The 40th parallel is much more than simply a line of latitude spanning the distance of America from East to West; and Bruce Myren's photographs of it are much more than just photos. The line N 40° 00' 00'' bisects the country from New Jersey's shore crossing through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, over the border between Nebraska and Kansas, following on past Colorado, Utah, Nevada and finally finishing in California. Myren is not only capturing the stunning surroundings of these landscapes, but is trying to understand and portray the "human desire to create systems and then locate ourselves within them". The fortieth parallel north is a tool for measurement, as well as acting as the baseline for creating homesteads and townships, functioning as a useful marker during Western settlement. The project began as a fairly small and basic undertaking, using maps to identify the areas because GPS's were not widely available during that time. However, as geographical technology began to grow and develop, so too did Myren's photo series. Using an 8 x 10 Deardoff camera and colour transparency film, Myren produced panoramas by snapping three shots moving from left to right then adding them together during editing. The photographer is aiming to take a landscape panorama shot at every longitudinal point along the line, adding up to a total of 52 locations and images, spaced roughly 53 miles apart from each other. So far he has captured 28 stunning images of these locations. Here are 10 of the inspired images from his series, aimed to make you "consider the history of landscape photography, American development , but most importantly [your] own relationship to place." N 40° 00' o0'' W 109° 00' 00", Rangely, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 108° 00' 00", Meeker, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 101° 00' 00", Ludell, Kansas, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 98° 00' 00", Webber, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 97° 00' 00", Hollenberg, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 95° 00' 00", Fillmore, Missouri, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 93° 00' 00", Winigan, Missouri, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 81° 00' 00", Belmont, Ohio, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 76° 00' 00", Gap, Pennsylvania, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 74° 03' 32", Normandy Beach, New Jersey, 1998
As part of the flurry of new streaming services competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic — with the pay-per-view platform not only screening movies, but pairing them with virtual Q&A sessions as well. Now, between Wednesday, November 11–Sunday, November 15 it's also hosting an online film fest: its second Virtual Indigenous Film Festival. The returning event coincides with NAIDOC Week, and will showcase five films: In My Own Words, The Song Keepers, The Flood, Wik vs Queensland and Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. That means you can watch your way through an array of Aussie movies focused on Indigenous stories, spanning both dramas and documentaries — and exploring race relations in the process. Sessions will also feature guest speakers, such as The Flood's writer/director/producer Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, The Song Keepers' filmmaker Naina Sen and Ben Strunin from Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. Viewers can tune in on a film-by-film basis, or buy an all-access pass to tune into everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY3O5LtMo9Q&feature=emb_logo Top image: Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
Winter is all about staying indoors — and you want those interiors to look as great as possible. Art and design lovers, that's where the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art's annual Winter Design Market comes in. Browse, buy and then prepare to get cosy. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homewares and clothing and more at the day-long maker market, which will feature more than 40 stalls when it takes over the GOMA forecourt from 9am until 4pm on Saturday, July 28. Don't go giving their official store a miss either — take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, and thank us for the tip later. Or, make a day of it and drop by the Patricia Piccinini exhibition while you're there. Remember: cute design wares call for cash, as EFTPOS facilities might not be available at all sellers. And while GOMA will host another design market once the silly season rolls around, getting your gift shopping out of the way now will make you feel like Christmas has come early. By Alice Bopf and Sarah Ward.
If you regularly wish you were on the other side of the world staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne and living the Emily in Paris life, you can take a break from dreaming about plane fares and European summers for three days this winter. Before the pandemic, Brisbane's French festival Le Festival offered an annual reason to celebrate all things Gallic, and it's finally making a big comeback in July. Mark your diaries: this excuse to enjoy French food and booze aplenty returns from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23. Just like with Paniyiri and Oktoberfest, Le Festival hosting its first COVID-19-era event is huge news. This revival comes with a massive change, however, with the fest on the move. In 2023, Francophiles will be eating, drinking, hitting up French markets and listening to French tunes at Victoria Park / Barrambin for the first time, with the cultural affair crossing to the other side of the river from South Brisbane. As always, Le Festival will feature plenty of French staples, although the wine selection is always popular. If you're able to tear yourself away from sipping on deliciousness, then make a date with the cheese display. While 2023's full details haven't yet been revealed, snacking on crepes, mussels, baguettes and pastries is usually on the menu, too, and drinking French red and white wines, champagne, sparkling rosé, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Thanks to the market, attendees can also browse for homewares, gifts, fashion, books and magazines, with showcasing French and French-inspired products the key aim. There'll also be an artists and artisans tent, and a boutique for souvenirs. Entertainment-wise, as well as live music, the fest will feature cabaret performances and can-can dancing. Want to steep yourself a little deeper in French style? That's where masterclasses have come in previous years. Past topics have featured everything from making French perfume to dairy to whipping up some profiteroles to dressing like you're in Paris. Then, cap off your weekend of Gallic goodness with a glass of champagne — yes, there tends to a session on that, too. Le Festival 2023 will runs from 4–9pm on the Friday, 8am–9pm on the Saturday and 8am–5pm on the Sunday, with tickets on sale now and the complete program still to come. Le Festival — Brisbane French Festival 2023 takes place from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23 at Victoria Park / Barrambin. For further details and tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Ange Costes.
Modern portrait photography and Cindy Sherman go hand in hand. No, you won't spot any quickly snapped iPhone pics in her portfolio. Since the 1970s, the New York-based artist has revolutionised the concept of photographic representation. Her photos don't just provide a likeness of a particular person, typically played by Sherman herself; they offer striking character studies that exaggerate and interrogate perceptions of identity. Working alone in her studio, Sherman experiments with costumes, prosthetics, makeup and digital photography to embellish and manipulate the type of images that no one else could create. It's little wonder, then, that the photographer has become a global phenomenon — and just as unsurprising that the Gallery of Modern Art has sourced more than 50 large-scale pieces to mount the first major Australian solo exhibition of Sherman's work in more than 15 years. Everything from her famous 'head shots' series to her collaborations with Balenciaga and Chanel from part of the hefty exhibition, as does a sizeable program of events and talks that will help audiences to get to the heart of this unique artist and her stereotype-busting ideas. Image: Cindy Sherman / Untitled #466 2008 / Image courtesy: The artist and Metro Pictures, New York / © The artist
Whiplash is a drama about the pursuit of artistic greatness. Its characters push the boundaries in their determination to reach their goal. The film stars Miles Teller as an aspiring jazz percussionist, Andrew Neyman, who becomes so absorbed in his art he overworks himself mentally and physically, making his fingers bleed from overwork on multiple occasions. Starring alongside him is JK Simmons, playing his volatile music teacher, Terrence Fletcher, at a prestigious music academy. Wholly absorbed in a desire to create the best musicians of our time, Fletcher adopts a sort of survival-of-the-fittest teaching method, which borders on sociopathic. Oscillating between cruel mind games, verbal attacks and feigned pleasantness, he continually isolates his students — forcing nothing but the best. The film has won a string of awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award (US Dramatic) at the Sundance Film Festival, and is so far 96 percent certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Whiplash is in cinemas on October 23 (with sneak previews 17-19 October at select locations). Thanks to Sony Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our review of Whiplash here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=8J6JH-R-TN0
What were you doing on 10/10/10? It appears that innumerable professional and amateur filmmakers from over 200 countries were filming the world around them as part of the One Day On Earth Project. The initiative aimed to collect the many and varied stories and images of that particular day - pregnant bellies, soccer games, guitar playing, arrests, little colourful fish and hair-washing to name but a few - and in the process became one of the biggest participatory events in history. The project was the brainchild of founder Kyle Ruddick who, in 2008, had the idea of using cinema to connect people from across the globe. Since then, with the support of non-government organisations and the United Nations Development Program, it has turned into a social networking phenomenon where not only films but stories and information are shared. A feature length film of the project will be released in the near future, but for now a trailer has been released to give a brief glimpse into this ambitious project.
Kinky things are afoot behind proverbial white picket fences. Made with the financial assistance of the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund, the directorial debut of acclaimed local short film and music video director Stephen Lance takes your typically angst-ridden, po-faced Australian teen drama, and dresses it up in a full-body latex suit. A BDSM-themed coming of age story, My Mistress gets points for an eyebrow-raising premise and some bold stabs at Blue Velvet-style erotic voyeurism. Unfortunately, weak dialogue and clumsy characterisation soon leave the film feeling limp. The leafy suburbs of Queensland provide the backdrop for the story, one that begins when delinquent high-schooler Charlie (Harrison Gilbertson) discovers his father's body hanging in the garage. Stricken with grief and consumed with anger towards his mother (Rachael Blake), on whose shoulders he places the blame for his father's suicide, Charlie seeks comfort in an unlikely relationship with Maggie (Emmanuelle Beart), a professional dominatrix who has recently moved to town. It's a seriously strange set-up that, frankly, should have yielded far more interesting results. Lance shows adeptness behind the camera, and all three of the lead performances are quite strong. The problem with My Mistress lies instead with its screenplay, co-written by Top of the Lake creator Gerard Lee. The dialogue more often than not rings false, particularly when people are arguing, which they're doing almost all the time. There's also a baffling lack of consistency in the behaviour and personality of the characters, with Maggie and Charlie's relationship going from stable in one scene to downright hostile in the next. It's also disappointing to see Lance adopt the very boring, narrow-minded position that the sort of niche sexual behaviour exhibited by his characters must be a symptom of some sort of dysfunction or inner pain. Charlie's emotional dependence on Maggie obviously has its origins in the breakdown of the relationship with his mother. Likewise, the film goes to great lengths to make us understand that Maggie is damaged: a former drug addict who has lost custody of her infant son. Wouldn't it be nicer to see a movie about S&M practitioners who are just in it for a rip-roaring good time? Fingers crossed for 50 Shades of Grey. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6jZeKiaE04c
There are a few theories floating around about alt-pop Sydney singer-songwriter Andy Bull. The first (now proven) is that the shorter his hair gets, the more attractive he becomes. The man truly is a sort of mythical anti-Samson. The second is this: the reason Andy Bull hasn't become a household name in Australia has less to do with Andy Bull and more to do with the inhabitants of Australian households. You see, we don't quite know what to do with him. He's not shiny enough for our pop tastes; he's not weird enough for our alternative tastes. He's a little Regina Spektor/Ben Folds, but he's also just a little Justin Timberlake. The man refuses to be pigeonholed. But international superstars have ridden the Bull and concluded that it is an experience to be had. Music critics have done the same. He's been invited on the road with the likes of Joss Stone, Tim Finn and Duffy. When he wasn't busy touring with international superstars, he was releasing killer singles like 'Small Town Girl' and 'Young Man'. Then, upon dropping his debut album, We're Too Young, in 2009, Bull was showered with a Cyclone Zane of critical acclaim — including a 4-star review from Rolling Stone. Your chance comes on May 30. After 18 months off the road, Andy Bull returns to promote his newest Triple-J-dominating single, 'Keep on Running'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JSGUxRWR_r8
Did you know that for the last 12 years, Richard Linklater has been tinkering away on the same project? Oh yes, in between Before Midnight and Before Sunset, A Scanner Darkly and Bernie, there's been Boyhood, an intimate coming-of-age drama utilising the same cast (Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and kids Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater) and interested in the kind of authenticity that can be created when you're not artificially ageing or swapping in older actors. "There has simply never been anything like this film," wrote Rolling Stone, and we're inclined to agree. It's a unique way to experience the growing pains of a child — and that of his young, still-nutting-things-out parents. Boyhood is in cinemas on September 4, and in advanced screenings this weekend. Thanks to Universal Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-mbHXyWX4
Keen to combine romance and gambling? Sadly an overnight getaway to Vegas is probably off the cards for a while yet, so if you're looking for an over-the-top way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, this might be the next best thing. QT Hotels around New Zealand and Australia are offering loved-up couples the chance to win big when they book a Valentine's stay at any of their hotels in February, and we mean really big. Live in the hotel for the rest of the month, big. Yup, that's right Chuck Bass. For the price of one night's stay, you could be living it up in a hotel for weeks, ordering breakfast to your bed and dialling into Zoom calls poolside. View this post on Instagram A post shared by QT Auckland (@qtauckland) It's all part of the new Love Is Blind promotion run by QT, inviting guests to roll the dice in a low-risk, high-reward game of romantic roulette. Book a stay with your beau (or bestie, or even your mum) between Friday, February 11 and Tuesday, February and you'll be surprised with either an upgrade or downgrade on check-in. The upgrades are all looking pretty sweet. You might get your champagne bottle levelled up to a magnum, or even your room upgraded to a suite. The best prize on offer is having your stay extended until Monday, February 28 — that's 17 nights for the price of one. And that offer is on at every QT Hotel in Australia and New Zealand, so you're in with a decent shot at winning. Of course, the flipside is risking a downgrade — that's gambling for you. QT promises that downgrades are "rare" but they're there: you might get a mere chocolate on the pillow (still sounds yum tbh) or have your King-sized bed downgraded to two twin beds. Sexy! The novel promotion is not out of character for the hotel chain, which is known for its quirky campaigns. Back in 2020, it ran a Rock Star package encouraging you to book out an entire floor to party with your mates. Upon opening in Auckland, the hotel hid 150 room keys around the city in a giant treasure hunt. In this case, you're relying on a fair bit of luck to be on your side — but if you're already lucky in love, this will just be the icing on the cake. The Love Is Blind package is available at QT Sydney, QT Bondi, QT Canberra, QT Melbourne, QT Gold Coast, QT Perth, QT Auckland, QT Wellington and QT Queenstown between Friday 11 February to Tuesday 15 February 2022. Bookings are available now, with February 14 the last available day to book.
What's better than one buttery, flaky croissant that's been called "the finest you will find anywhere in the world" by The New York Times? A three-course croissant degustation that riffs on that tasty pastry. That's what Lune Lab is all about, with the dining experience by Lune Croissanterie making the leap to its South Brisbane store from November. The Melbourne-born bakery only set up shop in Queensland in August this year, marking its first venue beyond its hometown. That was great news for pastry lovers in general, but adding its Lune Lab dining experience obviously takes things up a few notches. For your $75 ticket, you'll start with a traditional croissant, served fresh out of the oven. Next, you'll eat a savoury course — the details of which you'll find out on the night — before going sweet to finish things off. You'll also get two hours of unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, and you can add a glass of champagne as well. [caption id="attachment_830352" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kim Liew, @kimmyyliew[/caption] It's a far fancier experience than just picking up croissants at your local bakery, clearly, and it all takes place in Lune's bar overlooking 'The Cube', aka its raw production kitchen. So, you'll be eating croissants and croissant-based dishes, and also watching Lune's chefs in action. Because Lune is about pastries, this is brunch and lunch affair — with sittings every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9.30am and 12pm. Lune Lab is held in two-month seasons, with its first Brisbane run taking place from Friday, November 5–Sunday, December 19. And if you're new to the bakery brand — and wondering why it's such a big deal — it's all in the technique. Founder Kate Reid is an ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist, and brings scientific precision to her craft. That includes that aforementioned climate-controlled glass cube that Lune croissants are made and baked in, and the time-consuming process used to perfect each flaky pastry. Lune Croissanterie's Lune Lab sessions will run from Friday, November 5–Sunday, December 19 — at 9.30am and 12pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday — at Shop 1, 13–17 Manning Street, South Brisbane. Tickets go on sale at 7.30pm AEST on Thursday, October 28. Top image: Kim Liew, @kimmyyliew. Images are samples only, from Melbourne's Lune Lab sessions, and don't represent what'll be on the menu in Brisbane.
There's something for everyone to get around when it comes to Halloween, whether it's eating nauseating amounts of lollies, flexing your arts and crafts skills and fashioning yourself a costume, or pulling that five-piece (mask included) Batman get-up out of storage and donning it to feel like the superhero you really are. Trick or treating never really caught on here, but we'll be damned if we won't use the occasion as an excuse for a spooky time. There are plenty of eerie events and halloween themed nights happening around town for you to get amongst. Here's a list of some of the best things going on in Brisbane for Halloween, ranging from the not-so scary (a Dias de los Muertos fiesta) to the truly unsettling (a ghost tour through an abandoned gaol).
Hollywood is giving video games to the film and TV treatment like it's collecting loot, with Borderlands the latest button-mashing favourite heading to cinemas. Cate Blanchett (The New Boy) as Lilith, Kevin Hart (Lift) as Roland, Jack Black (The Super Mario Bros Movie) voicing Claptrap, Eli Roth (Thanksgiving) writing and directing, treasure-hunting antics, seemingly trying to make the next Guardians of the Galaxy: that's all in store, as the just-dropped first trailer for the movie shows. Set for an August 2024 release, the Borderlands film isn't done with its familiar names and faces yet. Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis also features, alongside everyone from Edgar Ramírez (Dr Death) and Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie) to Florian Munteanu (Creed III) and Gina Gershon (reteaming with Roth after Thanksgiving). And the tale they're telling? It focuses on bounty hunter Lilith's return to the chaotic Pandora, her home planet — and a "dumpster fire of a world", she notes — to find Atlas' (Ramírez) missing daughter. To do so, she needs assistance from mercenary Roland, demolitionist Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), the beefy Krieg (Munteanu) and scientist Tannis (Curtis) — and, from robot Claptrap, with Black lending his voice to another flick based on a hugely popular game after his stint as Bowser in 2023. In the colourful debut sneak peek, mayhem ensues as the movie's main crew navigate bandits and aliens, and have saving the universe as one of their aims. So, if you're new to all things Borderlands and this first glimpse at the film has you thinking of Guardians of the Galaxy, that's understandable. The vibe invites the comparison, right down to the use of a 70s hit: Electric Light Orchestra's 'Do Ya'. A film version of Borderlands has been in the works for almost a decade, with the game itself first arriving in 2009 and spawning three more so far in its main series — 2012's Borderlands 2, 2014's Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and 2019's Borderlands 3 — plus a number of spinoffs. Shot in 2021 but finally hitting screens in 2024, the Borderlands flick comes after 2023 proved big for game adaptations thanks to The Super Mario Bros Movie, the TV take on The Last of Us and cinema's Five Nights at Freddy's. 2024 will also deliver a Fallout streaming series, plus the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The list of upcoming titles doesn't end there, either, including turning The Legend of Zelda into a live-action film. Check out the trailer for Borderlands below: Borderlands will release in cinemas releases in US cinemas on August 9 — we'll update you with a Down Under release date when one is confirmed. Images: courtesy of Lionsgate.
Forget microwave dinners. Come the not too distant future, you could be cooking your food in the washing machine. A university student in Tel Aviv has recently devised a new type of instant meal that cooks sous-vide style in the laundry along with your dirty socks. How very appetising. Created by Iftach Gazit of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the Sous La Vie bags are made from waterproof Tyvek paper, and contain a sealed inner plastic bag — ensuring you don't end up with mixed veggies in your undies, or soap in your salmon teriyaki. "In sous-vide, the food is cooked in a bath-like device at temperatures usually around 50 to 70 degrees Celsius," explains Gazit in a blog post. "The same conditions can be found in a washing machine." "Instead of following a sous-vide recipe and cooking a piece of meat at 58 degrees Celsius for two and a half hours, just set your washing machine to 'synthetics' for a long duration program," he suggests. "Cooking vegetables? Set your machine to 'cotton' for a short duration program." In addition to being a convenient — if rather disconcerting — option for those of us who don't have a lot of time to prepare food, Gazit also believes that his invention could help those who are sleeping rough, pointing out that all night laundromats often double as impromptu accommodation for the homeless. "They offer a hassle-free shelter," he explains. "So why shouldn't you be able to cook some food while there?" It's not clear if and when Gazit's product will ever hit the market, or whether it would ever really be embraced by consumers. Still… surely you'd be curious to try it at least once. Via Dezeen.
So many places to visit, such little time to see them all: that's about to become the kind of problem Aussies absolutely love to have. International travel from Australia is set to resume on a state-by-state basis from November, kicking off in New South Wales on Monday, November 1. And, because it's all happening faster than expected, Qantas has announced that it's speeding up some of its plans. The Aussie airline revealed back in August that it was planning to begin flying overseas again in December this year, based on when it forecast that Australia's international borders would reopen again. Then, it advised that it was moving forward its flights from Sydney to London and Los Angeles — the former direct via Darwin — to mid-November. So, in an ever-changing space, its latest announcement is hardly surprising news. It's still thoroughly welcome by everyone already mentally packing their bags, obviously. Overall, Qantas' Australian-based Qantas and Jetstar employees will all head back to work in early December, ahead of international travel resuming nationwide — but some flights will kick off before that. At present, just the Sydney details have been revealed, with trips to Singapore recommencing on Tuesday, November 23, four weeks earlier than initially scheduled; legs to Fiji beginning on Tuesday, December 7, just under two weeks early; and flights to Johannesburg starting on Wednesday, January 5, a huge three months before originally outlined. Also, if you're keen to head to Thailand, flights to Phuket and Bangkok will restart on Wednesday, January 12 and Friday, January 14, respectively. That's more than two months early, and perfectly timed to kick off 2022 with a getaway. Qantas has also announced a new route, from Sydney to Delhi via Darwin, starting Monday, December 6. It'll mark the carrier's first commercial flights between Australia and India in nearly a decade. Before you go digging out your passport, it's worth remembering that different border rules apply both internationally and domestically. So, the rules at your destination — and the requirements upon coming home, depending on where you live in Australia — will vary. One place where the conditions might soon be cemented: Singapore. At the same press conference where Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce announced the airline's latest change of plans, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also revealed that an agreement should soon be finalised regarding Aussie travel to the southeast Asian city-state. "We are in the final stages of concluding an arrangement with the Singapore Government. I was in a position, as you know, some months ago when I met with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Prime Minister Lee in Singapore, to set up a new arrangement which will see our borders open more quickly to Singapore. We anticipate that being able to be achieved within the next week or so, as we would open up to more visa class holders coming out of the Singapore. We will see that occur," said the Prime Minister. News of a possible quarantine-free travel bubble with Singapore was first floated back in March, and mentioned again by both Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just met with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in June. For more information about Qantas' international routes or to book, visit the airline's website.
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this new Brisbane cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co. cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. After successful outings in Melbourne and Sydney, the festival will make its way to Brisbane for the first time on Sunday, May 19, 2019. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — with the lineup still to be announced— it'll feature flavoursome fare from cheese specialists too. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving Lightspace. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, beer and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. There will be two sessions: one running from 11am–3pm and the other from 4–8pm. Tickets cost $40 for early bird purchased and $45 afterwards, which includes tastings.
January 26 as been given many labels. On a difficult occasion, Survival Day is one of them. Commemorating and celebrating the endurance of Australia's Indigenous population, marking the date involves recognising and paying tribute to the nation's First Peoples in morning ceremonies. In Brisbane, the Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group and Benarrawa Community Development Association will lead a gathering along the banks of the Brisbane River and Benarrawa (Oxley Creek). Meeting at the bronze canoe near Simpsons Playground in Graceville, the event will pay tribute to the original inhabitants of the area, with all Australians welcome to participate. Attendees are asked to arrive at 7.15am for a 7.30am start, and to bring clap sticks, a hat and native flowers, with the posies cast into the river at the end of the ceremony. Also recommended: bringing a rug or chair to sit on. Following the official proceedings, everyone is also invited to stay for a bite and a drink, so don't forget your cold or hot beverage of choice and a plate to share. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
UPDATE: JULY 31, 2018 — You can stop bulk-buying chocolate bars, 50,000 more golden tickets to Charlie And the Chocolate Factory have just been released. And you can buy them right here. Two show dates have been added in January and the season has been extended to May 31, 2019. If you'd like to catch Willy Wonka and his orange-hued friends on the stage, we suggest moving quickly. Everyone's favourite 'candy man' is hitting Aussie shores next January, with the announcement that Sydney's Capitol Theatre will play host to the smash-hit musical production of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film of the same name, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Sydney season will kick off on January 8, 2019, with performances running on Tuesday to Sunday. Tickets for the first month of shows are now on sale at charliethemusical.com.au. Top image: Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast 2017.
In the year of the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday, the seventh annual Festival of Tibet returns to Brisbane. As one of the most educational, moving and finely curated events to be hosted in Brisbane, the festival is an enriching experience regardless of your level of knowledge about the country. From art to even more celestial experiences, this six-day celebration brings us so much of the beauty that defines Tibet. The Powerhouse will be transformed for the event, with a mix of free and ticketed events. Witness the creation of a superb sand mandala from millions of grains of coloured sand, learn to cook Tibetan dumplings, paint, meditate, contemplate and be swept up in beautiful music. The younger sister of the Dalai Lama, Jetsun Pema, lovingly known as ‘Ama la' (Tibetan for Mother), will be the celebrated guest of this year’s Festival of Tibet. UNESCO medal winner and first female Minister of the Tibetan Government in exile, Ama la will reflect on her experiences at a special forum and concert. All proceeds from the Festival of Tibet go to the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala, India.
Limes Hotel has been serving up some of Brisbane’s most luxurious culinary experiences for years, so it is hard not to be excited for the launch of its new dining venture, Alfred & Constance. Based around a food ethos of whole-animal cooking, sourced locally and raised ethically, this gastro pub is following a recipe for success. In addition to fine food, it incorporates a milk bar, dessert bar and four other bars, including a tiki bar, for what is likely to be the city’s chicest gluttonous venue. Although Albert & Constance is yet to open, it will be making an appearance at the Teneriffe Festival with a pop-up restaurant and bar aptly named Pork, Fork and Cork, to give the crowd a taste of what is yet to come. A mouth-watering selection of food and drink will be on offer, with Alfred & Constance Head Chef David Lindsey and Patron Chef Jocelyn Hancock on hand to provide insight into the new venture. Craft beers, cocktails from the Limes Hotel bartenders, wine and champagne will help fuel the festival fire alongside live music and DJ’s playing well into the evening.
Back in January, it was announced that Patricia Piccinini's fantastical Skywhale, the 34-metre-long inflatable art piece that has repeatedly captured the attention and the hearts of Australians, would be joined by a new floating companion. Skywhalepapa, Piccinini's new other-worldly creation, stands as tall as a ten-storey building and was unveiled to the public in the early hours of Sunday, February 7. Both Skywhale and Skywhalepapa were scheduled to take off from the National Gallery of Australia on Saturday, February 6 as part of the Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition, however, that date was postponed to Sunday in hopes of better flying conditions. Unfortunately, come Sunday, weather conditions hadn't improved enough to allow the Skywhales to fly. Despite being unable to take off over Canberra, the pair of fantastical hot air balloons were inflated and able to float tethered in front of the gallery. The Skywhales will have future opportunity to fly in the sky on Monday, March 8 and Saturday, April 3, too, with free tickets to the second and third flights set to be released in coming weeks. These flights are running concurrently with a multimedia exhibition at the NGA that includes Piccinini's new children's book Every Heart Sings, which tells the story of the Skywhale family. Skywhale-inspired croissants made by Three Mills Bakery, an open-source Skywhale knitting pattern and a Skywhale song titled 'We Are the Skywhales' were also created alongside the exhibition. Following the March and April flights, the Skywhales are scheduled to go on tour, floating across the skies of Australia throughout 2021 and 22. The tour will kick off in Albury, NSW sometime in mid-April and will make it's way around to several states, providing more Australians with the opportunity to marvel at the enormous art projects. Skywhalepapa was created using 3.6 kilometres of fabric and features nine baby Skywhales, safely tucked beneath their father's fins. To learn more about the Skywhale family, you can purchase the book Every Heart Sings from the NGA website. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings will take place at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes, ACT on Monday, March 8 and Saturday, April 3. For more information on the exhibition, visit the NGA website and follow the NGA on Twitter for regular updates on the Skywhales and on tickets to future events. Images: Skywhale 2013, Skywhalepapa 2020, Patricia Piccinini. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Copyright the artist.
In these difficult economic times, it’s definitely getting harder to get much bang for your buck. Instead of rolling our eyes when an oldie gives us a lecture about how times have changed, we have all started spouting our own disgruntled thoughts on the cost of… well pretty much everything. Luckily the fine people from Judith Write Centre of Contemporary Arts are here to look out for us. They want to make sure that we can all have a thrilling night of music, art and hotdogs without breaking the bank. That’s why they have put together the brand spanking new all-ages series CHEAP THRILLS! For a mere $15, this all-ages licensed event will be showcasing some of the most exciting bands to emerge out of the East Coast. They’ve got Melbourne’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Newcastle’s Kira Puru & The Bruise as well as locals Gung Ho and The Well Alrights. There will also be free sets in the shopfront from DJ Black Amex and DJ Hot Flush as well as photographic projections by Dane Beesley. Another incredibly important note to make is that the first 100 pre-sale tickets sold will received a free Hellhound Hotdog! Get yourself a night of top-notch entertainment on a shoestring budget.
Two years ago, a pop-up bar made of Lego descended on Australia. Now, in a time of social distancing and self-isolation, the country's next kidult-friendly, Lego-inspired experience is, of course, a subscription service. The Brick Box, as it has fittingly been dubbed, delivers a new box of bricks and building challenges to your door each month. You can sign up for one ($20), three ($50), six ($100) or 12 ($200) months, with the price getting cheaper as you commit to a longer period of time. There's no word on exactly what blocks, challenges and designs you'll be sent each month, but it's promising that "each box will give you ideas and different challenges to build whilst you're stuck in the house". And, if you're not a huge fan of the challenges they've suggested, you can always set your own. YouTube is filled with endless inspiration and tutorials, after all. If Lego isn't your thing, the same company also offers subscription puzzle boxes, board game boxes and soap boxes. Check out all of the options over here. If you're sick of being on your screen — sliding down endless Twitter holes and glued to live streams — this may be the perfect antidote. If you can't get enough of your screen, however, check out our round up of the best virtual events. You can sign up to The Brick Box over here.
Have you ever sipped a daiquiri under the Barbie-head chandelier at Lychee Lounge? Check. Dined whilst sat cross-legged on a rug at Garuva? Check. Visited the gents' with a one-way mirror at the Regatta? Check. But have you had dinner in a shipping container? Well, every Friday and Saturday night from November 8, you can do just that. Brisbane's patron saint of markets, restaurants and cafes, Peter Hackworth, will transform Hamilton Wharf into a foodie's dream, creating a gastronomic spectacle never seen in Brisbane before. The team from Eat Street Markets, including Hackworth, John Stainton and Jacki MacDonald have worked together to deliver 60 shipping containers to the wharf, creating a street market with originality coming out the ears. The goal is to "recreate in Brisbane the hustle and bustle of the fabulous food markets of Asia" according to Hackworth, a goal that is set to be achieved by inviting local chefs to whip up their take on South-East Asian cuisine, complimented by boutique beers, cocktails and fine wines, all set to the unique aural offerings of local musicians. For the first two weeks, the markets will partner with Containerval music and arts festival, showcasing a vast array of Queensland's artists and musicians in various containers and tents along the riverside. To help create MacDonald's vision of a "magic space filled with long strings of lights, delicious food, flowers, fresh produce, art and music," Eat Street Markets will also coincide with the Brisbane International Film Festival's open-air cinema, spoiling moviegoers for choice when it comes to pre- or post-film snacks. The grand opening is November 8 and Eat Street will continue from 4-10pm every Friday and Saturday night. See their website for more details.
Do you remember making time capsules when you were younger? You'd fill a little shoebox with your most prized possessions like an Eiffel 65 CD, a daisy chain your friend made you, and a battered magazine cut-out of Titanic-era Leonardo DiCaprio, and then write a letter to your future self. Twenty years later when it came time to open it you'd either forgotten where it was entirely or found it and wished you hadn't. Well, legendary author Margaret Atwood is essentially doing that with her latest book. It may be housed in a more sophisticated version of your shoebox, but her current work-in-progress will be stowed away unread for the next 100 years. This will all take place because of a larger initiative started by Scottish artist Katie Paterson. The Future Library Project will see one author per year contribute to a collection of works to be published in 2114. This year organisers planted 1,000 trees in Norway that will be used to print the books in 100 years time. Atwood is the first author to take part, but she seems unfazed by the project and its absolutely crippling reminder of our collective mortality. "When you write any book you do not know who's going to read it, and you do not know when they're going to read it," she told The Guardian. "You don't know who they will be, you don't know their age, or gender, or nationality, or anything else about them. So books, anyway, really are like the message in the bottle." In fact, the project raises many questions about the nature of writing and reception. Will people still have books then? Will we speak exclusively in emojis and gifs? How will they convert the text into the direct brain waves they use to input information from their flying cars and jetpacks? In speaking about the project, Paterson stated the 100-year time span was very deliberate. "[It's] not vast in cosmic terms ... it is beyond many of our current lifespans, but close enough to come face to face with it, to comprehend and relativise," she said. It's a scary prospect, and an extremely daring project to take on as a writer. Where an author's job is usually to articulate and discuss life in historical and social context, this throws everything out of whack. The people who will read and review this upcoming work haven't even been born yet! Personally, we've got out fingers crossed we're going to make it. Modern science and all, right? Either that, or we'll just give our great, great grandkids the heads up. Via The Guardian.
Things are always better in miniature. Baby animals, bonsai trees and miniature adults (read: children) never fail to excite squeals of adoration and appreciation in normal human beings. So why don't we turn the shrink ray on other everyday items? Good question. Lea Redmond, 'Postmaster' of the World's Smallest Postal Service (WSPS) has therefore created a range of ridiculously tiny letters, packages and custom stationery. Submit a message on her website and your words will be transcribed into a little letter and sent directly to the recipient of your choice. You can also send packages containing buttons, little compasses or paper flowers, or order your own tiny custom stationery. Think of all the uses! You need to send a birthday card to your friend who lives on the island of Lilliput, but you know the average Hallmark missive will squish her tiny frame flat? Send her a tiny letter just the right size for her little lady paws! You want to break up with your boyfriend, but hate confrontation? Send him a tiny break-up letter that cannot be read by the naked eye! By the time he gets a magnifying glass and the heartbreaking disappointment sinks in, you'll be in Barbados lounging on the beach with his best friend! You need to send your own obituary to The Herald, because you've actually perished from a cute overdose? Signed, sealed, delivered. *If you order a package, you also get a tiny mailbox, as featured below.
While the weekend is still one day away, you can enjoy the taste of freedom on your Thursday night with the Wandering Cooks and their caravan of food trucks. Each week the "incubator for food entrepreneurs" invites the city's food trucks to park in their lot and cook alongside some of the organisation's own talent. Sweet tunes accompany the selection of cheap-as-chips dinner options, and different trucks roll up each week. Meet your buds after work, organise a casual midweek date night or head along on a whim for something a bit different. But get in early, before the food drives out. When they’re not parking their wares for roadside service, Wandering Cooks are catering events, lending commercial kitchens and showcasing their members' wares to grow their pretty fun community. Image: How We Rolls.
When a film or TV show is crafted with a deep-seated love for its chosen genre, it shows. When it wants to do more than just nod and wink at greats gone by like a big on-screen super fan — when its creators passionately hope that it might become a classic in its own right, rather than a mere imitation of better titles — that comes through, too. That's the case with Starstruck. Across the new sitcom's six-episode first season, it takes Notting Hill's premise, gives it a 22-years-later update and delivers a smart, sidesplittingly funny and all-round charming rom-com. It also features series creator and star Rose Matafeo enjoying a morning-after stride of pride to the sounds of 90s hit 'Return of the Mack', which is instantly as delightful as it sounds. When she last graced our screens, Matafeo took on pregnancy-centric rom-coms in 2020's similarly winsome Baby Done. There, she helped slice through the typical on-screen rhetoric that usually surrounds motherhood, playing a professional arborist who is so far from thrilled when she finds out she's expecting that she keeps living her tree-climbing life in complete denial. The New Zealand comedian wasn't just plucky and relatable in the film; she ensured that her character was always the sum of both clear strengths and overt struggles. The jump from that engaging and thoughtful performance to Starstruck's Jessie is an easy one, but that doesn't mean that the vibrant Matafeo is merely doing the same thing twice. A 28-year-old New Zealander in London who splits her time between working in a cinema and nannying, Jessie isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. And, for most of the evening, her lack of enthusiasm proves astute. Then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). He overhears her rambling drunkenly to herself in the men's bathroom, they chat at the bar and, when sparks fly, she ends up back at his sprawling flat. It isn't until the next morning, however — when she sees a poster adorned with his face leaning against his living room wall — that she realises that he's actually one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Jessie is never just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her. While she likes Tom, she's also initially content that they've had their night together and now their lives will follow separate paths — "he can't take it back!" she tells Kate. But Jessie unexpectedly keeps bumping into Tom, and their attraction keeps bubbling. He's still ridiculously famous, she still isn't, and that places more than a few obstacles in their way. When she leaves after their first night together, the paparazzi mistake her for a cleaner. When he meets her friends, they all take the show's title as literally as anyone can. As the duo navigate all the baggage that comes with his job and her unwillingness to swoon over said job, Starstruck pairs the fairytale of hooking up with a celebrity with the all-too-relatable awkwardness that can come after spending a night with anyone — and it finds the perfect balance. With impeccable timing a given thanks to her stand-up background, Matafeo is a force of nature as Jessie; as in Baby Done, the comedian plays a strong, confident twentysomething who doesn't always know what she wants, and doesn't always make the best decisions, but owns her choices, emotions and mistakes because they're hers. Patel, jumping into Hugh Grant's back catalogue again after his aforementioned role in the recent Four Weddings and a Funeral TV remake, is just as engaging as Tom — who he plays with charm but never arrogance, and also with a healthy scepticism about the trappings of being a well-known actor. Also stellar: the constantly hilarious script by Matafeo and fellow comedian Alice Snedden, the light and buoyant direction by Obvious Child screenwriter and Yes, God, Yes writer/director Karen Maine, and the love of both cinema in general and rom-coms specifically that's baked into every frame. Indeed, it's no wonder that HBO Max, which funded and aired the series in the US, renewed the series for a second season on the day that it debuted in America. Whenever that new batch of episodes lands, they'll also feature Minnie Driver (with the About a Boy star first popping up in season one as Tom's agent) and Russell Tovey (Years and Years). For now, though, ABC iView in Australia also knows that viewers will want more Starstruck instantly, with the entire first season available to stream in one go. Check out the trailer for Starstruck below: Starstruck's first six-episode season is now available to stream via ABC iView. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
Offering a copy of their new EP She’s A Riot at a discounted price atop of the ticket fee Triple J favourites The Jungle Giants bring their lustful, indie-pop rock to The Zoo. Roar. A sound defined by hand claps, stomping backbeats, catchy-as hooks and lyrics about the trials and tribulations of life and love, The Jungle Giants are known for their electrifying, hair raising live performances - a combination that has their fans head over heels. She’s A Riot has seen the band compared to The Kooks, Two Door Cinema Club and Last Dinosaurs, and is packed with tongue tingling melodies that’ll set your world on fire, and raise the hairs on the back of your neck to the skies.
Whether you're travelling for work, leisure or something in-between, if you're a Brisbanite who has been in New South Wales lately, you've probably been happy to venture further than your own city. But with four Local Government Areas in Sydney about to be placed under stay-at-home orders from 11.59pm tonight, Friday, June 25 — yes, that's another term for a lockdown — the Queensland Government now requires anyone who has visited the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick council areas since Friday, June 11 to also abide by the same conditions. Yes, you should be feeling a bit of deja vu. This type of thing now tends to happen when another city goes into lockdown, so it has indeed occurred before. Queensland has already closed its borders to the Greater Sydney area in response to the city's current COVID-19 outbreak, but the state has now put a new stay-at-home requirement in place for anyone currently in Queensland who has been to the four specified LGAs. As announced in a Queensland Health public health alert released today, if you fall into that category, you're required to follow the same conditions that would be in place if you were in those four Sydney areas at the moment. The rules are the same as during Brisbane's three lockdowns, which means that you're only allowed to leave the house for select reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for outdoor exercise, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. The City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick LGAs will be under stay-at-home orders until at least 11.59pm on Friday, July 2. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1408274632910655496 Queensland is giving folks who've been in the four LGAs a little bit of extra leeway, though — if you're in the Sunshine State, the lockdown requirement won't kick in until 1am on Saturday, June 26. That said, Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young advised that "if you're one of these people, please don't rush off to another location on holiday — if you do, you'll still need to follow these rules wherever you are." And, although Greater Sydney has already been deemed a hotspot by Queensland, that declaration is being backdated for the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick LGAs as well. So, if you're a Sunshine State resident who returns home after 1am on Saturday, June 26, and you've been in the four LGAs since Friday, June 11 — even if that's not where you're arriving back from now — you'll need to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days. Dr Young is also advising Queenslanders to "reconsider their need to travel to New South Wales during this time." Residents of seven Sydney LGAs — not just the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick, but also Bayside, Canada Bay and Inner West — are not permitted to leave the metropolitan Sydney area. As always, the usual general advice regarding hygiene and social distancing applies in Queensland, as it has throughout the pandemic. For more information about Queensland's COVID-19 border restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
He's been a presence on comedy stages and screens large and small for decades. He has three Grammys to his name, four Emmys as well, and once made a loveable TV sitcom about his childhood. He's popped up in everything from Beverly Hills Cop II, the Madagascar flicks and Spiral: From the Book of Saw to Saturday Night Live and Fargo. And, he'll be now forever synonymous with the 2022 Oscars — as the entire world won't stop talking about. The performer in question? Chris Rock, of course. And if you're keen to see him bust out his comedic best without Will Smith in the room, he's coming to Australia and New Zealand in August. This'll mark his first tour in five years, with his latest show playing seven big arena gigs Down Under. Rock heads our way in-between a long run of US dates — and while his Australian and NZ tour was announced before the Academy Awards it is unsurprisingly getting more attention now. Wondering if he'll mention the obvious? Taking to the stage in America just days after the Oscars to kick off the tour, he didn't work it into his set. "I don't have a bunch of shit about what happened," he said, according to reviews. "So if you came to hear that... I've got a whole show I wrote before this weekend. And I'm still kind of processing what happened." AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND! After 5 years, I'm returning with my Ego Death World Tour 2022 this August. I can't wait. Tickets on sale Fri 18 March: https://t.co/H0deIjBRKR pic.twitter.com/BDYlxnqqhf — Chris Rock (@chrisrock) March 9, 2022 CHRIS ROCK 'EGO DEATH' TOUR DATES: August 7 — Spark Arena, Auckland August 8 — Christchurch Arena, Christchurch August 10 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne August 15 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney August 17 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide August 20 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane August 23 — Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast Chris Rock's 'Ego Death' tour will hit Australia and New Zealand in August 2022. For further details, and to buy tickets, head to the tour's website. Top image: Andy Witchger via Wikimedia Commons.
Have you seen a perfect stranger perform a random act of kindness? A school kid give up their seat for a little old lady on the bus? Had some mystery Sydneysider, without expecting a word of thanks, paid for your flat white? Then the Kaldor Public Arts Projects wants to hear from you. For the last forty odd years, John Kaldor has been inviting international artists to bring their innovative ideas and public arts projects to our shores. Their most recent project was John Baldessari's Your Name In Lights, which gave Sydneysiders their chance to have their 15 seconds of fame, and quickly became the talking point of the 2011 Sydney Festival. Now, they have brought UK artist Michael Landy to Sydney to create his installation piece, Acts of Kindness. Landy's idea for the project is to collect everyday (and seemingly unnoticed) stories of random acts of kindness, then turn them into an artwork which will - both artistically and literally - return the stories to the busy Sydney streets from which they came. It may even inspire a few more. The work will be shown in the city centre for one month from September 23, 2011.
Sydneysiders keen to visit the Sunshine State can start making plans for February, after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today, Thursday, January 28, that her state's borders will completely reopen to New South Wales. In response to NSW's most recent COVID-19 clusters, Queensland's borders closed down to folks from the Greater Sydney area over the Christmas period; however, come Monday, February 1, current restrictions on NSW residents heading north will lift. Premier Palaszczuk first revealed the news on The Today Show, before tweeting that "people have done a terrific job looking after each other through the pandemic and now Queensland is good to go". The news comes after the NSW Government yesterday, Wednesday, January 27, advised that gathering and venue restrictions would start easing within the state from Friday, January 29 — which was sparked by reaching ten days without any cases of local COVID-19 transmission. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1354532640729174019 The timing of Premier Palaszczuk's announcement isn't surprising — earlier in January, she had noted that the border situation would be reviewed again at the end of January, and that the state wouldn't reopen to NSW until the end of this month at the earliest. The latest statement regarding Queensland's borders comes as the state has 12 active COVID-19 cases — as last updated on Wednesday, January 27. For more information about Queensland's border restrictions and requirements, head to the Queensland Government website.
Plenty about the past couple of years has felt dystopian, but that isn't stopping one West End spot from indulging in an annual tradition. That'd be Archive Beer Boutique's signature event, its craft beer fest Armakeggon, which returns on Saturday, September 10. Obviously, the bar will still be around long after the shindig is over. It isn't the end times on Boundary Street. Head along, though, and you'll find a lineup extra-special beverages being poured through the establishment's taps until your beer-loving heart is content. Expect both new and rare brews, plus old favourites, too. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, there'll also be games throughout the day, as well as live music providing a soundtrack. Entry is free from 11.30am, or you can nab a $25 VIP ticket to head in early at 10am and get sipping before the event opens to the general public. The paid option also includes a tasting paddle with four brews, plus a bacon and egg roll to line your stomach. Images: Archive Beer Boutique.
After first spooking out southeast Queensland residents back in 2018, the unnerving Séance installation is returning to the region. This time around, it's bringing its big, white container to HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast — from Wednesday–Sunday between Thursday, October 28–Sunday, November 14. Unlike most shipping containers in the city, this one isn't being used to transport furniture. And, given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's definitely more than a little ominous. Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. (We're serious when we say Séance is not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark.) Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. And if need more of an idea of what you're in for, you might've listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences either last year or this year — such as Double, Visitors, Eternal and Knot — and experienced a few bumps and jumps. [caption id="attachment_804877" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Séance in Sydney in 2017[/caption]
Now in its 15th year of operation, the Spanish Film Festival has created many memorable cinematic experiences for cinephiles who flock through theatre doors every year across Australia. With a program always packed to the brim with dramas, comedies and animations from Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America, the 15th iteration of this vibrant celebration of film will be sure to match the revelry of previous years when it launches on July 11. The Spanish Film Festival crew are inviting Brisbanites to the opening night screening of As Luck Would Have It at the Palace Centro Cinemas. Not only will patrons be treated to the film, they are also being invited to stay and party afterwards. Ticket price includes entry to the screening, sangria on arrival and access to the after party, which will be amply supplied with Estrella Damm beer as well as wine courtesy of Torres Wines. Don't forget your dancing shoes either! https://youtube.com/watch?v=ov7PpY-I7Ko
When Quibi launched in Australia and New Zealand back in April, it added yet another streaming platform to the already lengthy list of services competing for your eyeballs, especially in this stay-at-home, pandemic-afflicted year. This newcomer came with a few twists — serving up its content in small chunks of up to ten minutes in length, designing it all for viewing on your phone, and eventually letting folks watch for free and allowing streaming from users' phones to their TVs, too — but it's now completely pulling the plug. Less than eight months after it kicked off, Quibi will close down, informing customers that it'll end "on or about December 1, 2020". In mid-October, it was revealed that the service would shutter after failing to both attract a big subscriber based and, once the company's powers-that-be realised that it was struggling, to attract a buyer. It shouldn't really come as a surprise that, when we're all spending more time at home during a global health crisis, folks didn't just want to view things by themselves on a tiny phone screen — and that by the time Quibi added Airplay and Chromecast capabilities, the world had largely dismissed the platform. There's also the fact that viewers have a seemingly never-ending array of new streaming services to choose from, so one dedicated to movies and TV shows in bite-sized pieces was probably never going to stand out. Quibi had big aims, both when it launched and in the years beforehand — including hitting 175 different shows and 7000 episodes in its first year. Boasting a name that's been shortened from 'quick bites', it was created by ex-Disney chairman and DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg, and is led by former eBay president and CEO Meg Whitman. Before it launched, it had been in the works since 2018. And, it had earned ample attention thanks to its huge stash of cash (reportedly raising $1.75 billion to spend on content), as well as its hefty array of stars and shows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96mETd0NIIE If you still have a subscription and you're keen to check out Quibi's slate of shows over the next month — including new version of Punk'd hosted by Chance the Rapper, Chrissy Teigen presiding over small claims cases in the Judge Judy-style Chrissy's Court and a Reese Witherspoon-narrated documentary series about females in natural history — you can still do so. Your access won't be renewed once your bill period ends, though. So, for now, you still have a short amount of time left to watch Anna Kendrick befriend a sex doll, follow the twists of horror-thriller The Stranger or work your way through a new version of The Fugitive. Some of Quibi's other highlights include mockumentary Nikki Fre$h, which follows Nicole Richie's efforts to become a wellness-focused rapper; cooking competition show Dishmantled, where host and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess shoots food at two culinary industry figures, then forces them to try to recreate the dish in question; and Lena Waithe-hosted documentary series You Ain't Got These, about sneaker culture. There's also Flipped, starring Will Forte and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson as a down-on-their-luck couple desperate to host their own TV renovation series; Most Dangerous Game, the latest twist on the humans-hunting-humans idea, this time with Christoph Waltz and Liam Hemsworth; and Survive, which casts Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as a suicidal patient suddenly forced to fight for her life after a plane crash. Or, you can watch luxury dog houses come to life in Barkitecture. Quibi will shut down on December 1, 2020. For further details, visit the Quibi website.
Are you that person who's always singing along to the radio and secretly wishing you were Mariah Carey? Well, maybe it's time to find out what your vocal chords are made of by heading along to the Brunswick Hotel's Thursday night karaoke. Grab a few friends and head to this New Farm local early to grab a prime spot in the sports bar. Flag down the karaoke masters, make your request and wait your turn to flaunt your vibrato for all to hear. If you're truly stuck on which tune to choose, drag some friends up with you to take turns belting out verses from No Scrubs, or play it safe with basically anything by Queen.
Do you like horror films? Australian director Mark Hartley obviously does. His infectious, gleeful enthusiasm for his popular if sometimes critically reviled genre of horror makes this a blood-soaked treat for like-minded fans. Having previously explored the rich if somewhat forgotten back catalogues of Australian exploitation cinema horror in his excellent doco Not Quite Hollywood, he takes the next logical step here, remaking Richard Franklin's 1978 cult favourite B-movie. The tagline of the original also serves as a neat plot summary: 'He's in a coma…yet, he can kill!' He is Patrick, a patient who somehow maintains his excellent condition while those around him waste away in a vegetative state in a creepy, isolated hospital. When a young nurse makes a ghoulish discovery that leads to her grisly end, the bright young Kathy 'Jac' Jacquard (Sharni Vinson) is recruited to the facility, which is overseen by Dr. Roget (Charles Dance) and his dead-eyed daughter, Matron Cassidy (Rachel Griffiths). Patrick rattles through genre tropes (creaky elevator shafts, dirty-looking syringes, zombie-like patients wandering blackened corridors, moments of silence shattered by a pounding at the door) with an expert's assurance and a fan's relish. This is a film that knows exactly what it is, and that recognises that some things are cliches for a reason. Patrick is in cinemas on October 17. Thanks to Umbrella Entertainment, we have one Patrick prize pack to give away, including a double in-season pass to see the film and a DVD set containing the original 1978 version of Patrick (Richard Franklin), Child's Play (Tom Holland) and Stake Land (Jim Mickle). Ten runners up will receive double in-season passes. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au Read our full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0N5iCcPGqoY
As anyone who has booked a flight, had to suddenly change their trip and been stuck paying handsomely knows, travel and flexibility haven't always gone hand in hand. But with the entire idea of making firm and definite plans undergoing quite the shift over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Australia responded to the uncertain period by scrapping its change fees until January 2021 — and it has just announced that it's extending that plan until the end of June. Make a booking before March 31 for travel between now and June 30 and, if life gets in your way and you need to rearrange your trip before your travel date, you'll be able to make unlimited changes to your booking without being charged extra. It's worth noting, however, that this only applies to the usual change fee — that is, the amount travellers can be slugged with just for the act of altering their itinerary. If changing your flights involves a difference in fare, you will still have to pay any shortfall amount. Need to cancel your airfare completely? You can also do that — before either your travel date or June 30, whichever is earlier — and now receive a credit without getting charged for doing so, too. The motivation for the idea, unsurprisingly, is to continue to encourage Australians to get booking — even knowing that little is certain when it comes to leaving the house, restrictions, interstate borders or just life in general in these coronavirus-afflicted times. "We've seen many travellers' plans impacted by domestic border restrictions and so we're here to give them comfort when booking a Virgin Australia flight that they'll be able to change their travel date if they need to," said a Virgin Australia Group spokesman. When it first announced the fee-free plan last year, Virgin called the move its 'Passenger Promise', which spans a number of other measures designed to make travellers feel safer and more confident about taking to the skies. Also included: contactless check-in, pre-flight health screening questionnaires for all travellers when checking in, staggered boarding as part of social-distancing measures, distancing between passengers onboard where possible and minimising movement during the flight. Passengers will also receive free face masks and hand sanitiser kits, and be asked to scan their own boarding passes to limit their contact with crew, while increased cleaning protocols are also in place. To find out more about Virgin Australia's new change fee policy, visit the airline's website.
The festival retreat of 2013 continues, with the Big Day Out announcing that their second Sydney event on Monday, January 27, will be cancelled and merged with the show on January 26. "Perhaps we were a bit ambitious expanding to two dates in Sydney for this year’s Big Day Out," promotor Ken West said in a statement. The Big Day Out has held two Sydney shows in three previous years, depending on the pulling power of its headliners. Ticketholders for the Monday event are automatically able to use their ticket on Sunday. Alternatively, they can get a refund until October 30, 2013, or exchange it for a Big Day Out in any other city. It all comes just a week and a half after the cancellation of Harvest. At the time, promoter AJ Maddah put poor Harvest ticket sales down to the lure of the 2014 Big Day Out lineup, but in light of this new information, it seems the competing festival can't have pinched that many of Harvest's followers. The 2014 Big Day Out lineup sort of lived up to the hype. Organisers spoke of their excitement at landing three "white whales", and the top of the ticket is pretty monumental. Pearl Jam is a classic choice for BDO headliner, Arcade Fire a welcome return visitor to the main stage, Blur a seriously impressive 'get' — and Snoop's good-natured, laaiiiiidbaaack style a nice counterpoint to the snarling grunge and indie-rock mania. For more information or to exchange your ticket, visit the Big Day Out website. By the Concrete Playground team.
Since 2010, Sydney has been home to the Korean Film Festival in Australia. While 2025's main fest hits the Harbour City in August, you can also join in without leaving Queensland. Your destination: The Strand Cinemas in Toowoomba on Sunday, September 14. One pivotal difference between the regular festival and the regional KOFFIA Touring Program, other than the fact that it's making the trip to the Sunshine State: head to the latter and everything that you see from its four-title lineup is free. Catch About Family, a dramedy about a chef discovering that he might have grandchildren — and The Noisy Mansion focusing on a tenant and her neighbours trying to discover why their building is plagued by strange sounds. Toowoomba audiences can also watch Forbidden Fairytale, about a children's book author who starts ghostwriting online erotica. Plus, Hear Me: Our Summer is one of the highlights, with the romantic drama co-starring former Iz*One member Kim Minju, remaking Taiwan's Hear Me and seeing a love story blossom via Korean Sign Language.
A decadent dinner. One of Brisbane's newest, hottest restaurants. Parisian theming a plenty. Red velvet, dark lighting and a cruisy atmosphere galore. Combine all three, and you get the sit-down dinner to end all sit-down dinners — and all years, like this one. Madame Rouge might be a fresh addition to Fortitude Valley, but it's already pulling out all the stops. And their New Year's Eve dinner might just be their usual a la carte menu, with diners seated at two specific times (5.30pm and 8.30pm); however, once you've tried their cheese soufflé, steak frites, and creme caramel — and washed them all down with a few French sours — you won't want to spend your last night of 2016 anywhere else.
Amongst the many large-scale events that've cancelled or postponed in the wake of COVID-19, is perhaps the one we could all use the most right now — the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With the government banning non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people, and, today, indoor gatherings over 100, the huge annual laugh-fest was one of the first to be axed from the 2020 calendar. But if it's some chuckles you're after, fear not, because some of Australia's best-loved comedians, many of which were slated to perform at MICF, are coming soon to a streaming device near you. And even those bunkering down at home in a state of enforced self-isolation, or voluntary social-distancing, get to enjoy this little lineup as well. Hitting screens from next month is Amazon Prime's new special series of stand-up shows from ten big-name Aussie comics. Two specials will be released each week from Friday, April 10, including Tom Gleeson's sell-out show Joy, Zoë Coombs Marr with Bossy Bottom, Judith Lucy, Anne Edmonds and Tommy Little. Lano & Woodley, Celia Pacquola, Tom Walker, Dilruk Jayasinha and Alice Fraser are also on the bill, promising to inject a bit of sunshine into your socially distanced life. The comedy specials were all filmed last year at Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre and are set to stream worldwide. You can watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz3dmDUeydw The ten new comedy specials hit Amazon Prime Video from Friday, April 10.
Mid-last year, we looked at a Kickstarter project involving the construction of a swimming pool in New York's East River. Now, London-based architects Studio Octopi have hatched a similar plan for London: the Thames Baths Project. The concept is a response to the potentially impending construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, dubbed the 'Super Sewer'. Thames Water is awaiting approval to build a 25km underground tunnel, designed to divert the 39 million tonnes of sewage that enters the river each year. London's 150-year-old sewage system simply can't cope with 21st- demands. Studio Octopi proposes the creation of two sets of baths — one at Shadwell in the east and one at Blackfriars (fancy a quick dip before hitting the West End?). The architects collaborated with Civic Engineers on the nitty gritty construction details and with Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects on the aesthetics. Each site would see three tide-responsive pools, supported by concrete slabs and fringed with native foliage — reeds, rushes, yellow flag irises, sedums and valerians. "A lot of people screw their noses up at the thought of swimming in the Thames, but it already occurs within very controlled conditions, such as at Hampton Court and the Docklands," Studio Octopi director Chris Romer-Lee said in an interview with Dezeen. "Imagine the views from the waterline [from Blackfriars], downstream to the London Eye, upstream to the City. Whether it's for sport or leisure, bringing these alternative uses to the heart of cities unites diverse communities, encourages physical activity and invigorates the flora and fauna of our much overlooked river." Even though the Thames Baths Project does not depend on the Super Sewer, it does require a significant improvement in the river's water quality, which fails to meet European standards. The concept is one of five successful submissions to London As It Could Be Now, run by The Architecture Foundation and currently on show at the Royal Academy.
First postponed from July to October last year, and then ditching 2020 altogether, Splendour in the Grass has announced today, Tuesday, March 2, that its next event will now be held in spring 2021. The last time the festival updated its plans, it was intending to take place in July 2021; however, it'll now go ahead between Friday, November 19–Sunday, November 21. So, get ready for a much warmer trip to North Byron Bay Parkland than usual. Get ready to see The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator, too. Both acts were originally set to headline the cancelled 2020 fest, and will now hit the stage on the Saturday and Sunday nights, respectively. They'll be joined in the top slot by Gorillaz, who'll do the honours on the Friday evening. Announcing the change of dates via its website, Splendour in the Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco noted that they "had so hoped to bring you Splendour's 20th anniversary edition this July, but we can't stage the event that you know and love within the current restrictions and international border closures. Since March 2020, not a single festival in Australia has been able to run at full capacity and the industry is currently operating at a fraction of pre-COVID levels." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) Just who else will be on the bill is still up in the air, but we'll let you know as soon as anything else is announced. If you had already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020, you'll be happy to know that it's valid for the 2021 edition. If you've bought one for this year, for the July dates, it's still valid for November, too. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. Splendour in the Grass has been postponed again and will now take over North Byron Bay Parkland from November 19–21, 2021. All 2020 tickets and July 2021 tickets are valid for November, with pre-loved tickets currently available via splendourinthegrass.com. Top images: Splendour in the Grass 2018 by Charlie Hardy / Splendour in the Grass 2019 by Dave Kan.
At the beginning of 2020, the idea that visiting a cafe might mean you'd need to keep a close eye on your health afterwards would've seemed very strange indeed. But, that scenario is now a normal part of life during a pandemic — and one that Queensland residents are getting used to during the state's response to COVID-19. While the Sunshine State has maintained low coronavirus case numbers to-date — with 1092 in total at the time of writing, and six active cases — naming locations and venues visited by folks who test positive to COVID-19 is a key element of Queensland's containment and contact-tracing strategy. So, with that in mind, Queensland Health has announced the latest place that Brisbanites need to note via a public health alert issued on Wednesday, August 19. Anyone who dined at The Jam Pantry cafe in Greenslopes on Sunday, August 16 is asked to watch for symptoms, and to get tested if they develop a cough, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. That warning applies to patrons who visited all throughout that day; however, health authorities will specifically contact anyone who was on the premises between 9.45–11am. In a statement posted to its Instagram, The Jam Pantry cafe says it will temporarily close for deep-cleaning and all its staff will get a COVID-19 test. https://www.facebook.com/QLDHealth/photos/a.217413675033389/3265284100246316/?type=3&theater As Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young advised in the health alert, The Jam Pantry was frequented on August 16 by a woman who has since left the country, but returned a positive COVID-19 test upon her arrival in Japan. Qld Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. You can find a rundown of testing clinic locations online as well. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
