Remember Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 1988's mismatched buddy comedy about a washed-up private eye (Bob Hoskins) and an animated rabbit was (and remains) a remarkable piece of cinema: groundbreaking in its special effects, hilarious in its comedy and note-perfect as a noir pastiche. It set the standard for movies that seamlessly entertained both adults and children alike, almost as if there were two separate audio tracks where only those over a certain age could hear the gags about sex, drugs and violence. Watching the trailers for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, it was hard not to get excited that we might be on the verge of another Roger Rabbit-esque classic. Sumptuous special effects, a murky detective story, mismatched buddies and, as the pièce de résistance, master of deadpan Ryan Reynolds providing the voice of the eponymous Pikachu. Whether as a newcomer or a die-hard fan of the Pokémon franchise (which began as a video game and collectable-card craze), it seemed there was ample room for everyone to get beside the wise-cracking chubby rodent with the eyes of an angel and the mouth of a pirate. Alas, no. A convoluted plot, countless first-draft jokes and constant exposition dumb down the film to a level that even kids will find silly. It's not without its merits, but the overwhelming feeling is one of frustration at what might have been had they either embraced the world of Pokémon in earnest, or gone all-in on the detective story. Instead, it's a bit of everything and not a whole lot of anything. And to think, it all started so well. Detective Pikachu kicks off dramatically with a secret laboratory meltdown of sorts, prompting a prisoner escape, a car chase and a spectacular crash. The action then pivots to a delightful sequence involving a young man in a field, Tim (Justice Smith), attempting to catch and bond with a grumpy little Pokémon named Cubone. If the dynamics of human/Pokémon relations mean nothing to you, however, you'll quickly find yourself floundering from this point onwards, as the film all but glances over the details of what, for the franchise, were its core principles, rules and objectives. In fact, the film almost dismisses them entirely, setting its main story in Ryme City where the traditional sport of Pokémon combat is outlawed and humans and Pokémon instead live, work and play alongside each other as equals. Tim is there to finalise the affairs of his late father, Harry, whose death from the crash at the beginning of the film raises numerous unanswered questions. It's here where he also encounters Pikachu, and, to their mutual surprise, they discover they can communicate with each other. Pikachu has amnesia, remembering nothing except that he was Harry's former partner, and that he's convinced the death was fabricated. The stage is hence set for some classic sleuthing — but instead of going down that road, or even just following the story of the video game from which the film is based, Detective Pikachu simply jumps from one half-explored plotline to the next in a narrative that feels increasingly disjointed and rushed. It's such a shame, too, because in addition to the stunning visuals, Detective Pikachu boasts a pretty solid cast. Alongside Reynolds and Smith, there's Bill Nighy, Ken Watanabe and Kathryn Newton, all of whom receive either far too little screen time, or not nearly enough character development. Being a kids movie doesn't mean its leads have to be basic or cliched (consider, for example, the complexities of some of Pixar's leading characters). Yet here only Pikachu and Smith get anything even close to resembling a back-story. From the audible gasps at various stages of the film, it's clear there's some joyous content for the true Pokémon fans out there, but for the uninitiated Detective Pikachu doesn't offer nearly enough to sink your teeth into. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1roy4o4tqQM
Plenty can happen in six years. Since the last time that Hans Zimmer performed in Australia, his score for Dune won him his second Academy Award and his work on Dune: Part Two earned him his fifth Grammy, for instance. Over that period, the iconic composer has also given everything from No Time to Die, Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick and The Creator to Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III their tunes. One of the biggest names in big-screen music, he's clearly been busy — but he's not too busy to add a three-city Aussie tour to his 2025 calendar. Zimmer will head Down Under for the first time since 2019, again taking to the stage in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. If you've seen him live before, you'll know that this is quite the sonic experience, especially for movie lovers. And if you haven't caught him yet, you'll want to fix that at his April gigs at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. [caption id="attachment_990222" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lee Kirby[/caption] For more than four decades now, Zimmer has given screens big and small a distinctive sound. The German composer helped put the bounce in The Lion King's score and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes, and has loaned his talents to everything from Thelma & Louise to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy to Blade Runner 2049. It's an impressive list that just keeps going and growing — see: above — and it sounds even more impressive when played live and accompanied by an orchestra. The latest trip Down Under for the man who has worked his music magic on a wealth of titles — Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Lion King remake and The Crown are just a few more of his recent-ish credits — comes not only after his 2019 visit, but after he toured his Hans Zimmer Revealed concert series in 2017, including to Australia. His 2025 shows see the return of his Hans Zimmer Live gigs, complete with a 19-piece live band and full orchestra, as well as a huge stage production that features a luminous light show and other eye-catching visuals. [caption id="attachment_990219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] While the Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony-winner obviously isn't going to perform every single one of his iconic film scores, expect to hear plenty of your favourites from a newly arranged lineup of tunes that includes Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, The Lion King, The Last Samurai and Pirates of the Caribbean. Onstage, Zimmer will have Australian singer Lisa Gerrard for company, with some of the songs that she co-penned with him featuring in the set — so, tracks from Mission: Impossible, King Arthur, Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and more. "I'm thrilled to return to Australia with my wonderful band and excited to share this phenomenal show. I love this feeling of uniting my family of extraordinary musicians with you, the audience. Just an unbelievable family of talents that — to me — makes them the best supergroup of musicians in the world," said Zimmer, announcing his new Aussie tour. "But nothing would have meaning without the good grace and support of you, the other part of the family — the audience. Ultimately, the music connects us all, and I promise you this: we will always play our best, straight from the heart." [caption id="attachment_990220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] Hans Zimmer Live Australian 2025 Dates Thursday, April 24 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre Saturday, April 26 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, April 29 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_724856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frank Embacher Photography[/caption] Hans Zimmer Live is touring Australia's east coast in April 2025. For more information, and for tickets — with presales from 11am local time on Tuesday, February 11 and general sales from 12pm local time on Wednesday, February 12 — head to the event's website. Top image: Suzanne Teresa.
People have been visiting Mount Coot-tha Lookout for more than 100 years. This splendid spot comes with some breathtaking vistas over Brisbane and, beyond that, Moreton Island. Plus, it's only seven kilometres west of the CBD so there's no excuse. You can drive, catch a free shuttle bus or even arrive by helicopter if that's more your speed. Once on foot, follow the Mount Coot-tha Summit Track, which begins at JC Slaughter Falls and travels along an easy two-kilometre path. Return the same way or, for a bit of added adventure, choose the three-kilometre Magohany Trail, which loops back around to JC Slaughter Falls. [caption id="attachment_720364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bernhard Wintersperge via Flickr[/caption] Top image: Matthew Taylor/Tourism & Events Queensland
Get away from it all at South Gorge Beach. This secret slice of island paradise is a full day trip (or overnight stay), but it's worth it. Catch a ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke, then head to the little seaside town of Point Lookout. South Gorge beach is tucked away like a precious jewel beside the bigger Main Beach. Your reward for the long journey? Pristine blue waters that are yours for the swimming. The astonishing, unspoiled view doesn't hurt either. These are the glorious white sand beaches Queensland is famous for. When you've had your fun, you can hit the walking tracks for some sweeping coastline vistas, take advantage of numerous beautiful picnic spots or just hit the Surf Life Saving Club for a drink. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Tokyo might be filled with dotty creations thanks to its Yayoi Kusama museum, not to mention gorgeous animation at its Studio Ghibli museum; however that's just the beginning of the Japanese capital's immersive creativity. From June 21, it'll become home to a new digital art museum — the city's first, and one that'll dedicate its more than 10,000-square-metre space to interactive, kaleidoscopic artistry. While one-off Tokyo events have combined multi-course dinners with multi-sensory projections and turned a greenhouse into a light and music-filled garden patch, Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless will offer up those kind of attractions all year round. In fact, it's a collaboration between interdisciplinary art collective teamLab, aka the folks responsible for the aforementioned animated meal, and urban developer Mori Building, whose sky-high gallery in the city's Roppongi district hosted a giant game of Space Invaders 52 storeys above the ground last year. Set to feature more than 50 works, the museum will be split into five different areas — but, as the site's name indicates, there won't be any walls or borders between each space. Instead, visitors will roam from through a gallery where art works blend into each other, communicate with each other, move across installation rooms and even fuse with other pieces. Highlights include installations that'll make you feel like you're wandering through lily pads, sliding through fruit and sitting in an aquarium; a tea party that pairs real-life cuppas with virtually blooming flowers; and a forest of lamps that respond to human interaction, spreading their light as people approach each bulb. Still on the garden theme, the museum will also feature an 'athletics forest' complete with spaces for jumping, hanging on swinging bars, navigating a weightless space and climbing on gradients of different elevations, bridging the gap between the artistic and the physical. Plus, the site is located in Odaiba — which means travelling over the city's famous Rainbow Bridge to get there, and adding some extra brightness to your visit. Due to open on June 21, the museum will operate seven days a week, all year round. For more information, visit the Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless website.
It's been 18 months since Stranger Things last unravelled the mysteries of the Upside Down — or some of them, at least. Come July, the beloved Netflix show will finally unveil its latest 80s-set supernatural chapter, much to the delight of fans everywhere. And while that's still far too many sleeps away, the streaming platform has gifted fans with something to tide us all over: a first proper look at the series' new eight episodes. Stranger Things season three might hit screens come winter Down Under, but it'll be the sunny summer of 1985 in Hawkins. Yes, its ragtag group of residents are making the most of the warm weather, lack of school and abundance of free time that comes with it. The season's first trailer opens with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) returning home and reuniting with the gang, before offering a glimpse of the weird adventures to come. That includes toys, trips to the mall, trippy lighting and another monster (that doesn't appear to be just a regular ol' Demogorgon). Everyone is back, although the main crew is a little older, so expect teenage versions of Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown), Will (Noah Schnapp), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max (Sadie Sink) this time around. "We're not kids anymore," says Mike, in case this wasn't clear. "I mean what did you think, we'd just sit in my basement and play games for the rest of our lives?" Elsewhere, Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) still looks shaken, Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is still a man on a mission, and everyone's favourite walking hairstyle — aka Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) — is now working in an ice cream parlour. Of course he is. Arriving more than two months after the season's initial cryptic teaser, the trailer also serves up plenty of new bits and pieces, but we'll let you discover the rest by watching. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEG3bmU_WaI Stranger Things season three arrives on Netflix on Thursday, July 4. Images: Netflix.
Start making spring plans: the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has locked in exactly when you'll be able to frolic surrounded by blooms and blossoms at the beloved festival in 2024. The event will turn 75 this year, but is set to start its celebrations a bit later than in recent years. Accordingly, you'll be waiting a couple of weeks into September, rather than kicking off the season with a trip west of Brisbane. As it has since 2021, the event will brighten up the Darling Downs city for a more than just a couple of weeks, although this year's festival doesn't span a full month. But, after starting on Friday, September 13, it will end on Monday, October 7 — which is a Queensland public holiday. The setup, as usual, will feature flowers as far as the eye can see. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will also attempt to break its attendance record — again. That occurred in 2022, with 364,775 people making a visit, and then again when 417,517 folks went along in 2023. "Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is a very special event — for four weeks in spring, it attracts more than 400,000 people to celebrate the 40-million-plus petals blooming across the city's parks," said Councillor James O'Shea, Chair of the Toowoomba Regional Council Environment and Community Services Committee. "Like its well-tended gardens, the event continues to bloom, and in 2024 will celebrate 75 years. We are thrilled that more attendance and revenue records have been broken at last year's event, as people from all over Australia and internationally, converged on our Garden City," O'Shea continued. The 2024 program won't be revealed until Thursday, March 28; however, garden lovers can look forward to blossoms and floral displays galore, as always. Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers takes over a variety of locations — including Laurel Bank Park and the Botanic Gardens of Queens Park — to showcase all of the gorgeous florets and growths and gardens around town, kaleidoscopic arrays of tulips, petunias and poppies included. 2023's fest also spanned everything from twilight tours to a succulent festival, plus a ferris wheel, bonsai show, a heap of strolls across Toowoomba, a sideshow alley filled with games, the dog-friendly Petals and Pups program, a cinema under the stars, three nights of fireworks and the three-day Festival of Food and Wine. It boasted the #trEATS regional food trail, too, which showcases local eateries, and sees participating cafes, restaurants and bars serve up floral-inspired dishes. Whatever ends up on the 2024 lineup, there's no bad time to head along throughout from mid-September to mid-October — and you might want to make the trek more than once. Indeed, when it comes to scenic spring sights, there's no prettier place to be. And, given it takes less than two hours to head up the mountain from Brisbane, it's perfect for a weekend day trip. The 2024 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will run Friday, September 13–Monday, October 7 across Toowoomba. For further information, head to the event's website.
Most pet owners could look at their gorgeous ball of fluff all day, every day. Most animal lovers could do the same thing with any type of creature. If you're especially fond of gazing at cute puppies and delightful dogs, you'll soon have a new place to go — no, not your local dog park or pooch-friendly drinking session, but New York's Museum of the Dog. While a museum dedicated to dachshunds opened in Passau in Germany last year, NYC's newcomer will showcase all types of canines. Run by the American Kennel Club, it'll be specifically filled with doggo-centric art. Basically, if you think that paintings of pups are the ultimate creative ideal, then prepare to feast your eyes on more than just dogs playing poker. Statues of dogs, odes to famous movie pooches, a 'find your match' feature that uses facial recognition to pair you with the best breed for you, a 'meet the breeds' touchscreen exhibit that'll tell you everything you need to know about every kind of pupper — they're all part of the museum as well. It'll also include a community wall, where locals can show off their favourite four-legged friends. And, as it'll be located at the same site as the AKC's headquarters, the Museum of the Dog will also have access to the organisation's library, archives and collection. [caption id="attachment_704503" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Museum of the Dog[/caption] When the Museum of the Dog opens on February 8, it'll actually mark a homecoming, with the facility starting in New York in the 80s before moving to St Louis for the past three decades. The celebration of man's best friend will also offer rotating exhibitions exploring the art of making art about canines across the ages, plus 'guest dog of the week' sessions where visitors can meet, greet and learn about different varieties of pooch. If you're headed to New York next month, the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog will open its doors on February 8. Visit the museum website and Facebook page for further details.
Okay, so perhaps there's not such a marked shift between seasons in the Sunshine State as there is in other parts of Australia. Brissie gets that perfect balmy weather almost all year round. But that means we certainly know how to make the most of warm days. And with a spate of new venues and outdoor activities popping up on the scene, Brisbanites are spoiled for choice when it comes to summertime adventures. To make sure you don't miss a sight, sound or sip this sunny season, we've partnered with Tanqueray to pull together a lineup of activities that'll see you enjoying the best of the Brisbane with, of course, a refreshing gin beverage in hand. From a virtual jacaranda garden to $1 oysters and a rooftop pool, we've got your summer well and truly sorted. SEE A FLICK AT BRISBANE'S MOONLIGHT CINEMA To catch the latest and greatest films in the great outdoors this summer, head along to the Moonlight Cinema at The Amphitheatre in Parkland till March 31. The openair cinema's program shows both recent releases and cult classics on the silver screen; from Crazy Rich Asians to Dirty Dancing, there's a film for any kind of movie buff. Once the flick has finished, meander down to the water's edge and grab a drink at upscale wine and cocktail bar Mr and Mrs G. To really get into the summer spirit, order a Bartender's Punch with Tanqueray gin, Fernando De Castilla brandy, spices and lemon. Or, grab a bottle of Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla and opt for your own Seville orange spritz at home. Cheers, cinephiles. TUCK INTO $1 OYSTERS AT THE TERRACE BY E'CCO It may be one of the newer bars on Brisbane's wining and dining scene, but what it lacks in experience, it makes up for with top-notch cocktails. Oh, and $1 oysters. That's right, The Terrace by E'cco has a 4–6pm happy hour (Tuesday through Sunday) that promises $1 oysters with any drink purchase. We suggest ordering the pretty Cherry Blossom featuring Tanqueray, elderflower liqueur, dry vermouth, violette liqueur, rose syrup and lime juice. And if the shellfish just isn't your thing, there are also a few other reasonably priced snacks available, including barbecue buns, milk buns, prawn toast and, for the super hungry, pork ribs. WANDER THROUGH A VIRTUAL JACARANDA GARDEN AT GOMA The only bad thing about jacarandas is the fact that they last for such a short time; it feels as though you could blink and miss these lavender blooms. Well, now, jacaranda season can last forever (or a couple of months, at least) as the trees have been immortalised in digital form. Gary Carsley's Purple Reign exhibition is now blooming inside the Gallery of Modern Art until April 28. Spend the day getting lost in this idyllic installation, then head across the river to Treasury Casino for a post-exhibition tipple — a Tanqueray and tonic, perhaps? [caption id="attachment_697417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Gerwyn Davies, Prawn. 2016. Archival inkjet print. Image courtesy the artist.[/caption] CHECK OUT THE 'DRESS CODE' EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM If you've ever wondered whether or not we are what we wear — we like your existential thinking, friend — head along to the Dress Code at the Museum of Brisbane to find out. Running till January 28, the exhibition is a deep dive into our relationship with clothes, highlighting the impact fashion has on culture, gender and identity. It'll certainly make you question the very shirt on your back. Entry to the exhibition is free, which means more money for post-exhibition cocktails. Take yourself, and your clothes, over the river to Stokebar Q and grab a Short Stack cocktail. The delightfully fruity concoction features Tanqueray, Mandarine Napoleon, falernum, quince syrup, lime juice and grapefruit powder. COOL OFF AT SOLEIL POOL BAR Since it's summer, we have to include a pool. But this isn't your run of the mill, kids screaming, public pool-style affair. No, we've found a chic poolside hang-out, fit for you summertime revellers. Soleil Pool Bar is set on a sprawling inner-city rooftop and boasts incredible panoramic views of Brissie, as well as an elegant pool and deck area. As sister venue to Brisbane culinary gem Bacchus, Soleil, unsurprisingly, serves up stellar cocktails and tasty eats. In the warm weather, don't go past a Tanqueray No. Ten with a splash of tonic and a plate of the porcini arancini. Celebrate the return of summer with a Tanqueray tipple in hand at home or around your city. Top image: Terrace by E'cco.
An escape to Aotearoa New Zealand can cater to all your holiday desires, whatever they may be. Whether your idea of a perfect getaway is to be gazing out at incredible scenery, absorbing it all on a hike, bike, paddle, swim or walk, or being pampered into a state of utter relaxation, New Zealand will take your breath away. Make where you stay part of your holiday too, rather than simply a place to rest your head after an experience-packed day. From camping out under the stars beneath one of the darkest skies on Earth to retreating into luxury residences next to vineyards and cellar doors, or even going completely off-grid, the getaways you'll find in New Zealand are uniquely extraordinary. Although New Zealand beckons for a holiday year-round, the seasons will shape your sojourn too. Revel in the charm of changing landscapes in autumn, catch your breath on alpine walks and in hot springs in winter, or experience the energy of spring as native wildlife and vegetation start afresh. No matter when you visit, you'll be welcomed with manaakitanga, a Maōri value encompassing a deep sense of connection and welcome, for a holiday you'll wish never had to end. We've partnered with 100% Pure New Zealand to curate some of our favourite stays in New Zealand, including which season they're best experienced in, to help you plan an unforgettable trip. Flick the switch for incredible getaway venues in autumn, winter and spring. Jump to switcher
Brisbane's dining scene is on the up and up, with those keeping their ear to the ground knowing there's an ever-growing array of cafes that compete with the country's best. However, there's a new spot on the block that stands out, as Warehouse Cafe serves up its specialty coffee and a tight selection of toasted options with a strong dose of street art. Set inside Superordinary — an eclectic multi-arts space and events venue in the rapidly evolving Northshore Hamilton precinct — there's more to the creative side of this cafe than just some graffiti on the walls. Instead, guests are invited to get involved, as anyone can paint on the open "jam walls" and transform the space into an outdoor gallery. However, if chucking up a throwie isn't quite your speed, the hospitality aspect of Warehouse Cafe is no second thought. Alongside Allpress coffee, the menu is short but tasty. Think a trio of toasted options, including smashed avo with tomato medley, capers, lime, red onion and a balsamic reduction, as well as build-your-own crumpets. This spot is also a prime position for free coworking. Featuring ultra-fast Wi-Fi, you can breeze through tasks working indoors or out. Plus, the surrounding community is home to loads of happenings, from a library and board games to an artist paint shop. There's also a regular schedule of workshops and events, from culinary festivals to dance music experiences. What's more, the whole place is pet-friendly, so your dog can come hang out as you sip back one too many coffee while you get down to work. And there's loads of bike parking, so you can store your ride before putting all that extra energy to good use on the way home. Finally, local creatives can submit artwork to hang in Superordinary's huge gallery, while crate-digging DJs are welcome to request use of the venue's vinyl setup. Pairing creativity and community with food and drink, Warehouse Cafe is a new way to relax and connect on the banks of the Brisbane River. Warehouse Cafe is open at Superordinary, 175 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, operating Monday–Saturday from 7am–12.30pm. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
You've entered the workforce. You enjoy where you work and what you do. Congrats, you've successfully adulted. But, seeing as your career will likely span upwards of 40 years of your life, you'll want to be in a position where you can actually get the most out of your job. How? We have one word for you — upskill. By taking a course or studying a single subject related to your career goals, you'll expand your realm of knowledge beyond any original training you've done, keep up to date with the latest research and methodologies in your field and show your present (and prospective) employers your ambition and drive for self-improvement. And, you don't even need to put your career (or life) on hold to do so. Senior manager of marketing Rhiannon Farrar is one of the thousands of Aussies who have studied online through Open Universities Australia (OUA). She got her degree — maintaining a healthy study-work-life balance in the process — and she's now kicking some serious career goals. This is how she did it. DON'T PACK YOUR BAGS Forget Hollywood's idea of the university experience — moving across the country, living on campus and going to frat parties. For a lot of people, pausing life to study for a period of time is just not feasible. But, luckily, you don't need to. OUA partners with universities all across Australia to bring over 290 degrees and 1500 subjects to students studying remotely. Sydney-based Farrar went straight into the workforce after high school, starting out as a casting agency talent booker before taking on a front of house role at a Sydney advertising agency. So, when it came to studying, moving wasn't really an option — she already had her foot in the door in Sydney. Instead, she undertook her preferred degree — Griffith University's Bachelor of Communication (majoring in Public Relations) — online through OUA. FIT STUDY AROUND YOUR LIFE (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND) Life can be unpredictable, which makes locking yourself into a degree feel completely daunting. But, one of the biggest drawcards of studying through OUA is the flexibility. OUA lets you select the number of subjects you complete per study period, semester or trimester (depending on the qualification). So, if in one study period, life gets busy, you want to travel or complete an internship (like Farrar did with the Sydney Kings basketball team), you can scale back to one subject — or take off a semester altogether. You can then take on an extra load in the following block to catch up if you like. On top of the industry-specific knowledge that Farrar gained, she notes that this flexible style of studying also improved her work style — from learning how to manage her time to working independently and feeling confident asking for help when necessary. USE WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING STRAIGHT AWAY Chances are, you only remember a fraction of what you learned in high school (Pythagoras theorem, we're looking at you) and the same can happen with uni, too. If you're not thinking about it on a daily or weekly basis, some information just doesn't stick after a certain period of time. When you're working and studying simultaneously, you get to implement what you're learning in real time. Similarly, everyone likes a shortcut — and earning credit for the work experience you have under your belt already is a surefire way to fast track your degree. Just five years on from her graduation, Farrar now oversees the marketing strategy for the entire Asia Pacific region for Rakuten Marketing. She partly credits her quick rise through the ranks to being able to put what she was learning into practice immediately — and vice versa. "Working in adland and studying PR, there were a lot of overlaps between what I was learning and what was happening at work," says Farrar. "My studies helped me get a greater understanding of the industry, and my work helped me to make practical sense of what I was learning." FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH You may not be interested in a full degree right now. Perhaps you've identified a knowledge gap or want to specialise to future-proof your job (and make yourself more attractive to potential employers). OUA also offers a heap of post-graduate single subjects that you could study in your lunch break, commute or after work. It's a minimal commitment (aside from sacrificing a few hours at the pub or watching Netflix) for maximum return. From learning how to code with RMIT to a subject on Innovative Business Practice with Swinburne University through OUA, there are plenty of subjects that will get you up-to-date in your field and supercharge your career. Take it from Farrar: "We live in a competitive world where new trends and technology are constantly coming into play. Keeping yourself upskilled is so important to ensuring career development and growth." Start looking at all the subjects on offer online from leading Australian universities through Open Universities Australia and you could have a new skill by the end of the year. Hop to it.
You can put a beloved animated series into cryogenic stasis, but someone is going to thaw it out one day. In Futurama's case, US streaming platform Hulu has announced plans to defrost the Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century, marking the second time that it has been brought back. Originally airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic animated series then returned from 2008–2013 — and now it'll be revived again in 2023. Obviously, in the words of Professor Hubert J Farnsworth: good news, everyone! Hulu has announced a new 20-episode run for Futurama, as well as the return of most of the original voice cast. That means that you'll be spending more time with Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West), the 20th-century pizza delivery guy who managed to get accidentally cryogenically frozen on New Year's Eve 1999, only to defrost a thousand years later — and then get a job delivering packages with Planet Express, the cargo company run by Farnsworth, his distant nephew. It also means more antics with one-eyed Planet Express captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal); fellow company employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille). One key cast member who hasn't yet been confirmed for the Futurama revival: John DiMaggio, aka the voice of constantly sauced robot Bender Bending Rodríguez. Variety reports that it's still hoped that DiMaggio will return for this trip back to the animated future, but if that doesn't happen, Bender will be recast. Whoever will be exclaiming "bite my shiny metal ass!", Futurama will keep doing what it did hilariously well over its past seven seasons and four direct-to-DVD movies: peering at life in the year at 3000 and beyond in its offbeat way. "I'm thrilled to have another chance to think about the future... or really anything other than the present," said David X Cohen, Futurama's head writer and executive producer, in Hulu's announcement. "It's a true honour to announce the triumphant return of Futurama one more time before we get canceled abruptly again," added The Simpsons great Matt Groening. Viewers Down Under can likely expect to watch the new Futurama via Disney+, given that the Mouse House owns Hulu and airs Hulu shows in Australia and New Zealand via its Star expansion — but expect further specifics to be confirmed, alongside a premiere date, as 2023 approaches. New episodes of Futurama are set to air in 2023 — we'll update you with further details, including where you'll be able to watch Down Under, when they're announced.
Australian cinephiles are well and truly accustomed to seeing the rest of the world via the big screen but, after the past year, 2021's Spanish Film Festival really couldn't be more welcome. And, it won't just transport movie buffs to the country that gives the annual filmic showcase its name. Twenty features from Spain are definitely on the bill, but so are nine from Latin America. That gives Brisbanites plenty of movie-watching options come Wednesday, April 18, when the fest kicks off its local season for this year. You'll have until Sunday, May 16 to head to Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, tuck into some popcorn, enjoy everything from award-winning rom-coms to twisty thrillers, and pretend that you're somewhere other than your own city. Highlights include road movie Wishlist, starring Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'s Victoria Abril; romantic comedies Rosa's Wedding and The Wedding Unplanner, because matrimony seems to be a theme; Goya Award-winner Schoolgirls, which took out the gong for Best Film; and While At War, the latest film from The Others director Alejandro Amenábar. Heroic Losers serves up a charming heist comedy starring the always engaging Ricardo Darín (Everybody Knows), while the 1950s–70s-set The Moneychanger delivers a satirical twist on crime epics. If you're only going to see one movie, though, make it Ema — not just because it stars Gael García Bernal and is directed by No, The Club, Neruda and Jackie filmmaker Pablo Larraín, but because this tale about a dancer (Mariana Di Girolamo) is a simply stunning piece of cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpt6Vffhtik&feature=emb_logo
Can logic and science co-exist with the metaphysical and supernatural? "I think that's what I'm exploring in all of my work," says Robert Eggers. A decade on from making his first feature, and marking himself as one of horror's spectacular new voices at the time, the acclaimed writer/director has the filmography — The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman and now Nosferatu — to prove it, of course. "And I think that the difficulty with this stuff is if you believe it, it's true. So I think that's why I explore it in the safety of cinema rather than diving into the deep end and ending up in the madhouse." Whenever Nosferatu sinks its teeth into the silver screen, be it in FW Murnau's 1922 original, or when the inimitable Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) followed in his compatriot's footsteps with 1979's Nosferatu the Vampyre, or now that Eggers has crafted his own take, it unfurls a tale of gothic obsession. Fixation and passion also sits at the heart of how this icon of horror cinema keeps flickering through picture palaces. It all started with an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is why the narrative is so similar but the names have been changed. When Herzog gave it a spin, it was because he considered the first movie to be "the greatest German film". Eggers himself has been drawn to Nosferatu since childhood, even directing an iteration of it as a play in high school. (He also appreciates that for the generation that grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants, so kids from 1999 onwards, that might now be commonplace given that discovering Nosferatu can spring via the animated show.) As Dracula clearly is as well, Nosferatu is easy to be passionate about. The OG film is a masterpiece — of silent cinema, of German Expressionism, of horror and just in general. Count Orlok, as initially played by Max Schreck, is a hauntingly unforgettable screen presence. There's no missing the fervour that Eggers has for all things Nosferatu in his movie, or how lovingly that he regards the original. But while there's a packed coffin full of nods backwards in his feature, an Eggers film always feels distinctively like an Eggers film. He's been embracing period-set horror from the get-go anyway, and he repeatedly demonstrates again and again that he's only ever interested in realising his own meticulous — and stunning — celluloid visions. Willem Dafoe (Saturday Night), a veteran of The Lighthouse and The Northman before becoming Nosferatu's Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, knows all about Eggers' way of working. Asked to describe the director's work, the actor who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for portraying Schreck in 2000's Shadow of the Vampire — a riff on the making of Murnau's Nosferatu — notes that the filmmakers' oeuvre is "contact with stories from another time that have a relevance to now. Beautiful shots. Very detailed, not-conventional cutting. Great art direction. Great shooting. Hopefully good actors. That's kind of the checklist." Dafoe continues: "obviously I've worked with Robert three times and I want to work with him some more. I enjoy it so much, because for an actor it's a dream. He gives you fun things to do, and you're sent to a world that is so rich that it's far easier to pretend and entertain a new set of conditions, thoughts, feelings. And for me, as an actor that's always what I'm interested in — to make contact with stuff that's beyond my experience." There's absolutely no 'hopefully' about Nosferatu's excellent cast. After playing Pennywise in IT and IT: Chapter Two, Bill Skarsgård (Boy Kills World) is Eggers' Orlok — and he's a force to behold. The object of his obsession: Lily-Rose Depp (The Idol ) in a physically committed and entrancing performance as Ellen Hutter, who is newly married to real-estate agent Thomas (Nicholas Hoult, Renfield). The latter is dispatched from the couple's home in Wisborg to Transylvania to assist Orlok with purchasing a property. As Ellen remains in Germany — and as her connection to Orlok begins to fester and torment — she stays with Thomas' old pal Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, The Fall Guy), his pregnant wife Anna (Emma Corrin, A Murder at the End of the World) and their children. Taylor-Johnson couldn't have been more eager to be involved. "Sometimes I feel like when you get a filmmaker like Robert — firstly I admired his work and was like 'I'll do anything to be a Robert Eggers movie'. And then all of a sudden, you get this this invitation, this letter and a call saying he's doing something and would like you to be a part of it. You can't quite believe that's happening. You can go 'great, I don't even need to read a script — whatever you want me to do'," he advises. Corrin shares enthusiasm for the experience, and for jumping into horror. "I guess it's fun because it's a unique set of challenges. I've certainly found it interesting, how you craft a scene — I think it's a very specific way that you obviously approach shooting scenes to make them have that suspense, and especially if there's a jump-scare onboard." For them specifically, however, a particular gauntlet awaited: rats. "I remember reading that in the script early on, and texting Rob and being like 'hey, man, wondering if the rats are going to be CGI or are they going to be real? Just curious'. He was like 'definitely real, no CGI'. And yeah, it was intense. I had about 20–30 rats on me. I was also topless, which was interesting. It was bleak, if I'm honest. I tried to be quite brave about it." Why Nosferatu fascinates Eggers, what excited Dafoe about collaborating with the filmmaker, digging into tested beliefs and internal conflict, acting opposite Depp's can't-look-away portrayal: all of that also spanned Concrete Playground's chat with Eggers, Dafoe, Corrin and Taylor-Johnson. So did Count Orlok's look, Dafoe's own history with Nosferatu, Eggers' exacting way of working, giving a century-old film a modern lens and more. On Why Nosferatu Has Fascinated Eggers Since Childhood, Including Turning It Into a Play When He Was a Teenager Robert: "It's very hard to say. I think certainly the Murnau film had a major impact on me, and initially it was Max Schreck's performance and just the power of the simple fairy-tale adaptation that Murnau made of the Dracula story. But as I have grown older and learn more about the occult, and vampire folklore from Eastern Europe — and hysteria and 19th-century medicine — the more that I found that it was a story that I was able to really embrace and put many of my interests in, and to use the framework to explore the things that were exciting to me creatively." On What Excites Dafoe About Working with Eggers After Collaborating on The Lighthouse, The Northman and Now Nosferatu Willem: "Just the personal nature of what he does. The detailed nature of what he does. The kind of investment. It's not work, you know. He's playing to his pleasure and his interests. And then I just like being around him. He inspires me, gives fun things to do. I get a little self-conscious — he's sitting right here. Number one, obviously I'm all in. But check the boxes. He's everywhere on the set. The thing that's really impressive, and I know other people that do this, but it's really impressive that on the set there's such detail, that nothing is there for decoration. It's all function. It's all functional. It has a place. It has a history. And when you can feel the origins of things and where they're placed in the world, that really gives you a reality that's easy to enter. It's a reality that you're not covering anything — you're living in it. And it's very easy with a little willfulness to say that our world drops away and you're in that world. It's an exercise in pretending, and he makes it very simple by giving you a very rich world to exist in." On What Corrin Was Keen to Dig Into in the Film, Including Tested Beliefs and Internal Conflict Emma: "I think Anna has an interesting journey, because she is constantly fighting between her love of Ellen and her own beliefs. And there's a lot of conflict between those two things, because she's very devoutly religious and doesn't believe in a spiritual world — especially a spiritual world based on the occult and folklore — and obviously all of everything Ellen's experiencing points to the existence of that world, which would remove the very foundation of her worldview, everything about how she's been raised, and all of her beliefs. And yet she really loves her friend and wants to be there for her. So I think that experience of Anna, of being with Ellen in such close proximity and witnessing this, it gets to the point where she can't — I think for both Anna Friedrich, actually, they can't not see it anymore. It becomes so obvious what's happening, and then it's so confronting. And you see all of their own beliefs and whatever sort of falling away before their eyes, which is a very scary and vulnerable place for them to be in, especially with kids. I think that I, as an actor, I guess I enjoy complexity and internal conflict in a person. It's very interesting to portray." On How You React When Such a Physical Performance, as Lily-Rose Depp Turns in as Ellen, Sits at the Heart of a Film Emma: "You can't help have a really quite visceral reaction to watching someone who, as you say, who's doing such a committed physical piece of acting. It constantly, I think, blew our minds how she was contorting her body, and the choreography and the stamina that she needed to have as a performer to do that take after take after take — and offer so much. It was incredible. It was a real gift to act opposite because we didn't have to — there no acting required. It was very easy to imagine what these two people, how they would react to what they were seeing." Aaron: "It's definitely extraordinary. I feel very privileged to have been in the room witnessing a performance like that, that felt very raw and with no vanity, and it just felt it was disturbing in real life — and I knew it was going to be shocking on film." On Finding the Right Aesthetic for Bill Skarsgård as Nosferatu's Count Orlok Robert: "Bill is playing a folk vampire. He's an animated corpse, and not Frank Langella in a tuxedo. And that was very enjoyable to create. The look of a dead Transylvanian nobleman, we have certain nods, certain details that remind the audience of Max Schreck, because we have to also be respectful of that. But it was really nice. And while the look was completed by myself and David White [who also worked on The Northman], the prosthetics designer, we also had a Transylvanian folklore expert, Florin Lazarescu [Aferim!], who reminded me 'you know, Robert, a lot of times they talk about the strigoi being a red face'. And so if you'll notice, there are moments when you can see blood pooling under the skin after he's been feeding and stuff like that, which are some fun details." On Returning to the World of Nosferatu After Being Nominated for an Oscar for Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire Willem: "They're so different, the films, the intentions, what kinds of films they are. That was very important to me. First of all, I love the Murnau film. I had known it before working on Shadow of the Vampire. Shadow of the Vampire was basically a comic performance. And it leaned heavily on the Murnau because, basically, to find the character I copied a lot of what I saw in the Murnau. That was the starting point. So it was a great lesson in working with a mask, because I had extreme makeup, and that's the first time that it really — maybe not the first time, but it reminded me that if you look different, you move different, you start to feel different and you really have a possibility that becomes a trigger for pretending that's very potent. And you can even do things that you couldn't imagine before because you're drawing on something that's intuitive. It's not shaped, it's not indicated, it's not something you control, it's in your imagination. So that was very important. So then when Rob talks about doing Nosferatu, of course he's not talking to me about playing Nosferatu, but he tells me about this fantastic character that I always felt like is the role he would play if he were in the cast of this movie. So I've been working with him before, knowing his interests and having him give me all this rich material to research, to prepare for the role, that was the connection. It all connected to that other experience, but at the same time, you can't force a relationship between those two films because they're so different and when you finish one, you make room for the next." On the Meticulous Detail and Structure — and No Room for Improvisation — That Comes with Working with Eggers Emma: "I think we were lucky because our characters aren't explored very much in the original. But Rob definitely brought them to life in a certain way — in a very particular way — that was important for this film, because they represent this beacon of light against this darkness that envelops everyone. And in that way, we had a bit of carte blanche, I suppose. But then Rob is so specific in the way he creates characters and the backstory — he's very meticulously thought-out back story for everyone, which I think I find really helpful. I don't know if I'm a big fan of freedom. I think I like specific notes and specific ideas." Aaron: "Structure." Emma: "Yeah, structure." Aaron: "Honestly, I agree. He was so thought-out on everything. I mean, the only thing I probably could have brought was that I was allowed to like [ask] 'can I have mutton chops and some a great big moustache'. And I think that was it. That was allowed." Emma: "Was that you?" Aaron: "Well I wanted some kind of facial hair. I think he wanted something distinctive because they'd already started working with Nic, and he wanted me to have a big twizzly moustache, so that grew and grew. I think there's a little bit of conversation about that. I wanted to improv and he was like 'absolutely not'. So I was like 'okay, well I'll just do what you say'." On How Eggers' Nosferatu Brings a Modern Lens to a Century-Old Classic Aaron: "This story is 100 years old, but yet it's still very relevant today. And I think originally that movie came out, came off the back of the Spanish flu, and it became this metaphorical piece of art reflecting, mirroring reality. And being that we've just come through a global pandemic and we've all been through this feeling of this wave of fear that comes through a city and disrupts everybody in such a panic and a way, it felt very much — I remember reading it and being 'whoa, this seems like, it feels like this'. And then Robert goes 'well, that's originally what it was for 1921'. But then at the fundamental core of it, there's a theme throughout that's about love and battling with your demons, and having shame with this deepest, deepest darkest secret that you've carried from a childhood into your adult life — and how it's going to affect your relationship, and all this sort of stuff. So it's very powerful. I think for our characters, when you're saying this modern element, it's like it was the missing piece to the puzzle. So the original one, our characters aren't involved in that, and so Robert created this next three-dimensional world — this family that lives in Wisborg, and Ellen is staying in this household that is very much this beacon of light, and they're a loving family. They've got children. They've got everything that Nicholas' character aspires to be. And so it's just Robert building upon that world and making it more contemporary, and making it more relatable. They're a very grounded family and arguably they are far more loving than you probably would find in that kind of period. They're very passionate. There's a lot of eroticism throughout the movie, and Emma's character is pregnant with their third child. It's interesting." On the Allure of Period-Set Horror for Eggers Robert: "I just enjoy learning about the past. That's how I like to understand who we are and where we're going — by where we came from. It's what has always excited me, even as a kid. And if I wasn't a filmmaker, maybe I would be an archaeologist. This is just what I enjoy, but also, for making these genre films, I think it's easier to tell — like if you're talking about witches and vampires and things like that, it's easier to make them scary if you are in a period where everybody believed in them, more or less. And obviously in this film, in Wisborg, that's not quite the case, but you get my point." On Dafoe's Experience Working with the Rest of the Cast Willem: "I enjoyed it so much because they're so turned on. Sometimes with older actors, they're comparing their experience that they're having to something in the past. While I find younger actors — now, keep in mind someone like Nic and Aaron, actually many of the actors, are very experienced, so let's not get crazy here; they aren't so young and inexperienced, to tell you the truth — but there's just an excitement. There was an excitement that you could feel for them working with Rob. You're just there. You don't make those distinctions. You're playing characters. You're all on the same footing. You're all trying to fold into the story and help each other, and disappear into the story. So I was looking today, we were shooting pictures, and it's a very special group to a person. Really, there's not a stinker in the group. So the simple answer is: I was very happy to work with this cast, because seldom do you have a cast that's so uniformly strong, not only in performing, but also I remember we took portraits in the costumes and everybody had a look that was very believable and very credible. There was no flourish. The look was very rooted. Robert cast them very well, not only for their look, but also for their talent." Nosferatu releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Images: © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.
Don't think much of the humble of bowl of oats? Prepare to change your mind, like now. You can basically thank your existence on the subject of this feature. Porridge has in fact been dubbed the “greatest invention of all time”, without which, our earth simply wouldn’t be as populated as it is today. (Don't believe it? The UK Telegraph wouldn't lie.) Mercifully though, this ridiculously versatile breakfast option has evolved from the basic blend of oats, milk and a simple topping to the seriously inspired — think quinoa grains; milk alternatives such as almond or coconut; and toppings of fresh, poached or dried fruit, nuts, compotes, fairy floss, ricottas or burnt caramel sauces. Thanks to imaginative chefs in cafe kitchens across Brisbane, our top ten list covers the best from decadent and sweet to healthy and wholesome. Whichever way you prefer your morning goodness we're sure there's one below that's juuuust right. The Rogue Rennard The porridge at The Rogue Rennard is quite simply put, divine. A bowl of perfectly balanced flavours and textures, the creamy vanilla oats are cooked in full fat milk and are topped with sweet but still slightly tart quarters of poached quince, a sprinkling of crushed almonds and desiccated coconut and micro herbs to finish. It’s pretty much the epitome of winter in a bowl and leaves you scraping your spoon to ensure those final residual grains don’t escape your stomach. 106a Latrobe Tce, Paddington Al'FreshCo A stroke of genius from Alastair Mcleod’s Al'FreshCo team (who serve up French inspired deliciousness at the Jan Powers Farmers Markets every week) means you can now get your porridge fix whilst trawling for your weeks’ produce! The wonderfully indulgent vanilla porridge made with oats, vanilla bean paste and full fat milk, is served with sweet strawberries from fellow stallholder Wild Fruit, a drizzling of burnt orange caramel and is finished with optional bee pollen and honey. Sweet, warming and just heavenly. Jan Powers Farmer Markets, New Farm & Queens St The Moray Cafe The Moray Café’s take on porridge is definitely one for the sugar inclined. Nothing short of sweet, its banana chai porridge with berry compote, honeycomb and homemade fairy floss is as pretty as a picture and is almost like having dessert for breakfast. With oats made on a mashed banana and chai infused milk, the porridge is served with a sweet berry mixture of jam-like consistency and topped with clouds of pink floss. It conjures childhood imaginings of princess breakfasts and fairy food. 158 Moray St, New Farm Bear Bones Espresso Tucked away in a non-descript building on Mclachlan St in the Valley, Bare Bones Espresso does a mean coffee…but its small selection of breakfast options is equally as enticing. In particular the red quinoa porridge with chai tea soaked prunes (or cranberries if they’re out), pepitas and pistachios will warm the “barest of bones”! Both textural and flavoursome it ticks the boxes for creaminess, nuttiness and zing factor. 2/66 Mclachlan St, Fortitude Valley Kiss the Berry Known for amaze-balls acai bowls and awesome house blend coffee, Kiss the Berry has also recently started selling warm porridge bowls to hungry hoards of city goers. The overnight oat porridge bowls are the shiz with oats soaked overnight in water, vanilla and cinnamon, cooked in milk and topped with your choice of either apple, blueberries and pistachio crumble, or strawberry, banana, gluten free buckinis and coconut sugar. With either option you’ll also get a blob of acai compote to finish, which is all it takes to transport you to porridge nirvana. Shop 1/99 Creek St, Brisbane Spicers Balfour Kitchen If there were a prize for the most decadent of porridges in Brisbane, Spicers Balfour would be a serious contender. With oats and quinoa cooked with cream and served with an extra jug of it on the side for pouring, it’s thick, luscious and everything you want from a winter breakfast. Topped with candied almonds, tangy sour cherries, slightly crunchy caramelised apple and sugared pistachio it’s a breakfast that will make you want to curl up with a book and go straight back to bed after you've finished! 37 Balfour St, New Farm Sourced Grocer Locals are well aware that the cooler months mean it’s time for the much anticipated winter porridge from Sourced Grocer. We know these guys can do a killer bowl of oats making it wickedly rich with both milk and cream, but it’s the annually changing topping that generates the hype. Last year it was caramelised banana and maple and this year it’s all about the rhubarb with hazelnut rapadura sugar and extra cream. Served al dente so the rhubarb is still in tact and sprinkled with the nutty, sugary crumb it’s definitely another hit! 11 Florence St, Teneriffe Artie & Mai This may only be a special on the Artie & Mai menu but the quinoa porridge made with coconut milk and topped with slices of fresh banana, walnuts, sunflower seeds and thyme infused honey, is a ripper. Using only quinoa the porridge is light and fluffy with a slightly chewy texture and nutty flavour. Super healthy with just a hint of sweetness from the banana and honey, it’s also perfectly portioned so you don’t feel like you’re rolling out the door once spoons are down. Artie & Mai, we think this one needs to become a regular breakfast option. Stat. 340 Sandgate Rd, Albion Campos Coffee The team at the Campos head quarter’s kitchen in James St usually do porridge every winter that regulars look out for. Its current take on the traditional warming breakfast is a creamy vanilla oat porridge, served with earl grey infused dates dotted throughout and topped with a blob of thick, creamy ricotta and fresh strawberry halves (honey is also optional). Plus, Campos' oat-y goodness is like a never-ending bowl of deliciousness. Props to those who can polish it off! 11 Wandoo St, Fortitude Valley Stalled Espresso Normally Stalled’s porridge comes topped with vibrant rhubarb and berry compote, however, in a testament to improvisation (and lack of rhubarb on the day of review) they can easily substitute the topping for whatever they may have on hand. Sweet caramelised banana and fresh strawberries are a perfect combination and fresh alternative atop the creamy bowl of oats that will leave you wanting to return the next day. And the next. 38 Collingwood St, Albion Honourable mentions definitely to go to Willow and Spoon, Little Pawpaw, Blackbird Espresso. Photography by Mimi Hyll
Since 2016, the cinema-loving world has had a Studio Ghibli-shaped hole in its heart. That's when the acclaimed Japanese animation house released its most recent film, the gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle. Its last solo production actually came two years earlier, courtesy of 2014's When Marnie Was There. Still, much has happened in Studio Ghibli's world over the past decade. Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement, then changed his mind. In 2018, fellow co-founder and acclaimed director Isao Takahata sadly passed away. And, over the past few years, the company has been busying itself with its very own theme park. The latter is due to open in 2022 and become quite the tourist attraction — but that doesn't mean that fans aren't keen for more Ghibli movies. Thankfully, the studio revealed earlier this year that it's working on just that, with two new films on its current slate. One of those movies will be helmed by My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon Miyazaki, with How Do You Live? actually first announced a few years back. As for the second film, Australians will be able to watch it in the new year. Called Earwig and the Witch in English (and also known as Aya and the Witch), the movie marks the first Studio Ghibli completely made using computer-generated animation. Director-wise, it's helmed by Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro Miyazaki, who previously directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up On Poppy Hill. It's also based on a novel written by British author Diana Wynne Jones, who penned the book that Howl's Moving Castle was adapted from, too. And, Australian distributor Madman Entertainment has just advised that it'll be releasing the film Down Under sometime early in 2021, with an exact date still yet to be revealed. In terms of story, Earwig and the Witch focuses on a girl at an orphanage in the British countryside. She enjoys living there, but her world changes when she's chosen to live with a couple — including, as the title makes plain, a witch. Earwig doesn't know that her own mother also had magical powers, so she's thrust into a strange new world, all while trying to do what she's always wanted: belong to a family. In its English-language version, the film will feature voice work by Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Dan Stevens (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) and singer Kacey Musgraves, plus newcomer Taylor Paige Henderson as Earwig. We've said it before about Nicolas Cage's new show about swearing and the brand new full season of Spicks and Specks, but 2021 is definitely looking better than 2020. Earwig and the Witch will release in Australian cinemas sometime early in 2021 — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Images: Madman Entertainment.
A few years ago New Zealand's famously sulphur-scented town of Rotorua was a thriving centre of tourists and adventure-seeking locals alike, thanks to attractions like zorbing, luge rides and more. The region was hit particularly hard by COVID which saw tourist numbers dry up and adventure outlets forced to close. With borders now open, those looking for a spot to spend a long weekend over the ditch shouldn't overlook it in favour of some of its flashier city siblings. In fact, Rotorua recently joined places like Bucharest, Athens, and Seychelles on Forbes' list of the top 50 destinations to travel to in 2023. Concrete Playground recently visited Rotorua for the weekend and found it rich not only in culture, but in luxe and relaxing experiences. Here's our guide on where to eat, drink, play and stay next time you're in this hot pool hotspot. EAT AND DRINK You're might be already familiar with Eat Street, a famous laneway of restaurants and bars in the heart of Rotorua, but there is a far greater bevvy of spots hidden around the town's streets — you just need to know where to look. Fuel up with a morning coffee and brunch at Junction on Fenton, a family-friendly eatery attached to the historic I-site building in town. Here you can learn a little about the area before fuelling up for the day with a filling feed — we'd recommend the aptly named breakfast dish 'No Time to Waffle' to send your blood sugar sky-high. For a relaxed yet vibey dinner of share plates and truly excellent cocktails, look no further than Poco Tapas on Arawa Street. Tucked up an unassuming staircase above a lawyer's office — don't get confused by the very corporate entry — this eatery specialises in share plates like flatbreads and dips, fried chicken and some truly standout vegetable side dishes. The cocktails are also excellent. Don't sleep on the espresso martini. Unlike many of New Zealand's tourism hotspots, Rotorua isn't stacked with wineries — but its best-kept secret for wine fans is, surprisingly, found up the gondola. If you're begrudgingly being forced into some daredevil activities, find an excuse to sneak away to Volcanic Hills' tasting room. Rotorua's only cellar door, this stunning spot offers vinos with lake views — and is also in a great supervisory position over the luge. Make sure to include a walk through the Redwoods on your weekend trip — either marvelling from the ground or from 20 metres in the air during the treetop walk. Once you've sufficiently worked up an appetite, head to Eastwood Cafe, a chic eatery found in the stunning new Scion Innovation Centre on the outskirts of the forest. Perfect for a post-ride or hike refuelling, this new spot is a real standout, thanks to its modern fit-out, stacked menu and above all, a giant authentic pizza oven behind the counter churning out fresh 'zas. Conk yourself into a carb coma with the carbonara pizza which manages to combine two excellent Italian dishes in one. Feeling extra peckish? Splurge on a side of spicy chicken wings — and do not miss the daily $10 margarita. PLAY You're going to need at least three days in Rotorua to really soak up all the activities so book that annual leave now. And don't worry if you're not a thrill seeker or 'outdoorsy' type — even those without a penchant for adrenaline will find plenty to do. For an activity that manages to blend both exercise and geology (but in a fun, non-school-like way), opt for a kayak tour with Paddle Board Rotorua. These tours allow you to see steaming geothermal activity from the water and get up close and personal with some pretty stunning geysers — which have a cute tendency to explode when you're near them. On our trip, a geyser blew that guide swore hadn't happened in the three years he'd been running the tours. This was very exciting and only mildly terrifying. If you've never seen a real-life kiwi (the bird, not the people) you're going to want to pay a visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery — yes, this is where that famous picture of Harry and Meghan with the kiwi was snapped. The tireless work this team does is, quite simply, amazing: retrieving kiwi eggs and bringing them to their onsite incubators, raising them as hatchlings and allowing them to grow strong enough to survive in the wild — without being food for pests like stoats and rats. You'll get to see eggs being incubated, the hatching process and newly hatched kiwi chicks, and all of your ticket cost goes into back into the hatching programme. After all that education, it's time to find your zen. Luckily Rototua is known for its hot pools. For an authentic clay-smeared experience, hit Hell's Gate. Here you'll soak in the mud pools slathered in the good grey stuff before getting into the "health-giving" sulphur pools for an Insta-worthy soothing soak. Just be sure to give your swimsuit a good wash separate from the rest of your clothes — ours still smell a little sulphury a few months down the track. Otherwise, opt for one of the Polynesian Spa's famous private pools for a delicious soak overlooking the lake. STAY If you're looking for a romantic spot to soak up the views and just get away from it all, there are several glamping experiences nearby, including the stunning Kokako Retreat, 30 minutes from Rotorua. With an outdoor tub, firepit and epic sunset views, it's the perfect way to really feel like you've managed to escape from the city. If you want to stay right in the heart of things — including a stone's throw from some of the aforementioned eateries — opt for the newly refurbished Pullman Rotorua. Rooms start from AU$170 a night, and the staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. The buffet breakfast each morning is worth a stay alone. GETTING THERE Rotorua is located in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island: a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Auckland and a five and half-hour drive from Wellington. Alternatively, there are breezy twice-daily 45-minute flights from Auckland Airport. Feature image: The Polynesian Spa
For everyone who's yearned for a sunny, sandy, surf-filled holiday over the past few years, screens big and small have come with a warning: be careful what you wish for. In M Night Shyamalan's Old, hitting a gorgeous beach meant ageing quickly. In The White Lotus, it sparked eat-the-rich dramas. While the horror movie remake of Fantasy Island arrived just before lockdowns and travel restrictions, it unleashed terrors in scenic surroundings (and a terrible movie upon audiences). And in the Tim Roth-starring Sundown, escaping to Acapulco permanently isn't as blissful as it sounds. Come the end of July, The Resort will keep this chaotic vacation streak going, all via an eight-part streaming series that'll hit Australia via Stan from Friday, July 29. Here, Nick Offerman (Pam & Tommy), Cristin Milioti (Made for Love) and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) star in a comedy-thriller that's also a mystery and a coming-of-age love story. Plenty can happen on a getaway, after all. Milioti and Harper play Emma and Noah, two high-school teachers who've been married for ten years and head off on a trip to the Yucatan to celebrate. But while seeking a stint of vacation bliss, as well as attempting to reinvigorate a routine relationship and life that Noah at least is content with, they stumble upon a 15-year-old mystery involving Sam (Skyler Gisondo, Licorice Pizza) and Violet (Nina Bloomgarden, Good Girl Jane) — when they were each making the trip to Oceana Vista Resort with their respective parents back in 2007, but weren't seen again. As The Resort's trailer shows, Offerman plays Violet's father, who is still looking into the mystery, too. Also making an appearance: Luis Gerardo Méndez (Narcos: Mexico) as Oceana Vista Resort's head of security a decade and a half back, Gabriela Cartol (Hernán) as the concierge where Emma and Noah are staying, and Parvesh Cheena (Mythic Quest) and Michael Hitchcock (Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar) as two Teds who are married to each other. The cast also includes Ben Sinclair (Thor: Love and Thunder) as resort owner, Debby Ryan (Insatiable) as Sam's girlfriend, and IRL couple Dylan Baker (Hunters) and Becky Ann Baker (Big Little Lies) as Sam's parents. Behind the scenes, The Resort hails from showrunner, writer and executive producer Andy Siara (Palm Springs, Lodge 49), as well as producers Sam Esmail (Mr Robot) and Chad Hamilton, and was shot throughout Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Check out the trailer for The Resort below: The Resort will start streaming in Australia via Stan from Friday, July 29. Images: Marisol Pesquera / Peacock.
One of the most significant fashion designers of the past century is the subject of one of Australia's most significant fashion exhibitions, with the National Gallery of Victoria dedicating its big summer blockbuster show to the late, great Alexander McQueen. For fans of pioneering, boundary-pushing threads, Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse's four-month season promises to be better than Christmas — complete with more than 120 garments designed by the icon, plus artworks, sketches, videos and photographic works that inspired him. First revealed back in May, and now on display from Sunday, December 11, 2022—Sunday, April 16, 2023, Mind, Mythos, Muse has taken over the NGV International. Inside the Melbourne cultural institution, fashion devotees will find walls and halls filled with a stunning display, as created in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). All things McQueen first graced LACMA, and now it's Australia's turn. While the LA venue organised the exhibition, drawing upon more than 60 garments and accessories from its own holdings, it contacted NGV about both contributing and running its own season. That's where 50 designs by McQueen from the NGV Collection come in, plus other artworks from each institution. The NGV has been hoping to put an exhibition like this together ever since the designer first made a splash in the early 90s, and Mind, Mythos, Muse does indeed venture back that far. The showcase features McQueen-designed items dating back to 1994, and 25 different seasonal collections — with 20 seasons covered from its the NGV's own holdings alone. Accordingly, attendees can check out examples from the autumn-winter 1995–1996 Highland Rape collection, the autumn-winter 2006–2007 The Widows of Culloden range, and spring-summer 2010's Plato's Atlantis, McQueen's final complete collection before his death in February 2010. Various sections of the exhibition dive into McQueen's oeuvre in different ways. With Mythos, for example, three collections inspired by mythological and religious belief systems sit together. Then, in Fashioned Narratives, four collections that showcase his knack for world-building are in the spotlight. Next comes Evolution and Existence, which hones in on his interest in life cycles and the human condition — and Technique and Innovation, which is rather self-explanatory. Finally, Dangerous Bodies is all about early collections with a focus on eroticism and empowerment. Helping pull together all of the above are behind-the-scenes snaps by photographer Robert Fairer, taking audiences backstage at McQueen's shows — because his parades were an event and an art — and 80-plus historical artworks spanning painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts and works on paper, all hailing LACMA and NGV's collections.
It's safe to say that 2020 has been a strange and surreal year. In fact, as we all know, that's quite the understatement. Prefer to get your weird and wonderful fix watching the big screen, rather than reading the news? That's perfectly acceptable — and that's what Monster Fest is all about. Returning to Event Cinemas Myer Centre from Thursday, October 29–Sunday, November 8, this fest is all about out-there cinema. In 2020, it's even taking on an apocalyptic theme. That means that film fans can expect flicks about dystopian scenarios; however, it'll also be serving up a selection of the latest and greatest genre and horror movies in general. If you're only going to add two films to your must-see list, make them Possessor and Synchronic. The former is the latest vivid and engrossing sci-fi/horror mind-bender from Brandon Cronenberg, son of iconic filmmaker David Cronenberg, and it stars Andrea Riseborough (Mandy) and Christopher Abbott (Vox Lux) in a thriller about corporate espionage via mind control. As for the latter, it's the stellar new movie from The Endless duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead, and features Anthony Mackie (Avengers: Endgame) and Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) as paramedics who keep being called out to cases involving a trippy, reality-shifting new drug. Also on the bill: documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, which features the legendary director talking about his big horror hit; Occupation: Rainfall, the world-premiering sequel to Australian sci-fi film Occupation; and new 4K restorations of retro favourites Total Recall and Event Horizon. The list goes on, and this year's fest comes with a difference: nothing in its program screens against each other, so you can head along to absolutely everything if you're super keen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl_kzTQvPVw
In a brief, early sequence, Dead Men Tell No Tales appears to achieve something quite remarkable. Immersing Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) in a bank heist, it feels like the filmmakers have cottoned onto something that helmers of previous Pirates sequels never managed to grasp: a little bit of Sparrow goes an awfully long way. Yes, even here, the rum-swilling pirate remains as ridiculous as ever. But as his crew drags a safe through the streets while he tries to evade capture, you at least get the feeling that his latest adventure will be about more than just him. Sadly, it doesn't last. The truth is, time has not been kind to Depp since the first Pirates of the Caribbean hit back in 2003 and earned him an Oscar nomination. Or, to be more accurate, Depp has not been kind to Depp. Audiences have been accosted by his Sparrow shenanigans not only in Dead Man's Chest, At World's End and On Stranger Tides, but in almost everything else he's made in between. From Alice in Wonderland to The Lone Ranger to the nigh unwatchable Mortdecai, Depp's penchant for outlandish overacting has kept him firmly in the same mode. If it was beginning to grate a decade ago, it's positively painful now. Point is, make sure to enjoy this movie's early moments while they last. While the fifth film in the franchise ostensibly endeavours to switch its gaze to the next generation, the fact remains that an overabundance of Sparrow threatens to sink the whole ship. The wobbling seafarer finds himself in demand, with young upstart Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) and mysterious astronomer Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) both requiring his help in their hunt for Poseidon's trident. Meanwhile, ghostly pirate hunter Salazar (Javier Bardem) is also on Sparrow's trail, hungry for revenge. Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) pops up, as do a few family ties, although the plot isn't really the main focus of this dip back into choppy waters. Just as amusement park attractions are more about thrills and theme than narrative, so too is Dead Men Tell No Tales. Taking the helm after impressing with the ocean-faring Kon-Tiki, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg soon lose control of their vessel, serving up bland nautical action alongside their predictably unbearable protagonist. Given that this franchise has been surfing a downwards trajectory from the outset, we shouldn't really be surprised by the failure of this latest outing. An initial burst of energy, a couple of new faces and Bardem reliably playing the villain are all promising signs, but they're not enough to turn sea trash into treasure. Hold onto your hats though, me hearties, as it seems the franchise won't be walking the plank just yet. Like plenty of other big-budget sequels of late, Dead Men Tell No Tales appears as though it's just treading water for another installment. Next time, maybe follow Sparrow's lead and load up on rum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dhAxBe3uqk
Being an adult means celebrating Easter however you damn well want to. Fancy setting up an Easter egg hunt around your house? Go for it. Keen on drinking cocktails out of chocolate? No one will stop you. Want to ditch the usual festivities and dance away the afternoon and evening at a disco party on the river? Hop to it for the third year running. Indeed, if that last option particularly takes your fancy, you'll want to make a date with 2024's Mr Percival's Easter Sunday River Disco. Kicking off at 3pm on Sunday, March 31, it's exactly what it sounds like — all at Howard Smith Wharves' resident overwater bar. MC Double D, who you might know from Sneaky Sound System, will be spinning tunes with other DJs for company — and they'll be on the decks right through until late. As for drinks, there'll be bubbles aplenty at Mr Percival's outdoor spritz bar, as well as Italian cocktails. And, the usual food menu will be on offer if you need a prawn cocktail, Moreton bay bug roll, bug-topped pizza or lemon curd parfait for sustenance.
Woolloongabba's South City Square isn't quite finished yet, but that isn't stopping the new and expanding precinct from putting on a party. Come Saturday, July 13 and then monthly afterwards, it's throwing a jam-packed Saturday session in its leafy outdoor area. First up, prepare for the great trifecta that is singing, pizza and pooches. The tunes will come courtesy of Queensland Music Festival's pop-up choir, as well as a DJ spinning retro tracks. With Salt Meats Cheese eventually due to open onsite, it'll be sending its Fuel food truck by to serve up pizzas — and give away free triple-cheese truffle garlic focaccia with every pizza purchase. And, as for the dogs, this Saturday South Session will play host to the first heat of Brisbane's Most Beautiful 'Supaw' Search. Yes, there'll be a pupper parade. Heading along is free, with the shindig running from 12–4pm. You'll also be able to grab a snack from the precinct's existing eateries, such as Tuckshop Time. Image: South City Square.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Byron Bay Council. To book your Byron Bay festival holiday, visit legendarybyron.com.au. Historically, Bluesfest might be the most famous shindig on the Byron Bay calendar. But if you've a tendency to limit your North Coast escapades to an annual Easter visit, you're truly missing out. Byron's got a pretty full organiser with plenty of festivities bubbling all year around — from the glorious aural Meccas of Splendour in the Grass and Falls Music and Arts Festival, to the erudite musings of the Writers Festival and the locally-sourced smorgasbord on offer at Sample. Here are the five best reasons to get behind a kombi wheel and find the '60s still swinging up the Pacific Highway. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS What started back in 2001 as a relatively modest one-day festival has transmogrified into one of Australia's biggest national events. From July 25 – 27 over 90 artists — Outkast, Interpol, Lily Allen, Foals and London Grammar among them — will converge on North Byron Parklands for three days of must-see sets. But it's not all about the ears, with installations, panels, comedy, food and pop-up bars aplenty onsite. "Now there’s an expectation that festivals do a lot more than music, and art is one of the essential elements," explains Splendour Arts curator Craig Walsh. "I try to create a program which can integrate across the site itself and create different kinds of experiences for audiences... We try to support new and experimental work and we see that as adding to the identity of the festival." Splendour in the Grass runs July 25 – 27 at North Byron Parklands. BYRON BAY WRITERS FESTIVAL Just days after Splendour comes to an end, poets and playwrights will pour into Byron for the Writers Festival. Held August 1 on Belongil Beach at the North Byron Beach Resort, the festival attracts some serious names up north. This year, the BBWF lineup's big tickets include Richard Clapton in conversation with David Leser, John Safran discussing true crime novel Murder in Mississippi and a John Weiley retrospective presented by Kerry O'Brien. "It’s a very relaxed format," says founding chair Chris Hanley. "It’s tents by the sea, so it’s very interactive... You can glide from session to session and taste what is going on. You can wander and sit on the beach. There is no other literary festival I know of with such a beautiful site." Byron Bay Writers Festival runs August 1 – 3 at Belongil Beach, North Byron Beach Resort. SAMPLE FOOD FESTIVAL A true foodie pilgrimage, Sample celebrates the distinctive flavours of North Coast fare. For one day of feasting on September 13, the Bangalow Showground will flood with local producers, farmers, celebrity chefs and exhibitors for this colossal food festival. Indulge in $5 and $10 tasting plates, get busy with classes covering everything from raw foods to cheesemaking, watch cooking demos and kick back to live music. With over 15,000 visitors are expected to attend, Sample is one of Byron's premier food events. Sample runs 8am – 4pm on September 13 at Bangalow Showground. BYRON BAY SURF FESTIVAL Unlike many other surf fests — centred around checking out who's mastering the biggest, most untameable waves right now — Byron Bay Surf Festival is a truly all-encompassing event for surfers and punters alike. Last year's festival involved ancient Hawaiian Olo demos featuring Dave Rastovich and Tom Wegener, surf yoga sessions, wooden surfcraft workshops, a money-free surf swap meet and a rule-free surf comp open to beginner, expert and in-betweener surfers. So far, 2014 is promising a Surf Shorts Film Comp (get your entries in asap), with the remainder of the program soon to be announced. Byron Bay Surf Festival runs October 24 – 26 at Byron Bay and at various spots throughout Byron's town centre. FALLS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Every year, thousands of live music aficionados flock to the three-day Falls Music and Arts Festival in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania, to usher in the new year. Last year, Byron nabbed its own piece of Falls action, holding the very first edition at North Byron Parklands. With the artists hopping across the three festivals in an applause-worthy feat of logistics, Falls fuses exceptionally high-quality lineups (with a noted emphasis on blues and roots) with stunning natural landscapes and all the chai you could possibly drink. This year's program is yet to be announced, but if you're after a guaranteed thumbs up of a New Year's Eve you should lock this one in already. Falls Festival runs December 30 – January 15 at North Byron Parklands. Image by Paul Smith. Feeling festive? Head to legendarybyron.com.au and get planning your Byron Bay holiday.
When they were making All the Real Girls, Pineapple Express and Your Highness together, plus Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones as well, did conversations between filmmaker David Gordon Green and actor Danny McBride go as follows? "Do you like all-time horror masterpieces?" one may've asked. "Is creating your own version of some of the genre-defining greats your ultimate dream?" the other could've responded. "What if we revived the best of the best from the 70s decades later?" might've been the enthusiastic next line. Then, as two of the driving forces behind 2018's Halloween and its follow-ups Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends kept chatting, "shall we keep their biggest stars, but in flicks that act as direct sequels to the OG films and ignore all of the past sequels, and also work as reboots sparking a new trilogy?" could've been the latest reply. Thanks to the recent Halloween films, a natter like the above seems likely. Now that Green and McBride are also giving The Exorcist a spin, this kind of talk appears a certainty. So, writer/director Green was possessed with a new demonic screen story with McBride and Halloween Kills' Scott Teems, then penned a devil-made-me-do-it script with Camp X-Ray's Peter Sattler. The result is The Exorcist: Believer, a 50-years-later return to head-twisting dances with evil — this time with a prologue in Haiti rather than Iraq, the bulk of the action set in Georgia instead of Washington, DC's Georgetown, and two girls not one in need of faith's help to cast out malevolent fiends. Green and McBride's swap from Michael Myers to Pazuzu also already has its own trinity in the works, with first sequel The Exorcist: Deceiver due in 2025. As it apes the original movie's structure, there's a touch of trickery in starting The Exorcist: Believer in Port-au-Prince: the city's 2010 earthquake is used to get the plot in motion, a move that lands queasily, clunkily and exploitatively. Perhaps Green and company thought that slipping into a real-life tragedy's skin then wreaking havoc was a fitting piece of mirroring; instead, that choice should've been exorcised. Photographer Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) is holidaying with his heavily pregnant wife Sorenne (Tracey Graves, On Ten) when the earth rumbles, leading to him becoming a single father — but not before the baby is blessed in utero by a local healer. Cut to 13 years later, where teenager Angela (Lidya Jewett, Ivy + Bean) is introduced rifling through her mother's belongings, then convincing her grief-stricken dad to let her have an after-school date with her classmate Katherine (debutant Olivia O'Neill). She doesn't tell him that they'll be trying to contact Sorenne via a seance in the woods, though. Christianity reaches The Exorcist: Believer via Katherine, plus her devout parents Miranda (Jennifer Nettles, The Righteous Gemstones) and Tony (Norbert Leo Butz, Justified: City Primeval). Two bedevilled kids means more concerned adults, with the latter's nightmares beginning when Angela and Katherine don't return home from their forest frolic for three days. Once the girls re-emerge, they're withdrawn and erratic. The medical diagnosis is trauma; however, that doesn't explain the spooky happenings. Miranda and Tony contend that something unholy is afoot from the instant that the teens go missing, but Victor takes convincing. There's no lack of folks endeavouring to sway his thinking, as led by believing neighbour and nurse Ann (Ann Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale), who points him in the direction of someone who has been there, seen that and dealt with all the terrors of having a daughter taken over by Pazuzu: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Organised Crime). Shorter than its inspiration but feeling longer, The Exorcist: Believer largely operates in two modes post-preamble: slowly setting the scene, building up to the thrashing, voices and good-versus-evil battle that everyone knows is coming (the film is called The Exorcist, after all); and letting the expected play out. Both are overextended, which doesn't up what little suspense, scares or tension that the feature has — but does benefit the movie's actors and their performances. More time spent with Tony-winners Odom Jr (for Hamilton) and Butz (for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Catch Me If You Can) gives The Exorcist: Believer more emotional depth, as much needed. Jewett and O'Neill are visibly enjoying themselves in the picture's darkest turns. Oscar-winner Burstyn (for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) plays a smaller part, but her presence has weight to it. Alas, that's all that the film sadly wants of her, as it sets up one possible path, takes it away and then leans on easy nostalgia. As 2018's Halloween did with that saga's 40th anniversary, The Exorcist: Believer has timed its arrival carefully; 2023 marks half a century since William Friedkin adapted William Peter Blatty's bestselling novel that started it all. Green again considers the source material sacred, and it is: earning the now-late but always-great Friedkin his second Best Director Oscar nomination two years after he won for The French Connection, The Exorcist is a horror titan. It made history as the first-ever horror film nominated for Best Picture, too. Not just its own sequels (1977's Exorcist II: The Heretic and 1990's The Exorcist III) and prequels (2004's Exorcist: The Beginning and 2005's Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist) took its lead, but everything about demonic hauntings since 1973. Still, while The Exorcist: Believer is certainly better than the unrelated The Pope's Exorcist, also from 2023, it's as dispiritingly by the numbers as it can be in attempting to emptily copy Friedkin, resurrect lines, get notes of the same score echoing and keep to the franchise playbook. When controversy surrounded the OG The Exorcist all those years back, the ideas and sights that helped cause it had meaning. A crisis of faith lingered throughout the film as heavy as dread, unease and alarm. When the Pazuzu-possessed Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair, Landfill) stabbed violently downwards with a crucifix, the movie's musing on religion's love of the patriarchy and the latter's struggle with girls when they reach puberty were searing. The list goes on, as Green knows but can't match. The Exorcist: Believer amasses a multi-faith group to do the exorcising this time, deploying inclusivity to comment on the changing role that worship plays in modern American life, yet only weakly says the obvious. The patriarchy is addressed again, overtly in monologues, but mostly The Exorcist: Believer plays like its big church-set moment: wandering in to make a big bloody scene while just splashing around some standard shocks.
In his latest role after becoming everyone's favourite fictional TV chef in The Bear, Jeremy Allen White isn't cooking up a storm in the kitchen. There's still plenty of heat in sci-fi romance Fingernails, however. Here, the Shameless and Homecoming actor stars alongside Jessie Buckley (Women Talking) and Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), with the trio involved in a love triangle — even though science definitively tells people how their hearts feel. The idea beating inside Fingernails: what if couples took tests to prove whether they were really, truly, genuinely head-over-heels in love? What would that do to romance and relationships? Also, what would happen if the results went one way but you started having feelings for someone else? And, how complicated would the situation be if you worked at a love-testing institute, but still found your emotions disproving its theory? As the just-dropped trailer for Fingernails steps through, Anna (Buckley) and Ryan (White) took the test three years back, got a positive result and settled into their relationship. Then Anna meets Amir (Ahmed) at her job at the love-testing institute, which is where all that questioning comes in — as soundtracked in the sneak peek by Yazoo's 'Only You'. The film marks the English-language debut of Greek writer/director Christos Nikou, who first made a splash with the similarly high-concept Apples — and took a few cues there from The Lobster and The Favourite's Yorgos Lanthimos by adding a new entry to the Greek Weird Wave. That flick pondered and parodied a pandemic in glorious deadpan, imaging a world where amnesia has wipes memories at random. Nikou both helms and pens again with Fingernails, which premiered at this years Telluride International Film Festival and will release in select cinemas on Thursday, November 2, then stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, November 3. Alongside White, Buckley and Ahmed, the film features Luke Wilson (Fired on Mars) and Annie Murphy (Black Mirror). Check out the trailer for Fingernails below: Fingernails will release in select cinemas on Thursday, November 2 and stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, November 3.
Plenty of movies have them: that moment when someone walks, moseys, runs or struts just as the music swells, soundtracking the act of putting one foot in front of the other in quite the spectacular fashion. You know the kind of on-screen scene we're talking about. When it happens, emotions swirling in the process, it's instantly memorable. Always wished that real life could feel like that? We all have. And if listening to your usual playlist isn't cutting it during your strolls around town, Brisbane now has a new audio experience you'll want to try out. Available until Sunday, July 24 — launching as part of this year's Curiocity Brisbane, but also sticking around for a couple of weeks afterwards — City Symphony adds a thrilling soundscape to wanders around the River City. It also has some help from David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jesswar. Those famous names are all featured in City Symphony's interactive audio, which plays via an app as you walk through the Brisbane CBD. Also on the soundtrack: Keir Nuttall, Hope D, Ancient Bloods, Eve Klein and David Hudson providing tunes, plus original stories by Dr Helen Marshall, Kathleen Jennings and Anisa Nanduala. The brainchild of singer and composer Dr Eve Klein, plus creative coder and engineer Ravi Glasser-Vora — aka Textile Audio — City Symphony offers a site-specific but evolving soundscape that you listen to via headphones, and by accessing the app via a smartphone, as you hit up the inner city. So, you can head to the Queen Street Mall, the Flower Gardens in the City Botanic Gardens, Goodwill Bridge and King George Square, as well as Reddacliff Place, Queens Gardens, Bunya Walk, George Street and Albert Street, and get what's being badged a 'sonically mapped landscape' piped into your ears. In total, there's nine different pathways for folks to walk along, each with its own audio. And if you're wondering what kinds of things you might hear as you venture down Brissie streets and between landmarks, a mass choir singing a prayer to the Brisbane river, a rock concert buzzing with a roaring crowd, a pot-luck dinner and a whirring spaceship are all included — alongside those aforementioned tunes and tales. Feel like you've seen every inch of Brisbane from every angle? And heard it, too? Delivered in conjunction with Queensland Music Festival, City Symphony wants to change that while it's giving you an immersive soundtrack. And, making the experience unique for each user is video game creation technology, which helps the app use real-time data from your phone to adapt its sound mixes as you move through each space. "We've had to innovate and handcraft the technology underlying the experience from scratch," said Klein and Glasser-Vora. "But the point of this is not to make shiny new technology for its own sake. We believe art can break down barriers and emerging technologies provide new lenses on our surroundings. City Symphony is an open invitation for the people of Brisbane to come and play, and experience their city in a whole new way." City Symphony is available to experience until Sunday, July 24. For more information, or to download the app, head to the City Symphony website. Images: Pixel Frame.
Treating yo'self doesn't have to mean splurging. Adding caviar to your next stint of drinks doesn't need to involve breaking your budget, either. From Wednesday, April 3–Tuesday, April 30, head to Midtown and you'll be able to get indulgent from just $20 during the South Brisbane bar's caviar-focused month. The Manning Street venue is pairing its martinis — the watering hole's specialty — with the foodstuff that everyone thinks of when they think of luxury, all as part of its nod to New York. The cheapest option is available on Tuesdays, which is when a lobster (the money kind) will get you a bump of Polanco Oscietra Grand Reserve. But there's also specials on offer every day. Fancy a martini with your roe? You have two deals to choose from: one with a dry martini paired with green olives filled with caviar, which costs $39; another with a gold-leaf vodka martini and the same olives-and-caviar combo for $69. Crisps and caviar (aka sour cream and onion Pringles, plus crème fraîche and caviar) will set you back $49. Jacket potatoes and caviar (with the spuds filled with crème fraîche, then topped with caviar) is the same price. Tasmanian oysters topped with scampi caviar is $68, or $80 if you add a Laurent-Perrier sidecar. You can also just opt for the star ingredient, no matter what else you're eating or drinking, although it does get pricier. Polanco Oscietra Grand Reserve costs $70 for 10 grams and $130 for 30 grams. Wild Australian scampi caviar comes in at $80 for 10 grams and $130 for 25 grams. Both include a sourdough crostini and crème fraîche — and you can go with a champagne sidecar from an extra $12.
The human race has been obsessed with epic tales since the beginning of recorded history. From Homer’s Odyssey right up to the Doctor Who box set, not only have we sought to test the limits of our physical and psychological endurance, but we have enjoyed it. Maybe it's the thrill of the extreme that keeps us hanging on, or our addiction to escaping the boredom of our own lives. But at a time when our attention spans are shortening, ADHD is on the rise, and our linkbaited, schizophrenic multiscreen world is perpetually distracting us, it seems somewhat of a miracle that Melbourne Festival can program a 10-hour experimental verbatim theatre show, and that it can (almost) sell out. Life and Times is sixth on our list containing ten of the world’s longest theatre shows — though it has plenty of company in an era where 'binge watching' might not be limited to just TV. 3 hours: Sleep No More by Punchdrunk Whilst sitting towards the bottom of the time-commitment spectrum, Sleep No More is worth mentioning for its epic interactivity-commitment: you physically walk through the play, and it can take you hours. Loosely based on Macbeth, it's currently showing in New York at the McKittrick Hotel, a five-floor theatrical wonderland. There is no speaking, and audience members wear white Venetian masks for anonymity. You can follow the performers around or independently explore the sprawling set. 6 hours: Hotel Medea by Zecora Ura and Urban Dolls From midnight to 6am, this Brazilian-British theatre marathon debuted at London's Arcola Theatre in 2010. Presented in three parts, the play reinterprets the ancient Greek myth Medea, about a woman bent on avenging her husband's betrayal. The audience is confronted by relationships between ancient and modern ritual, including that of sleep, and undergoes a warpy, surreal theatre experience (ending with breakfast). 7 hours: Angels in America by Tony Kushner One of Sydney's theatre highlights in 2013 was Eamon Flack's staging of Angels in America at Belvoir Street Theatre. A seven-hour, Pulitzer Prize-winning saga in two parts, Angels is set in New York in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS epidemic and deals with the fallout of McCarthy era politics, religion, sexuality and personal struggle. A true humanitarian tale with lots of time to get to know the characters. 8 hours: Gatz by Elevator Repair Service "Should I read the book or watch the play?" How about you do both at the same time! When employee James Gatz finds a copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby amidst the clutter on his desk one morning, he picks it up in curiosity, and begins to read. Eight hours later, you've made it through the entire book, word-for-precious-word, thanks to Gatz and a 13-strong cast of co-workers in a low-budget rental office. 9 hours: Lipsynch by Robert Lepage Like the opposite of a silent meditation retreat but with the ability to produce a strangely similar effect, Lipsynch takes time to explore speech and the human voice and how they connect us together. The play follows a multicultural spectrum of nine characters, each with speech-related jobs, from opera singer to speech therapist to interpreter to voiceover artist, interweaving them amidst a visually stunning and theatrically inventive set. After not having talked for nine hours, it's hard to know what to say when the curtains close on Lipsynch. 10 hours: Life and Times by Nature Theater of Oklahoma "Can you tell me your life story?" This is the question that the artistic directors of the Nature Theater of Oklahoma asked Kristin Worrall, one of the members of their company. Now her 16-hour collection of responses is a 10-hour, verbatim theatre experience, and the aim is to develop it to 24. Combining traditional theatre, non-traditional theatre, song, dance, film, installation art and who knows what else they can pack into those hours (presumably quite a lot), it’s on show in Melbourne from 22-26 October, 2013, at the Melbourne Arts Centre Playhouse theatre. If you still aren’t sold, just know that the marathon performance includes a BBQ dinner and snacks served by the company. 22 hours: The Warp by Ken Campbell Writer, actor, director and comedian Ken Campbell achieved notoriety in the 1970s for his 22-hour staging of Neil Oram's play cycle The Warp. The play's hero is Phil Masters and it traces his many previous lives over a period of a thousand years. The main actor is required to be on stage for all but 5 minutes of the play (five and a half times longer than Hamlet), and when it was staged in 1997 in East London, the lead actor had a meltdown about two-thirds of the way through, extending the performance to 29 hours. 23 hours: The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco The Warp has been superseded by what's now officially classified in the Guinness World Book of Records as the longest continuous dramatic performance, sitting at a comfy 23 hours 33 minutes and 54 seconds. US-based company the 27 O'Clock Players performed this absurdist comedy in a gazebo in New Jersey in 2010. The Bald Soprano itself is only about an hour long; however, it features a looped ending which requires continuous repetition of the play. On this occasion it was repeated 25 times. 24 hours: Quizoola! by Forced Entertainment So this is getting a bit ridiculous now, but it's best not to ask questions. Or is it? Aptly titled theatre company Forced Entertainment originally staged a six-hour version of this game-show/improvisation/performance bonanza before taking it to new heights (or rather lengths) this year at London's Barbican. What happens is, six performers sit in alternating pairs in a circle of lights, wearing smeared clown make-up, and ask each other questions. Beginning as a banal chat, the performance moves towards pub quiz trivia, beyond philosophical probing and into CIA interrogation. Questions are provided by director Tim Etchells, the company and the audience (who are free to come and go as they please). A long time: Synecdoche, New York by Charlie Kaufman This is technically a movie with a run time of 124 minutes, but it is a movie about the most epic theatre work ever. Theatre director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to replicate life as realistically as possible in theatre and constructs his set in a huge warehouse somewhere in downtown Manhattan. A growing cast is directed to act out the banalities of their lives, and as the years pass, and the actors keep on acting their life-roles, Cotard becomes immersed in the play and his work-life balance is epically disrupted by doppelgangers and ultimate creative confusion, unable to end until Cotard himself does.
As Australia continues to respond to the COVID-19 situation, getting cosy on your couch is becoming the norm. And, while you could take a break from the news of mass-gathering bans, self-isolation requirements, and event cancellations and postponements by indulging in pure escapism, it's completely natural and thoroughly understandable to swing your viewing choices in the other direction. No one alive has experienced a pandemic quite like this one before, but, thanks to decades of movies, we've watched similar events on-screen for years. And, based on how much everyone has been talking Steven Soderbergh's Contagion of late, movies about outbreaks and, yes, contagions are in high demand at the moment. We know you're seeking them out anyway, so we're here to help. Here are ten movies about pandemics, contagions and outbreaks that you can watch via Australian streaming platforms right now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UkXOj8u1Fo CONTAGION Steven Soderbergh is one of America's most prolific filmmakers, with everything from Cannes Palme d'Or winner Sex, Lies and Videotape to amusing heist flick Logan Lucky on his resume — and drug drama Traffic, which nabbed him the Best Director Oscar, too. But thanks to current events, Contagion will be the movie he'll be remembered for, with the 2011 thriller feeling eerily prophetic when revisited today. It all starts with a lawyer (Gwyneth Paltrow) returning from Hong Kong, then falling ill. In methodical style, Soderbergh then tracks the progression and the response. He enlists an enormous all-star cast to help, spanning Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston — and his aim to make as realistic a movie as possible about a pandemic certainly strikes a chord in current circumstances. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZ5goJibn0 OUTBREAK Over the next few years, once the cinema industry — and existence in general, of course — gets back to normal, a new big-screen genre is certain to emerge. Drawing upon real-life events is such a staple of filmmaking that a plethora of COVID-19 movies is inevitable. Using Ebola as its model, Outbreak did the same thing in the mid-90s. When a virus called Motaba starts wreaking havoc, staff from the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are forced to react. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Donald Sutherland, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding Jr and Patrick Dempsey, this disaster drama spends plenty of time within the two aforementioned organisations, if watching procedural action is what you're craving at present Available to stream on iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFNPNT_4Qww I AM LEGEND When it came to updating Richard Matheson's 1954 book I Am Legend for the 21st century, enlisting Will Smith to play humanity's sole survivor was a logical choice. He wasn't the first to roam around the big screen in such desolate circumstances, with 1964's The Last Man on Earth putting horror icon Vincent Price in the same situation and 1971's The Omega Man tasking Charlton Heston with navigating isolation; however Smith was the thoroughly 2007 choice. And, playing a US Army virologist who sees the whole world turned into vampiric creatures after a genetically engineered measles virus turned lethal, he's one of the best things about I Am Legend. For folks interested in Heston's stint in the same situation, The Omega Man is also available to stream via Google Play, iTunes and YouTube as well. Available to stream on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7suz9ndPBHg 28 DAYS LATER These days, Danny Boyle is making 'what if?' rom-coms that ponder what life would be like without the Beatles, and Alex Garland is writing and directing moody sci-fi TV thrillers — but back in 2002, they joined forces to tackle a pandemic. And, marking their first proper collaboration after Boyle adapted Garland's best-selling novel The Beach for the big screen two years earlier, 28 Days Later still ranks among the best work on either's resume. Set in the aftermath of the accidental release of a highly contagious virus, the film's images of a desolated London instantly became iconic; however, this is a top-notch movie on every level. That includes its performances, with then-unknowns Cillian Murphy (A Quiet Place Part II) and Naomie Harris (the Bond franchise's current Moneypenny) finding the balance between demonstrating their characters' fierce survival instincts and their inherent vulnerability. Available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gpxnI1tQM4 CARGO Australian cinema isn't immune to virus-driven movies — and 2017 post-apocalyptic horror flick Cargo is among the best of them. In this full-length adaptation of Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke's Tropfest finalist short of the same name, the infection turns people into zombies within 48 hours, a situation that the Andy (Martin Freeman) and Kay (Susie Porter) want to avoid. Complicating matters: the fact that they have an infant daughter they'll do anything to protect. Already experienced at trekking across the landscape Down Under after starring in the New Zealand-shot Hobbit films, Freeman wanders across Australia determined to save his family, in a movie that also ponders both environmental factors and Indigenous culture as well. Available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMbSpnlOOtE THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN Michael Crichton's influence on popular culture is vast. The Jurassic Park franchise is still going almost three decades later, and Westworld (which is based on his 1972 movie) is enjoying quite the small-screen adaptation. Back in 1969, the author also contemplated what might happen if a deadly alien organism started infecting people on earth — and in 1971, The Andromeda Strain hit cinemas. The premise: after a satellite crashes near a small New Mexico town, almost all of its inhabitants die, with a team of scientists tasked with getting to the bottom of it. It's an unmistakably 70s affair, and a slick and solid film too. You might've come across the 2008 TV mini-series remake starring Benjamin Bratt, Viola Davis and Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andre Braugher; however we recommend sticking with the original. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ZtovQtG3s&feature=emb_logo WARM BODIES Pandemic movies and zombie movies often go hand-in-hand, as a number of entries on this list have already demonstrated. And, more often than not, they're grim, bleak and tense affairs — as is to be expected when the whole fate of the human race is at stake. Enter Warm Bodies, which isn't the first zombie comedy by any means, but both earns and owns the term 'zom-rom-com'. Here, R (Nicholas Hoult) is a member of the shuffling undead. Julie (Australian actress Teresa Palmer) is still alive. When they cross paths, he doesn't just bite into her flesh and she doesn't just kill him. This sweet and funny flick is based on the Isaac Marion-penned novel of the same name, and its characters' monikers should give an important detail away, with the influence of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet keenly felt. Available to stream on Foxtel Now and Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8RScNfgPh4 TWELVE MONKEYS Before Brad Pitt won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for sauntering through Quentin Tarantino's vision of 1969-era Tinseltown in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he was nominated in the same category back in 1996 for Twelve Monkeys. Deservedly so, too, with the star playing a mental patient in a post-apocalyptic version of 2035 — where a virus wiped out most of humanity four decades earlier. As offbeat as it is entertaining and eye-catching, this sci-fi thriller serves up exactly what anyone could hope for with Monty Python member and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote's Terry Gilliam behind the lens. For fans of cinema history, it's also an engaging update of Chris Marker's legendary 1962 short film La Jetée. And while Pitt steals the show, he has fine company, with 90s Bruce Willis in his element as well. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfeEhb4xnps THE NIGHT EATS THE WORLD When The Night Eats the World first hit screens in 2018, it was just a horror film about a man who goes to a party in Paris, then wakes up the next day to find zombies everywhere. It was a nice addition of the genre, too, proving both atmospheric, evocative, and firmly settling on its own tone. Now, this French movie hits close to home — not due to the undead, of course, but because the bulk of the feature focuses on Sam's (Anders Danielsen Lie) experiences stuck inside a flat, including his efforts to stock up on supplies in such circumstances. Cue thrills, twists, company in the form of a zombified neighbour (Denis Lavant) and a desperate need for resourcefulness. Oh, and ample existential dread as well. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE5dJDgZ644 BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR What if humanity wasn't under threat from a virus, but from birds? Not just in one town, either, as seen in Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller The Birds — but everywhere. That's the idea behind Birdemic: Shock and Terror. A word of warning: this is the silliest entry on this list, and the schlockiest as well. We honestly can't stress that enough. Indeed, Birdemic: Shock and Terror definitely isn't the world's best movie. In fact, it's the disaster and pandemic equivalent of The Room and a film that makes the Sharknado franchise's production values look positively gleaming. But, sometimes, that's just what you need. It also spawned a sequel, Birdemic 2: The Resurrection, because of course it did. Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top images: Contagion, 28 Days Later, Cargo, Twelve Monkeys and The Night Eats the World.
Keen to escape the festivities in a cinema over the Easter long weekend, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then. For the five days between Thursday, April 18 to Monday, April 22, the chain is offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem — whether you purchase online or at the box office, you'll only pay $10 for your movie of choice at Portside and Coorparoo. Or movies. With everything from Shazam! and Captain Marvel to Us and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part currently screening, too — plus The Aftermath, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Hellboy, The Curse of the Weeping Woman and more — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless. And if you're buying online, there's a $1.50 booking fee too.
New Year's Eve means different things to different people — but if celebrating it in the biggest way possible is your approach each year, then you've likely either made a date with Beyond The Valley before or wanted to. Need some motivation to head to the festival at Barunah Plains in Victoria to celebrate 2025 turning into 2026? Dom Dolla, Addison Rae, Kid Cudi and Turnstile should be plenty. That's who is headlining across the Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 event — and yes, if you fancy spending the New Year's Eve countdown with Dom Dolla, you can. This lineup is also a helluva way for Beyond The Valley to mark a milestone, given that it's the fest's tenth anniversary. [caption id="attachment_1005091" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shevindphoto[/caption] Dom Dolla will cap off a year that's already spanned soldout Madison Square Garden gigs, plus stints at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, EDC Las Vegas and Ultra Miami — and will see him play his biggest-ever Aussie headline show at Allianz Stadium in Sydney in December. For Addison Rae, this is her Australian festival debut. Kid Cudi heads Down Under for the first time in a decade, too. The lineup also spans Spacey Jane, I Hate Models, KETTAMA, Chris Stussy, Ben Böhmer, The Temper Trap and Luude, plus JoJo doing an Australian-exclusive show, as well as 070 Shake, DJ HEARTSTRING, VTSS, SWIM, Pegassi, Channel Tres, Balu Brigada, Fcukers, Jane Remover, Miss Kaninna and a heap more. New for 2025 is The Lounge Room, with Kat Sasso hosting podcasters and other folks getting chatting — such as Undiagnosed Anthony; AFL footballer Tom Mitchell with the Ball Magnets podcast; more Aussie Rules stars thanks to Sam Draper, Nick Butler and Charlie Comben; Dr Esmé Louise James; Sez; Ash McGregor; and David The Medium. Plus, stage-wise, the Valley Stage is getting a new look and the Dance Dome is scoring a revamp. You'll also be able to enjoy a wellness program featuring meditation, saunas and cold plunges, for relaxing between sets. Beyond the Valley 2025 Lineup Dom Dolla Addison Rae Kid Cudi Turnstile Spacey Jane I Hate Models KETTAMA Chris Stussy Ben Böhmer The Temper Trap Luude JoJo 070 Shake DJ HEARTSTRING VTSS Patrick Mason SWIM Prospa Josh Baker NOTION Pegassi Cassian Channel Tres Mallrat Balu Brigada Fcukers glaive Jazzy ZULAN sim0ne TEED Bad Boombox b2b mischluft Clouds bullet tooth KILIMANJARO Narciss not without friends Juicy Romance Ollie Lishman Chromeo (DJ set) RONA. Bella Claxton DICE Jane Remover Julia Wolf Young Franco Kaiit Miss Kaninna 49th & Main Dombresky BL3SS Torren Foot B2B Airwolf Paradise ATRIP Linska CYRIL HoneyLuv Larissa Lambert Inside Kru Tyson O'Brien SYREETA TV Rock Willo Sex Mask BOY SODA The Tullamarines EGOISM Chloe Parché Brent Honey Emma Moon Morphena MAD.DAY Mell Hall Tina Disco Séarlait House Mum B2B Haus of Ralph Loosie Grind Afrodisiac B2B Baby G Cooper Smith Mon Franco Bertie Shanti The Lounge Room hosted by Kat Sasso 200 Plus Ash McGregor Ball Magnets Club Elevate David The Medium Esmé Louise James Sez Undiagnosed Anthony Teach Us Consent Beyond The Valley runs from Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Barunah Plains, Wentworths Road, Hesse, Victoria. Ticket presale registrations are open now, with festival presales from 11am on Thursday, August 28, 2025. General sales kick off at 12pm AEST on Friday, August 29, 2o25. For more information, head to the fest's website. Beyond The Valley images: Lady Drewniak, Ashlea Caygill, Kelsey Zafiridies.
Sydneysiders — and those planning a trip to the harbour city — can get their cultural kicks IRL again, with most major NSW cultural institutions back in action. And, with Sydney home to so many galleries, museums and art spaces, there's no shortage of arty events to add to your calendar. One to bookmark for the warmer months: A retrospective exhibition on multidisciplinary artist Lindy Lee that's taking over leading contemporary gallery MCA Australia. Titled Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop, it is the most comprehensive exhibition by the artist to date — and it's opening on Friday, October 2. The celebrated Australian Chinese artist has a practice spanning over four decades and works in everything from painting to sculpture. Her Chinese ancestry underpins much of her art; Lee's works are inspired by Daoism and Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism philosophies and she often examines the connection between humanity and nature. From flinging molten bronze and burning paper to allowing ink to spill and rain to transform surfaces, Lee's process is varied, experimental and inquisitive. Expect more than 70 works, including huge installations, vibrant wax paintings and metallic structures — and rarely seen works from the artist's personal collection. You'll also spy a few new commissions, one of which will be proudly exhibited on the museum's outdoor forecourt. To mark the exhibition's launch, Lee will be giving a talk on her art practice on Wednesday, October 7, which you can catch in person or live stream from home. [caption id="attachment_782750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] MCA Australia's exhibition Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop launches on Friday, October 2. The gallery is currently open 10am–5pm Tuesday–Sunday, with COVID-19 measures in place. Entry is free and unticketed. Top images: Lindy Lee, 'No Up, No Down, I Am the Ten Thousand Things' (1995/2020), courtesy of the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne; Lindy Lee, 'The Silence of Painters' (1989), Museum of Contemporary Art, gift of Loti Smorgon AO and Victor Smorgon AC; Lindy Lee, 'Exploding Suns' (2019), installation view, photography by Ng Wu Gang; Lindy Lee, 'Book of Kuan-yin' (2002), courtesy the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne; and Lindy Lee, 'Untitled (After Jan Van Eyck)' (1988), collection of The University of Queensland, gift of Mary Dwyer in memory of Paul Dane Tilley. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively.
Over 20 years, Lee Mathews' collections have rarely strayed from its founder's relaxed and minimalist style. The Sydney-born designer has a penchant for creating everyday garments like utilitarian shirts, structured cotton dresses and gauzy blouses for people just like her. From Italian-made toothbrushes to indie magazines, the epynomous label also carries an eclectic range of homeware from all over the world. Just a few doors down from Lee Mathews' Fortitude Valley boutique, the label is holding a Brisbane-exclusive sample sale this weekend. Sift through one-of-a-kind samples, archival styles and a tidy curation of giftable accessories and knick-knacks. Prices start at $50 for clothing at $20 for other objects — a fraction of usual triple-digit prices. Doors open from 8am–6pm on Friday and Saturday. Note that on Sunday, the sale only runs from 9am–4pm.
It's nice to escape out of the big city sometimes. Just a hop, skip and a jump (90 minutes) from Sydney, the Pullman Magenta Shores Resort is a worthy way to exit hectic Sydney and get a little quality R&R in. Beachfront and with numerous, luxurious pools, the resort is nestled in between Tuggerah Lake and the sea, so swimming is probably #1 on your holiday priorities list. For those who can drag themselves away from their sunlounger, the resort is the perfect gateway to the New South Wales Central Coast. Around summer, this area is your go-to for outdoor adventures ranging from surfing and paddleboarding to quad biking and ziplining through the treetops. Take your pick from beaches like The Entrance, Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach, Copacabana or Macmaster's, enjoy your cold-drip coffee barefoot in the cafes of Avoca and Terrigal, and breathe in a big gulp of fresh air at Bouddi National Park. So you can further remind yourself that you're out of the city, all rooms at the Pullman Magenta Shores (choose from a studio apartment up to a three-bed villa) have relaxing nature views, just so you can remind yourself that you're out of the city. You can kick back in the Lagoon Pool, the heated lap pool indoors if it's a bit nippy, or even the beach rock pools if you want to go crab-watching. The Resort is also home to the Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club, designed by Ross Watson and 18-holes long to fully occupy your vacation days. You're only allowed on this private green if you're staying at Pullman Magenta Shores, or if you've invested in a pricey membership, so take advantage. If you're tuckered out from the activity time or golf isn't your bag, head to the on-site Vie Spa to pamper yourself in one of their five treatment rooms. Once you're hungry from all the relaxing, head over to the resort's fine-dining Barrett's Restaurant, or Shallows Bar – there's a tasting menu as well as a wood-fired pizza oven and a range of share plates on the menu, so your belly will be just as happy as your relaxed muscles.
The sun is dying, and only a mission to space can potentially save life on earth and all of humanity. Sound familiar? If you've watched Sunshine from 28 Years Later duo Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, then it should. This one should ring a bell, too, if you caught The Martian: an everyman character gets stranded solo well beyond the third rock from the sun. Combine elements of two excellent sci-fi films from years gone by and you have Project Hail Mary — at least based on the just-dropped first trailer for the 2026 release. It isn't by accident that The Martian pops to mind, either. American novelist Andy Weir wrote the book that 2015 feature was based on. A decade later, the same applies, this time telling a tale about a science teacher who becomes an astronaut — and the planet's only hope. Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) plays Ryland Grace, who usually teaches the sixth grade. In parts of the Project Hail Mary's debut sneak peek, he stresses that he's putting the "not" in "astronaut" — and he's both sceptical and reluctant about the task being asked of him. In other moments in the film's first trailer, he's 11.9 light years from home, all alone, and uncertain why after waking up with no memory about what he's doing in space. Also included: attempting to discover why the sun is dying, using his science skills in a manner far beyond what he'd ever expected and making friends while soaring through the heavens. Audiences Down Under can make a date with the end result in March 2026 — and watch Gosling tackle space again after portraying Neil Armstrong in 2018's First Man, as part of a cast that spans Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Lionel Boyce (The Bear), Ken Leung (Industry) and Milana Vayntrub (Going Dutch), too. Project Hail Mary also marks the first picture directed by filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in more than a decade, when the pair had both The Lego Movie and 22 Jump Street in cinemas in 2014. In the years since, they've been busy, however — such as initially being slated to helm Solo: A Star Wars Story, then getting replaced by Ron Howard (Jim Henson Idea Man), and producing everything from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel to the very different Brigsby Bear and Cocaine Bear. Check out the first trailer for Project Hail Mary below: Project Hail Mary opens in Australian cinemas in March 2026.
"I'm always looking to do something new and something that excites me, and something challenging — and I think this is all of those things," Tony Armstrong tells Concrete Playground about a unique project on the ex-AFL player-turned-TV mainstay's resume. The former ABC News Breakfast sports presenter has previously hosted television shows about dogs, Australia's untold history, famous Aussie stuff, plus sport in general and football specifically. Variety has been the spice of his on-screen career so far. But Eat the Invaders was destined to stand out; a series about putting Australia's invasive species on the menu will do that. "When I think about the kind of career I want to have, I don't necessarily want to ever be pigeonholed into one thing. And this was a great opportunity to stretch my skill set," Armstrong continues. "It was just so — I can't begin to explain how good the pitch deck and that first impression of the way the idea was going to be presented was. It was just so good. I was hooked from then." Eat the Invaders' title applies literally. Across six episodes, all of which are available to stream via ABC iView, Armstrong tours the country to explore whether animals that are waging war on Australia's native critters and plants should end up on our plates. In the process, he tucks in. Whether camel, carp or even cane toads are being considered as potential meals — rabbits, deer and sea urchin, too — each instalment dives into the history of its chosen creatures, their impact upon Australia's landscape, how people regard them, eradication efforts, the attitudes around each animal as food and why they might appeal as a meal. The show also puts its rhetoric where its mouth is in another way, with Armstrong heading to Tasmanian art gallery Mona in every episode for a feast featuring the ingredient in the spotlight. Joining him for the series of dinners: everyone from Poh Ling Yeow, Claire Hooper and Nat's What I Reckon to Rona Glynn-McDonald — who happens to be his partner — and her filmmaker father Warwick Thornton (The New Boy), plus Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Geoffrey Robertson. Also driving the series, both from Mona, are artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele and acclaimed culinary figure Vince Trim. The former's Eat the Problem project — an exhibition and a book — sparked Eat the Invaders. The latter is the gallery's Executive Chef, and therefore tasked with whipping up Mona-worthy dishes using the show's menagerie. In addition, Armstrong checks in with professors Andrew Lowe and Phil Cassey, invasion biologists, as he steps through why each animal could be a candidate for the end of someone's fork. This isn't just the type of show that doesn't grace screens every day, or the kind of project that doesn't come Armstrong's way often, either — it was also a helluva way for its host to travel around Australia. "I felt like I was getting away with something: in a mail plane from Alice Springs airport, going west for three hours, flying over some of the most-beautiful country in the world, and I'm just like 'what a privilege — what an absolute privilege it is to be able to do this for work'," he notes. "Most people have to work really hard and then take time off, and then pay to do that. That wasn't lost on me." Most people don't try the most-controversial animal on the Eat the Invaders menu, too, whether they're holidaying around the nation or not. When it comes to contemplating eating cats, Armstrong welcomes the conversation that he hopes the series will inspire, including about the destruction waged by the animals so beloved as pets. We also spoke with the A Dog's World, Great Australian Stuff and Tony Armstrong's Extra-Ordinary Things star — and former Adelaide, Sydney and Collingwood footballer, and recent Memoir of a Snail voice actor — about the challenges of making the show, which ingredient should become an everyday staple and cognitive dissonance around Eat the Invaders' topic. What excites him about a new project, plus Armstrong's journey from the footy field to here: they're part of our chat as well. On the Animal That Immediately Stood Out Among Eat the Invaders' Different Species "Cat. Cat for sure. Because I know how much people love them — and how love can be blind. Cats can make great companions, all that kind of thing, but the damage that so many cats have done — feral and domestic — is crazy. They are killing machines. And our native animals here, because cats are a relatively recent introduction when you consider how old so-called Australia is, a lot of the animals don't view cats as predators yet in the way that they might view others. They don't have those thousands and thousands of years of adaptation to know how to deal with them. So the damage that cats are doing is immense. And what a great hook to get people in to watch an episode that isn't actually about — it's about eating cat, but it's not actually about eating cat. I can't wait to get in arguments. The show is also about our prejudice. Why is it okay to eat a cow? What's the difference? I don't see the difference. Maybe it's because cats in popular culture are presented in a certain way, so we don't necessarily think about them in the way that we should. And that's not to say that people shouldn't own cats and all that kind of thing. I think dealing with cats, it's about how can we be better owners? How can we be more responsible at that end? I don't want people not to have fun with an animal they love — but I want them to be responsible and think about the native animals that are getting smoked by cats." On the Biggest Challenges of Making Eat the Invaders "I reckon the biggest challenge with any show that's factual is how do we not make it boring? How do we keep it simple?. Because we could have gone down the path of crazy, crazy high-end and deep-dive science — we could have done that. Then it's also how can you be compelling enough to get people to listen to you talking about eating cat?, for instance. That's quite the tightrope to walk. And then it's also 'god, I hope when we're out here in the desert, because we've got one day here, we get a cat'. We might not. We had, I think, a day in WA to find camels, and we were lucky, we found a bountiful amount. But when we arrived on the station, they were like 'hey, look there's a huge chance we don't see any camels'. So there's that as well — trying to remain positive and upbeat about stuff, and also taking calculated risks. You can plan as hard as you want and then things can go wrong. So I guess the other thing is about being as adaptable and as quick-thinking as you can be." On Humanity's Cognitive Dissonance Around Animals When It's Considered Acceptable to Eat Some But Not Others "I think so much of it is nurture. So much of it is where you're brought up, what you've done as you've grown up, the way you as an individual approach the world — do you approach the world with a growth-type mindset where you're happy to be curious and all that kind of thing, or are you more conservative, are you more fixed? And then, are you someone who's willing to have a respectful debate? This cognitive dissonance is just so, so interesting. I think so much of that is baked into nurture through all the different touchpoints that make us who we are." On the One Candidate in Eat the Invaders That Left Armstrong Certain That It Should Become an Everyday Food "Carp. It's so easily accessible. The reason why I don't think cat is that's just not going to happen. The reason why I don't think camel is because, as delicious as it is and as many of them as there are, and how there's an industry waiting to happen, the infrastructure to set that industry up is just going to take so much investment, so the barriers to entry for that are too high. I totally think with carp, that is such a perception thing on how the animal tastes. Everyone just thinks of it as a shit fish, right? But if it is prepared properly, and killed properly, humanely, ethically, all those kind of things, it is delicious. It is so yum. And if you saw that episode where we're eating at Africola in Adelaide, that's some of the best food I've had. And that's carp. And Mark and Duncan just prepared two beautiful dishes showing the versatility of carp fillet versus carp in a salad. So it's a versatile fish. It takes on all of the flavours of the food around it. There's so much carp. And we already have a fishing industry. So I think that would be the most viable one — but also I am the last person who should ever, ever take charge of a business, so huge caveat right there." On the Species Explored in the Series That Are Part of Armstrong's Own Diet "So I already ate camel. Not all the time, but going to the Vic Markets, there's camel that you can buy — you can buy little camel steaks and that kind of thing. And it's delicious. It is bloody delicious. I've had it beforehand, but since the show I actually ironically haven't eaten much. I also have eaten quite a lot of rabbit in my time as well. So camel and rabbit are ones that were already part of my diet. But I think in the winter, I'll cook a lot of rabbit. I want to make stews and little pasties and stuff like that with rabbit." On What Excites Armstrong About a New Project, After a Unique Journey From Three AFL Clubs to an Array of TV Shows, Presenting Sports on News Breakfast, Film Voice Work and More "I think first, as I'm as I'm getting older and I suppose more established, it's the quality of the work that is the first thing I think of. I've always thought about that, but the very first thing I think about is 'do I think this will be well-executed and do I think I can have a role in that?'. When Memoir of a Snail came along, it was like 'hell yeah'. I've done voice acting for Reef School and that kind of thing, and I really enjoy that. I think now it's a mixture of 'is it something new and exciting and challenging?' and then 'do I think it will be good?'. That's kind of where I'm at. Probably the only world I haven't really gone into is proper performance, and that's something interests me. It's just something where if I'm like 'oh yeah, I'm pumped. That sounds cool. I'm excited. I'm a bit nervous', then I know I'm in the right spot." On Whether Armstrong Imagined the Path His Career Has Taken Back When He Was Drafted to Play AFL "Not even in the slightest. When I got drafted, in my mind I was like 'sweet, I'm going to become an AFL legend' — because that's what everyone thinks, right? Right now I'm supposed to be a bagillionaire former player who is the best ever, and I've just retired and now I smoke cigars and cruise around my many properties. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite the case. [caption id="attachment_843998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong[/caption] We were talking about 'not a bad way to see the country' before, and I was just like 'I'm constantly on sets or I'm in a voice booth, or I'm somewhere doing something' — and I'm like looking left and right, and I'm like 'when are they going to realise that I don't know what the fuck I'm doing? The jig's going to be up soon, Tone'. I'm so grateful, and I work and all of that stuff, which everyone does — but yeah, a lot of pinch-myself stuff." Eat the Invaders streams via ABC iView.
Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. That's always true about ramen, and it's definitely true about one of Brisbane's best ramen joints, which brings slurp-worthy serves of authentic Japanese noodle soups to a heap of Brisbane shopping centres. Don't let the food court locations turn you off — each outlet has its own Japanese vibe, including counter seating. And, if you're after the full experience, the chain's newest store in the Queen Street Mall is situated in its own downstairs digs. Plus, you'll forget all about the surroundings when your food arrives anyway (promptly, of course). Five char siu–laden options are available, including miso, shio and extra spicy. Served with complimentary takana (pickled mustard leaves), they're as good as the kinds you'll find down a random Tokyo alleyway.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? Alongside whether or not you're a fan of pineapple on pizza, pet preference is one of humanity's great dividing factors. Some folks love the unconditional affection that a barking bestie brings. Others thrive on the contented purrs of a meowing mouser sitting on their lap. Whichever camp you fall into, here's something that even the most-avid pup proponents and feline fanciers can agree on: that an exhibition dedicated to both cats and dogs, charting their place in art, design and human history, is a delightful must-see. Cats & Dogs is that showcase, giving NGV Australia in Melbourne's Federation Square one of its big summer highlights. It's a great time to be an art lover in the Victorian capital, or visiting the city, with all things Yayoi Kusama taking over NGV International and beyond — and also this thoughtful and adorable exhibition bringing joy via more than 250 cat- and dog-focused works at the Ian Potter Centre until Sunday, July 20, 2025. If your camera roll demonstrates your firm belief that there's no such thing as too many pet pictures, consider this the wide-ranging display that understands, then illustrates that idea — literally — via art. Pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco de Goya, Pierre Bonnard, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Hulda Guzmán, Atong Atem, Charles Blackman, Grace Cossington Smith and Nora Heysen are among the works featured, spanning both international and Australian artists. And yes, because cats and dogs don't always get along, the exhibition places dog pieces on one side and cats on the other. For plenty of pet lovers, you could hang all the pictures in the world of cats and dogs in a gallery and it'd instantly become a cherished art experience, but NGV International has arranged its showcase thematically to dig into what these two types of cute creatures mean to us. Using works from the NGV Collection, it explores subjects such as working dogs and cats, how the two pets feature in mythology and the occult, and their significance in religion and spirituality. So, expect cattle dogs, superstition-inspiring black cats and everything in-between, Also included in a display that ranges from ancient history to today: a survey of cats in popular culture. And if thinking about moggies and art gets you thinking about Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen's 1896 Chat Noir art nouveau poster, the recent acquisition by the NGV is part of the exhibition. Paintings of cats and dogs, prints of cats and dogs, drawings of cats and dogs, photos of cats and dogs, sculptures of cats and dogs, fashion featuring cats and dogs: they're all covered, as are textiles and decorative arts heroing the two critters. Other specific highlights include Atomicus, the surrealist photography by Philippe Halsman with Salvador Dalí pictured next to flying cats; Thomas Gainsborough's two-metre-high oil painting Richard St George Mansergh-St George, focusing on a soldier and his hound; Atong Atem's 2022 self-portrait Maria of Mars, complete with a lapdog earning atttention; pieces by First Nations artists, such as wooden carvings of camp dogs by Far North Queensland's Aurukun artists; and fashion by Alexander McQueen, Romance Was Born and others. Do you know in your bones that your own cat or dog belongs in the same company? There's a pet portrait gallery, too, where attendees can share images of their own pets. Images: Installation view of Cats & Dogs at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 1 November 2024 to 20 July 2025. Photos: Eugene Hyland and Tom Ross.
When an event's first and second runs have proven a hit, so much so that it's coming back for another year, you can't quite say that the third time will be the charm. Still, Festa Italiana has big things in store for 2025. Howard Smith Wharves' annual taste of la dolce vita is returning for two four-day weekends with a feast of Italian dishes, pop-up bars, a special dessert from Gelato Messina and plenty more. Naples-born and -raised, Sydney-based chef Orazio D'Elia of Bondi Beach's Da Orazio is again making the trip to Brisbane, too, leading the festivities. When Festa Italiana launched in 2023, the aim was to give its waterfront CBD home its first-ever Italian food market, and to celebrate cuisine and beverages from the country in focus. That's on the agenda again in 2025. This year's dates: Thursday, May 29–Sunday, June 1 and Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 8. Joining in alongside D'Elia: fellow chefs Carmine Guarino (another Naples-born culinary figure) and Dean Anning (Ciao Papi's Executive Chef). Again, D'Elia will be serving up a range of dishes that he's known for. His vodka rigatoni (made with tomato, chilli, cream and vodka) is back on Festa Italiana's menu. This year, attendees can tuck into his strozzapreti ai gamberi, aka twisted pasta with prawns, zucchini and cherry tomatoes as well. Thanks to a grill station on HSW's main lawn, there'll also be porchetta-stuffed focaccia and chicken rolls, all to enjoy by the river. Guarino's contribution: traditional Italian street food, specifically Roman-style pizzas served by the slice. You'll be able to pair them with natural Italian wines, all while Italo disco tunes play. For more sips, the festival is hosting a spritz bar (think: Lambrusco spritzes and frozen white peach Aperol slushies, for something beyond your usual drinks) and Felons Brewing Co is whipping up a Festa Italiania-exclusive Italian lager. At Ciao Papi, Anning's menu includes stracciatella with grilled leeks, hazelnut and truffle — plus rigatoni alla amatriciana with sugo, garlic, chilli and pancetta. Here, beverages will also be a highlight, with eatery's garden becoming an Aperol garden with orange hues to match and a dedicated Aperol spritz bar. Then there's the Italian salumeria, your go-to for artisanal charcuterie, fresh mozzarella — complete with demonstrations showing how it is made — plus other deli-style fare, fried calamari and the like. Timed to wrap up autumn and say hello to winter over its two weekends, as it has been in previous years, Festa Italiana is also soundtracking its bites and sips with live tunes, and ramping up the entertainment with roaming performers. Entry is free, with everything that you're keen to eat and drink purchased as you go. Festa Italiana takes place at Howard Smith Wharves in the Brisbane CBD from Thursday, May 29–Sunday, June 1 and Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 8, 2025. Head to the precinct's website for further details.
For a mid-week date night that's filled with deliciousness, a casual catch-up with your crew that's as tasty as it is enjoyable, or a solo stint of treating yo'self, Hamilton has the ultimate one-two combination. Kick things off at one end of Racecourse Road by digging into one of Taro's Ramen's finest bowls — but make sure you leave room for dessert. To get your sweet fix, wander on down to Milany Gelato and pick from one of more than 40 flavours. If the gelateria is serving up its Kinder Surprise ice cream, make sure that's one of them.
In January, Australia scored a brand-new local airline, with low-cost carrier Bonza finally hitting the skies after first being announced in 2021 but only securing regulatory approval this year. The fresh face in the Aussie aviation scene isn't just about cheap tickets, but also opening up routes to more of the country's regional destinations, flying 27 routes to 17 locations. And, it'll fly to some of those spots from Melbourne from the end of March. Bonza boasts two bases: the Sunshine Coast, where it's been soaring out of since January; and Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, which joins the list in autumn. Planes departing from the Victorian HQ will fly 12 routes to 11 destinations, with a trip between the airline's two main sites the first to take off from Melbourne on Thursday, March 30. Yes, if you're heading out of the Victorian capital — or to it, depending on where you're departing from — your 2023 getaways just got cheaper. One-way fares start at $49, which will get you from Melbourne to Mildura, with flights now on sale. Among the other options, flights to Tamworth cost $59, or you can get to Port Macquarie from $69. The fare from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast comes in at $79, as does a trip to Toowoomba. And, there's a heap of destinations available for $89: Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton. Different legs will enjoy their maiden voyages from Melbourne on different dates throughout March, April and May. At present, flights are on sale right through to the end of October. To book, you'll need to download the airline's app. For travellers who have already done so, the carrier advises that you will need to delete it and then reinstall the latest version to get access to reserve flights. App-only reservations are one of Bonza's points of difference, unless you're booking via a registered local travel agent. Another: an all-Australian in-flight menu, spanning both food and craft beer. Passengers will get soaring in planes given names as Aussie as the carrier's itself: Bazza, Shazza, Sheila and Malc, with the latter based in Melbourne. The quartet are taking passengers to places they mightn't otherwise been able to fly to, too, with Bonza noting that 93 percent of its routes aren't currently served by any other airline — and 96 percent of them don't presently have a low-cost carrier. The airline has launched with the backing of US private investment firm 777 Partners, which also has a hand in Canada's Flair Airlines and the Southeast Asian-based Value Alliance. Bonza's fares don't include baggage and seat selection, which you need to pay extra for — and it is cheapest to do so when you make your booking, rather than afterwards. Bonza will start flying from Melbourne on Thursday, March 30, with flights on sale now. For more information, and to buy fares, head to the airline's website, or download its app for Android and iOS. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
MELT doesn't just celebrate diversity on the stage or on its walls — it also showcases all things queer in the gaming space, too. Welcome to Gayming Night, where inclusivity isn't literally the name of any of the games on offer, but it's definitely the event's underlying motto. For four hours from 6pm on May 24, attendees will play games made by queer developers, chat to them about their work and trial in-progress titles, all across both tabletop and digital platforms. Or, give Virtual Drag a whirl, which is exactly what it sounds like — just with digital sequins and sparkle.
Abstract imagery, geometric patterns, and pieces that seduce while seeming to trick the eye: they're the domain of artist Lyndal Hargrave. Don't just take our word for it — take hers. Her first solo exhibition with Edwina Corlette Gallery is called New Geometricks, after all. Across a range of paintings and sculptures, Hargrave plays with patterns to explore the chaos of life. As Hargrave herself explains, "my attention is drawn to order and variation within this structure — from the nestled hexagons of a beehive to the microscopic grandeur of a butterfly’s wing”. It might sound a little like those magic eye images that were all the rage back in the '90s, but they've got nothing on the creativity and hypnotic pull on display here. Just try not to spend too long looking at any one piece, Mallrats style — perhaps by hobnobbing and hanging out at the official opening on February 13. Image: Lyndal Hargrave.
Among Brisbane's must-do experiences for locals and attractions for tourists, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the most famous. While the Fig Tree Pocket wildlife facility that dates back to 1927 isn't just home to koalas, but also fellow wildlife such as owls, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, turtles, birds of prey and snakes, it's long been known as the spot in the Sunshine State capital to cuddle a koala. Since Monday, July 1, that's no longer the case, however. The site has announced that it has ended its koala holds "in response to increasingly strong visitor feedback", and will replace it with a new koala close-up experience from Sunday, September 1, 2024. "To address increasing public demand and a concerted effort to embrace more-immersive and educational experiences, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will be ceasing koala hold experiences," said the site in a statement. Visitor feedback indicated that folks are "wishing to spend longer with the sanctuary's koalas and their passionate wildlife care team, without necessarily holding them," the announcement continued. "We love that there is a shift among both local and international guests to experience Australian wildlife up close, but not necessarily personal, just doing what they do best — eating, sleeping and relaxing within their own space," said Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary's General Manager Lyndon Discombe in the same statement. "We have absolutely seen an increase in demand for educational programs and guided experiences, focusing on the ability to witness the natural behaviours of koalas. Once you see them up close and in their wonderful natural state, we hope our guests love and respect them even more." "With the development of koala close-up and the expansion of the sanctuary's existing daily koala encounters (koala moments), Lone Pine will be offering guests increased opportunity to be in the presence of our adorable marsupials and learn about their behaviours, ecology and daily care, as well their unique quirks and personalities." [caption id="attachment_964209" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Christopher Neugebauer via Flickr[/caption] When spring arrives, the new koala close-up give patrons extra time in the koalas' presence, with each session running for 15 minutes for groups of up six people. It does include feeling a koala's fur, but not holding it or getting a complementary photo with it. Lone Pine's koala moments experience covers touching a koala, while the 60-minute koala discovery tour gets you spending one-on-one time with a koala, entering the koala exhibit and seeing behind the scenes at the leaf-sorting area. Still on the adorable marsupials, the venue's platinum tour also weaves in the koala moments experience. [caption id="attachment_964210" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Christopher Neugebauer via Flickr[/caption] The latest change to the Brisbane locale comes after the wildlife sanctuary expanded in 2023 with a new nocturnal precinct. At the night-focused addition, visitors can see koalas, rufus bettons, tree kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, bare-nosed wombats, potoroos, pademelons, bandicoots, bettongs, southern hairy-nosed wombats and echidnas after dark while taking a one-kilometre stroll through a eucalypt planation. "It's an Australian native animal treasure hunt, with the prize being able to see these amazing creatures up close and personal," said Frank Mikula, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Curator, when the nocturnal precinct opened. Patrons get peering using portable thermal imaging cameras, with the experience designed around not disrupting the critters, and instead walking across a new elevated boardwalk that has been custom-designed for the site. [caption id="attachment_964208" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Andrew Thomas via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane stopped offering koala holds on Monday, July 1, 2024, and will start its new koala close-ups from Sunday, September 1, 2024. Head to the venue's website for more information and bookings. Top image: Christopher Neugebauer via Flickr.
There is nothing illegitimate or false about a band that sings about hurricanes and heart attacks. In fact, it makes them that much cooler. And who makes natural disasters and cardiac arrests sound so rad? I'm talking about Faker, of course - the band that does a disappearing act every so often just so their comebacks and bigger and better than the last. The first such incident was way back in 1998 when they formed, and seven years later had a comeback with catchy-as-hell Hurricane. Once again, they would pull a runner on their fans, only to appear once again in 2007 with an attached hysteria that can only be described as ventricle imploding. This Heart Attack was everywhere, in our ears, on the TV and shoved down our throats, but oh how we loved them. It was after a whirlwind tour from 2007 ‘til early 2009 that Faker again said 'loljokes' to being a stable band, and shockingly went into hibernation once more. All the shenanigans aside, Faker are popping their head back into the music scene with their 3rd album, ‘Get Loved’, soon to drop. But first – they have released a prequel EP 'How Did We Not Get Loved?' and it's advised you see them play before they no doubt do a mad dash out of The Zoo this Saturday.
It's been one year since The Star Brisbane's grand opening, and the impressive lineup of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues is a strong pick for tourists and locals looking for a group outing destination. Whether you're rounding up your friends for a birthday dinner, chasing pre-concert cocktails, or looking for a dance floor, we've partnered with The Star Brisbane to highlight the top on-site spots where you can prove that everything's better when shared with friends. Aloria Perched on The Star Brisbane's Sky Deck, 100 metres above the CBD, Aloria is perfect for groups who want to celebrate in style. The carefully selected local seasonal produce shines in this Australian-European kitchen — where Queensland-sourced seafood will get your mouth watering, while the 'cellar in the sky' features a curated wine list with a river view to match. Cucina Regina What's more Italian than long tables and share-style plates? Cucina Regina is The Star Brisbane's Italian dining destination and ideal for groups looking for a feast. With wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta, here, you can enjoy classic flavours with modern flair in a family-style meal. You can even book the private dining room for more formal functions. Just don't forget the tiramisu. Sokyo Is Asian food what you're looking for? Sokyo is The Star Brisbane's sleek and signature Japanese restaurant. The small plates encourage communal dining, with a menu by Executive Chef Alex Yu featuring dishes such as sashimi, wagyu, snapper and Sokyo's signature rolls. Pair this with bright cocktails and a sophisticated setting, and it's a great option to add to your "accomdates-groups" list. Cicada Blu If you want a scenic bar in Brisbane's CBD, pull up a stool at Cicada Blu. The open-air Sky Deck bar boasts unparalleled views and a menu of botanical cocktails like the Gin & Jam, Golden Hour Fizz, and the indulgent Cocoa Highlands with chocolate-infused Glenfiddich. For groups, shared cocktail carafes make it easy to sip and socialise—making Cicada Blu a go-to for laid-back gatherings with a view. Fat Noodle Wanting to book in a meal before your group karaoke or clubbing? Fat Noodle is built for groups who hunt for bold, explosive flavours. The street food-inspired share plates are perfect for splitting across the table and the fun atmosphere will keep the energy high before your next Brisbane night out. LiveWire LiveWire is The Star Brisbane's entertainment precinct. Whether you're joining in on trivia, enjoying the sparkle of drag bingo, or catching live music from headline acts like Havana Brown, Ladyhawke, and Groove City, there's something to keep all your friends entertained. The bar features a range of classic cocktails and beverages, space to dance, and a place to hang out once you've eaten your way through The Star Brisbane. For more group options, check out The Star Brisbane's website. Over 18's only. Drink responsibly. BET WITH YOUR HEAD, NOT OVER IT.
