I know what you're probably thinking. At Concrete Playground, we're very transparent about the awesome work we do with brands. So it might be reasonable to conclude that I'm going to fill the next 600 words or so with unadulterated praise about Milklab's new oat milk. But you'd be wrong. The first time I, a stubbornly exclusive drinker of full-fat dairy milk, tried oat milk, I made a face that made my walking buddy think I'd stepped in a big pile of dog shit. My next thought: immediate regret. You see, I'd challenged myself to make the switch to oat milk. I discovered while reading up about it, of the various plant-based milks that are now widely available in cafes, oat is supposed to be the closest in taste and creaminess to dairy. So, I thought, why not give it a go? I decided to commit to the oat for a whole week and document my experiences. But, after my first sip, I was immediately overcome with regret. A whole week on this was all of a sudden starting to look like it could be a long one. Was I going to make it? Was I going to cave? Or was I — perhaps unthinkably — actually going to enjoy it? Here's what happened. THE TASTE My first sip of an oat milk coffee was definitely a bit of a shock. For the uninitiated (as I was just a couple of weeks ago), there's a sweet, nutty, almost malty taste — as well as an undeniably oat-y one — that I knew was going to take a bit of getting used to. I don't take any sugar in my coffee, either, so I realised from that first sip that some adjustment (mainly of my own expectations) was going to be required. One almost immediate effect the sweetness did have was that it forced me to slow down, and to savour every sip. There was also a surprising richness to the milk that meant each sip just went that little bit further. I also tried different types of oat milk coffee: hot and cold, frothy and flat. I was surprised by the full flavour and roundness in the latte — especially an oat cap (more on that below). Meanwhile, the iced oat lattes I had were also very, very drinkable. Not only did these not leave me feeling bloated like a dairy version would, but it seems that not heating the milk neutralised some of the immediate nuttiness and sweetness. And while I could tell it wasn't dairy, it tasted pretty close to it. THE MOUTHFEEL This was, to be honest, the part that I was probably the most nervous about. One of the main reasons that I have stubbornly insisted on full-fat dairy milk is because I've found the alternatives either too watery for my liking, or far too overpowering in taste. The warm internal hug that a perfectly made latte with full-fat dairy milk provides is hard to replicate with the alternatives. One drink, though, changed my mind from the first sip: the oat cappuccino. While I am firmly of the belief that cappuccinos should remain in the 90s alongside sundried tomatoes and focaccia, the full velvety goodness of an oat cap was, to quote Jessica Simpson, irresistible. This is likely because oat milk stretches similarly to dairy, effectively resulting in a smaller margin of error on the part of the espresso puller and also creating that fuller mouthfeel. Another thing it took drinking oat to realise — especially on days I drank both oat and dairy to compare a little more directly — is the film that dairy can leave around the mouth, which is honestly... not okay. There was no such residue with oat, hot or cold. THE EFFECT Remember that warm internal hug I mentioned earlier? As pretty much any drinker of dairy milk can vouch for, it's not uncommon for your stomach to start to play dubstep after, or even during, that milk-induced inside-out embrace. Mercifully, no such beats were created after an oat beverage. Another thing I found interesting was that the post-caffeine crash I would usually experience — especially following my afternoon brew — did not come when I'd had my oat drink. This is surprising given that oat has less protein and more sugar than full-fat dairy, but what is undeniable is that an oatey boy seemed to keep me going for longer. The same can be said for the fullness factor. While its bloat factor means that dairy usually fills me more quickly, the fullness seems to be both more subtle and more sustained with oat. [caption id="attachment_824628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rachel McDermott (Unsplash)[/caption] THE VERDICT Full disclosure: I'm writing this while drinking a full-fat dairy latte. But I'm not enjoying it as much as what I might have done a couple of weeks ago. I actually came to not only enjoy the taste of oat milk, but also crave it. Am I converted? Truth be told, I'll still be ordering dairy when the mood hits. But what I have discovered is that there is another option that does the job just as well — and, in some cases, even better. For more information on Milklab's new oat range, head to the website.
Another year coming to a close, another batch of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. That's the case in 2021, just as it was in 2020, as different parts of the country ease out of their latest lockdowns again. So, as also occurred last year, border rules around the nation are changing once more — with New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and now Tasmania announcing plans for visitors from elsewhere. Today, Friday, October 22, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein revealed that the Apple Isle will reopen to all non-Tassie residents who've had two COVID-19 jabs — travellers from interstate and international destinations — on Wednesday, December 15. That's when the state is expected to have reached the 90-percent double-vaccinated threshold, if you're wondering what motivated that choice. And, yes, that's when the double-vaxxed from Australia and around the world alike will be able to enter without quarantining. "At the 90-percent fully vaccinated target for 12 years and over, anyone will be able to enter Tasmania from anywhere within Australia, subject to being fully vaccinated," the Gutwein advised. "That's if they've had a negative test result within 72 hours of travelling. The testing requirement will remain in place for up to four weeks subject to review." "Now, at the 90-percent vaccination mark as well, no quarantine for fully vaccinated overseas arrivals. It will be the same rules for everyone. If you're coming from overseas and you're coming to Tasmania, you'll have the same rules if you're coming out of Sydney or Melbourne or South Australia or Queensland," the Premier continued. That testing requirement is exactly what Victoria has just announced, too, for international arrivals — however, in Tasmania, it'll apply to both Aussie and overseas visitors. The Premier also noted that the only exemption to this will be for Tasmanians that return from a short trip to the mainland. "So, if you want to go shopping in Melbourne... if you're away for a couple of days, you'll be able to return, so long as you're fully vaccinated, without needing to meet the 72-hour test rule. So, if you travel and the travel is less than seven days, you'll be able to return," Gutwein said. The news comes just two days after Tassie hit the 70-percent double-vaxxed milestone among residents aged 16 years and over. For potential visitors who aren't double-jabbed or refuse to take a test before heading to Tasmania, there'll still be quarantine and testing requirements from Wednesday, December 15. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Tasmania, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
When was the last time that you went to one of the Gold Coast's theme parks, or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary? Took a tour on Tamborine Mountain? Hit up one of the coastal city's other attractions, such as Dracula's or the SkyPoint Observation Deck? Whether it's been forever or you're a local, the Queensland Government wants southeast Queenslanders to play tourist on the Goldie over the next few months — and it's giving away $50 vouchers to help. Since the beginning of the pandemic, everyone knows how these tourism initiatives work, and why. This one comes after the Gold Coast suffered severe weather over the period at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, impacting summer getaway bookings. Accordingly, the state's powers that be are attempting to assist the industry by encouraging folks to add the area to their plans sometime soon. [caption id="attachment_912105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shiftchange via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Under the name GC Summer FUNds, and as part of a partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and Experience Gold Coast, there's 50,000 vouchers up for grabs. The government has committed $2.5 million to the program. Queensland Premiere Steven Miles announced the scheme on Monday, January 15, with vouchers available for redemption from midday the same day. You have until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, March 29, 2024 to get in on the action — or until 50,000 redemptions have been made "The Gold Coast is one of Queensland's tourism hot spots because of the world class attractions and experiences on offer," said the Premier. "This summer, our tourism operators have been some of the hardest hit here and in Cairns, so it's time we help them get back on their feet." As always, there are caveats. Using the vouchers involves entering the code "GCSUMMERFUNDS" when you're making a new booking via the initiative's website, but you have to spend $100 or more to qualify. There's also only one voucher available per southeast Queensland resident — and, as well as needing to be 18 or over, you do need to live in Brisbane metro or CBD, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, the Sunshine Coast or Toowoomba. You'll be required to enter your residential address when you book, and the scheme's terms and conditions advise that it will be adding extra verification via checking IP addresses. And that end date? It's just as the Easter long weekend kicks off — so you'll need to have Gold Coast plans before then. Applications for the 50,000 $50 GC Summer FUNds travel vouchers are opening now until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, March 29, 2024 — or until 50,000 redemptions have been made. For more information, or to apply during the aforementioned window, head to the initiative's website.
When news dropped that Adnan Syed's murder conviction had been overturned, an obvious announcement followed: Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, which spent its first season exploring the killing of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee and the extremely complex legal matters surrounding her ex-boyfriend Syed, was returning for a new episode. That new instalment, called 'Adnan Is Out', is available to listen to now — and Serial isn't the only recent Syed-focused hit that's making a comeback as a result. Here's another expected but also welcome development: The Case Against Adnan Syed, HBO's four-part documentary series about the case, is also making a new chapter. The US network revealed that a follow-up episode is in the works, with filmmaker Amy Berg (Phoenix Rising, Dogs, West of Memphis) returning behind the lens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Berg (@amy_berg) "We knew the end of The Case Against Adnan Syed was not the end of this story, and we've been closely following every twist and turn in the case since the series premiered in March 2019," said Berg in a statement. "It's gratifying to see many of the questions and issues probed in the original episodes come to bear on the events of this week," the filmmaker continued. HBO revealed that the new episode will arrive sometime in 2023, but hasn't dropped any further details — including how long it'll run for or the exact release date. Where it'll stream Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. HBO also advised that Berg has been filming the follow-up episode in Maryland since early 2021, and was in the courthouse when Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed's murder conviction. The Case Against Adnan Syed's new episode will not only chart the lead up to that decision, but will also follow Syed after his release. [caption id="attachment_668625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Adnan Syed. Via: Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.[/caption] If you missed the HBO series when it premiered in 2019, it examined 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and Syed's conviction in 2000, as well as the latter's ongoing quest to have his conviction reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Lee and Syed's relationship, tothe original police investigation and trial, the developments up until the show hit the air — they all featured, with the documentary gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. Yes, it made for gripping viewing, with Berg working on the original four episodes since 2015. It was always bound to be compelling and thorough, given her excellent doco background — helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's aforementioned West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret. Check out the trailer for The Case Against Adnan Syed's initial run below: HBO's follow-up episode to The Case Against Adnan Syed doesn't currently have a release date, other than arriving in 2023 — we'll update you when it does. In the interim, the original series is available to stream via Fetch in Australia . Images: SBS / HBO
“Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream.” Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: the third edition of this Brisbane event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris 26 years ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, 2000+ of Brisbane's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, October 11, for the event held at an iconic location that remains secret until the very last moment (last year it was the beautiful banks of the Brisbane River at Portside). Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. (But don't get any ideas: a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a ticket.
Captain Planet, he's a wellness inspiration? When SOL Elements opens its doors on Mount Tamborine in early 2024, you can be forgiven for getting that vibe. Like the early-90s eco-superhero animated series, this new place to chase bliss will go big on earth, fire and water. A focus on air takes care of Captain Planet and the Planeteers' love of wind, too — and as for heart, hopefully yours will beat with pure relaxation while you're onsite. Nestled amid the Gold Coast hinterland's tropical rainforests, SOL Elements is an elemental bathhouse, hence the emphasis placed on exactly what's in its name. The aim: to use the elements to help patrons find the kind of serenity and inner peace that onsens, float rooms, a clay room, a Himalayan salt cave, saunas and massages can bring. [caption id="attachment_682545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamborine Mountain, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The new wellness haven hasn't released many details as yet, so exactly where it will be based, when it will launch, its treatments and their prices is still to be revealed. But the information provided so far paints a picture that's all about chilling out in stunning surroundings — and switching off your digital devices as well. So, the earth part of the SOL Elements experience will involve getting immersed in that clay room, and also kicking back beneath the ancient Bodhi tree at the centre of the bathhouse. With the venue's air focus, there's the salt cave, plus teaching breathwork. And with water, soaking in the communal onsens or private suites — and cold plunge pools as well — is on the menu. So is a steam room that makes good use of essential oils. The heat of the saunas will bring fire into play, as will a communal fire pit. And, if you can't visit a bathhouse, wellness centre or day spa without getting a massage — and who can? — there'll be a full range of styles, including Swedish and Thai, and using both ancient and modern techniques. The whole setup will take its cues from the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which is about searching for beauty in imperfection and transience. Feeling tranquil just reading and thinking about SOL Elements? That's understandable. Find SOL Elements on Tamborine Mountain sometime from early 2024 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced, and you can head to the venue's website and Instagram in the interim,
2024 is already set to be a huge year for Australia's most-inclusive music festival, after the Dylan Alcott-founded Ability Fest announced that it would not only play Melbourne but also hit up Brisbane as well. Mere days after revealing its expansion, the event has now dropped its lineup — and, with Ocean Alley, King Stingray, Cub Sport and Bag Raiders leading the bill, it too is massive. Ability Fest will first head to Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, October 19, then to Victoria Park/Barrambin in Brisbane on Saturday, October 26. The roster of talent varies slightly per state, but the aforementioned four acts will take to the stage in both cities. So will Asha Jefferies, Boone, Brenn!, Dewbs, Eliza Hull and jamesjamesjames, alongside Jordan Brando, Jordz, Kita Alexander and a triple j Unearthed winner. From there, Melburnians will can catch ONEFOUR, Crybaby, DAWS, Floodlights, Kuzco, NayNay and Wax'o Paradiso. In Brisbane only, punters will see Middle Kids, Cheq, Eves Karydas, Mikalah Watego, Moss, Neesha Alexander and Xeimma. Across both locations, Ability Fest is splitting its musicians across two stages, one for bands and one for DJs. The fully accessible event, which launched in 2018, has been carefully designed from the get-go. It features ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus, there's also quiet zones, dedicated sensory areas and accessible toilets. The Brisbane festival will cater to around 5000 people, and Ability Fest is committed to being financially accessible during the current cost-of-living crisis in both of its stops. Accordingly, tickets will only cost $60 plus booking fee, and carers will receive complimentary entry. The fest is also lowering the age of admission to 16 so more folks can head along. While dishing up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities, the not-for-profit fest also raises money for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, with 100-percent of its ticket proceeds going to the organisation. [caption id="attachment_963990" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] "Ability Fest is all about bringing people together through music — a celebration where everyone, regardless of ability, can have an extraordinary time," said Alcott. "I'm particularly excited about the diverse and talented artists we have lined up this year. Their performances will undoubtedly bring such a unique energy to Ability Fest, uniting our community and creating unforgettable moments." [caption id="attachment_963997" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Glenn Hunt[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Lineup: Brisbane and Melbourne: Asha Jefferies Bag Raiders Boone Brenn! Cub Sport Dewbs Eliza Hull jamesjamesjames Jordan Brando Jordz King Stingray Kita Alexander Ocean Alley triple j Unearthed winner Melbourne only: Crybaby DAWS Floodlights Kuzco NayNay ONEFOUR Wax'o Paradiso Brisbane only: Cheq Eves Karydas Middle Kids Mikalah Watego Moss Neesha Alexander Xeimma [caption id="attachment_963996" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Dates and Venues: Saturday, October 19 — Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr, Melbourne Saturday, October 26 — Victoria Park/Barrambin, Brisbane [caption id="attachment_963995" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 will hit Melbourne and Brisbane in October 2024. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, July 10 (register online), with general tickets selling online from 12pm on Thursday, July 11. Head to the festival website for more details. Top image: Chloe Hall.
James Street scored a new go-to, and also gifted Brisbane a new must-try Japanese fine-diner, when Sushi Room opened its doors in The Calile Hotel earlier in 2022. No one needs an extra excuse to drop by, especially if you love the titular dish — and caviar rolls and wasabi cocktails — but here's one anyway: a new weekend pairing of vinyl and sushi sets. On Friday and Saturday nights from Friday, November 18, the Fortitude Valley spot is welcoming DJs behind the decks to spin disco and funk tunes, and also serving up set menus. The vibe: pure Tokyo, all in a place that's designed to be immersive, sensory and theatrical anyway, with a must-try menu to match. Don't expect the kind of beats you can just hear anywhere — with the tunes kicking off at 5.30pm and running till late. As for the set menus, you have two options, all showcasing Head Chef Shimpei Raikuni's wares. The $65 lunch set includes six pieces of nigiri, three of sashimi, a choice of fish or steak, miso and salad. So, you get a chef's selection of fresh sashimi and nigiri, then a main of your choice. Opt for the $140 version and you'll get the more complete Sushi Room dining experience, which means a sashimi platter, a tempura platter and a nigiri platter — then a choice of fish or steak, plus dessert.
Been spending every spare moment lately dreaming of summer getaways, and also making travel plans right into 2023? Haven't we all. It's the time of year when holidays are on the brain in multiple ways, all thanks to the festive season and the warmer weather — and if you're happy to jet off sometime next year, then Virgin has quite the array of sale flights to tempt you. More than 800,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the Bring On Wonderful sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international destinations. Yes, that means that you've got options if you're keen to holiday somewhere on home turf, including Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa and Queenstown. One-way domestic fares start at $55, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay (which is always the cheapest route in these kinds of sales). Other discounted flights include Brisbane to either Cairns or Hamilton Island from $95, Melbourne to the Gold Coast from $89, Adelaide to Darwin from $139 and Perth to Launceston from $195. Internationally, return flights are on offer — including Adelaide to Bali from $569, Brisbane to Fiji from $539, Melbourne to Queenstown from $469 and Sydney to Samoa from $579. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates in 2023, all varying depending on the flights and prices. Some legs run right through until next spring, if you really are thinking ahead. As always when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, October 31 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's Bring on Wonderful sale runs from until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, October 31 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Have you ever fallen asleep while reading a classic text, and dreamt of something much more lively? One assumes Seth Grahame-Smith has, given that his main claim to fame is taking iconic characters and mashing them up with the undead. Having already seen an Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter adaptation, a big screen take on his 2009 novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies seemed like only a matter of time. Unfortunately, the film follows in the footsteps of its presidential predecessor, failing to provide either laughs or gory thrills. To be fair, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies makes a much more convincing attempt than Grahame-Smith's take on honest Abe. You can see how writer-director Burr Steers (Charlie St. Cloud) is trying to splice together his seemingly conflicting components. Sadly, you can see the gaps as well. It's not the concept that the film struggles with, but the tone and the requisite balance, never managing to be as funny or as ridiculous as its director so desperately desires. The film concerns the Bennet sisters, trained zombie killers on the lookout for suitable husbands. Second sibling Lizzie (Lily James) is less than enthused about matrimony, despite the pleading of her father (Charles Dance) that she think about her future, and the machinations of her mother (Sally Phillips) to see her daughters married off to wealthy men. As her sister Jane (Bella Heathcote) courts wealthy new neighbour Mr Bingley (Douglas Booth), Lizzie can't help noticing the stern but somewhat mysterious Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley). He's not the only potential suitor in her midst however, with her pompous cousin Parson Collins (Matt Smith) and debonair soldier Mr Wickham (Jack Huston) also making their interest clear. If the above description emphasises the romantic aspects of the story, it's simply taking its cues from the film. Think of it as Pride and Prejudice with a few zombies thrown in as a gimmick; a way to differentiate the movie from the numerous other big screen versions of the tale. Those familiar with Austen's prose might raise a smile as Lizzie's headstrong ways find a perfect outlet in combat, and will likely enjoy scenes of banter paired with physical duels. As a matter of fact, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies offers a surprisingly serviceable interpretation of its original source material. Those after literal brains, however, will find very little in the blood and gore department. What Steers fails to realise is that there's more to a zombie flick than talking about them, training montages, and throwing in a few shots of decaying faces now and then. Given the charm James shows as a feisty heroine fending off flesh-eating foes, it's disappointing she's not given more opportunities for action. Along with the rest of the cast, she does her best to act like she's in the kind of movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies should be, rather than the one it actually is.
Few films feel as tailor-made for their audience as Josh Boone's adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. Based on the enormously popular young adult novel by John Green, about two teen cancer patients who fall hopelessly in love, it's a story designed to play the heartstrings like a fiddle, extracting sighs and sobs from willing viewers with surgical precision. It's melodramatic, sure, but you'd be hard-pressed to deny its effectiveness. And thanks to a fantastic lead performance from Shailene Woodley, the sentiment never feels insincere. Woodley plays Hazel Lancaster, a sarcastic 16-year-old with terminal tumours in her lungs. Hazel has more or less come to terms with the nature of her illness, but at the behest of her worried parents (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell) agrees to attend a patient's support group. It's there that she meets Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort), an impossibly charming cancer survivor himself, who soon sets about sweeping her off her feet. Despite Hazel's assertion that hers is not your typical cancer narrative, The Fault in Our Stars very much follows a formula. Viewers are promised tragedy, and then lulled into hoping that that tragedy might be averted. Peaks of joy are followed by valleys of strategically excavated sorrow, timed to cause maximum devastation. Thankfully, Hazel is an endearing enough character that you don't really mind the film manipulating you. Pithy voiceover helps us get to know her as a funny, strong-willed young woman who makes the best of an awful situation. Woodley's performance is impeccable, capturing both the giddy excitement of young love and the sobering adult reality of death. Her co-star falters with some of the heavier material but is still immensely likeable as Augustus. Admittedly, the young man isn't the most plausible of characters — no teenager is this articulate, no matter how much they'd like to believe otherwise. A lot of his dialogue is meant to sound wonderfully deep and inspiring but is just as likely to cause cringes in anyone over the age of about 17. Nuggets of teen philosophy notwithstanding, the interactions between the characters generally feel authentic, with plenty of humorous banter to put the romance — and the heartache — into relief. It's thanks to Boone and company's balancing of the three that The Fault in Our Stars is a success. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9ItBvH5J6ss
The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, with the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, as well as the biggest touring Lego exhibition, set to hit Australia in 2025. Earlier in 2024, news arrived that Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition was on its way in this very galaxy, world-premiering Down Under. Now, exactly when and where you'll be able to check it out has been revealed. Melbourne has locked in the first-ever Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition season — and yes, of course it'll open on Sunday, May 4. Melbourne Museum will be filled with more than eight-million bricks, all making models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. What music goes best with turning all that Lego into a Star Wars fan's dream? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The exhibition is set to take 25,000-plus hours of building, which is occurring at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. Here's a question for attendees, too: which tunes will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? You've got a few months to think about it, but you can start getting as excited as a Skywalker learning how to first use a lightsaber. The full list of models that'll feature hasn't been unveiled so far, but one will be life-sized — and that'll be a Lego Star Wars first. A huge 64,759 bricks are being used to craft the three-metre-high X-wing Red-5, taking 382 build hours. Attendees can also expect to see battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're keen to check it out and you don't live in Melbourne, you'll need to head to the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. As well as the hosting the world-premiere season, which will run until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. While you're there, you won't just be looking at all things Star Wars in Lego — you'll be able to get building yourself. As it constructs an immersive experience and follows in the footsteps of the Jurassic World franchise, which has also scored the Lego treatment from Brickman, Star Wars: The Exhibition has plenty of material to draw upon. On-screen, the series spans the initial film trilogy that released from 1977–83, then the prequels from 1999–2005, then the sequels — including The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker — from 2015–2019. Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Acolyte: the list goes on across the big and small screens, including the wealth of animated efforts in the saga. "Building these iconic scenes and characters in Lego Star Wars form is an extremely complex task — taking the humble Lego brick and using it by the millions to translate into Star Wars builds and models at an epic scale the world has never seen before," said McNaught about Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. "My team and I are super excited to launch this mind-blowing experience right here in Melbourne. My inner seven-year-old self still can't quite believe this is happening. I can't wait till May the Fourth next year to be able to share this incredible galaxy-first exhibition with the fans." Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition will make its world-premiere from Sunday, May 4, 2025, running until Monday, January 26, 2026 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the exhibition's website for more details and to join the ticket waitlist. Exhibition images: Museums Victoria.
Remember the good old days when you'd meet up with your mate for a beer at the pub, grab a late-night feed and dance till dawn all in one night? Yeah, us too. But just because we can't go out right now and enjoy our city's best restaurants and bars doesn't mean you have to live life in the slow lane. You can still bring the good times to your living room. Want to take your cooking game to the next level? Now's the time to get creative in the kitchen — with some expert guidance, of course. Or you could order a DIY meal kit from your favourite dining spot so you can just worry about all the fun times to be had. Because, when you're at home, you make the rules. If you don't know where to start when it comes to customising your best night in, we've got you covered. We've partnered with Miller Design Lab to celebrate creativity and self-expression when it comes to dining (and drinking) at home. Miller Design Lab is a space built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology, fashion and, of course, culinary geniuses. Together, we're celebrating our nightlife and its impact on culture by bringing exceptional experiences to you — like turning your crib into a fine dining restaurant. So, pop on your apron, grab a cold one from the fridge and look no further. [caption id="attachment_505797" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dinosaur Designs[/caption] START WITH THE ESSENTIALS First up, having the right tools is non-negotiable. Sure, you may have the skills, but you can't create the Sistine Chapel without any paint — and same goes in the kitchen. If you're looking to become a whiz with a wok or perfect the art of baking, you best invest in some good cooking utensils. That said, we're assuming you can cook an egg and peel a potato, so we'll rush through a list of staples: pots, pans, spatula, chopping board, a strainer, vegetable peeler, can opener, cutlery and a wooden spoon. You get the idea. And, unless you plan on turning everything into soup, you'll need a good set of knives. According to Momofuku master David Chang, you only really need three knives: a paring knife, a serrated bread knife and a chef's knife. The first two can be bought pretty cheaply, but you'll want to fork out a bit more on the chef's knife. And as tempting as it may be after MasterChef, don't even think about buying an ice cream machine until you have the basics. Now, the fun stuff. You'll need some nice-looking plates and glassware to take your feast to the next level. There are a bunch of local ceramicists and designers making stunning tableware, including Mud, Studio Enti, Dinosaur Designs and Maison Balzac's colourful goblets and fun champagne flutes, plus independent potters such as Milly Dent, Sarah Schembri and Hayden Youlley. [caption id="attachment_724464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Hong by Nikki To[/caption] SHARPEN UP YOUR SKILLS WITH A TOP CHEF No matter if you're a kitchen novice or know your way around a Le Creuset, we can all learn some tips and tricks from some of the world's most creative chefs. Massimo Bottura is currently hosting nightly cooking tutorials. While the Michelin-starred chef behind Italy's famed Osteria Francescana is in lockdown, he's teaching you the joys of Italian cooking for free with his Kitchen Quarantine lessons. Designed to help spread feelings of connectivity, curb boredom and teach a few new tricks at a time when an increasing chunk of the world's population is in lockdown, self-isolation or self-distancing, these cooking tutorials go beyond textbook cooking. And of course, with Bottura's famously cheery personality, the guy's just a total joy to watch. Because Italian cuisine is the ultimate at-home comfort food, you should learn how to make pasta from a well-seasoned cook: nonna. Actually two nonnas, Nonna Nerina and Nonna Giuseppa. For a lesson on Australian home cooking, turn to Aussie legend and culinary icon Maggie Beer, who is also live streaming every day. Dubbed Cooking with Maggie, the free series of videos show you how to make an easy rustic-style dish in under 20 minutes — from eggplant and eggs to a caramelised onion and persian feta side dish. Another Aussie chef dishing up the goods is Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms G's, Queen Chow) via his Instagram. Tune in and you'll learn how to make his famed cheeseburger spring rolls, salt and pepper squid and slow-roasted short rib. For any other kitchen-related (and entertaining) content, check out these eight tasty food podcasts. [caption id="attachment_718506" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Southside Charmers by Kitti Gould[/caption] TRACK DOWN THE BEST (FREE) RECIPES Now that you've learnt from some of the best, you'll want to pick a recipe to tackle on your own. After all, it's time for you to add your own flavour. But before you attempt the best gnocchi ever made or bake even more sourdough, you'll want to do your research. Luckily, you don't have to look too far to find recipes. But, not all are created equal — so, it's about where to look. US-based Bon Appétit — as the name suggests — is a go-to for any culinary query, including a bunch of lip-smacking recipes. Feel like a lobster roll for dinner? No problem, it's got it here. Craving a mean steak? It's got a whole dedicated section. New York Times Cooking also has thousands of the best recipes from the global newspaper. You'll find food editor Sam Sifton's suggestions — from earl grey madeleines to a weeknight fried rice and trini chana and aloo (chickpea and potato curry) — plus a heap of pantry, slow cooker, easy-to-bake and essential Indian recipes. Basically, whatever you've got a hankering for, chances are it's got it. For something more local, podcast Highly Enthused often has a round-up of good recipes. You can listen to it here. [caption id="attachment_751198" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quattro Deli by Trent van der Jagt[/caption] GET THOSE HARD-TO-FIND INGREDIENTS You're spicing things up, which means you'll probably have some things on your grocery list that you won't find at Woolies or Coles. From artisanal cheeses to Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce and rare spices, such ingredients require you to know where to track them down. At the moment, Sydneysiders can head to Two Providores's Marrickville warehouse every Saturday to pick up everything from top-notch oils to bacon jam, New York-style rare roast beef and hard-to-find flours. For fresh seasonal produce, it's hard to go past Glebe mainstay Galluzzo Fruiterers, which is currently delivering to locals every Monday–Friday. Quattro Deli in Chatswood is dedicated to sourcing the best local and imported specialty items — think Italian gorgonzola, buffalo mozzarella, mortadella, olives, spreads and even vino — and is delivering deli-to-door at the moment. And for all things cheese, Penny's Cheese Shop and Paesanella Food Emporium are great go-tos. For Asian groceries, your best bets are Boon Cafe at Jarern Chai Grocer and Thai Kee IGA Supermarket. For those in Melbourne, a good one-stop-spot is South Melbourne Market, which has launched a drive-thru pick up point. Vegans will find pretty much everything imaginable in Shannon Martinez's and Mo Wyse's spin-off vegan New York-style delicatessen, Smith & Deli. You can place orders for pick up or delivery via Mr Yum. For charcuterie, Obelix & Co has got you pretty well covered and is offering local delivery and if you're after some fancy fromage to go with it, hit up Milk the Cow, which is delivering also. Asian grocers such as TANG, Hometown Asian Supermarket and Minh Phat are all open and well-stocked, too. In Brisbane, Hong Lan Asian Food & Seafoods is one of the best Asian grocers in town. Rosalie Gourmet Market is an institution for a reason — it's packed with everything from oils to pastries, chocolates and fresh flowers. Black Pearl Epicure has your cheese needs sorted with over 300 types and for Italian goods, head to Amici Deli in Chermside. Plus, a bunch of restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne have turned into mini grocers, many supplying the goods usually saved for industrial kitchens. If you can't leave the house right now, Simon Johnson is delivering across Sydney and Melbourne, too. ORDER IN — AND SKIP STRAIGHT TO THE GOOD TIMES In Sydney, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to DIY meal packs. Ragazzi — the CBD's new pasta bar by the Love, Tilly Devine crew — has ready-to-cook pasta and wine packs (serves two), which are available for pick or delivery within five kilometres of the restaurant. Chippendale's fine diner Ester has weekly takeaway packs, offering a range of ready-to-eat and almost ready meals — with the likes of steamed blood sausage buns, shallot and sichuan pepper tart tartin and leftover sourdough ice cream on the menu. You can pick it up from the restaurant every Saturday between 3–5pm. Mr Wong's, Bert's and Fred's also have packs available for delivery across Sydney metro. Melburnians can order restaurant-quality oysters straight to their door thanks to supplier Mimosa Rock Oysters. They come live though, so you'll have to know (or learn) how to shuck. If you can venture out of the house, you'll find a raft of 'heat and eat' food packages available at Neptune Food & Wine. And while not exactly DIY, Attica — one of the top restaurants in the country — is now offering takeaway and has opened a pop-up bakeshop. If you're in the mood for a big warming bowl of noodles and live in Brisbane, Taro's has DIY ramen packs to go. It even has a how-to video if you need. King Street's French fine diner, Montrachet, is offering a selection of semi-prepared dishes in takeaway packs that can be collected from its Bowen Hills digs (orders must be made before 7pm for collection the next day). Plus, The Balfour Kitchen has a stack of ready-made meals like a Burmese pork curry, spaghetti with Korean bolognese, prawn and ginger wontons and thrice-cooked duck fat potatoes. For dessert, a bunch of spots across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are slinging some top-notch cookie dough for those of us who aren't the next Betty Crocker. To see where you can pick some up, head here. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way.
So you thought you'd be cool with giving Parklife a miss this time around? Well if FOMO is already kicking in hard with a week or so still to go we've got a solution, and it doesn't involve drowning your sorrows in beer and lying to everyone that you really just want to stay home and relax anyway. That's right, thanks to Grill'd Healthy Burgers we here at Concrete Playground are giving away two VIP double passes to the first chapter of summer's already-way-above-average music festival calendar. In case you missed it when we almost wet ourselves over the first line-up back in June this means you'll be enjoying tunes from the likes of The Presets, Passion Pit, Justice, Tame Impala and breakthrough beatmaker Flume, with plenty more equally exciting acts permeating Centennial Park with musical goodness. It's so fully sick that even the Bondi Hipsters have put their usual weekend plans on hold to join the bill. And since it's not a spring weekend without something chargrilled and delicious, Grill'd will be giving you each a voucher you can swap for a nice fresh burger at their on-site Airstream trailer. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name, postal address and preferred city to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm Wednesday 26th September. What you're getting: 2 double VIP passes to Parklife in the city of your choice ($384 value) 2 Grill'd Burger vouchers ($25 value) Parklife 2012 Dates: Parklife Brisbane | Saturday 29th September at Riverstage and Botanic Gardens Parklife Sydney | Sunday 30th September at Centennial Park Parklife Perth | Monday 1st October at Wellington Square Parklife Melbourne | Saturday 6th October at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain Parklife Adelaide | Sunday 7th October at Botanic Park, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide
Mondays tend to be a day of rest for most restaurants in the Los Angeles area. But for friends Aliza Miner, Savita Ostendorf and Marjory Garrison it's the busiest night of the week. A few months ago the three girls combined their skills as a chef, graphic designer and PR activist for non-profits, respectively, to create Closed on Mondays, a business that hosts fundraiser dinners for charity at empty restaurants on Monday nights. They offer a fixed price menu at $35, hire waitstaff from the host restaurant and serve customers on a first come, first serve basis from 5 to 9p.m. The profits go directly to local food initiatives or community projects. They don't force-feed their guests with information about the charities, they just want people to come and eat. Better yet, the dishes offered will leave your taste-buds begging for more, with choices like Yucatan pulled pork, wild Mexican shrimp with pumpkin seed sauce and stuffed poblanos, kabocha squash and chihuahua cheese in romesco (each served with homemade tortillas). Yum. The first three dinners were hosted at L.A's Canele, which raised $7000 for the Micheltorena School Garden community project in Silver Lake. Although the girls realize that they still have a long way to go to build up the non-profit, other chefs in the area have already approached them about bringing Closed on Mondays to their restaurants. Mondays are soon to be the biggest night out of the week for good food and a good cause.
A drive to the airport in a rideshare is one of life's mundane experiences, whether or not you're en route to a wedding, and also regardless of if you're meant to be collecting your partner and their dry-cleaned suit along the way. In Fake, this routine journey on an average Melbourne day is a masterclass in tension, a portrait of an unravelling and an unwanted realisation unfurling with no escape. With journalist Birdie Bell (Asher Keddie, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) sitting in the backseat as much that she's trusted melts down, it's a stunning episode of television, arriving five instalments into this eight-part Australian thriller that brings its page-to-screen and reality-to-fiction tale to Paramount+ in full from Thursday, July 4. Viewers spend the preceding four episodes of Fake waiting for a moment like this. For those who haven't read Stephanie Wood's memoir of the same name, charting her time dating a former architect-turned-grazier who pairs his grand romantic gestures with erratic behaviour, there's still no doubt that it's coming. It has to, and not just because series creator Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve) and her co-scribes Jessica Tuckwell (Year Of) and Hyun Lee (Born to Spy) have Birdie's beau Joe Burt (David Wenham, Elvis) note in voiceover that she was onto him from the get-go. While Fake is a love- and lies-fuelled saga, it's also about how someone gets taken in not by the kind of tales that Joe spins but by the emotions that they prey upon, even when their intuition tingles at the outset — and how deceptions like this, from someone manipulating others and someone fooling themselves alike, always shatter. The words "Joe, 51, grazier" on a dating app introduce the ex-property big shot to Birdie; however, everything that he utters on their first date almost halts their romance there. When the pair meet at a sleek bar, he has a business acquaintance (Yuchen Wang, White Fever) in tow and talks only of himself, grandstanding with the recognisable arrogance of someone who refuses to believe (or simply hasn't stopped once to consider) that they aren't the most-interesting person in the room. She cuts and leaves quickly, despite his insistence to the waitstaff that they'll share more wine. Then she ignores his persistent follow-ups afterwards, until she doesn't. Stylistically, Beyersdorf, her co-writers, and also directors Jennifer Leacey (Prosper), Emma Freeman (The Newsreader) and Taylor Ferguson (Fires) adopt two approaches to bringing both Joe's flurry of messages and Birdie's inner questioning to audiences. The contents of texts and emails are written across the screen, overlaid upon the scene's ordinary background — train windows feature heavily — and also spoken aloud, as worries about being almost 50, single and heartbroken from a failed IVF experience are similarly given voice through repeated snippets of conversation. Sometimes, Birdie's own words haunt her. Sometimes, Joe's do. Sometimes, the judgement of her sniping mother Margeaux (Heather Mitchell, Ricky Stanicky) echoes. Combined, the impact is inescapable: when his indefatigable pursuit joins her lifetime of doubts, especially that she's being too fussy and will always be alone, relenting to his overtures and investing in his narrative is the inevitable outcome. Fake relays its story within this psychological space — a place where it's clear to everyone, including to Birdie, that little is right — to explore how a person who investigates for a living succumbs to fantasy over fact. Joe gleefully spins dreams, beginning with his quiet farm life, then escalating into bigger and bolder promises. He also ticks the basics, such as showing interest, sticking around, declaring his love and making Birdie feel like romance hasn't passed her by. But Joe equally has a tale for everything that always seems tall. He misses as many dates as he makes, his excuses mushrooming as well. His ex-wife receives ample blame, frequently with the smack of convenience. He's cagey about specifics, too, and vague and defensive when questioned. When Leacey, Freeman and Ferguson, plus cinematographer Sky Davies (House of Gods), devote Fake's frames to staring Birdie's way, they push Keddie's excellent performance to the fore — and it is exceptional. She's the lead in a yell-at-the-TV type of show, where viewers can't help but say aloud that Birdie is making the wrong choice again and again, and grounding those ill-fated decisions in relatable emotions isn't a simple task. The more that Fake peers, the more that it also turns the sight of its protagonist hoping yet fraying into a mirror. One of Birdie's potential articles at work is about homelessness, a situation that's never as far away as most would like to think — and one of Fake's throughlines is that being Birdie with Joe isn't beyond anyone's realm of possibility. Wenham, no stranger to on-screen shadiness and slipperiness but with memories of SeaChange's Diver Dan still imprinted in Australia's pop-cultural memory, is equally first-rate. His remit isn't straightforward, either, selling the charm that still wins Birdie over in tandem with the sketchiness that's lurking beneath Joe's striving facade — and the character is almost ceaselessly striving — which is a gig on par with both Joshua Jackson (Fatal Attraction) and Edgar Ramirez's (Wolf Like Me) efforts in season one and two of medical-meets-romance scam series Dr Death. Indeed, Wenham does such an unshakeable job as Joe that by the time that Fake spends the aforementioned fifth episode in a car with Birdie, his presence doesn't stop cutting deep, nor showing the scars that it's carving, even just over the phone. It's hardly astonishing, then, that Fake is impossible to stop binge-watching once its first instalment puts its pieces in place: that warning-sign initial date, Birdie's loneliness trumping her niggling uncertainty, society's conditioning that to be a woman of a certain age without a partner and kids is to be a failure, the disappointment that we can all direct at ourselves if we haven't met our own expectations and, of course, the clash of Joe's dubiousness and his magnetism, for starters. It's also far from surprising that when the route to the airport beckons, and one of 2024's best episodes of TV with it, Fake's audience is right there in the Uber with Birdie, riding and feeling the same bumps. Check out the trailer for Fake below: Fake streams via Paramount+ from Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Screw self-lacing Nikes, everyone knows the real legacy of Back to the Future II was the hoverboard. Since the film's 1989 release, the race has been on to create one by 2015, and with the fateful date just one year away, everyone's obviously getting a little antsy. Cue cruelly convincing star-studded hoverboard announcement. The video, which surfaced just a matter of hours ago, is a "real-life" demonstration of a hoverboard from a supposed tech company called HUVr Tech. Featuring the likes of Moby, Tony Hawk and none other than Christopher Lloyd himself, the product gets a glowing endorsement from all including a 'heartwarming' moment when Doc almost cries. Now, the more important question: why would they mess with us like this? Nerds across the world have joined forces to fact check the video's claims, and as much as we all want it to be true, it just isn't. It's been discovered that the 'main technician' is actually an actor called Nelson Cheng, and in a huge faux pas, the costume designer Lauren Biedenharn listed the job on her resume as a commercial for Funny or Die. Add to this the fact that HuvrTech.com was only listed as a domain in November last year, and it has some fairly dubious legalese — “the inclusion of any products or services on this website at a particular time does not imply or warrant that these products or services will be available at any time” — and the outcome looks pretty bleak. Best case scenario: it's the start of a viral marketing campaign for Back to the Future IV. Worst case: it's an ingenious publicity stunt engineered by Moby in an effort to stay relevant. Either way, they have a lot to answer for. Now firmly into his middle age, Tony Hawk spends his days pulling sick ollies on fictional devices and breaking the hearts of everyone who once played Pro Skater on PS1. The modern Marty McFly? Moby being 'hip' and 'young' and 'with it'.
If there's a live gig-shaped hole in your life right now, Indigenous Australian hip hop artist Ziggy Ramo is here to fill that void with a night of hard-hitting tunes. This Saturday, August 29, he'll take to the hallowed stage of the Sydney Opera House for an exclusive live-streamed performance, complete with striking visuals and a ten-piece band in tow. Beaming live and loud to a device near you, Ramo is set to play his debut full-length album Black Thoughts. The much-lauded work was completed in 2015 before being shelved for a few years, and has now been reborn in light of current conversations around race and colonial history. Expect a powerful performance incorporating strings and brass, brought to life alongside newly commissioned artworks by 2018 WA Young Person of the Year, Indigenous Australian illustrator Kamsani 'Kambarni' Bin-Salleh. Spiritually charged rap meets traditional Songlines to deliver a captivating musical journey, touching on collective trauma, racial discrimination, vulnerability and spiritual renewal. Got plans Saturday night? All good — the full performance will also be available on-demand after the initial live stream. While the Sydney Opera House is still closed to the public, it's running a Digital Season with full-length archival performances and live recordings. You can can check out the final lineup over here. [caption id="attachment_720224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A gig at Sydney Opera House during Vivid by Daniel Boud[/caption] Top image: Emma Pegrum
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we set the compass to Tropical North Queensland and take a trip to Cairns for a special stay at Crystalbrook Riley. We love this place so much that we teamed up with the resort to offer an exclusive four-night travel deal — including in-room entertainment, aquarium access and accommodation in an ultra-refined Urban Room. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Queenslanders have had a good few reasons to celebrate of late: State of Origin wins. A low-intensity heatwave that makes it feel they're never going to break up with summer. First place in a new survey that asked Aussies to rank their favourite local travel destination. And while anyone who's not a Maroons fan probably doesn't want to hear them gloat about their footballing victories, we can certainly support a destination that grants us access to sunny days and balmy nights right now without the need to renew our passports. Pitching itself for consideration is Crystalbrook Riley, a five-star stay that's strategically situated along Cairns' iconic coastal boardwalk. It has some of the best beaches of the world literally at your doorstep. Luxe location aside, Crystalbrook Riley's outstanding amenities are equally impressive. They include a 1000-square-metre swimming lagoon, a private man-made beach, bustling bars and restaurants and some seriously stylish rooms and suites. THE ROOMS The Crystalbrook Riley team is proud to proclaim that its 311 rooms and suites most certainly do not feel like a home away from home. But before you think that's a typo allow us to explain its rationale. Basically, it's because the team believes that leaving your teeny one-bedroom with views over the main road to spend your time away in the same sort of set-up defeats the purpose. Instead, it delivers all of the good things you love about your own house (big beds, comfy couches, steaming hot showers) and adds some oomph by making the design a little more sophisticated, the furnishings a touch more elegant and the kind of contemporary cool accessories you'd find at a boutique homeware store. FOOD AND DRINK If you're in Cairns, you're probably going dedicate a couple of days to super-early-start excursions like the Daintree National Park or the Great Barrier Reef. On those occasions, when you come home exhausted and don't have the physical energy to untangle your salty hair let alone order an Uber, Crystalbrook Riley's own in-hotel restaurants are on hand. The highest rooftop bar in Cairns, Rocco, is all about generous serves, share-style dining and fresh dishes that take inspiration from the Middle East and the Mediterranean and recreate them with fresh regional produce. Highlights include mezza plates featuring freshly shucked oysters, house-made labneh cheese, Far North Queensland grilled tiger prawns, confit chicken and grilled lamb cutlets. Pair them with a smart selection of sweet and savoury cocktails, like the Moroccan-inspired Message in a Bottle, for an experience that is truly unmissable. On the other hand, if you're all about an Asian epicurean experience, then Paper Crane offers a modern menu that makes the most of Tropical North Queensland's fresh ingredients while highlighting the best of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese fare. Signature dishes such as the citrus soy-marinated Tableland rib-eye steak on the bone pair perfectly with Paper Crane's custom cocktails. Just be sure to pace yourself if you have another long day trip planned for the next morning. THE LOCAL AREA Know as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the place to base yourself if swimming and snorkelling among world-heritage-listed marine life is on your bucket list. Ditto those seeking easy access to the iconic Daintree Rainforest and its soaring green canopies. But beyond its beaches and bushland, Cairns is also a dream holiday destination for those who like to pack their itinerary with drinking, dining and days spent doing a little retail damage. Our suggestions include the tropical treats at Charley's Chocolate Factory, sunset cocktails at seaside bar Salt House, the small boutiques in Oceania Walk or Galleria for high-end designer stores. THE EXTRAS Did you even go on a holiday if you didn't treat yourself to a fancy facial and meditative massage? Although Crystalbrook Riley's Eleme Spa is temporarily closed, guests can still enjoy access to the equally fabulous Eleme Day Spa Crystalbrook Flynn just down the road, where treatments such as couples therapy and detox packages are all available. Additionally, those who take advantage of this exclusive Concrete Playground Trips promotion can enjoy two complimentary tickets to the famed Cairns Aquarium. It's home to the Southern Hemisphere's only two-storey Deep Reef Tank, the 360-degree Oceanarium and Underwater Viewing Tunnel. Guests can spot rare species of sharks, sting rays, crocodiles and more, as they attempt to find Nemo. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
When a big musical hits Australia, there are often two reasons to get excited: the fact that a new stage show is heading Down Under, and possibly getting to see it without breaking the bank. That budget-friendly option frequently comes courtesy of TodayTix, which loves slinging cheap seats via a ticket lottery. And, as has happened with Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! and Mary Poppins, it's rolling one out for Tina — The Tina Turner Musical. This is simply your best chance to see the show for less than the price of a dinner, with tickets costing just $35. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the TodayTix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each week for the next week's performances. The lottery will go live at 12.01am every Friday morning, and is already up and running for its first week. Then, the winners are drawn after 1pm on the following Thursday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. If you need a reminder, you can also sign up for lottery alerts via TodayTix, too. After premiering in London back in 2018, this stage ode to the music icon that's had Aussies dancing to 'Nutbush City Limits' for decades is making its way to Sydney from Thursday, May 4. No, it isn't taking to the stage in a church house, gin house, school house or outhouse — or on highway number 19, either. But Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will obviously have Theatre Royal Sydney enjoying Turner's greatest hits in one massive show. The list of musical numbers includes 'Nutbush City Limits', naturally, as well as everything from 'River Deep, Mountain High' and 'Proud Mary' through to 'Private Dancer' and 'What's Love Got to Do with It?'. Tina — The Tina Turner Musical makes its trip Down Under courtesy of TEG DAINTY, Stage Entertainment and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner herself. Announcing the news, the singer said that "Australia has always shared abundant love with me, going back to my early concerts in the late 70s through the uplifting partnership with the National Rugby League. It is very special for me that we will be reunited." "The joy, passion and message of resilience in my musical is so important now as ever. Thank you from the bottom my heart for welcoming me with open arms once again," Turner continued. Penned by Tony Award-nominee and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, plus Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and directed by fellow Tony-nominee Phyllida Lloyd, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical clearly has quite the story to tell. The show steps through Turner's life and fame, including growing up in Nutbush, Tennessee, the hard work that led to her career, all of those aforementioned hits, her 12 Grammy Awards, her volatile time with Ike Turner and her huge solo success. There's no word yet as to whether Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will head to other Australian cities, but cross your fingers while you're doing the Nutbush, obviously. Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will open its Australian-premiere season at Theatre Royal Sydney from Thursday, May 4. To enter the TodayTix $35 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Manuel Harlan.
Anyone who has spent time in an outback Australian pub will recognise The Royal Hotel's namesake watering hole, even if they've never seen this particular bar before. The filming location itself doesn't matter. Neither do the IRL details of the actual establishment that stands in for the movie's fictional boozer. What scorches itself into memory like the blistering sun beating down on the middle-of-nowhere saloon's surroundings, then, is the look and the feel of this quintessentially Aussie beer haven. From the dim lighting inside and weather-beaten facade outside to the almost exclusively male swarm of barflies that can't wait to getting sipping come quittin' time, this feature's setting could be any tavern. It could be all of them. That fact is meant to linger as filmmaker Kitty Green crafts another masterclass in tension, microagressions and the ever-looming threats that women live with daily — swapping The Assistant's Hollywood backdrop and Harvey Weinstein shadow for a remote mining town and toxic testosterone-fuelled treatment of female bartenders. Making her second fictional feature after that 2019 standout, and her fourth film overall thanks to 2013 documentary Ukraine Is Not a Brothel and 2017's Casting JonBenet before that, Green has kept as much as she's substituted between her two most recent movies. Julia Garner stars in both, albeit without breaking out an Inventing Anna-style drawl in either — although comically parroting the Aussie accent does earn a brief workout. Green's focus remains living while female. Her preferred tone is still as unsettling as any scary movie. The Royal Hotel is another of her horror films, but an inescapable villain here, as it was in The Assistant, is a world that makes existing as a woman this innately unnerving. This taut and deeply intelligent picture's sources of anxiety and danger aren't simply society; however, what it means to weather the constant possibility of peril for nothing more than your sex chromosomes is this flick's far-as-the-eye-can-see burnt earth. Backpacking Down Under by partying their way through Sydney, Hanna (Garner, Ozark) and Liv (Jessica Henwick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) swap boat shindigs on the harbour for a rust-hued expanse for one reason: money. With their cash drying up, the only option available to make more is a gig where the local pool is equally dusty. "Will there be kangaroos?" is their main initial question. If this pair have seen Wake in Fright, it hasn't left an imprint. They'll soon be living in their own version. Dirt, dirt and more dirt greets them fresh off the bus, then no-nonsense pub cook Carol (Ursula Yovich, Irreverent) and gruff drunk owner Billy (Hugo Weaving, Love Me), then a trial-by-fire night behind the taps to send off English tourists Jules (Alex Malone, Colin From Accounts) and Cassie (Kate Cheel, The Commons), who they're replacing. The Royal Hotel as the picture's prime locale might double for every typically Aussie watering hole, but both the setting and The Royal Hotel as a film take their cues from one specific pub. Western Australia's Denver City Hotel was immortalised in Hotel Coolgardie, the fly-on-the-wall documentary about two Finnish women who worked behind its bar and experienced the very worst of Australian drinking culture — and seeing that movie inspired writer/director Green to dive into this aggressively misogynistic world. "Fresh meat" adorns the boozer's chalkboard after Hanna and Liv arrive. Billy has barely spoken multiple sentences to them before he's dropping "cunt" with belittling force. Sexist jokes from the sozzled and arrogant customers rain down among eerie stares, brazen pick-up attempts, predatory demands and arguments between blokes over which woman they're claiming as theirs, like The Royal Hotel's latest faces have no say in it. To most of the pub's patrons, they don't. The comments, jibes and advances come from a cross-section of culprits, with Green and co-writer Oscar Redding (Van Diemen's Land) purposeful in showing that there's not only one kind of stereotypical guy whipping up discomfit. Toby Wallace's (Babyteeth) Matty knows how to charm, and how to rile up the male crowd by making women the butt of the gag. While James Frecheville (The Dry) plays the quieter, protective Teeth, those traits don't buff away his edges. With Daniel Henshall's (Mystery Road: Origin) Dolly, menace doesn't need words — and sinister entitlement drips from almost everything that he says or, to be precise, orders. There isn't just one way that women can be made to feel uneasy in male-heavy environments where they're expected to be at every guy's beck and call, and in general, as The Royal Hotel meticulously demonstrates. There definitely isn't a lone version of this gut-wrenching nightmare, nor a single way of coping when every waking minute is an exercise in monitoring your behaviour to get a job done, and just exist, without attracting the wrong attention. It's there in Hanna and Liv's varying reactions to the pub's clientele and their manners, or lack thereof; the difference between Hanna's distress and Jules and Cassie's carefree approach; and the range of factors that get Matty, Teeth, Dolly, Billy and company inciting alarm: the array of ways that Green's exceptional cast pack The Royal Hotel's powderkeg, that is. Only two things spark a straightforward read in Green's feature. The first is the eponymous everypub where nothing regal has ever graced its peeling walls and sticky floors. The second is the dread that pours out faster than visiting bartenders can pull pints. Actually, there's a third, because Kylie Minogue bopping through the soundtrack is a glorious choice. The uncertainty of this jittery environment otherwise — that someone can seem like a friend in one light and a sleaze in another, or a perturbed reaction can feel wholly justified by one of the bar's visiting women and overkill to another, for instance — only heightens the film's agitated mood. There's no one better at conveying this storm than Green, or at ripping it from reality and into her films. To watch Hanna especially is to achingly apprehend when and how often you've stood in her shoes. Green should keep Garner standing before her lens in as many movies as possible. With The Assistant and now The Royal Hotel, they're a dream team. Garner's flawless knack for conveying how life in Green's chosen scenarios is an incessant navigation and negotiation is as finely tuned as the director's; it's what made her so outstanding at playing Anna Delvey as well. As Green's now four-time cinematographer Michael Latham roves over blazing landscapes and gets claustrophobic in the tavern's dank indoors, and as composer Jed Palmer (back from Ukraine Is Not a Brothel) sets his score to faintly but still formidably jarring, that sense of steering your way through fraught terrain while trying to secure your survival proves as familiar as the outback venue at the centre of it all. With episodes of TV series Servant on her resume, Green can embrace horror traditionally, but the terrors that she digs into on the big screen aren't just frightening tales — they're piercing reflections of too much that's easy to recognise.
Since arriving in town a few years back, Salt Meats Cheese has been giving Brisbanites a pizza-filled treat. And, as part of its lineup of Italian eats, it's been known to give the city's residents plenty of specials in its time — including its $29 all-you-can-eat pizza nights every Monday at its Newstead store. "Does this look like someone who's had all they can eat?" isn't something you'll be saying when you devour as many slices as your stomach can handle in 90 minutes, so calm your inner Homer Simpson. The main catch is that you'll have to buy a drink as well, but you can choose from both boozy and non-alcoholic options. Available from 5pm, this hefty feast serves up multiple options, too. You can stick with the $29 pizza-focused option, or add any pasta from the menu to your all-you-can-eat dinner for an extra $5. And if you're vegan or eat a gluten free diet, those can also be catered for for another $6. You do need to finish each serving of pizza or pasta before ordering your next — and everyone at your table must be taking part — but they're hardly tough rules. On the menu: margherita, meat lovers and prosciutto pizzas, plus salami and olives, truffle, prawns, a ham and mushroom calzone, and more.
For as long as most Brisbanites can remember, the CBD's riverside stretch has been synonymous with bland buildings and an always-busy expressway — but that's changing. Popping up amid the hustle, bustle and boring concrete is the city's newest luxury hotel, W Brisbane is bringing a touch of ultra glam to the northern bank of the river. And it immediately became one our favourite hotels in Brisbane. First announced last year as part of the chain's return to Australia, and originally set to launch in March, the hotel is now open on North Quay between the Victoria and Kurilpa bridges. The five-star spot boasts a view across the water to the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and the Gallery of Modern Art. And that's just the first of many features that might entice locals to book a staycation. Others include 312 designer rooms decked out with ten-gallon drum baths and in-suite cocktail stations, an onsite spa, and a fourth-level deck that includes an eye-catching pool, an adjacent bar and a barbecue area. While the overall look of the place takes inspiration from its location, with design agency Nic Graham & Associates working to the theme of "a river dreaming", W Brisbane's other main highlight actually springs from down south. As revealed a couple of months back, the hotel is home to Queensland's first Three Blue Ducks restaurant. A 150-seat space with views over the river, it'll serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with the kitchen overseen by chefs Mark LaBrooy, Darren Robertson and Andy Allen. On the menu: Ducks' signature dishes such as spanner crab scramble, old favourites including congee with pulled pork and hay smoked salmon kedgeree, and new additions like fermented chilli glazed chicken. Plus, as well as its hefty number of places to take a kip — including 28 suites, two extra-luxe spaces that've been dubbed "Wow Suites" and one "Extreme Wow Suite" — W Brisbane also features 1100 square metres of function space. Expect the hotel to become the city's new business go-to. And, of course, Brissie's new riverside hangout as well.
When Marco Pierre White hits Australia in May, he'll treat food fans to his first-ever live theatre show. He does love notching up firsts, after all. He was the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars. When that happened when he was 33, he was the youngest chef to do so, too. And, amid all the chatter his work and life has earned — in no small part thanks to his cookbook White Heat, the 1990 tome that played up his "bad boy" image — he's been dubbed "the first celebrity chef" as well. White won't just be taking to the stage on his 2023 Aussie tour, however. In what definitely isn't a first, he's heading to the kitchen — this time for a four-course dinner on the Gold Coast. If you'd like to tuck into a meal co-curated by the chef, mark Saturday, May 27 in your diary and make a date with HOTA, Home of the Arts. Also overseeing the one-night-only affair: Palette Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law, with the dinner taking place at HOTA's onsite restaurant. They'll whip up a menu that's guided by locally sourced ingredients, and paired with top-notch wine. And, in addition to getting to eat the end results, patrons will also see White in action in the kitchen — and hear from him, too, via a 15–20-minute Q&A session. Unsurprisingly, this hot ticket is has limited seats, with only 80 folks able to attend. If you're keen, you'll need to register at the HOTA website for your chance to go along. Exactly what's on White and Hartill-Law's menu hasn't yet been revealed, but this is a rare chance to enjoy the former's cuisine right here in southeast Queensland. White has popped up on everything from Hell's Kitchen to MasterChef, including in Australia. He's trained fellow famed food figures such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone. That's not bad for someone who arrived in London with just "£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes", as White describes, before his tutelage under Albert and Michael Roux at renowned French fine-diner Le Gavroche. [caption id="attachment_812565" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Palette[/caption] HOTA, Home of the Arts' Palette x Marco Pierre White dinner takes place on Saturday, May 27. To register for your chance to head along, hit up the HOTA website.
With the sheer number of popular 90s nights happening at the moment, the recent remake of childhood favourites like The Lion King and Aladdin, and the return of artists such as Usher, Janet Jackson, it was only a natural step for the biggest selling boy band — and the target of all your teenage affection — to make a return, too. Backstreet's back, alright. So, unroll your posters and dust-off that secret diary, and get ready to belt out the lyrics to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', 'As Long As You Love Me' and 'I Want It That Way', when the famous five — AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — head to Australia in May 2020 for a very nostalgic arena tour. Hitting up stadiums in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the Backstreet Boys will also be performing songs off their just-released tenth album, DNA. It (surprisingly?) debuted as number one on the charts when it was released and features Grammy-nominated single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. But, we know you'll most likely be there for the 90s and early 00s goodness. You've got nine whole months until they're here, so plenty of time to relearn the moves to 'Everybody' and rewatch many retro music videos. Here's one for you to start with: https://youtu.be/6M6samPEMpM BACKSTREET BOYS DNA WORLD TOUR 2020 DATES Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Wednesday, May 20 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, Friday, May 22 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, Tuesday, May 26 Perth — RAC Arena, Saturday, May 30 Backstreet Boys DNA World Tour pre-sale begins at 3pm on Tuesday, September 17 with general tickets go on sale at midday on Monday, September 23 via Live Nation.
In 2019, the Great Barrier Reef gained a new addition, as well as a new way to enjoy its natural underwater delights. When the Museum of Underwater Art installed its first artworks in December, it became the southern hemisphere's first attraction of its type — and yet another reason for everyone to add visiting Australia's tropics to their travel bucket list. Two artworks were put in place at the time. The first, Ocean Siren, is located 30 metres offshore from The Strand jetty at Townsville and actually towers above the water; however, it interacts with live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. The second Coral Greenhouse, definitely lurks below the sea. And, until now, that meant that visiting it was a bit of a problem. As part of an official launch of the Museum of Underwater Art's first phase, folks can now take a tour of Coral Greenhouse — with recreational divers and snorkelers able to access the work from Saturday, August 1. The tours are being run by Adrenalin Dive Townsville and Pro Dive Magnetic Island, who'll help you see and swim through this striking sculpture. Down the track, SeaLink Queensland, Yongala Dive Burdekin and Orpheus Island Resort will be able to take you for a splash, too. [caption id="attachment_778364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] And it is striking. Coral Greenhouse sits 18 metres below the waterline on the John Brewer Reef off Townsville, measures 12 metres in height and weighs around 58 tonnes. It's made out of stainless steel, neutral marine grade cement and zinc anodes, and it does indeed look like a greenhouse. In fact, it's an underwater building. It's also filled with more than 20 sculptures, many resembling local school children — and has been made to both stand up to wave pressures and cyclones, and remain visible to divers and snorkelers. Most importantly, it isn't just a greenhouse in name, with the piece featuring coral garden beds. With that in mind, Coral Greenhouse is also designed to "offer opportunities for scientists, marine students and tourists to engage in action-based learning and to conduct globally important research on coral reef restoration and new technology," marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor notes. The creator of the Museum of Underwater Art, he sees this particular work as "an interface into our underwater world" and a way "to tell stories of the Great Barrier Reef, and for people to understand what a fragile, beautiful and sacred space it really is". [caption id="attachment_778365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] In total, four pieces are planned for the Museum as part of its aim to highlight reef conservation, restoration and education — with two more sculptures set for Palm Island and Magnetic Island in the future. Palm Island's forthcoming installation will connect the spot's the cultural story to the land and sea, according to the MOUA's website, and is expected to be in place by the July 2021. As for the Magnetic Island artwork, it's working towards a December 2021 unveiling. Of course, while the first tours of the underwater museum have officially kicked off, not everyone can get into Queensland. The Sunshine State has, at writing, closed its borders to all of Victoria and greater Sydney. Find the Museum of Underwater Art off the shore of Townsville, Queensland. For more information, visit the museum's website. To book a tour, head to the Adrenalin Dive or Pro Dive Magnetic websites. Images: Matt Curnock
We are all well acquainted with the fascinating leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Shrouded in mystery, marvelously eccentric and either architecturally amazing or atrocious, leaning towers and buildings are simply fascinating structures, which arouse our amazement and curiosity. However, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is far from being the only leaning tower in the world; in fact, it doesn't even top the list for being the oldest, tallest or having the greatest lean. Here are ten of the most stunning, mystifying leaning buildings from around the world that will be sure to make you look at buildings from a new angle. Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi Granted the title of the world's furthest leaning man-made tower, the recently built Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi boasts of a whopping 35 stories, all leaning at an impressive 18-degree slant. This structural wonder is a 520-foot sleek and futuristic design which requires 49 piles drilled 100 feet into the Earth to maintain its integrity. Qianwei Leaning Tower, China In Huludao City in China's Liaoning Province lies the world's first leaning tower. Aside from it's rich historical background, the Qianwei leaning tower is believed by many to also have the largest lean in the world, yet it is not recognized by Guinness World Records. Leaning Tower of Barceloneta, Spain Situated on Barceloneta Beach in Spain, this iconic tower features four cubes stacked precariously on top of each other at varying angles. Scores of tourists and visitors flock to this beautiful part of the country, not only for the sun and sand, but also to take in the view of this unorthodox building. Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Malaysia The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, formerly known as just the water tower, is one of the major attractions of this small Malaysian town. Shortly after the construction of the tower the building began to tilt due to the stream of water running through the ground below, which made the foundation soil weak. Neuer Zollhof, Germany Part of the redeveloped port in Dusseldorf, this unconventional building was created by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The three buildings curve and lean in varying directions and are made of different cladding, whether that be white plaster, red brick or reflective stainless steel. Leaning Temple of Huma, India The only leaning temple in the world, the Temple of Huma was built in 1670 on the banks of the Mahanadi at an angle of 17 degrees, and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It is said that the construction of the temple came about due to enquiries made because of a milkman's daily ritual of crossing the Mahanadi and offering his milk to the rock which cropped out on the bank, and the rock would miraculously consume the milk each time. Tilting Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank, Italy This eco-friendly building is an architectural feat in its own right as, rather than using shading devices to protect the south-facing walls, the solar passive design instead uses its own floors with the 14 degree tilt. The office also features a myriad of sustainable building strategies to provide comfort and save energy. Leaning Tower of Nevyansk, Russia The mysteries surrounding this Russian tower work to make this ethereal building all the more stunning. No-one knows exactly what the tower/prison/science lab for secret experiments is actually for, when in the 18th century it was constructed, by whom, or the origins of its tilt. Although there are bizarre speculations including crying walls or throwing architects off the balcony, this one is better shrouded in mystery. Gate of Europe, Madrid The twin towers that make up the Gate of Europe are named as such for good reason. These foreboding structures, known as Puerta de Europa, lay at the top of a stone staircase and appear to barricade the city of Madrid. The 114m towers have 26 floors of office space and have fittingly appeared in a number of movies, such as The Day of the Beast. Leaning Tower of Suurhusen, Germany Before the Capital Gate was built in Abu Dhabi, this medieval steeple held the title of the most tilted tower in the world. Located in a village in North Western Germany, the 14th century church was built with oak tree trunk foundations, which rotted in the surrounding marshy land.
Back when streaming platforms and digital television were just a futuristic dream, and when every Australian TV network only had one channel, SBS was an Aussie cinephile's go-to source for free international cinema. The public broadcaster has continued to uphold that role over the past decade or so, especially via its online service SBS On Demand. But now it's giving movie buffs what we've always wanted: a new, free-to-air, 24-hour world movies channel. SBS World Movies will launch on Monday, July 1 on channel 32, playing flicks from around the globe all day, every day. Prepare for quite the movie marathon, as more than 700 films will be broadcast each year. The channel will also become the network's third in HD — a far cry from the days when folks at home would record the station's international movies on grainy VHS tapes to watch again later. While the full launch slate hasn't been revealed, a selection of recent high-profile titles will be heading SBS World Movies' way, including Yorgos Lanthimos' dark and twisty The Killing of a Sacred Deer with Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman; moving French drama Amanda, which just screened at this year's Alliance Française French Film Festival; and applauded 2018 festival hit Ash is the Purest White, the latest film by acclaimed auteur Jia Zhangke. Norwegian historical drama The 12th Man, French thriller Just A Breath Away and Belgian Cannes winner Girl round out the just-announced first movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=QT3KlMWHfzw The channel will also showcase women in film via a weekly double focusing on female filmmakers and lead actors, highlight favourites from the international film festival circuit, delve into up-and-coming cinema from far-flung corners of the world, and curate seasons around events like Diwali, Lunar New Year, International Women's Day and Mardi Gras. Along with programming world movies on its existing channels, as well as on SBS On Demand, SBS is no stranger to the dedicated film channel game. For nearly a quarter of a century up until January 2018, World Movies was available via subscription TV services such as Foxtel. When SBS World Movies joins the network's lineup, it'll sit alongside existing channels SBS, SBS VICELAND, SBS Food and NITV. SBS World Movies launches on Monday, July 1 on channel 32.
Some people wind down by watching Nicolas Cage movies. Others prefer getting whimsical with Wes Anderson, indulging in Studio Ghibli's animated delights or rustling up a few laughs. Or, there's the group of folks that finds nothing more relaxing than binging movies and TV shows about architecture, design, sustainability and outdoor living. If the latter applies to you — especially in a year that's seen us all spend far more time in our homes — soon there'll be a new streaming service for that. Joining the ever-growing online viewing ranks (and giving Netflix even more company than it already has), Shelter will launch on Friday, July 31 with a lineup focused on design-centric content. Think documentaries such as Tiny, which steps inside six super-small homes; Art House, about the abodes of 11 creatives and the way they reflect their craft in their surroundings; and Homo Sapiens, which gets philosophical about the impact — and fragility — of human existence. Or, you can explore the work of architects such as Eileen Gray, Kevin Roche, Harry Seidler and Tadao Ando via separate docos. Home-centric series Dream Build and Charlie Luxton's Homes by the Sea are also on Shelter's launch lineup — as is the six-part Inspired Architecture series, which explores six Australian structures. The platform is also teaming up with global publications like Design Anthology and Green Magazine to host and present new content. And, it'll be expanding its range with fresh additions each month. When it goes live at the end of July, Shelter will be available online and via iOS and Android apps — costing AU$7.99/NZ$8.99 per month, with a 14-day free trial period on offer, too. And, it's partnering with Eden Reforestation Projects to do more than merely serve up something new for design aficionados to watch. For each paid subscriber Shelter has each month, it'll plant a native tree via the not-for-profit reforestation organisation — which works to plant millions of trees annually in impoverished and environmentally devastated areas of the globe. Shelter launches in Australia and New Zealand on Friday, July 31 — visit the streaming platform's website to sign-up for updates.
In great news for anyone who'll be in the vicinity of the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in May, all three sites are dedicating the month to rocky road, as they usually do at this time of year. In 2022, they're bringing back their rocky road fest in person, too; however, for those can't make it along in the flesh — including folks interstate — the at-home version is still running as well. Get ready for a virtual month-long sugar extravaganza dedicated to sweet, nutty, marshmallowy rocky road — and yes, giant boxes filled with 31 different flavours of rocky road are available to order. As in previous years, you have a few options. If you'd like to get the mammoth Ultimate Rocky Road Box delivered to your door, that'll set you back $110. Flavours this year include Golden Gaytime, espresso martini, mint, licorice, black forest, Biscoff, pineapple, pistachio praline and many, many more. Elsewhere on the shop's delivery menu, you'll find pick-and-mix packs and a create-your-own option — where you can choose your favourite types of chocolate, nuts, extra nuts, marshmallows, jellies, extras and toppings. The boxes can be delivered anywhere within Australia for a flat rate of $15.
It kicked off more than four decades ago with one of the best horror movies ever made; however, the Halloween franchise has been through quite a few ups and downs over the years. Clocking up ten follow-ups and 11 movies in total so far, the slasher series has delivered excellent and terrible sequels, veered into remake territory, both killed off and brought back its heroine, and completely erased parts of its own past several times. But, like its mask-wearing villain Michael Myers, it always finds a way to go on. Since 2018's Halloween, that's been especially great news — with the Jamie Lee Curtis-starring, Jason Blum-produced 11th flick in the franchise proving a smart, thrilling horror delight, and ranking second only to the movie that started it all. Indeed, the film was such a success that two more sequels are set to come from the same team (aka Blum, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-scribe Danny McBride): Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Originally, Halloween Kills was due to hit screens this year, in October — when else? — but, as announced earlier this year by franchise creator John Carpenter, it moved back its release to October 2021. Although fans won't be able to make a return trip to Haddonfield until then, and have another encounter with Curtis' spirited Laurie Strode and her lifelong nemesis, too, a new teaser for the film has just dropped to help fill the gap. It's a brief clip — following a first, also short teaser that was released back in July — but it's suitably eerie. In voiceover, Strode tells us that "next Halloween, when the sun sets and someone is alone, he kills". The sneak peek then shows Myers picking up his mask and doing what he's done in oh-so-many movies so far. Cue the iconic, Carpenter-composed theme music, obviously. Check out the latest Halloween Kills teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgWlruoQoLI Halloween Kills will release in Australian cinemas on October 15, 2021.
First Melbourne hosted Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, then Sydney got the upper hand by coaxing Rene Redzepi to bring his world-renowned restaurant Noma to Barangaroo for a few months. Now Melbourne has one-upped Australia's biggest city to take back the culinary crown, nabbing the rights to host next year's World's 50 Best Restaurants awards. The announcement was made by the World's 50 Best Restaurants group editor William Drew ahead the 2016 awards, which are being held in New York tomorrow night. It's a pretty big deal for little ol' Melbourne (and Tourism Australia) as it's only the second time the awards will be held outside of London. "After hosting 14 successful editions of The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards in London, we feel the time is right to make the event truly global," said Drew in a press release. "2017 in Australia will be the second time we have held the awards outside of London, following New York this year. There's so much international interest in Australia as a food destination, it's exciting for us to have the opportunity to take the events program to this unique country." Well, shucks. If you're not familiar with the awards, they're the ranking that everyone uses when talking about the best restaurants in the world. Last year Spain's El Celler de Can Roca was awarded the number one spot, while Noma has been a former list-topper multiple times. 2015 gave special mention to Melbourne's Attica and Brae, as well as Sydney's Quay and Sepia, which probably has a lot to do with why they've decided to come Down Under in 2017.
Here's one of Sydney Film Festival's many annual delights: for Australian cinema obsessives who can't make it to Cannes, which is most, it's a cure for movie FOMO. Plenty of the titles that wow audiences in France each year head Down Under the next month. For 2025, here's a few, all playing between Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15: Josh O'Connor (Challengers) and Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza) in heist-thriller mode in filmmaker Kelly Reichardt's (Showing Up) 70s-set The Mastermind; It Was Just an Accident, the latest feature from acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi (No Bears), who is also the subject of one of SFF's 2025 retrospectives; and Dangerous Animals, hailing from Australian helmer Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil's Candy) and telling a tale of a shark-obsessed serial killer on the Gold Coast. Musing on its eponymous author as only filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) can, Orwell: 2+2=5 is also taking the Cannes-to-Sydney route. So is coming-of-age story Enzo from BPM (Beats Per Minute)'s Robin Campillo; Mirrors No 3, which sees German director Christian Petzold reteam with his Transit, Undine and Afire star Paula Beer; Nigeria's My Father's Shadow, the first-ever movie from the country to be selected to play on the Croisette; The Secret Agent, led by Wagner Moura (Dope Thief) for filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho (a Sydney Film Festival Prize-winner for Aquarius); and Vie Privée with Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country). Some of these titles are vying for this year's SFF prize, in the competition's 17th year — where opening night's Together, a new body-horror by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks (The Wizards of Aus) starring Alison Brie (Apples Never Fall) and Dave Franco (Love Lies Bleeding) is also in contention. Will DJ Ahmet, a Sundance-winner after collecting its World Cinema — Dramatic Audience Award, emerge victorious? Or will that honour go to 2025 Berlinale Grand Jury Prize-winner The Blue Trail? They're also in the running. What features Tom Hiddleston's (Loki) newest performance, with The Life of Chuck directed by The Fall of the House of Usher's Mike Flanagan and based on a Stephen King novella? What also boasts Jacob Elordi (Oh, Canada), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Twisters) and Will Poulter (Warfare) in queer romance On Swift Horses, plus Richard Linklater's (Hit Man) Blue Moon with Ethan Hawke (Leave the World Behind), Margaret Qualley (The Substance) and Andrew Scott (Ripley) — alongside Carey Mulligan (Spaceman) in music-fuelled comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island, the Dylan O'Brien (Saturday Night)-led Twinless and Pike River with Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) getting its world premiere? This year's Sydney Film Festival. Which event is adding to its screening venues in 2025 in a spectacular way by showing films at Sydney Opera House, too? And which fest has 201 movies from 70 countries on its lineup, with 17 world premieres, six international premieres and 137 Australian premieres among them? The answer is still the same. Other 2025 highlights include Berlin's Golden Bear-winner Dreams (Sex Love); Aussie effort Death of an Undertaker, the directorial debut of actor Christian Byers (Bump), who uses an IRL Leichhardt funeral parlour as his setting; Dreams, with Jessica Chastain (Mothers' Instinct) reuniting with her Memory helmer Michel Franco; satire Kontinental '25, from Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's Radu Jude; and What Does That Nature Say to You, the latest from South Korea's prolific Hong Sang-soo (In Our Day). Or, there's the near-future Tokyo-set Happyend, the Luca Guadagnino (Queer)-produced Nineteen, Tibetan-language anthology State of Statelessness (the first ever, in fact), Naomi Watts (Feud) and Bill Murray (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) in page-to-screen dramedy The Friend, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Kahlil Joseph's BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, and Vicky Krieps (The Dead Don't Hurt) and Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) tackling grief and possession in Went Up the Hill. Among the standouts on the festival's documentary slate, Jennifer Peedom (River) turns her focus to the quest to make the world's deepest cave dive by Thai cave rescue hero Dr Richard Harris in Deeper, 20 Days in Mariupol's Mstyslav Chernov works bodycam footage from the Ukrainian frontline into 2000 Metres to Andriivka and All I Had Was Nothingness features unused material from iconic Holocaust documentary Shoah 40 years on. Plus, Floodland is focused on Lismore, Journey Home, David Gulpilil charts the iconic actor's journey to be laid to rest, Prime Minister shines a spotlight on Jacinda Ardern and trying to open a Tokyo restaurant is at the heart of Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick. Fans of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, take note: it's up for discussion in Chain Reactions from Alexandre O Philippe (Lynch/Oz). If you miss the video-store era, Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) understands, and has made Videoheaven about it — a film essay solely comprised from movie and TV clips. A New Leaf, The Heartbreak Kid, Mikey and Nicky and Ishtar director Elaine May earns SFF's second 2025 retrospective, while the fest's lineup of restored classics includes the Aussie likes of Muriel's Wedding, Somersault and Mullet, plus Angel's Egg from Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii. For viewers of all ages, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is also on the program. Barry Keoghan's (Bird) new Irish thriller Bring Them Down; the Australian premiere of homegrown animation Lesbian Space Princess; music documentaries One to One: John & Yoko and Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao e Rua — Two Worlds; Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door)- and Michael Shannon (The Bikeriders)-starring post-apocalyptic musical The End; intimacy coordinators getting the doco treatment; Ellis Park, about Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds collaborator, Dirty Three founder and frequent film-score composer Warren Ellis: they're on the lineup, too. So is the one-film movie marathon that is 14-hour picture Exergue — on documenta 14, which is set inside the 2017 edition of the documenta art exhibition in Germany and Greece.
Yoga lovers of Brisbane, it's time to unleash your flexibility in a former prison. It's time to take a spooky tour of the place, too. It's October, which means that it's Halloween time — and while combining bending and stretching with ghost stories mightn't have been on your to-do list before, it should be now. This city is rather fond of creative yoga sessions, of course, spanning everything from mountaintop yoga and yoga on a pier to beer yoga and yoga with llamas. Still, this Boggo Road Gaol class on Saturday, October 31 is something particularly adventurous. Doing downward dog as you're in the middle of quite the historic spot is just the beginning, as afterwards you'll be hearing about and wandering through the site's haunted history. Places are limited, so if you're keen to step inside the jail for this unique session, you'll need to snap up a ticket before Monday, October 19. All of the fun kicks off at 4.30pm, and you're asked to bring your own mat, water, comfortable clothes, enclosed shoes and torch. Also, this is one Halloween event where you can't dress up in horror-themed costumes.
The life and times of 20th century music and cultural icon, Bob Marley, are explored through the deeply raw and poignant documentary, Marley. Kevin Macdonald directed the film in an attempt to allow audiences to get to know the man behind the myth a little better. The two and a half hour documentary features never before seen footage and photos from Marley's early life and final years; from his years as a mixed-race farm boy, Marley's time on the streets in Kingston's Trenchtown, his worldwide fame, through to his cancer diagnosis and slow subsequent demise. Marley reinforces the cultural significance of this Jamaican hero, who still resonates in music lovers' hearts all over the world almost 30 years after his death. Commentary is provided by the family members and friends who knew him best, and the film includes concert footage of four previously unseen songs. All of this is woven together in a seamless stream of revelations to sate the appetites of even the most ardent, die-hard Marley fans. Macdonald and Marley's children and grandchildren also wished to preserve Marley's legacy through the documentary and highlight his driven and ambitious work ethic, whilst quelling the notion that his marijuana smoking led him to lead a slow-paced or lazy lifestyle. The film powerfully captures the quirkiness of the Marley clan as well as providing a musical journey that outlines the development of the sub-culture of reggae and the instrumental role Marley had in this. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Marley. To go in the running to win tickets, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The 90s are the decade that keeps on giving — to nostalgic Australians, at least. On any given weekend under regular circumstances, you can usually find a party dedicated to kicking it old school-style. And, at the moment, you can still get retro with Isolation Trivia's 90s Music Trivia edition. Know everything there is to know about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, grunge, 'Gangsta's Paradise' and chasing waterfalls? Then, come 6.25pm on Thursday, June 4, it's time to put your 90s-loving brain to the test. The Isolation Trivia folks will be asking the questions, your lounge room will be doing the hosting and you'll be slinging back your answers — if you wannabe the trivia champ, that is. No bookings or registrations are required — all you need to do it hit up the event Facebook page when it's time to strut your stuff. Our tip: prepare to channel Alanis when your competition gets something wrong — aka to have 'You Oughta Know' stuck in your head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcyTyilmYY
The cinnamonny college-tastic whisky known as Fireball is under fire (#sorrynotsorry) this week after some pretty unwanted materials were discovered in a European shipment of the good stuff. According to The Daily Beast, it was revealed that Fireball whisky was being recalled in Finland, Norway and Sweden because the batch contains propylene glycol. Yep, that's a casual compound starring prominently in a little ol' thing called antifreeze. ANTIFREEZE. The chemical that helps protects your car's radiator and de-ices aircraft carriers. You won't be so quick to make a GoPro wedding video downing the spicy stuff now huh? European recipients of the batch in question were understandably unimpressed when the delivery rocked up; apparently the Fireball recipe with high levels of propylene glycol is aiiiight for America though. According to Huffington Post the propylene glycol is used to enhance flavour by absorbing water and is "generally recognized as safe" for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But European (and Australian) regulations for food and drink ingredients are apparently tighter than the US — DB reminded us of the time Subway was all geared up to remove azodicarbonamide from its Australian and European bread (yeah, that's chemical commonly used in yoga mats, no biggie). Not in the States though, thing are more lax in the Yoo Ess of Ay. So, Fireball owners Sazerac are legally allowed to put more propylene glycol in their US/Canada bevvies. But don't grab your torches and pitchforks just yet. Sazerac were quick to make embers of this week's uproar, releasing a statement pointing out that propylene glycol is given the a-OK by the FDA in amounts up to 50 grams per kilogram — apparently that's about eight times the amount Fireball has hidden away in its party-starting belly. "Most people consume PG every day in soft drinks, sweeteners, some foods or alcoholic beverages," said the Fireball team, adding that "all Fireball formulas are absolutely safe to drink." "Unfortunately, Fireball shipped its North American formula to Europe and found that one ingredient is out of compliance with European regulations. Finland, Sweden and Norway have asked to recall those specific batches, which is what the brand is doing." Australian batches seem fine for now. Shots anyone? No? Fireball whiskey has antifreeze chemicals in it? So it tastes great and I won't freeze? Make mine a double! — Maddox (@maddoxrules) October 29, 2014 Via The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
Whether you're a Brisbanite eager to head to another state, or you live elsewhere in Australia but you're keen on holidaying in Queensland, the past two years have been more than a little difficult. They've been hard for a heap of reasons during the pandemic, obviously, but the Sunshine State's border closures have definitely been tricky to navigate. In November and December, however, that'll all start to ease. Today, Monday, October 18, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the state will start to reopen to the rest of Australia once the Sunshine State hits the 70-percent double-vaccinated mark among its eligible population. Queensland's domestic borders haven't been closed to the entire country this year, but with New South Wales and Victoria both experiencing lengthy lockdowns, they've definitely been shut to Sydneysiders and Melburnians — so this'll be welcome news to plenty of folks. "If we keep getting our vaccine, we can welcome family and friends from interstate hot spots in a little over a month who are fully vaccinated — and a month after that, in December, they can come without having to quarantine in time for Christmas, but they too will need to be fully vaccinated," said the Premier. "Queenslanders will acknowledge that that is a sensible and cautious approach to ensure that families can be reunited, but the people coming into Queensland will have to be fully vaccinated." Palaszczuk continued: "the faster we are vaccinated, the faster these deadlines will be achieved. It means that some of these dates may come forward if we get the vaccination rates up." BREAKING: Today we're releasing a plan for Queensland borders. Travel restrictions will ease when 70% and 80% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/4PANA1CBjF — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 18, 2021 So, when Queensland reaches the 70-percent double-jabbed mark — which is expected around Friday, November 19 — travellers who've been in a hotspot area within Australian in the past 14 days can enter the state again. They'll need to be double-vaxxed, to arrive by air and to have received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before arriving. Also, anyone in this category will need to go into home quarantine for 14 days. Then, at the 80-percent double-vaccinated threshold — which is expected around Friday, December 17 — travellers from interstate hotspots can arrive by either road or air to enter the Sunshine State. They'll still need to be double-jabbed, and to have received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before arriving. But, there won't be any quarantine requirements at that point. The announcement means that Queensland will be welcoming in travellers from elsewhere in Australia just as summer arrives — and that quarantine will be scrapped for double-jabbed Aussies before Christmas. When Queensland hits 70-percent double-vaxxed, international arrivals will still be handled as they currently are. At the 80-percent double-jabbed mark, though, double-jabbed overseas travellers will be able to undertake 14 days of home quarantine — if they've also received a negative COVID-19 test result in the 72 hours before getting to Queensland. Finally, at the 90-percent double-vaccinated threshold across the Sunshine State, all entry rules and quarantine requirements will be ditched for folks who've had both jabs. For the unvaxxed, the 14-day quarantine rule will still be in effect. At the same press conference, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles revealed that more restrictions within Queensland will start easing at the 70-percent and 80-percent marks — covering things like gatherings, entering venues and the like. And, these relaxed rules will start having vax requirements attached, so both Queenslanders and visitors from interstate will need to be double-jabbed to take advantage of them. Exactly what that'll entail hasn't yet been revealed, so expect further details before mid-November. Queensland will start allowing domestic visitors back into the state from mid-November, when the 70-percent double-vaxxed threshold is met. For more information about Queensland's border policies, head to the Queensland Government website.
Perched next door to Milton craft beer hangout The Scratch Bar, Pita Pit opened its doors last Tuesday. Pita Pit is a franchise with a difference and it has finally found its way to Australia by way of Canada and New Zealand, Bro. There is some debate as to the pronunciation of the word 'pita' but once you take your first bite all will become irrelevant. Perhaps the best thing about Pita Pit is the quality of its ingredients. Rather than having snap locked veges, and processed meat, everything is fresh and the meat is cooked on the grill. My personal favorite is the Chicken Caesar Pita (Small $8.90, Large $10.90), which includes chicken breast, bacon, and your choice of extras. Pita Pit offers all the standard fillings as well as a shipload that you would normally only get at home, including beetroot, pineapple, sprouts, feta cheese, and hummus. If you want a quick, healthy, working lunch, or a post workout feed that won’t have your trainer up in arms then Pita Pit is the answer.
In a bid to contain the most recent coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government made wearing masks compulsory across southeast Queensland in late June. It then extended that requirement in Brisbane and several other parts of the state until mid-July, and then extended it again for 11 Local Government Areas in and around Brisbane for another week. So, the news that masking up will continue to be mandatory in parts of Brissie for a further week really shouldn't come as a surprise. Today, Thursday, July 22, Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced a number of changes to Greater Brisbane's current COVID-19 restrictions, including easing gathering and venue caps — however, in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs, masks are staying. You'll now need to keep wearing them as you are now until 6am on Friday, July 30. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1418011226559246336 If you need a refresher, the mask rules apply whenever you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your own home. In those situations, you must wear a mask. They must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your home, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, and in taxis and ride share vehicles. And, outdoors, you need to wear them when social distancing isn't possible. Accordingly, you always need to have a mask with you. The Deputy Premier also advised that masks will now be mandated in all indoor ticketed venues, including stadiums, theatres and cinemas, statewide as well. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1418011562866970624 "It's great to see the restrictions or ease from 6am tomorrow, but I have for an additional week asked for people please wear their masks," said Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young at the same press conference. "We know that has protected us. I'm positive the reason we've not had communities spread recently is because people have been genuinely wearing their masks," she continued. Queensland currently has 26 active cases, with none reported in the past 24 hours. As always, the usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms also still apply — as they have since March last year. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
There's the truth, and then there's the tale that is told, a divide Kill the Messenger acknowledges. Driven by journalistic duty, Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) unearths a scandal, though once his report is published, the press turns their attention to him over the facts. The surrounding film falls prey to the same trick, presenting an intriguing character study but skirting over the damage done. Webb is a small-time player for a small-time paper, yet unafraid of turning big leads into big headlines. In California in 1996, he receives a tip about a deal involving the nation's intelligence agency and crack dealers in South Central Los Angeles. Covertly supporting the Nicaraguan Contras in their fight against their country's socialist rulers, the CIA is accused of assisting their US drug racket. Webb scours through sources from South America to Washington to substantiate his story, all ignored when governmental denial thrusts him into the spotlight. With Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Oliver Platt as Webb's editors, Rosemarie DeWitt as his wife, and Michael Sheen, Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta as furtive figures, a competent cast fills in the details, in what remains a portrait of Webb's rise and fall. As compelling as he has ever been, Renner retains focus, matching his physicality to the transformative plight of a determined crusader victimised for doing the right thing. Often framed from afar or shown in hand-held close-ups, his recreation of Webb constantly looks over his shoulder with good reason. "We would never threaten your children," he is told in his only official face-to-face meeting with the CIA, and the feature's best display of tension. Based on Nick Schou's 2006 book of the same name, alongside Webb's own 1998 manifesto Dark Alliance, Kill the Messenger harks back to a host of conspiracy thrillers and whistleblower dramas in its newsreel compiles offering background information and incendiary montages setting the emotional tone. Better known for helming episodes of Dexter and Homeland, director Michael Cuesta sticks to the standard in evoking an air of unease and flitting between episodic jaunts in a quest for justice, his feature fervent in sentiment but fleeting in impact. All eyes stay on Renner's rising rage in his potent portrayal; however, the feature's message remains murky, swelling in telling of personal conflict but fading in spanning the extent of the scenario. That the most damning revelations are told as a post-script may indicate the difficulty of condensing the complicated true tale, but it also speaks to the same selectivity the film ostensibly rallies against. Kill the Messenger shouts the story of someone who refused to be silenced, yet favours an impassioned underdog account over a thorough consideration of its central media machinations. https://youtube.com/watch?v=14tFIJIp1bs
Oh Christmas, what a time. A time for love, a time for giving, and of course, a time to lose your shit amongst the writhing throngs of desperate last-minute shoppers. Joy. Luckily for us, this year WineMarket have put together some pretty nifty packages, including a whole host of multi-bottle specials. Throw in easy-as-mince-pie one- or 1-2 day delivery on selected sets, and you really can get Christmas sorted this year, minus the stress plus a whole lot of delicious booze. Take the methode traditionelle Grandin Grande Reserve Brut NV, for example. These six tasty sparklings, made the same way as Champagne but with fruit from outside the region, come in at practically half the price of their French cousin. And, individually packaged in festive red metal presentation tubes, they’re right fancy too ($119.40 for six). Another great option to give is the six-pack of Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, again individually packaged so no need to wrap. Just in case you haven’t heard of Wynns, this yummy mellow-textured fruity number is crafted by award-winning winemaker Sue Hodder, from her 5-star James Halliday-rated winery ($191.40 for 12). But, if you really want to treat the vino connoisseur in the family, you can also secure a bottle of Penfolds Grange 2010, sporting accolade after accolade, for $639 (usually $785). But, if variety is the festive spice of your silly season, you’re covered with all manner of combos, including ten reds and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label ($99), 13-bottle stock-up essentials ($99) and a fabulously titled Impress the In-Laws package of award-winning, 90+ rated reds ($120). Cheers to that. WineMarket is offering a discount exclusively for Concrete Playground subscribers. Get $50 off orders over $120 (excluding freight) using the voucher code CONCRETEXMAS at the checkout. Hurry: offer ends 11.59PM 21/12/2014 (AEDT). Voucher can only be used once per customer. Excludes orders solely consisting of beer, champagne, cider or RTDs, and purchases from WineMarket must not be re–sold commercially. Not valid with any other promotion. Not redeemable for cash. WineMarket reserves the right to cancel orders made outside of these terms and conditions. Standard WineMarket T&Cs apply.
When it opened its doors a few year back, Morningside's Southside Tea Room quickly proved a hub of unique activities. And while the joint has had quite the facelift — absorbing Death Valley next door, reconfiguring the space and serving up a new menu — that isn't changing. Yes, that means that Plaster Fun House is back. Reviving an old favourite, Southside is bringing back its beloved Plaster Fun House nights — an evening where patrons can get crafty and make something they can treasure. Pick from a statue on offer, get into the arty spirit and see what you can whip up! You'll have your own multi-coloured owl, skull, zombie, mermaid, Batman or bulldog in no time. Not just a one-off affair, the new series will take place monthly on Friday nights. The first gets underway from 6pm on August 17, and keep your eyes peeled for future chances to paint a plaster figurine with glitter while you chow into some seriously delicious brisket, mac 'n' cheese and more. By James Frostick and Sarah Ward.
Whenever a new blockbuster exhibition opens at the Gallery of Modern Art, it comes bearing plenty of gifts. You'd expect a heap of paintings, sculptures and installations, and you'd be right; however GOMA's high-profile attractions also boast their own series of parties — after dark, when the gallery is usually closed. With Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection currently gracing the South Brisbane spot's walls, it's time for a new batch of evening shindigs. From 5.30pm every Friday between June 8 and July 7, Patricia Piccinini Up Late will feature bars, bands and talks alongside the artist's distinctive creations, with Amaya Laucirica, Xylouris White, Lydia Lunch Retrovirus, Zola Jesus, Miss Blanks, Cable Ties and The Gooch Palms on the bill. Given that the Curious Affection exhibition and its accompanying film program both contemplate the intersection of science, nature, fiction and the unconscious, this isn't going to be your usual late-night art party. Also on offer is a series of chats that will explore the emotions conjured up by Piccinini's work. Yep, you're going to have plenty to talk about. Images: Patricia Piccinini, Australia VIC, b.1965, Teenage Metamorphosis. 2017. Silicone, fibreglass, human hair, found objects. 25 x 137 x 75cm. Courtesy the artist, Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney; and Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco / Zola Jesus.
Australians have an appetite for international cinema, with major cities across the country regularly hosting events like the Japanese Film Festival, which returns to theatres nationwide this October and November. Whether you're a film fest regular, more of a blockbuster-familiar audience member or are simply looking to expand your cultural worldview, you'll be able to catch the best of Japanese film and filmmakers on a big screen near you. "We're excited to bring a program that speaks to the breadth of Japanese cinema today," said Manisay Oudomvilay, Festival Programmer. "From historical sagas to intimate family portraits, contemporary thrillers to beloved manga brought to life, these films capture both the richness of tradition and the restless innovation of Japanese filmmakers." Leading this year's JFF program is Kokuhō, an Academy Awards-submitted title starring three of Japan's best acting talents — Ryо̄ Yoshizawa, Ryūsei Yokohama and Ken Watanabe — in a five-decade story of friendship and rivalry between two boys making a name for themselves in traditional kabuki theatre. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6-ZPGwmKk[/embed] This year's festival also features three titles from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa. There's the sound-centric horror film Chime, an online resale-inspired thriller titled Cloud and a French-language remake of Kurosawa's Serpent's Path. Also featuring on the lineup are literary and pop culture adaptations. There's 6 Lying University Students, a story of a corporate recruitment test-turned psychological thriller, Petals and Memories, which adapts the prize-winning short stories of Minato Shukawa, and 366 Days, adapting the song of the same name by HY about two students trying to make careers in Tokyo's music and translation scenes. There's also the terrorist negotiation thriller Showtime 7, two unlikely allies teaming up to take down swindlers in Angry Squad: The Civil Servant and the Seven Swindlers, the surreal animated flick The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store, a contemporary post-COVID story in Sunset Sunrise, samurai drama Bushido, manga-adapting Cells at Work! and a retrospective series of Japanese films from the 1930s at various venues around the country. [caption id="attachment_1033101" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store[/caption] JFF 2025 is taking place at Palace Barracks, Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA from Thursday, November 6 to Friday, December 19. Get the full program or tickets on the website. Top images: 'Cloud', 'Kokuhō'
Letting the likes of Little May, Aldous Harding and Boy and Bear take the backyard folk reins for a while, Australia's ARIA-dominating folksters Angus and Julia Stone are heading back to the stage to take back the wooden throne. Four years after their huge runaway hit 'Big Jet Plane' and their Everyone Should Just Stay at Home ARIA-blitzer Down the Way, the Sydney Stone siblings have announced a colossal Australian tour to mark their triumphant return. Teaming up with pop production legend Rick Rubin (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele), the duo have recorded their third studio album at Malibu's Shangri La studios. The pair's self-titled effort is set for release on August 1, timed perfectly for triple j Hottest 100 dominance. Having spent the last couple of years touring internationally and dropping solo material here and there, it seems high time for the Stones to head home for some epic shows — we're talking Sydney Opera House, Brisbane's Tivoli and Melbourne's Palais Theatre. For their first national tour since 2011, Angus and Julia Stone will be joined by 18-year-old Brisbanite Tim Bettinson, aka super-internet-hyped falsetto wonder Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Fusing synthetic instrumentation with vocals sure to generate All the Feels, VSC will hop on tour with the Stones for all national shows except Canberra. Tickets on Sale 9am July 10. Secret Sounds pre-sale: Tuesday 8 July, from 9:00am. General on sale: Thursday 10 July, from 9:00am. Angus and Julia Stone Aus/NZ Tour Dates: Fri 12 Sep — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide. Tickets via Venuetix or venue. Sat 13 Sep — Llewellyn Hall, Canberra (Support TBC). Tickets via Ticketek. Sun 14 Sep — Sydney Opera House, Sydney. Tickets via SOH. Wed 17 Sep — Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Tickets via Ticketek Thu 18 Sep — The Tivoli, Brisbane. Tickets via Ticketmaster. Sun 21 Sep — Arts Centre, Gold Coast. Tickets via Arts Centre. Tue 23 Sep — Perth Concert Hall, Perth. Tickets via venue or Ticketek. Fri 26 Sep — Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets via Ticketmaster. Sun 28 Sep — Powerstation, Auckland. Tickets via Ticketmaster. https://youtube.com/watch?v=N6TNrXRUo4Q
Long before cozzie livs entered Australia's vocabulary, the Sunnybank Food Trail was serving up bargains. The one-day culinary event previously included a $2 price in its moniker, because that's how much everything that you could eat cost per plate. That gold-coin amount isn't stuck to as firmly these days, but it's still a cheap feast, including when the self-guided foodie adventure returns in 2024. This year marks the tenth iteration of this beloved excuse to hit up its namesake Brisbane suburb's shopping hubs, then delight in dining in quite the affordable fashion. Pre-pandemic, around 22,000 people showed up annually to satisfy their tastebuds, so expect to have plenty of cost-of-living-conscious company from 2–8pm on Saturday, July 13. [caption id="attachment_962394" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] While 2023 saw the Sunnybank Food Trail was make its long-awaited return, hosting its first event since 2019 following a break for COVID-19 reasons, 2024's run will be all about celebrating turning ten with discounted bites. Some of this year's dishes will still cost $2, while others will set you back $3 or $5. Either way, that's a whole heap of your change being put to excellent (and tasty) use. As in previous years, both Sunnybank Plaza and Sunny Park will play host to the trail. How does it work? Attendees walk between a heap of local cafes and restaurants, all at their own pace. The range of eateries taking part is usually hefty — in 2018, more than 45 places served up dishes. [caption id="attachment_962390" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] Covering everything from deep-fried dumplings, noodles and curries to hot cakes, cream buns and bubble tea, every participating joint will feature a range of authentic Asian cuisines. You'll feast on Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian and Taiwanese food — and, with such an array of steaming soups and sizzling stir-fries on offer, we don't recommend eating lunch or dinner first. In fact, you'd best arrive feeling as hungry as possible. Snacking on signature dishes is the main course — or several — but there's also plenty of non-edible appetisers, too. Enjoy live music, watch traditional lion dancers, and and check out the roaming entertainment as you feast and wander, adding the perfect garnish to every meal by setting the mood. [caption id="attachment_962391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] [caption id="attachment_962392" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] [caption id="attachment_962393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] Sunnybank Food Trail will pop up at Sunnybank Plaza and Sunny Park from 12–8pm on Saturday, July 13 — head to the Experience Sunnybank website for further details. Top image: Zennieshia.
It's such a simple thing, putting pencil to paper and finding yourself in another world. With a few flicks of the hand, a page can conjure up all of your wildest dreams, lay bare the deepest worries lurking in your subconscious, or even combine the two. Exploring that experience in a published novel and then a feature film isn't quite as simple, but in A Monster Calls, the end result remains every bit as insightful and cathartic. If you were to mash together the bedtime story from The Princess Bride, the stunning gothic images from Pan's Labyrinth, the oversized non-human pal from Pete's Dragon, and the quest to conquer childhood fears from Labyrinth, you'd almost end up with A Monster Calls – although the key word there, of course, is 'almost'. Adapted by director J.A. Bayona (The Impossible) from Patrick Ness' book, the film might ostensibly follow in the footsteps of plenty of other coming-of-age adventures and sensitive adolescent journeys. Yet its heartfelt awareness of the difficulties of tussling with life's complexities remain wholly its own. Here, things couldn't seem bleaker for British schoolboy Conor O'Malley (Lewis MacDougall). His beloved mother (Felicity Jones) is dying from cancer, his father (Toby Kebbell) has a new family in America, and he's far from fond of the strict grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) he's told he'll eventually have to live with. Trying to put on a brave face at home but mercifully bullied in class, sketching provides Conor much-needed coping mechanism, as well as a way of remaining close to his art-loving mum. Then his scribblings and his nightmares combine, with a monstrous tree (voiced by Liam Neeson) coming to life to tell him three tales, while also demanding to hear one in return. Further tying Conor's drawings and dreams together, Bayona brings the latter to the screen in a series of gorgeously animated sequences, with inky scrawled heroes and villains cavorting through vibrant watercolour backgrounds. If you're going to adapt a book about vivid imaginings in times of personal trouble, then your movie has to look the part, after all. Indeed, as a literal visual illustration of the power of creativity to help process life's woes, A Monster Calls excels. But it's not just the images that Bayona gets right — it's the emotions as well. Alongside Ness' winning work turning his own novel into a script, that largely comes down to the performances. Jones is raw yet subtle, while MacDougall's sorrow is positively palpable. And don't underestimate the impact of Neeson's gravelly tones. There's something so sincere and affecting about the way the Irish actor imparts the tough but true wisdom at the movie's core. While we might better know him these days for his hard-as-nails characters in films like Taken and The Grey, he's just as perfect as the beating dark heart of this tender and touching fable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPh9mr-ZGOY
"On a bitter, cold Christmas eve, one dark soul is selected for redemption by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come". So starts the narration for the trailer for new festive flick Spirited — and so starts another new take on A Christmas Carol, too. But this adaptation and updating of Charles Dickens' well-known tale has a few things that most others don't, plus a twist. First, there's tunes, because this movie is a musical, complete with plenty of big song-and-dance scenes in the just-dropped sneak peek. Also, it features Will Ferrell (The Shrink Next Door) and Ryan Reynolds (The Adam Project) leading the show. (Yes, you now have another Ferrell movie to add to your Elf-led festive binge.) Reynolds yet again plays 'ordinary guy that something unusual happens to'. Actually, he plays Clint Briggs — but thanks to films like Free Guy and The Change-Up, he has slipped into this kind of part before. Here, he's the "level-20 pain in the Dickens" who is selected by the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) to get a haunting visit, to hopefully spark him to reform his ways. As brought to the screen and stage countless times, transforming from curmudgeonly to compassionate is the aim of this spirited intervention, which also features Octavia Spencer (The Witches) as Clint's boss — and someone that the Ghost of Christmas Present is quite fond of. The twist with Spirited, other than the songs? The film unfurls A Christmas Carol's narrative from the perspective of the ghosts. Writer/director Sean Anders and his co-scribe John Morris say "bah humbug!" to the regular version of the story, clearly, with the pair reteaming after Instant Family, the Daddy's Home movies and Horrible Bosses 2 — and reuniting with Ferrell after Daddy's Home franchise as well. Apple TV+ will stream the end result, releasing Spirited on Friday, November 18, and adding it to the 'films based on A Christmas Carol' subgenre alongside everything from Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Scrooged. Check out the trailer for Spirited below: Spirited will be available to stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, November 18.
It's widely known that New Zealand is a bit of a stunner of a travel destination. Overflowing with majestic terrain, impeccable wine and warm hospitality, there are a few reasons why this little corner of the world makes it onto many a bucket list. Whether you're seeking an adventure or want to wine and dine your way around, the South Island, in particular, is a mecca for visitors looking to indulge in the finer things in life. From helicopter flights over glaciers to sailing day trips, we've rounded up some of the South Island's most luxe experiences for when you're feeling a bit flash. SLEEP IN STYLE AT A LAKESIDE LODGE A great holiday starts with a great night's sleep and Whare Kea Lodge is the perfect spot to catch some quality zs during your South Island adventure. Nestled on the edge of Lake Wanaka, this luxurious, private retreat boasts eye-popping vistas of the lake and mountains. Whare Kea is small but perfectly formed, with each of its rooms offering postcard-worthy views that'll be the envy of all your friends back home. Relax and unwind in the stylish surrounds where you'll find loads of light-filled nooks and cosy spaces. On-site, you'll also find a massage room and an outdoor spa pool, so you'll slip into holiday mode in no time. The lodge offers a full kitchen so you can cook up a storm, too. Otherwise, you can treat yourself to a private chef for a real foodie experience. With its five-star views and home comforts, you won't want to leave. SIP TOP DROPS AT A STYLISH WINERY A visit to New Zealand wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the country's famous vino, and Central Otago is the perfect place to enjoy a grape escape. Head for The Shed, the gorgeous, new cellar door by celebrated winemakers, Cloudy Bay. Located in the heart of wine country, just an hour's drive from Queenstown, The Shed is a stylish sanctuary perched amongst stunning South Island scenery. With touches of rustic New Zealand charm, The Shed blends seamlessly into the landscape, and is an unforgettable spot to discover Cloudy Bay's wine range. Book a private tasting tour to get to know the wines and the story behind them. Take a stroll through the vineyards with a Cloudy Bay ambassador to learn about the terroir and the connection between the land and the brand. Afterwards, settle into the private tasting room to savour some of Cloudy Bay's finest, while lapping up the dazzling vistas of Lake Dunstan and the rugged ranges beyond. FORAGE FOR YOUR LUNCH ON AN EPIC HELI TOUR If you thought the South Island was mind-blowing from the ground, just wait until you see it from the sky. Take your trip to the next level with the ultimate experience for adventurous food lovers — a helicopter and foraging tour through the majestic, untamed landscapes of the remote south with Alpine Helicopters. Begin your adventure with a stop on the edge of Lake Wanaka, where you can try your hand at trout fishing. From here you'll be whisked into the Southern Alps, where you'll land smack bang on a glacier for the ultimate photo stop. After the obligatory selfies, fly out to the wild west coast to gather fresh crayfish for lunch. Next, you'll be flown deep into a lush valley for a lunch stop like no other — a Kiwi bush barbecue, featuring smoked trout and premium Te Mana lamb and washed down with local wine. With happy bellies, enjoy a final flight over more epic nature before returning to base. SAIL AWAY IN THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Marking the gateway to the South Island, the Marlborough Sounds is a sparkling labyrinth of winding waterways and bush-clad hills. With its hard-to-reach bays and beaches, the best way to discover this scenic playground is from the water. Get your sea legs on and sail away for a day on a luxury yacht, hosted by Cloudy Bay. Cruise the turquoise waters of the Sounds, visiting quiet coves teeming with untouched nature. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins along the way, too. Fancy yourself a bit of a sailor? Get stuck in and be part of the crew. Or if that doesn't float your boat, simply sit back and relax — with a glass of Cloudy Bay vino, of course. At lunchtime, tuck into delicious locally caught seafood with matching wines served against a backdrop of pure New Zealand beauty. GET BACK TO NATURE AT A SECLUDED RETREAT Nestled into a lush hillside, in a remote bay that's only accessible by boat, Bay of Many Coves is the retreat of your dreams. Luxury villas pepper the hillside, offering knockout views of pristine waters and bushy peaks. Stay a night or two to truly experience the magic of this secluded paradise. During the day, go for a dip, dine out on the water's edge, or get your walking shoes on to explore nature trails that teem with wildlife — don't worry, New Zealand's bush is proudly snake free. If that's just a bit too active, take it down a notch, listen to the bird song and relax in the serenity. It doesn't get more zen than this. ADVENTURE OFF-ROAD AROUND ONE OF MARLBOROUGH'S FIRST WINERIES If you're a wine enthusiast there's a mighty good chance you've heard of a wee region called Marlborough. Famous for its top-notch sauvignon blanc, Marlborough is the ultimate destination for any wine lover. Experience a taste of the region by visiting one of the very first wineries to put down roots here. The original Cloudy Bay Cellar Door is a chic spot to try the brand's diverse wines, from the iconic sauvignon blanc to the lively pinot noir and crispy Pelorus bubbly. Taste your way through the range in the spacious cellar door before grabbing a glass of your favourite and settling into a hanging egg chair in the leafy courtyard. For a unique adventure, take a vineyard tour by car — jump into a custom-restored 1985 Land Rover Defender and discover the vineyard sites with the Cloudy Bay crew as you learn how these distinctive wines make their way from grape to glass. Discover more about Cloudy Bay wines and the tailor-made experiences you can have in New Zealand here.
