It sounds like something you'd hear on a Serial-esque podcast or binge-watch in a Making a Murderer-type true crime show: in 2010, Jarrod Duffy disappeared. His furniture was still in his house, and the University of Wollongong student had an Honours show coming up as part of the multi-art form collective Applespiel. Now, Applespiel delve into his story in Jarrod Duffy Is Not Dead — aka the tale of their lost ninth member, their search to find their friend and their quest for answers. And, in a nod to the way everyone consumes these kinds of cases these days, they're doing so in a live podcast-type show, presented on stage, and combining performance, personal storytelling and chatter. "The investigative nature of podcasts like Serial is really exciting, and throws up some tricky questions of ethics and what it means to tell someone else's story," says Applespiel's Nathan Harrison. "We thought the most challenging way to look at those questions would be to tell a story that happened to us," he continues. Challenging for them, intriguing for us — and an engaging, unique and inventive night out.
What do Blade Runner, a computer being named Time magazine's person of the year, the first-ever loaf of ciabatta bread, Pam & Tommy star Sebastian Stan and Brisbane's main inner-city shopping strip all have in common? They all date back to 1982. And, that means that they all share a birthday this year — so you can consider the Queen Street Mall's big shindig a celebration of all of the above if you like. Of course, this day-long party is really a huge way to mark the fact that people have been hitting up Queen Street to shop, eat, drink and hang out for four decades. Yes, all of that is on the agenda. Come Friday, August 26, the mall is hosting a hefty street party complete with live tunes, a pop-up champagne bar, fashion workshops, colourful shopfront installations and a night market. Standing around outside Hungry Jack's isn't officially on the program, but you know you'll do that anyway. Vanessa Amorosi and Kate Ceberano lead the music lineup, with a free concert taking over a stage outside the Wintergarden from 5.30pm — just in time to stop by on your way home from work. And, from 10am, the mall will host style masterclasses with retailers such as Sass & Bide, Cue and Sheike, too, with runway shows popping up at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. For bubbles to sip throughout the day, you'll want to head to Jimmy's On The Mall's pop-up bar, which is running right through until Sunday, August 28. Plus, those night markets will sprawl across Reddacliff Place from 4–9pm. The previously announced Colour in the City, a walking trail of brightly hued (and supremely photogenic) installations, will start on Friday, August 26 as well.
If you didn't know it was there, you could easy spend time at the Regatta without ever venturing downstairs to its underground speakeasy-style bar. But, once you've become acquainted with The Walrus Club, you'll want to add it to your cocktail-slinging go-tos. Heading by from 6–8pm on Friday, March 8 is particularly recommended, because that's when the venue is celebrating International Women's Day. At the annual Women in Walrus event, an all-female bar takeover is on the cards, with the establishment's ladies mixing up the best beverages they can — in general, and also as part of a cocktail-making competition. Entry costs $5, with the proceeds going to Share the Dignity, which helps combat period poverty. After that, you'll pay for whatever you drink and eat as the evening rolls by. While women will be in the spotlight, anyone can attend this after-work drinks session to mark the occasion. Images: Markus Ravik.
From fancy jigsaw puzzles to cheese and charcuterie sets and whisky subscriptions, we're (thankfully) able to get a whole heap of entertaining and edible packages delivered to our doors during lockdown. The latest to launch is a big win for boba fans across the country: The Bubble Tea Club. While lots of bubble tea shops are delivering ready-to-drink boba, these DIY bubble tea sets mean you can make yourself a tea — whenever the whim hits. The Bubble Tea Club is delivering packs in eight different flavours (and 14 different toppings) all across Australia. You can get the classic milk, taro or Thai tea or go fruity with honeydew, mango, green apple, passionfruit or lychee. Toppings include the likes of coconut jelly, grass jelly, lychee popping pearls, aloe vera and red bean paste — and tapioca pearls, of course. Packs start with five serves (from as little as $20.95) and ten ($34.95) and go all the way up to 50 ($99.95) and 365 serves ($800) — because, face it, who doesn't want a boba a every day. Inside the packs, you'll find premium tea leaves, flavourings, toppings and wide straws (with reusable options available). Depending on how many you buy, the packs work out to as little as $2.19 a serve. And shipping is a $9.95 flat rate or free if you spend over $59. You can, of course, attempt to make your own boba pearls at home, too, but this is a lazy (and easy) version if you're not feeling quite that motivated. You can now order DIY bubble tea set from The Bubble Tea Club website.
When Christmas hits each year, the Nundah Markets stay up late, swapping one of its usual daytime events for a twilight shindig. That kind of fun isn't just for getting festive, though. In 2023, it's also for celebrating the beginning of winter. Meet Nundah by Night, which will take place from 4–10pm on Saturday, June 10. On the agenda: shopping, eating, drinking and being merry midyear. There'll be quite the lineup of places to grab handmade items from — 120-plus stalls, in fact — with clothes, jewellery, art, homewares, soap, candles and all things edible available. You'll find gourmet foods on offer as well (including bites to eat while you're there). For your $3 entry fee, you can enjoy a stint of browsing and buying under the site's fairy lights at Nundah Markets' usual spot on Station Street. And, you can stop in at the Stone & Wood bar for a craft brew, too. Live music is also on the lineup across two stages, as is a petting zoo and roving performers. And if you're wondering what you'll be snacking on, cob loaves, South American barbecue plates, steamed and fried Tibetan momos, karaage chicken and vegan pizza are just some of the dishes on the menu.
Until Sunday, February 23, 2020, QUT Art Museum's walls will be filled with vibrant images — spanning domestic scenes, the tension of awkward moments, lush greenery and Brisbane bands. No one can accuse Anne Wallace of painting the same thing twice, although her art shares a common feeling. When you're staring at a woman reclining in an Eames chair, peering through a window at hands holding a record or seeing the faces of The Go-Betweens, you're looking at images that appear both ordinary and extraordinary. That's all by design, with the Brisbane artist capturing what lingers beneath average and everyday sights. The fruit of her labour is all on display at Anne Wallace: Strange Ways, which marks the first major survey exhibition of her work — including more than 80 pieces created across three decades. [caption id="attachment_754281" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Installation view of 'Anne Wallace: Strange Ways' (9 November 2019 - 23 February 2020), QUT Art Museum, 2019. Image copyright Carl Warner.[/caption] Expect nods to John Lennon, The Beatles and Sylvia Plath, too, as well as 50s cinema and London in the 80s. Anne Wallace: Strange Ways is on display from Tuesday–Sunday, with the QUT Art Museum open from 10am–5pm Tuesday–Friday and 12–4pm Saturday–Sunday. Top image: Anne Wallace, Talking Cure 2010, oil on canvas. Collection of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Brisbane.
If you spend your free time binging on true crime, then you're probably familiar with the Golden State Killer. Between 1974–1986, the serial killer, rapist and burglar terrorised California, committing at least 12 murders, over 50 home-invasion rapes and more than 100 burglaries. Until 2018, however, the culprit hadn't been caught. Accordingly, it's the type of case that has kept more than a few folks wondering over the years and decades — including writer Michelle McNamara. HBO's new true-crime docuseries I'll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles McNamara's obsession with the case, as well as her hunt to find the perpetrator. Her tale is filled with intrigue, too, with her nights spent sleuthing through unsolved crimes while her family slept, as well as penning the blog True Crime Diaries. Fixating on the Golden State Killer led to an article for Los Angeles Magazine, plus a book deal. But before she could finish her manuscript, McNamara — who was also married to comedian Patton Oswalt — died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in her sleep. Based on McNamara's book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, which was published two years after her death (and before an arrest was made in the case), the six-part series steps through this whole scenario. When the series hits HBO in the US at the end of June — with dates Down Under yet to be revealed, but Australian airings likely to happen via Foxtel — viewers can obviously expect quite the detective story. On offer: archival footage and details from police files; interviews with detectives, survivors and family members of the killer; and McNamara's own words, via original recordings as well as excerpts from her book read by actor Amy Ryan (Late Night, Beautiful Boy, The Office). The series also doubles as an exploration of the handling of sexual crimes in the 70s and 80s, as well as an examination of true-crime obsession and pursuit of justice. Check out the trailer the below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTNHJETw0S8 I'll Be Gone in the Dark starts screening on HBO in the US on June 28. An air date Down Under is yet to be announced — we'll update you when further details come to hand. Top image: Robyn Van Swank/HBO.
By the time that Thursday night rolls around each week, most of us are thinking about escaping the nine-to-five grind. There's still one pesky weekday left to go until the weekend, of course, but sinking underground with a glass of red wine in your hand — and with jazz tunes setting the upbeat but relaxing mood — sure does sound enticing. That's what's on offer at The Walrus Club's Jazz and Shiraz nights. Usually, the Regatta spot turns its cosy, dark space into a whisky haven on Thursday evenings, but for winter, it's opting for red wine instead. The event is a weekly fixture from 8.30pm through the colder months, and will give you something to sip other than the watering hole's hefty array of 300-plus spirits. Prohibition-era bar vibes and lively — and live — music remain, of course. Entry is free, and reservations aren't required — and you'll have a range of different shiraz drops to choose from.
If you prefer an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall, prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new 3000-square-metre, 11-metre-high immersive digital art gallery. Originally set to open in late 2020, then postponed till autumn 2021, The Lume will make its home permanently at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) with projections of some of the world's most celebrated artworks splashed across various surfaces, backed by powerful musical soundtracks and complemented by aromas. The inaugural exhibition at The Lume will celebrate the works and life of Vincent van Gogh. So, you'll be able to walk through artworks like The Starry Night and Sunflowers while listening to a classical music score. If you were lucky enough to make it up to Sydney this year for Van Gogh Alive, expect something very similar. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Experiences, which, for the past 14 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. The Lume will open at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in autumn 2021. We'll let you know when more details are announced. You can check out some of Grande Experiences' other gallery experiences over here.
Whether you've been directly impacted, have watched on from your own less-waterlogged patch of southeast Queensland or have seen the news from further afield in Sydney, the past week's catastrophic wet weather has been impossible to ignore. It's been a lot to take in, actually, thanks to record rainfalls in Brisbane, relentless deluges hitting from the Sunshine Coast down to northern New South Wales, and floodwaters destroying homes and businesses in two states. Accordingly, it might've left you wanting to do your part to help out. In Brisbane, you can sign up to the Mud Army 2.0 to assist on the ground — and wherever you're located, you can also throw your support behind a fundraising effort by Surry Hills' Bar Suze. The late-night Sydney haunt is helping the flood-relief cause in two ways: in-person at a big wine-fuelled five-hour event on Sunday, March 6, and online via a raffle. For Sydneysiders, you'll want to swing by Foveaux Street between 1–6pm to sip rare natural wines, mix them up with Poor Toms gin and tonics, and tuck into Bar Suze snacks. Whatever you choose to eat and drink, all of the proceeds will go to flood-relief funds for folks impacted by the weather in NSW and Queensland. At the event, the venue will also be drawing a raffle, with more than 25 prizes on offer — and all of the proceeds from the $50-each tickets will also go to the flood relief fundraising effort, too. Prizes include a dinner for two at Bar Suze, as well as a one-night stay at the soon-to-open Ace Hotel Sydney in Surry Hills, a two-evening trip to a Byron hinterlands retreat that sleeps 12 — and boasts its own saltwater pool and outdoor cinema — plus an In Bed linen set, hair salon vouchers, a Coffee Supreme subscription, and a bar tab at Redfern's The Woolpack. There are also prize packs on offer from DRNKS, Cocktail Porter, Pepe Saya Butter, Worktones and Lo-Fi Wines — and the list goes on. The raffle is open to everyone, and tickets can be bought online, too — so that's how you can get involved if you're not located in Sydney or can't make it along on Sunday. (Obviously, tell your Sydney pals to attend either way). For tickets, just get buying before 5pm AEST on Sunday, March 6, with the raffle drawn live at Bar Suze that evening. As for all of those proceeds, they're going to on-the-ground initiatives in the Northern Rivers and Queensland. At the time of writing, Bar Suze is supporting Flood Relief Cook Up — Northern Rivers region, Bundjalung flood relief and Northey Street City Farm flood relief — with more worth initiatives likely to be added. Bar Suze's flood relief fundraiser will take place from 1–6pm on Sunday, March 6. Raffle tickets are on sale online now, with prizes drawn at 5pm AEST on Sunday. Images: Nikki To.
Does your version of celebrating the festive season involve eating more of the things you love? Do pork belly, chicken schnitzels, chicken wings and German sausages fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. On Thursdays between November 18–December 23, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat platters. They come stacked with all of the aforementioned meats — and yes, the pork belly includes crackling — plus mashed potato, sauerkraut and red cabbage as sides. And, once you've finished your board, you'll get a whole new serving. There's no time limit to your eating, so you can pace yourself — and it'll cost you $35 per person. There is a two-person minimum, however, so you'll need to take at least one meat-loving pal along with you. You'll find The Bavarian at Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, The Barracks, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Robina, Broadbeach, Coomera, Mackay and Rockhampton in Queensland. And if you want to all that meat with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
Across the first half of every year, Brisbanites are invited to descend upon two patches of the city to celebrate unique parts of town. What's better than one street festival celebrating a Brissie neighbourhood? Two, clearly. First comes Stones Corner Festival — and then Teneriffe Festival unleashes its own jam-packed day of fun. Teneriffe Festival was born back in 2010 when the part of Brisbane that's in its moniker was officially named a suburb. A decade and a half later, it's still going strong, with around 50,000 people heading along annually. Accordingly, when 10am–10pm rolls around on Saturday, June 8, there'll be tunes, food, markets and more, all helping locals and visitors alike make the most of the bustling locale. Mark your diaries ASAP. Then, get excited about The Cat Empire and Thundamentals leading the music lineup. Also on the bill on Vernon Terrace: Josh Pyke, Bones and Jones, Delivery, Clea, Cheap Fakes, Juno, Ishan, Selve, Calypso Cora, Special Features and Mt Nadir. Stints of dancing in the street are always joined by plenty of opportunities to eat and drink. The area's bars and restaurants get in on the action, food trucks serve up their own feasts and markets sling plenty of wares. Plus, there'll be a jazz-fuelled, wine-pouring riverside garden — with The Jazz Music Institute programming the tunes — and a pop-up beer garden also on offer. And, for the kids, there's also an live and interactive Bluey experience. Teneriffe Festival 2024 Lineup: The Cat Empire Thundamentals Josh Pyke Bones and Jones Delivery Clea Cheap Fakes Juno Ishan Selve Calypso Cora Special Features Mt Nadir Updated Friday, May 10, 2024.
Hankering for something quick and easy to eat, but don't feel like chowing down on junk? Southeast Queensland's growing Asian street food chain wants you to rethink that decision. Of course, they're championing Junk in name only. Their dishes might arrive at your table speedily, but they're a far cry from typical fast food. Instead, the menu consists of a creative blend of Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Chinese cuisines – think Peking duck spring rolls, Gangnam fries topped with kimchi and nacho cheese sauce, and spiced squid with coconut caramel dip. The chain no longer boasts pork gyoza bao amongst their affordable lineup of share plates, with nothing costing more than $20. Still, fried fish, pork belly and braised shiitake mushroom varieties more than make up for it. Other highlights include JFC (their own Korean-style fried chicken paired with a sweet and spicy sauce), grilled king prawns with Singapore chilli sauce, and pork, spice and panko crumb-coated scotch eggs. As for sides, they've got fried rice with barbecue pork and Chinese sausage, slaw with house-made nuoc cham, and a plate of prawn crackers with their own sweet soy. The new Coorparoo store joins a location at South Bank as the brand pushes into Brisbane. Junk originally started on the Sunshine Coast, has since spread to Toowoomba, and also adds Broadbeach on the Gold Coast to the mix this week. "I want to offer customers the same quality of food you would get at a restaurant in a more relaxed and fun setting at a much cheaper price," explains CEO Scott Hoskins, who also had a part in Donut Boyz and Hello Harry. Find Junk at 9/300 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo. For more information, head to their website.
One thing is for sure: Avenue Q is not your average puppet show. It follows the story of recent college graduate Princeton, who moves to a drab apartment on the colourful street of Avenue Q in New York to follow his dreams. As they say, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Along the way, Princeton meets girl-next-door Kat,; the neighbourhood Republican named Rod, an internet sexpert called Trekkie, and Lucy, who has a bit of a street corner reputation. They help him along the way, teaching him the ways of the Big Apple, as well as discovering what Princeton was meant to do with his life. This Tony Award-winning act has circled the globe, and returns to Brisbane Arts Theatre's stage for the fourth time after sell-out shows of the past. While the whole escapade is one big nod to Sesame Street, the target audience is nostalgic, quarter-life-crisis-having adults, and the show is not recommend for children. Hit songs from the soundtrack include 'Everyone's A Little Bit Racist' and 'The Internet Is For Porn'.
The silly season is for cooking, decorating and creating napkin swans for Aunt Julie, who insists on tradition even though it is 40 degrees outside and everyone is already in a punch coma. DIY Christmases are where it's at. Join those who actually know what they are doing (and buy some gifts with the same amount of love) at this year's Christmas Design Market. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles and pre-loved fashions for some of your favourite humans (or perhaps as a self-gift, because you're worth it). A bunch of well-known names in the creative gifts department will be on display — such as Paper Boat Press, Touch Wood Designs, Yippywhippy, Meta Design, Illy's Wall and more — and take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, as well as the edible delights to keep you going. Remember: cute design gifts call for cash, as EFTPOS facilities might not be available at all sellers. This year's market promises more stalls than ever before. Merry shopping!
The silly season is for cooking, decorating and creating napkin swans for Aunt Julie who insists on tradition even though it is 40 degrees outside and everyone is already in a punch coma. DIY Christmases are where it's at. Join those who actually know what they are doing (and buy some gifts with the same amount of love) at this year's Christmas Design Market. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles and pre-loved fashions for some of your favourite humans (or perhaps as a self-gift, because you're worth it). A bunch of well-known names in the creative gifts department will be on display— and take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, as well as the edible delights to keep you going. Remember: cute design gifts call for cash, as EFTPOS facilities might not be available at all sellers. This year's market promises more stalls than ever before. Merry Shopping!
Yabun — which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language — is an annual festival bringing a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent to Sydney's Victoria Park. Held each year on January 26 on Gadigal Land, the festival consists of Corroboree, performances from First Nations musicians, a marketplace, discussions, speeches and children's activities. After a few COVID-impacted years, the festival returned in full last year — and for 2024, it's serving up a huge program of beloved musicians. The lineup features a mix of up-and-coming and longstanding songwriters and performers. Emily Wurramara and Tasman Keith lead the way, alongside Velvet Trip, Fred Leone, Chasing Ghosts, Tjaka, Mi-Kaisha, Frank Yamma, GLVES, Cindy Drummond and Green Hand Band. [caption id="attachment_937421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Mayers[/caption] A heap of dance groups will also be performing on the day, including Yangkay, Jannawi Dance Clan and Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam. Plus, you can attend panel discussions and community forums at the Speak Out tent, and shop for goods from First Nations businesses at the market. If it's a hot day, Victoria Park Pool is also right there for anyone who wants to cool off, so pack your swimmers just in case. If you can't make it down to Yabun Festival 2024 — or you want to join in from interstate — you can watch via a live stream via the festival's website.
Add satay skewers to the list of things that no one has ever eaten just one of. There's something about those meat pieces on a stick that screams "eat more now!" — and your tastebuds know it. Also well aware: South Bank's Ma Pa Me, which does bottomless satay evenings regularly. Your destination: Little Stanley Street. What you'll be eating: non-stop satay skewers for two hours. Those sticks will come filled with chicken, pork, squid and tofu, as finished over charcoal on a traditional hibachi grill — and they won't stop hitting your plate until your session is up. The full all-you-can-eat lineup spans chicken satay with peanut sauce, pork satay with spicy tamarind sauce, squid satay with sambal ulek and tofu satay with sweet chilli sauce, plus fried rice, acar, garlic crackers and stir-fried kailan as sides. The dates to lock into your diary for 2023: Tuesday, March 7, then Tuesday, June 6 and Tuesday, October 3. And all that satay will only cost you $35. If you're keen on drinks, too, that's extra — with yuzu sours, Thai-style margaritas and Asian craft beers on the menu.
UPDATE, April 9, 2021: Chaos Walking is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. From battles in a galaxy far, far away to caped crusaders trying to save the day, cinema's big franchises currently dominate popular culture. They spark months of anticipation before each new film hits screens, top the box office, inspire constant chatter year-round and have even begun to sink their teeth into TV. And, they influence how audiences see other features, too — because watching almost any flick at present involves spotting cast members from Hollywood's ongoing blockbuster sagas. In Chaos Walking's case, for instance, the most recent Spider-Man finds his life disrupted when Star Wars' latest heroine crash-lands on his planet. In the tense aftermath, another Star Wars alumni and an Alien franchise veteran are involved, as is an actor with ties to Star Wars and Marvel, and an upcoming role in the Harry Potter realm. Boiling a feature down to the film behemoths also on its stars' resumes is simplistic, but it's a movie marketer's dream, with the powers-that-be hoping their talent will bring their existing aficionados with them. Here, it's also the most interesting thing about this tedious and generic space western. Adapted from the book series of the same name, Chaos Walking has weathered a difficult path to cinemas. It releases ten years after the rights to turn Patrick Ness' novels into films were first acquired, four years since the movie was originally shot and two years after major reshoots following unfavourable test screenings. The feature went through a plethora of rewrites, with I'm Thinking of Ending Things' Charlie Kaufman on scripting duties at one point, and Ness (A Monster Calls) and Spider-Man: Homecoming's Christopher Ford getting the final credit. Navigating such a mess rarely bodes well for a movie, so the fact that Chaos Walking proves dull and derivative shouldn't come as a surprise. It's hard to see how it might've fared better, though, with its premise an instant struggle. Set in 2257, the film follows colonists from earth on a planet called New World, who are plagued by a strange phenomenon. A multi-coloured haze hovers around men's heads — and only men — showing their every thought. The sensation has been dubbed 'the noise', and experiencing it while watching sure is rackety. In his pioneer village, teenager Todd (Tom Holland, The Devil All the Time) can rarely control his noise. While the Mayor (Mads Mikkelsen, Another Round) is able to filter the words and images that project from his mind — and also rock a furry red coat and wide-brimmed hat far better than anyone should — few others have the same ability. Seeing what everyone is thinking is a tricky way to live at the best of times, and it applies to the entire population, because women have been wiped out in a war attributed to the planet's original inhabitants. But Todd's troubles multiply when he discovers a spaceship, as well as Viola (Daisy Ridley, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker), its sole surviving occupant. The mayor and his followers don't take kindly to the first female in their midst for years; however, supported by his adoptive fathers Ben (Demian Bichir, The Midnight Sky) and Cillian (Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter), Todd isn't willing to surrender the only girl he's ever seen to an angry mob. On the page, the Chaos Walking series dates back to 2008, when first instalment The Knife of Never Letting Go hit bookshelves — but its tale of toxic masculinity feels timely in the current social, political and cultural climate. That said, this isn't a complex, layered or thoughtful film. Instead, it's content to stress its themes in such a broad and easy manner that getting Holland to hold up a sign saying "the patriarchy is bad" would've been more subtle. Cue one-note villains, including Mikkelsen's mayor and David Oyelowo (another The Midnight Sky cast member) as a cartoonishly frenzied preacher. Cue Todd's self-reprimands to "be a man", too. There's no faulting the underlying idea that constantly enforcing stereotypical visions of manhood has damaging consequences, and that the behaviour it inspires (and the sense of entitlement that goes with it) is dangerous and destructive. But Chaos Walking really just uses these notions as a backdrop for a predictable and formulaic dystopian story, and as a handy reason to motivate its conflicts. As told here, the material is so thin and blunt — and so desperately endeavouring to set up a Hunger Games-esque franchise — that thinking about Holland, Ridley and their co-stars' roles elsewhere comes naturally. The awkwardness that has served Holland so well as Spider-Man peeks through, and Ridley's Star Wars steeliness is on full display, but neither actor is ever tasked with extending their talents. Mikkelsen, Oyelowo and Bichir are only asked to hit one note (nefarious, maniacal and caring, respectively), while Cynthia Erivo (The Outsider) is criminally underused. With all that distracting and frustrating noise literally hanging around and screaming for attention, it's hard for anyone to stand out. It's harder still in a movie that plays like a hodgepodge of far better sci-fi and western fare. Just try to see the orange suspenders that Ridley sports in the second half — or realise that this is a flick about a woman falling out of the sky and into a man's life, who then has to protect her on her quest to save the world as everyone knows it — and not wish you were watching The Fifth Element instead. He has Swingers, Go, Mr and Mrs Smith and American Made to his name, but filmmaker Doug Liman is no stranger to helming movies that recall 90s greats. While Edge of Tomorrow instantly impressed for many reasons, using time-loop trickery in a smart action flick and never just feeling like a cheap Groundhog Day ripoff was chief among them. Sadly, Liman doesn't have the same luck with Chaos Walking. Even its busy chase and fight scenes are a slog, although the feature's frontier-town production design and clever visual use of a buried spaceship do catch the eye. As for everything else, 'noise' is the absolute right word for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ICPoXlmTO0
Whoever decided it was perfectly acceptable to roll out of bed, hit up your favourite watering hole and start your weekend with boozy brunch has changed more than a few lives. But not every alcohol-fuelled mid-morning meal comes with drag queen bingo — aka a way to make sipping bubbles with your first bites of the day even better. That said, Drag Queen Bingo, Bubbles and Bites — Sleigh at The Osbourne doesn't actually kick off till 12pm on Sunday, December 18 — but hey, if it's before 1pm, it still counts. The event is taking place during festive season, so it basically doubles as a Christmas party, complete with plenty of theming to suit the occasion. Hosts Lady Saint Diva and Miss Synthetique will oversee the proceedings, with help from special guest Queen Taylor Ette. Expect drag performances and bingo, obviously, plus plenty of banter and even stocking stuffers Those bubbles will keep flowing from 12–2pm, all as part of your $63.07 ticket, and you'll be snacking on a Christmas spin on charcuterie that'l feature roast meats, breads and condiments. Fancy making a whole afternoon of it? Live tunes will start from 3.30pm, too.
Minimalist Aussie clothing designer Assembly Label is currently hosting a massive online charity sale so you can upgrade your WFH wardrobe with linen pants, baggy tees and a big cosy jumpers — and help Aussies doing it tough. With both men's and women's wear on offer, you'll find winter essentials such as denim, basic tops, jumpers and jackets, plus swimwear, dresses and shorts if you're already dreaming of hitting up the beach once the cold months pass. Best of all, you can nab it all at up to 70 percent off — and with free shipping across Australia, too. Because the label is known for its chic-yet-comfy casual staples, it'll now take you from going to grab your morning coffee, working in your living room and lounging around on weekends — really, you won't need much else while you're spending more time at home. If you've been shivering through the current cold snap, you'll probably want to snap up something like this super warm turtle neck ($90). As part of the sale, Assembly Label has a choose-what-you-pay initiative raising money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. When you buy a sale item, you can choose to pay an extra $5, $10 or $15, with that amount then matched by Assembly Label and donated to The Red Cross. So, you can grab some new threads and feel good about it too.
Home to a bar, restaurant and markets — and to small Brisbane food and beverage businesses, too — South Brisbane's Wandering Cooks has long been an inner-city go-to if you're looking for a bite to eat, something to drink or a tasty dish to take home. Over the next few months, however, change is coming to the much-loved incubator. Indeed, by May, you'll be heading to a new location to tuck into its wares. Wandering Cooks is saying goodbye to its current site on the corner of Fish Lane and Cordelia Street, and hello to a new space at 63 Vulture Street, West End. So, while it's definitely moving house, Brisbanites won't have to travel too far to check out the incubator's new digs. The first part of the move has already taken place, with Wandering Cooks' weekly Urban Produce Market now happening each Saturday at the West End site. Other events will also make the shift over the coming months, too, before the full relocation is complete. For now, the Fish Lane venue is still open and operating from 4–10pm Wednesday–Saturday, including its sustainable-focused bar and restaurant. The menu will keep changing each week, and will continue to highlight Queensland's small local farmers and producers. As for what else is in store once Wandering Cooks has shifted its entire operations, that'll be revealed over the coming months. Wandering Cooks is currently located on the corner of Fish Lane and Cordelia Street, South Brisbane — but, from Saturday, February 27, it'll start moving to 63 Vulture Street, West End. For further details, head to its website.
Wandering around a market while the sun shines is all well and good, but there's something extra appealing about the nighttime variety. Happening every Friday and Saturday night in Brisbane's north, BITE Markets fits the bill — and serves up plenty of food, because that's what every night market attendee really wants. Created by caterer Tom Burke, the twice-weekly setup boasts more than 30 'flavour makers' on its lineup, all trying to keep your hunger in check. Fancy a big heap of pasta? Sweet treats in the form of cakes, doughnuts, churros and poffertjes? Dumplings, bao, banh mi, wings, calamari, German sausages and Japanese eats? They're all on the menu, with the likes of Bamboo Street Asian Kitchen, Calamari Canteen, Hong Kong Dumplings, It's a Wing Thing, Mister Churros and Moreton Bay Mocktails coming to North Harbour to sling their wares. A shipping container setup like Hamilton's Eat Street — complete with landscaping and a dining precinct — BITE Markets showcases local talents, so prepare to feast on meals whipped up by the best producers, food creators and artisans in the area. Running from 4–10pm each Friday and Saturday, the huge foodie gathering calls a patch of Nolan Drive in Morayfield home. Entry costs $3 for adults — and for those driving north, there's more than 600 car parks onsite. BITE Markets take place every Friday and Saturday from 4–10pm at North Harbour.
As well as giving popular culture some of its most beloved characters of the past few decades, the Harry Potter franchise has also conjured up a whole heap of astonishing critters. The Boy Who Lived himself studied them at Hogwarts, all thanks to textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Then, to the joy of Potter-loving muggles everywhere, that tome became an actual IRL text in 2001. Every Wizarding World fan knows that that book followed the original Harry Potter novels in making the leap from the page to the screen, resulting in a first film in 2016, then 2018 sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and also 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. But if you're more interested in the actual fantastic beasts than a movie plot spun around them — and in natural history in general — exhibition Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature has you covered. First announced in 2020, then premiering at London's Natural History Museum, this is all about critters that fly, scamper and scurry through the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts realm on the page and screen; however, it's also about real-life creatures, specimens and artefacts, too. The exhibition combines beasts from the natural world, the mythical world and the Wizarding World, and was always slated for an international tour. Now, it's Australia's turn to see it, with the showcase displaying at Melbourne Museum from Friday, May 19–Sunday, October 8. Visitors to Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will see legendary beasts placed alongside specimens and historic objects, while also venturing through elements from cinema's last two decades. Unsurprisingly, there'll also be a hefty focus on Newt Scamander, the Wizarding World's famed magizoologist as played Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse). You'll see items from the Natural History Museum's scientific collections, custom-made Wizarding World models, props from the flicks and original artworks from Bloomsbury Publishing. And, you'll also also wander through a celebration of real-life scientists trying to understand the planet's animal inhabitants. In London, the exhibits included a tiger, a Galápagos marine iguana and a giant oarfish (the planet's longest bony fish) alongside an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin's classroom. Patrons were also able to compare the camouflage tactics of a jaguar to those of the Demiguise. Images: Trustees of the Natural History Museum London.
It's that time again, seafood-loving Brisbanites, with the Sandstone Point Hotel hosting its annual Oyster and Seafood Festival. If you're a fan of slurping down molluscs or munching on other morsels from the ocean, prepare to be in your element. Taking over the venue on Saturday, October 17, the day-long celebration of salty, slimy deliciousness will treat your tastebuds to oysters from all around the country, asking whether you can discern the difference. They'll be freshly shucked at the fest's oyster bars — and if you need something to snack on in-between, you can feast on the rest of the sea's finest bounty (and sip a few beverages) at an array of seafood and wine stalls. Mussels, calamari, prawns, fish: they'll all be on offer. Anyone that really, truly loves their oysters can also take part in the competitive portion of the day, because it wouldn't be a food festival without a contest. Chef demonstrations and live music are on the bill as well, alongside a cruisy day hanging out, with entry costing $7.65. Image: Sandstone Point Hotel.
The black parade is coming back to Australia — finally. After their last attempt to head to our shores was thwarted due to the pandemic, the reunited My Chemical Romance is set to tour along the country's east coast in 2022. Hopefully the second time will prove the charm for Gerard Way and co, and for music lovers eager to grab their eyeliner, don every black piece of clothing in their wardrobe, relive their angsty emo teenage years and let out three cheers. The new tour will mark ten years since MCR last came to our shores for the 2012 Big Day Out — and comes after the US group went their separate ways in 2013, then reformed in 2019. Fans will be pleased to know that MCR are headlining their own shows on this tour, too, rather than leading a festival bill as they were slated to do in 2020. First, they'll play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Monday, March 14, before hitting up Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne a few days later on Thursday, March 17. Then, they'll wrap things up on Saturday, March 19 at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. Back in late 2019, when MCR announced that they were literally getting the band back together, they sold out their first reunion gig in Los Angeles quick smart — so expect tickets to their Australian gigs to prove mighty popular, especially after last year's cancelled tour. The group has been trying to take its new show on the road ever since that big announcement, but, thanks to the pandemic, that has obviously proven much trickier than anticipated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRKJiM9Njr8 MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE 2022 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Monday, March 14 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, March 17 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, March 19 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney My Chemical Romance will tour Australia's east coast in March 2022. For further information — and for pre-sale tickets from 11am on Wednesday, May 26, and general tickets from 12pm on Thursday, May 27 — head to the tour website. Top image: My Chemical Romance performing by NBSTwo via Flickr.
First gracing the stage 169 years ago, La Traviata spins a tragic story about Parisian courtesan Violetta Valèry, who falls in love with young nobleman Alfredo Germont. If everything turned out smoothly, the show mightn't have become the world's most-performed opera — but Opera Queensland's new version isn't just telling the tale that audiences have known and loved since 1853. In this reimagining from director Sarah Giles, Violetta and Alfredo's romance still struggles under the weight of 19th-century French society's expectations, but exploring both sides of its fated heroine's life is firmly in the spotlight here. This take on La Traviata peers beyond the parties and supposed glamour to truly see the imbalances of power that define Violetta's existence — between men and women, in France's social structure, and in her line of work. The end result plays QPAC's Lyric Theatre between Thursday, July 14–Saturday, July 23, and promises a spin on a classic like you've never seen it before — still with sumptuous staging and costuming, though, of course. In this production, which comes via State Opera South Australia and West Australian Opera, Lorina Gore takes on the role of Violetta, while Kang Wang plays Alfredo — and José Carbó steps into his father Giorgio Germont's shoes. Opera Queensland's chorus is on backing duties, alongside the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dane Lam. If you're keen to find out more about this iteration of Verdi's hit, Opera Queensland is also hosting free pre-performance talks — included in the ticket price — with shows on July 16, 19, 21 and 23.
When you drive 75 kilometres south of Cairns to Josephine Falls, you'll quickly realise why this picturesque playground is so popular among locals and tourists. Located in Wooroonooran National Park, which is home to the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people, this incredible waterfall cascades through World Heritage-listed rainforest near Queensland's highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere. From the carpark, you'll wander 600 metres through lush rainforest before reaching the viewing decks that overlook the falls. Here, you can take a few snaps of the incredible view before making your way down to the water peppered with smooth boulders for you to perch on — then it's time to get wet. If you're feeling adventurous, have a crack at the natural waterslide in the main pool. Or, if you like to take your swimming at a slower pace, there's plenty of space to float about in the rejuvenating water fresh from the mountain.
One of life's simplest, purest pleasures gets a day to shine when May 21 rolls around each year — and in 2023, Brisbane Art Design is celebrating. The River City's annual creative festival is pouring cuppas to mark International Tea Day, taking over Fortitude Valley's Ring a Bell with both a one-day shindig and a weeklong exhibition. On the date itself — a Sunday, nicely — the Brunswick Street spot will host a special tea tasting, as well as a mini makers market, with both running from 9am–1pm. From 11–11.45am, you can also listen to an in-conversation chat about tea over brunch. Whether you can make it to this communi-tea focused day or not, art showcase To the Beauteaful You keeps the celebrations hot from Sunday, May 21–Saturday, May 27. Here, you'll peer at pieces by up-and-coming photographer Lam Ha Tran, ceramic artist Georgia Richards, and visual artists Tanya Ashworth and Sariah Christensen. Yes, the theme is tea. The exhibition runs from 7am–2pm Monday–Friday, and from 8am–1pm on Saturday.
When the Ekka was cancelled for the second year in a row in 2021, no one got to throw a ball in a clown's mouth. Hopping on rides, seeing fireworks and browsing for showbags were all scrapped, too. That's obviously no fun at all; however, for the farmers who were due to exhibit at Brisbane's annual show, the impact cut far deeper. So, in response, an idea was born: the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. It first appeared twice in 2021, encouraging Brisbanites to head south, hop between properties and enjoy local wares. And, although the Ekka occurred in 2022, the trail returned then as well. In 2023, it's making another comeback, too — on Sunday, April 2 and Saturday, August 26. Fancy throwing a little love towards the Scenic Rim's primary producers? Keen on a day out of town? Farmers in the region will be rolling out the welcome mat from 9am–3pm on both days. Follow the itineraries and you'll be hitting up at least 25 spots — such as Towri Sheep Cheeses, complete with cuddles with lambs; Tommerup's Dairy Farm, with artisanal dairy products on offer; Scenic Rim Brewery, where there'll be tastings; and Elderflower Farm, possibly including picking flowers depending on the season. That's just a taste of the list of producers involved — and if you'd like to get up close to some camels and alpacas while you're in that part of southeast Queensland, that's usually on the cards, too. Most of the trail's stops are dog-friendly, and bringing your esky to fill with produce is highly recommended.
Those hobbits will go on. In JRR Tolkien's pages, they went on perilous Middle-earth adventures. On screens big and small for decades so far (and into the future, with more movies on the way), they've trekked, ate second breakfasts and attempted to project precious jewellery. Onstage in Australia in 2025, they're also marking an eleventy-first birthday, receiving a gold ring, taking a quest to Mordor and attempting to fight evil, all in The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. Dating back to 2006, just after the original live-action movie trilogy, this stage musical was revived in the UK in 2023, opened in the US in July 2024 and hit New Zealand in November 2024. After that, it's taking the hobbits to Australia, including to HOTA, Home of the Arts. The Gold Coast venue's season kicks off on Friday, July 4. Lord of the Rings fans, take note: you'll want to go there and back again to discover what happens when Middle-earth gets melodic. Your guides for the show are the hobbits, of course, as Frodo and company celebrate Bilbo Baggins, then depart The Shire upon a life-changing journey. Thanks to Tolkien, what occurs from there has enthralled audiences for 70 years now, with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers initially hitting bookshelves in 1954. There's been no shortage of ways to indulge your Lord of the Rings love since Peter Jackson's features — including his Hobbit trilogy — helped fan the flames of pop culture's affection for Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry and the franchise's many non-underground-dwelling characters. Cinema marathons, visiting the Hobbiton movie set, staying there overnight, hitting up pop-up hobbit houses, sipping hobbit-themed beer: they've all been on the agenda. Only The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is combining all things LoTR with tunes and dancing, however, in a show that sports a book and lyrics by from Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical, Groundhog Day the Musical), plus original music by Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner AR Rahman, folk band Värttinä from Finland and Matilda the Musical alum Christopher Nightingale. Images: Liz Lauren.
Thanks to the gelato powers that be, Brisbanites now have two places to get their Messina fix, with the chain slinging its frosty scoops in both South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley. But if you're keen on the ice creamery's extra special desserts, it's always worth keeping an eye out for their one-off festival menus. Whenever the company pops up at an event, it rarely brings the same sweet treat twice. At this year's Fish Lane Festival, Messina has something particularly delicious on offer: gelato s'mores. Only available from midday on Saturday, May 11 — and only at its festival stall — they'll combine Graham cracker biscuits, Italian meringue, gelato (obviously) and other ingredients, with two flavours available. If that doesn't get your ice cream-loving tastebuds excited instantly, then the specific varieties might. What's better than a classic Aussie dessert? Two classic Aussie desserts turned into gelato s'mores, obviously. The Gaytime s'more will feature all of the aforementioned ingredients, plus salted caramel gelato, dulce de leche, and a honeycomb and shortbread crumble in the middle. As for the pavlova s'more, it'll include the same base, then add vanilla gelato, passionfruit gel and and freeze-dried raspberries. Fish Lane Festival will also be serving up plenty of other notable nibbles, including vegan nuggets made out of coated tofu, karaage hot dogs and salted caramel brownie cookies. Whether you're just after a s'more, or you're keen to pair it with another dish, our advice remains the same: get in early, as they're all likely to prove popular. Fish Lane Festival takes place from midday on Saturday, May 11 in Fish Lane, South Brisbane.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As part of its latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, Stretch Yoga will get you stretching while sharing the love with cute canine. Marking the studio's eighth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that is Domestic Animal Rescue and Education (DARE), Puppy Yoga gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 12pm and 1pm on Sunday, August 21 at Stretch Yoga's Holland Park studio. And, if you're looking for a four-legged friend to take home with you, all of the puppies will be up for adoption as well. Register early when bookings open on Monday, August 15 — the $50-a-ticket sessions sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. Images: Stretch Yoga.
When Beyoncé drops a new music video, it isn't just a chance to see whichever visuals she's pairing with her latest track. As each clip keeps demonstrating, it's a cultural moment in its own right. One such instance: the video for 2019's 'Brown Skin Girl', which doesn't only feature the singer, but also sees Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell, Kelly Rowland, Adut Akech, Aweng Ade-Chuol, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Blue Ivy Carter and Rumi Carter grace its frames. The clip won a Grammy for Best Music Video, which means that the director behind it is now a Grammy-winner. That British Nigerian artist and filmmaker: Jenn Nkiru, who now has her first-ever solo Australian exhibition on display at Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art. Running from Saturday, May 14–Saturday, July 9, and free to see, Rebirth Is Necessary focuses on the magic and dynamism of Blackness — and takes that idea into the past, present and future via a surreal archive of audio-visual material. Like the rest of Nkiru's work, it ties into the history of Black music, the Black arts movement, experimental film and international art cinema. The artist has likened it to her bibliography, in fact, with samples from Sun Ra, James Baldwin, Fred Moten, Steve Reich, Kathleen Cleaver and Alice Coltrane among the snippets weaved in. Rebirth Is Necessary also features original footage shot in South Africa and in South London — and sees IMA showcase Nkiru after the artist's latest piece was presented at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition is open during IMA's usual operating hours, between 10am–5pm Tuesday–Saturday. Images: Jenn Nkiru, REBIRTH IS NECESSARY (video still), 2017, single-channel video, 00:10:31. Courtesy of the artist and Mothership.
No one should spend their lunch break eating at their desk, but breaking that habit isn't always easy. From Monday, May 29–Friday, September 1, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct is giving you plenty of motivation to step away from the computer. Head to the riverside spot from Monday–Friday for a middle-of-the-day meal all winter and your lunch will cost $25. Five HSW venues are getting in on the deal, each serving up three options — so you can pick between multiple dishes at Felons Brewing Co, Felons Barrel Hall, Felons Fish 'n' Chipper (doing walk-ins only), Mr Percival's and Ciao Papi. Or, you can work your way through them all (and stare at their slightly different views of the water) across the frosty season. You'll just need to keep an eye on each eatery's opening hours — and, while you can just rock up, bookings are recommended. As for what you'll be eating during the returning — and now three-month-long — Let's Lunch festivities, the specials are varied. Fish pie, short ribs and truffle pizza are on offer at Felons, while mud crab tom yum, suckling pig and crispy fish salad, and a bean curd herb curry are on the menu at the brewery's Barrel Hall. Over at the Fish 'n' Chipper, there's seafood chowder, half a rock lobster and a vegetable-packed buddha bowl. For dining over the water, Mr Percival's is doing sautéed mussels, slow-braised lamb shoulder with polenta and baked eggplant parmigiana. And if you're keen on Ciao Papi, you'll be eating tortellini di carne with truffles, caviar and spanner crab linguini, and artichoke and pecorino gnocchi. Unlike in previous years, you will need to buy any drinks on top this time around, however.
When Brisbane finally had its shot at seeing Hamilton, heading to QPAC was just one way that the city embraced Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical. Another also took place at South Bank, on the pre-theatre dining menu at fine-diner Bacchus. Now that the Beauty and the Beast musical is in town, the restaurant is taking the same approach and dishing up bites based around the show. For Hamilton, diners tucked into a dessert that came topped with the appropriate star. Be Bacchus' guest from Wednesday, March 6–Saturday, April 20 and you'll be treated to a Beauty and the Beast-themed sweet treat in the form of a rose instead. Yes, it looks exactly like the real thing. Yes, you can eat it. It's called The Lychee Rose, and it's made with raspberry mousse, matcha and pistachio soil. To spirit your tastebuds into a tale as old as time, you'll need to opt for the pre-theatre dinner menu, which costs $89 per person. It covers three courses, starting with a consommé made with seasonal vegetables and wagyu, then plating up a beef ragout tagliatelle with parmesan cream, then The Lychee Rose. You'll also get wattleseed sourdough, plus petit fours to finish. Located within Rydges South Bank, Bacchus is pouring cocktails that take their cues from Beauty and the Beast as well. The Enchanted Zest includes Pavan, limoncello, lemon, chilli and egg white; the Royal Infusion blends Paris tea, vodka and wattleseed; and the Tavern Brew mixes vanilla-infused vodka with bourbon, apple beer syrup and egg white.
Whenever the urge hits, stopping by Emporium's Piano Bar is never a bad idea. Until the end of winter, however, you'll be in for a surprise. The venue has given itself a ski chalet-style makeover, complete with a fireplace to get cosy by. Yes, you live in Brisbane. Yes, it really has been cold lately. Yes, you know you want to get toasty by the flames. Operating from Wednesday–Sunday weekly until spring hits, this snug setup also includes blankets — we told you it was cosy — as well as plenty to eat and drink. All the season-appropriate dishes are taken care of, including soup of the day ($9), three-cheese and truffle jaffles ($12), and macarons ($20 for a box). There's also fondue, of course. Go cheesy with gruyère and smoked cheddar fondue, plus parmesan cheese straws. Or, opt for dessert instead with white, milk or dark chocolate fondue accompanied by cookies, marshmallows, chocolate brownies and fruits. Both versions cost $30. As for the drinks, Mumm Champagnes is helping theme out the place, so that's what's on offer — including a few Aussie-exclusive drops. There's also a couple of cocktails — and yes, one uses champers, while the other can be served either warm or cold.
If golden, crunchy, juicy fried chook is your idea of a perfect meal then you probably have July 6 permanently marked in your diary. Each and every year, that's when the world's fried chicken-lovers celebrate their favourite food. We're not saying that the chook will taste better on that date, but if you just can't get enough of the trusty dish, it's definitely time to celebrate. This year, to mark the occasion, 50 restaurants across Australia are offering up to 50 percent off their take on the dish for two days via Deliveroo. On Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, you can get finger licken' good chook delivered straight to your home or office — or home office — for cheap. Lunch, sorted. Melburnians have 18 chook joints to choose from, including Hawker Chan, Seoul Hot Chicken, Oriental Teahouse, Hakata Gensuke and Carl's Jr, while Sydneysiders have 16, with the likes of Johnny Bird, Broaster, Chi Kim and Angry Tony's all getting on board. Brisbanites have six options for their half-price burger fix, including Seoul Bistro, Lord of the Wings and Cafe Etto. You can check out the full list below. To get your fix, all you need to do is jump on to Deliveroo and find your closest chook favourite and order. [caption id="attachment_659902" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johnny Bird[/caption] WORLD FRIED CHICKEN DAY RESTAURANTS SYDNEY Angry Tony's - Darlington Rooster and Grill Inferno Grill Inferno Grill Pyrmont Chi Kim WingBoy - Bondi Junction WingBoy - Parramatta WingBoy - Eastgardens WingBoy - Macquarie It's Time for Thai Newtown Manoosh Pizzeria (Enmore) Manoosh Pizzeria (Marrickville) Manoosh Lebanese Pizza - Waterloo Manoosh Pizzeria - Caringbah Johnny Bird Broasters Fried Chicken MELBOURNE Hakata Gensuke QV Hakata Gensuke Yatai Carlton Hakata Gensuke Hawthorn - Ramen Professional Hakata Gensuke Tonkotsu Ramen Seoul Hot Chicken Chicken Episode Oriental Teahouse Little Collins Chicken Episode 2.5 Slap Burger - Editions Collingwood Angry Birds Burger Joint - Editions Collingwood Peach's Fried Chicken - Editions Collingwood Bao Wow - Editions Collingwood F.A.T - Fried & TastyCarl's Jr (Docklands) Carl's Jr - Knox Carl's Jr - Altona Hawker Chan Hawker Chan - Chadstone Hawker Chan Box Hill BRISBANE Seoul Bistro Lord of the Wings Indooroopilly Lord of the Wings Carindale Cafe Etto Brisbane Chop Chop Changs Wilde Kitchen Top image: Lord of the Wings
Autumn means many things for Brisbanites, including pouring rain, cooler nights and, most importantly for some, the beginning of football season. Whether your code is league, union or soccer, you'll be heading to Suncorp Stadium to support your beloved team (sorry Lions lovers, we'll cover the Gabba soon). And since you're in the area, you may as well make a night of it, either heading to dinner beforehand, or partying on to celebrate your team's victory. Here, we narrow down our top ten places to go before or after a game at Suncorp Stadium. Libertine Libertine is the perfect place to dine in a group for a refined night out before heading down the road to watch some ball sports. With a menu designed to share, you and your friends can get jolly on their delicious French-Vietnamese influenced cocktails and menu. The pork spring rolls with green chilli sauce are a must. On the heartier end of the scale, the wagyu, pork belly and duck are all mouth-wateringly good. No. 5 The Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Paddington; 07 3367 3353; www.libertine.net.au Peasant Enjoy the brand new menu at Peasant, which features some incredible tapas and wines to match. The boisterous atmosphere will certainly start your night off with excitement and a bit of the European cultural flair. Peasant is great for groups to celebrate their favourite sporting event, particularly if it falls on a Sunday where they can enjoy paella in the garden. 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane; 07 3367 8066; www.peasant.com.au FAB If you’re just after a quick bite to eat before the game then FAB (Fish and Burgers) at the Barracks will do the trick. With an extensive range of burgers on their menu including vego and gluten-free options, everyone will be satisfied and have their stomachs sensibly lined before potential fieldside boozing. They also do a mean fish and chips. The Barracks, Petrie Terrace, Paddington; 07 3367 8088; www.fabfishandburger.com Paddo Tavern The Paddo is another Brisbane institution known for its cowboy hat-wearing bar staff, saddle chairs and footpath frontage, perfect for people watching. The quintessential pub, the Paddo caters for all desires including a hearty pub meal, a game of pool, a round on the pokies, live music, plasma screens showing sports and an expansive outdoor seating area. With a very laid back vibe, the Paddo is an easy place to meet with friends for a casual night out. 186 Given Terrace, Paddington; 07 3369 0044; thepaddo.com.au Gambaro For a lavish night out with friends or clients you should start out in true style with a seafood feast at Gambaro. Known for its incredible seafood, including amazing platters, you can eat like royalty here. They have beautiful options for both entrees and mains but your real focus should be on the seafood-heavy options such as the live rock lobster prepared your way, BBQ Moreton Bay bugs, or one of the famous chilled seafood platters. 33 Caxton Street, Paddington; 07 3369 9500; www.gambaros.com.au Caxton Hotel The Caxton Hotel is one of Brisbane’s best known and longstanding pubs and is the most obvious choice for post-match debauchery. With their space extended, the Caxton can literally squeeze thousands of people in. Known for playing classic music - think 'Jesse’s Girl' to 'Eagle Rock' (upon which you will see hundreds of men with their pants around their ankles) - plus a mix of modern hits as well, the Caxton Dance floor is one of the most hilarious, gross and wonderful experiences all rolled in to one. Girls, be prepared to be the prey of drunk men. Boys, be prepared to be the prey of drunk women. 38 Caxton Street, Paddington; 07 3369 5544; www.caxton.com.au The Scratch For those after a low-key start to the night, head to The Scratch for amazing craft beer on tap. With four taps and one hand pump, the guys at The Scratch change their selections on a daily basis, keeping everyone on their toes. Aware that not everybody is a beer-spert, they welcome newbies into their home with open arms, eager to explain what's on tap, where it's from and how it has been made. It is a totally relaxed vibe and a perfect way to ease into the afternoon. 8/1 Park Road, Milton; 07 3107 9910; www.scratchbar.com Iceworks The Iceworks is a great place to go both before and after the game. Located diagonally opposite the stadium, it is in prime position. The food menu is very modern but fairly inexpensive and includes menu items like duck foie gras parfait, mud crab and clam linguini, and tea-smoked ocean trout. The bar is long and well-staffed meaning that despite the inevitable crowd, you will not have to wait too long for a drink. Location is key here though; if you head out right on the buzzer you can make it back to the bar within two minutes. Corner of Given Tce and Dowse Street, Paddington; 07 3367 9800; www.iceworks.com.au Casablanca Casablanca is a hybrid of latin dance, karaoke, food and debauchery. It is the place where generally intoxicated, and also very talented, people go to get up on stage and sing in front of a crowd of strangers. You know you've had a big night when your night ends up at karaoke. You'll be able to tell from a raspy voice, a couple of bruises, and some unused song selection pieces of paper in your hand. Casablanca fills up with those chasing the musical dream right before 3am where they sing to their hearts' content until they saunter down the road to Dirty Harry's for some chicken chippies. 52 Petrie Terrace, Paddington; 07 3369 6969; www.casablanca.com.au Arrivederci Pizzeria Park Road in Milton is abundant with soccer fandom and a wide selection of Italian food. Arrivederci is celebrated for their pizzas - both the flavour and size. Pizzas at Arrivederci are ordered by length coming in one metre, 50cm or 25cm. Because of this, it is the perfect place to gather with a large group of friends and smash metres of pizza before you cheer on the Brisbane Roar. Alternatively, if you can't get tickets to a game, or want to watch your favourite European team play, then it's guaranteed that the major sport fans of Arrivederci will be playing the game which you can enjoy in the comfort of a highly atmospheric Italian restaurant. 1/1 Park Road, Milton; 07 3369 8500; www.arrivedercipizza.com.au
Watching Poor Things and not thinking about the mother of all tales about reviving the dead, aka Frankenstein, was impossible. At GOMA's latest film program, embracing their thematic similarities — and the entire genre about madcap creators experimenting that came alive when Mary Shelley's tale made it to celluloid in 1931 — is the entire point. Screening from Friday, May 3–Sunday, June 23, the Mad Science lineup doesn't just boast movies that owe one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever a massive debt, but it throws plenty of love that way. Think: the above duo, including together on the retrospective season's opening night, plus The Bride of Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, The Curse of Frankenstein, Re-Animator, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Andy Warhol's Flesh for Frankenstein and M3GAN. This new excuse to spend Wednesday and Friday evenings at the Australian Cinematheque — and also Saturday and Sunday during the day — has been programmed with a jolt of inspiration. Covering over a century of horror and thriller flicks, it's filled with films that ponder scientific investigation, where humanity is willing to push it, and the ethics and consequences of playing god. Other highlights span 1920's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, both 1933's and 2020's The Invisible Man, Bond entry Moonraker and Stanley Kubrick's Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Or, plug in for the OG Ghost in the Shell, get immersed in French great The City of Lost Children and see one of Antonio Banderas' (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) stunning performances for Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers) in The Skin I Live In. And yes, life has found a way to get Jurassic Park onto the bill, too. Whatever you catch, this is a ticketed lineup, starting at $10 for adults.
For more than four decades, Storm Boy has been an essential part of the Australian primary school experience. If you didn't read Colin Thiele's novella, losing yourself in its pages, then you watched the wonderful 1976 film adaptation. Perhaps you did both — or maybe you saw the stage version from the 90s onwards. Both then and now, Storm Boy has always told a timeless tale, but its 2019 remake might've benefited from arriving a few years earlier. The central narrative remains just as affecting, focusing on a young boy and the lively pelican he comes to call his best friend. The movie's new additions and its big-name star, however, don't fare as well. In much of the film, the story of a pre-teen Mike Kingley (Finn Little) scampers across the screen, just as the boy himself scampers along South Australia's sandy Coorong coastline. Other than his fisherman dad "Hideaway" Tom (Jai Courtney), Mike's days are largely free from human contact. When he meets another of the region's reclusive figures in local Indigenous man Fingerbone Bill (Trevor Jamieson), he makes a rare pal. The two bond over a trio of other lonely creatures: three baby pelicans whose mother is shot and killed by hunters. Naming them Mr Percival, Mr Proud and Mr Ponder, Mike takes the helpless chicks under his wing, cares for them and watches the birds grow. From Lassie's yearning to return home, to Kes' combination of a kid and a kestrel, to the recent version of Pete's Dragon, accounts of humanity's connection with animals have long inspired movie magic. In pictures such as E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and the recent Transformers prequel Bumblebee as well, the same themes and emotions apply. Sometimes the genre tugs a little too hard on the heartstrings, and sometimes it's happy being a tad too cheesy, but when it works, it brings tears and tender feelings in equal measure. And in Storm Boy, it works. Watching Mike escort his grown pelicans back into the wild, then watching Mr Percival make his return, proves moving in all of the right ways. The path their tale charts from there also evokes a genuine reaction. There's a sunny but never blindly optimistic glow to these 1950s-set scenes, as paired with warm performances from the effortlessly naturalistic Little, Courtney putting in his best work in years, and the engaging Jamieson stepping into David Gulpilil's shoes. Making his first movie since 2008's Two Fists, One Heart, director Shawn Seet finds the right mood and tone even when he dials up the sentiment to obvious heights, while also filling the main section of the film with sweeping images. Alas, unlike its predecessor, the young Mike's exploits with Mr Percival only comprise part of the picture. Wrapped around Storm Boy's compassionate core is a contemporary story, following Mike as a weary, wealthy grandfather played by Geoffrey Rush. Summoned to a board meeting for the family company that's now run by his son-in-law (Erik Thomson), the ageing character relays his childhood memories to his teenage granddaughter (Morgana Davies), who's firmly against her father's latest plans. These additions by screenwriter Justin Monjo (Jungle) come saddled with a well-meaning environmental statement that brings modern-day relevance, but the end product is as forceful and clumsy as it sounds. They also push Rush to centre stage for a significant portion of the movie, a move that feels unnecessary given how engaging the flashback scenes are — and also feels uncomfortable after the recent allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the actor, which he denies. As a result, Storm Boy is both a gorgeous film and a wayward one. Its soaring heights are a delight, and its awkward depths are an unwanted distraction. One will melt even the hardest of hearts, the other will test even the most patient of viewers. Our advice: focus on the titular tyke and the pelican, although you'll wish the filmmakers had heeded the same words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBOvn18yeQ
If you're a Brisbanite that thrives on the kind of adrenaline only rollercoasters and water slides can offer, then you probably already have the directions to the Gold Coast saved in Google Maps. In the next few years though, you might have to add an extra route north, because the Sunshine Coast is getting an amusement park. Soon Steve Irwin Way won't just play host to the wildlife tourist attraction that helped give the road its name, though Australia Zoo isn't going anywhere. The patch of Sunshine Coast land will also also boast an "outdoors haven" and "community lifestyle and tourism hub never seen before in Australia", according to local developer SANAD Capital. Just what this new venue will be called is yet to be announced, but it does have that other important aspect finalised: its theme. Prepare for all the action sports antics you can handle, including Australia's first surfing wave pool (if Melbourne's proposed Urbnsurf doesn't beat them to it, that is). Who doesn't want to jump on a board, Johnny Utah-style, into a man-made approximation of the ocean? More details are due to be released later this year, and construction is set to start in 2017. However, looking at similar projects in the United Arab Emirates is highly recommended; the $400 million Sunny Coast venture is being built with the support of Dubai-based investment group Najibi Capital, after all. Worlds of Adventure, the world's biggest indoor theme park, is due to open there this year, as is another precinct that will feature the entertainment-oriented Motiongate, Dubai Bollywood Parks, Legoland and a water-based centre. Via The Courier Mail. Image: Cameron Kirby.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Black Panther: Wakanda Forever isn't the movie it was initially going to be, the sequel to 2018's electrifying and dynamic Black Panther that anyone behind it originally wanted it to be, or the chapter in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe that it first aimed to be — this, the world already knows. The reason why is equally familiar, after Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020 aged 43. At its best, this direct followup to the MCU's debut trip to its powerful African nation doesn't just know this, too, but scorches that awareness deep into its frames. King T'Challa's death starts the feature, a loss that filmmaking trickery doesn't reverse, no matter how meaningless mortality frequently proves when on-screen resurrections are usually a matter of mere plot twists. Wakanda Forever begins with heartbreak and pain, in fact, and with facing the hard truth that life ends and, in ways both big and small, that nothing is ever the same. Your typical franchise entry about quick-quipping costumed crusaders courageously protecting the planet, this clearly isn't. Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler (Creed) like its predecessor — co-scripting again with Joe Robert Cole (All Day and a Night) — Wakanda Forever is about grief, expected futures that can no longer be and having to move forward anyway. That applies in front of and behind the lens; as ruminating so heavily on loss underscores, the movie has a built-in justification for not matching the initial flick. The Boseman-sized hole at Wakanda Forever's centre is gaping, unsurprisingly, even in a feature that's a loving homage to him, and his charm and gravitas-filled take on the titular character. Also, that vast void isn't one this film can fill. Amid overtly reckoning with absence, Coogler still has a top-notch cast — returnees Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke, plus new addition Tenoch Huerta, most notably — drawing eyeballs towards his vibrant imagery, but his picture is also burdened with MCU bloat and mechanics, and infuriating bet-hedging. The emotional tributes to T'Challa and Boseman hit swiftly, after the former's tech-wiz sister Shuri (Wright, Death on the Nile) agonises over not being able to save him. In a swirl of song, dance, colour, movement, rhythm and feeling on par with the first instalment, but also solemn, Wakanda erupts in mourning, and the film makes plain that the Black Panther audiences knew is gone forever. A year later, sorrow lingers, but global courtesy wanes — now that the world knows about the previously secret country and its metal vibranium, everyone wants a piece. Such searching incites a new threat to the planet, courtesy of Mesoamerican underwater kingdom Talokan and its leader-slash-deity Namor (Huerta, Narcos: Mexico). The Atlantis-esque ocean realm has vibranium as well, and it's not keen on anywhere else but Wakanda doing the same. If Queen Ramonda (Bassett, Gunpowder Milkshake), Shuri and their compatriots don't join Namor to fight back, Namor will wage war against them instead. Given Coogler and Cole's basic premise, bringing back Okoye (Gurira, The Walking Dead), head of the Wakanda's formidable Dora Milaje warriors, is obviously easy. The same applies to fellow soldier Ayo (Florence Kasumba, Tatort), and to introducing Aneka (Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You). Straight-talking tribal leader M'Baku (Duke, Nine Days) makes a seamless comeback and, although she's working in a school in Haiti, former spy Nakia (Nyong'o, The 355) does the same. Even excusing seeing CIA operative Everett Ross (Martin Freeman, Breeders) again is straightforward enough, but keeping overarching Marvel saga cogs turning means a pointless reappearance for another character familiar from the broader series but new to Black Panther movies. And, it results in the clunkiest of kickoffs for "young, gifted and Black" college student Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne, Judas and the Black Messiah), the star of upcoming MCU Disney+ TV show Ironheart, who is needlessly shoehorned in on the big-screen. Read our full review. THE VELVET QUEEN "If nothing came, we just hadn't looked properly." Partway through The Velvet Queen, writer Sylvain Tesson utters these lyrical words about a specific and patient quest; however, they echo far further than the task at hand. This absorbing documentary tracks his efforts with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier to see a snow leopard — one of the most rare and elusive big cats there is — but much in the entrancing film relates to life in general. Indeed, while the animals that roam the Tibetan plateau earns this flick's focus, as does the sweeping landscape itself, Munier and his fellow co-director and feature first-timer Marie Amiguet have made a movie about existence first and foremost. When you peer at nature, you should see the world, as well as humanity's place in it. You should feel the planet's history, and the impact that's being made on its future, too. Sensing exactly that with this engrossing picture comes easily — and so does playing a ravishing big-screen game of Where's Wally?. No one wears red-and-white striped jumpers within The Velvet Queen's frames, of course. The Consolations of the Forest author Tesson and world-renowned shutterbug Munier dress to blend in, trying to camouflage into their sometimes-dusty, sometimes-snowy, always-rocky surroundings, but they aren't the ones that the film endeavours to spy. The creatures that inhabit Tibet's craggy peaks have evolved to blend in, so attempting to see many of them is an act of persistence and deep observation — and locking eyes on the snow leopard takes that experience to another level. Sometimes, pure movement gives away a critter's presence. On one occasion, looking back through images of a perched falcon offers unexpected rewards. As lensed by Amiguet (La vallée des loups), Munier and assistant director Léo-Pol Jacquot, The Velvet Queen draws upon hidden cameras, too, but so much of Tesson and Munier's mission is about sitting, watching and accepting that everything happens in its own time. Letting what comes come — and acknowledging that some things simply won't ever occur at all — isn't an easy truth to grapple with. Nonetheless, it's also one of this contemplative feature's achievements, even though it's a type of detective story through and through. Tesson and Munier follow clues to search for the snow leopard, moving positions and setting up blinds wherever they think will score them their sought-after footage. In the process, they learn a lesson as all sleuths do. As they face the possibility that they might not be successful, which Tesson's perceptively navel-gazing narration explains, The Velvet Queen becomes a mindfulness course in filmic form. It has something astonishing that all the Calm, Headspace and similar apps in the world don't, though: the film's on-the-ground recordings (well, 5000-metres-up recordings), which show why finding peace with life's ebbs and flows is all that we can really hope for. Accompanied by a stirring score from Australian icons and lifelong bandmates Warren Ellis and Nick Cave — their latest contribution to cinema on a resume that includes The Proposition, The Road, Hell or High Water and Wind River before it — it's no wonder that The Velvet Queen's philosophising voiceover also notes that "waiting was a prayer". It's similarly unsurprising that Tesson penned a book, The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet, based on the trip captured in the documentary. In fact, if you're the kind of person who keeps their peepers peeled for feline life in any new neighbourhood you visit, or even if you're just strolling around your own, this feature firmly understands. More than that, it one-ups you, while also connecting with the act of scouring and seeking as much as the potential joys of getting what you wish for. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; September 1, September 8, September 15, September 22 and September 29; October 6, October 13, October 20 and October 27; and November 3. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise, Clean, You Won't Be Alone, See How They Run, Smile, On the Count of Three, The Humans, Don't Worry Darling, Amsterdam, The Stranger, Halloween Ends, The Night of the 12th, Muru, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Black Adam, Barbarian, Decision to Leave, The Good Nurse, Bros, The Woman King, Sissy, Armageddon Time and The Wonder.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE QUIET GIRL When Normal People became the streaming sensation of the pandemic's early days, it made stars out of leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and swiftly sparked another Sally Rooney adaptation from much of the same behind-the-scenes team. It wouldn't have been the hit it was if it hadn't proven an exercise in peering deeply, thoughtfully, lovingly and carefully, though, with that sensation stemming as much from its look as its emotion-swelling story. It should come as no surprise, then, that cinematographer Kate McCullough works the same magic on The Quiet Girl, a Gaelic-language coming-of-age film that sees the world as only a lonely, innocent, often-ignored child can. This devastatingly moving and beautiful movie also spies the pain and hardship that shapes its titular figure's world — and yes, it does so softly and with restraint, just like its titular figure, but that doesn't make the feelings it swirls up any less immense. McCullough is just one of The Quiet Girl's key names; filmmaker Colm Bairéad, a feature first-timer who directs and adapts Claire Keegan's novella Foster, is another. His movie wouldn't be the deeply affecting affair it is without its vivid and painterly imagery — but it also wouldn't be the same without the helmer and scribe's delicate touch, which the 1981-set tale he's telling not only needs but demands. His focus: that soft-spoken nine-year-old, Cáit (newcomer Catherine Clinch), who has spent her life so far as no one's priority. With her mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, Shadow Dancer) pregnant again, her father (Michael Patric, Smother) happiest drinking, gambling and womanising, and her siblings boisterously bouncing around their rural Irish home, she's accustomed to blending in and even hiding out. Then, for the summer, she's sent to her mum's older cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley, Extra Ordinary) and her dairy farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett, Dating Amber). Now the only child among doting guardians, she's no less hushed, but she's also loved and cared for as she's never been before. Clinch is another of The Quiet Girl's crucial figures, courtesy of a downright exceptional and star-making performance. If you were to discover that she was a quiet girl off-screen, too, you'd instantly believe it — that's how profoundly naturalistic she is. Finding a young talent to convey so much internalised, engrained sorrow, then to slowly blossom when fondness comes her way, isn't just a case of finding a well-behaved child who welcomes the camera's presence. Clinch makes Cáit's isolation and sadness feel palpable, and largely does so without words: again, this is The Quiet Girl in name and nature alike. She makes the comfort and acceptance that her character enjoys with the instantly tender Eibhlín feel just as real, and kicks into another still-composed but also visibly appreciative gear as a bond forms with the tight-lipped Seán. Pivotally, Clinch plays Cáit like she's the only lonely girl in Ireland, but also like she's every lonely and mostly silent girl that's ever called that or any country home. That astonishing performance, and the empathetic and absorbed gaze that beams it into the film's frames, tap into the lingering truth at the heart of this soulful picture: that overlooked and disregarded girls such as Cáit rarely receive this kind of notice on- or off-screen. The warm way that the movie surveys her life, and is truly willing to see it, is never anything less than an act of redress — and, even with dialogue sparse, The Quiet Girl screams that fact loudly. It gives the same treatment to loss, which is an unshakeable force in Eibhlín and Seán's home despite remaining unspoken. "There are no secrets in this house," Eibhlín tells Cáit, but that doesn't mean that the type of pain that defies speech doesn't haunt the place, as it does the lives lived in it. Grief, too, is usually pushed aside, but The Quiet Girl sees how it persists, dwells and gnaws even when — especially when — no one is talking about it. Read our full review. FLUX GOURMET Flickering across a cinema screen, even the greatest of movies only inherently activate two senses: sight and hearing. Audiences can feel the seats they nestle into in their favourite picture palaces, and savour both the scent and flavour of popcorn while they watch, but no one can touch, taste or smell films themselves as they're playing — even if adding scratch-and-sniff aromas to the experience has become a cult-favourite gimmick. British director Peter Strickland knows all of the above. And, he hasn't ever released a feature in Smell-o-Vision, Smell-O-Rama or Odorama. But his work still conjures up sensations that viewers know they can't genuinely be having, such as running your fingers over an alluring dress with In Fabric, detecting the flutter of insect wings against your skin via The Duke of Burgundy and, courtesy of his latest movie Flux Gourmet, relishing the fragrances and tastes whipped up by a culinary collective that turns cooking and eating into performance art. If you've seen his features before, Flux Gourmet instantly sounds like something that only Strickland could make — and from its first frame till its last, it proves that with every moment. While spinning this innately sensory tale, which he both helmed and penned, it does indeed literally sound like something that only Strickland could've come up with, in fact. As the acoustics-focused Berberian Sound Studio demonstrated, the filmmaker's audioscapes are always a thing of wonder, too. His movies may manage to magically engage senses that cinema's sound-and-vision combination intrinsically shouldn't, but they also make the utmost use of every echo. The same applies to each image; unsurprisingly due to his strong and distinctive sense of style and mood, everything about Flux Gourmet looks and feels like pure Strickland. His films can't actually be injected into anyone's veins, but the director's devotees will instantly want this delirious farce pumping through their system. The setting: The Sonic Catering Institute, a conservatory specialising in blending sound and cuisine, as its name makes plain. The "institute devoted to culinary and alimentary performance" is overseen by the couture-coveting Jan Stevens (Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones), and regularly welcomes in different groups to undertake residencies. Those visiting artists collaborate, percolate and come up with eye-catching blends of food, bodies and creativity. Hosting OTT dinners, role-playing a trip to the supermarket, getting scatalogical and turning a live colonoscopy into a show: they're just some of the menu items that Jan's latest guests cook up. In Elle di Elle (Strickland regular Fatma Mohamed), Lamina Propria (Ariane Labed, The Souvenir: Part II) and Billy Rubin's (Asa Butterfield, Sex Education) case, however, that unique kind of kitchen virtuosity only springs when they're not broiling in messy bickering. Chaos bubbles through and troubles the trio's troupe, who stir up mayhem among themselves as heartily as any chef stirs their dishes. But Elle, Lamina and Billy aren't the Institute's only current visitors. Watching and chronicling is journalist Stones (Makis Papadimitriou, Beckett), who is also suffering from gastrointestinal struggles that he worries might be something more. As his subjects keep riffing on the human digestive system, or trying to, he can't control his own. Endeavouring to withhold his flatulence 24/7 is his constant struggle. Somehow, keeping a straight face as everything gets absurd around him is a far easier task, but Flux Gourmet's viewers shouldn't want to share that achievement with him; this purposefully strange, silly and surreal film is far too deliciously hilarious. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; and September 1. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing and Orphan: First Kill.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2016 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on the ANZAC Day long weekend and travel through Maitland, Canberra, Oakbank, Bendigo and Townsville before finishing up in Bunbury. This year's lineup sees all the international talent come from the U.S., with rappers Danny Brown and Vic Mensa taking the stage, along with electronic duo Odesza and returning acts MS MR and Ratatat. Otherwise, it's an all-Aussie affair with locals like triple j Hottest 100 winners The Rubens, Client Liaison, SAFIA, Remi and Ngaiire making their way to the Moo. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2016 LINEUP: Alison Wonderland Boo Seeka Boy & Bear British India Client Liaison Danny Brown (USA) Drapht DZ Deathrays Emma Louise Golden Features Harts Illy In Hearts Wake MS MR (USA) Mutemath (USA) Ngaiire Odesza (USA) Ratatat (USA) Remi The Rubens SAFIA Twenty One Pilots (USA) Vallis Alps Vic Mensa (USA) GROOVIN THE MOO 2016 DATES & VENUES: Saturday, April 23 – Maitland (NSW) Sunday, April 24 – Canberra (ACT) Monday, April 25 – Oakbank (SA) Saturday, April 30 — Bendigo (VIC) Sunday, May 1 — Townsville (QLD) Saturday, May 7 — Bunbury (WA) For more info, head to GTM's website. Image: Joseph Mayers, GTM.
It doesn't take much to turn a day at the Regatta into a party, but when the iconic Brissie pub really wants to throw a shindig, it knows how to go about it. Enter Vineyard in the Courtyard, a scaled-down but still hefty version of the Toowong spot's old Regatta Fairs — which only spans one day, but is still all about riverside food, booze and hanging out. Taking place from 12pm on Sunday, June 26, Vineyard in the Courtyard is an excuse to eat, drink and be merry at one of the city's favourite haunts — and you won't hear us complaining about that. Who doesn't want to wander beneath the fairy lights strung up over the venue's courtyard, sip vino, listen to live jazz and get munching? Anyone keen on a pop-up charcuterie station will find plenty to snack on. The usual cafe and courtyard menus will also be on offer, including prawn tacos, fried cauliflower popcorn, lamb kofta pockets, mozzarella sticks and barbecue brisket rolls. Drinks-wise, yes, mulled wine will warm up your stomach. 'Tis the season for it, after all. Or, you can opt to taste varieties from Brokenchack and Italiquore, or take your pick from the standard bar range. Entry is free — and you'll pay for whatever you eat and drink. And expect to kick back in woodland-themed surroundings thanks to the Regatta's ongoing wintry makeover, aka Forbidden Forest in the Courtyard. Images: The Regatta / Creative Commons.
It's the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history. It's the longest-running production now currently playing Broadway, too. It's been seen by over 34-million people worldwide in 38 countries, and played more than 33,500 performances in 525-plus cities. And, it's won six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy. The show: Chicago. It has also locked in a return date with Australia, including splashing a healthy dose of 1920s razzle dazzle in Brisbane from Tuesday, January 2, 2024 in the musical's big Aussie comeback. Come on babes, why don't we paint the town? With all that jazz, the the record-breaking smash will shimmy back onto QPAC's Lyric Theatre stage to put on one helluva show. Get ready to see Zoë Ventoura (Home and Away) as Velma Kelly and Lucy Maunder (Mary Poppins) as Roxie Hart, plus Aussie theatre star Anthony Warlow (The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) as Billy Flynn. [caption id="attachment_714916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeremy Daniel[/caption] Also featuring: Peter Rowsthorn (Kath & Kim) as Roxie's husband Amos, Asabi Goodman (Hairspray) as prison warden Mama Morton and S. Valeri as crime reporter Mary Sunshine. Inspiring 2002's Renée Zellweger (Judy)- and Catherine Zeta Jones (Wednesday)-starring Academy Award-winning film of the same name, Chicago tells the tale of housewife and nightclub dancer Roxie Hart. In the decadent 1920s, she twirls through a whirlwind of murdered lovers, jail time, fierce rivalries and tabloid sensationalism — all set to a toe-tapping soundtrack. Based on a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, the production showcases music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and choreography by Tony Award-winner Ann Reinking. [caption id="attachment_714915" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Kolnik[/caption] Top image: Jeff Busby.
You can never have too much greenery in your life, both inside and outside your house. And, whether you're decking out your interiors or setting up a luxe outdoor hangout zone, you can never have too many homewares either. At least that's what you'll keep telling yourself while you're browsing around The Home Collective, with northside market offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art and more. If you're keen for a sneak peek, or some design inspiration, check out the event's Instagram page. That'll motivate you to head along, we're certain Taking place in Wavell Heights from 9am to 1pm on Sunday, June 3, the market won't just kit out your abode with — it'll also help cute critters, with your gold coin entry free going towards the Animal Welfare League Queensland. The AWL will also be bringing along a few four-legged creatures in need of a new home, so you could end up leaving with a green baby and a fur baby.
By the time Sunday rolls around, you're lucky if you have the energy and willpower to think, let alone cook. So, do neither. Instead, grab a friend or three and head for King Tea Chinese Kitchen and Bar in Paddington, where, from 10am, you can sink into all-you-can-eat yum cha for 30 bucks a head. The menu is big on both classic and inventive dishes, from bacon, egg and cheese dumplings, to mushroom wontons, to fried chicken, to Chinese omelettes and pancakes. Also look out for the vegetarian and vegan options — they take up half the menu. That's right, you won't be going hungry around here — no matter how worn out or ragged you might be from the night before. Bookings are essential — to the surprise of no one (especially if you're now salivating and making Sunday plans), this bottomless feast is bound to be popular.
