It's festival time at Brisbane Powerhouse once again, all thanks to the return of the venue's MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture. Every year since 2015, the riverside New Farm spot has celebrated the city's LGBTIQ+ community, as well as queer creativity in general — and in 2019, that means nearly 35 productions over ten days between Friday, June 28 and Sunday, July 7. Guest directed by producer and director Emily Gilmore (Spring Awakening, The Last Five Years), this year's MELT is jam-packed with music, cabaret, comedy, theatre, talks, panels and art — as headlined by cabaret star Reuben Kaye. Other highlights include the first ever MELT queer comedy gala; immersive performance La Silhouette, which turns a cabaret club into a maze; five powerful ladies channelling Freddie Mercury in Killer Queens; and a huge free costume party. The list keeps going, complete with Aussie cabaret queen Dolly Diamond taking on TV game show Bl*nkety Bl*nks; the hilarious Baby Bi Bi Bi, about being a bisexual woman; and musical love story Yank!, which takes inspiration from the real-life experiences of gay soldiers in World War II. MELT will also include its queer and inclusive 'gayming' experience for another year, showcasing to tabletop and digital games from queer creators; welcome artist William Yang to look back on his life and the gay movement in Sydney from the 70s to now; and fill the Powerhouse walls with a heap of queer art. Or, you can sit down to watch inspiring documentary The Coming Back Out Ball Movie, get some free laughs at queer-centric Friday night sessions and listen to trailblazing community elders chat about their experiences. Image: Dylan Evans.
No, you are not looking at a digitally altered photo. These photos are the work of German painter, sculptor and designer, Cornelia Konrads. She has created amazing displays of 'land-art' that seem to defy gravity. Her work represents the temporary existence of the structures that we build within nature. These displays are the disintegration of the man-made structures right before our eyes. Unique and beautiful, her work is a unique approach to land-art and we are quite impressed. For more of her stellar artwork, check out her website.
It might seem like another festival pops up every weekend, but you won’t hear us complaining. The more the merrier, especially when they combine local bands, gourmet bites and craft brews into one fun package — which is exactly what Brisbane’s newest event promises. The Bites and Brews Laneway Festival will take over the Shafston Hotel and its surrounding laneways from on February 28 for its first-ever outing, and what a treat it is shaping up to be. Live performances from Pocket Love, Noah Slee, Tiana Khasi, DJ Cutloose and Gavin Boyd will set a festive mood, but that’s only the beginning. Want a delicious meal? Of course you do — and food trucks such King of the Wings, The Bun Mobile, Chiptease and Char Baby have your tastebuds covered. Want to wash it all down with a refreshing drink? That’s where stalls from over 18 brewers come in, serving up Stone & Wood, Little Creatures, Green Beacon, White Rabbit and more.
There's something about the combination of chocolate and hazelnut that encourages a particularly fierce strain of food fandom. If you're fond of the pairing, you don't just like it — you flat-out love it more than almost every other food there is. That's why everything from Nutella recipe books and hotels to festivals and food trucks keep popping up. It's also why almost every dessert menu seems to feature the spread these days. And, it's clearly why Koko Black has opted for choc-hazelnut as well when it comes to releasing its first beer. This brew has nothing to do with Nutella, but it is chocolate hazelnut-flavoured — as made with Belgian couverture chocolate, plus hazelnuts (obviously). The resulting Belgian stout clocks in at 6.9 percent alcohol by volume, and marks a collaboration between the chocolatier and brewer Modus Operandi. No one needs a reason to come up with this beer-meets-dessert hybrid; however, it takes inspiration from Koko Black's 'nuts to caramel' collection. Yes, that's exactly what you're meant to eat while you're sipping. The choc hazelnut Belgian stout is being released to coincide with this year's Great Australian Beer Spectapular (GABS) in Melbourne, which takes place between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23. It'll be pouring as part of a masterclass during the fest, but that's not the only place you'll be able to find it. Head to Koko Black's website now to pick up a hamper featuring the brew — and some chocolate, naturally — or, if you're in Victoria, you can nab a four-pack from selected bottle shops from Sunday. Koko Black and Modus Operandi's choc hazelnut Belgian stout is on sale now via the Koko Black website — and will be sold in selected Victorian bottle shops from Sunday, May 23.
The past couple of years have been tough on all of us. Plus, with life-as-normal coming back at what seems like full speed, we wouldn't blame you if you needed time away from it all. And there's no better way to do that than by escaping to somewhere that feels like a world away from your daily routine. That's where we come in. We've teamed up with Wild Turkey to offer four lucky Aussies the chance to win a $2000 Airbnb voucher for their next weekend away. And with some pretty spectacular Airbnbs that can be found all around this great land, you might have a tough time deciding where to go — and who to take with you. We'll also throw in four cases of Wild Turkey's new Discovery Series to keep the good times going, wherever you find yourself. To be in the running, all you have to do is tell about your favourite off-the-beaten-track destination — the spot you don't tell anyone else about. (Don't worry, we won't tell anyone either.) Need some inspo? Check out our guides to the towns of Lexton, Cunnamulla and Lightning Ridge. [competition]838819[/competition]
Screw gas guzzling tankers and utes — Bruges is taking their beer transportation system underground, preserving their UNESCO World Heritage-listed city streets with an extensive, 3.2-kilometre-long beer pipeline that will begin operation in September. This ingenious design is all thanks to the perseverance of Xavier Vanneste, the heir to De Halve Maan (Half Moon), the city's only continuously working brewery. Initially established in 1564, the brewery is an iconic part of the city — and despite urging from financial advisors, Vanneste has long refused to relocate to a more industrial location. His alternative? To build an underground pipeline from the brewery to the bottling plant. The pipeline itself is an incredibly crafty design, with Vanneste hiring tunnelling experts from the oil and gas industry and Belgium's top brewing professor (what a title!) to get the plan just right. The experts laid the pipeline using computer-guided drills, which minimised street digging and further protected the historic city. As you can expect, the budget was a big one. A total of €4 million (that's almost six million AUD) were needed for the project, and over €300,000 was raised through a crowdfunding campaign. Backers who purchased a gold membership will be entitled to a bottle of Brugse Zot Blond every day for life as part of their €7500 donation. Beer for life is a such a legendary reason to donate. As it currently stands, the pipes can fit enough beer to fill 12,000 bottles an hour. The beer will be pumped down the underground pipeline from the brewery in the city centre to the bottling plant three kilometres out of town. Vanneste's ability to get this approved came as a shock to many, especially considering no private company in history has been allowed to lay cable under the city's cobbled lanes and medieval buildings. Luckily, city officials, including mayor Renaat Landuyt, smartly saw the pipeline as an opportunity to sustain employment while maintaining the city's heritage and sharply reducing the number of beer tankers driving in and out. If the pipeline actually works and stands the test of time, Vanneste will certainly go down in history as a beer legend and a champion forward-thinker. We're already hatching dreams of an Australian-wide network of underground beer pipelines and hope one of our many craft brewers is ready to get behind the idea. If a UNESCO city can get this approved, what's to stop the rest of us? Via The Guardian. Image: Ricardo Samaniego via Flickr.
First, the obvious news: in 2021, Falls Festival won't be unleashing a huge end-of-year music lineup. This'll mark the second year in a row that the event hasn't gone ahead, after skipping its usual December/January slot in the summer of 2020–21 due to the pandemic, too. But, come this time next year, Falls will be gearing up for its big comeback. Festival organisers have announced that Falls will return for the summer of 2022–23, so get circling in your diary now. That said, there'll be a few changes — including skipping its usual Tasmanian leg in Marion Bay, and also moving from Lorne in Victoria as well. Tassie is no longer on the agenda for Falls' next fests, while the Victorian event will move to Pennyroyal Plains in Murroon. The latter is only 30 minutes away from Lorne and less than two hours from Melbourne, handily. "It has been a privilege to operate Falls Festival in such beautiful locations and we're so thankful to the Surf Coast Shire, Sorell Council and supporting stakeholders of Lorne and Marion Bay who have shown Falls Festival such incredible support over the years. We hope that our Lorne and Tassie Falls fam will join us at Pennyroyal Plains," said festival promoters Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "Lorne is where Falls Festival started so we want to give a particularly special shout out to the locals there. You have been instrumental in making the festival all that it is today, and we'll always be grateful to the community for their long-time support," the pair continued. Falls spent 27 years in Lorne and 17 in Tasmania. The 2022–23 event will still head to North Byron Parklands in Yelgun and Fremantle Oval in Fremantle — and if you're wondering who'll be on the bill, it's clearly far too early for that kind of news. When Falls was planning to proceed last summer, it was going to champion an all-Australian lineup; however, with the international border situation changing, overseas headliners could be back on the cards. In addition to sitting out the 2020–21 and 2021–22 summers, Falls has had a chaotic few years all round. When it was held in 2019–20, the music festival was impacted by the bushfires, with the Lorne leg cancelled one day in because of extreme and hazardous weather. Falls Festival will return across December 2022–January 2023, taking place at Pennyroyal Plains in Murroon, North Byron Parklands in Yelgun and Fremantle Oval in Fremantle. Further details won't be announced until sometime in 2022 — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
In 2020, due to the pandemic, the Sydney Film Festival completely moved online. This year, after initially shifting from its usual June dates to the end of August, then moving again to November due to Sydney's lengthy lockdown, SFF is back in cinemas for a huge 12 days of big-screen delights — but it's also going virtual afterwards. Meet SFF On Demand, which'll stream 56 feature-length films and 13 shorts from Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 21. Sydneysiders, that means that you can check out the 2021 festival in-person, then continue it on your couch afterwards. Australians elsewhere, you can still get your SFF fix even if you can't get to Sydney this year. Streaming must-sees include New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Old) as a mother-daughter duo; three-time Sundance 2021 winner Hive, the first film to ever win the fest's Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Directing Award; Never Gonna Snow Again, about an eerie Ukrainian masseur making house calls in Poland; and exceptional Iranian drama There Is No Evil, 2020's Berlinale Golden Bear winner. There's also Swan Song, starring the inimitable Udo Kier (Bacurau); Sydney-set slacker comedy Friends and Strangers; Apples, a Greek satire set in the aftermath of an amnesia pandemic; and thriller The Beta Test. And, you can either pick and mix your flicks separately, or choose bundles — including a heap of this year's Documentary Australia Foundation Award contenders, a package of international docos and movies in SFF's Europe! Voices of Women in Film strand.
Since The Scenic Rim became the host of The Long Sunset, a dedicated music festival as part of the wider Queensland Music Trails, Australia's best talents in music have started visiting the area to perform, and the 2025 festival will be no exception. Taking place across three days, Friday, October 31st to Sunday, November 2nd at Boonah Showgrounds, the artist lineup is a medley of rising stars in the next generation of Australian music. The headlines are indie folk band Boy & Bear and singer-songwriter Vera Blue, but the broader program encompasses all sorts of styles and genres. There's the APRA-nominated soloist Gretta Ray, an injection of punk rock from The Buoys, indie pop from Jem Cassar-Daley, TikTok-famous funk tracks from Melbourne seven-piece crew Playlunch, contemporary First Nations funk-rap from Tjaka and kid-friendly rock tracks from Bunny Racket. There's new faces on the lineup too, with winners from last year's audience-powered Win a Spot competition: Paper Lane and Silk 'N' Oak. Plus, a local student band, Rage Cage, will showcase the local musical talent. [caption id="attachment_1032701" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dulcie Grad[/caption] Of course, the festival is about more than just music. Attendees will be able to take part in everything from line-dancing, circus performances and silent discos to morning yoga, artisan workshops and roving performers. On the food and drink front, Sprout & About on November 2nd will star gardening workshops, kids' activities and storytelling from local elders. Then, Between the Vines on November 9th will star local musicians alongside wine tasting and hampers at a local vineyard. "The spirit of destination discovery and social connection is part of what makes QLD Music Trails so memorable and why they are fast becoming some of Queensland's most anticipated events", said Queensland Music Festival CEO Daryl Raven. "The Scenic Rim Trail is more than a music festival; it's an escape that offers music lovers, locals and travellers an easy-going choose-your-own-adventure musical experience." Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Tom Sharp said "The Scenic Rim is one of the most breathtaking locations in the world and QLD Music Trails gives audiences the chance to experience it through the eyes of locals and to the soundtrack of world-class music". QLD Music Trails: The Scenic Rim's The Long Sunset will run from Friday, October 31st to Sunday, November 2nd. Tickets are on sale now.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. The second important countdown of the month actually goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed Billie Eilish's 'bad guy' the nation's best track of 2019. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight. And, just like its music counterpart, a worthy victor has come out on top. That'd be Stone & Wood, with the Byron Bay brewery no stranger to the top spot. In fact, it won the 2011, 2015 and 2016 polls — and, with its ascent back up to prime position this year, it bested 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company. The label had four beers in the top 100 list in total, which is clearly something to toast to — ideally with the brand's winning 'Pacific Ale' in your glass, obviously. Clearly, plenty of folks did just that throughout 2019. Run by GABS — or the annual brew fest also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular' — the countdown is a people's choice poll decided by booze-lovers around the country. Now in its 12th year, a record 35,500 voters took part this time round. Elsewhere on the list, 18 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, and 79 percent of the beers on the list are made by independently owned breweries. If you're particularly keen on either, GABS have also released rundowns of the Hottest 100 New Craft Beers and the Hottest 100 Indie Craft Beers (those owned independently) plus the next 100 from the main countdown. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through them isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews — consider it research for the 2020 countdown. From Tuesday, January 28, Dan Murphy's will also be selling 24-packs of beers from the list, which are available through its website. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2019 Stone & Wood 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW * Balter 'XPA' (Pale ale) QLD Bentspoke 'Crankshaft' (American IPA) ACT * Young Henrys 'Newtowner' (Australian pale ale) NSW * Your Mates 'Larry' (Australian pale ale) QLD * Bridge Road 'Beechworth Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) VIC * Feral 'Biggie Juice' (New England IPA) WA Balter 'Hazy' (New England IPA) QLD NEW Kaiju! 'Krush! Tropical Pale Ale' (Pale ale) VIC * Hop Nation 'Jedi Juice' (New England IPA) VIC * Balter 'IPA' (American IPA) QLD Bentspoke 'Barley Griffin' (Australian pale ale) ACT * Burleigh 'Twisted Palm' (Australian pale ale) QLD * Black Hops 'Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) QLD * Gage Roads 'Single Fin' (Australian pale ale) WA * Coopers 'XPA' (American pale ale) SA * NEW Bentspoke 'Cluster 8' (Imperial IPA) ACT * Capital 'Hang Loose Juice' (New England IPA) ACT * Coopers 'Original Pale Ale; (Australian pale ale) SA * Balter 'Captain Sensible' (American pale ale) QLD Philter 'XPA' (Australian pale ale) NSW * Black Hops 'Hornet' (American IPA) QLD * Stone & Wood 'Cloud Catcher' (Australian pale ale) NSW * 4 Pines 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW Balter 'Dazy' (Double New England IPA) QLD NEW Balter 'Hazy DC' (New England IPA) QLD NEW 4 Pines 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) NSW Modus Operandi 'Sonic Prayer IPA' (American IPA) NSW * Colonial 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC * Bentspoke 'Sprocket' (American IPA) ACT * Capital 'Coast Ale' (California Common) ACT * James Squire 'One Fifty Lashes' (Australian pale ale) NSW Black Hops 'Super Hornet' (Imperial IPA) QLD * Grifter 'Serpents Kiss' (Fruit beer) NSW * Moon Dog 'Old Mate' (American pale ale) VIC * Grifter 'Pale' (Australian pale ale) NSW * Furphy 'Furphy Refreshing Ale' (Kölsch) VIC Colonial 'South West Sour' (Hoppy sour) WA/VIC * Stomping Ground 'Gipps St Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC * Your Mates 'Sally' (American IPA) QLD * NEW Coopers 'Session Ale' (Pale ale) SA * Brick Lane 'One Love' (Australian pale ale) VIC * Coopers 'Sparkling Ale' (Australian sparkling ale) SA * Dainton 'Blood Orange Neripa' (New England IPA) VIC * Heads Of Noosa 'Japanese Lager' (Pale lager) QLD * NEW Bondi Brewing 'Beach Beer Bondi' (Australian pale ale) NSW * Ballistic 'Oaked XPA' (Pale ale) QLD * 10 Toes 'Pipeline' (Australian pale ale) QLD * Feral 'Imperial Biggie' (Double New England IPA) WA NEW Balter 'IIPA' (Imperial IPA) QLD Feral 'Hop Hog' (American pale ale) WA 10 Toes 'Happy Days' (American IPA) QLD * Capital 'Rock Hopper IPA' (American IPA) ACT * Little Creatures 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC Bentspoke 'Red Nut' (Red IPA) ACT * Young Henrys 'Natural Lager; (Kellerbier) NSW * Modus Operandi 'Former Tenant Red IPA' (Red IPA) NSW * Jetty Road 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC * Mountain Goat 'Goat' (Hoppy lager) VIC Moon Dog 'Splice Of Heaven Pine-Lime' (Milkshake IPA) VIC Big Shed 'Boozy Fruit' (New England IPA) SA * Young Henrys 'Motorcycle Oil' (Porter) NSW * Balter 'Strong Pale Ale' (American pale ale) QLD Colonial 'IPA' (Australian IPA) WA/VIC * Wayward 'Raspberry Berliner Weisse' (Berliner weisse) NSW * Currumbin Valley 'Grape Bubblegum Sour' (Kettle sour) QLD * NEW Capital 'Trail Pale Ale' (American pale ale) ACT * Brick Lane 'Base Lager' (Helles lager) VIC * Stone & Wood 'The Gatherer' (American wheat) NSW * Fixation 'Fixation IPA' (American IPA) VIC * Young Henrys 'IPA' (Australian IPA) NSW * NEW Thirsty Crow 'Vanilla Milk Stout' (Sweet stout) NSW * Bentspoke 'How's It Gosen?' (Gose) ACT * NEW Bridge Road 'Beechy XPA' (Australian pale ale) VIC * 10 Toes 'Lager' (Australian pilsner) QLD * Green Beacon 'Wayfarer' (Pale ale) QLD Bondi Brewing 'Bondi Draught' (Australian pilsner) NSW * NEW Capital Big 'Drop Double IPA' (Imperial IPA) ACT * NEW Your Mates 'Macca' (Helles lager) QLD * NEW Brick Lane 'Red Hoppy Ale' (American amber/red) VIC * NEW Hemingway's '7th Heaven Tropical Ale' (Australian pale ale) QLD * NEW Stone & Wood 'Sticky Nectar' (Milkshake IPA) NSW * Capital 'Evil Eye Red IPA' (Red IPA) ACT * Burleigh 'Bighead' (Pale lager) QLD * Beerfarm 'Asam Boi Gose' (Gose) WA * Black Hops 'Caribbean Haze' (New England IPA) QLD * NEW Hop Nation 'Dreamfeed; (New England IPA) VIC * NEW Nail 'VPA' (Pale Ale) WA * Young Henrys 'Stayer (Mid)' (Hoppy lager) NSW * Moon Dog 'Beer Can' (Hoppy lager) VIC * 4 Pines 'Indian Summer Ale' (American pale ale) NSW Akasha 'Mosaic IPA' (American IPA) NSW * Green Beacon 'Windjammer' (American IPA) QLD Brouhaha 'Strawberry Rhubarb Sour' (Kettle sour) QLD * Akasha 'Korben D. Double IPA' (Imperial IPA) NSW * Mountain Goat 'Summer Ale' (Blonde ale) VIC Bridge Road 'Bling IPA' (American IPA) VIC * Range / Mr Banks / Mr West 'Participation Award' (Double New England IPA) QLD * NEW Your Mates 'Donnie' (Porter) QLD * Batch 'Pash The Magic Dragon' (Kettle sour) NSW* * — Brewed by an independent brewery. NEW — First brewed in 2019. Via Brews News. Top image: The Crafty Pint.
Imagine a world in which, instead of slogging away for an unappreciative boss, you've set your own path and turned your passion into a mighty big paycheck. Jessica Wilson, co-founder and CEO of shopping app STASHD, has done just this. Launching her own business at just 22, Wilson's was nominated for Forbes' 30 Under 30 in 2015 and her million-dollar company has broken into the emerging Chinese market . Our friends at Christie Spaces, a group of dynamic co-working spaces located across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, put us in touch — so we could ask Wilson exactly how to take our side hustles to the big time. If you want to hear more from Wilson, she'll also be holding a series of mini-talks at Christie Spaces, North Sydney about women in the tech space — keep an eye on the website for more info on dates and times. But first up, let's find out how we turn that aforementioned dream world into a reality. [caption id="attachment_678820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christie Spaces by Katje Ford[/caption] THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT Any great business venture starts with an idea. Whether it be making Justin Bieber voodoo dolls or launching the next Snapchat, you need a solid foundation to launch from. Wilson says she noticed an opportunity for her startup while working in the fashion industry. 'Before STASHD, I was working throughout Australia, New York and Paris fashion weeks with brands on everything from model castings, model fittings and strategy," says Wilson. "And working so closely with brands gave me an insight into their pain points.' "The idea for the app came from working on seating plans and noticing that digital was largely outgrowing bricks-and-mortar shops, and the knowledge that retailers needed more data from their customers in relation to their products.' From there, the STASHD app was born. Using a Tinder-like swipe mechanism, shoppers are able to connect with brands and items, then save them to a digital wardrobe. TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH To make stacks of pineapples from your side hustle, you have to back yourself from the start. Even if others may not yet see the brilliance in your plan, it's your job to sell the idea — it's no time to be a wallflower. Wilson remembers the early days of getting her business up and running — it was all about the push. "I was blissfully naive when I started STASHD at 22, I had zero tech experience but would simply not take no for an answer. I wouldn't let the feelings of doubt or being hesitant enter my mind, I was on a mission — and I knocked on every door I could and met with everyone who would give me 15 minutes of their time to get the app off the ground," Wilson says. [caption id="attachment_678828" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessica Wilson by Katje Ford[/caption] PERSISTENCE IS KEY It takes a lot of legwork and even more grit to get a new idea from infancy to reality. Wilson says it's important to throw yourself into the experience and keep persisting. "Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions, everyone starts somewhere and you need to check your ego at the door," Wilson says. After you've done that, the next step is to identify leaders or experts in your field and reach out to them. Wilson says there is a right way and wrong way to go about making the connections you need. "Don't do this via email and LinkedIn, people are busy and unless you impress them from the get-go your email will likely slip down their priority list." Wilson suggests sending "helium balloons tied to a bottle of champagne requesting a 15-minute chat or coffee". Let's face it: everybody loves bubbles and balloons. Once you have an in, demonstrate that you have done your research and come prepared. Then, Wilson says, it's time to "learn and implement". CO-WORKING CONNECTIONS When starting out on the side-hustle-to-main-hustle journey, it's important to have a network of like-minded people around. This is where co-working spaces come in. "The networking with and knowledge of people around you, you cannot buy. Especially when you're just starting and you need to learn, learn, learn," says Wilson. "The community aspect is a positive through every stage of a business. Growing a business is hard, so it's important to have people around you who are also on the entrepreneur path." And, you never know who you might meet at a co-working space. Wilson joined forces with her original business partner after they sat opposite each other. He had the tech smarts to complement her fashion knowledge. Wilson explains that it was a matter of "being in the right place at the right time and taking hold of that opportunity". [caption id="attachment_678811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford[/caption] WOMEN ON TOP Since coming up with the original idea for STASHD, Wilson's company has gone from strength to strength. After pitching her startup on the Chinese equivalent of Shark Tank, The Next Unicorn, she turned her focus to the lucrative and growing millennial market there. As a testament to her achievements, Wilson has garnered many accolades and her success echoes the rise of women in the previously male-dominated tech-startup world. "When I started it was very black and white. People either would mistake me for an intern or think my idea was 'cute'," Wilson says. Over time, this perception has changed and Wilson hopes to help the next generation of female founders to rise to the top. "It's an exciting time for women in tech, there is an incredibly supportive community of us and these women are absolutely incredible." Christie Spaces is located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To find your office space and start hustlin' head to christiespaces.com.au.
It's been home to plenty of Australia's best-known acting names — and a heap of Aussie music stars, too — but when the second half of 2022 hits, the country's most famous fictional roadway will no longer be part of the TV landscape. Thirty-seven years after first whisking viewers off to Ramsay Street, long-running soap opera Neighbours is wrapping up. Whether all of its characters will move to Queensland to join its 80s golden couple Scott and Charlene — aka Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue — is obviously yet to be seen. News of Neighbours' potential demise had been circling for weeks, after its UK network, Channel 5, announced it was dropping the show — leaving the Australian series in need of another British broadcaster, to join its local backer Network Ten, to go on. Sadly for the program's fans, it hasn't been able to find an alternative source of funding, marking the end of the Ramsay Street era. I'll be forever grateful for the experience & the friends I made on @neighbours. We had no idea how big the show would become and how passionately viewers would take it to heart. Pure love! 💞🏡 I can still hear Madge calling … CHARLENE!!!! — Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) March 3, 2022 The show will continue to film until June this year, as announced via social media on Thursday, March 3, with its final episodes from its almost 9000-strong run to air sometime afterwards. Exactly when the world will be saying goodbye to Neighbours hasn't yet been revealed — and neither have any possible plans to bring back any high-profile cast members. The list of well-known faces who've graced the series since its 1985 debut is hefty, all playing characters either living in or connected to the show's cul-de-sac in the fictitious Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. As well as Minogue and Donovan, 80s-era Neighbours boasted a young Guy Pearce and a four-episode stint from Russell Crowe. In the 90s, Natalie Imbruglia got her start there. Margot Robbie and Liam Hemsworth were both regulars in the 00s, and Chris Hemsworth popped up in one 2002 episode before moving over to rival Aussie soap Home and Away. I'm so sorry to hear Neighbours will end. Aside from being the incredible launch pad it's been no one can deny the effect it's had throughout millions of homes around the world. It's bonded all of us in immeasurable ways. A true honour to have been a part of it. Great memories Xx — Guy Pearce (@TheGuyPearce) March 3, 2022 Neighbours' list of celebrity appearances is also sizeable — including The Wiggles, one of the Pet Shop Boys, The Spice Girls' Emma Bunton, The Wombats, Lily Allen, Hanson and pretty much every Aussie celeb who didn't otherwise star in it anyway. Of course, the show's 37 years of twists, amnesia spells, shock returns from the dead, and other Ramsay and Robinson family dramas will live on in our memories — even if, for many of us, Neighbours wasn't an active part of our viewing. Never going anywhere, especially from the part of your brain that knows all the words, is the iconic Neighbours theme tune. That's when good Neighbours songs become good friends, naturally. Neighbours will cease production in June, with its final episodes to air later this year. To watch the series in the interim, head to Network Ten in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand. Top image: Manon van Os.
Throughout November, the Leonids meteor shower has been soaring through the skies; however, that's not the only reason to look up this weekend. Take a gander at the sky on Friday, November 19 and you'll also see a 97-percent partial lunar eclipse that's expected to turn the mood a shade of red. You won't even need to shake yourself out of your warm bed at a super-early hour to catch a glimpse, either, because the eclipse will be lurking in the sky on Friday evening just as nightfall hits. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's the rundown. Unlike May's total lunar eclipse, this one is a 97-percent partial lunar eclipse — so the earth will move between the moon and the sun, but they won't all be completely aligned. Still, when the moon is directly in the earth's actual shadow, it turns a shade of red thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. For a lunar eclipse to occur, there must be a full moon. Based on North American seasons, the November full moon is called a beaver moon because that's when they start to build their winter dams. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Friday, November 19. In Sydney, the partial eclipse is due to begin at 7.34pm, reach its maximum at 8.02pm and end at 11.03pm, while in Melbourne, it'll start at 8.09pm, hit its maximum at 8.12pm and still end at 11.03pm — all according to Timeanddate.com. For Brisbanites, it'll kick off at 6.14pm, reach its maximum at 7.02pm and end at 10.03pm. If you're in Adelaide, those key times are 7.59pm, 8.11pm and 10.33pm. In Perth, you'll get a far more limited view from 6.57pm, with the eclipse hitting its maximum at 7pm and ending at 8.03pm. You'll want to have your cameras at the ready, of course — and see if you can outdo previous big batches of supermoon snaps and super blue blood moon pics. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. If you can't get a clear vantage, Sydney Observatory will be hosting a livestream with Gomeroi yinarr woman, astrophysicist and STEM leader Karlie Alinta Noon, plus Sydney Observatory astrophysicist Dr Andrew Jacob and Sydney Observatory Astronomy Ambassador Kat Ross, from 6.30pm AEST/7.30pm AEDT. The Virtual Telescope Project will also be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 5pm AEST/6pm AEDT. The 97 percent partial lunar eclipse will take place on the evening of Friday, November 19. For further information, including about timing, head to either NASA or Timeanddate.com.
Drum roll please: the Groovin the Moo lineup is here, and 2014 looks like a real crowd-pleaser. The big guns this year include a few topnotch international acts, like electronica king Robert Delong (USA) and Dizzee Rascal (UK), as well as some of our well beloved locals like Karnivool, Illy and Architecture in Helsinki. The Naked and Famous (who we'll probably end up claiming as Australian soon) are making their way across the ditch, too. A fair slab of the artists announced have really proved their worth lately, taking out a number of spots in triple j's Hottest 100 of last year, including the winner of the coveted number one spot, Vance Joy. Rounding out the first announcement are Action Bronson, Andy Bull, Cults, Disclosure, Holy Fuck, The Jezabels, The Jungle Giants, Kingswood, The Kite String Tangle, Loon Lake, Parkway Drive, Peking Duck, The Presets, Thundamentals, Violent Soho, Wave Racer and What So Not. This year marks the move towards something new as well, with the very first Groovin the Moo art exhibition. It's running in conjunction with the Maitland Regional Art Gallery, making a space for images, graphics, objects and a mishmash of multimedia from the Groovin the Moo archives to show off the colourful history of the festival itself. It runs from March 7 to May 25, and entry is free. Over the last couple of years we've seen huge changes on the Australian music festival scene, losing some stalwarts and seeing some youngsters really come to fruition. Since its inception, Groovin the Moo has been one of those festivals that really looks like sticking around, bringing the best in Australian and international talent to the country, to the people who can't get to shows in the big smoke. Tickets are $99.90 and go on sale at 9am on February 4 for Victorians, Queenslanders and Western Australians, and at 9am on February 5 for South Australians, New South Welshpeople and Canberrans. Ticket and more information available at the Groovin the Moo website. Fri 25 April – Oakbank SA (ANZAC Day Public Holiday) Oakbank Racecourse Oakwood Road, Oakbank SA Sat 26 April – Maitland NSW Maitland Showground Blomfield St, Maitland NSW Sun 27 April – Canberra ACT University of Canberra Kirinari St, Bruce ACT Sat 3 May – Bendigo VIC Bendigo's Prince Of Wales Showground 42 – 72 Holmes Rd, Bendigo VIC Sun 4 May – Townsville QLD Murray Sports Complex – Townsville Cricket Grounds Mervyn Crossman Dr & Murray Lyons Cres, Idalia QLD Sat 10 May – Bunbury WA Hay Park (off) Parade Rd Bunbury WA https://youtube.com/watch?v=uJ_1HMAGb4k
You're never too old to run around searching for hidden chocolate, are you? Sure, as you grew from a child into a teenager and then an adult, your parents probably told you otherwise. Thankfully, the proprietors of Ric's, Brunswick and Ann and the RG certainly don't think so. This Sunday, the Valley Mall mainstays are throwing caution to the wind in their efforts to share the Easter fun — and the Easter eggs, too. Scattered across the three venues and their eight bars are all the tasty treats you can dream of. All you need to do is look. It's all part of the Valley's Biggest Easter Egg Hunt, which sounds a bit like an excuse for a party — but we're not complaining. Five different DJs will provide the soundtrack for the scavenger hunt, and you might just uncover a few other goodies in your quest. BYO basket and bunny ears.
Drum roll please: Groovin the Moo is here, and 2014 looks like a real crowd-pleaser. The big guns on the lineup this year include a few topnotch international acts, like electronica king Robert Delong (USA) and Dizzee Rascal (UK), as well as some of our well beloved locals like Karnivool, Illy and Architecture in Helsinki. The Naked and Famous (who we'll probably end up claiming as Australian soon) are making their way across the ditch, too. A fair slab of the artists announced have really proved their worth lately, taking out a number of spots in triple j's Hottest 100 of last year, including the winner of the coveted number one spot, Vance Joy. Rounding out the first announcement are Action Bronson, Andy Bull, Cults, Disclosure, Holy Fuck, The Jezabels, The Jungle Giants, Kingswood, The Kite String Tangle, Loon Lake, Parkway Drive, Peking Duck, The Presets, Thundamentals, Violent Soho, Wave Racer and What So Not. Groovin the Moo will hit the Townsville Cricket Grounds at Murray Sports Complex on Sunday May 4. Over the last couple of years we've seen huge changes on the Australian music festival scene, losing some stalwarts and seeing some youngsters really come to fruition. Since its inception, Groovin the Moo has been one of those festivals that really looks like sticking around, bringing the best in Australian and international talent to the country, to the people who can't get to shows in the big smoke. Tickets and more information available at the Groovin the Moo website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=uJ_1HMAGb4k
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company Bondi are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
As if Kendrick Lamar shows weren't already hard enough to nab tickets to, it's just been announced that the West Coast king will play an uber-exclusive/downright splurge-worthy show in the Bermuda Triangle. Performing this Halloween alongside Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, Kendrick will take the stage in the spookiest place on earth as part of a three-day festival sponsored by Bacardi. Here's hoping he makes it back alive. Unless you're an heiress, Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, The Bacardi Triangle festival is pretty completely unlike any festival you've ever been to. From October 30–November 2, 1862 guests will descend on the Caribbean via private chartered jet from London, New York and Los Angeles. And it's safe to say they won't be roughing it with a broken tent and goon bag. Festival patrons will be put up at the five-star Waldorf Astoria El Conquistador, treated to intimate poolside performances and then taken to a private island via boat for the main show. Usually we wouldn't even tell you about this kind of stuff. It just makes people feel bad. Who wants to hear about luxurious world-class performances on a private island while they're bunkered over a pint of draught watching young screamo kids at the local bandroom? It's cruel. But this time around, Bacardi Triangle are offering up free tickets. Bacardi are giving away all-expense paid trips and plane tickets to 12 Australian island-less peasants. The price of everything adds up to over $20,000 and the value of the stories you'll have is absolutely priceless. Just head along to their website, tell them in 25 words or less what the weirdest place you've ever partied is and you'll be in the running. Sure, the possibility of winning is sure to be smaller than the actual lottery, but you have nothing to lose and a literal boatload of free Bacardi and epic Kendrick times to gain. The full lineup is yet to be released, but rumour has that it will feature an Aussie electronic act. We'd tell you to keep your eyes peeled for further details, but if you're still reading this you've missed the point entirely. Kendrick Lamar. Bermuda Triangle. Private jets. Actual swimming pools full of liquor. Enter here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=B5YNiCfWC3A
If we can glean any positive takeaways from 2020, one of them has been our renewed appreciation for a casual get-together with friends. While nothing replaces the joy of hitting up your local for a few cold ones with your mates, the benefits of staying home include having the time to play games, the freedom to listen to your own music and the chance to show off the cooking skills you perfected during lockdown. To help you make the most of barbecue season, we've partnered with Jim Beam to bring you a guide to flexing your hosting skills around the grill this summer. [caption id="attachment_786631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Mclean[/caption] SWAP SAUSAGE SIZZLE FOR GOURMET SANGAS Snags are easy, which is precisely why you're going to give them a miss this time around. When you want to level up your grilled feast, swap out the sausages for a platter of steak sandwiches topped with caramelised onions and gruyere (for when you're really flexing). Pick up a ciabatta loaf, flank steak or bavette, and a few large onions, red wine vinegar and brown sugar to make the caramelised onions. You can caramelise the onions ahead of time, and warm up the ciabatta just before serving time. For those who'd like a little helping hand, Jamie Oliver has a good steak sandwich recipe, as does Gourmet Traveller. It's your turn to play MasterChef contestant, so get creative, and if you've got fussy eaters, present each ingredient individually at a serving station so that everyone feels part of the process. [caption id="attachment_786453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] SWAP CHIPS AND DIP FOR PIMPED-UP POTATOES Leave the corn chips on the supermarket shelf. Instead, pick up some chats, corn on the cob and prosciutto and create bowls of potato salad fancy enough to match your gourmet steak sandwiches. First, bring a pot of potatoes to the boil and cook until they're soft but still retain their shape. Leave to cool and slice into halves or quarters. Bring a pan to high heat and crisp up chunks of prosciutto until crispy. Now, make up some spiked sour cream (silken tofu, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, chilli powder and cayenne pepper) and add it to the cooled potatoes along with strips of prosciutto and a pinch of smoked paprika. To add to the feast, grill corn on the cob and leave part of the husks intact for hands-on snacking. [caption id="attachment_786622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] SWAP FRIDGE BEERS FOR PREMIXERS OR COCKTAILS Your mates aren't going to turn up at your house empty handed, and we bet they'll bring a couple of beers along as usual. So, as you're the host, make sure you have a slab of something else to change up the booze options. We suggest picking up cans of Jim Beam and Cola, a premixed drink of Jim Beam's famed American bourbon and cola that pairs well with barbecued meat flavours. Keep the cans on ice, chilled and ready for your guests to drink from the can or to serve themselves over ice in a glass. If you like to add a little something extra, prep some wedges of lime for a citrusy addition to the premixed drinks. Or, if you have a bottle of Jim Beam in your drinks cabinet, make up a quick cocktail with 15ml of lemon cordial and 30ml of bourbon in a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice and top up with soda and a wedge of lemon. [caption id="attachment_762521" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eric Nopanen[/caption] SWAP ARVO FOR SUNSET It can be hard to pin people down for a date if your event runs all through the day and into the night. So, make things easier for everyone by hosting yours after the peak sunshine hours when everyone can relax into their evenings and enjoy dinner together. If you have epic views from your abode, make the most of golden hour and take lots of photos just before the sun sets (trust us, you'll look amazing). And, when the sun has gone down, have lots of atmospheric lighting ready to go — think vintage festoon lighting, or a lit fire pit if you have one. Need inspiration? The Party People has clear, colourful, disco ball-shaped and festive lights for sale with delivery available across Australia. [caption id="attachment_787327" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cottonbro[/caption] SWAP TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR PICNIC RUGS Use the best of what you already have to your advantage. Got a picnic rug? Camping chairs? Cushions? You can make a cosy and super casual chill out area in your backyard, no matter how much space you have. Your mates will love your creativity, and it'll create an environment where everyone feels relaxed and able to kick off their shoes without feeling trapped at a dining table. Go one better and gather all your pot plants from around the house and bring your green friends to the party, too. It'll create a mini oasis where you might otherwise have had a lifeless concrete patio. Looking to add to your indoor jungle? The Plant People delivers low-maintenance plants across Australia. Or see our lists of the best places to buy new plants in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Top image: Cassandra Hannagan
"Sixteen-year-old Billie's reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition and their time together becomes limited to Tuesday afternoons." So reads the synopsis for 52 Tuesdays, the striking debut feature from Adelaide-based filmmaker Sophie Hyde. A nuanced exploration of issues surrounding youth, gender, sexuality and family, the film is also remarkable for its unique method of production: shot chronologically, one scene every Tuesday, for the course of an entire year. Hyde and lead actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey have since seen their little indie scoop up awards at Sundance, Berlin and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival. It hits cinemas in Australia on May 1. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y5WcMzEYRGU STANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD "The rules came first," recalls Hyde. "In film now, there has to be something that helps you stand out, especially if you're coming at it from a low budget, and you're unknown …the truth though is that we're always interested in different ways of making something …and that's something I'd take into anything. Let's not do something because it's always been done. Let's do something because it feels right." "You can't hide the messiness of a year," chimes in Cobham-Hervey. "You're always going to have a pimple, or you've just had a fight with Mum, and you actually can't stop the real world from coming into the film, which I think inevitably drenched it in a reality and authenticity." BECOMING BILLIE With a background in theatre and circus, Cobham-Hervey's role as Billie marked her first time in front of the camera. "It didn't feel like a huge commitment at the beginning," says the fledgling actress, who was in year 11 when shooting began. "Then suddenly halfway through we all had that realisation that this is really massive!" "I felt very different before it started to what I did at the end," she continues. "It was that interesting thing of initially not feeling very much like the character, and then reaching that point in the middle where those lines were really blurred … I don't know what I'd be without it." QUESTIONS OF GENDER As impressive as Cobham-Hervey's performance is, equally memorable is the work of Del Herbert-Jane as Billie's mother. "Del identifies as gender non-conforming", explains Hyde. "Whereas the character is a transgender man and wants to be seen as a man. So they're really different. But I think there is an experience in Del, in feeling different from how people treat you, which is something that's hard to understand if you don't experience that." "It's one of the great things that I feel like I learnt making the film", Hyde continues, "realising that every single person I meet treats me as my gender, and I treat them as their gender, and we just make this assumption immediately. If you try and take gender out of a sentence, you have to change like thirty words." "I found it hard in the film," agrees Cobham-Hervey, "saying in the same sentence, 'Mum' and 'he'. That's really hard to do in your brain." GETTING PEOPLE TALKING Despite the film's festival pedigree, local success is by no means a guarantee. "It's a story about family. It's a story about queer issues. It's about young people. And it's got a very arthouse vibe. Those are really quite different audiences," muses Hyde. "People, when they've seen it, respond in a really personal way. But whether we can get to all of those people, I don't know. "The truth is Australian films don't attract huge audiences at the cinemas … most films that we see now have marketing budgets three times their film budget, and their film budgets are hundreds of times ours." Nevertheless, the director hopes people will go to the effort to see the film in a theatre. "[In Berlin] we were playing in a young person's strand, and talked to loads of teenagers, which was amazing," says Hyde. "These sorts of films are great to see with a cinema audience, where you might actually have a conversation afterwards." 52 Tuesdays is in cinemas on Thursday, May 1. You can read our full review of the movie here.
Intelligent machines that interact with humans have long been a sci-fi staple in books, cartoons and film. Whether the future will hold the doe-eyed Haley Joel Osment of Artificial Intelligence or the all-destroying Terminator is still the stuff of fiction, but the fact is thinking machines are already among us, watching us, and telling us what to drink. Japanese beverage company JR East Water Business Co. have created the ultimate in customer service with the Acure vending machine. This oversized box can be found on train platforms in Shinagawa and Tokyo. It boasts a 47-inch touch screen and a camera that uses inbuilt technology to detect sensory data, including the age and sex of the individual standing before it. When the hi-tech device is idle it engages in its 'intelligent marketing system' whereby advertisements relevant to the season, weather and time of day are displayed. If it’s a cold winter’s eve you can expect a nice warm cup of cocoa tempting you on its LCD. While it offers demographically targeted drink selections it also collects marketing data, which is stored and then collated by the company. Launching their first Acure vending machine in August 2010, they already know the most frequent users of the device are men in their 30s and that an inordinate number of juices are bought by them at night. [Via Hypebeast]
So no one told us that the 2020s were going to be this way. Nearly three decades have passed since Friends first introduced the world to its close-knit bunch of New York pals, but nostalgia for the show is still in full swing. And, after a replica of the series' couch toured Australia last year, the program's 25th anniversary sparked cinema screenings and rumours about a reunion special just keep buzzing, a bottomless boozy Friends-themed brunch and viewing party is your next excuse to worship at the altar of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Phoebe. Called The One Where They All Went For Brunch (naturally), this Friends-loving get-together is coming to secret locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland in April and May. The latest event by the folks behind 2019's roller disco brunch, it'll combine two hours of bottomless drinks and a selection of appetisers with Friends trivia, Friends-themed charades, a Friends costume competition and episodes of Friends playing on a big screen. As tends to be the case with these kinds of pop-up events, few other specifics have been revealed as yet — although each city's brunch will take place at a venue within ten minutes of the CBD. Drinks-wise, mimosas will feature. And, word is that Ross' 'moist maker' sandwiches might just grace the food menu. Tickets aren't on sale at present, but you can register to be notified when they become available. Obviously, if you've still been cutting your hair like Jennifer Aniston, have been known to bust out your best Matt LeBlanc-style "how you doin'?" or just like singing 'Smelly Cat', you'll be in your element. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIPSwnHMmNE The One Where They All Went For Brunch will pop up at secret locations in Sydney on Sunday, April 12, in Melbourne on Sunday, April 19, in Brisbane on Sunday, April 26 and in Auckland on Sunday, May 3. To register for further information, and to be notified when tickets go on sale, visit the event pages for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.
When Oktoberfest rolled around, Fortitude Valley's digital darts bar Oche got into the spirit of the occasion. That's not the only thing the venue is celebrating this month, however. Bookending its festivities is Murder on the Dart Board, a Halloween-centric shindig running over three supremely spooky days. Well, it'll all get about as scary as flinging projectiles at an electronic board can — so not very — but being frightened isn't all that Halloween is about. This is the kind of party for you if you're more into dressing up in costume and knocking back eerie-themed cocktails, all of which'll be on the menu from Friday, October 28–Sunday, October 30. If you're new to Oche (pronounced ockey), it originally launched in Oslo in Norway, and opened its first Australian digs in Fortitude Valley in 2019. Lining the walls are dart boards that look exactly how you remember — but they all have an electronic component. Each board comes with dozens of games built in, so you can pick between the knockout-style (and perhaps Halloween-appropriate) Killer, high-scoring High Striker and points-accumulating 201, among other options. The boards also keep score, so there's no need for a pencil and paper (and no room for arguments). And, for unknown reasons — unnerving ones, maybe? — some of them chat to you as well.
If you're the type of movie buff who likes watching new release films on the big screen, popcorn in one hand and choc top in the other, then your viewing habits have undergone some drastic changes in recent weeks. First, upcoming blockbuster flicks started postponing their release dates due to COVID-19. Then, cinemas across Australia began closing — initially by choice, and then by government decree. As a result, no one is gathering in a darkened room to soak in some movie magic from the silver screen any time soon. In the US, a number of studios have been making the leap to online releases, as a way of still letting audiences access and watch their latest films while everyone is staying home. Australian distributors have been slower to take the same jump, but now Roadshow Films has announced that it's fast-tracking a heap of its recent flicks to digital — so you can catch Margot Robbie's chaotic antics in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), check out the Michael B. Jordan-starring legal drama Just Mercy or get a dose of Guy Ritchie's latest British crime caper The Gentlemen all from your couch. In total, 12 recent big-screen releases have been earmarked for digital rental, although some — Joker, Hustlers and The Good Liar — were already available via home entertainment formats anyway. Other titles include entertaining Karate Kid-style Aussie go-karting flick Go!, which stars Richard Roxburgh as an ex-champ reluctantly mentoring an eager teen; Clint Eastwood-directed true crime drama Richard Jewell, about the bombing at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta; and Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, the partially crowdfunded big-screen spin-off from the beloved Australian mystery TV series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbHkNiIyl3I Most of these movies were still in theatres when cinemas started closing in Australia. Some, such as Ben Affleck vehicle The Way Back — where he plays an alcoholic former basketball star who starts coaching his old high school's team — had actually only started screening at the beginning of March. Either way, being made available to watch at home so quickly marks a big change for the local film industry, with films usually only jumping to DVD and streaming 90 days after they first hit cinemas — although Netflix movies such as Roma, The Irishman and Marriage Story, plus Amazon titles like Brittany Runs a Marathon and The Report, have all been challenging that fixed window in recent years. For Roadshow, it'll be dropping different films online from different dates, with rentals via GooglePlay and iTunes. Check out the full list of titles and dates below: Joker: available now Hustlers: available now The Good Liar: available now Go!: available now Midway: available now Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn): available Saturday, March 28 Just Mercy: available Saturday, March 28 Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears: available Monday, March 30 The Gentlemen: available Tuesday, March 31 Richard Jewell: available Wednesday, April 1 Motherless Brooklyn: available Wednesday, April 1 The Way Back: available Wednesday, April 15 Roadshow's fast-tracked films are available to rent via GooglePlay and iTunes. To find out further details, visit the distributor's website. Top image: Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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.
Head to the Laneway Festival's Brisbane leg, or spend January 26 eating, drinking and listening to the triple j Hottest 100 in a mate's backyard? Since the festival's 2017 lineup dropped back in September, that's been the question troubling Brissie music lovers. Thankfully, good ol' Laneway has the answer. The Laneway Festival Hottest 100 Backyard Party is exactly what it sounds like: a shindig inside the fest that's all about good tunes blasted through the radio rather than belted out on stage. It'll be hosted by The Grates' Patience Hodgson and comedian/writer Mel Buttle, and they'll have company. Violent Soho and DZ Deathrays will be on hand to hang out and sign vinyl, as will a few acts on the lineup, while The Bowery will serve up cocktails and Crafted Q has the barbie covered. We know, we know — spending the Hottest 100 at a festival with some local legends who've previously made their way into the the popular poll is pretty epic, and you'll be doing all of the above with a much better speaker setup than any of your friends are likely to have in their yards. That's how you throw a party within a party. So, if you're keen to check out some great live sets from the likes of AB Original, Tame Impala and Glass Animals, plus chill out listening to the nation's favourite countdown, be thankful for that Laneway ticket (or grab one asap). Laneway Festival's Brisbane leg takes place on January 26 at Brisbane Showgrounds. Visit their website for more information and to buy tickets. Image: Andy Fraser.
That soothing feeling that sweeps over you when you spy a cute canine, spend too much time watching internet cat videos or even just spot a picture of a newborn animal — that's the feeling at the heart of Australia's newest wellness sessions. Sure, you've been to kitten yoga and puppy pilates, and they're both great. But we're guessing that you haven't tried meditating with baby goats or getting mindful with soft, cuddly lambs. Currently held in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, with plans to expand to the Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Melbourne in the near future, attendees at Karmably's classes attempt to find inner bliss while they're surrounded by rescued baby farm animals. In short, it's the best way to de-stress when life's got your goat. After all, who can remain overwhelmed, exhausted or annoyed when they're sharing their chill-out session with actual goats? The classes focus on relaxation techniques, and boast names such as Breathe In & Bleat Out and Breathing and Baa-ing, which gives you an idea of just what's in store. Those heading along can expect three parts to each session: mindful stretching, meditation and snuggling the four-legged participants. If you're wondering where the concept came from, it was inspired by organiser Berenice Tan's own experiences trying to find something other than the usual mindfulness classes within Australia. Unimpressed with the options already available, she flew to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco "and experienced every meditation class under the sun," she explains. "Funnily enough, I heard about goat yoga and laughed it off as something ridiculous I wasn't interested in trying." Upon returning to Brisbane, Tan began to research animal therapy and, after learning of the benefits (and realising that everyone loves cute critters), her sessions with goats, lambs and even piglets were born. The bliss goes both ways, too — with Karmably not only helping humans to relax in a fun manner, but also assisting animals in need. Tan works with sanctuaries, rescue centres, and organisations such as Harmony Hooves Healing Hearts, Brisbane Pony Parties and My Little Farm Friends. They're all outfits that raise baby creatures who have either been rejected by their mothers or lost their mums in other ways, and hand-rear them until they can be adopted out as pets to families who live on suitable properties. After setting up shop in August, classes in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast are already selling out two months in advance. To meet the demand, they're now held every weekend at various locations, but reserving a spot early is a necessity. Folks in Sydney and Melbourne should watch this space — although New South Wales is no stranger to combining wellness with farm animals, with the state home to a goat yoga retreat just last year. Karmably hosts Breathe In & Bleat Out and Breathing and Baa-ing meditation and mindfulness sessions at a variety of Brisbane and Gold Coast venues — visit the Karmably Facebook page for further details.
When a supermoon graced the skies in April, you probably trotted out to your backyard to stare at the heavens. And, you might've nabbed a decent-enough look at the impressive lunar sight. But if you'd like to get a bit closer to the astronomical body during this month's next supermoon — the second and last for 2021 — you now have the option of jumping on a plane. On Wednesday, May 26, Qantas is running a special supermoon flight — and yes, its sole purpose is to let its passengers get a better look at the moon. Not only will the date bring a supermoon, but there'll be a full lunar eclipse as well. That's when the Earth gets between the sun and the moon, covering the latter with its shadow and giving it a reddish hue. If you'd like to take to the skies, rather than just peer up at them, you'll need to be in Sydney. Just one supermoon flight is departing from Sydney Domestic Airport (T3) at 7.30pm, and only just over 100 seats will be available. Passengers will hop onto a B787 Dreamliner, then take a three-hour trip over the city — including Sydney Harbour — complete with a stint cruising above the clouds at 43,000 feet for maximum moon viewing. The lunar eclipse is due to begin at 6.47pm, reach its maximum at 9.18pm and end at 11.49pm, according to Timeanddate.com, so you'll be in the air at the absolute best time. Before departing, you'll also enjoy a cocktail party in the Qantas business lounge from 5.30pm. And, once you're onboard, you'll eat, drink, lock your eyes on the window and listen to CSIRO astronomer Dr Vanessa Moss — who'll be giving a live commentary, and also working with the pilots in advance to design the optimal flight path. Unsurprisingly, tickets for the supermoon flight don't come cheap — starting at $499 for economy, $899 for premium economy and $1499 for business. To offset the environmental impact of taking to the sky purely to get a closer look at the moon, Qantas will offset 100 percent of the flight's carbon emissions. Qantas' supermoon flight will depart Sydney Domestic Airport (T3) at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 26, with tickets going on sale at 12pm on Tuesday, May 12.
With its latest exhibition, QUT Art Museum might just be taking inspiration from David Bowie. This showcase isn't about the iconic musician, but it's definitely taking his words to heart — and turning and facing the strange. Running until Sunday, February 3, Beyond Reason is all about pieces that throw logic, sense and all things ordinary out of the window. It's a haven for everything that's weird and wonderful, absurd and theatrical, and satirical and spontaneous. And, as it explores ideas of cultural identity, popular culture and sexuality, it dives deep into the mythical, the fairy tale-like and the transformative as well. Spanning everything from sculptures to paintings — and plenty in-between as well — the exhibition also boasts a sizeable lineup of artists. There's 29 creative folks exploring the topic, with the lineup starting with Karen Napaljarri Barnes and ending with Michael Vale. Others featured include Amber Boardman, Matthew Clarke, DC Style Fylez, Hannah Gartside, Kyoko Imazu, Sharon Muir, Tom Polo, Zoe Porter and The Ryan Sisters. Image: Kyoko Imazu, 'Odile II'. 2018. 39 x 49cm black paper, perspex. Courtesy of the artist.
Fifty years, oh-so-many epic campaigns, and everything from movies to video games, too: that's the Dungeons & Dragons story. 2024 marks half a century since the tabletop roleplaying game first had its players rolling the dice and spinning fantasy tales, a milestone that's being celebrated Down Under with the Australasian premiere of Dungeons & Dragons' leap to the stage. Get ready for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern. Normally a trip to the theatre means engaging via watching, not by playing a part; however, that fittingly isn't the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern experience. Audience members don't simply view this version of the game, which is also currently running off-Broadway — they also play along, choosing the characters and helping shape the story. Here's how it works, as Australians will discover when DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern hits the Sydney Opera House Studio from Sunday, December 15, 2024: when you take your seat, you're a key aspect of the show. Entering the Forgotten Realms, you also pick the experiences and other elements of the performance using Gamiotics software, with more than 30 playable characters, 34 backgrounds and 28 combat effects involved. Still on numbers, the production also features 40-plus custom character illustrations, 40 item cards and over 300 individual pieces of content. Five actors take to the stage to bring all of the above to life, including via games, combat, puzzles and riddles — and, because of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern's interactive nature, they're not just performing the same roles each time. Shaking things up for the audience and the cast alike, this experience is never the same twice. "As passionate gamers and D&D players, the creators of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern set off on a quest to explore what a live interactive experience of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS could look like. What started as a D&D-style RPG onstage with folding tables and a box of props has grown beyond our wildest imagination — it's now an experience that has allowed us to forge a deep connection with gamers and non-gamers alike, with each night seeing the story play out in a way unique to that audience," explains co-creator and producer David Carpenter. "Dungeons & Dragons has an enduring and near-mythic appeal across generations, with so many adaptations and features in pop-culture moments over the past 50 years. But it's safe to say, no one has done anything like DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern before – and we're thrilled to be giving audiences the first chance to see it outside the US," adds Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance Ebony Bott. "This theatrical production captures the imagination, inviting everyone to join the adventure and interact with a new world from the moment they walk in the door." DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern will play the Sydney Opera House Studio from Sunday, December 15, 2024. Head to the venue's website for more details — and for pre-sale tickets from 9am on Tuesday, September 10 and general sales from 9am on Thursday, September 12. Images: Bronwen Sharp.
They say humans only use 10 percent of their brain capacity. Of course, 'they' are idiots, because even someone operating at just 10 percent would be able to plug that persistent non-fact into Google and discover: it's utter rubbish. Speaking of rubbish, Lucy — the new film by French director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, The Professional — opens this week. Here's the gist: Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is a no-hope American student in China who ingests a new party drug that inexplicably boosts her brain capacity from 1 percent to 20 percent. The initial symptoms include: pain, inverted roof crawling and the (again inexplicable) immediate development of expertise in martial arts, small arms fire and quantum mechanics. She also gets shot and doesn't care. Kids: stay in school, because — apparently — smart people don't feel bullets. With her now enhanced brain, Lucy concludes she'll need more of the drug to stay alive and hence comes to blows with the Korean drug baron determined to instead spread it on the streets. And...that's...pretty much it. Lucy gets smarter, drug baron gets stabbier and the police remain phenomenally absent and/or ineffectual. Lucy begins by posing a question to the audience: "Life was given to us a billion years ago. What have we done with it?" 89 minutes later it concludes in a similar fashion: "Life was given to us a billion years ago. Now you know what to do with it". Wrong. Seriously, I've no idea what the message of this film was. Assuming it wasn't 'take drugs', then it could only have been the line driven by Morgan Freeman's philosopher character Professor Norman: that people with knowledge should pass it on. However, that's already what we do as humans, so actually, we've not learned anything from this film at all. The concept of wildly enhanced cerebral activity is an excellent one, and was similarly explored in 2011's Limitless. However, neither it nor Lucy felt confident enough to let the science or ethics of the issue be the sole focus. Both kept the chemistry to a minimum and instead padded their scenes with periodic action sequences and flashy special effects. It's precisely what Dustin Hoffman was referring to several years ago when he publicly bemoaned the lack of intelligent science fiction films and called for smarter scripts. The irony of movies like Lucy is that studios believe the only way to ensure box office success for stories about intelligence is to dumb them down to an almost unintelligible level. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MVt32qoyhi0
From moving road trip dramas and joyous concert documentaries to passionate anthologies and wondrous animation, plenty of excellent films reached screens large and small throughout 2020. Indeed, the past 12 months have been filled with cinematic delights — even when we've been watching them at home while movie theatres were closed — but, sadly, they can't all be great. Each year delivers its fair share of exceptional and awful movies, of course. And, both the best and the worst of the bunch can all score awards. The Oscars and the Golden Globes rank among the accolades that recognise the former, while the Golden Raspberries devotes its attention to the other end of the spectrum — and it has just revealed its latest contenders. Leading the pack among the 41st Razzie Award nominations are Polish erotic drama 365 Days, which nabbed six nods and became the awards' first-ever contender in a language other than English; and Dolittle, the Robert Downey Jr-starring remake that hit cinemas before the pandemic, and was also recognised in six categories. Also scoring more nominations than any movie would like: the horror version of Fantasy Island, which picked up five; the terrible Sia-directed Music, which notched up four; Netflix drama Hillbilly Elegy, with three; and Netflix comedies Hubie Halloween and The Wrong Missy, also with three each. None of these nominees are surprising in the least, although some films deserve their nods in a different way. Take Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, for instance — which is smart, funny and savage, and definitely not terrible, but scored two nominations for Rudy Giuliani (for worst supporting actor, and for worst screen combo with Maria Bakalova). Other movies vying for the Razzies include Wonder Woman 1984 (for worst supporting actress, and worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel), The Very Excellent Mr Dundee (for worst supporting actor), Call of the Wild (for worst screen combo, between Harrison Ford and that totally fake-looking CGI dog) and The Witches (for worst actress). Reflecting the past year's general chaos, the Razzies are also handing out a special trophy to the 2020 overall, naming it 'the worst calendar year ever'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgnHhMLNJE The 2020 Razzie Award winners will be announced on Sunday, April 25, Australian and New Zealand time. Check out the full list of nominees below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2020: WORST PICTURE 365 Days Absolute Proof Dolittle Fantasy Island Music WORST ACTOR Robert Downey Jr, Dolittle Mike Lindell, Absolute Proof Michele Morrone, 365 Days Adam Sandler, Hubie Halloween David Spade, The Wrong Missy WORST ACTRESS Anne Hathaway, The Last Thing He Wanted and The Witches Katie Holmes, Brahms: The Boy II and The Secret: Dare to Dream Kate Hudson, Music Lauren Lapkus, The Wrong Missy Anna-Maria Sieklucka, 365 Days WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Chevy Chase, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee Rudy Giuliani (as himself), Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Shia LeBeouf, The Tax Collector Arnold Schwarzenegger, Iron Mask Bruce Willis, Breach, Hard Kill and Survive the Night WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy Lucy Hale, Fantasy Island Maggie Q, Fantasy Island Kristen Wiig, Wonder Woman 1984 Maddie Ziegler, Music WORST SCREEN COMBO Maria Bakalova and Rudy Giuliani, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Robert Downey Jr and his utterly unconvincing Welsh accent, Dolittle Harrison Ford and that totally fake-looking CGI dog, Call of the Wild Lauren Lapkus and David Spade, The Wrong Missy Adam Sandler and his grating simpleton voice, Hubie Halloween WORST DIRECTOR Charles Band, All three Barbie and Kendra movies Barbara Bialowas and Tomasz Mandes, 365 Days Stephen Gaghan, Dolittle Ron Howard, Hillbilly Elegy Sia, Music WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL 365 Days Dolittle Fantasy Island Hubie Halloween Wonder Woman 1984 WORST SCREENPLAY 365 Days All three Barbie and Kendra movies Dolittle Fantasy Island Hillbilly Elegy
Music venues are a dime a dozen in Brisbane these days. You’ve got the decades old institutions that everyone knows, the genre specific hidey-holes that bring out each requisite fan base, and then you have the eclectic off the beaten track locations that you hear whispers of but have never been able to track down. What doesn’t help matters is that a lot of these amaze venues only pop up for one show and then disappear again. However we’ve got word that this Thursday Secret 33 will be housing (the fittingly called) Can You Keep a Secret? in conjunction with Fete de la Musique. A vintage affair in which bands The Phoncurves will be playing '60s flower child pop, and Golden Sound '70s psychedelic funk to soothe your eardrums. Add in the fact that the food truck The Bun Mobile will be on site servicing your tummy’s needs. It’s BYO, and entry is free, and it’s obvious why we certainly couldn’t keep both the venue and event a secret.
Over the last few years, Brisbane has quietly become one of the best spots for a weekend escape. It's got the climate of a tropical holiday, the creativity of a capital city and a local food and drink scene that punches well above its weight. Across the city, there's art, architecture and plenty of green space, but also incredible spots to dine and unwind that are world-class without trying too hard. Whether you're looking for a few days of luxury, a culture-filled weekend or just a change of scenery (and weather), Brissy makes it easy. Here, we break down where to stay, what to eat and how to spend your time while you're there. Where to Stay The Calile Hotel If you're a person who wants the relaxation to start the second you check in, The Calile will be right up your alley. This pastel-drenched, luxury hotel is the kind of place you'll struggle to leave (and honestly, you don't need to). The rooms are built for relaxation with cool stone, brass accents and breezy balconies, while the pool area is more like a scene from a Slim Aarons photograph than your standard hotel setup. It's also in the thick of James Street, Brisbane's designer shopping and dining precinct, so everything you need is within walking distance. Beyond the rooms, there's a full day's worth of indulgence on-site, including a library stocked with art books and journals, a gym with personal training available, and Kailo Wellness Medispa for top-tier facials, massages and LED sessions. When hunger strikes, you can walk straight from the pool into Hellenika restaurant, or grab an afternoon spritz in the Lobby Bar. Whether you're swimming, shopping or slipping into a deep-tissue massage, The Calile makes you feel like you're on holiday, even if you're only up for the weekend. Book your stay here. Where to Eat SK Steak & Oyster Opened in 2019 by the St Albans restaurant group, SK Steak & Oyster has slowly but surely become a James Street institution. Conveniently located within The Calile Hotel, the restaurant has a light and bright, mid-century aesthetic and the kind of polished yet unpretentious service that makes you feel at ease from the moment you walk in. The menu leans classic in the best possible way. The team of chefs delivers expertly grilled steaks, market-fresh oysters with caviar and showstopper seafood dishes like the Moreton Bay bugs and spanner crab pasta. Alongside these big hitters, diners also have an impressive choice of pastas, soups, salads and sides. Oh, did we mention there's an entire 10-option menu dedicated to potatoes? Yep. It's a cheeky flex that fans of the restaurant have come to love. But beyond the delicious food, the high standard service and attention to detail is what makes SK Steak & Oyster an exceptional experience. This isn't just one of the best steakhouses in Brisbane, it's one of the best restaurants, full stop. There's a reason locals book this place for special occasions, and why visitors should make it one. Book a table here. Joy Hidden down a laneway in Fortitude Valley, Joy is a tiny restaurant with a big reputation. The space seats just ten, with chef Sarah Baldwin and her small team running the entire show – from the kitchen to the floor – which makes every service feel extremely personal. But it's not just the size that sets Joy apart. There's no printed menu and no choices to be made. You're served what Sarah is cooking that day, which is always a seasonal and multi-course tasting menu that's part fine-dining, part performance art. While you'll never know exactly what's on offer before sitting down, you can expect delicate, clever dishes with creative and unexpected flavour combinations. Choose the matching drinks options, and you'll enjoy sake or natural wine pairings that are carefully chosen to complement each dish. When you dine here, it's as much about the moment as it is about the food. The intimate setting, minimalist aesthetic and one-chef kitchen all create a unique tension that heightens the experience. Getting a seat takes some planning, but don't let that deter you, it's a meal you'll remember long after you leave Brisbane. Book a table here Gerard's Bistro Gerard's is one of those restaurants that's been around long enough to be considered a classic, but continues to evolve and surprise. Positioned just off James Street, the bistro has long been known for its contemporary Middle Eastern menu and cool, textural fit out featuring warm clay tones, timber and rammed-earth walls inspired by Lebanon's ancient Temple of Baalbek. The vibe here is lively in all the right ways, with an open kitchen, a buzz of conversation and a menu designed for sharing. The best time to go is for a late lunch on Friday and Saturday, or an early dinner, when the light softens and the wine starts flowing. Yes, the space is beautiful, but what you're really coming for is the food. The menu draws on Levantine, North African and Mediterranean flavours, giving traditional dishes a modern twist. Housemade breads, charcoal-grilled meat and fresh produce lead the charge, and regulars rave about the lamb shoulder with parsley tahini, woodfired octopus from Western Australia and chickpea hummus with black barley. If you have any space left for dessert, the Turkish coffee pastry cream with meringue is a must-try. It's generous food made to be eaten with friends. Book a table here. Supernormal Andrew McConnell's Melbourne institution, Supernormal, finally landed in Brisbane in 2024, and the team hasn't missed a beat. Located on Queen Street, both Supernormal and its sister terrace spot, Bar Miette, look out over the CBD skyline, making them the perfect duo for a sunset dinner and drinks. Inside, the restaurant mirrors the minimal, high-functioning design of the Melbourne location. There's an open bar feature, spacious layout and timber tones throughout. But this isn't a carbon copy – the Brisbane team, led by Executive Chef Jason Barratt, has added just enough local energy to make it feel grounded in its new home. The menu is built around bold Asian flavours and textural contrast. Must-tries include the prawn and chicken dumplings, five spice half chicken, a rich pork tomahawk with fermented chilli, and of course, the signature lobster roll. The drinks are just as enticing, with Supernormal's take on a Margarita Koshó with yuzu and fermented green chili a crowd favourite. Book a table here. Hellenika If you're staying at The Calile, you have to try Hellenika. You'll spot the green and white striped umbrellas from across the pool, but this restaurant is very much a destination in its own right. It's the kind of place you come to for lunch and find yourself still at the table by sunset, bringing a slice of Mediterranean life to inner Brisbane. The space is open, breezy and built for long, lazy meals with plenty of natural light by day and a romantic glow by night. You don't need to be staying at the hotel to dine here, but if you are, it's a convenient (and frankly irresistible) option for an afternoon of indulgence. The menu is Greek-influenced and the service is impeccable. Highlights include the spanakopita, saganaki, grilled octopus and the signature whole baked fish. Pair it all with a bottle of Greek white or a spicy margarita and you've got yourself a very good time. Book a table here What to Do Kailo Wellness Medispa If you're going to book one thing while you're here, make it a treatment at Kailo. This is Brisbane's premier medispa and regularly ranked among the best in the country, offering everything from LED facials and lymphatic drainage massages to more advanced therapies like injectables and vitamin therapy (yes, that's a thing). Located conveniently inside The Calile, it's the kind of place you can weave into your day around lunch or shopping without needing to go out of your way. The space itself is serene and architecturally designed, with treatment rooms that feel both luxurious and calming. The spa is run by a team who know what they're doing, with service that's thoughtful and discreet, and an extensive menu of clinical-grade treatments. Whether you're popping in for a pick-me-up or carving out a few hours for total relaxation, you'll be sure to walk out glowing. Book a treatment here Albion Bathhouse Australia's bathhouse scene is having a moment and Albion Bathhouse is one of the standouts. Housed in a converted warehouse with huge ceilings and atmospheric lighting, it's easily one of the most stunning spaces in the city. In fact, walking inside feels like you've entered a whole different world. Every detail here is considered, from the curve of the archways to the texture of the towels, and the experience is elevated further by a truly premium offering. You'll find not only the usual suspects (steam room, magnesium plunge pool, cold dip) but also infrared saunas and bespoke wellness experiences that you can book alongside your soak. Perfect for a solo recharge or an afternoon with friends, Albion Bathhouse is equal parts stunning and soothing, and well worth carving out an afternoon for while you visit Brisbane. Don't forget to book ahead – it's popular for a reason. Book a session here Brisbane Powerhouse Housed in an old power station on the Brisbane River, the Powerhouse has long been a cultural hub for the city. And it's only getting better. The calendar is packed year-round with performances ranging from experimental theatre and indie music to comedy, contemporary dance and festivals. Coming up this winter, you can book tickets to see comedians Wil Anderson, Anisa Nandaula and Will Gibb. Plus, there's the World Press Photography Exhibition and performances by the Brisbane Ballet to look forward to. No matter what you see, the venue itself is worth a visit: a towering structure with exposed brick walls and years of history. Plus, the outdoor bar with food vendors and sunset views is a great place to kill time before a performance. Whether you plan your trip around a specific show or just pop in to see what's on, this place is always checking out. Book your tickets here. Whether you're up for a long weekend or just a couple of days to recharge, Brisbane is ready when you are. And with The Calile Hotel as your base, you won't need to go far to find the city's best bites, sips and spa sessions. Discover accommodation, spa and dining options at The Calile Hotel website.
Right now, we're navigating the weird — and often glitchy — world of digital drinks. Instead of clocking off, going down to our local and ordering a pint with some colleagues, we're on Zoom calls and dancing at online nightclubs. But what to drink? By now, we're sure your kitchen either looks like a full-blown saloon or you've at least got some supplies stashed away. So, instead of reaching for the wine, why not take things up a notch with a cocktail? And not just any cocktail, but one worthy of a celebrity. Thankfully, the world has recently been blessed with a fair bit of celeb cocktail content of late — from cosmopolitan queen Ina Garten to suave Stanley Tucci and the ever-classy Meryl Streep. And, unlike Paris Hilton and her lasagne, you can trust these three celebs in the kitchen. So, if you're wondering what concoction to make this afternoon, look no further. INA GARTEN'S GIANT COSMOPOLITAN (SUITABLE AT ALMOST ANY HOUR) Serves one Ina Garten or a household Keeping cocktail hour alive — even though "nobody's stopping by" — is Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). And while her catchcry "it's always cocktail hour in a crisis" may not be advisable, it's pretty relatable. Plus, this is coming from a culinary icon. Her drink of choice during iso is the sophisticated cosmo, naturally. If you want to take a page out of the cocktail queen's cookbook, you'll need top-shelf vodka, Cointreau (or any orange liqueur), cranberry juice, limes and ice, plus a jug, novelty-sized cocktail shaker (with strainer) and an extra-large martini glass. Ingredients 2 cups vodka 1 cup Cointreau 1 cup cranberry juice 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime Ice Method Pour vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice and lime into jug. Stir. Half fill shaker with ice and add in the cocktail mix. Depending on the size of your shaker, you may have to do this in batches. Shake for 30 seconds. Pour into martini glass(es). In the wise words of Garten: "During a crisis, you know, cocktail hour can be almost any hour." So, bottoms up. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-cJUwUpxbM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link STANLEY TUCCI'S UNLAWFUL — BUT INTRIGUING — NEGRONI UP Serves one If you can look past the incredibly sculpted biceps, you'll see The Devil Wears Prada actor shaking a negroni. Yes, shaking. While most like their negronis as they should be — on the rocks, with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari — Tucci's twist is intriguing. But again, it could be the arms. For what Tucci calls a Negroni Up, you'll need gin, sweet vermouth (good sweet vermouth, not that Martini brand he has such disdain for), Campari, an orange, and ice, plus a cocktail shaker (with strainer) and a glass, preferably a coupe. Now, throw whatever negroni-making knowledge you have aside. Ingredients 2 shots gin 1 shot sweet vermouth 1 shot Campari 1 orange slice Ice Method Half fill shaker with ice and add gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Shake it up, as Tucci does so well. Pour into a coupe, martini glass, or whatever you want. Garnish with an orange slice. Really, a negroni is a simple drink, relying on balance and good liquor. Although Tucci's breaks all the rules, his confidence has us convinced. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_NkcbTgVfy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link MERYL STREEP'S MARTINI (WITH A SIDE OF SHOW TUNES AND SCOTCH) Serves one Even Meryl Streep is getting around the quarantini — shaken, not stirred. But she doesn't just make a stiff drink and tell you how to do it, no. The award-winning actor takes her cocktail making to the next level — of course she does — leaving a little guesswork to the recipe. So, you can get creative with this one. As part of Stephen Sondheim's birthday celebrations, which saw celebrities the world over celebrate with a virtual concert, Streep shakes up a martini while singing Sondheim's show tune 'The Ladies Who Lunch'. She's joined by a red wine-drinking Christine Baranski and a bourbon-swigging Audra McDonald and if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and watch it here, immediately. For Meryl's martini, you'll need gin, vermouth, lemon, ice, plus a cocktail shaker (with strainer) and martini glass. And a chic robe to wear while shaking and singing. Ingredients 50 millilitres gin 10 millilitres dry vermouth lemon twist Ice Method Half fill shaker with ice and add gin and dry vermouth. Shake for about 30 seconds — or the duration of singing: 'Here's to the girls that stay smart / Aren't they a gas?/ Rushing to their classes / In optical art / Wishing it would pass'. Pour into a martini glass theatrically and garnish with lemon twist while belting out 'I'll drink to that'. Once you've sung a bit more and polished off that martini, take a large sip of scotch straight from the bottle — be sure to do it with equal parts class and sass. Then, pour yourself another martini. https://twitter.com/michcoll/status/1254609437492461569
With its frames filled with teenagers and 20-somethings driving across America in search of a different life, watching American Honey feels like tagging along on a road trip. Many movies have charted characters coming of age as they traverse streets and highways and varying landscapes, but, with this film, Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights writer-director Andrea Arnold wants audiences to feel — rather than simply observe — the journey that results. "It's like an experience, rather than like a film," offers actor Riley Keough. After rocking out in The Runaways, racing through the desert in Mad Max: Fury Road, and starring in the television remake of The Girlfriend Experience, Keough plays the tough-talking, no-nonsense, money-focused Krystal, the leader of a crew that ventures from town to town and door to door selling magazine subscriptions. Jake (Shia LaBeouf) is the closest she has to a second-in-charge — and he's the reason that 18-year-old Star (Sasha Lane) decides to join the group, lured in by his charm, epic rat-tail and Rihanna-inspired dance moves. Theirs is a careening trek, with Star's entry into this brave new world the focal point. Mile by mile, they encounter privilege and poverty, kind and cruel passers-by, and new revelations about themselves and others, all set to an eclectic rock, pop and hip hop soundtrack. Populated by a mostly non-professional cast (who largely improvise dialogue), Arnold's film was shot on the road and in sequence — meaning that it replicates reality as much as possible. With American Honey now screening in Australian cinemas, we spoke with Keough about living rather than acting her part, seeking out complicated roles and making a movie that touches people. ON WANTING TO BE A PART OF AMERICAN HONEY "Well, I heard that Andrea [Arnold] was making a film, and I was a really huge fan of her. And I went and met the casting person, and it was a bit of a different casting experience. I was just kind of, I was very persistent on wanting to do everything I could to be able to be in this film, I guess. I knew that she liked to work with non-actors. I knew it was going to be wild. I knew it was going to be like, you know, a once in a lifetime kind of experience. So I was just kind of like, 'I'll do anything I can to come with you.'" ON MAKING A MOVIE IN SEQUENCE ON THE ROAD "She [Arnold] gave us a situation where we were allowed to just exist as these people, and it wasn't like something that a movie normally is. You kind of just had to take it day by day, and see what happens. It was like she was writing our lives for us, sort of, day by day. It was in sequence, and we wouldn't know what was happening until the day of. I don't think any day was the same. You get picked up, you go do your thing, you go back to your motel. There was no line or boundary between anything really. It was all just kind of what you see in the film. Everything she captured was real. I don't think people really knew either when she was rolling and when she wasn't." ON ACTING WITHOUT FEELING LIKE ACTING "There weren't really any acting choices. The thing is, when you're acting with non-actors or children, you can't really have an acting choice. You can't really act. You're forced to really open up to the scenario, which is what I think everyone's looking for, which is non-acting. You know what I mean? If I could do it on every film, I would, because it's what you're looking for when you're working with actors on every film. Because for us to be fully present and spontaneous and not have to have any attention on anything going on around us — it's a really magical thing to me. I prefer it that way, because there's not a lot of thought, there's not a lot of heavy intellectualising about every single thing that's happening. It just kind of really allowed us to exist in the moment and not feel like you're making a movie, which is kind of what you're always trying to not feel like, you know." ON SEEKING OUT STRONG, INTERESTING DEPICTIONS OF WOMEN "I definitely try to avoid a cookie cutter woman at all costs, just because I don't find that interesting. The normal characters that are written for women that are a bit two-dimensional — I definitely want to avoid that because I don't like doing that. I don't think any woman likes that. It's just like, a lot of the types of roles that are written for women are supporting the narrative in some way, and writers don't really want to go in deep on who these people are. And Andrea's amazing at that, in all of her films. Every little person, you know, they're so complicated. I think that's what makes her films so full of life. I look for something that I've never done before, whether it's the tone of the film, or the style or the character, or all of it. Just things I haven't done before, you know. But also, I like strong women." ON REACTIONS TO THE FILM "I have a lot of people walk up to me on the street or in the store and be like 'American Honey!'. I can see it in their eyes, how much they enjoyed watching the film. And I've never had that as an actress before. I have a couple of times, with Fury Road and GFE [The Girlfriend Experience], but with American Honey it was in a different way. I could tell it really touched people in the way that films touched me when I was teenager. I think it really touches people's sort of core. And that, to me, we've done something to the audience, which is kind of what you're always trying to achieve. So, I don't know how to really describe it, but it's kind of like what we always want to be doing with art. I think it happens a lot with singers, where they see sort of a more clear version of it. They listen to your song, and people are like 'oh this song got me through this thing.' It's very like clear version of art touching someone in a way, and I think American Honey is really getting to that sort of place in people's souls. It's just been a really cool thing to watch." American Honey is now screening in Australian cinemas. You can read our review here.
Erotica fans Australia-wide are celebrating the return of World Movies Channel's adults only program, Summer of Sin. Starting in December, it's a 62-night festival of all things intimate, with a sexually charged film screening at 9.30pm every single night until January 31. Before you ask, yes, Christmas Day's included. 2011 Spanish film The Sex of the Angels has that one covered. Moreover, New Year's Day will see a coital marathon kicking off at midnight, with 24 hours of films played back-to-back. In December 2012, the initiative saw a 49 percent increase in the channel's audience. This year, the formula that proved so irresistible to so many is being reapplied — a combination of classics and new international films, never-before-seen in Australia. In the words of the organisers, "We've scoured the darkest and dirtiest corners of the cinematic world for a line-up of the sexiest premiere films." Pretty much every fantasy or fetish gets a look-in, from swingers' parties to alien abduction. Here's our top 5. Young and Wild (Chile, 2012) When: Friday, 13 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) & Wednesday, 15 January 2014 This playful, raunchy, stylish film centres on 17-year-old Daniela (Alicia Rodriguez), who can't stop thinking about sex. Raised in a strict, wealthy, religious family, she expresses herself through her blog, Young and Wild, where she records her most outrageous desires and experiences. Call Girl (Sweden, 2012) When: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) Inspired by true events involving Swedish politicians and prostitutes, this crime film is one of the more serious items on the Summer of Sin menu. A teenage girl's entry into prostitution exposes widespread hypocrisy at governmental level. Intimacy (France, 2000) When: Thursday, 26 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) & Saturday 18 January Every Wednesday afternoon, Jay (Mark Rylance), a failed-musician-turned-bar-tender, meets a woman (Kerry Fox) for brief, rough, wordless sex. One day he follows her home and discovers more than he bargained for. Kiss Me (With Every Heartbeat) (Sweden, 2011) When: Wednesday, 8 January 2014 Mia has always lived a straight life, and is about to enter an engagement with her partner, Tim, when she falls in love with her stepmother's gay daughter, Frida. An irrepressible mutual attraction develops between the two women, leading to a sensual affair. Elles (France, 2011) When: Friday, 31 January 2014 (Australian television premiere) Obsessive, middle-aged, unhappily married journalist, Anne (Juliette Binoche), receives an assignment that carries her into the risky yet seductive world of Parisian student prostitution. She gets to know two independent young women whose erotic adventures carry them into dangerous and unpredictable territory. Read our review here.
It has been a big year for fans of The Crown, and the show hasn't even released any new episodes in 2020 so far. At the beginning of the year, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, it had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season. That's quite the drama — and all of this before the show's fourth season has even aired. If you prefer your royal intrigue on-screen, however, the streaming platform has now just dropped its full trailer for the aforementioned fourth batch of episodes. When the first teaser for the fourth season arrived back in August, it only ran for 46 seconds, but this trailer gives viewers a heftier — and heavier, mood-wise — look at what's in store. The focus here is on Prince Charles (God's Own Country's Josh O'Connor), his wedding to Lady Diana Spencer (Pennyworth's Emma Corrin), and the fact that their marriage will turn out to be anything but a fairytale. Also present, of course, is Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II. The trailer includes a bigger glimpse of The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher as well, with the fourth season takes place during Thatcher's time as Britain's prime minister. When season four hits Netflix on Sunday, November 15, it'll be the last chance for fans to see the current lineup on talent. The series' fifth and sixth seasons — which are expected to follow the Queen in the 1990s and 2000s — will switch out its cast again, as it did after seasons one and two. This time, after season four, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton will don the titular headwear, and Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce will step into Prince Philip's shoes and Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki will play Princess Diana. Check out The Crown's season four trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJ5CwsphdQ The Crown's fourth season will hit Netflix on Sunday, November 15. Image: Des Willie / Netflix
For many folks, renting is one of life's unpleasant necessities, and it comes with plenty of grief. If you've ever been forced to beg your landlord to fix faulty lighting (you know, so you can see at night and generally live in a safe environment), then you'll understand. But in good news, the Queensland Government's plans to shake up the state's tenancy laws is progressing to the next stage. The review has been underway since September 2018, when it kicked off with a nine-week exploration of existing tenancy legislation — the first step in the first major examination of current laws since the 70s. The government then announced the key findings from more than 135,000 responses, and has now synthesised those results into a proposed way forward. Given that 34 percent of Queensland households are rentals, the main points shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Pets and making minor changes continue to be hot topics, as everyone who has ever rented would expect — and the outlined changes address these areas. Overall, three key areas have been identified for reform: protections for those renting with pets, safety and security, and protection against domestic violence. Specific details of the proposed changes are outlined in the Qld Government's Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement. Among tenants surveyed last year, many reported that it was difficult to find a property that accepted four-legged creatures. As detailed in CRIS, landlords will need to "have reasonable grounds for refusing a tenant's request for a pet" if new laws are enacted — so they can't just say no on principle. Those grounds include "unacceptable risks to the condition of the property or to health and safety, [if the] rental property is unsuitable for the type or pet, or [if] keeping a pet would contravene a law or managed community by-law or rule", which isn't necessarily clearcut, but the aim is to make it easier for pet owners to rent overall. Property owners will be allowed to mandate the payment of a separate pet bond if they approve the request, and require pest control and professional carpet cleaning at the end of the lease. Many respondents to 2018's survey also said they'd like to be able to hang pictures or affix their furniture to the wall without it being a hassle. From the landlords' perspective, they'd like to approve changes to their properties, make sure any modifications were safe, and have their houses returned to their original condition when a tenant leaves. This area falls under safety and security, with the CRIS recommending that any minor modifications — "alterations that can be reversed, do not permanently alter the rental property and do not require building or other approvals" — for safety, security and accessibility reasons should be able to be implemented without asking permission. Renters would still need to inform their landlords, though, either before or as soon as practicable after the changes are made. For other minor modifications, including personalising the property, and installing energy- and water- efficient amenities, renters would have to ask first — but if you don't receive a response in seven days, permission would automatically be granted. [caption id="attachment_691108" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] kgbo via Wikicommons[/caption] In helping to protect against domestic violence, the CRIS recommends improving the legislation to help victims — especially when it comes to leaving a property. The suggested amendments would allow tenants "with evidence that they are experiencing domestic and family violence to exit a tenancy with seven days' notice". They'd be able to leave immediately after giving notice, with end-of-tenancy costs capped to the seven-day notice period. The proposed changes extend further, also suggesting the implementation of new reasons for legally ending tenancies on both sides. Something that you'd think should've been taken care of by now, aka prescribed minimum housing standards for rental properties, is also recommended — specifically covering weatherproofing and structural soundness, plumbing and drainage, security, the standard of repair of fixtures and fittings, control of pests and vermin, ventilation, lighting and privacy, and cooking and food preparation facilities. The Qld Government is now asking for feedback on the CRIS via an online survey or written submissions, giving the community a six-week timeframe to tender their thoughts. Afterwards, it will move to progress with implementing the above changes via legislative amendments, including to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. Then, the government says it'll move onto the next stage of the reforms — which'll look at areas such as balancing a tenant's privacy and right to enjoy a rental property with a landlord's requests for entry; reviewing bond, rent and tenure settings; improving the accountability and conduct of property managers; and improving dispute resolution systems. For more information about the potential rental legislation changes, or to provide feedback, visit the Queensland Government's Renting in Queensland website. Top image: Apartments in West End, kgbo via Wikicommons.
For those of you who like your cuisine on the retro side, you'll be happy to hear that South Bank has a new dining option that promises to take you on a nostalgic journey back to the diner culture of 1950s USA. Opening on October 23, South Side Diner serves up all the American standards you’d expect from a good old fashioned diner (think milkshakes, burgers, hot dogs, Budweiser, onion rings, apple pie, ice cream sundaes, root beer floats) plus a few modern, slightly healthier twists thrown in there too (think labna, think kale). Owner Harun Gencerler, who you may know as the man behind Little Stanley Street's Next Door Kitchen Bar, says “We’re creating a space that captures the classic American diner image — think tall frosty milkshakes, swivelling bar stools, cosy booths and a pumping jukebox.” The best news? It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can start your day with a stack of pancakes and end it with a round of sherbet watermelon margaritas. South Side Diner is open Monday – Sunday, 7.30am - late, at 162 Grey Street, South Bank.
With the weather finally starting to warm up, it's the perfect time to embrace seafood, preferably teamed with sunshine, good friends, alcohol and stuffing yourself to the point where a siesta is mandatory. It's also the beginning of the 2013 oyster season, and to celebrate, South Bank Surf Club have joined up with resident oyster farmer Wade McFadgen to host an all-you-can-eat oyster event on Saturday, September 14. They'll be serving up a smorgasbord of fresh Moreton Bay rock oysters, both natural and cooked, with a range of condiments, antipasto, sourdough and chips to go with them. The $75 ticket price covers a drink on arrival, and there'll be discounted Jansz Sparkling, Chaffey Brothers Riesling or Hills Cider on offer too. Live entertainment comes in the form of a shucking demonstration and a performance from Australian singer/songwriter Brant Ward, as well as a major prize for whoever can eat the most oysters on the day. The main event runs from noon to 2.30pm, but the drinks and the music will continue into the afternoon. For bookings contact events@southbanksurfclub.com.au or call South Bank Surf Club on (07) 3844 7301.
Arguably the worst part of travel is the bit where you actually have to travel. Sitting in an over-cramped, over-air-conditioned metal tube for 20+ hours almost makes post-pasta swims in the Mediterranean seem too much trouble than it's worth (almost). But until we're at The Fifth Element stage where we can just hop in a capsule and get knocked out cold for the duration of the journey, we'll just have to be content with airlines' attempts at cutting down flight times and transfers. So it was welcome news for Aussie travellers when, in December last year, Qantas announced it would introduce a direct flight from Australia to Europe. And now the non-stop flights have officially gone on sale, with the first one set to take to the air on March 24, 2018. The new route will take passengers from Perth to London daily in approximately 17 hours, thanks to their new Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft, which is set to start flying in October. It will be the first and only direct flight from Australia to Europe. It will also be considerably quicker than their current route, which, with their partnership with Emirates, includes a stopover in Dubai. Melburnians will be able to fly to London via Perth, with Qantas also swapping out its daily Melbourne-Dubai-London flight for a daily Melbourne-Perth-London service. Travellers from other cities will have the option to go via Perth when booking too. "This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a Qantas press release. "Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge." We first reported on this back in October 2017, when Qantas were still in negotiations with the Western Australian Government and Perth Airport to lock down the new route. It seems they managed to reach an agreement, as the new Perth-London flight will operate from Qantas' domestic terminal at Perth Airport, to make the stopover as smooth as possible for travellers coming from other states. Qantas will also build a new international transit lounge at the airport. The layout for the airline's new Dreamliner fleet will be two-thirds the size of the 747s they will eventually replace and have only 236 seats (as opposed to the 747's 364 seats). Economy will have a 3:3:3 seat situation (as opposed to the 3:4:3), as well as USB ports and an extra inch of leg room. Hurrah for leg room! The first Perth to London route will take off on in March 24, 2018, and flights are on sale now.
Independent Melbourne brewery Brick Lane Brewing Co has just taken out the award of World's Best Porter at the World Beer Awards for its Revolver Dark Hoppy Ale. The annual beer awards recognised the indie Aussie brewer in the Porter and Stout category of the 2021 Taste Awards, alongside other award-winners from a global showing from Serbia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The dark ale beat out a range of porters from around the world to claim the prize of the world's best, with the silver medal going to The Flying Dutchman Nomad Brewing Company's 'Wake The Hell Up You Can Sleep In The Coffin' Hazelnut Cappuccino Porter from Belgium. Brick Lane's award-winning brew is described as a midnight black beer with a velvety body and a bright hop aroma. "Revolver is a particular staff favourite and something we really look forward to brewing each winter. To have this recognised at the World Beer Awards is really something special," the brewery's head brewer Jon Seltin said. [caption id="attachment_825187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brick Lane's Jon Seltin and Paul Bowker[/caption] Each year the World Beer Awards hands out prizes to the best beers, ciders, wines and spirits in their categories, with beers from across the globe eligible for both taste and design awards. Brick Lane's One Love Pale Ale and Red Hoppy Ale were also recognised in this year's awards, winning Australia's Best American-Style Pale Ale and Australia's Best Amber Pale respectively. The brewery, based in Dandenong South, was founded in 2018 by Paul Bowker and Andrew Scrimgeour with help from some recognisable names including NRL star Billy Slater, restaurateur Shane Delia and comedy stalwart Mick Molloy. The brewery has previously been recognised for several awards including four entries in last year's beloved GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers. Interestingly enough, the Revolver was not among the four brews voted into the list. You can purchase Brick Lane's beers through its website and Craft Cartel or pick a six pack up from Dan Murphy's. You can see the full list of winners at this year's World Beer Awards here.
Seltzer brand Part Time Rangers has arrived with a new line of summer-ready drinks that are helping make a difference. The Peach Penguin is a flavour-packed addition to the brand's range and, as the name suggests, it has an affinity for one of the world's cutest creatures: the penguin. If you pick up a four-pack of these fruity vodka and peach juice drinks, you can feel a little better about your latest boozy purchase than usual. For every seltzer sold, Part Time Rangers donates to conservation initiatives around the world — and this time, a portion of the profits from the peach flavour are going directly to the Conservation Council of Western Australia and penguin expert Dr Erin Clitheroe. WA's Little Penguin has seen an 80-percent population decline since 2007 due to warmer ocean conditions and increased air temperature. It's species like the little penguin that the Conservation Council is working to save. On top of donating these proceeds to help provide assistance with the penguin population of Penguin Island, Part Time Rangers also wants you to get involved directly. After conducting a survey that found only five percent of young Australians consider the Little Penguin a conservation concern, the seltzer brand has launched a competition to try and raise awareness for these fluffy little animals. The seltzer brand is giving away an all-expenses-paid trip to Western Australia to help Clitheroe with her conservation efforts. The winner of this major prize will get to spend three days with the scientist, in what Part Time Rangers has described as a "scholar-sip". They'll also get return flights to Perth, four nights accommodation, $1500 to spend on food and transport, $2000 prize money and a case of seltzer. There will also be ten runner-ups who will each win a hat and a four-pack of seltzer. To enter, just head to the Part Time Rangers website and explain in 25 words or less why you want to fly to Perth and hang out with Dr Erin Clitheroe. Applications for the competition close at 5pm on Monday, February 20. Outside of the Peach Penguin flavour, you'll also find other drinks in the range — like the Pink Rhino, with proceeds going to Rhinos Without Borders, plus the Black and Yellow Elephant flavours, which both raise money for the Big Life Foundation. For more information on Part Time Rangers and the competition head to the brand's website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
By now, you've probably forgotten what an overseas holiday even feels like. But you might want to pull out a map and start flexing those vacation planning skills, because the folks at Qantas and Jetstar have just announced plans to kick start international flights from late-October. Yep, if all goes to plan, the two airlines could have you jetting off to foreign lands as early as spring. The Qantas Group today announced it aims to resume flights to most international destinations from October this year, after it ramps up flights on its trans-Tasman routes from July. The news comes almost a year after the COVID-19 pandemic first forced Qantas and Jetstar to suspend overseas flights back in March 2020. The tentative plans also take into consideration the Aussie rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the Federal Government aims to give every Australian the opportunity to get vaccinated by October. You might not be able to fly until you've received your jab, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously stating the airline would only allow vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. The airline is also currently trialling digital health pass apps, such as Common Pass and IATA Travel Pass, which contain information about a passenger's COVID-19 status, testing and vaccinations, on current international repatriation flights. Come October 31, Qantas expects to have resumed flights to 22 of its 25 international destinations, including London, Singapore and Los Angeles. Unfortunately, if you've got New York, Santiago or Osaka on your wish list, you may have to wait a little longer to fly. Meanwhile, Jetstar plans to resume all of its 13 international routes by the same projected date, though flight frequencies will be determined by what's happening in the rest of the world. Got your sights set a little closer to home? Both airlines are aiming to dramatically increase their trips to and from New Zealand, starting from July 1. Of course, even once international flights are up and running again, you can expect a much lower capacity than pre-COVID travel — Qantas says it's not anticipating a full return to normality until 2024. In good news for planners, Qantas has also announced some extra flexibility for customers booking international flights. It's expanded its Fly Flexible policy to include overseas routes that are booked from now until at least the end of April 2021. That'll allow you to change your flight date to any other currently available, up to 355 days in advance. Learn more about Qantas and Jetstar's international travel plans at the website.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a boozy environment. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a far more organised fashion. Specifically, each session features a particular song, which attendees learn in three-part harmonies. Talented professionals are there to show you the ropes and lead the way, so all you need to do is show up and get singing — and drinking. Doing the rounds of Brisbane venues since early 2017, Pub Choir has become mighty popular, with tickets getting snapped up very quickly for each monthly show. As a result, it's heading to the Riverstage for its biggest gig ever at 6pm on Sunday, May 9. And, although specific names haven't been announced, it'll have some sizeable Aussie music stars taking to the stage. Yes, the CBD will be alive with the sound of music and the sounds of plenty of folks singing and sipping, because both go hand-in-hand here. And if you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you? Tickets for Pub Choir at the Riverstage are on sale now for $45.
Whether you have tickets to Bluesfest or you were just intending to head to Byron Bay for an Easter getaway, the latest COVID-19 developments in New South Wales might have you rethinking your plans. Today, Wednesday, March 31, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that four shires in the north coast region will be placed back under gathering and venue restrictions in response to the recent community transmission cases linked to the area. From 5pm AEDT today until at least 11.59pm on Monday, April 5, the Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore shires will revert back to 30-person caps for at-home gatherings, and will reinstate the one person per four-square-metres rule at all indoor public settings, including hospitality venues. You'll also have to sit, not stand, while you're having a drink. And, masks will be compulsory on public transport, in retail settings and whenever you're indoors in a public place. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1377061983447490560 The Premier also revealed today that one case has been identified in Byron Bay, linked to one of the venues visited by two positive cases from Brisbane who visited the area over the past weekend. The man in his 20s "sat in proximity to the travellers from Queensland who were infectious at the time," NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant advised at today's press conference. Due to this growing cluster, the Greater Brisbane area is currently in lockdown. Announcing the changed restrictions in the four shires, Premier Berejiklian said that "we know through this one case of community transmission that there could be others. Until the end of Easter, those four local government areas will be subject to some restrictions." She continued: "the positive news in all of this is we're not saying to businesses shut your doors, quite the opposite. We are saying you can keep your doors open but because of the risk that is there — we want you to be extra cautious." If you've seen NSW Health's COVID-19 figures for today, it lists no new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday, Tuesday, March 30 — but this new case in Byron Bay was identified after that period ended. Premier Berejiklian also advised that the government isn't locking down the identified areas, but folks who were planning to head there might want to re-evaluate their plans. "We won't tell people to stop going to those four regions over Easter but, given the new restrictions about the four-square-metre rule, venues which could previously take more people may have to take less people," she said. "We ask everybody who was attending those local government areas to reconsider their plans, although we're not saying it is compulsory not to go." Specifically regarding Bluesfest, which is due to kick off tomorrow, Thursday, April 1, the Premier said that a statement will be put out later today. Speaking about the festival, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also said discussions are ongoing with the event's organisers. "There is a high level of concern from our public health officials that, with these new cases that have come from Queensland and then the newest case that we have heard about just overnight, that we all need to be on high alert," he advised. "What I would say is that if it were absolutely safe, then we wouldn't be making this comment... To those who might be intending to come, just be alert to the messages that will come from the New South Wales Government in the next 12-24 hours as we look at the unfolding situation on the north coast," he continued. As always, Sydneysiders are asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that have been visited by positive coronavirus cases — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, to get tested immediately and self-isolate. You can also have a look at the venue alerts over at this interactive map. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Australians, it's time to roll up your sleeves — because the nation's slow-moving COVID-19 vaccine scheme has just been given a crucial boost. In a newly announced change, all Australian adults of any age can now get the AstraZeneca jab. All you need to do is go to your GP and specifically request the AZ vaccine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the news during a late-night press conference yesterday, Monday, June 28, in which he addressed several aspects of the country's vaccine rollout. Specifically, he announced a new no-fault indemnity scheme for general practitioners who administer COVID-19 vaccines, so they're covered if their patients have any adverse reactions. Australia's current health advice notes that the AZ vaccine is preferred for folks over the age of 60, and that anyone younger should have the Pfizer vaccine; however, if you're below that cutoff and would still like the AZ jab, your doctor can now give it to you. "This relates to encouraging Australians to go and chat to their GP about their vaccination, and to have their vaccination administered," said the Prime Minister. "The advice does not preclude persons under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine, and so if you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP," he explained. "We are also providing the indemnity scheme for those general practitioners so they can actively engage with you and you can make the best decision for your health." While that part of the Prime Minister's press conference didn't mention age limits, he was specifically asked about under 40s, and confirmed that any Aussie adult of any age can now go to their GP to get the AZ shot. "If they wish to go and speak to their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so," he said. That's welcome news for everyone under 40 that's keen to get jabbed, but hasn't been able to due to Australia's staged vaccine rollout. Until last night, adults aged between 16–39 weren't eligible to get vaccinated unless they fell into a number of specific categories. You had to either be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; work in quarantine, border or healthcare roles; work or live in an aged care or disability facility; work in a critical and high-risk job such as defence, fire, police, emergency services and meat processing; have an underlying medical condition or significant disability; or participate in the NDIS, or care for someone who does. Aussies under 40 who'd prefer the Pfizer vaccine will still need to fall into one of the aforementioned groups. Since Thursday, June 17, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended the use of AstraZeneca vaccine in people aged over 60 only due to the risk of rare blood clotting disorders that've been linked to the vaccine when given to younger folks. That change followed an early recommendation back in April, which noted the AstraZeneca vaccine wasn't preferred for anyone under 50. But anyone of any age, including those under 60, can now still get the AZ jab — after making an informed decision by talking to their doctor. For further information about Australia's vaccine rollout, head to the Australian Department of Health website.
As Australia's drinks scene has boomed, so has a hardly surprising side effect, with more than a few independently owned breweries and distilleries getting snapped up by the big end of town. In fact, the latest development in this space sees not one, not two, but five indie names make the move to a beer behemoth — with Lion purchasing the Fermentum Group, which includes Stone and Wood, Two Birds, Fixation, Little Dragon and Sunly Seltzer. The sale sees the Byron Bay-based Stone and Wood, Melbourne labels Two Birds and Fixation, boozy ginger beer brand Little Dragon and hard seltzer Sunly Seltzer all join Lion's sizeable alcohol stable. Owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings, Lion also boasts beer labels such as James Squire, Little Creatures, Furphy, White Rabbit, Hahn, Tooheys, James Boag's, Malt Shovel, Eumundi and XXXX to its name — and, since 2019, 50 percent of Healesville-based gin distillery Four Pillars as well. Announcing the news on its website, Lion said that it has "huge respect for what Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers, Ross Jurisich and the team have created; great beer, wonderful brands, spiritual homes in their breweries and tap rooms, an inclusive culture and a commitment to the community. We want to grow what they've started, giving their people and beers even more reach across the country." In their own statement, the Stone and Wood trio of Cook, Rogers and Jurisich said that "earlier this year, we realised that we were approaching a major milestone in the development of Stone and Wood where we knew it was time to build a new brewery. After many months of working through how we were going to begin the next chapter in our story, the founding families decided it might be time to see if there was a custodian for the business who could grow the legacy, its people, its culture, its brands, and continue to drive the business whilst staying true to its purpose." [caption id="attachment_667510" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Two Birds, Simon Shiff[/caption] Part of the sale will see Lion support Stone and Wood, Two Birds and Fixation to go carbon neutral, and to also continue Fermentum's plans to build a new brewery in Murwillumbah. The deal comes nine months after Fermentum bought Two Birds' brewery, tap room and brands, as announced back in January. At the time of writing, the sale of Fermentum to Lion is still subject to regulatory approvals. For more information about Lion's purchase of the Fermentum Group of breweries, visit the Lion and Stone and Wood websites.
It's not every week that drives over Hump Day with a mini food truck festival for your Wednesday lunch. Get out of the office and nab some delicious food truck fare in King George Square, thanks to the bighearted team behind A Taste of Harmony. A not-for-profit organisation celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Australian workplaces, A Taste of Harmony are keen to celebrate you and your coworkers through tasty, tasty food. They're gearing up for a huge initiative in March, and have launched mini food truck festivals in the lead-up (Sydney just had their own). Grab some midweek eats this Wednesday, February 11 from the culturally diverse likes of local favourites That BBQ Joint, The Bun Mobile, King of the Wings, Oi Taco and Vira Lata. Noms will be available between 12 and 2pm in King George Square — so invite the office to lunch and share some with those coworkers of yours. If you're taken by the idea of celebrating cultural diversity in your workplace through noms, you can get amongst A Taste of Harmony's big event running March 17-23. Workplaces around Australia — big to small, culture websites to major banks — are being encouraged to register and hold a work lunch made up of different cultural cuisines. No better way to bond with your workmates and high five your roots than over a feast of modern Brazilian/Portuguese street food, . Get amongst it. If you want more food truck eats, head to Thank Truck it's Thursday. Image: Lovelenscapes.
