Australia Day is always a big deal. Not simply because, um, well, we are Australian, but because it gives us a chance to celebrate everything great about this land of sweeping plains with friends and family. Everyone enjoys getting into the ‘Strayan spirit, so naturally there is a heap of stuff on. I can’t pick just one to share, so here are some great Aussie Day parties for everyone to enjoy. Henrik Schwarz and Danny Daze at Bakery Lane This will be a good old fashioned block party with some amazing tunes from some great DJ’s. Two bars and a street style BBQ in the heart of the Valley. Tickets are $33. Strange Yonder Oz Day Party at Black Bear Lodge We featured a chat with Brisbane creative talents Strange Yonder last week. Surprisingly good timing as they are hosting a show at Black Bear Lodge on Australia day. Performances from Tsun, The Furrs and The Ottomans. Entry is $10 on the door. Future Classic Australia Day Party at Oh Hello! The Future Classic family are taking over Oh Hello on Australia Day to play some great tunes and party like it’s the arrival of the First Fleet all over again. There will be some great performances from the likes of Jacques Renault, Medlar, Touch Sensitive, Panama and Charles Murdoch. Tickets are $23.50. Best of The West End Film Festival at The State Library of Queensland This is for those who would rather an activity with less boisterousness and a little more air-conditioning. The West End Film Festival is prepping for their 2014 season and to get people in the mood they are screening some gems from previous years. This one is free and ideal for all cinephiles. There is plenty more out there to do, just make sure you have a memorable Australia day this year!
"Margot met Robert on a Wednesday night toward the end of her fall semester." So starts the only thing that everyone was reading, and also talking about, in December 2017. Published by The New Yorker, Kristen Roupenian's Cat Person is a short story unparalleled in its viral fame. A piercingly matter-of-fact account of a dating nightmare, the piece of fiction became a literary and online phenomenon. Cat Person didn't just spark discourse about modern romance, relationship power dynamics, 21st-century communication, age gaps and more; it monopolised them, as fuelled by the internet, of course, and arriving as the #MeToo movement was at its early heights. Releasing it as a book, still as a 7000-word piece, came next. Now there's the film that was always bound to happen. As a movie, Cat Person can count the Twitter-to-cinema Zola as a peer in springboarding from digital phenomenon to picture palaces, and it too aims for a specific vibe: the feeling that the world experienced while first roving their eyes over the details on their phone, tablet or computer screen. Cat Person and Zola have another glaring similarity: enlisting Succession's Nicholas Braun to infuse his Cousin Greg awkwardness into a wild tale. Here, he's the Robert that Margot encounters while "working behind the concession stand at the artsy movie theatre downtown when he came in and bought a large popcorn and a box of Red Vines", as Roupenian's story explains in its second sentence — and as filmmaker Susanna Fogel, the director of The Spy Who Dumped Me and one of Booksmart's writers, shows on-screen. Actors' performances don't exist in a vacuum for audiences. Unless you somehow missed the four-season Roy family shenanigans, plus all the rightly deserved attention around it, going into Cat Person unaware of Braun's best-known role is impossible. Self-consciousness, haplessness and discomfort are expected twice over of the man that Margot sells snacks to, then. Much follows. With Michelle Ashford (Operation Mincemeat) adapting Roupenian's text, Cat Person still starts unfurling as readers know it will, with Robert eventually asking Margot (Emilia Jones, CODA) out, then flirty missives bouncing back and forth via SMS daily across several weeks. She's 20 and he's 33, but she doesn't clock quite the size of that age discrepancy initially. She enjoys the banter, the thrill of connecting and the buzz of being wanted. Margot has a crush, patently, complete with telling her mother (Hope Davis, Asteroid City) and stepfather (Christopher Shyer, The Night Agent) about it when she's back at home over the break. In their exchanges, Robert advises that he has two cats, too — a tidbit worthy of a title because of what it says and softens about him, and what it also screams if those felines aren't real. Margot and Robert's rapport with their phones in their hands is natural yet often cringey, but only the latter translates whenever they meet in-person again. Still, the pair keep gravitating towards each other. Locking lips leads to "a terrible kiss, shockingly bad". The sex, which Fogel gives an out-of-body spin for Margot as a coping mechanism, is even worse. Regrets and ghosting then flow on Margot's part, while the rejected Robert floods bubbles of unwelcome anger her way. Roupenian's version is as well-known for how it ends as for everything that precedes its final word, but Fogel and Ashford had two options in making Cat Person into a movie: filling a film's running time by fleshing out its minutiae or building upon the once-in-a-decade short story, including its unforgettable ending. Their choice: doing both, actually, with their Cat Person spending 118 minutes to relay its narrative. In comes a Harrison Ford obsession for Robert, packaged with the telling revelation that he considers a Belgian bootleg of Working Girl to be the height of cinema sophistication. Margot becomes an anthropology major with a worshipped professor (Isabella Rossellini, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) studying ants — and the college student's roommate is now the feminist subreddit-moderating Taylor (Geraldine Viswanathan, Miracle Workers), still with firmly blunt thoughts on dealing with Robert's rebuffed behaviour. In wanders a lost dog in front of their dorm, too, plus imagined sessions with a therapist (Fred Melamed, Barry) who constantly verbalises the movie's subtext, an asexual ex and a Marilyn Monroe-aping singing stint. And, in drops a third act that swings big, even for a film that wants to be a thriller, a black comedy, a cautionary tale and then a horror flick all at once. Rossellini, Davis and Melamed lend presence more than anything else, but casting remains crucial to Cat Person's quest to recreate the sensations that swelled and swirled around the feature's source material six years back. As it incited conversation, debate, devotion and memes, Roupenian's story was an in-her-shoes read — and Jones' starring performance evokes the same reaction. With the rising Locke & Key talent playing savvy yet naive and interested yet cautious, it's easy to understand the emotions, joys, doubts and fears that cycle through Margot. Pivotally, it's easy to dive into Margot and Robert's projections, too, as Jones and Braun keeping bob towards and away from each other in a purposefully anti-chemistry match. Whether it goes smoothly, horrifically, embarrassing and something in-between, what's dating if not two people filtering their own thoughts and feelings through one another? And how often is ambiguity and clashing perceptions the outcome, as well as the realisation that what we want from and spot in the person we're seeing differs from their peek into and desires for us? As Cat Person takes this on-screen journey, it's guilty of doing what everyone desperately wants in a relationship but never gets: explaining everything. Accordingly, not every new inclusion works, especially when new characters largely spout metaphors or imaginings just state the obvious. That said, there's ambition in this tensely shot (by Manfuel Billeter, The Gilded Age) and edited (by Jacob Craycroft, Pachinko) film's additions and expansions to the text. Most beats, tonal shifts, sidesteps into neatness and descents into horror help flesh out an examination of ill-advised choices, clumsy hookups, jarring perspectives, and life's ever-present dangers and uncertainties — and relatably at that. Fogel tackled much the same as a director on The Flight Attendant; Promising Young Woman sprang from Saltburn's Emerald Fennell instead, but consider it another influence upon this intriguing rollercoaster ride of a movie.
At the beginning of 2012, when the world discovered that Channing Tatum was starring in a movie about male strippers — and that it was based on his own experiences working in the field — everyone was a little sceptical. Which was understandable. Magic Mike boasts a great director in Steven Soderbergh, and a cast that also includes Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough and peak McConnaissance-era Matthew McConaughey, but, on paper, it was hardly a sure thing. Of course, once the film hit the screens, it was a hit. More than that — it was a smart and sensitive look at men chasing the American Dream by taking off their clothes. Sequel Magic Mike XXL, which released in 2015, not only repeated the feat but added more depth, and Tatum successfully turned what could've been a forgettable chapter of his pre-fame life into a hit big-screen franchise. Actually, he's turned it into a stage and screen franchise. Yes, Magic Mike was always going to go back to where it all began. In Las Vegas, London, Berlin and Sydney so far, Magic Mike Live has been letting real-life male dancers strip up a storm for eager audiences. Not to be confused with Magic Mike the Musical — because that's something that's also happening — the "immersive" dance show is coming to Brisbane in 2021. When its Aussie leg was first announced in 2019, the show was set to debut in Melbourne in May 2020; however, then came the pandemic. After delaying those dates, Magic Mike Live unleashed its stuff in Sydney last December, then heads to Melbourne from June, with its Brisbane season kicking off afterwards — starting on Tuesday, November 23. As it's doing around the country, Magic Mike Live will steam up a 600-seat spiegeltent called The Arcadia, which'll make its home at Northshore Hamilton. It's the world's largest spiegeltent, because clearly this kind of show has plenty of fans. This tour marks the first time that the performance has been held in the pop-up two-storey spot, which comes with 360-degree views of the stage, a glass lobby, custom bars, a mini food hall, and a lounge area both inside and out. And while it's blazing a trail venue-wise, on the stage, the Aussie show combines elements of the Magic Mike Live's three other international productions. While Tatum came up with the idea for Magic Mike Live and co-directs the show, the Step Up, 21 Jump Street, Logan Lucky and Kingsman: The Golden Circle star isn't actually one of the performers. Instead, a cast of 20 — including 15 male dancers — showcase a combination of, dance, comedy and acrobatics. Continuing her role from the films, stage show co-director and choreographer Alison Faulk is behind the sultry moves, drawing upon a career spent working with Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott, P!NK, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. It probably goes without saying, but if you're already thinking about buying Magic Mike Live tickets, expect to have plenty of hens parties for company. Magic Mike Live comes to Brisbane from Tuesday, November 23, 2021. For more information, or to buy tickets from 9am AEST on Friday, March 26, visit the show's website. Images: Peter Brew-Bevan.
We've all done it at least once: wandered around Roma Street Station or its general vicinity, hunting for somewhere to eat. Somewhere that isn't just the usual food court, or one of the places along the roadway that change with unfathomable frequency. Thanks to the just-opened Nest Restaurant at Hotel Jen, that perpetual search has finally come to an end. You won't find anywhere as nice in this part of the city, or with such a mouthwatering menu. Serving Asian fusion-style food day and night, Nest calls itself a haven — and looking at its eclectic oriental vintage décor, that seems a fair call. This isn't just a spot for a quick bite, although that's certainly an option, as is takeaway. You can savour a meal, have a few drinks after work, or lounge around with your friends on a lazy weekend afternoon. Design-wise, Nest has made some artistically bold choices. A definite highlight is the Lantern Tree, a 100-year-old fig tree lit up with 200 red Asian lanterns. Nest offers 300-degree views of this good luck symbol, as well as quite a nice vantage over the city. You won't venture up there, but the top of the building is another important Nest space. Courtesy of their own organic Sky Garden, the herbs and vegetables making prominent appearances in Chinese, Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese-influenced feasts are picked fresh daily to make the journey from rooftop to plate. If $12 street food lunches and a 19-dish-plus Asian tapas selection don't get you rushing in the door, then one of Nest's upcoming events just might. Enjoy week-long Chinese New Year celebrations, or learn from an international master chef at a cooking class. Find Nest Restaurant on Level 2 at Hotel Jen at 159 Roma Street, Brisbane. Visit their website for more information.
Next time you're jetting abroad, you might want to add a visit to Singapore's Changi Airport to your trip. After hosting a short-term Harry Potter-themed world over the Christmas period and opening the world's largest indoor waterfall in April, the airport has now added a massive new Canopy Park into the mix. It features a mirror and hedge maze, suspended sky nets and a slide-filled sculptural playground, to name a just few of its attractions. Located on the top level of the airport, the indoor park spans over 14,000 square metres and houses over 1400 trees. It's home to seven different attractions, including the aforementioned maze, which comes in at a whopping 500 square metres (we suggest you don't enter here — and get lost — just before your flight). Travellers can also catch views of it from above on one of several elevated platforms. Other sky-high features include a 23-metre-high bridge with a glass floor offering views of the Shiseido forest valley and Rain Vortex waterfall below. You'll also be able to bounce or walk along a 250-metre span of sky nets, which are suspended five storeys in the air. Or spend your time wandering through a slide-filled sculptural playground, a petal garden, a topiary walk filled with animal-shaped shrubs and a fog-covered, cloud-like play area to boot. A virtual reality lounge, dubbed Changi Experience Studio, has also just opened on level four. The 90-minute experience includes interactive games, projection storytelling, immersive shows and gallery exhibitions. An onsite IMAX theatre, the YOTELAIR Hotel and over 280 retailers and eateries (including Nike, Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara and Uniqlo stores) can now be found within the airport as well. It's all part of the 137,000-square-metre Jewel Changi entertainment and retail complex, designed by famed architect Moshe Safdie. The ten-storey building, set under a glass-and-steel dome, is jam-packed with shops, dining options, greenery and activities — and is connected to the all-important airport, of course. Forget just killing time on a layover, searching for a phone charger or suffering in uncomfortable chairs while you're waiting for your flight home. Here, you might have to remind yourself that you're actually at an airport. For further details, visit the Jewel Changi Airport website. Entrance to the Canopy Park is set at the $5 SGD (around $5.30 AUD, $5.60 NZD), with selected attractions costing between $8—22.
Living up to its splendid first date with audiences has never been a problem for Starstruck. When the Rose Matafeo (Baby Done)-starring BBC and HBO series first strode into streaming queues in 2021, its initial episode was an all-timer in the charming stakes, as was the show's entire six-instalment debut season. When Starstruck returned for a second run in 2022, its next go-around instantly proved as much of a smart, savvy and charismatic delight. Streaming via ABC iView from 9.30pm on Wednesday, September 6 and in New Zealand via TVNZ+ since 8.30pm on Saturday, September 2, season three continues the trend — and keeps demonstrating that no romantic rendezvous, no matter how idyllic, can just keep repeating itself. Plot-wise, Starstruck has always had one couple at its centre: New Zealander-in-London Jessie (Matafeo) and British actor Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). Frequently, however, they're not actually together, with the show charting the ins and outs of a complicated relationship that started with a New Year's Eve meet-cute and one-night stand. The hook from the get-go: that Tom is an A-list star, which Jessie doesn't know until after they've hooked up. So, Starstruck asks what it's like to live the Notting Hill life. In season three, more accurately, it ponders what comes after that's been and gone. Season two might've finished with a scene right out of The Notebook, and with echoes of Bridget Jones' Diary as well, but its follow-up quickly establishes that Jessie and Tom didn't get their happy-ever-after ending — they're no longer together, and haven't been for some time. Starstruck season three starts with a bold move, spending a few minutes zipping through Jessie and Tom's romance since season two via a heartbreaking montage. That choice is also deeply fitting for a show that's exceptional at endings. One of the best newcomers of its debut year and best returning series of its second, Starstruck's excellence is like a perfect bouquet, with vibrancy blooming everywhere — in Matafeo's lead performance, the show's ability to unpack a genre it clearly loves, its glorious nods to rom-coms past, and its astute insights into 2020s-era dating and life, to name a mere few. How its star, creator and co-writer wrapped up both season one and two was equally as sublime, though. So, season three goes all in on something cherished and blissful approaching its conclusion. If that train of thought has you wondering if this is it for Starstruck itself, a fourth season hasn't yet been locked in. The green light for season three came four months after season two dropped, so not having a future confirmed so far isn't an ominous sign for fans. Matafeo and co-scribes Alice Snedden and Nic Sampson have always treated their series as something to treasure there and then, too; it's the epitome of revelling in the here and now, as anyone in love should. No one knows where life will take them, including Starstruck's guiding hands. So, every season could put a bow on the tale and say farewell — but unboxing more after each finale, whether it involves a The Graduate-style stint on a bus or frolicking in a pond, wouldn't destroy the storytelling, either. Thanks its rush through Jessie and Tom's attempts to make their relationship work, then its huge leap forward afterwards, as much time has passed in Starstruck's world as it has for viewers. Two weddings now loom over the narrative: Jessie's now-pregnant best friend Kate's (Emma Sidi, Black Ops) to Ian (Al Roberts, What We Do in the Shadows), and Tom's to his fellow-actor fiancée Clem (Constance Labbé, Balthazar). It's at the first set of nuptials that Jessie and Tom cross paths again, sparking a torrent of emotions that neither has worked past (some knowingly, some not). While awkwardly trying to avoid her ex and endeavouring to make it appear that she has powered on happily without him, Jessie also connects with kindly Scottish electrician Liam (Lorne MacFadyen, Operation Mincemeat). Chronicling Jessie's blossoming bond with someone other than Tom might seem like another of Starstruck's bold season-three moves, but it's a vintage choice for a series that's obsessed with tearing into rom-com tropes. The idea that there's only one big, sweeping, heart-aflutter, existence-defining affair in anyone's life is foundational in the romantic-comedy genre, and yet that's rarely a guaranteed outcome. In a six-episode batch that's as bingeable as ever, Starstruck grapples with grappling with that fact. Jessie and Tom keep tumbling back into each other's orbits, finding themselves caught between yearning for yesterday, wishing today was different and forging a fresh tomorrow — and tossing and turning over which outcome they want. Deepening their dilemma is Starstruck's focus on reaching that late-20s, early-30s stage where committing and picking a way forward is the norm. Indeed, instead of the tension between the celebrity realm and everyday existence, this season's main clash arises from the contrast between getting settled and still feeling like you'll never have it together. There Starstruck goes, interrogating rom-com conventions again, including the notion that falling in love immediately solves or smooths life's other messes. It's no wonder that the sitcom has become one of the most-relatable romantic comedies there is — and best all round. In the show's writing, performances and directing alike, Matafeo and company understand why their chosen genre spins the fantasies it does. They're well-aware why audiences swoon over such tales as well. And, they're eager to face the reality, but with warmth, humour and empathy. Starstruck's version of laying the truth bare: a sidesplittingly frank chat directed Jessie's way, where she's told that her life mightn't be living up to her wildest dreams but, given that she has a house and a job — and she's "not even that bad of a person" — it's actually not awful. There goes Starstruck's main season-three takeaway again, as given voice: "just appreciate what you have while you have it". Being grateful for this wonderful sitcom as a whole, and for Matafeo's luminous turn at its centre, isn't just easy — it's automatic. Season after season, Starstruck keeps painting a portrait of love, life, friendship and chaos that's both clear-eyed and rosily affectionate, complete with fleshed-out and lived-in performances that embrace the fact that every person and every romance has flaws and joys in tandem. This far in, Jessie, Tom, Kate, their pals and partners are as rich and resonant as any group of long-term friends and acquaintances on-screen and -off. Matafeo, Patel, Sidi and their co-stars' efforts are also that emotionally honest. Everything about Starstruck keeps evolving, too, other than how stellar it has always been. Check out the trailer for Starstruck season three below: Starstruck season three streams in Australia via ABC iView from 9.30pm on Wednesday, September 6, and in New Zealand via TVNZ+ from 8.30pm on Saturday, September 2. Starstruck's first and second seasons are also available to stream in Australia via ABC iView and in New Zealand via TVNZ+. Read our full review of Starstruck's first season — and our full review of its second season, too. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are starting to reopen — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane (and, until the newly reinstated stay-at-home orders, Melbourne as well). During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLV63nrXYSY&feature=youtu.be DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET Since the early 1950s, David Attenborough's stunningly shot documentaries have been awash with revelatory sights and detailed insights from the natural world, sharing the kind of wonders that eager audiences would be unlikely to see or discover themselves otherwise. Seven decades later, after becoming a constant, respected and beloved presence in the field, the now 94-year-old's passionate and vibrant work has earned its place in history several times over — but it might also become a record of a world, and of natural history, that's lost due to climate change. With this in mind, and to motivate a response to combat both global warming and the catastrophic loss of biodiversity blighting the environment, the great broadcaster presents David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet. On offer: an urgent and far-ranging exploration of how our pale blue dot evolved to its current state, what might be in store if we continue down this path, and how and why things could and should change. Determined in his tone, the veteran natural historian calls the documentary his witness statement several times within its frames, and it's as powerful and devastating as intended. Bookended by scenes in Chernobyl that are initially designed to illustrate what can happen ecologically when bad planning and human error combine — a situation that, Attenborough posits, applies to climate change as well — A Life On Our Planet is both broad and intricate, and personal and political too. Cycling through the earth's life to-date to provide a snapshot of the planet's predicament, it delivers a comprehensive overview, a raft of telling facts and figures, and a plethora of reflections from its central figure. It also features the now-requisite array of eye-catching footage that Attenborough's hefty body of work has long become known for, served up here to not only revel in its glory and showcase his exceptional career, but to demonstrate what's fading away due to humanity's impact upon the globe. Accordingly, it's impossible not to be moved by the film. If viewers won't listen to Attenborough on this topic, and as he explains what he's seen and where he sees things heading, then they probably won't listen to anyone. In the documentary's latter third, A Life On Our Planet follows in the footsteps of Australian doco 2040, too, by pondering how the world might adapt for the better — and again, if that doesn't motivate action, what will? David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet opens in Australian cinemas on Monday, September 28, with a chat between David Attenborough and Michael Palin screening with the film. The documentary only hits Netflix on Sunday, October 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxtH_xwlnM THE HIGH NOTE With 2019's Late Night, filmmaker Nisha Ganatra stepped inside the world of television, contrasting the journeys of a hardworking woman just starting out and a celebrated but stern female veteran of the field who is unsure of what she wants for the future. Switch the setup to the music business, then swap Mindy Kaling's smart Late Night screenplay for a thoroughly by-the-numbers affair by first-timer Flora Greeson, and The High Note is the end result. In this overtly formulaic feature, lifelong music buff Maggie Sherwoode (Dakota Johnson) is a committed and overworked personal assistant to 11-time Grammy-winning R&B superstar Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross). She's also an aspiring producer who's working on a record with up-and-coming musician, David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr), on the side. Maggie toils away at a demanding gig, albeit for a legend, but clearly dreams of more than merely ferrying her idol around town, picking up her dry cleaning and administering enemas on tour. With Grace's latest string of shows wrapping up, a live greatest hits album in the works and no new music released for some time, the singer herself also wants something different; however long-time manager Jack (Ice Cube) is trying to push Grace towards the easy money of a ten-year Las Vegas residency. There's much that's likeable here, including the soundtrack and the cast. The former spans both new tracks and vintage hits (including an appealing singalong to TLC's 'No Scrubs', and Harrison Jr crooning 1957 classic 'You Send Me' by the king of soul Sam Cooke), while the latter is The High Note's best asset. If only the impressive roster of on-screen talent were working with better material. As well as hitting every obvious note and delivering an awful (and predictable) soap opera-esque twist late in the game, The High Note lacks the resonant commentary that made Late Night as clever and savvy as it was amusing and affecting. The fact that it isn't easy being a woman in music isn't ignored here, but it's pointed out via generic lines of dialogue that simply sound like throwaway soundbites. The reality that both ageism and racism blight the industry too, and that a hugely successful Black woman over 40 still gets ignored by those calling the shots, receives the same cursory treatment. Indeed, The High Note is more content to keep any statements as superficial and easy as a disposable pop song, and to serve up as standard a feel-good fairy tale about chasing one's dreams as an algorithm would probably spit out. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas, check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; and September 3, September 10 and September 17. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables, The New Mutants, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Translators and An American Pickle.
Finding a job you're passionate about isn't always easy, but turning to your hobbies and interests for study and career inspiration is a great start. There are many benefits to building a career you love. According to research by Yale professor Dr Amy Wrzesniewski, people who orient their work around a 'calling' rather than seeing their job as purely a transaction for money, tend to be more satisfied with their work and lives overall. Here are five ways to connect what you love to a study option that will steer you towards an enriching career. What's more, these options can all be studied online through Open Universities Australia, which partners with universities across Australia to bring you over 150 degrees and 1300 subjects. [caption id="attachment_660244" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casey Fiesler.[/caption] YOU LOVE: LISTENING TO TRUE CRIME PODCASTS Consider Studying: Criminal Justice with University of South Australia or Criminology and Criminal Justice with Griffith University Serial, S-Town, Dirty John, My Favourite Murder — everyone loves a good true crime podcast. But if you like taking things that extra mile — analysing the cases from all angles on Reddit — you could consider pursuing this passion outside of conspiracy forums. Angered by wrongful convictions? Discover how the criminal justice system works with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice with University of South Australia. Or are you more curious about theories behind who commits crime and why? If the human side appeals to you more than the technical side of law, explore a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice with Griffith University. YOU LOVE: BLOGGING ABOUT FOOD, FITNESS AND HEALTH Consider Studying: Food and Nutrition with La Trobe University Your friends may laugh at you photographing your every açaí bowl for Insta, but it turns out you may be onto something. Aussies spend $8.5 billion a year on gym memberships, sports equipment and fitness crazes, which means if you're thinking about a career in health and fitness, there is plenty of demand. It's difficult to turn a passion for food and fitness into a viable career without some sort of credentials. Stand out from the Fitspo crowd with a Bachelor of Food and Nutrition with La Trobe University — you'll learn how to separate spurious health claims of the weight-loss tea variety from evidence-based claims supported by actual research. [caption id="attachment_670821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atsuko Sato: Doge.[/caption] YOU LOVE: SCROLLING MEMES, REDDIT AND VIRAL INTERNET CONTENT Consider Studying: Internet Communications with Curtin University Believe it or not, being a lover of all things meme, subreddit and retweet related is a legitimate interest that you can turn into work. To go from your average Internet humour consumer to a better than average content producer, check out a Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications) with Curtin University. You'll level up your skills in creating, maintaining and managing online communications. In today's increasingly digital world, these are useful abilities to have. YOU LOVE: SAVING THE PLANET Consider Studying: Sustainable Development with Murdoch University You were the first to bust out a KeepCup, and you spend your time at parties explaining to strangers why the huge plastic island forming in the Pacific Ocean is a huge deal. Because without the planet, nothing else matters right? To really make a difference, learn how to transform your personal passion for environmental issues into broader policy changes and strategies. A Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sustainable Development with Murdoch University will give you a deeper understanding of the issues and help you influence sustainable policies in government and the private sector. [caption id="attachment_636262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] YOU LOVE: GOING TO CULTURAL EVENTS Consider Studying: Society and Culture with Macquarie University If you like spending as much of your spare time as possible visiting museums, art galleries and music festivals, there are a myriad of ways you can turn your penchant for all things culture into an actual job. Studying a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Society and Culture with Macquarie University is a good option. Learn how to critically analyse society and culture, expose yourself to different ideas, and empower yourself to work in an arena related to your interests. Explore all the degrees on offer from Open Universities Australia and turn your passions into an actual career.
What do Alfred Hitchcock, Jennifer Lopez and the Fast and Furious franchise all have in common? And Stanley Kubrick, Ryan Gosling, Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino, too? The heist genre, that's what. Whether focusing on scams, swindles or just good ol'-fashioned thefts, heist flicks just keep gracing cinema screens — from applauded filmmakers, starring dazzling talent and slotting into blockbuster franchises. Here's something else that all of the above names share, too: they're each on the bill at The Art of the Heist, the Gallery of Modern Art's two-month season dedicated films about thievery. From Friday, April 29–Sunday, June 26, screening on Wednesday and Friday nights, plus Saturday and Sunday during the day, this Australian Cinémathèque movie season will showcase 35 pictures that see folks get light-fingered in various ways and places. Some serve up heist capers, others deliver heist comedies, and more still overflow with heist thrills. There's even two Steven Soderbergh-directed heist standouts — Ocean's 11 and Logan Lucky, of course. Other highlights include classics Rififi, Bob le Flambeur and Bande à part; high-profile 60s hits The Thomas Crown Affair and The Italian Job; the original (and best) version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three; and the sublime 1981 masterpiece Thief. Or, there's Australia's own Malcolm, QT's Reservoir Dogs, Al Pacino in both Dog Day Afternoon and Heat, and the recent likes of Hustlers, Widows and Kajillionaire. This season is ticketed — but costing between $7–10, those tix feel like a steal.
Thanks to an unfortunately timed COVID-19 outbreak, this year's edition of the Emerging Writers' Festival will take place entirely online. But if you're a devourer of books, you can rest assured it's still set to deliver a hefty lineup of talks, workshops, panels and more. Running from June 16–June 26, the all-digital program has events for all varieties of lit-lover — from After Dark, a night of live-streamed performance headlined by emerging stars like Wai-Mun Mah, Christy Tan, Jesse Oliver and Penny Smits, to a short story masterclass led by the award-winning Alice Bishop. Streamed via YouTube, Next Big Thing will feature readings from some of the country's hottest up-and-coming talent, while Littlefoot & Co heads up a night of spoken word on June 24. Plus, EWF favourite Amazing Babes will see a cast of familiar faces sharing stories about the women, real and imagined, who've helped shape their lives. The National Writers' Conference will also run as planned, with a full-day online program of panels, talks, workshops and pitching sessions. It's also your chance to hear from EWF's 2021 ambassadors, including poet and editor Elena Gomez (Body of Work), activist and novelist Tony Birch (Ghost River), and non-fiction star Sisonke Msimang (Always Another Country: A Memoir of Exile and Home). [caption id="attachment_811529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sisonke Msimang[/caption]
Queensland holidays are back on the agenda — and interstate getaways for Sunshine State residents, too. Australia's go-to holiday spot has reopened its borders to double-vaccinated travellers without any quarantine requirements, effective from 1am AEST today, Monday, December 13. And, if you're currently planning a trip north — or you're a Queenslander eager to head south, then return home hassle-free — Virgin is celebrating with a huge flight sale. Running until midnight AEST on Friday, December 17 or sold out, whichever arrives first, this sale is solely about flights to and from the Sunshine State — with more than a million fares on offer. It might be focused on one part of the country, but you still have options in terms of departure points and destinations. Within Queensland, you can leave or arrive in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Hamilton Island, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. And, around the rest of the country, flights to and from Adelaide, Alice Springs, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney are all covered. One-way fares start at $59 — which'll get you from Sydney or Hobart to the Gold Coast, Launceston to Brisbane, or Newcastle to Brisbane (and vice versa). Other sale flights include Sydney–Sunshine Coast from $65, Melbourne–Gold Coast from $69, Melbourne–Townsville from $99 and Sydney–Hamilton Island from $109. And, if you're wondering when you'll need to travel, you can book trips for selected dates between January 1–June 23, 2022. Only some fares cover seat selection and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in August that it is now splitting its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights also became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin's Queensland is Good to Go sale runs from today, Monday, December 13–midnight AEST on Friday, December 17 — or until sold out.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. This sale has been dubbed a 'rare plant party', so prepare to shop for green babies you won't just find anywhere. You'll get inspired by plants in general, too, and learn to incorporate them into your home and living spaces — all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out with something unicorn-related (think: pastel colours, glitter, rainbows and clouds) and spend at least $10, you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
The carols tell us to deck the halls with boughs of holly, and we do. We adorn trees and place wreaths on doors as well. But decking out your tastebuds with a feast of delicious goodies is just as much a part of the festive season as all of those decorations, plus the presents we give and receive. Is it really Christmas if you haven't treated yo'self and your loved ones to all of the baked goods? This year, your Yuletide joy definitely won't be the same if you're a Bennett St Dairy fan and you miss out on its limited-edition Christmas cookie dough. After getting everyone baking during lockdowns, and earning a hefty following in the process, the Sydney-based favourite has dropped a batch that's all about red velvet and white chocolate. 'Tis the season to head to your nearest Woolworths, then get cooking. This new flavour works cocoa and vanilla into Bennett St Dairy's signature dough, and then adds big chunks of white chocolate. Wondering what to pair it with, once those cookies are baked? Forget sticking to milk — vanilla ice cream is the recommendation. The Bondi cookie company actually soft-launched the festive dough a few weeks back, and received a huge reaction. "Almost immediately our socials were flooded with questions (and even a couple of very funny threats) demanding we reveal which Woolies stores would be getting delivery of our 'red velvet and white choc' dough next," said Bennett St Dairy cofounder James Meek. Now, the red, white and green rolls of dough have hit 900-plus Woolies around the country, marking Bennett St Dairy's first holiday-themed product since Valentine's Day this year. If you enjoyed its raspberry bullets and white chocolate flavour back then — a collaboration with Darrell Lea — you'll be ready for this new special. There is only a small supply, however, with around ten tonnes of dough made — which equates to around 20,000 rolls. So, it really is a first in, best dressed situation. A pack retails for $13 for 500 grams. Find Bennett St Dairy's red velvet and white chocolate cookie dough at Woolworths stores around the country for a limited time.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — at present, spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. FREE GUY If Free Guy was a piece of home decor, it'd be a throw pillow with a cliched self-empowerment slogan printed on the front. You know the type. It might catch your eye the first time you spotted it, but it'd look almost identical to plenty of other cushions you can buy at absolutely any department store. It'd make you think of other, nicer pillows, too, but its phrasing and design wouldn't be as resonant or appealing. And, while its attractive font would tell you to believe in yourself, stand out and make each moment count, it'd still simply spout the usual well-worn sentiments that keep being served up as store-bought tonics for weary souls. Yes, Free Guy is a big-budget, star-led movie that primarily exists to answer two not-at-all pressing questions: what would The Truman Show look like if it starred Ryan Reynolds, and how would that 1998 classic would fare if it was about massive online video games instead of TV? But, as directed by Shawn Levy (the Night at the Museum franchise), scripted by Matt Lieberman (The Addams Family) and Zak Penn (a Ready Player One alum), and drawing upon everything from The Matrix, The Lego Movie, Groundhog Day and They Live! to Wreck-It Ralph, Black Mirror and Ready Player One, this is firmly Hollywood's equivalent of mass-produced soft furnishings emblazoned with self-help platitudes and designed to sit on as many couches as possible. Cast for his generically affable on-screen persona — as the Deadpool and Hitman's Bodyguard franchises also keep trying to capitalise upon — Reynolds plays Free City bank teller Guy. His daily routine involves greeting the same goldfish upon waking, putting on the same blue shirt, picking up the same coffee en route to work and having the same chat with his best friend Buddy (Lil Rel Howery, Judas and the Black Messiah) when their place of employment is held up multiple times each day. Guy is completely comfortable with his ordinary lot in life. He knows that things aren't like this for 'sunglasses people', the folks who tend to wreak havoc on his hometown, but he doesn't challenge the status quo until he decides that the shades-wearing Molotov Girl (Jodie Comer, Killing Eve) is the woman of his dreams. To have a chance with her, he's certain he needs sunglasses himself — and when he snatches a pair off the latest robber sticking up his bank, it's Guy's first step to realising that he's actually a non-playable character in a video game. Sporting an upbeat mood best captured by its frequent use of Mariah Carey's 'Fantasy', Free Guy enjoys its time in Free City, which is also the game's title. There's a story behind its NPC protagonist's story, however, with the movie splitting its focus between its Grand Theft Auto-esque virtual world and reality. In the latter, coder Millie uses the Molotov Girl avatar, which she needs to search for evidence for a lawsuit against tech-bro hotshot Antwan (Taika Waititi, The Suicide Squad). She's certain that Free City rips off her own game, but needs Guy's help to prove it, especially as he starts breaking his programming, making his own decisions and becoming sentient. Read our full review. THE ICE ROAD They're called ice road truckers and, between 2007–17, they earned their own reality TV series on the History Channel. They're the folks who don't just drive while it's frosty, but steer big rigs onto frozen lakes and rivers in Alaska and Canada — using routes obviously only available in winter to haul freight from one point to another. And, they're the focus of The Ice Road. In his latest stock-standard action flick following Honest Thief and The Marksman in the past year alone, Liam Neeson joins the ice road trucking fraternity, although his character only does so as a last resort. A seasoned long-haul driver, Mike McCann has had trouble holding down a job ever since he started caring for his Iraq War veteran brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas, The Forger), who came home with PTSD and aphasia, and is also a gifted mechanic. The pair have just been fired from their latest gig, in fact, when they see Jim Goldenrod's (Laurence Fishburne, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) callout for help driving gas wellheads to a remote Manitoba site where 26 miners have been trapped by an explosion. It's a dangerous task, and one that calls for three trucks making the distance as quickly and carefully as possible. Mike and Gurty set out in one vehicle, Jim in another, and Native American driver Tantoo (Amber Midthunder, Roswell, New Mexico) and mining company insurance agent Tom Varnay (Benjamin Walker, The Underground Railroad) hop into the third rig, but transporting their cargo and saving the buried workers is a tense and treacherous mission. Much about The Ice Road will sound familiar to anyone who's seen Sorcerer, William Friedkin's stellar 1977 thriller about trucking volatile dynamite along a rocky South American road — which adapted 1950 French novel The Salary of Fear, a book that first reached cinemas via 1953's Cannes Palme d'Or-winning The Wages of Fear. This isn't an acknowledged remake, but icy, however. It'd be far better if it was, because the tension that ripples from simply driving along the titular route is The Ice Road's strongest element. In the feature's first half, after setting the scene for both the McCanns and the miners, writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh (Kill the Irishman) stresses the perils of trucking down frozen rivers. Bobbleheads placed on dashboards wobble whenever the ice threatens to become unstable, pressure waves shimmer and action-movie stress bubbles within the film's gleaming white images. That'd be enough to sustain the movie, but Hensleigh believes otherwise, which is where predictable double-crossing on the ice, among the stranded miners and back at company headquarters comes in. Even Neeson can't make the long list of cliches that fill The Ice Road's script entertaining, not that he seems to be trying all that hard. He's gruff and grizzled, and he yells, punches and fights for what's right, but he also just makes viewers wish they were watching him confront wolves in excellent survival thriller The Grey, or drive a snowplough in the average Cold Pursuit. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the cast fare just as badly, including the thoroughly wasted Fishburne and Midthunder, and Mindhunter's Holt McCallany as one of the miners. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27; June 3, June 10, June 17 and June 24; July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22 and July 29; and August 5. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, My Name Is Gulpilil, Lapsis, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Fast and Furious 9, Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks, In the Heights, Herself, Little Joe, Black Widow, The Sparks Brothers, Nine Days, Gunpowder Milkshake, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Old, Jungle Cruise and The Suicide Squad.
That wide-open highway between Melbourne and Sydney has so much to offer. So, why settle for the routine route when you can have a rural adventure? In partnership with Canadian Club and Empty Esky, we want folks to make the great Aussie road trip even better. We've plotted the perfect itinerary, spotlighting regional towns that have had a rough go lately but are back to welcoming tourists with open arms. The next time you hit the bitumen, make it a mission to do some good and discover cool new things. Brave a haunted house, explore Aboriginal cultural heritage, splurge on a boutique hotel, treat yourself with sweets and a bakery pilgrimage and admire a really big sheep. WANGARATTA Your first stop should be for a hearty lunch with a side of cultural education in Wangaratta. Hit the all-day breakfast menu at Cafe Prevue — is there ever a wrong time of day for pancakes? Or, opt for fried chicken bao, mushroom arancini or a trusty toastie. Afterwards, wander down to the river and along the Bullawah Cultural Trail. This project was a collaboration between over a dozen Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and organisations to acknowledge and celebrate the Pangerang people and their long heritage and continued connection to Country. Through artworks, info boards and a bush tucker garden, discover the ways of living and stories that belong to this place and its people. [caption id="attachment_801899" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] BEECHWORTH If you're passing through Beechworth, hit Beechworth Bakery for the lunch of champions: the signature Ned Kelly Pie, stuffed with steak, bacon, cheese and egg. You'll find "Australia's Greatest Bakery" in one of the beautiful historic buildings typical of this picturesque gold rush town. Room for dessert? We suggest the classic vanilla slice or one of its famous Beestings: a fluffy, filled bun spilling custard into your hands with each bite. You'll need some treats for the road, too, so visit The Beechworth Sweet Co for the whimsy of an old-timey sweet shop. Admire the glass jars of boiled sweets, sherberts and jellies, and sample some of its handmade fudge. JUNEE You haven't really explored the country unless you've picked up some bric-a-brac and local handicrafts. The Olde School T-House in Bethungra is crowded with curios and collectibles, so stop in for a browse and some morning tea. Then, steel yourself with an ice-cold Canadian Club and Dry at Junee Hotel before you dine with the dead (maybe) at Monte Cristo Homestead. Test your nerve at this grand homestead, which was once the Crawley family's (the town's founding family) seat of power. The homestead ghost tour includes a three-course dinner, accommodation and breakfast — a friendly touch for what's considered Australia's most haunted house. Oh, and there's an additional gift "if you make it through the night". For some comfort the next day, head to the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. You can pick up organic chocolates, take a tour around the old mill (currently on hold due to COVID restrictions) or stop at the cafe for a decadent hot chocolate laced with turkish delight, butterscotch or even chilli. [caption id="attachment_795809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] GUNDAGAI You know it for The Dog on the Tuckerbox, now discover Gundagai's fancier attractions. Heritage meets stylish minimalism at the boutique hotel, Flash Jacks. Starting life as a convent in 1891, these Victorian bricks have been born again as the ultimate luxe retreat, where you can splurge on a room with a bay window daybed. The perfect accompaniment to this top-notch stay is one of the best coffees you can get between Melbourne and Sydney. The Coffee Pedaler is a bright, cheery cafe that punches well above its weight. Sit outside for a pretty street view towards the hills, and tuck into a city-worthy brunch with generous country portions. [caption id="attachment_801901" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Public Art Walk, Destination NSW[/caption] GOULBURN Is it an Aussie road trip if it doesn't include at least one Big Thing? Goulburn's Big Merino (Rambo to his mates) celebrates the great Australian wool industry. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool art lover, take a free tour of Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, which showcases some of the best regional contemporary and emerging artists, then wander the Public Art Walk from there to the Information Centre. Afterwards, join the locals at the Goulburn Workers Club for a Canadian Club and Dry and a game of pool. Recover the next morning at Grit Cafe with an espresso and get your granola on. Or, grab a homemade bagel, artisanal sausage roll or brekkie burrito to see you through to Sydney. For more road trip inspiration, check out these guides from Canadian Club and Empty Esky. Top image: Monte Cristo Homestead, Destination NSW
Sitting on the toilet can be a time of contemplation for a lot of us. If your mind ever wanders to the sustainability and style of your toilet paper, Wipe That has you covered. This new sustainable startup has launched a quirky new Christmas collection of bamboo toilet paper that will ease any stress about the environmental impact of your toilet breaks, and make a great gift for friends and family as the holiday season approaches. The star of the Christmas collection is a stylish little character named Poocci. Brought to life by graphic designer Bernardo Henning, Poocci plays off a certain luxury fashion house, rocking a chain and sunnies in order to brighten up your toilet paper. What was once Australia's most in-demand grocery store item is now a cutting-edge fashion statement (of sorts). Non-recycled toilet paper is a major cause of deforestation worldwide, so if you haven't made the switch, now's the perfect time to embrace the wonders of bamboo. The planet and your tush will thank you. All of Wipe That's three-ply toilet paper is environmentally friendly, vegan, plastic-free, and scent-free. It has also partnered with Australian revegetation project Carbon Neutral to ensure a tree is planted for every sale it makes. This new collection means that toilet paper is no longer a dud present come Christmas time. Your eco-conscious relatives will love it, or you can grab a pack for yourself to impress those who might be visiting your place for holiday celebrations. Stock is limited for the Christmas collection, so jump on the pre-sale if you'd like to get your paws on this loo roll. Each 36-roll box is available for $58, contains a personalised Christmas card and is available to be delivered Australia-wide between December 1–14. Outside of the collection, Wipe That offers sustainable toilet paper on a one-off or subscription basis, as well as eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets. You can shop Wipe That's entire range at the website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Some of the most wonderful sentences ever written include two glorious words: Nicolas Cage. Usually when the actor's name comes up, it's because he has a new film in the works — or sometimes a TV show — that makes another weird, wild and wonderful addition to an on-screen resume like no other. Already in 2023, he's added his first-ever western to the list. And, he's playing Dracula in Renfield, which might be the only time ever the iconic star has ever sucked. We could keep naming past highlights, such as stepping into his own shoes in 2022's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and crooning Elvis songs for David Lynch's Wild at Heart, or we could jump straight into the next instant must-see project that might feature the one and only Cage: The Surfer. Just announced at this year's Cannes Film Festival, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, this sadly isn't the only Point Break remake that needs to be made. Like that flick, however — the Keanu Reeves-starring 90s original, not the terrible 2015 do-over — The Surfer has an Aussie connection. Cage looks set to play an Australian expat returning home from America and getting in a beach battle with a local gang of wave riders. An Aussie-set surfing thriller starring Cage? Sold. [caption id="attachment_901586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moritz Barcelona via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Cage's titular character makes the trip Down Under after years in the US, only to get humiliated by other surfers in front of his teenage son. Cue a turf war, plus Cage's protagonist refusing to leave the beach. Cue the stakes escalating and the movie's namesake having his sanity tested, too. The film is set to shoot in Australia from September 2023, with director Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) helming, working with a script by screenwriter Thomas Martin. There's no word yet who might co-star with Cage, but you'd expect every Australian actor ever to be lining up to be involved. [caption id="attachment_901587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guillaume Paumier via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Fresh from directing The Dry, Blueback and the upcoming Force of Nature: The Dry 2, Robert Connolly is one of The Surfer's producers, boosting its Aussie ties. Given that Cage's character will have been in America for years, that might help the movie get around needing him to bust out an Aussie accent — but who doesn't want to see the man who has proven a comedic genius for the Coen brothers, dabbled with Marvel in two different ways despite never appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wordlessly fought demonic animatronics, swapped faces with John Travolta, gotten speedy before the Fast and Furious saga existed, taken to the skies with criminals and acted opposite himself in Adaptation give it a try anyway? There's no release date for The Surfer yet, either, or trailer obviously, but checking out Cage's exceptional work in Mandy is always recommended while you're waiting for his next films: The Surfer doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter. Top image: Gerald Geronimo via Wikimedia Commons.
Some bands are so influential, so pioneering and so ahead of their time that they change the course of music history. Electro trailblazers Kraftwerk are one such group. Forming in Düsseldorf in 1970, they quickly segued from krautrock to diving into the electronic scene — and imagining the future, including experimenting with robotics, in the process. The song 'Computer Love'? Back in the 80s, it foresaw internet dating. Unsurprisingly, Kraftwerk have left their mark on everything from their chosen genre and techno to synth pop and hip hop since. Also, more than five decades later, the German outfit is still touring. Kraftwerk's live shows are an experience, combining the band's electronic music computer animations and performance art. Take note, audiences Down Under, because the group is heading to Australia and New Zealand in November and December. The multi-media project founded by Ralf Huetter and Florian Schneider, and that aims to create "gesamtkunstwerk — a total work of art" — in each gig, will play seven shows in total across both countries. The 2023 tour starts in Wellington on Wednesday, November 29. From there, Kraftwerk will take to the stage in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, then end their trip in Perth on Friday, December 15. Expect synthetic voices and computerised rhythms aplenty — it is what Kraftwerk's music is known for, and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for — plus a visual show that ponders man and machine to match. Kraftwerk's latest visit Down Under comes after the band played Vivid in 2015, as part of 3D Kraftwerk — The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, which saw them perform eight albums from 1974's Autobahn through to 2003's Tour de France over four nights at the Sydney Opera House. Since starting their retrospective gigs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2012, they've hit up everywhere from London's Tate Modern and Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum to Tokyo's Akasaka Blitz and Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall. KRAFTWERK AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2023 TOUR: Wednesday, November 29 — TSB Arena, Wellington Friday, December 1 — Spark Arena, Auckland Monday, December 4 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Wednesday, December 6 — Aware Super Theatre, Sydney Friday, December 8 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Tuesday, December 12 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide Friday, December 15 — Riverside Theatre, PCEC, Perth Kraftwerk tours Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023, with pre-sale tickets available from 11am local time on Monday, July 17 and general sales from 10am local time on Wednesday, July 19. Head to the tour website for tickets and further details.
Bluesfest has lifted the lid on its second artist announcement for 2018, adding 16 more names to the already hefty lineup. Heading this latest stampede is Senegalese artist Youssou N'dour, who will be bringing his 20-piece band to the five-day Easter long weekend festival just outside of Byron Bay. If the name isn't ringing any bells, you'll probably be familiar with this '90s classic. Other artists joining the lineup include greatest hit-bearers Jackson Browne and Seal, Bluesfest regular Michael Franti, and British band Gomez will return to the fest for their first tour in six years. They'll place alongside two huge headliners: Lionel Richie and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, who will play with his band The Sensational Space Shifters. Plant's performance at Blues will mark 50 years since he first performed with Led Zeppelin, so the gravity of the performance is sure to be pretty huge. Other acts taking to the stage Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over the weekend include Aussies Tash Sultana and John Butler Trio, Swedish duo First Aid Kit and what will be a captivating set by José González. Bluesfest returnees Joe Louis Walker, Dumpstaphunk and Eric Gales are on there too. Anyway, here's the full lineup. Better start making Easter plans — and deciding what to eat — because tickets are already on sale. BLUESFEST 2018 LINEUP SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT Youssou N'dour Seal Michael Franti & Spearhead Jackson Browne Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Gomez Rag 'n' Bone Man The Original Blues Brothers Band Jimmy Cliff The Wailers Benjamin Booker Hurray for the Riff Raff Canned Heat Walter Trout André Cymone The Teskey Brothers FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters Lionel Richie The John Butler Trio Tash Sultana The New Power Generation Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers First Aid Kit Jose Gonzalez Morcheeba Gov't Mule Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real The California Honeydrops Eric Gales Bobby Rush Dumpstaphunk Joe Louis Walker Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Bluesfest 2017 will run March 29 to April 2 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. More details and ticket info here. Image: Andy Fraser.
When is a Ridley Scott-directed, Joaquin Phoenix-starring trip to the past more than just a historical drama? Always, at least so far. Twice now, the filmmaker and actor have teamed up to explore Europe centuries ago, initially with Gladiator and now 23 years later with Napoleon — and where the Rome-set first was an action film as well, the second fancies its chances as a sometimes comedy. This biopic of the eponymous French military star-turned-emperor can be funny. In the lead, Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid) repeatedly boasts the line delivery, facial expressions and physical presence of someone actively courting laughs. When he declares "destiny has brought me this lamb chop!", all three coalesce. Scott (House of Gucci) not only lets the humour land, but fashions this muskets-and-cannons epic as a satire of men with authority and dominance, their egos, and the fact that ruling a country and defeating other nations doesn't cancel out their pettiness and insecurities. As it's off with Marie Antoinette's (Catherine Walker, My Sailor, My Love) head, it's in with Napoleon's revolutionary stirrings in Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa's take (with the scribe returning to cut the powerful down to size after the director's All the Money in the World, just as Walker apes another famous figure after playing Anna Wintour in House of Gucci). Also in: Napoleon's tinkering with facts, which'll later see its namesake and his troops fire at the pyramids. Devotion to historical accuracy isn't the movie's aim. Like The Castle of blasts from the French past, it's more interested in the vibe of the thing — said 'thing' being how Napoleon Bonaparte, later Napoleon I, follows his yearning for glory and adoration above all else. Scott stitches together a selection of his own recurrent obsessions, too, such as Phoenix sulking, savaging the quest for command and influence, Gallic days of yore as seen in his debut The Duellists and the unrelated The Last Duel, and unfettered ambition's consequences as per The Martian and Prometheus, then tops it with the requisite bicorn hat. My my, in Waterloo Napoleon will eventually surrender in this 158-minute flick — which is the short version; a four-hour director's cut is on its way to Apple TV+ once the film's cinema release is done — but he has considerable battles on three fronts to wage first. The movie's 18th- and 19th-century military frays span everywhere from Toloun to Austerlitz and Borodino. The tussling that his sizeable sense of importance sparks is as inescapable as his shadow. And attempting to repair his fragility through his romance with Joséphine de Beauharnais (Vanessa Kirby, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One) and desperation for a son is a conflict-filled affair again and again. When those encounters are sexual, they're filled with short, sweaty thrusts and Basic Instinct moments, as well as clashes of wills and desires. In this tumultuous marriage, food fights also feature. So hops Napoleon from vignette to vignette, war to war, one end of the continent to the other, rise to fall, Napoleonic politics to tabloid fodder, and constant conquests to multiple exiles. So jumps Napoleon from Corsican soldier to Paul Barras (Tahar Rahim, Extrapolations)-backed force, Robespierre's (Sam Troughton, The Lazarus Project) demise to the Bonaparte brothers' coup (House of the Dragon's Matthew Needham plays Lucien), capitalising upon anti-royalist feelings to donning a crown, and triumph to capitulation. With detours for dramatic flair — and comic — here and there, the broad biographical strokes are covered, plus minutiae that paints Scott's chosen picture (including Transatlantic's Sam Crane as Jacques-Louis David painting the famed The Coronation of Napoleon picture). Bringing Wikipedia to life, petulant scowling, ample buffoonery, pining for Joséphine, sumptuous cinematography by Dariusz Wolski (continuing his Scott run since Prometheus), gorgeous production design from Arthur Max (a Scott regular since GI Jane): that's the mix. Scott slips in an early scene that sums up his approach fittingly, popping up while Napoleon is in Egypt. After a mummy is presented to the general standing upright in its propped-up sarcophagus, he hops up on a stool to stare closely at its desiccated form, expecting to divine more about it just by peering in his specific manner. Napoleon isn't shy about dehydrating its titular figure's pomp, or about its guiding force's angle. No one asks "are you not entertained?", but anticipating both Napoleon and Scott thinking that of their onlookers is easy. Seesawing between impressively staged epic spectacle and marital and regal farce, Napoleon is indeed entertaining — "you think you're so great because you have boats!" is another instantly memorable piece of dialogue, as uttered thusly — and also sprawling, grandly handsome, frequently not all-conquering enough and as on the surface as an exploded horses's insides. As more than ABBA has immortalised, plus Succession's reference to Napoleon's severed collector's-item penis as well, Scott's subject is better-known than he ever craved, let alone could've dreamed. Depicting him as a little bit of everything in this character study is apt, then, with so much information about him existing that a definite take feels elusive. Perhaps that's why Napoleon isn't short on cinema stints but has hardly proven a mainstay, even if Louis Lumière first brought him to celluloid with 1897's Entrevue de Napoléon et du Pape and 1927's silent Napoléon has been revered for almost a century. Stanley Kubrick's iteration didn't eventuate, but is now being revived by Steven Spielberg. Charlie Chaplin's attempted project became The Great Dictator instead. The Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure version might be the take of record for many until now; Phoenix acts here like he's definitely seen it. Napoleon's ever-committed lead is compelling to watch, but the film is best when he's part of a duo. Although the emperor ultimately divorced Joséphine when she didn't deliver him the heir that he demanded, his famous lovesickness — as letters document — makes it plain that he felt that way, too. Kirby is magnetic, as the role calls for, yet also pragmatic. Her Joséphine sees him as no one else does except the movie itself, and he is spellbound in her presence. The double-act setup also works when Napoleon is paired one-on-one with friends or foes, such as Austria's Francis I (Miles Jupp, The Full Monty) and England's Duke of Wellington (Funny Woman's Rupert Everett, also sneering and having a ball). This is a picture about a man clamouring not just for a legacy but for company, after all, and Scott never forgets it.
You've gotta love a show that tells you what to exclaim whenever you're enjoying it, just received good news about it or simply can't stop thinking about it. For the past two years, The Great has been one such series — and "huzzah!" has been the word of choice. And, thankfully, it isn't time to stop bandying the term about just yet, with this satirical take on Russian history just getting renewed for a third season. Since it first premiered back in 2020, the concept has been all killer, no filler — following the rise and reign of Catherine the Great, including her marriage to and overthrowing of Emperor Peter III, with only the slightest regard for the actual facts. And while the series has always been supremely confident in its blend of handsome period staging, the loosest of historical realities and that savage sense of humour (it does spring from Oscar-nominated The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara, after all), it felt even more comfortable in its skin during its second season, which arrived late in 2021. Smoother, too, yet just as biting. In fact, The Great's ability to seesaw tonally is as sharp as a shot of vodka — or several — and you'll be able to enjoy it for ten more episodes whenever that third season hits. A release date hasn't been announced as yet, but you still now have more of Elle Fanning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) as Catherine and Nicholas Hoult (Those Who Wish Me Dead) as Peter to look forward to. Given that the show's last batch of episodes saw Catherine waging war with Peter — via soldiers on the battlefield to begin with, and then in the royal court in the aftermath of her bloody coup — and also grappling with motherhood, The Great has spun quite the story already. Expect more devastatingly witty, entertaining and addictive dramas to follow, and for the series to keep living up to its name. Fanning and Hoult will be joined by returning co-stars Phoebe Fox (The Aeronauts), Adam Godley (Lodge 49), Gwilym Lee (Top End Wedding), Charity Wakefield (Bounty Hunters), Douglas Hodge (The Undoing), Sacha Dhawan (The Prince), Bayo Gbadamosi (War of the Worlds) and Belinda Bromilow (Doctor Doctor) when its third season hits, too, because this is a show with a phenomenally great cast. In case you haven't watched it yet, check out the trailer for The Great's second season below: The Great is available to stream in Australia via Stan and in New Zealand via Neon. The show's third season doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Do you ever gaze at a portrait in a museum and wish the person inside it could speak? Maybe you'd ask them what it was like to be painted by the artist — boring, intimidating, thrilling? — maybe you'd want to know more about their life story, particularly if they're a well-known figure. Or maybe you'd simply be curious to hear what it's like to have your image hung on a wall and stared at by streams of strangers each day. They're not questions you often hear the answers to; when it comes to portraiture, it tends to be the case that the subject is recognised but the artist gets interviewed. So, to redress this, we sought out three 'muses' behind portraits selected as finalists in this year's Archibald Prize to get a sense of how it feels to be a subject in Australia's top portraiture prize. [caption id="attachment_634779" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Loribelle Spirovski: John Bell at home, oil on canvas, 2017.[/caption] JOHN BELL BY LORIBELLE SPIROVSKI The subject of not one, but two paintings in this year's Archibald, legendary actor, director and Bell Shakespeare founder John Bell appears in paintings by Loribelle Spirovski and Jordan Richardson. Having met him earlier this year when he worked with her partner, classical pianist Simon Tedeschi, Spirovski found Bell at first a slightly daunting figure to paint. She used a minimal background and flesh colours tinged with a gleam of Australian sun to channel the viewer's attention towards Bell's piercing gaze, just as she herself "was immediately drawn to that powerful, chiselled face with its deep-set features and inscrutable personality." The resulting portrait of a seated Bell feels both relaxed and intimidatingly regal. Bell was very excited at the prospect of being painted by the artist, who he describes as "a restless creative spirit". He admires her bold experimentation, speed and confident execution: "She can deliver a portrait of photographic realism or one that ventures into the darker reaches of the psyche in a most startling manner." Although he'd seen a number of her paintings, including several of Tedeschi, the finished work nevertheless came to him as "something of a shock," Bell says, describing it as "very intense, brooding and introspective but expressed with a violent palette of colour and craggy vigour of execution. I find it unsettling to look at but very persuasive." He is yet to visit the work alongside the public, but when he does he's looking forward to eavesdropping on their comments (you've been warned). Image: Loribelle Spirovski, John Bell at home, oil on canvas, 2017 [caption id="attachment_634780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Lloyd Greensmith: The inner stillness of Eileen Kramer, oil on linen, 2017.[/caption] EILEEN KRAMER BY ANDREW LLOYD GREENSMITH It's not every year that a prominent plastic surgeon has a painting in the Archibald. For Andrew Lloyd Greensmith, ex-chief of the Department of Craniofacial Surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, art was a childhood obsession that he's only recently begun to seriously pursue. His muse? Eileen Kramer — who, at 102 years old, is the world's oldest working dancer and choreographer. She toured with the avant-garde Bodenwieser Ballet for a decade, and has called New York, London, Paris and India home. To Andrew, "she embodies beauty as that intangible thing which cannot be fixed on the surface nor defeated by the wear and tear of age." When asked to sit for the portrait, Eileen thought, "I love the portraits of the great Dutch masters, especially Rembrandt. I hope I look like that!" She found Andrew "extremely sympathetic" to work with during the sitting process. Drawing on memories of being painted several times in Paris, Eileen offered up a series of poses she thought would be suitable — until stopping for a moment to rest. This was, of course, the moment Andrew began sketching. After seeing the stillness and quiet grace of the finished work, Eileen felt that Andrew understood the dancer in her. "I didn't know he'd seen that in me," she comments. "To me it looks like the portrait of a dancer. I did not expect to like it, but I do." As for the idea of thousands of people staring at her everyday? "That is an extraordinary feeling. I wish my mother would have been here to see it." [caption id="attachment_634671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dee Smart: The Major of Bondi, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2017.[/caption] JOHN MACARTHUR BY DEE SMART Picking up her first paintbrush 15 years ago while housebound with a new baby, Dee Smart's artistic drive revolves around the desire to capture the human condition — and it was John Macarthur's humility and sense of humour that drew her to him as a potential muse. The result (and her first Archibald selection) is a joyous portrait positively singing with colour, reflecting the 'vibrating hues' of Macarthur's home and wider world. Fondly known as the 'Mayor of Bondi', Macarthur is famous for his internationally coveted, extremely colourful knitwear brand Purl Harbour. And it sounds like he has a similarly colourful life story. In fact, while living in Spain he apparently very nearly became muse to another painter — Salvador Dali, to be exact — who wanted to paint him as an angel. No big deal. His initial reaction when Smart asked him to sit? "I was absolutely gobsmacked. What on earth and how and why?" The painting's progression was, however, a relaxed one, and by the sounds of it, he made an obedient subject. "She said jump, I said how high. That's basically how it went. We laughed a hell of a lot." Observing Smart's close attention to line and angle, Macarthur savoured his behind-the-scenes vantage point, and found the big reveal of the finished painting to be "quite extraordinary". He particularly enjoys the eye-catching palette of his beloved pinks and oranges — stating that "these are definitely my colours" — his "happy and veracious" look and the "intensity in the eyes" captured by Smart. "I identify totally with what she's done." Catch the 2017 Archibald Prize at AGNSW until Sunday, October 22.
If you're travelling to the Sunshine State on a budget, or you're a Brisbanite who knows someone who is, the River City's first pod hotel has opened its doors to give the Queensland capital a new affordable accommodation option. LyLo Brisbane has taken over well-known digs, turning the former Limes Hotel into its first-ever Australian site — and more spots on the Gold Coast and in Fremantle in Western Australia are swiftly on the way. One of EVT's hotel brands — sitting in a stable that also includes QT Hotels & Resorts, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, Atura Hotels and Independent Collection by EVT — LyLo first set up shop in New Zealand in 2022. Across the ditch, you'll find one of the brand's locations in each of Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Now, it's Australia's turn, beginning with its debut abode at 142 Constance Street, where a private sleeping pod starts at $69 per night. Limes Hotel's old digs has been given a complete revamp, and now house rooms with either four or six pods, as well as private ensuite rooms, plus family and group rooms. For pod guests, there's a choice of female-only rooms. If you're booking in for the family or group experience, you'll be in a room with a queen bed, two beds and an ensuite. Of course, the pods come cheaper than the rooms — and for the pod experience, you'll get a king single bed with privacy screens, your own lighting and fan in each pod, a mirror, wifi, and power and USB charging ports, as well as an adjacent luggage storage locker. No matter which accommodation choice you go with, everyone gets access to a wellness space with spin bikes and views over Brisbane, plus a coworking space with free wifi. Where Limes Hotel's rooftop bar and cinema previously sat, LyLo has transformed the upper level into a hangout with a communal kitchen and games. Also on offer: wine, self-pouring beer and tap cocktails. For the hotel's look and feel, IndigeDesignLabs and local Meanjin artist Jordache Gage have turned the building's facade into a tribute to the Brisbane River, and the plants and animals found around it, via a blue-, orange- and purple-hued artwork atop grey. Inside, the decor skews light, bright and airy, with greenery aplenty in shared spaces. "From our innovative communal spaces to our commitment to guest comfort in unique sleeping formats, LyLo Brisbane sets a new standard for travellers seeking affordability without compromising on quality. Opening our doors in Brissie is just the beginning of our journey, and we've already got our next LyLo properties in the pipeline to continue expanding our presence across Australia," said LyLo Managing Director Tim Alpe. "We are stoked to be welcoming adventurers, digital nomads, families and more as they embark on a new way to stay, enjoying our innovative pod rooms and immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of LyLo." Find LyLo Brisbane at 142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane — head to the hotel's website for further details. Images: Vaughan Brookfield.
More than a few venues have popped up inside 179 Alfred Street, including La Costa restaurant and bar, rooftop bar Cielo and late-night watering hole The Parlour. Also on the premises: La Valle Wine Bar and Bottle Shop, if you're looking for somewhere to sip vino and grab a bottle to take home with you. Whether you're eager to spend some time onsite or you're just popping in for a drop to go, you'll choose from 200-plus bottles. For customers on the run, wine tastings might tempt you to hang around for a little longer. That's a standard part of the bottle-o experience, of course — but being able to choose between cheese platters ($14–28), duck paté with lavosh ($8), three types of bruschetta ($14) and four kinds of focaccia ($14) definitely isn't. Sit inside and peer at all the brands you'll suddenly want to drink, perch yourself by the window and look out onto the street or pull up a chair outside — the choice is yours. And if you're wondering what types of drops you'll be imbibing, La Valle stocks the likes of Payten & Jones, Athletes of Wine and Barbera d'Alba, although obviously the list goes on.
As mooted for a few years now, Brisbane's Eagle Street Pier is about to undergo a significant revamp. While that takes place, it's also welcoming in a new riverside eatery, with Naga opening its doors on Wednesday, September 30 to serve up contemporary Thai dishes in Pony's old digs. It's the latest venture from The Gresham and Libertine's Andrew Baturo, alongside partner Jaimee Baturo, as well as ex-Libertine chef Suwisa Phoonsang. Open five days a week to start with — from Wednesday–Sunday — Naga will serve up a range of modern favourites for lunch and dinner. In fact, Phoonsang is drawing upon her family recipes and giving them a twist, while favouring dishes with ginger, garlic, tamarind, turmeric and herbs. [caption id="attachment_784871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] #dontbekoi by Darcy Starr[/caption] On the menu: massaman beef milk buns, five-spice soya duck, pork and tiger prawn egg nets, and spicy pork and jasmine rice balls, and that's just from the starter selection. Diners can also opt for a barramundi stir-fry, six types of curry including fish dumpling green curry, Moreton Bay bug pad thai, and a salad with braised banana blossom and poached coconut chicken — plus chilli vodka dark chocolate mousse with ginger coconut sticky rice pudding for dessert. To pair with the above, Naga's drinks list spans wines that go well with spicy dishes, beers from both local and Asian breweries, and a range of low-alcohol and no-alcohol options that include creative iced teas, sours and a chai vanilla shake. For those who prefer a cocktail, expect signature drinks like the Plum Nagaroni (with gin, Campari, plum juice, sweet vermouth and bitters) and the Wango Mango (bourbon, peach, mango and lime), plus the #dontbekoi (strawberry and cream tea-infused gin and rhubarb bitters, topped with strawberry coconut mousse and served in a fished-shaped glass). [caption id="attachment_784872" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darcy Starr[/caption] As for the 150-seater's decor, designer Anna Spiro is nodding to the 60s and 70s in colour choices, fabrics, retro furniture and the heavy use of lamps. Look up, and you'll spy 150 lanterns hanging from the ceiling, too — if you're not too busy sitting on the terrace and soaking in the river view, of course. Technically, given Eagle Street Pier's changing state, Naga is a pop-up; however, it won't be going anywhere soon. That means you've got ample time to head by the long-term spot — whether settling in for a meal, or opting for a drink and a bite from the snack menu while sitting at the ten-metre-long bar. Find Naga Thai at Eagle Street Pier, 45 Brisbane Street, Brisbane — open from 11.30am–3pm and 5.30–10pm Wednesday and Thursday, 11.30am–11pm Friday and Saturday, and 11.30am–10pm Sunday. Images: Darcy Starr
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is last year's news, sadly. There's still two years to wait until Australia hosts the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. But 2024 is the year of the Paris Olympics — and in preparation for vying for gold, the Matildas are hitting the field Down Under. The country's national women's soccer team are playing two friendlies against China, the first in Adelaide on Friday, May 31 and the second in Sydney on Monday, June 3. And although both are sold out — giving the Tillies a massive 14 sellout games on home soil in a row — you can still tune in from home, or the pub, if you won't be in the South Australian or New South Wales capitals or haven't scored tickets. These are the Matildas' first games in Australia since the last match of the final Olympics qualifiers back in February. Taking place in Melbourne against Uzbekistan, that game turned out mighty well for the squad, resulting in a 10–0 scoreline their way and locking in a spot in Paris. This time, there's nothing but bragging rights on the line, but a Tillies game is still a Tillies game. To watch, 10Play and Paramount+ are your destinations — plus Network 10 on regular TV. Sam Kerr is injured, but the squad is filled with high-profile names, including Steph Catley donning the captain's armband, Ellie Carpenter as vice captain, and also everyone from Mackenzie Arnold, Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross to Hayley Raso, Michelle Heyman, Cortnee Vine and Lydia Williams. Expect the latter to spend some time in goal, given that the legend of the game announced that she'll retire from international football following the Olympics. After this, the Tillies kick off their quest for a medal in Paris on Friday, July 26 at 3am Australian time, playing Germany. Their first-round draw also includes matches against Zambia and the USA. In-between, you can get another Matildas fix via documentary Trailblazers, which hits Stan on Tuesday, June 4 — and if you're in Sydney on Monday, June 10, at a Vivid 2024 talk with Mackenzie Arnold and Tony Gustavsson. The Matildas vs China PR Friendlies 2024: Friday, May 31 — 8.10pm AEST / 7.40pm ACST / 6.10pm AWST Monday, June 3 — 7.40pm AEST / 7.10pm ACST / 5.10pm AWST The Matildas' friendlies against in China PR take place on Friday, May 31 and Monday, June 3, 2024— and you can watch via 10, 10Bold, 10Play and Paramount+. Images: Tiffany Williams, Football Australia.
You've seen Guy Grossi on TV. You might have some of his cookbooks on your shelves. When you've been in Melbourne, perhaps you've hit up Grossi Florentino, Ombra and Arlechin for a bite to eat. Brisbanites, your next way to interact with the star chef and his culinary creations is now here, and involves heading out in the River City — and getting transported to Italy over dinner while you're there. Meet Settimo, the new restaurant that's just settled into The Westin Brisbane, and Grossi's first in the city. When it was initially announced in 2022, Grossi likened it to Italian film icon Sophia Loren, calling it "really light, fun and breezy". Now, on Mary Street in the Brisbane CBD, diners can enjoy the experience for themselves. Settimo goes all in on its Italian theme, taking specific inspiration from the Amalfi Coast. That means pairing coastal Italian dishes with Brissie's sunny, summery weather, all in an airy 150-seat space that features light, warm yet muted hues. Designed by Mills Gorman Architects, Settimo nods to the Mediterranean as much as it can — including in split-face stone, terrazzo, custom-designed terracotta, handmade brick and timber touches. Expect pastel blues and lemon yellows, too, and handcrafted furniture galore. In both the main space and the 20-person custom-designed private dining room that goes heavy on natural light — complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, and views over this part of the CBD — the menu under Head Chef Alessandro Pizzolato serves up everything from breakfast cacio e pepe omelettes through to Amalfi lemon chicken. Other highlights: pasta dishes such as gnocchi alla sorrentina (with tomato and mozzarella di buffala) and pasta al limone (with lemon, butter and parmigiano), Guy's Papa's Lamb (slow-cooked lamb covered in breadcrumbs and paired with parmigiano and sage) and pepperoni imbottiti (aka stuffed peppers). There's also a $50 set lunch, plus $120 and $150 set-menu dinner options, if you'd prefer the venue to do the choosing for you. And for dessert, the range includes Settimo's own gelato, Grossi's tiramisu, and flourless chocolate cake with ricotta ice cream. As for the drinks lineup, it preferences Italian wines, and also Australian winemakers favouring Italian wine varieties. "I am truly delighted to be bringing a new Grossi restaurant to what is already such an exciting market for hospitality in Brisbane. We have developed a new dining concept in partnership with The Westin Brisbane and I am thrilled to bring my vision for Settimo to life," said Grossi. "We have created a journey for diners that is inspired by one of the world's most aspirational destinations, the Amalfi Coast, coupled with the urban energy and sunny coastal atmosphere of the city. We've assembled a team of passionate and highly skilled experts who are ready and waiting to welcome diners to the venue." Find Settimo in The Westin Brisbane, 111 Mary Street, Brisbane — open for breakfast weekdays from 6.30–10.30am and weekends from 6.30–11am, lunch Tuesday–Friday from 12–3pm and dinner Tuesday–Saturday from 5.30–10.30pm.
When a hit show comes to an end, the network behind it often tries to fill the gap with something similar. It's the situation that HBO found itself in last year when Game of Thrones wrapped up, with the US cable channel quickly launching new fantasy series His Dark Materials and committing to making a GoT spinoff called House of the Dragon. And, with Big Little Lies looking like it's also all done and dusted, the station seems to be in the same predicament in the star-studded murder mystery genre as well. Enter The Undoing. Starring Nicole Kidman, and written and produced by Big Little Lies' David E. Kelley, it's a case of HBO sticking with what they know. Kidman plays a successful therapist who appears to have the perfect life, with a loving husband (Hugh Grant), a son (A Quiet Place's Noah Jupe) attending an elite school and her first book about to be published. Then a violent death sparks a chain of revelations that shatters her life as she knows it. Also part of the plot, as seen in the show's first teaser: a missing spouse, plenty of public attention, a heap of interrogations and a plethora of tough choices for Kidman's Grace Fraser. It'll all play out as a once-off limited series — although that was originally the case with Big Little Lies before it came back for a second season. Based on the novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Undoing also features Donald Sutherland and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace's Edgar Ramirez — with Bird Box director Susanne Bier behind the camera on every episode, just as she was on excellent Emmy-winning mini-series The Night Manager. The Undoing is set to screen on HBO sometime in May, with an air date Down Under yet to be revealed. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG1ZQERAlGQ The Undoing is set to screen on HBO in the US from May, with air dates Down Under yet to be announced. We'll update you when further details come to hand.
Brisbanites, it's time to dance, sing, tap your toes, make shapes, feel the rhythm, and appreciate a mighty fine tune or several. From Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 28, the biennial Queensland Music Festival returns to make the state, and Brisbane, come alive with the sound of music — and, with this year marking QMF's 20th, the fest has put together a suitably massive program. Highlights include Archie Roach singing up a storm, a celebration of the women who sang at Woodstock, a series of Sunday afternoon classical concerts by the river and the grand opening of the new Fortitude Valley Music Hall. If you love opera, or you've always wanted to give it a whirl, spend a day soaking in arias at Jimbour House. Fancy hearing Australia's history of star navigation through music? Or discovering the melodies of the night parrot, which was thought to be extinct until recently? They're on the bill as well. Eager to do more than just watch and listen? That's where Play Me, I'm Yours comes in — and its 20 pianos, which have all been painted by British artist Luke Jerram and other creatives, then scattered across Brisbane. They're waiting for you to find them, then tinkle their ivories, so bust out whatever song you can muster (ideally, something other than 'Chopsticks', though).
Writers and film buffs have their festivals, and art lovers are treated to spectaculars all year 'round, but it's not so often we get to stop and take stock of the music world. With very few panel-style events, our interaction with music mostly consists of late-night jaunts to the local bandroom under the influence of a few cheeky bevies. Enter BIGSOUND 2014: the Australian music world's equivalent of SxSW. This morning these Brisbane legends released their lineup for the 2014 festival and, at 80 bands deep, it's pretty impressive. Reading like a who's who of local up-and-comers, the bands involved include Sydney festival darling Alison Wonderland, Adelaide rockers Bad//Dreems, Melbourne '90s revivalists Client Liaison and 19-year-old Brisbanite Thelma Plum. Running for just two days from September 10-12, this annual music conference will be jam-packed with not only live performances but panels, interviews and talks from the world's best. This year's international speakers include James Minor from SxSW, Tom Windish from The Windish Agency, Ben Marshall from the Sydney Opera House, and Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers from St Jeome's Laneway Festival — maybe the only Aussie festival that saw any success this year. Taking place as always in Fortitude Valley, this local love-in will run over 12 locations including new sites such as The Underdog, The New Globe, The Elephant, Crowbar, and a new outdoor venue by Brightside and Magic City. You'll have your work cut out for you to see everything, but luckily you can start planning now. Tickets have gone on sale today via Oztix with a 2-day pass only setting you back $69+bf. For a lineup of 80 stellar bands, you've gotta admit that's a pretty decent deal. Check out the full lineup: Airling Alison Wonderland APES Ash Grunwald Avaberée BAD//DREEMS Banoffee Baptism of Uzi Blank Realm BONJAH Brad Butcher Caligula's Horse Client Liaison Coach Bombay Crooked Colours D.D Dumbo Deep Sea Arcade Devon Sproule DMAs Ernest Ellis Eves Fieldings Flyying Colours Fractures Fraser A. Gorman Gold Fields Halfway Hayden Calnin HITS Holy Holy I'lls Indian Summer Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Jane Tyrell Jess Ribeiro and the Bone Collectors Jesse Davidson Jimblah Karl S. Williams KINGSWOOD Klo KLP LANKS Left. L-FRESH The LION Lia Mice Little May Lime Cordiale LOWER SPECTRUM Luca Brasi LUCIANBLOMKAMP Lurch & Chief Major Leagues Mansionair Milwaukee Banks Morning Harvey Oisima Okenyo Olympic Ayres Orphans Orphans PACES Panama Pikelet REMI Ruby Boots Sampology ft. Tom Thum & Jordan Rakei Scenic Steve Smyth Step-Panther Stillwater Giants Sweet Jean Sydonia Teeth & Tongue The Bennies The Creases The Harpoons The Murlocs The Phoncurves The Tiger & Me Thelma Plum Thrupence Tin Sparrow Tkay Maidza Tully On Tully wordlife Yeo
Imagine waking up, and the first thing you saw was this wall decal. There is just no way you could ever start the day in a bad mood. Broken up with your girlfriend? Kermit is there to remind you it's much harder being green than single. Missed out on that job you really wanted? Who cares? You can imagine yourself making popcorn with the Swedish chef and all will be well again. Buy one to psyche yourself up for the release of the Muppets movie in Janurary, 2012. It's got to be the best way to make it through what seems to be a not-so-cheery summer. To find out what else you can look forward to seeing over summer, have a squiz at our Summer Film Guide.
Everyone has at least one piece of IKEA furniture in their house, and likely more than that. Maybe you also own some of the Swedish retailer's Lego storage boxes, too, or a bucket hat made out of the same material as its iconic blue bags. You could've whipped up outfits for your dog using said shopping carriers, and even cooked up its famed meatballs during lockdown. Something that even the brand's biggest Australian devotees won't own, however, is an IKEA t-shirt, tote or key ring — yet, that is. In 2020, IKEA launched its first-ever merchandise line, kicking off in Japan before releasing in Singapore, Thailand and Korea as well. Now, come Thursday, May 13, it's Australia's turn to get decked out in the brand's clothing and accessories — so get ready to don its hoodies, sip from its water bottles and wipe yourself down with its towels, too. The range is called Efterträda, and it nods to the company's popular products in a variety of ways. You'll find its recognisable blue and yellow logo on everything, for instance, as well as a minimalistic look in general. Oversized barcodes feature as a key design element, mimicking the type seen on its products — and, because they line oh-so-many walls, the Billy bookcase barcode has been given pride of place. Plus, the towels and water bottles come in either yellow or white, while the key rings have a blue option. Prices range from $4 for a key ring up to $49 for a hoodie, with water bottles costing $6, totes coming in at $10, t-shirts priced at $19 and towels costing $22.50. And, to answer the two questions that have probably just popped into your head: no, you don't have to assemble them yourself, or use an Allen key. IKEA's Efterträda collection will be available in Australian stores from Thursday, May 13. For further details, head to the Swedish retailer's website.
At this stage in the pandemic, we're no longer spending all of our time at home. That doesn't mean we can't treat ourselves to impressive desserts when we are just staying in and kicking back on the couch, though. After serving up plenty of tasty specials during 2020's lockdowns, Gelato Messina is still tempting everyone's tastebuds with its limited-release sweet treats — and, if you've enjoyed its big Iced VoVo, Viennetta-style, choc-hazelnut and cremino tubs in the past, you're going to want to try its new basque cheesecake version. Initially, the gelato chain made a small batch of this dessert hybrid for Sydney's Firedoor; however, now it's scooping a heap more into tubs and making it available across the east coast. The catch: like all of its specials, it'll only be on offer for a short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's basque cheesecake tub entails? It combines basque cheesecake gelato, naturally, then tops it with a slice of toasted basque cheesecake. In other words, it's the ideal option for when you can't pick between gelato and cheesecake — a choice that no one ever wants to make. The latest release in Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the basque cheesecake tub can only be ordered online at 9am on Monday, May 17, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store — other than The Star — to pick up your tub between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23. Gelato Messina's basque cheesecake tubs will be available to order at 9am on Monday, May 17, for pick up between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
A trip to the tropics isn't complete without a wander through Rusty's Markets in Cairns. Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at Rusty's you'll find everything from exotic fruits, tropical tasting plates, freshly baked bread and more. With over 45 years of trade under its belt and more than 180 stalls to visit, there are plenty of reasons locals love to load up on fresh food at this bustling marketplace. During summer Rusty's is abundant in tropical fruits including lychees, rambutans, dragonfruit, coconuts, mangoes, custard apples, jackfruit, black sapote and more. The top-tier produce found at Rusty's also attracts many of Tropical North Queensland's finest chefs who can often be spotted roaming the stalls as they source the best locally grown ingredients for their restaurants. Make sure you stock up on fresh fruit for your day exploring the local waterfalls — there's nothing quite like polishing off a bag of lychees or rambutans while cooling off at a freshwater swimming hole.
There's no such thing as an ordinary coat of paint at Brisbane Street Art Festival. Here, every brushstroke, spray and roll contributes to a new work of art. There's also no such thing as an average Brissie roadway or public space at this annual fest. Everywhere in the River City becomes a canvas when it's BSAF time — so, in 2024, from Saturday, May 4–Sunday, May 19. For nine years now, this autumn event has celebrated splashing outdoor art around far and wide across Brisbane. This year's festival will welcome more than 20 featured artists to literally paint the town red — and plenty of other colours — amid a program that doesn't just showcase celebrated talents showing off their skills, but also helps impart the tricks of the trade to everyone who wants to follow in their footsteps. [caption id="attachment_894226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macami[/caption] The big drawcard: live murals, as artists take to various patches of Brisbane across the two weeks to create new pieces while you watch. Superordinary at Northshore Brisbane, which also acts as a base for the fest, will gain three live murals. Other sites to head to: Howard Smith Wharves, where five new pieces will be brought to life — and also QUT Gardens Point, The Tivoli, Portside Wharf, Constance Street in Fortitude Valley, RNA Showgrounds, Garden City and The Barracks. Doing the painting is a who's who of the local, national and international street art scenes, including Guirao, who hails from Spain but is now based in Melbourne; the Japan-born Spectator Jonze; Damien Mitchell, who spent ten years in New York; and Brisbane icon Sofles, who boasts more than 20 years in the industry. The likes of Davis Lee Pereira, The Brightsiders, Emily Devers, Kaho and Lisa Dot are also on the lineup, while Brissie's own Sethius Art will add a bin chicken sculpture to Superordinary. [caption id="attachment_894223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fintan Magee by @mellumae[/caption] "Since the beginning of the Brisbane Street Art Festival in 2016, Brisbane has worked its way into becoming one of the world's most significant street art cities. This is only growing with the diverse lineup of artists we have for the festival in 2024," said BSAF Festival Director Lincoln Savage. His latest program kicks off with the traditional launch party, also at Superordinary, then spans street art cycling tours, panels on gender bias and the use of art in shared spaces, an exhibition dedicated to First Nations talents, plus workshops on everything from aerosols, calligraphy, collages and tufting to brushwork, graffiti writing, lettering and sticker art. And to cap it all off, Felons Brewing Co will host the closing party, as it also usually does. [caption id="attachment_715977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drapl and Treazy, Aimee Catt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_894227" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macami[/caption] [caption id="attachment_659368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] tuyuloveme[/caption] [caption id="attachment_894229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macami[/caption] [caption id="attachment_715976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aimee Catt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_894228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macami[/caption] The 2024 Brisbane Street Art Festival runs from Saturday, May 4–Sunday, May 19. For more information, head to the event's website. Top image: Macami.
As part of one of the only remaining independent cinema chains, Dendy Coorparoo offers a unique, somewhat nostalgic, cinema experience. The blockbusters are here if that's what you're after, but the bigger drawcard is the selection of first-run independent films and art titles. Through the Dendy Arts program, productions from MET Opera, National Theatre and National Ballet, among others, are screened. It also holds events throughout the year: advance screenings of new releases, retro screenings of old faves, and film genre festivals. Located in the heart of Coorparoo makes a visit to Dendy is a great way to either start or end a day of adventures. While everybody's favourite "cheap Tuesday" offer may have disappeared from most cinemas, it is still going strong here and it's not the only offer kicking around — members, students and seniors can unlock exclusive discounts of their own.
From May, Brisbane will play host to its first major Banksy exhibition, celebrating the enigmatic artist who has become synonymous with street art worldwide. But the British talent isn't the only name in the scene, or the only source of murals and graffiti-style pieces to look at in the River City this autumn. Indeed, when Brisbane Street Art Festival returns from Saturday, May 6–Sunday, May 21, marking its eighth year, there'll be stunning sights from skilled folks everywhere. Painting and stencilling up a storm — and splashing art across Brisbane roadways — is the ongoing aim of BSAF. Making the city look a whole lot brighter, sport a heap more paint and showcase more creativity in general all are, too. And the fest's just-announced 2023 lineup is going big, surveying both local and international folks, and also focusing on as many styles and techniques as possible. [caption id="attachment_894229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macami[/caption] Illma Gore also stands out among BSAF's roster of talent. The Australian artist lives in Los Angeles and has made a name for herself with a toilet made from $100,000 worth of Louis Vuitton bags, a mural made with the blood of 60 protestors and a nude Donald Trump. Also on the Aussie artist list: Fintan Magee, Gus Eagleton and Tori-Jay Mordey. Cat Eagan, Katherine Viney, Keys and Meimei will all be displaying pieces, as will Mulga, Jeswri, Phoebe Paradise, Pencil Head, Sevens and Vance. In total, the full lineup spans 43 artists and collectives. [caption id="attachment_894223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fintan Magee by @mellumae[/caption] Brissie's street art scene has been thriving for years, of course, which is why this fest even exists and keeps coming back every year. That said, every art form deserves a dedicated spotlight, with BSAF also dedicated to growing Brisbane's fame as a street art spot. "Over the past seven years, Brisbane Street Art Festival has contributed to placing Brisbane as one of the world's most significant street art cities," said Festival Director Lincoln Savage, launching the 2023 program. "I'm honoured to be a part of BSAF this year. It's a great opportunity to showcase my work in Australia and to meet other artists from around the country. I can't wait to see the transformation of the streets as we create something truly unique and beautiful," added Gore. Falling within this year's also-returning Brisbane Art Design festival, BSAF is going big with its locations as well, as it usually does. Expect to see massive murals at South Bank, the Queen Street Mall and RNA Showgrounds, plus at Howard Smith Wharves — where Felons will host its annual BSAF party — and Northshore Hamilton. The latter will once again double as the fest's headquarters, with Superordinary Northshore back for another year. Cue a heap of large-scale pieces in the riverside spot, and events. Seeing bright designs and top-notch art on walls around town — and for free — sits alongside BSAF's commitment to informing the River City about street art, and helping folks learn new skills. Accordingly, the fest's all-ages workshop program comes complete with up-close-and-personal access to the artists, and being able to try creating works yourself. The 2023 Brisbane Street Art Festival runs from Saturday, May 6–Sunday, May 21. For more information, head to the event's website. Top images: Macami.
Netflix's algorithm has clearly figured out one of the most obvious facts about humankind: we all really love dogs. That was obviously the idea behind the streaming platform's 2018 canine-centric documentary series — and the show sent viewers so barking mad that it's coming back for another season. Called Dogs, the thoroughly feel-good series follows different puppers in different places around the world, as well as the two-legged folks who care for, groom, dress and even fish with them. Of course, the adorable balls of fluff are the real drawcards. The six-episode first season dedicated its frames to canines in Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US, each with their own stories to tell. One episode explores life in a dog sanctuary in the Costa Rican rainforest, and another relays the tale of a Siberian Husky trapped in Syria after his owner was able to flee to German. Yet another jumps into Japan's love of cute pooches — dog strollers are a common sight on the streets of Tokyo, after all. In a statement provided to Variety about the show's renewal, executive producers Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) and Glen Zipper (The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man) championed Dogs' human impact — especially "the ability to explore some of the most important human stories through relationships with our best friends". They continued: "it's been amazing to see how much these episodes have touched audiences and critics across the globe. Most importantly, our fans have become part of our extended family and we are honoured to bring them a fresh set of stories that will allow us to connect with them yet again." Check out the first season trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLCmLgjiJ8 If you can't get enough when it comes to cute canines, you won't be complaining about the show's impending return — although when it'll drop, and how many episodes the second season will span, hasn't yet been revealed. And if you have your own pooch who deserves some Netflix attention, the series is also on the lookout for canine talent. Just hit up the show via Twitter or Instagram. Australia and New Zealand didn't feature the first time around, after all. Dogs' first season is now available on Netflix. Via Variety. Images: Netflix.
Wandering around a market while the sun shines is all well and good, but there's something extra appealing about the nighttime variety. Happening every Friday and Saturday night in Brisbane's north BITE Markets fits the bill. And, it serves up plenty of food, because that's what every night market attendee really wants. A trip to Nolan Drive in Morayfield comes with a little something extra from 4pm on Saturday, October 29, however — because that's when the BITE Markets Halloween Spooktacular is adding some scares to the place. This is a family-friendly affair with scavenger hunts and a monster-themed disco, but if you were thinking about hitting up a market anyway and you love Halloween, consider it a two-for-one kind of event. Expect the usual array of food, and likely some Halloween-themed treats. Opting for the sweets lineup — cakes, doughnuts, churros and poffertjes and the like — will get your tastebuds in the right mood anyway. A shipping container setup like Hamilton's Eat Street — complete with landscaping and a dining precinct — BITE Markets showcases local talents, so prepare to feast on meals whipped up by the best producers, food creators and artisans in the area, too. Entry costs $3 for adults — and for those driving north, there's more than 600 car parks onsite.
Kiwis based in Australia hoping to see family across the ditch can start planning their sojourns home sooner than expected. New Zealand's planned five-step border reopening plan has been brought forward this week, with isolation requirements for double-vaccinated Kiwis returning home scrapped weeks earlier than expected. From 11.59pm on Wednesday, March 2, vaccinated Kiwis entering New Zealand from Australia will no longer need to self-isolate. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the change of plans amid New Zealand's current Omicron outbreak, which sees the country currently suffering the highest rates of COVID-19 transmission in the world. But Australians holidaymakers shouldn't get planning a quick weekend jump across the ditch just yet. Vaccinated Aussie citizens wanting a holiday in New Zealand still have to wait for step four of the original border reopening plan, which sees all travellers from Australia and from countries who don't require special visas able to enter NZ. While that is still currently proposed to happen around July this year, Aussies can cross their fingers they may be able to head across for an adventure holiday earlier. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins advised last month that "the reopening to visa-free tourists is also likely to be brought forward, with July being the latest date we anticipate this happening." Of course, during all five steps, testing will remain critical. Every traveller will be required to undertake a rapid antigen test (RAT) on the day they arrive and on day five or six. All positive RATs must be registered and followed up with a PCR test. New Zealand had 19,599 new cases reported on Tuesday, March 1, with over 300 cases currently in hospital. Kiwis returning to New Zealand from Australia will not need to isolate upon arrival from 11.59pm on Wednesday, while Australian holidaymakers will need to wait to enter the country until later in 2022. For more information, head to the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 website.
In the '50s and '60s, Sun Records' name proved rather appropriate. Everything shone brightly at the little label from Memphis, Tennessee, which boasted some of music's biggest names on its roster. Think Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison — and yes, that's just the beginning. Indeed, Sun's founder Sam Phillips had a knack for spotting talent and the stories to prove it, with both informing Sun Rising – The Songs That Made Memphis. In fact, there are so many tales and tunes at the heart of this rock 'n' roll cabaret that you're not just seeing a show — you're getting a musical history lesson. This is one of our five top picks from this year's Queensland Cabaret Festival. Read the full list.
Tame Impala had a busy 2019, headlining Coachella festival (alongside Childish Gambino) and Byron Bay's Splendour in the Grass. And it looks like 2020 is going to be equally jam-packed for Perth's favourite psychedelic outfit, with the band announcing their biggest ever Australian and NZ tour. Kicking things off in Auckland in April, the band will then hit up some of Australia's big stadium arenas — performing at Brisbane's Entertainment Centre, Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena and Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, before heading to Adelaide and back to their Perth hometown. Led by Tame brain and frontman Kevin Parker, the band will perform songs off their highly anticipated fourth album The Slow Rush, which is set to drop on February 14, as well as their Aria chart-topping 2015 album Currents. In light of Australia's catastrophic bushfires, Parker has also announced that the band will donate $300,000 from the tour to bushfire relief charities. Such big shows deserve one heck of a support, too, and you'll get it in Texan instrumental three-piece Khruangbin. The trio's music is described as a mix of Thai-surf punk, Persian rock and 80s Algerian symphonia, and if you'd like to know just what that sounds like you can listen to their 2019 album Hasta El Cielo. [caption id="attachment_758160" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Khruangbin[/caption] TAME IMPALA 2020 AUSTRALIA AND NZ TOUR DATES Auckland — April 16, Spark Arena Brisbane — April 18, Brisbane Entertainment Centre Sydney — April 20, Qudos Bank Arena Melbourne — April 23, Rod Laver Arena Adelaide — April 25, Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena Perth — April 28, RAC Arena Tame Impala Fan Club, Laneway Presents, Chugg members and Frontier members pre-sales kick off at midday on Thursday, January 23. General tickets go on sale on Tuesday, January 28 10am local time for Australia and midday local time for NZ. Top image: Neil Krug
Nearly two decades after it transformed from an unloved patch of Fortitude Valley into the suburb's upmarket precinct, James Street is in makeover mode once again — and it has just welcomed a Michelin-starred chef to the area. Chef Alan Wise has returned to Australia from New York to open Beaux Rumble, which fittingly takes its design cues from Grand Central Station. Food-wise, the restaurant focuses on woodfired Australian cuisine — heroing seafood and plant-based dishes — from its digs in Ada Lane beside the newly opened The Calile Hotel. Sprawling across 400 square metres over two levels in the newest part of James Street, Beaux Rumble will eventually operate as an all-day eatery. For now, it's open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. The menu changes daily; however diners can expect smokey tastes from the open kitchen, which includes a sizeable custom grill. Think cherry wood-smoked oysters with dashi jelly, champagne crayfish ceviche, grilled scallops with roasted enoki mushrooms, wood-roasted sirloin paired with potato terrine, and iron bark-charred leeks with truffles and almond cream. From November, New York-style brunches will also be on offer, complete with plenty of champagne. Full brunch details haven't been revealed as yet, but Beaux Rumble boasts 20 sparkling wines on its menu — plus whites, red, beers, ciders, spirits and cocktails, with the latter spanning boozy concoctions like the Berri Lane (with acai, vodka, blueberry, mint and lime prosecco) and alcohol-free sips such as the Yuzu Grey Tea (with yuzu, earl grey tea, lemon and bitters). Patrons can enjoy all of the above on a dining terrace overlooking Ada Lane, in a ground-floor main dining room or in one of the two private dining room upstairs. If you're wondering just how Beaux Rumble's various spaces nod to Grand Central Station, they take inspiration from the 1913-built transit hub's Beaux-Arts architecture. Features include ornate vaulted metal, marble benches and tiles, brass fittings and oak flooring, as well as archways, domed ceilings and intricate Art Deco touches. Designed by s.t.udio's Sally Taylor, the restaurant's fit-out favours materials that won't just stand the test of time, but will also age appropriately. As for the Victorian-born Wise, his arrival in Brisbane marks the latest stop in a global career that started in London in the 90s, includes stints in regional Victoria, Vancouver and Dublin, and saw him work through top restaurants such as Picholine, Juni, Public and Rouge Tomate Chelsea. It was during his sting as executive chef at the latter in 2017 that Wise earned his Michelin star. Beaux Rumble is now open in Ada Lane, James Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 5.30–9.30pm Tuesday–Saturday.
When you're a bar that nods to all things spooky in your name, and you boast more than a couple of monster-themed pinball and arcade machines, then you're going to like the end of October. Netherworld does, of course. Indeed, the Valley pub celebrates Halloween in the expected style each and every year. So, what's on the agenda, other than a few pumpkins around the place? The venue's themed beer fest is back, and so is its annual A Netherworld Halloween party. The latter hits on Monday, October 31, getting into the spirit of the occasion on the appropriate date — on a day that the bar is normally closed, too. Expect a ghoulish night of scary fun, complete with those horror-centric pinball tables. Yes, you can call it a monster mash if you like. You know that the track will get a spin, and you know that you're going to dance to it, creepy cocktail in hand. [caption id="attachment_605021" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sarah Ward[/caption] The Salty Sirens will also help provide tunes, singing live onstage — and the Hellmouth Diner is catering its menu to suit the theme, too. And, there'll be a karma keg for Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld Inc, so your drinks will help a good (and apt) cause. Plus, if you dress up for this evening of Halloween gaming goodness, you'll score five free tokens for your trouble. You might also win the costume contest. Entry is free, with the spooky fun going down between 6pm till late. [caption id="attachment_669756" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] Top image: Sarah Ward.
When Scotland's BrewDog made the leap to Australia, setting up its own brewery to pump out its tipples, the beer brand turned a riverside patch of land in Murarrie in Brisbane's east into its Down Under base. That was back in 2019, and it always meant to be the company's first step on the path to boozy Aussie things. The next one? A new three-level beer bar in Fortitude Valley. Come September, likely towards the end of the month, Brisbanites keen on a BrewDog beer in a BrewDog bar will be able to pick between two locations. That said, BrewDog's Head of Australian Operations Calvin McDonald doesn't expect that it'll be a difficult choice. He loves the OG Brissie venue, and he's already singing the new Valley watering hole's praises — but he also thinks that the Murarrie spot will continue to draw in eastsiders, while the new Brunswick Street digs will appeal to everyone else. BrewDog's Valley home will definitely be central, taking over the heritage-listed Tranberg House building across the road from the Valley Metro complex. And, it'll be sizeable — nestling into all three levels, all with their own bars pouring brews from 20 taps each. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BrewDog Australia (@brewdogau) On the entry level — from Brunswick Street — beer lovers will find a space that caters to 115–120 people, while the big drawcard will be the beer hall-style lower-ground floor that'll fit around 120 folks as well. Then, up on the top storey, patrons will find two shuffleboard tables, as well as a space that'll be able to be used for functions. Being able to have separate areas, rather than one big setup like DogTap at Murarrie, gets McDonald excited — especially about what it means for events and group bookings. The idea, of course, is that the whole venue is always pumping. Based on how busy BrewDog's original Brissie site gets, plus the Valley locale, that seems highly likely. "It's been a bit of a long time coming," McDonald tells Concrete Playground. "We didn't want to our second opportunity in Australia to be two years after number one, but the situation dictated that that's which way it had to go." "Essentially, it's bringing all of the good elements of that [Murarrie] — so a similar food menu, along the lines of burgers and pizzas, and a similar draft lineup — but over three floors." "It allows us to run things slightly differently to how we do at Murarrie. Even though it's a great venue, it's only one space... So I was really quite proactive in wanting a multi-floor venue, which gives us a lot more flexibility," McDonald continues. Brews and food-wise, as McDonald mentioned, BrewDog will keep doing what its doing — pouring its own beers, celebrating other local brewers, and sticking with a pub grub-heavy menu that spans pizzas, burgers, vegan eats and the like. In terms of decor, playing up the heritage features is a big focus. "It's an old listed building. We've been really lucky with the landlord that we've got there, that he's really interested in preserving a lot of the heritage aspects of that," McDonald explains. "So as much as we can, we're keeping the original frontage, the original walls, the original finishes, a lot of the original brickwork is being preserved as well and the original floors... It's definitely a modern bar, but very much in a heritage setting." While Brisbane will boast two BrewDog sites within months, the brewery still has plans to expand nationally. Back in June, it was revealed that it is teaming up with hospitality company Australian Venue Co to set up bars around the country — starting at Pentridge in Melbourne this spring, and also including Sydney as well. Find BrewDog Fortitude Valley at Tranberg House, 235 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, from sometime in September. We'll update you with an opening date and operating hours when they're announced. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
With 1654 stores to its name worldwide, Five Guys' burger joints have become a common sight across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia — and soon, they'll also be opening in Australia and New Zealand. That news was announced in 2020, but 2021 brings further details, including the fact that it'll be launching its first eatery Down Under this year. Once the middle of 2021 rolls around, Five Guys will be serving up burgers, fries and shakes in Penrith — making Sydney the first Aussie city to taste the chain's wares. Originally, the debut store Down Under was slated for Sydney's CBD, but those plans changed due to COVID-19. An exact mid-year opening date hasn't been revealed; however, Sydneysiders will find restaurant next to Krispy Kreme and the Panthers League Club on Mulgoa Road in the western Sydney suburb when it launches. Construction on the store is due to start in the coming weeks. The cult-favourite chain is making the leap to Australia and New Zealand as part of a master franchise agreement with Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, aka the folks behind The Meat & Wine Co, Hunter & Barrel, 6 Head, Ribs & Burgers, Italian Street Kitchen and Butcher and the Farmer. Around 20 stores are due to launch in Australia alone, plus more in NZ — although exactly where else and when Five Guys will be popping up is yet to be revealed. In Sydney, additional sites are currently under consideration, including in the CBD around Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Broadway. Overseas, Five Guys has amassed quite the reputation — and, even given the number of big-name US burger chains with hefty followings, such as Shake Shack and In-N-Out, it stands out. Its made-to-order burgers skew in the classic rather than oversized, jam-packed direction. They come with two hand-formed patties on toasted buns with your choice of toppings (including pickles, grilled mushrooms and jalapeños), plus bacon cheeseburgers that add two strips of bacon and two slices of Kraft American cheese as well. Five Guys also serves up hotdogs, sandwiches, hand-cut fries (with or without Cajun spices) and vanilla milkshakes. Don't go thinking the latter are boring, though — you can add bacon, bananas, peanut butter, salted caramel and even Oreo pieces to your design-your-own beverage. The chain started back in 1986 in the Washington, DC area and, as anyone with allergies should note, only cooks its fries in peanut oil. Five Guys will launch its first Australian store on Mulgoa Road in Penrith sometime in the middle of 2021, with stores in other Australian states — and in New Zealand — to follow. No exact opening dates have been revealed as yet — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
The subject at hand of the latest Nine Lives exhibition may sound a little mundane, but artists Pedro Ramos and Angus Mcdiarmid will have you surprisingly mesmerised by their unique images of rocks and water. Joining collective forces, the Australian artists explore the captivating textures, vivid colours and kaleidoscopic patterns found when the land meets the sea. From sea scapes and rock formations to documenting the people around them engaging in the water that inspires them, Rocks & Water respectfully highlights the unexpected beauty found within nature. Originally from Madeira Island off the coast of Portugal, Pedro Ramos works in Sydney as a freelance photographer and tutor. A talented artists, Pedro has exhibited his works internationally and has been featured in major publications such as Vice and Monster Children. He now returns to Nine Lives after exhibiting in last year’s sold out Semipermanent show. Rocks & Water's other artist Angus Mcdiarmid is a little more local – living and working between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He is however about to embark on a South American hiatus which I'm sure will make for some great imagery. In the mean time be sure to take in Rocks & Water, it's an exhibition you won't want to miss.
For those, like us, who like their festivals a little more niche and boutique, you can't go past St. Jerome's Laneway Festival. From its modest debut in a Melbourne back alley, the festival has grown to tour nationally and has consistently provided audiences with the newest and most innovative independent artists. After last year's successful international launch in Singapore, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival returns in 2012 with another instalment that is sure to please. French electronic project M83 is the festival's greatest drawcard, fresh off the release of his widely-praised album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. Combining a beautifully mellow sound with pop appeal, M83 will close the festival in spectacular fashion. A refreshing break from the brash sounds associated with the dubstep genre, British producer SBTRKT will perform his brand of deep bass music behind his trademark mask in February. SBTRKT has recently remixed the likes of Basement Jaxx and Franz Ferdinand, and labelmates Young Turks Sound System will also be in attendance. After a four-year hiatus, Feist returns to treat audiences at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival once again. With the recent release of her album Metals, audiences can expect a powerful performance from this Canadian songstress. Jonti will grace audiences with his diverse instrumentation and distinct arrangements, while he has collaborated with the likes of Santigold and Mark Ronson prior to even releasing an album. The renowned musician, deisgner and photographer Toro Y Moi will bring his live show to Australia, which has been described as "a flashy, sex-fueled 80s rooftop fiesta." Need I say more? Pitchfork and NME heroes Girls will also make an appearance. Begin ironing your vintage-print shirts in excitement, because St. Jerome's Laneway Festival is not to be missed. Want to win a double pass to St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Brisbane? To go in the running , just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Thursday, January 26. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r-hMISLG8nY
The space at 22 Wyandra Street in Newstead was never going to stay closed for long. While Carl's Bar and Bistro shut its doors at the address back in September 2022, the City Winery crew has been busy filling the venue with new ventures. First came a seasonal bar and bottle shop over the holiday period, and now Ardo's is making the spot its own for the long haul. City Winery is behind Carl's, too, which initially opened to give the team an outlet before its Wandoo Street flagship in Fortitude Valley launched. When it was announced that Carl's was moving to a yet-to-be-revealed new location, it company also advised that something different would make the most of the popular Wyandra Street berth — and now Brisbanites can check out the end result. Ardo's is a neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop, so patrons can peruse its curated range of vino while getting sipping onsite over pintxos, cheese and charcuterie — or pick up their favourite tipple or a new discovery to take away. Offering a selection that you wouldn't just find at any bottle-o is a big source of pride, with Ardo's staff on-hand to chat you through its drops, help you make a pick and impart their expert knowledge. "Our wine selection showcases the rising stars and pioneers of the minimal-intervention wine movement in Australia plus a small selection of European options to showcase the benchmarks," says Ardo's Operations Manager and Wine Guide Luke Reimers. "It's a really bespoke offering that we think brings something unique to the community," he continued. [caption id="attachment_883133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City Winery's seasonal pop-up at Wyandra Street.[/caption] Open for after-work drinks Tuesday–Friday and from lunch onwards on weekends, the venue does wines by the glass and the bottle to enjoy while you're settling in. The lineup rotates, but everything you see on the shelf can be drunk onsite or taken away. As you're getting cosy, you'll be surrounded by vino all across the walls, a wine tap that looks like an altar, and neutral colours aplenty amid feature pink stone. The food menu is all about being communal, with bar snacks inspired by pintxos — so bites to be washed down with a glass or several. Currently available, although this lineup also rotates based on availability and the seasons: baby beet and goat's cheese tartlets, blue cheese mousse with baby fig on sourdough, smoked salmon mousse with crispy capers and salmon skin on brioche, and both mini lemon meringue and Mississippi mud pies. "It's that classic afternoon session — you get a glass of wine and there's a selection of food at the bar and you pay per piece. It's all very relaxed, and then you have takeaways available to take home or out to dinner afterwards," says General Manager Doug Gilmour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ardo's (@ardoswine) Find Ardo's Wine Bar at 22 Wyandra Street, Newstead — open from 3pm Tuesday–Friday and from 12pm Saturday–Sunday. Head to the venue's booking page for reservations.
It was the film that forced two beloved superheroes into a fight; however that's not the only battle Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has faced. Critics were far from impressed, and nor were the folks behind the Golden Raspberry Awards. After bestowing eight nominations upon the Zack Snyder-directed, Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill-starring flick, the gongs also known as the Razzies have backed that up with four trophies. At the 37th awards, BvS took out worst screenplay; worst screen combo for Sad Affleck and his "baddest foe forever"; worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel; and worst supporting actor for Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Still, the movie's clashes are never over, it seems, with conservative political documentary Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party coming out on top — or is it bottom? — in the worst picture, worst actor and worst director fields (and, worst actress, though BvS didn't get a look in there). Kristen Wiig was among those adding an unwanted accolade to their resume, thanks to her work in Zoolander 2. The Razzies also recognise someone whose career has taken a turn in a better direction, with Mel Gibson this year's recipient of the Razzie Redeemer Award thanks to the success of Hacksaw Ridge. The Razzies are held the day before the Academy Awards, giving the industry a moment to consider the other side of the Hollywood filmmaking spectrum before showering the best and brightest of the year in statuettes. For anyone that's been living in a musical rather than in the real world, La La Land remains the Oscars favourite after nabbing a record-equalling 14 noms, but here's hoping there'll be plenty of love for eight-time-nominee Moonlight. Check out our helpful guide before the February 27 ceremony, Australian time. GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES AND WINNERS 2017 WORST PICTURE Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Dirty Grandpa Gods of Egypt Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Independence Day: Resurgence Zoolander 2 WORST ACTOR Ben Affleck, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Gerard Butler, Gods of Egypt and London Has Fallen Henry Cavill, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Robert De Niro, Dirty Grandpa Dinesh D'Souza [as Himself], Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Ben Stiller, Zoolander 2 WORST ACTRESS Megan Fox, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Tyler Perry, Boo! A Madea Halloween Julia Roberts, Mother's Day Becky Turner [as Hillary Clinton], Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Naomi Watts, Divergent Series: Allegiant and Shut-In Shailene Woodley, Divergent Series: Allegiant WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Julianne Hough, Dirty Grandpa Kate Hudson, Mother's Day Aubrey Plaza, Dirty Grandpa Jane Seymour, Fifty Shades of Black Sela Ward, Independence Day: Resurgence Kristen Wiig, Zoolander No. 2 WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Nicolas Cage, Snowden Johnny Depp, Alice Through the Looking Glass Will Ferrell, Zoolander 2 Jesse Eisenberg, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Jared Leto, Suicide Squad Owen Wilson, Zoolander No. 2 WORST SCREEN COMBO Ben Affleck & His BFF (Baddest Foe Forever) Henry Cavill, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Any 2 Egyptian Gods or Mortals, Gods of Egypt Johnny Depp & His Vomitously Vibrant Costume, Alice Through the Looking Glass The Entire Cast of Once Respected Actors, Collateral Beauty Tyler Perry & That Same Old Worn Out Wig, Boo! A Madea Halloween Ben Stiller and His BFF (Barely Funny Friend) Owen Wilson, Zoolander 2 WORST DIRECTOR Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley, Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Roland Emmerich, Independence Day: Resurgence Tyler Perry, Boo! A Madea Halloween Alex Proyas, Gods of Egypt Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ben Stiller, Zoolander 2 WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL Alice Through the Looking Glass Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Dawn of Justice Fifty Shades of Black Independence Day: Resurgence Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Zoolander 2 WORST SCREENPLAY Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Dirty Grandpa Gods of Egypt Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Independence Day: Resurgence Suicide Squad
