When you've been sipping on blue milk, how ready will you be to battle the Galactic Empire? Will tucking into green burgers and dessert space stations get you fuelled to rebel against oppression? There's only one way to find out the answers to these questions: by visiting the brand-new Star Wars Galactic Cafe, an Australian-first eatery that's now open at Melbourne Museum. After the Victorian venue became the top spot right now, in this very galaxy, to see Star Wars come to life via Lego courtesy of the world-premiering Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition — and the only place to check out life-sized recreations of the space saga's locations, characters, duels and moments as made out of eight-million-plus plastic bricks, in fact — the same site has welcomed another Aussie debut. As first announced back in May, never before has an official Star Wars cafe popped up Down Under. This one is only here for a limited season. Yes, blue milk is definitely on offer, because it wouldn't be a Star Wars-themed spot for a snack and a sip without it. You can enjoy it chilled or as part of a slushie. And the source of that all-important hue? Butterfly pea flower powder. The cafe's full food and drink range features other dishes and selections inspired by the franchise — and while there's no green milk or fish eggs, green-hued burgs and a Death Star by chocolate sweet treat are ready to tempt your tastebuds. Fittingly, the bites and drinks have names like Canto Bight Burger, Naboo Garden Vermicelli, Outer Rim Chicken Katsu and Tatooine Sunset. Also on offer: a Chewie gingerbread cookie that adorably resembles its namesake. A range of kids meal packs are available, too, with monikers such as Endo Explorer (featuring chicken nuggets) and Padawan Power (with a hummus and salad sandwich). Open since Saturday, June 7, 2025 and set to run until January 2026, the Star Wars Galactic Cafe is the result of Australian-first collaboration between Museums Victoria, Disney and Lucasfilm. The decor matches the menu, with the pop-up delivering an immersive eating and drinking experience beyond what you're consuming by taking you to a Corellian Star Cruiser to get feasting. If this sounds like the kind of spot that'll be popular, that's because it already is — so bookings are encouraged, with walk-in availability limited. Images: Carmen Zammit, courtesy of Museums Victoria.
It's been less than two years since Sophie Ellis-Bextor last played live Down Under; however, when she took to the stage at Summer Camp in Sydney and Melbourne in 2022, and Melt Festival in Brisbane as well, Saltburn hadn't happened. So when the British singer-songwriter performs in Australia and New Zealand in spring 2024, busting out 'Murder on the Dancefloor' is certain to be a whole new experience. The 2001 single has always been an earworm, a delight and a floor filler, but echoing over an unforgettable scene in one of 2023's best movies has made everyone remember that they love it again. Indeed, expect it to be a highlight not just of Ellis-Bextor's set, but of the whole show that's actually a Take That tour with Ellis-Bextor burning the goddamn house right down in support. Those houses: RAC Arena in Perth, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Spark Arena in Auckland, all across late October to mid-November. Take That and the talent that also helped make Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' so memorable are also playing A Day on the Green, with Ricki-Lee also on the bill. On those shows, they'll head to Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, then Bimbadgen in New South Wales' Hunter Valley and finally Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton in Queensland. Still touring 34 years after first forming, but now a trio consisting of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald — with fellow OG members Robbie Williams and Jason Orange no longer part of the group — boy band Take That are leading the trip Down Under fresh from releasing their latest album This Life in 2023. Certain to include 90s hits 'Back for Good', 'Pray' and 'Relight My Fire', these gigs will be their first in the region since 2016. Take That This Life Tour with Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Australia and New Zealand 2024 Dates: Wednesday, October 30 — RAC Arena, Perth Saturday, November 2 — A Day on the Green, Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley, with Ricki-Lee Wednesday, November 6 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, November 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, November 9 — A Day on the Green, Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, with Ricki-Lee Sunday, November 10 — A Day on the Green, Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, with Ricki-Lee Thursday, November 14 — Spark Arena, Auckland Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor are touring Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2024. Presales start at 3pm local time on Wednesday, February 7, with general sales from 1pm local time on Tuesday, February 13. Head to the tour and A Day on the Green websites for further details. Top image of Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Laura Lewis.
Known for their explosive sound and film clip spews, DZ Deathrays have gone from dirty Brisbane garage duo to playing some of the most lucrative high profile support and festival slots both in Australia and overseas. They’ve even been named the 4th most exciting new act of 2012 by NME, an incredible tick of approval from the music makers and breakers. Returning home to Australia in early November 2011 after a gruelling touring schedule, the pair ventured into the studio to record their debut LP with Richard Pike (PVT) and Neil Coombe at the White Room Studios in Mt Nebo. The 13 track Bloodstreams LP has now been released to the masses and the guys are taking it on the road. As part of the tour DZ Deathrays head home to Brisbane to headline The Zoo. Supported by local party collective, Velociraptor. This 12-piece group not only play infectious pop, but actually also feature DZ’s Shane and Simon as part of their gang. Apparently DZ are moving abroad for good, so don't miss this chance to see them on local soil becuase they may not be back for a while. You wont regret partying with this insanely high-energy duo.
Been spending the first few months of 2022 pondering the future? That's only natural whenever a new year hits, especially a couple of years into a pandemic. Over the coming weeks, however, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on the night sky. Across the second half of April each year, the Lyrids Meteor Shower sets the sky ablaze. This year, it's doing just that from April 14–30. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but it's still very impressive. Plus, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Lyrids annually. In 2022, the Lyrids will be at its most spectacular over Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. For folks located Down Under, you'll want to peer upwards early on the Saturday morning. Here's how to catch a glimpse from your backyard. [caption id="attachment_767783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] jpstanley via Flickr.[/caption] WHAT IS IT The Lyrids Meteor Shower is named after constellation Lyra, which is where the meteor shower appears to come from near star Vega, and is created by debris from comet Thatcher. While the comet, which takes about 415 years to orbit around the sun, won't be visible from Earth again until 2276, the Lyrids can be seen every autumn between around April 14–30. So, you can even pencil it in for next year. It's also the oldest recorded meteor shower, so there's that, too. On average, you can see up to 18 meteors per hour, but the Lyrids are also known to have outbursts of nearly 100 meteors per hour. So, while no outburst is predicted for 2022, you could get lucky. WHEN TO SEE IT In Australia, the shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Saturday, April 23 according to Time and Date, but will still able to be seen either side of those dates between Thursday, April 14–Saturday, April 30. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am. At that time, you'll be in the running to see meteors moving at about 177,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. HOW TO SEE IT When a meteor shower lights up the sky, getting as far away from light pollution as possible is the best way to get a prime view. If you can't do that, you can still take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate the Lyrids, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Lyrids. The site updates these details daily. The one caveat: the weather. If showers or cloud pop up, they could present problems in terms of visibility. So, keep an eye on the forecast if you're making plans to head to a prime viewing location. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
If you can't remember a time before IKEA, that's understandable. In 2023, the Swedish giant celebrates 80 years of operation. The chain started by Ingvar Kamprad, aka the IK in IKEA's moniker, began in 1943 and moved into furniture in 1948. It then opened its first store in Sweden a decade later — and came to Australia in the 70s. Now, a task: imagine all of the different items that the brand has made and sold over the years. Also, think of the huge array of pieces that it has had customers make at home themselves. The list is lengthy, as anyone that's ever walked several kilometres through IKEA's warehouse-style shops knows — but some pieces stand out. To celebrate both the 80-year milestone and the retailer's top products over that period, IKEA is launching a new range that riffs on its past highlights. Available both in store and online from Thursday, June 29, the Nytillverkad collection showers love on everything from 50s side tables to 60s plant stands, and 70s stools and 80s quilt covers, too. Retro alert, clearly. "We know Australians love to mix vintage pieces in their homes, so it is exciting to be able to offer this retro take on Scandinavian modern, defined by bold and playful graphic expressions that celebrate some of our most famous designs from the past 80 years," said Christine Gough, Interior Design Expert at IKEA Australia, announcing the new pieces. "In new bright colours, timeless design and trademark simplicity, the Nytillverkad range is an array of carefully selected, reimagined IKEA classics ready to take on a new life in homes." IKEA is dropping its Nytillverkad pieces in stages, starting with the LÖVBACKEN side table that was first known as LOVET back in 1956, the KULTURSKOG plant stand that initially launched as BALJA in 1962, and the BONDSKÄRET hat and coat stand that was called SMED in the 1978 — and more. Items in the first release range start at $2, which covers two 30-piece paper napkin sets (HAVSKATT, using the ILEX print from 1983; and ROSTVINGE, from 1980's BLADHULT print). Also on offer: candle holders, cushion covers, trays and rugs. IKEA's Nytillverkad collection goes on sale across Australia, in store and online, from Thursday, June 29 — until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website from 9am on launch day for further details.
In its first move to get Australians to Europe faster and with fewer stopovers, and vice versa, Qantas launched direct flights from Perth to London. Then came straight-to-Rome routes as well. Next on the agenda are flights from Perth to Paris — which will be perfect for Euro summer getaways, hitting up Europe in general all year round and also for the 2024 Paris Olympics. If you've been watching the Matildas endeavour to quality to play next year's big sporting contest in qualifiers in Perth, this news might feel particularly timely. Even if you don't fall into that category, it's still a welcome development. Sitting on one plane for almost an entire day isn't for everyone; however, if you can handle looking at the same aircraft walls, screens and fellow travellers for 17 hours, that'll be on the agenda to Paris from July next year. Expect to spend three hours less in transit from Perth to Paris as a result, which is three hours more that you get to spend in the City of Light pretending you're in Lupin or Emily in Paris. Expect to fly on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, too. When they start soaring on Friday, July 12, 2024, the flights will run four days a week to begin with, moving to three days per week in mid-August 2024 after peak season. "This route has been on our wish list for a while and we think customers will be as pleased as we are to see it go on sale," said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, with tickets available now. "Our direct flights to London and Rome have been hugely popular, and Paris is the next most-requested destination, so we know the demand for this service will be strong as well." "Some of the first customers on these flights will be Australian athletes heading to Paris to compete at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games." Qantas is the only airline doing direct Perth-to-Paris flights, with the new service adding 75,000-plus new seats from Australia to Europe annually. Fares currently start at $1899, as a launch special that's available until Thursday, November 2. Fancy jetting into Paris direct, then coming home from London or Rome — but still non-stop from those cities? The airline is also doing 'circle fares', which operate between the three European places that it flies direct to and from. Of course, if you hail from another part of the country other than Perth, you will have to make your way to the Western Australian capital first. Still, that flight from Perth to Paris won't make a layover — getting you from Down Under to France quicker, plus without switching planes, worrying about connecting legs and navigating other airports. Wondering about the possibility of travelling non-stop to Europe from Australia's east coast, which Qantas has been looking into for years now? The carrier announced that in 2022 that direct Sydney-to-London flights (and direct Sydney-to-New York routes as well) would start in late 2025. Fingers crossed for departure dates from Melbourne and Brisbane as well, and adding a direct leg to Berlin among the non-stop Euro destinations, too. Qantas' new Perth–Paris direct flights will start flying from Friday, July 12, 2024. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
The location: a picturesque Hawaiian resort. The clientele: rich and mostly loving it. The vibe: largely demanding, entitled and oblivious that their attitude isn't everyone's idea of normal, at least when it comes to the bulk of the guests staying on the premises and expecting the hotel's staff to cater to their every whim. That's where The White Lotus finds its setting, and the type of folks the HBO series places in its suitably sun-dappled frames as well. But there's an anxious, dark and complex undercurrent pulsating beneath every gorgeous beach, luxurious suite and cashed-up patron — and a strong awareness of the chasm between the well-to-do customers and the struggling and striving hotel staff, too. The latest series from writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status), The White Lotus splits its time between some of the resort's current crop of guests and a selection of its employees. Business hotshot Nicole (Connie Britton, Bombshell) is on holiday with her husband Mark (Steve Zahn, Where'd You Go, Bernadette), teenage son Quinn (Fred Hechinger, Fear Street), college-student daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria) and the latter's pal Paula (Brittany O'Grady, Little Voice), but tension keeps festering — Nicole can't help working, Mark receives some unexpected news, Olivia keeps kicking Quinn out of their room and Paula hits it off with Kai (Kekoa Kekumano, Aquaman), one of the staff. Newlyweds Rachel (Alexandra Daddario, Songbird) and Shane (Jake Lacy, Mrs America) are on their honeymoon, but he's too fixated with the fact that they didn't get an even fancier suite, to the point of constantly harassing the hotel's Aussie manager Armond (Murray Bartlett, Tales of the City). Meanwhile, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge, Promising Young Woman) just lost her mother, is working through her grief and leans heavily on spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, Insecure). Back in 2011–13, long before The White Lotus became one of 2021's best new shows — and best shows overall as well — White spent two seasons crafting Enlightened, the excellent two-season Laura Dern-starring comedy-drama that was cancelled much too soon. It followed an executive who broke down at work and, when she stepped back into her life, wanted something completely different not just for herself, but for and from the world. It isn't linked, narrative-wise, to White's latest TV miniseries. The same mood flows through, however. And, in terms of sinking its claws into the affluent, eat the rich-style, The White Lotus also pairs nicely with the White-penned Beatriz at Dinner, especially as it examines the differences between the haves and the have nots. The result: a perceptive, alluring and excellently cast satire that hooks viewers from the outset, and then keeps them both guessing and obsessed. In its opening scene, the series shows Shane accompanying a body on the way home, so the audience know this'll end with a death — and wondering who, how and why is one reason that The White Lotus is so compelling. But as each episode unfurls, it's clear that these characters are reassessing what they want out of life as well. The privileged aren't doing it willingly, unsurprisingly, but those at their beck and call definitely are. Here, a glam and glossy getaway becomes a hellish trap, magnifying glass and mirror, with everyone's issues and problems only augmented by their time at the eponymous location. This twisty, astute, savage and hilarious storyline will wrap up after six episodes, in what was meant to be one of HBO's many miniseries. That's the only bad part about the show — but, ahead of its final instalment, HBO has just announced that it's going to bring The White Lotus back for a second run. The next batch of episodes will tell a different chapter in a new place, focusing on a fresh group of holiday-goers at another White Lotus property. Just when they'll arrive hasn't been revealed as yet. Fingers crossed that it's as engrossing and biting as this initial season, though — and that it sports a score of tunes that are just as enticing and also eerie, too. Check out the trailer below: The first five episodes of The White Lotus season one are available to stream via Binge, with the sixth episode dropping on Monday, August 16.
Art/Work is a new Concrete Playground series where we take some time to chat with our local creatives in an attempt to unravel the daily grind behind being an artist. First cab off the rank is Mitch Cairns, a Sydney-based artist represented by BREENSPACE. He is also one quarter of the now defunct collaborative group, Cosmic Battle for Your Heart. He can also play the drums. Most days you'll find me in a bit of a jam, I'd very much like to be in the studio, but being an adult is difficult and most days lately I'm either at accruing pennies or… When I am not there I am working on the next batch of paintings. Painting, for me, is a tricky problem and generally involves 'filling in' the frame with an image of some sort. In order to keep painting, I set up a few hooks to work out from. Currently I've been looking a lot at cartooning, straight up and down visual gags that generally involve the tragedy of going bald. After combing over this material I then go through a process which includes a night of heavy carbs, waking, stretching, keeping up fluids and eventually setting off on a light jog. My day job is at Oxford Arts Supplies, I work with good people, I get to peruse the store, at times, like a guest.... It's great, I could be digging holes right now. Like all job you've got to turn up to be paid.... this isn't a problem for me really, but I am seeking a double, anybody that fits the type of 'chubby greyhound' should apply here. Working in an art supply house is fine, the discounts aren't wild but they're helpful. In fact I work with some really awesome artists.... so yes it is quite a stimulating place to work. If money wasn't an issue I'd have a beer in the fridge. Being an artist/musician in Sydney is very tight right now. But I would never leave for any great deal of time. I have entertained moving to New Zealand, I mean our house is being bent over soon, we gotta live somewhere. My neighbourhood is currently in Rozelle, I am peninsulated. There is in fact a whole bunch of really excellent artists that live on the peninsular, its a very nice neighbourhood. Best kept Sydney secret Balmain Star. It's a pho joint in the Balmain Plaza, very simple, cheap, delicious food. I'm not sure why you'd ask me about hip Sydney secrets thou? Isn't that your job to tell us? I'm a mild mannered and sometimes awkward guy, I got no secrets..... good afternoon.
Is heading to Bribie Island to see if you can devour a one-kilogram doughnut on your to-do list? Does a coffee- or hot chocolate-filled doughnut sound like your perfect treat? Are you just a fan of giant baked goods and sweet treats-turned-beverage containers all year round? Then make plans to visit Kenilworth Island Bakery. The Kenilworth Bakery chain has launched its third outpost — and the Sunshine Coast favourite's closest to Brisbane. This one sees brother-and-sister pair Nathan and Jenna Sanders set up shop at a beachfront store near the Bribie Island jetty, adding to the brand's OG spot in its namesake hinterland town and its coastal store at The Wharf in Mooloolaba Everyone should love country bakeries for a pie, sausage roll, finger bun or lamington on any road trip, but Kenilworth Bakery isn't any old spot for a bite. If you're new to the bakery, it's particularly famous for its special menu item, which does indeed involve pouring coffee or hot chocolate into a doughnut. Ordering a cuppa and a round orb of dough separately is a thing of the past here, then. Instead, the doughnuts are hollowed out so they can be filled with your choice of beverage (an espresso shot and milk if you go for the caffeinated option). Also a highlight: one-kilogram bites both savoury and sweet. Cue chocolate-covered doughnuts, strawberry-iced doughnuts, jam- and cream-filled doughnuts, Nutella and cream doughnuts, Gaytime-flavoured versions and sausage rolls all on offer at that weight. If your tastebuds are tempted, you can take the challenge, which spans ordering one online in advance, finding it waiting when you arrive, eating it in-store, and then getting your money back and a plate on the bakery's wall of fame if you finish it all. The Bribie Island menu features dogaccinnos, doggie biscuits and doggie donuts, too, as well as sourdough bread baked onsite.
Head to the Gallery of Modern Art until October and the works of two artists await: eX de Medici and Michael Zavros. The first exhibition is the most extensive retrospective to date on the Canberra-based creative and tattooist, spanning more than 100 works. The second covers 90-plus paintings, sculptures, videos, photos and performances by the Queensland artist. And, for two nights only this winter, they'll backdrop two big parties. Brisbane art lovers know that GOMA's exhibitions aren't simply dazzling to look at, whether pieces by David Lynch, Yayoi Kusama, Patricia Piccinini, Marvel or Chiharu Shiota are filling the venue's walls. For just a couple of evenings each, they usually provide a setting for ace after-dark parties surrounded by all of those creative works. Yes, the gallery's eX de Medici and Michael Zavros showcases are getting the Up Late treatment. Get ready to spend two August nights seeing everything from an original classic 90s Mercedes-Benz SL convertible with water to blood swabs — a large-scale mural depicting the Parthenon in Athens, too, plus musings on fragility, death, greed, power and conflict — while drinking, tapping your toes to DJs and listening to live music. A $42-per-night ticket gets attendees access to both exhibitions, as well as the fun. On the GOMA Up Late lineup: Lisa Mitchell and Banoffee doing the honours on the Friday, August 18, alongside DJ Zed Mero; and Nai Palm and The Riot taking to the stage on Saturday, August 19, plus DJ Neesha. The event's music component will take place on the Maiwar Green and outside GOMA's entrance. As well as art and tunes, there'll be multiple spots to grab a bite and drink around the place, including at the GOMA Bistro, Bodhi Tree Bar, River Room Bar and Bacchus Wine Room. Expect live immersive art experiences and workshops, too — including eX de Medici's temporary tattoo booth, drop-in still-life drawing, and pop-up art and opera with Panayiota Kalatzis — and, as is always the case whenever it's GOMA Up Late time, the kind of gallery visit you can't have via daylight. GOMA UP LATE — EX DE MEDICI AND MICHAEL ZAVROS LINE-UP: Friday, August 18 — Lisa Mitchell, Banoffee and DJ Zed Mero Saturday, August 19 — Nai Palm, The Riot and DJ Neesha Both nights: eX de Medici's temporary tattoo booth, drop-in still-life drawing, pop-up art and opera with Panayiota Kalatzis GOMA Up Late — eX de Medici and Michael Zavros takes place on Friday, August 18–Saturday, August 19 at the Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane. For more information and tickets, head to the GOMA website. Michael Zavros: The Favourite and eX de Medici: Beautiful Wickedness display at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane from Saturday, June 24–Monday, October 2, 2023. For further details — or to find out more about the gallery's full 2023 slate — visit its website. Images: installation views of Michael Zavros: The Favourite and eX de Medici: Beautiful Wickedness, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2023. © Michael Zavros and eX de Medici / Photographs: Joe Ruckli © QAGOMA.
Bali is a no-brainer for Aussie travellers. It's close, beautiful, and it's packed with the kind of beaches, spas and resorts that make you want to quit your job and move there permanently (kidding…sort of). If you're going to do Bali, you have to do it right – which means finding the best accommodation. Luckily, you've got some incredible options. And now, thanks to Visa, you can book your dream stay with 10% off through our dedicated platform, Concrete Playground Trips. Whether you're chasing waves and smoothie bowls in Canggu, planning a honeymoon getaway in Uluwatu or heading to Ubud for something a little more off-radar, these eight hotels will have you booking that flight ASAP. Simply book using your Visa card to score the discount, then start packing.
Burberry sponsored a runway show at the Beijing Television Center this week to promote the opening of a new flagship store in Beijing and the introduction of digital technology to all of the company's stores throughout China. Burberry pulled off a classy and luxurious showcase as always, but this was no ordinary catwalk. The designer clothing line ditched the human models this time and traded them in for a more tech-savvy lineup: life-size holograms of models adorned in beautiful Burberry garb. Technology aided the fashion frenzy as the show went through the four seasons; at one point the models even burst into snowflakes. The holograms paraded down the British-inspired runway in front of an audience of celebs and top models to live music from Keane, who were making their debut appearance in China. Burberry's holographic beauties may not be tangible, but at least they are sure to avoid tripping over their heels and tumbling off stage. https://youtube.com/watch?v=P74xmTK6W4Y
Consider Dine BNE City the festival that does both: kicking off winter, it gets Brisbanites eating and sipping out of the house, patronising the River City's restaurants and bars; it also serves up wallet-friendly deals that let you wine and dine without busting your budget. Luxe experiences are equally on the menu at this month-long event, but snapping up a special for lunch, dinner or drinks is the main attraction. For 2025, it's back for the entirety of June again, although it officially starts on Friday, May 30 with annual outdoor feast Fireside at St Stephen's Cathedral. This year's launch event will again combine openair dining — with dishes on offer from Dark Shepherd, Naldham House's The Brasserie and The Fifty Six, plus Doughcraft and Walter's Steakhouse; the drinks come courtesy of Club Felix — with entertainment under the stars. Expect to tuck into prawn saganaki, lamb souvlaki, baked Queensland blue swimmer crab and sweet treats from the crumble station, as soundtracked by DJs and live music. That's how Dine BNE City is beginning for 2025. Returning for the fifth time after initially starting in 2021 when Brisbane's dining scene was struggling through the early part of the pandemic, the festival's latest lineup spans more special events, plus reasons to make plans for every lunchtime, after-work drinks and dinner across the month. In the first category, the Urban Wine Walk is strolling around the CBD, Tillerman is doing banquet lunches, Gather Bistro is putting on Friday-night parties, and Naldham House has everything from five-course truffle dinners to high tea and bubbles on its itinerary. If lunch is your favourite meal of the day, the Let's Do Lunch program features specials for $25 and $35. The first price point includes two courses with a drink at Cheeky Poke, a BLT and a beer at Santa Monica, pinza and beer at Doughcraft, a burger and beer at Gather Bistro, and either slow-braised pork belly or golden skin chicken at New Shanghai, among other options. The second expands your picks to gnocchi at overwater restaurant Stilts, a Japanese set menu at Tenya, one of three mains choices at Brisbane Phoenix, the same with French-inspired Vietnamese at Longwang, chicken or beef shawarma at Little Miss Sunshine, and steak and salad at The Walnut, to name just a few deals. For dinner, prices vary — but you could be sharing paella at Mulga Bill's, also getting communal at Babylon Brisbane, tucking into a Donna Chang mini banquet, enjoying Boom Boom Room's yakitori showcase, digging into Harajuku Gyoza's salaryman banquet and seeing how much you can handle at Navala Churrascaria's all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ experience. A tasting menu at The Lex, Matt Moran's slow-roast lamb shoulder at Riverbar & Kitchen, $30 lobster brioche with bubbles at Hibiscus Bar & Terrace: add them to your list as well. Or, make the most of the city's after-work bar scene, including for bao and beverages at Luc Lac, wagyu beef sandos with Moscow mules at The Charles, skewer platters and umeshu at Bar 1603, a French spread with bubbles at Pompette, oysters and champagne at Rothwell's, and spritzes and charcuterie at Blackbird.
Since 1989, Sweden's Icehotel has given travellers a decidedly cool place to stay each winter. December hits, and the site reveals its new frosty rooms — the kind that are carved out of ice and only around for a short time, as they'll melt once the weather gets warmer. They're not just any old slabs of ice and snow in the village of Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, however. As part of their annual tradition, the accommodation provider calls for designers and artists to unleash their chilly ideas — then unveils their wondrous creations to travellers. In the 2018–19 crop? A candy-inspired world made out of cold, cold substances, a forest campsite complete with an icy kombi van you can sleep in, a bed guarded by icy animals and another that resembles a journey into the ocean's depths. Or, perhaps you'd like to climb into a dome-shaped room that looks like a polar cave — or a geometric-heavy abode that's not only inspired by cracking ice, but adds more cracks the more you move through the suite. Now open until April 2019, the fresh blend of ice and creativity features 35 one-of-a-kind rooms in total, as crafted by 34 artists from 13 different countries. They're made from more than 30,000 cubic metres of snice — that's a mix of snow and ice — from the local Torne River. As well as places to sleep, the new iteration also includes an ice bar, ice ceremony hall and ice gallery. If you're a fan of the kind of coldness the southern hemisphere doesn't see at this time of the year, but you can't make it to Icehotel's cold climes during the northern winter, don't worry — in addition to their annual slate of artistic suites, Icehotel has been open all year round for the past year. It includes 20 permanent suites, an ice bar, plus private saunas and spas for an added touch of warmth in such cold surroundings. For more information about Icehotel, visit www.icehotel.com. Images: Asaf Kliger.
Supermarkets sell them. Almost every bakery does, too. But there's a difference between most croissants and Lune's croissants. The latter have been described as "the finest you will find anywhere in the world" by The New York Times, are made and baked inside a climate-controlled glass cube, and are the result of a time-consuming process overseen by the Melbourne-born croissant haven's founder Kate Reid, an ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist who brings scientific precision to her craft. For a full decade now, Lune Croissanterie has been earning praise and fans — and sparking hefty lines — for its signature item. The many different playful variations it offers up each month, such as finger bun croissants, birthday cake croissants and lamington cruffins, have scored the same adoration. But from Wednesday, November 2, those baked goods aren't just available at Lune's multiple Melbourne and Brisbane outposts (with a debut Sydney store slated to open in 2023). Now, thanks to the brand's first-ever cookbook, you can also whip them up at home. Clear your kitchen bench, switch on the oven, and stock up on flour and butter — in a variety forms — plus eggs and milk: you have some baking to do. Penned by Reid, LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night's title says everything it needs to, and fills 272 pages with all your new favourite snacks. Unsurprisingly, the tome is thorough, stepping through how to make the perfect dough, the layers and lamination process, and getting the right shapes, including for danishes and pain au chocolat. From there, the range of recipes includes croissants, obviously, but also a hefty lineup of other edible delights. Think: lemon curd cruffins, pecan sticky buns, reuben croissants, croissant 'bread and butter' pudding, chocolate-dipped croissant 'biscotti' and croissant croutons, for starters. Other highlights span ham and gruyère croissants, cheese and vegemite escargots, chocolate plum sake danishes, pepperoni pizza escargots, those aforementioned lamington cruffins, four-cheese tousades, fish pies, pulled-pork croissants and lobster rolls. Amid all of the above, and more, the book is filled with food porn-style shots of plenty of dishes, images of Lune's stores and tidbits of history from the company's decade of operations so far — since setting up shop back in 2012 as a pint-sized store in Elwood. Your new problems: picking which of Lune's treats to make yourself, and somehow not devoting every waking hour to cooking your way through the new tome. If you want to set yourself a Julie & Julia-style challenge to work through them all, however, we're sure that your tastebuds will approve. LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night also covers what to do with leftovers, stale croissants and how to freeze your dough and pastries — and all of the classic recipes, of course. Happy baking — and yes, if one of your nearest and dearest loves making pastries, you might've just found their Christmas present. LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night hits Australian bookstores on Wednesday, November 2, with the hardback edition retailing for $55.
Whether you're in lockdown, working from home or just social distancing in general, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past few months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Earlier in the year, Melbourne's zoos started live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong, the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opted for a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has grown over the course of 2020, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. In the latest webcam setup at Melbourne Zoo, a lens has been trained on the site's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. They were born in February this year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r14IcXmQMyg&feature=emb_logo The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopard cubs and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
Messina fans have jaws on the floor; Sydney's Cow and Moon has been declared the world's best gelato maker at one of the world's most prestigious ice cream events. Enmore's family-run Cow and Moon trumped the globe's ice creameries and gelato masters on Sunday, seizing the blue ribbon spot at the Gelato World Tour in Italy. Taking out the top spot for their kickass almond affogato flavour dubbed 'Mandorla Affogato', Cow and Moon's Wendy and John Crowl can now call themselves the world's best gelato makers. Beating 23 international finalists (including Gelato Messina) with their prized confection, John Crown told Good Food the key is balance. "It's about trying to understand the flavour, working on the salt, sweet and sour. You have to marry the flavours so that they blend well together." After public voting and panelist judging, Italy took out the two runner up spots, with second place going to Il Cantagalli, third to Gelateria Fiore. Messina's Donato Toce and Simone Panetta must be pretty bummed having gone in salted caramel guns blazing. They nailed the Oceania round and came out in first place with their Cremino flavour — that salted caramel, joined by house made gianduia fudge, fresh meringue and crushed amaretti biscuits. Australia had a total of three reps (all from Sydney) in the finalists after the hardcore Melbourne selections last October, with Cronulla's Frangipani Gelato nabbing a special accolade for her pavlova-inspired gelato (meringue-flavoured base, meringue pieces and passionfruit puree). Cow and Moon had better get cracking on bucketloads of almond affogato, that's some prize-winning, line-forming gold right there. Via Good Food. Images: Cow and Moon.
Since late 2013, Newstead Brewing Co has been giving inner-north locals exactly what they want: beer, and plenty of it. Born and headquartered in a former 1940s bus depot, this beer-loving outfit helped establish Brisbane's now-thriving craft brew scene — and it might be an old hand by now, but it's a stalwart for a reason. Open seven days a week in Doggett Street (with a second venue launching in Milton in 2017), Newstead Brewing's original location ensures that you know it's a brewery. The chrome, the smell, the warehouse decked out for sitting and sampling (and making beer, obviously) — it's a boozy haven. While a range of tipples are available in both bottles and cans, and you can opt for spirits or wine if you prefer, grabbing a pint from one of the 12 taps is highly recommended. Like all good breweries, the new and limited-edition selection is worth keeping an eye on. [caption id="attachment_536222" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Newstead Brewing Co.[/caption] Food-wise, patrons can settle in not just for plenty of beers, but for a hefty meal. Snacks include fries with aioli, as well as wings in two varieties, with pizzas available to share. Or, opt for three varieties of burger, or mains such as parmys, flank steak and smoked pumpkin salad. Need some caffeine between brews? Coffee Supreme coffee is also on the menu.
The event aptly known as Pedal was initiated by two friends as they met up in Copenhagen’s summer of 2013. Falling for the city’s successful cycling culture, they decided to bring the sentiment back to their home town of Brisbane, and along with it, positive messages about cycling by way of the arts. After the widely talked about and celebrated event of Pedal Brisbane last year, the 2014 edition is set to take over the Queensland Museum with an outdoor cinema, a photography exhibition, stalls for cycling fanatics and even bicycle giveaways. But what better way to show off the benefits of riding than by actually going for a ride? The inaugural group ride will take place in King George Square, aiming to showcase the fun and style of pushbike transport.
With his eagerly anticipated latest film, Quentin Tarantino journeys back five decades. On Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's opening night, New Farm Cinemas wants to take you back almost that far. The movie may be set across the summer of 1969; however the venue is throwing a swinging 70s-themed costume party to launch the star-studded flick in retro style. Whatever retro threads you have in your wardrobe, you'll want to wear them — flares, jumpsuits, maxi dresses, fringed jackets and all. The best outfits will win prizes, and you'll be able to strut your stuff to era-appropriate live music. A drink will be provided upon arrival, while the food menu will showcase a few snacks that were originally served by New Farm Cinemas' predecessor, the Village Twin, all that time ago. Then, after the shindig, it'll be time for the movie. See Leonardo DiCaprio brighten up the silver screen as western star Rick Dalton, who, with his trusty body double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), is navigating the changing face of Tinseltown. Unless you've actually been living in the 60s and 70s for the past year or so, you'll already know that Margot Robbie pops up as Sharon Tate, while Damon Herriman plays Charles Manson. Tickets cost $25, with the one-off party happening from 6.30pm on Thursday, August 15. You'll be revelling in the joys of yesteryear for an hour before the film screens at 7.30pm.
Ever wondered what happens to a Playboy Bunny after she’s given an affectionate tap on the cottontail by Mr Hefner, and sent on her jolly way? No, neither did we. That is until we saw American photographer Robyn Twomey’s ‘Playboy’ collection. The fine art portrait photographer, who has shot the likes of Glenn Close, Bill Gates and Ashton Kutcher, photographed a number of former Bunnies after meeting the women at a recent Playboy reunion in Las Vegas. Beautifully shot and powerfully impartial, Twomey has captured each woman’s individuality – some choosing to play on their Playboy heritage, some not. The full portfolio is available on Twomey’s website, showing a fresh insight into life after Playboy. Photos by Robyn Twomey.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Going to the Whitsundays and staying in a hotel without an ocean view is a bit like going to Rome without seeing the Colosseum. It’s kind of the whole point. The good news is that, whether you’re begging and borrowing to make your trip possible or spending all of your life savings in one extravagant indulgence, there are options. Here’s a list of the Whitsundays’ most beautiful, stylish, secluded and romantic hotels. CORAL SEA RESORT, AIRLIE BEACH The 4.5 star Coral Sea Resort is so close to the ocean you can pretty much reach out of your hotel window and test out the water. On top of that, a teeny-tiny stroll along a waterside boardwalk carries you to the uber-hip, laidback village of Airlie Beach. Getting to the islands is merely a matter of walking in the other direction, to Abell Point Marina, where you can jump on a ferry. Hamilton Island, Daydream Island and Whitehaven Beach are all doable on a half-day or full-day jaunt. HAMILTON ISLAND REEF VIEW If your ideal tropical holiday involves snorkelling above coral beds, windsurfing from dawn to dusk or testing out your paddle skiing prowess, the 4 star Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel is the go. That’s because the hotel offers complimentary access to a bunch of non-motorised water equipment. So you can pretty much wake up, munch down on breakfast and be out on the water within a matter of minutes. If you’re not a fan of self-propulsion, there’s the option of hiring a golf buggy and cruising the island on wheels. Either way, the hotel pool, complete with waterside cocktail bar, is the place to kick back after a day spent adventuring. DAYDREAM ISLAND RESORT AND SPA For a holiday that’s all about relaxing and pampering, Daydream Island Resort and Spa has the goods. That’s mainly because it’s home to the Rejuvenation Spa, where signature treatments are on the menu — from 1.5-hour Caviar Facials to four-hour Mermaid’s Dream indulgences. You can spend your entire holiday lying around, but, if you decide to move, mini golf, volleyball and badminton are all on offer. Plus, the resort is right on the edge of one of the world’s biggest manmade coral reef lagoons. BREAKFREE LONG ISLAND RESORT To make the most of a stay at the 3.5 star Breakfree Long Island Resort, you’ll need to be very, very skilled at the art of doing absolutely nothing. That’s because as soon as you see their hammocks, you’ll want to lie in them all day long. That said, the island’s national park is home to more than 20 kilometres of walking trails, so you can roam if you want to. And there’s also volleyball and paddle boarding opportunities aplenty. For beverages, there’s a poolside cocktail bar and, for food, the onsite Palm’s Restaurant. PINNACLES RESORT AND SPA The 5 star Pinnacles is the full monty. If there’s someone in your life who you really, really want to impress or thank or hold captive forever and ever and ever (yourself, perhaps?), it’s the one. For a start, the rooms are 20 metres from the water, with panoramic views across Airlie Beach and the ocean. Second up, there’s an Endota Spa with a private verandah. If you want go the whole hog, opt for a two- or three-bedroom apartment with its own terrace Jacuzzi. BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS BY OUTRIGGER Wanna take a bunch of buddies or a whole football team or your mum, dad, sis and bro on holiday with you? And your cousins? Outrigger’s Boathouse Apartments, situated on the water at the shiny new port of Airlie Marina, have loads of space. If there are eight of you, check out the four-bedroom Penthouse apartments, featuring balconies and a rooftop spa. Host your own mini-Wimbledon at the resort’s private tennis court or chill out poolside. Book your Whitsundays escape now via Wotif.com.
Brisbane's music scene is about to get a little quieter, losing West End's Rumpus Room before summer is out. Perched on the corner of Russell and Boundary streets, the bar and music venue has been serving up drinks, gigs and top-notch nights out since back in 2006; however, it has announced that it'll shut for good on Saturday, February 26. In a Facebook post, the team behind the venue said that "all good things must come to an end". The post continued: "it is with a heavy heart that we'd like to announce that after over 16 years of full beers, sweat and tunes, Rumpus Room will be closing its doors for the last time on Saturday the 26th of February. It has been our privilege to be an integral part of the West End community for such a long period of time." Home to plenty of big nights over the years, and the kind of place that every Brisbanite has visited at least once, Rumpus Room is also a favourite for its weekday cocktail and beer happy hour, cheap tequila Tuesdays, and for hosting everything from record fairs to vintage markets in its time. Unsurprisingly, it'll be ending its run in the same style that's served it so well for so long: with one helluva party. Actually, make that parties. "In true Rumpus style, [we] will be throwing a series of parties over our last few weekends," the venue team advised in its closing announcement. "Throwing homage to the genres of music we have championed over the years, we'll be culminating in a grand finale party on the 26th featuring some of our longest serving favourite DJs." At the time of writing, details and lineups haven't been revealed — but keep an eye on the venue's Facebook page if you're keen on a big last Rumpus Room hurrah. [caption id="attachment_841631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Google Maps[/caption] Find Rumpus Room on the corner of Russell and Boundary streets, West End, until Saturday, February 26.
No one ever needs an excuse to escape their daily routines with a stint of mini golf, ten-pin bowling or sleuthing through a challenge room, but on Tuesday, September 5, Funlab's venues are giving you a mighty great reason to anyway. That's when the company's Day of Fun rolls around for 2023, and lets you get putting, rolling and puzzle-solving for $5 a pop — all to help Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. All day at 44 venues Australia-wide, including in Brisbane, Funlab will donate all of its proceeds to the charity, which provides early-intervention mental health services to 12–25 year olds across Australia. So, you'll be aiding your own headspace — tap, tap, tapping your way around an indoor mini golf course will do that, for instance — and also showing some love to a great cause. Funlab's Brisbane's sites include multiple Holey Moley and Strike Bowling joints, plus B. Lucky and Sons and Chermside's Hijinx Hotel — and the $5 deal covers bowling, darts, laser tag, an hour of games and nine holes of golf (all at $5 per activity). Booking in advance is recommended, but Archie Brothers and B. Lucky are doing walk-ins only. Obviously, if you'd like to add a few drinks — these venues serve plenty — that'll cost you extra. [caption id="attachment_681171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption]
Renowned Aussie gin distillery Four Pillars is at it again, with a brand-new creation headed soon to our bottle shop shelves. You're familiar with the label's cult favourite Bloody Shiraz Gin, which sells out like fire with each new year's release, right? Well, the team's calling this newcomer their finest creation since that purple-hued icon first launched back in 2016. So, break out some martini glasses and let the excitement begin. The soon-to-launch Olive Leaf Gin has already earned itself some hype, having nabbed a gold medal from the 2020 World Spirits Competition held in San Francisco in March. Now, it's gearing up for a proper Aussie debut, with a fitting early September release date happening just in time for your spring cocktail quaffing sessions. This one's an all-natural savoury gin, crafted using cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and three different varieties of olive leaf, all harvested from the legendary Cobram Estate. There are plenty of classic Australian botanicals in there to round out the fun, too, including lemon myrtle, macadamia, fresh lemon and grapefruit. [caption id="attachment_780046" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Benito Martin[/caption] Four Pillars' experts reckon the Olive Leaf Gin goes alright alongside some rosemary and lemon in a Spanish-style gin and tonic. But of course, with all that savoury, olive-infused goodness, this drop's true calling is in a nice, cold martini. Co-Founder and Distiller Cam Mackenzie recommends putting 60 millilitres of it to work in a gibson, stirred down with ten millilitres of both dry vermouth and dry sherry, and garnished with a couple of cocktail onions. Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin will be available across Australia from early September. You can nab a 700-millilitre bottle for $85. Images: Benito Martin
10x10 is a youth- and volunteer-led organisation encouraging the next generation to get involved in philanthropy. How it does this, however, is a little different — it raises money for charities by hosting interactive, live crowdfunding events. And it's next one is happening in Brisbane on Thursday, November 15. The organisation was started four years ago by a group of young people who wanted to make a difference. Since then, it has raised over $1.4 million for 129 different charities across Australia, UK, Hong Kong and the USA. The events — which are held biannually in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide — are broken into three parts. First, you head to 10x10's ticketing website to make a pledge of $100 or more (this amount will be converted into "Charity Dollars" and is also your ticket). Next, you rock up to the event, where three different start-up charities will pitch their causes to the crowd. Finally, you decide what charity you want your pledge, or "Charity Dollars", to go to and bam — a little more goodness is created in the world and a charity nabs some much-needed funds. You'll also have the chance to sip wine, snack on complimentary bites and chat to like-minded, philanthropic folk at the event. So think of it as a fundraiser-meets-cocktail party (without the starched collars and ballgowns). If you feel any of these are more in need of your dollars than you and your avocado toast (they are), get amongst it — you can learn about the pitching charities and make your tax-deductible pledges here. To learn more about the charity, visit 10x10 Philanthropy.
We've talked before about the rapidly expanding genre of films we like to call 'BDF', or 'big, bumb and fun'. And let's be clear, that label's in no way intended as an affront. On the contrary, when done right, we love the BDF because it satisfies that very basic need every now and then to be entertained without having to tax our brains. More often than not, the BDF rears its head around holiday seasons in the form of disaster and/or alien invasion movies, with San Andreas, Pacific Rim and perhaps even the first Transformers all finding the right balance between the three key ingredients. When it goes the other way, however, usually on account of too much emphasis on 'the big' at the expense of 'the fun', these films quickly become joyless affairs that achieve little more than wasting your time and money. Think Batman vs Superman, Suicide Squad or Independence Day: Resurgence. In the seventies-set Kong: Skull Island, we're happy to say, that balance is back. Obviously it's a BIG movie – afterall, this is King Kong were talking about. It's also undeniably dumb. The dialogue is consistently bogged down in exposition, there's not a great deal of plot to speak of, and the characters make some pretty bizarre choices throughout. I'm no helicopter pilot, but if I suddenly discovered a high-rise sized gorilla and watched it hurl seven other choppers to their fiery death, I'd probably get the hell out of there, not fly directly towards it. Most importantly, though, this is a fun film. The action is well-paced and easy to follow despite director Jordan Vogt-Roberts' heavy reliance upon special effects. The one-liners, meanwhile, are solid enough, and John C. Reilly's downed WWII pilot, who never escaped the eponymous island, steals every scene in which he appears. It is, in short, an old-school monster movie complete with heroes, heroines, clowns and grizzly old soldiers. Then, of course, there's the big guy himself, although in truth the word 'big' doesn't really do him justice. In stark contrast to the original film, there's no caging this fella. He's a sixty-story silverback with a menacing glare and a mean right hook. When Kong battles the island's many monsters, it's like a street fighter up against ninjas: brute strength and stamina versus speed, stealth and agility. The humans, by comparison, are rendered little more than spectators. Of those humans, Kong: Skull Island boasts an impressive cast including Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson, all of whom lend their considerable weight to a script that probably deserved less. Interestingly, it also features Chinese star Jing Tian, who recently appeared in another film by the same production house: The Great Wall. Tian's inclusion, while only minor, allows Chinese distributors to smack her image on all their posters and, potentially, open up a giant market that might otherwise be inaccessible to a US blockbuster such as this. One suspects this trend will see a rapid surge in the coming 12 months. Hopefully they develop a more nuanced means of including international cast members than the awkward crow-barring that occurred here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAbI4w95cTE
What's better than a new must-visit gallery filled with eye-catching art? A brand-new place to scope out the best and brightest in creative works that doubles as quite the spectacular site itself. That's what's set to join Melbourne's arts scene thanks to NGV Contemporary, the upcoming latest addition to the city — and exactly what it'll look like has just been revealed. NGV Contemporary itself should sound familiar, because it's been in the works for a while now. Indeed, it has been almost four years since Melbourne's — and Australia's — next big art gallery was first announced, and also three years since it was revealed that it'll also come with a huge public garden. And, it's been nearly two years, too, since the Victorian Government committed a hefty chunk of funding to both projects, and to the revamp of the Melbourne Arts Precinct in general. Now, a multidisciplinary team led by Australian architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates has been unveiled as the folks behind NGV Contemporary's final design, as revealed by the Victorian Government and the National Gallery of Victoria. Sprawling across 30,000 square metres, aiming to add a new landmark to Melbourne, and featuring a rooftop terrace and sculpture garden with views out over the city, it's certain to stand out when it opens — and to attract both locals and tourists. In fact, the winning design has been fashioned with celebrating the role of art and design in everyday life firmly in mind; think arched entryways, a spherical hall that reaches more than 40 metres in height, and over 13,000 square metres of display space. Walking into the NGV Contemporary will feel like making quite the entrance as a result. That arresting-looking hall, dubbed 'omphalos' (the Ancient Greek word for the centre of the earth), will spiral upwards through all levels on the building, too. So, visitors will then be able to walk around it to scope out art — like New York's Guggenheim Museum — and get up to the rooftop. Outside on that sky-high terrace, in addition to perusing the sculpture garden, you'll be scoping out vistas over the CBD, parklands and the Yarra Ranges — views never seen by the general public before. Also among the highlights: a large cafe that'll connect to an expanded public parkland, a multi-level veranda on the building's eastern side, a new NGV design store, a restaurant and member's lounge, and educational spaces, studios and laboratories focused on conserving artwork. And, of course, there'll be large and flexible exhibition spaces that'll allow the NGV to host international blockbuster exhibitions — although with Chanel and Picasso showcases at NGV International in 2022, it hasn't been doing too badly in that department. And, the new gallery spaces will also enable the NGV to present programs drawing upon its permanent collection of Australian and international contemporary art and design as well. Outdoors, pathways will connect the building and its surrounding parklands to Southbank — making the most of its triangular-shaped site, and making sure both it and Melbourne Arts Precinct around it are highly accessible. So, Southbank Boulevard and specifically the corner of Kavanagh Street are about to look a whole lot different. NGV Contemporary will be part of the NGV, which includes NGV International on St Kilda Road and NGV Australia at Federation Square, but it'll also be a standalone gallery. As for the site it's calling home, that's the old Carlton & United Breweries building. Back in a previous announcement, the Victorian Government said that it'll be the equivalent in size to the MCG — but focused on outdoor performances and public art, and featuring cafes and restaurants, rather than being dedicated to sports. Exactly when Melburnians and travellers alike will be able to walk in the doors hasn't yet been finalised, so don't go making plans just yet. Still, when it does open, NGV Contemporary looks set to be a must-see — regardless of which pieces of art grace its walls and halls. For more information about NGV Contemporary, keep an eye on the NGV website. Images: Renders of winning concept design for NGV Contemporary by Angelo Candalepas and Associates, by Darcstudio and Secchi Smith.
Usually surrounded by trees and nestled into a remote, almost-hidden patch of forest, a secluded cabin in the woods is a familiar on-screen setting. When a group of people step inside, unpleasant events tend to follow, as the horror genre taught viewers long before there was a movie specifically called The Cabin in the Woods. And, in the very first episode of new HBO series Lovecraft Country, this exact scenario plays out — with returned soldier Atticus 'Tic' Freeman (Da 5 Bloods' Jonathan Majors), his uncle George (Project Power's Courtney B Vance) and his friend Leti Lewis ((Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'s Jurnee Smollett). During a cross-country trip across America, the trio soon find themselves holed up in a rustic hut and fighting for their lives; however they're not just stuck in the kind of stock-standard unsettling scenario that audiences have seen several times over. Ravenous, towering, swift-moving beasts are definitely on Tic, George and Leti's trail, as Lovecraft Country makes creepily and compellingly plain. Also lurking outside: a team of racist police officers who pulled them over purely because of the colour of their skin, and had equally brutal plans before things took a turn into supernatural territory. The message here is obvious, showing both the paranormal and actual monsters the series' three central characters are forced to face. Of course, sometimes the most effective way to make a statement is to take the straightforward route — even if nothing about this textured and layered show can ever be classed as simple. If following the above train of thought has you thinking about Get Out or Us, two recent stellar films that also explored US race relations through a horror lens, that's hardly surprising. Lovecraft Country joins them on Jordan Peele's growing resume, after all. Whether he's co-writing and starring in sketch comedies, directing those two exceptional movies, producing BlacKkKlansman, reviving a science-fiction classic with The Twilight Zone or co-writing the upcoming new Candyman flick, the actor and filmmaker has amassed an impressive body of work that continually interrogates the reality faced by Black Americans. And, in terms of examining the insidious and ever-present horrors that have been a part of the US for far too long — including in the 50s, in the time of the Jim Crow racial segregation laws, when the ten-episode first season of Lovecraft Country is set — Peele's latest project is as powerful as anything else he's ever made. [caption id="attachment_782361" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Elizabeth Morris/HBO[/caption] As based on Matt Ruff's 2016 novel of the same name, executive produced by Peele with Lost and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker's JJ Abrams, and overseen by showrunner and writer Misha Green (Underground), Lovecraft Country benefits from a smart and engaging overarching premise — one that's extremely well-executed from the get-go, too. Tic has come back to Chicago from Florida, where he has been living since returning from his Korean War service, to search for his suddenly missing dad Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams, The Wire). That quest leads to a road trip into the US midwest, which also doubles as research to add African American-friendly places to the Green Book-style guide that George publishes. As for Leti, she's tagging along for the ride, en route to see her brother and sort out her own family problems. From teenagers spitting slurs at service stations to murderous white mobs chasing them out of small towns, Tic, George and Leti are treated abysmally from the moment they leave home. To call their encounters unwelcoming, discriminatory and hostile is accurate, but also underplays the heartbreak they endure. Indeed, when the show's titular elements complicate their path — with the series named for famed real-life sci-fi and horror writer HP Lovecraft, and travelling to a part of the country where he found inspiration for his tales — Lovecraft Country has already purposefully unnerved viewers with real-life terrors. From there, not only oversized creatures but also secret occult societies and haunted mansions await in the first three episodes alone, all while the series constantly and probingly conveys the experiences of black Americans. Impressive special effects help bring the otherworldly side of Lovecraft Country to life, but its other big drawcard — other than its concept, mastery of genre, potent message, excellent cast, and how commandingly and movingly it hits every target it aims for — is its detail. The lavishly made program couldn't look more meticulous in recreating the past, or feel more authentic at the same time. Every painstaking aspect of each set and scene is crucial not just in evoking the era, but in anchoring the wild journey its central characters traverse. This is a big, fantastical, pulpy horror series but, at every single instant, it's also grounded in recognisable experiences and actual emotions — and it never lets the audience forget it for a second. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvamPJp17Ds The first three episodes of Lovecraft Country are available to stream via Binge, with new episodes added weekly on Mondays. Top image: Eli Joshua Ade/HBO.
The tropics of North Queensland are a beautiful part of the world in themselves, but there's nothing wrong with amping up your experience to the nth degree – and the Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa is the right place to do just that. Especially after you've had a very long week/month/year at work, or when the dreary winter in Australia's major cities is dragging you down (that's dry season up here — i.e., the best time to visit). The resort stands in the beachside village of Palm Cove and is close to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, as well as Cairns (hint: crocodile adventures). You can head out onto the reef on one of the many snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and seaplane tours that set off from here, or venture into the forest on horseback, 4WD, zipline or on your own two feet (the Daintree comes with a bounty of treks for all experience levels). Alternatively, stay in town and appreciate a slower pace of life. A walk along the palm tree-lined esplanade will not only make the reason for the town's name abundantly clear, it will bring you to cafes serving that perfect eggs and avocado breakfast you need to nourish you in the morning and restaurants with inventive tasting menus that transform dinner into an event. The hotel itself has accommodation from studio spa rooms ranging through to apartments with private rooftop spas and plunge pools. If you don't want to spring for your own private body of water, there are three more pools in the resort, and two spas – bring your bathers and goggles. Resident restaurant Temple of Tastes will serve up modern Australian cuisine with a bit of a South East Asian twist; or, if you're in full bathrobe and slippers mode from a day at the on-site Vie Spa you can order from the full in room dining menu.
Not once but twice each year, the online-only First Nations Film Festival from streaming service FanForce TV delivers a feast of Indigenous filmmaking for your next couch session. The virtual viewing event initially pops up for National Reconciliation Week. Then, it returns for NAIDOC Week. In 2025, there's a few twists, however — welcome ones. Firstly, the online fest's NAIDOC Week collection is sticking around for an entire month, from Sunday, July 6–Wednesday, August 8 — even though the celebration that it's timed to runs for just one week. Also, if you haven't yet caught this year's National Reconciliation Week films, its season has also been extended until the same date. With the NAIDOC Week package, your choices start with Warwick Thornton's We Don't Need a Map, the acclaimed filmmaker's exploration of the Southern Cross as a symbol. Or, catch Here I Am, the feature debut of writer/director Beck Cole (Deadloch) and star Shai Pittman (Around the Block), which follows a woman seeking redemption upon her release from prison. Other viewing options span Over the Edge, Mother's Day and a range of shorts. You can get access to the entire season for $38.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same few days as possible. Last year, more than 300,000 Aussies took part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, holding more than 15,000 sales. Will this year's Garage Sale Trail top those hefty numbers? It'll certainly try via a huge array of events that will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions items across two big spring weekends: between Saturday, November 11–Sunday, November 12, and then again from Saturday, November 18–Sunday, November 19. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Brisbane, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
When Kate Reid's cult-famous Lune Croissanterie released its first-ever cookbook back in 2022, it put the ability to make its creative pastries into everyone's hands. But sometimes, you just want someone to whip up the treats for you. And sometimes, you want those bites to be something that Lune does particularly well: mashups of its croissants and other baked goods with fellow beloved foodstuffs. One such favourite is the chain's twice-baked finger bun croissants, which are back in February 2024 as part of its monthly specials menu. So, you've got until Thursday, February 29 to get your hands on Lune's traditional croissants with milk and coconut frangipane, strawberry jam, and with whipped coconut icing and a hefty sprinkle of coconut on top. This is in Reid's recipe book — so you can consider picking up the end result from the brand's Fitzroy and Armadale stores in Melbourne, and South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane, research for your future baking endeavours. This month, Lune also wants you to choose between the finger bun option and a cherry ripe pain au chocolat. The latter is available at all venues — so from the CBD in Melbourne as well — and packs the pastry with cherry frangipane, maraschino cherries and chocolate batons. On top: more cherry frangipane, freeze-dried cherry and toasted coconut. Of course, you can always pick both — and also a tiramisu pudding, berry juniper cruffin, and harissa and goats' cheese escargot. The first takes a Lune pudding, then adds coffee caramel and coffee-soaked savoiardi, plus mascarpone cream and powdered chocolate to finish. You'll find it at the Fitzroy, Armadale, South Brisbane and Brisbane CBD venues. As for the cruffin — which is available at the same four venues — it's rolled in juniper sugar, filled with blueberry juniper jam and white chocolate ganache, and features white chocolate drizzled on top as well. And, at all locations, the escargot obviously features harissa paste, as well as goat's cheese, spiced chilli sesame sprinkle, flaked salt and fresh mint. Treating yo'self here can be both sweet and savoury, clearly. Lune's February specials menu runs until Thursday, February 29, 2024, with different specials on offer at Fitzroy, Armadale and the CBD in Melbourne, and South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane. From the Fitzroy, Armadale, South Brisbane and Burnett Lane stores, you can also order them online. Images: Pete Dillon.
It's his first solo headlining Australian tour since 2011. It comes after the entire world, or thereabouts, watched him on the Super Bowl stage in 2024. Of course Usher's Past Present Future dates Down Under were going to be popular, then, so much so that he's added more gigs before general tickets even go on sale. The good news: the eight-time Grammy-winner is now playing six concerts each in Melbourne in November and Sydney in December. If you're located elsewhere in Australia, however, he's still only heading to the Victorian and New South Wales capitals, so you'll need to make interstate plans. Celebrating his three-decade career is the name of the game on Usher's Aussie trip — which means going all the way back to his first single 'Call Me a Mack' from 1993, also playing tracks off of his latest 2024 album Coming Home, plus working his way through plenty in-between. With the just-announced shows, adding to the tour due to presale demand, 12 dates have been locked in for Past Present Future's Aussie stop. At Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Usher will take to the stage on Wednesday, November 19–Thursday, November 20, then again on Saturday, November 22–Sunday, November 23 and then across Tuesday, November 25–Wednesday, November 26. In Sydney, he's playing Qudos Bank Arena on Monday, December 1–Tuesday, December 2, then on Thursday, December 4–Friday, December 5 and finally on Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11. The initial US shows on the Past Present Future tour were announced just days before Usher's Super Bowl set, which worked through hits from across his lengthy career itself. From August–December 2024, the Texas-born singer made his way across North American stages, before heading to Europe (including England, France, the Netherlands and Germany) from March 2025. Also popping up on his setlist across the tour so far: 'Yeah!', of course, plus everything from 'Can U Get Wit It', 'Nice & Slow', 'U Remind Me' and 'U Got It Bad' to 'Burn', 'OMG', 'Euphoria' and more. And yes, this means that the last two Super Bowl half-time show headliners have both announced 2025 tours to Australia, with Kendrick Lamar on the bill at Spilt Milk. Usher's Past Present Future World Tour Australia 2025 Dates Wednesday, November 19–Thursday, November 20, Saturday, November 22–Sunday, November 23 + Tuesday, November 25–Wednesday, November 26 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Monday, December 1–Tuesday, December 2, Thursday, December 4–Friday, December 5 + Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Usher is touring Australia in November and December 2025. Presales are on now, while general tickets go on sale at 12pm for Melbourne and 1pm for Sydney on Friday, May 16 — head to the tour website for more details. Images: Marcus Macdonald / Bellamy Brewster.
Brisbanites, if catching a train is on your agenda this Christmas period, then you might want to rethink your travel plans. TransLink has announced that signal work will be undertaken on the Ipswich, Springfield and Inner City lines between Saturday, December 22 and Saturday, December 29, with a long list of stations closing as a result. Buses will replace rail services in the affected areas. Specifically, trains won't run between Darra and Roma Street for the entire eight-day period, with the ten stations between the two spots completely closed while the works are in progress. And, for three specific days — on Tuesday, December 25 and Wednesday, December 26, and again on Saturday, December 29 — trains won't run in the inner city either, shutting down the Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills stations. Stations at South Brisbane, South Bank and Park Road will also close on December 25, 26 and 29, while Albion will be closed to trains on the Ipswich, Springfield, Caboolture, Cleveland, Doomben and Shorncliffe and lines on the same dates. For those in the city's west, trains will still run from Darra towards Ipswich and Springfield during the shutdown. The same applies from Park Road and Albion — that is, services heading away from the city will still be operational. The closures are part of Queensland Rail's Roma Street to Corinda Signals Upgrade Project, which, as the name makes plain, involves upgrading signals along that stretch of track. Sixteen signalling gantries will be replaced with signal portals, signal huts and equipment, as well as trackside cabling and equipment, while two new track crossovers will be constructed near Milton station. The crossovers will let trains turn back, and then be stored along the corridor between Milton and Sherwood stations, which QR says will help during the morning peak period. If you're thinking that this'll add some time to your journey, you're absolutely right. Travellers have been advised to factor an extra hour into their trip each way. For more information, and to check train and bus timetables between Saturday, December 22 and Saturday, December 29, visit the TransLink website. Image: Denisbin via Flickr.
Shida is an Australian-based street artist who, through unearthly abstract murals, has established himself as one of this country's most prolific contemporary painters. Through modern spray techniques, with a delicate balance of marbling and dot painting, Shida creates not only for the eyes, but for the imagination. Last year, Shida embarked on an international tour, determined to introduce the world to his signature dynamic style of street art. He collaborated with some of the globe's most talented street artists as well as painting some of his most breathtaking murals on walls, floors and abandoned buildings. Shida's signature enigmatic scapes of wispy, colour-climaxing creatures transition from the street to the gallery in his exhibition, Spirits. Blake House Gallery will be first to host this instalment of creative work, featuring refined paintings, sculpture and conceptual installations. Be sure to check out Shida's unique style and and infatuating art work before it embarks on a series of shows around the world.
First, the expected news: if you'd like to check out the latest and greatest in Irish cinema in 2021, you'll need to do so virtually. Now, the exciting news: returning for another year, and for its second virtual fest in a row, the Irish Film Festival will unleash an impressive and varied lineup upon your small screen of choice from Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 12. Wolfwalkers, one of the best movies of the past year and an absolute gem of an eco-conscious animated feature, sits at the top of IFF's must-see list. Set centuries ago, and following a young wannabe hunter by the name of Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), it charts a friendship with a girl called Mebh (Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into wolves while they're dreaming. Other highlights include Wildfire, about a dramatic reunion between sisters; Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, which lets the punk poet and The Pogues frontman tell his own tale over a few brews; the Australian premiere of Phil Lynott: Songs For While I'm Away, about Thin Lizzy's lead singer and songwriter; and horror-comedy Boys from County Hell, which sees a father-son duo accidentally awaken an ancient Irish vampire in rural Derry. Or, as part of a 12-film program, there's also the Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary)-starring Death of a Ladies Man; Deadly Cuts, about Dublin hair salon stylists who take on a criminal gang; and The Bright Side, which focuses on a cynical comedian tackling cancer.
If your idea of comfort viewing involves gorgeous, heartwarming animated movies that instantly conjure up a big dose of nostalgia, you're not alone. And while you can easily revisit these kinds of flicks at home thanks to the wonders of streaming, watching a beloved film on a big screen will never get old — especially after 18 months or so spent glued to our TVs a little more often than usual. Enter the Pixar Film Festival, Dendy Cinemas' latest excuse to get everyone heading to either Dendy Portside or Dendy Coorparoo. Make the trip to either between Saturday, September 18–Sunday, October 3, and you'll be able to treat your eyes to a heap of the acclaimed animation studio's movies, including it's greatest feat yet — that'd be Wall-E —plus Inside Out, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and Onward. Tickets only cost $10, or $8 if you're a Dendy member. The one caveat: this is a family-friendly festival, so you might have plenty of pint-sized company. But no one ever grows out of Pixar flicks, to this event is definitely for viewers both young and young at heart
When Flume was named on the Coachella bill, Australians hoped it'd be the prelude to a local tour. When he was announced as one of Spilt Milk's headliners for its upcoming November and December fests, we hoped that solo shows would also be on the itinerary. Now arrives the news that music fans have been waiting for: the Aussie star's Palaces world tour will play a heap of cities before the end of the year. Flume will hit up Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, all in support of his new album — which, handily, drops this Friday, May 20 and is also called Palaces. So, you now know what you'll be listening to for the next few months, and also when you'll be able to dance to its tracks played live. Your destinations: Red Hill Auditorium in Perth, Brisbane's Riverstage, The Dome in Sydney, John Cain Arena in Melbourne, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Hobart's Regatta Grounds. The tour will kick off in Western Australia in mid-November, making its way around the nation before finishing in Tasmania in early summer. The string of shows marks Flume's first live dates on home soil since 2019 — for obvious reasons — and he'll have impressive company. Also joining him: Caroline Polachek, Channel Tres, Toro y Moi and Vera Blue, plus appearances by MAY-A. Tickets go on sale at 10am local time on Thursday, May 26, with pre-sales from 10am on Wednesday, May 25. [caption id="attachment_854347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Green[/caption] FLUME'S 'PALACE' 2022 TOUR AUSTRALIAN DATES: Friday, November 11 — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, with Channel Tres, Toro y Moi (DJ set) and MAY-A Wednesday, November 16 — Riverstage, Brisbane, with Channel Tres and Toro y Moi and MAY-A Friday, November 18 — The Dome, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, with Channel Tres, Caroline Polachek, Toro y Moi and MAY-A Thursday, November 14 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne, with Channel Tres, Caroline Polachek, Toro y Moi and MAY- Wednesday, November 30 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, with Vera Blue Friday, December 2 — Regatta Grounds, Hobart, with Vera Blue Flume's 'Palace' tour will travel Australia in November and December. Tickets go on sale online at 10am local time on Thursday, May 26, with pre-sales from 10am on Wednesday, May 25. For more information, head to Flume's website.
The new happiest place on earth is mere months away from opening, with Studio Ghibli's very own theme park welcoming in animation lovers when November 1 arrives. Long in the works, Ghibli Park has had animation lovers waiting to wander its 200-hectare expanse in Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture, around a three-hour train trip from Tokyo, since back in 2017. And wondering exactly how magical it will look for just as long, too. The answer? Supremely enchanting; yes, getting spirited away will be easy here. Ghibli has been dropping early glimpses, even if its recent Hayao Miyazaki-directed cat train trailer was solely animated (but still wonderful). Now, it has just unveiled a treasure trove of new sneak peeks at the upcoming venue. The park will open in phases, but the first won't be short on highlights, including what's been dubbed Ghibli's Great Warehouse — aka its main area. Think of it like a fair within the overall attraction, featuring a video exhibition room, three special exhibition rooms, plus shops and cafes all in one space. Many movie lovers' first stop will be Orionza, a cinema that'll seat 170 patrons and screen ten Ghibli shorts — all of which have only previously been seen at the studio's existing Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, a city on the western outskirts Tokyo. The easy highlight: the 13-minute-long sequel to My Neighbour Totoro, which is an absolute delight, unsurprisingly. Fancy entering one of Ghibli's films? The park also includes recreations of 13 famous scenes from the company's cinematic catalogue that you can step into, including becoming Spirited Away's Chihiro by sitting next to Kaonashi on a mysterious train by the sea. Or, another exhibition focuses on Ghibli's knack for drawing delicious-looking food, and is certain to make you hungry. And, if you're curious how Ghibli's works — such as posters, videos, music and books — appear overseas, there's an exhibition about that as well. Because you'll want souvenirs, the Ghibli's warehouse store will sell Ghibli goodies galore, including items specific to the park. Expect two things: to want to purchase everything, so much so that you'll contemplate whether it's worth getting another suitcase to take home with you; and plenty of company while you're browsing and buying. For a bite or a drink, the Great Warehouse's cafe and milk stand will both take their cues The Wind Rises. One will sling sandwiches and pizzas, while the other focuses on sips to drink — and a sweet made of red bean paste between two pieces of castella, as seen in the movie. Yes, it all truly does resemble the Japanese animation house's glorious frames in real life — as that aforementioned Studio Ghibli museum already does as well. Also slated to feature across the whole park: a life-sized version of Howl's Moving Castle, the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart, Kiki's home from Kiki's Delivery Service and a village area that pays tribute to Princess Mononoke. The Aichi Prefecture Expo Park spot is already home to a replica of Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbour Totoro, and Totoro still features heavily in the expanded setup — with the site even initially described as having a My Neighbour Totoro focus. Or, you can check out nods to the cat from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, buildings with design elements that take their cues from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and a super-sized garden that'll make you feel like you're one of the tiny characters in Arrietty. Expect more nods to Ghibli's various features to follow, recreating other aspects from its three-decade-old body of work (and possibly its most recent movie, Earwig and the Witch). The animation house also released a new short video with added glimpses at the park, because there's no such thing as too many sneak peeks at something this entrancing pic.twitter.com/oZUKE36Jeg — スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) September 15, 2022 If you're now planning a Ghibli-centric holiday, Japan's changed its border rules in September to let overseas tourists enter the country without booking guided tours. At the time of writing, you do still need to be travelling on a package tour, however — through a travel agency, even if it just covers your flights and accommodation. Fingers crossed that changes soon. Ghibli Park will open on November 1, 2022. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: © Studio Ghibli.
The most famous of the Greek islands are wonderful to visit, of course, but they are almost perpetually swamped with tourists. Plus, large swathes of them have been totally redeveloped — they paved paradise and put up a bunch of luxury hotels. Not your vibe? Skip the likes of Santorini and Mykonos (or just stay there briefly), then sail off to more remote islands throughout Greece, where local culture is thriving hand in hand with tourism. Check out our list of recommendations so you can find your own island paradise off the beaten track. [caption id="attachment_876183" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Apostolos Zafeiriou (Unsplash)[/caption] MEGANISI, IONIAN ISLANDS We would describe this as yacht country. So few people come here by ferry and stay on the island, but it is encircled by small yachts throughout the summer. That's because this part of the Ionian Sea is full of beautiful little islands that are hard to get to with ferries — our other favourites being the nearby Kastos and Kalamos. When staying on Meganisi, spend your days laying on empty sandy beaches or snorkelling around the clear waters before heading into one of the three towns (Spartochori, Vathi, and Katomeri) for dinner and drinks. Alternatively, hire a yacht with a skipper and explore this region of the Ionian Sea from the comfort of your own wind-powered boat. That's the best way to experience Greece's lesser-known islands. Try sites like Sailogy, Boataround and Borrowaboat for decently priced yachts that come with skippers. [caption id="attachment_876198" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Johnny Africa (Unsplash).[/caption] ANAFI, CYCLADES If you're wanting a chiller version of Santorini, then check out neighbouring Anafi. Here, you'll find long stretches of sandy beaches as well as countless monasteries and churches located atop mountains. Split your time between hiking up to views of the surrounding Aegean Sea and lazing about on the beaches below. But, to get around with ease, be sure to hire quad bikes or a car. You'll stay in the village of Chora (the only village on this small island) which is built onto the slopes of the mountain. It's a quiet town that still has enough bars and restaurants to get you by. Wander up and down the winding streets to see all the locals going about their daily business, warmly welcoming you to their lesser-known Greek island paradise. [caption id="attachment_876187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petar Lazarevic (Unsplash)[/caption] PAXOS, IONIAN ISLANDS Paxos (also known as Paxi) is a small island famous for its steep cliffs that drop right down into crystal blue waters. See also: quaint little villages that have not lost their charm to tourism. We recommend you spend a few nights in Lakka, the northernmost town, located within a cove surrounded by hills covered in pine trees. This laidback town has a few shops and restaurants located by the two beaches, but you can easily wander off to find your own secluded swimming spot. Alternatively, try the slightly larger town of Gaios for colourful architecture as well as more bars and tavernas. While you're here, be sure to take a boat tour down to Antipaxos island for even more hidden beaches sitting below chalky cliffs (no one lives on this island, so it is pristinely preserved). [caption id="attachment_876188" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Angela Kidman (Unsplash)[/caption] SYROS, CYCLADES We still don't know why this hidden gem hasn't gone the way of other tourist-heavy islands. It is super easy to get to — it has its own airport and is only a short ferry ride from Athens — and is full of locals going about their daily lives. Tourism isn't everything here. The bustling port town of Ermoupolis should be explored and lived in for a while. Yes, you can find beautiful beaches and hikes around the hills but you can also expect more culture and history. Admire the Venetian architecture, spend nights out at small local bars that sprawl out onto the streets and eat all the best fresh seafood. Enjoy the bustling island village life on Syros before exploring other nearby islands. [caption id="attachment_876189" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Despina Galani (Unsplash)[/caption] KIMOLOS, CYCLADES A few years ago, Milos was the perfect unknown island that you had to visit. But, as it goes, the word got out. That's why we recommend you get on a short ferry ride to the lesser-known Greek island Kimolos instead. This nearby island is much smaller but has the same natural landscape and still has plenty of good places to go out for dinner and drinks. Also, those who aren't keen on hiring a car or quad bike can still get around by taxi and local bus. It isn't so remote that you have to do it all on your own. You can easily get to stacks of quiet beaches (with a cheeky goat or two wandering around) or over to walking trails around abandoned monasteries and windmills overlooking the sea below. Picturesque doesn't even begin to describe Kimolos' beauty. [caption id="attachment_876190" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apostolos Zafeiriou (Unsplash)[/caption] ITHACA, IONIAN ISLANDS Located a short ferry ride from the more popular Kefalonia is the island of Ithaca. Most accommodation on Ithaca is in the main town of Vathy, so this will likely be your base of operations. During the day, the town feels fairly quiet and deserted as everyone runs away to the many hidden coves dotted about the island. But, at night, the locals and tourists return, flooding the small streets with a lively atmosphere. It's a great place for people-watching. If you have the time, make your way to the sleepy fishing village of Kioni to experience even more of traditional life by the water. Stone homes with balconies adorned in colourful flowers as well as the small cafes and tavernas make this one of our very favourite towns to visit. [caption id="attachment_876192" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dimitris Kiriakakis (Unsplash)[/caption] ANTIPAROS, CYCLADES Celebrities have discovered Antiparos, meaning the ferry loads of tourists can't be too far off. You should get here ASAP, to not only do your celebrity spotting but also to take in the sites before it gets too busy. It won't be a lesser-known Greek island for long. Set yourself up at a beach bar, laying in a hammock with cocktails or ice-cold beers in hand and let this become your next happy place. When you're back in the office, this is where your mind will wander. If you are looking to get a bit more active, then hike around to some of the island's caves full of stalactites and stalagmites, or wander off to the monasteries and churches located atop hills and down on beaches (like the Church of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis). You can also take a day tour to the uninhabited Despotiko Island to feel even further away from the rest of the world. Feeling inspired to book a getaway unlike anything else out there? Only through Concrete Playground Trips, our new travel booking platform, can you now purchase holidays specially curated by our writers and editors. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips to destinations all over the world. Top image: Dragos Gontariu (Unsplash)
New experiences, new challenges, new collaborations: for people and organisations alike, no one should ever stop notching up firsts. In 2024, for instance, Bangarra Dance Theatre unveiled its first-ever mainstage cross-cultural collaboration after more than three decades of existence, with Horizon adding tales from across Oceania to the iconic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company's remit. In 2025, the organisation is backing that up with another history-making production, Illume, which is Bangarra's first-ever visual arts collab. Hosting its world-premiere season at the Sydney Opera House in June, then heading to Brisbane in August, Illume sees Bangarra's Artistic Director Frances Rings team up with Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Featuring dance, visual arts and music, the end result focuses on light — and takes inspiration Sibosado's Bard – Bardi Jawi Country. Think of it as the next best way to experience being there. Why has light proven so pivotal in Indigenous culture? Why is it considered a connection between physical and spiritual worlds? What impact does artificial light pollution have upon the land and sky, and how does it affect First Nations people's links to sky country, celestial knowledge and skylore? These questions are all at the heart of Illume. Although every Bangarra production is stunning, it's easy to see why this kaleidoscopic addition to the dance theatre's repertoire is set to wow, all while also contemplating the climate crisis. In the Queensland capital, it's taking over the QPAC Playhouse from Friday, August 1–Saturday, August 9. Images: Daniel Boud.
UPDATE, Friday, March 15, 2024: The Aqua with Special Guests tour has changed venues, dates and lineup. 2 Unlimited are now the only support act. The new dates and venues are: Thursday, March 21 — Metro City, Perth Saturday, March 23 — Hindley Street Theatre, Adelaide Sunday, March 24 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Tuesday, March 26 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Wednesday, March 27 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne For the past year, we've all been living in a Barbie world, with Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring Barbie film the biggest thing in pop culture over the past 12 months. What happens when you combine the planet's love for the pink-hued hit with the never-ending trend that is 90s nostalgia? Aqua touring Australia to bust out 'Barbie Girl' at a big throwback party, that's what. Life in plastic will be fantastic when the Danish-Norwegian band make their first trip Down Under since 2019. Back then, the group responsible for still having their best-known single stuck in your head, plus 'Doctor Jones' and 'Turn Back Time' as well, toured on a bill filled with other acts from the era. This time, they're doing the same thing. Joining Aqua in March 2024 in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: Belgian-Dutch dance duo 2 Unlimited, British boy band East 17, R&B group Big Brovaz, and English dance acts Phats & Small, Booty Luv and Urban Cookie Collective. Hitting up stadiums, these gigs will be a house of love with no limits. Expect everything from Get Ready', 'Twilight Zone' and 'Alright' to 'Stay Another Day', 'Turn Around' and 'The Key the Secret' to get a whirl. Your latest excuse to keep celebrating all things Barbie-related — and to get a big blast from the past — comes after Aqua popped up on the movie's soundtrack with rapper Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on the tune 'Barbie World'. Also heading to Australia in the first few months of 2024 to party like it's the 90s on separate tours, because nostalgia will never die: TLC and Blink-182. AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LINEUP: Aqua 2 Unlimited East 17 Phats & Small Big Brovaz Booty Luv Urban Cookie Collective AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DATES: Thursday, March 21 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, March 22 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Sunday, March 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, March 26 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, March 28 — RAC Arena, Perth Aqua is touring Australia in March 2024 with special guests 2 Unlimited, East 17, Phats & Small, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv, and Urban Cookie Collective — with ticket pre sales from 10am local time on Tuesday, January 23 and general sales from 10am local time on Thursday, January 25. Head to the tour website for more information
Australians have hotly anticipated the opening of the very first Il Mercato Centrale in Melbourne ever since it was first announced in 2022. At that time, it was expected to launch late the same year. But it's now 2024, and we still have no hard date for its opening. The highly ambitious venture came across a heap of setbacks, as the team behind it is determined to create a hospitality venue unlike anything that Melbourne has ever seen. All the red tape has now been sorted, however, and construction is charging ahead at 546 Collins Street at lightning speed. [caption id="attachment_856983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale in Turin[/caption] First off, the 3500-square-metre space, spread across three stories, truly is enormous. The first floor will have a market feel to it but with more flash, fun and tech. Each of the vendors will be slinging their own specialty goods, with none competing with the other. There'll be a bakery, patisserie, pasta shop, pizza joint, cheese maker, butcher and seafood stall, to name a few. Here, you can get fresh produce to take away or order it to be cooked up right in front of you. That means that you can buy a steak to eat at home or ask them to pop it on the grill while you start on some wine that you ordered from the bar right in the centre of the ground floor. Want to make it a surf and turf? Order some grilled calamari from the seafood stall next door and create your own feast. Conveniently, you'll be able to order from any and all vendors all in one transaction by using a QR code — or even pre-order from your office to pick up when it's ready. It going to be one of the easiest Melbourne food halls to order from. Then, on the second floor of Melbourne's Il Mercato Centrale, you'll find a fine-dining restaurant, cocktail bar, pasta restaurant (all made by hand), pizzeria, gelateria, wine bar, a gin and vodka distillery, and live music stage. We told you, it's huge. Up here, you'll even be able to order some of the food from downstairs to be delivered to you. Say you're sipping on a negroni at the bar upstairs and get a bit hungry. All you've got to do is order a cheeseboard and perhaps some slices of pizza on your phone, and the team will bring it up to you. If it all works out how the crew wants it to, it will be a huge feat of tech and service ingenuity. The top floor of Il Mercato Centrale will then be dedicated to private events and masterclasses, where each of the vendors will run workshops on their particular trades each month. [caption id="attachment_856981" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Rome[/caption] There will even be a big outdoor seating area right on Collins Street, something that was not easy for the Il Mercato Centrale team to secure. Taking Concrete Playground on a tour of the site, General Manager Gary Patikkis couldn't share the details about the outside area, but he noted that it is set to be unlike any other street-level drinking and dining space in the CBD. The venue will have a 3am liquor license (another rarity for new venues in Melbourne) and be open until from 7am–12am every day of the week. Patikkis was reluctant to share any opening dates, but rest assured that Il Mercato Centrale is coming. And Melburnians and visitors alike hopefully won't have to wait much longer before being able to dine on a massive range of Italian eats in the Victorian capital's CBD. [caption id="attachment_856978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Firenze[/caption] Mercato Centrale Melbourne is set to open at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne. We'll share more information as it is announced, and you can head to the venue's website in the interim. Top image: Il Mercato Centrale Milan.
They start off in text, drawing in readers with their mysteries, twists and psychological thrills. They focus on women in murky situations, and make that fact known in their titles. Then, after literary success, they jump to the screen. That's the path that Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train both took — for better in one case, for worse in the other — and now it's The Woman in the Window's turn. Based on the 2018 novel by AJ Finn, The Woman in the Window follows Dr Anna Fox (Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy), a psychologist who also suffers from extreme agoraphobia. After befriending Jane Russell (Julianne Moore, After the Wedding), the woman who lives across the street, she cries foul when her new pal disappears — but neither Jane's husband Alistair (Gary Oldman, Crisis) nor the cops (including Godzilla vs Kong's Brian Tyree Henry) are willing to listen. As well as firmly falling into clear genre — aka mystery-thrillers that reference women in their monikers — The Woman in the Window is obviously taking some cues from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. And, in both the initial theatrical trailer and the just-released Netflix trailer, director Joe Wright (Atonement, Hanna, Darkest Hour) doesn't shy away from that comparison. Whether it's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as one of Hitchcock's best films or suffers a fate closer to The Girl on the Train won't be discovered until the movie hits Netflix on Friday, May 14 — a year to the day it was originally scheduled to release in cinemas, but then the pandemic hit. Now, The Woman in the Window is going straight to streaming, as the likes of Hamilton, Mulan and Soul all have over the past year. However it turns out, The Woman in the Window has amassed a wide-ranging cast, with Possessor's Jennifer Jason Leigh and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier pair Anthony Mackie and Wyatt Russell all popping up. Lady Bird and Little Women alum Tracy Letts pops up too, and wrote the film's screenplay. Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0GJg_Jnlo The Woman in the Window will be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, May 14. Top image: Melinda Sue Gordon.
Another year, another collaboration between two big cinema names who keep making stellar films together. With Bugonia, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos combine for their fourth joint feature, following 2018's The Favourite, 2023's Poor Things and 2024's Kinds of Kindness. The first of the bunch earned them both Oscar nominations. The second scored Stone her second Academy Award and made Lanthimos a contender again. The latest? It's a remake of a South Korean sci-fi comedy. If you've seen Save the Green Planet!, then you'll know the story. If you haven't, get ready for Lanthimos' take on it. Either way, the Greek filmmaker's new movie is all about a CEO of a major company, two men obsessed with conspiracies, the belief that said head honcho is an alien who'll destroy earth and, as a result, a kidnapping plot — as the just-dropped initial teaser trailer illustrates. Stone (Fantasmas) is the CEO. Doing the abducting to the sounds of Green Day's 'Basket Case' in the flick's debut glimpse: Jesse Plemons — who also worked with Lanthimos on Kinds of Kindness, and won the Best Actor Award at Cannes for his efforts — plus feature first-timer Aidan Delbis. And the mindset that sparks the kidnapping? "It all starts with something magnificent: a flower, then a honey bee. The workers gather pollen for the queen," explains Plemons' character. "But the bees, they're dying. And that's the way they planned it — to make us the same as the bees. But it is not in control anymore. We are." Bugonia's cast also spans Stavros Halkias (Tires) and Alicia Silverstone (Y2K). Behind the camera, while Lanthimos directs, Will Tracy (The Menu) adapted the screenplay from Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 film. Stone is one of Bugonia's producers, too — and so is her Eddington director Ari Aster (Beau Is Afraid). The movie has a date with cinemas Down Under from Thursday, October 30, 2025, but you can probably expect to hear more about it before then if you follow international film festival news — premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, where Poor Things did and won the Golden Lion, seems more than likely. Check out the trailer for Bugonia below: Bugonia releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
No one is ever going to mistake a visit to Brisbane's Queen's Wharf with a trip to France — with its perch right beside the Brisbane River and views across to South Bank, there's no confusing where it's located — but Pompette wants your tastebuds to make the journey abroad anyway. Joining the precinct's smorgasbord of restaurants serving up international cuisines, this newcomer from Tassis Group goes all in on Gallic dishes. It's not only an eatery, in fact, but also a champagne bar. First announced in mid-2024 and open since December the same year, Pompette adds French eats to the Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, noodle, steak and seafood meals already on offer at Queen's Wharf. Under Head Chef Jean-Luc Morcellet, think: escargot, steak frites, raw beef tartlettes, chicken parfait, gruyere soufflé, baguettes with blue cheese butter, Parisian-style gnocchi, duck à l'orange, steak au poivre, côte de boeuf, crème brûlée, crêpes suzette flambée and more. At the 140-seater spot on The Terrace, there's also caviar bumps that come with a shot of frozen vodka, plus a dedicated oyster bar. Here, seven days a week from 11am onwards, classic French fare clearly features across the menu, but with two guiding principles in mind. Firstly, Pompette's dishes give traditional meals a modern spin. Secondly, if sending your tastebuds to Paris normally gets you thinking about extravagant fine-dining, this spot is aiming to be more accessible. For patrons eager to say cheers to a glass of champers, more than 40 types of the French tipple are on the drinks list. Wine lovers can choose from 150-plus different bottles, while cocktails, spritzes, beer, seltzers and non-boozy sips are also among the options. Regular Tassis collaborators Clui Design and Allo Creative are responsible for the venue's look and feel, taking their cues from Paris, of course. Expect to be surrounded by pink and navy hues, plus brash touches and eye-catching artworks. Champagne and oysters are served from the site's 16-metre-long marble bar, while the outdoor terrace boasts bursts of greenery. And for special occasions, Pompette also features three private dining rooms.
Let's face it. The Brisbane climate is, on the whole, quite warm and humid all year round. So when it's too hot for porridge (which is, like, a lot of the time) and a bowl of All Bran just won't cut it, what do you turn to? A kick-butt Bircher. Generally, a Bircher takes your average oats or untoasted muesli, introduces it to natural or Greek yoghurt, invites juice or milk along for the ride, gives them ample time to mingle and to get to know each other, until it’s all just one big melting pot of creamy love. Plus-one invitations are also extended to the likes of dried or fresh fruit, nuts and seeds or superfoods. Despite cooler weather approaching, plenty of Brisbane cafes are still dishing up Bircher daily, putting their own unique twist on a traditional breakfast. There is a lot of Bircher-diversity out there, so we’ve broken it down for you, making it easier for you to hone in on which party you want your spoon to crash. Berries: berry nice match Chow House Chow House serves what is quite possibly Brisbane's best Bircher going round right now. With tart rhubarb and fresh raspberries smashed up throughout, the texture of the oats and quinoa means it’s soft but still slightly chewy. And the fact it's finished with delicious house-made coconut yoghurt is just a bonus. 39 James Street, Fortitude Valley Bellissimo Coffee Sitting pretty in the glass cabinets at Bellissimo Coffee every morning are their berry topped Bircher cups. These babies are made with mango nectar, chunks of pineapple and coconut, which means each mouthful tastes like a tropical island. It’s perfect for a quick smash-and-grab en route to work with your morning coffee. 30 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley Samson & Sophie Samson & Sophie have only been around a few months, but already their Bircher (which, please note, is only a special offered on occasion) is a favourite with locals. Quite wet and not overly sweet, it comes swirled with raspberries and another spoonful of yoghurt and is topped with almonds, edible rose petals and a dusting of icing sugar. Shop 1, 2 Macquarie Street, Teneriffe Chia seeds: because #superfood Felix for Goodness Felix for Goodness in Burnett Lane delivers you your chia- and Maleny yoghurt-laced Bircher in an adorable mason jar that will leave hipster-haters cringing. But one bite of this beauty and even they won't be able to stop themselves scraping the bottom of the jar. 50 Burnett Lane, Brisbane Nantucket Kitchen & Bar Nantucket Kitchen & Bar is the new kid on the block (the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre block to be precise), but their Bircher is a unique twist on the classic. Made with orange juice and milk instead of apple juice, it’s heavily doused with dried apricot, dried apple rings, sultanas, cherries, slivered almonds and pepitas and is finished with tangy lemon myrtle yoghurt that helps to cut through the sweetness. Shop MM5 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Station Rd Indooroopilly Grated Apple: oldie but a goodie Sourced Grocer The Bircher at Sourced Grocer has become somewhat of an icon and returns to their menu every season. Whether it's their local produce, organic Barambah yoghurt or their market-fresh Granny Smiths that go into the making of this dish (or an incredible knack for plating — it looks identical every time it is served), Sourced’s Bircher is guaranteed to satisfy. 11 Florence Street, Teneriffe Au Cirque The French-inspired Au Cirque makes their Bircher the traditional way with milk, apple juice and Greek yoghurt-soaked oats. It's mixed together with dried apricots, sultanas and roasted almond slivers and topped with grated green apple and another blob of yoghurt. You’ll find each mouthful sweet, rich and filling. 3/618 Brunswick Street, New Farm Quinoa: the latest craze Reef Seafood + Sushi Unexpected from a seafood restaurant, but Reef Seafood + Sushi actually dishes up incredibly tasty sweet and savoury non-fish dishes for brekkie. In particular, its epic Bircher, which is made with half/half oats and quinoa soaked in oat milk and sprinkled with plump and flavoursome fresh berries. It's creamy and not overly sweet, so polishing off your bowl is far too easy a feat. Gasworks Plaza, Skyring Terrace, Newstead Stalled Espresso Tucked away in the industrial area of Albion is a satisfying and filling little delight of a Bircher. Stalled Espresso’s version is also a mix of quinoa flakes and whole oats and is not too dry or too wet from the yoghurt-y apple juice mixture it’s soaked in. Finished with zingy freshly grated apple and sweet strawberries it’s a traditional take with a textural twist. 38 Collingwood Street, Albion DIY: when payday is too far away We don’t always have the luxury of breakfasting out, so when that craving calls and you find yourself staring at the fridge, just grab your key ingredients and whip up a Bircher with whatever you fancy. We adapted this Taste.com recipe to make the one above, adding in some fresh nectarines for good measure. Easy peasy. Photography: Mimi Hyll.
