Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment as part of the precinct's seasonal festivities. But these free films aren't just for families. Any yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Monday, December 18–Saturday, December 23. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Elf, A Christmas Carol, Elliott: The Littlest Reindeer, Arthur Christmas and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — as well as The Holiday, Happiest Season and 8-Bit Christmas. Among a varied lineup catering for all ages, there's also The Grinch, Home Alone 2, Batman Returns and Gremlins. Attending is free, and the family-friendly flicks screen at 6pm, with each evening's second session showing at 8pm.
Fancy grabbing a banh mi in a carpark at South Bank? Well, now you can. Hello Please has set up shop in Fish Lane, though they're not letting the increasingly busy and crowded nature of the popular area get in their way. Instead, they've plonked down a container, carved out their own space adjacent to Maker, Gauge and Julius Pizzeria, and started serving up crowd-pleasing Vietnamese dishes. You could say that makes Hello Please a bit of a hidden gem, though it won't stay that way for long. The new venture from The Stables Craft Bar and Kitchen owner Daniel Ward and seasoned hospitality professional Maris Cook brings the casual, quaint, high-quality style of Melbourne's street-focused haunts Saigon Sally and Kong BBQ to Brisbane. Food-wise, that means quick, consistent, fresh and affordable options like bao, dumplings and rice-paper rolls from an evolving but flavour-filled menu, with dinner selections designed with matching cocktails in mind. If you're dining by day, expect it to be a speedy affair. If you're eating in the evening, two sittings will be available. A focus on swiftness and structure in getting everyone in and out reflects the small size of the restaurant, which accommodates 30 people at the bar and another 60 in the outdoor eating area. Murals by local artist Drapl give the place the requisite laidback feel — and, let's face it, who doesn't want to relax over a bite to eat and a few beverages in a space that just would've remained empty and unused otherwise?
What happens when you take the site of an old Fortitude Valley nightclub that's been shut for eight years, deck it out with vinyl and boomboxes, and dedicate it to retro vibes? Brisbanites are about to find out. With a name like Superfly Disco, the new venue sliding into Alhambra Lounge's old space on McLachlan Street was always going to feel like a throwback — and that's entirely the point. Get ready to hit the dance floor from Friday, October 7 — and to strut around a Saturday Night Fever-style light-up dance floor like you've travelled back five decades, too. Forget DeLoreans; making a night of it at Superfly Disco will send you back in time, although disco classics will pump through the speakers alongside recent party hits. Whatever the venue's disc jockeys happen to be spinning at any given time, they'll be doing so from a DJ car, another piece of Superfly Disco's retro look and mood. The space has been completely gutted from its Alhambra days, and given an entirely new fitout — including raising the floor by an inch and a half to accommodate the lights underneath. Yes, when you're not hanging out in private booths, you should be dancing here — and feeling the city breakin' and everybody shakin', and obviously thinking about other Bee Gees disco tracks. Unsurprisingly, the team behind Superfly Disco see a big future in functions and parties, and the venue's opening is timed just before festive season. [caption id="attachment_869149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Drunken Monkey Group's Harlen Pointing and Adam Barton at Suzie Wong's Good Time Bar.[/caption] That crew? The Drunken Monkey Group team, adding another venue to its portfolio alongside Brooklyn Standard, Fat Angel Sports Bar and Suzie Wong's Good Time Bar. Suzie Wong's venue manager Michael Pattison will become the general manager role across the group's Valley sites, while Kyle Weir, who owns fellow nightclub Queens, will oversee DJ bookings. Drinks-wise, cocktails will be the tipples of choice, with the beverage menu yet to be revealed. Wearing flares and platform shoes: totally optional, but it'd fit the atmosphere. [caption id="attachment_869150" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Drunken Monkey Group's Manny Sakellarakis at Brooklyn Standard.[/caption] Find Superfly Disco at 12 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley, from Friday, October 7.
The Nanna-esque trade of crafting has taken to Brisbane like a plague. With events like Suitcase Rummage, BrisStyle Markets and The Finders Keepers on every other week it’s hard to deny that inner urge to do as the Nannas do. Who wouldn't want to be at home sewing, stitching, gluing and crafting all day? The Brisbane City Council has introduced a new program for the vast majority of Brisbane who are diggin’ on the DIY vibe - and those who are yet to get in on it. Saviours of The Lost Arts and Craft Fair is hosting markets, workshops, demonstrations and industry talks over twelve days across a few niche venues across Brisbane (including the Bleeding Heart Gallery). There’s origami making, stencil printing, softie sewing, jewelry making - even a crafties party! Go on! Get those creative juices flowing! Nanna would be so proud.
With all this time spent at home, you might as well make it interesting. Maybe throw in some problem-solving, clue-cracking and a spot of mystery? If any of the above takes your fancy, strap yourself in for the latest at-home escape room experience from the masters of intrigue at Ukiyo. The Brunswick-based escape room studio has been delivering locals their lockdown puzzle fix via a series of interactive online experiences. And the next one unfolds over four brain-teasing days, kicking off next Wednesday, September 16. Dubbed Bird Cage, this new virtual game takes its cues from the likes of Stranger Things, The Ring and Slender Man, serving up an Aussie twist on the retro sci-fi thriller. The story's set deep in the outback, pulling players into a paranormal mystery involving a creepy scientific institute, its prized specimen and a very unwanted escape. Delve into this immersive head-scratcher solo, or with your housemates, cracking clues and solving puzzles as the game unfolds. All you'll need to play is a computer with internet access, though there's also a Stranger Things-inspired pillow fortress competition to enter if you fancy a shot at winning a $200 Ukiyo voucher. Tickets for Bird Cage are just $5 per person, or you can nab a household ticket for $15 (for three or more players).
A month after Queensland last relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions, the state will move to its next phase of post-lockdown conditions, with stage three due to come into effect a week earlier than initially expected. And if you're keen to gather in large groups — both at home and out of the house — it's welcome news. In fact, you'll be able to do so in considerable numbers from this weekend. Today, Tuesday, June 30, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles mapped out just what's on the cards for Queenslanders when stage three hits at 12 noon on Friday, July 3, with a significant amount of changes kicking into gear. The list is lengthy, with all of the following permitted again: Up to 100 people in homes and non-commercial venues. Weddings and funerals with up to 100 people. Resuming all competition and contact sports, with COVID-Safe plans in place. Reopening indoor sports facilities, with one person per four square metres off the field of play. Reopening of outdoor sports facilities, with 1.5-metre social distancing off the field of play. Removing fixed caps on the number of people allowed in museums, libraries, art galleries and historic sites — and moving to the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule. Removing fixed caps on the number of people allowed in businesses — including shops, cafes, restaurants and bars — and moving to the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule. For smaller venues below 200 square metres, removing fixed caps on the number of people allowed in businesses even further — by moving to the one-person-per-two-square-metres rule, up to a maximum of 50 people. Allowing nightclubs, food courts, casinos and gaming venues to reopen with COVID-Safe plans in place, while adhering to either the one-person-per-four-square-metres (for venues over 200 square metres) or one-person-per-two-square-metres (for venues under 200 square metres) rules. Allowing non-therapeutic massage parlours, saunas and bathhouses to reopen with COVID-Safe Plans in place, while adhering to either the one-person-per-four-square-metres (for venues over 200 square metres) or one-person-per-two-square-metres (for venues under 200 square metres) rules. Allowing office workers to return to their place of work, while adhering to either the one-person-per-four-square-metres (for businesses over 200 square metres) or one-person-per-two-square-metres (for businesses under 200 square metres) rules. Allowing sporting venues to fill either to 50-percent capacity, or allow 25,000 spectators to attend — whichever is lesser. The reopening of concert venues, theatres and auditoriums with COVID-Safe Plans, either at 50-percent capacity or under the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule — whichever is greater. Allowing events up to 500 people without any additional approval, if following a COVID-Safe Event Checklist. Allowing events between 500–10,000 with an approved COVID-Safe Event Plan. Allowing events over 10,000 with an approved COVID-Safe Event Plan as well as approval from the Queensland Chief Health Officer. Here's the full rundown of all stages of Queensland's eased restrictions since mid-May: In short, that means that house parties are back on, hospitality venues can increase their capacity, concert venues can reopen and you'll be able to buy a beer at the bar. Nightclubs are also back in business, and stadium patronage will increase again as well. In not-so-welcome news for everyone enjoying working from home, however, it also means that hitting the keyboard from your couch — and while wearing your comfy clothes — may stop being a reality. Announcing not only the eased restrictions, but the reopening of the Queensland border to all Aussie states and territories except Victoria, Premier Palaszczuk noted that the changes — and moving forward the stage three start date — are "all due to the tremendous work of Queenslanders". As at today, Tuesday, June 30, the state only has two active coronavirus cases. The government also advised that it will review Queensland COVID-19 transmission levels with a view to moving from the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule to the one-person-per-two-square-metres more widely — "when circumstances allow". As always, standard social distancing and hygiene practises remain in effect — including washing your hands, cough and sneeze hygiene, staying 1.5-metres from other people, and staying home and getting tested if you're sick. To find out more about Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions, and the status of the coronavirus in the state, visit Queensland's online COVID-19 hub. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
Here's one thing that Brisbane will never get tired of: new waterside spots to while away a day at, especially over drinks and a bite to eat. Rivermakers Heritage Quarter has been around for more than a year now, but it's still a newcomer in this town of ours. So, Saturday, January 28 is your chance to stop by if you haven't already. This patch of Colmslie Road in Morningside has turned into a new must-visit destination, and is now marking two big January countdowns in the appropriate way. That'd be with beers — strawberries and cream sour ales, to be specific — while both the GABS Hottest 100 and Triple J Hottest 100 run. Listen to the best 100 tunes of the past year while celebrating the best 100 brews: that's what's on the agenda from 11am. Make a beeline for Revel Brewing Co's Rivermakers site for one of the biggest dates on the calendar whether you like tunes, beers or both. Bookings are recommended, though — two celebrations means plenty of folks saying cheers.
The fact that it's called The Cottage Restaurant kind of gives it away; however stepping inside Ipswich's latest is like stepping back in time. And, let's deal with the most important matter first: you mightn't often trek this far west for a meal, but eating at this elegant 1861 abode is worth the drive. Sitting on the verandah of the national trust dwelling is highly recommended, so there's your first must-visit reason taken care of (who doesn't like enjoying a fancy meal outdoors?). The second reason to put The Cottage on your local road trip itinerary extends beyond the cute old-school decor to the food and drinks. This really is fine dining, new-school, modern Australian style. And, The Cottage really does boast a menu full of items that'll make you exclaim "I must eat that!". Try a mushroom cappuccino with truffle oil, 48-hour pork belly and lavender creme brulee, for example. Plus, the lineup is seasonal, so more delightful concoctions await four times year.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, you can't go on a holiday (locally or overseas). But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. Winding through the rugged expanse of Victoria's Wimmera Mallee region, lies the country's largest outdoor gallery, where the artworks are metres tall, and grace not walls, but towering grain silos. First dreamt up back in 2016, evolving from a small community art project, the now famed Silo Art Trail unfolds over 200 kilometres, where six large-scale works have transformed structures in Brim, Patchewollock, Lascelles, Rupanyup, Sheep Hills and Rosebery. The mural portraits, painted by a collective of artists in conjunction with Yarriambiack Shire Council and international street art agency Juddy Roller, capture the spirit and history of this unique corner of the world, each work offering a snapshot of its host town. If you're visiting the art trail from Melbourne, the closest silo is in Rupanyup — approximately 3.5-hours' drive from the CBD. From there, it'll take you just over two hours to reach the other end of the art trail in Patchewollock. That's the order we've listed the artworks here, but to design an alternate route, head to the Silo Art Trail website. [caption id="attachment_681273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] RUPANYUP, JULIA VOLCHKOVA When you reach Rupanyup, you'll spy a realistic pair of faces by Russian muralist Julia Volchkova, an homage to local youngsters Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann. Kitted out in their sports gear and looking bright-eyed and fearless, the characters are a nod to the region's younger generation and the realities of rural life for adolescents. Here, Volchkova has used monochrome tones to capture a spirit of strength, creating a lifelike mural similar to her large-scale works depicting locals across Southeast Asia. [caption id="attachment_681271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] SHEEP HILLS, ADNATE Shining a light on the region's indigenous history and community, the 80-year-old GrainCorp silos in Sheep Hills now boast a vibrant portrait of four locals — Wergaia Elder Uncle Ron Marks and Wotjobaluk Elder Aunty Regina Hood, alongside children Curtly McDonald and Savannah Marks — with a bold, dreamtime-inspired night sky as the background. The striking piece is the work of Melbourne artist Adnate, whose creative focus often lies in sharing the stories and cultures of Aboriginal Australians. Here, he has embraced the concept of customs and wisdom being passed down through the generations, and the strong ancestral bonds shared among the area's indigenous community. [caption id="attachment_681276" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] BRIM, GUIDO VAN HELTEN The striking Guido van Helten mural in Brim is where it all began in 2016, spurring inspiration for the rest of the project after putting this sleepy town on the map. Melbourne-raised van Helten kicked things off strongly with his earthy-toned portrait of four farmers, all varying ages, themed around shifting ideas of community identity. The artist's work using translucent aerosol paints lends a faded, ghostlike quality to the characters, shaking the concept of time. [caption id="attachment_681274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] ROSEBERY, KAFF-EINE The latest addition to the Silo Art Trail is a captivating Rosebery mural by lawyer-turned-street artist Kaff-eine. She has set out to embrace the region's past, present and future, with a portrait of a young female sheep farmer, alongside one of a horseman bonding with his four-legged mate. Elements like cowboy boots, Akubra hat and oilskin vest aren't just an unmistakable nod to country life, but capture the strong sense of symbolism that is signature to much of Kaff-eine's work. [caption id="attachment_681275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] LASCELLES, RONE Meanwhile, over in Lascelles, there's a sense of quiet wisdom that emanates from the portrait of fourth-generation farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, wrapped around two decades-old grain silos. Captured by Melbourne's Rone in 2017, this one speaks to a people's deep, long-running connection to the land, with monochrome hues and water-blended paint creating a hazy, ghostly effect through the work. [caption id="attachment_681272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] PATCHEWOLLOCK, FINTAN MAGEE In Patchewollock, Fintan Magee's 2016 silo mural was inspired by a stay at the local pub, where he met his portrait subject, local farmer Nick "Noodle" Hulland. The colourful, 35-metre-tall piece is a fitting ode to the hard-working Aussie farming community and its rugged spirit. Hulland's shown gazing to the horizon wearing the classic faded flanny, sun-bleached hair and weathered face that so often go hand in hand with life on the land.
Much has changed at Portside Wharf over its almost two-decade existence to date, but Byblós Brisbane has remained a constant. One of the River City's go-tos for Lebanese cuisine has been a mainstay of the waterside Hamilton precinct, whether you're keen on a meal or drinks. When it opened in 2006, it was also the first-ever eatery from brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, the pair behind hospitality outfit — and the Bisou Bisou-, Iris Rooftop-, Blackbird Bar, Dining and Events-, Boom Boom Room-, Donna Chang- and Lúc Lắc-running — Ghanem Group. As new venues make their home at Portside, Byblós remains in place, but it's now sporting a revamped aesthetic and refreshed menu. Eighteen years after it first launched its Hamilton digs, the restaurant has undergone a renovation, and has been back up and running since spring 2024 in its new redesigned guise.. Indoors, expect an open dining and bar area, complete with dining booths and private nooks. If you're keen to eat and drink outside, you can now step through bi-fold glass sliding doors to the plant-filled waterside al fresco space, which has also been expanded and weather-proofed. Space Cubed Design Studio was on design duties, aiming to nod to Lebanese cuisine's past and present, including by incorporating tiles handcrafted in the venue's namesake city. Food-wise, patrons can tuck into a sharing-friendly menu influenced by a 2023 research trip to Lebanon, plus a new drinks range featuring cocktails such as Lebanese Lemonade (vodka, a whole lemon, mint, arak and maraschino) and Phoenician Sunset (Licor 43, strawberry liqueur, apple and strawberry), a hefty array of spirits and a wine cellar filled with drops from around the world. New highlights span salmon kibbeh nayeh (which is made with raw salmon, burghal, cucumber, fresh mint, red onion and fresh saj) and eggplant fatteh (fried eggplant, cow's milk yogurt, fresh mint and toasted flatbread) among the small plates. Yes, the fan-favourite rakakat, aka fried filo pastries stuffed with mozzarella, feta, parsley and onion, remains on offer. For something more substantial, the wagyu skewers feature pomegranate, pickled red onion, wild thyme and chimichurri; the Brisbane Valley quail comes with orange blossom honey, sumac and parsley, as well as pine nuts and currants; and the slow-cooked lamb shoulder is paired with mixed nuts, currants and jus. Baklava cheesecake and Turkish delight pavlova are dessert standouts — and if you can't pick what to eat, that's where the banquet menu comes in.
For most filmmakers, Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents would've screamed for the documentary treatment. A non-fiction text published in 2020, it works through the thesis that racism in America isn't just the product of xenophobia, but is an example of social stratification. The journalist and author — and, in 1994, Pulitzer Prize-winner — examines how categorising populations into groups with a perceived grading is at the heart of US race relations, and how the same was true in Nazi Germany and still does in the treatment of the Dalit in India. A doco could spring easily from there. If it happens to in the future, no one should be surprised. Ava DuVernay, who brings Wilkerson's prize-winning tome to the screen now, has demonstrated again and again with Selma, The 13th and A Wrinkle in Time that she's not most directors, however. Make the points in Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents via a documentary, if and when that occurs, and they'd be accurate and powerful. Express them through cinema's function as an empathy machine, via personal tales including Wilkerson's own, and they resonate by getting audiences stepping into a range of shoes. Watching isn't merely investigating and learning in Origin, as Wilkerson as a character — played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (The Color Purple) in a phenomenally passionate and thoughtful lead performance — does in a movie that's also a biopic about her life and work. Sitting down to DuVernay's film is all about feeling, understanding what it's like to be a range of people who are forced to grapple with being seen as less than others for no reason but the fact that urge to judge that keeps proving inherent in human nature. Accordingly, viewing Origin means walking in the footsteps of Black teenager Trayvon Martin (Myles Frost, All In) in the US in 2012, when he was shot by a Hispanic man solely for strolling in a white neighbourhood. It means spending time with Black nine-year-old Al Bright (Lennox Simms, Abbott Elementary), who wasn't permitted in a public pool with his white Little League teammates in the 50s. And, it means charting the efforts of Black anthropologists Allison and Elizabeth Davis (Fear the Walking Dead's Isha Blaaker and Blindspotting's Jasmine Cephas Jones), who went undercover with white colleagues Burleigh and Mary Gardner (Doom Patrol's Matthew Zuk and Pain Hustlers' Hannah Pniewski) in Jim Crow-era Mississippi. Their work resulted in Deep South: A Social Anthropological Study of Caste and Class — a book that now sports a forward by Wilkerson. Following Origin's narrative also involves being immersed in the tale of a Jewish woman and German man, August Landmesser (Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story) and Irma Eckler (Victoria Pedretti, You), falling in love in the Third Reich. In a famous photograph from 1936, he's considered to be the lone person not saluting in a Nazi crowd. Origin plunges into reality for a group in India once dubbed "untouchables", too, a title given due to their place in the pecking order. It's a literal term, and one of exclusion and segregation — and it dictates what those deemed at the bottom of the Hindu caste ranks can and can't do and interact with. DuVernay weaves in everything beyond Wilkerson as recreations, making such tales far more tangible and pivotal than mere slices of the past — recent and not-so — providing examples for Caste. In other words, it's one thing to know something or even witness it, and another to feel as if you're experiencing it yourself. That's DuVernay's approach — and it's in line with her focus on Wilkerson, getting Origin's audience empathising not only with everyone in its vignettes, but with her while she's sifting through this history. Sensitive, savvy, sincere, supremely smart: they all describe the way that this film, which its director penned and helmed, is built. DuVernay doesn't ever lose sight of Wilkerson, though, as she pursues her book amid several rounds of loss. Facing individual and societal heartbreak in tandem is also a thread in the feature. So are the echoes that the concept of caste has had on her mother Ruby (Emily Yancy, Sharp Objects), who has lived the reality of avoiding provoking backlash for simply existing — and also on Wilkerson's relationship with her doting husband Brett (Jon Bernthal, The Bear). As a confidant, friend, much-needed support and sounding board, DuVernay includes Isabel's cousin Marion (Niecy Nash-Betts, Never Have I Ever) into her retelling as well. That move gives the film and its protagonist a third tender relationship to navigate, and viewers to identify with. It's also another way that DuVernay expands her long-running push to explore the emotions simmering within Black women, and how they're influenced by the place that they're allowed in the world. Before Selma gave Coretta King prominence alongside her husband, and before A Wrinkle in Time, DuVernay's last non-documentary picture prior to now, charted a Black teen's quest aided by astral travellers, I Will Follow and Middle of Nowhere also traversed this terrain. Indeed, the question with Origin isn't why its director took this path with the material — it's how could she have done anything else? Is Origin ambitious? Bold? Unfailingly intelligent? Lensed with texture and intimacy by Matthew J Lloyd (Spider-Man: Far From Home)? Remarkably acted, especially by Ellis-Taylor, Bernthal and Nash-Betts? A film where feeling deeply is the only response? Does it take a route that no one else would've dreamed of contemplating with Wilkinson, her book, grief, power structures and subjugation? Is it a journey of one woman and of humanity in tandem? DuVernay's movie is all of these things — and it's a chronicle of the jumping-off points and discussions along the way to Caste coming to fruition, such as listening to the 911 call by George Zimmerman, who murdered Martin; having editors (The Nun II's Vera Farmiga and Harlan Coben's Shelter's Stephanie March) ask for her thoughts on it; her romance with Brett; caring for Ruby; chats with Marion; and even talking to a Make America Great Again hat-wearing plumber (Nick Offerman, Dumb Money). Yes, among all of the above, Origin is also a piece of cinema that only DuVernay could've made.
Whether you're suffering from full-blown insomnia or just have trouble winding down after a big day, everyone knows the feeling of lying in bed, praying for sleep but failing to drop off. If counting sheep isn't working — or any number of other snooze-inducing tips, because there are plenty — then perhaps you need to listen to a list of Swedish furniture names. While a hefty walk around any IKEA store usually helps make anyone sleepy (and the crowds, decisions and meatballs too), the huge retailer thinks that the sounds of its product titles will really do the trick. Enter the IKEA Sleep Podcast. It simply features two company employees rattling off words such as sommaraster (a quilt cover), leirvik (a bed frame) and hidrasund (a spring mattress), plus everything else in the Australian catalogue's current bedroom and storage range. Two versions are available, so you can choose between hearing Sara Eriksson utter product monikers — and their English descriptions — or opt for her husband Kent Eriksson. Each under 30-minute podcast also offers a brief introductory explanation about the philosophy behind IKEA's furniture names, should you be wondering why a fyresdal (day bed) or pax (wardrobe) have the titles they have. The podcast's release is timed to coincide with the end of daylight savings in many Australian states, as well as across New Zealand — aka a time when our usual rest patterns are disrupted. Whether you'll dream about letting loose in an IKEA store, walking around a huge warehouse or kitting out your bedroom with new sheets and curtains — and whether you'll wake up with a burning desire to buy new furniture — well, that's something you'll only discover by listening. To listen to the IKEA Sleep Podcast, visit the IKEA website.
Fresh from making two of his last four films in Australia — Lion and Hotel Mumbai — Dev Patel is heading somewhere completely different. Stepping back to medieval times, he's jumping into the fantasy genre, messing with Arthurian legend and swinging around a mighty sword, all thanks to the dark and ominous The Green Knight. Based on the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Green Knight casts Patel as Sir Gawain. Nephew to King Arthur (Sean Harris), he's a knight of the Round Table and fearsome warrior. The character has popped up in plenty of tales, but here, he's forced to confront the green-skinned titular figure in an eerie showdown. As the poem explains, the Green Knight dares any other knight to strike him with an axe, but only if they'll then receive a return blow exactly one year and one day later. Just how closely this film adaptation will stick to that story is yet to be seen — however the just-dropped first teaser certainly looks more than a little moody, brooding and creepy. Patel is in great company, with The Green Knight also starring Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton and Dunkirk's Barry Keoghan. Games of Thrones' Kate Dickie pops up as Guinevere, while her co-star Ralph Ineson — whose also known from the Harry Potter flicks, The Witch and the UK version of The Office — plays the Green Knight. And, it's the latest film by an impressive — and always eclectic — writer/director, with David Lowery's filmography spanning everything from Ain't Them Bodies Saints and Pete's Dragon to A Ghost Story and The Old Man and the Gun. Check out the teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJc2tH3WBw The Green Knight will release in the US sometime over America's summer, but it doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when it does.
Brisbanites, prepare to start feeling a big dose of deja vu. Folks in the rest of southeast Queensland, and in Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, get ready to spend the next three days at home as well. In these areas of the Sunshine State, a new lockdown will come into effect from 6pm today, Tuesday, June 29 — running for three days until 6pm on Friday, July 2. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news in her daily press conference, with the stay-at-home conditions coming into effect due to the state's latest COVID-19 cases — including in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. One case has also recently travelled to Magnetic Island and Townsville while infectious, which is why those areas will also go into lockdown. "This is absolutely essential and we want to make sure that we stop the virus in its tracks," said the Premier. "This is really important that everyone does the right thing. I know Queenslanders will. These are tough decisions. We have had two extensive meetings this morning about this. We have to take the advice of Dr Young. I have accepted that advice." If you're wondering what counts as southeast Queensland, it covers the 11 Local Government Areas that were put under new restrictions yesterday, Monday, June 28: Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Ipswich, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley and Somerset. Folks in these LGAs, as well as residents of Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, will return to the rules that've been in place during previous Queensland lockdowns — as happened in Greater Brisbane in both January and March 2021, and statewide in March 2020. So, that means you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons — to head out for essential work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Otherwise, you must stay at home during the three-day lockdown period. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1409689394798157827 As part of the lockdown, there is a limit of two visitors in homes. Masks are already compulsory in southeast Queensland, and will be required to be worn everywhere in the lockdown areas — other than if you're at your own home. Cinemas, entertainment venues, recreational venues, beauty and personal care services, and gyms will all close, as will places of worship, while cafes, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to open for takeaway service. Also, folks who decide to come to any of the areas going into lockdown during the stay-at-home period will be bound by the same restrictions, although travel is discouraged — and no one should leave their locked-down area during this period. And, if you decide to leave southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island before 6pm tonight, you must still go into lockdown and follow the conditions no matter wherever you are. As it has been during the pandemic so far, Queensland Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any. The Greater Brisbane area will go into lockdown from 6pm on Tuesday, June 29 6pm on Friday, July 2. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
What do you do when wild weather hits, Brisbanites? Watch the radar to see just when and where it'll strike? Stay glued to your couch? Come up with a new festival of contemporary dance? We're guessing only two folks can claim the latter, although everyone can enjoy the end result. Yes, things are about to get stormy on the stage instead of in the sky (although, given that it's summer, the latter is still likely to happen too). From February 18 to 25, SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane will take over the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, as co-founded and curated by Kate Usher and Glyn Roberts. The fresh venture celebrates Queensland's place in the dance world by bringing together local and international artists, performances, workshops and conversations. Highlights include a five-woman piece from Switzerland's Simone Truong; a triple bill by Australia's Bridget Fiske and the UK's Joseph Lau; dancers from China, Indonesia and around Australia; and a three-day workshop with Gold Coast outfit The Farm. SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane runs from February 18 to 25 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. For more information, visit the festival website.
In the same week that Aussie supermarket giant Woolworths finally banned single-use plastic bags, Melbourne's Crown Complex has also dished up some good news for the future of our planet, announcing it has started cutting down on single-use plastics. Coming from the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere, that's no small feat. Crown Melbourne is kicking things off by joining the global Plastic Free July initiative, which sets out to raise awareness about the impact of pesky, single-use plastics and challenges people to do something about it. For the whole month, the entire Crown Casino Complex will crack down on disposable plastics, promising to remove all single-use plastic "where possible" and to "encourage consumers to change their attitudes and behaviours". Straws will only be available on request, plastic bags have been replaced with paper alternatives in all Crown outlets, and various biodegradable and compostable products are currently being tested, with the aim of phasing out plastic cutlery as well. A spokeswoman for Crown told Concrete Playground, "Crown recognises that the process to phase out single use plastics will take several years, and that we are at the start of our journey." The intention is to continue the plastic crack-down long after the month of July, as more testing's carried out and better alternative products are found.
If there's one thing that you can count on at MONA's arts festivals, it's that they never deliver the exact same experience twice. That's doubly true of next year's Mona Foma, which is making the huge move to Launceston — and doing so with a seriously noteworthy lineup. After hosting part of the 2018 event, the entirety of 2019's Mona Foma will take place across the Tasmanian city, shifting from its previous home of Hobart. Arriving in town from January 13–20, it'll bring everything from music legends to thumping beats to new Aussie heroes to the stage. Attendees can also expect a sensory blend of music, theatre and art, an exhibition that combines creativity with scientific specimens, and oh-so-many onesies. Of course, the list goes on. Headlining this year's bill are Swedish star Neneh Cherry and Welsh electronic music icons Underworld, so prepare to get in a buffalo stance and get born slippy. They'll be joined by Mona Foma's big Aussie premiere and exclusive: a four-part performance by producer and composer Oneohtrix Point Never and the MYRIAD ensemble. Also called Myriad, it's framed from the perspective of an alien intelligence that has absorbed earth's entire history, and mixes the seemingly unlikely combination of medieval folk, dance music, R&B, and sci-fi imagery. Music-wise, Mona Foma-goers can also catch Courtney Barnett on her return to Tassie, as well as Mulatu Astatke and the Black Jesus Experience as they blend Ethiopian music with jazz and Afro-Latin. Or, there's Finland's Satu Vänskä playing her 292-year-old violin with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Aussie stoner rockers Bansheeland doing their psychedelic grunge thing and Central Niger's all-female Les Filles de Illighadad with their inimitable brand psychedelic Saharan desert rock. On the arts side of things, Art of the Body: Health, Beauty and Desire brings together a heap of artists to respond to medical body part specimens — and the actual body parts will be on display as well. Then there's Onesie World 2.0, a new iteration of Adele Varcoe and Self-Assembly's onesie extravaganza, with the designer and label whipping up 2000 DIY all-in-ones. Other highlights include morning meditation sessions in Cataract Gorge, endurance performance artist Ben Landau's 24-hour attempt to keep humming non-stop, as well as a rather curious inclusion from British composer artist Nick Ryan: a machine that tracks the position of 27,000 pieces of space junk, then transforms them into sound as they pass overhead. And, with Mona Foma committed to inviting a new audience to experience the festival each year, they're focusing on the Amish of Lancaster County for 2019 — which means putting up a bunch of billboards around Pennsylvania and letting the local Amish into the festival for free. For everyone else, tickets go on sale from midday on Monday, October 15. Mona Foma runs from January 13–20, 2019, in Launceston, Tasmania. For more information or to grab tickets from midday on Monday, October 15, head to mofo.net.au
If the humble straight-up beer just isn’t cutting it for you anymore, truffle-infused beer is a thing now — and they’re coming to high-end restaurants in New York City. Chicago-based Moody Tongue’s Shaved Black Truffle Pilsner is being sold for $120 for a 22oz bottle, which is just shy of a long neck for the classy folk playing at home. So far the beer has been trialed at Per Se in New York, a top-tier, Michelin-rated restaurant. To make matters even more fancy, the brew was paired with roasted bitter chocolate and truffle black pudding with brioche cream, walnut floss and green almonds. Jared Rouben, chef and now brewmaster behind Moody Tongue in Chicago, has put in a lot of homework and meticulous hours into concocting this extravagant tipple. "I reached out to other chefs to get as much information as possible. I did as much homework as I could to get it just right." Rouben explained to Grub Street that he spent several all-nighters shaving truffles. "Imagine separating egg yolks from egg whites by the hundreds." The beer consists of hand-shaven black perigord truffles, German hops and pilsen malt. For the first batch Rouben made a fairly small yield, about 40 barrels, which would fill 80 kegs. Depending on how well this creation goes down with the high society of New York, further production could be on the cards. Interestingly, the truffles used in the beer were sourced from Australia, as Rouben paired up exclusively with Western Australian truffle aficionados, Wine & Truffle Co. Australia is the fourth largest black truffle producer in the world, just behind, France, Italy and Spain. Retail cost for truffles in Australia is around $2500 per kg — and if you add importing costs on top of that to get the truffles to the States, the hefty price tag for a bottle of beer starts to make sense. Sadly there are no plans as of yet to export this beer, but if they do, we think they should return the truffles to their native homeland. As long as someone else is shouting the round, we’ll happily have a sip. Via Grub Street and New York Post.
Come the really raw bits of winter, our gut instinct generally tells us to bunker down in our own homes with blanket forts and hot comforting stews. Nothing says 'let's stay home in our pyjamas tonight' like frosty air and something trashy on TV. But don't fret — mini-holidays are still achievable (even in winter) and in Melbourne weekends away are at your fingertips. All you have to do is jump into your car and go for a little spin. Cold places can make for beaut weekends away, and Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges are a very valid option. Only 35 kilometres east of the CBD, The Hills, as they're affectionately known, will make you feel like you're in a tiny European village at the best of times, or lost in the forest at the worst (hint: take a map with you). Stretching from the southern ranges to Belgrave, the foothills and hilltop villages like Sassafrass and Mount Dandenong, here are some tips for a weekend away in the area filled with woodfires, ferns and a plethora of dessert options. [caption id="attachment_581918" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hideaway Cottage[/caption] STAY Heading up to stay a few nights? Feeling cosy in Airbnb cottages are what it's all about up there, so have yourself a gander at this one. Hideaway Cottage is right up the top of the mountain in the area actually called — fittingly enough — Mount Dandenong, and it's a sweet little stone cottage house embodying all things quaint. There's a loft bedroom up a spiral staircase, a fireplace for those wintry times and even a veranda as an added bonus. You'll be sitting out the front wrapped in your blanket cocoon saying things like "this is what life is all about" before you know it — not even minding that your toes have gone a bit numb. If you want to step it up a notch and go full forest, head up to the Linden Rainforest Retreat; it's also in Mount Dandenong, but a whole level above when it comes to indulgence. You can choose from one of four 'designer suite' retreats, there's room service, and you can even pre-order a cheese platter and/or rose petals to be strewn about your bed before you arrive. It's prime fare for a couple celebrating something special, or just for a single really going for it in the treat yo'self stakes. 100 points for you. Alternatively, just go bush and camp somewhere in the basically enormous expanse of green camping possibility that the Dandenong Ranges are. There are a bunch of well-equipped camping grounds dotted around the ranges — here's a list to start you off. But a warning to you, the Dandenongs do tend to hover a few degrees lower than the mainland down below at all times, so nights outdoors in winter will be frosty indeed. [caption id="attachment_581920" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ripe Sassafrass[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Contrary to popular opinion, it's not all about scones up here. Okay, it is a little bit. A hot tip is avoiding the over-touristy and over-priced Miss Marple's Tearoom in Sassafras and heading a few doors down to Ripe. The café has a produce store attached, a heated deck so you can sit amongst the ferns, and a Devonshire tea that includes a hot drink in the price (unlike Miss Marple's). For those who aren't all about lashings of cream and jam, Ripe also does a solid baguette menu — and it almost goes without saying that the prosciutto, quince paste and brie is the winner over here. [caption id="attachment_581922" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Cafe de Beaumarchais[/caption] If you've done a fair whack of walking around the mountainous surroundings, it could be high time for some sweet treats. Café de Beaumarchais (also in Sassafras) has you sorted with a fairly hectic cake display and great coffee, and a general vibe making you feel like you're in a tiny village in France. For heavier fare head to Woods Sherbrooke — the Sri Lankan chef and owner's contemporary Asian menu will warm your belly on a cold winter's night. Drinking holes are a little harder to come by in the hills, so our first suggestion would be to make a big vat of your own mulled wine and drink it by the fireplace in your cottage. If you're very keen to venture on out, Belgrave is probably the place to go. Sooki Lounge on Burwood Highway isn't the hallmark that the bar it replaced, the famous Ruby's Lounge, once was, but it still does live music and organic tapas. Oscar's Alehouse, also just down the road, is a bit of Brunswick in Belgrave — there's a heap of different craft beers and you can even BYO pizza in. [caption id="attachment_581933" align="alignnone" width="1280"] RJ Hamer Aboretum, Matthew Paul Argall via Flickr[/caption] SEE AND DO Getting around in the Dandenongs can be slow-going — thanks to the one-lane Mount Dandenong Tourist Road starting at Tremont and running all the way up to Montrose — so don those old runners, flex your feet and set off on foot. It's like the hills are urging you to go a-hikin' through them, and there's plentiful walks to be done. A tip is avoiding the tourist-saturated 1000 Steps Walk on a weekend because it ends up being more of a shuffle/whoops-avoid-the-family-of-five-plus-their-dog type affair. Instead, head to the huge RJ Hamer Arboretum in Olinda. Here stand over 150 different types of trees and, when the leaves start to fall in cold weather, it has a real resemblance to Narnia. The National Rhododendron Gardens nearby are also beautiful, covered in colour, and quite hilly so you can get a bit of cardio in at the same time. [caption id="attachment_581935" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ashim D'Sliva[/caption] Rainier days might see you heading into Belgrave's Cameo Cinemas, an eight-screen effort showing arthouse and cult hits as well as blockbusters, with an outdoor cinema in the warmer months. But if you want some more R&R (that is, if watching the new Tarzan isn't relaxing enough for you), the Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose has more mineral springs and massage therapies than you could have time for over a single weekend. Shopping-wise, Sassafras has options that range from homey and fragrant (Tea Leaves) to tasty pantry things (Cream), to kooky wooden puppets (Geppetto's), if that's your jam. Or, if you're up there between November and April, take home some edible souvenirs from Blue Hills Berries & Cherries by picking your own strawberries, raspberries, or cherries as fresh as they come. [caption id="attachment_548957" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sherbrooke Falls Trail[/caption] ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS Public transport is sparse, but you can jump on a train and take the Belgrave line out to Upper Ferntree Gully Station, then wait for the 688 bus (every half hour or so), which runs along the Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road up the mountain. The drive is quicker — about 50 minutes from the CBD. The Burwood Highway and Mount Dandenong will take you up there pretty swiftly. Top image: Adrian Mohedano via Flickr.
Some voices could utter anything and make it sound interesting, and David Attenborough's is one of them. That said, that's not why the iconic British broadcaster has become such a trusted and beloved figure in the nature documentary world. His involvement in any project that roves over, probes and ponders the planet we all live on is the ultimate stamp of approval. Whether he's narrating Planet Earth, The Blue Planet, their sequels, a stampede of other series or film David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, his participation always means more than merely his vocal tones echoing across exceptional imagery — it means astute science-backed insights paired with a first-rate spectacle. When it initially arrived in 2022, becoming one of the year's best new shows and giving nature doco fans the five-episode series they didn't know they'd always wanted — and simultaneously couldn't believe hadn't been made until now — Prehistoric Planet followed that formula perfectly. And it is a formula. In a genre that's frequently spying the wealth of patterns at the heart of the animal realm, documentaries such as The Living Planet, State of the Planet, Frozen Planet, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet, Green Planet and the like all build from the same basic elements. Jumping back 66 million years, capitalising upon advancements in special effects but committing to making a program just like anything that peers at the earth today was never going to feel like the easy product of a template, though. Indeed, Prehistoric Planet's first season was stunning, and its second is just as staggering. Again, Prehistoric Planet 2 streams via Apple TV+. Again, it's also dropping its five instalments over five nights, this time screening across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26. And, each chapter again heroes a different environment and the ancient creatures that called it home. This second go-around starts with the inhabitants of earth's islands during the Cretaceous age, then moves to the badlands, primarily focusing on areas with volcanic activity. Next, hopping between continents, the show gets swampy. After that comes a dive into the oceans, followed by a journey to one particular patch of terrain: North America. The catch, in both season one and this return trip backwards: while breathtaking landscape footage brings the planet's terrain to the Prehistoric Planet series, the critters stalking, swimming, flying and tumbling across it are purely pixels. Filmmaker Jon Favreau remains among the show's executive producers, and the technology that brought his photorealistic versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King to cinemas couldn't be more pivotal. Seeing needs to be believing while watching, because the big-screen gloss of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas, the puppets of 90s sitcom Dinosaurs, and the animatronics of Walking with Dinosaurs — or anything in-between — were never going to suit a program with Attenborough as a guide. Accordingly, to sit down to Prehistoric Planet is to experience cognitive dissonance: viewers are well-aware that what they're seeing isn't real because the animals seen no longer exist, but it truly looks that authentic. Still set to a rousing score by acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer (now fresh from Top Gun: Maverick) with Bleeding Fingers Music's Anže Rozman and Kara Talve, Prehistoric Planet 2 also expands its focus beyond season one's creatures, aka all the regular dinos that everyone grew up knowing. Familiar beasts still walk through the series' frames, accompanied by new titbits about their lives and behaviour — feathered raptor babies prove both cute and clever, for instance — but honing in on new animals feels as revelatory as it's meant to. One such critter earns episode two's attention, with the Indian sauropod isisaurus first observed as mothers-to-be trekking through gas and avoiding lava to lay eggs in volcanic ash, then seen as hatchlings navigating the treacherous spot to return to the herd. Visually, with painterly backdrops that look otherworldly because fiery mountains always do (see also: Oscar-nominated documentary Fire of Love), the time spent with these plant-eating, long-necked dinos is as beautiful as anything the show has ever delivered. The isisaurus boasts ample company, each making their moments and episodes gleam in different ways. When the island-centric first season-two episode shows the dance-like mating ritual of the hatzegopteryx — the heaviest animal to ever fly — against pristine white sands and an ocean backdrop, it too stands out. So do the towering pterosaurs anyway with their 12-metre wingspans, of course. Also on the list: the pachycephalosaurus with their colourful dome-shaped skulls, as often seen butting against each other, and the displays of combat between clashing triceratops. Dinosaurs, they're just like people: always trying to leave an impression, claim their turf and find companionship. During the chapter dedicated to swamps, prehistoric frog beelzebufo — also known as devil toad — croaks to find love, too. As its presence demonstrates, and the hatzegopteryx as well, dinos aren't the only creatures in Prehistoric Planet's jam-packed return. The ocean instalment is especially fond of ammonites, devoting much of its running time to the molluscs' life cycle and graceful movements through the underwater deep, while mammals, bony fish, flightless seabirds, primitive ducks, million-strong swarms of flies and vegetarian crocodiles all make an appearance. Surveying a broader range of the animals calling earth home before the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction event doesn't just help prolong the program and ideally open the doors for even more seasons to follow; it's an aptly thoughtful touch. Every episode may begin with Attenborough surrounded by fossils, but there's far more to prehistoric life and to scientific learnings about the period than the familiar — artefacts and critters alike. In season two, context isn't only relegated to each chapter's introduction. Moving season one's post-show forays into the facts behind the imagery into the show itself, every nightly segment now ends with expert talking heads — from Prehistoric Planet's consultants, London's Natural History Museum and beyond — chatting through the data and discoveries backing up everything viewers have just seen. That too is an intelligent move, because the longer anyone watches this series, takes in its Attenborough-voiced insights and becomes immersed in life oh-so-far back, the more they want to learn. Move over Jurassic Park — this is the best dino franchise now. Check out the trailer for Prehistoric Planet's second season below: Prehistoric Planet season two premieres via Apple TV+ across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26, with a new episode available to stream each day. Read our full review of Prehistoric Planet season one, and read our interview with executive producer Mike Gunton and series producer Tim Walker about season two.
"Do you guys ever think about dying?" When life in plastic is fantastic, that's not a line anyone that would expect to come out of Barbie's (Margot Robbie, Babylon) mouth. And, amid giant blowout parties with planned choreography with all her pals, and the constant devotion of her beau Ken (Ryan Gosling, The Gray Man), such existential musings do come as a shock. When she can no longer float off of her rooftop and her usually arched feet become flat, the Barbie movie's main namesake heads to the real world for answers. That's the plot for Greta Gerwig's film, which marks the actor-turned-director's third solo stint behind the camera after Lady Bird and Little Women, and has been teasing its extremely pink on-screen worlds in not one but two trailers prior to the just-dropped full sneak peek. Even dolls living in a dreamland struggle with life's big questions, it seems — and, when the film's key Barbie and Ken drive through Barbie Land's gates to discover what's on the other side, they struggle with Los Angeles as well. With mugshots to prove it, they even get arrested. Splashing as much humour as pastel hues throughout its frames, Barbie is scripted by Gerwig and fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach — her helmer on Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise, and real-life partner — and boasts a cast that's a gleaming toy chest of talent. Indeed, it might just be the most anticipated toy-to-film release ever. There's that pedigree, of course. There's also the picture's patently playful vibe, which started with parodying the one and only 2001: A Space Odyssey and has kept beaming brightly from there. All those on-screen stars help fill the feature with Barbies, including Issa Rae (Insecure) as president Barbie, Dua Lipa (making her movie debut) as a mermaid Barbie, Emma Mackey (Emily) as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Barbie, Alexandra Schipp (tick, tick... BOOM!) as an author Barbie and Ana Cruz Kayne (Jerry and Marge Go Large) as a supreme court justice Barbie — plus Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as diplomat Barbie, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) as a Barbie who is always doing the splits, Hari Nef (Meet Cute) as doctor Barbie, Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie and Sharon Rooney (Jerk) as lawyer Barbie. There's also a whole heap of Kens, including Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Ncuti Gatwa (the incoming Doctor Who) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie). And, Michael Cera (Arrested Development) plays Alan, Emerald Fennell (The Crown) plays Midge, Helen Mirren (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) is the narrator, America Ferrera (Superstore) and Ariana Greenblatt (65) are humans, Jamie Demetriou (Catherine Called Birdy) is a suit, Will Ferrell (Spirited) wears a suit as Mattel's CEO and Connor Swindells (also Sex Education) is an intern. Will this be the best figurine-to-film adaptation yet in a mixed field that also includes the Transformers series, Trolls, The Lego Movie and its sequel, Battleship and the GI Joe films? The answer will be pulled out of the toy box in cinemas on July 20 Down Under. And yes, Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' finally (finally!) gets a spin in this trailer, although you likely already had it stuck in your head just thinking about this movie anyway. Check out the full trailer for Barbie below: Barbie releases in cinemas Down Under on July 20, 2023.
Sometimes, you're just so desperate for more of your favourite TV show that you're willing to go to extraordinary lengths. Some might think that recreating the seven kingdoms on stage is pushing it a little too far — but they haven't met Graeme of Thrones yet. We're not saying that the hit UK parody has iron thrones, fire-breathing dragons, giant fortresses, white walkers and everything that George RR Martin has conjured up on the page and HBO has subsequently brought to the screen. We're not saying it doesn't, though. As it tells the tale of a guy with a dream (but without a budget), Graeme of Thrones definitely does boast the titular Game of Thrones super fan, and his amusing attempt to pay tribute to the program that he loves. This event is part of Wonderland 2016.
With the Beauty and the Beast musical on its way to Australia, a major exhibition focusing on fairy tales as well, and the live-action version of The Little Mermaid set to swim into cinemas, 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for enchanting stories. Here's something else to add to that list: MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins..., a new Australian musical that's been in development for six years and will make its debut in Melbourne come winter. The onstage romantic comedy actually takes its cues from a well-known favourite, and one that's been doing the rounds of Aussie theatres in 2022, with Cinderella its inspiration. But MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... doesn't just tell the familiar narrative the same way as everyone already knows, instead giving it an update. In a production that'll feature Australian musical theatre stars Lucy Durack (Wicked, Legally Blonde, Shrek), Verity Hunt-Ballard (Mary Poppins, Sweet Charity), Thomas McGuane (Frozen, Jersey Boys), Matt Lee (Mary Poppins, Frozen) and Kristie Nguy, MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins...'s heroine Ella doesn't want a prince to sweep her off her feet, even an apparent Prince Charming. But the latter is besotted, and the clock is ticking — with plenty needing to click before the stroke of midnight. The aim: "to create a fully formed, funny, complex heroine for a new generation, and to create the definitive musical version of this magical, evergreen tale", explains co-director Dean Murphy (Charlie & Boots, The Divorce). "The Cinderella story has been retold for hundreds of years with the most widely known version being written in 1950 and reflecting the sensibilities of that era. So, a number of our team with young children felt it was time the world of Cinderella was freshly revisited to explore how this intriguing girl became an icon, but told through a new, empowering story that sees this force-of-nature fight for great change whilst still embracing the love, support and magic from those around her," he continued. "Whilst we still have some of the beloved fairytale characters, there are many new surprises that we know will delight audiences," said producer Spencer McLaren (Dive Club, Puffs the Play, Mother & Son). "MIDNIGHT has many Broadway-style showstoppers that people will be singing for years to come and a world-class cast including Lucy Durack as Ms Madrina, Verity Hunt-Ballard as Madame Bellington, Thomas McGuane as the Prince and Matt Lee as his trusted aide Andre. The coveted role of Ella is still being cast with a nation-wide search underway," he added. Originally slated to premiere in 2020 before the pandemic hit, the new musical will debut at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from June 2023, and boasts music and lyrics by John Foreman (Aussie Pops Orchestra, Carols By Candlelight) and Anthony Costanzo (Life's A Circus, Cross Roads) — plus an additional song by Kate Miller-Heidke (Muriel's Wedding). Billed as an all-ages affair, it hails from Murphy and co-writer/director Pip Mushin (Resident: Book of Mormon, Fiddler on the Roof), and features choreography by Kelly Aykers (So You Think You Can Dance, The Wizard of Oz, Barnum) — with McLaren, Murphy and Craig Donnell (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Grease — The Musical, The Sound of Music) producing. Exact Melbourne season dates haven't yet been revealed, but tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, November 11. Whether MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... will head to other Australian cities after its premiere run also hasn't been announced, but that gives fairy tale, musical, theatre and rom-com fans elsewhere something to wish for to their fairy godmother. MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... will premiere in June 2023 at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre. For more information, or to join the waitlist for tickets before they go on sale at 9am on Friday, November 11, head to the production's website. Images: Wayne Taylor.
Milton might be the unofficial beer capital of Brisbane, but in the shadow of the giant XXXX factory and just up the road from Newstead Brewing Co, another type of tipple is fermenting. That'd be rum, courtesy of new Castlemaine Street watering hole The Malecón. As well as serving up plenty of it thanks to the 100-plus bottles lining its walls, the craft spirit and cocktail bar also turns sugarcane byproducts into booze onsite. "We're the only microdistillery in inner-city Brisbane," says manager Jim O'Sullivan of the intimate venue, which is owned by The Bearded Chap's Luke Swenson with Kettle & Tin's Aaron Boardman and Jason Harrison. The Malecón isn't pumping out its own alcoholic concoctions just yet; however, rum-lovers can expect to drop by for a few custom spirits from around late May, pending the appropriate approvals. At present, patrons will be greeted by 105 different types of rum on the bar's shelves — showcasing international varieties, types that you don't always see in Australia and brands that are hard to find — but eventually that number will get closer to 150 or even 200. Rum cocktails are also on offer, think daiquiris, piña coladas, the Malecón Treacle (with rum, some more rum and apple) and the Malecón Zombie (a house rum-blend with citrus, passionfruit, pineapple, orgeat spice and grenadine). And, a small selection of beer and wine is available as well. What visitors won't find on the menu is something to eat, with this a beverage-only establishment. That said, you can order UberEats to the venue, and regular Sunday-afternoon special events will bring food trucks to The Malecón's door. Overall, it's the kind of place that folks can head to dressed up to the nines on a Saturday night or drop by mid-week for a few drinks over a live jazz soundtrack. That relaxed atmosphere is by design, with The Malecón aiming to give Brisbane a cruisy, boozy hangout dedicated to a spirit that doesn't always get its time to shine. As for the name, it comes from an seven-kilometre esplanade, roadway and seawall in Havana. If you saw last year's The Fate and the Furious, you would've spotted it, actually. "The guys took inspiration from Havana in terms of the decor and vibe," explains O'Sullivan, which can be seen in its Cuban-style old world-style furnishings, filling out a space that can fit 100 people standing but better caters to 65 to 70. "But primarily we're a craft spirit and cocktail bar with a microdistillery attached." The Malecón is at 1/47 Castlemaine Street, Milton, and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 3pm to midnight. Visit the bar's website and Facebook page for further details. Images: Grace Smith
Summer might be over until the end of the year, but that doesn't mean that all of the fun is heading indoors in Brisbane. Autumn and street parties go hand in hand in the River City, including at this Labour Day weekend favourite: Stones Corner Festival. If this fest is always on your calendar, then its details for your diary won't come as a surprise. Yes, you'll be heading along on the Sunday of the May long weekend — this year on Sunday, May 4. Australian duo Busby Marou lead the lineup, joined by the throwback tunes of Never Ending 90s, Roaring Lion's Bob Marley tribute and more. You can also expect live tunes, markets, food trucks and beers from a heap of local brewers. This'll also be an extra-special celebrating, given that Stones Corner Festival is marking its ten-year anniversary. David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Martha and the Vandellas, The Kinks, Little Richard, Van Halen, the Grateful Dead: when they all sung various versions of 'Dancing in the Street', they were onto something. There's nothing quite like partying on a roadway when it's closed to cars, with traffic replaced by stalls and bars as well as stages filled with live music. That's the Stones Corner Festival setup. Some events feel like they've always been part of Brisbane's cultural scene and this is one of them, even if it is only hosting its tenth fest this year. That's the sign of something special, with this free street party on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads swiftly becoming one of the city's must-attend celebrations. The Market Folk is in charge of the stalls filled with preloved, handcrafted and eco-friendly wares. The all-ages event will also include family-friendly entertainment for the full spectrum of patrons. You can expect Black Hops, Revel, CBCO, Better Beer, Balter, Your Mates, Burleigh Brewing, Heads of Noosa, Green Beacon and Stone & Wood to help quench your thirst. Eating-wise, Our Kitchen, Greek Street Kantina, Chipstars, and Catch & Kiss are among the options. If you're planning a big one, that public holiday the next day is oh-so-convenient. Also, entry remains free but, as in past years, giving a gold coin donation to the MND and Me Foundation is recommended. Stones Corner Festival 2025 Lineup Busby Marou Never Ending 90s Roaring Lion Tom Busby Brad Butcher & Tori Darke John Hanley with Don't Shoot the Hurricane Seaside Updated Friday, March 21, 2025.
In yet another southward-bound international fashion expansion, Uniqlo has just announced that it'll be opening in Australia for the first time come autumn 2014. Melbourne's Emporium, located on Lonsdale Street in the CBD, will be home to a four-level, 2180 square metre megastore selling the Japanese brand's quality yet affordable apparel. Heattech underwear, bold collaborations with designers and Ultra Light Down are among their signature products. "We are very excited to be opening our first store in Melbourne, Australia," Uniqlo's Australian CEO Shoichi Miyasaka commented. "The city is a great centre of style and we hope to make Uniqlo an essential stop for for fashion-conscious Melbourne shoppers looking for high quality, affordable clothes. "Our goal is to build a loyal customer base by offering every visitor the outstanding level of customer service that Uniqlo is known for within Japan, in a comfortable and welcoming shopping environment." Owned by Japan's Fast Retailing Co. (the globe's fourth biggest clothing retail giant), Uniqlo first opened in 1984 and now runs 1200 stores across 14 different countries. It's been moving steadily south for four years, having set up in Singapore in 2009, Malaysia and Thailand in 2010, the Philippines in 2012 and Indonesia earlier this year. Fast owns six other major brands: Theory, Princess tam.tam, J Brand, Helmut Lang, GU and Comptoir des Cotonniers, and sold a whopping 928 billion Japanese Yen (AU$10 billion) worth of goods during the 2011-2012 financial year. Via Daily Life
There’s something enticing about a Hollywood passion piece. Moneyball took Brad Pitt four years to get off the ground, The Avengers didn’t enter production until seven years after it was announced and Christopher Nolan spent the better part of a decade trying to nail down his script for Inception. For Warner Bros, it was way back in 2001 when they first acquired the rights to a Three Stooges film and attached brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly to direct. But then came the inevitable delays, prolonged writers’ strikes and ongoing casting dilemmas (Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jim Carey were all at one time set to play the trio before each withdrew for separate reasons) – not to mention that no one was really clamouring for a Stooges film to be made in the first place. Finally, though, filming began in May of last year and the result has just hit our screens; or rather - punched, jabbed, boinked, slammed, slapped, spanked and slugged our screens. The old Stooges brand of comedy was the epitome of slapstick and the Farrelly brothers have boldly stayed true to its form in this offering. Larry, Curly and Moe bash each other with the frequency, wantonness and utter inconsequence of a WWE match, using anything from a salmon to a chainsaw to land their blows. Sometimes it’s funny; usually it’s not, and therein lies the problem of basing an entire movie around a single (and in many ways out-dated) style of entertainment. This is definitely a movie for the old Stooges fans; an homage that’s impressive in its recreation but unlikely to attract many new enthusiasts to the cause. Sean Hayes (Jack from Will and Grace) plays Larry in an almost unrecognisable performance – completely transforming himself via the iconic ‘shaved up top / uncontrollably curly out the sides’ haircut. Will Sasso, meanwhile, tackles the hardest of the three roles with his version of Curly: the high-pitched, hot-headed and dog-barking barrel of a man used by the others as anything from a trampoline to a battering ram. Then finally there’s Chris Diamantopoulos as Moe: the interminably surly ringleader with the bowl haircut and Brooklyn inflection. Together they bust out every “soytenly”, “why I oughta” and “nyuk nyuk nyuk” you’d expect from a Stooges film with remarkable fidelity to their predecessors’ accents and expressions. Plot was rarely the focus of the two hundred or so original Stooges shorts and it doesn’t factor a whole lot here, either. When the boys’ orphanage runs into financial trouble, they head out into the world to try to raise the necessary $830,000 themselves, one hair-brained scheme after the next. Femme fatale Lydia (Sofia Vergara) spies an opportunity to capitalise on their naivety by recruiting them to murder her husband, while the producers of Jersey Shore see a chance to cash in on their eccentricities by throwing one of them into ‘the house’. It’s one of those films where the writers threw a gag into every line based on the idea that if you swing at every pitch, you’ll eventually hit a few out of the park. Others might call it a war of attrition. Either way, while The Three Stooges may not set the world on fire, it also never stops trying to win you over. What’s more, when it does land a joke it’s so harmless and well intentioned that you can’t help but laugh from that wonderful, wholesome part of your belly where dad-jokes normally reside.
What's better than one IMAX in Sydney? Two, obviously, which is a big-screen dream that's about to become a reality. A second IMAX experience is on its way to the Harbour City, setting up shop in an Event Cinemas location. The where and when haven't yet been revealed — but this is still literally massive news. Between 2016 and spring 2023, movie lovers in the New South Wales capital would've been content with just one IMAX, of course, after Sydney's IMAX at Darling Harbour closed down to get demolished and then rebuilt. The venue was originally meant to get its projectors running again in 2019, then in 2021; however, that didn't happen. Thankfully, giant flicks have been back on the agenda since October on one of the biggest cinema screens in the world, which measures 692 square metres. The news of a second Sydney IMAX comes via EVT and IMAX Corporation. The former is the hospitality company behind IMAX Sydney, Event Cinemas, Moonlight Cinema, the Skyline Drive-In and the State Theatre; the arrival of surround-screen viewing Down Under; a heap of bars and restaurants; QT Hotels, Rydges and other hotel chains; plus IMAX venues in Auckland and Queensgate in New Zealand, as well as IMAX Karlsruhe in Germany. The latter is self-explanatory. Together, the duo announced a deal for five new state-of-the-art IMAX setups, but only one in coming to Australia. To check out the other four, you'll need to head to Germany. "Expanding our collaboration with IMAX aligns to our strategy of providing customers with choice on how they want to watch a movie. The right combination of our proprietary cinema experiences such as gold class, boutique and V-Max alongside global premium formats like IMAX is proving to be successful," said EVT CEO Jane Hastings, announcing the news. "IMAX performs exceptionally well at our current locations in Sydney, New Zealand and Germany, and we are thrilled to bring state-of-the-art IMAX with Laser systems to more locations in Australia and Germany in the near future," Hastings continued. "On the heels of the wildly successful debut of IMAX Sydney, we are excited to expand our collaboration with EVT, a partner that transcends exhibition in creating premium experiences that span cinema, hospitality, leisure and more," added IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. "Australia and Germany are two markets where consumer demand for IMAX vastly outstrips our footprint, and this deal is great for our fans in both countries and our continued network growth worldwide." That Sydney success that Gelfond mentioned? Within mere weeks of opening, the new IMAX Sydney has become IMAX's highest-grossing location outside of the United States and United Kingdom. Wherever the second Sydney IMAX experience pops up, it'll combine Laser by IMAX technology, which means 4K laser projection showing the flicks, plus EVT's range of seating. At Darling Harbour, choices to get comfortable include standard places to sit, as well as getting comfortable in a full recliner, cosying up with your plus one in a couples' recliner and going with a private box for up to four people on an elevated platform. Film fans outside of Sydney, you'll have a second spot to add to your must-visit list when you visit the Harbour City — especially if you're in a city like Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth that doesn't have its own IMAX. IMAX Sydney is now open at Darling Harbour, 1/35 Wheat Road, Sydney, from Wednesday, October 11. Details of the city's second IMAX experience, including where it'll be located and when it will open, are yet to be announced — we'll update you when more information is revealed. Images: IMAX Sydney.
We know. We've all done it. Home alone with a block of cheddar, a few scraps of brie and a lone Kraft Single. It all seemed so promising. When your mum/housemate/significant other returned, though, the truth became apparent. You'd made a cheese quagmire in your microwave, hadn't you? Hadn't you. Fortunately, the guys behind PappaRich, the ST Group, are now getting set to help you realise all of your cheese dreams without the weird kitchen smell three weeks later — they're bringing Malaysian chain Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart to Brisbane. With multiple stores in Kuala Lumpur and other areas of the country — plus a handful in Melbourne and Sydney, as of last year, as well as Pacific Fair since July — the cheese tart connoisseurs are continuing their expansion with not one, but two Brissie ventures. The city's introduction to the gooey, creamy ways of the three-cheese tart arrives on November 27 in the Myer Centre, with a second store to follow at Garden City not long after (at a yet- to-be-revealed date). And, to celebrate, they're offering up 100 free original tarts on December 1. Stop by between 4pm and 5pm — or, arrive in advance and line up, because HBCT's openings in Melbourne and Sydney have seen people have been queuing out the door. If you're still wondering what all of the fuss is about, HBCT's namesake is the cornerstone of their offering: a savoury-sweet three-cheese situation encased in a shortcrust shell, designed to be eaten either hot or cold. The cheese, while made with local produce, is based on the distinct taste and texture of the dairy products of Hokkaido. The Japanese island is known for their dairy — it produces half of Japan's total milk and a huge 90 percent of their natural cheese — and HBCT have worked tirelessly to replicate it. Malaysia has gone nuts for it, as has Australia, where it's available in original, chocolate and blueberry flavours. We weren't joking when we mentioned hefty lines filled with folks eager to get their hands on one (or 12). Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart will open in the Myer Centre, 91 Queen Street, Brisbane on November 27 — and at Westfield Garden City at a yet-to-be-revealed date. For more info and to look out for an opening date, keep an eye on their Facebook page. By Matt Abotomey and Sarah Ward. Images: Tim Grey.
When Jamie Campbell wore a dress to his high school dance, he couldn't have known what would come next. In 2011, his story hit the small screen thanks to TV documentary Jamie — Drag Queen at Sixteen. In 2017, it became an acclaimed West End stage musical, nabbing five Olivier Award nominations in the process. And in 2020, the show is finally heading to Australia for a huge national tour. Premiering at the Sydney Opera House in July before hitting up Western Sydney, Wyong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide between September 2020–February 2021, Everybody's Talking About Jamie tells Jamie's coming-of-age tale, complete with an upbeat pop score by The Feeling's Dan Gillespie Sells. Drawn from reality but universal in its emotions and resonance, it's a story of friendship, being yourself and overcoming obstacles such as bullies and prejudice. Here, Jamie New is a 16-year-old living in a council estate in Sheffield in Northern England. He's teased about his sexuality by his classmates, but dreams of attending prom in drag. And, despite the taunting and the small-minded attitudes around him — except from his supportive mum and his loyal friends — he's determined to make that dream a reality. In the Australian production, Fan Girls' James Majoos will play Jamie and Helen Dallimore will play his mother, with the rest of the cast including Simon Burke, Elise McCann, Shubshri Kandiah, Christina O'Neill and Harry Targett. The musical's Aussie run couldn't be better timed, too, with a movie adaptation of Everybody's Talking About Jamie due to hit local cinemas in early December. EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE 2020-21 AUSTRALIAN SEASON Sydney — Saturday, July 18–Sunday, August 30, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House Western Sydney — Friday, September 4–Sunday, September 13, Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ Wyong — Monday, September 28–Sunday, October 4, The Art House Melbourne — Friday, October 9–Sunday, October 25, Arts Centre Melbourne Brisbane — Friday, November 13–Sunday, November 29, QPAC Canberra — Friday, December 11–Sunday, December 13, Canberra Theatre Centre Perth — Friday, January 22–Sunday, January 31, 2021, His Majesty's Theatre Adelaide — Friday, February 5–Sunday, February 14, 2021, Her Majesty's Theatre Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3mjSUeOg5g&feature=youtu.be Everybody's Talking About Jamie's Australian season will premiere at the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre between Saturday, July 18–Sunday, August 30, before touring to Western Sydney from Friday, September 4–Sunday, September 13; Wyong from Monday, September 28–Sunday, October 4; Melbourne from Friday, October 9–Sunday, October 25; Brisbane from Friday, November 13–Sunday, November 29; Canberra from Friday, December 11–Sunday, December 13; Perth from Friday, January 22–Sunday, January 31, 2021 and Adelaide from Friday, February 5–Sunday, February 14, 2021. To join the ticket waitlist, visit the production's website — with Sydney ticket pre-sales starting at 9am on Wednesday, March 11 before general public sales open at 9am on Tuesday, March 17. Top images: Alistair Muir / Johan Persson.
On four upcoming Mondays, if you travel by train, your commute to and from work won't impact your Go Card balance. To start each week between November 18 and December 9, Queensland Rail is giving everyone free trips on what it's calling 'free train travel days'. If you don't have your calendar app open, you'll be able to ride the rails for free on November 18 and 25, as well as December 2 and 9. Translink advises that you won't need to tap on and off (or buy a paper ticket) — instead, just stroll on through the fare gates, which'll be open at all stations. All Citytrain services are included, which means all services on the Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Caboolture, Ipswich/Rosewood, Springfield, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe, Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe Peninsula lines. If you happen to be heading out of town via plane — or arriving back from elsewhere — on one of the four Mondays, Airtrain services are also included. Wondering why Queenslanders are getting four days of train travel without spending a cent? Announcing the plan, the Queensland Government said that it's to "thank customers for their loyalty as Queensland Rail worked to restore services earlier this year". Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey is referring to the government's efforts to increase driver and guard numbers, as well as services — but given how unreliable Brisbane's trains can be sometimes, his sentiment really could apply in general. Of course, QR's staff will still need to be paid on the free train travel days, so the costs will be covered by funding that had previously been allocated for the company's senior managers. Queensland Rail's free train travel days will take place on November 18 and 25, as well as December 2 and 9. Top image: John via Flickr. UPDATE, NOVEMBER 17: Translink has revealed how rail commuters can take advantage of the four free train travel days across November and December. This article has been updated to include these details.
Hotel Morris is an impressive design-led boutique hotel with a sense of warm, understated luxury as well as a fantastic wine bar Bar Morris. Hotel Morris is tucked away on Pitt Street in Haymarket not far from the best of Chinatown, the Sydney CBD, and Surry Hills. The heritage listed property first opened as a hotel in 1929 — a design showcase for architect Virgil Dante Cizzio's interpretation of the Inter-War Palazza style. It underwent a significant refurb before reopening in 2023, boasting beautiful new finishes and detail while maintaining the elegance of its historic Italian influence. The exterior has been refurbished to retain the original design, with a bold white and red sign proudly exclaiming 'Hotel Morris' out the front. Inside, art deco-leaning suites welcome guests with Jarrah wood accents and custom furniture that pays homage to the history of the building. Downstairs, the aforementioned Bar Morris continues the building's design with a sleek 40-seat space built around pink marble, velvet, leather, timber flooring, and vibrant flourishes of red.
If life's got you feeling a little stressed of late, your good mates at KFC are here to help you out — albeit in a pretty unexpected way. You can turf your mindfulness phone apps and ditch that meditation class, because the global fried chicken chain has created a new online offering, where you can unwind to the soothing sounds of chicken frying. Launched to coincide with Mindfulness Day on September 12, KFChill is the fried chicken empire's new website offering its own cheeky spin on mindfulness practices, with a series of 'pink noises' that take the listener on a journey through a KFC kitchen. Click through the trio of hour-long sound files to unwind to the noise of chicken frying, gravy simmering or bacon sizzling away in a pan. No word on how effective this actually is for your relaxation levels, though we can guarantee some mad cravings for fried chicken once you're done.
Brisbane's luxury hotel scene has been playing a bit of musical chairs in recent months, all thanks to the Hong Kong-based chain Ovolo. First, it took over the Inchcolm Hotel in Spring Hill, turning the art deco spot into a glam mix of the old and the new. Now, it has revamped the Fortitude Valley spot that was previously known as the Emporium. If you're still playing catch-up on all of these changes, the Emporium brand actually moved over to a new site at South Bank — one which, as of October, boasts a decadent rooftop bar on its 21st floor. But the old Emporium is quite the stunner too. Now called Ovolo The Valley, the 103-room hotel has had a $55 million facelift with a design-led focus, including two suites inspired by David Bowie. Fancy being a hero just for one day (and night)? In 'rockstar' suites aptly named Major Tom and Rebel Rebel, guests will find 1970s-inspired velvet lounges and a gold bar. If you're not up for channelling your inner icon, all rooms feature rich colours that take their cues from the Valley's streets and laneways, plus custom wallpaper and eclectic furniture choices. Also standard across the board is 24-hour room service, flat-screen TVs with Google Chromecast and an in-room Alexa to answer all of your questions — plus access to the rooftop swimming pool, gym and sauna. Like other Ovolo sites, Ovolo The Valley offers a heap of freebies: a free mini-bar with every room (including a lolly bag full of treats), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free laundry and free happy hour drinks each day. That said, rooms start from $300 a night, so it's still an indulgent staycation. The colourful new fitout was overseen by architecture firm Woods Bagot, who're also looking after the Howard Smith Wharves redevelopment. Collaborating with Chloe Want from AvroKO in New York, they'll be working through into next year on Ovolo The Valley's final touch — a standalone restaurant and bar slated to launch in early 2019, with chef and restauranteur Justin North heading up the kitchen. Ovolo The Valley is now open at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley.
Less than six months after Suki set up shop in South Bank, and two months since spreading their wings to Bulimba, Brisbane's first specialty sushi burrito and poke bowl eatery just keeps expanding. Everyone fond giant versions of a Japanese staple or a Hawaiian salad now have a third site to visit, with a new store launching in Newstead. Bringing its make-your-own meals to the Gasworks, Suki is offering up the same great foods on the north side of town, with the eatery opening its doors on September 12. It's also throwing a few fresh additions into the mix, increasing their wares in more ways than one. For those who haven't stopped by yet, don't be fooled by the mere two options on Suki's menu — that duo of dishes can be made many, many ways. Pick your choice of burrito or bowl, then keep working through the six-step process to select your base, hot or cold proteins, sauce, salad fillings and toppers. If that's too much variety, their favourite combos include The Fighter (kingfish, coriander, avocado, fresh chilli, orange, cucumber, suki sauce and wasabi peas), 3 Amigos (snapper, salmon, tuna, cabbage, cucumber, red onions, ponzu, sesame oil, surimi crab and fried shallots), and Angry Bird (katsu chicken, wasabi mayo, spinach, cabbage, coriander, pickled ginger and daikon, and soy egg). New menu items include tempeh and whiting, as well as the brightly coloured likes of beetroot and broccoli. Plus, with the weather warming up, seasonal summer fruits such as watermelon, mango, passionfruit, starfruit and pineapple are also on offer. Every time Suki sets up a new shop, more aren't far behind — and this time they're heading south. Next on the agenda is Robina and Broadbeach, bringing their blend of Hawaiian, Mexican and Japanese cuisines to the Gold Coast. Find Suki at Shop 2, 161 Oxford Street, Bulimba from July 18. Check out their website and Facebook page for further information.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Candyman will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, June 11, 2020, with the film now hitting cinemas on September 24, 2020. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. For nearly three decades, horror movie lovers have fallen into two categories: those who've dared to say the word 'candyman' five times while staring into a mirror, and those who haven't. That's the kind of impact this spooky supernatural franchise has had over the years, with the film about a fictional urban legend almost becoming an urban legend itself. To the joy of slumber party-throwing teens everywhere, the 1992 original sparked follow-ups in 1995 and 1999 — and, thanks to a new 21-years-later third sequel, that's no longer the end of the story. Given that everything old just keeps coming back again, and that 90s nostalgia is the gift that keeps on giving, another Candyman flick was always going to happen eventually. If you're still a little wary — despite its cult status, the initial movie is hardly a masterpiece, and Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and Candyman: Day of the Dead won the series absolutely zero new fans — Candyman circa 2020 has a few tricks up its sleeves. Firstly, it's produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, who adds another frightfest to his resume alongside Get Out and Us. Secondly, it's directed by Nia DaCosta, whose Tessa Thompson-starring 2018 film Little Woods deserved more attention. And last but by no means least, it features the OG Candyman, Tony Todd, among its cast. As the just-dropped first trailer shows, the new flick focuses on an artist called Anthony McCoy (Aquaman and Watchmen's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who decides to start exploring the Candyman legend through his art. His girlfriend Brianna (If Beale Street Could Talk's Teyonah Parris) thinks the story is just that, but, as bad luck would have it, the bee-covered figure starts wreaking havoc again. That's what happens when folks say his name while looking at their own reflection, after all. For Candyman aficionados, Anthony's own name should ring a bell — he's the son of one of the first film's main characters, which might explain just why he's so obsessed with the eponymous ghoul. That said, while he might think he knows what he's getting himself into, the movie's first sneak peek leaves no doubt that Candyman still knows how to unsettle and unnerve. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwzuZ9kOQU After being delayed from its original release date of June 11, 2020, Candyman will now open in Australian cinemas on September 24, 2020.
If the Venice Film Festival can dedicate an entire island to virtual reality, and Brisbane can host its own VR festival, then Melbourne's year-round cinema hub can make the interactive technology a permanent part of its collection. As well as launching a new limited-offering VR commission, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is adding a VR Lounge to its screen-filled spaces. Come September 23, ACMI will not only say hello to Prehistoric VR, a free two-week step back in time, but will also ask visitors to get comfy in their newest addition. The former, called the first 360-degree VR puppetry experience of its kind, comes from performing arts company Erth Visual & Physical Inc and award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Samantha Lang, while the latter will showcase a rotating array of VR works. The third ACMI commission that has asked established performing artists to turn a live stage work into realistic 360-degree virtual reality, where Prehistoric VR is headed isn't a surprise — when it comes to interacting with creatures that no longer roam the earth, life finds a way. Until October 8, the immersive experience dives onto the ocean floor, and back 200 million years, to encounter the aquatic critters from the Ediacaran to the Cretaceous periods. On the permanent front, ACMI's new ongoing VR Lounge will form part of its free Screen Worlds exhibition, kicking off with mystical fairy tale The Turning Forest. Created by Melbourne-based VR company VRTOV, who also have space at ACMI's co-working space ACMI X, it premiered to rave reviews at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, even earning comparisons to The NeverEnding Story. ACMI's commitment to virtual reality isn't new, with the centre premiering the spooky Ghost, Toast and the Things Unsaid and immersive dance experience Stuck in the Middle With You in 2016. As ACMI Director and CEO, Katrina Sedgwick explains, "as the national museum for film, TV, games digital culture and art, ACMI is fascinated by the rapid evolution of VR and the new ways practitioners are engaging audiences through this platform." Image: Renee Stamatis Photography.
Alicia Taylor is one of Melbourne's most promising young photographers — you've probably seen her work splashed across your social feeds already. She learned the tricks of her trade at RMIT, where she studied design and photography, and combined her love of both in the career we all dream of: international photographer. Still, she's a Melburnian through and through, and knows the city's art and design scene as few can ever hope to. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Melbourne, we've called in Alicia, whose favourite spots range from the city's weirdest commercial art gallery to a restaurant whose impressive interior design is finished off with a four-metre brass compass. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in Melbourne — Albert Park or On the Park in East Melbourne — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Alicia's perspective on Melbourne's art and design hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. SOPHIE GANNON GALLERY The Sophie Gannon Gallery in Richmond is set away in an unassuming, single-level brick enclave, but housed within is the life's work of one of Australia's most ambitious art dealers, Sophie Gannon herself. Sophie came up from managing a handful of artists to handling some of Australia's finest — including my personal favourite, Emily Ferretti. Her gallery is also a showroom, as they so often are, and I love dropping by whenever I'm in the neighbourhood. There's no need to preplan; you can just trust that Sophie will have something beautiful adorning the walls. ACCA The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is a great interactive contemporary art space located in Southbank. It's one of my favourite architectural spaces in Melbourne. You won't be able to miss it — in a sparse, industrial part of town, the ACCA building really draws attention to itself. It was completed in 1983 by Wood Marsh Architecture. The distinctive rusted steel facade of interpressed metal has since become a beloved architectural icon. The exhibitions presented at ACCA are often thought-provoking, innovative and bold, and the program of talks and symposiums that accompany them are some of Melbourne's finest. [caption id="attachment_644313" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brook Andrew at Tolarno Galleries Melbourne. Photo by Andrew Curtis[/caption] TOLARNO GALLERIES The Tolarno Galleries is one of the Melbourne's weirdest commercial contemporary art galleries, nestled in a spacious and well-appointed venue on Exhibition Street in the CBD. The director, Jan Minchin (formerly a curator at the National Gallery of Victoria), is known for creating the perfect blend of controversial and popular exhibitions with lawless artists (and some of my favourites) like Ben Quilty and Bill Henson. Remember Patricia Piccinini, blowing our minds over and over? Imagine that kind of work given free rein. The clean, white exhibition space is filled with soft, filtered light. I find it acts as a perfect oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city and an introspective atmosphere to take it all in. TARLO & GRAHAM You haven't truly experienced eclectic vintage until you've visited Tarlo and Graham on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. It's a cornucopia of eccentric pieces, and it's difficult for me to even try to predict what you might find on a visit. It could be anything. You might stumble across a rare lithograph from a beloved Australian artist, a dozen trombones or a family of ceramic clowns. It's all possible at Tarlo and Graham, which is why i love to while away an afternoon here. Goodies are piled high in every corner, but it's not always random. The warmth and humour of the proprietors shines through in their weird and wonderful displays and combinations. CHRISTOPHER BOOTS Lighting stores, with their dramatic and changeable lighting landscapes, are a world of their own, and the Christopher Boots showroom is, in my opinion, one of Melbourne's best. Located on Gore Street in Fitzroy, it's part art installation, part gallery and part lighting retailer. The intimate and artful showroom is ever-changing and also a delight to walk through. The CB team work in their open-plan office next to the displays. They might specialise in lighting, but the team's expertise in all things texture shines through in the beautiful warehouse and workspaces. JARDAN The Jardan store in Richmond (you'll find it nestled in furniture row, on Church Street) is a beautiful venue to spend a morning wandering around. The light-soaked space displays furniture and art pieces that will make you sigh and say 'One day'. Or, today could be your day! Pieces from some of Australia's best contemporary designers are housed here in a range of styled spaces. The store itself is a stroke of design genius, featuring a combination of a stark gold facade, eggshell whites, overflowing greenery and varied natural textures that showcase but don't overpower the pieces they surround. FENTON & FENTON Fenton & Fenton is a colourful cave of wonders in Prahan and a must-do for any design lover or interior decorator (amateur or otherwise). They sell an extensive collection of art and design on the premises, as well as bits and pieces you won't find anywhere else: jewellery, curios, furnishings and a diverse range of homewares and lifestyle products. Fenton & Fenton also have a team of lovely stylists on hand (or a phone call away) to guide you if you get stuck between cushions, and the shop itself is always so beautifully styled, I think it's an inspiration in its own right. HIGHER GROUND Higher Ground, conveniently found in the CBD, is an outstanding example of architectural retrofitting done right (they serve excellent food too — prepare to salivate). Nathan Toleman (the man behind Top Paddock and Kettle Black) and his partners — Sam Slattery, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas — have created another dazzling cafe experience. Higher Ground started its life as an old power station and has been transformed into a spacious and lush eating space with gentle lighting. I've noticed the breakfast menu is earning a bit of a reputation, and I can't go past the colourful ricotta hotcake served with seeds, cream, seasonal fruit and flowers or the butter poached white asparagus, served with comté, tarragon, bronze fennel, poached eggs and rye toast. Their tea menu is also out of the ordinary. ATLAS DINING The design concept at Atlas Dining, located on Commercial Road in South Yarra, is truly exceptional. The contemporary, clean space — designed by Sydney-based architects Belinda Pajkovic and Tamara Frangelli — is defined by leather banquettes, soft lighting and white birch timber, topped off with a four-metre brass compass hanging from the ceiling. It blows my mind every time I visit. And the elegance continues through to the rotating menu, which is completely changed every three months (I never know what I'll get and that's fun). Chef Charlie Carrington's dishes are beautifully plated and balanced. They say Atlas will be a true adventure and they're right — it's a must-do Melbourne experience. ACNE STUDIOS Melbourne's Acne Studios store opened in 2014. It's already an iconic landmark on The Strand and has also raised the bar for retail design in the CBD. The fit-out was designed by Swedish firm Bozarthfornell Architects. They've been responsible for Acne Studios stores all over the world, but the Melbourne iteration is like no other, with stark, industrial dividers slicing up the space. It's both functional and brutal in perfect balance. If you're anything like me, a stroll through Acne Studios will have your senses pinging and your fingers itching to swipe your credit card. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
If you're the type of person that loves getting into heated pop-culture debates with friends, then you'll definitely want to get on board with this Kickstarter project. Part card game, part ridiculous debate, the Metagame asks players to consider questions like 'Which feels like first love: Pride and Prejudice or Hungry Hungry Hippos?' and 'Which should be required in schools: Dungeons and Dragons or the Bible?' The game comes with two decks of cards: one set of discussion cards with questions like 'Which will save the world?' or 'Which best represents America?', and one set of culture cards, which feature various works of art and pop culture, like Helvetica, the Rubik's Cube and 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)'. There isn't really a set way of playing, but the makers include a few game suggestions and encourage players to invent their own. Most of the suggested games involve players choosing culture cards that best answer the question and debating their choices. The Metagame was created by Local No. 12, a game design collective made up of Eric Zimmerman, Colleen Macklin and John Sharp. While the original Metagame focused on video games, the trio decided to release 'Metagame: The Culture Edition' following numerous requests for music and film versions. The game is still in prototype form, but it's already attracting praise from Filmmaker Magazine and Attract Mode, and the original Metagame was also an official selection of the 2013 IndieCade International Festival of Independent Games. The project has raised over $50,000 on Kickstarter — nearly double their original target of $25,000. Potential backers have the option of donating anything from $1 (which gets you early access to a print-and-play PDF version) to $500 or more (which gets you your own version of the Metagame, where you pick the rules).
2020 might've temporarily taken away our ability to head overseas, hit up big events and, for portions of the year, leave our houses; however, it hasn't robbed us of our collective fascination with Christmas lights. Luminous festive decorations really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But those twinkling bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the merriest portion of the calendar — especially after a 12-month period with a noticeable downturn in joy otherwise. Perhaps you're a casual Christmas lights fan, and you're completely fine just checking out whichever blazing displays you happen to pass in your travels? Maybe you have a few tried-and-tested favourite spots, and you return to them every year? Or, you could want to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards? Whichever category you fall into, an Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest. It's as nifty and handy as its name suggests, and it covers festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as popping in your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Christmas Lights Search also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. And it's constantly being updated, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range, a description of what's on offer and even COVID-19-safe info. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Check out the Christmas Lights Search online now.
Art galleries don't just showcase great works by renowned talents on their own walls. They also loan out their collections, touring them to other sites around the globe. That's great news for Australians, who've been able to check out pieces from London's Tate Britain and New York's Museum of Modern Art in recent years, all without leaving the country. Come 2021, you'll also be able to feast your eyes on two big collections of European masterpieces from two different overseas institutions: from New York's The Met, which is heading to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, and from London's National Gallery, which'll take over the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The latter, called Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, has just been announced — and will hit the Australian Capital Territory from March 5–June 14, 2021. If you were looking for a reason to take a local holiday interstate next year, the NGA has not just one but 60, because that's how many works this huge exhibition will feature. The gallery isn't joking about the showcase's title, either. When you'll be exhibiting Van Gogh's Sunflowers, you can throw around the word 'masterpiece' as much as you like. Other high-profile works include Rembrandt's Self Portrait at the Age of 34, plus Vermeer's A Young Woman seated at a Virginal. And, artist-wise, Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne, Botticelli, El Greco, Constable, Van Dyke, Gainsborough and Gauguin are all also on the bill. [caption id="attachment_792837" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers 1888, National Gallery, London, Image courtesy the National Gallery, London[/caption] When peering at the exhibition's pieces, art aficionados will be taken through seven important periods in Western European art history, from a range that spans 450 years. That means exploring work from the Italian Renaissance, checking out the Dutch painting of the Golden Age, and feasting your eyes on British portraiture — as well as scoping out pieces from the 17th- and 18th-century Grand Tour, Spanish art from the 17th century, works that focus on landscape and the picturesque, and examining the birth of modern art. When Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London hits our shores, it'll mark a big milestone, too — as the largest batch of works to venture beyond the United Kingdom in National Gallery's 192-year history. Announcing the exhibition, National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich mentioned exactly what you're probably now thinking — that is, that the showcase is a nifty way to see the world in a period when we can't venture far physically. "At a time when Australian audiences are unable to travel overseas, we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors to Canberra to see this exclusive showcase of world-class art," he said. Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibits at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra from March 5–June 14, 2021, with tickets on sale now. Top images: Installation view, Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Anthony van Dyck, Lady Elizabeth Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Giovanni Giralomo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene (far left), The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London.
Photobombing is an art attempted by many, yet perfected by few. Ruining somebody's photo in the most humorous way possible takes impeccable timing and swift movement. Now, photobombing experts will have their work cut out for them as software company Scalado look set to release their new Remove technology. As the name suggests, Remove allows you to erase unwanted objects from those precious picture moments. When a photo is taken, Remove actually takes a lightning-quick succession of snaps, and detects moving objects within the lens. It then gives you the option to simply remove any moving objects, leaving the regular background unscathed. If you're a little vain and a strict perfectionist, Remove will be right up your alley. Not only will you be able to erase immature friends who sneak into your photos, but you also won't have to worry about flying birds, speeding cars or annoying pedestrians. Taking the perfect picture for your bedside table has never been so easy. No word on when it will be available to the public, but we're guessing that plenty of teenage girls will be eager for this one. Check out the video below and see how this technology works. https://youtube.com/watch?v=flNomXIIWr4 [Via Mashable]
Artists, skaters, music goers and scenesters unite. I Used to Skate Once is back this Thursday evening for its eight annual instalment. Located within the walls and alleyway behind the Zoo, I Used to Skate Once is an art show comprising local, interstate and sometimes international artists, displaying handcrafted designs for skateboard decks. The aim this year however, is to mix things up slightly and showcase up and coming local talent with a smattering of old favourites thrown in for good measure. The night includes a host of local bands to serenade the viewing public, market stalls for the shopping inclined, a variety of food for the hungry and of course drinks for everyone else. Kicking off at 7.00pm, be sure to arrive a little early if you know you really want to see the art on display, as generally, it reaches capacity fairly quickly. Surely the hallmark of a damn fine event.
You would think that for a country girt by sea, comprising a shitload of bewilderingly great beaches and a population who love a good bevvy, we'd have more opportunities to drink by the ocean (you know, outside of a sneaky goon sack stroll down the shore on NYE). But we haven't, legally, until now. Fremantle's Bathers Beach House has been granted Australia's first liquor license for alfresco beach dining (and drinking). The WA establishment is currently the only place in Australia where you can (legally) drink on the beach. Of course, they've arranged sun lounges in their newly licensed sand and will be serving a range of food and drinks from their beachside menu, delivered straight to your sunbathing face. General erosion, gradual ecosystem destruction and environmental impact aside, generally speaking, it could be the impetus the rest of Australia needs to start amending the laws that forbid the pairing of our nation's two strongest assets: a hot beach and cold beers. The Gold Coast toyed with the idea in 2015 but to no avail. Come on local Australian councils, legalise beach beers. Think of the boom in sales of those fold-out chairs with in-built drink holders. We can't afford not to follow suit on this one. Via Hospitality Magazine.
THE Rodriguez is coming back to Australia. Touring nationally this October and November, the 72-year-old enigmatic legend was last here in 1981 playing with Midnight Oil, after touring in the late '70s to small success. Now he's riding a wave of newfound support back to our biggest venues, thanks in part to two South African fans. Most people had no idea who Sixto Rodriguez was until the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man dropped in 2012, prompting longtime fans to shake a fist and spin a bitter "I told you so." A self-taught guitarist, Rodriguez played around the traps in Detroit during the '60s but saw no real success in the States with his two albums Cold Fact (1969) and Coming from Reality (1971). Different story in South Africa, where he was pretty much bigger than Elvis — inspiring South African anti-Apartheid activists and musicians alike (unbeknownst to Rodriguez himself). One of music's most mysterious heroes, Rodriguez was even thought to have died until two Cape Town fans in the late 1990s, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom went to find out if the rumours were true (cue Oscar-winning doco). The man also has a cheeky bachelor's degree in philosophy from Wayne State University, he ran for political office and he's had to work construction jobs to support his family. Undeniable and relatively unknown legend. Rodriguez will play Brisbane Convention Centre, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's Palais Theatre, Adelaide's AEC Theatre and Perth's Kings Park and Botanic Garden. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qyE9vFGKogs
Gardening enthusiasts will be able to spend even more time with Mother Nature in this wonderful garden shed, a collaboration between architect Ville Hara and designer, Linda Bergroth. While greenhouses are usually inhabited by plants, this one is nice enough for you to sleep amongst the greenery. A prototype built at Bergorth's summer cottage in eastern Finland features a wooden floor and solar panels for power lighting. Bergroth also added a mattress so that the greenhouse can become a spare bedroom during the summertime, when she wakes up overlooking the water. Safety glass windows line the walls and roof, and have automatic openers to control the temperature inside. The back of the garden shed features a storage compartment where all tools can be placed compactly. Surprisingly, this entire garden shed can be assembled using a screwdriver. This neat piece of architectural innovation proves that simplicity is often the key.
As part of the month long Queensland Festival of Photography, The Hold Artspace is hosting some amazing artists and their photography works. Alana Hampton, Mari Hirata, Mandana Mapar and Kathy Mackey are the featured artists of this exhibition, which explores some of the practices in photography, whether traditional or experimental. The exhibition utilises video, audio, sculpture and installation practices to force audiences to reconsider the relationship between an image at moment of capture, and its relation to its subsequent form on display in a gallery setting. Four Performative Acts of Photography will be at the Montague Road gallery, The Hold Artspace until the 12th of April. Also be sure to see what will be taking place during the Queensland Festival of Photography by checking out their website.
It’s a shame sometimes that extremely talented artists aren’t privy to the sorts of audiences that Matisse and Warhol’s art draws – though, it could also be a blessing in Marisa Purcell’s case. Marisa Purcell has a list of exhibitions and achievements a mile long, but you won’t see her name in flashing lights. Her art is to be coveted, enjoyed in low light, and to be discovered, not thrusted at the masses and forced upon us. Her newest collection exists on the premise of pervasive conditions, using atmospheric and changeable images incognito and ready to emerge. The images are colourful and almost ink blot-like, similar to pictures you made in kindergarten. You’ll need to pay attention in this exhibit, as your focus and connection is imperative to the work coming to life. Once you have focused, you’ll be immersed in the art, which hints that these conditions surround us in our everyday life. In other words, this exhibition takes participation to a new level. If it sounds like there’s too much to take in, don’t be afraid; be assured that you’ll be in awe even if you don’t understand the inner workings of this creative genius.
