When Bad Moms became one of the big hits of last year, it was the film's great cast and refreshing approach to female friendship that really struck a chord. Indeed, it was those two factors that made an otherwise routine comedy about mothers behaving badly both amusing and empowering. Alas, it seems no one explained that to writer-director duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Or, perhaps they simply don't care. With their inevitable sequel, the pair proves happy to take the easiest route — upping the raucousness, adding even more mums to the mix, and eschewing nuance, depth or any real comic commentary about the expectations placed upon women. This approach — taking aspects of the original and just ramping them up — is not uncommon in sequels. Unfortunately, Bad Moms 2 picks the wrong elements to highlight, at the expense of the thoughtful core that made its predecessor such a surprise. Stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn are as qualified as ever, while franchise newcomers Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon all impress as well. The material, though? To borrow a scenario that occurs in the movie, it's like stealing a cheap department store Christmas tree rather than finding a real one. Also called A Bad Moms Christmas in other parts of the world, the film's first attempt to heighten these overstressed mums' worries arrives via the festive season. If the holidays weren't anxiety-inducing enough, their own mothers decide to drop by out of the blue, each displaying familiar family traits. Prim and proper Ruth (Baranski) is even more of a perfectionist than Amy (Kunis); stalker-like Sandy (Hines) takes the idea adoring motherhood too far even by Kiki's (Bell) standards; and wild-at-heart Isis (Sarandon) has a looser grasp on responsible parenting even than the free-spirited Carla (Hahn). The end result pits mothers against their mothers in the kind of multi-generational hijinks that's becoming a bit too common of late, with the conceptually similar Daddy's Home 2 hitting cinemas in just a few weeks. It also comes with a heap of problematic messages. Sure, Bad Moms 2 nods to the initial flick's championing of women being themselves and refusing to conform to society's demands. But that means next to nothing when the film's female characters are now depicted as little more than caricatures. That they only bond over parenting, fighting with their mums, or chasing men does not go down well. Nor does the suggestion that they are both the cause of their own mothers' craziness and are doomed to follow in their footsteps. Perhaps the film's standout scene demonstrates the fortunes of Bad Moms 2 best, turning a male stripper's intimate waxing session into a romantic meet-cute. In a feature filled with cartoonish depictions of women with children (and women in general), of course the most relatable and resonant moment takes place between Hahn's lusty, lonely beautician and her attractive client. Lucas and Moore, who clearly aren't doing their own mums proud here, don't even think of extending the same blend of genuine humour and earnest emotions to the movie's ladies when they're together. Instead they saddle the gals with making penis gingerbread and twerking on Santa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDOdlBlV08
Tiny city living spaces can be frustrating at times, making entertaining or merely dining at home a challenge for urban dwellers. But Orla Reynolds' design, As If From Nowhere, may solve this problem. Reynolds has created a bookcase that stores tables and chairs. The bookcases are adjustable to fit in any area, and house four chairs and two tables (which can be placed together to make one larger table) that slide into them. This means that nothing has to be moved from the shelves when you want to use them. With a multi-functional approach to her product design, which delivers a sense of quirky playfulness, As If From Nowhere gives you both storage space and a dining set that can be easily assembled for unexpected guests.
It's unlikely that you want to spend the entire season hibernating on the couch (we've done too much of that already). So, to boost yours and your mates' morale, you can start dreaming of your next group getaway that'll give you and all of your friends a winter retreat to look forward to. Read on to discover seven spots with something to offer for everyone — whether you're after a luxe beachside retreat, a camping getaway or a full-on spa weekend. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. While regional holidays within Queensland are now permitted, some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. [caption id="attachment_728025" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Larissa Dening[/caption] BEACH CAMPING AT DOUBLE ISLAND POINT Camping in winter may sound chilly, but luckily for us in the Sunshine State the season ain't all that cold. Plus, camping in winter means bonfires, marshmallows and getting cosy with your favourite people. Located in the Great Sandy National Park, Double Island Point is a tranquil spot for just that. To get there you'll need a four-wheel drive, a beach driving permit, all your own supplies and knowledge of the tides (you can only reach it at certain points of the day) — so invite your mates who are more seasoned campers. But once you're there, you'll experience clear blue water, complete calm and, hopefully, a chance encounter with a dolphin or two. Pack your sleeping bag, your favourite people, supplies for a fireside feast and make a weekend of it. [caption id="attachment_769358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pandanus Apartment[/caption] LUXE LIVING AT PANDANUS APARTMENT, BURLEIGH HEADS Burleigh Heads has everything you could look for in a getaway — beaches, shopping, dining, surfing and nightlife — and it's only a short drive down the highway from Brisbane. Burleigh's beach offers a great place to swim and surf with protection from the headland (and it's totally possible in winter on a sunny day). The headland itself is home to a scenic walk that leads you to Tallebudgera Creek, which is a stunning place to relax, especially when it's not fraught with tourists. Plus, since you'll be visiting off-peak, accommodation prices will likely be cheaper for you and your crew. If you're planning a getaway for a special occasion, book into Bon Sol's beachfront Pandanus apartment. On arrival, you'll be met with a bottle of vintage champagne, and the property manager is happy to help you with dining suggestions, too. The hatted Rick Shores, for example, is currently offering Tuk Shop takeaway orders of its curries, noodles and mains, as well as batched cocktails. RAINFOREST ESCAPE AT KYOTO MOUNTAIN LODGE, THE POCKET Everyone loves Byron Bay, but there are so many northern New South Wales towns to explore outside of the tourist hotspot with just as much charm — if not more. When you want to escape it all, plan a road trip down the coast to towns like Fingal Head, Kingscliff, Casuarina, Cabarita Beach and Brunswick Heads. And when you truly want to tune out, book into the Kyoto Mountain Lodge where you'll sleep among the trees, which is just 15 minutes away from Brunswick Heads. Surrounded by a rainforest sanctuary, this retreat has a fully equipped kitchen, fast internet and an indoor fireplace. The location is considered a 'primitive campsite' — you'll need a four-wheel drive to get to its location atop a mountain — but once you're there the views over the rainforest and the outdoor showers will make the trek well worth its while. HINTERLAND HIDEAWAY AT BIRD SONG VALLEY, MONTVILLE Whether you're in Glass House Mountains, Kenilworth, Maleny or Montville, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is rich with culinary experiences and beautiful sights in equal measure. Take rainforest walks, chase waterfalls and catch views of the coastline, all while hunting down excellent local pubs and cafes. Order beers for delivery from Brouhaha Brewery in Maleny for sampling quality craft brews (like the strawberry rhubarb sour) and pop over to Kenilworth Country Bakery to sip your coffee from a doughnut or, better yet, have its one-kilogram doughnut delivered to your accommodation. Our pick is Bird Song Valley, one kilometre from Montville. The 1920s Queenslander offers a large space for you and five of your best mates to settle in for a long weekend. Here you'll find several free-standing baths, a fireplace and views over the surrounding hinterland, plus each guest gets their own robe and slippers. [caption id="attachment_769554" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hannah Puechmarin[/caption] CABIN STAY AT GRANITE BELT RETREAT, STANTHORPE Less than three hours southwest of Brisbane you'll find Queensland's coldest area. Known for producing all sorts of delights from apples, pears, berries and stone fruit to chocolate, beer and, of course, wine, the Granite Belt is the perfect place to head to with your food-loving friends. Explore the region's wineries to sip wines made from unconventional grape varieties, or 'Strange Birds' as they're known locally. You'll find barbera, durif and nebbiolo, and even lesser-known grapes like pinotage, colombard and sylvaner. After a day of tasting, relax in front of the fire at Granite Belt Retreat. If you're travelling with a partner, opt for one of the 20 cosy log cabins located on 30 acres of natural bushland. There's also a microbrewery onsite, which is currently offering a bottle shop and takeaway food service. And, should you be after some adventure, go for a bushwalk or rock climb in Girraween National Park, which is known for its wildlife and balancing boulders. Check in advance for any park closures or alerts. [caption id="attachment_769952" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Boathouse[/caption] CREEKSIDE RETREAT AT CLOUDLAKE MOUNTAIN RETREAT, THE DARLING DOWNS The humble, and largely overlooked, Darling Downs region provides plenty for those looking to experience a different part of Queensland. If it's a road trip you're after, head west from Brisbane and stop in at any of the many small towns and experience a few of the old fashioned bakeries. Be sure to stop in Toowoomba to explore its cafes, parks and street art. And for something totally left-of-field, check out the Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, which actually allows you to feed lions. A 40-minute drive from Toowoomba is Cloudlake Mountain Retreat's The Boathouse, which offers a cosy escape for a couple or a group of four. Sitting on the edge of Oaky Creek, the home features views over the lake, a barbecue on the deck and a campfire on the beach that you're welcome to use. Take some marshmallows and do a spot of stargazing. [caption id="attachment_694717" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] STAYCATION AT THE CALILE HOTEL, BRISBANE If you just can't seem to rally the troops for a trip out of the city, why not consider a staycation? With its stunning architecture and interiors, the Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley is one to set your sights on for a luxe stay without the drive. Book in for a weekend and treat yourselves to the hotel's resort vibes that'll have you forgetting you're even in Brisbane. Really splash out and book into the spa for a body wrap, exfoliating treatment, massage or all of the above, or opt to relax by the rooftop pool and grab a bite to eat from Hellenika's poolside snacks and wraps. What's more, should you want to leave your luxe abode, you'll be in proximity to one of Brisbane's best shopping and dining precincts: James Street. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Granite Belt Retreat by Hannah Puechmarin. 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.
He's an Australian treasure, he's one of Hollywood's recent villainous go-tos and he definitely isn't in Voyagers. That'd be Ben Mendelsohn, who comes to mind anyway while watching this sci-fi thriller. In a softer mode, the Rogue One and Ready Player One star could've played Colin Farrell's part here. That's not why Voyagers makes him pop into viewers' heads, though. Rather, it's because his brand of slippery menace still slinks through this space-set flick, all thanks to its most vivid performance. Should an upcoming movie ever need a fresher-faced version of Mendelsohn's latest bad guy or next morally complicated figure, Dunkirk, The Children Act and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's Fionn Whitehead needs to be on speed dial. He channels Mendo perfectly as Zac, one of 30 test tube-bred teenagers who are rocketed into the heavens as humanity's last hope for survival. In the latter half of the 21st century, Earth is near-uninhabitable, so he's on an 86-year mission to a newly located planet. The young Humanitas crew's main purpose is to beget the next generations who'll colonise their new home — but, after learning that he's being drugged into obedience, Zac decides not to play nice. Ten years in, when the quieter Christopher (Tye Sheridan, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) realises that the drink they all call 'blue' contains an unidentified compound, the decision is easy. First Christopher, then Zac, then the rest of their shipmates all stop sipping it and start letting their hormones pump unfettered for the first time in their intricately designed and highly controlled lives. Richard (Farrell, The Gentlemen), the lone adult and the closest thing any of the crew have ever had to a father, is suddenly treated with suspicion. Christopher and Zac begin testing boundaries, indulging desires and flouting rules, too — and realising that they're both attracted to dutiful Chief Medical Officer Sela (Lily-Rose Depp, Crisis). Then an accident changes the dynamic, with the two pals challenging each other while fighting to lead. Factions are formed, chaos ensues and the very folks entrusted with saving the species are now simply trying to outlast each other. The fact that Whitehead's performance recalls Mendo as strongly as it does is fitting; almost everything about Voyagers brings another movie or story to mind, actually. When it comes to warring youths, Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner all get a nod. In the space film genre, Solaris, Passengers and High Life do as well. The list goes on, increasing with each of Voyagers' foreseeable twists and turns. When the infighting starts revolving around a potentially mysterious presence, for instance, the feature nudges its audience to think about Alien and Prometheus. In spacewalking beyond the Humanitas, Gravity and The Midnight Sky get a look in (among a hefty roster of past flicks that've also stepped into the inky sky, of course). When the picture simply lingers within the spaceship's stylish but restrictive walls and ripples with unease, 2001: A Space Odyssey casts a shadow. And, in its musings on parenthood, Interstellar and Ad Astra spring to the fore. Still, as it shuffles, jumbles and reassembles much of its bulk from recognisable parts pilfered from elsewhere, a number of interesting ideas sit at the heart of Voyagers. Yes, they've been tackled in various ways before, but they still leave an imprint. Writer/director Neil Burger has both Limitless and Divergent to his name, so he's no stranger to big-thinking science fiction flicks that contemplate intriguing ideas while also following in other footsteps. Here, he wonders not just if life has any meaning, but if there's any genuine meaning to life when a person's function in the bigger picture has already been determined from their first breath right up until their last. He also ponders exactly what humans have spent our entire existence as a species surviving: whatever external forces have come our way, or the ongoing, never-ending repercussions of our very worst impulses? It doesn't offer up any new answers to these trains of thought, or give themes and topics like paranoia, claustrophobia, toxic masculinity, nature versus nature and free will a particularly fresh spin, but Voyagers remains resonant enough. It has a timely relevance, arriving after the globe has spent a year indoors trying to stay alive, and its picture of easy self-destruction is both undeniably blunt and unmistakably effective. Films like this keep hitting screens because we're all aware that humanity's worst enemy is itself. That's a truth we'll never stop grappling with, in fact. As a result, predictability always comes with the territory — because humans have proven such predictable creatures. Accordingly, it isn't the least bit surprising that Voyagers sticks to the familiar, and doesn't provide much of a different take on the age-old realisations at its core (even as Zac tries to lie, bully and manipulate his way to power in a manner reminiscent of recent world leaders). Nonetheless, the feature's ruminations still hit home, even amid all of its winks to other movies. Also convincing is the film's set design, which weaponises its grey surfaces and seemingly endless corridors, transforming every corner and passage into a maze literally of humankind's own making. Voyagers' gleaming overall look wavers between sterile and slick, in another canny touch — this is a movie about finding middle ground between lives of unthinking compliance and primal hedonism, after all. And, cast-wise, Sheridan, Depp and Farrell do what they need to with their straightforward parts. Like Whitehead, Sheridan also helps sum up the movie overall, too. He already faced off against the real Mendo in Ready Player One, so he leaves viewers enjoying his calmly commanding efforts and remembering other flicks. In a picture that's both derivative and engaging, that seems to be Voyagers' chosen mission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zadWJ8tPmnU
Movie lovers of Brisbane, get excited: you can spend the last two days of June catching up on your must-see list on the big screen for cheap. Across Saturday, June 29–Sunday, June 30, Palace Cinemas is giving film fans a present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, its daily bread and butter — but the gift of discounted great flicks. Head to one of the chain's locations across the weekend in question, and any movie at any time will only cost you $8. Want to check out George Miller's Anya Taylor-Joy- and Chris Hemsworth-starring Furiosa: A Mad Max Story, horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, Pixar sequel Inside Out 2 or the Mads Mikkelsen-led The Promised Land? They're just some of your choices. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of movie snacks. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. The deal is running at all standard Palace locations nationwide, but there are a few caveats. You can't redeem the cheap price for film festivals, for instance, or for platinum screenings, special events and alternate content. You also can't bundle the $8 seats with other offers, such as two-for-one tickets.
Stay tuned. More info coming soon.
New York bartender Richard Boccato visited Brisbane last week to help launch the White Lightning Tiki Bar's new cocktail menu, training staff and teaching them the ins and outs of Tiki. Richard is known for his penchant for Tiki with Painkiller New York (PKNY), Dutch Kills, Weather Up Tribeca, Weather Up Austin, Hundred Weight Ice and, most recently, Sweetleaf in Long Island City under his belt of bars. Richard gave us some insight into the world of Tiki and Alfred and Constance's latest liquid treats. How would you describe the Tiki concept in a select few words? The essence of Tiki is about escapism through a contrived tropical fantasy that often times involves delicious cocktails and the abandonment of one's general preoccupations about work, life and other common stressors. You hail from NY, a thriving cultural metropolis. What are your thoughts on Brisbane's bar and restaurant scene? There are amazing things happening in Brisbane. I look forward to continuing my efforts there at Alfred & Constance in the future. What attracted you to become involved with the A+C White Lightning Tiki Bar? I must admit that it was the lure of travel. Where in the world have you been and drawn inspiration for your Tiki creations? I have travelled everywhere from Europe to the South Pacific to the Caribbean. But in truth, most of my inspiration for my Tiki cocktails comes from New York City. What new creations can we expect to see on the new Tiki menu at A+C? There will be a significant expansion of our blended and frozen cocktail category, as well as new additions to all of the other styles of Tiki cocktails that were featured on the last menu. What is the most outrageous drink we can order on the menu? I don't know if it's outrageous, but the Hanalei Rum Punch will certainly be a crowd favorite. What should we order if we want to try something completely unexpected? Try the whiskey-based cocktails. You won't be disappointed.
For wannabe wizards and witches, the most magical place in Australia right now is located in Victoria. After boasting the country's only run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, then playing host to a natural history exhibition based on the Fantastic Beasts films, the state is now temporarily home to a new Harry Potter-themed experience. This time, you can walk around an illuminated woodland filled with nods to the Wizarding World, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience finally arriving Down Under. Accio joy, clearly. Think: Lightscape, which is returning to Melbourne in 2024, but all about the world that's sprung up around the Boy Who Lived on the page, screen and stage. So, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience taking over The Briars Community Forest in Mount Martha until June, attendees can enjoy a nighttime stroll an hour out of Melbourne. Entering the Forbidden Forest is clearly the big attraction, as lit up with dazzling lights, all while also spying creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. A hippogriff features, as do nifflers and unicorns. You also have the chance to pose for a photo mid-wand duel, and to summon up a patronus spell as well. Accordingly, visitors here aren't surrounded by all things Wizarding World after dark in a forest; they can be join in like every aspiring Hogwarts student has always wanted to. Sounds and special effects also help bring the experience to life, as aided by award-winning behind-the-scenes folks. Expect to spend around 90 minutes being immersed in the all-ages event — plus however long you need at the onsite shop afterwards buying merchandise. That's part of the village at the end of the trail, where you'll also be able to grab a bite and something to drink. Wands crossed for butterbeer, obviously. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience has hit Australia after seasons in the UK, Europe, the US and Singapore, with Warner Bros behind it just like the films and upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Also helping conjure up the fun is events platform Fever, adding to a recent Australian slate spanning Banksy and NBA exhibitions, plus the Unko Museum: The Kawaii Poop Experience. Find Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience at The Briars Community Forest, Mount Martha, until Sunday, June 9, 2024. Head to the event's website for tickets and further details.
If you've ever found yourself wondering how certain foods and recipes are made, you're not alone. After all, the great Australia vs New Zealand pavlova debate fails to answer the question of who in their right mind thought whipping egg whites was a good idea. Most foods go through several iterations to come to the form we know them in today. Maybe it's because we have too much time on our hands with nearly 12 million of us locked down right now, but we decided to delve into the weird and wonderful history of some of Australia's most-loved food and drinks. From dinner party favourites to footy game snacks, here are a few brief backstories that took these foods to where they are today. PRAWN COCKTAILS Prawn cocktails reigned supreme at dinner parties in the decades leading up to the turn of the century, but the legend of this dinner party delight harkens back to the 19th century. Folklore has it that a worker came to a bar in California and ordered a plate of oysters and a whiskey after a day in the mines. After downing the whiskey, the prospector emptied the oysters into the glass and combined them with ketchup, horseradish, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. When asked what he was doing, the worker replied that he had created an 'oyster cocktail'. Somehow the bar owner thought this was a winning idea and begun selling oyster cocktails, launching the seafood cocktail. The dish popped up in Australia around the 1930s. In 1936, Adelaide's The Mail newspaper published a recipe for the seafood cocktail under the title 'Drinks For The Beach'. The recipe featured grilled shellfish in a small glass of sherry with "two dashes Tabasco sauce, a teaspoon lemon juice, two tablespoons tomato sauce or catsup, a teaspoon Worcester sauce, half teaspoon chopped chives" which would be mixed well, served over ice and with brown bread. BANH MI The Vietnamese banh mi's history is tied closely to European colonialism. The French invasion in the 1800s and subsequent global trade brought France's bread and European ingredients including cold cuts into Vietnam. This would eventually lead to the banh mi's crispy bread roll, reminiscent of a French baguette. The first banh mi was a simple sandwich featuring butter, cold cuts and paté. More traditional Vietnamese fillings became popular later, but the butter and paté stayed. The sandwich was most popular in the southern warmer parts of Vietnam as an alternative to Vietnamese staples like pho. Banh mi begun to spread far and wide in the 1960s and 70s following the Vietnam War, arriving in places like Australia where the warm climate mirrored that of south Vietnam. FOUR'N TWENTY PIES In March 2020 the Four'n Twenty pie became the Official Pie of the AFL. The crowning of this humble Australian pie brand had been a long time coming, but it was a long road to get there. The Four'n Twenty was created in Bendigo in 1947 by Les McClure, a dairy farmer who opened the Dad & Dave cafe. The pies were originally named after McClure's cafe before they were, apparently, renamed as a nod to the nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' and its "four and twenty blackbirds backed in a pie". The pie's ability to be eaten with one hand while you hold a beer in the other no doubt contributed to its popularity as a stadium food, with the Four'n Twenty a frequent supplier to AFL food stands after its purchase by Peters Ice Cream in 1960. The thing that really solidified this particular brand of pies in the minds of footy fans was iconic ads that ran through the 1980s and 90s featuring catchy jingles and AFL stars. ESPRESSO MARTINI While some drinks have been around for centuries, the fun-lovin' espresso martini is fairly new to the bar scene. First created by revolutionary London bartender Dick Bradsell back in the early 80s, the cocktail's birth is attributed to a supermodel asking for a booze-fuelled drink that would simultaneously wake her up. As vodka back then was the spirit a la mode, Bradsell threw a generous shot of it in with a shot of coffee pulled from the barside espresso machine, plus some coffee liqueur (our money's on Kahlúa) and sugar syrup, then shook away before pouring it into a martini glass. It's rumoured that Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell could be the model behind the birth of the espresso martini. Initially, the drink was simply called a vodka espresso, before being known as the Pharmaceutical Stimulant in the late 90s and then the espresso martini. BOMBE ALASKA The bombe Alaska, or baked Alaska as it's known in its country of origin, has a storied past featuring former presidents and the sale of Russian land. Reports date dishes similar to the baked Alaska back to 1800s USA where President Thomas Jefferson dined on ice cream encased in a dried crust at the White House. It was apparently US inventor Sir Benjamin Thompson, the inventor of the kitchen range and a British loyalist in the American Revolutionary War, that was the first to discover meringue could be used as an insulator. The dessert's name comes from Parisian-American chef Charles Ranhofer who created a banana ice cream and walnut spiced cake version of the meal Jefferson had eaten and labeled it the Florida-Alaska. DOUGHNUTS The Smithsonian Magazine claims doughnuts have been around in some form or another for thousands of years, with archaeologists discovering fossils of doughnut-like cakes in prehistoric settlements. References to the doughnut can be found in publications as far back as 1808. A recipe from 1896 combines flour, salt, soda, cream tartar, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter, sugar, egg and sour milk to create its doughnuts. There seem to be two stories surrounding how doughnuts got their famous shape. The first is simply that the dough wouldn't cook all the way through to the middle when they were first being made so they were hollowed out. The second is a much more interesting story, involving adventures of the high seas. A New England ship captain had been given cakes from his mother to eat on a journey across the sea in order to ward off scurvy. When the captain needed to hold the wheel with both hands, he speared one of his mother's cakes onto the wheel, gifting the world the hollowed-out shape of the doughnut. MANGO PANCAKES The story of mango pancakes is one of mystery more than certainty. The bright yellow desserts are such a staple of Australian yum cha, some locals may be surprised to find out they are, for the most part, a uniquely Australian thing. The only other place across the globe that seems to have the same level of deep adoration for these creamy mango delights is Hong Kong. The dish is the signature dessert of Honeymoon Dessert, who have a strong claim to starting the craze in Hong Kong, however Honeymoon was established in 1995 and reports of Mango Pancakes online date back to the early 90s in Australia. This is all anecdotal of course, but, if there are any pancake detectives on the case, reach out as the mystery remains unsolved. Illustrations by asu_ad
Eating hot dogs New York-style means tucking into dirty water dogs. The liquid they're heated in comes seasoned and spiced, hence the name, and they're one of the Big Apple's street-vendor specialities. So, when restaurateurs Bonnie Shearston and Tom Sanceau decided to open a NYC-inspired burger bar at Portside, and to add more than just burgs to the menu, of course they ensured that the humble dirty water dog is on offer. Dumbo's features two franks on soft buns topped with onions and yellow mustard. Located in Hamilton, Dumbo wears its love of New York right there in its name. Its moniker hails from the Brooklyn neighbourhood, aka Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The food naturally follows suit, serving up more dishes that'll make you think that you've headed to the US — all in a 121-square-metre space opposite 2023 arrival Fosh. The combination of NYC street food and burgers, a laneway, and Shearston and Sanceau first gave Brisbane Red Hook, with the Gresham Lane favourite launching in 2014 and satisfying River City tastebuds ever since. Accordingly, the pair are in familiar territory, just in a different part of town. They're asking one of the best questions that the hospitality industry can inspire, too. What tops one eatery from the duo throwing it back to the Big Apple? Two, naturally. Also behind Ruby, My Dear in Newstead — and with a past lineup of ventures spanning Coppa Spuntino, London Fields, Canvas Club and Pollen as well — Shearston and Sanceau have taken cues not just from NYC, but from 90s NYC. That said, with meals named Grandmaster Flash (a burger with beef, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and smokey mayonnaise) and Uptown Funk (beef, cheese, gorgonzola, bacon, caramelised onions and Dumbo's own sticky glaze), it's also clearly influenced from the decades before and after. For both dining in and taking away, the menu spans Brooklyn cheeseburgers, plus the namesake burg (with double smashed patties, grilled onions, American cheese, special sauce and pickles). All beef burgers come with a choice of smashed or thick patties. There's four types of chicken burger as well, made with either grilled or southern fried chook, plus two plant-based burgers — one named after Wu-Tang Clan's RZA. Or, opt for either chicken and cauliflower wings, mac 'n' cheese balls, fries done three ways (salt and vinegar, bacon and cheese, and chilli cheese and brisket), poppy lox or pastrami bagels, and chopped beef and cheese heroes. With a fish sando, chicken and waffles, and a champignon po'boy also on the lineup, there's plenty to tempt tastebuds. And that's before picking from ice cream cookie sandos, waffles and thick malt shakes for dessert. Craft beers from both local and international breweries will help wash down your meal. Among the sips, so will spirits and wine.
Few Brisbanites can boast the intimate knowledge of the city's burgers, doughnuts and freakshakes that foodie and prolific Instagrammer Adam Pinzone does. As @foodieadam, he captures these stars of Brisbane's dining scene close-up in all their oozy, glistening glory — a pastime he's devoted himself to since moving to Brisbane from the US in 2015. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Brisbane, we've called in Adam, whose favourite spots range from the city's most over-the-top burger eatery to a Japanese dessert bar blasting comforting cover songs. A stay at Pullman's King George Square hotel in Brisbane — located in the centre of the city and just a stroll over the Victoria Bridge from South Bank — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Adam's perspective on Brisbane's food hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. REVERENDS FINE COFFEE Located in the city centre, Reverends Fine Coffee has a kitchen that punches well above its weight for how small it is. Plus, the staff have so much character, they make each visit feel like coming home. The atmosphere inside the narrow, exposed-brick space feels very Melbourne, and it's a nice escape. Of course, the coffee is still the major draw, with aeropress, pour over and cold-brew options, a house blend sourced from local roaster Uncle Joe's and a constant rotation of new single origin beans on offer. THE BREWER'S PANTRY Part of The Charming Squire — James Squire's industrial-chic brew bar in South Brisbane — The Brewer's Pantry does breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the bits in between. The weekly brekkie specials here are the kind of thing you can't find anywhere else, and are borderline crazy at times. Think cookies and cream french toast with Oreos, or cheesy-garlic-bread-inspired eggs on toast with pickled enoki mushrooms. You can't go wrong when you put yourself in the hands of a bearded chef who has a passion to always one up himself. VAQUERO DINING A night at European/contemporary Australian restaurant Vaquero Dining in Albion means dinner and a show. There aren't many places where you can watch the meat being prepped while you eat. Plus, because everything is done in house, the prices are affordable and the portions are generous. Their Scotch eggs are perfect, and Vaquero also provided me with my introduction to sheep's brains. I've slowly worked through the whole dessert menu — though for me nothing tops the chilli granita chocolate cocktail to finish a meal here. SONDER There's not many places I lose track of time in, but I can easily spend hours in Sonder relaxing and eating Japanese desserts. There's something about a dessert cafe that plays cover songs and serves delicious sweets that is just relaxing. Located in Sunnybank Hills, Sonder makes a particular specialty of ice-cream, even offering mini-cone flights of four, six or eight. And the absolute best thing? It's open till midnight. VIEILLE BRANCHE Sweetly cluttered with antiques from the Normandy seaside, Vielle Branche is a French cafe tucked away in the industrial part of Albion. The menu ranges from traditional croque monsieur — made with creamy bechamel, gruyere and double smoked leg ham — to the more intense smoked duck tartine (the French style of open sandwich) and a platter so indulgent it's dubbed the Complet Gerard Depardieu. Everything is made in-house, including their insanely delicious chocolate brownies. Plus, on Sunday it transforms into a jazz hall. Magic! CHARBOYS I always get asked what are the best burgers in Brisbane. There's no one obvious winner, but Charboys would definitely be on the list. After starting life as a market stall years back, Charboys opened on Boundary Street before moving to the current spot on Edward Street in 2016. Their offering is nothing too over the top; just great quality burgers and fries with addictive seasoning. FLOUR & CHOCOLATE There aren't many places that I casually travel an hour to get to, but this is one of them. Flour & Chocolate Patisserie in Morningside has earned its place as one of Brisbane's best bakeries, with the friendliest staff and pastries that break diets. Lines often snake out of the doorway as Brisbanites show up on the days dedicated to producing the full range of their favourite baked goods. Doughnut day (Wednesday) is well worth taking the day off work for (or at least a long lunch). COFFEE ANTHOLOGY Coffee Anthology on Margaret Street in the city offers up great service, premium coffee and a delicious, affordable breakfast menu that is worth waking up early for. The seasonal waffles are a particular highlight, with flavours ranging from matcha to Cherry Ripe (that's a chocolate cherry waffle with cherry coulis, toasted coconut, French vanilla ice cream and herbs). Ultimately it's all in the service of the coffee, though. Coffee Anthology is all about showcasing beans from Australia's best boutique roasters, including Small Batch Roasting Co, Reformatory Lab and Proud Mary. ZE PICKLE Ze Pickle have creativity and personality. With so many burger joints in Brisbane, it helps to be different. At Ze Pickle, that means they do a doughnut burger (the Doughnutfukwitdis) with Nutella smoked bacon, and a dessert (named #WhothefuckisMaxBrener) consisting of a cookie skillet-baked just enough to hold its shape and topped with marshmallow gravy. You even have the choice to order with Reece's Peanut Butter Cups baked inside. I used to travel once a month to the Gold Coast for this. Fortunately, word of mouth drove Ze Pickle to expand to Fortitude Valley. JULIUS PIZZERIA South Brisbane's Julius Pizzeria is Italian done well. It's about the quality of the ingredients, not quantity. The service and execution is always on point, too. I will always come here every season for the new range of frittelle (fried ricotta dumplings) and late-night comfort food. They don't take bookings so you have to rely on your luck when coming to Julius Pizzeria, but it is well worth the wait. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Another supermarket staple is on its way out, at one Australian grocery chain at least. Single-use plastic bags have become a thing of the past, and other single-use plastic items have done the same. Now, Harris Farm Markets has ditched artificial colours from within the products on its shelves, too. In an Aussie first, the company has spent five years ensuring that artificial colours have been eliminated from all the food and drinks on its shelves at all of its locations. The supermarket chain, which operates in New South Wales and Queensland, is the only major grocery provider so far to go all-natural when it comes to the colours in its products. [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] "For over 50 years, Harris Farm Markets have been delivering goodness to Australian families. To continue to do this, we knew we needed to eliminate artificial colours from our shelves," said Harris Farm Markets co-CEO Tristan Harris. "So, for the past five years we have been working with our suppliers to find new methods of production if needed and alternative ingredients if required. Now, our pasta sauces, dips, juices, peanut butter, cookie dough, curry pastes, chocolates, soups, noodles and even orange juices, just to name a few, are all free of artificial colouring," he continued. The move has seen everywhere from wholesaler The Market Grocer and chocolatier Koko Black to dip company Fresh Fodder and pastry chef Anna Polyviou change their products to comply with Harris Farm Markets' determination to eradicate artificial colours. "It has meant, however, that some product lines have been eliminated, because we have to stand firm on our commitment," advised Harris. "We take immense pride in what we sell, and even more pride in what we don't sell, and from now on, we don't sell food with artificial colours. We are also incredibly proud to be the only major grocery provider in the country to be now artificial colour-free." [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] Harris Farm Markets has always had a particular focus on fresh local produce, which is one of the reasons why the chain has both stood the test of time and amassed a considerable following. Another big obsession: sustainability, including via its imperfect picks section. That's where shoppers can pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables that mightn't look picture perfect, but still taste as great as ever, all as part of the chain's efforts to help stop farm wastage. For more information about Harris Farm Markets, and to find your closest store, head to the company's website.
Biannual art and design markets The Finders Keepers is returning for its spring/summer iterations, bringing shoppers the latest and greatest from its stellar lineup of Australia's most creative makers. The Meanjin edition is taking over Brisbane Showgrounds from Friday, September 2 till Sunday, September 4. Joining the creatively charged stalls is a tasty range of food and beverage offerings — all the makings of a prime day to get out, have a chat with artists and support the industry. At the core of the conscious shopping space is a focus on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans — specifically, local designers. So, you can expect to find everything from jewellery, fashion and ceramics to leather goods and body products. And, for the market's return to Brisbane, there's more than 100 stores to peruse. Nicoco Design will have you sorted for your bold and bright fabric pieces, Paxy & Flora are bringing oodles of cute-as-pie ceramic creations and Brisbane-fave Claire Ritchie has her joy-inducing floral artworks at the ready (pictured above). Plus, if you're into slow fashion, you'll be able to shop the excellent creations from Rex & Isla (which keeps maternity wear front and centre), Rose + Reggie and Al Elé. Don't miss the beauty delivered via the Finders Keepers Indigenous Program, which will be shining a spotlight on the collaborative works from Ikuntji Artists (pictured below). This collective — the first Aboriginal art centre for Western Desert women — has been producing fine art from the rich red soil of Haasts Bluff since 1992. As well as nabbing a ticket to enter — which is just $5 for daily general admission — be sure to remember that the market is completely cashless. So check (then check again) that you've got your digital or plastic payment methods at the ready — it would be a travesty to leave the market empty handed. The Finders Keepers Autumn/Winter Markets will take place on Friday, September 2 (4–9pm), Saturday, September 3 (9am–4pm) and Sunday, September 4 (9am–4pm) at Brisbane Showgrounds. For more info and to check out the full vendor lineup, head to the website. Location images: Samee Lapham
Need a little more spice in your life around Valentine's Day? Gelato Messina has combined forces with the well-loved Asian sauce brand, Lee Kum Kee, to create two bold new flavours. And for one day only this weekend, it's your chance to score free scoops at this Brisbane pop-up. Sure, classic flavours like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry are staples for a reason, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment from time to time. After months of testing, Messina and Lee Kum Kee are ready to release their limited-edition flavours into the wild, celebrating Chinese New Year and the power of sugar and spice. Your first option is caramel and soy sauce gelato with Premium Soy Sauce brownies. As decadent as it sounds, Lee Kum Kee's sauce pairs with Messina's signature dulce de leche to take it to even smoother, richer heights. Next, coconut & kaffir lime gelato with peanut topping and Chiu Chow Chili Oil peanut crisps delivers a tangy and refreshing hit. If you're a spice fan, drizzle a little more of this classic sauce on top. Ready to scoop? Get down to Fish Lane from 11.30am–2.30pm on Saturday, February 15 to see what this unexpected collaboration is all about.
From the crime antics of Murder on the Orient Express to the slow TV phenomenon that was SBS' The Ghan, lengthy train journeys have chugging across our screens over the past year. If watching folks make a long trip in a locomotive has you wanting to hit the rails yourself, you'll soon have a new luxury Australian option: the Great Southern. Set to embark on its maiden journey in December 2019, the Great Southern will cross the country from Adelaide to Brisbane — and vice versa, of course. The trek up north will take three days and two nights, while the return leg will occur over four days and three nights. If that seems like a considerable amount of time, that's because this kind of trip isn't just about getting from A to B. It's also about taking in the scenery and the general experience. Passengers departing from Adelaide will stop at the Grampians National Park, then hop off again at Canberra, and also enjoy the northern New South Wales coast on their way to Queensland. For those boarding in Brisbane, dining by the beach in northern NSW awaits, as does a day in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, plus some time at the Twelve Apostles. The latest venture by Great Southern Rail, the Great Southern will be comprised of 28 carriages and two locomotives, with up to 214 guests able to take each journey. It doesn't come cheap — starting at $1649 per person — but that price does include your food and wine onboard, any dining that takes place off the train, and all of the off-locomotive experiences across the multi-night the trip. As you'll clearly be sleeping on the train, that's also included. Great Southern Rail also operates Australia's other two long-distance train treks, The Ghan (which runs from Adelaide to Darwin) and and the Indian Pacific (which journeys from Sydney to Perth). Tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 3, with the Great Southern's first season taking to the rails between December 6, 2019 and January 27, 2020. It'll operate 16 departures over that period, should you be looking for a different kind of getaway across the summer of 2019–20. Image: Great Southern Rail.
If Stone & Wood's ales and lagers happen to quench your hard-earned thirst, then you now have a new place to drink them, with the Byron Bay-based brand opening up a brewery and taproom in Brisbane. Five nights a week, Brissie beer lovers will find the amber liquid flowing at 99 Bridge Street in Fortitude Valley. Of course, even when the doors aren't open at the heritage-listed building — which has been preserved on the outside, gained custom-built Blackwood Collective furniture on the inside, and is also decked out with very fitting stone and wood decor, as well as plenty of greenery — the eight-hectolitre brewhouse and its five fermenters will still be operational. First announced in mid-2018, and launching in late 2019, Stone & Wood's new Brisbane base is serious about its beer. Onsite, it brews one-off small batch tipples that are only served at the venue — and, even better, they're poured straight into your glass from tanks located behind the bar. Don't expect cocktails, wine or spirits to sip on, or pub-style entertainment like TVs or pokies, either. While you're here, you'll drink beer, talk about beer, look at beer-making apparatus and just generally be made fully aware that you're in a brewery. If everything else doesn't do the trick, hanging planters made from old kegs will definitely help remind you of your boozy location. The spot does include a merchandise outlet, should you be keen on wearing your affection for Stone & Wood on your sleeves in a literal sense — and there's also a space that'll be used for community events, as well as training workshops by the brewer's trade partners. Food-wise, the brewery welcomes a rotating array of local food vendors, picking outfits that match its beers. First up is Mr Bunz, because steamed buns and brews go together mighty nicely. If you're keen to settle into the 150-person space, start knocking back cold ones and take in the view over the street, the venue doesn't take reservations, so just walk on in. The 90-person function area will be available from December, should you be eager to add some beer to your Christmas merriment, too.
Hanami and Japan go hand in hand, but what if you could indulge in the art of flower viewing (yes, that's what the term translates to in English) a bit closer to home? Well, that's where the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival comes in. It's a celebration of everyone's favourite pink flora in Sydney's west. Between Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 25, the Auburn Botanic Gardens will transform its Japanese Gardens into a beautiful, blooming wonderland. You'll be able to ramp up your appreciation of the fleeting natural phenomena that is cherry blossom season by attending a massive viewing party in the lead up to spring. Tis the season, after all. And taking in the spectacular scenery isn't the only thing you'll be doing. Over the two weekends of the festival (that is August 17-18 and 24-25), you'll be able to get your fill of Japanese entertainment. There'll be guided shinrin-yoku or 'forest bathing' therapy in the gardens, live Japanese blues music and ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) workshops. For the kidults, you can also expect a cinema dedicated to one of Japan's most popular characters Gudetama (Lazy Egg), laser tag in an anime-themed arena and Hello Kitty makeovers and stage shows. This year, the festival is ramping up its food offering, too. As well as eating your way through an array of Japanese food trucks, you'll also be able to try a heap of cherry blossom-inspired eats. Former Masterchef Australia winner (and national treasure) Adam Liaw has even created a Cherry Blossom Festival Bento Box for the occasion. A pop-up izakaya will serve up sake and Japanese craft beer, too, and Sydney's Sakeshop will be selling limited cups of Hanamikura Aya sake — which is made from a yeast extracted from the cherry blossom flower. If you've got a day off and want to skip the crowds, it'll also be opening during the week (August 19–23), with Costa from ABC's show Gardening Australia hosting a jam-packed, hands-on gardening day on the Tuesday and an educational day on the Friday. Tickets cost $7.50 for early birds, $10 for general admission and is free for Cumberland residents. Early bird tickets are now on sale for the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival and can be purchased here. Images: Destination NSW.
When it first launched in New South Wales back 2022, Slim's Quality Burger combined two trends in one: Australia's undying love of burgers and the current affection for all things nostalgic. Started by a trio with knowledge of the burg business, with Michael Tripp, Nik Rollison and David Hales all boasting past ties to the Noosa-born Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co, this chain adores kicking it old school. Think: 50s- and 60s-inspired decor, a throwback vibe like it's operating in America seven decades back, plus classic meat-and-bread combos paired with ice cream sundaes. While Queensland isn't short on places to enjoy burgers, this Aussie brand was always planning on going national — and now it's Brisbane's turn. Head to Kippa-Ring since mid-September and you'll find the chain's Sunshine State debut, with another River City store also on its way. Slim's arrival in the River City has seen the brand notch up a few firsts, too: its first drive-in and drive-thru diner, and its first to offer a breakfast menu. Adding a meals-on-wheels component is the latest step in Slim's ode to Americana, as already splashed through its vintage-leaning aesthetic, with features banquettes in cherry read, neon signage, chequerboard flooring and classic light fixtures. At the now-open Kippa-Ring outpost on Elizabeth Avenue and the soon-to-come Slacks Creek venue, customers will find nose-in parking surrounding the eateries — and views into the open kitchen from your vehicle, too. You can also order from behind the wheel via QR code. Hanging out in the carpark afterwards like this is Grease? That's up to you. This chain is all about a lean menu of options made with simple but quality ingredients. Burger-wise, customers can choose between original, cheeseburger, a double and a triple, plus 'the works' burgs, all made with angus beef — and variations of the above with bacon. There's also four different chicken varieties, including with crispy fried or grilled chook, and a veggie option using a plant-based patty. Sides focus on fries either with sea salt, loaded with cheese and grilled onion, or also featuring maple-smoked bacon. As for those sundaes, they come in hot fudge, salted caramel and strawberry flavours. And to wash it all down, there are spiders — because plonking a scoop of ice cream in some soft drink never gets old — plus post-mix soda from the fountain, and chocolate, vanilla and strawberry thickshakes. For those keen on an early-morning Slim's fix, the breakfast offering spans bacon and sausage burgs, steak and egg burgs, fried chicken burgs, works burgs, veggie egg and cheese burgs, hash browns, chia pudding with strawberries and nut-free granola, a full coffee lineup, freshly squeezed orange juice and more. "Our breakfast menu is designed to offer a great start to the day the Slim's way. We believe Queenslanders will love our unique take on these classics," says Slim's chef Greg Engelhardt. Find Slim's Quality Burger at 2/407 Elizabeth Avenue, Kippa-Ring, operating from 7am–10pm daily. The chain is also opening in Slacks Creek — we'll update you with more details when they're announced.
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit Fortitude Valley's Lightspace on Sunday, June 11. The event will welcome more than 100 wines from winemakers such as Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Ministry of Clouds, Henschke, Yalumba (and many more). There'll also be food from Gerard's Bistro as well as cheese from Yarra Valley Dairy to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, where you can purchase full glasses of wine. If you're really keen, you can purchase a Royal Pass, which will get you access to the event an hour earlier, a food voucher and some one-on-one time with a sommelier to help you work out which wines you like best. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
If you didn't dedicate an autumn 2022 day to binging Heartstopper, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, this webcomic-to-page-to-screen delight dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. The great news: if you haven't seen it already, season one is obviously still there and waiting. The even better news: Netflix renewed the series for two more seasons last year because the first proved such a hit. And, the best news: the second season will arrive on Thursday, August 3. This winter, Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also back as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The first season hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the online attention to prove it, and made stars out of its delightful cast. Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) was in year ten in season one. He found himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, with sparks flying swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — and a crush and then a life-changing love story blossoming. Season two will see the pair in the thick of their new relationship, and coping with exams, the prom and a trip to Paris. Also, Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) and recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney) will work through their bond, while her school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) have their own challenges. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in November 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in the future. Heartstopper season two doesn't have a trailer yet, but you can check out the date announcement video below: Heartstopper season two will stream via Netflix from Thursday, August 3. Read our review of season one. Images: Netflix.
Drake's first tour of Australia in eight years kicked off in mid-February. If you haven't caught him already, you won't be on this trip Down Under. Organisers have announced that the remainder of Canadian artist's Aussie shows, plus his New Zealand dates, have all been postponed. There's no details yet as to when they'll be popped back on the calendar. "Due to a scheduling conflict, four of Drake's 16 sold-out shows in Australia and New Zealand will be postponed. We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows," advises the statement. "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Drake and the entire team have had an incredible time doing these shows and are excited to return soon. We look forward to sharing the rescheduled dates with you as soon as possible." The dates impacted: the five-time Grammy-winner's returns to Brisbane and Sydney, the former on Tuesday, March 4 and the latter on Friday, March 7. He's already played dates in both cities, unlike in Auckland, where his Spark Arena gigs on Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16 will no longer go ahead. Patrons can hold on to their tickets for the new dates, whenever they're revealed — or you can get a refund instead. Regarding the second option, the promoter offers a note: "as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets may be released for sale at a later date". Drake's 2025 Anita Max Win tour was first announced in November 2024, and then kept being extended — not once but twice. The last dates added in Australia are the shows that've been scrapped for now. Before this year, the 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' performer last hit the stage in Australia in 2017 on his Boy Meets World tour. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star and platinum-selling singer is currently fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. Drake's 'Anita Max Win' Tour 2025 Postponed Dates Tuesday, March 4 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, March 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16 — Spark Arena, Auckland Drake has postponed the rest of his Australian and New Zealand tour, scrapping dates in March 2025. Head to the tour website for more details, with tickets set to remain valid for yet-to-be-announced new dates or refunds available. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
Each year for six years now, Australia's annual Wineslinger Awards have named the country's top spots for ace drops, picking where you should be sipping and buying vino. There are two parts to its annual selections, starting with a longlist, then naming four winners. 2023's Top 55 arrived in November, so now it's time for the main gongs — aka the best of the best in Aussie wine venues. Accordingly, Wineslinger isn't about vino itself, or bars in general. As the name makes plain, it's focused on watering holes that specialise in wine. The four prizes cover the best Wineslinger, Best New Haunt, the Maverick prize for places that push the limits and the People's Choice gong. While the first three awards are voted on by around 150 industry experts, the latter stems from vino aficionados at home. [caption id="attachment_884952" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roberto Pettinau[/caption] Melbourne boasts 2023's Wineslinger recipient, thanks to Marion in Fitzroy. The awards recognised the venue for laying "reasonable claim to capturing the essence of what are, somewhat inelegantly, known as 'barstaurants'," said the Young Gun of Wine team, which runs Wineslinger. "Perhaps this pitching of wine and food in equal measure was not necessarily the intent, but having one of Melbourne's best-loved culinary sons orchestrating the food message was always going to draw crowds. Having said all that, with the shared resource of the flagship Cutler & Co, the wine offer has always been formidable, and deserving of just as much attention." Marion took out the Wineslinger accolade after Sydney's Dear Sainte Éloise scored it in 2022, Melbourne's Embla nabbed it in 2021 and the Carlton Wine Room picked it up in 2020. The Best New Haunt field also went to a Victorian venue, with Collingwood's Commis receiving the nod for a joint that the Young Gun of Wine crew described as "equal parts wine den, cocktail lounge, shared-plate bistro, chic art gallery and chilled neighbourhood hangout". In the Maverick category, Silver Sands Beach Club in Aldinga in South Australia came out on top, earning some love for being "the type of wine clubhouse that will ideally serve the neighbouring McLaren Vale region and the Fleurieu Peninsula beach community, plus a steady stream of wine nerds making the pilgrimage south from Adelaide". As for the People's Choice, Western Australian's The Corner Dairy in Doubleview took the honours. That means that no New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory or Northern Territory sites made a showing in the four gongs, but all states and territories do feature on the full Top 55. The Wineslinger Awards were created by Rory Kent, who also founded the Young Gun of Wine Awards. Where the latter prize aims to recognise stellar up-and-comers, the former is all about excellent and innovative places where vino lovers can enjoy an ace drop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Young Gun of Wine (@younggunofwine) WINESLINGER AWARDS 2023 WINNERS: Wineslinger: Marion, Fitzroy, Victoria Maverick: Silver Sands Beach Club, Aldinga, South Australia Best New Haunt: Commis, Collingwood, Victoria People's Choice: The Corner Dairy, Doubleview, Western Australia WINESLINGER AWARDS 2023 TOP 50: ACT Bar Rochford, Canberra Rizla, Braddon NSW 10 William Street, Paddington Bar Copains, Surry Hills Bar Heather, Byron Bay Bar Superette, Merimbula Beau, Surry Hills Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Sydney Caravin, Potts Point Dear Sainte Eloise, Potts Point Fix Wine, Sydney Le Foote, The Rocks Lil Sis, Chippendale P&V Merchants, Paddington The Sir George Hotel, Jugiong The Wine Library, Woollahra Where's Nick, Marrickville [caption id="attachment_623527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] NT Stone House, Darwin QLD Agnes, Fortitude Valley Alba Bar + Deli, Brisbane Cru Bar + Cellar, Fortitude Valley Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads Snack Man, Fortitude Valley The End, West End Zero Fox, Teneriffe SA Alt. Wine Bar, Unley Good Gilbert, Goodwood Hellbound, Adelaide Jennie Wine Bar, Adelaide Loc Bottle Shop, Adelaide Silver Sands Beach Club, Aldinga Stanley Bridge Tavern, Verdun Stem Bar & Restaurant, Adelaide The Salopian Inn, McLaren Vale [caption id="attachment_860199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Earl Carter[/caption] TAS Havilah, Launceston Lucinda, Hobart Molto Bar and Cellar, Hobart VIC Bar Marenda, Daylesford Carlton Wine Room, Carlton City Wine Shop, Melbourne Commis, Collingwood Geralds Bar, Carlton North Gimlet, Melbourne Marion, Fitzroy Osteria Illaria, Melbourne Public Wine Shop, Fitzroy North Torquay Wine Store, Torquay Union Street Wine, Geelong Winespeake, Daylesford WA Besk, West Leederville Lalla Rookh, Perth Mayfair Lane, West Perth Mummucc', Wembley The Corner Dairy, Perth Wines of While, Perth For more information about the Wineslinger Awards, visit the awards' website. Top image: Marion, Harvard Wang.
Ever since Gauge opened its doors in South Brisbane back in 2015, Brisbanites have been talking about its black garlic bread, tasting menu and stripped back yet still luxe feel. Now, you can also turn your chatter to Essa Restaurant. The Fortitude Valley restaurant opened on Robertson Street in 2021 under the lead of ex-Gauge chef Phil Marchant — who brought a strong focus on local produce and harvest-driven dishes to a striking split-level space just off James Street. Essa sees Marchant take up head chef duties (while also co-owning the new eatery with entrepreneur Angela Sclavos). Marchant's aim: to highlight the work of the farmers, hunters and providores he's sourcing his ingredients from, to give classic techniques a modern twist and to give diners a multi-sensory experience. On the menu (which changes regularly), that approach translates to dishes that endeavour to pair the familiar with the surprising, as well as a big focus on raw, pickled, smoked and wood-fired meals. From the grill, organic pork chops might come served on the bone, or you could encounter Tasmanian lamb rump served with charred onion, stout and mustard. Essa also does set menus for $118 a head. Drinks-wise, wine and cocktails sit pride of place. Both lineups have been curated to pair well with the restaurant's dishes, with cocktails changing almost as regularly as the food menu. Enjoying the surroundings is also part of the Essa experience, with the decor skewing industrial but relaxed. A brass mesh window sits at street level, exposed brickwork and steel alcoves are a feature, and seating includes leather lined banquettes. The dining space on the building's middle level features a bar decked out with green Verde Alpi stone, too, while the upstairs space uses a leafy garden as a background. Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Brisbane
For most of us, being buried alive ranks among our worst nightmares. For Mike Parr, it's his latest performance artwork. Between June 14 and 17, the Australian artist will be interred in a steel container beneath a Hobart street — spending 72 hours underground as part of this year's Dark Mofo. Appropriately titled Underneath the Bitumen, the piece will see Parr take up temporary residence below the middle lane of Macquarie Street in the Hobart CBD from 9pm Thursday through till 9pm Sunday. He'll descend into a box measuring just 4.5 metres by 1.7 metres by 2.2 metres, accompanied by a sketchpad and pencils, meditation stool, bedding, water and other items he'll need to survive. Once he's down there, the road surface will be sealed as normal and traffic will resume, driving over the top. The public will be able to view Parr's 'disappearance' under the street as part of his performance, and afterwards, the capsule he'll spend three days in will remain in place. While the road will be completely patched up after he emerges, concrete will be poured over the chamber once he's out, creating a time capsule filled with everything he's left inside. That stress you're probably feeling on Parr's behalf, well, that's by design. "The anxiety of the artist's disappearance is the point of the piece," states the Dark Mofo website. Underneath the Bitumen has been crafted as a response to two events in Tasmania's history: the transportation of 75,000 British and Irish convicts to the state across the first half of the 19th century, and the waning of Tasmania's aboriginal population afterwards. "To my knowledge, it will be Tasmania's first monument referencing both the Black War and The Convict System," said Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael. "It is a story that is not well known, but is ever-present, just beneath the surface of our contemporary culture. The fact that Mike Parr's work will happen underground, just out of sight, as everyday life continues above it, is clearly no coincidence." This is the third time Parr has been part of the Dark Mofo program, after a 72-hour performance at the historic Willow Court Asylum in New Norfolk in 2016, with an accompanying two-week exhibition afterwards; and a one-hour piece on Bruny Island in 2017, where he was joined by 72 people aged around 70 years for a show that kicked off at 2am. Underneath the Bitumen runs from June 14-17 as part of this year's Dark Mofo in Hobart. For more information about the artwork — and about the festival which runs between June 13 and 24 — visit the Dark Mofo website. Image: Nick D via Wikicommons.
This summer, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them. Lifeline Bookfest is coming back for another round of vintage bargains between Saturday, January 13–Sunday, January 21, 2024. It's where you'll find everything from Australian Women's Weekly cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica, as well as games, DVDs and puzzles. If you've been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. In fact, over this year's nine-day summer run, more than one million items will be up for grabs. Prices range from $2.50 to the big bucks, and you'll have plenty to choose from. Whenever Bookfest hits Brisbane, it always brings hundreds of crates of reading materials with it. This big return will also bring back its Comicfest section, which unsurprisingly keeps proving popular — this time with 25,000-plus comics and video games, as well as more than 5000 collectable items. You'll want to bring a trolley and your glasses, obviously, and to clear some space on your shelves at home. And, you'll want to bring your cards, because this Bookfest is cashless. Also, you'll need your own bags, as books won't be wrapped for you this time around. Head along from 7.30am–6pm on Saturday, January 13 and 8.30am–6pm between Sunday, January 14–Sunday, January 21. Images: Bookfest.
Heading to Sydney this year? Now's your chance to expand your horizons and explore beyond the city limits. New South Wales boasts 809,000 square kilometres of bountiful land, spanning ocean and desert, that are waiting to be discovered. And the next six months are chock-a-block with live music events, food festivals, sporting carnivals and breathtaking natural phenomena. From the lush Orange vineyards to the crystal waters of Nelson Bay, there are festivals and events for every taste. Without some planning, however, you'll never leave the city. To help you out, we've teamed up with Destination NSW to put together a handy list of top things to do with your entourage just in time for the new year.
Maleficent has a perception problem. Traditionally blamed for Sleeping Beauty's snoozing state, the evil fairy gained an on-screen backstory in 2014, which softened out her edges (but not her razor-sharp cheekbones, naturally). That leaves inevitable sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in a tricky predicament. The movie's title dials up the character's supposedly unsociable ways; however, if Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) is now happily playing godmother to Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning), how nefarious can she really be? And if she's facing off against a seemingly kindly queen (Michelle Pfeiffer) who actually wants to start a genocidal war against all magical folk, well, she's hardly the most wicked creature in this film. You could say that Disney just chose the wrong name for this follow-up, but the movie's moniker is symptomatic of its generally muddled state of affairs. It's easy to see why this sequel exists — the first film made a quarter-billion dollars at the box office, and Jolie's casting as Maleficent is a dark fairytale dream — yet that doesn't explain why such little thought appears to have gone into it otherwise. Perhaps the powers-that-be assumed that audiences just want Maleficent to be somewhat evil, so they'll overlook the fact that the last flick (and the beginning of this one) establishes otherwise. Or, perhaps it was a case of trying to use the same formula by giving it the slightest of twists. Where Maleficent proved that its eponymous antiheroine wasn't really bad because she has a soft spot for Aurora, Mistress of Evil does the same by saying "hey, someone else is worse!" That someone, Pfeiffer's Queen Ingrith, comes into Maleficent's life when Aurora accepts Prince Phillip's (Harris Dickinson) marriage proposal. While Maleficent is wary at first, she's heatedly flapping her wings with disapproval after an awkward meet-the-in-laws dinner, where she's accused of working her wicked magic on King John (Robert Lindsay). Although Aurora is left distraught and confused, original screenwriter Linda Woolverton and newcomers Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue (TV's Transparent) ensure that viewers don't feel the same, spelling out exactly who's responsible for the sinister turn of events. After a run-in with a colony of fellow dark fairies (led by a wasted Chiwetel Ejiofor), the scene is set for Maleficent to do her worst against Ingrith — for the absolute best possible reasons. With its feuding royals, controversial nuptials and ill-motivated blonde queen, Mistress of Evil takes a leaf or several out of Game of Thrones' book — all while tasking its antagonist with trying to wipe out an entire race. Throwing homicidal xenophobia into the mix is designed to reflect today's times, rebuke toxic political structures and promote a message of harmony, but it's both bluntly and clumsily handled. This is a family-friendly flick, after all, so Disney doesn't seem to want to delve too deeply into such tricky terrain. It's still happy to use holocaust parallels to up the dramatic stakes, though. Under the direction of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' co-helmer Joachim Rønning, the movie's visuals also prove dull and lumbering, unless you like overblown CGI onslaughts. Of course, Mistress of Evil isn't the first big fantasy blockbuster that's forgone subtlety and ramped up its battle scenes, but it never escapes attention that the film didn't need to turn out this way. Jolie is once again a commanding delight as Maleficent, a role she relishes even if it barely stretches her Oscar-winning acting skills. Pfeiffer is equally as mesmerising as her increasingly deranged adversary — and, as she did the first time around, Fanning wears innocence well. After fleshing out its titular figure's tragic past in the initial movie, this sequel could've just let its three main talents go head-to-head. Indeed, Mistress of Evil is at its strongest when Jolie and Pfeiffer are trading withering barbs and glares, or when Jolie and Fanning are exploring their characters' complex mother-daughter dynamic. Cast-wise, it helps that they're in fine company, with Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple returning as pithy pixies devoted to Aurora, and Sam Riley popping up again as Maleficent's shape-shifting offsider; however the film's three main ladies steal the show when they're just talking to each other. But, then the screensaver-like special effects start screaming for attention. The movie's swooping cinematography keeps repetitively flying over forests and castles, too. And, especially from its mid-point, Rønning repeatedly hits audiences over the head with the film's clunky themes. Instead of enchanting, it all just makes for average-at-best fairytale drama. Mistress of Evil is hardly cursed, but it won't send anyone leaping from their slumber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9zRfcTI-k
With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. There's also a penchant for twists upon twists, including toying with the film's premise. Those zigs and zags are obviously best discovered by watching, but Pleskof and Marpeau know the genre they're diving into — and its tropes, customs and drawcards. They know the kind of flicks they're parodying as well, nodding and winking at everything from Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers to cutesy Gallic comedies. That isn't the same as making the most of their influences, or thoughtfully satirising stereotypical on-screen French quirkiness, however. It doesn't result in a game-changer of a mystery-comedy, either. To Murder Party's misfortune, the small screen has been awash in excellent comic whodunnits in the past year, spanning Only Murders in the Building, The Afterparty and The Resort. If you've seen even just one of those three shows, it'll linger in your mind while watching Jeanne navigate the Daguerre family's mayhem. Still, there's an enticing air to Murder Party's aesthetic, with production designer Jérémy Duchier (Perfumes), art director Jean-Baptiste Rodet (Agatha Christie's Criminal Games) and costume designer Dorothée Guiraud (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) showering the featuring in a rainbow's worth of shining shades. The film colour-codes its characters just as Cluedo always has — in their outfits, rather than their names — and also turns its vibrantly decorated labyrinth of a mansion into the game-playing version of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Visually, Murder Party is exactly what it's meant to be: a sweet treat. And, just like in Roald Dahl's beloved book and the movies that've brought it to the screen, exactly who endures and who gets eliminated is guided by personality, and by riddles and quests that know their players' strengths and weaknesses. Fluffy, flashy, sugary, elaborate — yes, Murder Party is the dessert of whodunnit flicks in several ways. In-depth characterisations aren't a particular murder-mystery strength (see: the recent versions of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile), but for everyone except Jeanne, the film remains especially light. There's a reason behind that, linked to the plot's biggest twist of all. Still, in the overall puzzle, that's also too much of a telltale sign. Murder Party wants to ponder the fun and escape of moving tokens, shuffling cards, making guesses and other frivolous trivialities, but getting immersed in the sleuthing, and also invested in each character's fate, proves a slipperier and trickier prospect when it's instantly clear that almost everyone is just a pawn.
Back in 2007, Daft Punk played Brisbane's Riverstage. If you were there, you'll never forget it — and if you missed out, you'll never forget that, either. Now that the band has parted ways, no one will get that chance again, sadly. Head down to HOTA, Hone of the Arts on the Gold Coast, however, and you can pretend for one evening. Feel like scoring a dose of da funk on a Saturday night, losing yourself to dance and getting lucky? Of course you do. You'll be burnin' up the floor, getting derezzed and giving life back to music in no time from 6pm on Saturday, September 17, in fact — and if you do so harder, better, faster and stronger, you'll be doin' it right indeed. If you haven't guessed just who is in the spotlight at The Daft Punk Experience with Alternative Symphony, then you probably need to take your helmet off and prepare to give some of the best albums of the past two decades a spin one more time. There'll be robot rock, plenty of digital love and you might even think you've been around the world while you're throwing shapes. And, for this one-night-only gig, Alternative Symphony is playing Daft Punk's greatest hits with an orchestral spin. That means you'll be listening to the band's tracks as played by a full orchestra, assisted by DJs, drums, strings, horns, trumpets, live vocalists and MCs. It all takes place at HOTA's outdoor stage, with seven-metre-tall installation Alcazar will be in place — so dancing around it and inside it is also on the agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmi60Bd4jSs
Sometimes, getting out of your car to purchase food is just too much effort. For those occasions, humanity invented the drive-thru. It's a fast food staple, and the concept has been getting quite the workout during the pandemic — so, when a drive-thru dedicated to lasagne first popped up, it felt inevitable. Now, with Brisbane back under stay-at-home conditions until at least 4pm on Sunday, August 8, Brisbane's lasagne drive-thru is back. From Wednesday, August 4, it'll be serving up layered pasta with bechamel sauce again right through until Saturday, August 7. If lockdown is extended again, though, the drive-thru will stick around longer. The venture is the latest project from Jerome Dalton, owner of Dalton Catering and — since July 2021 – of CJ's Pasta as well. The latter no longer operates as a bricks-and-mortar business, instead focusing on selling pasta to restaurants and wholesalers. But for folks at home who love a bit of lasagne, CJ's Pasta now lets you roll up to Fortitude Valley's Prospect Street in your car, remain seated, and take home one of three different lasagnes (or a mixture of the trio). The idea first came about in response to Brisbane's March lockdown, with the drive-thru kicking into action while everyone was staying at home for three days. When it proved popular, Dalton brought it back every Friday afternoon. And now, with a longer lockdown currently in place, it's clearly prime drive-thru lasagne time. Brisbanites can choose from beef lasagne, sand crab lasagne, and black truffle and beef ragu lasagne, all of which come in one-kilogram servings paired with focaccia. Prices range from $50–60, or you can grab all three for $120. Different types of freshly made pasta are also on offer, ready for you to cook and add to sauce at home. So are salumi boxes filled with mortadella, salami, aged pork, bread and pickles. If you're keen, you'll need to order in advance via phone, then motor on over to pick up your ready-to-eat meal. You can still try your luck by just showing up with without preordering, but you'll be getting a chilled lasagne that you'll need to heat up at home. Also, this time around, the drive-thru is also setting up what it's calling a 'slide-thru' — which'll give free meals to hospitality workers every Saturday during lockdown, from 5.30pm until there's no lasagnes left. Ordinary customers can also donate to the 'slide-thru' fund to help CJ's Pasta give out even more dishes to folks doing it tough in the hospo industry. Find the CJ's Pasta Lasagne Drive-Thru at 22 Prospect Street, Fortitude Valley from 2–5pm on Wednesday, August 4, and from 12–5pm from Thursday, August 5–Saturday, August 7. The 'slide-thru' will operate from 5.30pm on Saturday, August 7. If lockdown continues, the drive-thru will run from 12–5pm Tuesday–Saturday weekly, and the 'slide-thru' will pop up every Saturday from 5.30pm.
After initially revealing parts of its 2025 lineup in late 2024, Sydney Opera House's annual All About Women festival has unveiled the full program of events that'll focus on gender, equality and justice in March. Across two days, more than 50 speakers, including artists, thinkers and storytellers from both Australia and overseas, will participate in sessions that span women in sport and the influence of the Matildas, racism and sexism in the music industry, the impacts of skincare routines, and plenty more. For 13 years, marking International Women's Day with talks, panels, workshops and performances has been as easy as attending this highlight of the cultural calendar — a must-attend event not only in Sydney, but also nationally in recent years, thanks to the streaming of sessions online (which continues in 2025). For this year, Kate Berlant and Gina Chick joined the All About Women bill first, as did the return of the Feminist Roast. Kara Swisher, Rachel House, Jaguar Jonze and Grace Tame are now among the folks joining them come Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9. As revealed last year, Berlant is making her first trip Down Under, with the comedian and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don't Worry Darling and A League of Their Own actor set to debut a new stand-up show. Alone Australia's first-season winner Chick is on the bill fresh from releasing her memoir We Are the Stars in October, and will chat about following your own path, grief and resourcefulness. Among the latest additions on a lineup overseen by the Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team — as led by Chip Rolley, alongside 10 News First's Narelda Jacobs and actor and writer Michelle Law — journalist and Burn Book: A Tech Love Story author Swisher will dig into the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, while Heartbreak High star and The Mountain director House will chat through the importance of community and her Māori culture in her career. Jonze is on the panel discussing the present state of the music industry, as is Barkaa. And Tame is part of the Feminist Roast alongside Michelle Brasier, Nakkiah Lui, Lucinda 'Froomes' Price and Steph Tisdell. The Tillies join the roster via former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, plus Football Australia, the Matildas and the ParaMatildas Media Manager Ann Odong, with their session exploring the current situation for women in sport. Elsewhere, Dr Michelle Wong, Jessica DeFino and Yumi Stynes — plus Price again — will examine the impacts of beauty standards, especially upon younger generations. All About Women's 2025 program also spans sessions on the women who gave testimony at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, the rise of domestic violence-related deaths in Australia, systems that are meant to protect First Nations children, perimenopause and how women's health is being commercialised, tradwives, grief, motherhood, the nation's declining birth rate, bodily autonomy and abortion, and being friends for life. "There is so much power in women and non-binary folks coming together to talk about the issues we are facing, whether that's in our workplaces and homes, throughout our country or the world," said Jacobs back in 2024, when the lineup's first details were announced. "The events I've co-curated are inspired by hot topics that dominate conversations with the women in my life — from the transformations women undergo at pivotal points in their lives, to the ways modern culture rejigs and repeats old stereotypes. We'll be having some cracker discussions that I'm sure will continue beyond the steps of the Opera House!" added Law. All About Women 2025 takes place on Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9 at the Sydney Opera House, and streams online, with pre-sale tickets for the full program available from 9am on Tuesday, January 14 and general sales from 9am on Thursday, January 16. Head to the event's website for more details. All About Women images: Jaimi Joy, Jacquie Manning and Prudence Upton.
We've all been there — those moments in life when nothing else but deep-fried, cheesy, buttery, salty goodness will kill your cravings. It's Friday night, work is over for the week and you just want to smash something ridiculously gluttonous so you can really sink into that Netflix coma on the couch. Or, maybe it's Sunday evening, you've had a few too many beverages at afternoon drinks and the only thing that'll satisfy that deep dark void in your stomach is some greasy comfort food. Luckily for us, Brisbane has some pretty amazing places to hit up when the decadent flavour cravings hit. It was a tough job, but we've managed to narrow it down to our favourite five across the city.
The Sydney Opera House's First Nations dance competition will return for its sixth year in 2020. Starring more than 350 performers from all over the country, with different generations, nations and groups all represented, Dance Rites will be broadcast free online — which means, for the first time, all of Australia can join in on the festivities. Close to 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups will compete in this year's festival, including Djakapurra Dancers, led by Djakapurra Munyarryun (Songman for the Sydney 2000 Olympics); Mornington Island Dance Group, who performed for the opening of the Opera House in 1973; Dyiraamalang, an all-female group; and Luurnpa Dancers, led by acclaimed artist and senior law man Jimmy Tchooga. The first wave of performances will take place each night from Wednesday, November 11 through Saturday, November 14 (coinciding with NAIDOC Week). Then the finals will air the following week on Saturday, November 21. Each group will perform two dances — one traditional and one 'wildcard' dance. The judges' assessment is based on on authenticity, reclamation work, fusion of language and music and use of costumes, crafts and cultural materials. The winners will receive a cool $20,000, with additional prizes also up for grabs. [caption id="attachment_789029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brolga Dance Academy[/caption] Top image: Anna Kucera
If ever a place in Brisbane warranted its own beer garden, it is South Bank. The former site of Expo '88 turned riverside parkland aims to offer locals an inner-city oasis — and every peaceful spot needs an outdoor deck to hang out on and consume a few beverages, doesn't it? Calling it Brisbane's only beachside location of its type might be a bit of a stretch given the man-made pools of sand and water it sits beside; however everything else about the airy new bar and restaurant fits the bill. First, there's the constant stream of breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Next, there's the combination of craft brews and seven-to-twelve-hour cooked steaks served straight off the chargrill. Indeed, if you're after a meal with a chilled-out mood, this is the South Bank venue to head to. Slabs of meat upon bread provide a highlight, particularly the brisket and gravy roll or the open scotch steak sandwich. When it comes to something smaller, beer cheese fondue — with sliced charcuterie, vegetable crudité, and bread sticks — sounds too good to pass up. Of course, just grabbing a cocktail and gazing out over the city is a perfectly acceptable way to spend a few hours there, or a whole day, if you're simply too relaxed.
Studio Ghibli has become a household name for its stunningly delightful, beautiful and moving films, and rightly so; however, it isn't the only source of wonderful Japanese animated cinema. Everyone should know this in general, but fans of Your Name and Weathering with You should feel it in their shimmering hearts, because director Makoto Shinkai's past two movies have been that astonishing — and deservedly proved huge international successes. Shinkai's list of gems doesn't start with that pair of flicks — it also includes The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimetres per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices and The Garden of Words — and it certainly won't end there, either. Indeed, come November this year in Japan and sometime in 2023 elsewhere around the world, the acclaimed filmmaker's new movie Suzume no Tojimari will start enchanting and entrancing cinemagoers. From the just-dropped latest trailer, which also has an English-subtitled version, Shinkai looks to be in familiar territory. In other words, just the animation and art direction alone is spectacularly and breathtakingly gorgeous. Every detail-filled frame of his films could easily sit on a wall — and from this sneak peek, Suzume no Tojimari continues the trend as it follows the titular high school girl and a mysterious young man, who team up to travel through otherworldly gates as disasters start to strike around Japan. If Weathering with You had you dreaming of a Tokyo getaway — or reminded you of past trips, because its renderings of the city are that realistic yet also bewitching, like capturing a glorious memory in animation — then expect the Suzume no Tojimari trailer to have you yearning to travel further afield in Japan. (Obviously, the swoonworthy scenery in the full film itself is certain to amplify that feeling approximately 75,000 times when the movie hits the big screen.) Also part of the fun, as doors keep opening up in Japan's "lonely areas people have forgotten": talking cats, swirling red clouds and scampering chairs, just to name a few of the trailer's highlights. As they did with Your Name and Weathering with You, Radwimps are providing Suzume no Tojimari's soundtrack. Check out the English-subtitled version of Suzume no Tojimari's trailer below (and the Japanese version, too, if you prefer): New trailer of "Suzume no Tojimari" animated movie by Makoto Shinkai (Your Name), with english subs.https://t.co/PLYHnS4g3t pic.twitter.com/vU0V3usSbN — Catsuka (@catsuka) September 28, 2022 Suzume no Tojimari opens in Japan on November 11, 2022, and is expected to release elsewhere around the world in 2023 — we'll update you with a release date Down Under when one is announced.
Aussie summers are practically made for adventures. We soak up rays at the beach, chase waterfalls in national parks and road trip with mates in search of new experiences. We get outdoors to make the most of the warm weather and eschew any work woes from the year with a big ol' dose of nature. But if you've ever been camping, hiking or even picnicking, you'll know that your fun in the sun can depend on the gear you've got. No one wants to roast themselves in the harsh sun, or forego a cold one due to a forgotten bottle opener. To help get you ready for all the summer adventures you've got planned, we've teamed up with Kathmandu in celebration of its new collaboration with Aussie artist Mulga (AKA Joel Moore) to give away one epic prize pack. Yep, you could be living your best outdoorsy life this summer — without having to fork out for the gear. The much-loved Sydney-based illustrator is known for his intricate line work and colourful, quirky characters — think koalas holding surfboards, sunglasses-clad chickens and cockatoos eating ice cream — that radiate Aussie summer vibes. So, it's only fitting that the Kathmandu x Mulga prize combines bright, quirky prints and patterns with functional designs. Should you win this prize, you'll score seven items to add to your summer essentials. The prize consists of two t-shirts for when you're not in your togs; a water bottle to keep you hydrated; a sand-proof towel; a sun shelter and a beach umbrella so you can stay cool and sun safe; and a handy chair for all the hanging out you'll be doing. It's got everything you need to help you get out there this summer. Keen to get a jump on summer with this epic prize? Enter your details below to go in the running. [competition]829441[/competition]
Every Mac user the world over knows the scenario: you save up, invest in a shiny new Apple product and take it home just in time to discover a newer, better version has been released. So too comes the biopic Steve Jobs, released just a few short years after 2013’s JOBS starring Ashton Kutcher. Sleeker, slicker and definitely better designed, Danny Boyle’s film is undoubtedly the kind of superior upgrade that this compelling story demands. Written by West Wing creator and Social Network scribe Aaron Sorkin, and based on the book by Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs is an intense three-act drama of such fervid dialogue and minimal action that it would not feel at all out of place on a stage instead of a screen. Each ‘act’ takes place in the minutes preceding one of Jobs’ iconic product launches, and each is filmed in an appropriately coeval format – 16mm film stock for 1984’s Mac launch, 35mm for the introduction of 1988’s NeXT 'Black Box’ and digital for 1998’s iMac. The staging is an effective device, giving the film a persistent tension by combining the inherent pre-launch nerves with heated backstage conversations between all of the key figures in Jobs’ life. Portrayed magnificently by Michael Fassbender, we find in Steve Jobs a flawed visionary, as opposed to the saccharine, almost messianic figure found in the Kutcher version. Fassbender extracts and develops every foible nestled within Sorkin’s crackling screenplay – the obsessive preoccupation with seemingly trivial details, the isolating stubbornness and the unyielding belief that he was always right (resulting in a beautifully placed third-act beat when he’s confronted by an inescapable mistake of his own making). The supporting cast is equally strong, with three outstanding performances from Jeff Daniels as Jobs’s father figure-cum-foe John Sculley, Seth Rogen as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Kate Winslet as Jobs’s confidant Joanna Hoffman (sporting a terrific, if also inconsistent, Polish accent). Daniels, Rogen and Winslet each get their time in the light, exchanging witty quips and stinging admonitions with Fassbender. Says Jobs at one point: "It’s like five minutes before every launch everyone goes to the bar and then tells me what they really think of me.” It’s an overly convenient conceit, certainly, but one that also helps ground the story in the personal (rather than technological) demons confronted by its protagonist. All the usual Sorkinisms are there, and the script does at times feel overwritten, with its hyper-theatrics and laconic wordplay labouring to convince you it's cleverer than it actually is. Still, the performances transcend the shortcomings and allow Steve Jobs to provide a balanced and often critical perspective of a man whose determination to change the world did, for the most part, actually succeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEr6K1bwIVs
Beachgoers who aren't so keen on sharing their patch of sand with a swarm of strangers this summer have another (albeit much pricier) option: to buy their very own private beach. Northern NSW property agents Harcourts Northern Rivers have revealed a 22-acre parcel of beachfront has landed on the NSW market, boasting a whopping 500 metres of untouched ocean frontage and a cool $1.95 million price tag. The current Sydney-based owners have had the Patchs Beach Road acreage just south of Ballina for 15 years, though a busy schedule of overseas jaunts means they're now looking to pass it on to someone who'll be able to give it a bit more love and attention. While the idyllic spot currently has zero dwellings, it has been given the go-ahead for a two-level home to be built on 900 square metres. That means you can build a sweet, beachfront pad amid the rolling hills and native vegetation — y'know, with all those leftover pennies. You can check out the listing here if you're so inclined. We can dream. Via realestate.com.au. Images: Harcourts Northern Rivers.
There's a bandwagon riding around Hollywood at the moment, built on books of the young-adult sci-fi dystopia variety. Yes, contemplating teens in trouble in futuristic times is the current trend du jour, one that Insurgent happily mines. The second film based on the popular novels by Veronica Roth, Insurgent picks up where Divergent left off. As a refresher for those with short memories, the time is 200 years from now, and the place is a walled-in, post-apocalyptic Chicago. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) scandalised the factionalised society by daring not to conform to type. Everyone is supposed to fall into one of five categories, but her personality just wouldn’t fit, branding her divergent. After attempting to hide her true nature, incurring the wrath of power-hungry wannabe leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), romancing the sullen Four (Theo James) and threatening to expose a few frightening home truths, Tris is now an enemy of the state — but running can only get her and her pals so far. As Jeanine’s tactics of control over the populace become more violent, rebellion and confrontation becomes Tris’s only option Sound familiar? Of course it does, because you’ve seen this before. Not just in the first film, but in the growing pile exactly like it — The Hunger Games, The Giver and The Maze Runner, just to name a few. Disaffected youth, shady dealings, unscrupulous adults, hidden agendas and the pursuit of the bigger picture: it’s a checklist they all stick to, ticking off items one by one. Slight details change; however, for the most part, everything follows the formula. That feeling, not of deja vu or of second chapter-itis, but of seeing too much of the same thing over and over again, just can’t be shaken in Insurgent, not that director Robert Schwentke (RIPD) seems to be trying too hard. With a moody electronic score reminiscent of Tron: Legacy and bleak visuals of running, scowling and fighting that could be taken from any film, the filmmaker’s vision of events paints by the numbers as much as the material it is based on (a few dream sequences aside). Instead, it is left to the high-profile cast to spice things up. Seeing strong female roles on screen is always welcome, but Woodley’s fired-up heroine and Winslet’s cold villain aren’t given too much new to do but frown and argue. Octavia Spencer flits in and out, woefully underused. Though Naomi Watts joins the ensemble, she’s really just setting up the drama for the two films still to come. It’s actually Miles Teller, fresh from Whiplash and made to play a snarky comic foil, who adds some character to the blandness. He’s clearly the only actor having fun, with no one else looking remotely like they want to be in the movie. That's the problem with bandwagons — the more people jump on them, the more others just want to fall right off. That’s the problem with Insurgent, too, as it just keeps circling around the same old teen dystopian block.
Sydney will play host to the best bartenders in the world next year, when the 11th annual Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final heads Down Under. If you haven't heard of it, the competition pits the best bartenders from over 60 countries against each other. Apart from the main tournament, the competition includes a week-long festival of pop-ups, collaborations and tastings. So, while nothing has been announced just yet, expect Sydney to be buzzing with exciting one-off events come next spring. Launched in 2009, the competition boasts some notable local winners, including Bulletin Place's Tim Philips-Johansson (2012) and, most recently, Lûmé's Orlando Marzo (2018). This year's World Class, held in Glasgow, featured another Aussie finalist: Alex Boon — the lauded bar manager at the Melbourne instalment of The Speakeasy Group's famed Viking-inspired restaurant Mjolner. Bannie Kang of Singapore bar Antidote took out the top gong for 2019. [caption id="attachment_721694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bulletin Place by Cesar Echeverri[/caption] The competition comes to Sydney at an exciting time, too, with Sydney's lockout laws set to be scrapped in the CBD early next year and the City of Sydney planning to introduce 24-hour trading in the area. The CBD is also home to an exciting lineup of new bars — including Maybe Sammy, Employees Only, Prince of York, Cantina OK! and Double Deuce Lounge — which have all opened in the last twelve months, and join world-class stalwarts like Bulletin Place, The Baxter Inn, The Lobo Plantation and PS40. The 11th annual Diego World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final will take place in Sydney in 2020. For more information and to stay up to date, head to the website. Top image: World Class 2018 winners, Orlando Marzo and Alex Boon.
Because you’re reading this, we know you’re not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does RSPCA Queensland. In trying to find permanent homes for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens surrendered into their care from all over the state, they’re bringing all those cuddly creatures to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday 17 January for their first-ever pop-up adoption event. Entry is free, and includes demonstrations, entertainment, food, and activities, as well as RSPCA stalls and information. And then there’s the hundreds of animals waiting for your affection — and for you to take them home with you. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, discounted rates do apply on the day for those willing to adopt an older cat or dog. Kittens and puppies aged under four months will also be looking for someone to love them. The time and place is perfect for many a Brisbane resident, coinciding with the first day of the biannual secondhand free-for-all that is Lifeline Bookfest. Who doesn’t want to go out for a day of book browsing, puppy perusing and cat patting? You might just come home with six month's worth of reading, and a new pal to keep you company. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal serious business. For further information, read RSPCA Queensland’s FAQs.
In 2024, Doja Cat topped the Triple J Hottest 100 of songs from 2023 and added Coachella headliner to her list of achievements. This year, she's notching up a first touring-wise: the superstar's debut arena gigs in Australia. Come December 2025, the 'Say So', 'Kiss Me More' and 'Vegas' talent will hit Brisbane, playing on Saturday, November 29 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Her Aussie (and NZ) shows are part of the rapper's Ma Vie world tour, which also has international stints in Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok and Kaohsiung locked in for December. The run of dates takes its name from Doja Cat's upcoming fifth album Vie. Expect to hear Jack Antonoff- and Y2K-produced single 'Jealous Type' as part of her set, with new tune first debuted live at San Francisco's Outside Lands Music Festival at the beginning of August. [caption id="attachment_1018453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dana Jacobs/WireImage[/caption] Vie follows 2018's Amala, 2019's Hot Pink, Planet Her from 2021 and 2023's Scarlet on the Grammy-winner's discography. It's the latter that delivered 'Paint the Town Red' — 2023's Hottest 100 number one, which marked the first time that a female rapper and woman of colour topped the poll.The tune also sat at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks, was the first rap song to reach those heights in 2023 and topped the Billboard Global 200 chart for four weeks in a row, too. [caption id="attachment_1018452" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacob Webster[/caption] Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Ngon means delicious in Vietnamese. And trust us, the neon sign in the window of this Paddo cafe isn't using hyperbole. Traditional Vietnamese flavours with a fresh twist have made this family-owned eatery a favourite with locals. The Nguyen brothers serve up core classics like pho with eight-hour bone broth and bun cha noodle platters alongside innovative dishes such as Vietnamese iced coffee panna cotta and young rice coated prawn with turmeric mayo. It has weekly show-stopping special dishes, too — sometimes cooked by the owners' mum — including xiu mai meatballs, spicy green papaya salad with pork belly or pipis with holy basil, chilli and lemongrass. It's all about celebrating the flavours of Vietnam — fresh herbs, vibrant chilli, sweet nuoc cham — paired with local produce, and a sizeable drinks menu of house cocktails, Australian wines, cold beers and homemade sodas at this family-run venue.
In the rainforest at the back of Cairns, you'll find locals cooling off at much-loved swimming hole Stoney Creek. Whether you want a quick dip not too far from town or to hike your way to a waterfall further afield, this series of private swimming holes has all your swim cravings covered. It's just a short walk from the carpark in Barron Gorge National Park to the first pool perched underneath a small footbridge. Swim here or continue down the left side of the creek adjacent track past a series of swimming spots before reaching the spilling waters at Old Weir Falls. If you're keen for even more mountain action, head back to the footbridge after a swim at the falls and take the right side track up to Glacier Rock. [caption id="attachment_832593" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption]
Since 2012, Blue Bungalow has been selling top-notch threads designed for all shapes and sizes. Originally focussing on Australian beachwear, the store has grown to feature over 3000 styles from 150 different brands. The flagship store, located in the chic industrial area of Newstead, is open Monday to Saturday for browsing, personal styling sessions and wardrobe refreshes. With an eclectic mix of striking colours, popping prints, neutral patterns and basics, the trick here is knowing what you're looking for and asking the staff for a little guidance. They are serious about making sure you're feeling confident in your new garb.
Thanks to all manner of markets around town, it's rather easy to stock your wardrobe with pre-loved threads. Brisbane's op shops help considerably as well, naturally. Alas, to the dismay of those who like fashion and sleeping in, secondhand shopping is usually a daytime rather than an evening activity — especially in Fortitude Valley. The key word is 'usually'. For one night only on Saturday, December 7, The Station Brisbane is hosting a late-night thrifting session. Forget hitting up a bar — if you're fond of all things sartorial, this is the way you'll want to spend your evening, with it all going down from 5–10pm. As well as recycled clothes, you'll also be able to pick up other vintage and pre-loved items, including a heap of secondhand records. Don't forget to take your post-shopping plans into account, though, given that you might have a new treasure trove to carry around with you. Of course, you can always wear your new outfit.
When you work in the most iconic building in the country, you need an eye-catching uniform to match. That'll soon be the case for the folks making sure that Sydney Opera House runs smoothly, with one of Australia's top designers given the task of coming up with their new threads. In Sydney to open Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia, Lee was named as the fashion figure responsible for Opera House's next uniforms, which will be worn by more than 600 staff. Working closely with the venue's employees over the next 12 months, he'll come up with a fresh look for their tour guides, box office and front-of-house attendants. Given his acclaimed architectural and sculptural aesthetic, he couldn't be a better fit for the job. Indeed, Lee has long admired — and been inspired by — the famous structure. "I first visited the Opera House as a child to see theatre and contemporary dance and I have been a regular ever since," he said. "Meeting the needs of the Opera House's very diverse workforce and making sure the clothes combine elegance and utility, inspiration and practicality is critical. It is important that a cultural icon such as the Opera House projects an image that parallels the architecture of the building." Since 2010, Lee has displayed his wares at the Opera House on four occasions, starting in 2010 when he became the first designer to show in the Concert Hall Northern Foyer, and including this year's headlining Fashion Week show. Long pegged as one of the country's hottest young design talents, over the past seven years he has won the Woolmark Designer Award at Melbourne Fashion Week, the Qantas Spirit of Youth Award, and Best Designer awards for GQ and Marie Claire magazines, as well as designing a range for Target. Images: Dion Lee's 2010 Fashion Week show / Bowen Arico.
Before 2024 is out, Tassis Group is set to open not one but two eateries as part of Kangaroo Point's new green bridge, including an overwater restaurant and a cafe at the foot of the structure. If the hospitality company can find a space to set up shop on a stretch across the Brisbane River, then of course it can also take a gap between two buildings on Edward Street and turn it into modern-Asian restaurant Longwang. If you've ever walked down Edward Street from the Queen Street Mall to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, or vice versa, then you've walked past the site of the River City's latest opening. But, no matter how many times you've passed by, we're guessing that you wouldn't have ever picked that you'd be able to get feasting there — let alone hit up a rooftop bar or cocktail lounge. Obviously, no one tends to look at a void between two commercial towers and think "great place for an eatery", but Michael Tassis did. So, what was once a gap beside 144 Edward Street is now his Brisbane newcomer. While it only measures three metres wide, the two-and-a-half-storey spot stretches back 30 metres and can welcome in up to 175 guests for functions. How does a restaurant, even one as slender as this, take over a former alleyway? Courtesy of custom-built digs, with Clui Design helping out. Although there's a formal dining room, as well as the sky-high bar and venue for cocktails, being flexible is key — including in its function spaces. The idea is that patrons have a different experience onsite each time that they stop by. One constant is the culinary guidance of Executive Chef and partner Jason Margaritis (ex- sAme sAme and Donna Chang in Brisbane, and Spice Temple Melbourne and Sydney). His contemporary take on Asian cuisine, inspired by more than 15 years working with the style, heroes seafood, plus a mix of traditional flavours with modern techniques. Think: a live seafood tank with local mud crabs and Tasmanian rock lobsters, whole fried baby barramundi paired with dry red curry snake beans and bug tail kung pao. From the range of starters, oysters come with spiced coconut vinegar, the prawn and chive pancake is doused in XO sauce, and the fried calamari features tom yum flavours. Smoked river trout and green papaya are the stars of one of the salads, while a hiramasa kingfish curry is also among the mains. Dishes that don't involve the ocean's finest include pan-fried wagyu beef dumplings, braised lamb shoulder massaman curry, tea- smoked and fried half duck, and chicken bao — plus pork belly wok-tossed with sichuan pepper, black bean and chilli. Or, opt for a half chicken from the charcoal grill, as coated in tamarind-heavy satay sauce. For lunch, Longwang does lamb rib sandwiches and dan dan noodles. For dessert, mango pudding, pandan kaya toast and deep-fried ice cream are your choices. If you're hankering for a banquet experience, a seven-course option is only served before 5.30pm and is available for one person for $58 — or, if you're dining with a date, mate or more, there's $89 and $119 feasts. Taking care of the wine list to match is Tassis Group Beverage Director and sommelier Ron Almera, who has curated a mix of old- and new-world wines — all specifically to go perfectly with Asian flavours. And as for the cocktails, you can ask for them to be mixed up to suit your tastebuds whether you're hitting the rooftop or the lounge. While the "long" part of the restaurant's moniker might sound apt given the site's narrow dimensions, the name actually hails from Chinese mythology. Also known as the Dragon King or Dragon God, Longwang commands the seas, so the title reflects the menu's focus. The venue joins the Tassis portfolio alongside Yamas Greek + Drink and Rich & Rare in West End, Opa Bar + Mezze and Massimo Restaurant on Eagle Street in the CBD, Fosh Bar & Restaurant at Portside Wharf in Hamilton and Fatcow in Fortitude Valley. Find Longwang at 144 Edward Street, Brisbane, operating from 11am–late daily. Head to the restaurant's website for further details. Images: Markus Ravik.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has won three Grammys and 11 Latin Grammys, starred in Bullet Train and hosted Saturday Night Live, among plenty of other achievements, but only in 2026 will he finally hit the stage in Australia. In February and March, Bad Bunny will tick a trip Down Under off of his list, bringing his new DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour to Sydney. Named for his latest album, which released in January this year and spent three weeks in a row atop the Billboard 200 chart, the tour will see him become the first Latin act to headline stadiums globally. Only one city on Bad Bunny's jaunt around the planet is Australia, however: the Harbour City, for two shows at ENGIE Stadium across Saturday, February 28–Sunday, March 1. He's playing the New South Wales capital in-between dates in Brazil and Japan, two other countries where the 'Mia', 'Callaíta', 'Qué Pretendes' and 'Vete' singer will perform live for the first time ever. The Puerto Rican superstar's global trek follows his No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí gigs, a 30-date residency at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in his homeland. Before that, he toured North America in 2024, and both North and Latin America in 2022. His DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS shows will take him to Europe for the first time since his 2019 X 100pre tour. On the charts, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, his sixth album, has kept garnering love — also sitting in the Billboard 200 top ten for 13 weeks, taking the number-one slot on Billboard's Latin Albums chart for 16 consecutive weeks and helping him become the first-ever Latin artist with 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries.
For the next month, expect the sound of music to echo across Brisbane's public spaces — through the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha, King Street at Bowen Hills, Sunnybank Plaza, Fairfield Gardens, Brisbane Powerhouse and even the Shorncliffe Pier, just to name a few places. Melodic notes will ring out over Gasworks, Northey Street City Farm, Eagle Street Pier and the end of Logan Road at Woolloongabba as well. Yes, the list goes on. In total, 20 pianos will be scattered around town, all as part of Play Me, I'm Yours. You might've heard of the international artwork before, given that it has been touring the globe since 2008. Over that time, it has placed more than 1900 street pianos in over 60 cities. Now, it's Brisbane's turn to join in the musical fun, all as part of this year's Queensland Music Festival. If you come across an instrument between Friday, July 5 and Sunday, July 28, between the hours of 7am–10pm, the instructions are simple. Just start playing. It's free, and that's all you need to do. Sticking with the concept initially devised by British artist Luke Jerram, each of the pianos has been artfully decorated — so you won't miss them. Image: Play Me, I'm Yours.
