If you live in Brisbane, you’ve heard all about the city’s connections with Asia; we are the home of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and the new Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, after all. Since 2013, the BrisAsia Festival has also been on that list, paying homage to the culture of our neighbours. This year’s program features another mix of traditional and contemporary Asian arts, channelled into events across Brisbane. It all kicks off at the Opening Night party on February 6 at Reddacliff Place, as headlined by The Bombay Royale, but the fun really is just beginning. Dance in cosplay to DJs, cook a variety of South-East Asian desserts or learn how to play Mahjong. Hear traditional Japanese music in Mt Coot-tha’s Japanese garden, watch Asian short films in Chinatown for Lunar New Year, or paddle a 12-metre dragon boat from Breakfast Creek. Then there’s our pick: the too-cute-for words world of amigurumi — or knitted and crocheted small stuffed animals — as found in the city’s oldest laneways.
If you're looking for your latest glimpse of the next Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the full final trailer has just dropped in this one. Two months before the main franchise's ninth episode (and 11th theatrical flick overall) hits cinemas, Disney has delivered its last sneak peek of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker — as well as reiterating the claim that this flick will end the whole Skywalker saga. Don't worry — more Star Wars movies are definitely in the works, courtesy of two big-screen spinoff trilogies by Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively. Just next month, new TV series The Mandalorian will start screening on Disney's new streaming platform as well. An Obi-Wan Kenobi-focused television show is also in development, with Ewan McGregor returning as the beloved Jedi master. And, even if The Rise of Skywalker wants to tell us otherwise for now, we have a good feeling that we won't see the last of all of the other Star Wars characters that everyone already knows and loves. Given The Rise of Skywalker's title, the way that The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage in the new trailer — as she did in the first teaser earlier this year. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's once again heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams also sits in the director's chair. Feel the force with the full final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19. Images: (c) 2019 and TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
UPDATE, April 9, 2021: Brisbane Ice Cream Festival will now take place across Saturday, April 17–Sunday, April 18, after being postponed from its original dates (Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21) due to wet weather. New registrations will also be available from 9am on Wednesday, April 14. In 2017, Brisbane screamed for ice cream. In 2018 and 2019, we all screamed again. After going quiet in 2020 for obvious reasons, the frozen dessert-induced exclamations are set to continue in 2021, with the Brisbane Ice Cream Festival returning for a huge fourth event. Perhaps this sweet treat-loving city's most popular occasion — although tickets are free, it regularly books out within minutes — BICF is back with even more opportunities to gorge on your favourite frosty food. This year, the fest will run across two days from Saturday, April 17–Sunday, April 18, and will include an evening session as well. Two-hour time slots take place from 11am–1pm, 1–3pm, 3–5pm and 5–7pm on Saturday and from 11am–1pm, 1–3pm, 3–5pm Sunday. If you're keen to drop by — and pay for whatever tickles your tastebuds' fancy as you go — then a world of ice cream delights await. Think the titular treat, gelato and every other kind of icy, creamy confection, with dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan dietary requirements all catered for. While the complete lineup of stores and stalls hasn't been revealed, previous years have seen everyone from Gelato Messina to La Macelleria take part. And the full menu hasn't been revealed either, but you can expect classic scoops, ice cream rolls and spiders to feature. The fest will also include live tunes, a pop-up bar and themed spaces to take some snaps while you're devouring all those dessert dishes. The last remaining free tickets will be released at 9am on Wednesday, April 14 — and getting in quickly is recommended, as they'll likely disappear faster than an ice cream melting in the Brisbane sun. Updated April 9.
Sipping on a cocktail is an end-of-week tradition. When the working week is done, everyone just wants to have fun — and, sometimes, on the day before as well. If Thursday or Friday afternoon beverages help you get through the 9-to-5, then let Madame Rouge make that cathartic tipple even better. Between 4pm to 6pm on both days, they're serving up $1 oysters. There's no missing numeral there. One shiny coin is all you'll pay for freshly shucked molluscs at Fortitude Valley's French bar and bistro. You will have to buy a drink as well to get the super cheap seafood — but, as we've already established, that's one of the main reasons you're in a watering hole for some post-work fun. As well as a range of made-to-order cocktails, drinks on offer include a two-page list of Champagne, reds, whites, rose, and sticky and sweet wines. Unsurprisingly, many hail from France — and some cost a pretty penny, if you're feeling flush — but you can grab a glass of pinot gris and oysters for $10, pair them with something crimson for $11, or opt for some champers for $13,
From the wild, WTF and wonderful finalists, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has announced their 204 Archibald Prize winner. Fiona Lowry has won the prestigious prize for her portrait of Penelope Seidler. Runner up was Mitch Cairns with his portrait of Red Richardson AM. The Wynne and Sulman Prizes have also been announced. Taking the Wynne for landscape or sculpture was Michael Johnson with his abstract Oceania High Low: And the Sulman (best subject painting, genre painting or mural project) landed on Andrew Sullivan's T-Rex: Check out our picks for weirdest and most wonderful Archibald finalist tales over here.
Having recently spent a crazy couple of months living in Berlin, the news of East Berlin club Salon Zur Wilden Renate installing a real life maze in the two-storey abandoned building comes as no surprise. With the intention of creating an other-worldly, ethereal experience, the Peristal Singum labyrinth uses confined spaces to confuse your sensory perceptions, where one visitor at a time is forced to crawl, duck, and slide to their salvation. Prepare for a lucid mind where your whole metaphysical being is questioned while disproportionately-sized objects create the illusion of fantasy characters that roam rooms that seem smaller than they actually are. There is no marked pathway, so drinking too much prior to entering may not be the wisest of ideas. Peristal Singum
It’s the trend that has become so established, it’s now a cliche: Queenslanders moving down south to pursue bigger and better things. It’s also the trend Vlada Edirippulige is happy to break, making her dream of opening her own comic book store a reality. Based in West End, Junky Comics launches on April 10 before opening for trading the next day, establishing its physical presence less than a year after bursting onto the online scene. The passion project of Edirippulige, also known as illustrator Junky and as a member of local band Major Leagues, Junky Comics is partly her way of counteracting the apathy so often seen throughout the city. "Brisbane has such a great music scene, and such a great arts scene. Why can't things like this work here?" she notes. Indeed, location is everything — particularly the shop on Vulture Street, which is still in the process of being unpacked when Concrete Playground stops by. As soon as Edirippulige found out the place was available, she sprang into action, working to get the store up and running as soon as possible. "This is such a great little strip in a really lovely community," she says of her spot just up the road from Jet Black Cat Music, and around the corner from both Bent Books and The Avid Reader. The relaxed neighbourhood feel suits her vision for the store, with Junky Comics the kind of place where browsing — and taking a seat on the couch while you peruse the shop's stock — is welcome. "I really hate that feeling of getting in, grabbing something and getting out," Edirippulige advises. "With comics, you need to look through them too see if you dig them. "The decision to turn Junky into a physical store had a lot do with the idea of utilising the space itself, not just as a place to sell comics but a place to have exhibitions and workshops, talks and readings." She hopes to cultivate "a good creative space where you can sit and read and draw a bit if that was what you wanted to do". The unique combination of written word with illustration is a big part of what draws Edirippulige to comics as well. "Some of the most 'highbrow intellectual' texts I've read have been comics," she says. "I think that's why it's super easy to get quickly invested in comics because of the visual aspect, they communicate with the reader so easily." Edirippulige's affection for the medium is obvious and infectious, even if she contends she started Junky Comics from "a very selfish place." She continues, "I wanted to be able to pool together all of the comics that I loved and have them in one place, under one roof. Comic books and graphic novels cover such widespread content — it's not just about superheroes anymore! — and I wanted to have a place that showcased that diversity." Indeed, rifling through the wares adorning the store's custom-made shelves proves just that, with Junky Comics stocking everything from Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis to vintage Wonder Woman. "A huge inspiration as well was the fact that I wanted to have a tonne of work by female writers and artists because there is so much of it out there and it is so good," she explains, with her alternative and indie stock sourced from publishers in Canada, London and the USA alongside classics from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image, plus art books and local zines. On the events side of things, the store launch coincides with its first collaboration with NOFUN, hosting an exhibition inspired by the films of Wes Anderson. Between the artwork and the comics, there's plenty to entice customers into what will hopefully become a thriving new Brisbane hub for all things — and people — of the creative persuasion. Find Junky Comics at 93 Vulture Street, West End, or peruse their online store.
They're one of the worst things that you can step on — and, no matter whether you're three, in your thirties or somewhere in-between (or older), they're the type of toy that's truly for all ages. That'd be Lego, aka the source of plenty of childhood fun, and now a kidulting staple thanks to boozy Lego nights and pop-up bars. Always wanted to get the A-to-Z lowdown about the world's favourite plastic bricks? Then add a visit to Bricktionary: The Interactive Lego Brick Exhibition to your calendar. On display now at HOTA, Home of the Arts until Sunday, August 7, this brick-fuelled event gives southeast Queensland its second Lego-themed exhibition in mere months, after the Wonders of the World showcase wrapped up in Brisbane just a few months back. Both take advantage of the Lego expertise of Ryan 'The Brickman' McNaught. And, obviously, the state's galleries and museums know one inescapable truth: there's no such thing as too much Lego. You'll certainly find a heap of it at Bricktionary, including over 150 impressive Lego models and six interactive building zones — so you can stare at Lego and make your own creations. More than one million bricks have been used at Bricktionary, which is spread out over 1000 square metres at the Gold Coast venue. The ticketed event is a family-friendly affair, obviously, so expect to have young Lego lovers for company.
Next time you head to the Fortitude Valley institution that is The Wickham, two new things await. Firstly, for spring and summer, the watering hole has decked out its beer garden California-style. Secondly, it's doing boozy bottomless pancake brunches every Saturday. The pop-up theming takes its cues from Palm Springs, so you'll be sitting in deck chairs, underneath umbrellas and pretending you're on a getaway on the other side of the world. Cadillacs and neon cacti are part of the decor, too, because of course they are. As for that brunch, it's happening from midday each week. The pancakes won't stop — and they come with both maple syrup and jam. There's also a two-hour drinks package included in the $59 price, plus drag entertainment. You'll also find cocktail slushies and other themed tipples on the menu all week, which are all perfect for helping you get into the holiday mindset whenever the urge hits. Or, there's share plates and cocktail jugs for $45 a pop every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening from 5–9pm.
When the fuel light starts glowing, it's easy to pull into the nearest service station and pay the corresponding (and hardly cheap) price. No one likes forking out big bucks for petrol, though, which is why it's always such a huge talking point. No matter what you're driving, when it comes to the pump, every motorist loves a bargain. Opening its first retail outlet, Queensland-based company Mega Fuels is doing its best to entice car owners to Rocklea on Saturday, July 20 by giving everyone what they want: heavily discounted petrol. If you race on in between 9am–12pm, you'll be able to fill up your tank with unleaded for 99 cents per litre. There'll also be discounted premium diesel, should that get your engine running. If you fancy a snack while you're in the city's western suburbs, the new Ipswich Road spot will also be putting on a free barbecue. If hardware and sausages can go hand-in-hand, then servos and and barbies can too. And, for dedicated car fans — as opposed to just cheap petrol fans — Supercars champion James Courtney will be onsite, complete with a show car and other race cars.
Brisbanites will no longer need to visit Sydney for a luxe Japanese restaurant experience at fine-diner Sokyo. A favourite in the Harbour City for more than a decade, the culinary standout is finally branching out to the Sunshine State. Add a Brisbane outpost to the list of dining spots that the new Queen's Wharf precinct will boast — and it's a big list — when it starts to open in August 2024. The Star Brisbane is one of the key parts of the long-in-the-works Queen's Wharf development, hence the move to expand Sokyo from The Star Sydney to its latest location. At The Star Gold Coast, Queensland already boasts fellow Japanese restaurant Kiyomi — a sibling eatery, if you like — but this will be the first time that the Sokyo brand has set up shop elsewhere. If you haven't visited Sokyo down south, it heroes traditional cooking techniques and making dining a sumptuous feast for the senses. The restaurant's guiding principle: ritual meets art. The idea is to apply Japanese culinary practice to Australia, including using local produce — from Queensland, of course, at Sokyo Brisbane. Leading the charge will be Sokyo Brisbane Executive Chef Alex Yu, who worked at Sokyo Sydney for eight years from 2014 and became renowned for his fish platters featuring floral arrangements — earning the nickname "sashimi florist" for his efforts. In 2022, he moved to Yugen Melbourne to take on that restaurant's Head Chef position. Now, he'll complete the east coast capital-city trifecta by coming to Brisbane to helm the new Sokyo. In a space that'll seat 160, feature both a sushi bar and a circular private dining room, and has Hassell to think for its scroll- and timber screen-heavy Japanese restaurant decor, patrons can look forward to a range of Sokyo's famous dishes from its OG location making the jump to Brissie. Two such highlights from August, when Sokyo Brisbane opens its doors: spicy tuna with crispy rice, plus hiramasa kingfish with miso ceviche and crispy potato. The rest of the menu will span everything from charcoal-grilled truffle-infused lobster to Queensland yellowfin tuna with sweet aioli, plus other options that go big on maitake mushrooms and ume plums. To wash them all down, sake, Japanese whisky, shochu cocktails, and tap and bottled beers from Japan will take pride of place on the drinks list. You'll also be able to sip wine, champagne and non-alcoholic beverages. "To have the opportunity to share Sokyo's philosophy with Brisbane is truly a privilege," said Yu of his new role. "I have collaborated with the highly experienced culinary team to curate a menu that harmonises tradition with contemporary flair, paying homage to the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine whilst remaining ahead of the gastronomic curve." "I'm excited to infuse the Sokyo menu with my artistic vision, drawing from my time in Sydney and Melbourne to deliver a cutting-edge dining experience tailored to Brisbane's discerning palate. Each element is meticulously considered, from the smallest measurement to the exact angle and temperature." Across The Star Brisbane at Queen's Wharf, Sokyo will sit alongside the new Fat Noodle, the new LiveWire (which will now focus on late-night entertainment and live music), Italian restaurant Cucina Regina and, upstairs at the Sky Deck, also Aloria, Cicada Blu and Babblers. Find Sokyo at The Star Brisbane, Queen's Wharf, Brisbane CBD from sometime in August 2024. Head to the venue's website for more information in the interim.
Tacos slathered with salsa. Chips dipped in hot sauce. A sliver of cheese accompanied by a zesty relish. Whatever your favourite food happens to be, it probably tastes better with a condiment — and, like everything from artisanal gin to plants to cocktail ingredients, there's now a curated delivery service dedicated to flavour-adding substances. Meet Condimental, which bundles a heap of pickles, preserves, sauces, seasonings and relishes into a box and brings it to your door. If an image of a boring Christmas hamper just popped into your head, then this service will wipe it away. On the menu is a changing range of limited-release and seasonal items from Australian suppliers, aka the types of condiments that you won't find in any old supermarket. [caption id="attachment_707077" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Condimental's launch box.[/caption] Condimental also leans into the concept of exclusivity — not just via its selection, but courtesy of its limited-run editions. Only 100 boxes are available with each release, and while you can't subscribe to receive a box every time the service starts shipping a new batch, you can sign up to be notified when a new edition becomes available. In other words, if you're keen on watermelon pickle, habañero and oak hot sauce, umami seasoning, fermented tomatillo salsa picante, or bread and butter pickle, then you'll need to get in quick. They're the items on offer in the first delivery, with the launch release costing $65 plus a $15 delivery fee. For more information, visit the Condimental website.
Thanks to your long-suffering folks, beach umbrellas were one of those childhood perks you enjoyed without any effort on your own part, like an endless supply of free snacks or piggybacks on demand. It meant you could spend the whole day at the beach in comfort rather than leaving, red and blistery, after two or three hours when endless dips in the ocean are no longer effective. Basil Bangs' beautifully designed beach umbrellas will allow you to spend a sensible day at the beach while still looking hip. The ‘Calypso’ and ‘Princess and the Pea’ umbrellas have pretty white fringing, or if you want yours a little more masculine, the ‘Chaplin Stripe’ is a classic black and white. If you're struggling to find something for Christmas for that fashionable friend with discerning taste, the umbrella that Missoni designed in collaboration with Basil Bangs will be sure to win brownie points. Concrete Playground caught up with Lauren Boyce and Mike Durante, the two talented halves of Basil Bangs, to find out what makes them and their business tick. Tell us about the name, Basil Bangs. We’re always being asked, “Who is this Basil Bangs character!??”. Well, Basil Bangs is the mysterious dude behind our loud and proud range of premium sun umbrellas. We joke that he’s related to James Boags (they’re cousins). We’re often revealing little clues to our Facebook fans about Basil’s world & who he is with his favourite gigs, dining experiences and of course his favourite places to hang out poolside or with sandy toes. What would be Basil’s perfect day in Sydney? Basil starts his perfect day in salt water. He rides his cruiser to the beach for a surf check. If the surf’s on, he’s out there. If it’s really perfect, no wetsuit’s required, it’s offshore & no-one’s out!! Basil loves the farmers markets at Bondi so he’ll often pick up some breakfast ingredients. Then it’s brunch and coffee time with papers and a picnic rug at the park, sharing the shade cast by a BB Mr Huckabee with his lady and his border collie. After that, there might be a BBQ with mates on the cards, or a cruise into town to check out the latest books, or pop into an exhibition at Object. A snack at Bourke Street Bakery is always on the cards if he’s in the neighbourhood (he’s got a sweet tooth that one!), otherwise a favourite spot to shoot the breeze or have a relaxed meal with mates is The Commons in Darlinghurst. For evening entertainment he’d catch The National playing at The Enmore or an emerging act at The Basement, or perhaps the end of the Bicycle Film Festival down at Bondi. Basil’s arm can always be twisted for a nightcap somewhere cosy…he’s currently enjoying a nice Cognac. Where do you get your inspiration from? We’re passionate travellers and really admire how Europeans do beach. So chic. We love the Slim Aarons’ work, how he captured the incredible summers in the 1960s and 70s is truly inspirational. That period was a time of such optimism and risk taking. Our friends and family are a happy and very funny bunch who always give us new ideas. It’s awesome to see the little-ies start to enjoy the shade these brollies offer. The sandcastles are going to get epic. It’s a much easier way to be sun smart than the beach tents – and let’s face it, far more beautiful! Our goal is to surpass the beach tent as the shade of choice this summer. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out? Hmm, well, you can easily underestimate how long it takes to do things, especially when you’re doing everything yourself and sometimes learning from scratch. We also launched during the GFC, which was interesting timing! It made us really work hard to ensure value and quality so in the end it was a good thing. Basil Bangs isn’t about being the cheapest thing around. What we do want is to be long lasting, to be easy to use, and to wear with you. Everyone loves the vintage brollies you see at markets or the back of garages that have such personality. In 30 years we hope our brollies are a collector’s item too. We are really passionate about what Basil Bangs is and stands for, so when we see one of our brollies being used on the beach, or hanging out in a park, it makes all the hard slog worthwhile. How do you choose your materials? We choose our materials for durability, quality, the job they’re meant to do, and equally important, how great they look. How did the collaboration with Missoni come about? As massive fans of Missoni, we bandied around the idea of doing something with them when we first started. In the end we just approached them, and here we are. I think that having a high quality, design-led product that they don’t currently have in their range already was the trick. And how gorgeous is it? They make all the fabric in Italy in their own mills. We would love to keep on revealing a different Missoni Brolly each summer but we’ll see…. Can your umbrellas be used in places apart from the beach? Yes absolutely, anywhere you need some shade. We’ve seen them being used on little balconies above a small table and 2 chairs, in backyards, on patios and decks. They’re ideal for people in apartments because they’re not too big and can be easily stored away. We take ours pretty much everywhere we go; it’s always in the car for 'just in case'. The Chaplin Stripe has even been used for daytime weddings where some chic shade was required but they didn’t want a marquee. So many options : ) Any words of wisdom for people thinking of starting their own brand? Do your research, do your sums, make sure you have clear goals, and most importantly: HAVE FUN! How will you spending your summer? Morning swims and surfs, twilight dinners, on our bikes, at the markets, enjoying all the amazing exhibitions that come to town, eating…lots, seeing some of the many great gigs, cruising around Sydney Festival First Night… and of course we’ll be reading Concrete Playground for any ideas! What is the best thing about summer in Sydney? What a question! Hmm the best thing about summer is Sydney! It’s…that the ocean stays brisk…eating gelato from Messina or Pompei’s on a steamy evening… smiley, happy people around town…drinking shandies…the fireworks…barbeques…holidays… What’s your favourite Sydney beach? Well, we’re based in Bondi so of course we think North Bondi is pretty great. That said, we can’t narrow it down to just one beach. Our pick for harbour side swims are Parsley Bay Reserve and Redleaf, and for beaches it’s Bronte, Freshwater, and Palm Beach. Honestly though, there are just too many stunning spots to choose from. We’re pretty blessed here in Sydney!
Sun, surf and sand is a relaxing combination, and one of the Gold Coast's big drawcards. Soaking, steaming, sipping and staring at scenic views? That's also on the agenda if you're looking for a stint in Surfers Paradise without hitting the beach. The latest spot to head to: JW Marriott Gold Coast's Spa by JW. Open since mid-July, this new place to chase bliss is a hefty 2500-square-metre wellness space, and joined the hotel as part of its broader $35-million transformation. A spell here means enjoying the sounds of the ocean, a vantage over the hinterland, both tea and wine service, and a sizeable list of treatment options and spa packages. Fancy a massage solely designed to help you sleep? An aromatherapy facial? Hopping in the bath with your date or best mate? They're all on offer. Upon arrival, guests are first greeted at Spa by JW's curator's desk, then hang out in a living room-style lounge setup before diving in. From there, six different rooms unleash the venue's treatments, including one just for couples that comes with its own private lounge, ensuite stone bath and twin showers. Also onsite: saunas, steam experience showers, pods for relaxing and an outdoor garden terrace area dedicated to exactly that as well. For those making a group hang out of their spa experience, Spa by JW features a space for private groups, too, that's intimate but still in view of the wider lounge. The treatments focus on calming, indulging, invigorating and renewing, with a kaffir lime and ginger salt scrub, a chamomile and lavender soak, and a native clay body mask among the highlights. If you're keen to eat and drink while you're there, everyone gets a lavender tea upon arrival; however, that's just the beginning of the food and beverage range. The tea service is all about local inspiration, the food menu is curated by the hotel's Executive Chef Paul Smart and vino is an option. Think: lavender scones, chocolate-dipped strawberries, native honey seed nut slices and chocolate roses with hazelnut cream on the high-tea spread — and four types of rice paper rolls, spanning chilli king prawns, wagyu steak, tofu and grilled salmon, if you're after a less-decadent bite. This is also the first Spa by JW in the Australia and New Zealand region, with Australian design studio DBI taking care of its look. As the building's original architects and interior designers, it has a history with the site, and has gone with a coastal Queensland vibe for the wellness space. Think: curves aplenty, translucent walls, natural materials and textures, and neutral hues, plus lighting to suit the mood. Find Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast, 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise — operating 9am–6pm Monday–Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sundays.
One of the world's most-visited multi-sensory experiences will come alive in Brisbane this year. After successful runs in Sydney, Auckland and Adelaide, immersive exhibition Van Gogh Alive is bringing The Starry Night to the Sunshine State — alongside a heap of Vincent van Gogh's other artworks — as part of its Australian tour. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which, for the past 15 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 150 cities across the world. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. A family-friendly experience, Van Gogh Alive creates the sensation of walking right into the Dutch artist's paintings — and you definitely won't feel like you're just standing in an ordinary gallery. Attendees encounter van Gogh's world-famous works in fine detail thanks to Grande Exhibitions' state-of-the-art technology, which uses 40 high-definition projectors. A classical musical score accompanies the vibrant colours, too, as presented in cinema-quality surround sound. And, as part of the experience, two of van Gogh's most popular works have been transformed into vivid new guises. So, when you see The Starry Night, you'll actually be walking through it. Love Sunflowers (the painting, as well as the plant)? An immersive Sunflower infinity room is also included. The Brisbane season of Van Gogh Alive will pop up at Northshore Hamilton from Friday, October 29–Sunday, January 23 — with tickets on sale now. Updated December 6.
The next time that you tuck into a pie, you could be doing a local business a solid. That's always the case if you're picking up your pastries from a neighbourhood bakery, of course — but head to King Street Bakery on Tuesday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2 and you'll be helping out the Bowen Hills favourite at a tough time for the city. After a weekend of torrential rain that's led to widespread flooding, nothing is normal in Brisbane at the moment — as everyone in the city well and truly knows. For the King Street Bakery team, it's been a couple of days without access or power to their central kitchen, so they're now hosting a bake sale. Expect pies and sausage rolls galore, plus make-at-home meals, coffee and juice as well. You'll need to swing by King Street by 5pm, so that's either lunch, a snack or something for dinner later all sorted. Updated March 2.
Since opening in October 2018, West Village has provided West End with grassy spaces, lively festivals and multiple places to eat. But, the expanding development isn't done yet. Over the coming months, it's adding a new dining and retail precinct, starting with the just-opened Middle Eastern eatery Beirut Bazaar. Taking up residence on the ground level of the Peters Ice Cream Factory building, the 75-seat restaurant is serving up traditional-style feasts, with cumin, sumac and coriander featuring heavily. Expect to taste the spices in specialty dips and breads, Lebanese mezze, savoury pastries and sweet treats — and in the shawarma, the main attraction. Shawarma is Beirut Bazaar's signature dish, in fact. Patrons can expect to tuck into a fillet of lamb, beef or chicken that has been marinated in traditional spices for 48 hours, and is then served on pita with parsley, tomato and legumes. A vegan and vegetarian selection is also on the menu and, drinks-wise, Beirut Bazaar's cocktail list is curated by the bar team from Nineteen at The Star. Owner Andre Samra has taken inspiration from his father, who migrated from Lebanon to Australia — and, continuing the family connection, he has launched Beirut Bazaar with his daughter Vanessa.
Busting out the bibs to enjoy a shellfish feast, hearing the sound of cracking echoing, sipping boozy slushies over a showcase of sports and arcade games: this all became a reality in Bowen Hills in 2023 when Claw BBQ opened its doors. It's the crab shack that King Street didn't know that it needed. Soon, it'll also be the red- and white-hued, American-inspired joint that Brisbane's southeast didn't know that it was missing as well. Come early September 2024, the River City will boast two Claw outposts: the OG location and a new site in Carindale. If thinking about the latter suburb makes you think of the sprawling shopping centre that shares its name, that's where you'll be heading. The eatery will transport the same concept across to its new digs, but with a few features all of its own. So, buckets of shellfish will still be on the menu, as will fried chicken, barbecue ribs, burgers and the like. The brand's eating challenges will also make the jump, getting adventurous (and hungry) patrons attempting to wolf down a one-kilogram burg with a side of fries in just half an hour or half a kilogram of hot wings in 20 minutes. That said, whatever is satisfying your appetite, you'll be doing so in a spot with 4.5-metre boat in its ceiling — which definitely isn't the kind of thing that you see elsewhere. The new crustacean-slinging eatery will also include ice cream shakes and mocktails among its drinks range, alongside a hefty number of tap beers; a heap of large-screen televisions broadcasting all of that sport; and consoles for you to mash buttons at. While Potentia Solutions Leisure's crab shack chain heroes its fondness for seafood in its moniker, including crab in buckets, prepared Louisiana-style and in balls — as well as paired with crawfish, prawns and bugs — the Bowen Hills venue's menu also extends to cheeseburger spring rolls, pulled-pork tacos, whole grilled chickens and more. Add Cheetos mac 'n' cheese as a side, then an Oreos and cream pizza for dessert. To wash down all of the above, cocktails are a big feature at Bowen Hills. The current drinks list features cactus apple margaritas, strawberry and kiwi mojitos, frozen cola with rum and lime, mango macadamia piña coladas and sangrai towers. Beer lovers can go with local and international brews. If you prefer wine, there's a short array of options. Find Claw BBQ Carindale at Carindale Shopping Centre, 1151 Creek Road, Carindale sometime from early September 2024 — we'll update you with more details and an exact opening date when they're announced.
There's an international day for everything, it seems; however only one celebrates the joys of bending, stretching, meditating and bliss. Yes, that'd be International Yoga Day — which actually takes place on June 21 each year, but is being celebrated a few days or so later at the 2019 Brisbane Yoga Day Festival. On Saturday, June 29, the Forgan Smith Front Lawns at the University of Queensland will become the least stressful place in the city, and offer up the most chill way to spend your day. There'll be yoga, obviously, plus everything from music to vegetarian and vegan food to markets as part of a series of world-wide celebrations. When it comes to the main attraction, expect to improve your well-being through regular asanas, breathing and relaxation exercises, and even an on-site meditation booth. Or, try something different with tribal flow yoga dance yoga. We'll give a sun salutation to that.
What's better than one place where you can blow off steam by slinging sharp blades at a target? Two such establishments, obviously. Not that long ago, Brisbane didn't have any axe-throwing joints — and now it's welcoming its second thanks to Maniax. Three months after Lumber Punks expanded from the Gold Coast to Brissie, fellow weapon-flinging outfit Maniax has added a Queensland venture to its existing Sydney and Melbourne empire. Maniaxmight be playing catch-up in Brisbane; however it was actually in the Australian axe-throwing game first, launching its original Sydney venue back in 2014. Finally making its way up north, it brings its range of blade-hurtling activities along with it — think solo or small group sessions, axe-throwing events for larger parties, date night options (because the couple that hurls hatchets together stays together, clearly) and even an eight-week competitive league. The different events all run for at least two hours, but take place on different nights. Every second Friday evening is all about couples, Monday to Wednesday will be dedicated to league comps, while solo and small group sessions are held on the last Saturday of every month. Bookings are essential — in fact, you can't just walk in and take part without a reservation — and as for how it all works, it's comparable to darts. Basically, you chuck axes at a board and try to hit a bullseye. Don't even know the first thing about picking up a hatchet? That's completely to be expected, with lessons included in every session, as well as in the league competition. Axe-throwing experts will also be on hand to help even when you think you've mastered the basics. The venue also features safety barriers to protect everyone — and, to the surprise of no one, is a completely alcohol-free affair at all times other than Maniax's opening party. You can buy soft drinks, water and some snacks onsite, and you're welcome to bring your own too. And if you suddenly become an axe-throwing fanatic, Maniax also has its own line of merchandise.
You might be familiar with Pawpaw in Woolloongabba — they do a pretty mean roti canai curry. But if you live further east, you'll be delighted to hear that the folk behind the cafe, the Venzin Group, have just opened up a new venue, Pawpaw Asian Kitchen in Tingalpa. The kitchen is set to meet all your Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Malaysian food cravings. Pop in for lunch from Monday to Friday and order any main off the lunch menu for $15.50. Choose between pad Thai, green curry, Hokkien noodles or pad see ew (among others), with vegetarian options available for every dish. There are the obligatory sides, including roti ($4.50) and spring rolls ($8.50) too. The evening service is when your choices increase, ranging from the comforting — chicken red curry with roast pumpkin ($18.50) or a slow-cooked massaman beef curry ($23.50) — through to the more modern and tantalising. Think quinoa nasi goreng served with red curry pork belly, crispy fried egg and basil ($16.50) or chilli popcorn chicken with Thai larb spices, lime and mayo ($11.50) — this is perfect to chow down on while you wait for your mains. If this all sounds great but you honestly cannot be bothered changing out of your pyjamas, then rejoice: Pawpaw do takeaway, too.
The grilled calamari comes seasoned with lemon myrtle. Warrigal green gnocchi is its pasta of choice. Peppermint gum lamb is one of its signature mains, jaffa mousse with eucalyptus honeycomb sits on the dessert menu, and a beer that pays tribute to mango and macadamia Weis bars is on the drinks lineup. They're some of the highlights at Brisbane's newly opened Dapl, which serves up modern Australian cuisine with a focus on native Aussie ingredients, and sits inside Creek Street's Amora Hotel. The revamped five-star site was formerly known as the Novotel, then underwent a hefty revamp to the tune of $30 million, with the hotel itself relaunching at the end of 2023. At the time, it officially unveiled its new guise with a rooftop pool deck with skyline views, a lobby bar pouring cocktails and 296 rooms located over 14 floors. The next step: Dapl welcoming in diners. Executive Chef Jamie Renfrey oversees the kitchen, with more than 30 native ingredients taking pride of place in his menu, which is available as à la carte dinner dishes and either two- or three-course set menus. "I grew up experimenting in the back garden, growing various vegetables, such as heirloom tomatoes, which was my grandfather's passion. Dapl's menu celebrates that family spirit while intertwining innovative twists in a vibrant display of Australian cuisine, past and present," says Renfrey of a culinary lineup that also includes scorched king prawns with karkalla, native spice salmon gravlax, kangaroo loin served with a davidson plum jus, and a pork cutlet paired with rosella and honey mustard. The beverage selection includes that Mango Mac kettle sour beer from Revel Brewing Co, gin and whisky from 23rd Street Distillery, and a range of wine and cocktails. Among the latter, the Tropical Punch combines tropical gin with seasonal tropical fruits, triple sec, prosecco and sugar syrup — and the Citrus Sparkler is made with red citrus gin, limoncello, rosemary and tonic. Dapl's nature and botanical themes aren't just on display in its dishes and drinks. They're literally on display in the decor, too, with designers Cottee Parker overseeing the fitout. Think: a feature wall painted with a leafy scene, earthy hues all round and foliage watermarks elsewhere. Find Dapl at the Amora Hotel Brisbane, 200 Creek Street, Brisbane City — open for breakfast from 6.30–10am Monday–Friday and 6.30–10.30am Saturday–Sunday, and for dinner from 6–9.30pm daily. Head to the restaurant's website for reservations and further information.
The next seven nights will see parts of Alice Springs and its surrounds shine brighter than ever before, as the region's third annual Parrtjima - A Festival In Light delivers its most expansive program yet. The free public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling is perhaps best known for its dazzling light installations, as First Nations' identity is shared across a whole swag of genres. This year, Parrtjima — the nation's first indigenous festival of its kind — will feature seven of these luminous displays, gracing both Alice Springs Desert Park and for the first time, Todd Mall in the Alice Springs CBD. The expanded CBD program includes a series of huge lit-up caterpillar designs, as well as a symbolic 'river of light' LED projection, flowing through the mall precinct in a striking display of textures, colours and patterns. Just out of town, tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park will also come alive, awash with light from 6.30–10.30pm each night of the festival. Once again, a huge artwork will transform a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, this year working to the theme "from sunset to sunrise" with a more immersive light show experience than ever before. Visitors will be able to weave through a series of large-scale tree-inspired light sculptures for the Forest Space installation, or immerse themselves in art and storytelling as part of Grounded, where installations are projected onto the earth accompanied by a striking soundscape. There's the interactive Colour Space booth, featuring over 500 individually controlled LEDs responding to each person's movements, and even a hands-on kids' playground space, with captivating designs by Keringke Arts. The light installations are backed by a jam-packed program of dance, music, workshops and talks, sharing stories and celebrating First Nations' culture. It's a nice supplement to the area's Field of Light installation, which has been extended until 2020. If you can't get to the red centre this week, the images show just how incredible the landscape looks lit up at night. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs from September 28 until October 7 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
No city can ever have too many places that encourage you to relax. We all lead busy lives, and we all need every reminder that we can get that slowing down, relaxing and putting our wellbeing first are important. So, while Brisbane has no shortage of wellness studios, adding another one is always welcome. By the time that April is out, Contro Wellness in Lutwyche will be River City's latest place to chase bliss. Opening on Lutwyche Road on Saturday, April 20, 2024, this pastel-hued spot is going Mediterranean-style with its bathhouse setup — and dreamy, too, as its calming colour palette helps evoke. Inside, patrons will find both traditional and infrared saunas, float therapy, ice baths, steam rooms and mineral soaks. And if that's not enough, there's red-light therapy and salt therapy as well. "Contro Wellness is the ultimate escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of city life," said Madeleine Snaith and Jake Salomone, the venue's co-founders. The pair are Brisbanites, but are opening Contro Wellness as part of their homecoming after establishing pilates and yoga studios — also called Contro — in north Queensland, in Mackay and Rural View. "Our extensive range of private health solutions offer calm amongst the chaos. Whether you're after a float, sauna or ice bath, we've got something for everyone to help rebalance, revive and rejuvenate." If you're keen on not just relaxation, but some alone time — or sharing your experience with a date or mate — this isn't the kind of place where you'll be using the facilities with other folks. All services are private, which is handy if you're also the type of person who finds trying to de-stress surrounded by people who don't know anything but calming. Price-wise, you'll be forking out at least $40, which is where Contro Wellness' services start. The bathhouse will also let you book in via its app, so you can lock in your next stint of unwinding at the touch of a button. Find Contro Wellness 488 Lutwyche Road, Lutwyche, from Saturday, April 20, 2024. Head to the studio's website for further information. Images: renders.
Think about Broken Hill and movies, and one of three films likely comes to mind. Mad Max 2 is one of them. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is another. Wake in Fright should be the third. Before road warriors and drag queens helped bring the outback city to the big screen, this stone-cold classic got there first. It was back in 1971 that the iconic Australian page-to-screen thriller turned the remote patch of New South Wales — well, the fictional Bundanyabba in the narrative — into a hotbed of small-town small-mindedness, toxic masculinity and a dim view of outsiders. If you've never thought that ochre soil as far as the eye can see could be a vision of claustrophobia, then you haven't seen this, which sits on Canadian director Ted Kotcheff's extremely diverse resume alongside everything from First Blood to Weekend at Bernies. Here's your next change to redress that: a Hear My Eyes session at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival, where the movie-and-music series will give Wake in Fright a new soundtrack. For Hear My Eyes first-timers — so, those who've missed Hellraiser, Good Time, Pan's Labyrinth, Chopper, Two Hands, Drive, Girlhood and Suspiria sessions in the past, to name a few prior shows — the event brings a must-see flick back to the big screen accompanied by a live, all-new and completely original score that's played while film lovers sit, watch and listen. Doing the musical honours for Wake in Fright is Surprise Chef, who'll be playing to a freshly unveiled 4K restoration of the feature. Hitting up Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, August 16, the MIFF Hear My Eyes screening will mark the world-premiere of the 4K version of the film. Whether they pop up as part of festivals or on their own — and no matter the movie, too — these events are always popular, so getting tickets quickly is recommended. There's no word yet if other cities outside Melbourne will get the chance to see Wake in Fright receive the Hear My Eyes treatment, so this is a prime excuse to head to the Victorian capital. So far, before it drops its full 2024 lineup on Thursday, July 11, MIFF has also announced Adam Elliot's new stop-motion animation Memoir of a Snail, which'll open the fest, alongside 23 other flicks — including Sundance sensation I Saw the TV Glow from We're All Going to the World's Fair's Jane Schoenbrun, Hunter Schafer (Euphoria)-starring thriller Cuckoo, the Sebastian Stan (Dumb Money)-led A Different Man and restaurant-set dramedy La Cocina featuring Rooney Mara (Women Talking), plus heaps more. [caption id="attachment_963205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Aubor[/caption] [caption id="attachment_963203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Aubor[/caption] [caption id="attachment_963204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Aubor[/caption] [caption id="attachment_963206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Izzie Austin[/caption] Hear My Eyes' Wake in Fright screening with Surprise Chef will debut at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, August 16. Head to the Hear My Eyes website for tickets and further details. The 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 8–Sunday, August 25 at a variety of venues around Melbourne; from Friday, August 16–Sunday, August 18 and Friday, August 23–Sunday, August 25 in regional Victoria; and online nationwide from Friday, August 9–Sunday, August 25. For further details, including the full program from Thursday, July 11, visit the MIFF website.
Summer isn't even here yet, and 2023's Meredith Music Festival hasn't happened so far either, but it isn't too early to start thinking about autumn 2024. The reason? That's when the Aunty team unleashes its other big annual festival at the same Victorian spot, with Golden Plains just announcing its packed lineup. Music lovers, next year's pilgrimage to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre to dance among the autumn leaves will take place from Saturday, March 9–Monday, March 11, 2024. So, mark those dates in your diaries ASAP. Then, go enter the ticket ballot, as the second round is up and running until 10.16pm AEDT on Monday, October 23. This Golden Plains will mark the fest's sweet 16th, and comes with The Streets, Yussef Dayes, King Stingray and Black Country, New Road leading the bill. So, that means one of the defining voices of 00s-era Britain in Mike Skinner, Dayes' drumming and jazz prowess, a Yolŋu surf‑rock favourite that Aunty has been trying to get on the lineup for ages and one helluva post-punk band — and that's just the first four acts. Joining the above is everyone from Cymande, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul, Wednesday and Regurgitator to Boris, RVG, Kutcha Edwards and WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc). The list still goes on from there, too. Catering to 12,000 punters each year across three days and two nights, Golden Plains has long proven a favourite for its one-stage setup, which skips the need for frantic timetabling. How does the Aunty crew describe 2024's fest? "Come as you fancy. Time and space to wibble. A soundtrack built for wobble. Autumnal autonomy. Two days and two nights at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, with controls set to premium mode," they advise. "The Sup' has been designed and refined over 30‑odd years for the sole purpose of hosting something truly remarkable. It's one of the best places on earth to spend a long weekend with friends and lovers — finding yourself, losing yourself and losing yourself again." GOLDEN PLAINS 2024 LINEUP: The Streets Yussef Dayes King Stingray Black Country, New Road Cymande Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul Wednesday Regurgitator Boris RVG Kutcha Edwards WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) Braxe + Falcon MAVI Anz MJ Lenderman DJ Koco Sarah Mary Chadwick Elsy Wameyo Soju Gang Split System The Belair Lip Bombs Storytelling with Uncle Barry Golden Plains will return to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from Saturday, March 9–Monday, March 11, 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot's second round before 10.16pm AEDT on Monday, October 23. Images: Benjamin Fletcher / Theresa Harrison.
Every patch of Brisbane needs a leisurely watering hole where whiling away an afternoon with a drink in your hand feels like the only thing on anyone's agendas. Matt McIver and Gerard Martin, founders of Range Brewing, are doing their part to make that dream a reality. They've already set up shop in Newstead, which is where their brewery is based. After that, they then hopped over to the city's inner west to open Patio in Rosalie in 2023. By the time that September 2024 is out, the duo will also be slinging beers on the River City's southside. Camp Hill is McIver and Martin's latest Brissie destination, with the suburb about to become home to Rays, their fourth venue in the city (as well as Range and Patio, they also have The Bethnal, the barrel room and event space next to Range, to their name). This time around, the inspiration comes from European corner bars. So, the Range team is giving Brisbane its version, setting up shop in a Newman Avenue space that catches the afternoon light. "When we opened Patio, we wanted to create a place where the community could come together, relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of good food and drink," explains Martin. "Rays is a natural extension of the Patio, and the next step in that journey. The blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, along with a curated food menu that balances what our guests already love with exciting new dishes, means we're creating another place that locals can call their own." [caption id="attachment_970803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] Rays has set Friday, September 27, 2024 as its launch date, so it'll be pouring brews from its ten taps not only in time for summer, but for the bulk of spring. If you've visited Patio over the past year, you'll know the vibe that McIver and Martin are aiming for — and the feeling of community as well. "We've been so humbled by the support from the local community at Patio, and seeing so many regulars become part of the family in just one year has been amazing," explains McIver. "At Rays, we wanted to build on that same sense of community, while offering a space that reflects the unique character of Camp Hill and Coorparoo. These neighbourhoods share that same warmth and charm as Paddington, and we're excited to bring our take on a local watering hole to this part of town." [caption id="attachment_970805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_970804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_970806" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_904831" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_970807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_904830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patio[/caption] Find Rays at 4 Newman Avenue, Camp Hill from Friday, September 27, 2024 — and head to the venue's website and Instagram in the interim for more details.
After almost two years in the making, Supernormal Brisbane is getting ready to welcome in diners. July 2024 in the River City is proving a big month for Andrew McConnell, first opening Bar Miette — a brand-new terrace cafe and wine bar — and now bringing the Supernormal expansion plan first announced back in 2022 to fruition. Both venues share the same address, making 443 Queen Street in the CBD the Queensland base for the acclaimed chef, Jo McGann and their hospitality empire. If you're familiar with Supernormal in Melbourne, yes, the New England lobster rolls are making the jump north when the new outpost opens its doors on Tuesday, July 23. So is the 150-seater restaurant's focus on Asian-influenced dishes, as influenced by McConnell's time in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul. But the aim is to both give the OG Supernormal a sibling and Supernormal Brisbane its own vibe — including by embracing the place it calls home, an ethos that's also driving Bar Miette. "As a chef, it has always been my aim to offer experiences that are highly reflective of their time and place," explains McConnell. "I am incredibly proud of what we have created — it feels very at home to me in this location, and reflects many of the things I know and love about Brisbane — the nuanced hues of the landscape, the warm climate, the abundance of produce grown on the doorstep." "It feels like the right evolution for Supernormal. Whilst the design sets the two restaurants apart, there is a DNA that runs through them that is grounded in the food, the service, the drinks and the sense of location," McConnell continues. Accordingly, from its riverside site next to Customs House — between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves, complete with water and Story Bridge views — Supernormal Brisbane is pairing signature dishes with newcomers, all while paying tribute to Queensland ingredients. You'll spot the former as you tuck into the restaurant's half crispy duck, which comes cured in salt and cooked twice, for instance. From a lineup that spans appetisers, a raw bar, dumplings, dishes to share and more, other menu highlights include claypot sticky pork rib dumplings, baked abalone pastries, and Szechuan and yellow chilli-poached Moreton Bay bugs. This is the type of spread that you'll want several visits to feast your way through, also featuring mussel and kimchi flatbread, smoked beef with mustard leaf and clam mayonnaise, squid and spring onion skewers, and sour and salty crispy lamb. The same sentiment applies to the four-strong dessert range, where milk gelato with shiso oil, plus apple and sorrel gelato, sit alongside a mix of Valrhona chocolate, caramelised miso, peanuts and sesame; the strawberry, yuzu and pineapple sage meringue; and fresh mangosteen on ice. Saying cheers to a hefty wine list with almost 400 options is equally a multi-trip quest, with the vino selection favouring family-owned producers both emerging and established. If you prefer cocktails, the libation are taking their cues from Brisbane's subtropical climate. For those with an occasion worth celebrating, Supernormal Brisbane also features private dining in The Bridge Room, catering to up to 50 people surrounded by sandstone walls. As well as overseeing the fitout for Bar Miette, Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME have been on design duties for Supernormal Brisbane since it was announced. With creating a sensory experience from the moment that patrons step inside the guiding principle, they've decked out the eatery with an emerald marble maître' d station, green terrazzo floor, carved timber bar that's meant to resemble growth rings on tropical trees, giant columns, bamboo pendant lights, and timber and rattan aplenty. Those vistas? You'll peer at them through floor-to-ceiling glass, giving your meal — lunch, dinner, and whatever suits you across Supernormal Brisbane's daily midday–11pm operating hours — quite the backdrop. Mirrors also feature prominently to ensure that you can see the view, even as a reflection, no matter where you sit. Find Supernormal Brisbane at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane from Tuesday, July 23, 2024 — open from 12–11pm daily. For more information, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Earl Carter.
There'll be no need to grab snacks before the latest screen-to-stage musical production. As fans of the '90s cult classic well and truly know, Empire Records is certain to give you a sugar high anyway. The beloved flick is heading to Broadway, which means someone is going to be following in Renée Zellweger's footsteps and belting out the Coyote Shivers track 'Sugar High' while standing on a record store rooftop. Expect someone else to sing "oh Rexy, you're so sexy" too, as the tale of a struggling music shop, its motley crew of employees and the washed-up former star making an in-store appearance makes the leap to another format. Rolling Stone is reporting that the movie's original screenwriter, Carol Heikkinen, is adapting her own script, with the show working towards a 2020 premiere date. No word yet who'll be taking on the characters first played by Zellweger, Liv Tyler, Robin Tunney, Rory Cochrane, Ethan Embry and Aussie actor Anthony LaPaglia, rocking out to what's certain to be an ace '90s soundtrack and wearing some top retro fashions. Empire Records joins a long list of films making the jump to the theatre of late, including La La Land, The Devil Wears Prada, Amelie and Moulin Rouge! And, of course, the newest production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which is heading to Australia in 2019. Via Rolling Stone.
It has taken almost four decades to summon a Beetlejuice sequel; however, if a third film was to follow in the poltergeist bio-exorcist franchise, the initial two flicks have already told us what it should be called. First came 1988's Beetlejuice. Next arrives this year's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. So, only Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will do if the Juice gets loose again sometime in the future. For now, cinemagoers have simply Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to look forward to. Calls for this followup have been echoing since the 80s, with the sequel finally locked in in 2023, then dropping its first teaser earlier in 2024 and now unveiling its full trailer. And saying its eponymous figure's name three times is a part of this sneak peek, as Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder, Stranger Things) warns her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega, Miller's Girl) against doing. Of course, that advice isn't followed, and so in pops Michael Keaton (The Flash). In the first film, the ghost with the most turned life into chaos for the Deetz family — and for his big-screen return 36 years later, with the movie releasing in September, he has more mayhem to unleash. This time, for another dance with the trickster demon, there's three generations of Deetz women in Winter River. Schitt's Creek's great Catherine O'Hara (Argylle) is also back as matriarch Delia. Filmmaker Tim Burton also sits in the director's chair again, on what marks his first feature since 2019's Dumbo. He's no stranger to revisiting to his past work, as seen when he made two Batman movies in the late 80s and 90s, and when he adapted his short Frankenweenie into a full-length flick. He also loves collaborating with the same talent again and again, such as bringing in his Wednesday star Ortega. You don't need a Handbook for the Recently Deceased in your ghostly hands to get excited about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but you might spend time with folks with one, which is what happened with the original flick's Barbara and Adam Maitland (GLOW's Geena Davis and Dr Death's Alec Baldwin). In that movie, viewers also saw what happened when that pair started to suspect that they're no longer alive, a new family moved into their house and they decided they needed a bio-exorcist. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Keaton, Ryder, O'Hara and Ortega are joined by Justin Theroux (White House Plumbers), Monica Bellucci (Mafia Mamma), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), all newcomers to the franchise. Behind the lens, Burton is working with a screenplay by Wednesday's Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, with Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie) coming up with the story by Gough. If you say "Beetlejuice" three times, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice won't arrive in cinemas quicker — but it is hitting the silver screen before the musical version of the first film finally makes its way Down Under in 2025. Check out the full trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice below: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice images: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
UPDATE: May 24, 2020: Zombieland: Double Tap is available to stream via iTunes — and via Amazon Prime Video from Monday, May 25. What a delight the original Zombieland was. Led by Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin, and proving witty and wildly creative in handling its gory subject matter, the unconventional zombie road movie breathed new life into a stagnating genre. Featuring playful additions like cutaways to various zombie kills of the week, plus zombie survival rules that were neatly and contextually transposed across the screen during the action, the film paired horror, comedy and a top-notch troupe of actors to deliver an instant cult classic. Fast-forward ten years and many, many zombie films later, and we get Zombieland: Double Tap (with its name serving up a clever play on its sequel status, as well as referencing rule #2: 'the double tap', aka two shots to a zombie's head to ensure that it's truly dead). From the get-go, Double Tap reminds viewers about its trope-subverting approach, with Eisenberg's voiceover thanking the audience for choosing to watch this movie when there are so many other zombie options out there. Funny, yes, but is our allegiance rewarded? Only just. With the team now living safely in the White House, Double Tap finds itself in similar territory to season three of The Walking Dead. The zombies no longer represent much of a threat, meaning that the bulk of the tension comes from interpersonal, human-to-human conflict. Of that, there's a lot to choose from. Columbus and Wichita's (Eisenberg and Stone) romance has entered the ho-hum phase, while the de facto father-daughter relationship between Tallahassee and Little Rock (Harrelson and Breslin) is at once suffocating and frustrating, with both eager to head back out in search of adventure (and people their own age). Sure enough, the group soon splits, setting the film up for a rescue mission storyline — because, inevitably, things go awry. Relegating zombies to the level of mere background nuisance is always a risk, and in Double Tap it doesn't pay off — instead, it sucks much of the energy out of the film. Even the actors seem bored most of the time, leaving it to the movie's new additions to up the ante. Luckily, that's where Double Tap really delivers. Supporting players such as Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Avan Jogia, Thomas Middleditch and Zoey Deutch provide periodic shots of cinematic epinephrine, jolting the film back into life each time it begins to fade. Deutch, in particular, delivers a cracking performance as Ugg-booted, tracksuited mall girl ditz Madison, managing to find incredible range for such a one-note role. Her casual invention of Uber (to the mockery of everyone else) is one of the film's funnier and smarter moments, as is the arrival of Wilson and Middleditch, albeit borrowing heavily from Shaun of the Dead. Directed by the original's Ruben Fleischer (who also helmed last year's Venom), and written by fellow returnees Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick with Godzilla's Dave Callaham, there's just enough in Double Tap to justify its existence, offering smatterings of new material amid the admittedly still amusing trip back to very familiar territory. Stay put, too, for the credits, which gift us a welcome secret cameo from an old favourite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUW5ZYwk2zQ
It's not an overstatement to say that our environment and the delicate ecosystems within it are extremely important to us all, and especially right now, so any effort to preserve our world is an effort worth making. In partnership with certified compostable coffee pod company, Tripod Coffee, we've come up with a list of five easy adaptations centred around your daily coffee routine — so you can go easy on the environment while still enjoying your morning brew. SWITCH TO COMPOSTABLE COFFEE PODS If you have a Nespresso machine at home, you may have noticed a by-product of all that convenience: a lot of pods ending up in the bin. Instead of ditching the machine and further adding to landfill, you could make the switch to coffee pods that are more sustainable. Tripod Coffee is an Australian company that creates compostable coffee pods. This means, you still get an excellent, cost-effective coffee each day, but without the waste. And, as the pods are made from fairly sourced beans, roasted by local coffee maestros, you've got a sustainable sip available in your kitchen every morning. How do you know if a coffee capsule is compostable? You can check the Australian Bioplastics Association list here, or look for the Australian Certified Compostable symbol on the packaging. Tripod Coffee pods are made of a bio-polymer and are sealed with a paper lid. You can place the entire capsule in your green bin, if your council accepts organic waste. If not, you can return the packing using Tripod's Pod-to-Plant returns program. [caption id="attachment_766152" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Fotios[/caption] COMPOST YOUR COFFEE GROUNDS Australians generate 67 million tonnes of waste each year, and we chuck 5 million tonnes of food into landfill — which can be easily avoided. Not only can we buy food more responsibly, but we can also learn how to make the most of our organic waste. Composting works twofold to help the environment, first by keeping waste out of landfill, and second by creating a garden-nourishing by-product (aka compost tea). Coffee grounds are packed with potassium and are great to add to compost bins. If you don't know where to start with creating your own compost, check out these tips from Planet Ark, which includes using a Bokashi bucket to ferment food scraps if you live in an apartment. If you don't have outdoor space for a composting bin, or consume lots of coffee and want to make sure your organic waste goes to good use, check out ShareWaste, which connects people who are recycling their kitchen scraps with local people who are already composting, worm-farming or keep chickens. Alternatively, connect with your favourite cafe and ask if you can add your used coffee grounds to its Closed Loop bins, or other organic recycling scheme organised by your council. [caption id="attachment_766122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chevanon Photography[/caption] EXPLORE DIFFERENT MILK OPTIONS There are approximately 270 million dairy cows producing milk for human consumption around the globe. Milk production impacts the environment in various ways, according to World Wildlife Fund, including production of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. It also has impacts on water supply, deforestation, loss of wetlands and issues of animal welfare. So there are many people around the world who are looking at plant-based milks or mylks. A glass of dairy milk produces almost three times more greenhouse gas than any plant-based milk according to a study by Oxford University in 2018, and earlier this year The Guardian investigated the varying impacts of soy, almond, macadamia or oat — with oat milk coming out, generally speaking, on top. Oat milk is super creamy and froths well for a cappuccino, while almond milk goes down well with a tiny bit of maple syrup, some ice cubes and a shot of coffee for an iced latte. The most important takeaway from those reports is that whatever alternative you choose, it has a lesser environmental impact than dairy. However, it's worth noting that Australia's dairy industry accounts for around 7 percent of the gross value of agricultural production and around 7 percent of agricultural export income. So a cultural shift away from dairy milk is not without its casualties. [caption id="attachment_766125" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nathan Dumlao[/caption] KNOW WHERE YOUR BEANS ARE SOURCED By getting to know where your coffee beans come from, you can make a choice that values ethics and sustainability (with the bonus of tasting great, too). Fair trade coffee means the land the beans are sourced from is treated with care, as are the farmers who work on it. It's a win-win — and a step you can take to make a difference. If you want to ensure your coffee is fairly produced, look for the Fairtrade Australia markings; Tripod Coffee's Great Gatsby coffee uses 100-percent certified fair trade organic coffee from Central America. [caption id="attachment_766149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrea Piacquadio[/caption] BUY FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES DOING GOOD Knowing your daily habits are having a positive impact elsewhere in the world is not only good karma, but also a way of ensuring the money you spend is going directly to people who are actively creating positive change. Tripod Coffee has created the world's only pod-to-plant program, which means that the pods you've used end up as nutrient-rich fertiliser. It also commits one percent of its profits to restoring the Daintree Rainforest through Rainforest Rescue. There are also coffee roasters promoting coffee bag recycling programs and ones that donate to global research to protect coffee plants from extinction — something that nobody wants. Research the companies that are giving back on a global scale, and spend your money locally to keep supporting the little businesses that do good in big ways. Tripod Coffee produces Australian certified-compostable coffee pods. Find out more about the range and delivery options, here.
Harry Potter marathons, concerts, parties, trivia, sleepovers, markets, comedy gigs, Christmas festivities, potions classes and plays: of both the authorised and unauthorised type, Australia has hosted all of the above. If there's a way to work the Wizarding World into something, it has likely popped up somewhere Down Under. Indeed, a Fantastic Beasts-inspired natural history exhibition is on its way in 2023 — and, if you're particularly entranced about dressing up like you're at Hogwarts, so is Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration. Again, Australia is no stranger to Harry Potter shindigs, but this one is both official and completely themed around the franchise's wintertime soirée. Fittingly, it's conjuring up its Aussie debut in the frosty months, locking in a date with Sydney from Friday, July 7. The celebration heads to the Harbour City after past tours to Milan, Montreal, Houston and Mexico City, and hails from Warner Bros Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and events company Fever. Warner Bros in general is going all-in on the magical saga of late, given that it has also just locked in a new Harry Potter TV show, which will turn each of the books that started it all into a season of television. First, the ball. Here, you'll feel like you've stepped straight into the Wizarding World movies, especially if you don appropriate attire. That isn't mandatory, but it is encouraged. And if you need to collect the right items while you're at the event, there'll even be a market selling wands, robes and other merchandise. In Sydney, the Yule Ball will take over the Paddington Town Hall — and while exactly how long it will keep enchanting Sydneysiders hasn't been revealed, it will feature multiple sessions from Wednesday–Sunday. Muggles and wannabe witches and wizards alike will enjoy a two-hour experience, complete with a dance floor, performers, recreated moments from the movies and a whole heap of excuses to take photos. There'll be themed food and both boozy and non-alcoholic drinks, too — cross your fingers for butterbeer — which you'll need to pay extra for on top of the $84 ticket price. Or, there will be premium package, where you'll receive priority entry, a beverage and a gift. So far, there's zero word about further Aussie stops beyond Sydney, but folks in Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond best start crossing their fingers, toes, wands and broomsticks. Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration hits Australia from Friday, July 7, 2023, with tickets on sale from Wednesday, May 3 — head to the event website to join the waitlist.
Sitting down to watch Cat Person isn't a passive experience. It isn't an interactive movie, but the bulk of the film's audience isn't coming to it as a blank slate. They've read Kristen Roupenian's viral New Yorker short story from 2017, because everyone has. They've seen the discourse that it started, and potentially engaged in the debate that's swelled ever since, too. They remember how the 7000-word piece arrived at the ideal #MeToo moment, capturing the intricacies of modern dating, gender power dynamics, text-first communications, and mediating not just our lives but our loves through screens one jokey SMS and flirty emoji at a time. As a feature, Cat Person isn't just about bringing the tale of 20-year-old college student Margot and 33-year-old Robert, who she first meets serving him snacks at her cinema job, to the screen, then. Six years have passed since Roupenian's story became the only thing that anyone was talking about, especially online, with the whole Cat Person phenomenon now about more than just the tale itself. In her third movie as a director after 2014's Life Partners and 2018's The Spy Who Dumped Me — and also helming episodes of Utopia, The Flight Attendant and The Wilds, plus writing Booksmart as well — that's also what filmmaker Susanna Fogel set out to capture with Michelle Ashford's (Masters of Sex, The Mayfair Witches) script. "There's always a fear with anything that people feel strongly about, and would get really passionate about, that you're going to let them down. I think that with this in particular, I had to release myself a bit from the notion that everyone is going to love this adaptation — because the truth is not everybody loved the story, and not everyone loves any movie, really," Fogel explains to Concrete Playground. "I also have to take my best shot of trying to bring this story into the next generation for a group of people who many of whom were too young to read the story. The Margots of today were 13 when the story came out, so this is a moment that I wanted to share the story with them in this format." "But there's always a fear of it. You of have to let it go. You have to say 'I'm going to do my best to honour the material, and if I can create the feeling that I got reading the story in an audience, then that's what I can do'," Fogel continues. "There are going to be details that aren't what people pictured. Some people are going to want it to be a faithful adaptation of the story because they just want to see that story the same way. And Michelle and I, and ultimately Kristen, really believed that there's another chapter to the story that's happened culturally since 2017 — people exhausted themselves debating the merits of this story and revealed things about themselves culturally — that became part of the story. So to us, the only reason to adapt it was to build upon the narrative and not just render it directly." The film version of Cat Person expands beyond the narrative that Roupenian relayed with such galvanising precision. The aim: capturing how it felt to read the short story, as well as the conversation swirling around it since. The focus is still "concession-stand girl" Margot (Emilia Jones, CODA) and customer Robert (Nicholas Braun, Succession). Everything from their first meeting to their texts, and also their age gap, dates and rampant awkwardness, remains. But Fogel's film not only adds details, but also complexities and perspectives, seeing the tale's ambiguity and clashing perceptions. The 2023 Sundance Film Festival first witnessed the end result, and now audiences in Australia and New Zealand can as well, with the movie opening in both countries Down Under in November. We chatted with Fogel about the process of bringing Cat Person to the screen — her first reactions to the short story, her thoughts on the response, the unique opportunity that is turning a viral short story into a movie, casting and continuing the Cat Person conversation all included. ON READING CAT PERSON WHEN KRISTEN ROUPENIAN'S SHORT STORY FIRST ARRIVED "I did see it. I was hard to not see. It was everywhere. It was something that people talked about a lot. It was very explosive in the culture. At the same time, I didn't see it as a movie. It's hard for me not to see things as movies just because I live in LA, and whenever something is viral or captures anybody's attention, there's going to be a stampede of people trying to make it into a film. But this one, I thought this is so brilliantly internal that I don't really know how it becomes cinematic, and how it becomes external, and how you capture what really resonated for people in a film — much less a film that people are going to see if they're men or people of all ages, which the story did have a bigger reach than just than just women. I was concerned that a film wouldn't be able to harness that somehow. And then two years later, I read Michelle Ashford's script. I realised that there was a there was a vision behind doing that that made so much sense to me — I just would never have thought of it myself." ON THE INITIAL RESPONSE TO CAT PERSON AS A SHORT STORY "The story itself, by the time I came to it, I was aware that it was very explosive and controversial. And when I read it, I wasn't sure why, because I thought that this is such a perfectly observed short story. It's so specific to this woman's experience. Why are people debating it? Why are people accusing the writer of man-hating? What is what is really like triggering to people about the story? And over time, that narrative around it became so explosive that it kind of hijacked the narrative — the narrative around the narrative became what was the most interesting thing about it. There's this undercurrent of male rage that courses through the subtext of the story, and that male rage was manifested in a very overt way among all of the people on Twitter who were arguing about the story. So, in a weird way, it kind of proved the concept of the story itself, and that to me was what was so interesting. And when we tried to expand upon the original format of the story, that anger and the male perspective on that was something that we tried to enhance and show cinematically, just because it was so much a part of that cultural moment. It eclipsed anything about the original story itself." ON BRINGING A SHORT STORY THAT'S GONE VIRAL TO THE SCREEN "It was a very unusual opportunity. I've always looked for ways to tell stories about women — granular, observant, emotionally driven, relationship-driven movies and TV shows. That's kind of my sweet spot. But it's so often that those feel small, and they always have to be combined with another genre or a mystery or something that feels like it gives them reason to be — stories that justify their telling, in a way. This one, obviously we did expand it genre-wise, but the fact that the story existed and was viral was a great opportunity to tell a really intimate, granular story about a woman's experience, and have a little bit of name recognition buoying the release of it, and the public interest in it. That was a really lucky — that was a real opportunity. There's name recognition and a curiosity about something that is ultimately so personal and would normally just go in the bucket of tiny movies that five women see at a women's film festival." ON TACKLING A TALE THAT'S STRUCK SUCH A CHORD FOR BEING SO RELATABLE "A different medium is always a challenge. When you take a short story that women project their experiences onto — so women are picturing themselves as Margot, women are picturing their own Robert from their own life as Robert, they're not picturing actors that I cast — trying to honour that and execute something that would resonate with women the same way as whatever was in their mind's eye when they read the story is a tall order. I just did my best to try to pick versions of both characters that made them human enough that whatever felt really realistic and grounded to women would would be manifested here, and it wouldn't feel like we took it in this crazy direction. It definitely escalates at the end, but from a starting point of relatability was the goal. I mean, that's always the challenge, I think. But I think from moment to moment, [it was] just making sure those performances felt grounded, making sure to cast somebody who felt really relatable to women, and felt smart and substantial — so that if she makes some dumb mistakes, you can still be rooting for her instead of dismissing her as a victim. And just making choices that I think try to keep threading the needle with nuance was something that was important to me, so that people couldn't really dismiss either side, or come down on one extreme side or another — just to try to maintain the ambiguity of the original story." ON THE VISION FOR CAT PERSON AS A FILM FROM SCRIPT ONWARDS "Michelle had this brilliant idea to take a lot of what Margot was going through internally and make it manifest in a really extreme multi-genre experience of being a young woman. So, Margo's experience is that she walks through her life, and she's very pop culture savvy. She's seen movies where young women are victimised. She's seen movies where young women fall in love. She's seen movies where young women come of age. So she's seen all the reference points, and she's trying to figure out where she belongs and what her story is. What excited me about Michele's adaptation was really that she opened the door to explore a lot of different genres, as if to say that being a young woman is a multi-genre experience. There's always a base level of fear, because we're when we're coming of age and even when we're not, we're aware that we could be overpowered on a physical level. That's always a fear that sits underneath our lives, and is ready to poke its head out at any point in time that it's triggered. But all of the things that Michelle wrote were so vivid. And then the fears and fantasies and violence felt like I just tried to capture those as viscerally as I've experienced them myself, in the hopes that other women have also had those fears if I've had them, I hope. I don't hope other women have had them, but I hope that I'm a good ambassador to tell their story in a way that feels relatable to as many women as possible." ON FINDING THE RIGHT MARGOT AND ROBERT "Casting is always easy and hard. What's easy is if you're the filmmaker and you have a sense of who those people are in your mind, there's actors that you know you want. The challenge is that they're not always the actors who you know are the most famous or the most bankable. Luckily we worked with StudioCanal, who were pretty open minded being a European company — they weren't as algorithm-obsessed and so they let me cast these two actors who were really on the cusp of fame and had recognition but weren't overexposed on a level where people would bring too much baggage into the viewing experience. By the time the movie came out, people have an association with Cat Person. They're expecting to be mad. They're expecting to be relating. They're just expecting a lot going in. And I didn't want that to have a toxic alchemy with some outrage about me casting the wrong super-famous person. So I wanted it to be a little bit like these characters, these are interesting actors, maybe you've seen them but you haven't seen them in everything. You don't know who they're dating. It's not a situation where you're rolling your eyes before you even walk into the theatre. Emilia has a real soulfulness and gravitas to her that I wanted Margot to have despite her youth, so that it wouldn't be just a simple story of a young woman and an older man, and she's naive and he's inappropriate. I wanted it to be a bit more [that] he has some arrested development, but also she is presenting herself with as much maturity as she can, and she has a presence that doesn't feel adolescent to him. Zooming out, it's inappropriate that he pursues her. But zooming into it, it sort of makes sense that she's presenting herself in a way that it would be overreaching past the bounds of her experience level or her actual maturity level. Emilia seems mature, and I thought that was important to keep Robert defensible as well. If she seemed really flighty and really young, it would be more egregiously only about her being young and not about the fact that they do have this connection, even though it's dysfunctional. I didn't audition either of them, but I spoke to them, and they get it. They got it. They understood what was weird about the dynamic, and they were so intellectually able to do it — and I knew how talented they were on screen, that I just kind of took the leap of faith that they could do it. They're both actors who have great comic timing, but they're not broadly comedic. They have an interesting presence, but they haven't done this role before. So it felt like they would really like invest in that challenge. And in Nick's case, he has like a base level of likeability, especially to other men who watch Succession, that I thought that would be a good place for Robert to start — a place where men are relating to him, even if they think he's kind of a loser or whatever, they're inclined to root for him because of because of who he is." ON FOGEL'S HOPES FOR THE MOVIE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAT PERSON CONVERSATION "I would like for this movie to invite men and women to talk about their own experiences, and the differences in perception that go into relationships. I think that everybody has a story where they relate to one or both of the characters — that's why my hope is that everyone who's ever been on a date can watch that movie and say 'oh, I've been him' or 'I've been her' or 'I've been both'. To me, I think that the movie challenges people to think about their own relationships and be more authentic with the other person, however they can be — and really give themselves permission to not know what they want, take a minute to figure out what they want, not be sure what they want, change their mind. Those are all really important parts of dating and consent, and I'm hoping that this movie, by making people feel like they're not alone, makes people feel like 'it's okay for me to figure this out on my own timeline'." Cat Person opened in cinemas in Australia on November 23 and in New Zealand on November 2. Read our review.
Since its debut in 2022, Always Live has quickly become a loud and proud voice for sharing everything great about contemporary music and highlighting outstanding venues from Geelong to Gippsland and Ballarat to Bendigo. The stage is set for a 2024 return, with a huge range of artists set to hit venues all over Victoria from Friday, November 22, to Sunday, December 8. Leading the program is the Australian debut of genre-defying performer and artist Anyma, who's fresh off a record-sold-out six-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. Accordingly, the largest screen in the southern hemisphere will be set up for the show at Flemington Racecourse. [caption id="attachment_969884" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Other headline acts include Californian punk rock group The Offspring, who are bringing their famous punk energy to the stage for a one-night-only show. Tina Arena will perform at Mornington Racecourse in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her breakout album Don't Ask. Meanwhile, Victorian-based singer Missy Higgins will conclude her national tour with a show at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. A massive LGBTQIA+ party is kicking off in Port Melbourne, headlined by Irish artist Roísín Murphy alongside a set of global and local artists alike. Rockers St Vincent will hit two classic venues: Palais Theatre in St Kilda and Her Majesty's Theatre in Ballarat before returning to Melbourne for 'An Intimate Audience with St Vincent'. This one-of-a-kind show is a half-concert, half-dining experience and takes place in The Aviary, Crown Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_969882" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Simon Fazio[/caption] The program truly goes on and on and on, with shows from Chet Faker, Jack White, Baker Boy, The Rions and many, many more. You'd best start preparing a plan to hit as many shows as possible. Always Live 2024 runs from Friday, November 22, to Sunday, December 8, at venues across Victoria. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.
Confession time: when was the last time you ducked down for a swim at South Bank? Tourists travel from all over the world to marvel at this inner city man-made beach, but locals often forget that we have such a stunning stretch of sand at our fingertips. Monday blues got you desperate for an escape from the urban grind? Streets Beach has enjoyed a recent makeover, with the spruced-up pools the ideal spot for a few lazy mid-week laps. Image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Winter is coming, and that means a few important things are on their way. Firstly, and most obviously, Game of Thrones is starting to get pretty epic. We're definitely getting accustomed to staying in with a bottle of red and forgoing nights out in favour of some medieval carnage. But secondly, our ski slopes are hitting their prime. The time for snow gear is fast approaching and Concrete Playground is here to get you sorted. If our nights in are complemented by a bottle of red, our time on the slopes is inevitably coupled with three beverages: hot chocolate, mulled wine and warm cider. Fittingly, the latter is getting involved with the physical activities. Rekorderlig — the Swedish champions behind this apple and cinnamon bliss — have made you a custom snowboard this season, and we have one to give away. This special creation, which ordinarily retails for $330.50, is in a traditional shape with a rounded nose and tail. It offers traditional and zero camber options, extended carbon pop rods, a wood core, and a wide-centred stance that works for riders of all sizes and abilities. We know winter can be a bit of a drag, but this is your best bet to make the most of it — outside of boozy TV marathons that is. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Kicking off 2020 in style, the folks at independent Brisbane outfit Share House Theatre Company are putting on a summery shindig. It's a house party. It'll also feature an array of cabaret, comedy and music. And, there'll be games, dancing and everything in-between. Poetry and playing Nintendo are also on the bill, as is grabbing a feed at the $5 noodle bar. All that revelry is certain to make you hungry, after all. You'll need $10 to get in, with tickets available on the door — and also bring $1 coins to take part in the party games. If that's how you'd like to end the first working week of the new year, head along to BackDock Arts in Fortitude Valley from 6pm on Friday, January 10. It's Share House's latest effort to put on stellar theatre-focused events — and to have some fun, obviously. Top image: BackDock Arts.
Whether you love exercise, or you need a little extra encouragement to get up and moving, getting active with a drink in your hand is a trend we can all get behind. The Flying Cock certainly is, first with their Beer Yoga evenings, and now with their new addition: Barre at the Bar. As well as scoring points for an ace name, Barre at the Bar offers up a frosé-sipping combo of pilates, ballet and yoga under the guidance of experienced instructor Ash Daniec. First, you'll drink your frosty rosé while running through a series of squats, plies and leg extensions actually at the bar. Then, you'll keep swilling as you head to the mat for some toning work, and while you're stretching and relaxing afterwards. There'll be a suitable soundtrack to keep you in a zesty mood, in a fitness class open to old barre pros, first-timers and everyone else. The boozy session takes place on October 26, with $20 tickets including your first beverage. Getting fit and enjoying a cold one at the same time is certain to be popular, so booking quickly is recommended.
"Alright, when's the murder-mystery start?" That's a line in the first teaser trailer for Knives Out sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and it sums up what we're all thinking. If you loved the 2019 OG movie, then you've been hanging out to spend more time with Daniel Craig as Blanc, Benoit Blanc. Get ready to do that a little earlier, and on the big screen. The first of two Netflix followups to that hit flick arrives this year — to stream on Friday, December 23, in fact — but it's also going to score a cinema run. The streaming platform tends to take that approach in the latter half of the year, when its slate is filled with movies that've premiered on the international film festival circuit, feature a heap of big-name talent, hail from impressive boxes or all three. Glass Onion ticks all of those boxes. In this case, however, you'll be able to get sleuthing in a cinema between Wednesday, November 23–Tuesday, November 29 — a month before the movie heads to streaming. And, you'll want to get in quick, as it's only showing for that one week. After that, you're back to waiting for an early Christmas gift. This time around, Edward Norton (The French Dispatch), Janelle Monáe (Antebellum), Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision), Leslie Odom Jr (The Many Saints of Newark), Jessica Henwick (The Gray Man), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Kate Hudson (Music) and Dave Bautista (Thor: Love and Thunder) all join Craig, and the action moves to Europe. If you saw the original — or any murder-mystery involving a motley crew of characters brought together in one location when someone turns up dead — then you'll know how it works from there. There's a lavish setting, that aforementioned big group of chalk-and-cheese folks, threats aplenty and just as much suspicion. Glass Onion takes place on a Greek island, but also sends its various players on a cruise — and yes, thinking about Agatha Christie, including this year's Death on the Nile, is a natural reaction. "Lock the doors. Stay in your rooms. Everyone is in danger," Blanc advises in the sneak peek, because all of that goes with the territory as well. Is the culprit Bautista's Duke Cody on the yacht? Hudson's Birdie Jay in the games room? Hahn's Claire Debella by the pool? You'll have to watch to find out. Just like its predecessor, Glass Onion is both written and directed by Rian Johnson, with the filmmaker moving onto the franchise after 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi — and still indulging his love of on-screen puzzles, as shone through in Brick and Looper as well. Check out the first trailer for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery below: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will hit Australian and New Zealand cinemas from Wednesday, November 23–Tuesday, November 29, then become available to stream via Netflix from Friday, December 23. Images: John Wilson/Netflix © 2022.
Keen to break up your working week with a trip to the cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy's latest special a case of great timing, then. Every Tuesday until June 28, the chain's Coorparoo and Portside cinemas are making their Budget Tuesdays deal even cheaper — with all regular tickets costing $10 in the city's east and $8 over the river, no matter what you see. Premium Lounge sessions will cost $20 at Coorparoo, too. If you're wondering what to watch, you've got options. As at the beginning of June, big-name titles such as Top Gun: Maverick and The Bob's Burgers Movie are on the bill, as are British dramas Mothering Sunday, Downton Abbey: A New Era and Operation Mincemeat. Or, there's also Aussie western The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson — plus two kinds of multiverse tales thanks to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Everything Everywhere All At Once. You can score the cheap tickets in person at the cinema or online, although the latter will cost you an extra booking fee. Updated June 7.
Giving Australians the Shake Shack experience we can't otherwise have because Shake Shack somehow doesn't operate on our shores yet, Betty's Burgers isn't short on reasons for burg lovers to stop by. And, it's also known for serving up quite the range of specials, including lobster rolls, prawn rolls and steak sandos. But if you want to try its latest creation — and, given that it's a truffle cheeseburger, you will — you'll also need to book a flight. In a first for both Betty's and Virgin Australia, the two brands have teamed up to add burgs to the latter's airport lounge menus in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. That means that pre-flight burgers can now be a part of your departure routine — as long as you have access to Virgin's airport lounges, that is. There are a few other caveats involved, too. Those truffle cheeseburgers are only available at the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airport lounges, and so is the chain's new take on popcorn chicken, if that prompts you to pay for membership. Also, you'll need to be flying on a Thursday or Friday, and at around dinnertime, as that's when the Betty's menu items will be available. Still, if you have a trip in your future and you love burgs, this'll set your stomach a-rumbling. It's the latest step in Betty's efforts to spread its burgers far and wide, after initially setting up shop in Noosa, first expanding to the Gold Coast, and then setting up shop in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. For more information about Betty's Burgers and its new Classic Plant burg, head to the chain's website.
It's a familiar problem: your lounge room corner or kitchen windowsill is screaming for a bit of greenery, but finding time to shop for a fiddle leaf fig or a monstera is easier said than done. That's where plant delivery services come in, whether you're after something new each month or a one-off parcel of nature's goodness. And, in the latter camp, Australia has a new site ready to send a baby rubber plant, bird of paradise or peace lily to your door. That'd be The Plant People, a Brisbane-based nursery that takes care of the whole process, including seeding, growing, potting and delivery. At the company's base in Burpengary, green babies are nurtured by propagators and horticulturalists, then sent to eager customers — not only in Brissy or on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, but throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and South Australia. Greenery-wise, The Plant People specialises in low-maintenance plants that can be grown indoors and arrive room-ready, with its range spanning familiar names and more creative types. You can nab a birds nest fern, Swiss cheese plant or string of pearls, or perhaps a philodendron, string of dolphins, Chinese money plant or manda succulent. The collection will continue to grow, following the latest trends and adding new varieties. The Plant People also sells pots, which are made by an artisan in Vietnam, as well as handy accessories such as garden scissors and moisture meters. Prices range from $14.95–$395 — and, no matter where you're getting your plant delivered to in its custom-designed box, shipping is free. The Plant People delivers to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and South Australia. For further details, visit the company's website.
When you take a photo of yourself and share it on social media, or a video, you're staging a moment to broadcast to the world. It's a performance, even if you don't quite realise it at the time. The lighting, the angle, making sure you look your best, choosing your words, deciding what to snap or film — it's all part of putting a specific version of yourself out there. In Testament, American artist Natalie Bookchin explores this concept through four video works. Spanning from 2009 to 2017, her pieces endeavour to expose the repetition and shared elements common as people present their preferred take on themselves via online means. Using video blogs and testimonials, the entire project touches upon four common subjects: unemployment, medication use, sexual identity and body image. It's screening on a loop at the Gallery of Modern Art as a companion piece to documentary series All the World's Memories until February 24. Image: Natalie Bookchin.
In not one but two seasons of Russian Doll, Natasha Lyonne has tried to solve mysteries. As the Netflix show's sweet birthday baby, she's stalked around various time loops, periods and cities endeavouring to work out why she's reliving the same night over and over again — or how and why she can head into the past. Of course, one show featuring the Orange Is the New Black star getting sleuthing is all well and good, including over multiple seasons; however, two is even better. Yes, there's a feeling of déjà vu about Poker Face — but, as the just-dropped first trailer for the new ten-part series demonstrates, that happens in the best possible way. Solving mysteries is 100-percent the focus here, with Lyonne playing Charlie Cale, who works her way through resolving a series of crimes while she's on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. Cale has an uncanny ability to tell if someone is lying, a skill that's going to come in handy as she encounters a hefty roster of other familiar faces. Adrien Brody (See How They Run), Chloë Sevigny (The Girl From Plainville), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio) and Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley) are all set to pop up in Poker Face, too, as also seen in the initial teaser — and that's just the beginning of the show's stacked guest cast. American audiences will be able to stream the end result via Peacock in the US in late January 2023. Release details Down Under, including when and where Australian and New Zealand viewers will be able to see the new series, are still to be revealed. Whenever it does pop up Down Under, Poker Face also boasts another talent well-acquainted with mysteries: filmmaker Rian Johnson. The series joins his resume straight after Knives Out and its upcoming sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, because clearly he can't get enough on-screen puzzles in his life — like the rest of us. Johnson also helmed Brick, The Brothers Bloom, Looper and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, as well as a few episodes of Breaking Bad. Check out the trailer for Poker Face below: Poker Face will release in the US on January 26, 2023 — we'll update you regarding Down Under release details when they're announced.
Opposites attracting is a basic romantic-comedy staple. When it comes to folks from different worlds falling head over heels even though they're told they should stay apart, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story have long been singing that tune, too. So, focusing two different elements — the fiery Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis, Nancy Drew) and go-with-the-flow Wade (Mamoudou Athie, Archive 81) — who cross paths and enjoy sparks flying, Pixar's upcoming Elemental obviously follows in some hefty footsteps. "Elements cannot mix," Ember is told sternly in the animated flick's just-dropped full trailer, which arrives after a first sneak peek back in late 2022. From there, of course Ember and Wade keep floating and sizzling in each other's orbit, all while living their daily lives as Captain Planet-like characters in the gorgeously rendered world that is Element City. The setup is classic Pixar, however, because the Disney-owned animation studio knows what it likes and what it does well — usually to heartfelt and delightful effect. So, add this to the pile of movies about whether toys, fish, monsters, feelings and more have feelings. The question this time: what if the elements, aka fire, water, land and air, had emotions? The film dubs its characters fire-, water-, land- and air-residents, but getting big Inside Out and Soul vibes comes with the territory. That said, the new full trailer plays up the romance angle, including walk-and-talks that could've jumped straight out of the Before franchise. So far, it all looks as adorable as you'd expect, too, even if you've ever just seen one frame of a Pixar picture. Big on pastel hues, that animation springs from director Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur), and hits cinemas on June 15. Literally a story of water and fire trying to get along — maybe Pixar is staffed by George RR Martin fans? — Elemental also features Ronnie del Carmen (Soul) as Ember's dad Bernie, Shila Ommi (Tehran) as her mother Cinder, Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) as Wade's boss Gale, Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek) as his mum Brook, first-timer Mason Wertheimer as Ember's neighbour Clod and Joe Pera (Bob's Burgers) as city bureaucrat Fern. And, when it hits the big screen, it'll come with a Pixar short that links back to 2009's Up. In Carl's Date, it's time to catch up with Carl Fredricksen (the late Ed Asner) and his talking dog Dug (writer/director Bob Peterson) after the former reluctantly agrees to go on a date, but is out of practice and needs the latter's help. Check out the first trailer for Elemental below: Elemental releases in cinemas on June 15, 2023. Images: © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Bored within the confines of your 4-wall bedroom? Embrace your bohemian desires by trading in your modern accommodations for a whimsical gypsy wagon. England's Gypsy Caravan Company creates wagons fit with a double bed, seating, a pull-out table, storage lockers, wardrobe, a secret den, and bookshelves. These miniature homes are also furnished with all the romantic decor appropriate for such a home design: birdcages, crocheted curtains and wood stoves. The company asserts a myriad of uses for such a structure, ranging from a child's playhouse to and artist's studio. These caravans are the perfect hideaway for those who want to unleash their inner romantic or who lead a gypsy-esque nomadic lifestyle--each wagon is equipped with a set of wheels. [via Flavorwire]
If you're drinking a cocktail named after The Flash, will you feel like sipping it quicker than usual? If you opt for an alcoholic Doctor Strange concoction, will it taste particularly magical? Alongside wondering if you'll start craving pizza while knocking back Ninja Turtle Negronis, these are the questions that California Lane's newest addition inspires. A comic book-inspired bar and eatery will do that. Meet 1st Edition, the intimate new Fortitude Valley spot that's embracing superheroes and other comic book characters in a big — and boozy — manner. If you thought your caped crusader worship was limited to the page and the screen, think again. Exactly the type of bar that was always bound to open in a world that sees new superhero flicks and series hit cinemas and streaming every month, or thereabouts, it even covers its central benchtop with comic art. Yes, sipping and reading is a thing here, as is sitting under a big Batman mural that peers down over the bar. A 22-seater that will open to patrons on Friday, November 26, and only takes online bookings — so you can't just drop in like Iron Man after saving the world — the venue hails from comic book devotee Marc Grey and chef Steve Maiden (Baja Cantina, Bam Bam Hayman Island). They've created the kind of bar and eatery that you need to actively seek out, thanks to its laneway perch, but that location obviously suits the theming. Batman's base is hidden from the world, after all. Here, as well as those aforementioned tipples — the Ninja Turtle Negroni includes salami Campari, fittingly — you can sip your way through the Harley Quinn (a dry gin number topped with Persian fairy floss and gold flakes), Spidey's Margs (complete with an agave spin) and the Mysterio (which features butter vodka, peach syrup and a passion smoke bubble). Or, there's the Black Adam Espresso Martini, the Storm's Old Fashioned and The Canary, with the full lineup nodding to names from both Marvel and DC Comics. Food-wise, as served up in three 90-minute seatings from 5.30pm between Wednesday–Saturday, the menu takes its cues from Asian, Mexican, American and French cuisine. Think: cheeseburger gyoza, spanner crab with burnt butter emulsion, red duck curry and wagyu with bacon bordelaise, with a big emphasis on shareable dishes. And, from 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, DJs will hit the decks live in 1st Edition's upper level DJ loft. Presumably, superhero themes will get a spin at some point — so you can dance however a Spider-Man can. Find 1st Edition in California Lane, 22 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley, from Friday, November 26 — open from 5.30pm–12am Wednesday–Saturday.
Space travel made headlines in 2021 when several billionaires battled to be the first to exit the Earth's atmosphere. But thankfully, you don't have to be mega rich to get your intergalactic fix in Brisbane. Instead, you just need to head to huge space exploration exhibition Neighbourhood Earth. Arriving three years after Queensland Museum paid tribute to all things NASA, this award-winning showcase brings together science and cutting-edge technology to create an unforgettable outer space experience. Inside the exhibition, which is setting up at Queens Plaza in the CBD, you and your crew can immerse yourselves in the solar system and humanity's place in it — and check out a full-size replica of a section of the International Space Station, plus a prototype Z-2 Spacesuit that's designed to be worn on future missions to Mars. Expect illuminated screens, spectacular surround sound and a giant projection-mapped show combining to deliver a multi-sensory, panoramic cinematic adventure, too. Fancy seeing a double sunrise on Mercury, lightning on equatorial Venus, a blue Martian sunset or descending into Jupiter's Great Red Spot? That's also part of Neighbourhood Earth. There'll be museum-quality models, spacecrafts and tools as well, showcasing facts and stories about space exploration. Plus, the touch-respondent projections and holographics are bound to leave you mesmerised. Neighbourhood Earth comes to Brisbane from Saturday, November 5, 2022–Sunday, February 5, 2023, for a hefty summer run bookending the Christmas holidays — and expect space devotees of all ages to attend the family-friendly event. Split across three zones, the exhibition is presented by entertainment platform Fever, and comes to Brisbane after stints in Sydney and Melbourne. There's some big brains behind the project — it was dreamed up by the teams at the US Space & Rocket Centre and NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Centre in conjunction with integrated production company Toto Creative — so be ready to have your own mind expanded. Neighbourhood Earth will display at QueensPlaza, 226 Queen Street, Brisbane City, from Saturday, November 5, 2022–Sunday, February 5, 2023. For more information, head to the event website. Images: Elliott Kramer / Neighbourhood Earth.
