it's still as potent, intense and addictive as ever. And, as dark, as Rue's life and those of her pals (with the cast including Hunter Schafer, The King of Staten Island's Maude Apatow, The Kissing Booth franchise's Jacob Elordi, The White Lotus' Sydney Sweeney, The Afterparty's Barbie Ferreira, North Hollywood's Angus Cloud and Waves' Alexa Demie) bobs and weaves through everything from suicidal despair, Russian Roulette, bloody genitals, unforgettable school plays, raucous parties and just garden-variety 2022-era teen angst. The list always goes on; in fact, as once again relayed in Levinson's non-stop, hyper-pop style, the relentlessness that is being a teenager today, trying to work out who you are and navigating all that the world throws at you is Euphoria's point. Euphoria streams via Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up 15 excellent new TV shows of 2022 that you might've missed. Plus, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. And, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
Back in 2018, when Milton welcomed its first rum microdistillery, it challenged the suburb's beer-loving status quo. This is the home of the XXXX brewery, its giant neon sign and its constant yeasty smell, after all, as well as Newstead Brewing Co's second site, fellow brewery Milton Common and beer-loving dive bar The Scratch. But there's room in this inner city spot for more than one type of booze, or even two — as Warehouse 25 is also keen to demonstrate. Setting up shop on Finchley Street — so, in the shadow of both XXXX and Newstead Brewing — Warehouse 25 is all about gin and vodka. If you like clear spirits, you'll be happy here. It distills both on site and serves them at its bar, too. It also bottles them for folks to take home under the Calm Spirits Co label from its soon-to-open bottle shop. Everyone stopping by for a drink can see the distilling magic in action, with the 100-litre vodka still and 50-litre gin still in full view. Walk through the converted warehouse's barn-style doors and you won't miss them. You'll also spot wooden tables galore, as part of an indoor and outdoor area that includes an underground function space — and twinkling lights strung up above. Owner Cameron Lee has designed the space to cater for a number of purposes, too: casual drinks, live music, art exhibitions and vintage garage sales, for instance, plus both block and private parties. But, in addition to the spirits lineup, it's the in-house pizzeria that's a big drawcard. Patrons can choose from nine different types, including ricotta and meatball, and a potato bake pizza — and pair them with other Italian-style bites such as caprese and arancini. As for the drinks themselves, obviously gin and vodka feature heavily in the venue's cocktails, which span its own signature tipples and a range of classics. If you're in the mood for a different type of tipple, yes, there's beer on the menu (and yes, XXXX is one of them). Plus, there's also a small wine selection.
The Calile Hotel has gone three for three, making the World's 50 Best Hotels list for the third consecutive year, ranked at 34th. After placing 12th in 2023 and 25th in 2024, the Fortitude Valley five-star stay is the only hotel in the entire Oceania region to make this prestigious grade in every edition since the award's inception. Opening in 2018, the seven-story, 175-room hotel was billed as 'Australia's first urban resort'. While suitably situated among luxe fashion boutiques and high-end restaurants along leafy James Street, the hotel serves as a sun-soaked sanctuary from the outside world. Described by The World's 50 Best as "laid back Aussie spirit meets buzzy Palm Springs and Miami stylings," guests can retreat to siesta by the pool or slink away to private quarters designed for maximum comfort. "To have been selected three years in a row marks a significant affirmation of The Calile's place on the global hotel-industry stage and reinforces our reputation as a desirable destination for international travellers coming to Brisbane, Australia," says Co-Owner Catherine Malouf. However, The Calile experience goes far beyond its dreamy 30-metre centrepiece pool or sophisticated rooms adorned with a "neutral, chic palette of peach, rose and pistachio." Dining and drinks are a serious treat, with Hellenika, Bianca and Lobby Bar adding to Brisbane's burgeoning culinary scene. Plus, the hotel's cultural program is a major highlight, regularly hosting art exhibitions and performances by renowned names, such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra. "Being recognised among the world's best hotels for the third consecutive year is an incredible honour and a testament to our remarkable team. Their professionalism, consistency, and genuine care for our guests define The Calile experience for which we are known," says The Calile Hotel General Manager, Chris Kemlo. As for the rest of the list, Capella Sydney achieved top honours for Australia, debuting on the list at an impressive 12th place. Meanwhile, Rosewood Hong Kong has finally claimed the No. 1 spot, having previously been ranked No. 2 and No. 3. Don't forget to keep an eye out for updates on The Calile's expansion to Noosa Heads, a perfect location for the hotel's tropical look and feel coming in the near future. For the full World's 50 Best Hotels list for 2025, head to the website for more information. Images: Cieran Murphy.
Fans of classic racing games like Mario Kart are in for a real treat as the BattleKart crew prepares to bring a live-action version to Melbourne in February 2024. For the augmented-reality racing game, drivers will jump into a real electric go-kart and whiz around an empty 3000-square-metre shed in West Footscray that's lit up by projectors. But you won't just be driving around a lit-up racecourse — you'll be properly interacting with it as well. Pass over mystery boxes to get bonuses like speed boosters, missiles you can shoot at other drivers (using the triggers on your steering wheel), and oil that causes others to spin out. It's all very Nintendo 64 Mario Kart, just without the licensing. And if racing isn't your jam, you can try a bunch of different driving games at BattleKart. Get around an augmented reality soccer game where you 'kick' balls around the lit-up field — or an IRL version of Snake where you try to grow the longest tail while avoiding everyone else. These do sound cool, but the adrenaline-inducing races are sure to be the highlight. BattleKart already has 23 sites across Europe, with this being its first Australian venture. According to its team, this will be the first time technology like this will be available to the Australian public as well. BattleKart is set to open in February 2024 at 50 McArthur Street, West Footscray. For more information, check out the venue's website.
Vietnam's light and bright flavours are the ideal match for Noosa's subtropical warmth, making Misschu's Queensland debut an attention-grabbing affair. Founded in Sydney in 2009 by Nahji Chu, a Vietnamese-Laotian refugee, the crowd-pleasing brand soon expanded to Melbourne and beyond. Now guided by Gabi and Heike Machado, the original Asian street food tuckshop is ready to serve up its "healthy hawker" cuisine in Bay Village. Focused on signature dishes like warm vermicelli salad with lemongrass beef, organic berry rice and quinoa with seared XO salmon, and Shanghai pork dumplings, almost every dish on the menu is under $20. Inspired by the best of Vietnamese cuisine, Misschu has found success by reimagining traditional recipes into fast, nourishing and delicious dishes. Elevated by the kitchen's use of pure coconut oil and palm sugar for sweetness, the menu also offers plenty of gluten- and dairy-free options that resonate with wholesome goodness. Meanwhile, the prime location takes things to the next level. Just around the corner from Noosa Heads Main Beach, the airy upstairs venue seamlessly connects three outdoor terraces flanked by leafy trees. Pull up a bar stool on the balcony when the sun is shining, perfect for a healthy meal or even an indulgent cocktail. Inside, there's a dynamic mix of seating, from small tables ideal for casual one-on-one catch-ups to comfy booths for larger gatherings. Plus, locals or holidaymakers heading along with the little ones will find a convenient kids' menu with tempting options that satisfy even the fussiest eaters. Finding a stellar home amid the culinary strip of Hastings Street, Misschu Noosa is set to become a bustling spot for lunchtime feasts and after-dark drinks. After all, it's not hard to imagine hitting up one of Australia's most popular beaches, then heading for a health-conscious feast that doesn't sacrifice flavour.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures will do that, and so will plenty of people staying home because they aren't well — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Perhaps you've been under the weather. Given the hefty amount of titles now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are seven that you can watch right now at home. Dune: Part Two Revenge is a dish best served sandy in Dune: Part Two. On the desert planet of Arrakis, where golden hills as far as the eye can see are shaped from the most-coveted and -psychedelic substance in author Frank Herbert's estimation, there's no other way. Vengeance is just one course on Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet, Wonka) menu, however. Pop culture's supreme spice boy, heir to the stewardship of his adopted realm, has a prophecy to fulfil whether he likes it or not; propaganda to navigate, especially about him being the messiah; and an Indigenous population, the Fremen, to prove himself to. So mines Denis Villeneuve's soaring sequel to 2021's Dune, which continues exploring the costs and consequences of relentless quests for power — plus the justifications, compromises, tragedies and narratives that are inescapable in such pursuits. The filmmaker crafts his fourth contemplative and breathtaking sci-fi movie in a row, then, after Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 as well. The vast arid expanse that constantly pervades the frames in Dune: Part Two isn't solely a stunning sight. It looks spectacular, as the entire feature does, with Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser (The Creator) back after winning an Oscar for the first Dune; but as Paul, his widowed mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo), and Fremen Stilgar (Javier Bardem, The Little Mermaid) and Chani (Zendaya, Euphoria) traverse it, it helps carve in some of this page-to-screen saga's fundamental ideas. So does the stark monochrome when the film jumps to Giedi Prime, home world to House Harkonnen, House Atreides' enemy, plus Arrakis' ruler both before and after Paul's dad Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) got the gig in Villeneuve's initial Dune. People here are dwarfed not only by their mammoth surroundings, but by the bigger, broader, non-stop push for supremacy. While there's no shortage of detail in both Part One and Part Two — emotional, thematic and visual alike — there's also no avoiding that battling against being mere pawns in an intergalactic game of chess is another of its characters' complicated fights. Dune: Part Two streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Greig Fraser. Immaculate Add screaming to the ever-growing list of things that Sydney Sweeney can do spectacularly well. Indeed, thanks to Immaculate, which gets the Euphoria and The White Lotus star putting her pipes to stellar bellowing use, the horror genre has a brand-new queen; long may she reign if this is what audiences have to look forward to. This film about a nun who moves to a convent in the Italian countryside, then mysteriously becomes pregnant without having had sex, isn't just a job for Sweeney. She auditioned for the movie a decade back, it didn't come to fruition, but she strove to make it happen now. She stars. She produces. She enlisted Michael Mohan, who she worked with on Everything Sucks! and The Voyeurs, as its director. The passion that drove her quest to bring Immaculate to viewers is just as apparent in her formidable performance, too, including echoing with feeling — and blistering intensity— when she's shrieking. No one should just be realising now how versatile an actor that Sweeney is. Her portrayal of Sister Cecilia, who found her way to becoming a bride of Christ after a traumatic near-death incident in her younger years, is exactly what the film's title suggests: immaculate. It's also a showcase of a role that requires her to be sweet, dutiful, faithful, ferocious, indefatigable, vengeful and desperate to survive all in the same flick — and she kills it — but adaptability, resourcefulness and displaying a multitude of skills has been her on-screen wheelhouse beyond just one movie. Take Sweeney's last four cinema releases, for instance, all of which hail from 2023–24. Reality, Anyone But You, Madame Web and Immaculate couldn't be more dissimilar to each other, and neither could the actor's parts in them. Throw in her Saturday Night Live hosting stint, and she's firmly at the "is there anything that she isn't capable of?" stage of her career. Immaculate streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Michael Mohan. The Zone of Interest Quotes and observations about evil being mundane, as well as the result when people look the other way, will never stop being relevant. A gripping, unsettling masterpiece, The Zone of Interest is a window into why. The first film by Sexy Beast, Birth and Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer in more than a decade, the Holocaust-set feature peers on as the unthinkable happens literally just over the fence, but a family goes about its ordinary life. If it seems abhorrent that anything can occur in the shadow of any concentration camp or site of World War II atrocities, that's part of the movie's point. It dwells in the Interessengebiet, the 40-square-kilometre-plus titular area that comprised and surrounded the Auschwitz complex, to interrogate how banal genocide was to those in power; commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel, Babylon Berlin), even gloats that his name will be remembered and celebrated for its connection to mass extermination. Höss was a real person, and the real Nazi SS officer overseeing Auschwitz from 1940–43. His wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall) and five children are similarly drawn from truth. But The Zone of Interest finds its way to the screen via Martin Amis' fiction novel of the same name, then hones its interest down from the book's three narrators to the Höss family; a biopic, it isn't, even as it switches its character monikers back to reflect actuality. This is a work of deep probing and contemplation — a piece that demands that its viewers confront the daily reality witnessed and face how the lives of those in power, and benefiting from it, thrived with death not only as a neighbour but an enabler. Camp prisoners tend the Höss' garden. Ashes are strewn over the soil for horticultural effect. Being turned into the same is a threat used to keep the household's staff in line. All three of these details, as with almost everything in the feature, are presented with as matter-of-fact an air as cinema is capable of. The Zone of Interest streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. How to Have Sex Movies don't have pores, but How to Have Sex might as well. Following a trip to Greece with three 16-year-old best friends who want nothing more than to party their way into womanhood — and to get laid, too — this unforgettable British drama is frequently slick with sweat. Perspiration can dampen someone when they're giddily excited about a wild getaway, finishing school and leaving adolescence behind. It can get a person glistening when they're rushing and drinking, and flitting from pools and beaches to balconies and clubs. Being flushed from being sozzled, the stickiness that comes with expending energy, the cold chill of stress and horror, the fluster of a fluttering heart upon making a connection: they're all sources of wet skin as well. Filmmaker Molly Manning Walker catalogues them all. Viewers can see the sweat in How to Have Sex, with its intimate, spirited, like-you're-there cinematography. More importantly, audiences can feel why protagonist Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce, Vampire Academy) is perspiring, and the differences scene to scene, even when she's not quite sure herself. How to Have Sex also gets those watching sweating — because spying how you've been Tara, or her pals Em (debutant Enva Lewis) and Skye (Lara Peake, Halo), or lads Badger (Shaun Thomas, Ali & Ava) and Paddy (Samuel Bottomley, The Last Rifleman) in the neighbouring resort unit, is inescapable. Walker has been there herself, with parts of her debut feature as a writer and director drawn from her own time as a Tara, Em or Skye while also making the spring break and Schoolies-like pilgrimage from England to the Mediterranean. When the movie doesn't lift details directly from her own experience, it shares them with comparable moments that are virtually ripped from western teendom. One of the feature's strokes of genius is how lived-in it proves, whether Tara and her mates are as loud and exuberant as girls are when their whole lives are ahead of them, its main character is attempting to skip her troubles in a sea of strobing lights and dancing bodies, or slipping between the sheets — but not talking about it — is changing who Tara is forever. How to Have Sex streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Molly Manning Walker. Bob Marley: One Love There's no doubting who Bob Marley: One Love is about, but the Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard)-directed biopic also brings two other big-screen portraits of music superstars to mind. There's always a dance through a legend's history flickering somewhere, or close to it, with the initial dramatised look at the reggae icon arriving after Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis both proved major hits in recent years. Where the first, which focused on Freddie Mercury, had Live Aid, Bob Marley: One Love has the One Love Peace Concert. Both are gigs to build a movie around, and both features have done just that. Baz Luhrmann's portrait of the king of rock 'n' roll wanted its audience to understand what it was like to watch its namesake, be in his presence and feel entranced by every hip thrust — and, obviously without the gyrating pelvis, Bob Marley: One Love also opts for that approach. Enter Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, in a vital piece of casting. Although it may not earn him an Oscar as Bohemian Rhapsody did Rami Malek (Oppenheimer), or even a nomination as Elvis scored for Austin Butler (Masters of the Air), the British actor turns in a phenomenal performance. He's worlds away from being a Ken in Barbie. He isn't in wholly new territory seeing that he played Malcolm X in One Night in Miami and Barack Obama in TV series The Comey Rule. He's also magnetic and mesmerising — and, in the process, expresses how and why Marley was magnetic and mesmerising. Ben-Adir's vocals are blended with Marley's. Accordingly, you're largely listening to the singer himself. But there's a presence about Ben-Adir in the part, perfecting Jamaican patois, getting kinetic and uninhibited in his movement while he's behind the microphone, radiating charisma, but also conveying purpose and self-possession. It's a portrayal that's as entrancing and alive as the music that's always echoing alongside it; with Marley's discography, that's saying something. Bob Marley: One Love streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton and Reinaldo Marcus Green. Riceboy Sleeps When Riceboy Sleeps charts the passage of time from 1990 to 1999 partway into the movie, the Canadian film does so with Dong-hyun at its centre. As a six-year-old (played by debutant Dohyun Noel Hwang) navigating his initial taste of school from behind his large round glasses, he's shy, sensitive, and constantly reminded that he's different by teachers and classmates. As a 15-year-old (Ethan Hwang, The Umbrella Academy) with bleached-blonde hair and faux blue eyes, he's adopted a coping mechanism: trying to blend in. Riceboy Sleeps isn't just about Dong-hyun, who takes the anglicised name David in his attempts to assimilate. It's as much about his mother So-young (fellow feature first-timer Choi Seung-yoon), who relocates him from South Korea to North America after his soldier father's suicide. Writer/director Anthony Shim's sophomore release after 2019's Daughter hones in on the act of seeing, too — gleaning what's around you, who, why, the past that lingers, the stories that echo — as Dong-hyun and So-young survey where they are, where they've been, and how their history keeps dictating their present and future. In that aforementioned time jump, Shim — who helms, pens, edits and acts — and cinematographer Christopher Lew (Quickening) make eyes the focus. When Riceboy Sleeps dwells in the first year of the 90s, Dong-hyun's spectacles are frames within the frame, giving the boy his own windows to the world that he fidgets with, seems burdened by and, in an act of bullying by his peers, has dinged up and taken away. When the movie hits the end of the decade, Dong-hyun is putting in his contacts, therefore making the lens with which he perceives his existence invisible. Semi-inspired by his own childhood as a South Korean arrival to Vancouver Island in the 90s, including attending a school where he was the only Asian student, Riceboy Sleeps is this thoughtful at every level. The movement, and later lack thereof, of Lew's camerawork is just as loaded with meaning: in Canada, it's restless in long wide shots, careening around gracefully but noticeably and finding points to fixate on; back across the Pacific Ocean in the picture's bookending segments, it's still but just as observational. Riceboy Sleeps streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Boys in the Boat The Social Network isn't a rowing film, but the Henley Royal Regatta sequence in David Fincher's (The Killer) 2010 triumph quickly became one of cinema's most-famous oar-sweeping moments. Prestige, money, tradition, opulence, power, competition, determination: they all wash through the tightly shot segment, which gleams with the water of the River Thames, the sweat on the crew's faces and, just as importantly, with status. Definitely a rowing film, The Boys in the Boat paddles into the same world; however, a commentator's line mid-movie sums up the focus and angle of this old-fashioned underdog sports flick. "Old money versus no money at all" is how the usual big and rich names in the field and the University of Washington's junior varsity team are compared. George Clooney's (The Tender Bar) ninth feature as a director doesn't just spot the class-clash difference there — his entire picture wades into that gulf. Drawn from 2013 non-fiction novel The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown, reuniting Clooney with his The Midnight Sky screenwriter Mark L Smith in the process, The Boys in the Boat is about the UW's rowing efforts, rower Joe Rantz and coach Al Ulbrickson, too — plus an against-the-odds quest, bold choices, the struggles of the Great Depression, the reality of an Olympics held under the Nazi regime and the looming shadow of war. But thrumming at its heart like a coxswain is setting the pace is the mission to keep afloat one stroke at a time, and not merely in the pursuit of glory and medals. What rowing means to Rantz (Callum Turner, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), the character at its centre, as well as to the classmates-turned-crewmates catching and extracting with him under the guidance of the stoic Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton, I'm a Virgo), is pure survival first and foremost. The Boys in the Boat streams via Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Joel Edgerton. Looking for more viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and fast-tracked highlights from January, February and March 2024 (and also January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2023, too). We keep a running list of must-stream TV from across 2024 as well, complete with full reviews. And, we've also rounded up 2023's 15 best films, 15 best straight-to-streaming movies, 15 top flicks hardly anyone saw, 30 other films to catch up with, 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows that you might've missed and 15 best returning shows.
It's always good to have a killer cocktail recipe up your sleeve. Whether you're hosting a Hottest 100 countdown party in your backyard, heading to a beachside Boxing Day barbecue or your mates stop by unexpectedly for a few cold ones before a night out — the drinks you serve can make or break the vibe. While the sun is shining and the days are long, you can't go past a fruity, tropical tipple with a generous splash of rum. We've teamed up with BATI and RATU by RUM Co of Fiji to craft three cocktail recipes to help you become the true hero of summer. They're fancier than goon punch in a laundry bucket and, to be honest, require about the same amount of effort. Your friends will be talking about these drinks all summer. FIJIAN DAIQUIRI Make like you're lying on a beach in Fiji and whip up a few of these bad boys next time you're entertaining poolside. — 45ml RATU Spiced Rum — 45ml coconut water — 15ml fresh lime juice — 15ml falernum syrup Add the rum, coconut water, lime juice and falernum syrup (which you should be able to find at any decent bottle shop) to a cocktail shaker with a good handful of ice and shake it like you mean it. If you're all out of fresh coconuts, strain into a chilled coupe or champagne glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or slice of coconut to make it a bit fancy. SPICED AND STORMY An absolute classic for a reason — there's just something heavenly about the combo of spiced rum, a spicy ginger beer and a tangy hint of lime. — 30ml BATI Spiced Rum — two dashes of aromatic bitters — ginger beer — lime wedges This one is super easy. Fill a highball glass with ice, throw in some spiced rum, two dashes of bitters and two lime wedges (after you've squeezed in their juice). Top with the ginger beer of your choice — make it the alcoholic variety for an extra kick or take it easy with non-alcoholic fizz. CORRETTO PACIFICO Coffee and liquor, they go together like peanut butter and chocolate, like wine and cheese — like, well, coffee and liquor. This one is a pacific twist on a classic corretto, which has been served in Italian bars and coffee shops for decades. It's like a simple (and easy) espresso martini. — 45ml RATU Signature Blend Rum — 30ml cold brew coffee — orange slices Pour the rum and cold brew coffee into a chilled rocks glass with some ice and give it a gentle stir. Garnish with a slice of orange and let the compliments roll in. Feeling Adventurous? Learn more about BATI and RATU by RUM Co of Fiji here.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures will do that, and so will plenty of people staying home because they aren't well — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Perhaps you've been under the weather. Given the hefty amount of titles now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are eight that you can watch right now at home. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga To Valhalla, George Miller went: when Mad Max: Fury Road thundered across and shone upon the silver screen in 2015, and it did both, it gave cinema one of the greatest action movies ever made. It has taken nine years for the Australian filmmaker to back up one of the 21st century's masterpieces with another stunt-filled drive through his dystopian franchise — a realm that now dates back 45 years, with Mad Max first envisaging a hellscape Down Under in 1979 — and he's achieved the immensely enviable. Fury Road and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga's white-hued, silver-lipped war boys pray to gain entry to a mythological dreamscape just once, but Miller keeps returning again and again (only 1985's Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, in a now five-film series that also includes 1981's Mad Max 2, is anything less than heavenly). "The question is: do you have what it takes to make it epic?" Miller has Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love and Thunder) ask in Furiosa as biker-horde leader Dementus, he of the post-apocalyptic Thor-meets-Roman gladiator look and chariot-by-motorcycle mode of transport. Returning to all things Mad Max after an affecting detour to 2022's djinn fable Three Thousand Years of Longing, the writer/director might've been posing himself the same query — and he resoundingly answers in the affirmative. An origin story-spinning prequel has rarely felt as essential as this unearthing of its namesake's history, which Fury Road hinted at when it introduced Furiosa (then played by Charlize Theron, Fast X) and made her the movie's hero above and beyond Mad Max (Tom Hardy, Venom: Let There Be Carnage). Discovering the full Furiosa tale felt imperative then, too, and with good reason: Miller had already planned the figure's own film to flesh out her background before her celluloid debut, and that she existed well past her interactions with Max was always as apparent as the steely glare that said everything without words. Now with both Anya Taylor-Joy (The Super Mario Bros Movie) and Alyla Browne (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) playing the lead, Furiosa lives up to that promise. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and George Miller. Monster When a movie repeats its events through fresh eyes, answers usually follow. But as Hirokazu Kore-eda opts for the Rashomon effect in Monster, using a technique that fellow great Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa deployed with one of his famous features, the director that won the Palme d'Or for 2018's Shoplifters refuses to stop asking questions. In this picture, which picked up the Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival — and again sees Kore-eda collaborate with Kazuko Kurosawa (The Third Murder), daughter of Akira, as its costume designer — layers keep mounting. There's no shortage of cinema that stresses how there's never merely one set of peepers to peer through, but in this masterful and moving addition to that realm, from one of the best at conveying empathy that film as a medium benefits from today, each pass in search of the full story builds a case not just for filtering the world through more than what's easy and reactive, but through acceptance and understanding. Kore-eda knows this: that perspectives, just like perceptions, can be misleading, blinkered and blinded. So when rumour proclaims that a new teacher frequents hostess bars, when a boy has tales of being called names by the same educator, when said man points the finger at the kid as a bully to one of his classmates instead and when the two children at the centre of the situation are friends with a cherished bond, a clearcut view is in short supply. This is the first movie since 1995's Maborosi that the filmmaker has only helmed and not also written, but Yûji Sakamoto's (In Love and Deep Water) Cannes Best Screenplay-winning script is a classic entry on the director's resume. Monster is also Kore-eda's homecoming, after making his post-Shoplifters films until now elsewhere — 2019's The Truth in France, then 2022's Broker in South Korea — and it's a stellar return. Monster streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Watchers A quarter of a century ago, M Night Shyamalan started coaching audiences to associate his surname with on-screen twists. Now that The Sixth Sense writer/director's daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan is following in his footsteps by making her first feature, decades of that viewer training across Unbreakable, Signs, The Visit, Split, Glass and more laps at The Watchers' feet. The question going in for those watching is obvious: will the second-generation filmmaker, who first worked as a second-unit director on her dad's Old and Knock at the Cabin — and also penned and helmed episodes of exceptionally eerie horror TV series Servant, on which her father was the showrunner — turn M Night's well-known and -established penchant for surprise reveals that completely recontextualise his narratives into a family trademark? Viewing a Shyamalan movie from The Sixth Sense onwards has always been an exercise in piecing together a puzzle, sleuthing along as clues are dropped about how the story might swiftly shift. It's no different with The Watchers, which Ishana adapts from AM Shine's novel and M Night produces. The younger filmmaking Shyamalan leans into the expectations that come with being her dad's offspring and picking up a camera, making a supernatural mystery-thriller horror flick and living with his brand of screen stories for her entire life. That said, while it's easy to initially think of The Village when The Watchers sets its narrative in isolated surroundings where the woods are filled with threats, and also of Knock at the Cabin given that its four main characters are basically holed up in one, Ishana demonstrates her own prowess with this Dakota Fanning (Ripley)-led flick, including by heartily embracing her source material's gothic air. The Watchers streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Ishana Night Shyamalan. The Beast Watching a film by French writer/director Bertrand Bonello can feel like having a spell cast upon you. In movies such as 2016's Nocturama and 2019's Zombi Child, that's how magnetic and entrancing his blend of ethereal mood and dreamy imagery has felt. So it is with The Beast, too, another hypnotic feature that bewitches and also probes, because none of these three Bonello flicks ask their viewers to merely submit. Rather, they enchant while raising questions about the state of the world, whether digging into consumerism and anarchy, hierarchies of race and class, or the role of humanity in an increasingly technology-mediated society. The latter is the domain of the filmmaker's loose adaptation of Henry James' 1903 novella The Beast in the Jungle — a take that, as its author didn't and couldn't, perceives how the clash of humanity's emotions and artificial intelligence's data-driven analysis is fated to favour the cold and the calculating. In 2044, the very fact that people are guided by their feelings has rendered them unsuitable for most jobs in The Beast's AI-dominated vision of the future. Played with the mastery of both deeply conveyed expression and telling stillness that's long characterised her performances, Dune: Part Two, Crimes of the Future and No Time to Die's Léa Seydoux is Gabrielle, who is among the throngs relegated to drone-like drudgery in this new world order. To shift her daily reality, where she reads the temperature of data cores, she only has one path forward: a cleansing of her DNA. It involves spending sessions immersed in a black goopy bath to confront her emotions and past, a procedure that she's told will rid her of her trauma and baggage. Crossing paths with Gabrielle at the treatment centre, Louis (1917 and True History of the Kelly Gang's George MacKay) has the same choice. The Beast streams via YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. Housekeeping for Beginners Every film is a portrait of ups and downs, no matter the genre. Without change and complications, plus either a sprinkling or a shower of chaos, there's little in the way of story for a movie to tell. In just three features, each hitting cinemas Down Under in successive years since 2022, Macedonian Australian filmmaker Goran Stolevski has demonstrated how deeply he understands this fact — and also that life itself is, of course, the same rollercoaster ride. So, when Housekeeping for Beginners starts by jumping between a joyous sing-along and a grim doctor's visit, he lays that juxtaposition between existence's highs and the lows bare in his third picture's frames. He has form: You Won't Be Alone, his folkloric horror film set in 19th-century Macedonia, segued early from new life to a witch's fate-shaping demands; Of an Age, a queer love story that unfurls in Melbourne, kicked off by flitting between dancing and a desperate against-the-clock rush. In You Won't Be Alone, the shapeshifting Wolf-Eateress who chose an infant to be her protege was played by Anamaria Marinca, the Romanian actor who has proven an unforgettable screen presence ever since the one-two punch of 2004's TV two-parter Sex Traffic — which won her a Best Actress BAFTA — and 2007's Cannes Palme d'Or-winning film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Stolevski reenlists her assistance for Housekeeping for Beginners, and also illustrates his awareness of another immutable fact: that the eyes of Anamaria Marinca relay tales all by themselves. Here, they're weary but sharp and determined. They're devoted yet fierce, too. They possess the unrelenting gaze of someone who won't stop fighting for those she loves no matter what it takes, and regardless of how she initially reacts, a path that her social-worker character Dita is no stranger to traversing. Housekeeping for Beginners streams via YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Move over New York — it's time for New South Wales to be overrun by a simian civilisation. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn't swap the Statue of Liberty for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Rather, it was just made in Australia; this franchise is long past needing to anchor itself in a specific location, but America's west coast is the in-narrative setting. No it-was-earth-all-along twists are necessary, either, as France's famous gift to the US signalled back in 1968 when Pierre Boulle's novel La Planète des singes initially made it to the screen. More than half a century later — plus four sequels to the OG Planet of the Apes, both live-action and animated TV shows, Tim Burton's (Wednesday) remake and the reboot flicks that started with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes — the saga's basics are widely known in pop culture. The titular planet is humanity's own. In this vision of the future, a different kind of primate runs the show. Since day one, every Planet of the Apes tale has been a mirror. Gazing into the science-fiction series means seeing the power structures and societal struggles of our reality staring back — discrimination, authoritarianism and even the impact of a world-ravaging virus should ring a bell— but with humans no longer atop the pecking order. These are allegorical stories and, at their best, thoughtful ones, probing the responsibilities of being the planet's dominant force and the ramifications of taking that mantle for granted. Not every instalment has handled the task as well as it should've, but those that do leave a paw print. Coming after not just Rise of the Planet of the Apes but also 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes from The Maze Runner, The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and The Maze Runner: Death Cure director Wes Ball falls into that category. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. La Chimera It's a film about searching for treasure, and it is indeed a treasure. La Chimera is also dreamy in its look and, while watching, makes its viewers feel as if they've been whisked into one. There's much that fantasies are made of in writer/director Alice Rohrwacher's fourth feature, which follows Corpo Celeste, The Wonders and Happy as Lazzaro — God's Own Country breakout and The Crown star Josh O'Connor leading the picture as a British archaeologist raiding tombs in 80s-era Italy chief among them. Thinking about Lara Croft, be it the game, or the Angelina Jolie (in 2001 and 2003 flicks)- or Alicia Vikander (2018's Tomb Raider)-led movies, is poking into the wrong patch of soil. Thinking instead about the way that life is built upon the dead again and again, and upon unearthed secrets as well, is part of what makes La Chimera gleam. Rohrwacher's latest, which also boasts her Happy as Lazzaro collaborator Carmela Covino as a collaborating writer — plus Marco Pettenello (Io vivo altrove!) — resembles an illusion not just because it's a rare mix of both magical-realist and neorealist in one, too (well, rare for most who aren't this director). In addition, this blend of romance and drama alongside tragedy and comedy sports its mirage-esque vibe thanks to being so welcomely easy to get lost in. As a snapshot of a tombaroli gang in Tuscany that pilfers from Etruscan crypts to try to get by, it's a feature to dig into. As an example of how poetic a film can be, it's one to soar with. The loose red thread that weaves throughout La Chimera's frames, intriguing folks within the movie, also embodies how viewers should react: we want to chase it and hold on forever, even as we know that, as the feature's 130 minutes tick by, the picture is destined to slip through our fingers. La Chimera streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. IF Imaginary friends should be seen, but people trying to survive an alien invasion should not be heard. So goes John Krasinski's recent flicks as a filmmaker. While IF, The Office star's fifth feature behind the lens, has nothing to do with 2018 horror hit A Quiet Place or its 2020 sequel A Quiet Place Part II, the three movies share a focus on the senses and their importance in forming bonds. When Krasinski's two post-apocalyptic hits forced humanity into silence for survival, they contemplated what it meant to be perceived — or not — as a basic element of human connection amid the bumps, jumps and tale of a family attempting to endure. With IF, the writer/director also ponders existence and absence. It skews younger, though, and also more whimsical, for a family-friendly story about a girl assisting made-up mates that are yearning Toy Story-style to have flesh-and-blood pals again. The horror genre still lingers over IF, however. It doesn't haunt in tone, because this isn't 2024's fellow release Imaginary; rather, it's a sentimental fantasy-adventure film, enthusiastically so. But from the moment that the movie's narrative introduces its IFs, as the picture dubs imaginary friends, it's easy to spot Krasinski's inspiration. In New York staying with her grandmother Margaret (Fiona Shaw, True Detective: Night Country) while her dad (Krasinski, Jack Ryan) is having heart surgery, 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming, The Walking Dead) starts seeing pretend creatures. Aided by Cal (Ryan Reynolds, Ghosted), who lives upstairs from Bea's nan, she then has a task: reuniting critters such as Blue (Steve Carell, Asteroid City), the purple-hued furry monster that, alongside Minnie Mouse-meets-butterfly Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), is one of the first IFs that she spots, with the now-adults that conjured them up as children. IF streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Looking for more viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and fast-tracked highlights from January, February, March, April, May and June 2024 (and also January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2023, too). We keep a running list of must-stream TV from across 2024 as well, complete with full reviews. And, we've also rounded up 2024's 15 best films, 15 best new TV shows and 15 best returning TV shows from the first half of the year. Also, here's 2023's 15 best films, 15 best straight-to-streaming movies, 15 top flicks hardly anyone saw, 30 other films to catch up with, 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows that you might've missed and 15 best returning shows as well.
Industrial meets rustic at Coorparoo's newest eatery, and restaurant meets function space too. Factory 51's origins are all there in its name, after all. Now, the red brick building that everything from metal fabricators to enamel painters to laminex manufacturers have previously called home has become a warm, welcoming bistro and bar with its very own party and meeting venue. Indeed, you can't escape Factory 51's history when you walk in the doors, with an original cast iron band saw the first thing that greets patrons. Concrete, brick and steel-heavy décor keeps the mechanised theme going, but don't expect food to match. As you can see while watch your meals get made — and guess from the inviting fairy lights and cosy deck with a retractable roof — all things hearty and tasty have pride of place on this menu. Gastropub-like nibbles, salads and share plates including a delectable-sounding baked camembert board kick off the edible side of things; however an imported wood-fired oven and char grill are the main attraction in Factory 51's open kitchen. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that lunch means burgers and steaks, or that dinner means seared meats and ten types of pizzas made with 48-hour fermented dough. For dessert fiends, the latter also boasts a Nutella option, while anyone after an accompanying tipple can enjoy one of ten brews on tap, or browse the extensive cocktail, wine and spirits lists. Now that's our kind of factory.
There are two types of people in this world: those who must eat brekkie and those who roll out of bed and get to the office sans sustenance. If you're the latter, we get it — life often gets in the way of breaking your fast. No doubt, though, when 11am hits, you're usually stinging for a snack. Whether you reach for the office bikkie tin or dash out to grab something from the closest cafe, there's no question our productivity is better when we're not counting down the minutes till lunch. So, why not save yourself from going hungry — and save some dosh — by making your own snacks? In partnership with Glad and its new Glad to be Green range, we've teamed up with Cornersmith Co-owner Alex Elliott-Howery to bring you the perfect go-to treat: the tahini muesli bar. While Alex is a master of pickles and preserves, she also makes mighty good snacks. She's also passionate about reducing food waste, with sustainability a big focus at Cornersmith, as well when she cooks at home. Alex's tahini muesli bars are packed with pantry staples, so minimal planning is required — and they take all of 20 minutes to make. So, do yourself a favour and whip up these nutritious and delicious bars. And, just think of the bragging rights when you bring these homemade treats into the office. [caption id="attachment_813279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Gibbs[/caption] INGREDIENTS Makes 12 bars Dry ingredients 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup desiccated coconut or puffed rice (or a mix of both) 1 cup mix of pepitas, linseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds Handful chopped walnuts, almonds or hazlenuts 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/3 cup LSA or wheatgerm 60g chocolate buttons or dried fruit Wet ingredients 1/2 cup tahini 1/2 cup honey 1/3 cup coconut oil [caption id="attachment_813284" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Gibbs[/caption] METHOD Preheat oven to 160 degree celsius and line a 16 centimetre x 16 centimetre tray with Glad's compostable baking paper. Combine tahini, honey and coconut oil in a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Then, in a bowl, combine rolled oats, desiccated coconut or puffed rice (or both), your mix of seeds, the nut of your choice and ground cinnamon. Stir wet mixture through the dry muesli mix, ensuring to coat well. Add LSA (or wheatgerm) and chocolate buttons (or dried fruit) and stir well to combine. Pour mixture into baking tray and press to flatten. Cover with baking paper and firmly press the mixture again with the palm of your hand. Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until golden brown. Refrigerate overnight to allow to set. Then, cut into 12 bars (or whatever your ideal snack size is). Keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. For some additional tips, check out the video below. https://vimeo.com/557081707 Go green and visit the Glad website for more tips and tricks. Top images: Reuben Gibbs
Tim Minchin's theatrical hit Matilda the Musical is finally heading Brisbane's way, and will make its Queensland premiere at the QPAC Lyric Theatre in November 2015. Having earned critical acclaim and popular adoration on the West End and Broadway, as well as around the country, the show looks set to do the same here. But Matilda comes with more cred than your usual musical extravaganza. The staggeringly successful show (just seven Olivier Awards and five Tonys, whatevs) was adapted from the original Roald Dahl novel by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Australia's own Minchin wrote the music and lyrics, bringing the requisite level of devilishly dark humour. As the Guardian put it, "You'd be a nitwit to miss [it]". Those in the loop will probably already know that Minchin has now moved on to an adaptation of the 1993 classic Groundhog Day. The film's original writer, Danny Rubin, wrote the "book" and Matthew Warchus, who directed Matilda's London and Broadway runs, works his magic again. Sadly, no, Bill Murray doesn't star. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2ZsmXBBKvTk
After the year or so we've all had, a vacation is always on the cards. But sometimes the best option is to have a sneaky weekend getaway without leaving Sydney at all. There's something undeniably romantic about staying in a hotel room in your own city. It should be mandatory for us all, at least once in a while. We all need to take a break from the drudgery of life, and to become the best versions of ourselves — that is, the hotel version. Staycationing in Sydney has never been better, with quite the cornucopia of boutique hotels popping up around the city — from heritage-listed warehouses to Victorian mansions and everything in-between. There are some seriously impressive (and incredibly designed) hotels awaiting your arrival. Pencil one into your calendar as soon as possible. PARAMOUNT HOUSE HOTEL, SURRY HILLS When Paramount House Hotel was first announced back in August 2017, the hotel promised it wouldn't be your standard luxury hotel, but rather an experience that would embed patrons into the culture of Sydney's inner city suburb of Surry Hills. All we can say is that, when it opened in 2018, it delivered on that guarantee. You'll never have a dull moment at Paramount, as the building offers up a rooftop gym, independent cinema and one of Sydney's best cafes — plus, depending on when you book your stay, you're likely to find a dance party, art exhibition or a film retrospective awaiting your attendance. Set in an old 40s warehouse, the 29-room hotel features soaring ceilings with exposed brickwork, and while there's also luxury copper finishes, Jardan sofas, premium kilim rugs from Pakistan and a one-of-a-kind vending machine, the appeal of the place is less tangible in its nature. It's both the vibe and history of the surrounding community that make Paramount House Hotel a special stay. WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL, WARWICK FARM Named after Australia's renowned thoroughbred company, William Inglis and Sons, Western Sydney's latest hotel is a sure thing if you're after a mini Sydney staycation. The William Inglis Hotel's centrepiece is its rooftop bar, which offers a spot to relax by the pool with a drink — and to soak in the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Warwick Farm. Once you've built up an appetite, head downstairs to the Newmarket Room, the hotel's luxe dining room overlooking the gardens and riverside horse stables. It serves up everything you want on a carefree staycation, from oysters to prawn linguine and NSW Riverina black angus steak. Whisky fans will be at home here, too — the mezzanine's 1867 Lounge serves high-end cocktails and boutique wines. THE OLD CLARE, CHIPPENDALE Since its highly anticipated re-opening back in 2015, Chippendale's Old Clare Hotel has held a firm place as one of the city's best boutique hotels. Reborn from the (metaphorical) ashes of the historic (and dearly beloved) Clare Hotel, and adjoining Carlton United Brewery Administrative Building, the hotel boasts heritage timber panelling and exposed brick walls, furnished with pendant lighting and vintage furniture. Plus, you can bring your pup along thanks to several dog-friendly suites. Other hotel amenities include a rooftop pool and bar, private gym and free bike hire, as well as in-room massage services. Guests can also take advantage of custom-made bicycles to explore the surrounding neighbourhood. At night, simply relax at The Clare Bar — or at the hotel restaurant, Automata, which gives all guests a cool 20-percent off. OVOLO, WOOLLOOMOOLOO Situated in a gorgeous heritage-listed building in Sydney's harbourside suburb of Woolloomooloo, the Ovolo is a concept boutique hotel that has plenty of character. The amount of free amenities and offerings for guests is unrivalled, including continental breakfast, a free in-room mini bar, happy hour drinks in the evening and ultra fast wifi. Plus, there's an indoor pool and gym, too, as well as pet-friendly rooms. The stunning rooms are all generous in size, the facilities are open 24 hours a day and flexibility lies at the heart of every feature. Now, the hotel is also a go-to for culinary delights, thanks to plant-based restaurant Alibi. It's the first Australian venture by world-famous vegan chef Matthew Kenney, who hails from California. The menu is big on creative combinations of fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, and the new drinks list focused on Australian drops. CRYSTALBROOK ALBION, SURRY HILLS Crystalbrook Albion is a luxurious operation in the heart of Surry Hills. It was launched back in July 2018 by 8Hotels, but has since been acquired by the Crystalbrook Collection hotel group. With 24-hour service and brekkie included, this guest house is pitched as a fusion of hotel and home. Here, you'll get to lounge around in designer interiors decked out with a covetable art collection — and in a rooftop garden complete with an outdoor shower and panoramic city views. There's also an honour-system bar, where guests can help themselves to high-end nibbles and drinks. When it comes to the food and drinks, both at the breakfast table and in the mini bar, working with local businesses such as Brix Distillery, Infinity Bakery and Poho Flowers is of major importance. CITADINES CONNECT, SYDNEY AIRPORT Airport accommodations are normally pretty drab, but the lively 150-room Citadines Connect (formerly the Felix Hotel) is bucking this trend with a truly first-class stay. Inspired by the golden age of air travel in the 60s — that is, before budget airlines made you pay for water — the seamless experience starts from the get-go with guests heading straight to the top-level penthouse to check-in. From here, overlooking the runway, guests can enjoy the rooftop cinema, dining area, heated outdoor terrace and colourful cocktail bar — the latter of which will undoubtedly be a departure from the usual monotonous airport watering holes. QT SYDNEY, CBD Every one of QT Sydney's guest suites have been carefully crafted to reflect and honour the historic Gowings and State Theatre buildings in which it resides. QT's exterior sports a striking blend of gothic, art deco, and Italianate-influenced architecture — and inside, the luxurious rooms carry through that art deco-meets-gothic aesthetic to quite the striking degree. Plus, thanks to its location right in the centre of the CBD — and alongside one of the city's most famous theatres — it's a great pick for out-of-towners, while locals can often be found making the best of its various bars, bistros and restaurants. Just nearby, you'll find Sammy Junior, Glass Brasserie and The Grounds of the City; however, if you don't feel like leaving your hotel, you're in luck. The QT hosts the renowned Gowings Bar & Grill, too. Want to stay a little closer to the beach? Hop over to the QT Bondi for a coastal escape. THE LANGHAM, MILLERS POINT Just a ten-minute walk from Circular Quay and The Rocks, The Langham is the epitome of boutique indulgence. With only 96 exquisite rooms on offer, demand for even just one night at this Sydney institution is high all year round — and with facilities like its fitness centre, sauna, day spa and a spectacular 20-metre indoor pool with a star-dappled sky ceiling, you'll find it hard to tear yourself away from the hotel to explore the amazing areas that surround it. Within the suites, expect plush furniture, high ceilings and large windows over-looking the western side of the harbour. Bed and breakfast specials are also on offer, as is a 'pampered pets program' — making it one of Sydney's only pet-friendly accommodation options at luxury level. OUT OF TOWN: BANNISTERS, PORT STEPHENS Bannisters opened its much-anticipated third NSW hotel in Port Stephens back in 2018. With two already in Mollymook, the boutique chain's latest outpost is perched on absolute beachfront in Soldiers Point. The luxury digs includes dog-friendly rooms, stunning views, super-luxe suites and, for very special occasions, a penthouse. Depending on where you choose to stay, you'll be looking out at either the tranquil waters of Nelson Bay or dense forest — or both. Wherever you sleep, you can look forward to light-filled spaces, Hamptons-inspired white hues, king-sized beds and decadent touches. Among the common facilities is an infinity pool — looking out across the river — and the Terrace Bar. Plus, if you're keen to indulge, Rick Stein at Bannisters is also on the water, with Stein and head chef Mitchell Turner overseeing a menu big on premium seafood. Top image:
Wikipedia tells us that to be 'at sixes and sevens' is to be in a state of confusion or disarray. James Street's newest watering hole looks set to replace confusion and disarray with a slightly more positive state of mind. At Sixes and Sevens, the young trendy sister to Cru Bar, has both style and substance. The bar is housed in a heritage-listed cottage on the corner of James and Arthur Streets, and while the building interior has received a makeover, the homely feel and classic features have been well preserved. Close enough to the heart of Fortitude Valley to draw a enthusiastic groups yet far enough away from the maddening crowd of the Valley mall to feel like a sanctuary, it is a great location to enjoy a casual lunch or start the evening's festivities. Mixing kitsch with classic, At Sixes and Sevens' fit-out incorporates Astroturf, log stools, striking wallpaper, emerald green tiles, worn leather armchairs, exposed light bulbs and candles in wine glasses. Rest your bones in front of the original fireplace, enjoy a summer night's breeze in the outside seating area or share a meal in the dining corner; all options are comfortable and well thought-out. All the usual suspects are on offer at the bar, with the happy addition of sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio on tap. A lengthy food menu keeps the kitchen busy with a selection of snacks and larger plates. Despite the prestigious James Street location, drink prices are very reasonable and most dishes come in under $20. Eftpos can be used over the bar and an ATM is also available towards the back of the establishment. This is a bar that looks likely to draw an upwardly mobile crowd with a slightly younger average age than traditionally frequents James Street.
After a hefty renovation, Fortitude Valley favourite The Wickham has reopened its doors. Hitting up the heritage-listed Wickham Street now means enjoying a revamped beer garden — one that's now weather-proof, too, taking not only Brisbane's sunshine but the city's storms into account — and spying pops of colour everywhere, spotting Jennifer Coolidge among the artwork and tucking into Disco Fruit Tingle cocktails served in disco balls. It was back in August 2022 that the 138-year-old venue's makeover was announced, with Australian Venue Co advising that it'd be putting $1.5 million into The Wickham's fresh look. Renovating a bar that dates back to 1885 isn't a small task, though. Accordingly, in early March the hospitality company advised that hotel's do-over cost $3.1 million. As seen across the revamped outdoor area and two newly done-up indoor spaces, that sum has gone into a new design by Newline Design — well, as new as the site's heritage listing allows. Walk through The Wickham now and you'll notice a mix of the old and the fresh, aka balancing historic charm with upgrades. A new kitchen has been put in as well. Among the existing areas of the pub that've been given a new lease on life, The Wickham's old corner bar and studio spaces are now welcoming in patrons in their new guise. They've both been renamed, dubbed The Peacock Room and Garland Room, respectively. And yes, they now sport decor to match. The Peacock Room is decked out with vintage furniture, work by local artists — heroing LGBTQIA+ talent — plus nods to the Wickham's peacock Frankie. It's also the venue's favourite option for cruisy drinks. Garland Room is the venue's new club space, which means that DJs, performers and parties will be filling it ASAP. The Wickham's reopening also sees it bring back Thursday night trivia in the beer garden, live tunes from Friday–Sunday and drag shows on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Peacock Room is also set to host bottomless burlesque brunch sessions once a month. Menu-wise, Executive Chef Dylan Kemp is overseeing the new food lineup, which spans stone-baked pizzas, bar snacks and late-night options, including a sizeable range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. On offer: cauliflower hot bites, fried quail with truffle mash — and a menu just for dogs that spans crispy pig skin, meat balls, gravy and peanut butter. Taking cues from the 70s and its fondness for disco, the drinks list has scored a once-over as well. Think: those aforementioned Disco Fruit Tingles; Glitter Bellinis, complete with edible glitter; and frozen G&Ts made with pineapple tonic. If you're keen on a tipple without the booze, the venue has upped its non-alcoholic range of wines, spirits, beers and cocktails as well, which'll feature a No-groni and the Espresso Marti-no. The Wickham is no stranger to nips and tucks during its century-plus existence, of course, including last undergoing a refresh back in 2014 and gaining five completely new spaces in the process.
As far as next-level design goes, the humble bowling alley has quite the tendency to err on the side of OTT. They either take us back in time to the '50s, milkshakes and the halcyon days when bowling was literally the most fun you could have, or they blast us forward in time to a super luxurious, neon space rave. Sometimes they let you play in an underwater grotto. Wherever they take us, bowling alleys are always an adventure. They're the perfect setting for novelty dates or big group outings because they allow everyone, from graceful sports stars to kidults who need bumper bars, to look cute in bowling shoes. We're getting into the Lebowski-loved art that is bowling this winter (even if we have to use bumpers), so we thought we'd take a little desk trip to some of the most unique bowling alleys around the world. If you've a hankering to drink, bowl and party closer to home, check out your local bowling alley's seasonal deals (like these clangers Kingpin are offering right now). It might just be one of the best date ideas under $50 this city's ever seen. [caption id="attachment_578915" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] WHITE HOUSE BOWLING ALLEY, WASHINGTON The President of the United States may spend his days running the country but you know he spends his nights obliterating pins in his swagged out bowling alleys. That's right, plural. There are two bowling alleys in the White House and one is, naturally, decorated in blue and red (patriotism never sleeps). You can access the bowling alley during your overnight stay at the White House (which will set you back a surprisingly doable US$400 a night). ALL STAR LANES, LONDON Now, All Star Lanes may be a franchised restaurant/bar/bowling alley, but they really turn up the charm. Their Brick Lane location in London is dripping in old-school glam, the Holgate iteration takes it back to retro middle America in the '70s while the Bayswater venue is, rather inexplicably, retro-Western. All the venues include break-away dining and bar areas with a killer menu. Come for the bowling, stay for the grilled cheese (with a stacked shake on the side to make your retro experience more authentic and belt-loosening). UNCLE BUCK'S FISH BOWL AND GRILL, TACOMA Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill, a family restaurant in Tacoma, may boast one of the weirdest bowling alleys in the world. The whole venue is styled in an under-the-sea theme (because, y'know, they serve seafood) but they've reeeally pushed the boat out (yeah we did) on this concept. Nowhere is this more acute, or disturbing, than in the 16-lane bowling alley. The room shimmers like it truly is underwater and large colourful fish hang from the wavy ceiling. Your bowling balls are spat back to you from the terrifying maws of crocodiles, sharks and octopus. In summary: it's amazing, tacky and we want to go to there. BROOKLYN BOWL, NEW YORK Rolling Stone called it "One of the most incredible places on earth" and we can kinda see why. One of New York's best loved establishments any night of the week, Brooklyn Bowl in New York is a hybrid rock 'n' roll music venue and bowling alley. The alley is decked out with Chesterfield lounges and boasts a menu by the world famous fried chicken institution, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken. And on the other side of the venue, the stage has hosted bands like Gun N Roses, Elvis Costello and the Roots and frequently throw rockin' tribute and DJ nights. Also, it's co-owned by André 3000. So, we're in. PINEWOOD SOCIAL, NASHVILLE The Pinewood Social bowling alley is a retro, yet minimalist, bowling alley in Nashville and it might be the cutest place on earth. It's not like most bowling alleys with its high ceiling, exposed trusses and complete lack of neon lights, the complex also includes a café, dining area, bar, lounge and outdoor area with bocce ball court and a pool — all gloriously retro without crossing into tacky territory. You'll also find a mural alongside the lanes made up of specially printed cans. We'll call it, Pinewood Social may be the hippest place in America. SPLITSVILLE, TAMPA Splitsville is not just a place you temporarily populate after being dumped in primary school. It's also a retro-fantastic bowling alley and funtorium in Tampa, Florida, that looks like it's remained exactly the same since its conception in the '70s. In fact Splitsville has had an upgrade (they serve sushi now!) but despite this, it's still a pretty retro joint. You'll be able to see it from a mile away if you look for the two-storey pin (purportedly the largest in the world) on the front door. THE SPARE ROOM You might not think squeaking across a polished wooden floor hurling hefty balls about as a classy activity, but at The Spare Room it can be. Rich mahogany wood finishes, chandeliers and arched windows pair nicely with the bar's ridiculous, but classic, cocktail list. They've complemented their highly resplendent cocktail bowling facilities with other sophisticated pursuits like chess, dominoes, old school bingo, a wooden Connect Four set and an amazing, old school menu. XLANES LA If you're after an integrated, flashy bowling experience, XLanes in Downtown Los Angeles might be just what you need. It's a big (we mean big) bowling alley with 16 lanes and all the flashing neon lights you could ever dream of. But its real value is in the extras, like the full bar, massive gaming arcade (hello Fruit Ninja, we meet again), darts, karaoke and pool and billiards room. It's like a hedonistic adult playground of excess and bowling. Take our money. THE BROADMOOR, COLORADO The Broadmoor in Colorado is a bonkers holiday destination for the insanely wealthy. It's really damn decadent. It's so fancy the bowling alley doesn't even look like a bowling alley — it's decked out in leather couches, chandeliers, gold gilt and affluent smuggery. You will not be ordering a margarita slushie here or entering your name as ASS on in the scoreboard, no. Instead you can partake of adult shaved ice topped with locally made liqueurs and parmesan white-truffle popcorn (seriously, these are things they serve). You might have to sell a kidney to get onto their six lanes or stay the night in their digs, but you can guarantee you'll have the swankiest bowl of your life. SILVER DOLLAR SALOON, MONTANA If you've found another bar in this crazy world of ours boasting stools that are saddles, please let us know. As well as being a rootin' tootin' bar, the Silver Dollar Saloon also boasts a Western-themed, four-lane bowling alley. This kitted-out saloon also features a billiards table, a private theatre, shuffleboard table and darts. It's part of the Rock Creek Ranch in Montana and while a night there will set you back a minimum of US$800, it does include all alcohol and unlimited bowling time so you might just break even. Inspired? If all this reading about bowling has given you a hankering to knock down some pins, let's get you a lane. Kingpin is doing unlimited bowling and laser tag for a cheeky $30pp from 7pm till close. That's quite simply one of the best affordable (and actually fun) date ideas we've seen in this fine city of ours.
If you're going to open a new burger place in what must surely be the country's meat-and-bread capital by now, you probably want to give the concept a bit of a kick in a different direction. Or a sonic boom, or maybe a hadouken, perhaps? Don't worry, once you're done eating, you won't have to travel to a different country to do it all over again. Yes, that '80s and '90s arcade and Super Nintendo staple that is Street Fighter is the source of inspiration for Super Combo, which joins the growing number of eateries making the Brisbane's Showgrounds' King Street precinct some of the most coveted culinary real estate in the city (with The Lamb Shop, GG's Espresso, The George, Fat Dumpling, Il Verde, Sushi & Nori and Hello Chicken also among the current or coming tenants). From March 9, they'll be slinging burgs with the same fury that Ryu, Blanka and company approach brawling in public — that is, with plenty. The retro-styled joint comes from childhood friends Michael Nham and Hao Vu, who, as you might've guessed, found hanging around their local Brissie takeaway shop smashing out super Street Fighter combos the best way to spend their time. They're also behind Melbourne's NSHRY, with Nham boasting two Vietnamese restaurants including Banoi on his resume. When it came to opening a place with such strong ties to their youth, however, it made sense to get things started in Brisbane. Indeed, the King Street digs is being trumpeted as Super Combo's first in Australia, so you can bet that more burgs will be flying to more cities in good time. As for just what those edible morsels will be, expect a menu influenced by international cuisine, plus sides, globally sourced speciality sauces and epic shakes. Yep, everyone really is a winner here. Find Super Combo at Shop 01B, 20 King Street, Bowen Hills from March 9. Keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for more information.
Settling in for The Martian, you could be forgiven for feeling a little deja vu. Interstellar might be flooding your memory, given that Jessica Chastain and Matt Damon grapple with space again. Alien and Prometheus could also pop into your head, seeing that director Ridley Scott seemingly heads into familiar territory too. Thankfully, their resumes aside, the rehash largely stops there. That’s not to say that The Martian doesn’t recall many other intergalactic efforts such as Gravity, Moon, Sunshine, Contact and Apollo 13, nor that it doesn’t work with themes and narrative components recognisable to anyone who has seen a survivalist film like Castaway or All Is Lost. What this adaptation of Andy Weir's 2011 novel of the same name does do, though, is soar forward with two things in mind: optimism and practicality. Botanist Mark Watney (Damon) is the key. He's residing among a group of astronauts manning the latest mission on Mars — until a storm strikes, he gets knocked out and blown away from his colleagues, and they head back home. When he wakes up to discover he's now the only human left on the planet, he focuses on attempting to remedy his predicament. Finding a way to grow food in the inhospitable environment is his first priority, followed by trying to communicate to NASA that he's alive and ready to return to Earth. Solving problems rather than wallowing in sentiment is the approach Watney takes, as does Scott and screenwriter Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods). As the repercussions of the Watney's situation ripple through those trying to rescue him — be they space agency head (Jeff Daniels), other members of the ground-based team (including Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong and Donald Glover), or Watney's departed crewmates (Chastain, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan and Aksel Hennie) — action rather than emotion sits at the film's fore. Accordingly, The Martian favours procedure and process over psychology. It traces the steps needed to bring the stranded man home. It springs from a position of simply believing that resolution is possible. It presents characters using science (or sciencing the shit out of things, as the MacGyver-like Watney puts it in the video logs that comprise much of the storytelling) to make things happen. People, teamwork and ingenuity reign supreme, even over the capably rendered 3D spectacle. Anyone fearing a lack of wonder or feeling in the film can rest assured; they are there, and they spring from the way the cast subtly handle their roles (particularly an empathetic Damon) rather than the script hitting audiences over the head with horror or sappiness. A keen sense of humour is also evident in perhaps the most upbeat survivalist offering for some time, with Lord of the Rings fans likely to have the biggest laugh. There's also the endearing soundtrack, which includes moments of dancing along to disco hits or letting a classic, perfectly chosen David Bowie track (though not the one you think) play out in full. That it all adds up to one of the most enjoyably pragmatic sci-fi stints seen in the cinema is refreshing and perhaps surprising, even given its pedigree. In fact, The Martian doesn't just solidly engage from start to finish — it entertainingly and convincingly colonises its own patch of space movie territory.
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.
There's no one right way to experience SXSW, whether you're attending the Austin or Sydney version, but one of the event's huge highlights is its high-profile list of folks who get talking. As 2023's debut festival Down Under demonstrated, this is the kind of event where you could be listening to Chance The Rapper one moment, then Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker the next. In 2024, it's also the type of festival where The Kid LAROI, human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, author Johann Hari, Lucy Lawless, Grace Tame, Suzie Miller and Stephen Page are getting chatting. This year's lineup features more than 1000 speakers, 60-plus tech exhibitors, over 200 artists, 120-plus games and more than 75 screenings across Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 dates. Other standouts from the conference part of the program include Nick Kyrgios, Noémie Fox, Chad Lawson and Molly Taylor. Fancy hearing about heading into space? That's where Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg comes in. On the music side of the bill, not only is The Kid LAROI the keynote speaker, but the 'Stay', 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', 'Love Again' and 'Girls' talent is introducing a First Nations showcase. Stepping from Heartbreak High to SXSW Sydney Music Festival, Ayesha Madon is also one of that strand's highlights. SAHXL, Nick Ward, BALTHVS, Total Tommy, brothers J-MILLA & Yung Milla, Joel Sunny, Ena Mori, Smol fish, HighSchool, Maina Doe, 404: you'll be able to see them as well. Screen-wise, once opening night's Y2K kicks off the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival, the program features everything from headliners Saturday Night, Smile 2, Nightbitch, The Front Room and Pavements to Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts from Barbecue and We Don't Deserve Dogs' Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker — and Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah, Sweet Country, The New Boy), The Babadook composer Jed Kurzel and Barbie executive producer Josey McNamara among the talks. At Tumbalong Park, SXSW Sydney's festival hub is back 60-plus hours of free entertainment, too. Keen to feel like you're stepping inside some of your favourite TV shows? So is Prime Video's Primeville pop-up from Tuesday, October 15–Sunday, October 20 at Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour. That's barely scratching the surface of 2024's SXSW Sydney characteristically jam-packed lineup. If you can't find something exciting to do, see, watch, learn from or dance to every single day of the fest, you clearly haven't looked at the program. [caption id="attachment_970635" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Top images: Jordan Kirk, Ian Laidlaw and Jaimi Joy.
Whether you watch television programs on your laptop, phone or TV set (or a combination of the above, depending on your mood and situation), the small screens in your house got quite the workout in 2020. That's a definite side effect of this strange year, with everyone spending more time on the couch than normal. You don't need us to tell us that, of course — but, thankfully, there was no shortage of things to watch. Checking out the latest seasons of your favourite shows probably helped while away some of the hours. More than a few, we're guessing. Restreaming classics likely did the same as well, because everyone likes some comfort viewing in tough times. But if you were looking for something new and exciting to fill your time in 2020, the various networks and streaming platforms all did their part. Stunning new dramas, savage historical comedies, engaging miniseries — they all made their debut over the past 12 months, and we've picked the ten best of the year that you should check out if you haven't already. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTjlurdbNnw I MAY DESTROY YOU Newly returned from a working trip to Italy, struggling to write her second novel after her first struck a sizeable chord and pushing up against a draft deadline just hours away, Arabella (Michaela Coel) takes some time out from an all-nighter to procrastinate with friends over a few drinks in a couple of London bars. The next morning, the Twitter-famous scribe is shaky, hazy and feels far from her normal self — and across the next 11 episodes of this instantly blistering 12-part series, I May Destroy You delves into the aftermath, as Arabella realises that she was raped that evening. Not only created and written by the unflinching and captivating Coel, but inspired by her own real-life experience with sexual assault, the result is as bold, raw and frank as it is sensitive and affecting. It also feels personal at every single moment. An immensely powerful series that intimately interrogates power on multiple levels and features an unsurprisingly potent performance by Coel, I May Destroy You is easily this year's number-one must-see show — and its absolute best. I May Destroy You is available to stream via Binge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODYjA9H4qcw NORMAL PEOPLE When Sally Rooney's Normal People first hit bookshelves in 2018, it thrust readers into a disarmingly relatable love story, following the amorous ups and downs of an on-again, off-again couple from Sligo, Ireland. Teenagers Marianne and Connell have known each other for years, as tends to happen in small towns. And although she's aloof, intense and considered an acerbic loner, while he's outgoing and popular, a torrid and tumultuous secret romance blooms. That's just the beginning of the Irish author's novel, and of the both tender and perceptive TV series that brings the book to the screen. As it dives deep into a complex chronicle of first love, it not only charts Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Cold Feet) and Connell's (newcomer Paul Mescal) feelings for each other, but details the recognisable and realistic minutiae of being a high schooler and then a uni student. This is first and foremost a romance, and a passionate and intimate one at that; however, the series can't tell this complicated couple's story without touching upon everything else that pops up along the way. Normal People is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI0q-jFWx-s LOVECRAFT COUNTRY Viewing US race relations and the nation's treatment of its black residents through a horror lens has long been Jordan Peele's jam, dating back to his Key & Peele days. Anyone who has seen Get Out and Us, the two films he has directed thus far, also knows this — and it is evident in Hunters, the TV series he executive produced earlier this year, as well. So Lovecraft Country, HBO's new horror drama based on the 2016 of the same name, was always going to be in Peele's wheelhouse. He's an executive producer again, and he's firmly in his element. Set in the 50s in America's south, this extremely well-executed series follows returned soldier Tic Freeman (Da 5 Bloods' Jonathan Majors), his uncle George (Project Power's Courtney B Vance) and his friend Leti Lewis (Birds of Prey's Jurnee Smollett) as they set off on a road trip to both find Tic's missing dad and locate African American-friendly places for George's Green Book-style guide. Their journey takes them to a part of the country where famed real-life sci-fi and horror writer HP Lovecraft found inspiration for his tales, too — and the results are smart and unnerving on multiple levels. Lovecraft Country is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htuNZp82Ck&feature=youtu.be TALES FROM THE LOOP If Black Mirror set all of its bleak futuristic tales in one small town, followed interconnected characters and sported a low-fi, retro sheen, the result would be Tales From the Loop. This patient, beautiful, poignant and incredibly moving sci-fi series is actually based on a series of paintings by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag — and even if you didn't already know that fact while you were watching, you'd notice the show's distinctive aesthetic. The title refers to a mysterious underground machine, called The Loop, that's designed to explore and unravel the mysteries of the universe. For the folks living above it, their lives soon take strange turns. Anchoring jumps and pauses in time, body swaps, giant robots and more in everyday situations and emotions (such as being envious of a friend, falling in love, betraying your nearest and dearest, and trying to connect with your parents), Tales From the Loop is as perceptive as it is immersive and engaging. And, its eight episodes are helmed by an exceptional array of fantastic filmmakers, including Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek, WALL-E's Andrew Stanton, The House of the Devil's Ti West and actor-turned-director Jodie Foster. Tales From the Loop is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8klax373ds DEVS Radiating unease from its very first moments, yet sporting both a mood and a futuristic look that prove simultaneously unsettlingly and alluring, Devs is unmistakably the work of author-turned-filmmaker Alex Garland. His first jump to the small screen, it instantly slots in nicely beside Ex Machina and Annihilation on his resume — and it's just as intriguing and involving as each of those excellent movies. The setting: Amaya, a US technology company that's massive in size yet secretive in its focus. When Sergei (Karl Glusman) is promoted to its coveted, extra clandestine Devs division, his girlfriend and fellow Amaya employee Lily (Sonoya Mizuno) is thrilled for him. But when Sergei doesn't come home from his first day, Lily starts looking for answers — including from the company's guru-like leader Forest (a long-haired, very un-Ron Swanson-like Nick Offerman). Devs is the kind of series with twists and turns that are best discovered by watching; however, as each second passes by, the stranger and more sinister it all appears. Expect conspiracies, tech thrills and big questions, in a series that does what all the very best sci-fi stories do: tackle big existential queries and intimate everyday emotions in tandem, all while asking 'what if?'. Devs is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVoYKwTc4E AUNTY DONNA'S BIG OL' HOUSE OF FUN 2019's I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson was the best sketch comedy of that year. In 2020, the equivalent title goes to Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun. If you're familiar with Australian comedy troupe Aunty Donna, then you'll know what to expect. Writers and performers Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane, director and writer Sam Lingham, filmmaker Max Miller and composer Tom Armstrong have been treating audiences to absurdist gags, satire, wordplay and songs since forming in 2011 — but now the group has channelled all of its silliness and surreal gags, and its astute ability to make fun of daily life in a smart yet ridiculous way, into a six-part Netflix series. Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane star as themselves, and housemates. Each episode revolves around a theme, starting with the search for a fourth member of their household when they decide to turf their annoying talking dishwasher (voiced by Flight of the Conchords' Kristen Schaal). There's nothing too over-the-top for Aunty Donna, or too trivial, including treasure hunts, an out-there recreation of Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, a pitch-perfect takedown of trendy barber shops to a parody of male posturing when the guys turn their house into a bar. And there's little on offer in the extremely binge-able show that doesn't deliver just the dose of side-splitting absurdity that this hectic year needs. Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5vLgpdXz0g THE GREAT It takes its title from its central figure, Russian empress Catherine the Great. It's filled with lavish period-appropriate costumes, wigs, sets and decor. And, it explores an immensely famous time during the 18th century that had a significant impact upon the world. Normally, that'd all smack of a certain kind of drama; however The Great is firmly a comedy as well. As starring Elle Fanning as the eponymous ruler, Nicholas Hoult as her husband Peter III and Bohemian Rhapsody's Gwilym Lee as a fellow member of the royal court, that means witty, laugh-out-loud lines, an irreverent and often cheeky mood, and having ample fun with real-life details — much in the way that Oscar-winner The Favourite did with British royalty on the big screen. Of course, the comparison couldn't be more fitting, with that film's BAFTA-winning screenwriter, Australian Tony McNamara, using his savagely hilarious satirical skills to pen The Great as well. The Great is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMIcuVH83M&feature=emb_logo THE BEACH Whenever Warwick Thornton makes a new project, it demands attention — and the Indigenous Australian filmmaker has never made anything quite like The Beach. The director of Samson & Delilah and Sweet Country turns the camera on himself, chronicling his quest to escape his busy life for an extended soul-searching getaway. With only chickens and wildlife for company, Thornton bunkers down in an electricity-free tin shed in Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest coast of Western Australia. He fishes, cooks, chats to the chooks, wanders along the shoreline and reflects upon everything that's led him to this point, with this six-part documentary series capturing the ups, downs, sublime sights and epiphany-inspiring moments. Unfurling quietly and patiently in the slow-TV tradition, Thornton's internal journey of discovery makes for both moving and absorbing viewing. Indeed, combined with stunning cinematography (as shot by Thornton's son and Robbie Hood director Dylan River), it just might be the best piece of Australian television you see this year. The Beach is available to stream via SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw UNORTHODOX Deborah Feldman's best-selling 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots makes the leap to Netflix as a four-part mini-series. And, as the book's title makes plain, both explore her decision to leave her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York, flee her arranged marriage and everyone she's ever known, and escape to Berlin to start a brand new life. Names and details have been changed, as tends to be the case with dramas based on real-life stories; however Unorthodox still follows the same overall path. In a tense but instantly commanding opening to the show's first episode, 19-year-old Esther 'Esty' Shapiro (Shira Haas) slips out of the apartment she shares with her husband Yanky (Amit Rahav), picks up a passport from her piano teacher and nervously heads to the airport. The end result proves a unique and intriguing coming-of-age tale, a thoughtful thriller, and an eye-opening but always careful and respectful look at a culture that's rarely depicted on-screen in such depth. Israeli actress Haas (The Zookeeper's Wife, Foxtrot, Mary Magdalene) turns in a nuanced, weighty and gripping performance as Esty, too — which is absolutely pivotal in making Unorthodox so compelling to watch. Unorthodox is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv-Mb4vTxj0 WE ARE WHO WE ARE Two on-screen tales about American teenagers in Italy. Two floppy-haired male leads oozing with uncertainty and yearning. One filmmaker. After Call Me By Your Name, Luca Guadagnino returns to familiar territory with HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are — and if its star Jack Dylan Grazer reminds you of the now ultra-famous Timothée Chalamet, that's completely unsurprising; in 2018's Beautiful Boy (not directed by Guadagnino), the former even played a younger version of the latter's character. But don't go mistaking Guadagnino's eight-part TV show for a mere or lazy rehash of the director's past work. Following two neighbouring 14-year-olds who live on a US army base with their enlisted parents, including Grazer's newly arrived loner, We Are Who We Are once again taps into universal themes about finding one's own identity and place in the world, and navigating affairs of the heart as well, but it definitely has its own story to tell. Also starring first-timer Jordan Kristine Seamón, plus Chloë Sevigny (Queen & Slim), Alice Braga (The New Mutants), Scott Mescudi (aka Bill & Ted Face the Music's Kid Cudi), Francesca Scorsese (daughter of iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese) and Tom Mercier (Synonyms), this patient yet involving series once again boasts Guadagnino's eye for gorgeous and revealing imagery, though, with every intoxicating shot (and every camera angle and placement used for each shot) luring viewers in. We Are Who We Are is available to stream via SBS On Demand. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly. We also picked 12 standout new 2020 series in the middle of the year, too.
With three holiday dates coming up, April is the month to plan a weekend getaway. If you're still looking for your ticket out of the city, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting a pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve from April 7 through 25, including the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays. Only a 2.5 hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney and thirty minutes from Nowra, the remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests will also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site will be located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $110 to $220 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the eski full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from April 7 through 25. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney .
From vending machines lining the streets to combinis (that is, convenience stores) taking up real estate on every corner of Tokyo, it's clear Japan is a nation puts a lot on emphasis on convenience. The Japanese attitude to fast food is no different — except in Japan, convenience doesn't have to mean compromising on quality. From curry houses filled with salarymen, ubiquitous heartwarming hamburgers and contemporary takes on traditional Japanese meals that will set you back less than $5AUD a pop, this is where to get real fast food in Japan. [caption id="attachment_629778" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lucy Dayman[/caption] SUKIYA No matter how long you spend in the country, Sukiya (すき家) is one sight you'll become familiar with fast. With over 1600 stores dotted throughout the nation, the store's red, white and gold logo is a staple on the Japanese urban landscape. The 24-hour restaurant delivers no fuss, classic Japanese dishes, though their most iconic dish is gyudon, which translates to 'beef bowl'. What you'll get is shredded beef served over rice accompanied with topping of your choice. What's great about Sukiya is the chain's dedication to experimentation and perfection, with additions and modifications being made to the menu — so no matter how many times you've visited, there will be something new to try. A meal will set you back about ¥500-800 ($6-10AUD). [caption id="attachment_629781" align="alignnone" width="1920"] cathykid via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] OOTOYA Ootoya might be a little steeper in price than beef bowl outlets like Yoshianoya and the aforementioned Sukiya, but it's worth the extra yen. Plus, with the average price hovering around ¥800 ($9-10AUD) it's still cheaper than anything in Australia. Ootoya specialise in classic Japanese teishoku 'meal sets'. Though a meal set sounds like something you'd get in a retirement village or jail, it's actually the best way to appreciate carefully curated Japanese cuisine. It will usually include rice, miso soup, and a main dish, which might be fish, or soba noodles. At Ootoya the sets are seasonal, so you won't be stuck eating the same thing over and over. [caption id="attachment_629779" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lucy Dayman[/caption] HIDAKAYA RAMEN It's impossible to speak about Japanese fast food — or just Japanese food, for that matter — without giving time to the nation's most internationally loved culinary creation: ramen. In Japan, ramen is as diverse as it is popular; every prefecture, city, restaurant and even chef has a different take on the dish. In Tokyo the ramen options are almost excessive, so, if you do your research, you can definitely find the most perfect bowl for your palate. However, if you're after consistently good, cheap, filling and easy-to-access ramen, you can't miss Hidakaya. This generally 24-hour outlet is the perfect place to rest your weary body and dive into a warm comforting bowl any time of the day or night. Most meals will cost you little more than your pocket change at ¥500 ($6AUD) and, if you want to drink, booze options start at ¥270 ($3AUD). [caption id="attachment_629782" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dick Thomas Johnson via Flickr.[/caption] UOBEI GENKI SUSHI Like ramen, you sushi is incredibly diverse in terms of options, price points and specialties — but as a little local tip, Uobei Genki Sushi is kind of special. Cheap and always delicious, the crew at Genki Sushi have reinvented the concept of conveyor belt sushi. Rather than constantly rotating dishes, the Genki Sushi use the conveyor belt method to deliver specifically ordered dishes right to you. With touch screen menus, all you have to do is select what you feel like and, within moments — like some strange futuristic dream — the sushi will take a ride on a little delivery plate stopping right in front of your face. With dishes costing around ¥100 ($1.20AUD) and simple English ordering, there's really no excuse not to go. [caption id="attachment_629783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hunter Nield via Flickr.[/caption] MOS BURGER It's impossible to speak about fast food in Japan without acknowledging the country's growing love of western cuisine. Like so many things here, Japan has turned appreciation into full-blown obsession and somehow managed to improve the already perfect. Though from the outside it seems like an average burger joint, MOS Burger is a not-so-little takeaway restaurant with a connection to the land: M.O.S stands for 'mountain, ocean, sun'. With over 1700 stores across the country, the store's mission is to "make people happy through delicious food". In a time where other burger chains are constantly unveiling artery clogging Frankenstein-style creations to garner publicity, Mos' humble attitude to producing made-to-order, well-crafted hamburgers is pretty refreshing. Depending on how fancy you want to go a MOS Burger will cost between 200- ¥600 ($2.50-8AUD) [caption id="attachment_629784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] kici via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] COCO ICHIBAN Though the icon status goes to ramen and sushi, curry is actually the most popular dish in the country. With over 1200 locations sprinkled throughout Japan (and more internationally), Curry House Coco Ichibanya are the local curry kings. Traditionally, Japanese curry is a more mild take on the Indian dish and it comes in a variety of forms. From curry with udon noodles, 'curry pan' (that's curry-filled bread) and the classic karē raisu (aka curry rice), this dish is a lot more Japanese than you anticipated. What makes Coco Ichiban so exciting is your freedom to fully customise your order. The amount of rice, spice and all those toppings are so nice that it means you're never going to get a mass-produced run-of-the-mill plate here. Depending on your order you can easily get a serious meal for less than ¥700 ($8AUD).
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks — whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, and we've partnered with Heineken 3 so you can get the most out of them. We've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. For a summer playlist, who better to ask for advice than Ned East, a.k.a Kilter? His genre-spanning tropical electronic beats scream summer, and he's been making waves playing his tunes around Australia — performing at Falls, Field Day and Southbound. This year he followed the sun into European waters, playing shows and festivals across France, Germany, Malta and the UK. We asked him for some tips on how to create the perfect party playlist for a summer afternoon. Because he's a nice guy, he provided one of his own. It's good. Listen to this and get inspired, then follow his tips in creating your own. YOUR PLAYLIST NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY CURATED It's important to remember that your playlist should be delicately crafted — it shouldn't just be a bunch of tracks thrown together. It should be designed to be listened to in one fell swoop, just like Kilter's. That means no skipping, no jumping and absolutely no shuffling (tracks, that is). TAKE YOUR LISTENERS ON A JOURNEY There needs to be an effortless flow. Kilter's playlist has a strong dance tinge to it, cruising through a few downtempo tracks, moving into a house-centred, upbeat party vibe. Things get a bit crazy towards the end, but what else can you expect from a summer session? PICK A FEW BANGER TRACKS TO GET STARTED Kilter tells us to "start with the tracks you really want to play, then think about their order and how they'll be consumed". Choose a few of your favourite tracks that you know you'll definitely want to include, and use those as your base. That way, it's easy to get inspired, ensure you get a variety of music and make sure your playlist has some direction. Kilter's starting point tracks were Kwesta's 'Ngud' (featuring Cassper Nyovest), as well as 808INK's 'Suede Jaw' and Hayden James' 'Just a Lover' (Karma Kid remix) — he recommends if you're in need of some inspiration. CONSIDER YOUR SITUATION, AND LEARN TO LIFT THE VIBES Music has the magical ability to dictate someone's mood. It's essential to a summer afternoon when you're throwing back a Heineken 3, because it'll lift the vibes. "If it's a rainy day and you're playing summertime jams, it's going to make you feel a little bit better," Kilter says. "If it's a sunny day and you've got sunny music on, it's really going to take your vibes to another level". In his own words: "Get some friends over and have some beers in the sun. Let the music do its thing while you do your thing." Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them.
Heading to Northshore Hamilton's Eat Street for a food fix has become a weekend staple for many Brisbanites; however, everyone's favourite evening markets have just gotten even better. No, they're not adding even more delicious bites to eat. Yes, they want you to hang around while you're digesting their tasty wares. From November 6, you won't just be hanging around — you'll be jumping in your car, driving down the road, then parking and peering up at a big screen with a riverside, city view. You'll also be taking all the edible morsels you've bought at Eat Street and devouring them while enjoying a movie at their pop-up drive-in. Films will run every Friday and Saturday night, spanning recent releases like Trainwreck and Everest, as well as classic fare. Fast & Furious 7 jumpstarts the program, because there's no better movie to watch while sitting in a vehicle, obviously. Just make sure your engine remains switched off, because no one needs to add to the feature's sound effects. If you're only interested in the movie, not the markets, don't distress — you won't go hungry. An American-style, retro-themed diner will be on site, or you can flag down the drive-in's Segway crew to deliver snacks, ice creams and non-alcoholic drinks to your car window. Yep. Segway delivery. Those with not-so-short memories might recall that the Brisbane International Film Festival did the same thing in the same spot back in 2011 and 2012. The current iteration is a limited time deal, only running until Eat Street moves into the space from its current site. When that happens, outdoor cinema will become a feature of the markets, just sans cars. All tickets must be purchased online and in advance, whether you're going with the romantic option (two people in a car for $32), coasting along on a double date (four people in a car for $44), or bringing every pal you can (seven people in a car for $54). Those without a set of wheels can get comfy in one of 200 moon chairs for a real under-the-stars viewing experience for only $13. For more information about the Eat Street Drive-In, visit their website.
Sipping drinks at soaring heights: if that's your preferred way to while away your days in Brisbane, there's no shortage of spots to head to. But Lina Rooftop doesn't just want you to eat and drink while soaking in the view. That's all part of Lina Rooftop, of course — but, in a 1500-square-metre bar that's taken its cues from the Mediterranean, this beach club-inspired spot wants you to get swimming as well. Head up to the top level at 74–80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane and you'll be enjoying a splash in two ways: in your glass and in the 30-metre rooftop infinity pool. Hang out in daybeds, sunken lounges and booths by the water, stare out over the Brissie skyline, and enjoy an atmosphere that's designed to make you feel like you're on holidays without leaving town. Bound to make the most of Brisbane's year-round balmy weather — Lina hails from Icatha Hospitality's Ross Ledingham and Salt Meat Cheese Group's Stefano De Blasi. Blue, white and neutral tones help set the vacation mood, both indoors and out. The prevailing vibe: lounge all day, party through the night, with the venue open from brunch till evening from Wednesday–Sunday. Relaxing by the pool is hungry work, so the food menu spans restaurant fare, waterside options, bar snacks and sharing spreads. And, drinks-wise, signature cocktails sit alongside a gin and tonic menu, plus low- and no-alcohol concoctions. Or, there are beers by the schooner and bottle, a sizeable spirits range (especially agave), and coffees, teas and hot chocolates. Images: Markus Ravik.
Your mates at Concrete Playground know how much you guys love Nutella. Sydney lost its collective shit (and rightfully so) over those damn Tella Ball milkshakes, and Melbourne eats so much of the stuff they caused a temporary nation-wide shortage. As addictions go, we suppose it could be worse. Point is, when we heard there was going to be a toaster-shaped Nutella food truck rolling around the country, we figured you'd want to hear about it. Especially since all the goodies on board will be free. The food truck menu has been devised by Alistair Fogg, the man behind Sydney's Nighthawk Diner. Think stewed winter berries with Nutella and toasted coconut, raisin toast with Nutella and berries, and a crepe stack with Nutella and crispy bacon. It's only one item per customer per day, unfortunately. Let's just say at this stage, we're not ruling out the possibility of trailing the truck from town to town like the insatiable groupies we so clearly are. The road trip begins in Sydney's Wynyard Park on Wednesday, June 15. Other stops in the Harbour City include Centenary Park (June 16), Sydney Uni (June 17) and Glebe Markets (June 18), before the long haul down the Hume Highway via Lithgow (June 19), Goulburn (June 20), Wagga Wagga (June 21), Albury (June 22), Bendigo (June 23) and Ballarat (June 24). In Melbourne they'll hit St Kilda (June 25-26) and Southbank (June 27), before wrapping up their journey in Geelong (June 28). As for Brisbane, we've got our fingers crossed you might be added to the itinerary. If not, we'll send you a Nutella-smeared postcard. Find the complete list of dates, times and locations for the Nutella Road Trip at the official Facebook page.
Sometimes, it's nice to forgo the gastropubs and microbreweries for a good old-fashioned pub — that's when The Caxton Hotel steps in. Located a stone's throw from Suncorp Stadium, 50 meters to be exact, this unapologetically unrefined pub proves we don't need to mess with the classics. It's open late, seven days a week, and just three minutes from the Brisbane CBD. This Brissie stalwart has been owned and operated by the Farquhar family for more than two decades and boasts three bars, a restaurant, nightclub, cafe and bottle shop as well as ample outdoor space. Oh, and a hefty lot of accolades. The Caxton Hotel is a multifaceted venue with a lot on offer, from poker nights to karaoke sessions. The kitchen has a stellar reputation among locals and produces quality fare showcasing Queensland's irrefutably fresh seafood. The menu here punches above its weight, with an oyster bar featuring natural, kilpatrick and bloody mary shooters, as well as starters such as tempura coconut prawns, Szechuan pepper calamari and a platter for two with arancini, duck spring rolls and sourdough. The classics are here in force with its chicken parmigiana a standout as well as its black lip mussels in a spiced tomato broth. If you're feeling brave after witnessing a tough game of footy, then tackle the 'Caxton Kilo' and conquer either the 1kg parmi or the 1kg rump steak with beer battered fries and a garden salad.
Loving your mum might be an all-year-round affair, but that doesn't make Mother's Day any less special. Sure, you shouldn't need an official occasion to celebrate the woman who brought you into this world or any mother-type figure in your life — but you shouldn't pass up the chance to treat that pivotal person to a tasty feast, either. Of course, trying to find the right place to head to is where things get tricky. Where do you take the person responsible for making you many a meal over the course of your lifetime? And can anywhere live up to home cooking? Any old burger or doughnut place just won't do, which is why we're here to help. We'd take our mums and maternal influences to these top Brisbane eateries, and we think you should as well. Tillerman, Brisbane City Why treat your mum to one course, or three — or even five — when there's eight on offer at Eagle Street's holiday-inspired seafood-heavy restaurant Tillerman. Views come with the territory, naturally, but you might be too busy feasting your way through this hefty banquet to notice. For $129, the spread starts with blue swimmer crab, then includes dishes like Moreton Bay bug dumplings, pan-fried baby swordfish steak, wagyu and lemon tart for dessert. You'll pay for your drinks on top — and you have the choice between sitting inside or outside. Yoko Dining, Howard Smith Wharves Your budget mightn't cover taking your mum to Japan this Mother's Day, sadly, even though that'd be certain to make you the favourite child. But you can spend the date doing the next best thing without leaving Brisbane. At Yoko Dining at Howard Smith Wharves, this year's Mother's Day menu runs for lunch and dinner — if a midday meal doesn't suit. With excellent river views to peer out at, you'll enjoy some of the best Japanese fare in Brisbane thanks to an $80 menu. Inclusions range from oysters and white fish tacos to miso-glazed eggplant, wagyu skewers and coconut mochi. Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane Sure, if you're handy in the kitchen, you could treat your mum to salt and pepper calamari, burrata, pork tomahawk and tiramisu at home — or you could do it on a South Brisbane rooftop by the sky-high pool with views out across the city. That's one part of Lina Rooftop's Mother's Day celebrations, with two seatings: at 12pm and at 2pm, both for $89 (plus an extra $79 for prosecco or $110 for champagne). The other is brunch, costing $125, running from 11am–2pm and featuring prawns, oysters, scallop tartare, tuna belly, three hours of drinks and more. The Lex, Brisbane CBD If any day is designed for bubbles, it's this one. That's what's on offer at W Brisbane restaurant The Lex, with its $110 three-course Mother's Day meal starting with sparkling wine. On the food menu: smoked wagyu carpaccio, yellowfin tuna tataki and burrata with caramelised pumpkin to share; a choice of New York strip, grilled snapper, charred eggplant and organic chicken breast as a main; and either cheesecake or dark chocolate and olive oil tart for dessert. Maggie May, Newstead There aren't many drawbacks to Mother's Day, unless you and your mum aren't all that fond of catering to someone else's schedule. Can't make the usual breakfast, brunch or lunch timeslots? Maggie May in Newstead is a supper club — a 70s-inspired one, too — so you can head by for either lunch or dinner. Either way, the cost is $75, which spans three courses. If brekkie is where it's at for you and your family, though, there's also an option to start the day, but you'll be simply picking from the usual menu. Byblos, Hamilton Pick your river vantage, any river vantage — that's the Brisbane story, with eating in sight of the city's snaking waterway one of the easiest things to do in this sunny city. That includes in Hamilton, where Portside Wharf's Byblos is marking Mother's Day with $74 and $99 banquets from 11.30am onwards. As well as the river vista, you'll be working your way through three courses, no matter which feast you go for. Dips, spiced lamb pastries, mozzarella filo pastries and sweets are on each menu, but the $74 banquet also features falafel, lamb kofta, marinated chicken tenderloin and more — and the $99 swaps them for the likes of handmade cheese rolled in za'atar, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and baked salmon. Bacchus, South Bank Sometimes, fine-diner Bacchus at South Bank themes its menu to match shows at QPAC, as it did last year with the Beauty and the Beast musical. And sometimes, it celebrates big occasions with a special offering — such as the venue's $89 and $99 Mother's Day high tea. It's cheaper to head by on the Saturday, which is why there's two prices. Food options include curried egg sandwiches, crab sliders, veggie balls, macarons and scones — and you can pay more for endless sparkling. A word of warning: this one is usually very popular, so much so that there's three sittings on the Sunday, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Iris Rooftop, Fortitude Valley By now, you've probably realised that there's a Mother's Day option for your maternal figure no matter what type of cuisine she favours — and which country she'd rather be in. Iris Rooftop atop Hotel X on Brunswick Street is going with Spanish fare, thanks to an $98 banquet lunch that ends with Basque cheesecake. Or, make a date for morning tea instead and you'll get a Sunday-morning favourite, aka bottomless drinks, to go with your food. That option costs $95, and kicks off at 9.30am. Donna Chang, Brisbane City When it comes to spending quality time with your mum and eating quality food at the same time, we can't recommend Donna Chang's Mother's Day yum cha offering highly enough. For $98 each, you'll get to dive into a menu of pork and scallop hargow, Moreton Bay bug dumplings, cumin-spiced lamb buns, wagyu beef and mandarin puffs, soft-shell crab bao and pineapple buns. Well, that's just the start. The vibrant restaurant is located in a heritage-listed sandstone building and was awarded our Best New Restaurant of 2018, too — so, you know it'll be good enough for mum. Cloudland, Fortitude Valley No one forgets a trip to Cloudland, one of the most eye-catching spots in Fortitude Valley, especially inside. This Mother's Day, your mum can fall into that category as well. The Ann Street spot is doing a buffet in its Rose Room, costing $89 each. This feast comes complete with carvery and charcuterie stations, where roasted pork belly, beef sirloin, artisan cured meats and rosemary potatoes (and more) await. There's also a dessert cart, plus a stacked menu of salads and accompaniments — and you'll get full access to all of the above from 11.30am–2pm. Valley Hops Brewing, Fortitude Valley Taking your mum out for a Mother's Day lunch can still be a casual affair, especially if she likes cold beers, rooftop spots and impressive views. That's the combination on offer at Fortitude Valley's aptly named Valley Hops Brewing, which sits above Cloudland on Ann Street. The brewery is running its usual menu while celebrating the date — so if your mother is a fan of pizza, as we all are, she'll have options. Other bites include calamari, smoked chicken wings, confit duck spring rolls and a range of burgers. [caption id="attachment_701804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Greca, Howard Smith Wharves Maybe you and your mum share fond memories of a Greek getaway. Maybe she's always wanted to visit the Mediterranean, but just hasn't gotten around to it. Either way, you can help her pretend that she's on holidays by taking her to lunch or dinner at Greca. Howard Smith Wharves' riverside eatery just has that feel to it, and that's before you even get to the food portion of its Mother's Day banquet. For $80 per person, you can the afternoon eating taramasalata, king prawn saganaki and stuffed lamb shoulder, chicken souvlaki — with fig filo pastry tart for dessert. [caption id="attachment_928718" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] The Belvedere, Woody Point You'll have company if you choose The Belvedere, Woody Point's 123-year-old waterside pub that relaunched after a major $10-million-plus revamp late in 2023, as your Mother's Day haunt. The venue seats over 1000, which is a lot of mums and families. The regular menu will greet you — and if this isn't the perfect occasion to try the signature and prawn pasta, when is? The Belvedere will also be hosting a mini market setup in its courtyard, and you can nab flowers at a pop-up stall. Covent Garden, West End If sampling gins from around the world is something that appeals to you — we mean, your mum — we suggest you book a Mother's Day table at Covent Garden. It's doing its usual gin-fuelled brunch from 11am–2.30pm, which'll set you back $49 complete with two hours of unlimited shared cocktails. Also on the menu: red or white wine sangria, other shared cocktails, and a grazing-board spread featuring cured meats, cheeses, pickled vegetables and crackers — plus that breakfast and brunch staple, aka bread, too. Our advice: don't plan a big afternoon afterwards, so that you and you mum can kick back and make the most of your boozy meal. Top image: Nikki To.
If you had to pack up and run for your life, what would you grab? Clothes? Food? Phone charger? Australians and New Zealanders are in one heck of a lucky situation, we haven't had to throw essentials in a bag and flee because of war, genocide or unbridled violence. But nearly 100,000 people from the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa have had to do just that — this year alone. Refugees don't have the luxury of packing ten Louis Vuitton suitcases of unnecessary crap for their travels. They travel light, for the road is incredibly dangerous. It's only necessities that refugees throw into their bags before getting the hell out of their home country: medication, little food, phones, maybe a toothbrush. To get an insight into exactly what refugees are travelling with, the International Rescue Committee and photographer Tyler Jump asked an artist, a mother, a family, a child, a teenager and a pharmacist, who are all refugees from war-torn areas like Syria and Afghanistan, to show us what they'd managed to bring with them on their journey — what they'll need on the road to a (hopefully) more peaceful future. All images and quotes were originally published by Medium. A FAMILY OF 31 From Aleppo, Syria “I hope we die. This life is not worth to live anymore. Everyone closed the door in our face, there is no future.” 1 shirt 1 pair of jeans 1 pair of shoes Toiletries 1 diaper, 2 small cartons of milk and some biscuits Personal documents and money Sanitary pads A comb A TEENAGER Iqbal, 17, from Kunduz, Afghanistan “I want my skin to be white and hair to be spiked — I don’t want them to know I’m a refugee. I think that someone will spot me and call the police because I’m illegal.” 1 pair of pants, 1 shirt, 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of socks Shampoo and hair gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, face whitening cream Comb, nail clipper Bandages 100 U.S. dollars 130 Turkish liras Smartphone and back-up cell phone SIM cards for Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey AN ARTIST Nour, 20, from Syria “I left Syria with two bags, but the smugglers told me I could only take one. The other bag had all of my clothes. This is all I have left.” Small bag of personal documents A rosary (gift from his friend; Nour doesn’t let it touch the floor) A watch (from his girlfriend; it broke during the journey) Syrian flag, Palestinian charm, silver and wooden bracelets (gifts from friends) Guitar picks (one also a gift from a friend) Cell phone and Syrian SIM card Photo ID 1 shirt A MOTHER Aboessa, 20, from Damascus, Syria “Everything is for my daughter to protect her against sickness. When we arrived in Greece, a kind man gave me two jars of food. Another man gave us biscuits and water when he saw my baby.” Hat for the baby An assortment of medication, a bottle of sterile water, and a jar of baby food A small supply of napkins for diaper changes A hat and a pair of socks for the baby Assortment of pain relievers, sunscreen and sunburn ointment, toothpaste Personal documents (including the baby’s vaccination history) Wallet (with photo ID and money) Cell phone charger Yellow headband A BOY Omran, 6, from Damascus, Syria 1 pair of pants, 1 shirt A syringe for emergencies Marshmallows and sweet cream (Omran’s favorite snacks) Soap, toothbrush and toothpaste Bandages A PHARMACIST Anonymous, 34, from Syria “I had to leave behind my parents and sister in Turkey. I thought, if I die on this boat, at least I will die with the photos of my family near me.” Money (wrapped to protect it from water) Old phone (wet and unusable) and new smart phone Phone chargers and headphones (plus extra battery charger) 16GB flash drive (containing family photos) Via Medium. Images: Tyler Jump/International Rescue Committee.
The NGV has hosted some pretty epic exhibitions over the last few years — Ai Weiei and Andy Warhol, Hokusai and Van Gogh are just a few— but this might be its most ambitious exhibition yet. Descending on the gallery from today — Friday, December 15 — and then every three years after that, the NGV Triennial presents a smorgasbord of art and design, plucked from all corners of the globe and representing established artists, emerging talent, and plenty else in between. And the first one is nothing short of grand. The free exhibition will take over all four levels of the gallery until April 2018 and host a slew of newly commissioned works by over 60 artists and designers. But where it's really upping the ante is in the audience experience, with visitors invited to present their own ideas through cross-platform content, and the exhibition's participatory works designed to engage like never before. Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, best known for her obsessive patterning and vibrant representations of the infinite, will invite glimpses into the artist's mind with a work titled Flower obsession. Created especially for the NGV Triennial, the interactive exhibition will have visitors unleashing some creativity of their own, as they help plaster a furnished space with an array of colourful flower stickers and three-dimensional blooms. Another highlight is an epic display of 100 oversized human skulls created by Australian artist Ron Mueck, and you'll want to step inside teamLab's immersive mirrored room that reacts to visitors' movements. Kusuma joins other international names like Germany's Timo Nasseri and Canada's Sascha Braunig, alongside an Aussie billing that includes the likes of Ben Quilty, Louisa Bufardeci, and Tom Crago. There'll be an installation from Chinese haute couture fashion guru Guo Pei, designer of Rihanna's canary-yellow Met Ball gown, and chemist and odour theorist Sissel Tolaas will create the 'scent of Melbourne' exclusively for the Triennial. And Alexandra Kehayoglou will be creating one of her monumentally-sized, lushly illustrated carpets, spanning over eight metres long. The NGV Triennial will be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria from December 15, 2017 till April 15, 2018. For more info, visit ngv.com.au.
It has been nearly two years since Bruce Munro's spectacular Field of Light started illuminating Uluru, with more than 200,000 people flocking to the Red Centre to see its ocean of colour. In fantastic news for anyone who hasn't made the trek yet, or anyone keen to view its beautiful, multi-hued splendour again, the eye-catching installation's season has been extended. The gorgeous piece will now keep shining all the way through until December 31, 2020. This is the second time that Field of Light's run has been lengthened. Initially set to remain in place until March 2017, it was first expanded until March this year. In total, the artwork's 50,000 glass lights will twinkle across an area of 49,000 square metres — the size of nine football fields — for just shy of five years. As well as casting Australia's sacred rock in a whole new light, the Uluru display marks the latest (and largest) incarnation of artist Bruce Munro's project, which previously illuminated the grounds at the likes of London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Run on solar power, and named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku — which translates to 'looking at lots of beautiful lights' in local Pitjantjatjara — for its Northern Territory stint, the installation took 40 people six weeks to set up. The British-born Munro, who first came up with the idea for Field of Light while visiting Uluru back in 1992, said he is "greatly moved and humbled by the enormous response to the artwork." He continued, "it's obvious the combination of the exhibition and a canvas as visceral as this — flourishing from red dirt and tufts of spinifex, in the shadows of nature's biggest shape-shifter, Uluru — is immensely powerful to people." Keen on making the trip? Check out out Weekender's Guide to the Red Centre During Field of Light. By Tom Clift and Sarah Ward. Image: Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall.
When Howard Smith Wharves opened up its patch of the riverside to Brisbane, it also welcomed its own hotel built into the cliffs beneath the Story Bridge — complete with a bar perched right on top. That place to stay has changed owners in 2021, but rooftop watering hole Fiume remains a highlight. Here, you'll drink cocktails and tuck into share-style Italian snacks with a view of the Brisbane River, and while sat next to Crystalbrook Vincent's sky-high infinity pool as well. On the food menu, bites span natural oysters with red wine vinaigrette, oven baked brioche with black salt, balsamic an olive oil, a Mooloolaba prawn roll with dill and pickled cucumber. Or, there's three different grazing boards that serve up to six on offer — including one vegetarian option — that combine a number of dishes. The drinks lineup covers a significant range of fruity spritzes, both classic and creative cocktails, and liqueurs from Tamborine Mountain Distillery — plus Italian brews such as Peroni and Birra Moretti, and local sips from the neighbouring Felons Brewing Co. And if you're wondering about the setup, daybeds sit by the pool, or you can choose between stools under umbrellas by the balcony's edge, getting comfier in lounge-style seats or sitting at the bar.
Berlin is a city that's constantly evolving. But despite the change, one thing will remain true – the German capital will always be cool. Yes, the days are gone when Berghain youths could pay a mere Australian $150 a month to rent a loft-like penthouse we could only dream of, but don't let the Berlin locals tell you that that means the city has been gentrified. The anarchist vigour that was born out of a city in political and economical shambles for the last 60 years lives on, and the middle finger to the man attitude in Berlin is present in almost everything. We asked an actual local to show us where we should spend our time in Berlin to ensure an unforgettable experience. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode one: Berlin. [caption id="attachment_589108" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @streethaus via Instagram.[/caption] PACK A PICNIC AND HEAD TO KORNERPARK Hidden in Neukolln, Berlin's answer to Fitzroy in Melbourne or Surry Hills in Sydney, Kornerpark is a pretty breath of fresh air compared to the suburb's usual grungy surrounds. Pack a picnic and enjoy the views of manicured flora while people-watching the local cool kids who hang out in this palace garden-esque retreat. On Sundays there's a free guided tour of the art gallery that overlooks the grounds. [caption id="attachment_589109" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @mr.akman via Instagram.[/caption] VISIT A GALLERY IN AN OLD RAILWAY STATION For all the contemporary art lovers out there, the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum boasts one of the best collections of Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Keith Haring you'll find in Berlin. The former railway station was turned into a gallery in the mid-90s and its architecture is just as impressive as the artwork inside it. Entrance to the main building and temporary exhibitions will set you back €14 but with over 10,000 square meters of gallery space the bang is well worth the buck. As with all museums and big city attractions, avoid going on the weekend. Instead, get in first at 10am, the earlier in the week the better. Still check out some of Berlin's street art though – there's a reason it's so famous. [caption id="attachment_589113" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @burgermeisterberlin via Instagram.[/caption] TRY A GERMAN BURGER AT BURGERMEISTER Berlin has a slight burger obsession. For the true enthusiasts, make your attempt at getting through a patty three thumbs thick at The Bird near Schonleinstrasse train station. Or, brace yourself for the omnipresent line at Berlin Burger International (BBI) on Neukolln's Pannierstrasse. The true Berlin burger experience can be found at Burgermeister on Shlesisches Tor in the original hipster town of Kreuzberg. It's underneath the train station built into what used to be public toilets. Yum. Nowadays It's totally sanitary and arguably the best burger in town. Don't forget to order chilli cheese fries on the side. [caption id="attachment_589220" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @olamajaw via Instagram.[/caption] FLY A KITE AT TEMPELHOFER FELD There are over 2,500 public parks and gardens in Berlin but Tempelhofer Feld is undoubtedly one of the most unique. A functioning airport until 2008, the city of Berlin eventually claimed back the space (it's 386 hectares) and turned it into the number one BBQ destination for Berliners in summer. Grab a kite, dust off your skates or bring some beers and a frisbee to enjoy the ultimate Berlin park experience. Whilst you're in the area walk through Schillerkiez, one of Berlin's most covetable living destinations, get a burger and Augustiner beer from one of the many restaurants, cafes and spatis (small milk bars that sell alcohol) that you'll discover walking through the streets. [caption id="attachment_589225" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @___feede___ via Instagram.[/caption] DRINK FREE WINE? AT WEINEREI In a city where beer is often cheaper than water, it's not hard to drink on a budget. Even still, a pay-what-you-want wine bar has its appeal. In the yuppie happy suburb of Prenzlauer Berg you'll find Weinerei. Dodge the prams and start-up entrepreneurs and head straight to the wine bar run by Bavarian and Argentinian connoisseurs Jurgen Stumf and Mariano Goni. There are three different locations but the Forum Cafe & Weinbar is easily the most popular. Get tipsy in atmospheric candlelight and when it's time to move on, use your discretion and pay what you think you owe in a small money box left at the bar. [caption id="attachment_589120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @markthalleneun via Instagram.[/caption] DEVOUR SOME MULTICULTURAL FOOD AT MARKTHALLE NEUN (MARKET HALL 9) Bringing all the multicultural food flavours you can enjoy in Berlin together under one roof, Markthalle 9 officially reopened in 2011, exactly 120 years after its first opening. Inside the huge hall, there's a Breakfast Market held every third Sunday of the month or the Naschmarkt (snack market) held once a quarter with all the snacks and sweet delicacies you could imagine. Your best bet though is Street Food Thursday. Get there early at 5pm to avoid the huge crowds and struggle with the agonising decision over what to order. British pies, Thai tapioca dumplings, Mexican tacos, Allgäu cheese spaetzle or Nigerian FuFu? It's a delicious smorgasbord. Don't worry if you can't make it on either of those special days, the market is open every day of the week. ENJOY AUTHENTIC GOZLEME AT THE TURKISH MARKET For a true local's experience, take a stroll along the Turkish Market on Maybachufer canal every Tuesday and Friday. Everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to flowers to yards of fabric is on offer at this sort-of farmer's market. It's organised by the Turkish community living in Berlin (the city is home to the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey), and the produce is fresh and unbelievably cheap. Snag a carton of avocados for under €5 (seriously) or grab a freshly baked spinach and cheese gozleme and join the crowd of impossibly cool kids listening to the busker who sets up shop at the end of every market. [caption id="attachment_589134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @chrisfosterrr via Instagram.[/caption] SAVOUR RARE TABLE SERVICE AT NATHANJA AND HEINRICH At the end of bar-laden Weichselstrasse in Neukolln you'll find Nathanja und Heinrich. With the typical Berlin bar vibe with raw walls, exposed brick and mismatched furniture, Nathanja's is equally as great for an afternoon coffee as it is for an evening gin and tonic. Order first and pay later, at this bar they often play the blues and even offer table service, a rare occurrence in Berlin. Like almost all places that serve alcohol in the city, smoking inside is allowed after 9pm. It's a popular local hangout so make sure you arrive before 8pm on weekends to grab a table. Visit Europe (including Berlin) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999.
There's a lot to love about Sono Japanese Restaurant at Portside Wharf — from the artfully plated food and impeccable service to the sleek and minimalistic interiors and those uninterrupted river views. From the moment you remove your shoes to take a seat at one of the sunken tables by the window, you'll be immersed in the modern Japanese dining experience. In fact, if not for that view of the Brisbane River, it would be easy to forget you are in Australia. The a la carte menu can most accurately be described as 'epic'. The vast range of choices includes sashimi and sushi; starters such as crispy deep fried Japanese tofu or edamame sprinkled with salt; everyone's favourite pork Gyoza; main meals such as black cod Saikyo Yaki (Grilled NZ black cod marinated in Saikyo miso sauce) and salmon teriyaki; and a whole host of side dishes, hot pots, and desserts. If teppanyaki is your thing, you're in luck. Located in the centre of the restaurant is a large teppanyaki bar where you can watch and learn as your food is cooked before your very eyes. But if all of these choices sound too much, you can skip straight for the six-course tasting menu. By the time you're working your way through the delicate appetiser platter of fresh oysters, Hokkaido scallops and seared Wagyu, you'll know it was money well spent. The other courses include melt-in-the-mouth tuna and salmon sashimi and king fish carpaccio; fresh crab croquettes; chef's selection of sushi; a choice of either Wagyu sirloin with garlic soy jus, duck breast with teriyaki orange sauce or black cod with saikyo miso sauce; and the chef's selection of dessert. The wine and sake is expertly matched to complement your chosen dishes and your knowledgeable sommelier will talk you through these tipples as they are served. If you're after some of the best Japanese eats in Brisbane, Sono should be high on your list of places to visit. Images: Vincent Lie Photography.
If you're one to simultaneously munch a durrie and schnittie combo, we've got some bad news for you. Smoking in all outdoor dining areas in New South Wales is banned from today, thanks to the implementation of the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. From July 6, 2015, all commercial outdoor dining areas in licensed venues (including clubs and hotels), restaurants and cafes must be smoke-free. Basically, if food is being served, there's no smoking. There's going to be some serious penalties (we're talking fines up to $5500) for venues who don't comply with the new smoking bans, enforced by NSW Health Authorised Inspectors — so you can rule out a cheeky smoke, even if you 'know the owner'. Plus, you could land yourself a $300 fine for gettin' y'puff on. It's not just courtyards and beer gardens that are about to clear the air; areas within four metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a licensed venue, restaurant or cafe must be smoke-free (so on-street dining and footpath areas too). But venues are allowed to create designated smoking areas — so beer gardens are still allowed to section off glamorous shame corners or build blue-lit miscreant booths (lookin' at you Beach Road). From today, venues will have to put up 'no smoking' signs of approved size and staff will be trained to deal with the new laws. Let's be honest, this was always coming. The 2013 NSW Smoking and Health Survey showed 75 percent of surveyed folks approved banning smoking in all outdoor areas in hotels, restaurants and cafes. And really, trying to enjoy a burg with cigarette smoke in your face isn't the best. But we're pretty sure this one's going to stir up some furious pub debate. Via NSW Health.
When you've opened an Italian joint with a mean negroni menu, a Chinese Peruvian bar and eatery, and a Palm Springs-inspired gin-pouring garden bar, what comes next? If you're Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault — aka the hospitality industry figures behind The Talisman Group — then you follow it up with a European-influenced wine bar and wine shop. And you base all four spots in one location, all in Woolloongabba — giving visitors to South City Square a choose-your-own-adventure food and drink experience. South City Wine boasts eye-catching decor designed to transport you to the other side of the world — think marble tabletops, dark timber panelling, brass finishings and oil paintings, plus a heavy use of emerald-green hues. Brisbanites will find that colour gleaming brightly from South City Wine's exterior, striped awning and all; yes, its shopfront does indeed look like something you'd see in Europe. The venue also boasts plenty of outdoor seating, including booths, giving it a laneway feel. The long communal indoor table, backdropped by a wall of wine, is also great for groups. Those vinos have been co-curated by Thibault and Michael Phipps and take a global approach. Expect to sip Australian, New Zealand, French, Italian, German, Austrian, Spanish, Greek, Lebanese, American, South African and Argentinian drops from the opening wine list — 15 types of French champagne among them. South City Wine also goes big on French-inspired cocktails, with seven varieties on offer. Standouts include the 'Serein River' with St Germain and rosewater gin, and the 'Apricot Deauville' made with cognac and apricot brandy. Food-wise, the focus is on European bistro bites — and a hefty range of cheese and charcuterie to start, plus tins of anchovies, sardines and yellowfin tuna. Culinary highlights span lemon and vin rouge oysters, scallops crudo, escargot in garlic butter, chicken liver parfait and venison tartare among the small plates, as well as fish of the day, roasted pumpkin, and the trusty combo of steak frites among the mains. Images: Max Homer / Judit Losh.
Beneath its glory and grandeur, Paris offers adventures a-plenty at ground level. For every 16th-century art gallery crowded with tourist snappers, there's a neglected street art masterpiece on a corner somewhere; for every ritzy hotel foregrounded with limousines, there's a quirky hideaway concealed behind a secret door; for every Michelin-starred restaurant, there's a laneway shopfront peddling regional produce. Thanks to the city's spiralling, snail-like arrangement, a diverse array of neighbourhoods is easily accessible from the centre. With only a week to dig up the picks of the Paris underground, I asked a few of the locals to show me around. DRINKING Unlike Australian wines, which are labelled according to grape variety, French ones are classified based on region. If you've been to neither Burgundy nor Bordeaux, ordering can be confusing and, occasionally, intimidating. One express way to get your head around this is at a tasting session. I found Alexis, a Parisian-born wine expert, through Localers, a company that organises left-of-field activities led by locals, from like-a-local crash courses, to macaroon classes, to games of petanque. His father started teaching him the difference between a decent drop and a dud when he was in his early teens. I met Alexis at Le Pharamond (24, Rue de la Grande Truanderie), one-time preferred eatery of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tucked away in a side street amid the cocktail bars of the first arrondissement, it's a direct link to the Belle Epoque, with its gilded mirrors, glazed tiles, high ceilings and hardcore traditional cuisine: offal, pigeon, escargot and tripe served up at boiling point. While these delicacies are available to anyone with a dinner reservation, Le Pharamond's shadowy, candle-lit wine cellar, dug out in the Middle Ages, is accessible only in the company of a guide – via secret hatch behind the bar and a series of steep staircases and ladders. This was where our class began. Filling our glasses with champagne, Alexis started explaining the rules of French wine, "Under no circumstances can champagne be referred to as champagne, unless it comes from Champagne." Then, whipping out a map, he pointed out which varieties grew where. Ask for a Burgundy red, and you'll be drinking a pinot noir; request a Chablis and you can expect a chardonnay. If you're in Bordeaux, don't even think about requesting a bottle from Burgundy, or anywhere else for that matter. Keeping things local is a pretty new trend in Australia, but the French have been fiercely defending their regionalism for centuries. After that we were ushered to a private dining room on the Pharamond's third floor, with a view to the street below. We sampled five more wines, representing a north to south journey through France, and matched with several premium cheeses and cured meats. "When you cut cheese in France," Alexis explained, "you must do it from the centre outwards, so that everyone ends up with an equal share of the rind." Armed with my new working knowledge of French wine and cheese etiquette, I was ready to brave Paris's culinary specialties. If not the tripe. EATING It's not difficult to find the city's renowned high-end restaurants, but scoping out the mid-range gems is tougher. The sheer volume of visitors has pushed up prices, especially on the major thoroughfares. So I enlisted the help of Lisa, a Canadian who's been living in Paris for two years. She runs her own small tour business, Flavors of Paris, which promises to take travellers "off the eaten path". We gathered at Les Deux Magots (6, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés), where the likes of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Ernest Hemingway penned masterpieces in between coffees and cocktails. These days, Lisa told us, the Saint Germain area is quite "shi shi", but, despite the trendy stores, it's still bustling with students and writers. On a circuitous journey down cobbled alleyways and through courtyards, we visited independent boutiques where we sampled olives, olive oils, pastries, breads, cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates, jams, spreads and wines. On my own, I'd have had little chance of finding them. At chocolate concept store Un Dimanche à Paris (4, Cours du Commerce Saint-André) we indulged in the must-try creations of Pierre Cluizel, whose lifelong dedication to chocolate began when he was six; at Ma Collection Marchande de Saveurs (33, Rue Mazarine), we sampled a curated collection of local gourmet products; at the Marché Saint-Germain (14, Rue Lobineau), we bought direct from farmers; and at Bacchus et Ariane (4, Rue Lobineau), we tasted wine sourced from propriétaires récoltants (winemakers who grow their own grapes). ARTING Despite the crowds, the Louvre is always a magnificent experience. But if you prefer your art with some personal space, Paris's smaller galleries are worth a visit. Head to the Marais district, which is like Sydney's Paddington in its emphasis on independent design, but more intense. For new, challenging work, check out La Maison Rouge (10, Boulevard de la Bastille) a converted factory that's been exhibiting since 2004. Or for an element of surprise, step through the heavy, green doors of the Passage de Retz (9 Rue Charlot), whose maze of rooms started life in the 17th century as a hotel and now hosts temporary shows. Alternatively, take to the streets. Numerous corners, archways and parks act as canvases for street art, accessible 24 hours a day. Having spied various space invaders and OBEY references, I decided to get some context via a walking tour with Underground Paris. Beginning at the'70s-inspired Café Place Verte (105, Rue Oberkampf), the journey took us on a three-hour long saunter through the Oberkampf and Belleville, where low rents and warehouse spaces have been drawing Paris's art community since the '80s. We learned what inspired Space Invader's obsession, found out more about 'photograffeur' and TED-prize winner JR and discovered works by numerous lesser-known local artists. Using individual stories as a springboard, our guide carved out a broader history of street art, from graffiti tagging to multi-million dollar successes. We ended up in Parc de Belleville (47, Rue des Couronnes), one of the few places in Paris where you can picnic with panoramic city views minus the crowds. SLEEPING (ON THE RIGHT BANK) Wandering around the Madeleine district, on Paris's Right Bank, felt like walking through the set of a Baz Luhrmann film. Everything was grander, more beautiful and more decadent than real-life, from the golden Gucci dog collars, to the glittering macaroon sculptures, to the gilded statues atop the Palais Garnier. It's also a really visitor-friendly location, with the Champs Elysées within walking distance. The Hotel Chavanel (22 Rue Tronchet) is hidden behind an unobtrusive sliding door, just a few hundred metres from the spectacular Corinthian columns of the Madeleine Church. Sophie Charlet took over as hotelier in 2013, intent on turning the hotel into a bit of an artwork. Each of the 27 rooms has been designed individually, but they're linked by an aesthetic that combines traditional haute couture with bold, fun, contemporary concepts. It looks like what might have emerged out of a Christian Dior and Pierre Paulin collaboration. I stayed in the junior suite, on the sixth floor. It was furnished like the guest room of some cutting-edge interior designer: an enormous oval bed draped with cashmere, mushroom and tulip stools, a recliner shaped like a cloud, lamps made of silkworm cocoons from Thailand and lace-curtained windows affording district views. I wasn't surprised to learn that Sophie had overseen the placement of every single object and that she's big on ethical supply chains and supporting independent artists. The lobby's street-facing window is dedicated to exhibiting locally-made creations, from jewellery to sculptures, while breakfast comes in the form of a 100 per cent organic buffet. SLEEPING (ON THE LEFT BANK) Not far from where my Flavors of Paris tour started, and just around the corner from the Luxembourg Gardens, the Villa Madame (44, Rue Madame) inhabits a quiet street. On first impressions, it feels more like a welcoming private mansion owned by an arts philanthropist than a hotel. Sculptures and drawings dot the lobby-bar-restaurant, leading through to a secluded, leafy courtyard. Monthly live shows feature local artists, from musicians to storytellers to magicians. Owners Giles Delfau and Thérèse Tafanel employed specialist boutique hotel designer Michael Jounnat to create the Villa's artsy yet luxurious feel. His passion is restoring 'identity' and 'soul' to places, rather than following trends; some of his other projects include St Petersburg's Grand Hotel Europe, Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Palace and Oran's Royal Hotel. The atmosphere established from the outset extends seamlessly into the rooms. I stayed in a suite, made up of a courtyard-facing ground-floor room, a loft-style lounge room and an oversized bathroom. It was a classically Parisian experience - and a warm, cosy hideaway at the end of the day. Jasmine travelled as a guest of Localers, Flavors of Paris, Underground Paris, Hotel Chavanel and Villa Madame.
We know that ambience is what makes or breaks a good swim. After all, being immersed in water is one of the most sensory experiences a human can have – it can soothe, excite, intimidate, challenge and even transcend. A well-designed swimming pool is all part of this encounter as our bodies relinquish control to what we see, hear and feel. If you're thinking of your local 25-metre community pool — don't . There are some incredibly designed, amazingly functional and just downright beautiful pools out there, designed by architects with sustainability, accessibility and even Feng Shui in mind. Whether you're a serious swimmer, design enthusiast, or just a general lover of good aesthetics, these are ten of the best architecturally designed public swimming pools in the world. So pack your one-piece and your goggles, and add these blue beauties to your next overseas itinerary. [caption id="attachment_557381" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Slangen + Koenis Architecten[/caption] 'DE HEUVELRAND' VOORTHUIZEN SWIMMING POOL — VOORTHUIZEN, NETHERLANDS In Voorthuizen, a slopping roofline of blond timber provides the ideal vista for your backstroke. Built as a new facility in an area of development, the building has been designed by Slangen + Koenis Architecten as one large stone block with masses cut out of it — those masses complementing the function and orientation of the pool itself. This bright, neutral interior brings simplicity to slugging laps and, importantly, allows for the pool to be overseen by one employee. Built on a landscaped lawn and surrounded by a forest, you can be assured that swimmers' lungs breathe easy here. [caption id="attachment_557386" align="alignnone" width="1280"] MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects[/caption] REGENT PARK AQUATIC CENTRE — TORONTO, CANADA The revitalisation of Regent Park Aquatic Centre goes hand-in-hand with the transitional community in which it is located. Designed as a local meeting place for many of the area's socially marginalised and migrant communities, this 'Pavilion in the Park' brings an existing outdoor pool indoors for a variety of purposes. The facility's design — done by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects — reflects this appropriately in a number of ways; the aquatics hall provides spaces for cultural groups interested in private swimming, whilst also being the first facility in Canada to employ the use of universal change rooms which no longer separate males and females. Instead, private change cubicles in common change rooms are used to address cultural and gender identity issues and to enhance safety. [caption id="attachment_557393" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Zaha Hadid Architects[/caption] LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE — LONDON, ENGLAND Built by Zaha Hadid Architects for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the naked eye may see a mass of concrete and water at the London Aquatic Centre. Considering the space a bit more closely though, its architectural conception lives in the fluidity of water in motion and the riverside landscapes surrounding Olympic Park. It's an example of what great design can do on a large scale. Created to accommodate over 17,000 spectators, the billowing roof sweeps from the ground upwards to swathe three different pools, but also remains distinctly relevant to the needs of the public in its 'legacy' use after the Olympics. [caption id="attachment_557396" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Camillo Botticini Architect[/caption] CENTRO NATATORIO MOMPIANO — BRESCIA, ITALY Built to reflect its urban environment, this pool is unadorned and pretty much all you need to live out your days of serene swimming. Compact brown clinker bricks cut harsh lines across the horizon to make this facility seem more of an art gallery than anywhere where you'd work up a sweat — and that's perfectly alright with us. The outside also makes its way into the facility's heart, where the bricks continue their precision to render the pool spaces light and effortless. Designed by Camillo Botticini Architect, together with Francesco Craca, Arianna Foresti and Nicola Martinoli, it's great example of how pure functionality can shine without even coming close to boring or bland. [caption id="attachment_557401" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Urbane Kultur[/caption] PISCINE TOURNESOL — STRASBOURG, FRANCE The recent refurbishment (by French architects, Urbane Kultur) of this decades-old pool has brought Lingolsheim, just outside of Strasbourg, into the modern day. Airy and full of natural light, this modish design isn't too far off feeling like it's from the future; the spaceship-like complex is one of over 183 dome-shaped swimming pools built by the French government during the 1980s to encourage more citizens to swim. The dome has been constructed with a self-supporting frame so the inside of the tournesol — that's 'sunflower' in French — is column-free inside. Also inspired by the way sunflowers angle themselves towards the sun, sliding panels within the building allow the structure to be opened during summer. [caption id="attachment_508411" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Neeson Murcutt Architects[/caption] PRINCE ALFRED PARK POOL — SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Perhaps the most accessible swimming pool on this list, a visit to Prince Alfred Park Pool should be mandatory for every visitor to (or resident of) Sydney. Designed by Neeson Murcutt Architects as part of the invigoration of Redfern's Prince Alfred Park in 2013, a swim here invites immediate invocation of a long, hot Australian summer at the pool. Built cleverly amongst a 'folded landscape' of native grasses to both protect the green space of this inner urban area and provide swimmers with some protection, the facility is, at once, confined and imposing. Yellow umbrellas and palm trees make this architectural space a little less serious than most, but no less impressive. [caption id="attachment_557409" align="alignnone" width="1280"] DRD Architecture[/caption] AQUATIC CENTRE LOUVIERS — LOUVIERS, FRANCE One for pastel lovers, the aquatic centre at Louviers in France is nothing short of a sorbet dream. Situated amongst landscaped waterways, as well as being nestled against a downtown railway and highway, DRD Architecture decided to draw inspiration from the linear structures of the environment when planning the identity of this project. And it shows. The insides of the facility transmit a fluidity of volume — in lines and in water — to its outdoor spaces, whilst the flux of visitors to centre contribute to this transience. Built in consideration of natural light, energy saving and minimal impact on the environment, Aquatic Centre Louviers is one swimming pool designed for the ages. [caption id="attachment_557415" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Herzog & de Meuron[/caption] NATURBAD RIEHEN — RIEHEN, SWITZERLAND Switzerland is known for its awe-inspiring landscapes, so it makes sense that nature would be front of mind for any architect working alongside the outdoors. Years of unrealised proposals for conventional swimming pools in the town of Riehen finally gave way to the natural approach: a biologically filtered bathing lake. Visitors swim in a naturally filtered lake that is kept clean using aqua plants and layers of soil, sand and gravel, delivering an experience that is free of chlorine and traditional machinery. Whilst the bath — designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron — contributes to the rise in popularity of natural swimming pools across Europe, it also pays homage to the traditional riverside baths of older generations. LEÇA SWIMMING POOLS — LEÇA DE PALMEIRA, PORTUGAL Built in 1966 by renowned Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza, the swimming pools at Leça are today internationally recognised. Graceful and beautiful in its aging, the facility is lowered into the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean and provides visitors with a wonderful blur between the natural and manmade. Ocean sounds bounce off the natural stone walls as visitors walk through the sloping entry point, where they are then met with swimming pools built amongst the coastline's natural rock formations. In almost all instances the water level of the pool and ocean appear to be equal, connecting the swimmer with the expanse of their surrounds. [caption id="attachment_557433" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mikou Studio[/caption] AQUAZENA — PARIS, FRANCE Designed by Mikou Studio for the City of Issy-les-Moulineaux southwest of Paris last year, this is definitely not your ordinary public swimming pool. Whilst smooth concrete walls, rounded windows and doorways with similar curved edges exude a late 1970s feeling, Feng Shui specialist Laurence Dujardin has also contributed to the calm, minimal aesthetic, resulting in a facility that uses the traditions of Chinese space-planning to create a naturally lit, uncluttered and fluid space. In particular, skylights allow daylight to filter through the swimming area, whilst a grassy rooftop solarium sits above. The external walls of the facility also feature undulating wooden slats to reflect the circular movements of water, movement and energy. Top image: AquaZena by Mikou Studio.
Whether you're staying put or travelling interstate this summer, one thing's for sure: you won't be bored from a lack of art. A fine contingent of blockbuster exhibitions has hit the country for the warmer months, sweeping into temperature controlled galleries from Brisbane to Melbourne and all the way across to Perth. You can step into the dotty world of legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama GOMA, curl up in bed at the MCA to watch some of Pipilotti Rist's work go by and remember gone-too-soon talents Amy Winehouse and Heath Ledger (at the Jewish Museum of Australia and Art Gallery of WA, respectively). And that's not even mentioning the NGV's huge new NGV Triennial, which features a giant buddha and 100 oversized resin skulls. If you're someone who travels for art, you might want to book those domestic flights now. This is probably one of the most impressive summer lineups we've seen — and, come March, most of them will be gone. Hop to it.
Norway’s capital Oslo has recently elected a leftist city government and they’re already implementing radical new plans that may soon see Norway grow more famous for its sustainable practices than its Viking history and fjords. Oslo's city centre is about to go car-free. By 2019, private vehicles will be banned from Oslo's CBD, where according to local press Verdans Gang, about 90,000 people work, but only 1000 live. The pedestrianisation of Oslo's centre is an attempt to reduce carbon emissions to 50 percent of 1990 levels by 2020. Don’t it bring a tear to your eye? Snaps for Oslo. The plan isn’t without controversy, obviously. The proposal has raised concerns for local businesses who worry the program will reduce the amount of shoppers out and about. Others have raised legitimate concerns that seniors, people with disabilities or families with young children will suffer without access to private transport. To counter, the city will allow vehicles with disabled stickers and zero-emissions vehicles on the roads, but ultimately the message is: if you’re able, you gotta use bike lanes or public transport. The city government also plans to supplement the scheme by building more bike lanes, subsidising the purchase of electric bikes and moving away from fossil fuel investments in pension funds. Around the world, many big cities are coming to the realisation that the only way to improve the health of the population and reduce urban pollution, is by reducing traffic rather than managing it. In September, Paris implemented a one-day scheme wherein large parts of the inner city were closed off from traffic for a day, including the iconic Champs Elysees (we’ve heard it’s a busy street, but maybe that’s thanks to all the traffic?). The Guardian reported Parisians walked around in awe of the quiet, clean air, with one citizen even saying “Everyone seems to be smiling, and not as stressed,” (awww bless). In Seoul, a forward-thinking city government in 2003 ripped up a highway to execute a plan to restore the Cheonggyecheon stream, which runs through the centre of the city and was laden with pollution and debris. The restoration meant getting rid of an overland highway that ran along the stream and carried a huge amount of traffic. What their traffic engineers found however instead of acting as a liquid and clogging adjacent streets, the traffic acted as a gas and contacted to fill the space available. It seems that highways follow the same basic principles as baseball fields — if you build it, they will come. Another stellar example comes from Curitiba in Brazil, otherwise known as the Green City. In 1972, architect Jamie Lerner was elected as mayor and his first act was to physically blockade a major traffic artery in the heart of the city, without approval from anyone but himself, and restore it for pedestrian use. Total baller. The coup took less than 72 hours and was the first of many environmentally sustainable initiatives that have rendered Curitiba a shining example of smart, cheap design. And now, fingers crossed, Australia is looking to follow suit. Long term plans for Sydney’s George Street include reclaiming a large portion of it for pedestrian use. Brisbane’s controversial City Centre Master Plan aims to pedestrianise Albert Street to create a 'green spine' from one side of the city to the other. Yassss. Onya ‘Straya. Now if you’d just bump down the price of public transport and we’ll be all gravy. Via The Guardian. Images: Dollar Photo Club/City of Sydney.
