The first WorldPride to ever be held in the southern hemisphere is upon us, boasting more than 300 shows, gigs, exhibitions and parties, and taking over Sydney across 17 days from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5. On the program: everything from art exhibitions and film festivals to dance parties and big-name international headliners, in one helluva jam-packed festival. We've pulled together a list of ten events popping up throughout the festival that feature once-in-a-lifetime lineups or celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride in their own unique way. From the long-awaited return of the annual Mardi Gras parade to its spiritual home through to multi-day party programs, these are the cream of the crop that will have you considering last-minute flights to Sydney. Explore our picks for the best WorldPride events this massive program has to offer. LIVE AND PROUD: SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE OPENING CONCERT Who else to open the Southern Hemisphere's first WorldPride than Australia's pop princess Kylie Minogue? Sydney shall be so lucky, with the iconic hitmaker taking to The Domain for a blockbuster concert kicking off the festivities on Friday, February 24. But, it doesn't end with Kylie. Live and Proud will also feature appearances from Charli XCX and Jessica Mauboy, with local legends Casey Donovan and Courtney Act on hosting duties. If you can't be there in person, the performance will be broadcast live nationwide on the ABC as well. [caption id="attachment_749877" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeffrey Feng[/caption] MARDI GRAS PARADE One of Sydney's biggest nights of the year is returning in a massive way in 2023. Not only is this Mardi Gras parade the event's 45th anniversary, as well as its return to Oxford Street, but it's also part of WorldPride. It's all happening on the streets of Darlinghurst on Saturday, February 25. The theme: gather, dream, amplify. All of the colourful floats and community groups the parade is known for will begin to march from 6pm, with the parade continuing until 11pm. Expect more than 12,500 marchers and 200 floats throughout the five-hour celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. DOMAIN DANCE PARTY Two days after Kylie takes to The Domain, another megastar will arrive, with Kelly Rowland headlining DJ Dan Slater's Domain Dance Party. DJ Suri and DJ Isis Muretech will also be on the decks, but the big star is clearly the former Destiny's Child member, who'll work through tracks from across her career. Fancy getting sweaty on the dance floor with 10,000 people? That's what's on offer on Sunday, February 26, with Rowland, the DJ lineup, onstage dancers and surprise acts all providing good times. MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY Fair Day is traditionally one of the first events of Mardi Gras each year, but in 2023 it's going one better: happening on Sunday, February 19, it's also the first major event of WorldPride. Get ready for a family-friendly, pup-friendly, eco-glitter-friendly day in Camperdown's Victoria Park that's inclusive, relaxed and free. This year's Fair Day will feature a fancy dress competition for dogs, over 300 market stalls, pop-up bars, a main stage with leading queer performers in Australian music, plus the chance to shine brightly with your nearest and dearest chosen family. Highlights from the performance lineup include Eurovision champion Conchita Wurst, a Sissy Ball vogue showcase, The Buoys, Nana Miss Koori, Carla Wehbe, Jamaica Moana and Latifa Tee — plus pop-up bars from the likes of Archie Rose and Squealing Pig. RAINBOW REPUBLIC: SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE CLOSING CONCERT While we'd love the celebrations to continue year-round, nothing lasts forever, and WorldPride will be coming to an end on Sunday, March 5 — but not before one last pop-filled party. Wrapping things up will be Rainbow Republic, another hit parade in The Domain featuring German pop star Kim Petras. Joining the 'Unholy' and 'Coconuts' hitmaker is MUNA, G Flip, Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne. Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Flash, Eden) will also be performing and taking to the stage between acts on hosting duties. MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL The annual Mardi Gras Film Festival returns with a bumper edition celebrating both WorldPride and its own 30th anniversary. Fans of queer cinema, rejoice: this annual Sydney film fest is screening 166 films at eight venues around the city, running from Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2. MGFF highlights include All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, 2022's Venice Film Festival Golden Lion-winning documentary about queer artist Nan Goldin, her life and career, and her battle against the billionaire Sackler family — plus closing night's The Venus Effect, with the Danish movie about two young women in love enjoying its Aussie premiere. The full fest program includes 100-plus sessions in cinema, outdoors and on-demand, alongside panel discussions, workshops, networking events and parties. Plus, there's an online component showing 21 movies nationwide. [caption id="attachment_887917" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Davies[/caption] DAY FOR NIGHT: THE PLEASURE ARC Festivalgoers should prepare their endurance for The Pleasure Arc, a 24-hour party packed with incredible talent set to immerse attendees in an extravagant queer utopia. Enjoy some of Australasia's best queer artists including House of Sle, House of Silky, Marcus Whale, Basjia Almaan and imbi during the opening weekend of the festival across Saturday, February 18–Sunday, February 19 at Carriageworks. In charge of keeping the tunes rolling during the overnight extravaganza will also be the Your Pleasure DJs, meaning there won't be a dull moment across the non-stop party. [caption id="attachment_887907" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] MARRI MADUNG BUTBUT Also at Carriageworks is Marri Madung Butbut (Many Brave Hearts): Sydney WorldPride First Nations Gathering Space. This six-day program from Thursday, February 23–Tuesday, February 28 celebrates Indigenous LGBTQIA+ artists and communities. Kicking off the festivities is a free-to-attend opening night party, the Djarraba Disco, featuring some of Eora and Naarm's best performance artists lighting up the dance floor. From there, you can head along to 11 different free events and several ticketed pop-ups ranging from variety shows to heartfelt plays. "Marri Madung Butbut is a place where everyone is welcome to experience the rainbow heart of the oldest surviving culture on the planet," explains Festival Creative Director Ben Graetz. ALL THE SEX I'VE EVER HAD We've all heard of the saying "the older you are, the wiser you are" — and in this case it stands true. It is common knowledge that we can glean so much from our elders with their breadth of experience. So when it comes time to learn about experiences pertaining to love, romance and sex, who better to ask than the ones with the most expertise? Strap in — or on — for a wild ride, as All The Sex I've Ever Had returns to Sydney completely revamped for WorldPride. The Darlinghurst Production Company has teamed up with Canada's Mammalian Diving to bring an LGBTQIA+ edition of the hugely successful, 90-minute tell-all production back to Sydney. From Tuesday, February 21–Friday, February 24, plus a 5pm show on Sunday, February 26, you can draw upon the wisdom of queer local senior citizens at the Eternity Playhouse Theatre. You'll also experience the climaxes of truly raw storytelling as these generous elders recount some of the highest highs and lowest lows when it comes to dating, relationships and sexuality. THE ABERCROMBIE WORLDPRIDE PROGRAM Following years of lockouts and lockdowns, the dance floor has finally made an emphatic comeback in Sydney. Part of this return is the reopening of storied nightclub The Abercrombie, which is making full use of its 24-hour license and multiple dance floors for WorldPride by rolling out a stacked program of parties. Curated by DJ Kate Monroe and party-starter Xander Khoury, the program runs from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5, and enlists the help of party crews like Heaps Gay, Kerfew, Fur Ball and the Queer House Collective to bring together three weeks of packed dance floors, thumping bass and joyous energy. From full-venue takeovers and post-parade kick-ons raging until 8am to rooftop recovery brunches, this lineup has packed in as much dance music and good times to WorldPride as possible. The entire program features plenty of free events as well as a few ticketed nights — and all events are free for drag performers and First Nations attendees. Sydney WorldPride runs from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5 — for information, or for tickets, head to the event's website.
If it's summer in Australia and you're not eating something frosty yet creamy after each and every meal, then you aren't making the most of the season. In some parts of the country — hello Brisbane — it's never too cold for gelato. Actually, even when it is chilly elsewhere in the thick of winter, that statement still applies. But licking your way through your ice cream of choice really is one of the best things about summer there is. After that short ode to gelato — and lots of it — you're likely craving the good stuff. Here's something that'll help: a huge $350,000 Gelato Messina giveaway. From 6pm AEDT / 5pm AEST on Wednesday, November 8, Uber Eats is going all out to celebrate the beloved dessert chain moving its deliveries exclusively to the service. So, from now onwards, you'll be getting your Messina delivered by Uber Eats — and for 20 minutes tonight you'll want to head to the brand's Instagram page to get your hands on some freebies. It's handing out 'cow codes', which you'll then enter into the Uber Eats app to nab different prizes. As well as discounts on Messina — ranging from ten to 50 percent off — there'll be free tub upgrades up for grabs. Or, if you're a particularly lucky dessert fiend, you might score a year's supply of Messina gelato. If you'll be busy during this evening's unveiling, the codes will also be live until midnight on Sunday, December 12. And, when it comes to ordering — either after winning a prize, or next time the gelato hankerings strike — Messina will be operating 22 virtual Uber Eats storefronts across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. Uber Eats' Gelato Messina Cow Codes livestream runs from 6–6.20pm AEDT / 5–5.20pm on Wednesday, December 8 on Uber Eats' Instagram page, with the codes live until midnight on Sunday, December 12.
Hanging out at the beach, then grabbing a beer: it's one of life's simple pleasures. Even Australian surfing legends such as Mick Fanning agree — so much so, that the three-time world champ is opening his own brewery on the Gold Coast. If you're keen on knocking back a beverage with a wave-riding pedigree, Balter Brewing Company is the name to look out for. The boutique operation is already making their first batches of XPA, ready to hit local bars in March before their grand opening in April. Plus, Fanning will apparently be jumping behind the bar to pull a few. Given that Fanning only recently announced that he'd be taking a (truly deserved) year off, it sounds like he has quite the solid plan for his spare time. He's not the only famous surfing name switching seawater for amber ales, however. Joining the quest for the kind of endless summer you can probably only have on the Gold Coast, fellow pros Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr are also among Balter's shareholders. Balter Brewing Company will open in Currumbin on the Gold Coast in April. For more information, keep an eye on their website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Brisbanites, you now have plans for 2032. Australians who reside elsewhere, you're going to want to make a trip to the Sunshine State that year, too. After first being named the preferred location back in February, and then earning the International Olympic Committee Executive Board's endorsement in June, Brisbane has just received the official tick of approval — and has been announced as the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Today, Wednesday, July 21, the full International Olympic Committee voted to choose the 2032 host, with Brissie emerging victorious. Given how the past few months have panned out, this result was expected; however, that doesn't make it any less exciting. The 2032 games will take place between July 23–August 8, 2032 at a range of venues not just in Brisbane itself, but around southeast Queensland. Brissie's bid included clusters of venues in the city, on the Gold Coast and on the Sunshine Coast. As revealed in April, the Gabba will also undergo a huge revamp in preparation for the games, which'll basically involve tearing the stadium down and rebuilding it again. https://twitter.com/iocmedia/status/1417763724291497989 It has been a big year for Brisbane, sports-wise, with the city making history last October by becoming the only place outside of Melbourne to ever host an AFL Grand Final. It's been a big few years for southeast Queensland, actually, given that the Gold Coast hosted the Commonwealth Games back in 2018. The 2032 games will be the first held in Oceania since 2000 — when Sydney did the honours, as every Australian remembers. It'll also mark just a 32-year gap between Australia's most recent hosting slots. The Olympics were first held on our shores back in 1956, in Melbourne. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1417764096678653952 Brisbanites can expect fireworks lighting up the sky tonight in celebration, as the Premier revealed in the lead up to the announcement. They're being set off from river barges and CBD buildings, and Brisbane's buildings, bridges and City Hall are also being lit up in green and gold hues as well. The news comes as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — delayed from last year due to the pandemic — kick off this week, running through until Sunday, August 8. Paris is on hosting duties in 2024, while Los Angeles will take the torch in 2028. Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics from July 23–August 8, 2032. For further information, head to the Games' website. Top image: IOC/Christophe Moratal.
In 2020, when Brisbane started to settle into a state of normality again after its first lockdown of the pandemic, The Tivoli launched Open Season: an event that aimed to entice music lovers back to live gigs and shows. For three months, it filled the Fortitude Valley venue with tunes and performances — and it was such a hit that it's coming back in 2021 for another round. This year's Open Season will run twice as long, spanning from July through until December. It'll also take place at two locations, not one. In August, Woolloongabba's Princess Theatre is set to fling open its doors after a huge revamp — the venue is 133 years old, after all — and, because the same folks are behind The Tiv as well, the two sites will both be hosting this big multi-gig festival. That means you'll have multiple places to head to, and a whole heap of bands and shows to see — and that's just from the first lineup announcement (with more acts due to be added in August). Leading the bill so far are King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who'll play a five-show residency; Regurgitator, playing their seminal debut album Tu-Plang live; and everyone from Julia Jacklin, Jarryd James and Tropical Fuck Storm to Marlon Williams and Young Franco. The return of the Nine Lives Festival at The Tiv, headlined by Stella Donnelly, Mildlife and Big Scary, is also on the program. That's not all that's on the agenda. Also included: arty dinner party Bite Club, Briefs Factory's latest cabaret experience; Briefs' latest club show, too; and the likes of Sunnyboys, HTRK, The Murlocs and Amyl & the Sniffers also hitting the stage. Some of the shows in the series are actually slated for this coming weekend, kicking off on Saturday, July 3 — but obviously that'll depend on whether Brisbane is out of lockdown. Open Season is set to kick off on Saturday, July 3 — as long as Brisbane is out of lockdown — and run through until December. For further details, or to buy tickets from Friday, July 2 (or via pre-sales from Thursday, July 1), head to the event's website. Images: Somefx.
Remember life without food trucks? Thankfully, that’s no longer an option. These days, all your favourite meals are always wheeling around town, ready to serve scrumptious bites to anyone, anywhere. And sometimes, they all even pop up in the same spot. Downey Park Food Trucks is the latest gathering of mobile eateries, bringing the craze to the green surrounds of Windsor. In the same spirit as the Yarraville Gardens Food Trucks events in Melbourne, there’ll be a convoy of vans serving a variety of cuisines, as well as a comfy patch of lawn to sit on and enjoy your feast. From the finger lickin’ good King of the Wings to the Mexican selection of Oi Taco, all usual suspects will be there, including Chiptease’s sweet potato sensations, Fire’N’Dough’s smokey pizzas, How We Rolls’ barbecue and bread combination, and the Chocolate Komberry Co’s sweet treats as well. You won’t find a tastier way to wind down your weekend. All you need to bring is a picnic rug to sit on, and a healthy appetite.
It is rare that we're given an opportunity to be fashion conscious and socially aware at the same time. But it looks like that will change with the launch of Bloodless, the Sydney fashion label raising awareness, funds and hope for social causes. Co-creator Nishan David is stoked to be getting the project off the ground. "The idea of Bloodless is a cult streetwear label which gives rebels a cause, using T-shirts to start conversations and raise funds for social causes, in a more organic and hopeful manner than regular non-for-profits," he says. With co-funder and creative lead Christine Inkley — as well as a huge team of friends and volunteers — David is encouraging us to do something a little different with our money and our desire for social justice. The strategy? Each month Bloodless will share and fund the story of a new cause, through the sale of a different line of T-shirts. Once the shirts are sold out, the money will be donated to a project happening in the developing world (South Africa, Kenya and Papua New Guinea), with social 'changemakers' like month one's Charles Irai directly receiving the funding needed to get a particular organisation off the ground. In his hometown in Papua New Guinea, Charles is launching One Step Closer, which teaches entrepreneurial skills to local kids, 70 percent of whom drop out of high school. "Really what we're trying to do is take something that every young Australian is already engaged with and channel these habits for social good," says David. "Rather then complaining about what is wrong let's make an actual option." On average, each Australian spends $44 per week on fashion. So shouldn't it always have been a no-brainer to provide an on-trend, hemp-free way for us to engage with social issues? "I think the mistake the non-profit sector has often made is not speaking to young people in their own language. Gen Y are very used to making our own rules, describing things for ourselves, telling things the way they resonate with us … We need to conceptualise how we talk about social justice, because in a way it hasn't worked." The limited edition Bloodless tees are designed in Sydney, made with 100 percent pure cotton and will be on sale for $50. David and Inkley's aim is to have six different organisations launched by the end of summer. "There is that dichotomy in Australia that if you walk into any store and you grab something off the shelf, either of two things are going to be true about it," says David. "Either it's going to be something that you know is ethically made, or it's going to be something you'd actually wear. "We want Bloodless to be fashion-first and I think that's very different to most other people who have ever done fundraising tees. A lot of the time it is assumed that people will have good hearts and buy the product to support the cause, instead of just making great products. We don't want any guilt-tripping, we want to make the product stand on its own two feet. That is our foundation." At the same time, you're getting a personal item that really means something. "There's this one t-shirt I have, and it's just got this square print photograph of a homeless guy and he's holding a sign that says 'I just want my childhood back'," David continues. "Whenever I wear that shirt people are always wondering what the story is behind it, and I always wish I was able to say 'yeah, half the profits of this shirt went to lifting people out of homelessness in inner-city New York.' But I can't. It is just a shirt." Bloodless launched their Pozible campaign on Tuesday, November 5. Check it out for more info and to pre-order your shirt. You can also follow them via their Facebook, Instagram and website.
Driving through Mission Beach on your way to Dunk Island? Make sure you stop in at the local community arts centre for a visit. Mission Arts is located within MARCS Park and features an exhibition space, gift shop, pottery studio and community meeting spaces. Feel like getting creative? The arts centre has regular open workshops in drawing, pottery and knitting that you can attend. Or, stop by to check out the upcoming exhibitions including Focus Photography and Language of Intimacy.
They're globe-hopping, ass-kicking, world-saving spies, but women: that's it, that's The 355. When those formidable ladies are played by a dream international cast of Jessica Chastain (Scenes From a Marriage), Lupita Nyong'o (Us), Penélope Cruz (Pain and Glory), Diane Kruger (In the Fade) and Fan Bingbing (I Am Not Madame Bovary), the tickets should sell themselves — and Chastain, who suggested the concept and produces, wasn't wrong for hoping that. Giving espionage moves the female-fronted spin that Bond and Mission: Impossible never have isn't just this action-thriller's quest alone, of course, and nothing has done so better than Atomic Blonde recently, but there's always room for more. What The 355 offers is an average affair, though, rather than a game-changer, even if it so evidently wants to do for its genre what Widows did for heist flicks. The film still starts with men, too, causing all the globe's problems — aka threatening to end life as we know it via a gadget that can let anyone hack anything online. One nefarious and bland mercenary (Jason Flemyng, Boiling Point) wants it, but the CIA's gung-ho Mason 'Mace' Browne (Chastain) and her partner Nick Fowler (Sebastian Stan, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) head to Paris to get it from Colombian intelligence officer Luis Rojas (Édgar Ramírez, Jungle Cruise), who's gone rogue and is happy to sell; however, German operative Marie Schmidt (Kruger) is also on its trail. The French connection goes wrong, the two women get in each other's ways, but it's apparent — begrudgingly to both — that they're better off together. They need ex-MI6 cyber whiz Khadijah Adiyeme (Nyong'o) to help, while Colombian psychologist Graciela Rivera (Cruz) gets drawn in after making the trip to stop Luis going off the books. No stranger to covert affairs or formidable women after penning Mr and Mrs Smith, but helming only his second movie following the awful X-Men: Dark Phoenix, director/co-writer Simon Kinberg spreads the action across several continents — including a foot chase in Marrakesh and an auction in Shanghai, which is where Lin Mi Sheng (Fan) joins the story. Scripting with TV veteran Theresa Rebeck (Smash), his big setpieces all play with the film's gender focus, mostly dissecting how women are so often overlooked in various situations; the indifference given wait staff, the invisibility of women in male-dominated societies and the way they're meant to be pure eye candy at black-tie occasions all earn the movie's ire. But these sentiments, like everything else in the feature, are blatant and straightforward at best. The mood the movie vibes with: "James Bond never had to deal with real life," as Cruz is given the misfortune of uttering. From that aforementioned opening scene through to almost every supporting part, it also never escapes attention that men still run The 355's world. That doesn't just include the obvious, because yes, that's sadly the reality we all still live in and the film is making a statement about that very fact; they're everywhere and everyone in the film, other than its central quintet. Whether to further push Chastain and co to the front or to hammer home what it's like to be a woman in this male-centric life, it doesn't leave any room for ladies who aren't these 'strong female lead'-style super spies. Also glaring: that every single one of Mace, Marie, Khadijah, Graciela and Lin's backstories are defined by men, from other halves of the boyfriend, husband or friends-with-benefits varieties to fathers, mentors, children and patients. The 355 should be better — with its dialogue, clearly; with its girl-power, girl-boss, girls-can-do-anything messaging; and at celebrating more than five women, or even showing them. (If you were going to pick five ladies to do the job, though, this casting is spot-on.) It could use a sense of style and charm beyond Nyong'o's suits and the gang's personality-matched auction outfits, and its over-edited action scenes put Kinsberg two for two with tanking a crucial part of his directorial efforts to-date. Women can star in mediocre action movies as well, however. That isn't meant to be the picture's big push for gender parity, but The 355 is also exactly what seemingly millions of bland men-led actioners have been serving up for decades upon decades. It packages it up in an Ocean's 8-meets-Bourne approach, or a more self-serious Charlie's Angels, but these run-of-the-mill flicks have long been everywhere, just without as much oestrogen. The Bond and Mission: Impossible franchises have their own, too. Great idea, winning intentions, stellar cast, generic execution: even by paying all that lip-service to how hard it is to be a woman (especially thanks to those truisms, in fact), that's also The 355. It's lucky that its pseudo–Fox Force Five are so watchable, and so committed to making the most of their thinly written parts, including in their fight choreography — and yes, if only they were gifted some of the fun that Pulp Fiction conjured up about that fictional series, or of Kill Bill, which essentially saw Quentin Tarantino bring the idea to life. A sequel mightn't eventuate for Chastain, the particularly great Kruger, Nyong'o and Cruz, and also Fan to get another spin at the worthy concept, but the groundwork is laid anyway, because that's just one espionage-movie trope in a list of thousands that's delivered here. The 355 is ordinary instead of awful, thankfully, and sometimes it's slightly better than that. But it's also haunted by all those should'ves and could'ves, and by being oh-so-basic with its killer lady spies, their battle against misogyny and their quest to claim some much-needed on-screen space.
Set out on a catamaran from Cairns with the award-winning Passions of Paradise and take a tour with a team that is dedicated to eco-friendly explorations. The snorkelling gear is included, so you can get up close to turtles, fish and all the coral-dwelling creatures of the reef with ease before relaxing on board with a buffet lunch. The best bit? Passions of Paradise work with researchers to help grow coral through the Coral Nurturing Program and offset carbon emissions by planting trees in the Daintree. If you're visiting the reef from Port Douglas, consider a trip with Sailaway. The full-day tour with a qualified marine biologist is a top-tier way to appreciate the wonders beneath the shimmering blue waves. The company donates $20 from every passenger's ticket to its reforestation and carbon offsetting project, too.
If you live in Brisbane, you've heard all about the city's connections with Asia; we're the home of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, which is currently gracing Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery or Modern Art for the tenth time, and we've also hosted the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, after all. Since 2013, the BrisAsia Festival has been on that list as well, paying homage to the many cultures that originated from the continent. Timed around Lunar New Year — and running from Tuesday, February 1–Sunday, February 20 this year — the 2022 program features yet another mix of traditional and contemporary Asian arts, channelled into events across Brisbane. And while some of the unmistakable highlights will treat your stomach — a brand-new laneway tea festival in South Brisbane's Fish Lane, plus a Southside by Night event at Willawong that'll combine street food with a car meet (yes, think Fast and Furious vibes) — that's just the beginning of the fun. Overall, there's 50-plus events taking place in ten Brisbane suburbs, so you won't be lacking in things to do. The fest will sneakily start a few days early, on Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, to celebrate Vietnamese Lunar New Year, before starting its music program at venues around town — QPAC's Melbourne Street Green, The Zoo and Queen Street Mall included — and hosting a big (and free) launch party at Fortitude Music Hall. Elsewhere, you can attend an Asian-pop celebration and get decked out in bright hues at the returning Holi – Festival of Colours — or scope out the new BrisAsia Fashion Festival, which'll focus on labels and designers with Asian, Indigenous and international heritages. Plus, Brissie's Asian Australian comedians will also take to the stage for a night of standup comedy, the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens will host a night of love songs from around the globe in the lead up to Valentine's Day, and digital storytelling initiative Mother's Table will showcase local restaurant owners Maggie Nguyen, Mie Mie Wing Kee and Taro Akimoto chatting about their eateries and signature dishes. [caption id="attachment_798255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kim Borg, Ozwide Photography[/caption]
No one in the world asked for cough drop-flavoured KitKats, but that's a flavour that the chocolate brand has indeed whipped up. It's known for creating weird and wonderful varieties, as you will have spotted if you've ever been to Japan and perused the confectionary section of a convenience store — and if you're an Australian chocolate fiend keen on some creative sweets this Christmas, the company has quite the feast on offer as well. Actually, KitKat's new Aussie range of festive-themed choccies are inspired by an Australian Christmas feast, with four flavours available in one pack. It's designed to mimic the experience of eating your way through a multi-course Xmas lunch or dinner, so there's a prosciutto, melon and champagne variety to start with — which comes as part of a white chocolate KitKat. Next, it's on to the main course, aka a milk chocolate KitKat that tastes like baked ham with orange and clove glaze. But you can't just have meat without some vegetables on the side, so there's also a honey glazed carrots KitKat, because of course there is. Then, last but not least comes the Christmas pudding with brandy custard version — for dessert, although the whole chocolate spread obviously falls into that category. Folks in Sydney and Melbourne can pick up a KitKat Chocolatory Christmas Feast pack for $25 in-store — and each one comes with one finger of all of the aforementioned flavours. If you're keen and you live elsewhere throughout Australia, you can order packs online to be delivered to your door. For more information about the KitKat Chocolatory Christmas Feast pack, head to KitKat's Australian website.
Learning to always keep hand sanitiser within arm's reach is a very 2020 lesson. Working out how many jigsaw puzzles you can do in a single month is too. So is accepting change — because a year can start out normally, then transform into something completely different. And while we didn't need a pandemic to tell us this, a person's entire life can go through similar shifts as well. Someone can start out in one job, for instance, then make a once-in-a-lifetime leap to pursue another. That's the story behind Wilson Brewing Company, which is based in Albany. It also applies at Illegal Tender Rum Co, in Springfield in Western Australia's midwest. Or, a person can jump into the wine industry in one part of the country, then end up making it in a completely different area. That tale rings true at Ferngrove Wines in the Great Southern region, for instance. What hasn't changed lately, though, is how much Australians love Wilson, Illegal Tender and Ferngrove's drinks. When BWS asked Aussies to pick the country's top tipples as part of its Local Luvvas initiative, all three emerged victorious in WA. They'll now receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores — and we've chatted to key players from all three to discover just how life's changes brought them to this point. FROM THE MINING INDUSTRY TO MAKING BEER IN AN OLD NURSERY If you were to ask the entire Australian population how they'd spend their time if they could have any job they wanted, we're betting that a considerable number would mention brewing beer. Matty Wilson would now, but he mightn't have known how much he loves his work if he hadn't been a boilermaker in the Pilbara first. It was there, as one of the mining industry's many fly-in, fly-out employees, that his cousin Leon first introduced him to brewing. "I was instantly addicted, and loved the combination of science, cooking and chemistry," he says. "After about six months, I realised that I had a knack for brewing and recipe development — and started thinking about opening a brewery in Albany." Opening a brewery isn't a part-time endeavour, of course. For Wilson, it meant calling time on his existing career, buying an old garden nursery with a big dilapidated shed out the back, and putting all his energy into making Wilson Brewing Company a reality. He didn't completely farewell his old skills at first, though, using them over the course of nine months to fix up the property and build his first brew kit by hand — a key early step in making the leap into the professional beer business after five years of home brewing. That was back in 2016 — and while it represented an enormous change for Wilson, this year would bring more. "2020 has proven to be a time of overcoming challenges," he says; however, it has also been one of "banding together and supporting each other". When he started Wilson Brewing, he sold his first keg to the Earl of Spencer Pub in Albany. Now, in this tough period, the community in WA's southwest and the state as a whole has been pivotal. "They've truly proven why it is so great to live here," Wilson shares. "We have had unprecedented support, and have had the opportunity to support others like never before. We learned that we can take a beating, stick it out, and come out the other end stronger and still chasing our dreams." LEAVING A CAREER AS AN ELECTRICIAN TO DISTILL RUM At first glance, Illegal Tender Rum Co's origin story is rather similar to Wilson Brewing Company's — and that of the former's Codie Palmer to the latter's Matty Wilson, too. Palmer was previously an instrumentation electrician by trade, working in iron ore mining in Dampier. Now, after selling his house and car to finance his dream, he has been distilling professionally for six years out of Dongara. For Palmer, however, making rum was always his "true calling". In fact, he's been doing it for more than half of his life. "There is something about it that just ensnared me; something with the process and how you could take raw ingredients and really make them your own," he says, explaining that it's "a curiosity that beckons to you like a bright light in the night". He relishes the process, and the hard work that's required along the way. "A truly great spirit is something that is nurtured from start to finish — no shortcuts," he notes, explaining how Illegal Tender guides its 100-percent Australian ingredients through the brewing stage, then through fermentation, then double distillation, and finally through maturation. In 2020, Illegal Tender has been making something else as well: hand sanitiser. Add that to the big changes that have marked Palmer's rum-distilling path — but, while unexpected, it's one he'll always cherish. "It saw us help thousands of vulnerable people in our area, and that's something that we will be proud of for the rest of our days," he says. Indeed, it has allowed him to support a community that has supported him. "Without it, we simply would not be around. When we began our journey, it was the local support we received from the very beginning that made us feel like we were a part of a greater family," he explains. "Being local should be something all producers are proud of… and supporting locals should be at the forefront of people's minds in this day and age." SWAPPING THE BAROSSA VALLEY FOR WA'S GREAT SOUTHERN REGION Unlike his fellow Local Luvvas winners, Ferngrove Wines' Craig Grafton didn't experience a stint in mining before following his vino dreams. But he still probably wouldn't have predicted that he'd become the chief winemaker at a Western Australian vineyard — especially given that he grew up north of South Australia's Barossa Valley; has spent time working in the Yarra and Clare valleys, Geelong and Bellarine, and Mildura; and has also plied his trade in the Bordeaux region of Southern France, in California's Sonoma Valley, and also in Nashik in India and Ningxia in China. The move to WA was the result of years of respect for the area, though. "I have always held the Great Southern region in high regard," he says, noting that that's proven true across his 20 years as a winemaker. And if you're going to make a top-notch drop, Grafton believes that you need the very best location. "It is a little clichéd, but it is absolutely true that great wines really are made in the vineyard." Ferngrove's location since 1998 — where "the cool climate of the Frankland River allows our vines to produce some incredibly intense fruit, and we have relatively warm days which allow the fruit to fully ripen in flavour," as Grafton explains — is a little off the beaten path. It's 360 kilometres south of Perth, in fact. That makes local support crucial for Ferngrove Wines, even before 2020 delivered its challenges. "Being loved as a local winery is what we've been striving for as remotely located vineyard. We have to work a little harder to get our wines out there, and it means that we have to shout and scream at the top of our lungs that we are a winery that's worth tasting, enjoying and seeking out," he says. As a self-confessed wine fanatic, that's a task that Grafton enjoys, however; "the romance, the history, the people, the places that are all involved in wine production made me want to forge a career and lifestyle around this". To find these or other Western Australian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
If you'd said five years ago that Matthew McConaughey was one of the finest actors of his generation, you'd have been a laughing stock. As it turns out, you'd also have been right. After spending most of last decade taking his shirt off in rom-coms and exhibiting poor equilibrium in film posters, the Texan has undergone a total reinvention in recent times, stringing together a series of scene-stealing supporting turns in films like Killer Joe, Magic Mike and The Wolf of Wall Street, along with more serious dramatic performances in Mud and HBO's True Detective. His role in Dallas Buyers Club, however, is his most transformative yet. With Christian Bale-like commitment, the actor is down to skin and bones as Ron Woodroof, a real-life AIDS patient who, at a time when the legally permitted treatments were proving totally ineffectual, ruffled the feathers of the Federal Drug Administration by smuggling unapproved medicines in through Mexico. Even more emaciated than McConaughey is Jared Leto, nigh unrecognisable as an AIDS-suffering transgender woman named Rayon. Together, she and Woodroof thumb their noses at the medical bureaucracy by forming the 'Dallas Buyers Club', providing patients with imported drugs in return for a $400 monthly fee. Even discounting their weight loss, both actors are in phenomenal form. McConaughey brings a rough-around-the-edges humanity to his character, an outlandish, hustling, often flat-out unlikable man, whose gradual transition from homophobic swindler to altruist is handled with a refreshing degree of nuance. Leto, meanwhile, disappears completely into his part, creating a kind, funny, heartbreaking character whose unlikely friendship with Woodroof gives the movie its beating heart. French-Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée does excellent work behind the camera, adopting a considerably less flashy approach than he used in his earlier films Café de Flore and C.R.A.Z.Y., while nonetheless crafting a subtly distinctive aesthetic. Screenwriters Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack likewise deserve credit for avoiding false sentiment and typical biopic cliches. Where Dallas Buyers Club runs into trouble is in its relationship with real life. Many have disputed the film's claim that the FDA approved drug AZT was poisonous, while also questioning the effectiveness of Woodroof's unregulated alternatives. Others have accused the filmmakers of distorting the history and spirit of AIDS activism by sidelining gay characters in favour of a heterosexual protagonist. Like any movie claiming to be based on real life, viewers would be wise to engage in some post-film research, to separate facts from fiction. At the same time, Dallas Buyers Club also deserves credit for being the first Hollywood film with significant LGBTQ themes since Brokeback Mountain in 2005, and the first significant AIDS film since Philadelphia in 1993. As problematic as the movie's approach may sometimes be, it cannot be worse than not addressing these subjects at all. Nor can it detract from the strength of Vallée's direction, nor the sensational work of his actors. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ety5kOjlXoU
Throughout 2020, Australia's elected leaders have spent hours and hours addressing televised press conferences, all to update the country and its states and territories about the status of COVID-19 on our shores. But, despite all that time spent and all those words uttered by all those folks, there's one phrase that every Australian will always remember as peak 2020: "get on the beers". When Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said those words back in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, he was telling people not to have their mates around for a few drinks just because bars and pubs were closing. It was important advice, but Premier Andrews couldn't have known just what he had unleashed — or that we'd all be echoing and even singing his words for months to come. In April, Mashd n Kutcher turned the statement into a song — because making a tune out of a government caution is also peak 2020. Now, in Melbourne, a few folks have decided that a mere track isn't enough. So, they've taken inspiration from the single for their Christmas lights. At two separate houses — on Grange Road in Sandringham and Gillepse Road in Kings Park — festive displays brighten up the December night. As a soundtrack, Mashd n Kutcher's track blares Premier Andrews' words, too. At the latter location, you'll also 'get on the beers' pop up in text as part of the lights, taking the tribute to 2020's number-one phrase up yet another notch. Unsurprisingly, both sites have been proving popular — and the Grange Road house is using the attention to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Thanks to social media, you don't need to be in Melbourne to check them out, of course. You can watch videos of both displays below — and start thinking about how 2021's lights can possibly top them. https://twitter.com/GordyPls/status/1340944007652753411 https://twitter.com/GordyPls/status/1340895946255679488 Melburnians can check out the Daniel Andrews-themed Christmas lights at Grange Road, Sandringham and 108 Gillespe Road, Kings Park. Top image: Grange Road Christmas Lights.
One of the most controversial figures in the Australian political landscape will be the subject of a documentary that is currently seeking funding. The brainchild of AFTRS graduate Elizabeth McCarthy, I Dream of Gina aims to get up close and personal with everyone's favourite billionaire mining heiress, Gina Rinehart. While outspoken on topics like climate change (she's yet to be convinced) and the poor (they should stop sitting around the pub complaining), Rinehart is notoriously private when it comes to her personal life. McCarthys says this is what drew her to the subject in the first place. "I'm attracted to things that are challenging, and documenting a subject of this nature is kind of a David and Goliath tale," McCarthy tells us. "What can we really say about those that are so inaccessible? How do we tell a story about them? How do we find out information about them? How do we hold them to account?" Of course, with the latest federal budget taking a big chunk out of arts funding, burgeoning documentarians have to turn elsewhere to get their projects off the ground. Enter Pozible. "The beauty of crowdfunding for something like this is that she's a very controversial figure," says McCarthy. "Everyone has an opinion." With not long left until her Pozible campaign runs out, McCarthy needs ever dollar she can get to reach her $25,000 target. To see if it's a cause that you'd like to throw a few bucks to, we hashed it out with the filmmaker. Apart from the best name ever, what else can we expect from this project? Gina's Vision For Australia "The thing that really ignited my interest was when she wrote a poem in 2012," says McCarthy, referring to the now infamous work Rinehart had engraved on a 30-tonne iron-ore boulder that was described by one user on Wikipedia as "the universe's worst poem". In the sixteen line opus entitled Our Future, Rinehart bemoaned the "political hacks" that were "sending Australian investment, growth and jobs offshore," while making an impassioned plea for "special economic zones… before it is too late." "This poem outlined a vision for Australia," says McCarthy. "I was curious as to what this vision meant, how close it was to being realised, and what other kinds of strong visions there might be for Australia. She became a figure [through which] to look at where we're going as a country, through issues such as media ownership, renewable energy, climate [and] workers' rights." Personal Politics Naturally, any film about someone like Rinehart is going to be informed by a director's personal politics. "Personally I'm critical of the undue power and influence of the resource sector at a time when we're really at a crossroad in terms of climate," says McCarthy. "The latest budget is evidence of the way in which the government is making policy based on ideology. They're cutting renewable energy targets, yet the mining industry gets to keep their diesel subsidies." At the same time, McCarthy doesn't want the film to be one-sided. "I'm not necessarily suggesting with the film that there is only one answer, or that I know what the answer is," she explains. "I'm not out to demonise Gina Rinehart. She's very much a product of her father's politics, and a by-product of a very rich and privileged world. But then that begs the question, should she be in Abbott's ear saying welfare needs to be cut?" A Whole Heap of Public Support It certainly helps the McCarthy's project comes on the heels of such an unpopular federal budget. "It doesn't sit well with people when you have so many losers in this budget," says McCarthy. "The arts community, the young, the old, the sick, and then you see that mining is well protected from the pain that everyone is meant to be shouldering. It's definitely a provocative film in the sense that it's challenging that world view, that ideology." A peak in public interest makes the Pozible campaign well-timed. In order to incentivise people to contribute, McCarthy is offering various donor rewards, including digital and DVD copies of the finished film, Gina Rinehart stubby holders and, at $200, a tarot reading. "The tarot thing was something that we were playing around with in terms of Gina's vision for Australia, and what does your future entail," explains McCarthy with a laugh. "Because really one of the big themes of the film is pushing this idea of 'what kind of future do we want?'" To find out more about I Dream of Gina, including information on how to donate, visit the film's Pozible page here.
If those lockdown booze stocks are getting low, here's a very fine lineup of libations to add to that collection and ensure you at least spend step two of the government's roadmap sipping in style. The Everleigh Bottling Co has just dropped a second edition of its collaboration cocktail pack, dubbed The Melbourne Mixtape Vol. 2. And just like the August debut — which quickly proved a sell-out success — this one showcases a mix of bottled (and bagged) cocktails from some of the city's most-lauded bars. This time around, the lineup has been expanded to feature specialty sips from eight venues, with Bar Margaux joining the OG lineup. Expect a brand-new crop of creations, including the Mediterranean-inspired Antica Fashionista from Bar Americano, Capitano's sherry cobbler, a classic Everleigh martini, and a coconut and vermouth number Above Board has coined the Mouton Noir. Black Pearl is there with its Tortuga — blending gin, curacao and yuzu vermouth — Bar Margaux is whipping up an Americano Perfecto to be topped with beer, Mjølner pays homage to its Viking sensibilities with the rum-infused Reginleif, and you'll find a wax flower and white chocolate G&T from the masters at Byrdi. Each of the single-serve cocktails comes with specific serving instructions, ready to chill, pour and devour. What's more, you can have the pack sent directly to your home, with shipping available across Australia, except for the Northern Territory and South Australia. Once again, The Melbourne Mixtape is serving as a tasty reminder that just because you can't get out and experience Melbourne's world-class bar scene the way it was intended, doesn't mean you can't still enjoy crafty cocktails from some of its finest operators. You'll also be helping out these venues directly, with every bit of profit from the cocktail packs sold heading back to the bars themselves. The Melbourne Mixtape Vol. 2 is available to buy for $150 from The Everleigh Bottling Co website. Images: Tash Sorensen
Nightlife just got brighter with Heineken's new glow-in-the-dark beer bottle. Combining the coolness of a can with the curves of a bottle, this stream-lined aluminium packaging lights up under a black light to reveal a shooting star design. It's all part of the company's packaging refreshment, which takes inspiration from the night-club scene and aims to heighten the beer drinking experience. Mark Van Iterson, Manager Global Heineken Design & Concept said "We have a history of progressive design that has had lasting influence and changed the way people enjoy beer – from being the first to introduce green beer bottles to bringing draught beer to the home through DraughtKeg. Design is at the core of the Heineken brand." Heineken has also launched an initiative, Open Design Explorations, to source other branding and experiential ideas around the theme 'light up the night' from young designers around the globe. https://youtube.com/watch?v=R5mT2mhaKY0 [Via Cool Hunting]
If the past decade or so of Steve Carell's career has taught us anything, it's that he loves playing characters in a workplace environment. If his recent resume has taught us anything else, it's that these characters are usually a source of chaos at their place of employment — or, at the very least, they're surrounded by it. That proved true in the US version of The Office, as anyone who's heard "that's what she said" too many times well knows. It was also the case in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and its sequel, where Carell made quite the impression as a lamp-loving weatherman. In Apple TV+'s recent drama Morning Wars, he also played a TV host who sparked a scandal — and now, in new Netflix sitcom Space Force, he's taking charge of America's new intergalactic defence squad. Co-created by Carell with The Office's Greg Daniels — and marking the latter's second new streaming sitcom this month, after Amazon's The Good Place-meets-virtual reality comedy Upload — Space Force follows a four-star general in the US Air Force who dreams of overseeing his chosen branch of the military. When Carell's Mark R. Naird receives a new promotion, however, it's to lead the newly formed space-focused unit instead. So, he's off to Colorado to run the show, and to achieve the White House's aim of returning humans to the moon asap. Obviously, things don't go smoothly, which — as the just-dropped first trailer shows — is where plenty of laughs and a Beach Boys sing-along comes in. Based on the initial sneak peek ahead of the first-season release on Friday, May 29, Space Force looks a bit like The Office meets Veep meets any movie about astronauts and/or NASA — and that looks like a mighty amusing combination. An impressive cast is on hand to help, with Carell starring alongside John Malkovich, Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz, Booksmart's Diana Silvers and Friends alum Lisa Kudrow, as well as Tawny Newsome (Brockmire), Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley), Noah Emmerich (The Americans) and Alex Sparrow (UnREAL). And if you're thinking, "hang on, doesn't this sound familiar?", that's because there is a real-life precedent. Just last year, the US created a new United States Space Force. If that sounded funny at the time, Space Force, the show, is taking that mood and running with it. Check out the trailer for Space Force below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdpYpulGCKc Space Force hits Netflix on Friday, May 29. Top image: Aaron Epstein/Netflix.
Sometimes, he's played by an over-the-top Robert Downey Jr. As TV fans know, sometimes a curmudgeonly Benedict Cumberbatch does the honours. Ian McKellen has even taken the job, as has Will Ferrell. In fact, on the big and small screens for over a century, a lengthy list of actors have stepped into Sherlock Holmes' shoes and worn his deerstalker cap. But Netflix's new film isn't really about the famed sleuth — instead, it's about his sister. As brought to the screen by Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown, Enola Holmes is the family's youngest sibling. Naturally, she has a mystery to solve — she is a Holmes, after all. When her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) goes missing on the morning of Enola's 16th birthday, it's up to the teenager to find out where she has gone and why. Her brothers, Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin), aren't too pleased, though. They're not very happy with her demeanour either, and would rather send her to a finishing school to learn how to become a 'proper' young lady. As the just-dropped full trailer for Enola Holmes shows, yes, Enola does say "the game is afoot". She also becomes caught up in quite the adventure, as based on Nancy Springer's young adult book series. This is a period-set version of the Holmes story, too, not a modernised one — so expect to see Enola flit around 1880s England when the movie hits Netflix on September 23. In addition to Brown, The Crown's Bonham Carter, The Witcher's Cavill and The Nightingale's Claflin, the film also stars Medici's Louis Partridge as a young runaway Lord who crosses Enola's path. Behind the camera, Fleabag and Ramy's Harry Bradbeer directs — with the filmmaker earning an Emmy in 2019 for the former. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d0Zf9sXlHk Enola Holmes hits Netflix on September 23. Image: Alex Bailey.
Maybe it’s the collective nostalgia or the desire to reuse and recycle that draws people to vintage attire? More realistically, the love for vintage is probably inspired by the knowledge that fashion will never again be as good as it was in the yesteryear. Whatever your reason for loving vintage fashion, Brisbane’s vintage aficionados can get their fix of fashion at Brisbane Vintage Fashion Fair this week at the Eagle Farm Racecourse.Whether you're seeking a specific vintage item, just want to add some difference to your wardrobe or just get amongst the colourful crowd, this fashion fair is set to have something for everyone. Running from Friday night through to Saturday afternoon at a bargain price of $10 for one day of entry or $15 for two, it may be hard to keep your excitement (and money) contained. Plus, you can win your money back in clothing vouchers by donning your best vintage frock and promenading your vintage styling’s in the best-dressed comp. Oh, and DJ Anthonne Shepherd will be spinning some smooth vintage tunes all weekend and the bar will be open for all your bubbly needs. Fabulous! Vintage fashion never gets old. Paradox or not, get your fashionable behind down to Eagle Farm this weekend.
The pandemic, an idea and a twist. That's the path that brought Rita's, Teneriffe's new — and proudly unauthentic — taco and tequila joint to fruition. First, when COVID-19 started wreaking havoc in 2020, Aleks Balodis and Ollie Hansford were made redundant from their jobs as Head Sommelier and Executive Chef at Stokehouse Q. That inspired them to open Vernon Terrace spaghetti bar Siffredi's; however, they also kept being asked to whip up cocktails. So, they decided to take over the space next door, and to go heavy on tortillas and everyone's favourite agave spirit — but neither had been to Mexico, and nor had Daniel Pennefather (ex-Blackbird Bar & Grill), who joined the venture with them. Rather than try to serve up traditional dishes, the trio decided to embrace that lack of first-hand experience by coming up with their own blatantly unorthodox Australian-influenced taco menu. And they really have taken their cues from local sources, complete with a braised kangaroo tail taco that comes with Sriracha mayonnaise, salsa and pickled apple. The biggest Aussie nod: the kransky taco, which is Rita's ode to the humble Bunnings snag. Featuring both caramelised and crispy onions, as well as curry sauce, the highly creative taco came about exactly as you'd expect, with Balodis and Hansford spending a heap of time at the hardware chain. On Saturdays, they tucked into snags during their visits, naturally. That led to Balodis joking that they should do 'snag and mustard' on a taco, a concept the pair ran with. Other Rita's menu highlights include Korean cauliflower tacos with macadamia cream, crispy buffalo bug tacos with pickled red onion and grilled snapper tacos with potato. Patrons can also tuck into oysters with mezcal mignonette, grilled scallop and caramelised cashew skewers, raw tuna tostadas, and black bean and goat's cheese empanadas, as well as a tres leches cake made with salted tequila caramel for dessert. As for those much-requested cocktails, Rita's mixes up three types of signature margs thanks to Balodis and Pennefather, so you can sip versions with vanilla and coconut, prosecco and Aperol, and honey and lemon citrus. Or, there's both classic and Tommy's options, two Mexican lagers and Rita's own pale ale. And, obviously, tequila is a big feature — heroing small-batch boutique tipples. Find Rita's at 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe — open from 12pm–late Tuesday–Sunday.
Brisbane's getting another alcohol-fuelled brunch, and this one has a dress code — of leotards, lycra, spandex, leg warmers, and anything glittery, sparkly, shiny and neon. While you're channelling a thoroughly 80s vibe, teased hair won't go astray. Perhaps it'll even make you more aerodynamic on the roller rink. While it was originally planned for June, Sunday, August 11 is your chance to dress up in all of the above and strap on a pair of roller skates. You can't dance around a Roller Disco Brunch without them. When you're not busting out your smooth retro moves to plenty of the era's hits — yes, Cyndi Lauper songs will be given a spin by the DJ — you'll be tucking into a meal and quenching your boozy thirst. Tickets are on sale now, with multiple sessions taking place at Prohibition. Peachy keen, jelly bean? Aware that brunch doesn't have to happen before midday? You can book in for slots from 11am–12.30pm, 1–2.30pm and 3–4.30pm, which include unlimited pizza, bottomless bubbles and skate hire, all for $63. Fancy simply putting on some skates and getting active? You can do that from 5–6.30pm and 7–8.30pm for $31.50, with the fee also covering skate hire. Updated June 28.
Every year, when Brisbane Festival rolls around, two things happen. Firstly, the city explodes with an array of arts, culture and music performances. Secondly, it explodes with colour and light thanks to a big riverside light show. In 2018, the latter is called #CelebrateBrisbane River of Light — and while hashtags in event names deserve the cringes that they instantly inspire, the actual combination of water fountains, lights and lasers will inspire awe. A free 10-minute show taking place at 6.30pm, 8pm and 9.30pm each night between September 8–29, it's designed to spin the traditional story of the dreaming serpent that created Brisbane's brown snake of a waterway. Catch it from the Arcadia precinct, on the South Bank Cultural Forecourt, over a few beverages.
They've brought their distinctive sensibilities to new theatre adaptations of Animal Farm, 1984, Wuthering Heights and Dracula. Now, shake & stir theatre co has set their sights on another classic: Samuel Beckett's Endgame. If it sounds familiar, that's because the play pops up quite frequently (both Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company staged versions last year, the latter starring Hugo Weaving, in fact). There's clearly something about the Irish dramatist's tale of lost souls contemplating their impending end that strikes a chord. Maybe it's the existential musings — or the combination of ridiculousness and resonance? Either way, director Michael Futcher and a cast that includes Leon Cain, Robert Coleby, Jennifer Flowers and John McNeill will explore the possibilities of the end that awaits us all. It's as bleak as it is brilliantly amusing, because, as Beckett himself noted, "nothing is funnier than unhappiness".
A microfestival nestled within the broader Brisbane Festival program, UNBUTTONED is an event for everybody — and every body. Threading together a lineup of visual art, live art, talks, social events and film, it doesn't just aim to interrogate traditional notions of gender; it attempts to blow them out of the water. And with everything from a photographic exploration of gender identity to a one-woman show about a sex clown on offer, it's safe to say the mini-fest does just that. Come for the exploration of the history of fetishism, stay for the wank bank masterclass, plus screenings of Spear, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and 52 Tuesdays.
The world is undeniably sick. But why? The Sydney Film Festival introduces Green Screen, a suite of four films tackling today's environmental issues with different and undeniably fresh perspectives. Cool It, follows Bjorn Lomborg, leading but controversial environmentalist, as he explores the world's response to climate change. Windfall analyses the complex issues behind clean energy and it's effect on communities. Letters from the Big Man, by director Christopher Munch, tracks a young woman's infatuation with Big Foot as she searches the great green wild of southwestern Oregon. Finally, If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front chronicles a radical environmental group that has been dubbed by the FBI as 'domestic terrorists'. How To Enter If you wish to learn more about the challenges the environment is facing, looking for fresh perspectives on climate change or just want to watch an interesting film, Concrete Playground has a double pass to each of the 4 films. To go in the running, simply subscribe to our newsletter and tell us which one of the four films you'd like to see by email at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Entries close on Wednesday, June 1 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qRGYc2_4s3U
You've entered the workforce. You enjoy where you work and what you do. Congrats, you've successfully adulted. But, seeing as your career will likely span upwards of 40 years of your life, you'll want to be in a position where you can actually get the most out of your job. How? We have one word for you — upskill. By taking a course or studying a single subject related to your career goals, you'll expand your realm of knowledge beyond any original training you've done, keep up to date with the latest research and methodologies in your field and show your present (and prospective) employers your ambition and drive for self-improvement. And, you don't even need to put your career (or life) on hold to do so. Senior manager of marketing Rhiannon Farrar is one of the thousands of Aussies who have studied online through Open Universities Australia (OUA). She got her degree — maintaining a healthy study-work-life balance in the process — and she's now kicking some serious career goals. This is how she did it. DON'T PACK YOUR BAGS Forget Hollywood's idea of the university experience — moving across the country, living on campus and going to frat parties. For a lot of people, pausing life to study for a period of time is just not feasible. But, luckily, you don't need to. OUA partners with universities all across Australia to bring over 290 degrees and 1500 subjects to students studying remotely. Sydney-based Farrar went straight into the workforce after high school, starting out as a casting agency talent booker before taking on a front of house role at a Sydney advertising agency. So, when it came to studying, moving wasn't really an option — she already had her foot in the door in Sydney. Instead, she undertook her preferred degree — Griffith University's Bachelor of Communication (majoring in Public Relations) — online through OUA. FIT STUDY AROUND YOUR LIFE (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND) Life can be unpredictable, which makes locking yourself into a degree feel completely daunting. But, one of the biggest drawcards of studying through OUA is the flexibility. OUA lets you select the number of subjects you complete per study period, semester or trimester (depending on the qualification). So, if in one study period, life gets busy, you want to travel or complete an internship (like Farrar did with the Sydney Kings basketball team), you can scale back to one subject — or take off a semester altogether. You can then take on an extra load in the following block to catch up if you like. On top of the industry-specific knowledge that Farrar gained, she notes that this flexible style of studying also improved her work style — from learning how to manage her time to working independently and feeling confident asking for help when necessary. USE WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING STRAIGHT AWAY Chances are, you only remember a fraction of what you learned in high school (Pythagoras theorem, we're looking at you) and the same can happen with uni, too. If you're not thinking about it on a daily or weekly basis, some information just doesn't stick after a certain period of time. When you're working and studying simultaneously, you get to implement what you're learning in real time. Similarly, everyone likes a shortcut — and earning credit for the work experience you have under your belt already is a surefire way to fast track your degree. Just five years on from her graduation, Farrar now oversees the marketing strategy for the entire Asia Pacific region for Rakuten Marketing. She partly credits her quick rise through the ranks to being able to put what she was learning into practice immediately — and vice versa. "Working in adland and studying PR, there were a lot of overlaps between what I was learning and what was happening at work," says Farrar. "My studies helped me get a greater understanding of the industry, and my work helped me to make practical sense of what I was learning." FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH You may not be interested in a full degree right now. Perhaps you've identified a knowledge gap or want to specialise to future-proof your job (and make yourself more attractive to potential employers). OUA also offers a heap of post-graduate single subjects that you could study in your lunch break, commute or after work. It's a minimal commitment (aside from sacrificing a few hours at the pub or watching Netflix) for maximum return. From learning how to code with RMIT to a subject on Innovative Business Practice with Swinburne University through OUA, there are plenty of subjects that will get you up-to-date in your field and supercharge your career. Take it from Farrar: "We live in a competitive world where new trends and technology are constantly coming into play. Keeping yourself upskilled is so important to ensuring career development and growth." Start looking at all the subjects on offer online from leading Australian universities through Open Universities Australia and you could have a new skill by the end of the year. Hop to it.
However you identify, we hope your feed is filled with rainbows and eco glitter this week as we gear up to celebrate Mardi Gras on Saturday, March 6. Whether you're going to events in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane — or staying home to watch the parade on SBS — you can share the love and pride with the LGBTQIA+ community on TikTok. We've teamed up with the social media platform to bring you these six pride-filled videos to help get you pumped for the parade. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@itsbybrandon/video/6921305046323842306[/embed] Epic transformations are par for the course on TikTok, so how do you stand out from the crowd? @itsbybrandon does it time and time again with their colourful, creative and often unexpected makeup transitions. And, they lip sync like a pro. Take inspiration from this rainbow effect eyeshadow for your Mardi Gras celebrations this weekend. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@dom.skii/video/6930381557991542017[/embed] Proving that exceptional makeup talent isn't in short supply, @dom.skii brings us a second inspirational transformation clip full of pride. As Lady Gaga puts it, "Don't be a drag, just be a queen." [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/foryou?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v2#/@emmahorn/video/6929595838914186497[/embed] Emma Horn jumped on the Domino Lovers TikTok Challenge with her girlfriend, and how can you not beam with pride watching them dance together? Emma's TikTok is full of hilarious reaction videos and relatable content, so if you're in need of a pick-me-up, check out her channel. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@the_dancing_farmer/video/6928677043387272450[/embed] Bretty G, aka @the_dancing_farmer, says they're here to spread love and positivity. Here they do it with an enviable pair of pins and a fabulous strut in the countryside dirt. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@tomi.queen/video/6930570843546209538[/embed] In one of our favourite videos in the 'I'm So Pretty' makeup transition trend, Sydney drag queen Tomi shows us how it's done. If Reyanna Maria isn't on your Mardi Gras playlist for this weekend, rectify that now. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@kevininthecity/video/6931856237550193921[/embed] Sydney's Glitter King, @kevininthecity, isn't afraid to shine like a mirror ball. Here, they give us a masterclass in standing out from the crowd in one bold block of colour. Look out for Kevin in the City at this year's Mardi Gras Parade, as their face will be part of TikTok's official float alongside singer-songwriter G Flip. Download TikTok to watch more, and use the hashtag #JoinOurFloat to be part of TikTok's Mardi Gras float. Top image: Jeffrey Feng; Destination NSW
All the best superheroes can zap enemies with laser eyes. Wouldn't it be cool if us ordinary folk also had the power to control the objects in our sights? OK, so the technology empowering our eyes to pulverise hasn't been invented yet... and that's probably a good thing...but today saw the release of the next best thing to it. One of the world's largest computer companies, Lenovo, has partnered with eye-tracking technology experts Tobii to produce prototypes for the first ever eye-controlled computer, and the public has the chance to test it out at digital tradeshow CeBIT in Hannover, Germany. Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii North America says “We anticipate that people will be extremely excited to be able to control their computer with their eyes.” Using an infrared light source and a camera that observers a user's eyes, the technology combines software that works out where the eyes are positioned in space in front of the computer, and where they're looking. Computer commands powered by the user's eyes, such as as selecting an icon or scrolling through text, will complement existing functions of the mouse and keyboard. [Via Fast Company]
UPDATE: July 3, 2019 — Since publication, Neuron has confirmed that its e-scooters will cost the same as Lime's: $1 to unlock, then 30 cents per minute. It has also revealed that its first batch of 200 e-scooters will hit the streets on July 22, with the remaining 400 rolling out in mid-August. Since November last year, Brisbane's inner-city streets have been littered with a sea of green, all thanks to Lime's electric scooters. Pick any corner between Bulimba, Paddington, West End and Teneriffe, and you'll likely spot one of the bright-coloured two-wheeled modes of transport. Soon, they'll have orange company. While Lime's arrival in the city hasn't been smooth by any means — including accidents, fines for safety breaches and, sadly, fatal injuries — e-scooters are here to stay. Last week, Brisbane City Council not only extended the company's tender, but welcomed a competitor. Singapore-based Neuron Mobility has received the nod to enter the market — adding to its operations in Thailand and Malaysia, it'll unleash 600 tangerine vehicles onto the streets. With Lime's fleet being reduced to 400 (from around 750), it will take Brisbane's motorised stand-up scooters tally up to 1000. Brisbane is the one of Neuron's first two Aussie sites — a 12-month trial will start in Darwin this year. In both cities, it'll introduce a brand new scooter, the N3, which features 12-inch tyres and a 21-centimetre-wide floorboard — which is apparently all the better for standing on safely, comfortably and with greater stability. The vehicle also includes a GPS-enabled parking indicator on its handlebar display, which'll help users find designated parking zones. So, while they're still dockless, hopefully the orange scooters won't be left just anywhere. [caption id="attachment_729081" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Neuron Mobility in Singapore[/caption] As yet, a Brissie launch date hasn't yet been announced, and nor has pricing. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, two of Neuron's existing cities, a scooter costs 20 baht to unlock, then one baht per minute to use — around 93 cents and then five cents, in Australian currency. Neuron also offers daily, weekly and monthly passes overseas, for the equivalent of AU$4.65, $9.30 and $28. But given Lime's current fees ($1 to unlock and 30 cents per minute), it's safe to expect that Neuron may up its Aussie prices. Overall, Neuron's service works in a familiar way. Patrons download the company's app, scan a QR code on their chosen scooter, ride to wherever they need to, find a parking spot and then add a photo of the stationary scooter to the app to end their transaction. It will also have an on-ground operations team taking care of daily maintenance, making sure that the right spread of scooters are available across the city, swapping out batteries to keep the vehicles juiced and overseeing parking. For more details about Neuron Mobility, visit the company's website. We'll keep you updated on news of a Brisbane launch.
Oh Jonathan, you bearded god, how happy we are that you are back! In even better news, Boulet is this week packing up his van and heading for Brisbane. Hooray! It is The Hi-Fi in West End that will welcome the beautiful sounds of Boulet and his band. The Brisbane stop will be his third of eight, meaning the sound will be perfected and the musicians not yet exhausted. The tour follows on from Boulet’s performance at Sydney’s Vivid Festival, and is in celebration of the release of his latest album, We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart (what a name!). Joining Boulet on tour will be Australian group, Wolf & Cub. Boulet’s latest musical offering has been featured across music outlets like Triple J and FBI. Apparently we can expect to hear soaring melodies, combined with primal, persistent rhythm. Pop music to our ears!
Concrete Playground is looking for a Digital Sales Manager to join the team on a part-time basis. The candidate will be responsible for selling online advertising inventory across Concrete Playground’s various city editions, and will bring with them a proven history in media sales and a healthy database of contacts at agencies and brands. The role requires a well-presented, self-motivated individual who exhibits initiative and drive to generate new sales. It is a part-time role that would suit someone who is seeking 8-24 flexible hours of work each week. Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent business experience Responsibilities: • Build bespoke sales, sponsorship & partnership proposals • Present our properties face to face, over the phone and email • Generate ad revenue via agencies and direct clients • Anticipate new growth areas to develop ad revenue Experience: • Has worked in a target driven media sales environment • A proven track record of producing significant revenue • Proven track record in building relationships that turn into sales • In depth knowledge and understanding of Digital Sales including display/video and Rich Media advertising across online and mobile • Grown and managed business relationships with key agencies and direct advertisers. • Ability to manage a self generated workload TO APPLY: Please direct resumes to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Since launching in 2013, Four Pillars has given Australian gin lovers plenty to drink, including its famed Bloody Shiraz Gin, an annual Christmas-themed tipple, olive leaf gins and even a boozy ode to Melbourne landmark The Espy. Next time you pour yourself a sip of one of the above juniper spirits, you'll actually be pouring yourself a drop from the world's best gin producer, with the Yarra Valley-based distillery earning that title for the second consecutive year at 2020's International Wine and Spirits Competition. Four Pillars nabbed what's considered the industry's top gin gong, receiving the prize in a virtual ceremony on Thursday, November 18 at 6pm UK time. And if you're wondering about the size and scale of the IWSC, it's the globe's largest international competition for spirits, receiving more than 4000 entries worldwide. Winning for its impressive range of gins — which also includes its Rare Dry Gin, Spiced Negroni Gin and Navy Strength Gin — Four Pillars made history by becoming the first Australian distillery to win the award in 2019. It's the latest exciting chapter in the company's short but substantial run so far, with the gin outfit founded by Cameron Mackenzie, Stuart Gregor and Matt Jones seven years ago, earning plenty of acclaim and awards since, and selling a 50-percent stake to beer giant Lion earlier in 2019. [caption id="attachment_774866" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Four Pillars Laboratory in Surry Hills by Anson Smart[/caption] In anointing Four Pillars this year's IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year, the organisation also recognised the company's role in the gin industry, its commitment to collaboration and creativity — and its full lineup of tipples. This year certainly hasn't been a normal year for the company, however, with the distillery pivoting to produce hand sanitiser overnight when the pandemic hit — and then launching its first Sydney bar and distillery just a couple of months later. "This is a triumph for strength over adversity, for professionalism and passion in the face of what sometimes in 2020 seemed insurmountable odds," said Mackenzie in a statement. "This is a victory for every single person in the Four Pillars world but most particularly for everyone at Healesville who has faced so much uncertainty and difficulty this year but has never stopped putting in the hard yards." To peruse the full list of International Wine and Spirits Competition 2020 winners, visit the organisation's website.
Everyone has heard of the term 'strong female character' — or seen it, if Netflix suggests the same weird and wonderful categories for you as it does for us. It's a problematic description because, while the film and television industry should be championing more depictions of empowered women, the version that many movies and shows offer up is far from realistic. In most cases, one ideal vision of femininity it simply swapped for another, which is something Rowena Hutson wants to fight against. In her all-singing, all-dancing, Melbourne Fringe Festival-winning physical comedy about action heroes, she breaks down caricatures, shares tales about the origins of her own feminist leanings, and — as unexpected as it might seem — even serves up Bruce Willis impressions. The show is part of the 2016 Brisbane Comedy Festival. Rowena Hutson is one of our top ten picks to see at the Brisbane Comedy Festival.
Father's Day is upon us. We're sure your dad, like ours, has received enough slippers and ties to last him a lifetime. This year, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help you give dad something he'll really enjoy — a good night's sleep. All items on the Ecosa website are now 20 percent off until Sunday, September 6 (aka Father's Day). For all the dads complaining of a crook neck, maybe send them off to the physio and get them a fancy new memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, two compression bags so dad can pack it up and take it with him everywhere. Yep, it's one helluva pillow and your dad is sure to love it. If that's not enough, Ecosa also offers free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. And, with everything on sale, why not shop for yourself while you're at it. Ecosa's luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and brand new weighted blanket are all available at the discounted price, too. There's no reason why you can't treat dad and yourself at the same time, right? FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Forget simply watching a TV show, scoring yourself a new favourite, then perhaps buying some merchandise to show your love. For fans of ace new Australian rom-com sitcom Colin From Accounts, you can stream the series about two strangers who meet over a dog in the street, then get your own pet pooch a few beers. Cracking open a cold one with your canine companion is now on your summer agenda, with Binge teaming up with Melbourne-based brewery Hop Nation to release a brew solely for your four-legged friend. Called Colin's Pale Ale, the beer is actually a bone broth drop made from beef bones — and it's firmly for dogs, not for humans. That means that you'll need to grab your own tipple to sink with your pupper; however, if you get in quick enough, your pooch's tinnies won't cost you a thing. From 9am AEDT on Monday, December 12, Binge and Hop Nation are giving away free brews, which includes free delivery as well. If you and your dog are keen to get your paws on a four-pack, you'll need to head to the Hop Nation website. Understandably, getting in quicker than a canine can chase a tennis ball is recommended, because the Colin's Pale Ale freebies are only available while stocks last. You can thank Binge and Hop Nation for helping you solve a frequent dilemma experienced by every dog owner — because everything you can do, your canine always thinks it can as well. While humans know that's not always the case, it now will be when it comes to drinking brews during Australia's sultry summer. Clearly, Binge hopes that you and your pupper will enjoy a beverage while watching Colin From Accounts, which follows medical student Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and microbrewery owner Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil). After the latter gets distracted by the former one otherwise ordinary Sydney morning, he accidentally hits a stray dog with his car. As the pair get the pooch veterinary treatment, then commit to look after him — and, yes, name him Colin From Accounts — their already-chaotic lives start to intertwine. Check out the trailer for Colin From Accounts below: Binge and Hop Nation are giving away free four-packs of Colin's Pale Ale, a beer for dogs, from 9am AEDT on Monday, December 12 via the Hop Nation website. Colin From Accounts streams via Binge. Read our full review.
If you're not familiar with FOMO, it's Australia's clash-free one-day summer festival. When it announced it was coming back for a fourth year in January 2019 — with Nicki Minaj headlining, no less — tickets were snapped up at a fast pace. As such, the Brisbane leg of the daytime festival has already sold out. But not to worry. The festival organisers have tacked on an all-ages Friday night spin-off, which will hit Brisbane Showgrounds the night before the main event. FOMO by Night will feature a condensed selection of FOMO's full lineup — but it doesn't leave off the headliner. Leading the program is famed American-Trinidadian rapper Minaj, who released her high-energy, highly acclaimed fourth album Queen just last month — which features everyone from The Weeknd to Ariana Grande, Eminem and Lil Wayne. Hot on her heels is Florida's Lil Pump is heading Down Under for the first time, bringing hits 'Gucci Gang', 'Esskeetit' and songs from his yet-to-be released album Harvard Dropout, and electro music producer Mura Masa will break up the hip hop and rap with his disco tunes. Also on the schedule is Dutch experimental artist San Holo and Brisbane's own Miss Blanks among others. After the Brisbane show, FOMO by Night will head to Adelaide and Perth. Tickets go on sale on October 16. FOMO BY NIGHT 2019 LINEUP Nicki Minaj Lil Pump Mura Masa San Holo MIMI Miss Blanks Eljae Image: Mitch Lowe.
These days we take a lot of things for granted. For most of us there is always something to enjoy on a night out; places where we can fit in. Although we have a vibrant party community, sometimes we forget that there are those who find themselves unable to find a place that is welcoming or where they feel they belong. Cheated Hearts is a monthly party night aimed at bringing together the queer community (and everyone else, they don't discriminate) for a good time. Playing alternative music choices and all the new genres, the crew behind CH have found huge success with each night getting bigger and better. The team is about to launch their third party brand, Lucky, this Sunday at Oh Hello. We spoke to mastermind Roxy Burt about how everything came together and what we can expect in the future. When did the idea for Cheated Hearts come about? I've been running events for over five years now and I felt like I needed to come up with a new idea. The event that I organised before Cheated Hearts was very similar to a lot of the events that were already happening so I scrapped that and started fresh. What was the Brisbane scene missing that you thought you could bring to the table? In the queer scene, it was definitely the music. A lot of the gay venues and events play mainstream/commercial music and my friends and I wanted to be able to go out somewhere that didn't play that music. We play so many different genres other than mainstream/commercial to try and cater to those people who don't like that particular type of music. How has the response been over the past year or so? The response has been beyond amazing. Cheated Hearts has grown so much in the last year. We started out at a 200-capacity venue and now have three different events in three separate venues. Our crowds usually reach 400-500 people. The support has been incredible as well — people have really responded well to what we stand for. You have a new event, Lucky, to go alongside your other events. What sets each one apart? We've been wanting to kick off a Sunday event for a while now and fortunately Oh Hello wanted to as well, so we've teamed up! All three events are different in terms of music. At Lucky, we play deep house and disco, Poetic Justice is hip hop- and R&B-focused and Cheated Hearts is trap, indie remixes and electro. What is the key to your longevity? What do you do to keep things fresh? Change things up! It's boring if we do the same thing every month so we like to have themes. People love dressing up. We've had so many in the past. We've had a Mexican theme, a moustache party, a prom (which we're doing again in June), Halloween and Christmas themes. I also like to book different DJs who always bring something fresh to the events. Each of your events are queer-friendly, which is awesome. What would you say Cheated Hearts has done for the queer community in Brisbane since it began? As I said before, it's definitely about giving the scene more of a choice in where they choose to go out. Cheated Hearts has also brought people together like a family. A lot of people message me and tell me how they love to be able to come to Cheated Hearts and feel comfortable and at home. I have transgender friends who feel the same way too. Because they are in the middle of transitioning, it might be harder for them to go out to an event or venue that's not queer-friendly. What are your plans for the future? So many plans! We applied for a government grant to run a festival so we'll find out in July if we've been successful! I'm also in the middle of organising to take Cheated Hearts to Sydney as well. We have lots of cool parties in Brisbane coming up too! What you do think about the Brisbane cultural scene these days? I think it's grown a lot but we still have a bit of a way to go before we're on par with Sydney or Melbourne. I still think people are too scared to go outside their comfort zones and are afraid to try something new because the scene has been the same for a really long time. In saying that though, it's great to see people actually come and experience Cheated Hearts for the first time and they always come back! What are your favourite places to go out in Brisbane? Where do you eat, drink and party? I'm really digging Southern food at the moment so Tippler's Tap is up there. I need to go and check out the Wickham since it's been renovated, and I only party at Cheated Hearts, of course. Lucky is taking place at Oh Hello this Sunday. Read more about it here. The next Cheated Hearts party is taking place on May 10 at Coniston Lane and Poetic Justice is happening on May 23 at Ellement Lounge. Images by Claudia Ciapocha, Thomas Oliver and Logan Shaw.
While most people tend to give the coast a wide berth during the cooler months, there's something especially romantic about the beach on a winter's day. Whether it's the lack of people or the misty sky, winter on the coast is a time to indulge, with candlelit meals and long, warming lunches. Enter By the Sea, a two-day dining experience hosted by Halcyon House featuring a collaboration between chefs Danielle Alvarez and Andrew Milford. By the Sea will take place over two days, with a candlelit dinner on Saturday, July 5, and a long lunch on Sunday, July 6. Returning to Halcyon House following her sell-out gourmet weekend in 2018, Danielle Alvarez will unite with Andrew Milford, Executive Chef of Halcyon House's award-winning hatted restaurant, Paper Daisy. The event will showcase a rare city-meets-regional chef collaboration through a thoughtfully curated three-course menu. Upon arrival, guests can expect a glass of Roederer champagne, followed by a soulful menu made with seasonal ingredients that celebrate the region's range of local producers and sustainable food sources. Guests will also take home a Halcyon candle as a keepsake, perfect for remembering the weekend long after they leave. Located a scenic two-hour drive from Brisbane and just 15 minutes south of Gold Coast Airport, the boutique hotel and spa in Cabarita Beach is the perfect setting for a weekend of good food, delicious wine and quality time with family and friends. The weekend is also one of a handful of experiences planned throughout the year to mark Halcyon House's tenth anniversary. With limited seats available for both sittings, bookings are essential. For reservations and further details, visit the website. Images: Supplied.
Just like burger, doughnut and fried chicken joints, Brisbane doesn't lack riverside watering holes; however there's always room for one more. Due to revamp the waterline expanse in Eagle Street in the CBD, Riverland is the city's next bar and beer garden with a shimmering view, with construction underway for a spring launch. Sitting behind Emirates House and boasting Brissie's biggest river frontage, Riverland aims to make the most of its enviable location, not only offering a new all-day drinking spot with a stellar vantage, but five street kitchens as well. Fashioned out of two 12-metre containers, the permanent island bar will serve a range of beer and ciders spanning domestic, international, craft and micro-brewed, shining a particular spotlight on local breweries. Elsewhere, three other six-metre shipping containers will be converted into space for one regular and four rotating food vendors. With the design task falling to architecture firm Burton & Carter, Riverland will feature a blend of timber and greenery, with both combined in an arbour entryway. Keeping the natural feel, as well as keeping the city's usual subtropical vibe going, the venue will also retain the existing trees onsite. Throw in a planned entertainment slate of acoustic performances and DJs, and the scene is set for a welcoming river-adjacent hangout. "It's all about the location," says part owner and venue manager Gerard Coakley. "The focus at all times is the Brisbane River," he continues. Riverland is the latest venture from Open Arms Hospitality, who are making their first moves in Brisbane after operating a string of places, bars and hotels in Victoria and NSW. Find Riverland at 167 Eagle Street, Brisbane from spring. Keep an eye on the bar's website and Facebook page for further information. Image: Jorge Láscar via Flickr
It hasn't been the greatest couple of years for dining out at fancy restaurants. But, when it comes to the World's 50 Best restaurant awards, the show must go on. After a COVID-driven break last year, the prestigious awards have named their 2021 picks for the greatest restaurants in the world. Taking out this year's top spot was the newest incarnation of Denmark's Noma, led by renowned chef René Redzepi. While no Aussie venues claimed a position among 2021's 50 Best list, two Victorian restaurants secured spots in the 51–100 lineup. Dan Hunter's Brae placed 57th — up from its 2019 ranking of 101 — and Ben Shewry's Ripponlea fine diner Attica came in at number 97, shuffling slightly from its previous position at 84. Both have been regular contenders in the awards for the past few years. [caption id="attachment_616539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Hunter and Ben Shewry[/caption] The 2021 World's 50 Best awards were unveiled at a glitzy ceremony held overnight in Antwerp, with the 51–100 lineup announced a couple of weeks earlier, on September 23. Coming in second place was another famed Danish diner, Geranium, while Spain's Asador Etxebarri retained its 2019 title of third best restaurant in the world. If you're planning any future overseas adventures based entirely around food, you'll be interested to know that both the USA and Spain cleaned up in this year's rankings, each with six restaurants earning spots among the top 50. Running annually since 2002, the World's 50 Best awards are chosen by a panel of over 1000 culinary experts, guided by a strict voting procedure. They're now hosted by a different country each year, with Melbourne playing host city back in 2017. Check out the full list of The World's 50 Best award-winners for 2021 over here. Top Images: Colin Page, from the cookbook 'Brae: Recipes and stories from the restaurant'.
UPDATE, October 23, 2020: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is available to stream via Netflix, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. The film that inspired DC Comics fans to ridiculously call for Rotten Tomatoes' closure, 2016's Suicide Squad was many things. Filled with nefarious characters forced to band together to save the world, it was supposed to be a Joker-led villainous team-up flick — and, while it ticked that box, it was also formulaic, bloated, unsubtle and overflowing with ugly CGI. As a result, it was mostly just dull and a slog to watch. And while the anti-hero onslaught is still getting a sequel in 2021, only one element truly stood out. That'd be Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, the Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who jumped into a life of crime when she became the jester of genocide's main squeeze. From the moment that Robbie stole the show in Suicide Squad, a Quinn-focused spinoff was always inevitable. So, knowing when they're onto a good thing — and witnessing their now Academy Award-nominated Australian star keep rising in fame via I, Tonya, Mary, Queen of Scots, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Bombshell — the folks behind the DC Extended Universe have gone and done the obvious. Thankfully, the powers-that-be learned a few lessons along the way, leaning into everything that first made the anarchic character attract so much big-screen attention. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is vividly stylised, irreverently upbeat, and both frenetic and fluid. To the benefit of every fight and chase scene, it's also more concerned with eye-popping action choreography than overblown special effects. The movie's riotous mood, lurid colour scheme and kookily comic sensibilities can't smooth out all of its bumps, though, but put it this way: Suicide Squad, this definitely isn't. After breaking up with the Joker (Jared Leto's awful green-haired version of the villain is nowhere to be seen, luckily), Quinn finds herself at a crossroads. Just like anyone who's newly single, she's not quite sure what to do with herself, other than drinking, downing comfort food, cutting her hair and getting a pet. Just when she's starting to reclaim her havoc-wreaking spark, she also discovers an unexpected consequence of changing her relationship status. Now that she's no longer the clown prince of crime's other half, every lowlife in town wants to settle the score for all the times she's done them wrong. One of them is psychopathic nightclub owner Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor) — and, in trying to save her alabaster skin from her new number-one nemesis, Quinn gets caught up with a posse of other feisty Gotham gals. Enter: Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), a hard-nosed detective constantly overlooked by the brass; Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a singer at Sionis' club with a helluva voice; and the crossbow-wielding, vengeance-seeking, leather-clad Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Light-fingered teen Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) actually brings them all together, with Sionis' goons chasing her, too. These ladies comprise a disparate bunch throughout much of the movie, but — because this flick is based on and named after a comic-book superhero team — becoming a girl gang is blatantly on the agenda. Yes, even with candy-coloured trickster Quinn leading the charge and grinning away as she's doing so, Birds of Prey brandishes a familiar caped crusader template. Besting Suicide Squad is an incredibly low and easy bar to conquer, which Birds of Prey does. Completely finding its own groove is a trickier task and, despite the best efforts of director Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) and writer Christina Hodson (Bumblebee), it proves harder to master here. Sporting a punk-ish, perky, peppy attitude, Birds of Prey feels unique in the DC movie realm, even against other standout franchise entries like Wonder Woman and Aquaman. But its goofy, off-kilter vibe also feels just a few shades away from Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok on occasion. Quinn's cheeky, knowing, mile-a-minute narration, as well as the playful plot structure that comes with it, can also veer too close to Deadpool territory. That makes Birds of Prey fun, purposefully chaotic and mostly entertaining, but also sometimes struggling to keep it all together. That's Quinn herself in a nutshell, though — and while this isn't a case of a film perfectly aping its protagonist in every possible way, there's still some nice symmetry at play. And, there's always something enjoyable going on on-screen. Often, it's the kinetic fight scenes, with credit to second-unit director (and John Wick franchise director) Chad Stahelski. At other times, it's the dazzling, glittering production design, or a memorable dream sequence that casts Quinn as Marilyn Monroe. Usually, it's the cast, which firmly pushes a diverse array of girls to the front. An over-the-top McGregor relishes his rare cartoonish bad guy role, but Birds of Prey's motley crew of female stars soar highest. Robbie most of all, unsurprisingly — and just as Joaquin Phoenix's take on the Joker looks likely to nab him an Oscar, it's a delight to see Harley Quinn still stealing the spotlight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU
Anyone that's spent time at Kirra has fond memories of Kirra Beach Hotel. Just in time for summer, the Gold Coast pub wants you to make new ones. Three years after closing down, including being demolished in 2021, the water-adjacent watering hole is back pouring drinks by the surf as part of the new Kirra Point Precinct. Eleven years in the making, the beachside spot is making this stretch of Kirra look rather different. Residential and vacation apartments are on the way, with a 116-unit tower dedicated to folks living the beach life year-round. If you're not residing or staying onsite, you can still look forward to hitting the shops, plus gaining a new excuse to sip and snack while feeling the coastal breeze. As announced earlier in 2023, one of development's big drawcards is its seafront perch. Another: the return of Kirra Beach Hotel, complete with killer ocean vistas. Reopening its doors on Monday, November 27, Kirra Beach Hotel is aiming to level up the classic beachside pub concept. A watering hole has stood onsite since 1956, but this current iteration is all new. Designed to be breezy and casual — think: a sunny beer garden opposite the surf, five-metre-high ceilings and windows letting the fresh air in — it sprawls across 1300 square metres on the corner of Marine Parade and Miles Street, and is filled with surfing memorabilia heroing the sport's famous names like Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson. Attracting all kinds of beachgoers is another big focus. So, Kirra Beach Hotel includes a family-friendly bistro, a public bar and a sports bar filled with hefty TVs. For a tipple to take home, there's also a bottle-o that champions homegrown fare. And, for anyone heading by straight from the beach, there's a tub of thongs for folks who don't have shoes with them. Greg Hodge is back as Kirra Beach Hotel's publican, after overseeing the bar for eight years in its last incarnation. "The team have done a great job on the new fitout and I know the locals are going to love it. It still feels like home and has that nostalgic, old-school pub charm to it," he said. "The Kirra Beach Hotel has always been more than just a pub for our guests and it's a place where anyone is welcome. It's a second home, a place where you can relax and be on a first name basis with our staff, a place where you can pop in after a surf and grab a bite to eat, and perch up with a beer in hand and watch the waves and magic of Kirra roll in." Open daily from 10am, the pub is also welcoming back Venue Manager Julie Craig, Head Chef Richard Whiting and Cellar Manager Kris Flint, along with other core staff. If you're dropping by for something to eat, pub favourites such as fish and chips (of course), schnitzels and beef rissoles with mash return, sitting on the menu alongside burgers, meats from the grill, salads and raw seafood. Local produce is firmly in the spotlight, as are trawler-fresh weekly seafood specials. Think: oysters both natural and kilpatrick, bugs and prawns by the half kilo, tempura-battered bug tails in toasted brioche rolls and stacked platters. Brews-wise, expect to sip local names like Balter and Burleigh Brewing on the beer side, and Brookie's Gin for spirits. Australian wines help round out the drinks selection — which is just one of the new Kirra Beach Hotel's many things to say cheers to. Also on the way: newcomer Kirra Beach House, which will open in December on the precinct's second level. Here, patrons will find a 1200-square-metre venue by SITE Hospitality's Dave Galvin (Kōst, Mozza Mozza) — and a spot that again boasts a number of spaces within its one big space. There'll be a wine bar, two cocktail bars (one, Preston's, is for intimate soirées), indoor spots to drink, outdoor places to settle in, and room for events such as weddings and shindigs. Kirra Beach Hotel and Kirra Beach House form part of Kirra Point Precinct's first stage. When stage two arrives, it'll add to the places to stay, shop, and eat and drink. On the cards: a boutique hotel, laneway retailers, a village square, a fresh food marketplace, another residential apartment tower, a gelateria and more. Kirra Beach Hotel reopens at 2 Marine Parade, Coolangatta from Monday, November 27, operating from 10am–late seven days a week.
"What are you up to?". It's a familiar question and, when asked by a friend, it's a considerate and good-natured query that shows their genuine interest. But when it's posed by the wrong person, it comes loaded with expectations and inherent judgement — like the type you might find at a gathering of family members and life-long family pals who've turned their gaze in your direction because you're at the age where interrogating every inch of your existence has become their preferred form of sport. In Shiva Baby, this question comes in multiple ways and is asked multiple times. Attending a shiva, the wake-like mourning ritual observed in the Jewish faith, college senior Danielle (Rachel Sennott, Call Your Mother) is on the receiving end of this barrage. Stuck in a house full of enquiring minds, she feels every needling probe thrust her way by relatives and friends of relatives, all asking about her life, future, job, studies and romantic status, and even her weight. She's trapped in an everyday, immensely relatable situation, of course, but one that's never anything other than awkward — and first-time filmmaker Emma Seligman ensures that her audience feels every second of Danielle's discomfort. Danielle doesn't quite know how to answer the onslaught, partly because she doesn't want to and feels as if she shouldn't have to. She's right, obviously. Hours earlier — with the film's blackly comic dramas occurring over a single day — she was happily astride the older, richer Max (Danny Deferrari, Private Life) in a lavish Manhattan apartment. That's how Shiva Baby opens, and he gifts her an expensive bangle afterwards, as well as cash as payment. To her parents and relatives, she refers to her job as "babysitting". The film never intimates that Danielle is ashamed of doing sex work, and refreshingly so, but it gives the impression that she'd prefer not to have a conversation about it with all the busybodies already poking their noses in her direction. Accordingly, she doesn't explain that she missed the funeral because she was having sex. When she arrives at the shiva with her parents Debbie (Polly Draper, Billions) and Joel (Fred Melamed, WandaVision), she has to ask which distant relative died more than once. A recent NYU graduate in her mid-20s, Seligman writes and stages this whole scenario with the specificity of someone who knows the claustrophobia, tension, horrors and social distress these gatherings can inspire, and the cringing that happens deep inside every time. She also knows that there's never just one complication, or even just a couple. As Danielle navigates all that quizzing, she's also confronted with two people she'd prefer not to see: Max, who has his wife Kim (Dianna Agron, Glee) and their baby daughter in tow; and Maya (Molly Gordon, The Broken Hearts Gallery), her ex-girlfriend from high school who's now bound for law school. According to the Greek chorus-esque throng of voices always nattering throughout the event, Maya has done better for herself out of the two. Again, that's the level of gossiping and judgement that surrounds both women. Seligman is careful not to buff down Danielle's edges or flaws, though. This isn't a tale about a preposterously perfect millennial forced to deal with grating but societally sanctioned scrutiny, but rather a movie about someone complex, full of contradictions, sometimes smart and savvy, sometimes immature and reckless, and always just as easy to empathise with as wince at. It charts how she struggles through everyday woes that we all have, but in a microcosm of a situation. Shiva Baby is an exceptionally written film, and an astutely penned one, as proves evident in every word Danielle utters and every sentence directed her way. That's also apparent in the reality that everything around Danielle just keeps escalating in an instantly recognisable fashion. We've all been there, and more than once, even though most of us haven't stood in these exact shoes. Seligman isn't the first filmmaker to spin a cinematic tale that's exactingly, intimately specific, and also proves universal again and again. She taps into that juxtaposition masterfully, however — just as that very combination made Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird the heartfelt and honest movie it was, and this year's Oscar contender Minari by writer/director Lee Isaac Chung, too. Shiva Baby feels authentic and lived-in, which is what nudges everyone watching to feel as if they've lived it as well, and to see clear parallels with their own experiences. The roving and floating camerawork, bobbing in and around the assembled crowd all cramped within one ordinary house, helps considerably. It aims to get viewers seeing the chaos from Danielle's perspective, and achieves that goal with every shot. The fact that the score ramps up the unease, its strings rattling nerves just as effectively as every incident and altercation at the shiva, is one of Seligman's other immersive and well-executed flourishes. From the way that she radiates both stress and aimlessness in her posture, to her deadpan facial expressions, Sennott's layered performance is unsurprisingly crucial, too. Danielle is such a ball of jostling traits that even the slightest tilt in a direction other than the multitudes seen here could've upset Shiva Baby's entire mood and impact. Also outstanding is Gordon, who has stolen scenes in Booksmart and Good Boys in the past, and makes this much more of a two-hander than it might've played otherwise. Shiva Baby is a comedy, and plenty of that humour comes from how Sennott and Gordon weather a mundane but also gut-wrenchingly painful social situation with the full knowledge that their characters can only hope to simply get through it. This is a movie that lives and breathes the idea that sometimes laughter is the only option, in fact. It's anxious and nerve-wracking, and also witty and entertaining — and it leaves no doubt that Seligman, Sennott and Gordon all have big futures. They'd still all likely cringe if you asked them "what are you up to?", though.
In 2004, Denzel Washington starred in Man On Fire, a violent action thriller about an ex-special forces loner named John who establishes a special bond with a young blonde girl and then embarks upon an uncompromising vengeful rampage against a cartel that assaults her. His latest film The Equalizer is entirely different in that his character's name is now Robert. Not that there's anything wrong with typecasting yourself every now and then, especially in this genre. Liam Neeson's practically become a synonym for 'gruff vigilante', though when Denzel busts out his busting chops, he's as good as anyone at rocking the unflappable one-man-army vibe. In The Equalizer, the unfortunate recipients of Robert's wrath are a gang of Russian mobsters, who he coolly dispatches in a Sherlock Holmes-esque sequence of blow-by-blow preemption. That enrages their Moscow-based kingpin, who orders his 'fixer' (Marton Csokas) to track him down and restore order. Instead, Robert begins to singlehandedly dismantle every tier of the crime lord's operations. It's bloody, violent and wildly implausible, yet — like so many of these recent vigilante flicks — also largely satisfying. The Equalizer was directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose previous collaboration with Washington in Training Day garnered two Academy Awards. While his leading man has lost none of the cool that made his turn in Training Day such a powerhouse performance, what's lacking this time round is tension. Robert is simply too good at kicking arse, thereby making The Equalizer a victim of the 'Superman zone' wherein a character's ostensible invulnerability robs the film of any suspense. It's a solid action film, but without at least a hint of peril for the main man, you're left feeling like you just saw a superhero movie minus the superpowers. https://youtube.com/watch?v=64QGV7bf3hE
Think comics only tell tales of spandex-wearing supermen or dark and brooding caped crusaders? Think again. Firstly, the world of graphic art is much more extensive, despite what the majority of page-to-screen adaptations indicate. And, when it comes to LGBTI+ efforts, Australia boasts quite the growing catalogue. A selection of pieces pondering themes such as horror, fashion, narrative, identity, sex and sexuality form part of MELT Festival's Queer Comics, which graces the walls of Brisbane Powerhouse's Mosquito Foyer from January 25 to February 5. As curated by Brissie cartoonist Phoebe Ayscough, the exhibition steps through the diverse and downright trailblazing side of the popular artform.
It has been a long, hard year and you may be looking at your screen right now daydreaming of a holiday on a secluded beach or exploring deep inside a rainforest. SurfStitch is looking to make that dream a reality by offering one of its customers a $5000 Luxury Escapes voucher to use towards a holiday. All you have to do is add a new addition to your wardrobe by making a purchase at SurfStitch. You can shop for a new swimsuit from brands like All About Eve, Calvin Klein and Peony. Maybe you've had your eyes on those low cut Doc Martins all the cool kids seem to be wearing these days or a Misfit button-up to complete your summer look. These are all available through SurfStitch — and if you pick one up you'll go into the draw. Treat yourself and you might be treated to a luxury holiday. Even better, pick up a new outfit for someone special this holiday season and then nab the holiday for yourself. Yes, Christmas is a time of selflessness ,but how good would $5000 be to make up for the lost time and cancelled holidays of 2020. The voucher can be spent on a range of accommodation options around Australia and overseas as well as some unforgettable travel packages and experiences. You could explore Australia's Top End on an eight-day tour from Darwin to Uluru, spend a week beachside at a luxury villa in the Maldives or take a ten-day tour of Japan including a stay at Mount Fuji. The gift card is valid for three years, so fingers firmly crossed international travel is back to normal by then. All you have to do is use Klarna when you check out. Klarna is an app that offers buy now, pay later and loyalty rewards programs. Find out how to sign up for Klara, browse SurfStitch's online store and learn more about the competition through SurfStitch's website. Go into the draw to win a $5000 Luxury Escapes gift card by making a purchase from SurfStitch and using Klarna at the checkout between Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 31. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, January 5. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
The name of this latest Brisbane Powerhouse exhibition does not give much away at all. You can’t build buildings out of liquid, after all. Liquid Architecture is a sense festival, dealing with sound. It is a festival of listening, of engaging the ear. All of the artists performing in the festival were selected for their ability to listen and to produce beautiful sounds for audiences to listen to. Arctic Convergence is the name of this year’s Liquid Architecture exhibition, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sir Douglas Mawson’s famous Antarctic expedition. Over the course of two nights, Philip Samartzis, Douglas Quin, Werner Dafeldecker, Robin Fox, Scott Morrison and Lawrence English will deliver haunting performances that represent their unique interpretations of the Antarctic continent, its residents, landscapes and environments. Open your ears to the sounds of the icebergs, the sea ice and the glaciers of Antarctica.
Could 2011 be the year of the infographic? They're all over the internet: eye-popping visuals which make sense of complex data sets through bright colours and great typography choices. In a world where information bombardment is enough to make your head spin, infographics are bringing order to the chaos of endless facts and figures. Perhaps the logic of the infographic could be applied to the design of nutrition labels, another daily dose of confusing percentages, milligrams, serving sizes and calorie counters. US magazine Good has teamed up with the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism's News21 project, inviting designers to rethink food labelling. Their instructions? "Redesign the food label. Incorporate the existing nutrition facts and calorie counts. Or reimagine a label entirely based on food quality, food justice, or lesser-known chemosensory characteristics. Consider a food's carbon footprint or its cultural significance. Above all, make the redesigned label informative, instructive, and memorable." Enter the competition before July 1 and use your design skills to inspire better food and nutrition literacy. [Via Good]
