American photojournalist John Stanmeyer has been named winner of the 57th Annual World Press Photo Contest. The competition's international judging panel named Stanmeyer's photo, 'Signal', both the overall winner and first prize in the contemporary issues category. Shot for National Geographic Magazine on the shores of Djibouti, the image (shown above) captures African migrants holding up their phones, hoping to tap into cheap signal from neighbouring Somalia. En route to new lives in Europe and the Middle East, they're trying to make contact with loved ones elsewhere. Commenting on the winning image, judge Jillian Edelstein said, "It's a photo that is connected to so many other stories — it opens up discussions about technology, globalisation, migration, poverty, desperation, alienation, humanity. It's a very sophisticated, powerfully nuanced image. It is so subtly done, so poetic, yet instilled with meaning, conveying issues of great gravity and concern in the world today.” The competition received over 98,000 submissions and granted prizes to 53 photographers of 25 nationalities across categories ranging from sports to nature to world news. Following controversy last year, stricter image manipulation guidelines apparently saw 8 percent of entries disqualified. Winning photographs will now tour over 45 countries as an international exhibition. See the full gallery of winners at the World Press Photo website. 3rd Prize in Daily Life Category: "Street Dogs," Julie McGuire, UK 1st prize in Spot News (singles) category: Typhoon Survivors, Philippe Lopez, France 2nd prize in Spot News (stories) category: Massacre at Westgate Mall, Tyler Hicks, USA 3rd Prize in Staged Portraits (singles) category: Chiwetel Ejlofor, Nadav Kander, UK 1st Prize in General News (singles) category: Temporary Accommodation, Alessandro Penso, Italy Third Prize in Sports Action (singles) category: Forehand Foreward, Al Bello, USA 2nd Prize in Nature (singles) category: A flock of Guillemots, Markus Varsvuo, Finland 1st prize in Contemporary Issues (stories) category: A Portrait of Domestic Violence, Sara Naomi Lewkowicz 3rd Prize in Observed Portraits (singles) category: A Traditional Berber Bride, Pau Barrena, Spain 2nd prize in Sports Feature (singles) category: Kite Skier on the Mountain, Anastas Tarpanov, Bulgaria
The nominations for Hollywood’s most dubious honours have officially been announced. For more than three decades, the Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as the Razzies, have named and shamed the year’s worst motion pictures, with previous winners including The Love Guru, Showgirls and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2. Dropping one day ahead of the Oscar nominees, this most recent batch of contenders includes several box office favourites and a multitude of A-list names. It just goes to prove the age-old expression: everyone’s a critic. Leading the shortlist with seven nominations is Transformers: Age of Extinction. In addition to a Worst Picture nomination, the robo-rumpus earned nods for Worst Sequel, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actor (Kelsey Grammer), Worst Supporting Actress (Nicola Peltz) and Worst Screen Combo (Any Two Robots and/or Actors). Director Michael Bay has also picked up his fifth Worst Director nomination, which must surely be some kind of record. Hopefully the film’s $1bn gross helped to soften the blow. Close behind Transformers with six nominations each is the Kellan Lutz action vehicle The Legend of Hercules and Kirk Cameron’s ‘faith-based’ holiday comedy Saving Christmas. The latter film enjoys a rare 0% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and appears to have skipped Australia altogether. Rounding out the Worst Picture category is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot as well as the Nicolas Cage supernatural thriller Left Behind. Cameron Diaz leads the acting ‘honours’ with three nominations: Worst Actress in The Other Woman and Sex Tape, and Worst Supporting Actress in Annie. Charlize Theron, meanwhile, is up for Worst Actress for her role in A Million Ways to Die in the West, along with a Worst Screen Combo nod she shares with her co-star Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane is also nominated for Worst Director and Worst Actor, competing in the latter category against Cameron, Lutz and Cage as well as Blended star Adam Sandler. Here’s hoping at least one of them has the good humour to accept their award in person, ala Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock. Of course, there are some who might accuse of The Razzies of simply shooting fish in a barrel. Presumably, that’s why they’ve included a new category designed to celebrate actors who’ve managed to pull themselves out of the muck. Contenders for this year’s ‘Redeemer’ Award include Ben Affleck for going ‘from Gigli to Argo and Gone Girl’ and six-time Razzie nominee Keanu Reeves for his role in the critically acclaimed action movie John Wick. The winners of the Golden Raspberries will be announced on the eve of the Academy Awards in February. We’ve included the full list of nominees below. THE 35TH ANNUAL RAZZIE NOMINEES: Worst Picture Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Left Behind The Legend of Hercules Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Transformers: Age of Extinction Worst Director Michael Bay, Transformers: Age Of Extinction Darren Doane, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Renny Harlin, The Legend of Hercules Jonathan Liebesman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways to Die in the West Worst Actor Kirk Cameron, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Nicolas Cage, Left Behind Kellan Lutz, The Legend of Hercules Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways to Die in the West Adam Sandler, Blended Worst Actress Drew Barrymore, Blended Cameron Diaz, The Other Woman and Sex Tape Melissa McCarthy, Tammy Charlize Theron, A Million Ways to Die in the West Gaia Weiss, The Legend of Hercules Worst Supporting Actor Mel Gibson, Expendables 3 Kelsey Grammer, Expendables 3, Legends of Oz, Think Like A Man Too and Transformers: Age of Extinction Shaquille O’Neal, Blended Arnold Schwarzenegger, Expendables 3 Kiefer Sutherland, Pompeii Worst Supporting Actress Cameron Diaz, Annie Megan Fox, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nicola Peltz, Transformers: Age of Extinction Susan Sarandon, Tammy Brigitte Ridenour, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel Annie Atlas Shrugged 3: Who Is John Galt? The Legend of Hercules Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Transformers: Age Of Extinction Worst Screen Combo Any Two Robots, Actors (or Robotic Actors), Transformers: Age of Extinction Kirk Cameron & His Ego, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Cameron Diaz & Jason Segel, Sex Tape Kellan Lutz & Either His Abs, His Pecs or His Glutes, The Legend of Hercules Seth McFarlane & Charlize Theron, A Million Ways to Die in the West Worst Screenplay Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas, Left Behind Sex Tape Transformers: Age of Extinction Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Razzie Redeemer Award Ben Affleck, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Gigli to Oscar darling for Argo and Gone Girl Jennifer Aniston, From 4-time Razzie nominee to SAG award nominee for Cake Mike Myers, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Love Guru to Docu Director of Supermensch Keanu Reeves, From 6-time Razzie nominee to John Wick Kristen Stewart, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Twilight to the art house hit Camp X-Ray
Fresh off his US headline tour, Kilter has returned to Australia's sandy shores with a studio album in tow. Over the last few years, the artist has outgrown his position on the outskirts of Australia's electronic music scene to become an established EDM up-and-comer. With his new album, Through The Distortion, Kilter delivers seven previously unheard tracks alongside critically acclaimed singles 'They Don't Know Us', 'Count On Me' and 'I Hear You'. Its sound is typically versatile, showcasing Kilter's ability to blend elements of dancehall, garage, breakbeat, hip-hop, big beat, R'n'B, electro and chill. What's more, the album features collaborations with a selection of his favourite Australian musicians, including LANKS, Yaw Faso and Woodes. Along with his new album, Kilter has gifted fans with a massive antipodean tour taking him across Australia and New Zealand in September. And it just so happens that you can go in the running to win a double pass to either his Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane show. We're offering you the chance to win a heap of Kilter-related prizes, including double passes to his Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane shows, a meet and greet and a tonne of merch. TOUR DATES Brisbane — Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at The Triffid Melbourne — Friday, July 7th, 2017 at Prince Sydney — Saturday, July 8th, 2017 at Max Watts Whether you've been a Kilter fan from the beginning, or you've recently joined the bandwagon, enter your details below to go into the draw to win big. [competition]624378[/competition] Image: Maclay Heriot
'Whip' Whittaker (Denzel Washington) wakes up in a hotel room, disentangles himself from last night's paramour, Katerina (Nadine Velazquez), surveys the wreckage of liquor bottles, does a line of cocaine, argues with his ex-wife, then heads to his day job. As a commercial pilot. While his co-pilot, the straitlaced Ken Evans (Brian Geraghty) thinks something is amiss with Whip, it is smooth sailing as Whip pulls off an audacious move to get the plane through some bad weather then rewards himself with a mid-flight vodka and orange juice. Then things start to go very, very wrong. In one of the most gripping set pieces seen on the big screen in years, the plane finds itself in trouble and not responding to any of the usual fixes. It is soon plummeting towards earth and the passengers and crew resort to panic and prayer. Whip, however, remains cool and in a brilliant piece of quick thinking, inverts the plane to take much of the force out of the landing. The manoeuvre mitigates what could have been complete calamity and when the wreckage is surveyed, only six people have lost their lives. After such a bold start, the film moves into the more familiar territory of addiction drama, but there is far too much complexity and moral nuance here for the film to be anything less than intriguing. It is revealed the plane wasn't properly maintained and was an accident waiting to happen. Whip's audacious actions were not performed in spite of his state of inebriation but actually because of it. Another pilot, one free of drugs and alcohol, could not have done what he did and saved as many lives as he did. He meets heroin addict Nicole (Kelly Reilly) in hospital, and the pair are soon shacked up at a secluded cottage, hiding from the world. But when the legal ramifications of the crash ramp up after Whip has a testy meeting with Hugh (an excellent Don Cheadle), a driven criminal lawyer who is confident he can have Whip's toxicology report thrown out as evidence, he falls back off the wagon, skulling vodka with a vengeance and hatching plans to escape to Jamaica in a small plane. Whip's actions become increasingly pathetic as his supporters try to curb his powerful self-destructive streak and keep him from having a public meltdown before the hearing that will hopefully clear his name for good. Still, he insists he drinks because he wants to. He's had years of practice at getting away with it and finds himself on the brink of freedom. If Flight loses its nerve somewhat in the closing minutes, it only serves to cast the truthful and arresting drama that has come before in an even brighter light. Featuring one of the best performances in Washington's career, it's a tough and taut film which asks questions that linger long after its closing credits.
Finally a party you don't have to dress to impress. Instead, Brisbane’s Backbone Youth Art's 2high Festival cordially invites you and your inner artistic mischief-maker to the fundraising event with a dress code: be ready to Dress for Mess. Personally I’m thinking of a nice garbage bag get up, but I don’t think they’re too picky. Just get your untidy self down to the Valley warehouse and be prepared for a night of chaos. There are promises there won’t be paint, and nobody knows how many baking supplies one can fit in a handbag. So, in an admirable suggestion - please don’t wear your favourite glittery garments. As well as getting a little messy, there’ll special guests The Strums and The Lyrical delivering a live backing track for your dance moves as well as art installations from Alex Winters and Hilary Perrett. Plus keep an eye on the 2high Facebook page for other hints of the night’s agenda. All proceeds contribute to creating a not-for-profit festival artistically profitable for emerging artists, Brisbane city and the cultural lives of our wonderful selves who inhabit here. Get your early bird tickets here or grab one on the door. It’s going to get messy!
For most of Australia, 2018 has been hot. Last weekend, Melbourne endured its hottest day for two years, while Sydney experienced its second hottest day ever. Temperatures have been toasty around the rest of the country too, with Brisbane expecting a top of 38 today. And although Tasmania hasn't been immune to the extreme heat — reaching 35 degrees earlier this week — the state also just dipped firmly in the opposite direction. Yesterday, while it was a rather warm 34 degrees in Sydney, 36 in Brisbane and 37 in Perth, eastern Tassie enjoyed storms, hail and even ice. In Hobart, yesterday's maximum only made it to 15.8 degrees, while the minimum was 13.5 degrees. That's rugging-up weather, not swimming temperatures. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4Ob8oBD5b/?taken-by=tasmaniawhyweloveit https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4CcbTHV-7/?taken-by=what_kat_did_next "I don't think we've seen that very often," the Bureau Of Meteorology Debbie Tabor told the ABC, explaining that the icy conditions were caused by the thunderstorms. "We had a series of thunderstorms move through the eastern half of Tasmania… and did produce some hail at various locations and that's what was seen at Orford." On Twitter, BOM also clarified that the visible whiteness wasn't snow, even if it might've looked like it. https://twitter.com/BOM_Tas/status/952077590453514240 That said, snow did reach the state's lofty peaks — at 1300 to 1400 metres, not on the ground. Today, a top of 21 is expected in Hobart, ahead of a week in the mid twenties. Via ABC. Top image: Katrina Ashton via Instagram.
Approaching the mental health of your loved ones, and your own, isn't always the easiest, but two Sydneysiders have produced a novel way to get the public opening up to each other. Intangible Goods is an installation by artists Mark Starmach and Elizabeth Commandeur, who've combined year's worth of involvement in the marketing industry with a shared experience of growing up with family members who struggled with mental health. Presented by Art & About Sydney at three CBD locations from now until April 8, Intangible Goods makes engaging with contemporary psychology accessible and easy to interact with. The former advertising colleagues share the unusual bond of having family members diagnosed with schizophrenia and have found an outlet for these experiences to go alongside their exposure to the negative aspects of consumerism that's a mainstay of their professional careers. "In both our lives, we found that our families were very hidden about it," says Elizabeth. "They felt like they couldn't be open with their friends or family and that it wasn't something they could talk about publically." With Intangible Goods, Mark and Elizabeth hope to give people a way to express their inner feelings with an element of fun and whimsy. [caption id="attachment_661905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths. Courtesy of City of Sydney.[/caption] VENDING GOODNESS More than familiar with the typically heavy-handed campaigns marketing agencies produce concerning mental health, Mark and Elizabeth approached the subject with a touch of light-heartedness. Noticing similarities between advertising principals and psychological theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy, the duo wanted to make use of their marketing experience, help people consider their own mental wellbeing and embrace these conversations in a more comfortable way. Their solution? Intangible Goods — a vending machine stocked with ten different 'snacks' that'll feed your wellbeing. Neatly designed, each product line is the result of considerable consultation with mental health professionals and a survey of 550 of their fellow Sydneysiders who were asked what they needed most in their lives right now. Mark explains, "Throughout our survey, several answers bubbled to the top. Something like 41% of people responded that they wanted closer connections with the people in their lives, which was a clear outlier. But, in thinking about what connection to others actually is, it can't clearly be defined to just one single type of connection." That's why each individual 'Connection' package has its own concept inside. Where one reminds you to stay in touch with friends and family, others suggest making new relationships or improving your sense of belonging in the community. The same has been done for other responses, which vary from 'Purpose' to 'Structure', 'Spontaneity' to 'Calm'. Each product can be bought from the vending machine for $2 with all profits going towards beyondblue, the Mental Health Association NSW (WayAhead) and the Schizophrenia Research Institute at NeuRA. CONSUMING LESS, LIVING MORE Mark and Elizabeth are first to admit the world of marketing and advertising can promote unhealthy habits around consumerism. As Elizabeth explains, "For me, I think consumerism is habitual and almost an everyday thing. But I think much of it is mindlessly purchasing goods that help fulfil some sort of empty void in our lives." Intangible Goods aims to turn this concept upside-down by redirecting the energy put into promoting products into something positive. By providing visitors with a conversation starter and something that'll elicit an emotional response, the installation is aimed at encouraging visitors to think critically, as well as providing a way to navigate their own mindset. MAKING BIG, FIRST STATEMENTS While the concept had long been floating around Mark and Elizabeth's heads, the nitty-gritty of Intangible Goods took almost a year to complete. Being the first major art project both Mark and Elizabeth have produced, adjusting from their largely structured professional lives to something more abstract and holistic took some getting used to. This adjustment was only made more difficult with Elizabeth working remotely from Copenhagen for the duration of 2017. But after many midnight phone calls, shared online spreadsheets, discussions with vending machine suppliers, budget lists and safety reports, the pair's hard work has finally been realised. Working alongside Art & About Sydney and the City Of Sydney, Mark says the creative process was made easy with the freedom the duo were granted. "Everyone involved gave us license to run with our vision and helped us stick to it faithfully, which is not something we're super used to from working in the world of agencies." Intangible Goods will be vending across Sydney CBD 24 hours a day from March 26 until April 8, 2018. Find it at Martin Place, between Pitt and George streets from March 26–29, Customs House Square from March 30 to April 3 and Pitt Street Mall from April 4–8. See full details here.
Despite the scale of Australia, Aussies love to walk. There's loads of scenery, our cities are optimised for walking, and we have some beautiful tracks nationwide that are worth the lengthy trips to get there. With thick jungles, red deserts and stunning coastlines, we're spoilt for choice. One of the most spectacular is the mighty Three Capes Track. The 48km trail, found in far southeast Tasmania, takes you through the spectacular wilderness of Tassie and along the highest sea cliffs in the country. If you want to level up an already stunning experience, you can book with the Tasmanian Walking Company to sleep in a private eco-lodge and campsite along the track (rather than the public huts) to rest and recover in style between walking stretches. Now the good part: you can win two spots on the Three Capes Adventure with the Tasmanian Walking Company. This adventure includes experienced guides, lightweight packs, private accommodation, chef-curated meals, plus local beer and wine throughout the adventure. We're also throwing in a $1000 flight voucher to get you there and home, so all you need to worry about are the awesome views. To enter the giveaway, complete the form below. [competition]895873[/competition]
Little has been normal about the past 12 months, and that includes heading to the movies to watch the latest blockbusters. When the pandemic first started causing lockdowns in 2020, the year's biggest flicks all started delaying their releases. So, plenty of the films you were looking forward to seeing last year didn't reach the silver screen — and, all this time later, many still haven't yet. Australian cinemas are open and running as normal, of course, and have been for some time. That said, apart from the likes of Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984, they've been light on high-profile titles. Instead, they've been showing everything else they can get their hands on, and giving local titles and smaller movies some love. But, fingers crossed, those projectors should be pumping out some of those big-name films you've been waiting for before 2021 is out. Hollywood isn't done delaying its high-profile releases just yet; however, there are still a number of notable releases slated to hit the silver screen this year. Whether you're keen on action, scares, sci-fi or a bit of singing and dancing, we've rounded up ten to put back on your radar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybji16u608U BLACK WIDOW When it comes to pushing women to the front, Marvel's track record isn't great. Captain Marvel, the Disney-owned company's first movie solely focused on a female character, only came out in 2019 — but now it's following that up with a film that really should've happened years ago. That'd be Black Widow, focusing on Natasha Romanoff, the highly trained ex-KGB assassin known played by Scarlett Johansson. The character debuted on-screen in 2010's Iron Man 2, and is now getting her own flick via a prequel. Also starring Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Fighting with My Family), Rachel Weisz and Stranger Things' favourite David Harbour, Black Widow jumps back a few years, setting the bulk of its story just after the events of 2016's Captain America: Civil War. On the run, Romanoff is forced to face her complicated (and violent) past, as well as a new masked opponent. We're sure a few familiar faces will also show up in the MCU's return to the big-screen, which is directed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome, Lore, Somersault). Black Widow opens in Australian cinemas on April 29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSiDu3Ywi8E&feature=emb_logo FAST AND FURIOUS 9 Given the Fast and Furious franchise's title, you'd think driving speedily and passionately is what this big-budget film series is all about. Over-the-top car antics play a hefty part, as the 2001 original, its seven sequels to-date and its 2019 spin-off have all shown via a constant onslaught of hectic stunts. But, if there's one thing that this Vin Diesel-starring and -produced saga loves just as much as vehicular mayhem, it's family. Over the years, Diesel's Dominic Toretto has extended the term 'family' to include not only his girlfriend-turned wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), her husband Brian (the late Paul Walker) and their various offspring, but their extended motley crew of fast-driving pals as well. So, when it comes to Fast and Furious 9 — or F9 as it's being called — it's unsurprising that the franchise is leaning heavily on one of its favourite concepts. Somehow, the saga hasn't expended all family-related options just yet, with John Cena joining the series as Dom's younger brother Jakob. Don't expect a happy sibling reunion, however, with the ex-wrestler playing the film's villain. Fast and Furious 9 opens in Australian cinemas on May 27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0CL-ZSuCrQ IN THE HEIGHTS Over the past seven years, Hamilton has become a cultural phenomenon — and, thanks to its fame and acclaim, so has the hip hop musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. But that's not the only stellar stage show to the multi-talented composer, actor, singer and playwright's name. Before he took on US history (and before he helped bring Bring It On to the theatre, too), Miranda turned life in Manhattan's Washington Heights into four-time Tony-winner In the Heights. It's making the leap to the big screen — with a stacked cast that includes Hamilton's Anthony Ramos and Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz, with Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu behind the lens, and via a film primarily shot on location in its titular spot. Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the text for the stage version, has also written the feature's screenplay. And Lin-Manuel Miranda is involved, naturally, producing the movie, overseeing the music and popping up on-screen as well. In the Heights opens in Australian cinemas on August 26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwzuZ9kOQU CANDYMAN For nearly three decades, horror movie lovers have fallen into two categories: those who've dared to say the word 'candyman' five times while staring into a mirror, and those who haven't. If you fall into the first group, then you'll be making a date with this unnerving sequel, which revives the Candyman franchise and boasts a few tricks up its sleeves. Firstly, Candyman circa 2o21 is produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, who adds another frightfest to his resume alongside Get Out and Us. Secondly, it's directed by Nia DaCosta, whose Tessa Thompson-starring 2018 film Little Woods deserved more attention. And last but by no means least, it features the OG Candyman, Tony Todd, among its cast. Plot-wise, the new flick focuses on artist Anthony McCoy (Aquaman and Watchmen's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who decides to start exploring the Candyman legend through his art. His girlfriend Brianna (If Beale Street Could Talk's Teyonah Parris) thinks the story is just that, but then the bee-covered figure starts wreaking havoc again. That's what happens when folks say his name while looking at their own reflection, after all. Candyman opens in Australian cinemas on August 26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7qxYOpy9Ms A QUIET PLACE PART II In 2018, A Quiet Place tasked a young family with staying soundless, lest they be heard and then killed by giant spider-like monsters. As a result, audiences keenly listened out for any noise that could put Lee (John Krasinski), Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe) Abbott in jeopardy, with the film serving up a mighty tense — and noise-free — time at the cinemas. Now, three years later, the frightful aliens and the hushed tones are back. So is Blunt in kick-ass mode, too. Like the first film, A Quiet Place Part II is directed and written by Krasinski, with this follow-up picking up where its predecessor left off. Certain to serve up plenty of bumps, jumps and — naturally — silence, the sequel also welcomes franchise newcomers Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy). A Quiet Place Part II opens in Australian cinemas on September 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xhJrPXop4 DUNE David Lynch's Dune is one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever made. It's not the version that Alejandro Jodorowsky would've whipped up — as explored in excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune — but the 1984 movie still has its surreal delights. Just how Denis Villeneuve's new adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel will fare is still yet to be seen, but the French Canadian director has already revived another 80s sci-fi property to stunning effect with Blade Runner 2049. Once again, he has amassed a stellar cast, including Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem and Doctor Sleep's Rebecca Ferguson. They'll all fight over 'the spice', the most valuable substance in the universe. Dune releases in Australian cinemas on September 16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBMY2rTz_VM NO TIME TO DIE Shaken (not stirred) martinis are back on the menu, and so are suave secret agents, sinister plots to destroy the world and espionage thrills. Yes, it's James Bond time again, with No Time to Die marking the British spy's 25th official big-screen outing. Daniel Craig returns as 007, which'll be his fifth stint as the spy since 2006's Casino Royale as well as his last. He'll be facing off against an unhinged, mask-wearing new adversary called Safin (Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar-winner Rami Malek), plus imprisoned ex-opponent Blofeld (Christoph Waltz); however, he has company in the 00 stakes, too. Following the events of 2015's Spectre, Bond has left active service and started a new life in Jamaica, causing MI6 to recruit someone else to cover his turf. That'd be new agent Nomi (Captain Marvel's Lashana Lynch), and you can obviously expect the pair to cross paths. Bond being Bond, he was never going to be able to escape his line of work easily, after all. Here, he's brought back in by CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) to help with a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist. No Time to Die opens in Australian cinemas on October 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHhZDYVoV7w HALLOWEEN KILLS For 43 years, the Halloween franchise has been delivering stone-cold horror masterpieces, weird and wonderful detours, and entries that deserve to be locked away for all eternity with Michael Myers. The difference between the series' John Carpenter-directed best and its trashy worst is enormous, but when David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche, Pineapple Express) took the reins for 2018's Halloween — a direct sequel to the 1978 original that ignores the seven other follow-ups and two remakes in-between — he served up one of the saga's best chapters. It helped that Jamie Lee Curtis was back, of course. Also beneficial: a meaty story that grapples with trauma, a skill for slasher thrills, a new score by Carpenter himself, and producer Jason Blum's support. So it was great news when two more movies were announced, including 2021's Halloween Kills, which brings the whole gang back to Haddonfield for another encounter with the town's masked menace. Halloween Kills releases in Australian cinemas on October 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZFCF--uRY GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE There's something strange in the town of Summerville and a group of kids are calling upon themselves to bust it. That's the premise of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which swaps New York for Oklahoma and grown men (and women) for children — and jumps firmly on the Stranger Things-led 80s nostalgia bandwagon. Whether siblings Phoebe (Annabelle Comes Home's McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard) are seeing things runnin' through their heads or they'll catch an invisible man sleepin' in their beds is yet to be seen, of course. They've moved to the isolated locale with their mother (Widows' Carrie Coon), and into a rundown old house they've inherited from their grandfather. It's filled with ghost traps, containers of spores, mould and fungus, beige jumpsuits emblazoned with the name 'Spengler' and a very familiar car — which might come in handy when the ground starts shaking for no reason and a mysterious green light starts glowing. Also, Paul Rudd pops ups as teacher Mr Grooberson, who schools the kids in Ghostbusters lore, because this is a direct sequel to the original 1984 Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens in Australian cinemas on November 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcPk2p0Zaw4 THE FRENCH DISPATCH An offbeat storyline. Mesmerisingly symmetrical frames. A cast that includes Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban and Anjelica Houston. Yep, it must be a new Wes Anderson film — and The French Dispatch looks like Wes Anderson at his most Wes Anderson-esque yet. The premise: in the fictional French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé sometime in the mid-20th century, Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Murray) has turned a series of travelogue columns into a weekly American magazine. A supplement to the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun, The French Dispatch resembles The New Yorker, is staffed by top expatriate journalists, and covers life in France, world politics, high and low art, and diverse stories of human interest. As for the film that shares its name, it focuses on three tales printed in the publication's pages. The French Dispatch doesn't currently have an Australian release date.
Maybe G&Ts are your favourite tipple and, if you're sipping drinks at your favourite bar, you always have one within reach. Perhaps you've never found a vodka cocktail that you haven't loved, or you've made it your life's mission to try all the whiskies (yes, spanning both whisky and whiskey) that you can find. Or, you could simply like broadening your horizons when it comes to knocking back the good stuff, and supporting independent producers while you're at it. Since 2015, the boozing sipping party that is Indie Spirits Tasting has covered all of the above — and it's back in 2022 after a couple of pandemic-affected years. Move over, craft beer — at this east coast event, which'll return to Melbourne in May, Brisbane in July and Sydney in September, it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone has been to plenty of days dedicated to brews, brews and more brews, but this touring shindig is solely about all the whisky, gin, vodka, rum, tequila, vermouth and mezcal you could ever want. More than 30 exhibitors and master distillers are on the bill, showcasing over 200 craft spirits. Clearly, your booze-loving tastebuds will be in heaven. As well as tasting away, attendees will also be able to chat to the folks behind the craft and independent tipples on offer, listen to talks on booze-related topics — Melbourne options include learning what it takes to start your own alcohol brand, celebrating Aussie whiskies and understanding all the different styles of gins — and buy bottles to take home with you. "We started the Indie Spirits Tasting events back in 2015 as a way for a few smaller distilleries and brands to be able to showcase their products to the trade," explains founder David Spanton. "Thanks to the enthusiasm of curious consumers who want to know about the latest bar and drinking trends and who are passionate about local and truly handmade craft products, the event has expanded to include both thirsty drinks enthusiasts and the bartenders that serve them." This year's events will feature brands such as Never Never Distilling Co, Poor Toms, Boat Rocker, Wolf Lane and Archie Rose, some of which will be pouring limited-edition tipples. And while the big focus is on homegrown spirits, a few international names will be on the bill as well — taking your tastebuds on a trip, including through French cognacs and American gins. INDIE SPIRITS TASTING 2022: Sunday, May 8 — The Craft & Co, Collingwood, Melbourne Sunday, July 17 — Lefty's Music Hall, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane Sunday, September 4 — Potts Point Hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney Indie Spirits Tasting starts its 2022 events in Melbourne in May, before heading to Brisbane in July and Sydney in September. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the Indie Spirits Tasting website.
It was a delight as a webcomic, then on the page. As a Netflix series, Heartstopper instantly proved a gem, too. Indeed, if you didn't dedicate an autumn 2022 day to binging the show's first season, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, Heartstopper dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. After Netflix renewed the series for two more seasons last year because the first proved such a hit, the show will get viewers swooning again when season two arrives on Thursday, August 3. Wondering what's in store? There's now finally a trailer. This winter, Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also back as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The first season hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the online attention to prove it, and made stars out of its cast. Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) was in year ten in season one. He found himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, with sparks flying swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — and a crush and then a life-changing love story blossoming. Filled with crushes, a coming-out narrative for Nick and a cute Paris trip — as based on the sneak peek — season two sees its key pair in the thick of their new relationship, and coping with exams and the prom. Also, Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) and recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney) are working through their bond, while her school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) have their own challenges. "You don't always have to understand your feelings completely. You don't have to always have everything figured out. You can just feel," Nick tells Elle in the trailer — something that season-one viewers know sounds like classic Heartstopper. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in November 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in the future. Check out the trailer for Heartstopper season two below: Heartstopper season two will stream via Netflix from Thursday, August 3. Read our review of season one. Images: Netflix.
Sometimes it can be hard finding a gig with all the crazy-good Australian bands and DJs you love in the same place, especially for a reasonable price. Luckily there are organisers out there who felt that the idea wasn’t unachievable and went about creating Track & Field. The second Track & Field event of the year will be taking place at The Arena this Friday, and comes complete with performances by the Bleeding Knees Club, Deep Sea Arcade, Velociraptor and Gung Ho, as well as a bunch of DJs to ensure that you throw shapes down til the morning hours. Those with sharp memories will notice that location has changed from last time, which was a deliberate choice by the organisers to keep punters on their feet. Created as an antidote to consumers having to choose between either festivals or gigs with only one band, Track & Field fills the middle void nicely. If you think about it, it’s kind of like a house party – if you were friends with lots of amazing musicians. So don’t be that kid who shows up to school/uni/work/etc on Monday and was the only one who didn’t attend the party of the year.
Buying a plant is a bit like getting a pet — except, at times, even more difficult. You see a fancy-looking fern in the plant store and think, whoa, this would look great on the kitchen bench. So you take it home and try your best, really, to take care of it, and dream that one day it might love you back (hopefully). But then disaster happens; you see a few brown leaves and it looks a little wilted. What do you do? Truth is, some plants can be pretty needy, and some just don't flourish in certain environments. It can be really hard to figure out what your plants require and where they grow best, so we spoke to Georgina Reid, founder and editor of online magazine The Planthunter. She's given her seasoned advice that'll help you keep those plant babies alive, organised by the different parts of your home. THE SUNNY, NORTH-FACING, INDOOR SPACE This is your well-sunned living room or kitchen with a nice big window. There's a lot that can grow here due to the amount of sunshine pouring in. Many succulents will work well in this space; look to hen and chicks (Echeveria spp.), jade plant (Crassula spp.) and even mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis spp.). Aesthetically, the fiddle-leaf fig looks snazzy in a well-lit, white room (although apparently a little cliché in the plant community), and so does peperomia with its thick, slightly succulent leaves. Just be aware if this space doesn't get that direct afternoon sun — this may be good for you in the middle of summer, but not so much for any cacti or herbs. These guys need a big dose of sun so this spot may be a bit depriving. THE SUNNY, BACKDOOR COURTYARD Conveniently located at the other end of your house, the courtyard is most likely at ground level so there's a good chance you can plant directly in the soil and keep things in pots. As a result, consider this spot the all-rounder. It's an ideal location for succulents, flowers, vegetables and herbs. Oregano, rosemary and thyme are quite easy to grow, and the great thing about them is that they're perennial — they'll live for more than one year (unlike basil, coriander and parsley who live fast and die young). Many veggies need roughly four to six hours of sun each day, making a sunny courtyard an ideal space for them to thrive. And if you're not after edibles, Reid recommends checking out the spaghetti-like hanging fronds of the mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis spp.) which provide an eye-catching, refreshingly sculptural addition to a shadier outdoor space. THE OFTEN HUMID, STEAMY BATHROOM Plants might do a great job of freshening up the bathroom, but the steam from your shower is enough to drown a large number of genera — FYI, that's the plural of genus— so Reid suggests looking for tropical climate plants. Ferns are great here as they love that moisture. The Boston fern is a great bathroom addition visually. They're also pretty tough and grow very tall. Maidenhair fern is also a popular bathroom addition, but be warned: this one may be for the greenest of thumbs. According to Reid, the Maidenhair can be quite temperamental if not provided with near-perfect growing conditions. THE LOW-LIT STUDY OR BEDROOM Our bedrooms and studies aren't reliably bright, so the desk cactus doesn't like this part of the house, regardless of how cute it looks next to that lamp. Reid recommends you swap it for a big leafy plant or fern instead. She suggests looking for rainforest plants: "They've evolved with large, glossy leaves to grab as much light as possible." Although not applicable to all plants, many of these have 'drip tips'. You can identify these by the point at the end of the leaf that water spills off. Some of Reid's favourites include the hoya, a beautifully sculpted climbing plant with incredible flowers, and Devil's Ivy — the name comes from the fact that it's near impossible to kill this guy. Also, the Fruit Salad plant (also known as monstera) doesn't really need a whole lot of sun and grows really well in dim light. THE HOT, WEST-FACING BALCONY The west-facing balcony might be the hottest part of your place, after the oven. In summer, the afternoon sun will roast this area, making it scorched and dry. So, it's best to put those plants that require a lot less moisture out here. Cacti love this setting: if at all, they require very little watering — they thrive in the desert, after all. Herbs are great too and so are veggies: they all need a good showering of sun. Succulents will grow well in the heat, too. Reid recommends plants from the aloe genus, particularly picatilis or Fan Aloe. Like other succulents, it's the perfect plant to survive a heatwave as all the moisture is stored within its leaves. So how much water do succulents need? You'll notice when they need more moisture; they'll be trying to draw water from itself and will look a little withered. "It's best to give your plants a good soaking every week or two, rather than a trickle every day," says Reid. You can tell if they need a water by sticking a finger into the soil. If there's moisture, it's probably fine. There's no need to drown the poor thing. All in all, getting your plants to thrive can be tricky and often needs more than one go. But if it doesn't work out, try again. "Plants die," says Reid, "that's just how it is." Plant Life Balance is a new initiative designed to get Australians excited and confident about styling their homes with plants while promoting the healthy benefits plants bring. The initiative also delivers an Australian-first, virtual greening app. The Plant Life Balance app, asks Aussies to rate their space, then improve their health score by choosing a look for their room or outdoor area, grabbing a plant list and hitting the nursery. Download the app here.
Tasmania has quickly become the ultimate destination for lovers of all things spirituous, frothy and quaffable, with world-class wine regions, small batch spirit producers and a proud history of local brews and hop growing. You'll find new distilleries challenging tradition with unique, personalised experiences for the whisky aficionado and specialist gins that encompass the taste and place that is Tasmania. There are more breweries than you can shake a stick at — including an Aussie trailblazer in the wild fermentation scene. Not to mention the finest of Australian sparkling wine. So whatever your tipple, it's time to grab your glass and see what's on pour in our great southernmost state. We've teamed up with Tourism Tasmania to highlight the region's finest. Just make sure you've got a designated driver in tow. [caption id="attachment_866909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liza Jane Sowden[/caption] MAKE YOUR OWN SPARKLING WINE AT JOSEF CHROMY Tasmania is the centre of Australia's premium sparkling industry and Josef Chromy Wines produces some of the finest. This is a cellar door experience like no other. At the state-of-the-art winery in Relbia, you'll be guided through the art of sparkling winemaking and tasting before you blend your own sparkling wine to delight your palate — and yes, you get to take a bottle home with you. Hear about Josef's story as a leader of the Tasmanian food and wine industry, the sustainable practices of the vineyard and the cool-climate regions he has helped put on the map. Finish with a tasting flight of current releases, followed by a two-course lunch in the restaurant featuring the finest of local produce — with paired wines, of course. [caption id="attachment_867702" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Harmsen[/caption] TAKE A SPRING BAY DISTILLERY VIP TOUR AND TASTING Get a personalised VIP whisky experience at Spring Bay Distillery. Distilling team Cam and Suzy Brett produce award-winning Australian spirits at this spectacular maritime location on the East Coast. Discover whiskies shaped by the sea, crafted from the region's pristine rainwater and premium Tasmanian barley, in a range of elegant single malts from the bright, light and floral to the rich, sweet and bold. As is fitting of a VIP, you'll sample a tasting flight of three drams — including an exclusive dip straight from the barrel — and experience a personalised distillery tour. Find out how exceptional Australian single malt can be and experience the ultimate whisky-lover's delight. [caption id="attachment_868870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moon Cheese Studio[/caption] ENJOY HAND-PUMPED ALE AND CIDER AT THE TWO METRE TALL FARM BAR Head into the scenic Derwent Valley for a hand-pumped pint at Two Metre Tall. The 'farm bar' sits at the end of an unassuming country driveway surrounded by idyllic farmland and some decorative hop vines. One of the earliest Aussie breweries to really explore wild, funky and sour ferments, it now brews a range of farm ales and ciders throughout the year — including seasonal specials and a dry sparkling mead. Ingredients are sourced from their own sustainable local farm and carefully selected growers across Tasmania. If spontaneous fermentation and sustainable practices are your thing, stop in for some free tastings and a pint, bring a picnic and settle in for an afternoon. Driver recommended. [caption id="attachment_867703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alistair Bett[/caption] GO WHISKY DEEP AT THE CALLINGTON MILL DISTILLERY SERENDIPITY EXPERIENCE The picturesque historic town of Oatlands is now home to a new distillery. On the grounds of the old Callington Mill, this architecturally-designed space is the "Rolls-Royce of Whisky distilleries" and is already home to some award-winning drops. In the massive barrel room of the Callington Mill Distillery, you'll taste five premium cask-strength whiskies, including an Australian brandy cask and a bourbon ex muscadelle. Learn from the masters about the art of crafting the perfect single malt for your tastes. Then do it, and leave with a full bottle of the dram of your dreams and your own unique label. Finish off with an interactive, self-guided tour of the distillery. Prepare to have your whisky-loving mind (and palate) well and truly blown away. [caption id="attachment_866448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] S.Group[/caption] INDULGE YOUR LOVE OF GIN AT SOUTHERN WILD DISTILLERY Southern Wild Distillery has managed to craft something truly distinctive with Dasher + Fisher gins. The distillery is embracing what's unique about Tasmanian landscapes and showcasing small local growers, capturing seasonality, the personality and — of course — the spirit of the place. Take a tour of the distillery and explore different Tasmanian regions with the tasting flight. The Mountain Gin botanicals include pepperberries and herbs from Cradle Mountain with eucalypt and rosemary, with a refreshing result akin to an alpine walk on a wet day. The Meadow Gin distils the essence of Tasmanian gardens with herbs, flowers and seasonal orange. The savoury Ocean Gin variety uses wakame seaweed harvested from the Tasman Sea as a hero botanical. Plus they also craft Sloe, Strawberry, Cherry and Saffron steeped gins highlighting local Tasmanian producers of premium ingredients. Bottom's up. Ready to plan a trip for your tastebuds around Tasmania? To discover more, visit the website. Top image: Tourism Tasmania and Adam Gibson
General tickets for the Australian leg of Kylie Minogue's 2025 Tension world tour haven't yet gone on sale, but fans have been spinning around over presales, so much so that more gigs have already been announced. When 'Padam Padam' summer happens all over again, it'll do so with an extra show in each of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on what'll be the singer's biggest global tour in 14 years. Of course Kylie is starting her latest live performances Down Under. And of course the reaction has been huge. Headlining Splendour in the Grass 2024 mightn't have worked out after the Byron Bay music festival was cancelled mere weeks after revealing its lineup, but there's plenty of demand to see the Aussie pop superstar on home soil and to catch this tour before anyone else on the planet. [caption id="attachment_973694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Melvin[/caption] Minogue is kicking off her latest shows in February 2025, still beginning with a one-night gig in Perth. From there, she also has a single date locked in for Adelaide. She's now doing two concerts in Brisbane, however, plus three shows apiece in Melbourne and Sydney. The last time that Minogue embarked on a tour this big was back in 2011. The last time that she hit the stage Down Under was in 2023 to open Sydney WorldPride. So far, the Tension tour also spans stops in Bangkok, Tokyo, Kaohsiung and Manila in Asia after her Aussie concerts, and then hits up Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London, Nottingham and Birmingham in the UK. In what's proven a massive career since her Neighbours-starring, 'I Should Be So Lucky'- and 'Locomotion'-singing 80s era, it's been a big last few years for Minogue thanks to the huge success of the Grammy-winning 'Padam Padam', a brief return to Neighbours and a Las Vegas residency — and now the Tension tour keeps that streak running. Kylie Minogue Tension Tour 2025 Australian Dates Saturday, February 15 — RAC Arena, Perth Tuesday, February 18 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, February 20–Saturday, February 22 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wednesday, February 26–Thursday, February 27 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, March 1–Monday, March 3 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Kylie Minogue's Tension tour kicks off in Australia in February and March 2025. Ticket presales for the new Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane shows start from Thursday, September 26, with general sales from Wednesday, October 2 — both at staggered times. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Darenoted Ltd.
When one holiday ends, the only thing for it is to start planning the next one. Perhaps in one of those magical places where Slack and email doesn't exist. Where it's not only fine to drink cocktails with lunch — it's encouraged. And entire days are spent by the nearest body of water before you feast on platters of local seafood as the sun sets. If that sounds appealing and you're ready to get booking, spin the fantasy into a reality with one of these luxurious island holiday deals that can be booked now exclusively through Concrete Playground Trips. We teamed up with accommodation and experience providers to curate trips that are truly unforgettable (and significantly discounted), so scroll now to find and book your fave. AFFORDABLE LUXURY STAY IN LOMBOK We are obsessed with Lombok — Bali's less crowded neighbour. It has a high calibre of beaches, food and hospitality but at a significantly lower price point and with fewer tourists. To best take advantage of this stunning island, we teamed up with KU Villas Lombok to create three different travel deals. The first deal is the simplest and includes a two-night stay with daily breakfasts (for two people) in this lavish accommodation for just $105 a night. For an extra $25 per night, you can upgrade to get your own private plunge pool. The second deal includes a three-night stay, private chauffeur, $200 credit for the clifftop SIWA Clubhouse, one-hour massage for each guest and all your breakfasts — and is just $455 total for two people. And the third deal is $655 for all the same inclusions plus extra spa treatments. BOOK NOW THE ULTIMATE KANGAROO ISLAND ADVENTURE This Kangaroo Island deal makes exploring this criminally underrated South Australian travel destination so much easier. It includes a three-day car hire, return ferry tickets from Cape Jervis, a two-night stay at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge and an epic ocean safari to get a sea creature's perspective of the spectacular natural beauty. This cruise will take you along the coastline with the chance to see dolphins, seals, eagles and other native birdlife. For more things to do during your stay, check out our weekender's guide to Kangaroo Island and discover why the New York Times recently named it one of the world's best places to visit in 2023. BOOK NOW A FIVE-DAY HOLISTIC BALI RETREAT We love a good wellness escape. That's why we teamed up with Y Retreats to create this exclusive five-day Bali retreat experience. During your stay, you can join any of the wellness experiences — life coaching sessions, stress management activities, yoga and breathwork classes, leadership and resilience training and workshops from keynote speakers. All your meals and transfers are also included. But get in fast. This unique retreat package only has eight spots available. BOOK NOW [caption id="attachment_810409" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christoph Burgdorfer (Unsplash)[/caption] GLAMPING HOLIDAY ON THE COOK ISLANDS The Cook Islands made our 2022 list of rising bucket list destinations for 2023 and it's easy to see why — you just need to have it on your radar. Immerse yourselves in nature (but in total comfort) on Rarotonga Island with this luxurious glamping holiday. We'll put you up in the Ikurangi Eco Retreat — the Cook Islands' first and only purpose-built eco-accommodation and glamping hotel — where you can choose to stay in a range of beautiful safari tents. You'll spend five nights on this tropical island, venturing to stunning lagoons, remote beaches and scenic nature trails. The trip also includes use of the hotel's bikes and snorkelling equipment, transfers and daily tropical breakfasts delivered to your room. For just $165 per night, this is untouched tropical paradise without the big ticket price tag. BOOK NOW LUXURIOUS MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE ESCAPE IN LOMBOK We teamed up with Royal Avila Boutique Resort to offer an incredible deal to Concrete Playground readers. When you book a three-night or five-night stay, you'll get 47% off the total price. And this special Lombok deal doesn't just include your accommodation. For $755 for a three-night stay for two (around $125 per person per night), each of you will also get a 60-minute massage, lunch and dinner at its restaurant, a welcome cocktail on arrival and daily breakfasts. BOOK NOW THE ULTIMATE WHITSUNDAYS ESCAPE The Whitsundays is one of our top picks for the best Australian destinations to visit in 2023. That was the inspiration behind this exclusive deal which goes above and beyond with unforgettable inclusions to showcase the very best of this beautiful part of the country. Two adults will spend five days at the Mirage Whitsundays resort and take part in a series of guided tours. There's a two-hour sunset sailing cruise, a one-hour scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and a full-day Whitehaven Beach excursion. Airport transfers and daily breakfasts are also included. (And those who are working with a smaller budget can opt for this shorter travel package.) BOOK NOW FIVE-STAR STAY IN THE HEART OF KUTA If you're visiting Bali and would prefer to be at the centre of the action, then we have the five-star hotel deal for a luxury stay in the heart of Kuta. We've paired up with the opulent Aryaduta Bali to give Concrete Playground Trips users an exclusive offer at a very special rate. A three-night stay (for two people) at the resort is less than half the standard price at just $455. And our package includes perks like a daily cocktail at the rooftop pool bar, dinner at the resort restaurant, an airport transfer and breakfast every day. A no-brainer for realising your island fantasy as soon as possible. BOOK NOW Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Lombok by Tom Bixler (Unsplash)
No matter where you are in the world, air travel is always a pretty uniform experience. But there's a new kid on the airline block that's looking to shake things up a little — and it's tailored specifically to millennials. Joon, a lower-cost spin-off of Air France, is out to give air travel a bit of a shake-up, offering a 'new generation travel experience' to a 'young working clientele'. In other words: it's not a regular airline, it's a cool airline. The planes — which will start flying from December — will be set up with all the things Air France reckons will make millennials feel right at home: organic ingredients in the food, Rick & Morty on the screens, phone charging outlets in the seats, and fruit smoothies and organic French wine on the menu. Instead of prim uniforms, fresh-faced attendants will be kitted out in sporty threads and white kicks, while bold branding sees electric blue splashed across the seats, the uniforms and just about everything else. I guess millennial pink would have been too obvious. According to Joon's launch campaign, the whole flying thing is just one part of the equation, with the airline also likening itself to 'a fashion brand, a rooftop bar, and a personal assistant'. Fitting, given how much we millennials apparently love to multitask (and drinking at rooftop bars). Joon kicks off five medium-haul routes out of Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport this December, with plans to add long-haul flights to destinations like Seychelles and Brazil mid-2018. It's hard to say if staff wearing sneakers will make a budget flight any less of a drag, but it's nice to see an airline do something different for once. One to try if you're travelling into or out of Paris next year.
Living in a building that hangs from space might sound like science fiction; however a New York firm has published a design that explores that very concept. Appropriately labeled "speculative" on their website, Clouds Architecture Office has come up with a high-rise building that would hypothetically be suspended from an orbiting asteroid. Yes, really. For those instantly dreaming about living about the earth, the bottom would reach close enough to the ground for residents to parachute to the surface. The firm has proposed Dubai as a potential place to build the tower, citing that the city "has proven to be a specialist in tall building construction at one fifth the cost of New York City construction." While suspending anything from any kind of celestial body piques a whole lot of interest, Clouds AO have cited recent missions from the European Space Agency that they say prove that "it's possible to rendezvous and land on a spinning comet." They also say that "NASA has scheduled an asteroid retrieval mission for 2021 which aims to prove the feasibility of capturing and relocating an asteroid." According to their idea, if we could harness an asteroid and pull it into a geosynchronous equatorial orbit (a stable circular orbit that follows the Earth's rotation), steel cables could then be attached to the asteroid, and a tower suspended from them. The building would then hover in a figure-eight motion daily, moving between the northern and southern hemispheres. Business would be conducted on the lower levels, with the middle section classed as residential. As for what happens above that, "devotional activities are scattered along the highest reaches." There are just a few points to be taken into account, unsurprisingly. The proposal includes transfer stations to load and unload people and goods, but how this could be done with a building moving literally at an astronomical pace is debatable. While infographics in the proposal show aeroplanes safely manoeuvring around the tower, having just one object moving through the air consistently with no vertical break would be sure to wreak havoc on global flight paths, let alone if more towers were built. Finally, if the tower is constantly in motion, what happens if a resident parachutes to earth for work and then forgets that they left their earphones at home? Are they left to face the rest of the day without jams? The firm has also noted that "there is probably a tangible height limit beyond which people would not tolerate living due to the extreme conditions," meaning that it's pretty tough to be outside the troposphere without some kind of spacesuit. It doesn't really bother Clouds AO, though, as astronauts do it all the time "so perhaps it's not so bad?" Even with those issues, the proposed idea is a maverick design that really pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of architecture. It also demonstrates that new research inspires new technology which, in turn, changes the way we build our world. While the Analemma Tower might not be built in our lifetimes, its design goes to show that we'll always keep reaching for the stars. Via: Dezeen. Images: Clouds Architecture Office.
With plenty of IKEA furniture ending up deep in the Gumtree 'For Sale' ads or left on the side of the road, the Swedish retailer came up with a pretty clever plan to give those unwanted flat-pack ensembles a second lease on life: a buy-back service. In good news for those moving house or faced with an accumulative collection of Malm blond wood pieces, the chain allows Australians to return their retired IKEA pieces to their nearest store, ready to be sold on to a new home — and score a voucher for their efforts. Until Saturday, August 14, IKEA is going a step further at its Logan and North Lakes stores in Brisbane — on office furniture, specifically. Return an unwanted IKEA desk, chair or other office piece this week, and the retailer will ramp up your refund by 50 percent. So yes, you'll receive 1.5 times as much as you would if you brought in a few bookshelves once the special is over. So how does it work? If you've got some furniture you want to get out of your life, you'll need to get an estimated quote online. When you do so, that web calculator will automatically increase the value of your returned item by 50 percent compared to normal. Then, you'll need to take the quote and your furniture — still fully assembled, mind you — to your closest IKEA location. Once there, your furniture will be assessed by an IKEA staff member, and they'll confirm the a value and give you a buy-back refund card to use in-store. The one big caveat: to score the extra refund, you'll need to be an IKEA Family member (otherwise, you'll just receive the normal amount). It's free to join, though, and you can sign up online. Even added credit on offer, the buy-back scheme still works in the same general way. So, it's only for IKEA furniture, and not for other products like lighting, mattresses, textiles, kitchen components or appliances. That's because the bought-back pieces need to be in good enough condition to be sold on to other customers in the As-Is store. It does, however, have separate recycling schemes for mattresses, batteries and light bulbs. The by-back program was rolled out nationally in 2019 after a year-long trial at Sydney's Tempe store, which saw 1600 pieces bought back from customers. Initially, the initiative was spurred by findings from the company's latest People & Planet Positive Report, which suggested Aussies threw away up to 13.5 million pieces of furniture that could have been recycled, reused or repaired. If your bookcase or filing cabinet isn't in quite good enough condition for the As-Is store, you might need to consider donating it to charity or finding another way to recycle it. And if you are buying new furniture, consider buying something secondhand from the As-Is store, or at least investing in something that you plan to keep long-term. For more information about IKEA's buy-back scheme, head to the retailer's website. Until Saturday, August 14, IKEA Family members will get an extra 50-percent refund amount on returned IKEA furniture, as calculated via an online quote, and then confirmed when you take your goods to the brand's stores to collect and redeem the voucher.
With collections full to the brim with vibrant colours and patterns, House of Cards is a wonderful clothing line to to add to your summer wardrobe. The label, created by former design and photography student Ashiya Omundsen, has already earned a cult following around Brisbane thanks to its on trend look and vibrant colour palette. Blues, greens and purples feature predominantly in Ashiya's creations, which include not only gorgeous garments, but cool clutches and brazen backpacks (and check out these shoes, omg!). Crop tops, mini-skirts, shorts, bikinis - you are spoilt for choice when it comes to that age old question of 'what to wear'. House of Cards are setting up shop in Winn Lane all of October - so that gives you plenty of time to pop in and browse the ample selection that will be on hand. Ashiya has some serious design chops and her clothes are examples of a vibrant aesthetics meets quality design. Do your wardrobe a favour and check it out.
It's the huge showcase that took the world by storm, sending David Bowie's lightning bolt-adorned face everywhere from London and Berlin to Tokyo and Melbourne. His Ziggy Stardust costumes, various handwritten lyrics, an assortment of album artwork, rare photographs and even the magic orb he fondled as Jareth in Labyrinth, too. Organised by London's Victoria and Albert Museum, David Bowie is exhibited hundreds objects from the David Bowie Archive, visiting 12 cities over six years and attracting more than two million visitors — and while it finished its final run in Brooklyn early in 2018, it's now back in a new format. Available since Tuesday, January 8 — aka what would've been the music icon's 72nd birthday — David Bowie is now exists as a digital recreation that you can access on your phone. As first announced back in July 2018, fans can tour the Bowie bonanza as an augmented reality (AR) experience, which features a sequence of audio-visual spaces highlighting artifacts from Bowie's life. Basically, it's like heading along without the crowds, and with Gary Oldman narrating your journey through the exhibition. Specifically, there's 56 costumes, 60 original lyrics sheets and design notes, 50 photos, 33 drawings and sketches, and seven paintings — plus 38 songs, and 23 music videos and live performances. The entire slate features more than 400 high-resolution captures, including 60 new objects that weren't included in the touring exhibition. [caption id="attachment_705202" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] David Bowie Is[/caption] Available on iOs and Android platforms, David Bowie is' AR version doesn't just involve looking at 2D representations, either, with 3D scans used to preserve and present the artist's costumes and objects in detail. And, there's more to come, with a virtual reality version still in the works. Here's hoping that Bowie obsessives will be able to virtually step into one of his out-of-sight outfits and see themselves in one — yes, this might be your chance to turn and face the strange or experience some ch-ch-changes. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc, the David Bowie Archive and the V&A, "the augmented reality adaptation of David Bowie is enables you to explore the entire exhibition in the intimacy of your own environment, without glass barriers, vitrines or throngs of visitors," according to the exhibition website. It costs $12.99, with a portion of the profits to be donated the V&A and Brooklyn Museum. David Bowie is now available on iOs and Android platforms. For further information, head to davidbowieisreal.com. Images: David Bowie Is.
Mark Friday, April 12, 2024 in your diary: that's when Fallout will jump from gaming's bunker to streaming's landscape. After 2023 saw The Last of Us leap from mashed buttons to a TV sensation for HBO, 2024 now has a big candidate to follow in its footsteps, this time via Prime Video. It's been almost three decades since Fallout first hit computers back in 1997, with three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs all following. Next comes a live-action television take starring Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (I'm a Virgo) and Kyle MacLachlan (Lucky Hank). After dropping its first images earlier this week, the Fallout TV series now has a trailer — and it nails the game's aesthetic, sound and vibe. Fans of the Fallout game will already know the show's setting: a post-apocalyptic future. The series takes place 200 years after everything went pear-shaped, with people living in luxe fallout shelters ever since. When some such folks leave their cosy confines, they find a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence. Purnell plays vault-dweller Lucy, while Twin Peaks great MacLachlan is her dad Overseer Hank, who — as his name suggests — oversees Vault 33. On the surface, Goggins is bounty hunter The Ghoul, who has a secret past — and Aaron Moten (Emancipation) also has a pivotal part as Brotherhood of Steel soldier Maximus. The retrofuturistic dystopian series also features Moisés Arias (Samaritan), Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...), Michael Emerson (Evil), Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance) and Johnny Pemberton (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) as well — plus Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O'Hagan (Dear Edward) and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). For The Last of Us, HBO enlisted a creative force from one of the US premium cable network's past hits in Chernobyl's Craig Mazin. Prime Video has done the same with Fallout, but with Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy — who also executive produced Prime Video's own The Peripheral. As well as executive producing with Joy, Nolan directs the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) are similarly among Fallout's executive producers, as well as the series' writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in finally bringing the games to the screen. Check out the first trailer for Fallout below: Fallout will start streaming via Prime Video from Friday, April 12, 2024. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
When that slice of inner-city delights known as Teneriffe was officially named a suburb back in 2010, locals threw a party to celebrate. Ten years on and the shindig is still going strong — you know it as the Teneriffe Festival. For its 2019 outing, the event will boast another wide-ranging lineup, aka the kind of bill previous attendees have come to expect. Taking place from 10am–9pm on Saturday, July 6, think music, food, markets and fun, all helping locals and visitors alike make the most of the bustling locale. Chilled riverside hangouts are just the beginning. Indeed, whether you're keen on feasting, shopping, drinking or tapping your toes, you'll find it here. More than 50,000 people usually attend, so you'll also find plenty of company. Sample the area's bars and restaurants, find a feast of cheese, champagne and oysters, then work off all that food and booze by walking around an array bespoke market stalls. A packed program of local tunes is always on the agenda as well. Image: Teneriffe Festival.
When it comes to imbibing gin at home, your go-to may be the classic G&T, or perhaps you shake up a crisp martini from time-to-time. You may also be ready to mix things up with a whole new botanical bev. Whatever your status with gin, Greenall's has given us a few trusty recipes to help you perfect your favourite gin drink at home — whether that be by mastering the perfect proportions for the classics or learning to make an entirely new cocktail. These guys have been at the gin game since 1761, so you can rest assured you're in good hands with their literal centuries of experience, heritage and passion for what they do — whether that's creating new and innovative recipes, or handing over their favourite gin cocktail recipes to make at your gaff. LIME TWIST MARTINI It's the drink that makes you feel like all the laundry has been done, folded neatly away and that Nina Simone is serenading you from an old record. Sit down and have a rest — you've earned it. — 50ml Greenall's Original London Dry Gin — 10ml dry vermouth — Lime twist Place a solid handful of ice into a metal cocktail shaker, add gin and vermouth and set your dominant hand to stir moderately for at least ten blinks. Next, strain into a chilled martini glass. If you're lacking said shapely vessel, Greenall's recommends any other fancy — but equally as chilled — glass. Twist and squeeze the oil from the lime peel into the glass, and leave the curly little citrus in there for garnish. WILD BERRY AND LEMONADE If Bernard Black of Black Books had to choose a summer drink for his summer girl, this would be it. — 50ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 100ml lemonade (or quality tonic water) — Berries to garnish Find your tallest glass, fill it with ice and pour in gin. Top up with — no, not wine Bernard, it's for your girl remember, so opt for the lemonade. Yes, tonic will work, too. Garnish with one berry, two berry, three berry or more. BASIL SMASH Conversation running dry? Then it's time to Natalie Imbruglia the heck out of those basil leaves you've been growing all summer. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 25ml fresh lemon juice — 12.5ml sugar syrup — 8 freshly torn basil leaves Add basil to the base of the cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Next, pour in gin, your heart, soul and the remaining ingredients. Shake over ice and strain over an ice-filled tumbler glass, and start (re)memorising the rest of the lyrics to Torn. Head out for a night of 90s karaoke hits. WILD BERRY FLORA DORA When the 'yes' vote came through and all Australian lovebirds got the right to get hitched, this is the drink everyone should have had in hand to celebrate. With a marrying together of gin, ginger beer, lime and raspberry, it's the refreshing drink we all deserve. — 40ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 20ml fresh lime juice — 10ml raspberry syrup — Ginger beer Your Tetris skills will be invaluable here. Your job: build all ingredients in a highball glass over ice. Stir, stir, stir. Serve and play again. GIN AND TONIC Free pouring is for fools. What we're after is a taste sensation that rides the palate of perfection. And Greenall's has given us its easy-peasy, limey-squeezy take on the classic G&T. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 100ml tonic water (again, go for quality) — 2 lime wedges Fill a tall glass with ice — that's right, enough to sink a duck. Squeeze in one of the lime wedges. Pour in gin. Top with tonic. Yes, all in that order. Garnish with your second lime wedge. Hold glass high for several seconds in appreciation, and then wink as you hand-deliver to your mate. Make 'em all and find (or re-confirm) a favourite drink to pour your Greenall's into at home.
Some of us go to great lengths to get a laugh – seeing comedy films, tripping people over with a sly shoe in, or even the cult favourite, laughter yoga. But every year around March, the good people at the Powerhouse bring the laughs with the hilarious Brisbane Comedy Festival. This year the lineup is pretty fantastic, with Stephen K Amos leading the international stakes, and Tom Ballard doing it for the home crowd. Much like the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, there will be performances over a week long stint, with most comedians starring more than once, so there's no chance you'll miss an opportunity to be thoroughly amused. See if Tom Gleeson is still pulling the rednut card, if Charlie Pickering isn't all repressed from his prime time Project and if Frank Woodley can do it without Lano. They'll be alongside Hannah Gadsby, Wil Andersen, Sam Simmons, David O'Doherty and the very big Tom Green of The Tom Green Show/Freddy Got Fingered. With a suitably intimate venue for gracious belly laughs, there will be no need to go seeking LOLs elsewhere.
When Candace Bushnell first started penning a newspaper column about life, love and sex in New York City back in the early 90s, she couldn't have known what would follow. Those missives sparked a book, plus two prequels on the page. Then came a smash-hit TV series, two movies, a prequel television show and a small-screen sequel. And, there's no signs of all things Sex and the City-related slowing down anytime soon. In fact, follow-up And Just Like That... is guaranteed to hang around for at least one more season, with HBO renewing the show. The series first premiered in 2021, and is currently airing its second season — and now a third has been locked in. "We are delighted to share that since the launch of season two, And Just Like That… ranks as the #1 Max Original overall, and is the most-watched returning Max Original to date," said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content at Max, HBO's streaming service in the US. "As we approach the highly anticipated season finale on Thursday, we raise our cosmos to Michael Patrick King and his magnificent team of writers, producers, cast and crew, who continue to charm us, 25 years later, with dynamic friendships and engaging stories. We cannot wait for audiences to see where season three will take our favourite New Yorkers." "We are thrilled to spend more time in the Sex and the City universe telling new stories about the lives of these relatable and aspirational characters played by these amazing actors. And Just Like That… here comes season three," added King, the series' executive producer, who also worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original show (and on the two terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies). Sarah Jessica Parker (Hocus Pocus 2), Kristin Davis (Deadly Illusions) and Cynthia Nixon (The Gilded Age) star in And Just Like That..., but it isn't just called Sex and the City again for one key reason: Kim Cattrall is largely sitting it out. While she does make a brief cameo in season two, however, the program has been focusing on Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York Goldenblatt and Miranda Hobbes, not Samantha Jones, thanks to off-screen dramas. Other familiar faces abound, though, including John Corbett (To All the Boys: Always and Forever) reprising his role as Aidan Shaw in season two. Mario Cantone (Better Things), David Eigenberg (Chicago Fire) and Evan Handler (Power) have all also returned. Among the full cast: Sara Ramírez (Madam Secretary), Sarita Choudhury (Ramy), Nicole Ari Parker (Chicago PD), Karen Pittman (The Morning Show), Christopher Jackson (Space Oddity), Niall Cunningham (Poker Face), Cathy Ang (My Best Friend's Exorcism) and Alexa Swinton (Old). Cosmos at the ready — again. Exactly when your next excuse to sip vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice will arrive hasn't been revealed, but expect it on Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. And if you've spent any part of the past two-and-a-half decades dreaming about being a fabulously dressed Big Apple writer who seems to do very little work but can still afford a fantasy wardrobe — or if you've just filled it drinking a lot of pink-coloured cocktails — then you'll already be excited. Also, you'll know that when the first season of And Just Like That... arrived to step into Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte's lives and friendships in their 50s, when things are even more complicated than they were two decades ago, it did so 17 years after Sex and the City wrapped up its 1998–2004 HBO run. There's no sneak peek at And Just Like That... season three yet, but you can check out the season two trailer below: And Just Like That... streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. We'll update you with a season three release date when one is announced. Images: HBO.
UPDATE, July 9: Due to Sydney's lockdown, Lord of the Fries won't be celebrating National Fry Day at its Newtown store. For Sydney only, the free chip giveaway will take place on a different, yet-to-be-advised date. This article has been updated to reflect that change — and we'll provide you with more details for Sydney when they're announced. Despite also serving up everything from all-day breakfast to ice cream sandwiches, we still think that fries are the best thing about Lord of the Fries. It's right there in the name, after all. The chain's chips are particularly tasty — as made with Australian potatoes and cooked in a cottonseed sunflower oil blend. There is one thing better than Lord of the Fries' titular dish, however. That'd be free fries from the chip-loving establishment. And on Tuesday, July 13, the vegan fast food joint is giving away just that. Free. Fries. Yes, really. To snag free fries on Tuesday, you'll need to head to your chosen store in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia between 1–2pm — and you'll be gifted a serving of shoestring deliciousness. You don't even have to purchase any vego nuggets to redeem them. There is a limit of one freebie per person, though, so take that into consideration if you're feeling particularly peckish. You'll get your choice of classic sauces, too. This is great news for, Melburnians, Brisbanites and Adelaideans who like fries — aka everyone. Folks in in Melbourne can choose between 14 different stores, Brisbanites can flock to Fortitude Valley (or Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast) and people in Adelaide can hit up Hindley Street and Glenelg. And if you're wondering why, that's because it's National Fry Day. Of course it is. Lord of the Fries also has a store in Newtown in Sydney; however, it will celebrate National Fry Day with a free fries giveaway on a different, yet-to-be-advised date. We'll provide you with more details for Sydney when they're announced. Lord of the Fries is giving away free fries from 1–2pm on Tuesday, July 13 at all of its Australian stores outside of Sydney. To find your closest store, head to the chain's website.
Renowned chef David Chang is branching out into the world of home cooking. The founder of the Momofuku restaurant group has just announced that the company will be bottling and selling a spicy Korean chilli sauce, one that he claims goes with everything from pizza to pork buns to kale. Ssam Sauce is red in colour, and is presumably similar to traditional Korean gochujang, made from chilli, rice, fermented soybeans and salt. Momofuku is yet to announce exactly when the product goes on sale — or if it will be available in Australia — but Chang himself has taken to Instagram with the bold claim that the sauce "improves pizza, French fries, rice, ramen, juicy rucy's, chicken & dumplings, spicy fried chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, chicken rings, hamburgers, kale, quinoa, beet salads and pork buns." The chef went so far as to say that Ssam sauce "even makes sriracha better." Huy Fong Foods, producers of America's leading sriracha sauce, have yet to respond to the jibe — although we're still holding out hope for a social media flame war the likes of which the condiment world has never seen before. This of course marks the second major sauce-based news story of recent weeks, following McDonald's announcement that they will be selling bottles of their Big Mac Special Sauce for the first time ever, exclusively here in Australia. One 'limited edition' bottle just sold on eBay from $20,600 — hopefully Momofuku's product will be a little bit more reasonably priced. Chang opened his first restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar, in New York City back in 2004. Since then it's inspired more than a dozen off-shoots, including the dual Michelin star recipient Momofuku Ko, as well as Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney. Via Grub Street.
Just as the winter lull is about to take hold, Vivid comes to light up Sydney and draw us out from under the covers. This year, the festival is bigger and brighter than ever with a jam-packed lineup of installations, performances and talks. If you've been looking for an excuse to visit the harbour city, Vivid is it. With its growing popularity comes growing crowds to navigate. Never fear though, with the help of our friends at Samsung, we've put together a cheat sheet on how to see the best works without battling the hoards. We also sent photographer Cole Bennetts out with Samsung's new Galaxy S9 in hand to capture these popular lights and share some of his low light photography advice. To get the most out of the below big installations — and the best snap on your phone — here are a few crowd-beating tricks and low light tips you should have up your sleeve. And just remember, the festival runs for over a fortnight so you don't need to squeeze everything in at once. METAMATHEMAGICAL — SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SAILS The light projection onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House is the jewel in the crown of the Vivid festival. This year they're lit by North Coast artist Jonathan Zawada, whose series draws on images of the Australian environment. Metamathemagical celebrates the beautiful and the strange in nature, morphed into vivid neon. In the series of 23 overlapping, almost sculptural works, the natural becomes hyperreal, juxtaposed against everyday objects and recognisable Australian motifs from science, nature and culture. Zawada has also included representations of works by famous and lesser-known Australian artists. With the Opera House as the crown jewel, it's sure to get a lot of attention. Avoid the harbourside scramble for the perfect shot, and instead, check out one of these bars to enjoy the show and get a snap from a unique vantage — just make sure to go early to snag a prime seat. Cole's tip: If you don't have something to help steady your phone during long-exposure shots, the S9 has a great inbuilt stabilisation function. Hold your breath when you take the picture, this will make you consciously be still and help stop handshake through breathing. THE NIGHT. REIMAGINED. — LUNA PARK BY WAY OF THE OPERA HOUSE If you've always found the Luna Park face just a tad bit off-putting, you can now replace it with your own. To celebrate Vivid's ten years and the release of the new Galaxy S9 and S9+ phones, Samsung has created a pretty unique experience. At the Opera House forecourt, walk through Samsung's nine-shaped installation (get it?) to play with photographic elements of light and shadow. As you make your way through, you'll be met with slow-mo experiences and the chance to create your own AR Emoji. Once you reach the centre, your face will be projected across the water where it will then become the new face of Luna Park. With a lot of faces expected to shine across Luna Park, this is one we suggest hitting just as the lights turn on for the night — there are limited spots for the AR projection and, naturally, high demand is expected. So, get in first, create your own AR Emoji then make your way to see some hidden Vivid gems. VIRTUAL VIBRATION — MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Another Vivid icon, the heritage listed façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art will go psychedelic this year. The Virtual Vibration installation combines morphing imagery and music to create an immersive sensory experience. Designed by the Spinifex Group and MCA Collection artist Jonny Niesche, the work also features a score by British electro producer, Mark Pritchard. Stand on the foreshore of Circular Quay and look up to the MCA bathed in colour, backed by an epic soundtrack. Smart money says come during the week rather than on the weekends to see this one. Treat yourself to a Wednesday night out mid-festival, and you'll avoid the weekend hoards. Plus, after viewing the outside of the MCA, you can head inside for its Lights on Later Vivid program, which includes a glowing gin-serving pop-up bar. SNUGGLEPOT AND CUDDLEPIE — CUSTOMS HOUSE Childhood favourites and original bush babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie will take over Customs House this year to celebrate their 100th birthday. Animators Ample Projects have lent their skills to bring author May Gibb's creations from page to façade. Watch as Gibb's iconic characters appear larger than life and journey through the Australian bush projected across the historic sandstone building. Just as in the books, the Gumnut Babies make their way through the sometimes strange and unexpected world around them, encountering friend and foe along the way. This is one for kids and big kids alike. Try to at least avoid the (young) kid crowd, and hit this one post-bedtime, just before the lights go out for the night at 11pm. Cole's tip: At the very base level, photography is about capturing light. When taking pictures at night, look for a street light, neon sign or another interesting light source, experiment a bit and have fun. You will be surprised by the results. AQUEOUS — ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN Wind your way through the botanic gardens on an interactive pathway, captivating both during the day and at night. While the sun's still up, Aqueous mirrors its surrounds — the sky above, the neighbouring trees, those on its path — and by night the cells of the walkway glow as you make your way along. The snaking trail illuminates with different lights and colours depending on whether you walk, run, jump or play. Created by US artist Jen Lewin, the installation has just finished a successful turn at Burning Man and is sure to be a big hit here, too. Hot tip: the Vivid app keeps you up-to-date with how busy particular venues are. Since this installation is a surefire people-pleaser, screen the crowds via the app before you make tracks to the garden. Beat the crowds and get the best snap of the Vivid lights on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light. Images: Cole Bennetts.
In an absolute triumph for Melbourne music fans today, Cherry Bar’s crowdfunding campaign to refurbish the venue has been successful, as they have reached 114 percent of their goal this afternoon, with 39 days left to spare. The 200-capacity venue will need a $90,000 overhaul to soundproof the bar and comply with strict noise regulations. Some of the work expected to go into the venue includes double-glazed windows, a new entrance and extra brick walls. Cherry Bar owner James Young asked punters and supporters of live music to help contribute to a third of the cost through a crowdfunding campaign with Pledge Music. Incentives for donors range from stubby holders to lifetime entry and a 'brick' in the wall with your name on it. "It was tempting, for about three seconds, to leave our 42-day crowdfunding campaign open so that people who wanted to could continue to buy personally named bricks and 'I Saved Rock 'n' Roll' T-shirts and stubby holders to help fund Cherry Bar's sound-proofing works," Young told us. "But we hit our target and the right thing to do was to close down the campaign straight away with a smile on our faces, joy in our hearts and immense gratitude to all the music loving public who have generously contributed just under half the money we need to immediately commence soundproofing works in AC/DC Lane." The reason for the rebuilding is due to a new apartment block being erected next door. The apartment block will be 12 stories high with 189 apartments inside. If our maths is correct, that is a hell of a lot of potential noise complaints that Cherry could be facing from their new neighbours. "Crowdfunding has become the new success model for bands — bands who are looking for money to tour, to fund record releases, PR campaigns, recording," Young told ABC AM. "Bands that I'm involved with have successfully implemented these campaigns and been able to achieve things they didn't think they could possibly achieve, based on the generosity of their fans.” Thankfully the wonderfully giving nature of live music lovers has shown itself once more. Just in time for Soul night this evening, and yes, we’ll be dancing. Via ABC AM.
With regards to every aspect of everything that currently exists, living in the 21st century is pretty crazy. The world is repeatedly shifting and constantly evolving towards being bigger and better with hardly any thought of the past. The obvious “winner” of Most Evolved Industry goes to technology, as whatever they alter effects the majority of others. One such trade that has a love-hate relationship with technology is the media. A large worldwide conversation on the topic has been growing for many years and revolves around whether technology-based media will replace print media. There are many people with varying opinions on what should, and what will happen, so who should you listen to? Bringing together experts of the industry for an intelligent discussion on the subject is the 2011 Walkley Media Conference, entitled What’s the Story? Inventing the Future. Covering far reaching topics that all manage to fall under the new versus old media umbrella, attendees are in for a treat as professionals outline what they think will happen to their beloved industry. The absolutely amazing line up of speakers includes Mark Scott (ABC Managing Director), John Bracken (The Knight Foundation), John Birmingham (author), Richard Fidler (journalist), and many more. As well as talks on future print and digital landscapes, there are sessions on comedy and how it has become commonplace to use humour in journalism, plus there are many real-world seminars offered which teach those in attendance the crucial and eclectic skills needed to survive in the ever-changing media world. If all this excited you as much as it did me, you’ll have to act fast as tickets are strictly limited - email events@walkleys.com for more information.
It was true in The Witch, The Lighthouse and The Northman: Robert Eggers knows how to unnerve. So, what happens when the acclaimed filmmaker directs his attention to the second-most famous name there is in vampire tales for his fourth feature? If the just-dropped first teaser trailer for Nosferatu is anything to go by, embracing a twist on Bram Stoker's Dracula is about to turn out chillingly. More than a century has passed since the initial Nosferatu flickered across the big screen, a German Expressionist great that adapted Stoker's story with zero authorisation, hence changes such as its count being named Orlok. The film has been remade before, with Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) giving viewers 1979's Nosferatu the Vampyre. Now, Eggers is sinking his teeth in — and visibly loving it. The new Orlok: Bill Skarsgård, fresh from action-star mode in Boy Kills World but pivoting back to creepy villains, just swapping IT and IT: Chapter Two's Pennywise for another insidious pop-culture figure. In the first look at Eggers' Nosferatu, the writer/director plays coy with his monster, but not with Orlok's impact. "My dreams grow darker," cries Lily-Rose Depp, trading the nightmare of The Idol for the gothic horror kind, as Ellen Hutter. Eggers' movie is being pitched as a tale of obsession, where Orlok is infatuated, Ellen haunted and nothing good springs. The teaser is teeming with fire and shadows, screaming and blood, and the type of unease that gets under your skin — so, exactly what the man behind it has made his calling card over the past decade. Joining Skarsgård and Depp is a stacked cast of fellow big names, including Willem Dafoe enjoying another stint in gothic mode after Poor Things and returning to Nosferatu after his Oscar-nominated performance in 2000's Shadow of a Vampire, where he played Max Schreck, the IRL actor who played Orlok back in 1922. Nicholas Hoult jumps from dancing with Dracula in Renfield to more undead eeriness, and Emma Corrin (A Murder at the End of the World), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (The Fall Guy) and Ralph Ineson (The First Omen) all also feature. In the US, audiences have a silver-screen date with Nosferatu on Christmas — "succumb to the darkness Christmas 2024," the trailer asks — but viewers Down Under will see the film from Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Check out the trailer for Nosferatu below: Nosferatu releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
If you're a Brisbanite who was looking forward to the local debut of music festival Heaps Good, you won't find your dreams coming true this summer, sadly. After announcing that the event was heading to the River City and unveiling the lineup, the fest no longer mentions its Sandstone Point plans on its website, in its ticketing or via its social media. Still keen to see Foals and The Avalanches, plus Declan McKenna, SBTRKT and more, in Brissie? Secret Sounds, which is behind Heaps Good, has revealed that they'll all be playing Fortitude Music Hall in January instead as part of two big days of tunes at the Brunswick Street venue. [caption id="attachment_918623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rashidi Noah[/caption] These just-dropped music lineups don't have a special moniker, but will see a heap of musicians take to the stage on Tuesday, January 2 and Wednesday, January 3. If you'd like to get dancing on the second day of 2024, you'll have Foals, McKenna, Griff, Sycco and Felony providing the soundtrack. Prefer to liven up the first hump day of the new year? The Avalanches, SBTRKT, Holly Humberstone, MAY-A and Logan have you covered. The big name missing from the bill from Heaps Good's lineup is Flume, who isn't part of these two new events. The Australian favourite was always only playing the fest with no sideshows — but so are Foals and The Avalanches down south. One of several Secret Sounds festivals alongside Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Spilt Milk and Harvest Rock, Heaps Good debuted in January 2023 in Adelaide, with Melbourne and Brisbane then locked in for its second year. While Queensland has dropped off the list, the fest is still promoting dates in the South Australian and Victorian capitals to see out 2023 and welcome in 2024. SECRET SOUNDS JANUARY 2024 FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL LINEUPS: TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024: Foals Declan McKenna Griff Sycco Felony WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024: The Avalanches SBTRKT Holly Humberstone MAY-A Logan Secret Sounds will bring two different lineups of tunes to Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 and Wednesday, January 3, 2024.Pre-sale tickets are available from 9am local time on Thursday, November 23, with general sales from 9am on Friday, November 24. Head to the Secret Sounds website for further details. Top image: Grant Spanier.
Head into any Woolworths store from today — Tuesday, February 19 — and you'll find its $1 a litre milk is a thing of the past. In an effort to do right by Australia's struggling dairy industry, the supermarket giant is boosting the price of its home-branded two- and three-litre fresh milk varieties by ten cents a litre, with the difference eventually heading back into our farmers' pockets. Two-litre milk products will now be priced at $2.20, with the three-litre version upped to $3.30, at Woolworths stores nationwide. Since 2000, Australian dairy farmers have operated in a deregulated industry. This means that they are able to export their products much more easily as they can compete with international milk prices, but it also means they are often at the mercy of the international market price, which is, on average, quite low at around 42 US cents per litre. This, along with cheap domestic milk prices and high feed prices because of the drought, might explain why farmers are doing it tough of late. The cheaper the milk on your supermarket shelf, generally, the worse off the farms that made it. So, while this latest Woolworths price change might sound minor, it has scope to be a significant win in the fight against discount dairy — especially as the supermarket has promised to pay the extra ten cents it's collecting per litre back to the suppliers. https://twitter.com/Dairy_Australia/status/1097305276556800001 "Removing $1 milk is not just intended to restore farmers' financial confidence, but it will also boost confidence in regional communities and small businesses that rely on the industry," Australian Dairy Farmers CEO David Inall said in a statement yesterday. While Woolworths, as well as Coles, don't have a great reputation for supporting Aussie farmers, they're making steps (albeit small) to change this. Both supermarket giants introduced Drought Relief Milk in late 2018, with ten cents from each litre sold going to drought-affected dairy farmers. There's no word yet on whether Coles and Aldi will also increase the price of their home-branded $1-a-litre milks, but we'll let you know if they do.
Our fascination with celebrities and their private lives is a phenomenon that often beggars belief. Nothing short of President Obama ordering an invasion of Canada would have pushed Tom Cruise's latest divorce from the front pages, and the reality that there are multiple websites dedicated entirely to Angelina Jolie's tattoos does at times make us worry. But for better or worse, we remain transfixed, often more for the mundanity and banality than for the glitz and glamour (although Rich Kids of Instagram specialises in all of the above). So here are ten brilliant photographs of superstars taken by their superstar friends, proving that celebrities doing normal, even boring, things will never cease to entertain us. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Photographer: Sammy Davis Jr. Kurt Cobain, Frances Bean and Patty Schemel Photographer: Courtney Love Kirsten Dunst Photographer: Sofia Coppola George Harrison Photographer: Paul McCartney Ian McKellen Photographer: Andy Warhol Keith Richards and Kenny Aaronson Photographer: Mick Jagger Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier Photographer: Frank Sinatra Bill Cosby Photographer: Dennis Hopper Neil Armstrong Photographer: Buzz Aldrin Peter O'Toole Photographer: Sammy Davis Jr.
Spring has almost sprung and we couldn't be happier as we're about to see the return of some of Australias most vibrant flower festivals. This year's events will make you feel like you're frolicking in Dutch tulip fields or wandering through the cherry blossom-filled streets of Japan (with plenty of photo opportunities along the way). If the millions of flowers on display aren't enough, there are also food and wine festivals, loads of local markets and a bunch of music events to keep you interested. So, round up your friends, grab your camera and make the trip to these best flower festivals happening across Australia in 2019.
What do The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Starstruck and Moulin Rouge! all have in common? Other than being ace Australian films, they've all made the leap from cinemas to theatres — and to stage musicals, to be specific. They're about to have company, too, with another Aussie gem set to follow the screen-to-stage route. This time, classic 90s and early 00s children's TV series Round the Twist is getting the musical treatment. If you've ever, ever felt like seeing the beloved show on a stage with everyone belting out tunes about strange things happening, this dream is about to become a reality. Exactly when Round the Twist the Musical will debut, and where, and who'll star in it hasn't yet been revealed, however. Still, we're bet you're now more excited right now than a Twist family member in a lighthouse. Airing for two seasons between 1990–93, then another two from 2000–01, Round the Twist adapted Paul Jennings' popular books into an offbeat fantasy series. If you were the right age, it was must-see TV — and now it's your next must-see musical. Here's hoping that the new stage production not only does justice to the show that absolutely every Aussie kid watched in the 90s and 00s, and more than once, but that it taps into its balance of humour, strangeness and scares. Oh, and that there's a big lighthouse involved, of course. Obviously, we all know which song definitely has to be included — and multiple times, ideally. Yes, it's the theme tune by Andrew Duffield that you've now got stuck in your head and will keep singing to yourself for the rest of the week. (And no, we're not sorry for putting it there.) RGM Productions is thrilled to announce development & production of ROUND THE TWIST THE MUSICAL after a successful RISE application in Australia. Based on the short stories by Paul Jennings, the cult TV series aired on the BBC in 70 countries over 30 years and is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/8Z2nfutBkX — RGM Productions (@RGMProd) September 6, 2021 RGM Productions, which also has the Priscilla and Starstruck musicals to its name, is behind the all-singing, all-dancing version of Round the Twist — and announced that it is in development and production after receiving funding from the Australian Government's Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) scheme. Writer/composer Paul Hodge, director Simon Phillips and producer Garry McQuinn will be guiding the show, with the latter advising that "RGM came on board to develop Round the Twist the Musical buoyed by the immense energy and enthusiasm of Paul Hodge and Simon Phillips" in a statement on Facebook. He continued: "we are thrilled that RISE has seen fit to award this great new Australian work with funding, enabling us to give everyone a great night in the theatre, enjoying the antics of the Twist family." If you need something to watch until the stage production comes to the fruition, all four seasons of Round the Twist are streaming on Netflix. And you can also check out the trailer for Round the Twist's first season below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuXTD0m9Lc Round the Twist the Musical is now in development — we'll update you with further details, including about its premiere season, when additional information is announced.
There's only one thing that's wrong with The Soul Trembles, the Chiharu Shiota exhibition that's now sprawling across the entire ground floor of Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art until Monday, October 3: it isn't happening in Tokyo, at an art museum towering 53 levels above the busy streets, and against the inimitable backdrop that is the Japanese capital's twinkling skyline. That isn't a criticism of GOMA, its South Bank berth next to the Brisbane River, or the otherworldly display now gracing its halls and walls. But when this enchanting and entrancing Shiota showcase first debuted back in 2019, it did so in quite the striking Tokyo spot. The background now differs, but the art itself remains just as impressive — and as eager to live up to the exhibition's name. Japan-born, Berlin-based artist Shiota crafts works that force everyone who sees them to take in their place in the world, all while musing on their own inner worlds in the process. Her art skews existential in both a big and an intimate sense. The macro and micro alike lingers piece by piece, and through The Soul Trembles as a whole. That's all there in the masses of string, the wall of miniatures and the detached body parts. It also dwells in the dangling suitcases and the compilation of window frames, and in the paper cascading upwards — aka the GOMA exhibition's major new commission. [caption id="attachment_859135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] Indeed, when you peer at Shiota's mazes of inky-black wool, including when they're woven around chairs and pianos, it's impossible not to think about infinity, mortality, obliteration, the darkness that awaits us all, the fragility of life and the fact that all things eventually turn to ash. When you take in her labyrinths of blood-red yarn instead, it's equally difficult not to ponder the crimson stuff pumping through our veins, all that makes our bodies work and function, and the reality that being alive is so physically complex, emotionally tangled and tangibly fragile. Also inescapable: that, just as one exhibition after the next proves in any gallery's ongoing calendar, humanity's very existence is oh-so-fleeting. Comprised of over 100 works from across 25 years of Shiota's career, and marking her largest exhibition to-date, The Soul Trembles is unsurprisingly a deeply gorgeous and wondrous showcase — and a deeply contemplative one. It's a ruminative artistic landscape to get lost in, and to think about who you really are and what you want out of life while you're standing within it. For Brisbanites now eager to do exactly that — plus interstate art-lovers keen to make the trip north to see the Australian-exclusive exhibition — here are eight pieces to look out for. [caption id="attachment_859136" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] UNCERTAIN JOURNEY Every exhibition that settles into GOMA makes a splash in its main gallery hallway. The venue's presentations fill plenty of its other spaces, but the South Bank spot loves a bold entrance. When Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection was on display, a Skywhale-like balloon did the honours. During David Lynch: Between Two Worlds, a mini cinema inside a cube sat in the foyer, offering attendees a complication of music clips from his movies. Yayoi Kusama: Life Is the Heart of a Rainbow boasted yellow polka-dotted orbs, while Water featured suspended rings that you could climb through. At The Soul Trembles, Shiota's Uncertain Journey is no less spectacular — or memorable. Dating back to 2016, it features a series of metallic frames shaped like boats, all strung together by red thread. They're linked in a giant woven mass that spreads from wall to wall, making a wool canopy for a ceiling, and includes cavernous tunnels within the flame-hued strands. As far as welcoming you into Shiota's mindset, and making sure you're in the right headspace yourself, it's a perfect opening piece. Wanting to simply stand and stare comes with the territory. [caption id="attachment_859137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] WHERE ARE WE GOING? Much about The Soul Trembles deals in contrasts: life and death, big and small, red and black, and beginnings and endings. But this is also an exhibition about the here and now, as well as the journeys that life takes us on from one extreme to another. That idea is plain in many of the artwork names, such as the aforementioned Uncertain Journey and now Where Are We Going?. And, in both, it's evident in Shiota's frequent use of vessel-shaped structures — all either encased in or hanging via threads. Dangling its wire boats from the ceiling, Where Are We Going? uses a monochrome colour scheme — letting the white wool of the ships' bodies clash with the black rope suspending them in mid-air. The installation sits just inside a doorway, but expect that passage to be clogged; just try not to stop immediately as soon as you lock eyes on the piece. That's a fitting reaction that speaks volumes about what strikes us in life, and where existence's bottlenecks reside. Still, thanks to its size and scale, you'll also want to take a minute to walk around Where Are We Going? as well. [caption id="attachment_859138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Harth[/caption] IN SILENCE When Shiota was nine years old, the house next door to her home burned down. The following morning, a piano remained — scorched black, and drawing Shiota in with both its appearance and its quiet. In Silence responds to that event, and to the memory of it that still lingers. It muses on the things that tangibly remain, as well as those that haunt without a physical presence. It's also one of The Soul Trembles' most vivid sights. Visitors to GOMA have to walk through a few rooms to get to In Silence, which dates back to 2008. In the process, you'll take in installations, photos, paintings and videos first. But when this piece appears, filling a room with black thread — and wrapping up a piano, as well as chairs ready for an invisible audience, within all those fibres — it's as arresting as the exhibition gets. While it screams with physicality, it's also a ghostly vision. And, among everything else, its interplay of light and shadows is ethereal. [caption id="attachment_859134" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] REFLECTION OF SPACE AND TIME The Soul Trembles isn't focused on fashion, but it does feature two eye-catching dresses in one black cube. Like much within the exhibition, they're trapped within Shiota's beloved black yarn. A mirror also sits in the centre of the steel frame, dividing the space. Accordingly, as well as the items themselves, viewers also spy their reflections — and the setup is designed to make you merge the real and the illusory in your mind. It isn't by accident that, with her ever-present threads, Shiota covers an object that's already designed as a covering. With her mirrors, she also muddies the lines between what exists to touch — not that GOMA visitors can — and what only exists to the eye. A piece about skins and illusions, Reflection of Space and Time thinks big, as its name makes clear. It's a compact work compared to Shiota's installations, confined as it is to its cube, but it's also both stunning and weighty. [caption id="attachment_859140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Harth[/caption] INSIDE — OUTSIDE Eyes may be the windows to the soul — one that trembles, or not — but windows themselves are revelatory in Inside — Outside. This installation nods to Shiota's adopted home of Berlin, which she moved to in 1996. Attached together to form a barrier that fences off one corner, this piece takes inspiration from one of the German capital's most infamous structures: the Berlin Wall, obviously. Shiota has crafted Inside — Outside out of discarded Berlin windows, in fact, all gathered from construction sites in the mid-2000s when the city was being redeveloped extensively. The structure sits adjacent to images of the city, with the combination sparking thoughts about separation, destruction and renewal, boundaries, and open and closed-off spaces. It's another work that makes gorgeous use of light, too. [caption id="attachment_859139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Harth[/caption] CONNECTING SMALL MEMORIES When wool stretches across vast hallways and fills rooms, The Soul Trembles is immense. It can be tiny, too, though. That said, the feeling that emanates when you see Connecting Small Memories and its array of miniatures is definitely voluminous. Big things can make an impact and leave an imprint, as plenty of Shiota's works do — and their minuscule counterparts can as well, including when arranged together along an entire wall. It features items you won't see elsewhere in GOMA — ironing boards, rocking horses, tables, beds, chests of drawers, curtains, cupboards and more, all looking like something out of Honey I Shrunk the Kids — but Connecting Small Memories also resembles The Soul Trembles made pocket-sized. Red threads link its pieces, doing what the artwork's moniker promises. [caption id="attachment_859132" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] A QUESTION OF SPACE AND TIME The Soul Trembles comes to Brisbane from Japan, where Shiota was born. It features a piece made about Berlin, where she has lived for decades. The exhibition also has a strong and vivid link to Australia, too, in the form of newly commissioned work A Question of Space and Time. Shiota spent part of the 90s Down Under, studying at the Canberra School of Art from 1993–94 and travelling — including visit Uluru, which this installation contemplates. Yes, string is once again a feature. Strands of black rope hang from the ceiling, taking up an entire room. Within it, items of found furniture sit within the middle. A Question of Space and Time then tops that desk and chair with hundreds of suspended pieces of ordinary 80gsm paper, all leaping upwards like someone has just thrown an entire ream into the air. The result: a work that's mysterious and mesmerising, and another piece that's worth viewing from multiple angles. [caption id="attachment_859141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Harth[/caption] ACCUMULATION — SEARCHING FOR A DESTINATION If you're a frequent GOMA attendee, you'll remember what once filled the gallery where Accumulation — Searching for a Destination now hangs. Over the summer of 2019–20, the room was piled with 100 tonnes of rocks, recreating an Icelandic stream. That Olafur Eliasson piece was phenomenal. So is the unrelated installation that now calls the same space home. They feel like mirror images: Accumulation slopes from left to right, affixed to the roof, where Riverbed reached right to left from the floor up. Experiencing both, even three years apart, is something special. Accumulation suspends hundreds of suitcases on red thread, all jostling in the air. This isn't a new work, and it wasn't a response to the pandemic and the barriers to travel it sparked, but it's easy to muse on both while standing in front of it. This is another of The Soul Trembles' pieces about journeys, of course, and also about valuing minutiae. What is a suitcase if not a receptacle for all we see fit to keep with us when we venture away from home, and a physical item to which we attach our fondest travel memories? Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles displays at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane from Saturday, June 18–Monday, October 3, 2022. For further details, visit the GOMA website. Images: installation views: Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2022 © Chiharu Shiota. Photography: Natasha Harth / Chloë Callistemon, QAGOMA.
Despite years of public rallies, crowdfunding efforts and court action, Sydney's Brutalist, box-like Sirius building is officially up for sale. Although the New South Wales government first announced that the 70s-era structure was on the market back in December, expressions of interest just opened yesterday, Friday, May 25, with Savills Australia now actively seeking buyers for the iconic location. While it's a blow for the vocal Save Our Sirius campaign, the 2-60 Cumberland Street address will apparently be subject to some restrictions. The government "will maintain interest in the site, ensuring any future developments are sympathetic to the surrounding area," according to Savills Australia. And, a proposed State Environmental Planning Policy amendment will apply, imposing new controls regarding the zoning, height, maximum gross floor area, active street frontages and design of the site. It has been a particularly eventful year for the 79-unit tower, which stands tall by the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Final public tours took place in January, a farewell party for the structure's last remaining resident — 91-year-old Myra Demetriou — was held the same month and Save Our Sirius revealed they'd be lodging their own purchase bid. In response to the official launch of expressions of interest, Save Our Sirius restated their quest to retain the building in its current form, ensure it is used as affordable inner-city housing for workers in the area, and to have its historical significance officially recognised. "We again call on the NSW Government to stop the sale, deploy Sirius for key worker accommodation, and list Sirius on the State Heritage Register," the group advised in a statement. Even with the government restrictions, if Sirius is bought by developers, the 79-unit tower is highly likely to be demolished to make room for new apartments. As well as wiping out a crucial part of '70s architectural history, it'll also mean saying goodbye to an important public housing initiative, allowing people on low incomes to live in the centre of this expensive city and enjoy harbour views. With the situation certain to keep developing over the coming months, take a look through our gallery of the building as it currently stands. Images: Katherine Lu / Kimberley Low.
For almost 18 months, there's been no time for No Time to Die. Originally slated to hit cinemas worldwide back in April 2020, the 25th official film featuring Bond, James Bond has suffered from more than a few delays due to the pandemic — and was one of the first movies to initially move its release date, in fact. Yes, you could say the feature's plans have been both shaken and stirred, and multiple times. In Australia, they've just been given another push. In most of the world, lovers of both martinis and spy films will finally get their latest fix of suave secret agents, sinister plots to destroy the world and big-screen espionage thrills from the end of September; however, that's no longer the case in Australia. With cinemas in New South Wales and Victoria closed for the foreseeable future due to lockdowns in both states, and reopening dates not yet announced, No Time to Die's Aussie debut has been shifted from Thursday, September 30 to Thursday, November 11. Movie buffs can expect this to keep happening — although, unlike in 2020 and earlier in 2021 when film release dates kept being swapped around due to COVID-19, now it's just occurring in Australia. And yes, No Time to Die is delaying its release countrywide, even though cinemas in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory currently remain open. Need a reminder of what to look forward to, Bond-wise? A new trailer for No Time to Die has also just dropped, following a first sneak peek all the way back in 2019 and a more recent trailer in 2020. Obviously, all the franchise staples are covered in the clips so far, including world-in-peril action, savvy ladies, plenty of gadgets, eye-popping stunts and spectacles, and an Aston Martin. And, because no Bond movie would be complete without a formidable villain, this flick serves up two: an unhinged, mask-wearing new adversary called Safin (Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar-winner Rami Malek), plus imprisoned ex-opponent Blofeld (Christoph Waltz, Alita: Battle Angel). Daniel Craig returns as 007, marking not only his fifth stint as the spy since 2006's Casino Royale, but his last — and he has company in the 00 stakes. Following the events of 2015's Spectre, Bond has left active service and started a new life in Jamaica, causing MI6 to recruit someone else to cover his turf. That'd be new agent Nomi (Captain Marvel's Lashana Lynch), and you can obviously expect the pair to cross paths. Bond being Bond, he was never going to be able to escape his line of work easily, after all. Here, he's brought back in by CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) to help with a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Maniac) and penned by a team that includes Fukunaga, The Report director Scott Z Burns and Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this Bond instalment also brings back all the usual offsiders. Ralph Fiennes (The Dig) returns as M, alongside Naomie Harris (The Third Day) as Eve Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw (Little Joe) as Q and Rory Kinnear (Peterloo) as MI6 head Bill Tanner. Lea Seydoux (Kursk) is back as psychiatrist Dr Madeleine Swan, too — and, reuniting with Craig after co-starring in the fabulously entertaining Knives Out, Ana de Armas also joins the cast. Watch the final No Time to Die trailer below: No Time to Die will release in Australian cinemas on November 11, 2021.
Do you sometimes find yourself resenting Chet Faker for his award-winning whisker-wearing*? Do you refuse to listen to Mumford & Sons, not only for their blatant commercial success but also their rugged yet luxurious face forests? Well, you're not alone. Men in the US have been dealing with similar beard-related anxieties and have undergone facial hair transplants to compensate. Using similar techniques to that of Shane Warne and the Advanced Hair Studio, facial hair transplants take hair from the patient's head, make micro-incisions on a bare patch of face, and insert the roots into empty follicles. Even when the hair falls out, the implanted roots begin to grow new hair. All in all, it's a process that ranges from US$3,000 - $7,000. And, for that money, here's hoping it's worth the pain. Though plastics surgeons have reported an increase in "hip" and "fashionable" young men from Brooklyn seeking the procedure, it also has roots in more substantial causes. Many who seek the transplant are the victims of facial scars, women seeking gender reassignment, or Hasidic Jews trying to achieve a denser payot. (Now you feel bad about laughing, right?) Though it may be easy to make fun of those seeking the procedure for the wrong reasons, it's also pretty concerning. Are men developing body image problems about their bare chin in the same way some women are about their flat chests? So what if you don't look like a homeless lumberjack? It doesn't make you less of a man. If anything, it takes you one step away from the likes of Zach Galifianakis and Shia LaBeouf. And, if you ask us, that's surely something to be thankful for. *Can neither confirm nor deny his ARIA win was beard-related. Via DNAinfo. Image by Juan Luis.
Following the massive success of its Hokusai exhibition in 2017, the NGV will once again look to the cultural influence of Japan with an exploration of the country's widespread impact on Western modern art. Running from May 25 to October 28, Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art considers the crucial period of time following the reopening of international trade from Japan in 1854. As artworks began to flow from Japan into Europe and America, a cultural revolution of sorts was set in motion as Western artists became exposed to the artworks and visual language of Japan for the first time. Influencing artists like Vincent van Gogh and other legends of the day, this moment in history is considered one of the crucial events that lay the foundations of Western modern art. Japonisme (which will be free to attend) delves into the NGV's huge Asian arts collection, showcasing examples that demonstrate Japan's influence of much of the world's art throughout the last 150 years. Western decorative arts, paper works, paintings, fashion and textiles, photography, as well as Japanese art will be on display. Specific highlights include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's much-loved Divan Japonais poster, examples from the 1866 Bracquemond-Rousseau dinner service, and an undulating art nouveau cabinet designed by Louis Majorelle, demonstrating the influence of Japanese styling on French furniture. Japonisme will show just how the Japanese respect for the environment influenced European artists, and you'll notice just how many examples of European art highlight the reworked organic forms, rich colours and gentle textures typically associated with Japanese aesthetics. Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art will run from May 25 to October 28 at the NGV International. Find more info at ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais (1893).
You may remember that earlier this year I wrote about IMA’s Fresh Cut exhibitions, describing how it aims to give a helping hand to up and coming artists and providing them with a chance to shine in front of a local audience. Well, it is happening again, with part 2 of the 2013 edition taking place right now. On display now is Anita Holtsclaw, and Ruth McConchie, two artists who are focusing on the voyeuristic side of human nature like surveillance and perversion. Anita Holtsclaw’s work examines the representation of women in cinema, with purpose contrasted cinema enclosures displaying her film work. Ruth McConchie uses crawlspaces and passageways with view holes to view others in a voyeuristic fashion. These are two extraordinary artists who are wholly deserving of the chance to display their creative work. Go to IMA and see what the fuss is about, you won’t regret it.
I won’t lie to you, dear readers, I was considering trying to define the surrealist art movement as a beginning to this article. But after several hours of perusing the GoMA website’s background and history on the period, I decided the adjectives were best left to the experts; avant-garde, experimentation, liberation of desire, reproduction of dreams. Instead I will say this: the artists from this period were crazy in the best possible way. They include people like André Breton, Giorgio de Chirico, May Ray, Joan Miró and Salvador Dali who were all known for being a little out there. The latter in particular who was known to regularly take his anteater for walks. As I’ve already realised, the best people to give you the 101 on these fabulous folk are the art world experts. Amazingly, GoMA are offering up their most experienced curators to guide visitors around the exhibition for no extra fee! Do pay attention though, each curator focuses on a different element of surrealism from film to an artist’s psyche. Depending on your interests, make sure you peruse the website before wandering into town with your own unusual animal on a leash.
No one loves long-haul flights. If you don't have the cash to upgrade your seat, no one loves trying to get some sleep when you're soaring through the air for nine, 13 or even 17-plus hours. But thanks to Air New Zealand's new economy skynest, getting some shuteye midair is about to get a whole lot easier — come 2024, when the airline's new Dreamliners will take to the skies. First announced back in 2020, and now confirmed to come into operation in just two more years, Air NZ's economy skynest is a first-of-its-kind option that'll feature six lie-flat pods. Yes, they look like bunk beds on a plane, and you'll be able to slumber in them while zooming to your destination. If it sounds like a game changer, that's because it is. Back in 2020, Air NZ announced the pods as part of filing patent and trademark applications, and noted that it'd make a final decision on whether they'd come into effect within a year. That go-ahead might've arrived a bit later — aka now, not in 2021 — but that doesn't make it any less exciting. "New Zealand's location puts us in a unique position to lead on the ultra-longhaul travel experience. We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested. Whether they are heading straight into a meeting or to their first holiday hotspot — they want to hit the ground running," said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran. "It's a proud moment to finally unveil five years of hard mahi, in what truly is a cabin of possibility. One that will provide customers with options to get some shut eye wherever they're sitting." While the full details are yet to be revealed, when they were first announced, the pods were intended to include a full-size pillow, sheets, a blanket, ear plugs, privacy curtains and lighting designed for sleep. The airline also said it was exploring other features such as separate reading light, personal device USB outlet and ventilation outlet. Also on the way: new business premier luxe suites and business premier seats, if you are flush with cash. The former will include a door that closes, plus a space to dine; the latter will let you share your nest with a friend if you're in the middle row. The new Dreamliners will also feature premium economy seats, with more protected space to recline without annoying the person behind you; economy skycouch, so you can spread out, lie down and sleep; and economy stretch, with more leg room than a regular seat. And, those usual seats will get more storage space, a 50-percent bigger entertainment screen, and bluetooth audio and pairing. Also, the aircrafts will feature care stations in the premium economy and economy cabins, letting travellers stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat and get a drink whenever they wish. Design-wise, the planes' interiors will take cues from Aotearoa in a number of ways, too — such as carpet inspired by the forest, and nodding to the tūī in the seats. Air New Zealand's Economy Skynest will be available from 2024. For more information in the interim, visit the airline's website.
Now that Brisbane’s winter has fully set in, there’s something that seems so right about layering up, drinking cider and listening to dreamy, melodic bands all night. If that sounds like your cup of tea, on the agenda this weekend are Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders who will be floating into FANS on Friday. Celebrating the imminent release of his new record ‘Hurtsville’, Jack and his talented crew are hitting the Australian roads to show it off in its entirety. With his band containing Cec Condon of The Mess Hall, Beau Cassidy formerly of Starky, and Kirin J Callinan of Mercy Arms, there is certainly enough whimsy and charm to spread around. On top of that, they will be supported by local wonders Big Dead and Little Casino. Since his last highly awarded album in 2008, Mr Ladder has changed his sound. Not better or worse, but certainly equally as brilliant. What this means for you, dear readers, is that both new and old fans will have a chance to witness something brilliant.
