If you happen to be in Thailand in February and you spy Harry Potter's Jason Isaacs, Mission: Impossible's Michelle Monaghan, The League's Leslie Bibb and all-round icon Parker Posey, congrats: you will have spotted some of the cast of The White Lotus season three in the country to film the hit HBO show's next batch of episodes. The best new series on TV in 2021, and one of the best returning series of 2022 as well, The White Lotus is heading to the Asian nation after spending season one unleashing ultra-lavish hell in Hawaii and season two getting scathing in Sicily. Season three's location isn't new news, but the fact that Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Monaghan (The Family Plan), Bibb (God's Favourite Idiot), Posey (Beau Is Afraid), Dom Hetrakul (The Family) and Tayme Thapthimthong (Thai Cave Rescue) will be experiencing a chaotic getaway — or somehow involved with a White Lotus hotel — is a fresh development. [caption id="attachment_934932" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Crowded Room[/caption] The Mike White (Brad's Status)-created, -written and -directed series will also bring back a familiar face from its first season, as it did in season two. As fans of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning drama know, sadly Jennifer Coolidge (We Have a Ghost) won't be returning, unless the anthology series tells a prequel in the future, gets the undead involved or makes heavy use of flashbacks. Someone she spent a heap of screen time with in The White Lotus' debut season is popping up again, however: Natasha Rothwell (Wonka) as Belinda Lindsey, the spa manager who had been hoping to get Coolidge's Tanya McQuoid to invest in her dream business. Rothwell, Isaacs and company will obviously have more company, but that's the full list of cast members that've been revealed for now. No storyline details have been unveiled, and neither has a premiere date — but you'll be waiting till 2025 to see what happens in The White Lotus realm next. [caption id="attachment_934934" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beau Is Afraid[/caption] The show will shoot its third season in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, with HBO partnering with the Tourism Authority of Thailand "to support the filming and promotion of the third installment", the US network advised. Yes, expect everyone you know to want to vacation in Thailand as a result. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the country's Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, certainly does. "Thailand has long been considered one of the world's favourite filming locations. The White Lotus project will certainly strengthen the kingdom's status as a preferred filming destination and a beacon of experience-based tourism, inspiring even more visitors to amazing Thailand," Kiatphaibool said in a statement. Based on past seasons, the nation will backdrop a searing — and supremely entertaining — takedown of one percent, their lavish getaways, their deep-seated problems, and the gross inequality between the haves and have nots. And, it'll spark sleuthing, given that someone winding up dead has been part of all prior seasons as well. HBO announced that it was bringing The White Lotus back for a third go-around mere episodes into season two. Originally, the show was meant to be a one-and-done miniseries, but it was that excellent (and that popular) that it's now running with the anthology setup. White has hinted at focusing on "death and Eastern religion and spirituality" in season three. "It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus," he said in a clip at the end of season two's finale. There's obviously no trailer yet for The White Lotus' third season, but you can check out the trailers for seasons one and two below: The White Lotus' third season will arrive sometime in 2025, but doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The first and second seasons of The White Lotus are available to stream via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full reviews of season one and two. The White Lotus images: Fabio Lovino and Mario Perez / HBO.
When Song Kang-ho hasn't been starring in Bong Joon-ho's films, he's been featuring Park Chan-wook's and Kim Jee-woon's, plus Lee Chang-dong's and Hong Sang-soo's as well. One of Korea's acting greats boasts a resume filled with the country's directing greats — so getting the Memories of Murder, The Host, Thirst, Snowpiercer and Parasite star, plus Joint Security Area, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Lady Vengeance and Secret Sunshine talent, to play a filmmaker for his The Good the Bad the Weird and The Age of Shadows filmmaker feels like perfect casting even before Cobweb starts spinning its reels. Song's career highlights are already many, complete with a Cannes Best Actor Award for working with Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda in Broker. Here, he's reliably and rakishly charming in a movie-making ode and on-set farce. For his own director Kim, Song plays a director Kim — but on-screen version Kim Ki-yeol is living in the 70s, and also in a rut. Once an assistant to a famed and acclaimed helmer who has passed away, now he's openly mocked by critics for his trashy fare in one of Cobweb's first scenes. He's made most of a masterpiece, however, or so he believes. The only thing that's required to ensure it's a complete classic is two more days to undertake re-shoots. His film is meant to be finished, but he's adamant that the cast and crew reteam (and his producer foot the bill) to ensure that the creative visions that keep haunting his dreams can become a feted triumph. Convincing everyone that he needs to isn't the only tricky feat, with challenges upon challenges unspooling the longer that the fictional Kim and his colleagues spend bustling. Also involved amid the lights, cameras and action: Shinseong Film Studio's Chairwoman Baek (Jang Young-nam, Project Wolf Hunting), who's hardly enamoured with Kim's new plan; Mido (Jeon Yeo-been, Glitch), the heir to his mentor's company; and actors Min-ja (Lim Soo-jung, Melancholia), Ho-se (Oh Jung-se, Revenant), Yu-rim (Jung Soo-jung, Crazy Love) and Madam Oh (Park Jung-soo). Cue doubts, shaky promises, unexpected alliances, philandering, secret pregnancies, squabbles about prominence, allergies to fake blood, fires, stars trying to juggle shooting the movie and a TV drama, and a supporting actor so wedded to stepping into a detective's shoes that he's deducing on the side between takes. It's an anything-that-can-go-wrong-will situation, and equal in careening chaos to two other recent behind-the-scenes filmmaking comedies: One Cut of the Dead and remake Final Cut, just without the zombies and single-shot gimmick. In both that 2017 Japanese hit and its 2022 French do-over, a commitment to keep filming and making art regardless of the cost thrashed around the picture as heartily as the flesh-eating undead. Courtesy of a script co-written with Shin Yeon-shick (1seung), Kim Jee-woon's characters share that determination without such pronounced life-or-death stakes. Bringing a cinematic reverie to fruition is a leap of faith, as Cobweb understands. When it works, it's not just magic but alchemy. "Here's to the ones who dream" might've been crooned by Emma Stone in La La Land rather than in this fellow tribute to that dream, but the sentiment fits. While Cobweb finds plenty of amusement in the on-screen Kim's madcap last-dash scramble to make the motion picture he'll always be known for, it also respects the passion, yearning, gumption and quest. There may be no shuffling masses to contend with, but there are movie-chomping censors who must approve every element that's destined to grace celluloid. For Song's Kim, zombies might've been nicer to deal with. The all-business Baek is all about toeing the line. Without the censors' tick, not a frame will reach audiences — and careers can crumble via blacklisting, too. Kim won't compromise on his tour de force, except that the whole whirlwind reshoot is a constant exercise in compromise. As various solutions spring up to stop the authorities' interference, including persuading them that the new ending will give them an "anti-communist film", setting Cobweb five decades back is a choice with meaning. Harking back to the days when South Korean cinema IRL was at the mercy of the state under the Yusin system rather than truly driven by artists, the film applauds the dedication and the hustle that sees any picture exist, and especially one under such circumstances. Cobweb's cast also deserve praise, with Song unsurprisingly chief among them, as he tends to be in whatever he's in. His selling task is twofold: swaying the production-within-a-production's on- and off-screen players to give their all to crafting his movie the way that it dances through his head, and whether or not it seems to make even a bit of sense; and getting Cobweb's audience invested not just in the madcap mania that Kim Jee-woon can't stop embracing, but emotionally. His co-stars are also up to going along for the ride, particularly Jeon as Kim's co-conspirator in pulling the whole gambit off. Both Song and Jeon get moments as actors playing actors, when Kim and Mido's respective fervour sees them resolved to step in front of the camera to guarantee the performances they want. He's best known for A Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life and I Saw the Devil, but Kim Jee-woon is no stranger to dark comedy, as he eagerly plies here. His regular cinematographer Kim Ji-yong, who has been working with the director on and off since A Bittersweet Life, is equally acquainted with lavish lensing — and while Cobweb isn't as ravishing as his efforts on Park Chan-wook's 2022 stunner Decision to Leave (because almost nothing is), it remains an arresting sight as it flits from the black-and-white of Kim Ki-yeol's noir-esque Hitchcock-meets-soap opera flick to the retro period sheen of his existence. Don't go expecting to know exactly what the on-screen Kim is so feverish about, though. His counterpart splashes around the OTT movie inside the movie in fits and bursts, but it suits. Believing that Song's Kim believes in it is easy in a film this savvy, entertaining and adept at weaving its many strands.
Beer lovers, waiting for a bartender to get your drink is now a thing of the past. Following in the footsteps of make-your-own burger joints and self-service checkouts, pouring your own pints is now a reality. We mean at a bar, of course — and at one place in particularly. That'd be the aptly named Taps. Taps started out in Mooloolaba, and after almost two years of letting Sunshine Coast locals freshen their own schooners, they've brought the concept to Brisbane. It's as straightforward as it sounds, and uses tokens called iButtons to track your consumption. You purchase an iButton, add enough credit to cover what you think you'll drink, then place it on your tap — or taps — of choice. Here, you pay by the millilitre, meaning that you can sample as many brews as you like. Food, music and other events also feature — but let's be honest, it’s the beer everyone is interested in. Best practice your pouring, because you'll want your self-served drinks to be a no foam zone.
If you didn't end April or start May binging Heartstopper, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, this webcomic-to-page-to-screen delight dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. The great news: if you haven't seen it already, season one is obviously still there and waiting. The even better news: Netflix has just renewed the series for two more seasons. So, sometime in the future — with no dates given as yet — Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also returning as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The series hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the social-media attention to prove it, and has already made stars out of its delightful cast. ✌️ more seasons of Heartstopper! 🍂🍂https://t.co/u65kBHzJ9p pic.twitter.com/s6NKkU9Hl3 — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) May 20, 2022 Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) is in year ten. He finds himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, and sparks fly swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — with a crush and then a life-changing love story both blossoming. While director Euros Lyn (Dream Horse) gives Heartstopper's first season a dreamy look and feel — with emotionally astute showers of colour, too — teen romance is always complicated. Actually, teen life in general is. Also popping up here, with their own ups and downs: Charlie's self-hating secret boyfriend Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft, Doom Patrol); his disapproving, high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao); their recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney); her lesbian school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell); and the quietly happy-go-lucky Isaac (Tobie Donovan). Oh, and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) as Nick's mum. The end result isn't afraid of teen tropes or rom-com cliches, such as grand gestures in the pouring rain, blissful montages and the stress of text messages — but it also isn't willing to deliver anything other than a thoughtful and tender account of high schoolers being and finding themselves, even amid unavoidable teen angst and taunting. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in February 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in our futures. Check out the trailer for Heartstopper season one below: Exactly when Heartstopper will return for season two and three hasn't yet been revealed — we'll update you when dates are announced. The first season of Heartstopper is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. Images: Rob Youngson/Netflix.
Brisbanites are used to going to Fortitude Valley to get sweaty among colourful lights, and to a pulsating soundtrack. Normally, though, that doesn't involve popping on boxing gloves. But making your next exercise session feel like a night hitting the clubs is the whole remit of Hustle Boxing, the Sydney workout favourite that's just launched its first Queensland studio. Hustle initially opened in Sydney in 2019 courtesy of business partners Tim McGann and Simon Maree, who were keen to give Australia an inclusive, accessible and premium venue for boxing group fitness classes. When it comes to ditching the usual vision that hopping into the ring inspires, the end result definitely packs a punch — including in its sleek new 400-square-metre Brisbane space on Brookes Street. Decor-wise, black walls, pops of colour and bright-hued LED lighting are a big feature, in a venue with high ceilings and a minimalist approach thanks to architect Tomas Scerbo. But Hustle's Valley digs also sport two things you won't find in a nearby bar or music venue: floor-to-ceiling windows to let natural light in, and murals paying tribute to Aussie sporting legends — including Shane Warne and Cathy Freeman. Also helping the vibe are curated playlists by Flight Facilities' Hugo Gruzman, plus commercial-grade lighting and a nightclub-quality sound system. That's what you'll be listening to and standing under when you hit up one of Hustle's personal fitness stations, which feature individual LED displays with instructions for your workout, and also store equipment for your session, such as weights, sliders and resistance bands. Trainer Andrew Papadopoulos oversees Hustle's training programs, with strength and conditioning a huge focus — as well as full-body functional boxing exercises. Expect to combine cardio, speed, and dynamic- and strength-themed routines — and, thanks to its brand-new Hustle Track, to hit the treadmill or floor. This fresh addition to the chain has its own dedicated room filled with treadmills, and also hosts 'Tenzing' classes named after Tenzing Norgay, the first Sherpa to scale Everest. Yes, running at an incline is on the cards. If you're not usually the most sporty or exercise-conscious of folks, part of the reason for Hustle's eye-catching design and club-inspired atmosphere is to make the joint accessible to everyone — regardless of your fitness, skills and past boxing experience. Introductory offers start at $25 for five days, or ten-day unlimited training passes for $49 — and Hustle's other boxing and track classes also take their names from famous figures. So, you might find yourself taking an eight-round 'Jagger' session or the hefty 16-round endurance-testing class that is 'The Godfather'. There's also the 'Denzel', which'll have you going smooth and easy on the treadmill; the 'Rihanna', where heading uphill is the aim of the game; and the 'Bolt', if you're a fan of running as fast as possible. Find Hustle Boxing at 100 Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley — open 5am–6.30pm Monday–Friday and 8am–11pm Saturdays.
If Four Weddings and a Funeral can come back as a television series, then it appears that another beloved rom-com from the past few decades can too. Continuing a trend that's never going to end — aka building pop culture's future out of its past — How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days is the latest flick getting the small-screen remake treatment. And we do mean small, given that streaming platform Quibi is behind the series. Founded by ex-Disney and Dreamworks bigwig Jeffrey Katzenberg, the newcomer won't launch until next year, but it's being designed as a short-form, smartphone-only service. That means content broken down into eight–to–ten minute chunks for ease of viewing when you're somewhere other than the couch. So, How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days isn't just getting a modernised do-over, but one that'll unfurl in bite-sized pieces. Few details about the rom-com remake have been announced as yet, although it'll be penned by The Mindy Project writer Guy Branum. The underlying premise has been given a bit of a makeover, focusing on an online columnist and an advertising executive who need to prove that they can be monogamous, as TVLine reports. Who'll be stepping into Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson's circa 2003 shoes, and whether either will pop up, will be revealed down the line. A release date hasn't been set as yet either, although Quibi is set to drop in April 2020. If and when it'll be available Down Under also hasn't been announced. Until more details hit, check out the trailer for the original How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFGr2_cOOTk
Sydney's rambunctious leotard-loving lads, Bluejuice, are calling it a day. The beloved pop/rock/dance/errrthang ratbags Jake Stone, Stavros Yiannoukas, Jamie Cibej and James Hauptmann have announced their final national tour and an upcoming greatest hits tour to wrap everything up by the end of 2014. "After 13 years of broken bones, broken hearts, sore heads, passive aggression, regular aggression, several arrests, questionable skin infections, and a busload of infuriated tour managers, Bluejuice are announcing they are calling it quits at the end of 2014," says today's press release. Abercrombie-going Purple Sneakers alumni are shedding many a tear today. Since 2001, the beloved Sydney outfit have had one heck of a ride, keeping the chin of Australian music up with three celebrated albums (Problems, Head of the Hawk and Company) on the shelf and still holding the position of most played track on triple j ever ('Vitriol'). https://youtube.com/watch?v=ldBhDmvWFXE Bluejuice have decided to part ways to test the waters in other projects, with the sad intention of giving those leotards a rest. Before they take their final bows, the team will release a big ol' greatest hits album — a retrospective ride dubbed Retrospectable, with all your favourite mid-2000s sticky-floored party go-tos, best bits from their three albums, extra rare content and new single 'I'll Go Crazy', produced by Dann Hume (Sticky Fingers/Alpine). Bluejuice will kick it on their final national tour this September/October. Starting at Adelaide's Uni Bar, the pair will meander through the capitals and rural centres before finishing up where it all started — Sydney (at the Metro Theatre, where many a drunken Bluejuice escapade has roamed before). In one of the most emotionally-charged press releases we've ever seen, Bluejuice's legacy is laid down. "They shall leave behind a body of work of which they are all very proud, and they look to the future with a mix of hope and fear of starvation, not unlike the chick at the end of Children Of Men." Top notch. Bluejuice — Retrospectable: The Farewell Tour (with special guests to be announced) Tickets on sale August 9 THU 25 SEPT — Uni Bar, Adelaide. Tickets via Oztix. FRI 26 SEPT — Capitol, Perth. Tickets via Oztix. SAT 27 SEPT — Red Earth Arts Festival, Karratha. Tickets via REAF. THU 02 OCT — Hi-Fi, Brisbane. Tickets via Oztix. FRI O3 OCT — Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta. Tickets via Oztix. SAT 04 OCT — Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay. Tickets via Oztix. FRI 10 OCT — Hi-Fi, Melbourne. Tickets via Oztix. SAT 11 OCT — Hi-Fi, Melbourne. (Under 18's only Matinee show 12-3pm) Tickets via Oztix. SAT 11 OCT — Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave. Tickets via Ticketmaster and Village Green Hotel. SUN 12 OCT — Barwon Club, Geelong. Tickets via Oztix. FRI 17 OCT — Waves, Wollongong. Tickets via Moshtix. SAT 18 OCT — ANU Bar, Canberra. Tickets via Ticketek. THU 23 OCT — Bar on the Hill, Newcastle. Tickets via BigTix. FRI 24 OCT — Metro Theatre, Sydney. (LIC/ALL AGES)? Tickets via Ticketek.
For the second time in 11 years, Brisbane is waterlogged, following a weekend of relentlessly heavy rain — and wet conditions in the days leading up to the non-stop three-day downpour, too. The impact across the city is enormous, including flooded homes and businesses, power outages, blocked roads and suspended public transport. Everyone across town has been affected or knows someone who has — and the Mud Army, the city's team of flood volunteers, has reassembled for cleanup duties. Also impacted: Brisbane's arts, culture and music industry, which has been weathering flooded venues, event cancellations and general fallout from the conditions like the rest of us. As a result, the city's upcoming lineup of shows, gigs and exhibitions is in flux again — a heartbreaking state of affairs following two years spent coping with the pandemic. Obviously, going out might not be at the top of your to-do list right now, but you can continue to support the industry and the folks within it by buying from artists who've had their shows cancelled, ordering gift cards and merch from venues that are closed due to flooding, or just booking in a show or gig for that birthday a few months away. To keep you abreast of what's been cancelled, postponed and suspended — and which venues are temporarily closed — here's our live list, updated as it happens. [caption id="attachment_827164" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] VENUES Artisan: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Brisbane Powerhouse: closed until further notice due to localised flooding in the area, with shows either rescheduled or cancelled. The Edge: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. Metro Arts: closed until Thursday, March 10 due to minor flood repairs. Museum of Brisbane: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: both galleries are closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. At present, all scheduled public programs and cinema screenings have been cancelled up to and including Sunday, March 13. Queensland Conservatorium: closed until at least Sunday, March 6 due to flooding, with performances up until Monday, March 7 either cancelled or postponed. Queensland Museum: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. Queensland Performing Arts Centre: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area, with all performances either cancelled or postponed up to and including Thursday, March 10. Queensland Theatre, including the Bille Brown Theatre: doesn't have a show scheduled until Saturday, April 30, but currently closed until further notice due to flooding. South Bank Parklands: several sections remain until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. State Library of Queensland: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. UQ Art Museum: closed up to and including Wednesday, March 2. [caption id="attachment_836543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] SHOWS/GIGS/EXHIBITIONS APT10 Cinema: cancelled up to and including Sunday, March 13. Blue Assembly: Oceanic Thinking: closed up to and including Wednesday, March 2. The Chocolate Factory: closed alongside Toombul Shopping Centre, which is shut until further notice due to flooding. City in the Sun: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Curiocity 2022: postponed, with new dates yet to be announced. Diary of a Madman: cancelled. Dylan Mooney: Blak Superheroes: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Feel Good Program: cancelled until further notice. Frozen the Musical: cancelled up to and including Thursday, March 19, with ticketholders being contacted to transfer their seats to future dates. Get Green! Sustainability Market: cancelled. Humans, Animals and the Natural World — World Science Festival Brisbane Film Program: cancelled. In Transit: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Ocean Film Festival World Tour: postponed from March 2–5 to June 16–18. Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Potter Experience: rescheduled from March 1–6 to May 10–15. Stargazing at South Bank: cancelled. The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art: closed up to and including Sunday, March 13. World Science Festival Brisbane: cancelled in-person program, now running from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13 as a virtual-only event. For more information on all of the latest Brisbane weather conditions, warnings and alerts, and traffic and public transport status, check out the resources below: The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland warnings page, and its Queensland Twitter and Facebook Brisbane City Council's February 2022 severe weather event updates, which also features a Brisbane River flood forecast Brisbane City Council's Twitter and Facebook Queensland Fire and Emergency Services' website, Twitter and Facebook Qld Traffic Translink's website, Twitter and Facebook Top image: Matthew Toomey. Updated Monday, March 7.
Our Melbourne comrades are doing it especially tough right now, currently pushing through the fourth long week of their current stage four lockdown. But if you know a southerner who could use a distraction from their 8pm curfew and five-kilometre travel restrictions, you can now send them a little sweet relief courtesy of Uber Eats. This week, the delivery service is allowing interstate mates to send Victorian friends free dessert or ice cream, via its new #lockdownlove offer. From today, Monday, August 31, to Friday, September 4, you can surprise your Melbourne mate with a free Uber Eats dessert delivery, up to the value of $20 (including delivery fee). There are 1000 of the freebies available each night, starting from 8pm. To share the love, simply plug your friend's address into the app, order from one of their local dessert venues and enter that day's promo code (it's 'mondaylove' for Monday, 'tuesdaylove' for Tuesday and so on). Once you've ordered, you can click 'Share This Delivery' at the top of the app and your pal will be able to track their sweet treat on the move. Brighten their day with some Pidapipo gelato, send some Greek doughnuts from Lukumades, or maybe treat them to a wedge of cheesecake courtesy of the iconic Brunetti. If you're a sweet-toothed Melburnian who could do with some free dessert, we just send this article to an interstate friend — as a very unsubtle hint. [caption id="attachment_687498" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Doughnuts by Shortstop[/caption] Top image: Lukumades
Have you ever been half way through the work week and fantasised about living the simple life? Perhaps you've been dreaming about waking up in a timber cottage with nothing but rolling hills as far as the eye can see? Well, luckily for you, there's a small collection of quaint cottages on vineyards and rustic cabins set amongst idyllic gardens in Victoria — perfect for your next serene weekend venture. To help you live out your dungaree-wearing, straw chewing, horse riding dreams, here's a list of the most charming farm stays across Victoria you can book right now. UNDER A PEPPERCORN TREE, CASTLEMAINE A beautifully renovated self contained studio perched under an ancient peppercorn tree. Just four minutes from Castlemaine, a charming country town with a bounty of restaurants, pubs and small shops. From $216 a night, sleeps two. DOG-FRIENDLY HOLLOW LOG ESTATE, MUSK VALE With weatherboard interiors, a stylish yet quaint kitchen and stain glassed windows, this stone cottage looks like its straight out of a fairytale. Bring your pup for a weekend on the 23 acre property featuring gardens, open paddocks and dams. From $225 a night, sleeps two. HALCYON COTTAGE RETREAT, STRZELECKI This stylish cottage is perfect for a group of friends searching for an idyllic weekend away spent cooking and drinking wine in front of jaw-dropping views of the Strzelecki Ranges. There's a veggie garden and an outdoor bath, too. From $290 a night, sleeps six. MOORAKYLE RETREAT AT EASTERN HILL ORGANIC FARM, BLAMPIED This cottage is set on a 300 acre property that is a registered farm animal rescue and grows wildflowers. Perch yourself on its deep verandah that overlooks grows overlooks native forests, a creek, and Mt Kooroocheang. From $255 a night, sleeps two. BUSH HAVEN CHAPEL NEAR CASTLEMAINE, FRYERSTOWN If you want to mix things up for your next country stay, consider booking a weekend at this chapel (originally built in 1861), which has been lovingly restored and styled. Swim nearby at the mineral spring reservoir if you stay during summer. From $210 a night, sleeps two. ORTO TWO STRAW ECO COTTAGE, BLAMPIED Set on a regenerative permaculture farm, and nestled between even more farms with delightful offerings (free-range pork, home cooked sweets, organic wine and berries), this straw eco cottage also has cooking lessons for two to ten people. From $230 a night, sleeps two. A VIEW TO A HILL, BULLAROO Bullaroo has two spacious bedrooms, each of which can be rented separately or all at once if you're with a group. There's a high-end kitchen and a top floor terrace with a barbecue and bar with sweeping views across acres of farmland. From $690 a night, sleeps five. THE JUNE, BIRCHCREEK This two bedroom cottage is tucked into the foot of the Mornington Peninsula Hinterland, close to beaches and nearby towns. Wander the grounds of the working farm you'll be staying on — you'll see goats, cattle, alpacas and beehives. From $275 a night, sleeps four. RED HILL BARN IN IDYLLIC RURAL SETTING, RED HILL A picturesque barn-style house stands amongst vines and olive groves. The timber wrap-around deck is ideal for afternoon drinks, and there's a dam for swimming on those balmy summer days. From $390 a night, sleeps six. RURAL RETREAT, SELF-CONTAINED STUDIO, WOODFORD If you want alpacas, sheep, pigs and chickens as your neighbours for a weekend, this newly built studio set on five acres of farmland is right up your alley. The farm also supplies fresh free range eggs and has a walking track nearby. From $140 a night, sleeps two. ON A PEACEFUL VINEYARD IN THE YARRA VALLEY REGION, ARTHURS CREEK This B&B is on the first floor of a vineyard farmhouse 45 minutes from Melbourne with world renowned Yarra Valley wineries only a 15 minute drive. If you want to stay in, there's a clawfoot bath for soaking, plus a deck overlooking a private garden. From $246 a night, sleeps two. THE ROCKS, PYALONG This off-grid studio is truly unique — it's surrounded by massive granite boulders and just as many sheep. Bask in views across the Great Dividing Range from the deck, or by the fire through floor to ceiling windows. From $210 a night, sleeps two. MACEDON RANGES FELLCROFT FARMSTAY, COBAW Built by the Crozier family who have been farming in the Macedon Ranges since 1862, every detail in this house has been thoughtfully planned for an authentic and relaxing stay away from the hustle and bustle of city life. From $255 a night, sleeps two. HALFMOON CREEK — MOONDANCE COTTAGE, WANDILIGONG If you've been needing to finish that book with a glass of wine, unreachable by your boss, Moondance Cottage has cozy, rustic decor, no television, no phone reception and gets all of its water and power from the nearby creek. From $255 a night, sleeps two. BABENOREK STUDIO, DEANS MARSH Charmingly styled, with a small but dreamy country-style kitchen and handmade furniture, this solar powered studio was hand-built from lime-rendered straw bales twenty years ago by the family that owns the farm. From $175 a night, sleeps four. TORQUAY FARMSTAY BLUE STUDIO TRUCK, FRESHWATER CREEK Close to Great Ocean Road beaches and national parks, this tiny house has been built on a truck using a recycled timber, windows, doors and stain glass. Don't be fooled by the exteriors — three lofts and a fully functioning kitchen await you inside. From $155 a night, sleeps four. COUNTRY PARADISE IN THE GULLY, SMITHS GULLY The twisted staircase leading to a wooden mezzanine along with stain glass windows and a pitched roof give this farm house a magical feel. Enjoy panoramic views of vineyards, nearby farms and the Kinglake Ranges. From $195 a night, sleeps four. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
A near-silent depiction of a nightmare boarding school for girls, a stage adaptation of a 1950s pornographic novel, a drag odyssey through Australian history — this is hardly the usual fare for the MTC crowd. Yet it's all on the program at NEON, the Melbourne Theatre Company's festival of independent theatre. It's packed with the kind of edgy theatre-making you'd more expect to find in shoebox venues around Fringe season, rather than in a mainstream house like Southbank Theatre. It is, says artistic director Brett Sheehy, one of the company's most significant initiatives to date. "With NEON, we celebrate Melbourne's unique and thriving independent theatre landscape and its astonishing artists," Sheehy says. "Part of our mission is to literally throw open our doors to all of Melbourne and to make Southbank Theatre a place of connection, accessibility and welcome, no matter what form of theatre Melbourne desires." For the festival, which runs from May to July, 2013, Sheehy approached five of Melbourne's most innovative little theatre companies — The Hayloft Project, THE RABBLE, Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, Fraught Outfit and Sisters Grimm — and offered them free access to MTC's stage and technical resources, as well as free creative rein. Benedict Hardie of The Hayloft Project, whose By Their Own Hands looks to be a confronting and stripped-back take on Greek tragedy, says that while creative freedom comes with the territory of independent theatre, practitioners need to work hard for that freedom and it is rare to get the kind of support MTC has offered. Having that support, Hardie says, has enabled the artists involved to push themselves further creatively. "It's an opportunity to dream a bit bigger," he says. The shows on the lineup promise to be confronting, intense, bizarre or even — as with THE RABBLE's adaptation of Story of O, a French novel that was the 50 Shades of Grey of its day — erotic. THE RABBLE's co-artistic director Emma Valente sees the festival as a turning point for the companies involved, not just because of the resources and the greater audience potential provided by MTC but because of what the very existence of the festival says about changing attitudes toward the independent theatre scene. "What it means for independent theatre at large is exciting," says Valente. "In fifteen years doing independent theatre, playing in a mainstream house is something I never would have thought possible." The festival opened on May 16 with Menagerie, Daniel Schlusser's homage to Tennessee Williams and will also feature a program of forums and free workshops featuring a topnotch lineup of playwrights, producers, performers and critics. So whether you are an audience member avid for the avant garde or an underrated artist working on a society-shaking script of your own, Southbank Theatre is, perhaps surprisingly, about to become the place to be. To see the full program of events, head to the MTC website. Tickets to each show are $25, or you can see all five for $100. Top image: The Hayloft Project by Patrick Boland. Second image: Daniel Schlusser Ensemble by Sarah Walker.
They can't all be great. They can't all be good. They can't all even be watchable. Every year, cinemas and streaming queues fill up with new movies — and every year, that includes a whole heap of excellent films. But, as the annual Golden Raspberry Awards also recognise, it also spans awful flicks as well. While the Oscars and Golden Globes shower love on the best and brightest movies of the past year each time that they roll around, the Razzies do the opposite, handing nominations and gongs to the films it considers the worst of the annual bunch. 2023's accolades mark the awards' 43rd and they're aiming big, with high-profile titles such as Blonde, Morbius, Elvis and Disney's live-action Pinocchio among the contenders. Of course, just as naming ace flicks is subjective, so is shaming terrible ones. Expect Elvis to notch up Academy Award nods, too, for instance. But the Razzies has given Baz Luhrmann's film two nominations, and both for Tom Hanks: for Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Couple with his latex makeup. Hanks isn't just one of the world's favourite actors, but one of the Razzies' this year, also picking up a Worst Actor nomination for playing Gepetto in Disney's Pinocchio. That film received six nods in total, coming third to Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde with eight and Machine Gun Kelly's stoner comedy Good Mourning with seven. Also among the nominees: Pete Davidson twice, for Marmaduke and Good Mourning; the Firestarter remake's Ryan Kiera Armstrong for Worst Actress; filmmaker Judd Apatow for the pandemic-set supposed comedy The Bubble; and the two 365 Days sequels. And yes, it's morbin' time at the Razzies, with the Jared Leto-starring supervillain flick ranking fourth nominations-wise with five: for Leto for Worst Actor, Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress (for Adria Arjona), Worst Director (Daniel Espinosa) and Worst Screenplay. The 43rd Annual Razzie Award winners will be announced on Sunday, March 12, Australian and New Zealand time. Check out the full list of nominees below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2022: WORST PICTURE Blonde Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning The King's Daughter Morbius WORST ACTOR Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly), Good Mourning Pete Davidson (voice only), Marmaduke Tom Hanks (as Gepetto), Disney's Pinocchio Jared Leto, Morbius Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan WORST ACTRESS Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Firestarter Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic Park Dominion Diane Keaton, Mack & Rita Kaya Scodelario, The King's Daughter Alicia Silverstone, The Requin WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Pete Davidson (cameo role), Good Mourning Tom Hanks, Elvis Xavier Samuel, Blonde Mod Sun, Good Mourning Evan Williams, Blonde WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Adria Arjona, Morbius Lorraine Bracco (voice only), Disney's Pinocchio Penelope Cruz, The 355 Bingbing Fan, The 355 and The King's Daughter Mira Sorvino, Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend WORST SCREEN COMBO Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning Both real life characters in the fallacious White House bedroom scene, Blonde Tom Hanks and his latex-laden face (and ludicrous Aaccent), Elvis Andrew Dominik and his issues with women, Blonde The two 365 Days sequels (both released in 2022) WORST DIRECTOR Judd Apatow, The Bubble Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning Andrew Dominik, Blonde Daniel Espinosa, Morbius Robert Zemeckis, Disney's Pinocchio WORST REMAKE, RIPOFF or SEQUEL Blonde Both 365 Days sequels: 365 Days: This Day and The Next 365 Days Disney's Pinocchio Firestarter Jurassic World Dominion WORST SCREENPLAY Blonde Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning Jurassic World Dominion Morbius
If December to you means luminous festive decorations — November as well, or basically the second that Halloween is over — then simply driving through your neighbourhood can be a jolly good time. Wherever you look, there just might be a glowing set of Christmas lights sharing its seasonal merriment and brightening up the suburban streets. Of course, these lit-up displays really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But twinkling bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the happiest portion of the calendar. Perhaps you're a casual Christmas lights fan, and you're completely fine just checking out whichever blazing displays you happen to pass in your travels. Maybe you have a few tried-and-tested favourite spots, and you return to them every year. Or, you could want to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards. Whichever category you fall into, an Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest, especially given that it has been updated for 2023. Christmas Lights Search is as nifty and handy as its name suggests, covering festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as entering your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Plus, it also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. It's also constantly being updated, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to potentially peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range and a description of what's on offer. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Putting up your own Christmas lights for the neighbourhood to see? Spotted something in your travels that you think everyone else would like to check out? You can add both to Christmas Lights Search as well. [caption id="attachment_882325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] To find festive displays near you, head to the Christmas Lights Search website. Top image: Donaldytong via Wikimedia Commons.
First came the return of the Kirra Beach Hotel, pouring drinks again after three years out of action while the surfside pub was rebuilt as an all-new 1300-square-metre watering hole with a sunny beer garden. Then arrived Kirra Beach House, with multiple spaces to eat and drink — and cabanas for both — on the beachfront. Now, for everyone heading to the Gold Coast to take advantage of the two venues, or just in general, Kirra Point Holiday Apartments is up and running. Out-of-town visitors and staycationers alike have a new spot to stay at Kirra Point, the precinct that's reshaping this part of southeast Queensland's coast. If you're keen to slumber for at least two nights — with longer trips welcome, too — this sleek new accommodation boasts one-, two- and three-bedroom options, all in a prime location. Killer views from each apartment overlooking the beach are a huge highlight. So are expansive balconies that are designed for hanging out outside as much as in, whether you're going solo, or you're with your partner, mates or travelling as a family. No one usually books a holiday apartment with more room than they need — and with prices starting at $395 per night, that'll prove the case here — but whichever size abode you pick, you'll still be peering at the water. Beach vistas are part of every apartment, so you won't miss out on making the most of the scenic surroundings. Fancy taking a splash, too? That's where the block's elevated pool deck comes in, also with stunning views. As you swim in the 25-metre heated pool or kick back on the poolside lounges, you'll have an uninterrupted vantage of the beach. The communal al fresco area also includes barbecue facilities and an outdoor shower. Back inside, expect a contemporary aesthetic; sizeable bedrooms, with the main featuring a king-sized bed; a full kitchen with European appliances and a Nespresso coffee machine; a 65-inch television with a Chromecast; internet access; and a full laundry. Plus, Kirra Point Holiday Apartments has its own air-conditioned gym, and hires out beach carts, umbrellas and bikes for exploring the area. Need a charcuterie platter or picnic hamper to make your stay even better? They can be delivered. If you're new to Kirra, you'll be venturing 70 minutes from Brisbane, 30 minutes from Broadbeach and 45 minutes from Byron Bay. And if this is the first that you're hearing about the Kirra Point precinct, it's all about giving folks the beach life whether they're dropping by for a sip and a meal, residing onsite or temporarily calling it their home away from home. Find Kirra Point Holiday Apartments at 4 Miles Street, Kirra, Queensland — head to the apartments' website for bookings and further details. Images: Elise Hassey.
Brisbane's underground home of rum and jazz is at it again. When the Ekka public holiday hits on Wednesday, August 14, The Walrus Club is celebrating the occasion with dark spirits and smooth tunes all afternoon long. Yes, it's going to be a real Rum Royale at the Regatta's prohibition era-inspired basement bar. On the boozy side of the equation, prepare to taste your way through 12 different rum samples, showcasing the best tipples from around the globe. There'll also be food to match, including a tiki-style smokehouse and a pop-up deli — which means plenty of cheese and charcuterie is on the menu. Attendees can also learn more about the beverage in question, and about making cocktails, thanks to a range of masterclasses. You'll receive your own tasting glass, too, which you can take home with you. When it comes to music, a live jazz soundtrack will add to the atmosphere all afternoon long. Rum Royale runs from 3–7pm, with tickets on sale now for $49.
You know a show is a big deal when you have to Google whether the musician is still alive or not. Thankfully for us, the legendary tambourine man is still very much alive and kicking. And, to celebrate his 73rd birthday yesterday, Bob Dylan has announced a month-long run of Australian and New Zealand tour dates to kick off in August. Though this birthday would signify the age of retirement for many, this world-renowned singer-songwriter is showing no signs of slowing down. Having last toured the country with his 2012 album Tempest, Dylan has recently been leaking new content on his website. After releasing a cover of Frank Sinatra's 'Full Moon and Empty Arms', some have suggested the prolific musician's next album — number 36 — could be a compilation of covers. Either way, it'll be a treat to see this living legend perform live. But be sure to get in early! With an iconic sound that has spanned generations, these all ages shows are bound to sell out quick. Tour dates: Saturday, August 9 - Claudelands Arena, Hamilton. Wednesday, August 13 - Riverside Theatre, Perth. Thursday, August 14 - Riverside Theatre, Perth. Monday, August 18 - Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tuesday, August 19 - Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Monday, August 25 - Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane. Friday, August 28 - Royal Theatre, Canberra. Sunday, August 31 - Entertainment Centre, Adelaide. Wednesday, August 3 - State Theatre, Sydney. Thursday, September 4 - State Theatre, Sydney. Wednesday, September 10 - CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch. Tickets for the Australian shows go on sale Tuesday, June 3 at 9am via Ticketek and Ticketmaster.
The anticipation is building for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™. Seeing as we are hosting the iconic occasion Down Under, Sydney is set to witness some exhilarating matches. Meaning the city will be bursting with football fever and a plethora of vibrant events and experiences to enjoy. So, if you're planning a trip to the city, be sure to witness the best of what Sydney has to offer. From art and culture to music and culinary delights, Sydney is poised to showcase its dynamic spirit during the month-long World Cup celebration. Luckily for you, we've rounded up some top picks that you should not miss during your stay.
Just six months young, the city’s newest gourmet burger joint was there long before Eat Street decided these storage boxes of the sea were the new ‘hip thing’. Some may say it’s pretty hard to miss the bright red Miel shipping container in the middle of Brisbane city, but you’d be surprised. After venturing down Albert Street and going a block too far, at last – a shiny, lit-up box with too-good-to-be-true burger smells wafting our way. Fresh baked each morning you have a choice of either ciabatta or brioche buns to fill with a classic beef pattie, grilled chicken breast, rib fillet, fish fillet or veggie pattie. At Miel it is encouraged to build your own burger – you get a choice of ingredients to add including fresh vegetables, gourmet cheese and 13 sauces. With a choice of three vegies included in price, Miel are super reasonable with any extra add ons (try telling that to any breakfast cafe). Adding bacon is a mere $1.20 and an egg is just 70 cents. The burgers are huge and served on a board (also very hip) with a bonus side of steak cut chips. The classic beef pattie was freshly made and delicious. Telling you how I designed my burger seems a bit intimate, especially considering your choices range from grilled eggplant and triple cream brie (guilty) to the usual salad suspects. Chock full of vegies, oozing brie and basil pesto, you could certainly say my beef pattie was in a good place between two bits of brioche. We recommend you order this soft bready delight as it’s a bit hard to find around Brisbane but oh-so worth it. If DIY (design it yourself) burgers aren’t your thing, Miel also do a range of ready-designed including the Korean barbecue bulgogi, tandoori chicken burger or miso pork belly. If you’re after more sides, try the thick-cut onion rings, sweet potato wedges or chilli con carne fries. And finish it all off with a macaron. Why? Because what’s more dainty than a two-hand-hold, dripping-down-your-arm-good burger? Macaron, duh.
Jenny Lewis, former lead singer of indie rock group Rilo Kiley, is about to release her first solo album in six years, so why not come back with a bang (and a viral video)? Her social media freakout-inducing clip for first single, the Beck-produced 'One of The Guys' has a few of Hollywood's leading ladies taking the piss out of gender roles by tracksuiting up and acting like real tough dudes. Unlikely accomplices Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson casually make up Lewis's backing band, eventually winding up in drag, fly kicking, breakdancing and giving each other those perplexing man-hug-hand-shake things. Snaps to Lewis for fusing taking Taylor Swift-style famous friend collab cues. There are so many high-fivable things going on here, it's hard to know where to start. Lewis's rainbow pantsuit, Hathaway's rat-tail and keytar, and Stewart actually looking like she's having fun for once in her life — all good places to start. Despite all this nonchalant splendour, Larson takes the cake. The Short Term 12 star is completely hysterical in this clip as a boy, and is probably the most convincing lip syncher of the band next to Lewis. Despite the silliness, the single is actually quite a poignant note on being comfortable with yourself both in your womanhood and in your age. Just goes to show, dealing with heavy stuff doesn't mean taking yourself seriously all the time. 'Just One of the Guys' is the first single from Lewis' new record Voyager, which will be out by the end of the month. Watch 'Just One of the Guys' right here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Irvcf6dCk-k Via Rolling Stone.
Six decades after first dancing its way across the big screen — and singing, too — a certain New York neighbourhood rivalry is returning to cinemas. It was back in 1961 that West Side Story first made the leap from theatre to film, and now it's repeating the feat this December. Yes, the Jets and the Sharks will be facing off again. This time around, Steven Spielberg is in the director's chair. Obviously, West Side Story's narrative will remain the same, though. In the Big Apple in 1957, a Romeo and Juliet-inspired love story will play out, as Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and María (film debutant Rachel Zegler) fall head over heels despite their backgrounds — because Tony's best friend Riff (Mike Faist, Panic) leads the Jets, and María is the younger sister of Sharks head honcho Bernardo (David Alvarez). Also popping up among the cast: Ariana DeBose (The Prom), Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle (Imprisoned), Corey Stoll (Ratched) and Brian d'Arcy James (Devs), plus the great Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) — who also played the role of Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in the original movie. The film's long list of talent continues off-screen, too, with West Side Story circa 2021's screenplay penned by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner (Lincoln), and the choreography coming courtesy of fellow Tony-recipient Justin Peck. Spielberg and company are taking the original 1957 Broadway show rather than the 1961 movie adaptation as their basis and, as the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, the results look vibrant and lively, but still with a classic old-school musical sheen. Thankfully — and unsurprisingly — it also looks worlds away from the filmmaker's last feature, Ready Player One. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xoDxf676w&feature=youtu.be West Side Story opens in Australian cinemas on December 9. Top image: Niko Tavernise, 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
How much do we all love dessert? Let us count the ways. If you have a sweet tooth, you obviously adore tucking into everything from ice cream and chocolate to doughnuts and cakes. Being mighty fond of food festivals dedicated to such indulgent treats also comes naturally. And, over the past few years, you've likely become enamoured with supremely photogenic pop-up installations dedicated to candy and its many dessert siblings — getting a sugar rush one snap and Instagram post at a time, clearly. Brisbane has already welcomed in Sugar Republic's eye-catching spaces more than once, so it's time to kickstart your cravings at a different dessert-themed pop-up: The Chocolate Factory. This one hails from the folks that recently brought a walk-through version of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescos to town, and it's making its first Australian stop at Toombul Shopping Centre from Thursday, February 17. If your name is Charlie — or Augustus, Veruca, Violet or Mike, or even Willy — you're basically destined to spend time in the space. Everyone else can live out their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dreams as well, of course, although this is primarily a feast for the eyes (and it has nothing officially to do with that beloved book or the films it has spawned). Here you'll find a gingerbread town, cupcake room, bubblegum room and marshmallow world within the broader chocolate factory setup. Expect the walls to be decked out like they're made out of something that Hansel and Gretel would love, sprinkles and icing to be a big design feature, pillow shapes aplenty — and a ballpit, because that's always a part of these installations. The Chocolate Factory will also task you with earning ingredients in each room to play games, provide plenty of spots to take those pics (of course) and let you bounce on a cupcake-shaped trampoline. If you just know that being surrounded by all that dessert-themed decor will make you hungry, you'll need to settle for vending-machine sweet treats (and sips as well, if you work up a thirst). Given that it's nestling into a shopping centre, you'll have other culinary options afterwards, however. Unsurprisingly, it's an all-ages affair, so expect to have company from candy-lovers both young and young at heart. The Chocolate Factory will setup shop at Toombul Shopping Centre, 1015 Sandgate Road, Nundah, from Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now for sessions from 2–8pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 10.30am–8pm on Saturdays and 10.30am–5pm on Sundays, through until Sunday, March 20, with entry costing $30 for adults for a 45–60 minute visit.
Everyone has a New York bucket list, filled with must-visit places throughout the busy city. And, we're betting that The Metropolitan Museum of Art features on most of them. Founded in 1870, presenting over 5,000 years of art from around the world and considered one of the top museums in the world, it's a iconic site for many reasons, including the pieces within its walls, its exhibitions and its annual gala. Another reason The Met is a favourite for visitors? For the past 50 years, a pay-as-you-wish scheme operates regarding the entry price. The suggested admission for adults is $25, but walking through the door for free is perfectly acceptable. That'll change on March 1, but it'll only impact folks who aren't New York State residents or students from New Jersey and Connecticut. In short, if you're from anywhere else in the world and you're keen to wander through The Met, you'll now pay the $25 fee. The mandatory full-priced admission tickets will be honoured for three days at the museum's three locations, however, so out-of-towners can make the most of their money. The news comes after The Met welcomed over seven million visitors in 2017, and put on 60 exhibitions. In a statement on the museum's website, Met president Daniel Weiss said the change was needed "in order to sustain its mission for future generations and to remain an accessible source of inspiration to all." It's expected that mandatory admissions will affect around 31 percent of their annual visitors. Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
There's a time for coffee and there's a time for cocktails — and, sometimes, there's a time in the day when you want both. Australia's caffeinated booze expert Mr Black ticks both boxes with the release of its new bottled beverage: a pre-batched coffee negroni. The company's first bottled cocktail, the coffee negroni is made with Mr Black coffee liqueur, Campari, sweet vermouth and Moore's dry gin, which is produced at the same distillery as Mr Black, Distillery Botanica. Each bottle is going for $49 and can be used to make five cocktails (yes, that's a very reasonably $9.80 a drink). To make said cocktail, you just need to pour 100 millilitres of the sweet stuff into a glass over ice and garnish with a citrus twist — if you want to get a little fancy. No stirring (or shaking) required. It's the second new product the Mr Black team has released during lockdown, with the company launching a hand sanitiser in late March. As well as selling thousands (and thousands) of bottles to the public, the team donated hundreds to front-line medical workers, not-for-profits, testing clinics and medical centres. It's not the only distillery to launch its own hand sanitiser during COVID-19, either, with Queensland icon Bundaberg and Sydney rum distillery Brix, among others, also jumping on the trend. To get your hands on a bottle of coffee negroni, which, knowing Mr Black's track record, will sell out fast, head over to the Mr Black website. It's currently offering free shopping on all orders over $80. Mr Black's coffee negroni is on sale now for $49.
June is here, so is the cold weather — and usually the Sydney Film Festival also would be in full swing right about now. But in 2021, SFF is unleashing its cinematic wonders a little later than normal. That doesn't mean that you can't spend its traditional time slot thinking about all the things that you're going to watch between Wednesday, August 18–Sunday, August 29, though. Also a bit later than usual, SFF has just announced its first program sneak peek for 2021, ahead of the full lineup drop in July. The short version: even based on the list revealed already, your eyeballs are going to be busy at this year's 12-day fest. So far, the event has named 22 movies that'll help it make its proper return to cinemas after a two-year gap. The 2020 event moved online due to the pandemic — and when a summer season brought cinephiles back to the glorious State Theatre in January, it only screened a handful of movies. If these first 2021 titles are anything to go by, film buffs are in for quite the treat come August. Leading the charge: New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit); Riders of Justice, a revenge-fuelled Danish comedy led by the inimitable Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round); 2020 Sundance hit Zola, which is based on a lengthy 148-tweet Twitter thread; 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear winner There Is No Evil, a searing Iranian drama about the death penalty; and Undine, the alluring and beguiling latest film from German auteur Christian Petzold. Festival director Nashen Moodley has also programmed documentary The Kids, which sees Australian filmmaker Eddie Martin (All This Mayhem) explore Larry Clark's 1995 film Kids; climate change doco The Magnitude of All Things, which includes Greta Thunberg chatting about the topic; Shoplifters of the World, a drama about a fan of The Smiths trying to cope with the band's breakup; and three-time Sundance 2021 winner Hive, the first film to ever win the fest's Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Directing Award. Or there's also the tense and engaging Night of the Kings, which takes place in a rough Côte d'Ivoire prison; The Beta Test, a Hollywood-set horror flick that's been getting comparisons to The Twilight Zone; and the Taika Waititi-executive produced sci-fi film Night Raiders. And, on the local front, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow hones its focus on Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, following the couple as they prepare for 2004's Kura Tungar — Songs from the River — a collaboration between the First Nation artists, Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra. Plus, Step into Paradise explores the collaboration and friendship between Aussie fashion designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival will run between Wednesday, August 18–Sunday, August 29. Check out the event's just-announced titles by heading to the festival website. The full program will be released on Wednesday, July 22. Top image: Zola. Anna Kooris / A24 Films.
Thailand is undoubtedly one of Australia's favourite holiday destinations, and Bangkok is one of the world's most visited cities by international tourists. The sprawling metropolis makes room for the old and the new — one minute you're cruising down the Chao Phraya river, the next you're travelling through the city at breakneck speed on the BTS skytrain. We've going to bet that a few of you have been to Bangkok before. Maybe you've even trekked up to Chiang Mai and Pai, or soaked up some sun scuba diving off one of Thailand's many islands. That's why we've left some of the obvious Bangkok destinations out of this article, like the mind-boggling Chatuchak markets, the opulent Grand Palace and the silk-lovers heaven that is Jim Thompson House. If you're in the country's capital and looking for a fun way to spend a few days, we recommend giving a few of these a visit. Drink at high altitudes Bangkok has quite a nifty reputation for its rooftop bar scene, so we decided to check out the highest one we could find — it was the Sky Bar at the Lebua State Tower (also known as the rooftop bar from The Hangover 2). Come alone or come in a wolf pack to the 65th floor — the service is friendly and the cocktails are outstanding. We could drink their blueberry sour G&T's all damn day, but there's also a Hangovertini for those looking to stay in theme. Sunset is generally the best time to arrive but, then again, we're yet to find a bad time to drink at high altitudes. We also climbed to the top of Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Bangkok, located on the 61st floor. It's extremely easy to pass the hours when you're seated against the glass wall overlooking the city — with free bar snacks that were constantly replenished, no less. There was a smart casual dress code at both of these rooftop bars, so it's worth checking ahead to make sure drinking in the clouds stays firmly on your conquered list. Yes, both of these places were a bit pricier than your average 60 Baht bottle of Chang beer, but if you're after a nice night out, this is it. What can we say? Bangkok has us now. Work Your Way Out Of Escape Hunt Escape rooms are becoming a bit of a thing in Australia, but we tried out the Bangkok version at Escape Hunt anyway. For the uninitiated, escape rooms are like playing real-life Cluedo: you get 'locked' in a room, left to solve a murder mystery before your time is up. In our case, we had an hour to figure out who had killed a female painter — one of her three boyfriends, or the groundskeeper? This was totally awesome. And if Bangkok hasn't already tested your relationship with your travel partner, this certainly will. You're allowed to get clues from your host, but each clue deducts one minute off your time, so we recommend only using them when you're desperately seeking some Sherlock intuition. Thankfully, we made it out with just under two minutes to spare, and we were given the cutest tweed detective gear to put on and take photos in. Check Out Cat, Dog and Bunny Cafes Cat cafes did originate in Asia, so it's no surprise there are a few here in Thailand's capital. We're not sure exactly how many cat cafes Bangkok has, but we know there are at least three. Purr Cat Cafe Club is one of the more prominent ones in Sukhumvit, and in a city filled with apartment buildings and high rises, it's no wonder Bangkok locals are looking to spend some quality time with a furry friend. Purr is run by a Thai sitcom actress and houses 14 fluffy Persians cats. At the cafe you can have cat-shaped brownies and whiskers drawn on your hot chocolate. There is also Kitty Cat Cafe and Makura Cat Cafe in Bangkok if you can't get enough of your feline friends. Cats not your thing? Don't even worry about it. Bangkok also has a cafe that specifically houses Siberian huskies called True Love Cafe. There are 17 of these adorable pups running around, all of different colours and sizes. One final animal establishment we'd like to throw out there is the Lucky Bunny Cafe & Restaurant, which houses happy, healthy rabbits. All of the cute, all at once. Food and (Safe) Sex Together At Last With a tagline like 'Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy', how could you possibly refuse a meal here? There are mannequins covered in elaborate condom costumes which are hilarious and honestly quite impressive, but Cabbages and Condoms is not the money-grabbing, photo-opportunity establishment you might first think. Cabbages and Condoms was initially created to promote a better understanding of sexual health and family planning, as a portion of the profits go towards the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). It's all in the name of an excellent cause, so you might as well get amongst. The menu is strictly Thai cuisine, and there's plenty to choose from. There are a few Cabbages and Condoms located all over Thailand, so if you're heading over to Thailand but not staying in Bangkok, there's still a chance to check this out. Grab a handful of free dingers on the way out and have yourself a safe and merry day. Choose Your Own Adventure: Thai Street Food Let's be honest, this section could be a whole article to itself. Thai street food is the best kind of street food — cheap, unpredictable (in a good way), and, above all, delicious. The rules are simple: eat anything that looks interesting, ask questions later and try something new every time. On a personal note, I spent two years of my childhood living in Thailand, so I had a slight advantage of knowing that (1) My chances of death were slim if I chose wisely, and (2) I could identify some of the strangest looking toppings on Thai snow cones. Boat noodles (kuay tiew rua) are a Bangkok street food staple, and there is a whole alley dedicated to this delicacy located near Victory Monument. For other noodles on the run, a safe bet is the readily available stir-fried wide rice noodles (pad see ew) or Pad Thai. Our favourite savoury snacks were easily the bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms, as well as the ever-present and super cheap grilled pork sticks (moo ping). For sweets you can't go passed mango and sticky rice (kao niao mumuang) — it's traditional and delicious. For some who are keen for a little lucky dip, give the Thai snow cone (nam kang sai) a go. You fill the bottom of the bowl with anything from black jelly, chestnuts, sweetened taro to red beans, then place a mound of shaved ice on top of that and cover with flavoured syrups and condensed, evaporated or coconut milk, depending on how sweet you want it. Top image thanks to Scalino, Lubua photo taken by Vicky Chung via Flickr, cat image thanks to ironypoisoning, Cabbages and Condoms image thanks to micamonkey, street food image thanks to jaaron.
Just like their killer villains, some horror franchises never seem to die. In 2021, two big recent sagas have released their latest instalments, with Spiral: From the Book of Saw and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It keeping their respective spook-filled realms going. Alas, neither movie was anywhere near either series' best, but the fact that both Saw and Conjuring flicks are still reaching screens is a great testament to James Wan. The Australian filmmaker has been a key figure behind both franchises, directing their early instalments and still earning executive producer credits now — as he's followed the tried-and-tested path from horror movies to Hollywood blockbusters. Wan mightn't have been behind the lens of Spiral and The Devil Made Me Do It, but he is returning to his favourite genre this year — after detouring into action with Fast & Furious 7, Aquaman and the upcoming Aquaman 2. His latest flick Malignant will hit cinemas in September, marking his first horror film that isn't attached to an existing franchise since the initial Conjuring movie released back in 2013. This time around, he's playing with nightmares — but of the daylight variety. Malignant's protagonist Madison (Annabelle Wallis, Boss Level) keeps having visions of disturbing murders, only to find out that they aren't just figments of her imagination. Also complicating matters, as seen in the just-dropped trailer: the fact that, as a kid, she told people that she was speaking to the devil. The suitably moody and dark-hued trailer teases out this exact scenario, throws in a few bumps and jumps, but obviously leaves the key details for horror fans to discover when the film hits the big screen. Wan co-wrote the story behind the movie, with screenwriter Akela Cooper (upcoming Conjuring Universe sequel The Nun 2) penning the script. And, cast-wise, Maddie Hasson (Mr Mercedes), George Young (Containment), Michole Briana White (Songbird), Jacqueline McKenzie (Palm Beach), Jake Abel (Son of the South) and Ingrid Bisu (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) all co-star. Check out the trailer for Malignant below: Malignant opens in Australian cinemas on September 7.
After seven years of bringing food to Australians' doors — and alcohol, kitchen and household products, and pop culture-themed board games in some places, too — Deliveroo has delivered a significant piece of news: it now no longer operates in the country. Via a series of messages to customers, on social media and on its local website on Wednesday, November 16, the company announced that it was shutting its Aussie service effective immediately. "Deliveroo no longer operates in Australia," the organisation's website now reads. "Deliveroo has taken the difficult decision to leave Australia. We have been proud to bring so many people amazing meals from Australia's great restaurants over the years," it continues. The company is now in administration, with KordaMentha appointed to oversee the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deliveroo (@deliveroo_au) In its statements on social media, Deliveroo called the news a "sad announcement" and reiterated that it "has been a very difficult decision to make". It also called out Australia's "amazing food" and "thousands of brilliant restaurants and riders". Obviously, the sudden shuttering will impact both considerably. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deliveroo staff will receive compensation, and drivers who made a delivery in the past three months. As a result of the closure, Deliveroo's app is now no longer accepting orders, leaving customers to use competing food-delivery services such as UberEats, Menulog and DoorDash. Since opening in Australia in 2015, in efforts to stand out in a crowded market, Deliveroo has done everything from giving away burgers and Tim Tams, offering free delivery during lockdowns and slinging free fries based on vaccination levels through to even dropping off free Gelato Messina choc tops by boat. For more information about Deliveroo ceasing operations in Australia, head to the service's website.
When it comes to art exhibitions, second chances aren't common. A big-name showcase may display at several places around the world, but it doesn't often hit the same venue twice. French Impressionism is an exception, then, returning to the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne in 2025 after initially gracing the institution's walls in 2021. When it was first announced for that debut Australian run, French Impressionism was set to be a blockbuster exhibition — and with 100-plus works featuring, including by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and more, it's easy to understand why. But 2021 wasn't an ordinary year, like 2020 before it. Accordingly, when this showcase of masterpieces on loan from Boston's renowned Museum of Fine Arts opened Down Under, it was forced to close shortly afterwards due to the pandemic. Cue another season in this part of the world four years later, thankfully, with French Impressionism back at NGV International from Friday, June 6–Sunday, October 5, 2025. This is one of the largest collections of the eponymous art movement to ever make its way to Australia, complete with works that've never been seen here before. [caption id="attachment_977042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claude Monet, French, 1840–1926, Water lilies, 1905, oil on canvas, 89.5 x 100.3 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Gift of Edward Jackson Holmes Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Again part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series, French Impressionism isn't short on gems, especially given the array of artists with pieces on display, which also includes Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot. But one certain must-see is the presentation of 16 Monet pieces in one gallery, all in a curved display to close out the showcase — and focusing of his scenes of nature in Argenteuil, the Normandy coast and the Mediterranean coast, as well as his Giverny garden. In total, there's 19 Monet works in French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts' collection (Water Lilies among them), and that still leaves the US gallery almost as many to display in Boston. Another section digs into early works by Monet and his predecessors, such as Eugène Boudin — and Renoir and Pissarro's careers also get the in-depth treatment. As the exhibition charts French impressionism's path across the late-19th century, visitors will enjoy three never-before-seen-in-Australia pieces, with Victorine Meurent's Self-portrait one of them. Ten-plus Degas works, as well as two pieces that were part of the very first exhibition of French Impressionism that took place in 1874, also feature. If you made it along to the showcase's first trip Down Under, you will notice changes, with the exhibition design reimagined for its latest presentation. [caption id="attachment_977038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Top image: excerpt of Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
One of the rare remnants of Brisbane's past that's still standing in the CBD, Naldham House is getting a new lease on life, and soon. First constructed nearly 140 years ago, then undergoing major renovations in 1988, the Felix Street site is now part of the Waterfront Brisbane project that's revamping Eagle Street. And while much along the roadway remains under construction, this heritage-listed spot will start reopening in mid-July 2024 with the first two of three new venues. Turning into a new dining and drinking hub, Naldham House will become home to both Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace and Club Felix midyear. Details of the third venue that'll fill its walls haven't yet been revealed. DAP & Co, the hospitality group co-owned by Andrew Baturo, Denis Sheahan and Paul Piticco, is behind Naldham House's next guise, adding to a citywide stable that also includes The Gresham, Popolo Italian and Walter's Steakhouse and Wine Bar. The building began its life as a shipping office, then became the Brisbane Polo Club from 1994–2015. Now, it'll give over its ground floor to Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace, which takes its cues from both European brasseries and grand hotel lobbies around the globe — and its first floor to cocktail bar and lounge Club Felix. On the lower level, everything with be markedly old-school from the look to the service, whether you're among the 95 people that the venue can cater to inside or the 120 outside on the terrace with its own bar. Up a storey, there'll be a supper club vibe, a French-heavy menu, a hefty champagne list, and capacity for 150 standing and 110 seated. The aim is for Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace to become an after-work hangout, including for both dinner and drinks, with Club Felix taking the fun into the night with a 2am closing time. At the latter, small plates and charcuterie will accompany the sips, and the space will also be able to be used for weddings and parties. That leaves the third of the three-level spot's floors for the yet-to-be-revealed other venue. While the details are still under wraps, it is set to launch in spring. As well as Baturo, Sheahan and Piticco, the Naldham House boasts Executive Chef Douglas Keyte (ex-Grill Americano in Melbourne), General Manager Christian Green (ex-Rockpool, The Botanical, Aria, Chin Chin, and Longrain) and Restaurant Manager Steven Ham (ex-Soho House Group in London) at its first two venues. Taking care of the aesthetic, which is all about honouring the structure's history while setting a new mood — think: bold colours and patterns, with each floor getting its own look — is interior designer Anna Spiro. "We are beyond excited and privileged to finally open Naldham House next month, restoring a new level of hospitality to Brisbane. We have poured our hearts into creating something extraordinarily special for Brisbane and Australia. We want Naldham House to be a celebration of our city's heritage and rich culture for years to come," said Baturo. "Brisbane has been crying out for diverse late-night city experiences. With Brisbane well and truly basking in the international spotlight, Naldham Brasserie and Terrace and Club Felix have been specifically designed to align with a growing, mature, sophisticated world-city that is committed to an energetic, fun and safe late-night economy," Baturo continued. Find Naldham House at 33 Felix Street, Brisbane City, with Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace and Club Felix set to open in mid-July 2024. Head to the Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace website and Club Felix Instgram for more information in the interim.
Patience is somewhat of a virtue with The Forgiven. It would be in it, too, if any of its wealthy white characters hedonistically holidaying in Morocco were willing to display the trait for even a second. Another addition to the getaways-gone-wrong genre, this thorny satirical drama gleefully savages the well-to-do, proving as eager to eat the rich as can be, and also lays bare the despicable coveting of exoticism that the moneyed think is an acceptable way to splash plentiful wads of cash. There's patently plenty going on in this latest release from writer/director John Michael McDonagh, as there typically is in features by the filmmaker behind The Guard, Calvary and War on Everyone. Here, he adapts Lawrence Osborne's 2012 novel, but the movie that results takes time to build and cohere, and even then seems only partially interested in both. Still, that patience is rewarded by The Forgiven's stellar lead performance by Ralph Fiennes, playing one of his most entitled and repugnant characters yet. Sympathies aren't meant to flow David Henninger's (Fiennes, The King's Man) way, or towards his wife Jo (Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Together, the spiky Londoners abroad bicker like it's a sport — and the only thing fuelling their marriage. Cruelty taints their words: "why am I thinking harpy?", "why am I thinking shrill?" are among his, while she counters "why am I thinking high-functioning alcoholic?". He's a drunken surgeon, she's a bored children's author, and they're venturing past the Atlas Mountains to frolic in debauchery at the village their decadent pal Richard (Matt Smith, Morbius) and his own barbed American spouse Dally (Caleb Landry Jones, Nitram) have turned into a holiday home. Sympathy isn't designed to head that pair's way, either; "we couldn't have done it without our little Moroccan friends," Richard announces to kick off their weekend-long housewarming party. But when the Hennigers arrive late after tragically hitting a local boy, Driss (Omar Ghazaoui, American Odyssey), en route, the mood shifts — but also doesn't. The wicked turns of phrase that David slings at Jo have nothing on his disdain for the place and people around him, and he doesn't care who hears it. His assessment of the desert vista: "it's very picturesque, I suppose, in a banal sort of way". He drips with the prejudice of privilege, whether offensively spouting Islamophobic remarks or making homophobic comments about his hosts — and he doesn't, nay won't, rein himself in when Richard calls the police, reports the boy's death, pays the appropriate bribes and proclaims that their bacchanal won't otherwise be disturbed. The arrival of Driss' father Abdellah (Ismael Kanater, Queen of the Desert), and his request that David accompanies him home to bury his son, complicates matters, however. While David begrudgingly agrees, insultingly contending that it's a shakedown, Jo helps keep the party going, enjoying time alone to flirt with hedge fund manager Tom (Christopher Abbott, Possessor). John Michael McDonagh hasn't ever co-helmed a feature with his filmmaker brother Martin, but actors have jumped between the duo's respective works, with Fiennes — who starred in Martin's memorable In Bruges — among the latest. The siblings share something else, too, and not just a knack for assembling impressive casts; they're equally ace at fleshing out the characters inhabited by their dazzling on-screen cohorts via witty and telling dialogue. The Forgiven plays like it's in autopilot, though, but having Fiennes, Chastain, Smith and Jones (who appeared in Martin's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) utter its lines is a gift. Indeed, here it's the attitudes captured while they're speaking, and the behaviours and mannerisms made plain in how they're speaking, that add layer upon layer to this murky affair. That'd ring true even if Driss, Abdellah and the tense journey with the latter to inter the former weren't even in the narrative. That's one of the issues with The Forgiven: although David and Jo's lives inescapably change due to the accident, it and everything that it sparks almost plays as an aside. The aftermath is given ample attention, more so than the party, but the film frequently feels as David unshakeably does, like it too would rather be immersed in the revelry. Of course, that's much of the point, especially in Jo's parts of the story from there — and Richard, Dally and Tom's, plus everyone else still living it up (including Jack Ryan's Marie-Josée Croze as a French photographer, Operation Mincemeat's Alex Jennings as a British Lord and Old's Abbey Lee as an Australian party girl, complete with a Coles shopping bag holding her belongings). The Forgiven keeps skewering this fact, with McDonagh attempting to do just that every which way he can, but some of his efforts to mirror what's occurring on-screen through the feature's tone just don't land. When The Forgiven does hit its marks, it's weighty and knotty, and given depth and heft by Fiennes — and, during David's trip with Abdellah, by the powerful Kanater, plus the charismatic Saïd Taghmaoui (John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum) as the grieving patriarch's offsider and intermediary. It's savvy as a satire, too, albeit obvious, but when the balance tips the better, more compelling, more meaningful way, it's a far more potent picture. Empathising with David still isn't the tale's point, thankfully, and neither is a simplistic life lesson-filled pilgrimage that sees an affluent man learn the error of his oppressive tendencies against the less fortunate. Unsurprisingly, The Forgiven is at its best when it's as complex as its desert-swept cinematography (by The Guard and Calvary's Larry Smith) is gleaming. It's not quite right to say that McDonagh brings all of the movie's pieces together in the end — again, it's not exactly accurate to say that he always seems to want to — but Fiennes brings the film home. This is one of his finest performances, which is no small feat given the array of excellent portrayals that dot his resume, including his Oscar-nominated work in Schindler's List and The English Patient, as well as his awards-worthy turn in The Grand Budapest Hotel. It's no minor achievement given the loathsome, boozy, reckless and curmudgeonly figure he's playing, either. The rest of the feature's big names leave an imprint, from the well-cast Chastain playing it sharp but loose, to the appropriately shadowy Smith and catty scene-stealer Jones, but never with the same film-defining impact.
In what's proving to be a huge year for new places to stay in Brisbane, Fortitude Valley has just welcomed its next addition: The Calile Hotel. Two years in the making — as anyone that spotted the constant construction site on James Street will know — the seven-storey, 175-room spot is calling itself 'Australia's first urban resort'. Yes, that means that going for a splash in the central pool, lazing around in cabanas or on a sun lounge, and eating on the hotel's outdoor deck are all on the agenda. So is hanging out at the spa, which is also open to the general public, and just making the most of Brissie's climate. The white brick design, by architects Richards and Spence, certainly highlights the tropical side of things. Think open-air spaces and breezeways, natural ventilation and plants aplenty, as well as a cool, soothing colour scheme. Inside the rooms, guests will find oak furniture, cork floors and sisal matting in the bathrooms, day beds for afternoon naps, linen robes and a mini bar stocked from local suppliers. Recognising how sunny the city gets, every room is also fitted with motorised blackout blinds. If you need to escape the glow, the in-suite Chromecast and sound bar will help as well. Rooms start from just over $200, with The Calile also featuring nine suites and two premier suites, complete with poolside and terrace-style balconies as well as two private rooftop terraces — for when you're feeling like splashing some cash around. Operated by TFE Hotels Collection, other drawcards include the all-day Lobby Bar, the opening of Hellenika's first Brisbane digs — bringing the Gold Coast's favourite Greek eats to town — and meeting and function rooms that can cater for up to 500 people, including an outdoor amphitheatre. The Calile joins W Hotel Brisbane, the Ovolo Inchcolm Hotel in Spring Hill, the Novotel in South Bank, the new Emporium (also in South Bank) and the revamped Ovolo in Fortitude Valley among the fresh staycation spots opening their doors across the city in 2018. It will boast one unique highlight, too — Ada Lane, a micro-precinct filled with five bars and eateries, that's set to open later this year. Find The Calile Hotel at 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley. Images: Sean Fennessy.
One of Brisbane's finest adult playgrounds, Cloudland, is hosting a luxe lunch series every weekend in its fabulous foliage-filled Garden Restaurant this spring. Think vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired share plates, bottles of premium wine, and a stylishly verdant backdrop that's perfect for lounging and lingering. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon, you and your crew can dive into a selection of share-style dishes, like aged kingfish crudo with a zesty yuzu koshu dressing or King River wagyu tri-tip with bordelaise, Jerusalem artichoke and artichoke crisps. Also on the menu is bruschetta with local buffalo mozzarella, wild mushroom and taleggio arancini with truffle mayo side and crispy potatoes with spring onion cream. And for every three guests at your table, there's a bottle of your choice of Maison AIX Rosé or Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige to keep the vibes high and the glasses full. Cloudland's sprawling Garden Restaurant offers a chic setting with sunlit spaces, plush pods and a sparkling glass waterfall, making it the perfect place to sip, savour and stay a while. Whether you're catching up with friends or celebrating something special, this isn't just a lunch; it's a luxe experience. Book your spot now. Images: Markus Ravik
What did a negroni taste like in the 70s? That's one of the questions that Stan's, the lounge bar at Howard Smith Wharves, answers. Here's another: does Cantonese restaurant Stanley need a Hong Kong-inspired watering hole that combines XO sand crab cigars, lobster and truffle dumplings, design-your-own martinis, DJ-spun tunes and a late-night dance floor, all on its second level? The answer to the latter is a hearty yes. A night out at at one of Brisbane's top eateries now doesn't have to start or end with dinner. An evening at Stanley can expand beyond your meal without leaving the premises, in fact. While there's no change to the restaurant's operations downstairs in its heritage-listed 1930s-era former water police building by the river, the upstairs space relaunched in October 2024 — which is where Stan's comes in. As a result, one of the city's best places to eat has become one of Brissie's must-visit places for a drink as well. So, when you're not tucking into a feast of dishes on the ground level — including yum cha daily for lunch — you'll want to head up a floor for beverages over snacks in a newly transformed part of the site. At Stan's, the vibe and the decor take inspiration from Hong Kong — and the idea is to mix old-world touches with modern flourishes as well. Think: jewel-hued furnishings and decor, such as rich red seating and velvet curtains in emerald tones; dark and moody lighting; antique mirrored wall panels, including the back bar; timber aplenty as accents; hand-painted mural walls across the private lounge; and aged brass cocktail tables to sit at. This is also a place to make shapes or simply enjoy the DJ's music picks, thanks to a vintage JBL sound system. The promise for the tunes: extensive and eclectic. The bar has folks on the decks most evenings, and is also hosting album listening sessions in the middle of the week. Turning the space into a late-night dance floor is encouraged. Naturally, cocktails feature prominently on the beverage list — and the approach here is classic-meets-new, too. Martinis and daiquiris are highlights, with the signature martini menu letting patrons pic their gins or vodkas, bitters and extracts to taste. If you're just after spirits and you have some cash to splash, a collection of vintage tipples from around the world, some dating from as far back as the 60s, is also a drawcard. You'll find the range of rare drops on display in a custom-built cabinet, and those 70s-style concoctions as well. Stanley Executive Chef Louis Tikaram isn't just focusing on the main restaurant downstairs now that Stan's is up and running. He's whipped up a new range of Cantonese bites just for the upper floor, designed to match the beverages. Options span steamed lobster and truffle dumplings, rolled peking duck pancakes, rock lobster buns, painted tropical crayfish, fried prawn toast and more, ensuring the venue's luxe vibes come through in its food offering.
If gin's your thing, that undying love is being pushed front-and-centre at your new favourite event: the Brisbane Gin Festival. Hosted by the Australian Gin Distillers Association and headed to Lightspace for its 2023 go-around, the three-day festival will bring 30 craft gin distillers from around the country under one roof between Friday, May 12–and Sunday, May 14. Apart from bottomless tastings, punters will also have the chance to chat directly with the makers. Stallholders will be hawking over 120 gins, including Barossa Distilling Co, Broken Heart Spirits and Prohibition Liquor Co, plus Australian Distilling Co, Hickson House and Nosferatu. And, once you've picked your favourite, you can purchase bottles for takeaway. Tickets cost $70, with five tasting sessions to choose from: 1–4pm and 5–8pm on both Friday and Saturday, and a 12–3pm session on Sunday. While you'll clearly find plenty of gin on offer, there'll also be a coffee bar and snacks to fill your stomach — although they'll cost extra.
The Scandinavian crime fixation currently sweeping non-Nordic nations shows no signs of abating, every piece with big screen potential — TV series, book or otherwise — seemingly earning a filmed adaptation. Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series provides the latest instance, a four-instalment-to-date police procedural setting a duo of detectives in search of answers to dead cases. The Keeper of Lost Causes is the first feature to result. All the usual elements exist in director Mikkel Nørgaard and writer Nikolaj Arcel's version of the novel. (They're both veterans of the burgeoning genre with resumes that encompass television's Borgen and the Swedish-language The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as evidence.) An odd couple, an against-the-odds task, brooding backstories, a pretty prey and a cat-and-mouse game with the perpetrator furnish a feature that stays within the confines of the expected — except for one significant deviation. As well as tracking the law enforcement quest to uncover the truth, the film gifts viewers with the victim's perspective, her tale told as a parallel to the investigation. So it is that the taciturn Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and lively Assad (Fares Fares) trawl through discarded clues about the disappearance of personable young politician Merete Lynggaard (Sonja Richter), long considered a suicidal jumper who consigned herself to a watery end five years prior. The inter-spliced chronicle of Merete's plight provides a different account, one that the police must piece together as they delve deeper into her mystery. Though the choice to reveal what would've otherwise been a considerable source of dramatic tension is questionable (albeit, a decision that remains faithful to the book), The Keeper of Lost Causes evokes the requisite ominous atmosphere through its appearance and performances. The customary grey aesthetic colours every scene to cement the creepy mood, just as the main pairing fittingly bristles with discomfort even as Mørck and Assad work towards an accord. Cinematographer Eric Kress impresses in the film's shadowy imagery, a feat also achieved by Kaas and Fares. Adopting a chalk and cheese approach to their portrayals, the two actors bounce off each other with an earned rapport that makes their standard contrasting characters all the more interesting. Indeed, as beholden to formula and the familiar as The Keeper of Lost Causes is, Nørgaard endeavours to invest intrigue into the assembly of predictability the movie becomes. Where it all threatens to come undone is in the feature's inability to overcome its overt status as a set-up for further films. In an episodic manner obviously better served on television, The Keeper of Lost Causes wallows in the establishment more than the outcome. What eventuates is an entertaining enough initial chapter in a what will hopefully evolve into a more satisfying saga. https://youtube.com/watch?v=68sO1s9Hy70
It's omurice time. Some dishes are as straightforward as they sound, and this one — aka omelette rice — is among them. It's an omelette made with fried rice, then typically topped with sauce. Clearly it's an easy concept to get around. And Motokichi Yukimura from Kichi Kichi Omurice in Kyoto keeps visiting Down Under to whip it up. Not all iterations of this western-influenced Japanese eggs-plus-rice staple are made equal, which is why Kichi Kichi Omurice's version might be on your travel bucket list. Chef Motokichi Yukimura's viral-famous take on the dish has made him an internet star — the term "Japan's most-famous omurice chef" has been used — and seen his eatery become a tourist destination. Sometimes, however, he brings his omurice to Australia, as he's set to again in March 2025. If you'd like the Kichi Kichi Omurice experience without the airfares, you can make that a reality in Sydney, Broadbeach and Brisbane. And if this sounds familiar, that's because Yukimura headed this way twice in 2024. He's again visiting Harajuku Gyoza to show why the dish he's been making for over 45 years is such a smash. The chef is doing 'meet and eat' events in all three cities, cooking everyone who attends his specialty — and putting on a show, complete with his Kichi Kichi Omurice song and dance. Folks in Sydney are headed to Harajuku Gyoza Darling Harbour across Tuesday, March 18–Thursday, March 20. For Brisbanites, your destination is Harajuku Gyoza South Brisbane from Sunday, March 23–Tuesday, March 25. And on the Gold Coast, Harajuku Gyoza Broadbeach is your destination on Saturday, March 22. Tickets cost $170 per person, with sittings for both lunch and dinner. That price covers tucking into Yukimura's omurice, as made at your table, plus a range of Harajuku Gyoza signature dishes — and meeting the chef. Alongside removing the need to book a flight to Japan, this is an easier way to enjoy the Kichi Kichi experience for another reason. As of January 2024, the Kyoto eatery is no longer doing bookings in advance. Now, diners are only able to make reservations on the same day they're eating, and need a password that's placed on the restaurant's door each morning to lock in their seating. Kichi Kichi at Harajuku Gyoza — March 2025 Tuesday, March 18–Thursday, March 20 — Harajuku Gyoza Darling Harbour, Sydney Saturday, March 22 — Harajuku Gyoza Broadbeach, Gold Coast Sunday, March 23–Tuesday, March 25 — Harajuku Gyoza South Brisbane, Brisbane Motokichi Yukimura will be at Harajuku Gyoza Darling Harbour, Broadbeach and Brisbane in March 2025. Head to the eatery's website for further details and bookings.
Looks like a few Black Keys-lovin' Bluesfest ticketholders will be reconsidering their Easter long weekend plans, The Black Keys have cancelled all Asia Pacific shows due to injury. Drummer Patrick Carney has sustained a serious shoulder injury, so the duo have cancelled all forthcoming concerts in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, part of their Turn Blue world tour, cancelled up until April 23. "We are very sorry to have to cancel our upcoming performances through April 23," the band said in an official statement. "Patrick sustained a dislocated and broken shoulder in January that required surgery. Working with the doctors, surgeons and physiotherapists since January, we had expected Patrick to be ready to return to touring in April. The recovery process and physical therapy has taken longer than anticipated and unfortunately Patrick is still unable to perform and needs additional time to heal. We thank all of our fans for their ongoing support and we look forward to getting back on the road as soon as possible.” "We were incredibly excited about the shows that were about to happen but there is no way around cancelling the tour with the extent of Pat’s injury," said Brian Taranto from Love Police Touring. "You just can’t have The Black Keys with no drums. We sincerely apologise for the hassle this cancellation will cause fans.” The cancellation isn't good news for Bluesfest in particular, coming just weeks after headliner Lenny Kravitz also pulled out of Bluesfest and his Australian shows due to conflicting touring commitments. All tickets (outside of Bluesfest Byron Bay) will be refunded — wherever you bought them from. Rescheduling ain't happening. For Bluesfest refund policies, visit bluesfest.com.au. CANCELLED TOUR DATES April 2 Riverstage - Brisbane, Australia April 3 Bluesfest - Byron Bay, Australia April 5 Rolling Green - Rochford Wines Yarra Valley, Australia April 7 Margaret Court Arena - Melbourne, Australia April 10 Qantas Credit Union Arena - Sydney, Australia April 11 Rolling Green - Bimbadgen Winery Hunter Valley, Australia April 14 Red Hill Auditorium - Perth, Australia April 16 Entertainment Centre Theatre - Adelaide, Australia April 18 Horncastle Arena - Christchurch, New Zealand April 19 Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand April 22 Studio Coast - Tokyo, Japan April 23 Studio Coast - Tokyo, Japan
As all good things should, the 2022 Brisbane International Film Festival will start with an ode to Dolly Parton. Yes, that's literally just the beginning of its stacked lineup for this year. Doing the opening-night honours: Australian comedy Seriously Red, which sees writer/star Krew Boylan (A Place to Call Home) play a Parton impersonator striving to take Dolly's wisdom to heart. "Find out who you are and do it on purpose" is one of Parton's pieces of advice quoted in BIFF's first flick for 2022 — and Brisbane's major annual cinema showcase has been living that idea now for three decades. Indeed, to celebrate that milestone, the fest will also screen the movie that launched the very first BIFF: Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom, in its newly restored guise. That said, the 2022 festival marks BIFF's 28th thanks to a chaotic few years — after the event was unceremoniously cancelled after its 2013 fest in favour of the short-lived Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, then revived by Palace Cinemas in 2017, and then run by the Gallery of Modern Art from 2018–20. As it did in 2021, it now sits under Film Fantastic, who also organise the Gold Coast Film Festival, with the organisation amassing a 120-film program for its second spin at the helm. That hefty number, eclipsing 2021's 103-movie lineup, is comprised of 79 features — including 21 from Australia — and 41 shorts, covering films hailing from 34 countries. Also, Brisbane cinephiles will watch eight world premieres and 23 Aussie premieres between Thursday, October 27–Sunday, November 6, including a range of big-name festival-circuit favourites arriving Down Under fresh from debuting at fests such as Venice and Toronto. Among those highlights: the Cate Blanchett-starring Tár, which saw the Australian Nightmare Alley and Don't Look Up actor pick up the Venice International Film Festival's Best Actress award for playing a classical composer; fellow Venice-winner The Banshees of Inisherin, an Irish-set drama that nabbed filmmaker Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) the best screenplay gong and lead Colin Farrell (After Yang) the Best Actor award; and She Said, with Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) and Zoe Kazan (Clickbait) as the two New York Times reporters who brought Harvey Weinstein's abusive history to public attention. Or, there's 80s-set coming-of-age story Armageddon Time, featuring Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Anne Hathaway (Locked Down) and Jeremy Strong (Succession), and written and directed by Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z's James Gray; this year's Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner Triangle of Sadness, directed by Force Majeure's Ruben Östlund and his second Palme winner after The Square; and Broker, the latest from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, who received the Palme d'Or back in 2018 with the sublime Shoplifters. Belgian drama Close, which follows two 13-year-old boys and shared Cannes' Grand Prix prize, comes to BIFF after also winning the 2022 Sydney Film Festival Prize — and Afrofuturist musical Neptune Frost does the same after taking out the Melbourne International Film Festival's inaugural $140,000 Bright Horizons Award. Also on the bill sits Aftersun, led by Normal People's Paul Mescal; New York-focused music documentary Meet Me in the Bathroom; the Berlinale Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize-winning The Novelist's Film by South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo (The Woman Who Ran, On the Beach at Night Alone); Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, the stop-motion comedy based on Jenny Slate's shorts and books of the same name; and Mister Organ, David Farrier's (Tickled) new doco. Plus, from the fest's weird and wonderful choices, there's Something in the Dirt, the latest mind-twister directed by and starring Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (The Endless); wild Filipino genre-bender Leonor Will Never Die; Spanish horror Piggy, a Sundance hit; the Rebecca Hall (The Night House)-starring Resurrection; Rubber and Deerskin director Quentin Dupieux's Incredible but True; and Final Cut, a French remake of Japanese cult hit zombie comedy One Cut of the Dead from The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius. Back to the local contingent, BIFF attendees can check out closing night's Sweet As, an outback-set coming-of-age story written and directed by Indigenous filmmaker Jub Clerc (The Heights) that just won an award in Toronto — as well as Greenhouse by Joost, a documentary about zero-waste pioneer Joost Bakker and chefs Matt Stone and Jo Barrett making a self-sufficient, eco-friendly residence; and the Queensland-shot Black Site, starring Michelle Monaghan (The Craft: Legacy), Jason Clarke (Pet Sematary) and Jai Courtney (The Suicide Squad). Venue-wise, BIFF 2022 returns to a heap of its 2021 locations, screening at New Farm Cinemas, The Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Reading Newmarket, Dendy Coorparoo and GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque — with the latter hosting a 'Flying Fists of Joyce Godenzi' Hong Kong cinema retrospective, as well as a 90th-anniversary live music-backed session of Carl Theodor Dreyer's Vampyr — as well as Dendy Portside and Brisbane Powerhouse. Don't say you don't have anything to watch for 11 days in late October and early November, clearly. The 2022 Brisbane International Film Festival runs between Thursday, October 27–Sunday, November 6. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival website.
Surveying the best the inner city has to offer, the Spring Hill Alive Festival is bringing revelry back to the CBD’s outskirts. Markets, food trucks, pop-up bars and more will see Boundary Street erupt into an 11-hour feast for all ages. It's at the historic Spring Hill Baths, recently reopened, where the festival is making a real splash. Take advantage of the increasingly warm Brisbane weather with a pool party there. followed by a 'dive-in' movie. Cool off with a screening of fun 1950s classic Singin’ in the Rain, then steam back up again with Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot. A packed roster of local talent will be on hand to entertain up and down Boundary Street, headlined by a DJ set by Sampology and including Cutloose and Deejaye Katch. Fuel up with food stalls from the likes of Little Mykanos, Bishamon, Sisco Cafe and Spring Hill Deli Cafe, plus all the food trucks parked on Boundary Street for the day.
Heading down the highway to Burleigh and Byron Bay is no longer on the agenda for Brisbanites keen for a bite at Two Yolks and Finn Poke. Instead, Grey Street in South Bank is your new destination, with the pair opening two new flagship stores — both chains' first in the River City — side by side on Monday, June 3. After announcing their respective Brisbane debuts earlier in 2024, Two Yolks and Finn Poke are now welcoming in customers in their latest digs. Jacinto Group is behind the duo — and for burger fans, this is particularly excellent news. Getta Burger said goodbye to Brisbane in 2023, as did plant-based joint Grassfed, while Ze Pickle shut its Brissie locations this year. The Gold Coast-born Two Yolks does brekkie burgs, bacon and egg burgs, scrambled eggs on burgs, spicy chicken burgs, truffle burgs, old-school burgs, mortadella burgs and more. Given the name, eggs are clearly a prime feature of this eatery's burgers, and expect them to ooze when you take a bite. Two Yolks boasts Charles Olalia (ex-The French Laundry, Guy Savoy) as Executive Chef Partner, but it hasn't gone upmarket with its burg offering. The vibe here is retro — see: decor decked out like a diner, with wood panels sourced from Italy and tiles from Japan — as Brisbanites can enjoy all day, hence the array of breakfast options. Also on the morning lineup: burgers that span halloumi; sausage and cheese; bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato; and mushroom and avocado. That's where where the mortadella burg comes in, too, which is inspired by Anthony Bourdain. And, there's a croissant version of eggs benedict, plus a breakfast burrito. Burritos are also part of the spread. Sides include cheesy truffle fries, chilli cheese tots, hash browns, hand-battered onion rings and bacon on a stick — plus chips paired with eggs, of course. As for drinks, shakes come in the holy trinity of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, as well as a boozy espresso martini version. Mimosas, bloody marys and orange spritzes feature among the cocktail range, and beers are also on offer. As for Finn Poke, it slings bowls and tacos, as folks in Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach and Sydney can also already enjoy. The focus: an Aussie spin on poke, all while letting you build your own combinations. The Big Katuna Bowl, which pairs fresh tuna, seaweed salad, pickled ginger and homemade shoyu sauce, has already proven a highlight elsewhere. "As a team, we're so ready for Brisbane. We've watched both Finn Poke and Two Yolks thrive even amid a challenging few years for the hospitality space, so we know we've got something special," said Jacinto Group Founder Jem Jacinto. We wanted to bring the contrast of the two together, side by side, to give Brissie something really different." Find Two Yolks and Finn Poke on Grey Street, South Bank, from Monday, June 3, 2024 — and head to Two Yolks and Finn Poke's social media for more details.
When Ovolo the Valley took over Ann Street's former Emporium Hotel, it launched with plenty of fanfare, but without an onsite restaurant. That's no longer the case, with the Fortitude Valley spot welcoming its newest addition: Middle Eastern-inspired kitchen and bar Za Za Ta. A 240-seat space that extends across multiple rooms, Za Za Ta takes its culinary cues from Israeli — executive chef Roy Ner (who's previously worked at Nour and Aria in Sydney) was born there, and has long enjoyed mixing his heritage into his cooking. "We're having fun making soulful and dynamic Middle Eastern. Each recipe has a lot of heritage — we're taking centuries old recipes and bringing them back to life," Ner explains. And while the restaurant definitely has a particular focus, it also weaves in Mediterranean flavours, plus cooking techniques that span everywhere from France to Japan. Menu-wise, expect nibbles, share-friendly small and large plates, and a raw selection, including breads, dips, charcuterie and cheese all made in-house. Patrons can start with a challah toastie filled with wagyu bits and pickled sugarloaf cabbage, fried goats cheese pretzels with house lamb bacon and yolk aioli, or beetroot pastrami with smoked rye and horseradish, then move on to the likes of octopus with camel nduja and eggplant, or charcoal rainbow trout with cucumber and chilli salsa, plus herring tahini. From the heftier range, other standouts include duck breast with black garlic and foie cream, as well as charcoal short rib with bullhorn and coriander. A seven-dish vegetable menu includes baby cauliflower shawarma, eggplant fingers with caramelised haloumi and falafel chips with tahini aioli. And, come Sunday, August 25, Za Za Ta will also launch a brunch offering that includes a grazing spread, charcuterie mezze platters, woodfired dishes such as smashed avocado with pickled kolorhabi and chilli manoush, and even poached lobster. With the bar open until 2am daily, there's also a considerable late-night focus inspired by Tel Aviv's after-dark dining scene. Drinks are a big focus, showcasing rum beverages, spice-infused drinks using fresh cold-pressed juices and new takes on old classics, as well as Middle Eastern botanicals, Mediterranean-style gin and tonics, and shared cocktails. There are no prizes for guessing which regions takes pride of place on the wine list, with biodynamic, organic and skin contact vinos a highlight too. A selection of craft beers helps round out the booze range, while folks after a non-alcoholic tipple will find options such as house-made limonana (which blends mint and dehydrated lemon) and hibiscus rose iced tea. In its design elements, Za Za Ta mixes things up, with the sprawling spot will taking patrons on a bit of a tour — jumping back to the 1940s as well as to the Victorian era. Heroing everything from reclaimed lead light doors, Lacroix carpets and tessellated tiles, to wrought iron, velvet upholstery and washed plywood furniture, award-winning interior designers Luchetti Krelle have decked out the space, which also incorporates nods to Queensland architecture. Find Za Za Ta at Ovolo the Valley, 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. The kitchen is open for brunch from 11.30am–4pm on Sundays, for launch from 11.30am–2.30pm Wednesday–Friday, and for dinner from 5.30pm Tuesday–Saturday. The bar operates from 4pm from Sunday–Thursday, and from 12pm on Friday–Saturday.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy the next best thing: cronuts. The craze has swept New Yorkers off their feet in a bad romance of demand outweighing supply. The sweet and innocent pastry has turned nasty, becoming a lucrative black market good. And who doesn't love a bad boy? Since Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC's Soho district gave birth ti the cronut in May, foodies worldwide have been flocking to his store. Customers are known to arrive anytime from 3am, five hours before the store opens, onwards to secure one of Ansel's mini-masterpieces. Not one to be left behind, Brisbane favourite Flour & Chocolate were quick to jump on the bandwagon - and Brisbanites are not complaining. Fast-tracking the idea from the US, they have made this morsel their own and turned the locals-only southside patisserie into a hot Brisbane destination. But what on earth is a cronut? Like a caboodle only edible, the cronut is a hybrid breed of the pastry world. Ansel allegedly wanted to invent a pastry both instantly recognisable to French and American food culture. The cronut is a ring of tasty croissant pastry layered and topped with flavours better-known in donut land - cinnamon sugar, chocolate and salted caramel at Flour & Chocolate. But unlike a donut, the crunchy treat flakes upon impact before your teeth sink into its light pastry layers and soft custard cream. This is what heaven probably tastes like. We'll break the bad news first, our friends at Flour & Chocolate only make cronuts on Wednesdays and Thursdays. But fear not, if you miss out grab a European donut filled with custard, jam, jaffa, salted caramel or sour cherry. These fluffy and sugary rounds of delight also hit the sweet spot. And for the good news, Flour & Chocolate are not the typical suburban bakery. They are artisans of pastry and everything good in the world. If you miss donut days, join them for bagel and brownie Friday. They also do a delicious range of authentic sourdough, their glass cases are constantly full with croissants, brioche, cakes and baguettes, and their window display is likely to be covered in a thin film of drool. Everything is baked using 100 percent organic flour, and for those with an intolerance — some brownies are flourless and the authentic sourdough means it is yeast free. The store also doubles as a fine foods grocer, selling beautiful jams, honey and fresh baked cookies. Flour & Chocolate is a decadent taste of France closer to home. We wish you luck taking home just one treat, I mean surely you'll need one for later anyway, right?
Throwing a lavish dinner party? Trying to up your bartending game? Or just tired of dropping $20 per cocktail at the bar? Enter Cocktail Porter — it has you covered on all three counts. Australia's new online subscription service for at-home cocktail making is now delivering to door's across the country. While it's not the first of its kind in the country — with The Mixery delivery all the non-booze cocktail ingredients you'll need — it's the first delivering the spirits, too. It's founded by Sydney-based Cameron Northway, who also co-owns Rocker in Bondi with Three Blue Duck's Darren Robertson. He's joined by a team of renowned Australian hospo vets, including former Bartender of the Year Tim Phillips (owner of Bulletin Place and Dead Ringer). The subscription works similarly to most DIY food delivery services, except with booze. Fixings for a different drink will be delivered each month, along with a recipe card and pre-measured ingredients and premium spirits. This element of convenience will cost you $135 per month, which can be a lot to fork up at once — though it'll make 14–18 cocktails (about a tenner each), so it's a big saving for regular spenders at the bar. Each month will feature a different cocktail, curated by world-class bartenders and based on global drinking trends. At the moment, there's the Treacle Old Fashioned with sweet Italian vermouth, burnt orange-vanilla syrup and cacao-macadamia bitters; a classic gin martini with your choice of flavoured vermouth; and a bloody mary with turmeric vinegar. Coming up, November's two-in-one Spring Cup Spritz offers the options to make both Tanqueray and Ciroc spritzes in one box, along with sparkling wine, elderflower cordial and lemongrass and ginger sparkling water accompaniments. December will see a classic espresso martini box complete with Ketel One, coffee liqueur, cold drip coffee and grated dark chocolate. The fresh ingredients, garnishes and glassware are not included in the box, though the recipe card will tell you exactly what else you'll need, along with some at-home hacks if you want to avoid buying expensive tumblers, jiggers and shakers. If a month subscription is just too much, there are one-off orders and gift options, too, which are delivered within three-to-five working days — so not too much planning is needed if you want to amp up your next soiree. Cocktail Porter is now delivering across Australia.
For a gig that switches from heat to heat faster than Marty McFly into Johnny B. Goode, there ain't nothing like a Hot Dub Time Machine party. Busting out all your favourites from 1954 through to today, Hot Dub is 'powered' by the energy of the crowd, all of whom are nothing short of ecstatic to hear the classics belted out by Sydney's own DJ Tom Loud. And he's bringing the extravaganza to a city near you on a nationwide tour. Bursting onto the scene at the Sydney Fringe Festival in 2011, the Hot Dub concept is simple. The Time Machine runs on the energy of the crowd as it makes its way from the '50s to the modern day. If the energy at the show slows down to anything under extreme, you're literally stuck in time, listening to the tunes of whatever era you crashed in, until you can get crazy enough for lift-off. Coming off the back of a sold-out run across the festival circuit last year, including the Sydney Festival, Hot Dub is more than guaranteed to get your feet, legs, torso, arms and everything else moving to the beat. With balloon drops, glitter bombs and a two-storey-high visual accompaniment, Hot Dub is sure to be a spectacle for the ages. Full tour dates below. SUN 16 MAR – SYDNEY @ TBA (Secret Show) SAT 22 MAR – BRISBANE @ Chalk Hotel SAT 29 MAR – QUEENSTOWN @ World Bar FRI 4 APRIL – FREMANTLE @ Metropolis SAT 5 APRIL – PERTH @ Capitol FRI 11 APRIL – MELBOURNE @ Northcote Social Club. Tickets from northcotesocialclub.com THURS 17 APRIL – CANBERRA @ Academy SAT 19 APRIL – SYDNEY @ Metro Theatre. Tickets from www.metrotheatre.com.au THURS 24 APRIL – BALLARAT @ Karova SAT 3 MAY – BYRON BAY @ Beach Hotel SUN 4 MAY – DARWIN @ Discovery SAT 10 MAY – NEWCASTLE @ Argyle House SAT 17 MAY – COFFS HARBOUR @ Plantation For more info, head to the Hot Dub website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iIVVvtWSBZo
The saying “to kill two birds with one stone” is a motto embraced by many and partially responsible for the success of dual purpose objects such as smartphones, or even the humble spork. Another ingenious method of saving time are all-in-one cafe and gift stores. These establishments are like the best friend you could ever have — a wonderful cook who provides copious amounts of delectable food as well as an endless source of inspiration for new accessories and cute gift ideas. So listen up time-poor readers: we've found the best cafe/gift stores so you can enjoy a meal and find a special gift for a loved one (or yourself). Ma Belle Amie Ma Belle Amie is all that is cute in this world jammed into a cafe gift store. From the footpath you can quickly see that this place is a bit different. White tables and chairs set up on squares of AstroTurf protected by shady and colourful umbrellas give a sneak peek as to the feel of the store. Inside, there are knick-knacks and quirky gift ideas for men, women and kids, making gift-buying a breeze. The cafe has a vintage feel, with a bold floral feature wall and carefully thought out touches. In terms of breakfast, Ma Belle Amie are traditionalists, and you can find favourites such as as bacon and eggs on toast, eggs Benedict and homemade pancakes. 10 Albion Road, Albion Woolloongabba Antique Centre Why not treat your inner Fonzie or rockabilly girl to a day of exploring? Located in Woolloongabba is this mecca for vintage lovers. The huge centre is filled to the brim with clothes, jewellery, knick-knacks, books, furniture and records from bygone eras. Strolling around the stalls will get your tummy growling, so head towards the 1950s-style cafe after you've selected your new treasures. Here, you will find cabinets stocked full of sweat treats and savoury options. Try the chicken and pumpkin tostado and sip on a chocolate malted milkshake. 22 Wellington Road, Woolloongabba The Providore Store Close to Albion train station and with a huge cup and saucer on its roof, you'll find a quaint little store. Stepping into The Providore Store is a bit like visiting Nan's as it is filled with lovely tea cups, bottles of jam, old keys, vintage suite cases and gorgeous garlands that breathe life into any room. What's more, it smells like baked cookies. After feasting your eyes on the gift selection, settle into one of the doily adorned table settings. Choose a strawberry muffin with an iced coffee for a morning tea treat. If you're looking for a hunger buster, try The 'Ben', avocado, feta and mint on rye, turkish, white or gluten free bread. 59 Albion Road, Brisbane Gallery B Past the screwdrivers, hammers and tool boxes in a little hardware store lies one of the northside's best kept secrets. Gallery B is an oasis for lovers of vintage, featuring an abundance of unique handbags, jewellery, knick-knacks and clothes. It also offers a humble range of sweet treats and drinks, all homemade on site. For morning tea, select the scones with jam and cream and an orange and poppyseed gluten-free friand. The light scones are deliciously warm and uphold their status as a morning tea staple, while the hearty friand is presented with peach slices and a drizzling of syrup and proved to be just as tasty. Both sweet treats come on quaint mismatched crockery, perfectly matching the eclectic feel of the gallery. For drinks, try the iced coffee and iced chai latte. 178 Enoggera Road, Newmarket Making Lemonade Making Lemonade is the new kids on the block in Bulimba, having only opened late last year, yet they have already impressed their clientele. These guys are a cafe, book shop and gift store who also boast a selection of homewares and quirky finds. Oh, and they also offer the best homemade lemonade that would top the most successful lemonade stand. Join the bevy of locals who make this spot their meeting place and select a chunky slice of chocolate monster cake before browsing for gifts and enjoying the good life. After morning tea, stay on for lunch and try the delicious roast beef sandwich with pickles, cheese and rocket. You'll leave with a full tum and plenty of goodies. Shop 3/77 Oxford Street, Bulimba Top image: Ma Bella Amie.
What boasts a hefty lineup of First Nations talent, is all about celebrating Blak excellence in music and culture, and will take over Hanging Rock for one spring Sunday? Australia's newest music festival. What features a jam-packed lineup hand-picked by Briggs (with a thank you to Paul Kelly), and includes Baker Boy, Jessica Mauboy, Thelma Plum, Christine Anu and more on the bill? That same must-attend event, aka First & Forever. The day-long, picnic-style fest will make its debut on Sunday, November 27 in the Macedon Ranges spot, and sport a clear focus: showcasing and highlighting First Nations artists and performers. Indeed, the 20-plus acts announced so far spans an impressive range of names, featuring everyone from Budjerah, King Stingray and Sycco through to Alice Skye, Busby Marou, Electric Fields, Ziggy Ramo and Barkaa. [caption id="attachment_872292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Georgia Wallace[/caption] The specific Hanging Rock venue has been named The Gathering Place for the event, acknowledging the people of the Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung who have long met there, and also the power of Country. First & Forever is also paying tribute to the late Archie Roach by dubbing its stage the 'Uncle Archie Stage'. If this seems like the kind of festival that Australia should've always had, that's because it is — and it came about via a chance meeting between Briggs and late Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski AM. "For years I'd had an idea for a First Nations-led contemporary music festival, something cool and boutique that was really about the music and culture," said Briggs. "When Gudinski called me about a similar idea he'd had, we found this really collaborative working relationship. We both had a passionate approach to Melbourne, Victorian music, and amplifying Blakfellas' stories. MG got the ball rolling. After he passed, the ball was in my court. I had to take it home." Adds Kelly: "My last conversation with Michael just over a week before he died was backstage at Archie [Roach's] concert. [MG] was bubbling with ideas for a new project, a big concert with headlining First Nations artists... he urged me to get involved. I said no to Michael many times over the years and I said yes lots. I'm glad I said yes this last time." [caption id="attachment_862591" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Sette[/caption] FIRST & FOREVER 2022 LINEUP: Baker Boy Budjerah Jessica Mauboy King Stingray Sycco Thelma Plum Alice Skye Busby Marou Christine Anu Dan Sultan Electric Fields Emma Donovan Tasman Keith Ziggy Ramo Barkaa Birdz Dameeeela Jess Hitchcock Jk-47 Kardajala Kirridarra Kobie Dee and more First & Forever takes place on Sunday, November 27 at The Gathering Place, Hanging Rock, in Victoria's Macedon Ranges. Ticket pre-sales start at 11am AEDT on Tuesday, October 11, with general sales from 11am AEDT on Friday, October 14. For more information, head to the festival website.
It'll soon be a whole lot harder for any Queensland driver to get away with using their mobile phone while driving, or for a driver or front seat passenger to fail to wear a seatbelt — and it's thanks to new safety cameras being installed to detect the illegal behaviour. Starting Monday, July 26 — just a day short of a year since they were first trialled — the Queensland Government will permanently roll out phone and seatbelt detection cameras. When the technology was tested in the second half of last year, it was part of a plan to implement them on a widespread basis if the pilot phase was successful, so that's exactly what's happening now. So, how do they work? Well, the distracted driving and seatbelt cameras take high-resolution images of the front seat of the car, and those images are then scanned by artificial intelligence to detect folks either using their phones while they're behind the wheel, or not wearing seatbelts if they're driving or sitting in the front passenger seat. The cameras can apparently operate in all conditions, day and night, and regardless of the weather — and they can watch vehicles across multi-traffic lanes, whether installed on overpasses and bridges, or operating from trailers by the roadside. The new technology was tested across several metro and regional locations, and followed the launch of similar world-first cameras in NSW. Victoria is bringing in mobile phone detection cameras as well, in 2023; however, only Queensland's cameras will also capture folks who don't wear a seatbelt. Some of Queensland's cameras will be set up at specific locations, while some will be mobile — so they could be stationed anywhere. There'll be a three-month grace period for drivers snapped by the new setup, so fines won't come in until November 1. From that point, anyone caught by the cameras will get a $1033 fine and lose four demerit points. In 2020, Queensland implemented new penalties for using your mobile phone while driving — with those caught with their device in their hands and being used for any reason, even when stopped at traffic lights or in congested traffic, facing those same penalties. And if you're wondering about privacy concerns involving the new cameras, images will only be used to identify mobile phone use and the wearing of seatbelts, and to check the registration status of the vehicle. "Images that do not contain any illegal mobile phone use or failure to wear a seatbelt will be deleted by the system in a short timeframe," the government advises. Queensland's six-month trial of safety cameras starts on Monday, July 27. To find out more, head to the Queensland Government website.
It has been an immensely tough few weeks for southeast Queensland's Binna Burra Lodge, with the beloved Gold Coast hinterland site devastated by bushfires at the beginning of September. While the heritage-listed venue is currently planning its reconstruction process, including when it'll welcome patrons back through the doors, the iconic spot has announced a piece of good news — a new climbing attraction that'll open in 2020. While a specific launch date is yet to be revealed — unsurprisingly, given that the 86-year-old site is in rebuild and fundraising mode — Binna Burra Lodge will become home to Australia's first commercial via ferrata. The Italian term translates to "iron path", and is used to describe cliff-face climbing routes that use steel cables, fixed metal rungs, bridges and ladders to let folks of all skill levels to make the journey. Receiving $1.48 million in funding from the Queensland Government, the via ferrata will open up a section of cliff that's usually only accessible to highly experienced rock climbers (and even then, only by using special equipment). When it launches, anyone will be able to scale the track safely, enjoying its adventurous thrills and impressive views, with 30 people at a time able to use the system. Binna Burra Lodge expects that its new addition will be popular, anticipating that more than 50,000 Australian and international visitors will flock to the region as a result. The via ferrata will join the site's range of existing outdoor activities, which — when the venue becomes operational again — include bushwalking, abseiling, flying fox, archery, camping and trekking through the hinterland. [caption id="attachment_742692" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Binna Burra Lodge's sky lodges, before September's bushfires. Via Binna Burra Lodge.[/caption] Via ferratas are common in Europe, especially through the Alps — and particularly in the Dolomites in Italy, as well as throughout Austria, Germany and Switzerland. If you're wondering how they work, they typically rely upon a length of steel rope, which is affixed to the rock at certain intervals. Climbers then attach themselves to the cable, while also stepping on metal pegs and rungs, and using ladders and bridges, to make their way through the course. Binna Burra Lodge's via ferrata is expected to open in 2020. For more information, visit the site's website. To donate to the venue's reconstruction fundraising campaign, visit the GoFundMe page. Top image: Binna Burra Lodge.
The back-to-work blues have hit us all pretty hard this year — especially as summer took its time to shine. If you're like us, you're already yearning to escape the office or your current work-from-home situation. And this loved-up time of year (yup, Valentine's Day is coming) offers up a great excuse to book a trip away with your partner. With this in mind, Virgin Australia has launched the Bring on More in Adelaide sale, offering up to 30% off flights to the City of Churches — with prices as low as $89 one way from Melbourne. You may not know it, but Adelaide is a mighty romantic city. It's home to spectacular wine, chocolate and fresh oysters — all aphrodisiacs — alongside a huge variety of activities made for loved-up couples. So, this year, swap the usual Valentine's Day staycation for an unforgettably romantic (and discounted) trip to Adelaide. Here's some inspiration to get you love birds started. [caption id="attachment_886121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tommaso Cantelli[/caption] JOIN AN OYSTER TOUR There are stacks of reason why oyster tours are great for dates. First off, there is the aphrodisiac element (if you believe all that), but it's also a unique way to feel swanky while enjoying the outdoors. Few places compare to the famed Coffin Bay, located on South Australia's picturesque Eyre Peninsula. Here, you and your partner can don some arguably unsexy waterproof waders to frolic in the clear blue waters and learn a little about oyster farming. You'll then head back to the beachside Salt Water Pavilion where you can dine on freshly caught oysters while sipping on local wines. EXPLORE VAST WINE REGIONS Speaking of wine, Adelaide is surrounded by several world-famous wine regions. And you really don't have to go far to visit them. You've got the Adelaide Hills located just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, McLaren Vale at 45 minutes, and the Barossa (where Two Hands Wines, pictured above, is located) and Clare valleys around 1.5 and two hours away, respectively. Pick one, book a driver (so one of you doesn't have to miss out) and explore as many cellar doors as you can — possibly opting for private tours and tastings to make it all the more romantic. STAY IN A LUSH HOTEL A romantic getaway is incomplete without a luxurious place to rest your heads — or get Ade(laid)e. One of our favourite CBD stays is the undeniably cool Hotel Indigo (pictured above), which boasts large luxurious rooms and an outdoor pool overlooking the city. If you can't make it to Paris but you're looking for a chic French-style getaway, book a stay at Sofitel Adelaide. This glamorous five-star hotel has a huge array of rooms and suites as well as its own wine bar and French fine dining restaurant. It's also hard to overlook the old-school glamour of The Playford. Unwind in the spa and sauna after a long day of exploring Adelaide before returning to your opulent art nouveau suite to order room service to your bed. [caption id="attachment_777850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] PARTAKE IN EXCEPTIONAL DINING Heading to Adelaide means heading to a deliciously diverse range of restaurants and bars — most championing local produce with incredibly tasty and creative dishes. As a strong start, there's the much-adored Africola (pictured above), where North African dishes are backdropped by art-covered walls and an energetic buzz. Over on Peel Street, Southeast Asian street food meets natural wine at Gondola Gondola, the upstairs Bread and Bone plates up woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs, and the appropriately named Peel St features a menu of refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients. Alternatively, you can amp up the romance with one of the best meals you'll likely ever have — book a table at Restaurant Botanic, the winner of Australia's Restaurant of the Year award for 2023, to experience modern Australian dining at its absolute finest. [caption id="attachment_785247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] DISCOVER UNIQUE DATE DESTINATIONS The City of Churches is far more than its places of worship — there are countless things for loved-up couples to do here. First off, as we are talking romance, we highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's Chocolate factory — for Adelaide is the birthplace of this beloved chocolate maker. Here, you can taste all its best creations and go on a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how this all-too romantic treat is created. But if you want to get out in nature, you can try a dolphin sanctuary kayak tour, paddling about with your partner in tow. Moreover, a day spent wandering around the Art Gallery of South Australia is aways a win, while a sunset cruise along the coast is what Valentine's Day is made for. You're clearly spoilt for choice. Take advantage of Virgin Australia's latest travel deal, booking discounted flights to Adelaide here. But hurry, the sale ends on Monday, February 6. Top image: Skillogalee courtesy of South Australia Tourism.
While in lockdown, you've probably been battling with your hairstyle a little. Should you attempt to trim your bangs? Shave your head? Dye it blue a la Hilary Duff? Well, if you decide to cut yourself a mullet, you'll score some free beer courtesy of the folk over at Melbourne's Moon Dog Craft Brewery. The team behind Abbotsford's OG Moon Dog and Preston's OTT Moon Dog World is celebrating the launch of its new strawberry sour ale, Jean-Strawb Van Damme, by giving away four-packs of the brew to everyone who takes on the mullet challenge. To prove you've gotten your new 'do in iso, you'll need to post a before and after photo and tag both @moondogbrewing and @beefsbarbers. And not only will you score yourself a four-pack, you'll also go into the running to win a year's supply of beer. The 365 days of brews — plus and epic prize pack — will go to the best/worst mullet, so go all out. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_EcsWFjDXs/ If you need some inspo, we suggest heading on over to the Mulletfest website. Held every year in the regional NSW town of Kurri Kurri, the festival awards prizes to the best mullet hairstyle in a heap of categories, from 'grubby' to 'extreme' and 'everyday'. Those who don't want to look like Patrick Swayze in Point Break (or Road House), can still try the tasty sour ale. Moon Dog is delivering it across Australia ($20 a four-pack or $100 a 24-pack) and it's available at select bottle-os across the country, too. To score yourself a free four-pack of Jean-Strawb Van Damme — and go into the running to win a year's supply of beer — you'll need to post a before and after photo and tag both @moondogbrewing and @beefsbarbers. To buy the beer, head to the Moon Dog website.
