DesignEx is Australia's leading design exhibition, and this year the Office for Good Design has curated a unique seminar series called 7 Kinds of Happiness to open an otherwise industry-focused event to the general, design-loving public. Seven seminars with major industry heavyweights explore how happiness impacts the practice of leading local and international designers. Each seminar is held within the 'Happy Place', an area created specifically for this seminar series constructed entirely of doonas. Sounds like our sort of lecture. Concrete Playground has a double pass to giveaway to each of the seven seminars. To win, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your preference of seminar from the list below. Happiness 1: Alice Rawsthorn, Monday 14th 12.30pm Happiness 2: Ilse Crawford (UK), Monday 14th 5pm (digital) Happiness 3: Stefan Sagmeister (USA), Tuesday 15th 10am (digital) Happiness 4: Broached Commissions, Tuesday 15th 12.30pm Happiness 5: Rotor (Brussels), Tuesday 15th May 5pm (digital) Happiness 6: Work AC (USA), Wed 16th 10am (digital) Happiness 7: Australian Creative Directors of the Venice Architecture Biennale Anthony Burke and Gerard Reinmuth with TOKO (Panel Discussion) Wed 16th 12.30pm
Fleabag fans, rejoice — because Phoebe Waller-Bridge is back on our screens, and back working with playwright and screenwriter Vicky Jones, too. The latter is the driving force behind comedy-thriller Run, and Waller-Bridge only plays a supporting part, but that's more than enough reason to binge your way through its seven instantly moreish episodes. The setup: college sweethearts Ruby (Merritt Wever) and Billy (Domhnall Gleeson) always promised each other that, if one of them texted the word 'run' to the other and received the same back in reply, they'd drop everything, hightail it to New York's Grand Central Station and catch a train across America together. And, that's exactly what happens. As for why, and what this means to the two central characters, that's all part of the fun of watching. So is enjoying the rapport between the always-great Wever and Gleeson.
Cover your iPhone in the artistic works of Australia's own. iArt phone covers feature the designs of Australian contemporary artists David Larwill, Tommy Watson and Adam Cullen, winner of the 2000 Archibald Prize and a contesting 2012 finalist. By combining the practical with the aesthetically inclined, iArt hopes that these hard phone covers will allow the beautiful pieces they spotlight to reach a broader audience. With an iArt phone cover you may hold a tiny masterpiece in the palm of your hand, all the while vitally increasing contemporary art appreciation. To win 1 of 4 Adam Cullen iArt iPhone covers (just in time for the March 30 announcement of the 2012 Archibald Prize winner), make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au. And if you use the code VSzHOS when purchasing a bundle featuring Adam Cullen's work, you will receive 25% off plus free shipping until April 2.
UPDATE: MAY 28, 2020 — Since publication of the below article, the Japan Tourism Agency has clarified in a Tweet that the subsidy scheme, called the Go To Travel Campaign, is to "stimulate domestic travel demand within Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic and only cover a portion of domestic travel expenses". The scheme is still under consideration by the Japanese Government. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism as we once knew it virtually disappeared overnight, with borders closing, flights grounded and overseas holidays off the cards for months now. But with Australia, New Zealand and other nations around the world gradually beginning to loosen their coronavirus restrictions, that might eventually change — and if you're wondering where to venture to first, the Japanese government wants to help fund your next getaway. As reported by The Japan Times, the Japan Tourism Agency has announced a tourism subsidy scheme that'll pay a portion of travel expenses for visitors coming into the country. If the idea sounds familiar, that's because the Mediterranean island of Sicily is doing the same thing, as it revealed a few weeks back. JTA's chief Hiroshi Tabata told a press conference that the program would come into effect when Japan's COVID-19 case numbers subside and the country subsequently reopens its borders — which he said could be as early as July. Few other details have been revealed as yet, including exactly what costs the scheme will reimburse (such as flights, accommodation and venue tickets). Still, if strolling across Shibuya's scramble crossing, visiting the Studio Ghibli museum, wandering through a kaleidoscopic maze of digital art, singing karaoke in a ferris wheel and eating Godzilla-themed desserts next to a building-sized Godzilla statue are all on your must-do travel list (and they all definitely should be), this is welcome news. The Japanese agency expects to spend a massive ¥1.35 trillion — approximately AU$19 billion — on the tourism initiative, a move designed to help revive the struggling sector. As The Japan Times also notes, Japan's visitor numbers for January–April 2020 are down 64.1 percent compared to the same period in 2019. And, with the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID-19, there's no longer a guaranteed influx of travellers expected this year. Japan has been under a state of emergency since early April, but it was lifted on Monday, May 25 by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, with infection numbers — especially in Tokyo — continuing to fall. While lockdowns have been loosening in some regions around the country in recent weeks, the latest move also includes Tokyo, where restrictions on restaurants, bars, libraries and museums are also starting to ease. For further details about the Japan Tourism Agency tourism scheme, keep an eye on the agency's website. Via The Japan Times.
There is something about taking a venue and making it new again that we really respond to. Renovations, redesigns, makeovers: They are inviting, and anyone who has visited The Bridge Hotel or The Richmond Club pre- and post-renovations would have experienced this. The gents behind these incredible makeovers, Sand Hill Road, are at it again with the redesign of The Prahran Hotel. They have taken the much-loved Melbourne venue and added stunning architecture to its already long list of characteristics. With a complete wall of concrete pipes that you can sit in and enjoy your parma, this redesign is incredibly well played. We chat to Matt Mullins from Sand Hill Road about redesigning spaces, the perfect pub and where he goes to enjoy a beer. Tell us about Sand Hill Road and how it came about. Sand Hill Road is a group of four guys. The same four guys [Doug Maskiell, Andy Mullins, Matt Mullins and Tom Birch] that were here when it started. We were all twenty five years old, working different jobs and, at the same time, starting to think maybe this work life wasn't what we wanted. The only thing we knew about was pubs. We knew what we knew from spending our misspent years in pubs. We started with one venue. We renovated it, all ourselves. It was before designers and architects were really briefed to redo Melbourne pubs. After the first one we thought, that's fun, and did it again and again. Since then we've done eight or nine pubs, and we're having a really good time! We use the same architects, Techne Architects and Justin Northrop. We also work with the same builders, Visual Builders. You can't build a place like the new Prahran Hotel without good relationships with architects and builders. What would you say the key elements of a 'great pub' are? We've always said that design is one of the areas where we can push the boundaries. Our market seems happy and excited by this, they love coming and being in an exciting building. But, no doubt about it, we talk about what our market is going to want in terms of the actual product. We talk about the food offering being accessible and good value, and high-quality pub food. We talk about that first. People need to be able to eat in small groups and large groups in the entire venue. We talk about them having a public bar, where anyone can come in and not be judged. People want the barman to know them and know what they drink. In the end, the product offering is a good, simple, honest pub offering. Do you think these elements that make your venues work are specific to a Melbourne audience? We spend a lot of time thinking about it, about if these things we're tapping into are Melbourne things or inner Melbourne things, or if it would have all worked in other areas. The answer is we don't know, but it feels like there is something very Melbourne about our market. It's something about the Melbourne market that really responds to a good, honest pub — to a public bar, to a chicken parma and a pot of Carlton. Being able to watch the footy in the background. We built our pubs around that specific market. What do you think it is that keep people coming back? People come to our pubs once or twice for the design. They come back for things like karma kegs, and the public bar that has become part of their life. They come to know us and they can feel at home there. In many ways the design comes second or third or fifth even. Tell us a little about Karma Kegs? The guys and I have been donating money to different causes over the years. About a year or two ago we thought we might be able to involve our patrons more in this aspect of our lives. They are the business and therefore it made sense that they could be part of the charity process too. Doug came up with the idea of the karma keg, on a Friday, at every venue. We donate a keg of Carlton, and punters decide what they pay for it and the whole lot goes towards a local charity. They always choose to pay more than what's it worth. It's incredibly cool. It tells you a lot about our patrons and how they feel about the community. How did you go about redesigning The Prahran Hotel? We start with asking 'who is the market for us and what do they want?'. We start with the general offering and then we talk about how we can design the building around offering that. The architects always ask, 'who is this pub for boys?' The pipes at The Prahran Hotel are pretty wild, they look really cool, but more importantly you get to sit in one of these pipes with the street on the one side and the venue to the other. The design came out of the need for that community beer garden. The beer garden was stuck out the back and was hard to see and get to. It wasn't doing what it was meant to be doing. We needed to bring it right up to the front. Access it from the public bar, and bring light into the heart of it. The pipes now wrap it around the courtyard, an extension of it so to speak. Do you look to the history of the pub when redesigning? Was that an element of the Prahran Hotel redesigning? We absolutely look to the history of the pub. Design can be a great way to incorporate or evoke the history of a venue. The Prahran was rebuilt in the 1940s in the streamline style, the architectural style that came after art deco. They really added the cruise-ship style in the remodel. Everything was done in big long horizontal lines, with portholes and curved brickwork. With the part of the hotel that we left, we borrowed from that era, specifically the circular motif. They were one of the things that inspired the circular pipes. Essentially, they are porthole windows. Iconic of the era. We took that idea and built them on top of each other, creating the wall of concrete pipes. Aside from your own venues, where do you enjoy spending time in Melbourne? I tend to go to venues for one of two reasons. Firstly, it's for us to learn something architecturally, and a good example would be The Boat Builders Yard. What they did there in terms of inside and outside and making things waterproof inside was fascinating and really interesting. The other reason I go to certain venues is to visit places my friends own. I like to know the publican — The Great Northern for me is the number one beer pub in Melbourne and one of the best in the country. What they know and advise with beer and food is out of this world.
It started back in 1956 as a singing contest between a mere seven nations. Now, more than six decades later, Eurovision is a glitter and spandex-fuelled global musical phenomenon. Forty-one countries not only in Europe but from elsewhere compete — hello Australia — and viewers tune in en masse each May to watch, sing along and add new pop tunes to their playlists. But with COVID-19 continuing to spread, the show won't go on in 2020. Due to take place in Rotterdam, this year's Eurovision Song Contest won't be delayed or rescheduled — it has completely been cancelled. In a statement, the European Broadcasting Union explained that it had explored other alternatives, such as postponing, staging it remotely and running it without an audience, but there was no other viable option. "The uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe — and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities — means the EBU has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned," it announced. With big event cancellations and postponements coming through with frequency at the moment — including SXSW, Coachella, Dark Mofo, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Vivid Sydney and Glastonbury, to name a few — scrapping Eurovision 2020 is hardly surprising. It'll still come as a disappointment to fans, however, especially given the contest would've been perfect self-isolating viewing material. And, it's obviously disappointing for the artists already selected by their countries to try to sing their way to glory, such as Aussie talent Montaigne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-wWxu4974&feature=emb_logo While the EBU is still working through the ramifications of cancelling this year's Eurovision, it is in discussions with the City of Rotterdam about hosting the event next year. The Netherlands earned the right to stage Eurovision 2020 when Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song 'Arcade' — as is Eurovision tradition, each year's winning country hosts the next year's event. Also under discussion is whether this year's selected artists can perform when the contest returns in 2021 and, if so, whether they can sing their 2020 songs. The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will no longer be held in May 2020, or at all in 2020. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun has been running for 15 years, and the boutique summer music festival is still bringing the goods. The lineup for this December has just been released and it looks like it'll be a doozy of a 15th birthday celebration. Vera Blue and Pond will headline the three-day fest, with Winston Surfshirt, Skegss, Tkay Maidza, Angie McMahon, Emily Wurramara and Remi lending their voices too. Didirri, Slowly Slowly and West Thebarton — among others — round out what looks like it'll be a big couple of days of music, with more acts still to be announced in September. The camping festival is also — excitingly — BYO, so you don't need to spend your hard-earned cash on overpriced UDLs. Alongside the lineup of live music, there will also be a heap of food trucks (serving everything from burgers to vegan fare), silent discos and silent comedy. On Thursday, dubbed 'Wabi Sabi Thursday', you'll also encounter a heap of crafty workshops, artist stalls and a glitter bar — to help you kick off the colourful weekend in style. The festival is themed each year, and this year it's the "Roll On Up" edition — looks like it's time to whip out your circus costumes and maybe start practising your stilt walking. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, August 9. FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 2018 LINEUP Vera Blue Pond Winston Surfshirt Skegss Tkay Maidza Remi Angie McMahon West Thebarton Didirri Slowly Slowly Kwame Emily Wurramara Clowns Boat Show Pist Idiots Good Doogs Clews Jess Locke Body Type Triple One Clypso Halcyon Drive Grace Turner Unearthed
New Year's Eve is a night that calls for celebration. And, if you want to dance, eat and drink your way into 2019, while also enjoying one of Brisbane's best views, Jade Buddha's Shadow Lounge is throwing a sparkling party that fits the brief. To make sure your tummy and tastebuds are well catered to, grab a standard ticket ($95) and for three hours, you'll be served sliders and skewers along with bottomless tap beer, wine and Thai bucket cocktails. Or, you could up the stakes with a VIP ticket ($135), which will add spirits to the mix. Both these packages offer the goods between 6–9pm. Packages aside, the doors will be open for all to join the bash (free before 9pm) and take advantage of the waterfront views for prime firework watching. Just make sure to rest your feet in the days prior because DJs will be playing all night long and tearing up the dance floor is a non-negotiable. For more information and to grab your tickets, visit the website.
Turns out the Rumours were true — Fleetwood Mac are touring Australia and New Zealand in 2013. Founded in the late-'60s as a blues band, they became superstars in the 1970s (with the addition of Lindsay Buckingham and one Stevie Nicks to the lineup), when songs like 'Rhiannon', 'Go Your Own Way' and 'Dreams' became multimillion sellers and went on to dominate all the best karaoke nights for decades. The lineup from that golden period broke up in 1987 following years of divorce, drug abuse and an almost-complete breakdown of every relationship in the band, but they reunited this year for a North American (and now, Australian) tour. Reviews from the shows so far have been largely positive, so they might just keep it together through the rest of the year. If you don't know them, (a) seriously? and (b) just check your parents' record collection — they'll be there. Announced on the weekend, the tour currently stands at eight dates throughout November and December — but big gaps between shows have already led to speculation that more dates will be added if the shows sell out quickly. Tickets for the Australian concerts go on sale Thursday, June 13. Sunday, November 10 – Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Saturday, November 16 – Hope Estate, Hunter Valley Tuesday, November 19 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Friday, November 22 – Perth Arena, Perth Tuesday, November 26 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, November 30 – A Day On The Green, The Hill Winery, Geelong Monday, December 2 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, December 6 – Vector Arena, Auckland
Halloween is here for 2023 — and if you'd like to celebrate with music trivia, Not On Your Rider has the night for you. The event runs most months of the year, but it themes up its October session. The date: Thursday, October 26 from 6.30pm at The Triffid. If you like music and you like trivia, then TV shows such as Spicks and Specks and Never Mind the Buzzcocks likely sit high on your favourites list, with both combining tunes, musicians and questions about them. But in Brisbane, you don't have to confine your music trivia fix to staring at a screen. One of the city's most reliably entertaining evenings out comes in the form of this IRL quiz show that's also filled with well-known faces — but staged live in the River City, with Brisbanites invited not only to watch but to also play along. This pop-culture delight has been doing the rounds for a few years now, and testing its contestants via rounds of questions. If you're not already acquainted with Not On Your Rider, it takes something that everyone loves — showing off their music trivia knowledge — and dials it up a few notches. Here's how it works: the event is hosted by The Creases' Aimon Clark, and features Velociraptor's Jeremy Neale and The Grates' Patience Hodgson as team captains. Also, while the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. Previous events have boasted folks from Powderfinger, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, The GoBetweens, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, The Kite String Tangle, Butterfingers, Last Dinosaurs, The Chats and more, because you never know which music figures might be involved on the night. Guests change each show, but the past lineup has also spanned Robert Irwin, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ben Lee and Steven Bradbury, as well as Trent Dalton, Ranger Stacey, Mel Buttle and Ian 'Dicko' Dickson. And as for the quiz itself, it's accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees — and, at the October event, Halloween touches, of course.
If there's a festive trend that everyone can get on board with, it's the emergence of luxury, adult-oriented advent calendars. The start of December now means ripping open the doors, day by day, on something other than cardboard and cheap chocolate. Booze, beauty products, candles, ties, toys, tea, fancier foods: they're all there for the taking in daily doses — and now, so is cheese. The cheese advent calendar is being called a world-first, and it started out as a home-made affair. London-based food blogger Annem Hobson set herself a challenge to come up with the dairy-lover's delight back in 2015, and had such fun making and eating it that she's now preparing to start selling them. Alas, you won't be able to get your cheese fix until 2017; however you can register your interest on the calendar's website. At the time of writing, more than 9,000 people had done just that — and that tally keeps climbing. Everyone's dreaming of a cheddar, brie or gouda filled Christmas, it seems. "But I want cheese now!" your stomach is probably screaming. Don't worry, there's a solution. Hobson has also shared a step-by-step guide to making your own. 'Tis the season for some cheese-inspired arts and crafts, perhaps? Image: So Wrong It's Nom.
"Are you making a documentary as well?" Louis Theroux asks the mysterious cameraman who has just appeared outside of his Los Angeles base and started recording his every move. It's a simple question, but it really couldn't sum up My Scientology Movie any better. The British broadcaster isn't all that surprised that he's being followed and filmed —in fact, when he put out an open call on Twitter seeking information for his latest movie, he was warned that it might happen. The organisation established by sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard and long-associated with Tom Cruise isn't known for being fond of scrutiny, after all. Theroux himself adopts a different approach: if you can't film 'em, pretend to join 'em. That could be why the Church of Scientology isn't too pleased about his movie. After Theroux's requests to interview head honchos are either ignored or rejected, and his attempts to gain access to their LA headquarters rebuffed, the filmmaker teams up with disgruntled former church bigwig Mark "Marty" Rathbun and decides to get a little creative. Keen to understand what it's really like to believe in thetans, Xenu, auditing and dianetics, he turns to actors to play current leader David Miscavige and even the couch-jumping Cruise in a series of recreations. What follows is a somewhat humorous, somewhat disturbing chronicle of a journalist pursuing a story while he himself is being pursued, interspersed with approximated scenes featuring the kind of unsettling behaviour that helped inspire Theroux's investigation in the first place. In light of the former, the outlandish nature of the latter won't shock anyone — particularly those who have seen Alex Gibney's recent Scientology expose Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, or even Paul Thomas Anderson's thinly-veiled fictional effort The Master. Not knowing whether to laugh or just stare at the screen with your jaw agape is an understandable reaction — helming docos about everything from evangelist Christians and Indian gurus to neo-Nazis and sex offenders has clearly prepared Theroux well. Here, the veteran filmmaker brings his own unique twist to the re-staging techniques that proved so effective in Joshua Oppenheimer's brutal Indonesian genocide documentary The Act of Killing. But My Scientology Movie is more than just a curio fuelled by curiosity. As strange as they sometimes are, every scene helps build a probing portrait of the psychology behind Scientology. Recollections offered by Rathbun and other Church defectors help, but there's nothing quite like seeing the reality, or at least a recreation of it. Showing rather than telling suits both Theroux and his chosen subject well, and makes for a bizarre, funny and downright fascinating final product.
Christmas day and backyard cricket might go hand in hand, but Victoria Park's mini-golf course keeps adding its own sporty suggestion to festive season. Fancy tap, tap, tapping around a putt-putt course to compete against your date, mates and/or family for supremacy — on Christmas-themed greens at that? That's where the Herston site's annual bit of merriment comes in. Victoria Park's Halloween course is gone for the year, with festive cheer, decorations and sculptures set to take its place from Friday, November 10, 2023–Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The seasonal makeover will deck the greens with jolliness all round. Usually, that means baubles, lights, mistletoe, trees both green and white, and more. Also gracing the kidulting favourite: bells, bows and twinkling lights. In past years, the course has also sported holly, giant candy canes, gingerbread houses, elves, toy soldiers, polar bears and everything else festive that it can think of. Reindeers and Santa are usually involved, too, and different sections of the 18-hole site tend to be designed around ideas like Chrissy Down Under, Santa's mailroom and Christmas morning — plus there's even been a festive feast fairway, The North Pole and a 'deck the halls' hole. Find out whether you're naughty or nice while swinging a club from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday — which means that you can stop by on your way to work, during your lunch break or after quittin' time as well. If you drop by post-6pm, you'll take to the green beneath Christmas lights, naturally. If vying for mini-golf glory while getting merry also feels like an occasion for a beverage, boozy tequila slushies will be on offer. Also, the course lets you order drinks and snacks as you play. Images: Stephanie Adams Photography.
We all love a good pictorial menu to help make those dish selections easier, but how about a menu that that lets you have a sneaky taste of everything before you order — including drinks? That's what the innovative minds at renowned Singaporean bar and restaurant, The Tippling Club, have created for their latest cocktail program, 'Dreams and Desires'. No, you won't sip each beverage before you make your pick. Rather, you'll eat them. The world's first edible cocktail menu, it's the brainchild of head bartender Joe Schofield and chef-owner Ryan Clift, realised with help from American company International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. Instead of a regular old written cocktail list to peruse, guests get one of those classic striped candy bags, filled with 12 different flavoured gummy bears. Each of these speaks to a specific dream or desire, flavoured to represent one of the bar's new signature cocktails. You might find yourself seduced by Lust's heady blend of Champagne, peach, tonka bean and vanilla; or loading up on good vibes with the honey, citrus and tequila creation called Happiness. There's a concoction dubbed Revenge, featuring a moody mix of vodka and umami bitters, and even one called Baby, which is served in a kid's bottle. Choose a favourite based on which flavours take your fancy, and you should end up with your ideal cocktail. The Tippling Club, which recently took out 31st position at the World's 50 Best Bars awards, is no stranger to thinking outside the box when it comes to drinks lists. Launched late last year, its experimental Sensorium cocktail menu used various scents to trigger memories of yesteryear. And, while enjoying their new tipples — and the tasty selection process — will usually require a trip to Singapore, Brisbanites are in for a special sneak peek on December 1 and 2. That's when The Tippling Club bartender Jonathan Lee will be stopping by Gerard's Bar for a two-day Tippling Club takeover in celebration of the new menu. Fancy an overseas cocktail adventure? Find The Tippling Club at 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore.
In a bid to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government is mandating the wearing of masks across Greater Brisbane for at least the next three days. That spans the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas, running from 5pm on Monday, March 29 until 5pm on Thursday, April 1. The move is being implemented in tandem with a three-day lockdown in the same areas, with Brisbanites required to don a mask everywhere in those areas for the three days other than if you're inside your own home. And yes, this is exactly what happened in the same area back in January — including both the stay-at-home period and the mask mandate. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1376311897624956929 After discussing the new lockdown at a press conference today, Monday, March 29, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "then the other requirement is could everyone please wear masks." She continued: "so in greater Brisbane, that's for everywhere that you're indoors unless you're in a single room by yourself. Of course, not in your own home, but if you're elsewhere.... It is again important to wear a mask when you go to the shopping centre, when you are on public transport, when you are in a ride share car — please wear a mask." People affected by a medical condition are exempt from the mask rule, as are children under 12 — and you're also allowed to temporarily remove your mask for eating and drinking, and if it's necessary for your job. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1376405364736815104 With a lockdown in effect during the same period, and the Greater Brisbane region returning to the rules in place for three days back in January, that means you're only allowed to leave the house — wearing a mask, of course — for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Face masks will be mandatory in the Greater Brisbane area from 5pm on Monday, March 29. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown, masks and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
With its fantastic puppetry, tight choreography and more than a few damp-eye moments, the National Theatre of Great Britain's production of War Horse is taking another canter across Australia's stages. After first touring Down Under in 2012–13, the Tony Award-winning play will return in 2020, with seasons currently planned for Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Based on Michael Morpurgo's 1982 novel of the same name, the boy-meets-horse tale was originally adapted for the stage by British playwright Nick Stafford, and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, way back in 2007. Opening shortly before the start of the First World War, War Horse is the love story of a Devonshire lad, Albert, and a young foal, Joey — who, once it has come of age, is sold into service for the British Army. Seeing the injustice in this, the play's boy hero fights against age restrictions and cartwheels to Calais to save Joey, at which point his youthful bravado is tear-gassed into the harsh reality of early modern warfare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMVKWxZyIZU After its first NT run, the play proved to be such a tremendous success that it relocated to the West End and Broadway, and has galloped across everywhere from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands to South Africa and China. Along the way, it has picked up two Olivier Awards and five Tonys, including for Best Play — and been seen by thousands of audiences. You might also remember the 2011 film adaptation of Morpurgo's novel, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, starred a long list of British talent including Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch, and was nominated for six Oscars. On the stage, War Horse owes its longevity to South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, which has created a stable of horses, some soon-to-die cavalry, crows, swallows and a very animated goose. Though surrounded by puppeteers and, in parts, constructed out of obviously mechanical pieces, these puppets realistically breathe and quickly pop out as the most genuine players in the show. War Horse plays Melbourne's Regent Theatre from January 10, 2020, then heads to the Sydney Lyric from February 15, before moving to Perth's Crown Theatre from March 24. For further details, and to join the ticket waitlist, head to warhorseonstage.com.au.
They're sticky, cinnamon scrolls, drenched in glaze and famous all across the USA. And now, at last, they'll be available Down Under. Yep, Seattle-born bakery chain Cinnabon will land in Australia imminently, with a Brisbane outpost ready to open before the year is out. The launch was first announced in January this year, when family-run Queensland company Bansal Foods scored the Aussie rights to Cinnabon. But, now, we finally have some details. Set to open on Saturday, December 14, the store will be located inside Toombul Shopping Centre in Brisbane's north. Cinnabon has been going strong in America since 1985 so it's already picked up plenty of Aussie fans along the way. But this will be the first time we're able to get our hands on those sticky, cinnamon-infused baked goods on home soil. The new Brisbane store be slinging a trio of Cinnabon cult classics, including the classic cream cheese cinnamon roll, the popular chocolate-drizzled Chocobon, and very extra Caramel Pecanbon. They'll be available in both mini and large sizes, along with packs featuring either four or nine 'minibons'. There will be coffee and lots of sugary drinks to pair with your snacks, too, including a cinnamon bun frappe. And, if you're yet to get acquainted with the decadent dessert creations, just know to expect aromatic, cinnamon-spiked dough made to a long-held recipe, decked out with stacks of signature cream cheese frosting and loaded with extras. They're notoriously tough to replicate. Toombul Shopping Centre recently opened a new neon-lit upstairs dining precinct, Cinnabon won't be a part of that. Instead, it'll be located on the ground floor near the Coles. And if you're not in Brisbane, it probably won't be too long until Cinnabon makes its way down south. The Toombul store is set to be the first of many. A second Brisbane store in Mt Gravatt is set to open in January 2020 and, going off plans announced earlier in the year, Cinnabon is looking to launch in Sydney and beyond in 2021. Cinnabon is slated to open its first Australian store on Saturday, December 14 on the ground level of Toombul Shopping Centre, 1015 Sandgate Road, Toombul. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date.
If Vegemite can find its way into chocolate, milk shakes, icy poles, ice creams, burgers, pies and smoothies, then it can also be used as a popcorn flavour. In fact, compared to drinking it in milk or turning into dessert, Vegemite popcorn sounds positively reasonable — and it's now a thing that exists. The certain-to-be-polarising snack is available for a limited time at Village and Event cinemas across Australia, turning your next cinema visit into a culinary experiment. Seeing a movie isn't exciting enough for you? Why not pair it with something that you're either going to love or hate to eat — because, let's face it, when it comes to Vegemite they're the only two reactions. In a way, the food mashup makes sense. Everyone loves popcorn smothered in butter, or even just flavoured with butter, so why not throw in another kind of spread as well? And, why not throw in something else on top, too? Not content with simply serving up Vegemite-flavoured popcorn, the Chef's Gourmet Premium Popcorn flavour combines Vegemite and cheese. If you're after other kinds of unusual taste combinations, raspberry and white chocolate, rocky road and salted caramel popcorn is also available. And if you're fine with plain old popcorn — and eating your Vegemite in non-popcorn forms — that's perfectly okay. Via B and T.
Live music fans, want to spend the last night of the year the same way you've spent much of this one (and plan to fill much of the next one)? Crowbar has you covered. They have drinks packages galore, and their usual vibe amped up to suit the occasion — but here, it's all about the entertainment. Let's be honest: wherever The Gooch Palms are playing, it's an instant party. Watch them do their rocking best after a mammoth 2016, and catch Walken, Concrete Surfers and Muddy Chanter in support.
It's been more than a century since the first combination of gin, vermouth rosso and Campari was apparently mixed up in Florence, as dreamed up by Pascal-Olivier de Negroni. Cocktail lovers everywhere have been thankful ever since, and there's even an entire week — Negroni Week, obviously — to celebrate. In South Brisbane and West End, the bars and eateries of Fish Lane Arts Precinct are marking the occasion again in 2023 — in the only appropriate way, of course. From Monday, September 18–Sunday, September 24, the precinct's establishments are devoting the entire week to creative negronis, as well as negroni-worshipping events. Stop by on whichever day you like and you'll find classic negronis on the menu at Bar Brutus, Chu The Phat, Hello Please and Julius Pizzeria, as well as Maker Wine Bar, Maeve Wine Bar and Saccharomyces — and also Kiki Kiosk and Southside. Newcomer Midtown Bar is getting in on the drinks action, too. Fancy a Negroni Week special instead? Options include a jaffa cake negroni, peach and mint negroni, jasmine negroni and chocolate orange negroni. Or, try the orange blossom negroni — or the cold-drip negroni. A negroni slurpee is also on the menu. In addition to the negronis — oh-so-many negronis, as per above — three events are on the agenda throughout the week. At Midtown Bar's $89-per-person Negroni Week dinner on Thursday, September 21, lobster croissant, gildas, pork rillettes, and negroni and orange chocolates will be paired with, what else, negronis. And on the $85-a-head Fish Lane art and negroni trail on Saturday, September 23, you'll peer at public art while, yes, drinking negronis (although other cocktails will be available). Plus, from Thursday, September 21–Saturday, September 23, Bar Brutus is setting up a pop-up bar in Fish Lane's town square from 5pm daily — where negronis will be backdropped by roving entertainment and neon hues.
With the festive season just around the corner, many of us are getting the house decked out in glittery splendour and planning what we're going to serve friends and family at the many parties we're hosting or attending. If you're keen to brush up on your drink-making skills and impress your loved ones, Eleven Rooftop Bar and Grey Goose are hosting a couple of cocktail masterclasses, just in time for the Christmas party onslaught. Held on two Sundays this December, the two-hour classes will see guests muddling, shaking and pouring five delicious vodka cocktails under the watchful eye of one of Eleven's skilled mixologists. Participants will learn to master a Le Grand Fizz, Basil Watermelon Smash, Pornstar Martini, Cappuccini and a Silk Road Collins. The latter three all include the limited-edition La Vanille from Grey Goose — a vanilla flavoured vodka that pairs well with the smooth chocolatey flavours of Eleven's version of the espresso martini as it does in the fresh, fruity passionfruit-led Pornstar Martini. Tickets are $50 and the classes are limited to just ten people each, so you know you'll have plenty of time to chat to the bar staff and perfect your technique — plus you get to drink the concoctions you make. Non-drinkers can be catered for with mocktail options, too. The masterclasses are part of a summer-long Grey Goose pop-up at Eleven Rooftop Bar that has a French Riviera theme to match its French origins. You can enjoy a sunny afternoon on the rooftop, acting like you're living in a chateux, overlooking Newstead to the CBD. Eleven Rooftop Bar is the only place in Brisbane where you can enjoy the speciality La Vanille, so when you've mastered your drink-making skills, make sure you take advantage of the flavours in one of the cocktails made by an expert. Grey Goose and Eleven's Cocktail Making Masterclasses will run from midday–2pm on Sunday, December 8, and Sunday, December 15. To book, call Eleven on (07) 3067 7447.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Chris Sörman has a pretty enviable lifestyle. As a pro snowboarder and member of the Beautifully Swedish Collective, he travels the world's most dreamy alpine regions and makes them his playground. Here he lets us in on what it's like to live in a permanent winter wonderland and why he never gets tired of going home to Sweden. How did you get into snowboarding? I was, as a kid, into all kinds of sports. Skateboarding was my main thing and I was living the lifestyle with baggy pants and dreadlocks listening to Wutang. When I was eight snowboarding came into my life and I fell in love from the first moment. I decided shortly after that to become a professional in that area. It's worked out pretty good so far. What is the greatest thing about snowboarding for a living? To be able to wake up every single day and do what you like the most in life with your best friend. I wish that for every single person on this earth. Who or what inspires you? A bunch of people have been a big inspiration to me during my ten years as a professional, people both inside and outside of the snowboarding industry. They could be very good snowboarders or just a random person with a good way of looking at life. I am always trying to capture the best of people into myself to create the best possible me. What do you like to get up to most when there's no snow around? I like to do a lot of different things. I am actually a bit of a 'workaholic'. I always have my hands full with different business ideas and projects. I love the feeling of being busy! You've also had a huge hand in a number of Pirate Movie Production films. How did you get into that and how big a role do you play behind the camera versus in front of the camera? Definitely had a bigger role in front of the camera. I mean, I am a snowboarder, not a director. But I definitely always have my input when it comes to angles and stuff like that. But it's not up to me to make that final call. In the end my mission is to always deliver high-class riding. I have spent many seasons filming with Pirate Movie Productions. They are now the biggest snowboard movie company in Europe, so it's pretty cool to have been part of it pretty much since day one. Why do you think snowboarding and film go so well together? I just think people enjoy watching it. I mean it looks like a lot of fun, right? Sometimes it's crazy and people like to watch things that are a bit crazy. The sun is shining, snow is flying and we are doing big jumps — what's not to like. You seem to have boarded in some pretty amazing places. Where is your favourite place to hit the slopes or film and why? I always get this question, and it's always the same answer. Where my friends are, that's where I have the most fun riding. Doesn't matter if it's on the big mountains of Austria, a small hill in Sweden or somewhere in Japan. It's not about the surroundings; it's about the people you're with. Is the travel and the lifestyle of a professional snowboarder such as yourself as amazing as it seems? Most of the time I really enjoy it, but for sure it has its bad sides as well, like anything in life — being away from family, travelling alone, no time for relationships and your sleep and health can really be affected when you're travelling, you have no structure in your life. Everybody has a favourite travel memory that will live with them forever. What's yours? So many! But when I won the Burton European Open back in 2005, that is my biggest and best memory from my career. You get to travel a lot but your home country of Sweden is pretty beautiful. What are your favourite things about her? I will never move from Sweden. I don't really know why? I have been to many countries all over the world in my life and they all have their specialties. Away is good, but home is always the best! Sweden is my home. You know what I'm saying.
According to Toronto-based Richard Smith, 'I have a laptop. It needs a case. So I make laptop sleeves.' Although a simple idea at heart, Richard's computer sleeves are nothing short of unique. Made from vintage sweaters and shirts, Computerwear repurposes unused and unappreciated clothing into suave, handmade laptop and iPad cases, transforming your gadget from an inanimate piece of technology into a proper gentleman. If you never leave home without your laptop or iPad, Computerwear will save your gear from the unwanted and unavoidable bumps and scratches of everyday life. Available on Richard's Etsy store, Finders&Keepers, the cases are machine-washable (unless otherwise noted) and dryer friendly, and make for a pretty dapper tech accessory at US$65.
This year is flying by at rapid pace and that means summer is just around the corner — and we all need to get our warm weather wardrobes in order. Ready-to-wear and swimwear label Tigerlily is offering something very relevant to your interests: a big 29-hour online clothing sale to get you some much-welcome bargains. There's never a bad time to treat yourself to some new clothes, especially when you're saving a heap of money in the process. The Aussie brand is known and loved for its timeless prints and unique patterns, so getting your mitts on some of the goods at up to 80 percent off is a major win. You'll be able to get a brand new threads for a steal, including dresses, shorts, kaftans and sample pieces to help you prep for the summer months. The sale starts at 7pm on Tuesday, November 12 and ends at 11.59pm on Wednesday, November 13, so you'll have to get in quick. To check out what's up for grabs, head here. The Tigerlily click frenzy sale will kick off at 7pm on Tuesday, November 12 and end at 11.59pm on Wednesday, November 13.
We can all agree that it is torturous that Brisbane is slowly getting colder and colder as the doom season approaches, and one band who are set to tease us and return to our shores are the fittingly named, Wavves. The US group are here on a pit stop during their Groovin' The Moo festival slot to back up what was a whirlwind mini-tour last year at small, sold out venues. For what started as just vocalist Nathan Williams in his bedroom, Wavves have done exceptionally well over the last few years to have formed as a four-piece and to have garnered the following they have. If you can't put a finger on what they sing, perhaps 'King of the Beach' rings a bell? It was the 2010 summer indie anthem that was precariously released around our winter. They are equal parts surf, stoner and soft rock, with a little bit of punk and have just penned a follow-up to their 'King Of The Beach' debut, 'Life Sux'. In other words, they are the guys we could never hang out with. Good news though, you can hang out with their crew and admire their eclectic fashion sense (think: fluoro hawaiian shirts) and dream of the summer that is only a speck on the horizon. They also nearly started a riot last year while they were here, so if that is your sort of vibe, go knock 'em dead.
This story is the ultimate example of why hoarding is not necessarily a bad thing. Brooklyn-based artist Mac Premo was recently forced to downsize his apartment, and consequently had to throw out many of his belongings. Not wanting to just get rid of everything the normal way by making a trip to a particularly large dumpster, Premo decided to use the aforementioned dumpster as a canvas and turn it into a travelling exhibition. This he named The Dumpster Project, which has become the newest addition to Brooklyn's Dekalb Market, an esoteric collection of artists, chefs and farmers who've set up shop in a collection of salvaged shipping containers. The interior of a 30-cubic yard dumpster has been converted into a shrine to the detritus of his past, and is now open for public perusal. Items on display include a primary school math test with such killer questions as '11+1 = ?' (it's 12, guys), the shoes his eldest daughter first walked in, three waving Mao watches, one lonely floppy disk, somebody else's wisdom teeth, a flyer for a Broadway strip club, and an emotionally significant empty bag of chips - from the night he first professed his love for his wife. In the ultimate act of not being able to let go, he is also photographing the 500 objects included in the dumpster collection and composing a short history of each on The Dumpster Project site. If you have a smart phone you can then access the assorted eulogies while you're walking around the space to get a bit of nostalgic context. Alternatively, if you, like me, are not in New York, you can check out Premo's genuinely fascinating blog of the project. [Via PSFK]
Jason Bird is a Queensland designer, a rather accomplished one at that. Earlier this year, Jason released a book entitled Hightide, and in depth look at Queensland’s design industry which is thriving and becoming renowned globally. Incorporating several of the books the featured designers in an immersive and interactive exhibition, Hightide is the perfect chance to witness Queensland design innovation in person. Showcasing the versatility of the assembled designers (many of whom were recently showcased at BIGSOUND Music+Design), video interviews, electronics, lighting, timber work and furniture will be on display. The artists and design firms on display are: Alexander Lotersztain Bjorn Rust Christina Waterson CMD Daniel Tobin Darcy Clarke David Shaw Deka Designs Dreamfarm Ellaspede Fukutoshi Ueno Infinity Design Intelli Design Jason Bird Kent Gration KT Doyle Luis Nheu Marc Harrison Neil Davidson Pro Design Street and Garden Surya Graf Hightide is running at Aritsan until February, so do yourself a favour and check out the work that is putting Queensland in the design conversation.
First, St Jerome's Laneway Festival announced its 2024 dates and venues. Now, it's time for the news that every fest fan is always waiting for: the lineup. Fancy some grime? A Euphoria star? A mix of international must-sees and homegrown up-and-comers? A swag of folks making their first trips our way? Then consider yourself sorted — starting with headliners Stormzy, Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike and Raye. Stormzy tops the roster after he was meant to head Down Under in 2022, but pulled out of Spilt Milk and his Australian and Zealand tour. At the Aussie fest, he was replaced by Lacy, in fact, but now the UK sensation and the 'Bad Habit' talent will share the same Laneway bill. Fike heads from the screen to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Auckland's stages — and Raye comes our way with 'Escapism' still stuck in everyone's heads. From there, the lineup also spans AJ Tracey, d4vd, Dope Lemon, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and more. All of the above acts will play all cities, with some fellow talents only popping up in either Australia or Aotearoa. Stormzy and Fike are doing exclusive Laneway tours — so, of you want to see either (or both), you'll only catch them at the fest while they're in both countries. In Australia, Lacy is exclusive in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. There's a bit of stability to 2024's list of venues, after 2023 took Laneway to a heap of new spots. The festival started by Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio in the mid-00s will kick off at Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, February 3, then head to Sydney Showground on Sunday, February 4 — so, exactly where it took place this year. [caption id="attachment_916473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Callum Walker Hutchinson[/caption] Still in Australia, Laneway also has a Friday, February 9 date with Bonython Park in Adelaide on the agenda, then a Saturday, February 10 run at The Park, Flemington in Melbourne and a Sunday, February 11 wrap-up show in Wellington Square in Perth. Again, these are all the same locations that 2023's fests hit up. Over in New Zealand, the event will take over Western Springs in Auckland on Tuesday, February 6. That date means that it's moving to Waitangi Day. And 2024's venue comes after 2023's Auckland Laneway stop was cancelled due to the Auckland floods. [caption id="attachment_915848" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2024 LINEUP: Stormzy Steve Lacy Dominic Fike Raye AJ Tracey d4vd Dope Lemon Eyedress Faye Webster horsegiirL Nia Archives Paris Texas Skin On Skin Suki Waterhouse Unknown Mortal Orchestra Blondshell DOMi & JD BECK Hemlocke Springs Pretty Girl AUSTRALIA ONLY: Angie McMahon Confidence Man Teenage Dads JK-47 Miss Kaninna Vacations NEW ZEALAND ONLY: Atarangi Church Daily J Erny Belle Hanbee Molly Payton LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2024 DATES: Saturday, February 3 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane / Turrbal Targun Sunday, February 4 — Sydney Showground, Sydney / Burramattagal and Wangal Land Tuesday, February 6 — Western Springs, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau Friday, February 9 — Bonython Park, Adelaide / Kaurna Yerta Saturday, February 10 — The Park, Flemington, Melbourne / Wurundjeri Biik Sunday, February 11 — Wellington Square, Perth / Whadjuk Boodjar St Jerome's Laneway Festival will tour Australia and New Zealand in February 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details, and to register for ticket pre sales — which kick off at 11am local time on Tuesday, September 12. General sales start at 11am local time on Thursday, September 14. Top image: Bethany Vargas. Laneway imges: Daniel Boud / Maclay Heriot / Cedric Tang.
In an emotional sense, things are looking up this December. It's the festive time of the year, 2020's horror show is almost over and a much-needed break from the chaos is upon us. It's also worth peering skywards in a literal sense, however — because an event called the 'great conjunction' is about to happen way above our heads, and seeing it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you're not familiar with the term 'conjunction' within the field of astronomy, it refers to two objects or spacecraft sharing the same right ascension or ecliptic longitude — so they're at the same angular distance in one way or another. What makes a conjunction great? That happens when Jupiter and Saturn are involved. Specifically, it's used to describe the moment that the two planets are at their closest apparent point together in the sky. Great conjunctions actually happen around every 20 years, when Earth's orbit aligns with the pair as well so that their seemingly close proximity can be seen in our evening sky. The last took place on May 31, 2000 — but the one this month, on Monday, December 21, 2020, is particularly special. That's because Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer together than they have in almost 400 years (since July 16, 1623, in fact). Because of this great conjunction's timing, it's also being called the 'Christmas Star'. https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1339010857443930112 As NASA explains, the two planets "have been traveling across the sky together all year", and getting closer across the month of December. On Monday, though — which coincides with the December solstice — they'll appear a mere tenth of a degree apart. They'll also look so near to each other that Saturn will seem as if it's as close to Jupiter as some of the latter's moons. And, as timeanddate.com notes, they'll appear so close and bright that they even might look like a single star — if you're wondering why else the 'Christmas star' nickname popped up. Plus, this is also the first time in "nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night", says NASA. The conditions really couldn't be better in 2020, in other words The great conjunction will be visible almost everywhere around the globe on Monday evening, and via the naked eye as well. To get the best glimpse, you'll want an unobstructed view of the sky around an hour after sunset — and, to see Jupiter's moons, to use binoculars or a telescope. If you do choose some optical help, you'll be able to see both Saturn and Jupiter, as well as their moons, in the same field of view. And if you're wondering where you're looking, folks in the southern hemisphere should peer towards the western horizon. NASA advises that the planets won't be as close during the 2040 and 2060 great conjunctions, so 2080 is the next time you'll have a similar planet-watching opportunity. Indeed, as timeanddate.com outlines, only six great conjunctions across the thousand-year period from 1600–2599 will see Jupiter and Saturn appear two tenths of a degree or less apart (and, after this century, the next two won't happen until 2417 and 2477). December has already delivered a sky show via the Geminids meteor shower, so this may be just the latest astronomical gift this month — but it won't be repeated in a hurry. The Jupiter and Saturn great conjunction will be visible in the evening of December 21, 2020.
If it's the knockoff frothies you're missing the most, tuning into the new live stream programming from The Crafty Pint and Ale of a Time should provide some hopped-out, fizzy relief. The two Aussie beer publications have joined forces and launched a new YouTube channel, where they're broadcasting a series of daily virtual beer-sipping sessions. The Beer Together videos are here to help during a time when the pub's off-limits, inviting a roll-call of industry mates to your screens for some good ol' beer appreciation, education and banter. Each session varies, though they're mostly focused on celebrating great local beer, with guests from some of your favourite breweries and venues. You can keep an eye on what's to come over at Ale of a Time's Facebook page. We've had an on-couch tasting party with New Zealand's Behemoth Brewing Co, a sit-down with Sparkke Brewing's Carla Naismith, a cooking class with Casey Wall of Falco Bakery and now a regular beer quiz helmed by The Crafty Pint's Judd Owen, streaming 8.30pm AEST every Sunday. And of course, if you miss any of the live streams, the videos are sticking around on YouTube for you to view any time you like. Hooked and want more? Jump on the mailing list for links to the post-video after-parties. Top image: Kate Shanasy
SOPA and PIPA are two bold acronyms have been flashed consistently over media channels for the past few days, and yet many of us have little to no idea what they actually mean for us as global citizens. The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act are two bills that are currently being discussed in Congress in the United States. As their names suggest, these bills attempt to prevent piracy by granting Intellectual Property owners greater powers against copyright-infringing websites. It does this by attacking a website's appearance on search engines and hyperlinking through other websites, as well as its advertising and payment methods, which largely fall within the country's jurisdiction. This is an attempt by the US government to gain some substantial control on foreign websites which have transgressed legal boundaries rapidly. Piracy and online media sharing have completely overturned traditional revenue streams within the music and film industry, and this is why such legislation is receiving so much support from major labels and companies within these arenas. However, many argue that these bills are a great threat to free speech and innovation, as the Internet has become the greatest forum for global communication and access to information. Therefore, they are seen as a direct threat to the democratic ideals which underpin our society. Indeed, how are larger websites going to ensure that none of their content is hyperlinked to another website that supposedly breaches the bills? Unsurprisingly, many of the world's largest and most influential websites have expressed concern over the SOPA and PIPA propositions. Here are some of our favourite online reactions to the world's most controversial bills. Wikipedia Blackout The world's most useful website shocked users when it underwent a blackout for 24 hours. A link on Wikipedia has highlighted the mammoth effect of this relatively short shutdown, as it became the subject of 7,200 articles on Google News. Furthermore, SOPA has accounted for 250,000 tweets every hour after the blackout began. Indeed, Wikipedia have highlighted how this United States legislation will have an enormous global effect. It is estimated that a further 7,000 to 10,000 websites also jumped in on the blackout bandwagon. Buzzfeed's "25 Angry Kids Who Can't Do Their Homework Because of the Wikipedia Blackout" Wikipedia has become a mandatory initial source of information for pretty much any topic in life, and nothing highlights this more than this great compilation from the guys over at Buzzfeed. Collecting the tweets of numerous pissed off primary schoolers and teens, this is a nice summary of how we all felt when we couldn't extract some basic facts from our favourite online encyclopedia. Highlights include a tweet from @JetSetAmbee_, which reads "I'm tryna tell y'all if they take away Wikipedia, I'm gonna fail hella classes. No bullshit." Google's Censored Logo By now we're all used to Google's themed banners, but this time it wasn't as cute as the Christmas cartoons we usually see wrapped around the logo every year. In support of the claims that these bills would effectively amount to a censorship of the World Wide Web, the logo's familiar colourful letters were hidden behind a black bar that had been slapped on top. They say a picture tells a thousand words, and this definitely made its point. David Drummond of Google explained the dangers of SOPA and PIPA in this blog post. Free Bieber This website is actually about S. 978, another bill concerning copyright, but it has gained further attention in wake of the SOPA and PIPA bills. It argues that if it is passed, someone as harmless as Justin Bieber could go to jail because he initially gained fame through uploading YouTube videos of himself singing copyrighted tracks. A banner of the website proclaims that "Justin faces 5 brutal years in prison." You can even purchase Free Bieber t-shirts and stickers, and also fake tattoos that should be applied on your face and/or neck for that true inmate feel. Behind all the laughs there is an online petition for you to stop these bills. CloudFare's Stop Censorship App This app is to be added to your own personal website, and censors every word that is longer than five letters upon initial visit from a browser. As you can probably imagine, this makes for a very frustrating experience. When you click on a censored word a pop-up box appears which tells you about the effects of SOPA and PIPA. From there, the box allows you to tweet about it or even get the contact details of your local Senator to lodge a complaint. Furthermore, this app only takes under a minute to take effect on your site. Update: SOPA shelved
Themed high teas are becoming all the rage; however the wonderful world of Disney isn't the only candidate for a daytime feast. On Saturday, January 19, the Stamford Plaza is dedicating a day to wizards, witches, goblins and muggles, with the inner city hotel transforming its sipping sessions into magical high teas. The theme is loosely set in the world of Harry Potter, and ticket holders can expect a tiered feast of gastronomic delights including avara kedavara pumpkin fizz scones, Ministry of Magic macarons, and an Albus rotten egg sandwich on white with minted cucumber. Also on the menu at the Wizardry High Tea are items that nod to other wavers of wands, such as the grey wizard's special dark rye with caper cream and smoked salmon, and Gargamel's corned beef and seeded mustard with a pinch of Azrael's pickles. Dressing up as your favourite wizardry character is highly encouraged and, to complete the immersive experience, there'll be a wizard casting charms for the little ones (and the kidults). Two sessions will be held, although you'll want to book a ticket for the 10.30am sitting as the afternoon fun has already sold out.
True-crime stories have saturated all forms of media of late. If you're not listening to podcasts on the topic, you're watching Zac Efron play Ted Bundy, exploring the intersection of fact and fiction in Mindhunter or poring over a TV series about Serial's Adnan Syed. But despite the seemingly never-ending list of new additions to the genre, we're betting you haven't yet witnessed anything quite like Joe Exotic's story, which is the subject of Netflix's new Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness docuseries. Clearly, Joe Exotic isn't the name that the show's mullet-wearing focal point was born with. But given Joe's love of big cats and line of work — and, based on the series' just-dropped trailer, his over-sized personality — he obviously decided that the moniker fit. Between 1999–2016, he created and ran The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, which was home to hundreds of tigers, lions and other large felines. Joe also took his tiger show on the road and, because he just adored tigers so much, he literally sang about them as well. His first country music album was called I Saw a Tiger, because of course it was. He found time to run for Governor of the state and, in 2016, President of the US. He was fond of guns and just as fond of marrying more than one person at once. Oh, and the zookeeper tried to hire a hitman to get one of his rivals — Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary's CEO Carole Baskin — killed. Lions, tigers, eccentricity, polygamy and murder-for-hire, oh my! That's the tale that Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness — and yes, it's so strange that it can only be true. It's no wonder that Netflix has turned it into a series, which drops on Friday, March 20. And it's just as unsurprising that the folks behind last year's must-see doco Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened are behind it. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acTdxsoa428 Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness hits Netflix on Friday, March 20. Images: Netflix
Well, folks, the game is up. It turns out Transport for NSW had us all fooled when it announced the winner of last year's public ferry-naming competition, giving the honour to Ferry McFerryface as the most popular submission. But, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald today, the whole thing was cooked. The name Ferry McFerryface actually scored just 182 votes in the 15,000-participant survey and only won top spot because it was the favourite of Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Plenty less comical names were snubbed in the process, including that of Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan, who nabbed 2000 votes and was told the boat would be named after him, only to have the minister change his mind. The ferry — which has been on the harbour since December — will now be renamed after another strong contender in the original competition, late children's author and illustrator May Gibbs. She's the talent behind those iconic Gumnut Babies characters and classic titles you would have read as a kid like the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie series. Let's hope some of that wholesome, honest energy rubs off on Mr Constance. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Over the past few months, the Queensland Government has been trying to entice the state's residents out of the house by handing out travel vouchers. First came 15,000 to use in the state's north, then 30,000 for Greater Brisbane and 6000 for The Whitsundays, then another release of 5000 for folks already holidaying in the Cairns region. That's a hefty batch of incentives — and more are coming. Next up: 30,000 vouchers for Queenslanders to put towards getaways on the Gold Coast. Whether you'd like to spend a few nights in Surfers Paradise, you haven't been to a theme park for a while or you're keen to explore more of what the Goldie has to offer, you'll be able to apply to nab one of the 30,000 $100 vouchers for tourism experiences and accommodation in the area. Like the past voucher drops, the concept has two obvious aims: enticing Queensland residents to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support tourism businesses. The new scheme, called Gold Coast Holiday Dollars, was revealed today, Thursday, June 3, by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. And if you're wondering what you can spend the money on, when you can spend it and exactly how you can get your hands on the vouchers, that was announced, too. From 12pm AEST on Monday, June 7, the draw for the Gold Coast vouchers will be open to Queensland residents over the age of 18 — and you'll need to head to queensland.com to nab one. You'll register before 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, June 10 and, if you're successful, you'll be notified via text and email from Wednesday, June 16. As happened last time, there's likely to be more interested folks than there are available vouchers, so they'll be handed out at random. Those who manage to score a voucher will then be able to use it to book until Wednesday, July 21, for travel up until Friday, September 17. The vouchers can only be spent on tourism experiences — such as tours and attractions — and accommodation, and they'll enable you to get up to 50 percent off your booking, maxing out at $100. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1400182934020100104 When the Cairns scheme was announced back in March, Premier Palaszczuk said that it could be rolled out across the rest of the state if the vouchers are popular. That's obviously happened a few times now, but there's no word as yet about whether other parts of Queensland might be covered in the future. Applications for the 30,000 $100 Gold Coast Holiday Dollars travel vouchers will be open between 12pm AEST on Monday, June 7–11.59pm AEST on Thursday, June 10. For more information, or to apply during the aforementioned window, head to the Gold Coast Holiday Dollars website.
Keeping up a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, especially when work gets busy, 4pm cocktails roll around, and your lovely boss just bought a box of choccies to thank you for all that overtime. We've all made goals to lead a healthier life at work, whether it's incorporating more exercise, eating fewer snacks or saying no to midweek drinks once in a while — but sticking to those resolutions is another story. Our daily slip-ups — whether it's ditching your homemade salad for a takeaway slice of pizza, or skipping the gym because you're just too exhausted — can all add up over time. But some of the simplest improvements to your health don't have to come with revolutionary lifestyle changes. Whether you start your day with a walk or swap your morning toast for a fibre-rich crispbread, there are quick ways to kickstart (or restart) your 2020 health resolutions. In partnership with Ryvita, we've come up with six healthy changes that you can adopt into your working day. EAT A HEALTHY TREAT TO AVOID INDULGENT SNACKING LATER We're all guilty of mindless snacking, especially when trying to focus on a task at work. When 3pm hits, it's easy to reach for the nearest sugary hit to give us more energy or to plug the gap our bland salad lunch left behind. By planning ahead — and knowing your trigger times for not-so-great habits — you can master those cravings by preparing a healthier, more satiating snack ahead of time. Health experts say Australians aren't getting enough fibre in their diets, and so packing in a high-fibre snack can help you make a healthier snacking choice in your week. Eating Ryvita crispbreads is an achievable way to contribute to the dietary fibre target of 30 grams per day, and you can get creative with your toppings — think pea and mint hummus, scrambled eggs, wasabi mashed avo and more. Ryvita has high-fibre recipe ideas, here. [caption id="attachment_748260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Sydney[/caption] ENJOY SOME CULTURE AT LUNCH Getting out and about to enjoy the city you live in shouldn't be something restricted to weekends or before and after work. There's plenty of things to do to stimulate your mind, and it's a far more exciting lunchtime break than eating your sandwich in the staffroom. For keen readers (or anyone who needs to escape for a little while), why not head to the local library and find a quiet corner for a short break? Or, if you only have ten minutes, go to your nearest bookshop and browse the new releases to read on your commute. Prefer to keep moving? Take a wander around an art gallery or museum (just for a short while) and you can distract yourself from spreadsheets and see artworks or learn a snippet of history. If you can't escape the office, use your break to flex your creative side — story writing tasks or colouring books are just as engaging when you want to take your mind off work. TAKE YOUR MEETING FOR A WALK Why catch up in a stuffy, fluorescent, lifeless boardroom when you could walk and talk? The walking-talking catch up can transform your personal and professional energy — research by Stanford University has shown that walking leads to an increase in creative thinking, plus it allows for more honest and open exchanges if you feel like you can't speak your mind in front of other colleagues. While not all meetings are suitable for walking (tough negotiations or ones with presentations), they're great for consulting with your team or exploring solutions. You're also increasing that step count while you're at it. [caption id="attachment_762267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jopwell[/caption] TAKE MINI STANDING BREAKS Repeat after us: taking a break at work is not a waste of time. Walking away from your desk once in a while is hugely important to help boost your performance. Taking mini breaks throughout the day improves your energy, relieves stress and drives your productivity. Whether it's setting up a yoga mat in an empty room and doing some meditation or actually listening to your watch when it tells you to stand up every hour, these small breaks help you focus when you return to the work task at hand — and they make you feel better, too. Mini breaks are an easy (and free) positive change you can make to your workday. [caption id="attachment_762289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helena Lopes[/caption] DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE Doing something for your colleagues is another way to get your body moving, with the bonus of supporting your work Significant Others. Go on a coffee run, empty the dishwasher, reach out to a colleague you don't usually interact with. By doing something for someone else — without doing it in exchange for a promotion or other perceived benefit to you — can create wonders for your sense of wellbeing and community. Take a moment to bond with your new friend at work and you'll notice the difference in how you feel. [caption id="attachment_762291" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christina Morillo[/caption] LISTEN TO A PRODUCTIVE PODCAST OR PLAYLIST There are thousands of podcasts out there, providing countless episodes on how to become a more productive individual, and there are plenty that focus on health and wellness, too. Slate Magazine's Political Gabfest or The Saturday Paper's 7am will have you brushing up on international and domestic politics that'll help you elevate your kitchen chat; ABC's The Pineapple Project, hosted by journalist Jan Fran, and Ladies We Need to Talk, hosted by Yumi Stynes dive head-on into financial and lifestyle advice and queries that can feed into your work/life balance goals. And, The Tim Ferriss Show interviews successful people at the top of their game, giving you something to aspire towards. For more high-fibre recipe ideas from Ryvita, head here. Top image: Jopwells from Pexels.
Everyone has their Christmas viewing rituals, whether you watch your way through every Home Alone movie each year (yes, even the recent one), pop on It's a Wonderful Life with the family after a big lunch or prefer saying yippee ki-yay to Die Hard. Until recently, however, it's likely that watching Australian festive flicks wasn't high on your list, given this country of ours doesn't have all that much seasonal fare to its name. Back in 2020, streaming service Stan aimed to help change that with A Sunburnt Christmas, a festive caper about a criminal, some kids and end-of-year hijinks — aka Australia's answer to Home Alone and Bad Santa, in a way. In 2022, the platform is set to add another homegrown title to its catalogue sometime before Christmas hits, too. Given it stars Miranda Tapsell and Matt Okine, it looks worth a watch based on its cast alone. [caption id="attachment_700158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top End Wedding[/caption] Christmas Ransom stars Okine (The Other Guy) as every kid's second-favourite person during festive season: the owner of a toy store. Things aren't too merry for his character, however, when his shop is held up by thieves on Christmas Eve. And yes, as the name makes plain, he's held for ransom. These kinds of Christmas movies usually involve children, whether or not they turn them into Macaulay Culkin-level stars — so obviously a couple of kids get caught up in the heist. To save the day, they enlist the help of Tapsell (Top End Wedding), who plays a pregnant security officer. Announcing the film, Stan notes that it's inspired by Home Alone, Die Hard and Elf. If you've ever seen just one Christmas flick for even just a few minutes, you will have spotted plenty that's predictable about the setup. Alongside Tapsell and Okine, Christmas Ransom stars Ed Oxenbould (Wildlife), Genevieve Lemon (The Tourist), Bridie McKim (Bump), Evan Stanhope (Thor: Love and Thunder), Tahlia Sturzaker (Ascendant) and Chai Hansen (The Newsreader) — and boasts Adele Vuko (Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am) in the director's chair. Add it to your festive viewing alongside this year's other big Aussie Christmas film, if it also surfaces in time: the upcoming movie based on Paul Christmas classic 'How to Make Gravy'. Otherwise, this newcomer will join the likes of A Sunburnt Christmas; Bush Christmas, both the 1947 and 1983 versions; the animated Around the World with Dot; and recent-ish horror movies Red Christmas and Better Watch Out — the latter also featuring Oxenbould. Christmas Ransom will be available to stream via Stan sometime this festive season — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
For kids, seeing a circus performer do a handstand on an elephant is a form of wonder that makes their clean little minds flip. For the rest of us, there's La Soiree. La Soiree is well known to Sydney, having bowled us over in earlier La Clique form as early as 2007, in the Famous Spiegeltent. The cheeky, ever-evolving international cabaret circus now sells out with each visit. If there's a number of viewings required to dull its shine, awe, and utter glee, no human audience member is reported to have reached it yet. The trick is their special collection of burlesque vaudeville contortionist aerialist acrobat comedian evocateurs who are just a little bit grungy and a little bit sexy. Although the show is always changing, you can count on the return of the inimitable 'Bath Boy' (aka David O'Mer), whose dramatic flights from the air and into the tub will redefine how you think of aerial arts (and having water flicked into your face). Cirque du Soleil run when they hear these carnies coming. See them in the Opera House Studio; it may not be mirrored, but it's a perfectly intimate cabaret salon.
The Global Mail is a newspaper with a difference. Launched today, the not-for-profit news and features website will offer its readers local and global public interest stories, but will not have any advertisers nor charge its readers. Instead, The Global Mail will be funded in entirety by Wotif.com founder, Graeme Wood, who has committed a minimum of $15 million to the project. At the helm will be former ABC journalist, Monica Attard (pictured), as Editor-in-Chief. She plans on taking a step back from the intensity of everyday news to create a more engaging, informative experience. "I had long viewed, with a degree of envy, the ProPublica model in the US and wanted to build a site here that carried only public interest journalism - no ads, no subscription, no celebrity stories, no spin, funded philanthropically", Attard told The Australian. Attard will lead a team of journalists in Australia and correspondents across Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America. The site will give up-to-the-minute news nationally and internationally, and promises to deliver stories that speak to the people, tackling issues such as government, business, religion, science, art and culture. It sounds like a much-needed news alternative. Let's just hope that the impartiality remains when the philanthropy inevitably disappears.
Brisbane is positively blooming with excuses to stock up on greenery, with plant markets and sales happening with frequency. Add a trip to The Foliage Fest to your weekend agenda, however, and you can pick up something natural, leafy and possibly floral from just $3. Both indoor and outdoor plants will be on offer, including the ol' favourite that is the fiddle leaf figs, the eye-catching Bird of Paradise to brighten up your life, plus vines, ferns, climbers, succulents and topiary as well. The list goes on, with hangers also starting from $10. Expect plenty to choose from given the whole thing is going down in a nursery. That'd be Chadwick Nursery. Head along to the two-day event across Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, running from 8am each day. There'll also be live tunes to put you in a browsing and buying mood, if you need some extra motivation — other than a heap of bargain-priced green babies, that is.
How can a hotel take advantage of the social media revolution? 1888, 8hotels' brand-new boutique hotel in Pyrmont, is answering that question with a picture-perfect building that skilfully marries old and new and a host of features for the snap-happy — even a gilt frame hanging from the ceiling for a cheeky selfie, Instagram-friendly walking maps for the area, a free stay offered to anyone with a substantial Instagram following (we're talking 10K+) and a free stay for the guest who takes the best shot of the hotel each month. And "this is only the beginning" says hotel manager Roberto Russo. It's perfectly natural that 1888 should embrace Instagram so enthusiastically, given the amount of care that's gone into the hotel's distinctive aesthetic — it's a thoroughly visual experience. First impressions: the architect and designers have totally respected the original structure (built in 1888, the same year as Kodak launched with a patent for its first box and roll cameras) and capitalised on the pre-existing appeal of its patina-like, distressed brick walls and gargantuan wooden beams. The latter are so beautiful I had to hug one — the splinter I received only adding to the sheer rawthenticity of it all. In the middle of the lobby, an olive tree has been planted to represent the hotel's heart, and it has plenty of space to grow upwards into the five-storey atrium with its fancy glass elevators. The ethos of preservation also shows itself in the upcycling of original wood from the building (formerly a woolstore — and much later, there was even a carpark where the lobby is now located) including gorgeous desks that appear in every room, as well as the lofty ceilings, generous windows and feature walls. Some of the window sills even have graffiti of yore carved into them. These historical details are paired with minimalist custom furniture and brightly coloured vintage pieces to create a design counterpoint that's truly refined. Step into the bathroom of one of the larger rooms and you'll find a tub big enough for two — or one, if you fancy watching your companion perform a hilarious solo synchronised swimming act (as I did). Every room comes with wi-fi and a complimentary iPad which provides general info about the hotel, local places to eat, news and weather, and it also controls the AC. The room service tab is empty for now; plans are underway to expand what's on offer in the hotel's bar and kitchen, which currently serves breakfast from a rustic Italian-inspired a la carte menu and a buffet featuring some epic muesli that I can't get out of my mind. If you're starving you can always raid the mini-bar, which, far from being stocked with the usual junky Mars Bars and tiny Johnnie Walker bottles, sources from local companies with an emphasis on health and yumminess. For intimate functions or parties, there's The Williamson room (appropriately numbered 007) which boasts its own impressive side entrance — perfect for celebrity guests fleeing the paps — and a glitzy bar from the 1950s. The Geddes Room would work for a chic boardroom meeting. As for overnight stays, the Shoebox rooms are some of the best value for money in Sydney at $179, measuring 15 square metres but feeling bright and spacious thanks to the high ceilings and huge windows. 1888's been living up to its own hype, with all 90 rooms booked to full capacity only six weeks after opening. Book in and start hashtagging. 1888 Hotel has a 'Picture Perfect Package' available to book now until September 30. It includes: -A room to photograph – one night for two in a King Room -Foodporn – complimentary 1888 antipasto plate + two glasses of wine -Share-ability – complimentary internet connection and iPads in all rooms -Envy-inducing start to the day – complimentary breakfast Prices start from $239. To make a reservation, phone 02 8586 1888 or visit the hotel website. Instagramming 1888 Words and images by Shirin Borthwick.
Where would we be without Aussie hospo legends? They're there when we need midday croissants, midweek pub feeds and celebratory midnight margaritas. They help us get through the bad weeks — and the good ones. Not to mention they've had it pretty rough over the past year and a bit — which made us realise how integral they are in our day-to-day lives. So, now it's our turn to give a little back. To help you say thanks to all the hospo legends in your life and, more broadly, the industry, we've teamed up with Australian Cocktail Month. The inaugural event came about as a way to support the country's mighty fine bars, so we've come up with six easy-as ways for you to give back to the industry — especially if you're a bit of a bar fly. [caption id="attachment_785137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] HAVE A PUB MEAL WITH YOUR PINT If you usually stop by your local on your way home for a drink with mates, you're already doing a bit to help out. But rather than just ordering a cold one and then hightailing it out of there, why not order yourself a hearty pub feed, too? Not only will it help out the kitchen staff, but also the ones behind the bar as, let's face it, you'll probably order another round (or few). These days, pub meals go beyond your usual steak and chips offering (not that we don't love that, too). Next time you're keen for a drink and a feed, track down the likes of southern US-style snacks, woodfired pizzas and top-notch Asian nosh at one of your locals if you're not in the mood for pub classics. Plus, many venues have weekly events like live music, trivia and boozy bingo to keep you entertained. SAY CHEERS AT A COCKTAIL FESTIVAL Say a huge cheers to bars and the people behind them by grabbing a ticket to the inaugural Australian Cocktail Month. Running over the month of May, the event is popping up in 72 bars across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Head to any of the participating venues for specialty cocktails — and support the bar industry as you sip to your heart's content. All cocktails will cost a cheeky $14, or $10 for non-alcoholic concoctions. All you have to do is get your hands on a ticket here, then join in the month-long celebration. GET YOURSELF SOME FUN MERCH One easy way to say cheers to the hospo places you love and frequent (almost too) regularly is to pick up some merch. Yep, wear your love for your local literally on your sleeve. For years, many pubs, breweries, bars, cafes and sandwich shops across the country have been selling branded tees, jumpers, hats and totes for you to sport and represent them on the streets. And, in the wake of COVID-19, even more jumped on the bandwagon — so now you're spoiled for sartorial choice. Sydney places like Yulli's Brews, Paramount Coffee Project and Tio's all sell some slick wares. Melbourne venues such as Proud Mary Coffee and Piccolina have good merch, as does Smith and Daughters' online merch store, which boasts branded earrings, cursive pins and denim dog jackets. In Brisbane, breweries like Newstead Brewing Co, Green Beacon and Felons all sell great branded tees and totes, too. GIVE BACK WITH COLD, HARD CASH You know those dingy glass jars on the countertops of your favourite watering holes and diners? Well, they're not there just for show, so next time you order yourself an iced mocha latte (or something stronger) throw in any loose change you've got. Not much of a cash-carrier? That shouldn't stop you adding a couple of extra bucks to your bill after you've had a fabulous time wining and dining yourself silly. Or, level things up by donating to a hospo relief fund, such as Tip Jar. Another Aussie charity doing a lot of good is OzHarvest. As well as reducing our country's food waste, the charity runs a hospo-focused program, offering industry employment and engagement pathways for at-risk youths. [caption id="attachment_733302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] BUY LOCAL Instead of getting all your supplies from the major supermarkets, buy local. This way you'll back the independent places that serve the community through quality lattes, loaves of sourdough, bottles of wine and gourmet goodies. As hospitality venues were shut and, later, operating at smaller capacities, providores, suppliers and makers of small-batch products also did it tough last year. So, next time you're thirsty, head to a boutique bottle-o. When you're after some cheese, head to a delicious dairy wholesaler in your area. You get the idea. And, after adapting to the trying times of COVID-19, many cafes, bakeries and restaurants are still selling staple goods, which, let's be honest, provide a much nicer shopping experience than a supermarket. [caption id="attachment_760761" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] TURN UP TO YOUR TABLE Australia's food and drink industry is still recovering. So, now we can eat, drink and be merry in venues once again, we should catch up with mates, celebrate a promotion and grab a coffee with colleagues when we can. We're not saying burn a hole in your pocket, but if you love trying new places or hitting up your favourite haunt, then celebrate the fact that you can do these things. Word of advice: don't be a no-show. Yes, turning up to a booking is a pretty simple thing to do. But if you don't? Well, not only does someone else miss out on eating and drinking all the tasty things, but also the venue loses money and staff may get their shifts cut short. If you can't make it for whatever reason, simply call ahead so your table doesn't go empty. Australian Cocktail Month is taking over top bars across the Australia from May 1–31. To buy your ticket, and for the full list of participating bars, head here. Top image: Bar Margaux, Kate Shanasy
Mother's Day is usually a time for family gatherings. Think brunches, barbecues, roasts, leisurely lunches and just generally spending the day with your mum. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebratory occasion will play out a little differently than usual in 2020 — however, if you're a Queenslander, you'll still be able to enjoy the day with your nearest and dearest. Well, at least some of them. From this Sunday, May 10, groups of up to five people from one household will be able to visit another household — an increase from the current limit of two visitors per residence. As announced today, Thursday, May 7, by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, it's a reward "because Queensland has been doing such a great job", with the focus firmly on families. As Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young explained, "it's about five people, maximum, of one family group, one household group, going to another household group". The five-person limit only applies to homes — not to other venues or spaces — and it doesn't cover people from more than two households. So, two people from one household and three people from another household can't both visit a third household at the same time. There's no limit on the number of people who live in the household receiving the visitors, though — so if you live with four other people, and all five of you are going to visit a household with six residents, that's acceptable. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1258171026443169792 That still won't allow plenty of families all gather together at once, but Dr Young suggests that people split up their visits — as receiving multiple visits from different households during the same day will also be allowed. "I'm sure there's a lot of mums out there who'd love to see one household in the morning and another in the afternoon and another in the evening," she noted. With Queensland's new cases of COVID-19 remaining low — with just 12 confirmed in the past seven days, from a total of 1045 cases since the pandemic began — the State Government is slowly beginning to ease back stay-at-home and social-distancing requirements. Queenslanders can now leave home for select recreational purposes, ranging beyond essential activities, and the state is considering allowing bars, cafes and restaurants to reopen in June. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
It might long be remembered as one of Star Wars' most cringeworthy come-on lines, but to give Anakin Skywalker a break, he did have a point when he told Padme, "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere." Two New York-based summer surfers by the names of Charlie and Spike know what he's on about. Even if they wouldn't have used such reasoning to get fresh with Natalie Portman. Instead, they've invented a sand-solution, of sorts: the Shake Tote. It looks, pretty much, to be the mother of all beach bags. And here's why. Not only is it water-repellent, it's also fitted with a mesh bottom, which means that you simply have to give it one almighty shake and the sand falls right through. So, it's actually a bag that doubles as a giant sieve. Welcome to a grit-free summer. No more jiggling each item individually while blowing grains into your neighbour's face (or your own, for that matter). No more having to unpack your bag outside because you've inadvertently carried half the beach home with you. At 42.6 x 14.7 x 15.2 cm, the Shake Tote provides you with loads of room for your swimmers, towel, read-of-the-week and sundry beachy needs. There's also a zippered pocket for stowing your valuables. The neutral, natural-coloured canvas (with dashes of black and neon orange) goes with most get-ups and the plastic shoulder straps are anti-slip. The Shake Tote came into being thanks to Quirky, a platform dedicated to unusual inventions. Users are able to put forward their own innovative ideas and/or vote on those of others. They can also earn money by supporting successful pitches and helping out with branding and style decisions. The Quirky team gets behind the manufacturing process and provides international distribution online. Order your very own Shake Tote online for US$39.99 and watch every face on the beach gaze in awe. Via PSFK.
Best Picture Will Win: 12 Years a Slave Should Win: Her Her was an almost perfect movie; however, its engaging quirkiness will also likely be its downfall, robbing it of the kind of gravitas the Academy likes to see in its dramas. There's also the Academy's history of loving history. Seventeen of the last 24 winners in the Best Picture category have been stories based on real events, and while that does keep American Hustle in the mix (which notably took out the Screen Actors Guild back in January), the asymmetry between 'cute crime caper' and 'essay on reprehensible crimes against humanity’ places 12 Years A Slave firmly in the driver’s seat. What then of Gravity? History’s not on its side either. Sci-fi is batting 0-84 in the Best Picture category, though the Academy won’t mind denying it the Best Picture victory since its director, Alfonso Cuarón, is a shoe-in for Best Director. Best Director Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón Should Win: Alfonso Cuarón Steve McQueen’s been on a golden run since his debut with Hunger, so much so that it would take either a monumental collapse in talent or his outright departure from the industry to think he won’t — in the next five years — walk away with this statue. For the 2014 awards, however, Cuarón should, and almost certainly will, come in for the win. Gravity was a breathtaking film, and with barely more plot than there is oxygen in space, the responsibility for that vests first and foremost in its direction and the performances Cuarón secured from his two leads. Last week’s BAFTA win for the Mexican director only narrows the odds further. Best Actor Will Win: Matthew McConaughey Should Win: Oscar Isaac Let’s talk about Leo first. The feeling that the guy is due is palpable, but just because a roulette table throws up nine reds in a row doesn't mean it has to be black’s turn next time round. While DiCaprio's Wolf of Wall Street performance was a fearless endeavour, it still lacked the critical poignancy of an enslaved parent or HIV-positive pioneer. A two-horse race hence seems most likely, and as good as Chiwetel Ejiofor was in 12 Years A Slave, McConaughey’s remarkable reinvention by way of smaller, character driven ensemble pieces has earned him both enormous respect and the Golden Globe. The big surprise here is Oscar Isaac, whose sublimely reserved yet beguiling performance in Inside Llewyn Davis didn’t even garner a nomination. Best Actress Will Win: Cate Blanchett Should Win: Cate Blanchett There’s arguably never been a better description of Meryl Streep than Colin Firth’s suggestion that she is "unreasonably good". Typically, then, in August: Osage County we saw just the latest in an impossibly long line of flawless performances so good one feels the interests of fairness might warrant handicapping her somehow for all future roles, perhaps by only allowing her to speak in vowels. Yet she won’t win this year. In a collection of powerhouse performances by a field of nominees who’ve all previously won the award save for Amy Adams, it was Cate Blanchett who proved the undeniable standout. Her Jasmine was elegant desperation and icy vulnerability wrapped up in an overt, sexually charged Ingmar Bergman-esque archetype. She’s already won the SAG, Golden Globe and BAFTA, making this about as sure a thing as the Oscars permit. Best Original Screenplay Will Win: Her Should Win: Her With ‘Will’ and ‘Should’ locked in there, Her would seem a foregone conclusion, but it’s not nearly that clear-cut. Was Spike Jonze’s screenplay the most original of the nominees? Absolutely. Was it also the best? Again, yes, but does that mean it will win? …Probably. Standing in its way is American Hustle, whose script — while lengthy — was a rollicking, unceasing procession of zingers, plot twists and exquisite turns of phrase. It also has the box office momentum behind it. For Her to win, which it should, it’ll need the Academy to consider the ‘Original’ part of 'Best Original Screenplay’ its most important characteristic.
Looking to add another streaming service to your subscriptions? Particularly keen on Amazon Prime Video, the online shopping behemoth's film and television platform? Good news and bad news, Australians. Firstly, you can sign up and stream selected content right now. But (and yes, sorry, there's a but)... it doesn't appear as though it's all that official. Technology website EFTM first broke the news that Aussies could not only register for an Amazon Prime Video account, but start watching Amazon's original programming such as The Man In The High Castle and Red Oaks. And, since then, word has spread that Amazon has launched their video platform in Australia. That's particularly exciting for anyone interested in watching The Grand Tour, aka Amazon's new motoring show hosted by former Top Gear personalities Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, which kicked off on November 18. Alas, it's not quite that straightforward. On the one hand, yes, you can currently access the aforementioned series, and others that don't have streaming deals with other platforms — although with some restrictions (only the first season of '80s set dramedy Red Oaks is available, for example, despite the second season launching in the US last week; and you can't access shows like Transparent that are available elsewhere in Australia). However, in a pretty significant sign that using Amazon Prime Video in Australia isn't as official as we all want it to be, you can only access it by visiting either the American or UK sites. There's no Prime Video option on amazon.com.au, no Australian pricing, and no information whatsoever about the service being offered to Aussies. In a statement reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Amazon is adamant that it hasn't launched in Australia, which answers the question, really. Why Aussies can access content through the US and UK sites remains unanswered. Of course, it has long been rumoured that the platform would launch locally soon, largely thanks to The Grand Tour's certain appeal to Australian audiences, and the fact that Amazon has retained the global rights to the show — and it likely will in December as already announced. For now, in what is proving a big week for Amazon on our shores (the retail giant is set to launch a series of bricks-and-mortar stores and an online supermarket here within the next two years), go forth and watch what you can while you can, and watch this space for more developments.
Truffle butter, truffle eggs, truffle cheese, truffle fries — it seems adding the word truffle takes the words off the menu, lets them dance on your tastebuds, and has you salivating before you’ve even ordered. What if we told you you could indulge in seven whole courses of truffle-filled goodness? The good news is Lutece Bistro & Wine Bar are throwing a black truffle celebration with the real deal (no synthetic ‘truffle oil’ here that you might find at your local wannabe gastropub). Showing off the black winter truffle melanosporum from Manjimup, Western Australia, owner and chef Romain Bapst will treat guests to a delectable seven-course feast in true French style. Diners will be lucky enough to enjoy the distinct and full flavour of black truffle throughout the courses, starting with the duck foie gras and black truffle, and finishing with the chocolate gianduja. We attended the first dinner last night, and the second (and last) is on tomorrow night. Personal favourites were dishes three and five, the Glacier 51 sea bass and deep sea scallops, and the White Rocks milk-fed veal shoulder and fillet (pictured). The last dinner is on Friday, August 8, at 7pm. It is $160 per person with a glass of champagne on arrival, or $190 per person with matching wines. Nab your spot by contacting bookings@lutece.com.au or by calling (07) 3161 1858. Chocolate Gianduja at Lutece
Sandals, swords, a shirtless Paul Mescal, fighting a rhinoceros, Ridley Scott behind the lens: welcome to the Gladiator II arena. The first trailer for the filmmaker's 24-years-later sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winner also includes odious Emperors — yes, multiple — plus seafaring clashes in the Colosseum. And, alongside Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington can't stop thinking about the Roman Empire Mescal's (All of Us Strangers) Lucius watched the climactic events of 2000's Russell Crowe (The Exorcism) and Joaquin Phoenix (Napoleon)-starring film, as the sneak peek explains, which is just one of the ties that Gladiator II boasts with its predecessor. Another: Connie Nielsen (Origin) returning from Gladiator as Lucilla, Lucius' mother. If the sequel's protagonist didn't have his own date with Rome's iconic amphitheatre, there wouldn't be much of a film. His stint comes after Emperors Caracalla (Joseph Quinn, A Quiet Place: Day One) and Geta (Fred Hechinger, The White Lotus) take over his home. Queue a quest for revenge, plus glory for Rome, with Pascal's (Drive-Away Dolls) general Marcus Acacius becoming Lucius' target. As for Washington (The Equalizer 3), he plays power broker Macrinus. Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise director Scott has been in blast-from-the-past mode for over a decade now, first revisiting the Alien realm with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, then reteaming with Phoenix on Napoleon, and now helming his second Gladiator flick. Of late, he's also been fond of making movies set in the past — long ago and more recent — as not only seen with Napoleon, but also with House of Gucci, The Last Duel and All the Money in the World. With Gladiator II, the British filmmaker teams up two of the internet's boyfriends in Mescal and Pascal, and promises a battle-filled time following up the feature that picked up Best Picture, Best Actor (for Crowe), Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards. Scott also earned his second Best Director nomination, after Thelma & Louise — and before Black Hawk Down gave him a third. Gladiator II hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024, which means that local audiences will see it a week before American audiences. In the US, viewers are in for a Barbenheimer-style release day with the film and Wicked Part One arriving on the same date, Friday, November 22. Repeating that possible new moviegoing phenomenon in Australia and New Zealand had already been nixed, however, given that the first Wicked flick won't reach picture palaces here until Thursday, November 28. Check out the trailer for Gladiator II below: Gladiator II opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Garlic bread — representing the holy trinity of bread, garlic, and butter — is something created by the gluten gods to make us mortals (sans coeliacs) very, very happy. Welcome to Bowen Hills is aware of this, as demonstrated by the fact that it's devoting a whole day to your fave carbohydrate situation: the Garlic Bread Festival. But Saturday, June 22 isn't't just for standard garlic bread. You'll also find genius hybrids such as garlic bread burgers and garlic bread pizzas on offer. So prepare thy tummy — while the food truck lineup hasn't yet been revealed, cheesy garlic bread and garlic-inspired drinks have also been promised. And the good ol' fashioned variety of garlic bread, obviously. There is an ATM on-site for emergency carb top-ups. Kids are welcome from noon until 9pm, doggos are welcome all day and all night, and both will probably lose their minds over the tasty scraps. Praise be to wheat.
