The internet has made everything a lot easier. The technology and anonymity of the internet has eased a lot of things: shopping, communicating, dating (supposedly). It was only a matter of time before criminals took advantage of the virtual world. The Silk Road is a website selling real drugs virtually. Anonymously connecting buyers with sellers of heroin, LSD and cannabis, the website has had to enlarge its servers to handle the increase in traffic since being exposed by mainstream media. The website is infuriating for Australian law enforcement for two reasons: first, with its base of operations overseas Australian Federal Police have no jurisdiction over it, and secondly, the use of a virtual currency, called Bitcoins, means there is no paper trail which would usually lead to suspects. The best case scenario for the good guys is to increase monitoring of incoming online shopping mail. However with online shopping a $30 billion industry in Australia, it seems, at least in the short term, these new drug trafficking methods might prove too difficult to stop. The downfall of the site could be the very thing that has made Ebay such a success – feedback. With customers exchanging money for goods they want guarantees, something that these online drug dealers can’t reliably provide. And of course there will always be the traditionalists who prefer the personal touch of buying from their local flesh-and-blood dealer. [Via SMH]
Bluesfest experts already know that Iron & Wine will be folkify-ing Byron Bay come Easter 2014. But what they don't know (or haven't, until today, at least) is that the Texan singer-songwriter formally known as Sam Beam will be making headline appearances in Sydney and Melbourne. Since his last Australia tour, Iron & Wine has released two albums: the slick and poppy Kiss Each Other Clean (2011), which entered the US Billboard Chart at Number 2, and now, Ghost on Ghost. Representing yet another extension of Beam's creative repertoire, it combines '60s soul influences with dashes of '70s rock. Beam's idiosyncratic voice meets a punchy horn section, string flourishes and retro-style female harmonies. "As an artist, I think you should be exploring all the time," he told American Songwriter recently. "It's a transition in the way you think about your work. If your work is more about the process of working, then you are still in pursuit of good results, but the result is not where you get your satisfaction. It's the process — the process of exploring and doing." Iron & Wine will play the Sydney Opera House on April 22 and Melbourne's Forum Theatre on April 23. Tickets are available via Handsome Tours' website. Photo by Craig Kief.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws its first hangout of 2020. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff with a live broadcast, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty — as well as a dunk tank for everyone and a jumping castle for kids. Plus, you can also bring your doggo. Happy 2020 indeed.
Halloween: love it or hate it, there's no doubt it's growing in popularity here Down Under. And after two years spent on our couches, we'll be damned if we don't use any holiday as an excuse for a celebration. When you're at uni, throwing on a half-assed costume and heading to some sticky beer-soaked party seems like the height of a good time. But if you're reading this you're probably in the over-25 set and would way rather relax on your couch solo than freeze your tail off at a random party in some Reject Shop number — or even worse, watch your friends' kids run around on a sugar high. So we're here to help. We've teamed up with the devilish minds at Devil's Vine to pen a guide to getting into the spirit of things this Halloween — think delicious dining options, movie marathons and costumes guaranteed to impress. [caption id="attachment_873494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Chester Newling.[/caption] HOST A SPOOKY (YET SOPHISTICATED) HALLOWEEN SOIREE Sipping beer out of plastic cups is out — sipping a juicy red at a dinner party with friends is in. Luckily we've got just the ticket: a Devil's Vine wine-soaked Halloween dinner party. We've taken care of the menu, decorations and entertainment options, so head on over to our Halloween guide to get the skinny. HOLD THE ULTIMATE HORROR MOVIE MARATHON Remember those days of staying up all night watching horror flicks with your friends at sleepovers? To get into the Halloween spirit this year, you're going to be holding a version of that with an adult twist. (No, not like that — get your minds out of the gutter). It's all about providing the ultimate in comfort, snacks and wines. One easy way to get your guests into the spirit is to give each of them the task of bringing a Halloween-themed platter. Some of our go-tos are a charcuterie board with 'mouldy' cheese, a platter of pumpkin-spiced treats, or one with only trick-or-treat-worthy lollies and sweets. Drinks-wise, it's all about the vino, and lots of it. Our pick is a Devil's Vine red — it's juicy but not overly sweet, so extremely easy to drink. Pour your cab sauv, merlot, shiraz or red blend into goblet-sized glasses and kick back to watch your flick. [caption id="attachment_859412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] For your movie option, we'd recommend opting for something camp and scarily hilarious — this is about bringing the Halloween spirit, not scaring yourselves so silly that your friends are unable to go home alone. Some of our faves include What We Do in the Shadows, Beetlejuice, Shaun of the Dead, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, The Cabin in the Woods , the OG Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Ready or Not, Tucker & Dale Versus Evil, The Lost Boys and Hocus Pocus (which you can also follow up with the just-released and long-awaited sequel). Being in your comfy 'fits and stuffing yourselves silly also presents the perfect opportunity to tell some "scary" stories of your own over your glass of red — less of the ghost persuasion, though, and more about your mate's recent Tinder nightmare or horrifying mother-in-law tales. And hey, if someone brings out the ouija board, we're not responsible. GOING TO A PARTY? CHOOSE YOUR COSTUME WISELY So your mate convinced you to attend that Halloween party. Maybe the person they're keen to date will be there, or they heard from a friend of a friend it's going to "go off". Hey, we get it — we're pushing thirty but we're not dead yet. But if you're going to do Halloween at our age, you're going to do it right. The days of just throwing on a $5 pair of cat ears are over — you are an adult and will spend money on your costume accordingly. Just like any party, the best part is getting ready, so invite your friends over, pour yourself a glass of Devil's Vine wine and get to work. We've put together some of our favourite costume options to spark some inspo: Barbiecore Be inspired by Tash's incredible dance outfit in the last season of Love Island UK, or Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on skates in Malibu. Think bright pink lycra, big hair, bold lips and chunky dad sneakers. Bridgerton-inspired Regency 'fits Thanks to shows like Bridgerton and The Great, costume shops are absolutely heaving with Regency-inspired pieces these days. Perfect for solo costumes and couples 'fits alike, these ones make it look like you've made a lot of effort while you've actually got it together with minimal fuss. Marilyn Monroe One of the most notable actresses of recent generations is really going through another present-day moment, thanks to Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look and that questionable Netflix movie Blonde. She had so many iconic looks over her time that it's hard to nail one down — but we think if you're looking to give the sequinned treatment, get a nude tight slip like this one and cover it in glitter. Or, opt for a white dress like this one and find the nearest grate. Clueless suits Thanks to Gen Z's ongoing fascination with all things 90s (or what those of a certain age refer to as our childhood), thrift shops are bursting with oversized blazers and mini skirts these days. And if you're attending a Halloween party with a gal pal, you could do much worse than a costume inspired by one of the 90s most enduring duos by donning matching Clueless-inspired 'fits. Find a good checked number in a pale shade and die it yellow — or opt for a navy number if you're more a Dionne than a Cher. Beetlejuice and Lydia Thrift an old black suit, paint some white stripes down it and give your hair a temporary (and very important) spray of white hair paint — job done. For Lydia, either hunt down a red ball gown — or find acres of tulle and get to work with scissors and thread. This Halloween, make a date with Devil's Vine. Available for RRP$11.99 per bottle at Dan Murphy's and RRP$14.99 at per bottle at BWS, head online or in-store to check it out.
"Black..." growls Will Arnett's gruff hero from deep within the movie's opening darkness. "All important movies start with a black screen. And music. Edgy, scary music that would make a parent or studio executive nervous. And logos. Really long and dramatic logos". On and on he goes, making cracks at a production house whose contribution to the film escapes him, having a dig at both Superman and DC comics, quoting Michael Jackson and bragging about his huge pecs and impressive "ninth ab". All, mind you, before the first frame of the movie has even been seen. This is The Lego Batman Movie, aka Captain Meta, where the self-referential humour comes thick and fast from the opening minute to the last. It's a film that gleefully acknowledges the nine Batman flicks that preceded it, including "that weird one in 1966" (notes the hero: "I have aged phenomenally"). And yet, for all the in-jokes and winks to camera, The Lego Batman Movie is, at least thematically, somehow more of a Batman movie than Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin or Zack Snyder's Batman vs Superman, in that it faithfully explores its protagonist's single-most defining characteristic: his crippling isolation. Batman is a loner; a recluse; a vigilante misanthrope whose only joy (and, indeed, purpose) comes from battling criminals. So what would happen, then, if all the criminals were locked away and all of Gotham City were crime-free? Such was the premise at the opening of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, and here, too, it forms the basis of the entire story. It's hence rather a one-note narrative, but thankfully the (many) writers manage to extract enough out of it to fill an enjoyable hour and a half of screen time. Led by a terrific Will Arnett reprising his role from 2014's The Lego Movie, the cast of voice actors here is at once enormous and impressive. Alongside Arnett we find Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, Michael Cera as Robin and Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon, the new Police Commissioner of Gotham City. There's also an extensive cameo list featuring the likes of Channing Tatum as Superman, Conan O'Brien as The Riddler, Zoe Kravitz as Cat Woman, Eddie Izzard as Voldemort and even Siri as Batman's computer. Of course, there's no getting around the fact that this film represents crass commercialism taken to an extraordinary extreme. How many studios would ever deign to include their corporate sponsor in the actual title of their movie (Daniel Craig stars in…Aston-Martin Bond)? As with its predecessor, The Lego Batman Movie is designed to, and succeeds in, showcasing Lego's extensive catalogue of movie and TV-based products, ranging from Harry Potter and Doctor Who through to Godzilla, King Kong and The Wizard of Oz. On the other hand, the film is a funny, clever and engaging piece of cinema that holds almost as much interest for adults as it will the film's target younger audience. Not as finessed or layered as The Lego Movie, this superhero spinoff is nonetheless an entertaining and refreshing take on the big screen's most brooding hero, and proves well worth the price of admission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGQUKzSDhrg
Add Weezer to the list of acts that first made it big decades ago that are hitting our shores again, with the Los Angeles-formed alt-rock band heading Down Under this spring. Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner and Brian Bell will take to the stage in Brisbane as part of a whirlwind three-day, three-show trip — on Sunday, October 8 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Expect the supremely cruisy, holiday vibe-heavy 'Island in the Sun' to get a spin, plus 'Undone — The Sweater Song', 'Buddy Holly', 'El Scorcho', 'Beverly Hills', 'Hash Pip', 'Pork and Beans' and more, all from across the group's three-decade career. [caption id="attachment_912637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Murphy[/caption] Brissie legends Regurgitator will warm up the crowd — another favourite that began rocking the airwaves in the 90s. Weezer love a bit of a nostalgia, at least where their Aussie tours are involved. Back in 2020, they were announced for the Hella Mega Tour's Down Under run, which was meant to hit the country that November with Green Day and Fall Out Boy also headlining. Then the pandemic hit, and the trio's successful worldwide combined gigs cancelled its Australian plans. Top image: Hunter Kahn via Wikimedia Commons.
Giving someone the gift of food or beer can be an easy choice — it's certainly a timesaver, and it's obviously very easy to order if you're in lockdown — but it can also show that you know what they love. And if your dad likes beer and liquorice, he's likely to be more than a little keen on a new limited-edition brew whipped by by Darrell Lea and Nomad Brewing Co. If you're known to have a hankering for both of those things, you might be as well. The beer in question: Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout. It sounds a bit like chocolate bullets in beer form, and its release has been timed for Father's Day. The confectionery company says that it sells plenty of bullets and liquorice at this time of year, so doing a liquorice brew was a straightforward next step. As a result, if you can never quite decide between getting your dad a few brews or his favourite sweets, you've now got another choice. As the name makes plain, Nomad has infused this stout with Darrell Lea's Batch 37 liquorice, with the Sydney-based brewery also adding natural liquorice flavour to the mix. Flavour-wise, as well as liquorice — which is one of those foods that people tend to either adore or abhor — you can expect to a creamy, rich and also bitter taste. You won't find the brew at Darrell Lea stores, though. Instead, you'll need to head to Nomad's website or to a bottle shop. Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout is available via Nomad Brewing Co's website for $11 per can or $45 per four-pack, or via select bottle shops.
Over the course of one year, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei travelled to 23 countries to document the plight of refugees around the world. Australia wasn't one of them -- although it easily could have been. Ai will, however, be heading to our shores in March of next year as part of the 21st Biennale of Sydney, coinciding with the release of the film chronicling his travels, Human Flow. A moving documentary that's mammoth yet intimate in both its scope and impact, Human Flow is pieced together from daily experiences in camps in Afghanistan, Germany, Kenya, Turkey and more, chronicling the personal toll for those trying to find a better life, while also conveying the bigger picture. Thanks to striking aerial shots that capture the sights of mass human migration, the latter proves much more literal in a visual sense than you might initially expect. With Ai also appearing on camera intermittently — conducting interviews, swapping passports and even dancing — his strong feelings about the global refugee crisis also shine through. It's a topic the artist has previously addressed in everything from his studio in Lesbos to his current series of New York fences, with Human Flow proving an empathetic, urgent and impassioned addition to his body of work. Ai Weiwei's piece Law of the Journey — a 70-metre suspended inflatable rubber raft with figures — will also be on display at Cockatoo Island during his visit, forming part of the Biennale from 16 March until 11 June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5F7-RwVgM Human Flow opens in Australian cinemas on March 15, 2018. The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from Friday March 16, until Monday June 11, 2018. Image: Director Ai Weiwei in Human Flow, an Amazon Studios release. Photo Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a bar. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a more organised fashion. Occurring on the second Thursday of each month, Pub Choir heads to new digs in the back area of The Elephant Hotel from its September outing, which means that the Valley will be alive with the sound of music. Participation costs $10, plus whatever you'd like to drink — and yes, singing and sipping go hand-in-hand. And, if you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you?
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a bar. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a more organised fashion. The event happens monthly; however, after a year of getting musical with a crowd, they're throwing an extra special shindig to celebrate their first year. On March 15, Pub Choir will be heading on over to The Triffid for what's certain to be a loud birthday party — and yes, that means Newstead will be alive with the sound of music this time around. Just like the usual get-togethers, participation costs $10, plus whatever you'd like to drink — and yes, singing and sipping go hand-in-hand. There'll also be cake and special guests, plus more merriment after the sing-along stops. Oh, and a t-shirt gun, apparently. If you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you?
Those masters of dark yet joyful surf rock are back with a one more album and one less band member. After weathering a near-breakup, this newly downsized dup are returning to Australia for a full national tour to usher in the lazy summer months. If one thing's for sure, fans will get something different from what they've seen before. The band's new album Encyclopedia is a blunter, simpler take on their classic sound. The Drums' own brand of misanthropy is more persistent and when paired with their characteristic whistling and hand clapping give the band a new eerie quality. In the face of original member Connor Hanwick's desertion earlier in the year and a fan base that seems to have gradually forgotten their favourite kings of the summer roadtrip soundtrack, The Drums have come back with a new kind of emotion behind the same sound. Get set for a new incarnation of The Drums, clapping their hands and shaking their fists. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nWc4mZoGK2k
The Belvedere wants to take you to Mexico this June. For an entire month, the 124-year-old hotel in Redcliffe is hosting a fiesta, packed with free tacos, bottomless sessions, tequila masterclasses and mariachi bands. Drop in any Friday from 3–5pm for Mexican Happy Hour, then head back on Saturday or Sunday at 3pm for a bottomless session. $110 will buy you two hours of endless margs, wines, tap beers, soft drinks and cocktails, alongside as many tacos, hot chips, corn chips and guacamole, and churros as you can handle. Want free tacos? Swing by on Tuesday, June 10, and, with every purchase of a jug of margarita, that's exactly what you'll get. Meanwhile, Wednesday, June 11, is dedicated to $15 enchiladas. There's also a bunch of one-off events throughout the month. Catch a tequila masterclass on Thursday, June 12; join the Day of the Dead Party from 9pm on Saturday, June 14; and kick back to a mariachi band from 2pm on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Check out the whole program on the Belvedere's website.
Does scouring the city for secondhand threads get you out of bed in the morning? If so, come March 22, you'd best stay up and shopping until well into the evening. That's when Never Ever Pay Retail is hosting its Late Night Thrifting session — and while hitting the racks between 5pm and 8pm isn't all that late in most circles, it is when it comes to the vintage and pre-loved game. In fact, the event's host — the ingeniously named Studio Thrifty 4 — is only normally open during the daytime on weekends, so this Thursday night shindig is special for them. The same applies to SWOP Clothing Exchange, the source of the evening's wares. They might boast two Brisbane stores, but they only usually stay open past 6pm on Friday nights. If that doesn't all sound great enough, in keeping with the venue's usual set-up, everything on offer costs $5. No more, no less. Trawl through clothing and accessories, nab a bargain, grab a caffeinated brew from She Bangs Coffee or something stronger at the bar — and, if you're keen to get a head start, jump on a VIP early entry ticket for $15, which gets you in the door before everyone else plus Champagnes on arrival. Even better: all proceeds will go to Pay A Sack Forward, meaning that more than your wardrobe will thank you.
Fish Lane's Town Square is putting its patch of pavement to good use, with markets now popping up in the South Brisbane spot. While bars and eateries line the laneway, and festivals have taken it over as well, 2021 marked the first time that Fish Lane has hosted its own stalls — and given you a reason to head by to browse and buy locally made art, ceramics and other goods. Get ready for another first: Fish Lane's first Christmas markets. Making its debut from 9am–1pm on Sunday, December 19, it'll span more than 40 stalls filled with everything from fashion, plants, art and jewellery to natural skincare and accessories for your dog. In fact, the road between Hope and Grey streets will be closed down for the day to accommodate the market — and you can obviously bring your four-legged friend with you as you browse. Food-wise, Fish Lane's existing cafes and eateries will keep you feed and caffeinated, so you can add a visit to Cups on Melbourne or The Paladar to your itinerary. For lunch, Julius, Southside, La Lune Wine Co, Chu The Phat, Big Roddy's and Grassfed will all be tempting your tastebuds
It's time to get festive beneath one of Newstead's most striking features: the Gasometer. For two nights in 2024 — one in November, one in December — The Market Folk is taking over the eye-catching Gasworks space, bring a heap of stalls with it and helping you finish your Christmas shopping (because, let's face it, no one ever gets 100-percent of their gift buying done too far in advance). From 5–9pm on Saturday, November 30 and Saturday, December 14, the Gasworks Plaza precinct will be home to plenty of market stalls as the sun goes down, all brimming with items that'd make perfect presents (for your loved ones, and for yourself). [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] If you're wondering just what kinds of things you can expect to pick up, think fashion, art, homewares, ceramics and vintage goods — and plants as well — from 40-plus businesses. There'll be a particular focus on Brisbane creatives, too. So, you'll also be gifting them some Christmas cheer by supporting their hard work. These markets include live music on the lawn, plus bites and drinks from surrounding eateries and bars. And, they're also doggo-friendly. On the November date, you can also catch a free outdoor Christmas movie. [caption id="attachment_814294" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
The third time's the charm for Scott Wings, as he brings his latest show to Anywhere Theatre Festival for the third year in a row. Well, each time has proven the charm for the award-winning performance artist, really; however, here, he's trying something his fans might not expect. In Colossi, imaginary creatures clash with imaginary friends in a playful one-man piece that promises to be physical and poetic. Wings himself describes it as "a yin to the yang of my previous show, Icarus Falling", and it takes place on a bridge in a mini-rainforest, so audiences really are in for something different. May 7-8, 14-17 and 21-24, 6.00pm. This is one of our top five picks of the Anywhere Festival. Check out the rest.
In preparation for the release of her super-hyped, internet-breaking personal memoir Not That Kind of Girl, your spirit animal Lena Dunham has created a 12-part web series. Taking the whole 'voice of her generation' thing to its logical conclusion, Dunham poses as an agony aunt for people's personal and relationship problems and dishes out some stellar advice. Namely, don't date garbage men and don't yell 'vagina' in inappropriate public places (at home is obviously fine). Though Dunham has worked hard to differentiate herself from her on-air persona Hannah Horvath, it's interesting to note the similarities. For all her faults, the narcissistic Girls character is at least a feminist and a thinker. Here's how the two compare: Takeaway advice: Wear booty shorts and rock on with your bad self. Takeaway advice: Don't bother counting almonds, love your size and rock it in a romper. Takeaway advice: Don't waste time with bad friends. Takeaway advice: Don't fuck garbage people (or something like that). Takeaway advice: The personal is political. Write about whatever you want. Takeaway advice: Ask for help. Mental illness is just as serious as any other disease. Takeaway advice: Bullies are just sad ol' meanies. Takeaway advice: Eating your own stockings doesn't necessarily lead to lots of orgasms. Takeaway advice: Sometimes people just aren't right for each other. Takeaway advice: We're all going to die and Lena Dunham's life is much better than yours. Takeaway advice: We can all be successful, just make a fatty to-do list and hit that shit hard. Takeaway advice: Screaming 'vagina' in a chocolate store is apparently a bad thing. Not That Kind of Girl is released in the US on September 30. Expect overanalysed excerpts on Gawker not long after that.
Whether you call them chips, fries or frites, there's something irresistible about warm, golden slivers of potato. We all know it's true. That's probably why Caxton Street's newest addition dedicates a big portion of their menu to them. You don't open a pub dedicated to frites and burgers without offering up plenty of everyone's favourite side dish, after all. Revamping the space on the corner of Caxton Street that Casablanca's called home for 23 years, Fritzenberger Frites and Burger Brew Pub serves up exactly what its name suggests. Order up a batch, then visit the Fritzensalt station to shower them in all of the seasonings you can dream of, including Twisties-flavoured salt. Yes, really. Or, pick the loaded option stacked with candied bacon, cheese sauce, green onions and Fritzensauce. Anyone with a sweet tooth will then want to treat themselves to a dessert helping of sugar frites, made churro-style and topped with your choice or raspberry ketchup, hot chocolate or toffee sauce. With ice cream burgers, iceberg lettuce wedges with blue cheese and croutons, and Fritzen wings also on the menu, it's safe to say that you won't find this selection at any old greasy spoon. And while Fritzenburger serves up yet another take on one of Brissie's most enduring trends (burgers, duh — available here in six different varieties), you don't hear the city's collective stomachs complaining. With its own microbrewery on-site, the drinks side of the equation is also a huge drawcard (because every burger and fries combo tastes better when it's washed down with a beverage). Expect to enjoy plenty of house brews, and just a great vibe all round. Fritzenberger is the latest project from the bright minds behind Harajuku Gyoza, so they know a thing or two about mixing tasty food with brews. Find Fritzenberger Frites and Burger Brew Pub at 52 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane City. Check out their website and Facebook page for more details.
Come September, one of the most peaceful patches of the CBD will become the most fiery. Don't worry, it's only temporary. Already a hit everywhere from Stonehenge to The Kremlin to Melbourne, French art collective Compagnie Carabosse is bringing its acclaimed Fire Gardens to town as part of this year's Brisbane Festival. While the full Brisbane Festival program won't hit until July, this sprawling — and suitably glowing — installation is worth getting hot and bothered about already (in a good way, of course). For the four nights between Wednesday, September 11 and Saturday, September 14, Fire Gardens will take over the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens in Alice Street, filling the Gardens Point spot with thousands of fire pots, sculptures and terracotta urns. Pathways will be illuminated, burning pyres will sit in trees, huge spheres will roar and crackle with flames, and structures will be set alight in the middle of ponds. The installation will also take visitors through a blazing maze-like realm, and feature luminous animatronic sculptures. Given that the group has been starting fires professionally for more than 20 years, Compagnie Carabosse knows what it's doing — not only when it comes to safely cloaking a huge expanse of grass, plants and trees in flames, but in tapping into humanity's innate fondness for and primal attraction to fire. This isn't just about watching things burn, obviously, with a mysterious soundtrack boosting the mood and allure. Expect live musicians performing French music, adding to the radiant ambience. More than 40,000 people are expected to make their way through the huge work, so nabbing a ticket in advance is recommended when they go on sale on Wednesday, May 29 (with pre-sales from Monday, May 27). Prices will rise from $25 to $33 the longer they're available, with the cheapest options put up first. Once you've nabbed your spot, blaze-loving Brisbanites can enter at five times each night — in half-hour blocks from 6–8.30pm — and once you're inside, you can stay until close at 9.30pm. Although Fire Gardens has popped up around the world, this iteration will be crafted specifically for the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. That means that you really won't see anything like it anywhere else. And, of course, you haven't seen the gardens set on fire before anyway. Fire Gardens comes to Brisbane as part of this year's Brisbane Festival, running from Wednesday, September 11 to Saturday, September 14, with pre-sales starting on Monday, May 27 and general tickets on sale on Wednesday, May 29. Images: Sylvie Monier, Regina Marcenkiene and Vincent Muteau.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Sony has announced that Ghostbusters: Afterlife will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, July 2, 2020, with the film now hitting cinemas on March 25, 2021. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. There's something strange in the town of Summerville and a group of kids are calling upon themselves to bust it. That's the premise of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which swaps New York for Oklahoma and grown men (and women) for children — and jumps firmly on the Stranger Things-led 80s nostalgia bandwagon. Whether siblings Phoebe (Annabelle Comes Home's McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard) are seeing things runnin' through their heads or they'll catch an invisible man sleepin' in their beds is yet to be seen, but the film's first trailer does lay out the basics of this threequel's plot. The central duo has moved to the isolated locale with their mother (Widows' Carrie Coon), and into a rundown old house they've inherited from their grandfather. It's filled with ghost traps, containers of spores, mould and fungus, beige jumpsuits emblazoned with the name 'Spengler' and a very familiar car — which might come in handy when the ground starts shaking for no reason and a mysterious green light starts glowing. Paul Rudd also stars as teacher Mr Grooberson, who schools the kids in Ghostbusters lore — because this is a direct sequel to the original 1984 Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. In the just-dropped sneak peek, the original characters appear in news footage, and Bill Murray's voice is heard; however, Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are all set to reprise their roles in the film. (Harold Ramis, aka Spengler, passed away in 2014). Because bustin' makes everyone feel good, the Afterlife trailer is filled with other nods to the first two films, with writer/director Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) making both obvious and subtle references to the movies originally directed by his dad Ivan Reitman. Still, let's not forget that a great recent Ghostbusters film already exists, thanks to Paul Feig's wrongly maligned all-female version from 2016 — although Afterlife seems to be glossing over that. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZFCF--uRY After being delayed from its original release date of July 2, 2020, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will now open in Australian cinemas on March 25, 2021.
The annual Spanish Film Festival is about to flamenco its way into town. From July 11 to 22, Fortitude Valley’s Palace Centro cinemas will be filled with the best of Spanish and Latin American film. Now in its 15th season, this year’s film festival presents an array of films – comedy, drama, animation and thriller – all picked to showcase the best Spanish talent. As Luck Would Have It (La chispa de la vida), starring Salma Hayek, is picked to be a standout film of the festival. The Berlinale and Tribeca Film Festival favourite tells the story of an out-of-work publicist who suffers an accident and plans to sell exclusive interview rights to provide money for his family. The screenings are only part of the Spanish film festival – there are the Opening and Closing night parties. Wear your comfiest dancing shoes, as these Spaniards really do know how to host a fiesta.
We've all been there. It's a 40-degree day and you're hanging out for a cold beverage but you're fresh out and the bottle shop feels like miles away. You can venture out in the hot sun, risking heatstroke or you can sit back, unwind and summon your own personal delivery driver to deliver a chilled frothy right to your door. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings is making that second option a reality that won't break the bank, with $2 delivery throughout summer. Jimmy Brings offers delivery on a range of alcohol, including summer standards like Furphy, Corona and Four Pines, an expansive wine list, plus gin, vodka, whisky and Aperol just to name a few. The beverage that's all the rage right now, seltzer, is also available if you find yourself in need of an on-demand White Claw. If you're out of snacks or need a bag of ice for your esky, Jimmy Brings can save you a trip to the servo, too, by delivering Red Rock Deli chips, Lindt chocolate, Red Bull, limes, Berocca and ice to your door. It's a great solution to keep in your back pocket for the inevitable time when you forget to bring ice to a barbecue or are out of Red Bull before a night out. To get cheap delivery, you'll need to download the app and enter the code 'summer' — then your delivery fee will fall to just $2. To check if delivery is available in your area, browse the menu and download the app, head to the Jimmy Brings website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Not content with knocking out Brisbane diners with their Street Fighter-themed burgers, one of the masterminds behind Super Combo is cooking up another addition to King Street. From June 16, Michael Nham will bring Banoi north, opening the first Queensland venture for his Melbourne-based Vietnamese restaurant. Banoi is taking over the space next door to their burger joint, so if you've grabbed a Hadoken, Sonic Boom or Yoga Flame in Bowen Hills and noticed the adjacent construction zone, now you know why. With the eatery's name meaning "grandma" and its dishes based on Nham's grandmother's recipes, modern homestyle Vietnamese will be on the menu at the 85-seat venue, and plenty of it. Banoi will serve lunch and dinner for both dining in and taking away. As for the specific meals on offer, Nham and his Banoi collaborator Viet Nguyen will replicate their Melbourne lineup, so prepare for a tasty feast. Four types of spring rolls, six kinds of rice paper rolls with seven dipping sauces, six different banh mi and two phos covers the basics, but that's just the beginning. Banoi tacos feature steamed Vietnamese taco buns filled with pork belly, garlic and soy chicken, tempura soft shell crab, and barbecue pork patties, while the cold Cao Lầu noodles are infused with the flavours of Hoi An. Speciality dishes include pancakes of the steamed rice and crispy variety, with banana fritters and coconut tapioca on the dessert list. Making good news even better, Banoi isn't just showering Brisbane with authentic cuisine — to celebrate their opening, they're giving away free meals. On launch day, all signature lunch and dinner sets will cost dine-in patrons absolutely nothing. Don't walk, run. Find Banoi at King Street, Bowen Hills from June 16. Head to their website and Facebook page for more information.
Streaming platforms, superheroes and Star Wars have become modern life's new certainties, with instances of each continuing to pop up all over the place. When Disney launches its own next big venture, they'll all combine, unsurprisingly — and with the company's own streaming service set to arrive in 2019, the mouse house has begun revealing the details. The platform will be known as Disney+, and will be home to not one but two small-screen Star Wars series, as well as at least one Marvel series as well. Given that Disney owns both Lucasfilm and Marvel Entertainment, it's highly likely that the service will boast an entire galaxy of shows related to each huge franchise. In fact, you could probably walk into a cantina somewhere and make a safe bet on it. There have been 10 Star Wars films and 20 Marvel movies in cinemas already, after all. Fans of the George Lucas-created space opera can not only look forward to the previously announced $100 million Star Wars series The Mandalorian from The Jungle Book, Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau (and with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi helming an episode), but also a new spin-off from Rogue One. The latter will be set before the events of the film and will focus on Rebel spy Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna reprising his role from the movie. In the Marvel sphere, while a number of shows have been rumoured for months, Disney have announced that Tom Hiddleston's trickster Loki will definitely be getting his own series. Just what storyline it'll follow, or when it'll be set, is yet to be revealed. That said, it's safe to assume that it might be a prequel series as well. Release dates for both series haven't been unveiled either — and nor has any word on the other Marvel show that has long been rumoured, about Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. Disney+ is definitely going big when it comes to bringing the company's well-known properties to the new streaming platform, with a High School Musical TV series, another show based on Monsters, Inc. and a live-action Lady and the Tramp movie also on its lineup. Via The Walt Disney Company. Image: Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War. Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Photo: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2018.
One of the country's major artistic figures until her passing in 2011, Margaret Olley is an Australian greatly worth celebrating. Educated in Brisbane, and spending a significant part of her life here afterwards, she's also somewhat of a local icon. But Olley's impact extends beyond the vivid canvases that she's best known for. Over her nearly 90-year existence, she was also a mentor to others, a muse to many, and a devoted collector and donor of art herself. While Margaret Olley: A Generous Life showcases Olley's work, it also highlights her broad influence. Here, across more than 100 paintings and drawings, visitors to the Gallery of Modern Art can see her own famous pieces, pictures of her by other artists, and even pieces that she bought and gave to public institutions. On display until Sunday, October 13, the exhibition marks her life and legacy — and, to emphasise the latter, runs alongside GOMA's simultaneous Quilty exhibition (which focuses on her good friend Ben Quilty) from Saturday, June 29. Free to attend, A Generous Life steps through everything that made Olley's career what it was, so expect plenty of portraits, still life works and paintings of interiors. Expect to rove your eyes of art by European greats such as Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Giorgio Morandi, Pablo Picasso and Édouard Vuillard, too — they're just some of her important purchases. Image: Margaret Olley. Australia, b.1923. Pomegranates in a basket. 1967. Oil on board / 76 × 101cm. Private collection.
Variety might be the spice of life, as the saying goes, but we’re pretty certain that it’s a necessary seasoning for comedy, too. Being the diverse bunch that we all are, an eclectic array of things can make each and every one of us dissolve into fits of giggles. Like the range of options showcased at an event dedicated to tickling our funny bones, you’re probably thinking. For Brisbanites, that’d be the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse’s yearly showcase of humour and hilarity. In 2016, they’ve selected the best local and international talent for an amusing onslaught of more than 45 performers over 26 days. If you like those stats, we have one to add: expect the resulting laughter to cause thousands of sore stomachs, or so we're guessing. BCF has also had the smarts to put these ten performances on the bill, aka our picks of the entire fest. Because one good turn deserves another, we think you should return the favour by checking them out.
Twirling elegantly around the stage as part of a world-class ballet performance is one thing, but just imagine getting to do so kitted out in stunning outfits by Jean Paul Gaultier. Announced today, a dark contemporary retelling of Snow White by France's Ballet Preljocaj is set to hit both Sydney and Melbourne this winter, complete with a wardrobe of captivating costumes by the internationally acclaimed haute couture designer. Gaultier's work will complement what promises to be a multi-sensory masterpiece; the show features choreography from renowned French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, gorgeous set design by celebrated artist Thierry Leproust and a soundtrack of lush Gustav Mahler symphonies. Preljocaj's Snow White adaptation made its Australian debut at QPAC for the 2016 Brisbane Festival, last year scoring the Helpmann Award for Best Ballet. "I was very keen to tell a story, offer something magical and enchanted," explained Preljocaj. "I have followed the version by the Grimm Brothers, with just a few personal variations based on my own analysis of the symbols in the tale". Snow White will only run for five shows at the Sydney Opera House before heading to Melbourne's State Theatre for six performances. Ballet Preljocaj's Snow White will run at the Sydney Opera House from June 6–10 and at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 1–5, 2018. Tickets to the Melbourne show are currently on sale here, and tickets to Sydney will go on sale at 9am on Monday, March 19 here. Images: Jean-Claude Carbonne. Updated: March 15, 2018.
Former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning has announced a huge, 17-date national tour — including several all-ages shows — to promote his debut album, Battleships, out June 7 on Dew Process/Universal. It's been a long wait for Fanning fans (which, in keeping with the precedent set by Beliebers and Directioners, we'll henceforth be calling Fan-nings), with this tour their first opportunity to see the great man since Powderfinger's farewell tour in 2010. He'll be traversing the country, from Nambour to Hobart, along with his special guests, Big Scary and Vance Joy. And if you're in Townsville on August 17, you'll get a special mini-festival when that already-awesome lineup is bolstered by The Rubens, The Medics AND Snakadaktal. With Fanning also announced for Splendour in the Grass following hot on the heels of the release of the album's debut single (and title track), it's sure to be a busy few months for one of Australia's favourite songwriters. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 7, via an exclusive fan club presale through bernardfanning.com. The Telstra Thanks presale is available from Wednesday, May 8, before the public on-sale kicks off on Friday, May 10.
There's no doubt the early buzz surrounding Australia's new dockless bike sharing services took a pretty quick turn south, as the rogue bikes started clogging up footpaths and waterways across Sydney and Melbourne. But that hasn't stopped the Beijing company behind smartphone-enabled share bike service Ofo from setting its sights on Australia. Ofo launched locally this week, kicking off its Aussie pilot program with a fleet of 50 yellow bikes in Adelaide and plans to roll out in Sydney and Melbourne over the coming months. Billed as the world's first and largest dockless bike sharing platform and available in 180 countries across the globe, Ofo reckons it's ironed out the kinks in this whole share bike game. Firstly, the Ofo app indicates 'preferred parking' zones, to discourage riders from dumping their bikes on any old bit of footpath. Then there's the company's monitoring system, which uses thermodynamic diagrams to monitor the bikes distribution. The company's also got a local team on the ground, checking the bikes twice a day, shifting wayward bikes back to the proper zones and fixing any damages. As with Uber, Ofo also implements a credit rating system — well-behaved riders will earn points, while those who park outside the preferred zones and neglect to move them back will have points deducted. New users will score their first Ofo ride for free, with subsequent trips paid via debit or credit card priced at $1 for every half hour. Ofo has just launched in Adelaide, with a national rollout to follow in the coming months. For more info, visit ofo.com.
UPDATE, August 12, 2020: Toy Story 4 is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. With Toy Story 4, Pixar returns to the franchise that brought it to fame. Nine years after their last cinematic adventure, the animation studio takes beloved cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) back out of the toy box, alongside his nemesis-turned-friend Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and their other fun-sized pals. On paper, it's a familiar, frequently used and hardly surprising move. While the Disney-owned company was once famous for championing new stories, its slate has been filled with follow-ups of late — this is a time when sequels, spin-offs, remakes and revivals monopolise our viewing, and when successful sagas seem like they could stretch on forever, after all. But in the process of giving the world its fourth Toy Story movie, Pixar does something that few others are even willing to contemplate: it offers up a farewell. Since it burst onto screens in 1995, the Toy Story series hasn't been afraid of goodbyes. It hasn't been frightened by the fact that everything evolves and comes to an end, either. The saga's first film contemplated the idea that Woody's time at the top of the pile might be over, with his owner Andy seemingly choosing a new favourite in Buzz. How Woody coped with his potential ousting drove the entire narrative, while similar themes of displacement, loss and moving on also featured in both 1999's Toy Story 2 and 2010's Toy Story 3. Wrapping up the franchise, Toy Story 4 continues the trend — contemplating what it means to realise that a part of your life is finishing, to embrace an unknown future, and to do so on your own terms. With Woody and company now the property of kindergarten-aged tyke Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), much has changed in the Toy Story realm. All-too-often, the cowboy is stripped of his sheriff's badge and left in the cupboard during playtime — and his status slips further when, after sneaking into her backpack on her first day of pre-school orientation, Woody unwittingly helps Bonnie make another friend out of a plastic spork. Forky (Tony Hale), as she names the new critter, is now the number one plaything. Alas, to Woody's dismay, the Frankenstein's monster-esque piece of cutlery would rather be trash. When Forky attempts to escape to freedom during a family road trip, Woody puts Bonnie's best interests at heart and jumps out of the RV after him, embarking on an adventure to bring the spork back. Every child has screamed with sadness and anger when they've misplaced their favourite toy, and anyone who says they didn't when they were a kid is lying. Today, plenty of adults do the same thing — it's just called social media. Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley shows how Bonnie reacts when she realises that Forky is missing, however with a smart story credited to seven other writers (including initial Toy Story director John Lasseter, Wall-E's Andrew Stanton and Parks and Recreation actor Rashida Jones), the film also delves further into loss, change and their impact. Via Woody's own journey, it examines what this process genuinely feels like when you're facing these experiences head-on and with purpose, rather than simply throwing a tantrum. You could say that the movie grapples with its own place in the pop culture domain, too, and you'd be correct. Given that its original viewers have literally grown from toddlers to adults over the franchise's run, encouraging them to break out of their entertainment comfort zones is a particularly savvy touch. Reflective, sweet, sensitive and virtually guaranteed to wring a response out of even the most cynical of viewers, Toy Story 4 is a classic Pixar piece as a result — the type of film that lets humans work through the complicated feelings they usually bury deep, all by watching animated toys express sentiments we rarely have the courage to utter, and tussle with topics we'd much rather ignore. It's a layered piece of storytelling also, with subplots involving Bo Peep's (Annie Potts) blossoming independence and 50s-era newcomer Gabby Gabby's (Christina Hendricks) quest to be loved each delicately and astutely handled. Both narrative threads tie into the movie's overarching message as well: that continuing on as usual, just because that's easy and safe, is rarely the best option. You can't take the 'toy' out of Toy Story, of course, not that Pixar would want to. At its best, this saga is as imaginative, amusing and fun as it is thoughtful, with bright, bouncy animation to match — and, returning to the heights of the first film, the franchise is at its best again here. With anarchic stuffed toys voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, plus the one-and-only Keanu Reeves lending his slow-spoken swagger to charismatic daredevil figurine Duke Caboom, the series doesn't lack in spark or laughs. Visually, it doesn't forget to pair its story with vivid images, plenty of detail and a plethora of top cinematic nods either. And while melancholy may reign supreme, it's earned. That's the reality of sifting through nostalgia, remembering what's come and gone, and knowing that the future will always be different. More Toy Story fare may eventually hit screens, because money, however this fourth toy box tale well and truly provides a perfect ending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl9JS8-gnWQ
It's time to get festive beneath one of Newstead's most striking features: the Gasometer. For one night in December, The Market Folk is taking over the eye-catching Gasworks space, bring a heap of stalls with it and helping you finish your Christmas shopping — because, let's face it, no one ever gets 100-percent of their gift buying done too far in advance. From 5–9pm on Saturday, December 9, the Gasworks Plaza precinct will be home to plenty of market stalls as the sun goes down, all brimming with items that'd make perfect presents (for your loved ones, and for yourself). [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] If you're wondering just what kinds of things you can expect to pick up, think fashion, art, homewares, ceramics and vintage goods — and plants as well — from 40-plus businesses. There'll be a particular focus on Brisbane creatives, too. So, you'll also be gifting them some Christmas cheer by supporting their hard work. These markets include live music on the lawn, plus bites and drinks from surrounding eateries and bars. And, they're also doggo-friendly. [caption id="attachment_814294" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
Sydney Film Festival is swapping indie films for an Indy film for one big night to close out its 2023 event. Heading to the Harbour City straight from premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, and featuring Harrison Ford back in the hat, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will officially wrap up the New South Wales capital's annual cinema tribute when this year's festival wraps up on Sunday, June 18. SFF is no stranger to big Hollywood flicks, of course — Pixar's Elemental is one such title already in the 2023 lineup — but it's going the action blockbuster route with its closing-night slot. The latest and fifth Indiana Jones entry will enjoy its Australian premiere at the fest, ahead of opening in Aussie cinemas on Wednesday, June 28. "Indiana Jones has held a special place in the hearts of audiences around the world for over 40 years," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing the fest's closer for 2023 two weeks after the event's full program was unveiled. "We are thrilled to close on such a high note and offer Australian audiences the first chance to experience this incredible sequel to a cinematic classic." Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny arrives 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark made archaeologist Indiana Jones one of the most famous big-screen characters there is, 39 years since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom gave it a sequel, 34 years after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade initially seemed to wrap things up and 15 years since Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull got things going again. As well as bringing back its legendary star fresh from proving a cantankerous delight in streaming comedy Shrinking, in what's been dubbed his final appearance as Indy, the new film also makes a few fresh stellar casting moves. Getting Fleabag favourite Phoebe Waller-Bridge onboard is clearly one of them. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny heads back to the 60s, and uses the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union as a backdrop. Story-wise, the also supremely well-cast Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) leads a group of Nazis trying to use the movie's titular trinket to change the past and claim power — a gadget that Helena (Waller-Bridge), Indy's goddaughter, has her own plans for in the name of capitalism. The archaeologist's latest outing brings in a few changes to the series, with Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans) out of the director's chair for the first time ever, handing over the reins to Logan and Ford v Ferrari's James Mangold. And, George Lucas doesn't have a part in the script, either, with Mangold co-scripting with Ford v Ferrari's Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. That said, the famous John Williams-composed theme will soundtrack the action again — and echo through Sydney's State Theatre. Check out the full trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below: Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets. After closing the Sydney Film Festival, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Images: © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
If catching public transport was your regular mode of transport back in your teen days, then you might remember a golden rule: no eating on the school bus. However engrained that directive might be all these years later, Da Biuso wants you to ignore it. How else are you going to tuck into a degustation dinner in its meals-on-wheels setup inside a mobile coach? Due to hit the road across Brisbane before 2022 is out, the unique eatery hails from head chef Biagio Biuso — a veteran of Fortitude Valley's Casa Nostra Ristorante — with his wife Sarah and their son Joseph. The aim: to pair top-notch fine-dining degustations with regularly changing locations, all in the kind of venue that the city truly doesn't already have. Another big motivation: nodding to Brissie's old tram services. "Brisbane has never experienced something like this," said Biagio. "Our menu specifics remain a surprise for now, but Da Biuso is about great food, fresh and beautiful ingredients, and good wine." "Most importantly, Da Biuso is about providing a truly warm and beautiful experience for our customers, to be there with them to celebrate life's beautiful moments," he continued. "This is why we only want to have a small venue, so that we can spend the time nurturing our customers and bringing the connection and the comfort back to dining." Small genuinely does mean small, although the fact that Da Biuso will call an old bus home – an old school bus, in fact — gives that away. It'll seat 12, serving up Mediterranean-inspired meals made with seasonal produce, and with the Sicilian-raised and -trained Biagio and his family on hand at every service. Sarah will take on the lead sommelier and maître d' gigs, while Joseph also in the kitchen beside his father. Alongside the menu, exactly where in the inner city Da Biuso will pop up hasn't yet been announced, pending council approval. But, to answer the key question, the eatery will remain stationary during meal service. Set to be decked out with an elegant fitout, it'll also be available for private functions, and for catering. Da Biuso is set to launch sometime before the end of 2022. We'll update you with an exact date when it is announced — keep an eye on the venue's website in the interim. Images: Morgan Roberts.
Stuff. I know I have too much of it. And storage? Far too little. This weekend I just finished reading What's Mine Is Yours, a book by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers advocating collaborative consumption. Basically, it talks about all the avenues through which people swap, share, barter, trade and rent on a massive scale with the help of communication technologies like the interwebs. I was left staggered by the sheer amount of stuff I own which spends most of its time in my possession gathering dust. How exciting, then, to stumble upon a solution to my problem both local and nation-wide in its reach. The Garage Sale Trail will be held on Sunday, April 10 this year in backyards, front yards and garages right across Australia. You can register your garage sale on the website, and on the day people can hop between garage sales in their local area. Pop in your post-code to check out what's near you. The pilot project held in Bondi last year attracted droves of people, emptied ATMs in the area and saw the equivalent of 15 shipping containers of goods exchanging hands. Sounds like a pretty sweet way to get sustainable. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AuOBz7FF7z4
Since 2008, it's been oh so quiet in Australia. Since the Big Day Out that year, Icelandic icon Björk hasn't toured the country to perform full shows, only coming to Sydney to do DJ sets at Vivid in 2016. But that'll change in 2023, all thanks to the singer's Cornucopia tour; however, if you're keen to check it out — which you should be — then you'll need to make sure you're in Perth. Perth residents, congrats — you're in for a treat, as every Björk show always is. Everyone else, heading to Western Australia should be on your must-do list on March 3, 6, 9 or 12, the dates that the star will take to the stage at Langley Park during 2023's Perth Festival. [caption id="attachment_875283" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton-Jones[/caption] These will be Björk's only Aussie gigs, and take place in a purpose-built, 100 metre by 55 metre pavilion at the venue — which is being badged "a cybersonic Garden of Eden where nature and technology come together in perfect harmony" — that can host almost 5000 people per evening. Expect colours, futuristic screens, a whole lot of nature imagery, stunning costumes, Björk's tunes (obviously) and a multi-sensory experience all round. The musician's 2017 album Utopia is the focus of the Cornucopia tour and the production that goes with it, which debuted back in 2019 in Manhattan. Still, Björk has been playing a few songs from the rest of her career as part of the setlist, including 1993's 'Venus As a Boy', 1995's 'Isobel', and 2001's 'Hidden Place' and 'Pagan Poetry'. [caption id="attachment_875280" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Santiago Felipe[/caption] Fans of tunes like 'Army of Me', 'Hyperballad', 'It's Oh So Quiet', 'Violently Happy' and 'Big Time Sensuality' mightn't hear their favourite track, sorry — but the dazzling spectacle of the Cornucopia gigs, which is co-directed by acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel (Zama) promises to be a sight to behold. The tour comes to Perth after previous other stops in Mexico City, Brussels, Luxembourg, London, Glasgow, Dublin, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Los Angeles and San Francisco — and before two Tokyo gigs. Tickets go on sale from 12pm AWST on Thursday, October 27 (for pre-sales) and 12pm AWST on Thursday, November 2 (for general sales). As for the rest of the Perth Festival lineup — if you're looking for other things to do around Björk's shows, whether you're a local or plan to be a visitor — it's announced on Thursday, October 27. Bjork will play Perth Festival 2023, at Langley Park, 103 Birdiya Drive, Perth, on March 3, 6, 9 and 12, 2023. Ticket pre-sales start at 12pm AWST on Thursday, October 27, with general sales from 12pm AWST on Thursday, November 2. For more information, or to sign up for pre-sale access, head to the Perth Festival website. Top images: William Murray via Wikimedia Commons / Santiago Felipe.
Ngaiire, Mojo Juju and Ali Barter will headline a diverse lineup of artists at next year's Gaytimes music festival. Set to take place over three days and two nights at the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort an hour and a half outside of Melbourne (where Paradise is held), the LGBTQI-friendly event will feature more than 35 local and international music acts, as well as art shows, film screenings, speed dating and more. As the organisers put it: it's the camping festival "of your big gay dreams." The 18+ festival runs from February 17 to 19. Other standout acts who'll take the stage include New York DJ JD Samson, Unearthed High winner Gretta Ray, Berlin House act Fritz Helder and psych pop group Broadway Sounds. In addition to the tunes, the festival will feature an array of additional action, from performance and visual art to yoga. The festival is BYO but will also boast an on-site cocktail bar, while food and coffee will also be on sale. In keeping with their inclusive approach, Gaytimes will offer gender neutral bathrooms, and will enforce a no tolerance policy for anti-social, homophobic, transphobic or racist behaviour. Don't be a jerk, and you should be A-OK First release tickets and VIP glamping packages went on sale today. The festival is limited to 1000 entries, so snap them up quick. For more information and tickets visit Gaytimes' website.
The chef behind of Brisbane's favourite Japanese eateries is opening an izakaya at one of the River City's top new events for 2023. The figure: Taro Akimoto from Taro's Ramen, one of Brissie's best spots to get slurping. The new venture: a pop-up at Brisbane Powerhouse. And the event: Night Feast, the neon-lit night food market that returns for a month of delicious dishes in October. Akimoto is joining forces with Sapporo for Sapporo Izakaya by Taro, one of the new additions to Night Feast's second season from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29. The chef responsible for Taro's Ramen's four outposts will be in charge of the menu, while Sapporo ambassador and beer sensei Shinichiro Shimo will pair his dishes with brews, all in a space that's been designed and crafted to bring a classic Japanese restaurant experience to New Farm's riverside. That's just one of Night Feast's upcoming October highlights. Coming back for season two in 2023 was always in the works, with the event announced in 2022 as a twice-yearly affair. It debuted in March to great success — more than 125,000 people ate and drank their way through the night market's first-ever season, with 67,258 wontons, 28,352 skewers and 6306 oysters devoured in the process — and now aims to beat that with its winning blend of food, booze and art. One key difference, of course, is celebrating spring instead of autumn. Eateries Donna Chang, Gerard's Bistro, E'cco Bistro, Dalton Catering, Saison Salumi, LouisB, Lek's Thai, Mary Mae's, Hoy Pinoy, Wonderbao, Anchelee and Bugsters don't care about the change of season, locking in their second round at Night Feast after also serving up bites in March. This time, they'll be joined on the food lineup by Essa, Nota, Southside, Bar Alto, The Green and Nosferatu Gin (who'll also be doing dessert), as well as MAYA and La Mano. Exactly what each eatery will be dishing up hasn't been revealed as yet, but duck, waffles and birria tacos are being teased, along with a mezze spread. Communal dining is one of Night Feast's big focuses — including in the returning garden lounge — plus having the restaurants taking part in Night Feast to dish up the absolute top thing on their menus. In March, that meant tucking into every spot's signature options, just by the river in New Farm. "Some of Brisbane's finest restaurants will delight our palates this October with a delectable selection of dishes that not only showcase the exceptional skills of our local chefs but also highlight the best produce in the region," advises Lizzie Loel, Night Feast's food curator. The event's hit recipe also spans entertainment. "Night Feast is more than just a food festival; it's a celebration of creativity in all its forms," explains Kate Gould, Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and Artistic Director. In October, attendees can look forward to For Whom the Bell Tolls, Bridie Hooper's mix of circus and the sounds of, yes, a bell; a wandering serenade by The Huxleys, who are also on Brisbane Powerhouse's LGBTQIA+ MELT Festival's lineup for spring; and Multitudes by Tin and Ed, aka ten lit-up giants that'll tower over the precinct (and, thematically, offer a fitting successor to Amanda Parer's Fantastic Planet in March). Live tunes will provide by a soundtrack by a roster of talents that includes Hol Hibbo, Aunty Stan, Benny Chiu, Dameeeela, Josh Armour, Neesha Alexander and more — and QUIVR DJs will bring the beats. Night Feast returns for spring in 2023 from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29 at Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm. For more information, head to the event's website. Images: Pixel Frame / Markus Ravik / Lachlan Douglas.
A new book by London based journalist and photographer, William Parry, explores the relationship between art and politics in Palestine. A series of poignant photos capture the essence of a quiet, stoic rebellion — the graffiti that adorns Israel's wall. The spirit of resistance portrayed in Parry's book, Against The Wall, is compelling, and haunting in its very existence, exposing an open wound that seems unlikely to heal any time soon. With photographed work by iconic artists including Banksy and Ron English alongside work by Palestinian artists and activists, Against The Wall is an exercise in documenting solidarity and rebellion, acts that have become somewhat of a rarity in the modern day. The artworks adorning the wall highlight the suffering in Palestine; the lives torn apart by relentless fighting, and appeal to a hope for a brighter day, to the end of darkness. Alongside the images of street art are moving portraits and powerful prose that further accentuate the spirit of the people, and their constant struggle against a myriad of injustices. Against The Wall
It's Australia's only major film festival organised by an art gallery — and it's back for another round of cinematic fun. Hosted by the Gallery of Modern Art for the second consecutive year, the Brisbane International Film Festival leans into its unique setting. Where else can you watch a world premiere documentary about a great Australian artist, then wander through an exhibition showcasing the same figure? Or see a whole strand of movies that owe more than a little something to the stage, then get immersed in a mixed-media showcase that explores the same topic? As always, BIFF boasts plenty of other highlights — screening between Thursday, October 3 and Sunday, October 13 at GOMA and a number of other Brisbane cinemas, the full lineup spans more than 100 titles. From proven favourites to new discoveries to retro delights, here's our must-see picks from the 2019 program. OVER THE RAINBOW Some topics just keep luring us all in, and the Church of Scientology is one of them. It's the cinematic equivalent of quicksand — no matter how unsettling every film on the subject proves (and, let's face it, they're all disturbing), they're near-impossible to escape. Filled with incredulous first-hand accounts that range beyond Louis Theroux's My Scientology Movie and Alex Gibney's Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (and Paul Thomas Anderson's fictional drama The Master, too), Over the Rainbow spends time with folks who've fallen under the organisation's powerful thrall, whether in the past or still today. They share their tales to documentarian Jeffrey Peixoto, who lets their words tell the story — and lets his visuals plunge viewers into their mindset. The result is a moving, immersive exploration of an ominous and infuriating realm, complete with an entrancing score by Aussie band HTRK. At BIFF, the band will also be in attendance, performing the whole thing live as the fascinating film plays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPRG5Nnf_4M THE CAT RESCUERS Adorable and heartbreaking in equal measure, The Cat Rescuers charts the efforts to care for New York's growing stray cat population. While the Big Apple is known for its human-sized hustle and bustle, it's very much a haven for felines as well. In fact, there are as many cute kitties roaming the streets as there are living with two-legged owners. Flitting between four particularly dedicated cat-loving NYC residents over the course of several years, filmmakers Rob Fruchtman and Steve Lawrence scratch their way through the associated ups and downs — the mousers saved and sent to happy homes, the ones scrounging for food and struggling in the snow, and the toll it all takes emotionally. Like Istanbul-set cat documentary Kedi and Santiago-set canine film Los Reyes, this heartwrenching movie not paints a portrait of the animals within its frames, but of the city they call home, and of the way that society treats its vulnerable four-legged inhabitants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEjFOkCKb3g PAIN AND GLORY Antonio Banderas has a rich, multi-decade filmography across both Spanish and Hollywood cinema to his name, including his previous work with auteur Pedro Almodovar. And yet, he's never been better than in Pain and Glory, which won him this year's Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award. Almodovar hasn't been in as fine a form in years either — not since he took Banderas into completely different territory with The Skin I Live In. With Penelope Cruz also featuring, re-teaming with his original stars and lightly drawing from his own past is clearly working for the celebrated director. There's such a quiet, thorny and tender core to this account of an ageing filmmaker (Banderas) rueing love lost and choices made, all while trying to manage his failing body, reconnecting with an old acquaintance, and falling back into memories of his mother (Cruz). There's such a glorious command of colour and movement in the film's evocative imagery, too. This is a film to get lost in, and in its sumptuously, sweepingly handled titular emotions as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBF0CfbfhA THE THIRD WIFE With The Third Wife, writer/director Ash Mayfair draws upon her own family history, making an exceptional filmmaking debut in the process. Gorgeously shot and movingly performed, this 19th century-set Vietnamese drama follows the arrival of 14-year-old May (Nguyen Phuong Tra My) into a rich family. She's marrying in and, as the title makes plain, becoming the third wife to a wealthy landowner. With little choice or agency, she's forced to fall into place in a strictly patriarchal society — navigating the existing familial order, finding a place among her new husband's other spouses, and bearing the weight of expectation that, because of her youthful age, she'll finally extend the bloodline by bearing a son. As May's story ebbs and flows, Mayfair spins a touching tale of desire and oppression that both looks to the past and simmers with modern-day relevance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d1KP-OhBP4 LITTLE MONSTERS Just when you think you've seen absolutely every zombie film there is to see, and then you've gnawed your way through a few more, too, Little Monsters offers its take on the genre. And, if a dose of Aussie humour wasn't enough, it enlists Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o — who was last seen spreading unease in Us — as an undead-fighting school teacher. Taking her five-year-old students on an excursion to a farm, Miss Caroline soon finds more than animals nipping at their heels, with the ravenous masses coming a-chomping. Josh Gad plays a bowtie-wearing children's TV presenter, Alexander England pops up as a slacker musician, and the whole thing comes from the mind of actor-turned filmmaker Abe Forsythe, aka the writer/director who managed to both satirise the Cronulla riots and make a strong anti-racism statement in 2016's Down Under. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrUkRs8wDo0 COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD True crime, political scandal, conspiracy theories — if you're keen on any of the above, this year's Sundance World Cinema — Documentary winner is like catnip. As he tends to do, Danish TV host and documentarian Mads Brügger (The Ambassador) hones in a tale that's both completely outlandish and firmly steeped in reality. His subject in in Cold Case Hammarskjöld: the 1961 death, in a plane crash in Zambia, of Swedish economist and UN Secretary-General Dag Hammersjköld. That the titular figure was killed was attempting to assuage the ongoing conflict in the Congo has raised suspicions across Africa for decades, so Brügger amasses and unpacks all of the evidence that he can find. Lengthy, detailed and engrossing, the result is a story that needs to be seen to be believed — although, if you can't quite place your faith in all of its claims, that comes with the filmmaker's purposefully provocative approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn_-YoG69Sw PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE Every obvious fiery term applies to Céline Sciamma's lush romantic drama. It simmers carefully, burns slowly and, after waiting for its embers to spark, sets the screen alight. Stepping back to 18th-century Brittany, the assured French filmmaker spins a yearning tale of passion and desire — of knowing that your greatest needs can only be satisfied fleetingly, grappling with that fact and relishing what brief happiness you can. Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) is a betrothed woman who refuses to sit for a traditional wedding portrait, much to her mother's (Valeria Golino) dismay. Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is the painter called in not just to commit the bride-to-be's likeness to canvas, but to do so surreptitiously while acting as her companion. As friendship and more blooms between the two, Sciamma's exquisite feel for unspoken emotion and inner awakenings blazes brightly, as it did in Water Lilies, Tomboy and Girlhood. Also evident is the writer/director's masterful way with her actors, and with stirring visual compositions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTlhjBUikVw YOUNG AHMED In the past two decades, Belgium's Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have directed eight films. Many, like L'Enfant and Two Days, One Night, are masterpieces — and a whopping seven of them have scored awards or special mentions at the Cannes Film Festival. Those prize-winning ranks also spans their latest, Young Ahmed, which nabbed the brothers this year's Best Director gong. Applying their trademark understated, humanist and observational approach to a radicalised Belgian teen, they grapple with an increasingly common topic: the extremist path that can sometimes beckon to socially isolated young men. In Ahmed's (Idir Ben Addi) case, the otherwise average Muslim high schooler's life changes when a forceful imam (Othmane Moumen) introduces him to incendiary ideas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qn70iqo-4Q MONOS The relentlessness of modern life, the ongoing unrest in Colombia, and the ceaseless trials and tribulations that plague all teens facing adulthood — they all sit at the centre of stunning South America-set thriller Monos. Set in a camp of teen guerrillas, Alejandro Landes' third film follows gun-toting rebels that have barely said goodbye to childhood, but are still tasked with guarding an American hostage (Julianne Nicholson). Unsurprisingly, even with nothing around but fields, jungle, a cow to milk and occasional enemy fire, little goes according to plan. Engagingly lingering between a dark fairytale and a psychological treatise on war, combat and humanity's dog-eat-dog nature, the result is one of the year's definite standouts. From the eye-popping landscape cinematography, to the needling tension of Mica Levi's score, to the commanding performance from the young cast, there's a reason that Monos keeps proving a festival hit around the globe, including winning Sundance's Special Jury Award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VBsi0VxiLg ROMEO + JULIET When BIFF announced its first 2019 titles a couple of months back, it promised a spectacular (spectacular) lineup in one specific way. With Baz Luhrmann and his frequent collaborator Catherine Martin acting as the festival's patrons this year, a feast of their flicks was always going to happen — and if you only find time to revisit one on the big screen, then Romeo + Juliet demands your attention. Long before he was Rick Dalton, Leonardo DiCaprio played half of the world's most famous infatuated couple, with Claire Danes joining him as the similarly ill-fated Juliet to his Romeo. As everyone has known for centuries, William Shakespeare's tragedy is a tale of heartbreaking potency; in Luhrmann's hands, it's brought to life with unparalleled movement, colour, style and immediacy (and, as plenty of parties keep reminding us, with a killer soundtrack as well). Still have room for a few more movies? Don't worry, we have a few more suggestions. From our rundown of Australian titles to check out this year, Emu Runner is screening at BIFF. And, from our Berlinale highlights, so is The Souvenir, Varda by Agnes and Ghost Town Anthology as well. Back at the Sydney Film Festival, we couldn't recommend In My Blood It Runs, In Fabric highly enough. Once the fest was over, we also added Judy & Punch and The Dead Don't Die to our picks. At MIFF, we buzzed about Memory: The Origins of Alien, Matthias & Maxime, The Day Shall Come and The Wild Goose Lake before the fest — and Beanpole and The Grand Bizarre afterwards. Yep, there's plenty to watch. The 2019 Brisbane International Film Festival runs from Thursday, October 3 to Sunday, October 13 at a variety of Brisbane venues. For further information, and to book tickets, head to the festival website.
It's time to get schwifty, Rick and Morty fans — again. Last year, everyone's favourite interdimensional adventurers finally returned for their fourth season, with a certain eccentric scientist and his anxious grandson causing plenty of chaos throughout the multiverse across five characteristically anarchic episodes. To the delight of R&M fans everywhere, however, there's more where that came from. In fact, 2019's batch of episodes only covered half of the animated sitcom's fourth season — and the second set of five episodes is heading to the small screen this year. It'll start dropping week-to-week on Netflix Down Under from Wednesday, May 6, running through until Wednesday, June 3. That means that Australian and New Zealand viewers have to wait a couple of extra days compared to audiences in the US, where episodes will air on Sundays — but that's a much, much shorter delay than the gap between the show's third season in 2017 and its fourth in 2019. In the trailer for the new episodes, Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (both voiced by show co-creator Justin Roiland) are still doing what they do best: not just aping a concept straight out of Back to the Future (aka a lab coat-wearing old man, his teenage sidekick, and their time- and space-jumping antics), but wreaking havoc in as many universes as they can stumble across. Also back are Morty's mother Beth (Sarah Chalke), father Jerry (Chris Parnell) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer). Watch the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPDqQDTnJKE As always, the new episodes will rejoin the smartest Rick and Morty-est Morty in the universe — and, behind the scenes, feature the smart comic writing of Roiland and Community's Dan Harmon. And, while five new episodes mightn't seem like much, there's still even more to come, with the show renewed for a huge 70 episodes by US network Adult Swim in 2018 (which is more than double the 31 that the comedy aired before season four started). If you're more excited about new R&M than Mr Meeseeks and Mr Poopybutthole are about just being themselves, then there's more good news, with Adult Swim also dropping a five-minute-long online mini-episode to tide fans over until the next full episodes hit. Prepare to meet Rick WTM-72 and Shogun Morty in Samurai & Shogun. Wubba lubba dub dub indeed. Check out Samurai & Shogun below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=BSF5yoD-vC4&feature=emb_logo The final five episodes of Rick and Morty's fourth season will hit Netflix Down Under weekly from Wednesday, May 6.
When the long-awaited sequel to Black Panther hits cinemas, one thing will obviously be different, with star Chadwick Boseman sadly passing away in 2020. Just what that means for the series is yet to be announced — but Disney, the company behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has revealed that it'll be returning to Wakanda more than once in the near future. It's very likely that Black Panther II will be another enormous hit, and that more movies will follow. But the Mouse House's latest announcement actually involves broadening the Black Panther world, rather than just continuing it. That's slated to happen via a just-announced new spinoff series for Disney+, which'll be based in the Kingdom of Wakanda. What it'll be about, which characters will feature and who will star in the show all haven't been revealed. Neither has a name for the series, in fact. Still, the new program will hail from writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed the original Black Panther film — and will do the same on the upcoming follow-up flick. All three of Coogler's movies to-date — Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther — have featured Michael B Jordan, so you have reason enough to start dreaming about his involvement in the new Wakanda series. Of course, the events of Black Panther might seem to preclude that, but the MCU has been known to get playful when it wants to bring its star talent back (see also: WandaVision). Interestingly, Jordan told People magazine in late January that he'd be open to returning to the franchise if he was asked. Coogler's company, Proximity Media, has signed a deal with Disney to develop multiple new television series, so you can look forward to more than one new project with his involvement — although only one linked to Black Panther has been announced. Whenever it joins your streaming queue, the Wakanda show will join a growing list of new TV series set within the MCU. The aforementioned WandaVision is streaming now, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier launches in March, Loki is set to follow in May, and others about Hawkeye, Ms Marvel, She-Hulk and more are also on Disney+'s upcoming slate. For now, while you're awaiting your return trip to Wakanda, you can check out the trailer for the original Black Panther film below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU Disney+'s new series set in Wakanda doesn't yet have a release date — or a title. We'll update you when further details are announced. Via Marvel. Images: Marvel Studios.
It kicked off more than four decades ago with one of the best horror movies ever made; however, the Halloween franchise has been through quite a few ups and downs over the years. Clocking up ten follow-ups and 11 movies in total so far, the slasher series initially created by the great John Carpenter has delivered excellent and terrible sequels, veered into remake territory, both killed off and brought back its heroine, and completely erased parts of its own past several times. And, like its mask-wearing villain Michael Myers, it always finds a way to go on. Since 2018's Halloween, that's been especially great news — with the Jamie Lee Curtis-starring, Jason Blum-produced 11th flick in the franchise proving a smart, thrilling horror delight, and ranking second only to the movie that started it all. Indeed, the film was such a success that two more sequels are set to come from the same team (aka Blum, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-scribe Danny McBride): Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Originally, Halloween Kills was due to hit screens last year, in October — when else? — but, as announced in 2020 by franchise creator John Carpenter, it moved back its release to October this year. That's now fast approaching, with fans soon able to make a return trip to Haddonfield. Yes, that means that Curtis' spirited Laurie Strode will have another altercation with her lifelong nemesis, too — because, when it's at its best, that's what this franchise is all about. Picking up where its immediate predecessor left off, Halloween Kills will also take a few cues from another movie in the series, as its just-dropped first trailer shows. Not one but two sneak peeks last year set the scene for the saga's 12th entry, but this full trailer dives deep into the storyline. Following the events of the last film, Laurie ends up in hospital with life-threatening injuries just as Michael starts stalking through Haddonfield again — which is the same storyline that Halloween II followed exactly 40 years ago. Thankfully, if the last flick is any guide, Halloween Kills shouldn't prove a needless remake. Green and McBride did a stellar job of nodding to the past while finding a new way forward with 2018's Halloween, after all — and leaving horror fans definitely wanting more. This time, too, Laurie and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer, Valley Girl) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak, Son) team up with other survivors of Michael's rampages and decide to hunt down their attacker. Check out the full Halloween Kills trailer below: Halloween Kills will release in Australian cinemas on October 14, 2021. Top image: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
Before you start thinking that poetry is a long obsolete art form better suited for Shakespearian era romantics, do yourself a favour and check out the Judith Wright Centre this weekend. Trust us, you might be surprised. The Queensland Poetry Festival is on for its 16th year in a row. This makes it one of the longest running festivals in town, so obviously there is something here that captures the imagination. The QPF is hailed as Australia’s premier festival for poetic endeavour, and I’m inclined to agree, with over 40 artists (including Holly Throsby, pictured) from all parts of the globe on hand to inspire and ignite your passion for poetry. Check out the QPF website for timetables and more information.
True crime and Cluedo collide when CluedUpp comes to Brisbane. The interactive detective game is coming our way on Saturday, December 7, bringing the classic board game to life on the streets of the city — with a slight twist. The outdoor adventure will take you back to 1960s London to solve the double murder of the famous Kray twins. While the Kray twins were very real, very notorious British gangsters, they were not murdered IRL, just in this murder mystery. Forget Colonel Mustard with the candlestick in the study — this event will bring you and your friends closer to reality and out onto the streets to solve the case. The game will kick off at a secret Brisbane location between 10am–1pm and, depending how good of a detective you are, will finish sometime before 5pm. The best news of all, however, is that the event is dog friendly — and there are prizes to be won by both human and canine detectives. All you need to play is some friends and your phone. Dressing up as 1960s gangsters is encouraged, so you can really get yourself into character. A ticket will set you back $67 per team of six, but you only need two humans to play. With only 100 teams available, get in quick for your chance to solve the mystery.
Lake Air is the fourth studio album to come from Sydney’s Dappled Cities. Dappled Cities have risen to prominence thanks to their brand of infectious dance-rock and their latest group of songs look to continue this trend of success. The album has received rave reviews since its release in early August and the lead single ‘Born at the Right Time’ has been a success as well. European electro-pop maestro, JAPE, will be joining the band on their national tour. JAPE’s lastest album Ocean Of Frequency recently won the Irish Album Of The Year, so you know that there will be some exceptional music on display. Be sure to get to The Zoo to catch these guys, you won’t regret it.
Can’t make friends? There’s an app for that. Do you find you’re too busy checking in and tweeting to meet actual people? Help is at hand. Agora, created at the first foursquare Hackathon by Pierre Valade, will find like-minded folk for you. The app finds people who are checked in near you, and then works out if you have common interests based on your Twitter feeds. It then sends you both a tweet suggesting you meet up, with a link to each other’s Twitter accounts so you can check if the algorithm’s compatibility score is on the money. Ingeniously, since the matching is done through Twitter, it can introduce you to people who don’t have the app themselves. Of course, it does mean you’ll have to stop posting all those ironic tweets about Justin Bieber’s haircut, otherwise you’ll end up being introduced to a busload of tweens. [via PSFK]
very special guests INXS and New Zealand pop-rock legends Evermore, Matchbox Twenty come to Brisbane. For two dates this weekend Matchbox Twenty return to Australia for the first time since 2008, two months on from the release of their fourth studio album, North. Belting out classics from their extensive back catalogue like 'Push', 'If You’re Gone', 'Unwell' and '3am', the Floridian foursome will be joined by Aussie giants INXS, who are touring with new lead vocalist Ciaran Gribbin and celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their classic album, Kick. Matchbox Twenty are known for their multi-platinum selling albums and singles, with sales topping thirty million across the world, and 1.6 million in Australia. INXS’s career can never be overplayed, and Evermore too have a string of platinum hits.
This Christmas, all you need is love — and a festive little cabaret that showcases all of the hit tunes from Love Actually. It's the way to celebrate the season when you're not watching the seasonal favourite flick with a live orchestra, or just leaving it on repeat at home. Yep, that's Christmas Actually. Created by the folks behind Rumour Has It and Lady Beatle, and starring Naomi Price (Ladies in Black, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Christmas Actually features all of the tracks that've become synonymous with this merry time of year — including Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', naturally. To help belt them out, Price will be joined by fellow vocalists Stefanie Caccamo (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Luke Kennedy (The Voice Australia) and Tom Oliver (Velvet). There'll even be more than one nativity lobster, plus a jolly mood and a whole room full of festive cheer. That room is La Boite's Roundhouse Theatre, where Christmas Actually plays from Wednesday, November 27–Saturday, December 7. Get excited by revisiting Love Actually's trailer below. Tis the season, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWvZEaAdiDg
If your idea of a perfect evening out of the house involves staying in a hotel, lounging around in comfy robes and tucking into plenty of dessert, then you might want to make a date with QT Sydney's latest addition. For an entire month, the Market Street site is devoting one of its suites to Tim Tams. Yes, it's theming the room after the beloved chocolate biscuits — and, yes, eating them while you're there is definitely on the menu. From Tuesday, February 16–Tuesday, March 16, QT Sydney's Tim Tam suite will welcome in dessert fiends for an indulgent night away from home. Some of the usual amenities will be Tim Tam-themed, so you'll be thinking about bikkies when you pop on your robe, slippers and sleep mask. You might want to pay close attention to the wall art, too, as one piece will emit a chocolate scent. Because you'll obviously be feeling more than a little peckish, you can also order as many Tim Tams from the room service menu as you like — and they're complimentary. Or, bust out your wallet and take your pick from a custom-designed in-room menu filled with Tim Tam-inspired sweet treats, which specifically take their cues from the biscuit brand's current 'Crafted Collection' range. It includes coffee crumpets with coffee ice cream and crumble; mango parfait with macadamia, white chocolate crumble and passionfruit; and another mango dish that combines mango sabayon cheesecake, white chocolate and vanilla bavarois, fresh mango and shards of yoghurt meringue crisp. If you opt for the 'Tim Tam Tira Misu', you'll get layers of coffee Tim Tam, Kahlua-soaked savoiardi sponge, macerated strawberries, mascarpone cream and pieces of couverture chocolate. Head down to the onsite spa, and you can also have a coffee wrap treatment inspired by Tim Tams as well. The suite is available to book for the month, or you can enter a competition to win a night there, as run by Arnott's and QT Hotels. Five folks will score an overnight stay, which also includes travel credits to get to Sydney if you don't live locally, plus $250 to use on dessert and amenities during your hotel visit. You'll need to be available between March 8–12, and you'll need to explain why you want to stay in the suite in 25 words or less as part of your entry (which, let's be honest, really shouldn't be difficult). And if you're wondering why the Tim Tam suite has come about, it's part of a promotion tied in with the aforementioned new Tim Tam range. Also, February 16 is National Tim Tam day, because there really is a day for everything. To book a night in QT Sydney's Tim Tam Suite — which is available between Tuesday, February 16–Tuesday, March 16 — head to the QT Hotels website. To enter the competition to win an overnight stay in the suite, hop over to the Arnott's website.
