What's better than one place where you can blow off steam by slinging sharp blades at a target? Two such establishments, obviously. Not that long ago, Brisbane didn't have any axe-throwing joints — and now it's welcoming its second thanks to Maniax. Three months after Lumber Punks expanded from the Gold Coast to Brissie, fellow weapon-flinging outfit Maniax has added a Queensland venture to its existing Sydney and Melbourne empire. And when it launches on Doggett Street in Newstead on Saturday, November 10, it's doing so with a whole day of free hatchet-hurling from 10am–8pm. The one-day launch party will also feature smoked meats from The Wofty Possum, although you'll need your wallet if you're feeling hungry. And, in an Australian first, you'll also be able to enjoy up to two Young Henrys beers while you're chucking axes. Maniax is usually a strictly alcohol-free zone, but it's making a one-off exception for its Brisbane opening celebrations. Maniax might be playing catch-up in Brisbane; however it was actually in the Australian axe-throwing game first, launching its original Sydney venue back in 2014. Finally making its way up north, it brings its range of blade-hurtling activities along with it — think solo or small group sessions, axe-throwing events for larger parties, date night options (because the couple that hurls hatchets together stays together, clearly) and even an eight-week competitive league. The different events all run for at least two hours, but take place on different nights. Every second Friday evening is all about couples, Monday to Wednesday will be dedicated to league comps, while solo and small group sessions are held on the last Saturday of every month. Bookings are essential — in fact, you can't just walk in and take part without a reservation — and as for how it all works, it's comparable to darts. Basically, you chuck axes at a board and try to hit a bullseye. Don't even know the first thing about picking up a hatchet? That's completely to be expected, with lessons included in every session, as well as in the league competition. Axe-throwing experts will also be on hand to help even when you think you've mastered the basics. The venue also features safety barriers to protect everyone — and, to the surprise of no one, is a completely alcohol-free affair at all times other than Maniax's opening party. You can buy soft drinks, water and some snacks onsite, and you're welcome to bring your own too. And if you suddenly become an axe-throwing fanatic, Maniax also has its own line of merchandise. Find Maniax at 52a Doggett Street, Newstead from Saturday, November 10. Visit the venue's website for further details and to make a booking.
There's an undeniable MC Escher-esque quality to Christopher Nolan's films: a recurring preoccupation with infinity, architectural impossibilities and mathematical paradoxes that explodes (if also confounds) on the screen. For the director and his brother, time and space are not constrictions but ideas to be played with, and engaging with them unconventionally is a device that often underscores their scripts, or — as was the case with Memento — forms their entire plot. Interstellar, Nolan's ninth and newest film, once again places time as the driving force behind the story. A lack of time, to be precise, because earth's days are numbered. In the near future, climate change has finally, fundamentally and — as we soon learn — irrevocably imperilled the planet and its remaining citizens. Farming is now the industry, and almost everyone does it. If you've ever had a taxi driver tell you he was formerly a surgeon in his own country, imagine that, but that on a global scale. Even former NASA pilots like Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) find themselves toiling the fields and ducking the sandstorms. But the crops are dying, and pretty soon there'll be nothing left to produce the oxygen required to sustain life. Earth's last hope, it turns out, is a secret NASA plan to seek out appropriate new planets for humans to live on in the far reaches of the galaxy. "Ahh," you might say, "that's all good and well, but the nearest ones are lightyears away." True, but hope springs forth courtesy of a wormhole that one day simply appeared in our solar system: a secret backdoor to viable new planets that the NASA team can only presume was 'sent' to us by a higher intelligence. So, Cooper makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave his kids behind and give both them and the planet one last chance at salvation. The crux, of course, is time. The distances and physics involved with interstellar travel — especially when relativity comes into play — mean time is measured in almost impossible scales. An hour on Planet X equates to seven years on the spaceship orbiting just above it, just as a day to Cooper represents a lifetime to the family he left behind. It's a device reminiscent of the 'dream within a dream' world of Inception, only here the stakes are so much higher. Naturally for a film of this scale, Nolan elected to shoot more than 100 of its 180 minutes in 70mm IMAX, and the result is breathtaking. Matched with a Hans Zimmer soundtrack that's so epic it sounds like the composer simply threw himself on a giant organ and writhed around for a few hours, Interstellar is a film that's experienced as much as it's watched. With clear allusions to its predecessors, including 2001, Contact and even Event Horizon, Interstellar still manages to forge its own unique style and story, albeit with 'revelations' that most will predict a long way off. Performance wise, McConaughey is solid in the lead and finds ample support from a packed ensemble featuring Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Topher Grace, John Lithgow, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck and Ellen Burstyn. The standouts, however, are Mackenzie Foy as Cooper's rambunctious daughter Murph (named after Murphy's Law), and a faceless, wise-cracking robot named TARS. The conceit sounds cringeworthy, but the result is amazing, boasting some of the funniest, smartest lines in any film this year. In all, this will surely prove a divisive picture, with debates certain to arise over its science, storyline and ultimate resolution. Time-travel films inevitably involve paradoxes that, in turn, must (by tradition if not by law) spark heated arguments over causality and order and the misconception of time being linear and… well, you get the idea. It's not Nolan's best film, but it's perhaps his most ambitious, and it's to be applauded for its determination as well as its technical achievements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0vxOhd4qlnA
Canines are so beloved in cinema that the Cannes Film Festival even gives them a gong: the Palm Dog, which has been awarded to a performing pooch (sometimes several) annually since 2001. Among the past winners sit pups in Marie Antoinette, Up, The Artist, Paterson, Dogman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — most real, one animated, some anointed posthumously and none scoring their prize for a quest to bite off someone's penis. That genitals-chomping journey belongs to the four-legged stars of Strays alone. They're played by actual animals, with CGI assisting with moving lips and particularly raucous turns, and they're unlikely to win any accolades for this raunchy lost-dog tale. The pooches impress. They're always cute. Also, they're capable of digging up laughs. But Strays is a one-bark idea that's tossed around as repetitively as throwing a tennis ball to your fluffy pal: take a flick about adorable dogs, and talking ones at that, then make it crude and rude. Games of fetch do pop up in Strays, but via a version that no loving pet owner would ever want to play. This one is called "fetch and fuck", with stoner and constant masturbator Doug (Will Forte, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) doing the pitching. He isn't a kindly human companion to Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell, Barbie). He's cruel and resentful after his girlfriend adopted the border terrier as a pupper, then left him when the dog exposed his cheating — and he insisted upon keeping the pooch purely out of spite. So, he constantly drives Reggie to various distant spots. He sends him running. As soon as the ball is in the air, Doug hightails it. The canine isn't supposed to follow him back, but does every single time, hence the expletive part of the pastime's name. With unwavering affection, plus the naivety to only see the good in his chosen person, Reggie thinks that it's all meant to be fun. Being abandoned in a city hours away, and meeting Boston terrier Bug (Jamie Foxx, They Cloned Tyrone), Australian shepherd Maggie (Isla Fisher, Wolf Like Me) and great dane Hunter (Randall Park, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) while he's there, soon has Reggie realising the truth about his relationship with Doug. Cue Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum and American Vandal creator/writer Dan Perrault sending the pup on a revenge mission with his new dog squad trotting along to help. Really, cue a parade of canines-gone-wild antics, each instance more OTT than the last. Urinating on something to claim it as your own and humping a grimy outdoor couch are just the beginning. Getting intimate with a garden gnome, squirrel threesomes, tripping on mushrooms, trying to use Hunter's great member to escape from doggy jail and a steaming pile of poop jokes: they are as well. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, A Dog's Purpose, Beethoven, every family-friendly pooch flick, any treacly ode to human's best friend: Strays definitely isn't in their pack. Depending on your fondness for super-sweet dog films, that isn't a bad thing. Cat & Dogs, Doctor Dolittle, Marmaduke, Babe, Paddington: Strays doesn't join those talking-animal pictures either. Instead, as Greenbaum and Perrault riff on the fact that canines love doing everything that humans do, their feature has more in common with Sausage Party, Ted, Good Boys (not a dog movie) and The Happytime Murders. Taking something that's usually for all-ages audiences, then ensuring that it 100-percent isn't: that's the formula that Strays seeks as eagerly and forcefully as a tail-wagger sprinting after a hurled stick. Smearing straightforward gags about sex, drugs, crotches and bodily functions through a story about endearing pups isn't the film's best trait, even if that's the number-one approach and aim. Again, getting foul-mouthed and lewd with pooches is the entire concept and reason that the movie exists, but hitting the same beats over and over, then over and over some more, makes its 93-minute running time seem far longer than it is. Unsurprisingly, some comic bits are worn out quicker than a mutt's favourite chew toy. Strays is a better and funnier flick, however, when it's doing two things: leaning gleefully into the surreal and grounding its humour in perceptive insights into dog behaviour. Glorious silliness doesn't come as easily to Greenbaum as it should, though — Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is one of the best absurdist comedies of the 2020s, and best comedies in general — but it leads to a few standout moments. One involves fireworks experienced from the canine perspective. Another brings in bunnies. Both are memorable (as are a winking mid-picture celebrity cameo that riffs on the dog-movie genre and the use of Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' at a pivotal moment). Strays also isn't afraid to get dark; it might be as predictable overall as a dog licking a bone, dishing up exactly what audiences expect, but it largely craps all over schmaltz. It's less convincing when it's trying to skew deep, with musings on self-worth, emotional trauma, and folks who bring pets into their lives with selfish and attention-seeking motives well-meaning but treated flimsily. Perhaps it's fitting that Strays flits between perky (when it's bounding beyond the obvious) and sleepy (when it's happy chasing its own tail); IRL, the critters at its centre often do. Still, one thing can't be underestimated: the impact of the movie's voice work and animal cast. The wrong vocals would've left the film doing nothing but howling, and looking shoddy would've had it burying itself from frame one. Playing Reggie as an earnest child who navigates the world with curiosity and trust, Ferrell is basically in Elf mode, but it worked there and does the same here. Perfecting the pint-sized Bug's big-dog syndrome, Foxx is all swagger — while Fisher charms breezily and Park deadpans. And, even though it takes special-effects wizardry to make Strays' main quartet appear as if they're speaking, the real-life pups earn themselves ample treats. Although they still won't be winning any shiny trophies, they ensure that this hit-and-miss picture is just like people: better just by having dogs around.
UPDATE, Friday, May 30, 2025: Due to forecast wet weather, Nundah by Night has been postponed from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, July 19. This article has been updated to reflect that change. When Christmas hits each year, the Nundah Markets stay up late, swapping one of its usual daytime events for a twilight shindig. That kind of fun isn't just for getting festive, though. For the past few years, it's also been for celebrating winter. Meet Nundah by Night, which will take place from 4–10pm on Saturday, July 19 in 2025. On the agenda: shopping, eating, drinking and being merry midyear. There'll be quite the lineup of places to grab handmade items from — 120-plus stalls, in fact — with clothes, jewellery, art, homewares, soap, candles and all things edible available. You'll find gourmet foods on offer as well (including bites to eat while you're there). For your $3 entry fee, you can enjoy a stint of browsing and buying under the site's fairy lights at Nundah Markets' usual spot on Station Street. And, you can stop in at the pop-up bar for a local craft brew, too — or warm up with some mulled wine. Live music is also on the lineup, as is a travelling and roving performers. And if you're wondering what you'll be snacking on, brisket, pulled pork, taco rice bowls and churros are just some of the dishes on the menu.
A trip to the north is better with a car. With so many waterfalls, beaches and hidden pockets of pristine nature to uncover, you really do need a car to see them all — which is excellent news if you're a big fan of road trips. One of the quintessential drives in the region is the scenic trip from Cairns to Port Douglas — also known as the Great Barrier Reef Drive. But, before you hit the highway, make sure you fuel up on caffeine from Vietnamese coffee institution Annee's. Then, wind your way north past the northern beaches of Cairns, making a pit stop at Palm Cove or Trinity Beach for brunch before continuing your coastal cruise and Coral Sea views to Port Douglas. The best part? The drive only takes about an hour each way so you'll have plenty of time to take breaks to capture the sights. Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Taylor Swift announcing a new album as she broke records. Barbie's 'What Was I Made For?' winning Song of the Year. Tracy Chapman. Celine Dion. Miley Cyrus' first Grammy ever. Annie Lennox's Sinead O'Connor tribute. The 2024 Grammys had them all. The awards also had SZA entering the ceremony as this year's most-nominated artist, swerving away from swords as she performed 'Kill Bill' and collecting three gongs. Next on the R&B singer's list: touring Australia and New Zealand. [caption id="attachment_939968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacob Webster[/caption] SZA won Grammys for Best Progressive R&B Album, Best R&B Song and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Phoebe Bridgers — and to appreciate why, you'll want to make a date with her shows in Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in April. She's playing two gigs each everywhere but Brissie, all at arenas on a seven-show visit. The S.O.S. tour is in support of SZA's second album of the same name, which dropped in late 2022. She's been performing the record live for the past year, kicking off in North America from February 2023, then playing Europe before returning to the US. Cue 'Good Days', 'Snooze', 'Shirt' and 'Nobody Gets Me' on her current setlists, plus 'Broken Clocks', 'Drew Barrymore', 'The Weekend' and 'Love Galore' from her debut album Ctrl — and everything from 'All the Stars' from the Black Panther soundtrack to 'Kiss Me More'. SZA joins a massive list of big-name tours heading Australia and New Zealand's way in 2024, alongside everyone from Tenacious D, Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and GZA this week alone. SZA S.O.S. Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates 2024: Monday, April 15–Tuesday, April 16 — Spark Arena, Auckland, Friday, April 19 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, April 23–Wednesday, April 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, April 29–Tuesday, April 30 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne SZA is touring Australia and New Zealand in April 2024, with presales from 2pm on Friday, February 9 and general sales from 2pm on Monday, February 12. Head to the Australian and New Zealand tour websites for more information. Top image: The Come Up Show via Wikimedia Commons.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Christmas in July first took hold in Australia back in 1980. An otherwise cheery group of Irish travellers hanging about in the Blue Mountains got teary when they saw snowflakes falling outside their window and, instead of moaning about it, decided to throw themselves a Christmas dinner six months early. Ever since, Australians, especially in mountainous regions, have turned July into an excuse to indulge in Yulefest feasts, knock back an eggnog or three and generally get festive. If there's one place where the celebration takes on an especially Northern Hemispher-ean flavour, it's Thredbo. Between July 20 and 26, the resort will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with overloaded Christmas trees, glittering tinsel, fairy lights, baubles, toasty log fires and gallons of mulled warm Winter cider from Rekorderlig. Various eateries will be hosting epic, multi-course feasts, serving up all the European goodies that our ridiculously hot December Christmases often make unpalatable. Think stuffed turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, mince pies, plum pudding and mulled wine. Plus, there'll be a steady stream of live entertainment and, of course, a visit or several from Santa Claus, who, according to rumour, has been waxing his skis in preparation.
Pickle lovers, you've been doing it wrong — if you've been eating preserved veggies and then throwing out the liquid they're stored in, that is. A quick internet search will tell you that brine has plenty of other uses; however picklebacks might just be our new favourite. First, you devour a shot of whiskey. Then, you pour yourself another shot from your favourite pickle jar and knock it back too. Yep, chasing bourbon with brine is what this US trend is all about, and it has landed in Brisbane. Come June 3, Wandering Cooks is the place to be to get your fix. Joining forces with local food truck For the Pickles, they'll be serving delightful drink doubles at the bar, and then offering up pickle-heavy sliders to go with them. Whether you're a pickleback pro from way back, or have just heard the term now, you'll really be in a pickle if you miss it.
Any great gelateria lives and thrives by its scoops. When the best ice cream is being piled high onto cones and in cups, the dessert joint serving it can be anywhere. Still, there's something particularly special about being able to lick your way through a sweet treat in a scenic spot, like strolling along by the river — and it's that experience that Rosé Gelateria has covered at its just-opened new Brisbane outpost at Portside Wharf. The Hamilton precinct is undergoing quite a few changes at the moment, announcing late in 2022 that a $20-million makeover is in the works. Also on the way: Fosh, a seafood restaurant from the restaurateur behind Opa Bar + Mezze, Massimo Restaurant, Yamas Greek + Drink and George's Paragon; and the Gold Coast's Rise Bakery launching its first Brisbane venue. Beating them to it is Rosé Gelateria, which was announced back in April, opened in early June and debuts in the River City after setting up stores in Sanctuary Cove and Main Beach. Brisbanites now have a new boutique dessert go-to. Yes, it's winter, but it's never too cold for gelato in the Queensland capital (as our obsession with the Ekka's strawberry sundaes each August shows). This ice cream spot is located next to Dendy Cinemas, handily, and spans across 56 square metres of indoor seating space, as well as an al fresco seating area. Rosé Gelateria is known for its rose gelato made with rosewater and topped with rose petals, but also does Biscoff gelato — using the biscuit spread, and also caramel — among its 20-flavour signature lineup. The Portside shop features vegan and dairy-free options, too, and will rotate through four limited-edition flavours each month. If you have a pet that likes frosty treats, and always tries to get a lick of yours, Rosé Gelateria is doing pet-friendly gelato as well. Husband-and-wife team Bronson Tucker and Diana Prinz came up with their range after a visit to Italy. "Every flavour on our menu is inspired by our journey to Florence, and the knowledge we gained from learning the authentic art of gelato-making, ensuring an exceptional and truly authentic experience for our customers," advises Prinz. That said, Rosé Gelateria doesn't just keep things cold and creamy. It also serves up macarons and cookies, plus juices and milkshakes. And, joining forces with Paradox Coffee Roasters, it'll brews a specialty coffee blend called Picasso Baby, too — and expect to taste dark chocolate and blackberry with your caffeine hit. As for the fitout, Rosé Gelateria has gone chic and elegant, complete with pastel hues and plenty of white, with help from Lowry Group as the venue's builders. "It was a priority for the team that the space was just as pleasing to the eyes as our food is to the tastebuds... where our iconic rose-toned French-washed walls are harmoniously blended with pristine white indoor and outdoor furnishings, adorned with gold accents," says Tucker. "To cater to the diverse preferences of our guests, our store design also includes dedicated areas for gelato indulgence including cosy cafe seating and convenient takeaway options so customers can savour their treats onsite or on the go." Find Rosé Gelateria at Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton — open from 8am–10pm daily.
When the Socceroos advanced to the Round of 16 in 2022's Men's World Cup, Brisbane celebrated. In a frenzy of football fever, the city even screened the match in the Queen Street Mall and King George Square. That was all well, good and exciting, but 2023 has that beat courtesy of the FIFA Women's World Cup, which Australia — including Brissie — and New Zealand are hosting. Tickets to watch the Matildas, or whichever nation's squad you're barracking for, are going hot. Can't make it to a match, but still keen on the communal atmosphere? South Bank has the answer. For an entire month, from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20, the riverside precinct will become home to the Brisbane/Meaanjin leg of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 FIFA Fan Festival. On the lineup: live tunes, having a kick yourself, and also watching every single Women's World Cup game live and for free. Festivals are happening in five Aussie cities, with Brisbane's making use of South Bank's Riverside Green for 26 days (with no games on August 17–18). Accordingly, you'll be able to head down every day that there's a match to watch, and also soak in the Women's World Cup festivities The games kick off on Thursday, July 20 with a double header: New Zealand take on Norway at 5pm, then Australia battles the Republic of Ireland at 8pm. The Matildas also play Nigeria at 8pm on Thursday, July 27 — at Suncorp Stadium, so if you hit South Bank to watch, you might hear the crowd noise echoing from Milton — and then Canada at 8pm on Monday, July 31. [caption id="attachment_908789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] IQRemix via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] However Sam Kerr and company fare from there, and whether or not they end up lifting the coveted cup, their matches will grace South Bank's big screen — as will every other game in the tournament. The competition features 64 matches in total. On the music bill, Running Touch, Kita Alexander, Sahara Beck and FELIVAND, and Eliza and the Delusionals are headlining, as part of a lineup that also includes daily sets with DJs and other artists, and acoustic sunset sessions. The full festival experience also spans a game pitch where you can try to bend it like whichever soccer player past, present, male or female that takes your fancy; activities for kids; bites including Mediterranean barbecue, Italian, Japanese, burgers, pastries and doughnuts; and bars. And the vibe that'll buzz through Brisbane thanks to eight Women's World Cup games being played in the River City, and almost 225,000 tickets sold across them? That's a bonus.
The top end of town in Brisbane's CBD has ever-so-gradually been undergoing a transformation. It started with Queens Plaza, continued with the reinvigoration of King George Square, and has been spreading ever-outwards, imbuing the city streets with flashes and splashes of glamour and colour. The recent opening of upmarket pizza and burger joint Santa Monica has only added to the fever, and we're glad they did. Loud and proud in prime position on Ann and Edward Streets (and conveniently opposite Central Station), you really can't miss it. Nor should you. The hardest decisions to make will ultimately be whether to get a cocktail now, or after your perfectly crispy pizza. Do you sit at a booth, or stand at one of the tables in the middle of the venue? Do you hang out at the courtyard bar and grab a beer, or queue for drinks inside to watch the action in the kitchen? Santa Monica is perfect for after work drinks just as much as it is for a fun work lunch. Images: Grace Smith.
Even if you enter Bridge of Spies unaware of its director, it soon becomes obvious that Steven Spielberg is at the helm. Tom Hanks popping up on screen, as he did in Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal before this, offers one such indication of the man behind the camera, although the clues certainly don’t stop there. The way the story is handled, the heavy-handed score that tells audiences what to feel rather than trusting the storytelling to do so, as well as the almost overbearing sense of righteousness that infuses every scene, all do plenty to give away the Spielberg touch. Under his guidance, the actor many likely wish was their dad lives up to that fantasy as an ordinary, upstanding guy driven by a desire to do what's right. Hanks’ character, the real-life James B. Donovan, is a tax lawyer taken out of his comfort zone, yet always guided by his strong moral compass. He's asked by the government to undertake the unpopular role of representing Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet agent found on U.S. soil, at his controversial and highly publicised espionage trial. Next, Donovan is tasked with negotiating Abel's return to his homeland in a trade for captured American operatives. And yes, for anyone wondering about the movie's name, at one point the spies really do stand on a bridge – although the film's moniker speaks more to the network that springs up between warring sides. As he journeys to the unsafe streets of post-WW2 Berlin to broker a deal, Donovan's involvement must remain secret and officially unsanctioned — at least as far as the public and the record of the time are concerned. Accordingly, Bridge of Spies never misses the opportunity to bluntly idolise its protagonist, nor stress the strength of his character as he rallies for a person, an approach and good old-fashioned due process when no one around him will share his views. That's not to say that any of these points are unreasonable, or that the praise isn't earned. It's just that Spielberg, initial screenwriter Matt Charman, and script tinkerers Ethan and Joel Coen (yes, the brilliant minds behind Fargo, The Big Lebowski and Inside Llewyn Davis) rarely let the story breathe beyond their laudatory viewpoint. Given that they certainly take their time unraveling all the necessary information and intricacies, it's an approach that proves both distracting and disappointing. Of course, Spielberg crafts a polished film regardless, and one remarkably visually textured from its almost silent opening. Hanks, too, remains a likeable, reliable lead. The real star of the show though, other than the actual events that the movie didn't need to depict in such an emotional fashion, is Tony and Olivier award-winning theatre actor Rylance. If the rest of the feature seems to strive to simplify something complex for the sake of sentiment, he's proves the humanised and genuinely heartfelt opposite. Audiences could be forgiven for wishing that the rest of the film followed his lead, and was more like Spielberg's blistering Munich and less like his sappy War Horse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-2x3r1m2I4
UPDATE, FEBRUARY 13, 2020: From Monday–Thursday for a limited time, KaiKai Chicken is serving up a 'super saver' buffet package for $20 per person. Chook fiends can munch on all-you-can-eat fried chicken in 12 flavours, plus bottomless servings of fries, spring rolls, samosas, pickled radish and cucumber — and bottomless iced tea. Why did the fried chicken fan cross Hawken Drive? To eat all the greasy chook they could handle, of course. What might sound like a groan-worthy joke is actually happening in St Lucia thanks to KaiKai Chicken and its fried chicken buffet. The shop is helping locals solve the eternal question faced by hungry chook fiends everywhere — aka whether to have one finger lickin' good piece, several, or more than anyone should actually admit to. Since opening its doors in July 2017, it serves up an endless array of poultry in 12 different flavours, plus all-you-can-eat pizza, fries, salads, other sides and desserts to round out the meal. A la carte orders are also available, but who wants that when there's fried chicken and pizza at arms reach? The affordable — albeit hardly healthy — package will set diners back $24.90, with bottomless homemade lemon iced tea available for an extra $1.50, and bottomless soft drink, bubble tea and ice tea for an extra $5.50. As of December 2018, unlimited chicken nuggets now included in the standard buffet, while the endless non-boozy beverage package also boasts three types of milkshakes, in creme caramel, triple chocolate, and peanut butter and jelly shake flavours. A rib buffet is also on offer for $35.90, as well as a scaled-back wing and fries-only version for $21.90. But wait, because there really is more. Not content with serving up all-you-can-eat wings and ribs, KaiKai also do a Chix 'n' Booze buffet, which features exactly what it sounds like. For $49.90, patrons can gorge on unlimited wings, fries, hot sides, dishes from the salad bar and dessert, plus alcoholic drinks. Tipple choices include international beers and their very own KaiKai lager; Blue Hawaiian, Lychee Fairy and Tequila Sunrise cocktails; and red, white and sparkling wines. Or, if you're particularly fond of sangria, you can choose a $40 package that pairs your favourite tipple with wings and beer. Indulge in a bottomless supply of each, as well as sides — with jugs of the venue's KaiKai Lager on offer, plus three types of sangria. For folks who like chicken nuggets more than chook pieces, KaiKai has started a $20 all-you-can-eat nuggets night too. It happens every Tuesday, with five dipping sauces and six kinds of loaded fries also included. If it sounds too good to be true, we're here to tell you that it's a clucking reality; however, each visit does have a time limit. Flocking customers are asked to get their chicken fix within 90 minutes due to the demand — and, let's be honest, after an hour and a half of seeing how much chook you can feast upon, you'll probably be ready to fly the coop anyway. Image: KaiKai Chicken. Updated February 13, 2020.
Sometimes, watching a Christmas flick is all about revisiting a great film. Sometimes, it's about indulging in some seasonal cheesiness. This year's screening of The Santa Clause offers the latter rather than the former — and the chance to do so in an unlikely location. Toowong Cemetery might not be the first place you'd think of for an outdoor viewing of Tim Allen in a red suit — however, it's probably the coolest. But don't worry, only the first movie is on the agenda; you might be settling down for a night of film amongst the tombstones, but no one is going to do something frightening like making you sit through the sequels.
When you're watching The Room, or reading behind-the-scenes memoir The Disaster Artist, or seeing the star-studded film the latter spawned as well, one big fact is always glaringly apparent. It's inescapable. It's as obvious as Tommy Wiseau's lanky hair and awkward demeanour. It's as plain as the spoons scattered throughout The Room. Yes, Greg Sestero went through one helluva experience. Of course, if it wasn't for The Room, Sestero mightn't have enjoyed his current fame. When you're in a movie that's so bad it's bad but also someone great to watch — but definitely not great itself by any standards — that's a particular kind of success. So, Sestero has made the most of it. He penned The Disaster Artist. He popped up in the flick based on it. He reteamed on-screen with Wiseau for the two-part Best F(r)iends. And he heads to screenings, doing Q&As to chat about all things The Room, too. It's been five years since Sestero last came to Australia to indulge the nation's The Room fixation, but for a week in February, he's back. His timing is perfect given that Wiseau's disasterpiece notches up 20 years in 2023. Spoons at the ready at Dendy Coorparoo on Tuesday, February 14, clearly. Sestero is doing two things: getting talking about The Room as part of 20th-anniversary sessions, and also showing his new horror film Miracle Valley. This one is a horror movie on purpose, rather than accidentally like The Room, and also marks Sestero's feature directorial debut. For newcomers to The Room — with your pristine minds currently untainted by its wonders, and your vocabulary free from constantly saying "oh hi Mark" — it tells the tale of a banker, his adulterous fiancée, his conflicted best friend, a local teen caught up in a drug deal, a mother with cancer, a particularly tense party, a bunch of guys playing football in tuxedos and the worst apartment decorating scheme you've ever seen. Wondering how all of these things come together? Even the wildest combination you can come up has nothing on The Room. As for Miracle Valley, it's about an obsessive photographer and his girlfriend, who head off on a desert getaway but get threatened by sinister forces. No — disappointingly or welcomely, depending on how you feel about The Room — Wiseau is not among the credited cast.
When it comes to expressing how cool something is on the internet, we're kind of spoiled for choice. What with Facebook Like, Digg, Stumble Upon, Delicious and retweets on Twitter, you could argue there's little need for yet another alternative. Google recently jumped on the recommendation bandwagon with the launch of the "+1" button. According to Rob Spiro, a Product Manager at Google, +1s are "the right recommendations when you want them – in your search results." And the power of the recommendations is that they're coming from "people who matter to you." The +1 button takes search in new directions by tapping into the relevancy of relationships, as well as of search keywords. As Google rolls out the new feature, which will appear not only on Google search results but also on external sites, sites which have been "plus-oned" by your contacts will be flagged for you. Kind of helpful when you're sifting through the flotsam and jetsam of the average search query, which can generate many hundreds of thousands of results. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OAyUNI3_V2c
Adelaide Hills gin distillery Applewood wants to help brighten up your time spent inside with a boozy gift: a free Quarantini. If you're yet to hear of this magical creation, here's a quick breakdown: it's a martini cocktail, drank in quarantine. While many Australians aren't quite in quarantine, some are self-isolating and everyone is social distancing and encouraged to only leave the house when it's absolutely necessary. So, a martini can't hurt. Especially when it's free. Applewood has bottled up 1000 200-millimetre bottles of pre-batched martini made with its famed gin, and is giving them away to the first 1000 people who sign up to its mailing list over here, before Wednesday, April 15. If you're one of the first, all you need to do is cover the $10 flat-rate postage fee and it'll arrive at your doorstep. The giveaway is only available to Australian residents over 18 years of age. If you miss out on the free Quarantini, Applewood Distillery has a lot of other fun tricks up its sleeves. As well as selling its usual tasty gins, liqueurs and limoncello, it has Isolation Gin Packs (for $199.99) and Espresso Martini Packs ($110). And it's running nightly Digital Happy Hours where you can learn to make your own Quarantinis and chat about all things gin with Brand Ambassador Henry Hammersla. To win a Quarantini, you'll need to be one of the first 1000 people to sign up to the Applewood Distillery newsletter before April 15.
Playing Glastonbury; sharing a stage with Foo Fighters, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Smashing Pumpkins; making the leap from a regional town to touring the globe: Amyl and The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor has done it all. And, if you'd like to hear more about that journey, Taylor is also getting behind the microphone at 2024's BIGSOUND when it returns to Brisbane from Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6. The huge music event, which combines a conference with live gigs in Fortitude Valley, has enlisted Taylor to give a keynote address at this year's fest. Her involvement is part of the first lineup announcement for 2024, which also includes London-based DJ, artist manager and Butterz co-founder Elijah — and Korda Marshall, who started his record label career in 1983 making coffee and scouting talent at RCA. Casper Mills from independent record label 4AD is also on the speaker roster, as is Naomie Abergel, fka Mark Johns. When AEG/Goldenvoice Concerts Vice President Elliott Lefko gets chatting, too, there'll be Coachella and Stagecoach to talk about. "This announcement is really a calling card of what BIGSOUND represents," said Conference Programmer Tom Larkin, revealing the first 2024 details. "The cross section of global industry that will be on ground is a testament to BIGSOUND as a vehicle for connecting artists locally and internationally, and we recognise that in 2024 the need for this is greater than ever." "We're thrilled to go out of the gates with Amy Taylor as a keynote speaker as she will no doubt give a robust insight from many angles." [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] As always, BIGSOUND drops its details in stages. So, more speakers will join the bill — and the full music lineup is still to come. But organisers have revealed some of the folks who'll be scoping out acts while they're here, such as Adam Ryan (The Great Escape, Lovebox and Wilderness Festival), Patrick Daniel (Reeperbahn Festival, Inferno Events) and Dev Sherlock (SXSW), plus Ben Buchanan from Creative Artists Agency and Roxane Dumoulin from ATC Live Agency. This is BIGSOUND's 23rd year, with the festival continuing to welcome in international and national buyers, agents, music supervisors, bookers and other industry decision makers to take over Brisbane. Its commitment to showcasing impressive acts, artists and bands usually sees more than 150 talents hit its stages at 20-plus River City venues. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know that this entails filling as many spaces as possible with musos, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. [caption id="attachment_907800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] [caption id="attachment_851422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_907799" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] BIGSOUND 2024 will take place between Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, visit the event's website. Top image: Ralph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.
Since arriving in town a few years back, Salt Meats Cheese has been giving Brisbanites a pizza-filled treat. And, as part of its lineup of Italian eats, it's been giving the city's residents plenty of specials — including, this June, the return of its $25 all-you-can-eat pizza nights every Monday at its Newstead store. "Does this look like someone who's had all they can eat?" isn't something you'll be saying when you devour as many slices as your stomach can handle in 90 minutes, so calm your inner Homer Simpson. The main catch is that you'll have to buy a drink as well, but you can choose from both boozy and non-alcoholic options. Available from 5pm, this hefty feast serves up multiple options, too. You can stick with the $25 pizza-focused option, or add any pasta from the menu to your all-you-can-eat dinner for an extra $5. And if you're vegan or eat a gluten free diet, those can also be catered for for another $5. Still need some motivation? This month's pizzas include bolognese, truffled brie, a tomato and mozzarella number with chunky fries and chorizo on top, and a mushroom slice that features both truffled manchego and truffle paste. Don't have an afternoon snack beforehand, obviously.
Still got a bit of festival action left in this season's tank? Put it to excellent use, with a trip to Tasmania and a few days adventuring at the seventh edition of Party In The Paddock. The laidback music and arts festival makes its yearly return to a property in White Hills, a 20-minute drive southeast of Launceston, from February 7 to 9. And it's bringing with it a good-times lineup well worth crossing Bass Strait for, with UK songstress Lily Allen, four-piece indie rock band The Jungle Giants, electro duo The Presets, Sydney alt-rockers Middle Kids, Melbourne's Slowly Slowly and singer Vera Blue just some of the big-name acts set to grace this year's stage. In addition to three days chock-full of live tunes, the festival is dishing up a hefty arts program, pulled together by the legends at Vibestown. And 2019's version is as big as ever, promising the full gamut of fun, interactive and mind-bending experiences. We're talking existential short film screenings, a funeral ceremony that'll have you farewelling your greatest fears, comedy sessions headlined by Matt Okine and Gen Fricker, morning yoga sessions and a pop-up Willie Smith's bar slinging breakfast cocktails and funky DJ tunes. Browse market stalls filled with top Tassie produce, let collaborative art project Real Talk inspire you to swap social media for some actual conversations, and of course, join the wild, wacky and riotously dressed for the famed Vibestown March. Images: Mitch Lowe and Andy Hardy.
For most of us, a bus stop is a means to an end, a necessary layover during our daily travels, and the place that helps you get from point A to point B. In Singapore, however, the transport hub on Jurong Gateway Road is the kind of place people might actually want to spend time at. When a bus stop has a rooftop garden and free books, you won't want to leave in a hurry. The structure has the bland-sounding name of Project Bus Stop, but it's anything but ordinary, as Australian commuters will instantly recognise. The rampant foliage certainly doesn't escape attention, with the six-metre-by-three-metre green roof boasting trees and drought-resistant shrubs, as well as planter boxes and even a swing underneath. If feasting your eyes on soothing natural sights isn't enough, you can bury your head in a book courtesy of a rack of novels available for everyone's reading pleasure — and if you can't find something that you like, e-books, magazines and newspapers are available to download for free. In fact, the entire bus stop is a tech-savvy delight, thanks to free wifi, phone charging stations, and interactive smartboards that display route and arrival information, Conceived by a group of designers from DP Architects, Project Bus Stop aims to turn the commuting space into a place of social interaction and make waiting for buses an enriching experience. Imagine that — actually enjoying waiting for a bus. Aussie cities, take note. Via Travel and Leisure. Image: Infocomm Media Development Authority / Our Favourite Place.
These days, plenty of events have been putting the 'fun' in fun run. Some take you jogging through a winery, then let you sip wine. Others ask you to dress up like your favourite Star Wars character, or as Batman. And, you can can decked out with colour while you put one foot after another, too. They're all well and good — but if you're eager to sprint through foam, tumble down waterslides and make your way through mud pits across a five-kilometre obstacle course, you'll want to head to the 5K Foam Fest. Hitting up Sirromet Winery on Saturday, January 11 and Sunday, January 12, this event will get you running, sliding, climbing, crawling, bouncing, hurdling, hopping through tyres and slipping over tubes. In total, you'll need to conquer more than 20 obstacles. And, although this should be obvious, you can expect to get wet, muddy and foamy while you're doing so. There's a reason that we keep stressing the foam, with 2.5 million cubic feet of it used across the course. Plus, there'll be some on your beer when you have a few cold ones in the beer garden once you're done. Tickets are on sale for both days of this family-friendly affair. If you'd like to have your entry fee reimbursed, you also have the option of using the event to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Image: 5K Foam Fest.
Every January, ABC radio station Triple J counts down the hottest 100 tunes of the past year, and gives Australians a new go-to playlist for the next few months. Now, fellow station ABC Classic has gifted fans of movie, television and video game music their own version — the Classic 100: Music for the Screen, which just named the best scores and soundtracks that've echoed from screens big and small over the decades. The Classic 100 isn't new. It's been around for two decades, in fact, and threw Beethoven some love back in 2021. For 2022, however, the countdown has solely honed in on music from films and TV, plus the gaming realm. To the surprise of no one, the winner game from a galaxy far, far away. Yes, John Williams' additions to all things Star Wars topped the list, because the force was clearly with this poll — which, like the Triple J Hottest 100, was voted for by listeners. Coming in second was Howard Shore's efforts for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, while iconic Italian composer Ennio Morricone's score for 1986 film The Mission took out third spot. Muggles and wizards alike must've cast their votes for the Harry Potter series in fourth, recognising the work of John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat. And John Williams took fifth spot, too, for Schindler's List. Other highlights include the late Vangelis' Chariots of Fire score, John Williams (again) for Jurassic Park, and Ramin Djawadi's work on Game of Thrones — all in the top ten. And yes, Williams popped up a lot. He was also recognised for the Indiana Jones series (11th), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (42nd), Superman (55th) and Jaws (57th). Among the other standouts, Doctor Who came in 12th, the music for The Legend of Zelda series notched 23rd spot, Blade Runner sat at 36th, The Godfather trilogy at 41st and Back to the Future at 47th. Or, there's the wonderful and strange sounds of Twin Peaks at 50th, the Super Mario series at 52nd, The Princess Bride at 59th, the Final Fantasy games at 64th, The Simpsons at 70th and the James Bond theme at 72nd. Also on the list: Pokémon at 75th, Bluey at 83rd, Bernard Herrmann's stellar Psycho tunes at 84th and Daft Punk's exceptional Tron: Legacy score in 89th place. Studio Ghibli was well-represented, with Howl's Moving Castle at 21st, Spirited Away at 32nd and My Neighbour Totoro at 66th. Hans Zimmer was too, with nine showings — for the Pirates of the Caribbean (6th), Gladiator (19th), Interstellar (27th), both versions of The Lion King (sharing 28th place), Inception (49th), The Crown (65th), 2021's Dune (74th), Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy (75th) and Dunkirk (95th). Yes, you've now got 100 iconic soundtracks to listen to. And if you missed the countdown live, you can still work your way through it via the ABC Classic website. For the full ABC Classic 100 Countdown, head to the ABC Classic website.
Due to its location, Tasmania stands apart from the bulk of Australia. It's an island at the bottom of the continent, so of course it's separate from the rest of the country. But, for much of 2020, the Apple Isle has been shut off from the nation in another way — with Tassie enacting strict border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as many other states on the mainland did as well. Thankfully, while most Aussies couldn't head to the country's southern-most state for much of this year without seeking permission and then going into quarantine, border restrictions don't have any dominion over our tastebuds. You mightn't have been able to spend time in Tassie for big stretches of 2020, but drinking beverages by Tasmanian producers has always remained on the menu. Obviously, it still does — letting everyone nationwide do what Tassie residents have always done and show their love for the Apple Isle's top drops. Whether you prefer a refreshing cider, a hearty vodka or gin, or a nice vino, that's great news. Tasmania has all of the above covered. Indeed, when BWS asked the state's drinkers to name their favourite local picks as part of the bottle retailer's Local Luvvas initiative, those aforementioned beverages from Plenty Cider, Hellfire Bluff Distillery and Pepik Wines topped the poll. All three brands will now receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores — and we spoke with the teams at each about loving their jobs, showcasing homegrown produce, garnering local support and making it through 2020. APPLE CIDER FROM THE APPLE ISLE Of course Tasmania makes great apple cider. When tasked with picking their favourite brewed beverage, including beer, of course Tassie residents went with apple cider, too. That kind of local support no longer comes as a surprise to Plenty Cider co-owner Grace D'Arcy, but it is always heartily and eagerly appreciated. "People really resonate with where we are from, and love the fact they know where it is — and they understand the quality of the produce that comes from the area," she says. "Without local support, Plenty wouldn't exist, so we can't thank Tasmanians enough for what they have done for us and for many small businesses across the state throughout COVID-19". Plenty Cider is not only a celebrated homegrown brand, but is also beloved for its use of 100-percent southern Tasmanian-grown apples. And yet, the company's journey actually started with a different kind of alcohol and type of fruit. It wasn't hard to make the switch, though, D'Arcy explains. "The transition from wine to cider ten years ago was an easy choice to make, as cider was an emerging sector with so much hope and potential." Cider is also an easy field to be passionate about. That might sound self-evident — who wouldn't want to spend their days turning fruit into a sweet and delicious drink? — but D'Arcy's enthusiasm shines through. "There is also plenty of room for innovation and creativity. This is what keeps me passionate, along with striving to continuously improve and craft delicious ciders," she says. "When a cider is fruit-driven and you get that fresh full flavour on the palate, nothing is better." GIN AND VODKA MADE ABOVE A ROCKY COASTAL OUTCROP Potatoes might not be as synonymous with Tasmania as apples, but they're the reason that one of the state's other much-loved drinks producers exists. The site that Hellfire Bluff Distillery calls home is actually a potato farm on a cliff above Marion Bay that dates back more than 30 years. "We were looking for a way to value-add to the potatoes we grow," advises marketing coordinator Kyla Flanagan. "We wanted to bring something unique to the well-respected Tasmanian spirits market and, after investing a significant amount of time and research, in 2017 we launched Hellfire Bluff Distillery with our premium potato vodka." Clearly, local fresh produce is crucial here. "The distillery was built out of our love for premium Tasmanian ingredients, driven by our passion for farming sustainably, and influenced by our beautiful wild and remote region," Flanagan says. Hellfire now not only makes vodka, but also three styles of gin, a selection of small-batch liqueurs, and other limited-edition releases — using rainwater sourced from the farm, locally sourced lemons in its limoncello, and other "quintessentially Tasmanian ingredients," she explains. "When we say our products are handcrafted, we really mean it." Given how pivotal all things local are to Hellfire, it's hardly surprising that the distillery has proven a big hit in the community. "Product provenance has always been important to our customers, and local support has been integral to our brand from the very beginning," says Flanagan. And that homegrown love is a source of inspiration, too. "It's important to us that people feel connected to where their purchase comes from, and gain an understanding and insight into the business they are supporting," she notes. TURNING 61-HECTARES OF LAUNCESTON-GROWN GRAPES INTO VINO It was back in 2004 that Josef Chromy launched the wine brand that bears his name, setting up shop just south of Launceston on a scenic and sprawling 61-hectare vineyard. Pepik is one of its labels, and its moniker also has a close connection to its founder — because 'Pepik' is Josef's nickname, as given to him by his mother. Chromy handpicked Tasmanian winemaker Jeremy Dineen to lead the business, a role that the latter still holds today. As Pepik sales and export manager David Milne explains, making wine isn't just a job here — it's a passion, an obsession and a puzzle all in one. "It's the challenge of crafting the best wines from whatever the vintage throws at you that keeps things interesting," he says, with Pepik favouring "a minimal intervention style of winemaking to allow beautiful, aromatic Tasmanian fruit to achieve full expression in the glass". The resulting tipples, especially Pepik's pinot noir, have proven popular locally. But in 2020, the true level of community support has actually surprised Milne. "As a small wine producer in Tasmania, we probably didn't realise just how strong our following was until this year," he says. "People have made a concerted effort to support the local brands that they love and want to see come out the other side of this pandemic… In a year like no other, we've never been so honoured to be carried on the shoulders of our tribe." To find these or other Tasmanian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
It's a problem that everyone can relate to: your thirst needs quenching, but your tastebuds are craving two completely different things. You could make the hard choice and pick between them — or, if you happen to be hankering for dessert and beer (and getting your fill of dumplings, too), you could make a beeline to Harajuku Gyoza. From Thursday, December 10, the Australian gyoza chain is serving up a two new tap beers that taste like Japanese desserts. Obviously, they don't literally combine desserts with beer, but they're meant to taste that way. Come for the black sesame ice cream variety, which has been sweetened with lactose, takes its nutty flavour from black sesame seeds and features chocolate as well — and stay for the matcha ice cream version, which also uses lactose, plus matcha powder for a herbal green tea taste. Given that Harajuku Gyoza has already turned dumplings into dessert — via its salted caramel and Nutella varieties — pouring dessert-flavoured beers seems the logical next step. The brews come courtesy of Yoyogi Brewing Co, and use Japanese brewing techniques as well as Japanese-inspired ingredients. If you fancy pairing the new beers with two of Harajuku Gyoza's old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Usually the chain's special additions to its menu are only available for a limited time, so you might want to get in quickly. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese dessert-inspired beers will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, December 10.
Walk half a metre in any direction in James Street it's clear that one is spoilt for choice when it comes to good coffee, but Jamie's simple approach to the complex art of liquid gold is second to none. With it's open and airy interior, friendly service and relaxed atmosphere this coffee-haunt-turned-bar has become a popular local hang-out for both great coffee or a sneaky mid-week drink (or both!). Although renowned for their flawless espresso, the non-caffeine drinking clientele can still be won over with a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and a slice of his famous spanakopita, a greek pie filled with spinach, dill and feta. For those seeking refuge from a hard week at work, drag yourself along to one of Jamie's DJ nights and sip on an espresso Berlusconi cocktail is sure to soothe the pain of the daily grind - Italian politician style.
UPDATE, Friday, July 26, 2024: Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets are now occurring monthly, not weekly as first planned. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Since 2021, maybe you've made the trip to Colmslie Road in Morningside to enjoy a drink at Revel Brewing Co's second site. Or, you could've headed to the waterside Rivermarkers precinct in Brisbane's inner southeast for spirits at Bavay Distillery, a ceramics workshop at Mas & Miek or barbecued meat from Low & Slow Meat Co. A couple of times over the past few years, markets might've also beckoned — and if it's shopping at stalls that gets you excited, you'll soon have a monthly reason to visit. On Sunday, July 21, 2024, the Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets will debut. On the third Sunday of each month afterwards, the markets will return. In the process, Goodwill Projects adds another site to its hefty range of pop-up browsing and buying spots around Brisbane. It's also behind the Brisbane City Markets, Milton Markets, Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Markets, West End Markets and Westoria. Nundah Farmers Markets is on its list, too, as is Redcliffe Farmers and Artisan Markets. Out of town, Goodwill Projects also puts on the Kuraby Farmers Markets, Beenleigh Night Markets, HOTA Farmers and Artisan Markets, and Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets. So yes, it knows a thing or two about bringing stallholders together — especially growers and makers slinging their wares. In Morningside, the company will set up shop from 7am–1pm monthly, welcoming 150-plus vendors such as Lunar Farms Organics, Good Growin' Gourmet Mushrooms and Bellmere Honey. That's your organic zucchinis, capsicums and tomatoes covered, plus everything from oyster to shiitake mushrooms — and the tastiest bee product there is as well. Other stalls at the dog-friendly markets will serve up deli goods, fresh seafood, preserves and handmade pasta — and also designer garments and jewellery. Entry will be free, as will parking in the 450 spaces. And once you're wandering around with a basket in your hand, you'll be getting your groceries and other items with the Brisbane River providing a view. The full Rivermakers precinct sprawls across a patch of land at the end of Junction Road that first housed a lime factory back in 1917. Since then, it's been used for alcohol distillation, radio broadcasting, naval barracks and a migrant hostel, and as the base for Hans Continental Smallgoods. Now, the 30-hectare heritage-listed spot is about to become your new monthly market go-to. Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets will run from 7am–1pm on the third Sunday of every month from Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Rivermakers, 82 Colmslie Road, Morningside — head to the markets' website and Facebook page for more details.
When word first arrived in 2020 that Cali Beach was turning a Gold Coast rooftop into a beach club with pools and bars, everyone's thoughts immediately went to splashes and sips while the summer sun is shining. Just like most of southeast Queensland, Surfers Paradise doesn't get a three-month super-frosty stretch, so taking a dip in winter didn't seem out of the question, either. But this venue has had broader plans for its sky-high perch when the middle of the year has hit since 2022. For the past two years, The Rooftop Lodge has taken over the 5000-square-metre venue on a fourth-floor rooftop on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue, featuring snow-topped trees, an ice-skating rink and cosy lodges. That isn't the 2024 experience, however. Until spring hits, running from Friday–Sunday weekly, Cali Beach is now an inflatable nightclub. An alpine angle remains in the temporary makeover, taking cues from the Swiss Alps — albeit with poolside daybeds, which you won't find come winter at the real thing. By day on Saturdays and Sundays, you can still bask in the sun, knock back cocktails, play party games and listen to DJ-spun beats. By night, the festivities blow up, with the inflatable fun dubbed Wintersun. Inflatable igloos? Check. Fire pits? Check again. Fire performers and fireworks? That's two more checks. Lighting displays add to the mood, as do more games, giant hanging inflatables above the pool, and a wintry food and drink menu. Entry is free, but you'll obviously need your wallet for whatever tempts your tastebuds.
Thanks to the franchise's increasingly over-the-top sequels, it's easy to dismiss John Rambo as an idiotic and cartoonish action hero whose movies readily employ more bullets than brain cells. That would be to forget how pointed and politically charged First Blood was when it came out in 1982. Grappling with issues such as the hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder and the disenfranchisement of Vietnam vets, the original film presented Rambo as a tragic figure simply trying (and failing) to slip silently through society's cracks as a harmless and withdrawn loner. In the original cut, he actually committed suicide, only for test audiences to declare the ending too disheartening and morose — hardly the stuff of action heroes. So it was that a franchise was born — one in which Rambo was slowly reinvented as a one-man killing machine and poster child for US military might. Politics and social themes were still in there, but the emphasis shifted with each instalment. First Blood Part II held mostly true to its origins, showing the secret abandonment of American prisoners-of-war and the disposability of assets like Rambo by the very government they vowed to serve. By Rambo III, however, the villain was now the Soviet Union, with the film concluding with a dedication to "the gallant people of Afghanistan". Yet even with the third movie's souped-up action, Stallone continued to present Rambo as a tragic figure, suffering in silence, tormented by demons, seeking penance wherever opportunity presents and as uncomfortable as ever over his god-given gift: dealing death better than anyone else. Rambo, coming out 20 years after its immediate predecessor in 2008, focused its politics on the atrocities of the army in Myanmar, however it also introduced a level of violence and gore that went far beyond anything previously seen in the franchise. There was a bloodlust to it, taking it out of harmless action-movie fun, and into something uncomfortable and almost voyeuristic. There were still some great moments, but it was clear that the franchise and character had changed forever. Which brings us to Rambo: Last Blood — a film that aspires to be Logan, yet lands somewhere closer to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Plot-wise, the trailers intimated something to do with hidden secrets coming back to claim their dues. Not so. Co-written by Stallone and directed by Adrian Grunberg (Get the Gringo), this is essentially Taken, Mexico-style. Rambo's niece Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal) is drugged, kidnapped and groomed as a sex slave south of the border, compelling him to use his "very particular set of skills, skills... acquired over a very long career, skills that make [him] a nightmare for people like [cartels]" (as Liam Neeson would put it) until he baits his new enemies to chase him back to Arizona. It's a bizarre mishmash of storylines, all trying to ground themselves in Rambo's ongoing PTSD. Sometimes that's done well, revealing that he sleeps underground in a Viet Cong-styled network of tunnels beneath his family ranch — or when he admits he never got better, but rather he's just trying to "keep a lid on it". Most of the time, though, the film feels rushed and clumsy. Cheap, even. Rambo is still softly spoken and withdrawn, but the nuance is no longer apparent. He abhors violence, yet maintains a terrifying arsenal of knives, guns and explosives. And beneath that picturesque ranch is a straight-up house of horrors, physically and psychologically. But is the film still enjoyable? Mostly, no. Last Blood's quiet moments feel forced compared to the surprisingly tender or revealing offerings from earlier instalments, and the action is heavily abbreviated for most of the movie — no doubt because Stallone is now 73. The ending, however, is a different story. It's at once insanely silly and confessedly satisfying: a veritable smorgasbord of gruesome deaths packed into a tight 10-minute sequence, culminating in one of cinema's most gory finishes. Suffice it to say, the audience in the press screening was both hiding behind its hands and cheering amidst horrified laughter. It's one of those rare cinematic experiences that brings a room of strangers together in a weird but wonderful way. And as for this being Rambo's Logan moment... we'll save the spoilers and leave it up to you to find out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83nGns3pErk
If you're after a wintry escape from the city, Victoria's High Country should be high on your hit list of destinations. When winter starts, the snow-cloaked mountains become a wonderland of cold weather experiences. From dogsledding to wintery cheese adventures to world-class alpine resorts, the snow-based activities are virtually limitless. Since 1973, Macpac has been kitting out adventurers with the latest technical clothing to protect you from whatever harsh conditions you encounter. So, together, we've picked out five of the best experiences you can organise right now for a winter getaway in Victoria this year. We've also included some packing tips — because when sweeping backcountry trails, you need to make sure you have the right gear. [caption id="attachment_669834" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] SNOWSHOE YOUR WAY TO CHEESE FONDUE This isn't quite your average wine and cheese night. The Snowshoe to Cheese Fondue adventure leads you through the snow gums, concluding with some high-quality French cheese and a delightful three-course dinner. After departing at sunset, you'll follow your dedicated guide through a 30-minute snowshoe tour before arriving at a remote eco-village. Find a warm spot inside the central tipi and indulge in a spectacular meal. Up in the ice peaks, you'll also learn the culinary secrets behind making traditional fondue while sipping a glass of Scandinavian-style spiced wine by the outdoor fire. For adventurers who want to take their wintertime journey to the next level, you can also opt to spend the night in a plush alpine dome. Pack this: Macpac Men's & Women's Quest Hoody, $199.99 [caption id="attachment_669851" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] LET HUSKIES GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ALPS Among the unique activities on offer in Australia's winter wonderland, one of the best ways to experience the alpine region is going dogsledding with a pack of huskies. The Howling Huskies is one of Australia's most prominent dogsledding services. Take your pick from seven incredible tours, ranging from rapid 30-minute trips to epic four-hour ventures that include traipsing through the snowy countryside along the nation's longest commercial dogsled trail. This great alpine adventure is possible at both Mount Baw Baw (two and a half hours from Melbourne) and Mount Hotham (four and a half hours from Melbourne), and each offers its own maze of backcountry trails and special panoramic views. The husky squad is made up of 58 dogs altogether, with 47 of those rescued over the last few years. The temperature may be icy, but these doggos will give you all the warm and fuzzy feels. Pack this: Macpac Piste Gloves Unisex, $59.99 SNOWBOARD WITH AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION Falls Creek is quite possibly Victoria's most picturesque snowcapped location, featuring striking rolling hills, towering snow gums and a variety of charming stays. This section of the Alpine National Park boasts 450 hectares of skiable terrain and 90 awesome runs for snowboarders to test out. The Backcountry Tours with Steve Lee will whisk you away with the three-time Winter Olympian and legendary free-rider to visit the mountain's remote open bowls and vertigo-inducing steeps and chutes for an action-packed day. You don't have to be a pro — Falls Creek has some great runs for beginners such as the Wombat's Ramble, which is Australia's longest at just over two kilometres. Pack this: Macpac Powder Ski Jacket Men's & Women's, $349.99 [caption id="attachment_717523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] CROSS-COUNTRY SKI THROUGH SNOWY MEADOWS When it comes to cross-country skiing, Lake Mountain is the third most visited destination in the world for this gut-busting activity. The rugged landscape hosts a sprawling network of ski trails spread across the mountain, which both beginners and expert skiers are more than welcome to come and explore. As the closest snow resort to Melbourne, Lake Mountain is home to 30 kilometres of groomed trails. Meanwhile, a further 7 kilometres of ungroomed tracks present more of a challenge for the well-versed skier. After a morning of activity, warm up and share a relaxing glass of wine at Lake Mountain Resort cafe. Pack this: Macpac Tech Ski Socks, $34.99 [caption id="attachment_628046" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Andrew Railton[/caption] SKI AND SPA AT MOUNT BULLER Mount Buller is undoubtedly one of Victoria's (and Australia's, for that matter) most popular winter destinations. It presents snow lovers with a variety of slopes and terrains that stretch across the enormous mountainside. Whether you're just starting out or have grown up attached to a pair of skis, Mount Buller is bound to have a run that suits your skill level. Particularly popular amongst skiers, Mount Buller features 300 hectares of snowy scenery for you to explore. Once you've had enough action for the day, warm yourself up with dinner and drinks at one of 30 bars or restaurants situated nearby. More than just a snow sports destination, Mount Buller also offers a luxe spa resort, a cinema, a museum and even a sculpture park for when your body needs a break from the slopes. Pack this: Macpac Merino 220 Merino Baselayers, $109.99
Catching public transport in Brisbane can be a soul-crushing experience. Fewer services, expensive fares, buses and trains that don't show up at all, changing routes, ridiculous traffic, constant track work: if you're a regular bus or train commuter, you'll be acquainted with all of the above. Oh yes you will. Early in 2016, the Brisbane City Council announced a possible solution, or a step in the right direction at least. Almost five decades after the city's trams were ripped out back in 1969 (yes, that's why we have a museum dedicated to them), light rail is back on the agenda — and now the powers that be have released more details. The Brisbane Metro concept now involves not one but two high-frequency lines linking existing busway stations, with the first running between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street to take care of southern residents, and the second linking the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to the University of Queensland. In total, 21 kilometres will be traversed by a fleet of approximately 60 trackless, rubber-tyred vehicles capable of carrying up to 150 people. Services will run as frequently as every three minutes in peak periods, stopping at 18 stations, and will link in with the State Government's proposed 10.2-kilometre Dutton Park to Bowen Hills Cross River Rail project at Boggo Road and Roma Street. As part of the plan, a new underground Metro station will be built at South Bank at the Cultural Centre, and the adjacent Victoria Bridge will be turned green. That means cars will need to find another route into the city, with the stretch of road dedicated to buses and Metro services only. Don't go changing the words of The Simpsons' monorail song to "light rail" just yet — we still have a few years to wait, with the new system expected to begin construction in 2018 for a 2022 finish. And, we can probably reasonably expect more than a few delays and inconveniences during that tie. But hey, if the project really does improve the public transport situation in Brisbane, it'll be worth it.
Melt is back for 2024. Melt is also brand-new for 2024. Both statements can be true because this year's Melt has expanded its celebration of queer arts and culture to also become a fringe-style fest, aka Melt Open. To mark this return-slash-transformation, Brisbane is in for a helluva few weeks come October and November — the kind where Sophie Ellis-Bextor returns to the River City, and to the fest, to murder dance floors again; a Wicked-themed Halloween ball will have everyone defying gravity; a party is taking over the Valley Pool; and Bidjara artist Christian Thompson will unveil a large-scale outdoor exhibition across town. With its Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10 dates getting closer, Melt has dropped its initial big batch of program details after unveiling a few bits and pieces since late 2023. Accordingly, the above events — and a heap more — join Spencer Tunick's nude photography work on the Story Bridge, plus Brisbane's first-ever River Pride Parade. The first will close down the famous structure to fill it with a cast of thousands sans clothes, while the second will float boats from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse. The news that Ellis-Bextor, who also played Melt 2022, is coming to Brisbane this year also isn't new. Fresh from the Saltburn buzz, she's supporting Take That at A Day on the Green at Sirromet Wines, all of which was announced earlier in 2024; however, now it's officially part of the Melt 2024 lineup. If you're excited about partying like you're in Oz, Club Broadway: A Wicked Halloween Ball is your shindig, occurring while the stage musical is in town and around the time that the first of two Wicked movies hits cinemas. Expect drag queens, tributes to the show aplenty, chances to get interactive and star-studded performances. Or, if you're keen on turning a splash into one of Brisbane's long-standing pools — it dates back to 1925 — then hit up Colada Pool Party: Melt Edition, where there'll be drinks, plus house and dance music for you to make shapes to on the waterside astroturf dance floor. Again diving into the complexities of identities deemed 'other', Thompson's addition to the program includes displaying new works on Brisbane Powerhouse's facade. From there, the lineup also features Hans: Disco Spektakulär!, The Ungrateful Bastards and The Lucky B*tches teaming up for a big night; the return of Halloween Hall for a DJ-soundtracked way to get spooky; Femme Follies Burlesque, which is led by queer artists and heroes the queer gaze; and James Barth's The Clumped Spirit exhibition. Or, you can also enjoy alt.BIMBO as it focuses on the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Craft and Charmed, alongside AFAB, non-binary and trans artistic talent — and then sip tipples at the Real Housewives of Drag Brunch. Confidence Man, Mark Trevorrow and Rupert Noffs singing Stephen Sondheim, the Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub: they're all on the list, too, with more to come. Melt Open was announced in 2023 as a fringe-style event to celebrate LGBTQIA+ art and performance everywhere from Fortitude Valley to Woolloongabba, showcasing queer work, talents, legends and allies. Brisbanites should already know that Brisbane Powerhouse has hosted Melt Festival for eight years and counting, with that event considered a predecessor to this newcomer. As its name makes plain, Melt Open is broadening its scope by building upon Melt's success — spreading beyond the Powerhouse, featuring more artists and venues, and operating as an open access-style shindig. "This new incarnation of Melt is an evolution of Brisbane Powerhouse's Melt Festival of Queer Arts and Culture. Melt is now much larger, and will be staged in multiple venues and precincts across Brisbane/Meanjin," explains Chair of the Melt Reference Group Luke Furness. "We have vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities here ready to take centre stage in a festival for the whole community. You can just feel it's time to shine." [caption id="attachment_939500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jack Martin[/caption] Melt Festival 2024 will run from Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10. Head to the festival website for additional information, and for tickets from 10am on Thursday, July 4.
Lockdown is bringing wholesome home activities back into the spotlight. If you've already birthed a sourdough starter, planted new seedlings and started leaning te reo Māori, it may be time to start flexing your puzzle skills. New Zealand's national museum Te Papa is getting in on the action for those who forgot to stock up and has turned taonga (treasures) from its collection into online jigsaw puzzles. Unwind as you piece together Bernard Roundhill's colourful 1956 painting of Auckland, make up the skeleton of a Stewart Island brown kiwi or complete the fossil of an iguanodon tooth from 132-137 million years ago. Te Papa is closed to the public until further notice. Read about the museum's collections, research and stories at tepapa.nz.
Like a stack of Melbourne's large cultural institutions, the National Gallery of Victoria has temporarily shut its doors to the public in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. But, you can now feast on some of the NGV's art offerings from afar, thanks to its newly-launched virtual programming. A series of online galleries, virtual exhibition tours and eBooks are now free to access via the NGV's website and social media channels. And if you're having a crack at the whole social distancing thing, or stuck in self-isolation, that's a serious boredom-busting win. Over on the new NGV Channel, punters will find a growing haul of virtual content to explore. Right now, you can join a free, curator-led tour of Collecting Comme and the NGV's Indigenous art collection Marking Time. From Saturday, March 21, you'll be able to digitally explore around KAWS: Companionship In The Age Of Loneliness and then, from Saturday, March 28, Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines. [caption id="attachment_742493" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaws, What Party (2019) photo by Tom Ross[/caption] On the NGV app, there are also guided tours of NGV International and NGV Australia artworks, narrated by curators, artists and special guests. Thanks to a lengthy digitisation project, much of the 75,000-strong NGV Collection is also online for your viewing pleasure, so you can take a peek at the likes of the Spirit of Herbarium couture dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Christian Dior, or Katsushika Hokusai's 1830 piece The great wave off Kanagawa. It's easy to search by artist or artwork name, and even boasts a few pieces that aren't usually accessible. Those craving some new reading material can dig even deeper with a bunch of new eBooks and curatorial essays available free online, exploring exhibitions like Collecting Comme and Japanese Modernism. In a first, the almost 60-year-long back catalogue of Art Journal of the National Gallery of Victoria is also yours to browse at your own pace online. And don't forget, there's a whole lot more going on over on the NGV's socials and under the hashtag #NGVEveryDay, with regular insight videos and mini talks from the curators. Get your remote art fix over at the NGV website or via Facebook and Instagram. Top image: Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines, NGV. Photo by Tom Ross.
UPDATE, September 21, 2022: Red Rocket is available to stream via Prime Video, Binge, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. It might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie: Red Rocket's *NSYNC needle drops, the cost of which likely almost eclipsed the rest of the film's budget, provide a sensational mix of movie music moments in an all-round sensational picture. A portrait of an ex-porn star's knotty homecoming to the oil-and-gas hub that is Texas City, the feature only actually includes one song by the Justin Timberlake-fronted late-90s/early-00s boyband, but it makes the most of it. That tune is 'Bye Bye Bye', and it's a doozy. With its instantly recognisable blend of synth and violins, it first kicks in as the film itself does, and as the bruised face of Mikey Saber (Simon Rex, Scary Movie 3, 4 and 5) peers out of a bus window en route from Los Angeles. Its lyrics — "I'm doing this tonight, you're probably gonna start a fight, I know this can't be right" — couldn't fit the situation better. The infectiously catchy vibe couldn't be more perfect as well, and nor could the contrast that all those upbeat sounds have always had with the track's words. As he demonstrates with every film, Red Rocket writer/director/editor Sean Baker is one of the best and shrewdest filmmakers working today — one of the most perceptive helmers taking slice-of-life looks at American existence on the margins, too. His latest movie joins Starlet, Tangerine and The Florida Project on a resume that just keeps impressing, but there's an edge here born of open recognition that Mikey is no one's hero. He's a narcissist, sociopath and self-aggrandiser who knows how to talk his way into anything, claim success from anyone else's wins and blame the world for all his own woes. He's someone that everyone in his orbit can't take no more and wants to see out that door, as if *NSYNC's now-22-year-old lyrics were specifically penned about him. He's also a charismatic charmer who draws people in like a whirlwind. He's the beat and the words of 'Bye Bye Bye' come to life, in fact, even if the song wasn't originally in Red Rocket's script. Mikey's return after decades away isn't greeted with smiles or cheers; his estranged wife Lexi (Bree Elrod, Shutter Island), also his ex on-screen partner, is horrified when he arrives on her doorstep unannounced with $22 to his name. It takes him mere minutes to convince her and her mother Lil (Brenda Deiss) to let him crash on their couch, though — and just days to work his way back into Lexi's bed. The begrudging inevitability of their reunion echoes as firmly as Red Rocket's chosen anthem, and both keep repeating throughout the film. Unable to get a job despite his glee when explaining the big gap in his resume ("Google me," he exclaims, revealing his porn past to prospective employers), he's reluctantly given back his old weed-dealing gig by local dealer Leondra (Judy Hill), who clearly isn't thrilled. The two new connections Mikey makes — with a neighbour and a 17-year-old doughnut store cashier — also smack of the same feeling. Both relationships leave as much of an imprint upon Mikey's life as anything can — although, no matter what he contends about every bad turn he's endured, all the chaos plaguing his every waking moment is his own doing. With Lonnie (Ethan Darbone), he gets an adoring sidekick who thinks he can do no wrong and, most importantly, a driver to taxi him around town. With Strawberry (Suzanna Son, chief among the film's many first-timers), he hopes to turn his lust into a way back into the adult film industry, grooming her to make her own thrusts into porn. Both naive and aware of Mikey's brimming bullshit, Strawberry isn't quite as taken in with his promises as he imagines her to be, however. Still, she might quote "it ain't no lie, bye bye bye" about him, but she's also willing enough to go along for the ride. Played with spark and ambition by Son, Strawberry also sings 'Bye Bye Bye' herself, delivering a post-coital keyboard rendition — because, in soundtracking uninhibited jaunts into careening lives, Red Rocket, like Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, enlists new versions of decades-old pop hits by former Mouseketeers. The film's stripped-down take speaks volumes about the movie it's in, too, because Baker's feature is as much about the sweet melodies we sing to ourselves about ourselves as it is about the clash between an alluring mood and the stark truth. Mikey has the spin down pat — in porn, he's proudest about winning awards for being pleasured orally, and doesn't waver when it's pointed out that he's not really doing anything by being on the receiving end — but Red Rocket exposes the reality behind his incessant chatter and swagger. Writing with three-time collaborator Chris Bergoch, Baker peppers the film's screenplay with devastatingly telling lines and comedic inclusions alike. When Mikey insists that "the universe is on my side", it smashes both targets. But even as Baker weaves in broader commentary about the US today — Red Rocket is set in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election, with snippets of campaign speeches heard and parallels between two different self-assured grifters easily spied — his smartest move is saying hi, hi, hi to Rex. It's a loaded choice, given the latter's own porn history as a solo player in the early 90s. Rex was then an MTV VJ, so he's also used to talking the glossy talk. Acting followed, plus rapping under the moniker Dirt Nasty, but it's safe to say that his career didn't pan out as planned until Red Rocket drew upon that history to cast him as its magnetic middle-aged dirtbag. Rex is so awards-worthily commanding — so seductive and sleazy in tandem, all while playing a livewire of a thorny character with so little self-awareness — that it's plain to see why the film was scripted with him in mind. Baker fills other key parts with non-professionals, as he has a history of doing, and there's zero weak links in what proves a riotous character study of an entrancing yet toxic and deluded hustler, and also a freewheeling snapshot of small industrial town lives that's fuelled by authenticity on several levels. It's little wonder, then, that cinematographer Drew Daniels (Waves) lenses the picture like it's caught between magic hour-hued fantasies and scrappy social realism. That's Baker's favourite aesthetic, and straddling juxtapositions is baked into his latest movie everywhere it can be. Perhaps that's why Red Rocket also feels like exactly what Baker was destined to do after the similarly phenomenal The Florida Project, but also firmly its own glorious journey. That ain't no lie, either.
Being a part of a spunky indie-rock threesome from Melbourne, with Chris Cheney (hot The Living End frontman) in your corner, exposure on Triple J Unearthed, and two EPs under your belt sounds like a pretty good position to be in. That is the situation for Melbourne band Celadore, who only formed a couple of years ago, but have clearly been working their bot-bots off to get their music off and rolling. In 2010 they released their first EP Distance is a Gun to fab reviews from music media and solid airplay on Melbourne community radio. Now they are taking it up a notch with the release of their second EP The Bright and Blue, their second release through top-notch indie label Popboomerang Records, and was recorded at Melbourne’s Red Door Sounds. It was engineered by Luke Postill (Children Collide, Red Riders) and is Chris Cheney’s first foray into music production. What a hardworking bunch of lads, and now the work continues with their 16-date tour across Australia, taking in capital cities and regional towns. Obviously they are hitting Brisbane too, and will by rocking out (indie style) at the Hotel Orient later this week. It shall be grand.
When the Mardi Gras Film Festival returns each, it's wonderful news for Sydney's cinephiles. For folks located outside of the Harbour City, it's been fantastic news, too, for the past few years. Catering to movie lovers Australia-wide is fast, and welcomely, becoming a pandemic-era film fest staple — and MGFF has been jumping on the trend heartily. That includes in 2023, thanks to a 21-title online lineup. Not in Sydney but still want to watch along between Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2? If you're in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or elsewhere across the country, you still have a feast of queer cinema coming your way. More flicks are available at the fest's in-person event compared to its digital lineup, but a nice selection will be screening online for those playing along at home and interstate. LGBTQIA+ movie lovers watching on from the couch can check out 21 features. Highlights span Black as U R, a doco about the lack of attention paid to the black queer community; Icelandic spoof Cop Secret; Blitzed!, about the eponymous London nightclub, with Boy George, Princess Julia and Spandau Ballet sharing their memories; and Youtopia, which explores the inadvertent formation of a hipster cult. And, there's also In Her Words, an ode to 20th-century lesbian fiction; A Place of Our Own, an Indian drama about two trans friends; and All Man: The International Male Story, exploring how a menswear catalogue became a homoerotic handbook — as well as the COVID-era set sci-fi road-trip flick Unidentified Objects, a winner at Outfest LA.
Dazzling lights brightening up the Harbour City. Must-see gigs filling venues big and intimate around town. Fascinating talks musing on ideas, innovation and technology. That's the standard Vivid Sydney format, not that there's ever anything standard about the creativity-fuelled annual festival's yearly program. In 2023, however, it'll have a brand-new addition to that trusty template: Vivid's first-ever food fest, Vivid Food. Prepare your stomachs for a delicious time spanning both bites to eat and drinks to sip, all in an array of venues across the Sydney CBD. Today, Wednesday, February 15, marks 100 days until Vivid kicks off in 2023 — running from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17 — and fest organisers have started releasing a few details. If you're fond of Sydney's dining scene, Vivid Food is clearly now at the top of your must-attend list. [caption id="attachment_889194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2022[/caption] Vivid Food will have two main aims. Firstly, it'll activate the Sydney CBD's venues after a tough few pandemic-afflicted years — a period that saw Vivid cancelled in 2020 and 2021, in fact, before returning in 2022. And, it'll go all in on Sydney's culinary creativity and innovation, aka two of Vivid's main fascinations. The details are still scarce, but the event will span everything from pop-up restaurants to haute cuisine, involving chefs, producers, restaurateurs and more, and including one-of-a-kind menus from renowned figures heading to Sydney for the fest. And, there'll be multi-sensory degustations, food along the returning Vivid Sydney Light Walk, and mixologists and bartenders literally getting things shaking. [caption id="attachment_797353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maybe Sammy, DS Oficina[/caption] "We are proud to have curated an impressive collection of local and international artists and food creatives to provide Vivid Sydney audiences with new and exciting experiences," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini, announcing 2023's first highlights. "We have expanded and evolved the festival further this year and have curated an amazing lineup for 2023. The festival offering includes some significant new and Vivid-first experiences, as well as Vivid Food to deliver world-class culinary talent, events and activations as part of the program." [caption id="attachment_889195" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] The theme for Vivid overall in 2023: Vivid Sydney, Naturally. Also on the bill so far: the return of that aforementioned (and understandably super-popular) Vivid Sydney Light Walk, this time with 49-plus light installations and 3D projections along its illuminated eight-kilometre stretch; Barerarerungar from First Nations artist Maree Clarke, which will be projected across the Museum of Contemporary Art; and Jen Lewin's The Last Ocean, which hits Sydney after premiering at Burning Man in 2022. There's also light festival Lightscape — yes, a light fest within a light fest — which has proven a huge hit internationally and in Melbourne. It'll take over The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for its Sydney debut. The full Vivid 2023 lineup will be announced mid-March, but you can also look forward to spending time elsewhere in the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line, Central Station, Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Museum of Contemporary Art and more — as is always the case when Vivid unfurls its wonders. "Vivid Sydney is NSW's biggest annual event and makes a vital social and economic contribution to our state. From our creative industries to entertainment and hospitality venues, accommodation and retailers, it supports and creates jobs across the NSW economy," said NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin. "Last year Vivid Sydney was attended by over 2.5-million people and injected $119 million into the NSW economy. With internationals borders fully reopening, we're anticipating this year's festival to be our biggest and best yet. Vivid Sydney 2023 promises to be a significant driver for domestic and international visitors to travel to NSW and attend Australia's brightest event and immerse themselves in our city," Franklin continued. [caption id="attachment_889193" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glenn Turner[/caption] Vivid Sydney 2023 will run from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17. We'll update you with the full lineup when it's announced in mid-March — and for further information in the interim, visit the event's website. Top images: Destination NSW.
When is a cafe more than just a cafe? When it transforms into a vintage-styled bar by night. While the sun is shining, the Bowen Hills spot is known as caffeine fiend central, aka Boutique Espresso. When evening hits on Wednesday through to Saturday, it becomes Yorks Hollow. If the name conjures visions of a quaint hangout, you're on the right track, vibe-wise — think that, complete with retro furniture, mixed with a jazz-infused speakeasy. Yes, that means you know exactly what type of mood-setting music you'll hear here, including live performances on Friday evenings. When it comes to satisfying not just your ears but your stomach, expect a tapas menu perfect for sharing with friends over a drink, whether cheese, meat, dips or sun-dried tomatoes take your fancy. Then, you can choose to wash it all down with a craft beer or a glass of wine; however cocktails are Yorks Hollow's specialty. The absinthe sour sounds like the type of drink everyone must try at least once, but if you don't warm to that or anything else on the list, the bartenders will whip up whatever you feel like — just ask.
UPDATE, March 3, 2021: Jojo Rabbit is available to stream via Disney+, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. It's an idea so sharply amusing, so devilishly designed to make a statement and so likely to enrage its target if he were still alive, it's easy to see why Taika Waititi embraced it. In Jojo Rabbit, the New Zealand writer/director/actor — the son of a Maori father, with Russian-Jewish and Irish heritage also in his family — plays an imaginary, egotistical, endlessly preening, thoroughly over-the-top version of Hitler. That's a loaded concept from the get-go. Obviously, Waititi has fun with the task. He serves up a campy caricature of the Third Reich leader, which is exactly what his chosen scenario calls for. But while his self-described "anti-hate satire" has the best of intentions, parodying hatred-driven extremism and championing kindness using Nazi Germany as a backdrop, the purposefully offbeat movie doesn't always find the right tonal balance. It makes fun broadly and proudly to make an important point, and it's firmly a black comedy, but it's not as precise as it needs to be given its subject matter. Waititi's gleefully exaggerated Führer appears to ten-year-old Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) quite often, which the boy is rather pleased about. Not that he had much choice in the matter, but Jojo is a devoted member of the Hitler Youth who is eager to serve his country — and rid it of those he's been indoctrinated to fear and loathe — in the dying days of the Second World War. Alas, at mandatory, feverish training camps, he is just teased by bigger kids. That's where his 'rabbit' nickname springs from, after he refuses to slaughter a bunny to prove his allegiance to the Fatherland. Still, he's devout about his beliefs, despite his kindly mother Rosie's (Scarlett Johansson) gentle push towards more tolerant attitudes. Rosie practises what she preaches, empathising with those resisting the Nazis and hiding Jewish teenager Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in the family's attic. Based on Christine Leunens' book Caging Skies, Jojo Rabbit pinballs its eponymous character between various influences as he comes to terms with Elsa's presence. It's a standard coming-of-age scenario, opening a youth's eyes to the reality of the world as he matures, and bearing witness as he grapples with conflicting notions to forge his own identity — something that Waititi has previously tackled in both Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Here, of course, Jojo is a child Nazi suddenly nudged to look past his engrained prejudices as a forbidden friendship blooms, although he still interrogates Elsa about grossly inaccurate supposed Jewish traits and tricks first. Around him, Hitler's views on the subject, and on Jojo's new housemate, are as disapproving as you'd expect. The Hitler Youth bullies show Jojo what it's like to be on the receiving end of cruelty, though, even if the group's adult leaders — Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Game of Thrones' Alfie Allen — aren't exactly strict, stern and seething with hostility. Splashed across the screen in a bright, breezy manner — and stylistically aping Wes Anderson, particularly Moonrise Kingdom, at times — much of Jojo Rabbit's comedy works in the moment. That's true of Waititi's performance, and also applies to the film's opening juxtaposition: in its first frames, the feature cycles through archival footage of slavish crowds cheering Hitler as The Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' plays in German. And yet, though dripping with equal parts sincerity and silliness, Jojo Rabbit doesn't completely add up to the resounding combination of laughs, heart and barbs that Waititi clearly hopes. It boasts all of the above, but there's also a sense of not just cheekiness but clumsiness. While enthusiastically aiming for overstatement, some of the movie's scenes play like thin sketches, too. It also awkwardly and accidentally straddles the line between showing a goofy brand of empathy to everyone in a grim situation and humanising the regime behind some of the 20th century's worst atrocities. Waititi's irreverent, irrepressible sense of humour is usually a delight (see: his aforementioned films, plus What We Do in the Shadows and Thor Ragnarok), but Jojo Rabbit is at its best when it actually dials back the gags, mockery and pointed current-day parallels, and instead hones in on its central trio in less overt moments. Within such circumstances, first-timer Davis, rising star McKenzie (Leave No Trace, True History of the Kelly Gang) and a tender Johansson all impress. In varying combinations — never all together — they share a parade of thoughtful scenes that leave an imprint, especially when veering into more serious, considered, and even melancholy and dark territory. In an ambitious picture from start to finish, the three actors find the right groove, even if the movie itself doesn't always successfully do the same. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4McUzXfFI
Film festival time is about to roll around in Brisbane, but things look remarkably different this year. BIFF is gone, with BAPFF taking its place. That’s the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, a showcase of 80 movies from more than 30 countries in the region. A new event organized by Brisbane Marketing that aligns with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the inaugural BAPFF remains true to its specific focus. Primarily screening at Palace Barracks Cinemas and the Gallery of Modern Art’s Australian Cinematheque, the festival opens with Indian effort The Crow’s Egg, closes with Zhang Yimou’s anticipated Coming Home, and features 20 films from the APSA shortlist. As the bookending picks show, BAPFF isn’t about movies familiar to the average cinemagoer – it’s about celebrating the diversity of work from its titular locale. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk advised that in the festival’s first year, “it is brave act, in some regards, but it is an important act, because our future lays in the Asia Pacific and we need to make sure we engage in that space.” With titles direct from the international festival circuit, dedicated cinephiles have plenty to get excited about. In their Australian premieres and arriving with much critical fanfare, comedy The Owners shows another side of Kazahkstan, and documentary The Iron Ministry rides China’s railways. If you can sit still for long enough, long-form master Lav Diaz offers six hours of From What Is Before. Cherry-picking from the Sydney and Melbourne film festivals, as well as a host of smaller cultural festivals that have toured the country since, BAPFF will also feature Sion Sono’s latest chaotic epic Tokyo Tribe, Australian time travel rom-com The Infinite Man, Wim Wenders' photographic tribute The Salt of the Earth, eclectic South Korean black comedy A Hard Day, Chinese crime thriller Black Coal, Thin Ice, and what shapes up to be the feminist vampire film to end all feminist vampire films, Farsi-language effort A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Taking a more universal approach in looking not just at films made in the region but also at themes relevant in the Asia Pacific and beyond, BAPFF also includes Jean-Luc Godard’s eye-watering Goodbye to Language 3D and Russian endurance test Hard to Be A God, both must-sees on a big screen. Events form a sizeable part of the BAPFF schedule, including the previously announced collaboration with World Movies Secret Cinema in a Brisbane first. As part of a focus on his films, festival guest and this year’s APSA jury president Asghar Farhadi will share highlights of his career at an in-conversation session, while a Women in Film panel brings together female film practitioners at the top of their game to explore roles both in front of and behind the camera. Gala showings of five films, including New Zealand foreign-language Oscar submission The Dead Lands and Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep, include drinks either before or after the session. Music and movies will mix at the remastered screening of Korea’s oldest surviving silent film Crossroads of Youth, the second Korean retrospective title alongside 1960’s The Housemaid. If you like free things (and who doesn’t?), Movies on the Green features two evenings of lengthy Taiwanese cinema at QPAC. The young at heart can head along to the South Bank piazza for sneak peek screening of Australian family-friendly effort Paper Planes before it opens in January, complete with actual paper planes (well, the sheets of paper to make them, we’re guessing). Indeed, at a time when going to the cinema only seems to be getting more expensive, BAPFF does boast good news in general for film fans’ bank balances. Adult tickets are $12.50 this year, with a 20% discount available for buying 10 or more tickets in one transaction. Alas, though the festival has only been bubbling away in the city’s consciousness since June, not everything it first promised has come to fruition. If you were excited about seeing a restoration of the original Godzilla to celebrate the film’s 60th anniversary, we are sad to report that there’s no signs of everyone’s favourite monster movie in the schedule. We blame Mothra. The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival runs from November 29 to December 14. For more information, visit the BAPFF website.
When the Queensland Symphony Orchestra turned 75 in 2022, it put on a huge free concert to celebrate, taking over QPAC's Concert Hall for an evening. It doesn't have a milestone birthday to mark in 2023, but it is hosting another free gig anyway — this time outdoors as part of a new annual tradition. Taking place at Roma Street Parklands, Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Under the Stars will enjoy its debut hour-long outing on Saturday, March 25, in what's set to launch a yearly show. Attendees will hear 'Fanfare for the Common Man' by Copland to begin, followed by Tower's 'Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman'. Also on the list Dvořák's 'Carnival Overture', Delius' 'Summer Evening', Dohnányi's 'Symphonic Minutes', Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italien' and Glinka's 'Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila'. Given how popular last year's 75th-birthday show was, expect the maiden Symphony Under the Stars to prove the same. Although attendance is free, registration from 9am on Sunday, February 26 via the QSO website is recommended. Bringing picnic baskets is encouraged, too, and there'll be food options available onsite. If you're wondering about the history of the QSO, it made its debut on March 26, 1947, with 45 members playing to a crowd of 2500 people at Brisbane City Hall. It now boasts 74 musicians, and is the state's largest performing arts organisation. Images: Peter Wallis.
Australia's just scored what looks set to be its most inclusive music festival yet, with sports and radio legend Dylan Alcott announcing a strong lineup for the debut of his event Ability Fest. Helping to launch the Paralympian's charity, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, next month, the festival's being co-helmed by Untitled (the entertainment group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts) and it's one that caters to everyone, regardless of gender, disability, age or race. With Ability Fest, Alcott's set out to both normalise disability and help boost inclusivity across all areas of the music industry. With 20 percent of Aussies living with a physical or intellectual disability, it's high time an event like this was added to the festival calendar. A massive lineup — including Zimbabwean-born singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza, disco guy Harvey Sutherland and a back-to-back DJ set with Flight Facilities and Client Liaison — has dropped today, with all artists donating their time. Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome is being transformed into a fully accessible live music venue for the event, complete with a bunch of viewing platforms for those in wheelchairs and AUSLAN translators for all acts on the main stage. Ability Fest is hoping to raise $300,000 through ticket sales and donations, with all of it headed directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation. This will then be used to offer mentoring, scholarships and grants to marginalised young Australians with disabilities. Ability Fest will take over Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome at 30 Charles Street, Coburg North, on Saturday, April 7. You can register here for discounted pre-sale tickets before 4pm on March 15 — otherwise general release tickets are on sale from 10am on March 16. Image: Freedom Time at Coburg Velodrome.
Typically, an exhibition opens, displays the same pieces for its duration, and closes with an array of unchanged work. Tyza Stewart's month-long residency in the Institute of Modern Art's Green Room is bucking that trend. When this show launches, it really is just the beginning. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the gallery space during Stewart's time in the studio — but what they'll be viewing is art in progress, rather than a finished showcase. Think of it as an exhibition in reverse, complete with a big event at the end to celebrate the completion, rather than the commencement, of Stewart's work. Since finishing a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) from Queensland College of Art in 2012, Stewart has built an ongoing exploration of non-binary gender identities through a series of self-portraits. Questioning societal constructs of gender through Stewart's own image is again on the agenda; however this time, the end result will grow with time and change in front of the audience. Image: Tyza Stewart, keep pressure on glue for 6-12 hours to ensure maximum adhesion / having a nap, 2016, digital image.
Returning for its sixth year, Brisbane Powerhouse's Wonderland festival promises a treasure trove of fun — especially if you're a fan of weird and wonderful entertainment. 2019's event features 28 shows between Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, December 1, so yes, it's going to be a busy nine days. Adults-only circus, 1960s swing parties and and a tribute to Nina Simone are all on the bill, because this is an eclectic lineup. So are electrifying vocals and eye-popping acrobatics, all across a huge feast of weird and wonderful theatre, art, music, magic, burlesque, circus, cabaret and comedy. Feeling spoiled for choice? We're here to help — thanks to our five must-see picks.
Everyone's favourite melancholic hitmaker Post Malone is returning to Australia for a second time in 2023. The global superstar was in the country in January and February supporting Red Hot Chili Peppers, but he must've enjoyed his time Down Under, because he's doing a run of headline Australian shows as part of his If Y'all Weren't Here I'd Be Crying world tour. Diamond-certified multiple times over, Posty will be hitting Brisbane Showgrounds on Thursday, November 23 — and also playing Spilt Milk, including on the Gold Coast, the same month. This tour is in support of Post Malone's fifth studio album Austin, which dropped in July featuring recent singles 'Mourning' and 'Chemical'. You can expect a career-spanning performance dipping into his most recent album, 2022's Twelve Carat Toothache, and his catalogue of global smashes like 'Congratulations', 'Rockstar', 'Sunflower' and 'Circles'.
Whether via cakes you can decorate yourself, panna cotta that needs painting or blowing edible bubbles, sitting down to high tea at W Brisbane is never a stuffy affair. The venue's Living Room Bar likes getting its patrons playing while enjoying an indulgent spread. It's also fond of theming its tiered specials — and of taking a few cues from the Gallery of Modern Art across the river. Until Monday, October 7, 2024, GOMA is hosing the dazzling Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses exhibition, featuring pioneering fashion that thoroughly deserves to be seen in an art gallery. Until Sunday, October 27, 2024, Living Room Bar is serving up its Water and Dreams High Tea, too, which uses the designer beloved by Beyoncé, Björk and Cate Blanchett as inspiration. Those edible bubbles are on the menu here from 11am–3pm every Friday–Sunday, with W Brisbane teaming up with Bubblelick for the inventive treat. Also on offer as part of a culinary lineup inspired by the water and dreams section of GOMA's showcase: red and white meringues designed to resemble the flow of H2O, a pearl-topped chocolate opera cake and a splash-like crystallised sugar wave. Among the savoury bites, you'll be snacking on salmon caviar and finger lime citrus pops, plus truffled egg and cress finger sandwiches. That'll set you back $79 per person, with bottomless tea and barista coffee covered by the price. You can also get boozy, however, including with the Couture Cloud signature cocktail — which features almond vodka, rhubarb shrub and coconut soda, plus airfoam to top — for $99. Prefer a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne instead? That's $109.
This winter, Tim Burton's cult classic film Beetlejuice is coming to life on stage at Melbourne's Regent Theatre for Beetlejuice The Musical. Starring Australia's own Eddie Perfect in both the lead role and composer of the original score, the show is as bold, fun and camp as you'd expect. Playing at the Regent Theatre, within the city's unofficial 'East End Theatre District', you'll be at the grand entry point to Melbourne itself with laneways, late-night bars and must-try dining experiences just steps away from the show. Whether you're heading in early for a pre-show drink or looking for some late night flavour and fun, you'll find it all within walking distance. All you have to say is Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne. Pellegrini's Espresso Bar If you want to start your evening with a little old-school charm, step into Pellegrini's. This Melbourne institution has been slinging short blacks and lasagne since the '50s, and walking through its doors feels like entering a time warp (in the best way). Just a few minutes' walk from the Regent, it's perfect for a quick espresso or a pre-show bowl of gnocchi. Arlechin Hidden down a laneway just a couple of blocks from the Regent Theatre, Arlechin feels like the kind of bar Beetlejuice himself might have slipped into for a negroni. Open until 1am, at the helm of Melbourne restaurateur and chef, Guy Grossi, this moody late-night Italian bar has a low cork ceiling, dim lighting and impressive wine list. Self-identifying as the meeting place of food, drink and mischief, Arlechin is where you'll want to settle in and debrief the chaos you just witnessed on stage. Kafeneion Over on Spring Street, inside the Melbourne Supper Club building, Kafeneion is a hearty restaurant that oozes character. With its vintage fit-out, simple white table clothes and homemade-style Greek menu, it's the kind of cosy, warm place that wants you to settle in for late night hangouts. Perfect for a long lunch before a matinee or a feast after an evening show. Flinders Lane If you'd rather play things by ear, wander down Flinders Lane (aka Melbourne's unofficial eat street) and you'll quickly see why it's a pre and post-show favourite. From cult fine diners like Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal to classic Melbourne-style cocktail bars in laneway basements, this entire street is packed with options. It's the kind of place where one drink turns into dinner, then dessert, then a nightcap. Curious If you're craving something theatrical on the other side of town, Curious at W Melbourne is your next stop. Located inside an architectural wooden tunnel, the bar itself is a work of art, but it's the drinks that really get you excited. Order something from their 'Elemental Playground' cocktail menu like the 'Honey, I Burnt the Beets' or the 'Checkerboard', each inspired by the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. Experimental, bold and very photo-worthy, it matches Beetlejuice's vibe perfectly. Yaowarat Open until midnight every night with nothing over $16, Yaowarat brings the flavours and energy of Thailand and China to Melbourne's CBD. This spot is great for a no-fuss, high-flavour meal after seeing Beetlejuice The Musical, especially if you're hungry for something spicy and shareable. Order your favourite noodles, grab a cold beer, and soak up the buzzing, neon-lit atmosphere. Siglo Want to get some late-night fresh air? Head to Siglo, the rooftop bar perched above Spring Street. Classic white tablecloths are paired with skyline view and a solid drinks list, making this a great wind-down spot once you've had your fill of the city's non-stop energy. Order a dirty martini and look out over Parliament House as the streets buzz below. Melbourne was made for unforgettable nights. If you're heading to Beetlejuice The Musical, continue the fun beyond the theatre doors. There's no better place to go out and get a little spooky in. Head to visitmelbourne.com.au to discover more of what makes Melbourne. Every bit different. By Jacque Kennedy.
If you and your mates are looking for something blokey yet informative, reasonably priced and delicious, then we have just the thing for you. The Bavarian Bier Café at Eagle St Pier is offering Bier Akademies where you can sit at the bar and be taught about the brewing process for five of the Pure German biers that are on offer. You will also learn trivial but awesome conversation-making facts like this: back in ancient times, Monks who abstained from food during Lent lived solely on bier. Also, bier is best served between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius. For $35 per person, you and your mates sit at the bar with Sam, the resident bier expert who will take you through the brewing process and discuss aromas, taste, colour and all things bier-related with you. You get to sample five of the biers on tap – three lagers and two ales, learning about their origin and how they get to taste so damn good. After your lesson you are brought tasting platters of some of the BBC’s best Bavarian food including a freshly baked pretzel, chicken schnitzel, pork belly, three types of sausage, mash and sauerkraut. The Bier Akademy would be the perfect precursor for a Buck’s night, a great ice-breaker with your future father-in-law, or an opportune way to win over your clients. Girls – if you love beer, then by all means, you will also love this night out. It would also be the perfect way to treat your boyfriend on his birthday with something unexpected. Bookings can be made by email: reservations@bavarianbiercafe.com Level 1, 45 Eagle Street, Eagle Street Pire; 07 3015 0555; http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com
"I'll be retiring from tennis. It's the first time I've actually said it out loud — yeah, it's hard to say, but I'm so happy and I'm so ready. And I just know at the moment in my heart, for me as a person, that this right." With those words in a surprise Instagram post on Wednesday, March 23, Australian tennis champion Ash Barty advised that she's stepping away from the game. Her announcement came less than two months after she won the Australian Open, and less than a year after winning Wimbledon before that. At the age of 25, Barty has already lived out her tennis dream — and, while fans will miss watching her on the court, she's clearly making the big move that's best for her. She'll always be a champ, of course, as well as one of Queensland's beloved sports heroes. And, well before her retirement revelation — an announcement no one could've seen coming — two Brisbane tennis spots had already painted celebratory murals that are well worth visiting right now. Keen to pay respects to the tennis great, whether you're eager to have a hit as well or just scope out some eye-catching mural art? You have these locations to head to. Tennyson's Queensland Tennis Centre has a colourful number on display, while Ferny Grove's Pure Tennis Academy made over one of its sheds — complete with the colours of the Aboriginal flag as a background — at the beginning of the year. At QTC, you can see the mural during the centre's opening hours — either just to look at or to use as a hitting wall. That means that you can drop by between 8am–10pm Monday–Friday and 7am–7pm Saturday–Sunday. And, you won't just be looking at one version of Barty, with three gracing the image. Over at Pure Tennis Academy, the mural by James Smalls went up in January, and was actually finished before Barty's Australian Open win. It's now a permanent fixture, and you just swing by to check it out during opening hours — from 9am–5pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9am–5.30pm Tuesday–Wednesday and 8am–5pm on Saturdays. If you'd like to book a court while you're there, that's purely a bonus. Find the Ash Barty murals at Queensland Tennis Centre, 190 King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson and Pure Tennis Academy, 144 Samford Road, Ferny Hills.
