Cycling escapades through artsy neighbourhoods, banquets in medieval castles, kayaking expeditions through incredible scenery to local breweries, cocktail masterclasses and late-night parties in century-old spa baths. Cruises may've once been targeted at retirees, but they're not anymore. U By Uniworld, a branch of global river cruise company Uniworld, has waterborne odysseys for all ages — and the ships, where you'll spend a good chunk of your time, aren't just ships. They're part floating boutique hotel, part restaurant, part yoga studio, part night club. And, as moveable hotels, they can also park in the heart of some of Europe's most exciting cities. Still don't believe us? We're willing to help you change your mind. We've joined forces with U By Uniworld to give away an eight-day cruise for two people. Worth up to $7,598, the prize gives you a choice of four cruises leaving port in 2018. To see France from a whole new perspective, jump aboard The Seine Experience. You'll spend eight days on the river that travels through the heart of Paris. Possible adventures include a foodie tour around Paris's secret laneways, paragliding through a nature park, a small bar crawl in Rouen's magical old city and a visit to a cider farm in Normandy. More in the mood for beer? Opt for the Germany's Finest, which meanders along the Main and the Danube. You'll take a midnight walking tour of cosmopolitan Frankfurt, a visit to Germany's biggest beer-producing region where more than 400 drops are up for tasting, a bike ride around Nuremberg and a visit to the world's oldest sausage restaurant. Meanwhile, a multi-country experience can be had on the Danube Flow. It begins in southeast Germany with a night out in mysterious, medieval Regensburg, and finishes in Budapest, Hungary, where the ship's chef will take you on a tour of a local market. Finally, you could win a spot on Rolling on the Rhine, which starts with a night out in Amsterdam, travels through The Netherlands — where you can go sea kayaking and visit the Church of Beer — and ends in Frankfurt, Germany. Whichever you choose, your prize includes accommodation, activities, port taxes, gratuities and meals for two. It doesn't, however, include flights so keep a keen eye out for any specials — this may be the perfect excuse to book that Europe tour you've been talking about for months. To enter, see details below. [competition]650728[/competition]
Long before Australia was plunged into a cost-of-living crisis, German-born supermarket chain Aldi was beloved by budget-conscious shoppers for its discounted groceries. Fans of cheap snow gear love the brand for cheap winter threads, too — and everyone knows someone who has nabbed a bargain bed, TV, barbecue, air fryer, outdoor setting or kettle from the retailer. Next on Aldi's list: $3.25 beers. No, there's no figure missing from that number. Yes, that's a wallet-friendly price for a frothy. If you're in Sydney on Wednesday, December 13, you can also enjoy the cheapest pub visit that you're ever likely to have while still buying a drink. To celebrate its new summery beers, which are called ALD IPA and are brewed by BrewDog at its Brisbane base, Aldi is setting up a one-night-only pop-up pub. Meet Special Brews by Aldi, with beverages costing $3.25 there as well, and the beers on offer from 3–7pm at Hotel Sweeney's on Clarence Street. In the past, Aldi has showcased its low prices by hosting a pop-up bar where gin, wine and cheese only cost $4.41, also in Sydney; serving up six gyoza for $1.44 at a pop-up dumpling truck, again in the Harbour City; and slinging 37-cent barista-made coffee in Melbourne. So, not only are the bargain brews on-brand, but so is setting up a site to launch and celebrate them. Head along to Special Brews and you'll get a sneak peek at ALD IPA, because it'll be available at the pop-up before it hits supermarkets on Wednesday, December 20. It's a first-come-first-served setup with no bookings, which means that arriving early is recommended. There'll also be a three-drink limit per person, so you won't even spend $10 on brews. Tucking into some chips while you drink will up your budget, however, with Special Brews featuring Aldi's Blackstone crisps in smoky chorizo (aka smoked paprika, pork, garlic and salt) and truffle and olive oil flavours for $3.49 a pack. Also on offer on the night: limited-edition BrewDog stubby holders and socks. "Produced in our state-of-the-art brewery in sunny Brisbane, our new ALD IPA is packed with all the hops and flavours you dream of in a quintessential summertime beer. It may boast a price tag fitting for ALDI, but it is the same high quality that BrewDog fans are so used to enjoying across our entire range, so we hope that Aussies enjoy picking up a case of ALD IPA in their weekly shop and cracking open a cold one this summer," said BrewDog Australia CEO Ed Bott. Described as "a fresh, fruity ale with tasting notes of citrus, stone fruits and a hint of toast", made with four different hops and coming in at four-percent ABV, ALD IPA will cost $13 for a four-pack — so, still $3.25 each — at Aldi. The one caveat: you can only get it at Aldis in states where supermarkets can sell booze, so in New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia. Special Brews by Aldi will pop up at Hotel Sweeney's, 236 Clarence Street, Sydney from 3–7pm on Wednesday, December 13. In states where supermarkets can sell alcohol, you'll also be able to pick up a four-pack of ALD IPA in Aldi stores from Wednesday, December 20 until sold out.
When Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers first announced that they were launching Australia's first gnocchi bar, no one gnocch'd their idea. Our stomachs were too busy rumbling for pillowy dumplings of pasta. So, when they opened their doors in Paddington, people came a-running. In fact, Brisbanites' gnocchi appetites have been so feverish, the local specialists are expanding to a second location not even six months later. Opening at 76 James Street, New Farm on April 10, and trading every afternoon and evening of the week, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street is all about keeping as many people in a pasta-fuelled state of bliss as possible. To feed the ravenous masses clamouring for potato-based parcels, forget dining in; their new digs is takeaway only — and delivery via UberEATS, but hey, you get the picture. Thankfully, a lack of eating area for folks to lounge around while chowing down is the only difference on the menu. All those gnocchis you've been feasting on — or eyeing off, if you haven't yet made it in to sample their wares for yourself — remain on offer. Wild mushroom and truffle sauce, slow-cooked bolognese, duck ragu, spicy tomato and black olive, Genovese pesto, and prawns with cherry tomatoes are certain to hit the spot. Trying a different flavour every night of the week is completely acceptable. Find Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street at 76 James Street, New Farm. For more information, head to their website or Facebook page. Image: Cyclone Bill.
Want to get back to nature without actually having to rough it? Lucky for you, you can now take in the rolling hills of Mudgee in New South Wales, with the region's first ever luxury glamping service. Now taking guests, Sierra Escape is located 20 minutes drive from Mudgee's town centre, some 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney. The 280-acre property boasts spectacular views and is home to wildlife including kangaroos, deer and a variety of native birds. So yeah, basically it's paradise. The $350 per night tent — if you can even call something this opulent a tent — includes floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-sized bed, a camp stove and fridge, an ethanol fireplace and a separate bathroom complete with freestanding bath, shower and flushing toilet. It's insulated for all seasons, and there's even a deck out front where you can kick back and watch the sunset. "Sierra Escape aims to provide off-the-grid accommodation for those who love the outdoors but still enjoy the comforts of a luxury hotel," said co-owners Cam and Tasch D'Arcy. "Sierra is close to wineries and restaurants, but far enough from it all that it's the perfect retreat. We're excited to share Sierra with visitors to the area and hope their glamping experiences inspire a new way of travelling." For more information visit www.sierraescape.com.au.
There's no denying that the United Kingdom has given the world a lot in the way of music. The nation is steeped in musical culture, from The Beatles to Bonobo; Oasis to One Direction; Elvis Costello to Elton John. It's given us The Spice Girls and 'Careless Whisper'. In short, its veins run thick with musical wealth — but there's more to it than just strolling through The Beatles museum in Liverpool. With the European summer just around the corner, we've been thinking about seminal musical experiences you can tick off your bucket list in the UK. And luckily, Contiki has launched a tour that covers exactly that. Dubbed Contiki Sounds, this ten-day journey includes stops in England's major cities — London, York, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool— and culminates in a VIP experience at long-running rock and pop extravaganza Reading Festival. This Aussie winter, pack your guitar (probably sacrificing some undies for space), head over the water to (somewhat) sunnier plains and prepare to pay homage to some legends. Tell your mum you love her and let her know you're off to find your inner John Lennon. ABBEY ROAD CROSSING, LONDON There's no getting around the Fab Four's reputation as paving the way for modern pop music and music fandom. Speaking of paving the way, the Abbey Road crossing in London's St John's Wood neighbourhood is certainly one of the enduring symbols of the band. The crosswalk is traipsed by countless fans of The Beatles daily in a bid to recreate the iconic Abbey Road album cover — undoubtedly frustrating traffic to no end. You can join the crowds and stroll your way across the road in tribute to the fallen members, John and George, and enduring larrikins Ringo and Paul. Sneak a peek at the current musical talent who might be ensconced inside the famous Abbey Road Studios across the way, where many of The Beatles' hits were recorded. [caption id="attachment_717739" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: David Dixon via Wikipedia Commons.[/caption] DENMARK STREET, LONDON Another London road worth a visit is Denmark Street. Traipsing this patch of pavement will have you walking in the boots of the ghosts of the London music scene founders. Somewhat of a musical mecca in the mid-20th century, the street is even referenced in a song of the same name by The Kinks. Here, many bands quintessential to the British music world either rehearsed or recorded, and David Bowie even lived on the street in a campervan. Bowie has passed but the street's resonance lives on. Today it's a hotspot for musical instrument sales and repairs, as well as being home to famous grungy livemusic venue Crobar. READING FESTIVAL, READING There's no greater musical experience than packing up a tent, dancing to live music in your gumboots with your best friends for a few days and coming back having had the time of your life. If you're seeking a definitive musical experience and are up for a good time, an all-in UK music festival is a must — and this is one of the best. Reading is the longest-running pop music festival in existence and serves up a jampacked lineup of pop, rock and alternative heavyweights each year in conjunction with its partner festival in Leeds. It also boasts a number of important moments in musical history, including Nirvana's first ever UK show and Arctic Monkey's launch into superstardom in 2005. And if you're going tick this musical mecca off your bucket list, you'll want to do it in style. If you hop on board the Contiki Sounds trip, the on-site crew will take care of all the logistics — from setting up your tent and mattress to making sure you've got brekkie every day — so you can concentrate on donning your boots and moshing in front of the main stage. [caption id="attachment_717914" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: travelmag.com via Flickr.[/caption] SALFORD LADS CLUB, MANCHESTER Made famous by the sleeve art of The Smiths 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, Salford Lads Club has been on the scene since 1903, when it was still a boys club. Over 100 years later, the club has had a whole fleet of musical legends as members (The Hollies also used to practise there). A decade or so ago saw some necessary refurbs, partly financed by Morrissey himself. These days, it's often used as a film and TV location for the likes of British series Coronation Street and hosts a variety of sports and talks geared towards young people. While that might sound like a far cry from The Smiths posing moodily outside, true fans need not fear — there's still an entire room dedicated to the band inside. The Salford Lads Club's musical pedigree is impossible not to acknowledge. [caption id="attachment_717753" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image by Hens Zimmerman via Wiki Commons[/caption] CAVERN CLUB, LIVERPOOL A guide to the British music scene wouldn't be complete without Liverpool — the epicentre of a huge part of the UK's music roots. And yep, it's generally down to The Beatles. Every year thousands of people flock to the harbourside town, many wanting to explore The Beatles Story museum. The Cavern Club is equally as important and just as drenched in musical history. Step inside and take a deep breath — you'll be inhaling the atmosphere of years of musical history (along with beer). Still an important live music venue to the town, The Beatles made a name for themselves here, playing their first gig in 1961. Over the years, countless other British bands have followed suit, including The Wombats and The Rolling Stones. Pay your respects to this holy stage. Travel around the best spots in the UK with Contiki at Reading Festival. Unearth the UK's musical heritage, then experience an unforgettable party at one of the world's best and biggest music festivals. Contiki wants to take you there — all you have to do is choose from the 7- or 10-day trip. Plus, if you bring a mate, it'll give you both $200 off. Find out more here.
Your flights are booked, your bags are packed and your holiday excitement/anxiety has begun. And the last thing you want to be doing is dropping a stack of spending money on getting to the airport, either in a cab or — for those lucky enough to have an airport rail link this century — on the train. So, you'll be happy to know that, on Friday, July 26, ride share service Ola is offering its customers a pretty sweet deal. It isn't just reducing the price of trips to major Australian airports, as it has done before. This time, it's making the journey for free, up to a total value of $30 per ride. Customers in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast can score the budget-friendly trip all day, as long as you're one of the first 1000 rides booked using the Ola app. If your journey clocks in at over $30, the extra distance will be charged at the usual price. You'll be given an estimate of your fare when you book, and tolls will also be at an extra cost. Depending on how far away from the airport you live, the $30 deal mightn't get you all the way there; however it will still save some precious cash from your travel budget — or let you use those funds for something more fun than transport. It's worth noting that the offer only applies to journeys to the airport, so don't count on it after you disembark at the other end. To take advantage of the special, you'll need to sign up to Ola and download the app, and use the code OLAVFF. And if you're wondering why Ola is feeling so generous, that's because it has just teamed up with Velocity Frequent Flyer. If you're a member of the latter, you can now earn points on every Ola ride — one point for each $1 spent on everyday rides, and two points for every $1 you fork out on rides to and from the airport. Ola's airport offer is valid for the first 1000 rides booked on Friday, July 26.
A friend of mine works in an op shop. A proper one, not an overpriced 'vintage' one. A few months ago she showed up to the pub with a collection of books which had been donated, one of which was a colouring book for medical students, complete with every element of human anatomy you'd ever need to know. We sat tipsily entranced by the semi-coloured-in pictures of lungs and kidneys and feet, the outspread arms of nerve cells and the fragile spiderweb-like bone structure of the hand. Bodies are funny things. We're often quick to forget what's under the surface, what's holding us together and propelling us forward. Japanese illustrator Wataru Yoshida has recently captured this idea in a startlingly beautiful way, in a series of posters entitled Composition of Mammals. The images combine photographs of different mammals, including humans, overlaid with the ethereal shadows of their skeletons and vital organs. The series was created as part of an imaginary exhibition at the National Musuem of Nature and Science in Tokyo, aiming to show the mystery and fascination of how delicate even the strongest of bodies is when you peel back the skin. [Via Design Bloom]
Which Australian city has the best steak joints? Which boasts the top restaurants in general? Which is considered the ideal place to live? May 2024 has delivered new answers to all of these questions (more fuel for interstate rivalries, too), and it has just dropped another handy tidbit: the home of Australia's best bartender for this year. Global bartending competition Diageo World Class shows Aussie talents some love in a couple of ways, including via its Bartender of the Year Australia award — and, after a fierce contest showcasing exceptional mixology, we have a winner. Earning the coveted title this year is Sydney bartender Jake Down from Pleasure Club, one of three Harbour City folks competing in the showdown. In the pool of six bartenders, Perth and Hobart were each represented, too (sorry other Australian cities). Down, Merivale's James Irvine and The Waratah's Tom Opie faced off against each other, and also against Matt Bodycote from State Buildings in Perth, Shirley Yeung from Foxtrot Hospitality Group in Perth and Rohan Massie from Rude Boy in Hobart. Held in Sydney on Monday, May 27, the final stage of the annual drinks competition saw the six Aussie finalists battle it out behind the bar, showing off their skills across three challenges. One had them coming up with new options for traditional whisky serves, working with Johnnie Walker, Talisker and The Singleton. The next involved taking inspiration from their favourite bars while heroing Johnnie Walker Black Ruby. Then, a speed task involving making six classic cocktail serves in six minutes rounded out the contest. Down, whose resume locally and internationally also includes This Must Be the Place, Scout London, Re and Housemade Hospitality, now has a chance to score some more kudos at the global finals in September. He'll shake and stir up a storm alongside 50-plus other international hopefuls in a bid to be named World Class Global Bartender of the Year. "The competition has exposed me to some of the best bartenders in the industry, allowing me to learn and grow alongside incredible talent," said Down about his win. "I'm honoured to be part of our incredible hospitality community and I can't wait to represent Australia in September at the global finals." [caption id="attachment_942593" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pleasure Club, Parker Blain.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_929495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Waratah, Jason Loucas.[/caption] For more information about the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender competition and Diageo World Class in general, head to the Diageo Bar Academy website.
Prepare to say "accio remote!" and get comfier than Hermione Granger in a library. In news that'll keep you glued to your couch this winter — timely news given that Sydney is currently in the middle of a lengthy lockdown — everyone's favourite boy wizard is now working his magic on Netflix. You won't need the Marauder's Map to find these enchanting flicks. Today, Thursday, July 15, all eight movies in the Harry Potter series have hit the streaming platform, bringing their Hogwarts-set adventures to Australian subscribers. If you've watched your DVD copies from the 2000s so many times that they're showing a little wear and tear — or your laptop no longer has a disc drive — this is butterbeer-worthy news. Yes, everything from Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) first visit to Platform 9 and 3/4, the Yule Ball and the Triwizard Tournament to many a fluttering snitch and He Who Must Not Be Named are now at your fingertips. It's prime viewing for wizards, witches and muggles alike — all 19 hours and 39 minutes of it. The Fantastic Beasts films haven't joined them, though with wizarding journey keeping its focus on the original franchise. If you're thinking that a time-turner might come in handy over the next few months, we completely understand. And if this sounds like familiar news, that's because all eight movies were also available on Netflix back in 2019. They jumped to Binge after that, too, because the thing about streaming services — unless they're making and funding a movie or series themselves, films and shows can switch platforms as the rights deals behind them change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG37G--drDs&list=PLnpIp0ksj4UlQWQlPaRd6WrI9XSmS6B4u Find Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 are all now streaming on Netflix.
The Hideaway and luxury groovers 100% Silk will be hosting a night of music as smooth as any Pantene commercial, this Thursday. In just two years, 100% Silk has fast become one of Los Angeles' finest providers of on-the-money, A-grade music, and now it's Brisbane's chance to witness some of their finest auditory exports. Brooklyn-based house music producer, Octo Octa is a sugar-free act – his melodies are topped with rave-tinged basslines providing for a unique R&B, house fusion. His refreshing sounds have recieved widespread critical acclaim in both traditional electronic music and indie-minded musical circles. Magic Touch, on the other hand, mix the psychedelic ethos of San Francisco with the house movements of Chicago, before smattering their sound with a healthy dose of UK rave underground – it's the club sandwich of music mashing. Think sleek, chic, late night San Francisco Latin soul music, and you have for yourself Bobby Browser. He works the synths, laid-back-grooves, soul melodies, and even has a moustache to match. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch three of 100% Silk’s finest, straight from the States.
It's the exercise trend that has swept the world, and popped up in Sydney and Melbourne in the process. And yet, somehow silent yoga hasn't made its way to Brisbane. On September 11, The Urban Bliss Sound Off Experience will change that in one of the CBD's most central and visible public spaces. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like: keen yogis will stretch and shoosh, with teacher Esther Wallace-Hill delivering cues regarding poses and movements via wireless headphones. Attendees will also listen to music piped straight into their ears during a 75-minute class that's open to yoga fans of all experience levels. Up to 250 people can participate — and while those that do will pay to take part, all proceeds raised will go towards a good cause. The event is designed to not only promote the latest yoga style, and help Brissie's stressed out citizens bend, stretch and breathe their way to inner bliss, but to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute's mood disorder diagnosis, treatment and prevention efforts. And if you're on the Gold Coast and can't attend, don't worry — you're won't miss out. Not just silent yoga but silent disco yoga is coming your way courtesy of Flow After Dark. It's clearly a great time to exercise as quietly as possible in the Sunshine State. The Urban Bliss Sound Off Experience takes place in King George Square. at 5.30pm on September 11. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the event's Facebook page.
At last, the gluten free gods have answered your prayers. The Gohil family — whose coeliac-friendly products have been gracing local supermarket shelves for 20 years — are making lives even easier, launching the country's first dedicated gluten free, ready-cooked meal delivery service. Just like the recently launched Freshara is doing for Australia's vegan contingent, The Gluten Free Meal Co is opening up the meal delivery game to a whole new group of foodies, with a collection of nourishing, ready-prepared dishes endorsed by Coeliac Australia. They've also done away with the whole subscription caper. Instead, users simply order by selecting from the lineup of $9.90 single-serve meals on The Gluten Free Meal Co's online menu. And, while there's a minimum spend of $65 for each order, you will score free delivery Australia-wide. All meals are whipped up in a state-of-the-art facility and undergo external gluten testing before arriving at your doorstep — although by the looks of that menu, they're designed to tempt taste buds just as much as any gluten-filled goodies. We're talking global-inspired main dishes like crumbed fish fillets and a country-style chicken pie, a solid range of vegetarian meals, and even a dessert selection featuring sweet treats like chocolate profiteroles. "The gluten free community deserves the same privilege of eating a wide variety of high-quality, nourishing food as everyone else," said Pran and Jitesh Gohil. "We're so excited that we can look after everyone with this fantastic range of delicious mains, finger foods and desserts that are indistinguishable from dishes everyone enjoys." For more information about The Gluten Free Meal Co visit www.gfmeals.com.au.
Uber apparently just wants Australians to be effortlessly happy and righteously lazy, and nothing says bliss like enjoying a few cheeky brews in your underwear. If last year's introduction of UberEATS hasn't already made us lazy enough, the company has just announced that, as of today, March 23, they'll be delivering booze too, starting with Melbourne. As part of the launch, UberEATS has partnered with Carlton Draught to release their alcohol delivery service just in time for the start of AFL season tomorrow. On Friday, March 24 from 12pm, the general alcohol service kicks off, and from 5pm, Melbournian's can choose one of the nineteen $30 plus meal deals on their app and receive a free four pack of the specially brewed Carltons to enjoy with (or without) the game. After supplies run out, normal hours of alcohol service are midday to 9pm. Thirty liquor license holding restaurants across Melbourne's city and inner city suburbs are participating so far, and we're pretty confident the service will quickly spread to the rest of metropolitan Australia as well. There are a few things to note before rushing to your app — alcohol will only be delivered with a food order and only a bottle of wine or six pack of beer is permitted per order. The drivers won't deliver to intoxicated folk either, so if you answer the door looking like a hot mess you'll be denied your booze. Under 18s shouldn't be cheering either — you'll need proof of ID to accept the delivery. Obviously the service isn't meant to completely replace bottle shop runs, but is more about bringing a 'complete restaurant experience' into your home — something existing booze delivery services will need to consider. It comes well timed with the turn of the season as well, as the Melbourne winter sure doesn't promote outdoor activity. So go ahead and order from your favourite dumpling joint, pop open that delivered brew, turn on Netflix and let the pants-off binge-watching commence.
One day a year, each and every year, American football attracts fans around the world who don't watch any NFL games at any other time. The reason: the Super Bowl. Maybe you just check it out for the half-time show. Perhaps you're just keen on the film and TV trailers that drop during the match. Either way, there's no avoiding Super Bowl Monday, as it is in Australia, when it rolls around. The 2024 Super Bowl is different. The Kansas City Chiefs are taking on the San Francisco 49ers. Usher is doing the mid-game performance. But plenty of people watching will be hoping to say "yeah!" to a different music superstar. Everyone knows that Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce, who plays for the Chiefs. In fact, the NFL has already confirmed that Swift is on the ground in Las Vegas for the match. Taylor Swift is here with Ice Spice and Blake Lively! #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/0x4XIDRupW — NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2024 So, where can you watch in Australia? If you're streaming along from work or home, you have a few options. Via free-to-air TV, 7mate and 7plus are showing the game, which starts at 10.30am AEDT / 10am ACT / 9.30am AEST / 7.30am AWST, with coverage commencing half an hour earlier. Or, if you have Foxtel or Kayo, you can also stream the match there. The half-time show is expected to kick off at midday AEDT / 11.30am ADCT / 11am AEST / 9am AWST. [caption id="attachment_940494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] D.roller.saparena via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] While much of the focus has been on Swift, including if she'd make to Las Vegas after her Tokyo Eras gigs before heading to Australia for her Down Under tour leg, there's another reason for Aussies to be interested. Mitch Wishnowsky plays for the 49ers, and could become the first Australian to play in and win the Super Bowl if his team beats the Chiefs. Jesse Williams received a Super Bowl ring for the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, but didn't actually play in the match. The Chiefs also won 2023's Super Bowl, plus 2020's — against the the 49ers in the latter. [caption id="attachment_940492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Accedie via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The 2024 Super Bowl takes place from 10am AEDT / 10am ACT / 9am AEST / 7.30am AWST on Monday, February 12 in Australia. Watch along via 7mate and 7plus, Foxtel or Kayo. Top image: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia via Wikimedia Commons.
If there is one thing we can learn from the social network juggernaut that was Kony2012, it is that the pervasive power of Facebook provides internet activists or hacktivists with a unique capacity to transform public consciousness on a truly global scale. As such, a number of environmental activists are not only taking to the streets but taking to Facebook in an attempt to raise awareness about the pressing environmental issues that face society today. Here are six innovative groups and apps that have taken the fight for a greener future into the world of Facebook. Tree-Nation Tree-Nation is one of numerous Facebook groups committed to fighting deforestation and desertification through replanting trees. For every ten people who join the Tree-Nation Facebook page, the organisation will plant one tree. Even more ambitiously, Facebook group iChapter has promised to plant one tree for every new member, with the aim to eventually plant a total of 100,000 trees. For the more Facebook savvy of you, the Earthkeepers have created an app that allows users to plant a virtual tree, tend to it and share it with friends, with every fully matured virtual tree resulting in Earthkeepers planting a tree in the real world. Make Me Sustainable Make Me Sustainable allows users to measure their impact on the environment by tracking energy consumption and carbon footprint, allowing you to see how an action as simple as changing a light bulb can reduce your environmental impact. While there is a great range of software available for individuals and businesses that help in reducing your environmental footprint, Make Me Sustainable is unique as it provides a forum for sharing information and strategies for sustainable living and a virtual space to network with other environmentally-minded individuals on a national and even international scale. A Climate for Change Not simply a Facebook application, A Climate for Change is in fact a whole new social network built around the goal of tackling the issue of climate change. Users create profiles where they share anything and everything they have to say about global warming from rants about the Carbon Tax to interesting articles and videos about the effects of our warming planet. The We Campaign As the name suggests, The We Campaign hopes to shift our focus from what 'I' can do to make a difference but what 'we' as a global community, connected through our shared desires and the power of Facebook, can do together to protect and preserve the environment. The We Campaign app awards points to users for taking certain environmental actions, with donors giving $1 to fight global warming for every 10 points earnt. Trees Have Rights Too In the age of social networking environmental activists no longer have to chain themselves to giant oaks in order to fight for their right to exist. Trees Have Rights Too not only functions as an awareness group, describing how every Christmas season 6 million trees are killed and then disposed of, but also as a particularly vocal advocacy group for the rights of trees everywhere. The group is currently aiming to petition the United Nations to create a Bill of Planetary Rights that places guidelines and regulations on government deforestation. (Lil) Green Patch The now defunct Facebook app, (Lil) Green Patch was once the most used application on Facebook and well-and-truly silenced the doubters who believed that social media couldn't be used to create meaningful environmental change. The app allowed users to tend to a virtual garden, adding little munchkin-like people, plants and flowers and in the process users would raise money for "Nature Conservancy" to save the rainforest. According to one count (Lil) Green Patch raised more than $200,000 for Nature Conservancy over two years, which represented the conservation of rainforests across the globe with an area of 70 million square feet of Costa Rican saved in the first six months alone. (Lil) Green Patch is now the benchmark for every new environmentally-minded Facebook app.
"What we need is a hot, fresh dead body — preferably right here or very near to here." So declares Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) in the just-unveiled first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season four. Viewers of 2023's season three already know that exactly that is about to greet him, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez , The Dead Don't Die) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), aka the three New York City-residing podcasters who started teaming up to record audio when murders began occurring in their building. Being aware that there has again been a killing in the Arconia doesn't mean knowing what's in store in the sleuthing comedy's return, though — with season four now locked in to start streaming from Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Indeed, something different is afoot this time around, taking Only Murders in the Building into territory not seen in 2021's season one or 2022's season two, either. Get ready for a trip to Hollywood. Both Oliver, Mabel and Charles' investigation and the cinema business beckon in Los Angeles. A studio wants to turn their podcast — which is also called Only Murders in the Building — into a film. Again, Oliver has the right words for the scenario in the sneak peek: "pack your bags, bitches — we're going to the movies". Cue not only the return of Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up), who joined the cast in season three, but also the arrival of Molly Shannon (The Other Two), Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek), Eva Longoria (Tell It Like a Woman), Zach Galifianakis (The Beanie Bubble), Melissa McCarthy (Unfrosted), Kumail Nanjiani (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) and Richard Kind (Girls5eva) joining the cast. Alongside Short, Gomez and Martin, fellow long-running Only Murders in the Building regulars Michael Cyril Creighton (American Fiction), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (a newly minted Oscar-winner for The Holdovers) and Jane Lynch (Velma) are also back. When it premiered in 2021, the series started with three residents of the same NYC apartment complex crossing paths after a death in their building, then bonding over true-crime podcasts. Next, they did what everyone that's jumped on that bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation: started their own audio series. Every season has given aspiring artist Mabel, Broadway producer Oliver and actor Charles another case to dive into, smartly and amusingly so. In the show's third batch of episodes, it was the murder of star Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) at the opening night of Oliver's latest show that had them turning detective. Check out the first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season four below: Only Murders in the Building streams Down Under via Star on Disney+, and will return for season four on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Read our reviews of season one, season two and season three.
When Patina set up shop on the river-facing side of Customs House back in 2018, the waterside CBD spot gave diners stellar views to accompany their meals and drinks. Launching its sibling site in the city's inner west, it's doing the same — but this time, it's gone green with its vistas. Patina at Alumni Court is the newest addition to the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus, which accounts for the tree-lined surroundings and grassy stretch sprawling out in front of the eatery's outdoor area. The vibe: bringing the outside in, while also nodding to the chain's OG venue. Hefty windows peer out over the lawn, while brass and copper-coloured finishes take their cues from Customs House's iconic copper dome, all in a space that also incorporates Alumni Court's heritage-listed former Radon Laboratory. Open since Monday, February 21, the 90-seater — indoors and out — boasts chef Nick Murtas (ex-Palazzo Versace and Emporium Hotels) in the kitchen, as overseen by Patina's Executive Chef John Offenhauser (ex-Chef de Cuisine and Marco Polo at the Treasury Hotel). On their menu, which doesn't just mimic its sister eatery's offerings: a seafood-heavy range that also heroes seasonal produce. Highlights from the a la carte selection include ora king salmon tartare with Tasmanian wasabi, smoked soy, avocado, nashi, finger lime and coriander, plus South Burnett pork belly with smoked parsnip, Mooloolaba king prawn, witlof and pickled white grape. Yuzu oysters, octopus with smoked potatoes, steamed duck buns, mushroom tarte tatin and chicken with a shawarma marinade also feature — and the dessert range spans espresso martini souffles with vanilla vodka cream, panna cotta with chamomile jelly, creme brulee with almond biscotti and caramelised banana tarte tatin. Operating Monday–Friday, Patina at Alumni Court also does breakfast — think: brioche with smoked salmon, maple-glazed bacon or scrambled eggs, plus pork sausage rolls, cheesy vegetable frittatas and Neighbourhood Roasters coffee — and hosts sparkling-fuelled high teas from Tuesday–Friday. On the general drinks menu, craft spirits are a feature among the cocktail selection, which covers eight boozy choices — and four non-boozy options. Sip a negroni with or sans alcohol, for instance. The wine list goes heavy on riesling, rosé and champagne; a small spirits lineup covers all the usual bases; and the 12-option beer range also features a non-boozy brew. Patina at Alumni Court is also home to a private dining room and catering service, and is hosting seasonal pop-ups in its openair space. First up at the latter: a Bombay Sapphire setup that pairs G&Ts with crispy barramundi tacos, among other snacks, while patrons kick back on deck chairs.
Takeaway and delivery food are true luxuries of modern living. Unfortunately, for all that time you get back on avoiding cooking or simply enjoying the privilege of watching ten consecutive episodes of Below Deck without interruption, the consequence is an impact on the environment that is less than positive. Excess packaging and un-recyclable waste are both the unavoidable byproducts of the takeaway food system, and have been since the days of styrofoam and plastic straws. Hopefully, that's about to change in Australia. Uber Eats — the service responsible for more food delivery than any other in the country — has just launched a partnership with leading environmental change organisation, Planet Ark, to make a shift toward more sustainable packaging across the industry, from the time it exits the kitchen of restaurants and vendors, to the disposal of waste at the homes of all us Below Deck freaks. So, how will it be done? One of the goals of the program is to get Uber Eats' restaurant partners moving to reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging options by 2030. The roll out will include education of restaurant partners around these options, supported by a $13m investment from Uber Eats to subsidise the uptake of new environmentally friendly packaging types into venues so that positive changes can be made without throwing a spanner into your favourite Thai joint's ability to run a roaring trade. If you're an Uber Eats user, keep an eye out for tips on the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your takeaway packaging at home — for example, rip off the non-grease-stained top of the pizza box to go in the paper/cardboard recycling bin and throw the greasy box base in the normal bin. Even seemingly small changes can make significant impacts. According to Bec Nyst, General Manager of Uber Eats ANZ: "since making cutlery opt-in, rather than being included by default, we estimate eaters have helped reduce the equivalent weight of four jumbo jets worth of plastic forks, spoons and the like ending up in Australian landfill." [caption id="attachment_937881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling and Uber Eats General Manager Bec Nyst.[/caption] Images: Caleb Oquendo (top) and Caroline McCredie
From towering mountains and serene fiords shrouded in mist, to black sand beaches and forests housing some of the world's oldest trees, Aotearoa New Zealand's natural landscapes truly are something else. No matter when you visit, you'll feel the wairua (spirit) of New Zealand's landscapes drawing you in as you're immersed in them and they envelop you. This is scenery you'll feel, rather than merely 'view'. Winter transforms vistas as the skies darken, mountains rising from the horizon are dusted in snow and the seasonal passing by of wildlife occurs. During autumn and spring, you'll be bathed in warmer temperatures and lingering sunlight that casts a different light over the landscapes. We teamed up with 100% Pure New Zealand to unveil some of the most awe-inspiring scenery New Zealand has to offer each season, so you can plan a trip that's made all the more memorable by these breathtaking encounters. Flick the switch for our top picks of experiences to have in autumn, winter and spring and see how New Zealand changes with the seasons. Jump to switcher
Step inside the heritage-listed Rothwell's building on Edward Street and, thanks to the bar and grill that now shares its name, you can be forgiven for feeling like you're on the other side of the world. There's a firmly classic look and vibe to the space that previously housed Jamie's Italian — think: gleaming chandeliers that'd make Sia sing, white marble aplenty, leather booths decked out with vintage table lamps, and silver trays and carafes. The latest venue from 1889 Enoteca's Dan Clark, Rothwell's Bar and Grill might call a 136-year-old Brisbane building home, but it takes its cues from hospitality institutions much further afield. London's The Savoy Grill and The Wolseley are two of them. Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles is another — as well as New York's entire dining scene. For Brisbanites, the result is the kind of venue that aims to make you forget you're in the busiest part of the city — even if you've just made the dash from the Queen Street Mall or Central Station. Joining Clark is chef Ben Russell (ex-Aria, Est Est Est) and, together, they've shaped the newcomer after their favourite eateries from around the globe, following a quarter-century of scoping out the best dining rooms and bars the international scene has to offer. The Rothwell's sit-down experience takes patrons to the 90-seat Marble Bar area, where all that Italian marble — and those aforementioned leather banquettes — provide a light yet intimate atmosphere. If you're just stopping by for a drink, however, the 40-seater Foyer Bar will be your destination. And, for bigger dinners and events, the private dinning room caters to 50 seated guests, or 100 folks standing. It's found in the building's cellar, so you'll be surrounded by 2000-plus bottles of wine, plus eye-catching sandstone walls. Standout dishes at Rothwell's include prawn cocktails and steak tartare among the starters; reef fish with roast fennel, tomato, and basil vinaigrette, and beef wellington from the mains; and chocolate trifle, and pistachio brûlée with chocolate gelato from the dessert offerings. Drinks options span martinis, old fashioned, negronis and Hemingway daquiri — again, the feel here is classic — which, at the bar, are paired with food choices such as oysters, niçoise salad and a club sandwich. Wine lovers can also take advantage of that stacked cellar — which you can visit, and which also houses and sells wines bought from all around the world from Clark's own collection. If your bank balance doesn't quite let you afford a cognac from the 1890s (understandably so), you'll find tipples from all the usual producers, as well as from smaller names from regions such as Burgundy, Chablis, Bordeaux, Champagne and Barolo. And, for digestifs, there's a dedicated armagnac cart, complete with bottles collected from Europe and dating back to the 1920s. Images: Dean Swindell.
For artist Sarah McCloskey, there was never really a question whether or not she would pursue a career in art. "There's never been another thing that I've been interested in," she says. Growing up in Perth, McCloskey explains that she "always, always had a pencil in [her] hand". After graduating from high school, she completely immersed herself in that world. She worked part-time in an art gallery and started a university degree in fine art, all while steadily honing her craft. In February 2019, she moved to Sydney to pursue being an artist full-time. It was one of several choices that McCloskey has made over the last decade in a bid to shape her career and find her unique creative voice. This year, McCloskey joins a slew of visionary creatives collaborating with Miller Design Lab — the home of creativity and self-expression built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology and fashion. The platform is a celebration of our nightlife and its impact on culture to deliver exceptional moments to you and your home. Here, we speak to McCloskey about seeking new challenges that shape her creative voice and finding inspiration. There's something that's really clear when talking to McCloskey: she isn't afraid of facing a challenge. In fact, she welcomes it. "I think the things I feel most proud of come from throwing myself into something new and giving it my best shot," she says. Although the bulk of her current work is painting murals, it's a relatively new medium for her after concentrating on graphite illustrations for the first part of her career. Explaining how she fell into the medium, she says, "I just was lucky enough to be working in a space and surrounded by some people who had been painting walls for decades." Since then, McCloskey's painted murals for several arts festivals, including Wonderwalls Festival in Port Kembla. But there are plenty of tricky aspects of it. "They were some of my largest walls and had tight timeframes. I learned a lot and was super proud. I do love painting murals, but I definitely feel it afterwards. Especially if I'm painting something really big in a short amount of time in the sun or the rain.....It is pretty physically taxing." Acknowledging that she can't continue with murals long-term, she started "dipping her toe" into yet another new challenge last year: oil painting. And she began with what she describes as "a pretty vulnerable choice to paint a sad selfie". Now, rather than seeing the cancellation of much of her upcoming mural work at festival and events (due to COVID-19) as a setback, McCloskey's taking it as an opportunity to keep forging ahead in her career path. "I'm in the studio constantly and actually putting time into some oil paintings that I've had sitting here waiting for me to finish. I want to build up a body of work with a view to have an exhibition." One of the most recent oil paintings that McCloskey has produced was for Miller Design Lab, which she describes as "pretty true to my style... which is very much portrait-based. I do have an interest in strong colour palettes, so I chose neon to be my light source, which is something I hadn't done before." Delving further, McCloskey explains how customisation plays a role in her process. "Through the years, I would take a photo reference [from Pinterest or Instagram] and tweak it to make it my own... I like to keep the realistic aspects and the things that make it recognisable, especially if it's a face, but turn it into something that doesn't really exist in this world. Through painting, especially murals, that's something I do using colour and other botanical elements." It's no surprise then that McCloskey considers nature a huge source of inspiration. She mentions the Royal Botanic Garden and Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden as two of her favourite places in Sydney to visit. And, when the sun goes down, the inspiration keeps flowing. "The nightlife of the city is that perfect time at the end of the day when everybody gets to go out and connect with people. Whole creative industries exist in the night for our pleasure and entertainment, and being able to get out amongst that is an amazing way to recharge." For Sarah, that means tracking down live music. "I'm always that person who is trying to drag all my friends to some gig. That's the perfect place to see a bunch of other creative people in their element on a stage. I always feel pretty motivated by that — seeing people smash it in their own creative field. I'm not a musician at all but seeing one is like 'Fuck yeah, I'm going to go and be good at my thing now'." For more, check out Sarah McCloskey's collaboration with Miller Genuine Draft here. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way. Images: Reuben Gibbes
When Vivid Sydney took place in 2016, wearing pyjamas was acceptable. As Max Richter performed Sleep at the Sydney Opera House, the composer did so while attendees slumbered, which is what the eight-hour performance is specifically designed for. Did anyone taking a kip to the music dream up a future idea for a Vivid event? Audiences might find out when the festival returns in 2025 for its 15th year across Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14. It's save-the-date time, with Vivid locking in its next winter return, aka when it'll next take over the Harbour City with its showcase of tunes, luminous sights, culinary events and conversation. Also revealed: 2025's theme, which is where dreaming comes in again. "Dreaming is something we all do. It's as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams don't discriminate — they are borderless, ageless and endless. They can be personal or public. When shared, our dreams can become a movement. They can inspire, motivate, spark excitement and connection," explains Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini about the event's next focus. "The whole world dreams, it is something we have in common, something that unites us. Our human story is embedded in dreams, they help explain our existence and our past," Minervini continued, also opening the call for expressions of interest to take part in 2025's Vivid. "We want the very best in homegrown talent to be part of our vibrant Vivid Sydney event program, with a unique opportunity to foster community connection, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity can enrich our lives." "Each year, Vivid Sydney aims to deliver unparalleled artistic brilliance, and we look forward to welcoming the inspirations within our community that will help shape Vivid Sydney 2025 into a show-stopping cultural phenomenon." Vivid's lineup won't be announced until 2025, but you can lock in one venue: Taronga Zoo. Whatever pops up at the iconic spot can link into light, music, ideas and food, the four pillars that Vivid has at its core. If you're excited about which events will follow in past years' footsteps — 2024's lineup included Amy Poehler, Air, Budjerah, Yasiin Bey, Tekno Train by Paul Mac, a fan of light from Sydney Tower, artwork by Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman on the Sydney Opera House's sails and plenty more, all ruminating on the theme 'humanity' — then mark your diaries accordingly. If you have a dream-inspired idea that you'd love to see come to life at Vivid 2025, no matter whether you're an artist, musician, chef, speaker or something else, then head to the fest's website to go through the expression of interest process. Vivid Sydney will run from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14, 2025 at various locations around Sydney. We'll update you when the program is announced next year — head to the festival website for further details in the interim. Images: Destination NSW.
Head to any strip of eateries in Brisbane, and you're likely to find a spate of Japanese options. Sushi, gyoza and ramen have all become restaurant and fast food mainstays, and with good reason. Of course, there's a difference between the Australian take on the trio, or the quick-and-easy food court versions, and becoming immersed in the real cuisine and experience. That's what Izakaya Goku aims to offer: delicious, authentic bites to eat with casual, communal dining and traditional hospitality to match. Their vibe is retro and informal, but their menus are serious. That extends to beverages, too — the place does take its name from the Japanese term for a drinking establishment, after all. In terms of sustenance, expect all the staples plus kushiyaki skewers, a choice of okonomiyaki (aka savoury pancakes), and separate hot and cold a la carte selections that include crab, octopus balls, squid legs and seaweed salad. In terms of something to wash it all down with, there's Japanese whisky and a range of cocktails, but choosing from the extensive sake menu — served hot, chilled and room temperature — is the obvious choice. Images: Hennessy Trill
Guillermo Del Toro's original Pacific Rim knew exactly what it was: a modern day creature feature starring giant robots beating the living crap out of even bigger monsters. Everything the movie did, from the characters' backstories to the wacky scientists and even the burgeoning romance, was all there to serve a sole purpose: get us to the next massive monster bash. The entire exercise was big, silly and frequently confusing, but in the end it was all forgivable because Pacific Rim delivered the film it said it would. The sequel, by contrast, made the fatal error of having hardly any robot vs. monster fisticuffs, and – to put things bluntly – it sucked. Sadly, cinemas latest creature feature, The Meg, makes a similar mistake, proving about as big a disappointment as the shark you barely get to see. The setup, as far as sharksploitation films go, is actually pretty solid. A deep sea research project named Mana One discovers the Mariana Trench is actually deeper than first thought, with a dense cloud of hydrogen-sulfide masking a deeper world that's remained untouched since the Jurassic period. It's here the scientists both discover and then accidentally release the proverbial Meg (short for Megalodon), setting the giant shark upon a course of murderous destruction as it explores the oceans above. And wouldn't that have been great to watch! Sadly the film chooses to tell rather than show, mostly sending its cast to survey the aftermath of the Meg's mayhem rather than really showing the toothy beast in action. Much of the fault lies in decision to go for a family (and censor) friendly rating that strips the movie of almost all its gore. Truly, there's more bloody violence in a lamb ad then The Meg, robbing it of any sense of gruesome fun. In the lead human role, action man and former professional diver Jason Statham plays a deep sea rescue expert reluctantly drawn back into the world that abandoned him after a deadly incident some years prior. He's grizzled, cynical and a heavy beer drinker, yet still somehow more ripped than a carcass after a shark attack – not that The Meg would show that kind of thing. Statham, like Dwayne Johnson, is a delight to watch on screen, at once committed to his performance yet unmistakably aware of how ridiculous this movie is. Even he, though, feels underutilised in this film, relegated to delivering bad cliches in even more derivative scenarios. His co-stars don't fare much better, with the likes of Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson and Chinese superstar Li Bingbing all trudging their way through this cheesy affair. In all, there's just not enough Meg in The Meg to justify the price of admission, let alone the title. It's not good enough to be a good film, but also not bad enough to be so bad it's good. Frankly, if it's schlock you're after, you'd be far better served by genuine B-movies like Sharknado. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYXExfKhmo
If you're a Brisbanite who loves musicals, the last year or so has seen you absolutely spoilt for choice. When theatres have been open, everything from An American in Paris, Frozen the Musical and Cruel Intentions: the 90s Musical through to 9 to 5 the Musical, Friends! The Musical Parody, Cinderella and Come From Away have hit the city's stages. And, Mary Poppins is on its way as well. Also now heading to Brissie: Six the Musical. No, Hamilton isn't the only hit musical from the past few years that took a few cues from the past, paired a well-known chapter of history with toe-tapping tunes and made on-stage magic. Indeed, this one proved such a hit during its most recent Sydney stint — a whopping during its 15-week Sydney Opera House run over summer — that it's returning to the Harbour City as well, then heading up to the Sunshine State this summer. From Friday, December 30, Six the Musical will hit up the QPAC Playhouse with a pop-fuelled take on royal intrigue. First premiering back at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then jumping to London's West End, the show takes inspiration from one of the most famous sextets there's ever been — because even if you don't know much about Britain's past kings and queens, you likely know that Henry VIII had six wives. The Tudor monarch's love life has inspired plenty of pop culture content over the years — including 00s TV series The Tudors and 2008 movie The Other Boleyn Girl — but this one takes the pop part rather seriously. Six the Musical is presented as a pop concert, in fact, with Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr all taking to the microphone to tell their stories. Each woman's aim: to stake their claim as the wife who suffered the most at the king's hands, and to become the group's lead singer as a result. For its Brisbane stint, Kala Gare (Rent) plays Anne Boleyn, Loren Hunter (Strictly Ballroom: The Musical) takes on Jane Seymour, Kiana Daniele (Dirty Dancing) will step into Anne of Cleves' shoes and Vidya Makan (Green Day's American Idiot) will do the same with Catherine Parr. And, Phoenix Jackson Mendoza (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Chelsea Dawson (Shrek the Musical) also feature, as Catherine of Aragon and Catherine Howard respectively. Six the Musical will play the QPAC Playhouse from Friday, December 30. For more information, head to the musical's website. To register for QPAC's ticket waitlist, head to the QPAC website. Images: James D Morgan, Getty Images.
When the French city of Toulouse gets its first skyscraper in 2022, it won't just see 40 floors of of shining glass, concrete and steel join its skyline. It'll also gain its tallest garden — and one of the world's as well. A "continuous vertical landscape" will spiral around the outside of the building like a ribbon of greenery, lined with trees and reaching all of the way up to the top level. Called the Occitanie Tower after the administrative region of France that Toulouse falls within, the structure will measure 150 metres in height and boast 11,000 square metres of offices, as well as a Hilton hotel, up to 120 apartments, plus space for retail and hospitality outlets. The latter will feature a restaurant with panoramic views, including towards the Pyrenees mountain range less than 100 kilometres away; however there's no mistaking it's eye-catching vertical garden that'll be the centre of attention. Designed by the New York and Zurich-based Studio Liebskind — aka the folks behind everything from Berlin's zigzag-shaped Jewish Museum to the World Trade Centre Master Plan development to a Swarovski chess set modelled after iconic buildings — the Occitanie Tower is slated to start construction in 2018. While it'll certainly give the area a new landmark, and weave in nicely with the vertical garden trend that just keeps growing, it won't be quite as tall as Australia's addition to the lofty fold. That'd be 166-metre-high, 250-species-filled One Central Park in Sydney's Chippendale. Via dezeen. Images via Morph / Luxigon.
The best dining experiences combine great food, interesting company and a wonderful setting. Sadly, we can't help if your dinner date is a little dull, but we can point you in the direction of fantastic restaurants in prime positions. From mountaintop views to waterside hotspots, these special locations flaunt Brisbane's diverse beauty. Watt Restaurant Watt is located downstairs inside the Powerhouse and nestled well and truly in New Farm park, so pre or post-entertainment options are sorted. Take your pick from the chic inside or cool outside dining areas, both of which have spectacular views of the river and across to Hawthorne. Our favourite from the menu is the chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto, pea puree and preserved lemon basil risotto ($30). The welcoming and attentive staff are happy to accommodate children, as well as park go-ers with their puppies and push bikes. 119 Lamington Street Newfarm, 4005 The Cliffs Cafe Climb to the top of the heritage-listed Kangaroo Point Cliffs and you'll be greeted by a pretty stunning outlook. It takes a few minutes to properly soak up the spectacular view of sprawling city skyscrapers, the lush botanic gardens and flowing river. But, let's face it, an amazing scene won't ease that rumbling in your tummy or quench your thirst – this is where the team at Cliff's Cafe come in. The combination of a picturesque location and platefuls of pleasing food make this spot a Brisbane gem. 29 River Terrace Kangaroo Point, 4169 Pony At any of the restaurants and bars located in this bustling corner of the city you will be greeted with views of the river and Story Bridge. One such restaurant is Pony. Although it's smack-bang in the middle of the CBD, its dark and rustic interior gives a homely feeling of peace from the surrounding hustle and bustle. Satisfy your hunger with spinach and potato gnocchi while you feast your eyes on the stunning view. Eagle Street Pier Eagle Street, 4000 Summit Restaurant and Bar Make the trek up the winding road to the top of Mt Coot-tha. After you catch your breath head to the Summit Restaurant and prepare yourself for a knockout view. This Brisbane icon guarantees gorgeous panoramic views of the city and surrounds. Why not impress your dinner partner and choose from the sunset dinner menu before venturing back into our city below. 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive Mt Coot-Tha, 4066 Byblos Byblos is in prime position for catching a welcomed breeze in summer and a lip-smackingly good cocktail. Squeeze the last bit of fun out of your weekend at this hotspot as their killer drinks menu and DJ sets make for a great Sunday sesh. Why not make your weekend extra special and sip on the aptly named Long Weekend cocktail ($16) as you enjoy some of Brisbane's best waterside dining. Portside Wharf Hamilton, 4007 Customs House Head North and dine in style at the elegant Customs House. Savour their quality food in the open dining area accompanied by a spectacular view of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge. We recommend their High Tea sitting, after all a stunning view deserves a little bit of extravagance. Otherwise, watch the bridge twinkle at night while indulging in a cheese platter with wine in hand – perfect. 399 Queen St Brisbane, 4000 The Balfour Kitchen Tired of water views? Then slip into a tropical oasis at The Balfour Kitchen where you can while away the evening overlooking sprawling views of residential New Farm and Brisbane city. The exotic feel of the restaurant is reflected in their Asian-influenced menu, try the wild barra with asparagus, leek and pea risotto and tomato pinenut salsa ($30). 37 Balfour Street New Farm, 4005
If this is the first time you've seen a story about Harvest Rock on Concrete Playground, you're either a first-time reader or you need to pay attention, because we're quite excited. It's the delight of South Australians and visiting festivalgoers alike, and we're here to run you through it one last time — tickets are still available but going fast, so read on quickly to find your ideal package before someone beats you to it. HARVEST ROCK 101 Firstly, some context, in case you haven't been keeping up with the news. Harvest Rock isn't quite a festival mainstay. It's actually a newcomer in the game — this year's festival is only the second iteration. After seeing 15,000 guests per day in 2022, the Festival is returning to Murlawirrapurka, also known as Rymill Park, and Ityamai-Itpina, also called King Rodney Park, Adelaide. Both sites are inner city parks, so this isn't a festival that requires extra travel beyond your flight. When it comes to the lineup, it's all hit and no miss. Starring acts include Jamiroquai, who will be performing their first Aussie show in over a decade, Beck will bring a full band to belt out 90s Californian anthems alongside new hits (both Jamiroquai and Beck are coming to Australia exclusively for Harvest Rock), musical satire and comedy specialists Sparks will draw from 50+ years of repertoire and many more. Expect to be wowed by legends since Harvest Rock is a project of Secret Sounds, one of Australia's leading festival organisers. BUDGET-FRIENDLY Where else to start but good old fashioned general admission tickets? Available in either one-day or weekend options, this is the basic go-to ticket for any first-time or financially-conscious visitor. Single-day tickets for either Saturday, October 28 or Sunday, October 29, are $239.48 for 18+ guests or $169.13 for guests aged 13-17. Two-day passes grant entry for the full festival at $412.79 for 18+ or $290.45. To make the experience even more memorable, you can upgrade to a collector's ticket for an extra $15.29 on either age group ticket fee and get some exclusive Harvest Rock II merchandise — perfect if you're a big fan of Harvest Rock. General admission, of course, grants you entry to the festival precinct and all the activities within, from catching tunes from the 30+ acts, enjoying a celebrity chef experience at the HELLO CHEF stage, accessing food from top-notch South Australian restauranteurs and imbibing in bespoke drinks from SA cellar doors. To unwind between activities, head to The Grape Escape wellness centre, where you'll find hot drinks, tarot readings, massages and more. TREAT YOURSELF There's nothing wrong with a little bit of self-love, as living without an occasional treat is pointless. Treating yourself at Harvest Rock II means booking your experience via the VIP Village or Harvest Lounge tickets. These two tiers offer the same basic VIP experience, with a few minor upgrades on the Harvest Lounge end. Being a VIP at Harvest Rock means you have access to the following: An express entry lane, an elevated viewpoint of the main stage, a concierge, fancy toilets, a cocktail bar, premium food, shading and seating and a complimentary drink daily. That's the VIP Village, comfortable, elevated, worthy of a treat yourself moment. The Harvest Lounge offers all of the above, plus a private lounge bar, an exclusive lawn area by the main stage, exclusive drinks at the VIP cocktail bar, and perhaps most importantly — complimentary phone charging. VIP tickets are only available to guests aged 18 and older. VIP Village tickets start at $341.43, and Harvest Lounge tickets start at $514.74. FEELING LUXURIOUS If treating yourself isn't enough, if you must go absolutely all out for your Harvest Rock II experience, then you've come to the right place. We've arrived at the most luxe and exclusive ticket options. The highest-end packages start with Platinum tickets, perfect to hit Harvest Rock like a rockstar. Platinum tickets include full access to the VIP Village and Harvest Lounge plus a whole range of extra goodies: front row or elevated seats to the main stage, an air-conditioned private bar, complimentary food and drinks, the Wildwood Restaurant dining experience, wine tasting, an exclusive entrance, private parking, lockers and phone chargers. And then, there are the suites. These are luxurious but also quite exclusive tickets — available only to groups of 30 to 50 people. If you have a large group of fellow festivalgoers, this is the ticket for you. Each suite includes elevated views of the main stage, shaded lounge seating and a viewing deck, a private bar, screens and speakers connected to the stages and options for food and drink packages to add on. Both Platinum and Suites are enquiry only, as price varies on the number of guests per booking. For more information on Harvest Rock 2023, including the lineup, how to get there or to book your tickets, visit the website.
Icon alert: in a year that's already bringing everyone from Kraftwerk, Devo and Paul McCartney to Sparks, Ms Lauryn Hill and Christina Aguilera Australia's way, Chaka Khan is also heading Down Under. The American singer and ten-time Grammy-winner will headline the 2023 Melbourne International Jazz Festival, putting on a one-night-only Aussie-exclusive show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. And joining her onstage? Nile Rodgers & Chic while they're in the country for Harvest Rock. That evening of tunes will be all about icons teaming up with icons, clearly. Khan — aka the Queen of Funk — will celebrate five decades in the music industry with talents that've been around just as long. Among the Chicago-born singer's hits: 'I'm Every Woman', which was later covered by Whitney Houston; the Prince-penned 'I Feel for You'; and 'Ain't Nobody' with her funk band Rufus. Rodgers and Chic will bust out 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times', and also revel in their own hefty history. And, there's also the former's prowess as a guitarist to relish — which has seen him pop up on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, including single 'Get Lucky'. As a writer and producer, too, he's had a hand in everything from David Bowie's Let's Dance album to Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'. Khan, Rodgers and Chic will be supported by Kaiit and Horns of Leroy at their six-hour opening-weekend show, which will help launch MIFJ's 26th festival. Running from Friday, October 20–Sunday, October 29 at venues around Melbourne, the rest of the fest's lineup spans more than 100 events, with 11 world premieres and ten Australian-exclusive performances on that list. Lisa Simone, daughter of Nina Simone, will take to Hamer Hall's stage to sing her mother's songs, while the Hot 8 Brass Band will host and lead the Second Line Street Party, a New Orleans jazz parade along the Yarra, Southbank and into Fed Square. The fest's international contingent is bringing Cécile McLorin Salvant, Makaya McCraven, GoGo Penguin and SFJAZZCollective to Melbourne as well, alongside trumpeters Marquis Hill and Ingrid Jensen. Also on offer: Raw Denshi, with the Australian Art Orchestra teaming up with Japanese hip hop's Kojoe and Hikaru Tanaka — and a collaboration featuring William Barton's didgeridoo sounds and Nduduzo Makhathini's jazz stylings. Or, jazz fans can hit up Federation Square to see Bumpy Thndo and Rita Satch play for free, then get their toes tapping to Afrobeat at Beasts of No Nation, where 87-year-old Ghanaian guitarist Ebo Taylor will make his Australian debut. Throw in Australian names such as Elixir and Paul Grabowsky AO, Chapel Off Chapel hosting five days of jazz, JazzLab in Brunswick welcoming late-night jams, and outdoor dining and tunes at Grazeland, and this hefty program keeps throwing up more and more reasons to attend. The 2023 Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs from Friday, October 20–Sunday, October 29 at venues around Melbourne. Head to the festival's website for further details, and for tickets from 8am on Tuesday, August 29.
There's nothing small about Hollywood's superhero obsession, with its 30-movies-deep-and-counting cinematic universes, competing caped-crusader realms, ever-growing spread across screens big and small, and determination to enlist every actor ever (and some actors more than once). That decades have passed, many spandex-clad characters have cycled through a few faces now, and reuniting past and present versions of beloved crime-fighters is the current trend: none are minor matters, either. And yet, when 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took pop culture's favourite web-slinger back to its animated roots, it made those flesh-and-blood flicks and shows, as well as the expensive special effects behind them, look positively trivial and cartoonish. Five years later, the first sequel to the deservedly Academy Award-winning masterpiece plasters around the same sensation like a Spidey shooting its silk. Give this latest take on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's iconic character 2024's Best Animated Feature Oscar immediately. All the money in the world can't make people in tights standing against green screens as visually spectacular and emotionally expressive as the Spider-Verse films. If it could, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and now Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse wouldn't be so astonishing and exhilarating, look so stunning and feel so authentic. Spider-Man's eight stints in theatres with either Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland behind the mask — and all of the latter's pop-ups in other Marvel Cinematic Universe entries, too — have splattered around plenty of charm, but they'll now always swing far below their animated counterparts. Indeed, when Spider-Man: No Way Home tried to emulate the Spider-Verse by pointing its fingers into the multiverse, as Marvel's live-action world is now fixated upon, it paled in comparison. And, that isn't just because there was no Nicolas Cage-voiced 30s-era spider-vigilante Spider-Man Noir, or a spider-robot, spider-pig, spider-car or spider-saur; rather, it's because the Spider-Verse movies truly do whatever a Spider-Man movie can. In Across the Spider-Verse, which will be followed by 2024's Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse plus a Spider-Women spinoff after that, being an imaginative and agile spider-flick initially entails hanging with Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld, one such talent with multiple superheroes on her resume thanks to Hawkeye). In most Spidey stories, Gwen Stacy is a love interest for Peter Parker, but the Spider-Verse Gwen from Earth 65 was bitten by a radioactive spider instead. Alas, with a great twist to the status quo comes not-so-great consequences for the aquamarine-haired teen drummer. Accordingly, when a battle with a Renaissance-era Vulture (Jorma Taccone, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) gets the attention of Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Moon Knight and X-Men: Apocalypse alum Oscar Isaac) and his Spider-Society, she begs to join. Before the film goes jumping between universes upon universes, however, it begins with a dazzling demonstration of how intimately linked its graphics and characters are. Gwen's dimension takes its cues from watercolours and sketches, which wax and wane in their hues and movement depending on her inner state. It's a breathtaking sight and an immensely moving touch, and Across the Spider-Verse is just getting started. For newcomers and folks with foggy memories alike, Gwen also narrates backstory details, filling in what's occurred since the first feature while playfully parodying that overused approach. When the movie slides into Miles Morales' (Shameik Moore, Wu-Tang: An American Saga) life, he takes her lead, but gives it his own spin. The first Black Latin American Spider-Man is now 15, and more confident in his spider-skills and -duties. In-between being Brooklyn's friendly neighbourhood Spidey and attending a private school that'll ideally help him chase his physics dreams, he's even guest-hosted Jeopardy!. But not telling his mum Rio (Luna Lauren Velez, Power Book II: Ghost) and police-officer dad Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway) about his extracurricular activities is weighing upon Miles, and he's still yearning for mentorship and friendship, especially knowing that Gwen, Peter B Parker (Jake Johnson, Minx) and an infinite number of other web-slingers are all out there catching thieves just like flies. The Spider-Verse movies take each new Spidey as a challenge to make their style and world their own, but never put aesthetics over substance. When another iteration drops in, then another and another, there's nothing arbitrary, unthinking or simple about how directors Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra), Kemp Powers (Soul) and Justin K Thompson (Into the Spider-Verse's production designer) and their team depict anything about them. That's true in Mumbattan, where the film finds Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-Man India (Karan Soni, Miracle Workers). And when Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya, Nope) swaggers around, it's also accurate of the Sex Pistols-meets-Basquiat standout and his totalitarian-ruled universe. He isn't part arachnid, but the same applies with Across the Spider-Verse's big bad The Spot (Jason Schwartzman, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), whose fight scenes are a mind-bending wonder. Is coming-of-age angst still a part of these spider-tales? Yes. Do uncles and aunts still die, and other loved ones? Yes again. And are loss, heartbreak and great powers begetting great responsibilities still pivotal factors? That's another yes. And yet, returning writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (directors of The Lego Movie, too), plus Spider-Verse newcomer Dave Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984), engage as eagerly and astutely with those spider-basics as the imagery springing from their script manages in every remarkable frame (all of which earn the cliche that they could and should grace walls). Across the Spider-Verse is gorgeous not only in those enchanting and entrancing visuals that couldn't better reveal who its characters are, why, and what they're thinking and feeling, but in how keenly it interrogates and engages with the comic-book medium and the page's limitless possibilities. Saying that the film resembles sticking every past Spider-Man outing in every format into a blender is a compliment; every spider-element is that well-merged. Although Across the Spider-Verse embraces being everything it can with every pixel — explodes with that idea, in fact, and makes the utmost of the freewheeling artistic freedom that animation is capable of — that isn't its message for Miles or audiences. There's so much going on in this intricate picture's kaleidoscope of intricate pictures, including unpacking what it means to have endless choices, or want to. Where the first film made it plain that being a hero isn't just for the stereotypical usual suspects and never should've been, this one champions the fact that no destiny is the same for everyone. At the same time, it conveys that being true to yourself and being in the moment is more meaningful than constantly pondering what might happen. As given voice by its first-rate cast, all imbuing their characters with a lifetime of emotion, it's no surprise that Across the Spider-Verse is so potent and infectious, or that it leaves live-action caped crusaders resigned to its shadows.
There may be a lot of prospects for high speed travel, like Elon Musk's Hyperloop, but when we can travel between continents without the agony long haul flights, that's when we'll know the future is well and truly here. And while we wait for teleportation to make it to the molecular mainstream, we'll have to settle for second best: high speed supersonic air travel. Looking to bring back supersonic travel to the people, Sir Richard Branson is set to make high speed transatlantic passenger flights (relatively) affordable and accessible. Working with a Colorado aviation startup called Boom, Branson — under The Spaceship Company (an arm of Virgin Galactic) — wants to create a new plane that can fly at supersonic speeds of up to 2335 kilometres per hour. That would see the flight from NYC to London take a mere three and a half hours (rather than the seven hours it takes now). That's essentially a Sydney peak hour commute. Supersonic air travel has already been achieved by the passenger plane the Concorde, which provided flights between London and Paris to New York, Washington and Barbados between 1969 and 2003. It was decommissioned due to the $20,000 per trip price tag; by comparison, the Boom is set cost only $5000 USD. According to Boom founder and chief executive Blake Scholl, this new plane will be more cost effective by having have less seats and being more fuel efficient. Scholl also told The Guardian that, aside from the London to NYC route, they would also be concentrating on getting up trips from San Fran to Tokyo and LA to Sydney. It's all very ambitious, but the first Boom plane is expected to be tested by the end of 2017. Via The Guardian. Image: Boom.
Flying interstate can be frustrating at the best of times — especially during peak periods — but you can expect more than a few cancellations and delays this weekend as some Jetstar employees prepare to strike over three days, on Friday, December 13 until Sunday, December 15. Last week, both the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) and the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) voted to proceed with industrial action in response to ongoing failed negotiations with the airline. The TWU has announced that it will hold a series of two-hour work stoppages on the Friday, while the AFAP will hold two four-hour stoppages — one on Saturday, and one on Sunday. In a statement released today, Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said that, because of the action, Jetstar will cancel 44 flights on Saturday and another 46 on Sunday — which is 90 of an estimated 740 across the weekend. If you're flying with Jetstar on these days and your flight is affected, you've probably been sent your new flight details. Jetstar has re-timed flights and transferred some passengers to Qantas flights to avoid too much chaos, but there's likely to be delays to across Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide airports. https://twitter.com/YourAFAP/status/1204269727264034816 The TWU is at loggerheads with Jetstar after failed negotiations with the airline that sought to secure a number of demands for employees – like more rest breaks, annual wage increases of four percent and a guaranteed 30 hours of work a week. TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said that "disappointingly, Jetstar have rejected the vast majority of the workers' demands outright". Jetstar, however, says the impact of the TWU action is likely to be "minimal" as it would involve "less than half" of its regular ground staff. In a statement released last week, Evans said that the airline has offered a three percent annual wage increase to the union. The AFAP strikes are set to be more disruptive — as they will leave aircraft without anyone to actually fly them. However, despite earlier reports that the action could impact flights over the upcoming busy Christmas period, the union has said that it won't strike between Saturday, December 21 and Friday, January 3. The strikes will take place this weekend, December 13–15. If your flight has been cancelled or changed, Jetstar will contact you directly. For any further flight status updates, check the Jetstar website.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Writer Benjamin Law recently performed a glorious piece of erotic fan fiction about his two culinary idols, Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer. We'll spare you the gory details, but the story involves a fair bit of verjuice and self-saucing pudding. The two food goddesses both call South Australia home, because, basically, that's where the good food and wine is. Restaurateurs in Adelaide respect the exceptional produce and wine at their doorstep. Here are ten who are doing it very nicely indeed. BISTRO DOM South African born chef Duncan Welgemoed brings the best of his training under Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal to Bistro Dom on Waymouth Street in the CBD, where he’s serving up French-inspired cuisine such as steak tartare ($19.90) and duck with boudin noir, apple and cinnamon ($39.90). While Welgemoed has a keen interest in the science of cooking, you’ll see no clouds or foams here; his focus is on showing off the produce, unadorned and simple. Bistro Dom boasts a truly varied wine list of French, German and boutique local wines. Make sure you have a crack at the Alpha Box and Dice ‘Tarot’ from McLaren Vale — an elegant blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Tempranillo. 24 Waymouth Street, Adelaide Street ADL and Orana A two-part venture from chef Jock Zonfrillo, together Street ADL and Orana span two levels, offering two unique dining experiences within the one venue. Downstairs is Street ADL; it's informal, casual and accessible, offering up ‘Australian street food’ such as pulled kangaroo sangas, cheeseburgers, Goolwa pipis and lamingtons. Venture upstairs, however, and it's a whole different story. Orana is delicate, intimate (it only seats 25 guests) and very much a fine dining experience. The food continues to tread the line of Australiana, with Zonfrillo paying homage to rich flavours of the land. 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide RUBY RED FLAMINGO Ruby Red Flamingo has an ever changing menu of Italian share plates and a blackboard wine list with Italian wines including Nero D’Avola. Snuggle down in front of their open fireplace with a comforting favourite like macaroni with eggplant and smoked mozzarella or osso bucco risotto. 142 Tynte Street, North Adelaide Peel Street Tucked away on Peel Street (go figure) this restaurant may not look like it's got a lot going on, but once you step in, see the food slapped on the concrete bench, let the smell of freshly baked goods hit your nostrils and take a seat, there'll be no desire to ever leave. Open from 7.30am on weekdays and serving up dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Peel Street has quickly become a favourite amongst city dwellers — particularly those who frequent the small bar scene in the adjoining streets. If you like what you see on the counter, order 'from the concrete', or otherwise order something bigger 'from the blackboard'. Whatever you go for, you won't be disappointed. And you will be taking a muffin, pie or cupcake on your way out. 9 Peel Street, Adelaide Gin Long Canteen Gin Long has been open for little over six months, but already it's a favourite. You might be hard off getting a seat on a Friday or Saturday night; don't let that deter you because this is possibly the closest Adelaide comes to modern Asian. As well as rice paper rolls and betel leaf cigars, expect to chow down on gin long wings, nom nom barramundi, spicy caramel chicken and sticky braised pork belly. The cocktail list makes it extra fun, and the whole space is spot on — worth the wait, if you ask us. 42 O'Connell Street, North Adelaide MAGILL ESTATE RESTAURANT Magill Estate is the showcase restaurant for Penfolds wines just out of the city in the Adelaide foothills. Head chefs Scott Huggins and Emma McCaskill deliver an ever changing degustation menu designed to show off the Penfolds range (and not just the '51 Grange) starting off with calamari, chlorophyll and preserved lemon and finishing with South Australian Mayura wagyu with radishes and mustard. 78 Penfolds Road, Magill PRESS FOOD AND WINE Press Food and Wine is a new addition to the Adelaide dining scene, and a very welcome one. The two-level restaurant on Waymouth Street is at once homely and elegant. Head chef Andrew Davies prides himself on in-house pickling and curing and their custom-made chargrill. A la carte and degustation menus are on offer, with sophisticated starters such as king fish and pickled radish ($21) and heartier mains such as house-made pappardelle with blue swimmer crab ($29). 40 Waymouth Street, Adelaide EROS OUZERI Eros Ouzeri is a bit of an Adelaide institution. The grand daddy of Rundle Street, its cafe is home to the best damn kataiffi in town and the restaurant proper will sort you out with classic Greek mezze fare such as grilled haloumi, octopus and gyros as well as heartier mains such as lamb shoulder ($29.90) or a charred Angus fillet with mustard skordalia ($35). All this deliciousness is accompanied, of course, by a robust, SA-faithful wine list. Head in for a lunch banquet ($45) and let the famously hospitable Eros staff welcome you to the fold. 277 Rundle Street, Adelaide The Grace Establishment Located on The Parade — which is generally busy with shoppers and alfresco diners, but don't let that put you off — The Grace Establishment is a nice option for a sit-down lunch without breaking the bank. Relatively new and still very shiny, it's part bar, restaurant and beer garden, meaning you can sit indoors or out for a charcuterie board, plate of Kinkawoona mussels or a hearty SA sirloin. 127 The Parade, Norwood GOLDEN BOY RESTAURANT Golden Boy Restaurant popped up last year to feed the hungry punters at the Botanic Bar at the East End of the city and it has quickly become a destination in its own right, serving honest, home-style Thai food in a relaxed setting. Open till midnight, Golden Boy offers the perfect late-night fix of spicy chicken wings and pork belly — you can lick your fingers in style. 309 North Terrace, Adelaide Words by Lauren Vadnjal and Jessica Keath. Peel Street image courtesy of Kristina Dryža via Facebook.
Surrounded by water on three shores, The Entrance is nearly an island. It's an ideal place to spend a winter weekender staring into endless blue, especially when you've been desperately longing to forget all about work, traffic and the general chaos of life. And it's just a 90 minutes' drive north of Sydney. On one side lies tranquil Tuggerah Lake, and on the other, the mighty Tasman Sea. Further north are the tiny settlements of Magenta and Norah Head, where you'll come across friendly cafes, rugged lookouts and white-sand beaches backdropped by national park. Set up home base at the Pullman Magenta Shores Resort and follow our guide to fending off the winter blues with a sneaky getaway. EAT All great weekenders start with ace coffee. Get yours at the Burrow Coffee House. This cosy spot offers nice brews and beautifully composed brekkies, including a bacon and egg roll with avocado, haloumi and balsamic. When you're ready for your next brew, head a couple of kilometres south to Long Jetty. Here you'll find The Glass Onion Society, a fun, art and music-loving cafe that does Sonoma baked goods, vegan doughnuts and 'Soul Soup', among other eats sure to warm up even the frostiest morn. When lunchtime arrives, explore a bit of history in the best way possible: while eating cake. Do so by booking high tea at The Entrance Lake House, an airy, elegant cafe that's been licensed since 1905 but underwent a reno in 2012. If you happen to be around Norah Head when hunger hits, then swing by The Ark Cafe, which serves Campos coffee and gourmet bites, such as a poppyseed bagel loaded with heirloom tomatoes, haloumi, spinach, avo and pine nut pesto. This place isn't just an eatery but a social enterprise, too. A percentage of profits goes to The Welcome to Paradise Foundation, which supports aid workers in South Sudan and a food program in Nepal, among other worthy causes. There's also a quirky retail space, where you can invest in a hand-shaped surfboard created by local Christian M. Laing and peruse a bunch of ethically produced clothing and homewares. Been saving up your pennies for a posh feast or looking to impress your date? Reserve a table for dinner at Ocean, a fancy restaurant whose floor-to-ceiling windows let you gaze straight out over the Tasman. You'll get premium seafood transformed into cracking dishes, such as ocean trout with lemon mayonnaise, beetroot, asparagus, peas and potato, or mussel and shellfish chowder. A more affordable option is The Shallows Bar where you can build your own charcuterie board or grab a few wood-fired pizzas. Or head to Bistro Jinja to sample dishes from all over Asia. Tuck into Shanghai braised pork belly, Chiang Mai chicken curry and dark chocolate tart with honeycomb and sticky fig ice cream, while seeing the sunset over Lake Tuggerah. DO One of the best things about visiting The Entrance during winter is that you get all the beaches but none of the crowds. Soldiers Beach, just south of Norah Head, has the whitest sand on the Central Coast and backs onto the lush greenery of Wyrrabong National Park. While you're there, keep an eye out for whales, which pass by from May until August. An even better vantage point is Pelican Beach Road Lookout, from where you can walk the 3.4-kilometre Red Gum Trail through towering red gum forest and the 3.5-kilometre Lillypilly Loop through rainforest, cabbage palms and burrawangs. Whales aren't the only creatures worth watching around here, either. The Entrance is famous for its pelicans. It's been named the 'Pelican capital of Australia', in fact. These kooky and characterful birds make great subject matter for photos, particularly if you stop by the waterfront at 3.30pm, their daily feeding time. It's not purely about feeding either — it's a chance for volunteers to make sure none of the little guys are tangled up in hooks, lines or other debris. Make your next stop spectacular Norah Head, whose lighthouse has been operating since 1903. In fact, this became the very last lighthouse in New South Wales to lose its lighthouse keeper when it became fully automated in 1995. Half-hour tours, which take you up the building's 96 stairs for epic 360-degree views are available every day for just $6 per person. Keen to travel further? Continue another 15 kilometres north to reach Munmorah State Conservation Area, a coastal wonderland of empty beaches, lookouts and walking trails. SLEEP To sleep with still water on one side and roaring surf on the other, check into Pullman Magenta Shores Resort. This beautifully designed luxe five-star resort is ten minutes' drive north of The Entrance, on the southern edge of Wyrrabalong National Park. The resort offers apartment-style accommodation options, complete with views overlooking the landscaped gardens. Recreation is the name of the game here, so don't even think about complaining of boredom. You've got the exclusive Magenta Shores Golf Course and Country Club, a day spa, tennis courts and three swimming areas: a 2o metre indoor heated lap pool, rock pools and the Lagoon with a swim-up pool bar, all at your fingertips. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in The Entrance, and to discover more of regional NSW, check out Visit NSW.
Last year, Brisbane Queer Film Festival came of age, hitting the big one-eight. As everyone who's been there and done that knows, that doesn't make turning 19 any less of an occasion — and, in the case of Brisbane's longest continuously-running local film festival and it's 2018 lineup, it means another round of celebrating lesbian, gay, bi, trans and gender-diverse cinema. From March 8 to 18, that's what's on offer as BQFF settles into New Farm Cinemas once more. Forget trying to catch fleeting glimpses of potentially queer-friendly characters in big budget franchises — this festival is all about films that wear their love for LGBTIQ+ themes, protagonists and stories loudly and proudly, and in efforts big, small, old, new, factual and fictional. With that in mind, here are our five must-sees from this year's program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAY933ULA2Q DESERT HEARTS A rare chance to see an essential film on the big screen, Desert Hearts might be the last flick screening at this year's BQFF, and but it's also the most important. When Donna Deitch's debut was released more than three decades ago, it was a pioneering work of queer cinema — and while the lesbian awakening effort didn't get the widespread attention it deserved at the time, it helped pave the way for everything that followed, including the applauded Carol. Here, a trip to Reno to finalise a divorce sees a professor find new love when she least expects it. Prepare to swoon not only over the movie, but over seeing it in on the silver screen in all of its gorgeously shot glory. https://vimeo.com/238747684 THE WOUND Shortlisted for this year's best foreign-language Oscar but not quite making the final batch of nominees, The Wound has been making a splash at festivals over the past year — and finally makes its way to Brisbane screens. The first film by South African writer/director John Trengove, the intimate drama takes audiences into the country's Xhosa community, not only setting its tale there, but finding the feature's non-professional cast from its ranks. Exploring the circumcision ritual used to mark a boy's passage into manhood, it hones in on a secret relationship between two men charged with overseeing the next batch of teenagers awaiting the ceremony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVhsZTzfsog AFTER LOUIE Alan Cumming puts in a knockout performance in After Louie, playing a former AIDS activist trying to reconcile his past and his present after spending years fighting for recognition, and just as long coping with losing his friends. A must for fans of the actor, it's also a great companion piece to the acclaimed French flick BPM (Beats Per Minute), which is currently screening at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival; both find their basis in the real lives of their filmmakers, former ACT UP members who campaigned for better HIV treatment during the '80s and '90s, and weave that reality into their very personal dramas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_hklgKMnM THE FEELS The Feels starts with a familiar template: take a group of friends, place them in the same space for a few days, and watch the revelations, dramas and laughs fly. The fact that the film's characters are doing just that on a bachelorette weekend might also feel familiar, but turning it all into a comedy about the female orgasm is definitely far from standard. That's the outcome when brides-to-be Andi (Constance Wu) and Lu (Angela Trimbur) bundle up their best pals for a pre-wedding trip to Northern California wine country, and more than vino flows freely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0cbWdlQg_8 LOVE, SIMON Hollywood teen rom-coms don't usually pop up on BQFF's program, but Hollywood teen rom-coms don't usually follow a 17-year-old boy grappling with his love for a classmate he's fallen for online, all while struggling to tell anyone he knows that he's gay. A certain crowd-pleaser that's based on the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, it's a coming-out coming-of-age flick with plenty of heart — and the kind of film that mainstream cinema should be making more of — featuring Jurassic World's Nick Robinson in the lead, as well as the recognisable likes of Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel and Tony Hale. If you're after more BQFF highlights, check out Freak Show and A Moment in the Reeds from our 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival pics, and I Dream in Another Language from our 2017 Sundance Film Festival list. Brisbane Queer Film Festival 2018 runs from March 8 to 18 at New Farm Cinemas. For more information, visit their website.
A dinner party filled with AI versions of famous figures? Or a meal enhanced by virtual reality? Restrictive diets that focus on fasting over feasting? Eating dishes purely because they'll help you sleep? Over the next 12 months, all of the above might come to fruition. Also on the 2018 hit list: African cuisines, creative genetic modification in food and beer, and getting paid to have strangers over for dinner. At least, they're the trends that culinary artists Bompas & Parr are predicting for the year ahead, with Sam Bompas and Harry Parr releasing their first-ever foodie forecast. After ten years in the business, evolving from making jelly to catering to a food-focused experience design agency, their report draws upon their own experience, as well as the psychology behind human behaviour. If technologically enhancements pique your interest, Bompas & Barr expect bots based on celebrities to become the next dinning partners, and mixed reality dining to adorn diners with wearable technology to create a more immersive eating experience — including "embedded microelectronics in crockery and glassware, projection technologies, responsive sound environments and more broadly digital content that's coupled to the taste and aroma of the food and drink on the table". For those keen on making a buck from making dinner for folks you don't know, think Airbnb and Uber, but for the simple act of hosting a meal. That's how you share food in 2018's sharing economy. Elsewhere, watching what you eat might be taken to a fasting extreme, though its hardly new — and it comes with health repercussions. African cooking styles are expected to rise in popularity, exploring the cuisines of the continent's 54 countries. So is food that'll help you get a good night's rest (and no, a nightcap doesn't count), plus biological tinkering with edible substances. You can peruse the full report for further details, and if you're wondering why you should, Bompas & Parr's past culinary exploits should provide all the convincing you need. They've made bespoke cocktails catered to each drinker's DNA, hosted anatomical whisky tastings where spirits were sipped from actual people, served a beating pig's heart as a starter and made London diners kill their next meal. In addition, they've made edible fireworks, a molten lava barbecue and held a 200-course dinner party. Expect them to play with their seven outlined trends next, as part of their continued and creative interrogation of our eating and drinking habits. Via Dezeen. Image: Bompas & Parr.
Queen's Wharf, the $3.6-billion addition to the Brisbane CBD's north bank, has Cantonese on the menu thanks to HUĀ. Patrons can enjoy a lineup of dishes crafted in collaboration with culinary veteran Ling Lee. The 77-year-old chef — and alum of Melbourne's Flower Drum, Silk Crown and Sun Kitchen — has helped oversee the menu, with Head Chef Danny Lui (Mei Wei Dumplings) leading the kitchen. Expect modern takes on Cantonese cuisine, plus a focus on sustainability, on a menu that'll change seasonally. Wild-caught seafood, free-range meats and locally sourced organic vegetables feature across bites that include prawn-and-chive dumplings, seafood san choi bow, stir-fried scallops, deep-fried black truffle duck rolls and pan-fried kimchi lamb dumplings, to name just a few dishes — all pairing traditional Cantonese cooking techniques with fresh flavours. In addition to its main dining area, plus private rooms for gatherings, HUĀ features an al fresco terrace and a cocktail bar. From the latter, standout sips include a signature boozy iced tea, a lavender-heavy drink made with vodka, and a fruit tea-based concoction. Classic cocktails are also available, as is a selection of beer and wine by the glass. Food-wise, two signature banquets will help make the decisions for you if you're having trouble choosing — one for $88 per head and the other for $128. Or, for weekday lunch diners, an express banquet is available as well, spanning three courses and a drink for $55.80 per person Monday–Friday from 1130am–3pm.
As far as food in Brisbane goes, you could say that Mexican, American and gyoza are among the buzz-trends of the moment. These are undoubtedly fantastic additions to what Brisbane has to offer, but it can be all too easy to overlook the classics during such a surge of the new and exciting. The Continental Cafe in New Farm has been giving Brisbane a taste of Europe for close to two decades, and it's not stopping any time soon. Inside you’ll find a warm, cosy dining room being tended by excellent waitstaff. Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation when it comes to food and wine; they're more than happy to help and they know their stuff. The food selection includes a collection of 'Continental Classics', along with seasonal specials. The focus is on simple, honest dishes, brilliantly executed. With generous servings and bold flavours, this is true comfort food. If there is one menu item that you absolutely must not miss, it's the twice-baked goat's cheese souffle ($21.90). Rest assured the calories are absolutely worth it. Fluffy on the inside, crisp on top, and swimming in a thick cheese sauce, it's the ultimate death-by-cheese experience. You might want to balance the cheesiness out with a fresh and tasty serve of bruschetta ($13.50). The roast veal ($28.90) is a decadent, heaped serving of perfectly cooked meat, buttery smoked potato mash, sauteed mushrooms and deeply flavoursome gravy. It's a dish you could almost climb into — the perfect winter warmer for a chilly night. The seafood risotto ($27.50) consists of a rich, tomato-based sauce thickened with cream; it is bursting with fish, squid, and mussels. For dessert, your eyes won't want to wander past their classic creme brulee: creamy vanilla custard with a perfectly caramelised top ($12). The Continental Cafe is a New Farm institution and holds its own against other restaurants both new and old. With beautiful food, excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a great destination for a date, a casual dinner with friends, or a function.
They're two of the biggest food trends filling stomachs around the globe, and they're making their way to Brisbane. We're talking about poke bowls and sushi burritos. One is a Hawaiian salad dish combining rice, greens and raw fish, while the other is exactly what you think it is — and they'll both be available at South Bank newcomer Suki from April 18. Originally slated to open last November, the latest venture from The Ole Group (aka the folks behind Mucho Mexicano, Ole Restaurant and Mister Paganini) will be Brisbane's first specialty sushi burrito and poke bowl eatery. And, while pre-designed options will be available, Suki won't just provide its scrumptious offerings from a set menu. Making your own is all the rage here, with diners selecting the grain base, protein filling, other accompaniments and type of wrap for their burritos, and stepping through a similar process for their bowls. Prepare to be spoilt for choice, basically. Seaweed wraps, bamboo rice, kelp leaves, swordfish, sticky beef with soy and ginger, pickled daikon, wasabi peas, soy eggs, pickled ginger and nine different types of sauces are all on the bill — and that's just a tiny selection of the various ingredients everyone conjuring up their own bowls and burritos can choose from. As well as quite the hefty array of edible components, Suki will boast both indoor and outdoor seating for 60 as it serves up its wares from 11am to 9pm seven days a week. A second store is already in the works, and while the location hasn't yet been revealed, it's set to open in the coming months. Find Suki at 182 Grey Street, South Bank from April 18. Check out their website for further information.
We can't yet zipline around the entire world, though it does sound like something Elon Musk might dream up. We can, however, come up with an increasingly impressive holiday itinerary by touring the globe's scenic zipline spots. From this week, the Grand Canyon joins the list. Zooming along tightly stretched cables is already a reality at the world's longest zipline opening at Jebel Jais in the United Arab Emirates and across Dubai's skyline. London recently had one, currently letting locals and visitors fly across the city, as did Sydney did, stretching between two skyscrapers 75 metres above Circular Quay. Seeing the Grand Canyon from such lofty heights is now on offer at Grand Canyon West, at the Hualapai Ranch in Arizona, reaching 300 metres above the floor of the rock formation. Capable of accommodating 350,000 visitors each year, two ziplines have been strung across the natural wonder, one measuring 335 metres and the other spanning 640 metres while traversing a steeper run. Each consists of four steel cables running side-by-side, which means that groups can enjoy the experience together. Riders will reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. For those planning a high-adrenaline sight-seeing stint as part of their next US trip, tickets cost AU$115, with the zipline operating from Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. The ziplines join the resort's helicopter tours and 1.2-kilometre-high skywalk among its sky-high attractions. Via PR Newswire.
It's only February but already it might be possible to name both the worst film and least funny comedy of the year. Fist Fight, starring Charlie Day and Ice Cube, is a monument to stupidity. Its characters are amongst the thinnest and most derivative ever constructed, its plot is simultaneously ludicrous and entirely dull, and its capacity for comedy exists almost solely as outtakes in the final credits. The film's first-time screenwriters rely exclusively on a three-tiered approach of dick jokes, incessant swearing, and a female teacher's desire to have sex with a minor, forever backed by Day's high-pitched stammering whine. Story wise, Fist Fight takes place on muck up day in a US public school, where the students run riot, the teachers are powerless (or apathetic, or both), and the school board is laying off staff to meet budgetary requirements. When Day and Cube's characters clash over an incident in which Cube takes to a student's desk with a fire axe, Cube challenges the diminutive Day to a fist fight in the school yard after class to settle things once and for all. That none of the faculty, campus security or police department demonstrate any interest in properly addressing either the axe-on-student incident OR the imminent crimes of: assault and battery, disturbing the peace, affray or disorderly conduct, somehow represents the least implausible part of this entire abysmal experience. Alongside Day and Cube are various actors of note in roles that are completely beneath them. Tracy Morgan plays an incompetent sports coach, Christine Hendricks plays a butterfly-knife wielding French teacher, and Jillian Bell plays a meth-addicted guidance counsellor determined to get herself some 'teenis' (teenage penis). The whole conceit is so laughably unlaughable that it's astounding the script ever caught a studio's attention. That actors willingly signed on, well...let's just hope the money was worth it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aIzXYo6VCE
Yatala Drive-In's big screens have long provided an ace way to see a movie, but they've been particularly enticing since the pandemic hit. The lineup here: recent flicks and retro favourites, as every Brisbanite has likely made the trip down the highway to experience at least once. And at 7pm on Saturday, February 26, one of the outdoor cinema's fields is going green thanks to a dress-up session of animated favourite Shrek. Rediscover why it really isn't easy being an ogre, all while watching vibrant CGI animation and listening to the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz. And, as no one who has ever seen Shrek before can manage to forgeta, you'll also get a whole lot of Smashmouth — aka 'All Star' and their version of 'I'm a Believer' — stuck in your head as well. As always, your night at the flicks will cost $40 per car, which covers up to six people. Donning a costume isn't necessary, and neither is simply wearing green — but it will help you get into the Shrek spirit.
Brisbane movie lovers, prepare to be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting your next big-screen fix. With Sydney out of lockdown and Melbourne likely to do the same this month, cinemas across the country are being inundated with high-profile features — and, with film festivals showing them. One such event getting the projectors whirring is the annual British Film Festival, which'll bring its 31-movie lineup of Brit flicks to Palace James Street and Palace Centro between Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1. Gracing the fest's titles is a who's who of UK acting talent, so if you're a fan of The Crown's Olivia Colman, Claire Foy and Josh O'Connor — or of everyone from Jamie Dornan, Colin Firth, Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch to Helen Mirren, Michael Caine, Joanna Lumley and Peter Capaldi — you'll be spying plenty of familiar faces. The festival will open with true tale The Duke, starring Mirren and Jim Broadbent, with the latter playing a 60-year-old taxi driver who stole a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. From there, highlights include the Kenneth Branagh-directed Belfast, about growing up in 1960s Northern Ireland; Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright's new thriller featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie; romantic period drama Mothering Sunday, with Colman, Firth and O'Connor; and Best Sellers, a literary comedy with Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza. Or, there's also Stardust, a biopic about the one and only David Bowie — and The Electrical Life of Louis Wan, about the eponymous artist, with Cumberbatch and Foy leading the cast. Opera singing in the Scottish highlands drives the Lumley-starring Falling for Figaro, which also features Australian Patti Cake$ actor Danielle Macdonald; Benediction marks the return of filmmaker Terence Davies (Sunset Song), this time focusing on English poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon; and Firth pops up again in World War II-set drama Operation Mincemeat with Succession's Matthew Macfadyen. Plus, To Olivia dramatises Roald Dahl's marriage to Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal, Stephen Fry explores bubbly booze in documentary Sparkling: The Story of Champagne, and novelist Jackie Collins also gets the doco treatment. And, as part of the British Film Festival's retrospective lineup, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon will grace the big screen — the former in a 4K restoration to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Two blasts are breezing into Munich Brauhaus on Saturday, July 6: a blast of wintry fun and a blast from the past. Why simply celebrate the coldest part of the annual calendar, when you could be getting warm and also pretending that it's three decades ago? A winter party and a retro throwback all in one, the 80s Retro Apres-Ski Party is all about wearing the ski gear you've got stuffed at the back of your closet from that snow trip you took years ago, playing the venue's usual array of German-themed games (involving steins and pretzels, naturally) and crooning old-school tunes. First, from 7pm, you'll eat, drink, dance and get involved in the various contests. Then, from 9pm, it's sing-along time. Expect all of the greats, both in terms of artists and songs — although a good karaoke night depends as much on willing performers as it does an ace selection of music. Munich Brauhaus will take care of the latter, with Madonna, Prince, Blondie and Queen on the playlist, and 'Come On Eileen', 'Tainted Love', 'Jessie's Girl' and 'Take On Me' as well. It's up to you to take care of the former.
Australia Day is always a big deal. Not simply because, um, well, we are Australian, but because it gives us a chance to celebrate everything great about this land of sweeping plains with friends and family. Everyone enjoys getting into the ‘Strayan spirit, so naturally there is a heap of stuff on. I can’t pick just one to share, so here are some great Aussie Day parties for everyone to enjoy. Henrik Schwarz and Danny Daze at Bakery Lane This will be a good old fashioned block party with some amazing tunes from some great DJ’s. Two bars and a street style BBQ in the heart of the Valley. Tickets are $33. Strange Yonder Oz Day Party at Black Bear Lodge We featured a chat with Brisbane creative talents Strange Yonder last week. Surprisingly good timing as they are hosting a show at Black Bear Lodge on Australia day. Performances from Tsun, The Furrs and The Ottomans. Entry is $10 on the door. Future Classic Australia Day Party at Oh Hello! The Future Classic family are taking over Oh Hello on Australia Day to play some great tunes and party like it’s the arrival of the First Fleet all over again. There will be some great performances from the likes of Jacques Renault, Medlar, Touch Sensitive, Panama and Charles Murdoch. Tickets are $23.50. Best of The West End Film Festival at The State Library of Queensland This is for those who would rather an activity with less boisterousness and a little more air-conditioning. The West End Film Festival is prepping for their 2014 season and to get people in the mood they are screening some gems from previous years. This one is free and ideal for all cinephiles. There is plenty more out there to do, just make sure you have a memorable Australia day this year!
"Margot met Robert on a Wednesday night toward the end of her fall semester." So starts the only thing that everyone was reading, and also talking about, in December 2017. Published by The New Yorker, Kristen Roupenian's Cat Person is a short story unparalleled in its viral fame. A piercingly matter-of-fact account of a dating nightmare, the piece of fiction became a literary and online phenomenon. Cat Person didn't just spark discourse about modern romance, relationship power dynamics, 21st-century communication, age gaps and more; it monopolised them, as fuelled by the internet, of course, and arriving as the #MeToo movement was at its early heights. Releasing it as a book, still as a 7000-word piece, came next. Now there's the film that was always bound to happen. As a movie, Cat Person can count the Twitter-to-cinema Zola as a peer in springboarding from digital phenomenon to picture palaces, and it too aims for a specific vibe: the feeling that the world experienced while first roving their eyes over the details on their phone, tablet or computer screen. Cat Person and Zola have another glaring similarity: enlisting Succession's Nicholas Braun to infuse his Cousin Greg awkwardness into a wild tale. Here, he's the Robert that Margot encounters while "working behind the concession stand at the artsy movie theatre downtown when he came in and bought a large popcorn and a box of Red Vines", as Roupenian's story explains in its second sentence — and as filmmaker Susanna Fogel, the director of The Spy Who Dumped Me and one of Booksmart's writers, shows on-screen. Actors' performances don't exist in a vacuum for audiences. Unless you somehow missed the four-season Roy family shenanigans, plus all the rightly deserved attention around it, going into Cat Person unaware of Braun's best-known role is impossible. Self-consciousness, haplessness and discomfort are expected twice over of the man that Margot sells snacks to, then. Much follows. With Michelle Ashford (Operation Mincemeat) adapting Roupenian's text, Cat Person still starts unfurling as readers know it will, with Robert eventually asking Margot (Emilia Jones, CODA) out, then flirty missives bouncing back and forth via SMS daily across several weeks. She's 20 and he's 33, but she doesn't clock quite the size of that age discrepancy initially. She enjoys the banter, the thrill of connecting and the buzz of being wanted. Margot has a crush, patently, complete with telling her mother (Hope Davis, Asteroid City) and stepfather (Christopher Shyer, The Night Agent) about it when she's back at home over the break. In their exchanges, Robert advises that he has two cats, too — a tidbit worthy of a title because of what it says and softens about him, and what it also screams if those felines aren't real. Margot and Robert's rapport with their phones in their hands is natural yet often cringey, but only the latter translates whenever they meet in-person again. Still, the pair keep gravitating towards each other. Locking lips leads to "a terrible kiss, shockingly bad". The sex, which Fogel gives an out-of-body spin for Margot as a coping mechanism, is even worse. Regrets and ghosting then flow on Margot's part, while the rejected Robert floods bubbles of unwelcome anger her way. Roupenian's version is as well-known for how it ends as for everything that precedes its final word, but Fogel and Ashford had two options in making Cat Person into a movie: filling a film's running time by fleshing out its minutiae or building upon the once-in-a-decade short story, including its unforgettable ending. Their choice: doing both, actually, with their Cat Person spending 118 minutes to relay its narrative. In comes a Harrison Ford obsession for Robert, packaged with the telling revelation that he considers a Belgian bootleg of Working Girl to be the height of cinema sophistication. Margot becomes an anthropology major with a worshipped professor (Isabella Rossellini, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) studying ants — and the college student's roommate is now the feminist subreddit-moderating Taylor (Geraldine Viswanathan, Miracle Workers), still with firmly blunt thoughts on dealing with Robert's rebuffed behaviour. In wanders a lost dog in front of their dorm, too, plus imagined sessions with a therapist (Fred Melamed, Barry) who constantly verbalises the movie's subtext, an asexual ex and a Marilyn Monroe-aping singing stint. And, in drops a third act that swings big, even for a film that wants to be a thriller, a black comedy, a cautionary tale and then a horror flick all at once. Rossellini, Davis and Melamed lend presence more than anything else, but casting remains crucial to Cat Person's quest to recreate the sensations that swelled and swirled around the feature's source material six years back. As it incited conversation, debate, devotion and memes, Roupenian's story was an in-her-shoes read — and Jones' starring performance evokes the same reaction. With the rising Locke & Key talent playing savvy yet naive and interested yet cautious, it's easy to understand the emotions, joys, doubts and fears that cycle through Margot. Pivotally, it's easy to dive into Margot and Robert's projections, too, as Jones and Braun keeping bob towards and away from each other in a purposefully anti-chemistry match. Whether it goes smoothly, horrifically, embarrassing and something in-between, what's dating if not two people filtering their own thoughts and feelings through one another? And how often is ambiguity and clashing perceptions the outcome, as well as the realisation that what we want from and spot in the person we're seeing differs from their peek into and desires for us? As Cat Person takes this on-screen journey, it's guilty of doing what everyone desperately wants in a relationship but never gets: explaining everything. Accordingly, not every new inclusion works, especially when new characters largely spout metaphors or imaginings just state the obvious. That said, there's ambition in this tensely shot (by Manfuel Billeter, The Gilded Age) and edited (by Jacob Craycroft, Pachinko) film's additions and expansions to the text. Most beats, tonal shifts, sidesteps into neatness and descents into horror help flesh out an examination of ill-advised choices, clumsy hookups, jarring perspectives, and life's ever-present dangers and uncertainties — and relatably at that. Fogel tackled much the same as a director on The Flight Attendant; Promising Young Woman sprang from Saltburn's Emerald Fennell instead, but consider it another influence upon this intriguing rollercoaster ride of a movie.
At the beginning of 2012, when the world discovered that Channing Tatum was starring in a movie about male strippers — and that it was based on his own experiences working in the field — everyone was a little sceptical. Which was understandable. Magic Mike boasts a great director in Steven Soderbergh, and a cast that also includes Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough and peak McConnaissance-era Matthew McConaughey, but, on paper, it was hardly a sure thing. Of course, once the film hit the screens, it was a hit. More than that — it was a smart and sensitive look at men chasing the American Dream by taking off their clothes. Sequel Magic Mike XXL, which released in 2015, not only repeated the feat but added more depth, and Tatum successfully turned what could've been a forgettable chapter of his pre-fame life into a hit big-screen franchise. Actually, he's turned it into a stage and screen franchise. Yes, Magic Mike was always going to go back to where it all began. In Las Vegas, London, Berlin and Sydney so far, Magic Mike Live has been letting real-life male dancers strip up a storm for eager audiences. Not to be confused with Magic Mike the Musical — because that's something that's also happening — the "immersive" dance show is coming to Brisbane in 2021. When its Aussie leg was first announced in 2019, the show was set to debut in Melbourne in May 2020; however, then came the pandemic. After delaying those dates, Magic Mike Live unleashed its stuff in Sydney last December, then heads to Melbourne from June, with its Brisbane season kicking off afterwards — starting on Tuesday, November 23. As it's doing around the country, Magic Mike Live will steam up a 600-seat spiegeltent called The Arcadia, which'll make its home at Northshore Hamilton. It's the world's largest spiegeltent, because clearly this kind of show has plenty of fans. This tour marks the first time that the performance has been held in the pop-up two-storey spot, which comes with 360-degree views of the stage, a glass lobby, custom bars, a mini food hall, and a lounge area both inside and out. And while it's blazing a trail venue-wise, on the stage, the Aussie show combines elements of the Magic Mike Live's three other international productions. While Tatum came up with the idea for Magic Mike Live and co-directs the show, the Step Up, 21 Jump Street, Logan Lucky and Kingsman: The Golden Circle star isn't actually one of the performers. Instead, a cast of 20 — including 15 male dancers — showcase a combination of, dance, comedy and acrobatics. Continuing her role from the films, stage show co-director and choreographer Alison Faulk is behind the sultry moves, drawing upon a career spent working with Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott, P!NK, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. It probably goes without saying, but if you're already thinking about buying Magic Mike Live tickets, expect to have plenty of hens parties for company. Magic Mike Live comes to Brisbane from Tuesday, November 23, 2021. For more information, or to buy tickets from 9am AEST on Friday, March 26, visit the show's website. Images: Peter Brew-Bevan.
We've all done it at least once: wandered around Roma Street Station or its general vicinity, hunting for somewhere to eat. Somewhere that isn't just the usual food court, or one of the places along the roadway that change with unfathomable frequency. Thanks to the just-opened Nest Restaurant at Hotel Jen, that perpetual search has finally come to an end. You won't find anywhere as nice in this part of the city, or with such a mouthwatering menu. Serving Asian fusion-style food day and night, Nest calls itself a haven — and looking at its eclectic oriental vintage décor, that seems a fair call. This isn't just a spot for a quick bite, although that's certainly an option, as is takeaway. You can savour a meal, have a few drinks after work, or lounge around with your friends on a lazy weekend afternoon. Design-wise, Nest has made some artistically bold choices. A definite highlight is the Lantern Tree, a 100-year-old fig tree lit up with 200 red Asian lanterns. Nest offers 300-degree views of this good luck symbol, as well as quite a nice vantage over the city. You won't venture up there, but the top of the building is another important Nest space. Courtesy of their own organic Sky Garden, the herbs and vegetables making prominent appearances in Chinese, Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese-influenced feasts are picked fresh daily to make the journey from rooftop to plate. If $12 street food lunches and a 19-dish-plus Asian tapas selection don't get you rushing in the door, then one of Nest's upcoming events just might. Enjoy week-long Chinese New Year celebrations, or learn from an international master chef at a cooking class. Find Nest Restaurant on Level 2 at Hotel Jen at 159 Roma Street, Brisbane. Visit their website for more information.
Next time you're jetting abroad, you might want to add a visit to Singapore's Changi Airport to your trip. After hosting a short-term Harry Potter-themed world over the Christmas period and opening the world's largest indoor waterfall in April, the airport has now added a massive new Canopy Park into the mix. It features a mirror and hedge maze, suspended sky nets and a slide-filled sculptural playground, to name a just few of its attractions. Located on the top level of the airport, the indoor park spans over 14,000 square metres and houses over 1400 trees. It's home to seven different attractions, including the aforementioned maze, which comes in at a whopping 500 square metres (we suggest you don't enter here — and get lost — just before your flight). Travellers can also catch views of it from above on one of several elevated platforms. Other sky-high features include a 23-metre-high bridge with a glass floor offering views of the Shiseido forest valley and Rain Vortex waterfall below. You'll also be able to bounce or walk along a 250-metre span of sky nets, which are suspended five storeys in the air. Or spend your time wandering through a slide-filled sculptural playground, a petal garden, a topiary walk filled with animal-shaped shrubs and a fog-covered, cloud-like play area to boot. A virtual reality lounge, dubbed Changi Experience Studio, has also just opened on level four. The 90-minute experience includes interactive games, projection storytelling, immersive shows and gallery exhibitions. An onsite IMAX theatre, the YOTELAIR Hotel and over 280 retailers and eateries (including Nike, Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara and Uniqlo stores) can now be found within the airport as well. It's all part of the 137,000-square-metre Jewel Changi entertainment and retail complex, designed by famed architect Moshe Safdie. The ten-storey building, set under a glass-and-steel dome, is jam-packed with shops, dining options, greenery and activities — and is connected to the all-important airport, of course. Forget just killing time on a layover, searching for a phone charger or suffering in uncomfortable chairs while you're waiting for your flight home. Here, you might have to remind yourself that you're actually at an airport. For further details, visit the Jewel Changi Airport website. Entrance to the Canopy Park is set at the $5 SGD (around $5.30 AUD, $5.60 NZD), with selected attractions costing between $8—22.
