If you've had more than a couple of cups of coffee from Brisbane cafes in your lifetime, then you've had a cup of Genovese. The enticing aroma of their Super Brazil blend has probably lured you in the door of your local, and you might've even bought their take-home packs too. Now, you can head straight to the source at Coorparoo's Little Genovese. Yes, the Italian-style roasters have opened their own espresso bar. There's no prizes for guessing what's on the menu here, and if the hints of caramel, chocolate and nuts in their main brew aren't to your liking, you'll also find a rotating array of seasonal blends too. Cakes, pastries and other snacks from local bakeries also feature, as do a smattering of the usual breakfast and lunch options. Yes, they serve avo on toast and a variety of eggs; however if you can manage to pass up the five-cheese toastie, then you have killer willpower. And if all that hasn't given you enough reasons to stop by, then checking out their warehouse digs should. When it comes to cool spaces for coffee places, Little Genovese is up there with the best of them, complete with artwork by Fintan Magee on their walls.
Whether you think you can dance or know for a fact that you can't, we have got a hell of an at-home activity for you. Groove Therapy has brought its judgement-free classes online and is charging just $8 a pop. The relaxed, 35-minute live streamed classes for the aspiring street dancer in all of us run most nights at 6 or 6.30pm AEST via Zoom. From Sunday–Thursday, you can partake in a Sweats in Sweats class — where you'll stretch it out and learn a mini-choreography — then on Friday the founder of Mission Stiletto Cassandra Merwood will run you through a playful class in stilettos (if you want, otherwise barefoot is just fine). Indeed, the classes are designed for beginner students who might feel intimidated by a more professional environment. Don't let that fool you though, because the instructors are legit, and will have you popping and locking in no time. It's perfect for those of us who dream of burning up the dance floor, but have never had the moves to back it up. If you'd like to sink your teeth into a longer dance program, Groove Therapy also offers four online dance courses, which you can progress through at your own rate. Kick things off with the 16-class Beginner 1: Grooves (for $69); level up with Party Dances ($89), which'll teach you everything from the moonwalk to the running man, then complete your education with House 1 ($89) and 11 ($69). You'll be ready to rip up the disco dance floor in no time. Images: Gracie Steindl
Arguably the worst part of travel is the bit where you actually have to travel. Sitting in an over-cramped, over-air-conditioned metal tube for 20+ hours almost makes post-pasta swims in the Mediterranean seem too much trouble than it's worth (almost). But until we're at The Fifth Element stage where we can just hop in a capsule and get knocked out cold for the duration of the journey, we'll just have to be content with airlines' attempts at cutting down flight times and transfers. In huge news for Aussie travellers, Qantas over the weekend announced they will start operating a direct flight from Australia to Europe from March 2018. Thanks to their new Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft — which is set to start flying in October 2017 — the airline's non-stop flights from Perth to London will take approximately 17 hours. It will be considerably quicker than their current route, which, with their partnership with Emirates, includes a rather hellish stopover in Dubai (as all stopovers are). It would be the first and only direct flight from Australia to Europe. "This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a Qantas press release. "Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge." We first reported on this back in October, when Qantas were still in negotiations with the Western Australian Government and Perth Airport to lock down the new route. It seems they managed to reach an agreement, as the new Perth-London flight will operate from Qantas' domestic terminal at Perth Airport, to make the stopover as smooth as possible for travellers coming from other states. The airline recently revealed the layout for their new Dreamliner fleet, which will be two-thirds the size of the 747s they will eventually replace and have only 236 seats (as opposed to the 747's 364 seats). Economy will have a 3:3:3 seat situation (as opposed to the 3:4:3), as well as USB ports and an extra inch of leg room. Hurrah for leg room! Plus, they also revealed some new branding, which includes new typography on the side of their planes. The Perth to London route will start operating in March 2018, and flights will go on sale from April 2017.
When New Zealand comedy Nude Tuesday hits screens Down Under this winter, it'll be business time. Despite what star Jemaine Clement has sung in Flight of the Conchords, however, few folks on-screen will still be wearing their socks. Birthday suits are the preferred attire here, as made plain in the new movie's name. It does follow an unhappy couple who are gifted a trip to a remote couples' retreat to help save their marriage — a spot where getting in the buff often is recommended — after all. Playing that duo: fellow NZ treasure Jackie van Beek, who co-starred with Clement in What We Do in the Shadows, and Australian The Tourist actor Damon Herriman. And no, the latter isn't portraying Charles Manson, as he did in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Laura and Bruno, the pair's characters, find scenic sights awaiting at their mountainside getaway — and also Clement as Bjorg Rassmussen. Laughter workshops, tantric dance, sexual liberation and emotional animals all pop up, too, as does baring all to truly work out how they are. See: the just-dropped and very funny trailer. All that flesh, and that cast, is one reason that Nude Tuesday stands out. The other: it's entirely spoken in a made-up language. The cast improvised gibberish as they filmed, and British comedian and writer Julia Davis (Camping) then came up with the subtitles for the movie afterwards. There was a script behind the narrative, though — penned by van Beek, who also co-wrote and co-directed fellow NZ comedy The Breaker Upperers. Here, van Beek came up with the story with filmmaker Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water), who is on helming duties. New Zealanders will be able to see how it all turns out in cinemas on June 16, while Nude Tuesday hits Australian cinemas on June 23 — and will also stream in the latter via Stan from July 7. In Australia, multiple versions of the movie will make their way to streaming, including one subtitled by Aussie comedians Celia Pacquola and Ronny Chieng. Check out the Nude Tuesday trailer below: Nude Tuesday opens in New Zealand cinemas on June 16, in Australian cinemas on June 23, and will stream via Stan in Australia from July 7.
So your local music store is basically out of business, the chain stores are full of crappy pop on overpriced CDs, and op shops are clueing to the fact they can charge a lot more than $1 for that quality Ziggy Stardust LP — where are we supposed to snag our vinyl these days? The answer will surprise and sadden you (of course we don't yet have this store in Australia). Buzzfeed has today named Urban Outfitters as the biggest seller of vinyl in the world. A hip stockist of quirky homewares, ironic t-shirts and boyfriend jeans, Urban Outfitters is like a more affordable version of every designer concept store you window shop in. But music definitely doesn't seem like its beat. This is because, instead of stocking shelves with dusty records and turning into a modern-day Championshop Vinyl, they offer most of their catalogue online. For around US$20 you can order any of the latest indie releases and old classics, and delivery is free for orders over $50 (because who just buys one album at a time?). Unlike CDs and iTunes downloads — may they rest in peace — vinyl is experiencing a huge resurgence at the moment. Sales have increased by more than 40 per cent in the last year alone and are hitting the highest numbers seen since the early '90s. As online streaming options increase in the same way, our new listening practices are becoming more and more apparent. We want to listen to everything for free on Spotify and Pandora then treasure the albums we really like on vinyl. And why wouldn't we? With the rest of our kit from Urban Outfitters, these records make our lives just that little bit closer to a Wes Anderson film. Via Buzzfeed and Stereogum.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. The second important countdown of the month actually goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed 'Heat Waves' by Glass Animals the nation's best track of 2020 — and picked Mashd N Kutcher's Daniel Andrews-inspired 'Get on the Beers' as the 12th most popular song of the past 12 months. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight. And, just like its music counterpart, a worthy victor has come out on top. That'd be Bentspoke Brewing Co, with the Canberra brewery taking out the top spot with its Crankshaft American IPA. In doing so, it bested Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale, the winner of the 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019 polls, which was named this year's second-placed brew — as well as 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, which came in third. Bentspoke had five beers in the top 100 list in total, which is clearly something to toast to — also coming in tenth for its Barley Griffin Australian Pale Ale, 15th for its Sprocket American IPA, 19th for its Cluster 8 Imperial IPA and 32nd for its Red Nut Red IPA. Reacting to the news, head brewer and co-owner Richard Watkins said that everyone at Bentspoke was "blown away that our small independent brewery from Canberra can take Crankshaft to the number one spot in Australia's biggest beer poll. Crankshaft holds a very special place in our hearts as one of our original beers on tap when we first opened in Canberra in 2014. We are thrilled with the support for Crankshaft from Canberra and around Australia." Clearly, plenty of folks sipped more than a few brews throughout 2020. Run by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular' — the countdown is a people's choice poll decided by booze-lovers around the country. Now in its 13th year, almost 40,000 voters took part this time round, a new record. Elsewhere on the list, 15 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, and a whopping 85 percent of the beers on the list are made by independently owned breweries. If you're particularly keen on either, GABS has also released rundowns of the Hottest 100 New Craft Beers and the Hottest 100 Indie Craft Beers (those owned independently) plus the next 100 from the main countdown. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Your Mates, Black Hops, Ballistic, another appearance by Balter, Bridge Road and Young Henry's round out the top ten, while Kaiju!, 4 Pines, Philter, Modus Operandi, Stomping Ground, Heads of Noosa, Gage Roads, Grifter, Hawke's, Mountain Goat and Pirate Life are among the other brands featured. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2021 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2020: 1. Bentspoke 'Crankshaft' (American IPA) ACT 2. Stone & Wood 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 3. Balter 'XPA' (Extra pale ale) QLD 4. Your Mates 'Larry' (Australian pale ale) QLD 5. Black Hops 'G.O.A.T.' (New England IPA) QLD 6. Ballistic 'Hawaiian Haze' (Hazy pale ale) QLD 7. Balter 'Hazy' (Hazy IPA) QLD 8. Bridge Road 'Beechworth Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC 9. Young Henrys 'Newtowner' (Australian pale ale) NSW 10. Bentspoke 'Barley Griffin' (Australian pale ale) ACT 11. Kaiju! 'Krush!' (Extra pale ale) VIC 12. Feral 'Biggie Juice' (New England IPA) WA 13. Capital 'Capital XPA' (Extra pale ale) ACT NEW 14. Capital 'Coast Ale' (California Common) ACT 15. Bentspoke 'Sprocket' (American IPA) ACT 16. Black Hops 'Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) QLD 17. Black Hops 'Hornet' (American IPA) QLD 18. Beerfarm 'Royal Haze' (Hazy IPA) WA 19. Bentspoke 'Cluster 8' (Imperial IPA) ACT 20. 4 Pines 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 21. Philter 'XPA' (Australian pale ale) NSW 22. Balter 'IPA' (American IPA) QLD 23. Modus Operandi 'Modus XPA' (Extra pale ale) NSW NEW 24. Balter 'Captain Sensible' (American pale ale) QLD 25. 10 Toes 'Pipeline' (Australian pale ale) QLD 26. Burleigh 'Twisted Palm' (Australian pale ale) QLD 27. Stomping Ground 'Gipps St Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC 28. Your Mates 'Sally' (American IPA) QLD 29. Moon Dog 'Old Mate' (American pale ale) VIC 30. 4 Pines 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) NSW 31. Big Shed 'Boozy Fruit' (New England IPA) SA 32. Bentspoke 'Red Nut' (Red IPA) ACT 33. Stone & Wood 'Cloud Catcher' (Australian pale ale) NSW 34. Gage Roads 'Single Fin' (Australian pale ale) WA 35. Modus Operandi 'Modus Pale' (American pale ale) NSW 36. Colonial 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC 37. Heads Of Noosa 'Japanese Lager' (Pale lager) QLD 38. Modus Operandi 'Sonic Prayer' (American IPA) NSW 39. Ballistic 'Oaked XPA' (Extra pale ale) QLD 40. Grifter 'Pale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 41. Hop Nation 'J-Juice' (New England IPA) VIC 42. Black Hops 'Super Hornet' (Imperial IPA) QLD 43. Brick Lane 'One Love' (Australian pale ale) VIC 44. Grifter 'Serpents Kiss' (Fruit beer) NSW 45. Modus Operandi 'Former Tenant' (Red IPA) NSW 46. Capital 'Trail Pale Ale' (American pale ale) ACT 47. Akasha 'Hopsmith' (American IPA) NSW 48. Capital 'Rock Hopper' (American IPA) ACT 49. Black Hops 'Neverland' (Hazy IPA) QLD NEW 50. Black Hops 'Caribbean Haze' (Hazy IPA) QLD 51. Balter 'Dry Haze' (Hazy IPA) QLD NEW 52. Cronulla Beer Co 'Next Level XPA' (Australian pale ale) NSW NEW 53. Brick Lane 'Brick Lane Draught' (Australian pilsner) VIC NEW 54. Dainton 'Blood Orange Neripa' (New England IPA) VIC 55. Ballistic 'Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout' (Sweet stout) QLD 56. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Patio Pale' (American pale ale) NSW 57. Dainton 'Jungle Juice' (Hazy IPA) VIC 58. Black Hops 'Send It' (Blonde ale) QLD 59. Modus Operandi 'Lost In The Fog' (Hazy pale ale) NSW NEW 60. Mountain Goat 'Goat' (Pale lager) VIC 61. Colonial 'South West Sour' (Hoppy sour) WA/VIC 62. Your Mates 'Macca' (Helles lager) QLD 63. Moon Dog 'Splice Of Heaven Pine-Lime' (Milkshake IPA) VIC 64. Brick Lane 'Base Lager' (Helles lager) VIC 65. Ballistic 'Lager' (Classic pilsner) QLD NEW 66. James Squire 'One Fifty Lashes' (Australian pale ale) NSW 67. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Lager' (Australian pilsner) NSW 68. Your Mates 'Donnie' (Dark ale) QLD 69. Little Creatures 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC 70. Coopers 'XPA' (American pale ale) SA 71. Bridge Road 'Beechy XPA' (Australian pale ale) VIC 72. Capital 'Evil Eye' (Red IPA) ACT 73. Capital 'Hang Loose Juice' (New England IPA) ACT 74. Your Mates 'Eddie' (Session pale ale) QLD NEW 75. Coopers 'Original Pale Ale; (Australian pale ale) SA 76. Burleigh 'Bighead' (Pale lager) QLD 77. Deeds 'Juice Train' (New England IPA) VIC 78. Bridge Road 'Bling' (English IPA) VIC 79. Pirate Life 'South Coast Pale Ale' (American pale ale) SA NEW 80. Colonial 'IPA' (Australian IPA) WA/VIC 81. Dainton 'Supertrooper' (Imperial IPA) VIC 82. Blackman's 'Juicy Banger' (Hoppy lager) VIC 83. Akasha 'Mosaic' (American IPA) NSW 84. Coopers 'Hazy IPA' (Hazy IPA) SA NEW 85. Moon Dog 'Beer Can' (Hoppy lager) VIC 86. Hawkers 'West Coast IPA' (American IPA) VIC 87. Jetty Road 'Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) VIC 88. 4 Pines 'Amber Ale' (American amber/red) NSW 89. Brick Lane 'Avalanche' (Hazy IPA) VIC NEW 90. 10 Toes 'Culture Kick Sour' (Berliner weisse) QLD NEW 91. Bridge Road 'Little Bling' (Session IPA) VIC 92. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Legend' (Australian IPA) NSW 93. Capital 'Summit Session Ale' (Session pale ale) ACT 94. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Opener' (Australian IPA) NSW NEW 95. Feral 'Hop Hog' (American pale ale) WA 96. Grifter 'Pink Galah' (Kettle sour) NSW 97. Ballistic 'Watermelawn' (Gose) QLD NEW 98. Furphy 'Furphy Refreshing Ale' (Kölsch) VIC 99. Moon Dog 'Lager' (Helles lager) VIC 100. Bad Shepherd 'Peanut Butter Porter' (Porter) VIC For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2020, head to the GABS website.
Another month, another piece of important bridge news in Brisbane. This time, the Queensland capital isn't gaining a new expanse across the river. This latest development isn't about giving the city a new restaurant in a bridge, either. Instead, we come bearing the revelation that the five-decade-old Victoria Bridge from Queen Street to South Bank is getting an upgrade. The aim? Making moseying over the structure much less sunny. Whether you're heading from the CBD over to the Cultural Centre, or you're taking the reverse meander, the views are always excellent from the Victoria Bridge — but the sun is almost aways glaring. That's about to change, however, as part of Brisbane City Council's new City to South Bank Vision. Yes, shade is about to make a heap of difference to cross-river strolls. The council has advised that it will build a new shade structure over Victoria Bridge's pathway, aiming to provide year-round weather protection for pedestrians. Exactly when it will be added hasn't been revealed as yet, though. And, the roadway section of the bridge — which is only open to buses — will remain uncovered. "A large number of pedestrians, including both residents and visitors, already travel across Victoria Bridge each day," said Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, announcing the news. "Shading Victoria Bridge will significantly enhance walkability between South Brisbane and the CBD, particularly during the hotter months of the year," the Lord Mayor continued Placing shade over Victoria Bridge is just one element of the City to South Bank Vision. Also included: tearing down Milano's and the Pig 'N' Whistle in the Queen Street Mall to make the precinct more open, and potentially adding pop-up gin bars, brewery tastings and food trucks in their place. The council will also purchase Reddacliff Place between George Street and the Victoria Bridge to save it from future development. [caption id="attachment_900947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Brisbane sure does love its bridges. Forget the River City — the Bridge City should be our nickname. New green bridges are in the works at Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek. And, the Neville Bonner Bridge from the new Queen's Wharf precinct to the Cultural Centre Forecourt is currently under construction as well In the CBD alone, we already have the Go Between Bridge, which caters for vehicles, cyclists and walkers between West End and Milton; the William Jolly Bridge that links Grey Street with North Quay; the foot traffic-only Kurilpa Bridge that runs from the Gallery of Modern Art over to Tank Street; and the pedestrian-only Goodwill Bridge that spans from the southern end of South Bank over to the Queensland University of Technology. And, of course, the Victoria Bridge from QPAC to George Street — soon with added shade. For more information about Brisbane City Council's City to South Bank Vision, head to Councillor Vicki Howard's website.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As part of its latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, Stretch Yoga will get you stretching while sharing the love with cute canine. Marking the studio's eighth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that is Domestic Animal Rescue and Education (DARE), Puppy Yoga gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 12pm and 1pm on Sunday, August 21 at Stretch Yoga's Holland Park studio. And, if you're looking for a four-legged friend to take home with you, all of the puppies will be up for adoption as well. Register early when bookings open on Monday, August 15 — the $50-a-ticket sessions sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. Images: Stretch Yoga.
Another day, another new streaming service, or that's how it feels these days. When Tubi joins the ever-growing ranks of online platforms vying for Australian eyeballs, however, it'll boast a significant point of difference — it's free. Already up and running in the US and Canada, where audiences viewed more than 94 million hours of its content in May alone, Tubi is an ad-supported on-demand video service. Few things in life truly cost nothing, so, while this streamer doesn't ask for any of your hard-earned cash, it will make you sit through commercials. For your troubles, you'll get access to almost 7000 movies and TV shows when the service launches in Australia on Sunday, September 1. That number is due to grow, too, with the Aussie service aiming to reach 15,000 titles — which is what's currently offered on the US service — over time. If you're keen to get spooked by Hansel and Gretel, sing along to Hairspray and Purple Rain or watch Jean-Claude Van Damme unleash his martial arts skills in Lionheart, you'll be able to do without paying a cent from this weekend. As this range of flicks makes plain, Tubi doesn't focus on new releases, with fellow retro movies such as Dirty Dancing, I Am Sam and Young Guns also on the lineup. To access the streaming platform, you can head to Tubi's website or use most internet-connected screen devices — including Samsung televisions, Apple TV, Telstra TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Apple iOS, Android tablets and smartphones, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And if you're feeling spoiled for viewing choice at the moment, that's because Australia is in the midst of a streaming boom. Disney+ is due to launch in November, Apple TV+ should arrive sometime in spring, documentary service iWonder hit earlier this year, and everything from Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video to Ozflix, DocPlay and Kanopy are already operational, just to name a few services. We're still waiting for horror-focused service Shudder, though, after it announced last year that it was heading to our shores. Tubi launches in Australia on Sunday, September 1. For more information, or to sign up, visit the service's website.
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.
Outdoor cinemas are a dog lover's dream, with plenty letting movie buffs head to the flicks with their furry best friend in tow. Taking your pooch to the pictures indoors isn't as common, but it's happening at Woolloongabba's Angelika Film Centre for one session only on Saturday, February 17. The movie: The Call of the Wild. If you share your life with a very good boy or girl who likes staring at the screen with you, this is their chance to enjoy the full cinema experience. You do need to keep your dog on a leash, however, and you're also asked to bring a blanket or pillow to put on the floor for your dog to sit on. The film starts playing at 10.30am, with arrivals from 10am — and both The Treatery and Hugo's Ice Creamery are setting up shop in the cinema lobby to sell dog-friendly movie treats. Tickets cost $15. As for the flick, it brings Jack London's novel about a domestic dog's Alaskan adventure to the screen with Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as its human star.
Usually when you're at a bar choosing which kind of cocktail to sip, you're picking between multiple different styles. That's still the case at Sasso Italiano, the new Woolloongabba bar and trattoria in the inner east suburb's South City Square precinct — but selecting one of the 11 different negronis on the list is the most tempting option. Opening on Thursday, November 18, this Logan Road newcomer pours classic negronis, fig negronis, negroni sodas and negronis made with Campari and orange sorbet — and they're just some of the options. There's also the vintage birthday negroni, which features a different gin, vermouth and Campari from between the 60s and the 00s, depending on the year you were born. Sasso Italiano does more than drinks, of course — although its beverage lineup also spans a tiramisu martini made with mascarpone and amaretto foam, a G&T that features peach bitters, and the venue's own take on manhattans and margaritas. There's also three types of spritzes, three non-boozy cocktails (including a nogroni, of course), and a sizeable range of natural wines. And, beer-wise, it's serving a bespoke Birra Cazino from Aether Brewing that's made exclusively for the bar. With former Ovolo and QT Food and Beverage Directors Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault behind the eatery, and Head Chef Gabriele Di Landri (ex-Dolphin Hotel, Chiswick Restaurant and Aria) leading the open-plan kitchen, Sasso Italiano's food menu is also a big drawcard. Think: 11 types of pizza, pastas including spaghetti cacio e pepe and linguine marinara, and bistecca alla fiorentina, Tuscan steak and Mediterranean-style half roast chicken among the mains. For those after a smaller bite, the starters selection includes gnocco fritto and arancini, while the crudo lineup features oysters, king salmon and and yellow fin tuna tartare. Or, opt for 50-gram charcuterie servings, house-pickled sardines, confit octopus and the trusty favourite that is burrata. Desserts span tiramisu — to pair with one of those aforementioned tiramisu martinis, perhaps — plus cannoli, bomboloni, a range of gelato and sorbet, and a cheese selection. And, if plenty of Sasso Italiano's dishes sound like classics, that's because the restaurant and bar is going for an old-school, neighbourhood-style, 70s-inspired feel. Dim lighting suits the mood, as does the warm-hued colour palette and wraparound seating. Sasso Italiano marks the first of Lombino and Thibault's planned eateries in South City Square, with more set to open by May 2022. Find Sasso Italiano at South City Square, 4/148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, from Thursday, November 18 — open for lunch from 12–3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and for dinner from 5–10.30pm from Tuesday–Saturday.
Life might be a bittersweet symphony, as The Verve told us all back in 1997, but right now is a pretty great time to be a fan of a hugely influential late-90s teen flick that helped immortalise that very track. The movie in question is Cruel Intentions, of course, and it's about to hit the stage in Brisbane. And yes, the musical's soundtrack is filled hits from the era, including 'Bittersweet Symphony', obviously. Indeed, if that song and Placebo's 'Every You Every Me' get you thinking about Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair, then you're clearly a fan of the film. And if you were a 90s or 00s teen who watched and rewatched the 1999 classic over and over again — soaking in all those dangerous liaisons, the scheming that went with them, Joshua Jackson's blonde locks and Gellar in a decidedly non-Buffy role — then you'll probably be first in line to see Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical. The movie-to-theatre production has been unleashing its teen tumult and throwback soundtrack in America since 2015, and now it's finally heading to our shores. Its Brisbane leg will kick off on Wednesday, July 27 at the Fortitude Music Hall, and run through till Sunday, August 7. Because it's a jukebox musical, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is also filled with a heap other tunes from that late 90s, early 00s era; think: *NYSNC's 'Bye Bye Bye', Britney Spears' 'Sometimes', No Doubt's 'Just A Girl', Jewel's 'Foolish Games', Christina Aguilera's 'Genie In A Bottle' and Sixpence None the Richer's 'Kiss Me', for starters. If you've seen the movie — the original, not the direct-to-video 2001 and 2004 sequels, one of which starred a very young Amy Adams (Dear Evan Hansen) taking over Gellar's role — then you'll know the story. Based on 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, which was also been adapted in the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman, Cruel Intentions follows step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Manipulating each other's love lives is their main hobby, a pastime that levels up a few notches when Kathryn places a bet on whether Sebastian can sleep with Annette Hargrove, the headmaster's daughter at their exclusive prep school.
It's been an explosive year for beer and brewing in Australia. Some old hands at the craft game sold to major international corporations, while new independent brewers continued to develop and expand. From fruit-infused sours to bold, hoppy IPAs, the discerning beer drinker has never enjoyed so much choice from both local and international markets. While there will always be a time and a place for a cold tinnie of VB, the following ten brews offer a range of flavours and unique styles to help you beat the heat this summer. The best places to find these beers, aside from the locations below, are specialist bottle shops. We've rounded up our favourites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. XPA, PHILTER BREWING The XPA style is still somewhat unclear, though the acronym stands for Xtra Pale Ale, but in the case of Philter's flagship brew — a pale yellow, slightly hazy session ale — the 'Xtra' refers to both the light colour and the depth of flavour. Head brewer Sam Fuss has put the myth to rest that brewing is a man's game with her brewing prowess. Packaged in retro blue and white cans, Philter XPA opens with a delicate bouquet of floral and summer fruit aromatics, notes of rockmelon, passionfruit and mango. On the palate expect little to no bitterness with some citrus and notes of freshly cut grass, balanced out by a subtle wheat and honey flavour from its malt base. Philter XPA won Best Pale Ale at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards, after only being on the market for four months. Available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and as Beer of the Month at The Botany View Hotel, Newtown. EARL PEAR, MERCHANT BREWING COMPANY In the height of the Australian summer, a 6.9% ABV Belgian-style blonde ale seems like a strange choice. But the boys over at Merchant have taken some bold steps to create one ripper of a beer. Blending the toffee apple malt flavour with extracts of pear and earl grey tea, this beer is inventive and exciting without being gimmicky. The beer pours slightly cloudy, is dark orange in colour and has a strong aroma of pears, apricots and a touch of citrus. The immediate flavour is pear with a hint of tart funkiness, then the sweet malt flavour gives way to a light kiss of floral citrus rounded out by the herbaceous bitterness from the tea. Incredibly well-balanced and surprisingly delicate, this beer would make a fine match for seafood or a fruit-based summer salad. Just like the monocle-sporting sloth on the label, this is a sophisticated and fun slow sipper for those looking for something a little different this summer. Earl Pear is currently available on tap at Quarrymans Hotel, Pyrmont. PASSION OF THE PUSS, WAYWARD BREWING CO Between Parramatta Road and the backstreets of leafy Annandale, Wayward Brewing Co's tap room is the perfect place for those seeking shelter from the hot days. Housed in a converted wine cellar, the brewery boasts an impressive selection of vintage 70s-style couches, a wall-mounted Royal Enfield motorcycle and a labyrinth of rooms and spaces catering to crowds of all sizes. Passion of the Puss is a new spin on Wayward's incredibly popular Sour Puss Raspberry Berliner Weisse, but this time it favours passionfruit and yuzu. The result is a a bright, aromatic brew with plenty of passionfruit notes giving way to the acidity of the yuzu to round it out. This is a great beer for those looking to get into sours as it has enough complexity and balance to remain refreshing all the way through the pint. Sitting at only 3.8% ABV, it's great for session, and a reliable hangover cure. Passion of the Puss is currently available in 640ml bombers from Wayward Brewery Co, Camperdown. WEST COAST IPA, BATCH BREWING COMPANY Pioneers of the Sydney craft beer scene, Batch Brewing Company has maintained a steady rise to prominence in inner west Sydney, the cradle of brewing culture in Sydney. While the current trend among brewers seems to be about who can brew the biggest, hoppiest and strongest IPAs, this little gem from Batch's core range is a reliable and refreshing take on the classic American style. Over the years, Batch have made many IPAs, yet this is the only permanent fixture and with one sip you'll quickly see why. The blend of three hop varieties with three base malts achieves a beer that is supremely well balanced. Pale gold and ever so slightly cloudy, this beer is dominated by tropical fruit aromas of mango and pineapple, followed by fresh citrus notes. A subtle but firm bitterness rounds out the finish and leaves you wanting more, and as it sits at an approachable 5.8%, why not have another? Batch West Coast is currently available in cans, bombers, growlers and on tap at Batch Brewery Company, Marrickville. DIPA, HOPE BREWHOUSE When getting into the boozier side of brewing, some beers tend to almost drift into wine territory. With this in mind, it's incredibly comforting to know that Hope's head brewer, Matt Hogan, is indeed a former winemaker. This training in nuance and delicacy translates in the surprising form of a double India pale ale — a style famous for its in-your-face flavour. Hope's offering, however, is a joyously well-balanced beer; it has a pale straw colour with a beautiful floral nose, citrus aromas, big tropical fruit notes and a piney, resiny mid-palate. The light malts offer some sweeter notes of honey and biscuit, while a substantial bitter finish makes this big bold beer a truly dynamic flavour experience. Sitting at 9% ABV this DIPA would be suited to fans of Pirate Life Brewing's Double IPA. Hope DIPA is currently available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and on tap at the The Local Taphouse, Darlinghurst. SAUCY SAISON, SAUCE BREWING COMPANY Starting a microbrewery in a warehouse in Marrickville is a tried and tested idea. With the craft cradle booming, however, offering something new and exciting can be a challenge. Enter Sauce Brewing Company, a strong team of brewers covering a broad range of styles with charm and reliability. Oh, and did we mention their converted warehouse space features a large, family-friendly beer garden? This beer is a modern take on the classic French/Belgian style where the yeast is the dominant flavour. A special Belgian ale yeast gives smooth notes of banana and clove with some light fruity esters, followed by a twist of citrusy hop flavour, all wrapped up in a smooth honey malt. For those seeking a less hop-driven beer, that still has a bit of a kick to it this summer, treat yourself to something a little different, after all, 'tis the 'saison'! Saucy Saison is available from Sauce Brewing Company, Marrickville in cans and growlers, and in cans at Red Bottle, Sussex Street. SERPENT'S KISS, GRIFTER BREWING CO Pilsner is a style that many beer nerds will scoff at, as it's often thought of as a bland boring lager. In the current game, however, the ability to produce an interesting lager-style beer is one hell of a trump card to play. This is exactly what the team at Grifter has done. With five-plus years in the Sydney brewing scene, their approach to this widely loved style of beer is sure to appeal to a wide range of drinkers. This light-bodied, easy-drinking brew is the perfect, refreshing drop for a sunny afternoon, it has a low level of bitterness complemented by a delicate fruitiness from the inclusion of real watermelon. The watermelon flavour is light, natural and not overly sweet, resulting in a beautifully sessionable beer with a fruity twist. Available in cans from the Grifter Brewing Co, and currently on tap at the White Cockatoo Petersham. OXYMORON, BRUNY ISLAND Traditionally, darker beers are reserved for drinking in the cooler months, but tradition goes straight out the window with this beer made by a cheese company from Tasmania. The aptly titled Oxymoron is a sort of Swiss-Army-knife beer, in that it's perfect for a multitude of occasions all year round. The style is billed as a 'dark pale ale' so expect some robust roasty notes of smooth cocoa and a touch of spice from the use of malted rye. This is wonderfully countered by a superb blend of four Tasmanian-grown hop varieties offering floral, citrus and light peach notes, rounded out by a firm bitterness. This is a beer that will serve as a refreshing, yet smooth and rich, alternative to the plethora of American-style pales dominating the market at present. A relative newcomer to the scene, even moreso the mainland, Bruny Island's beers are most reliably sourced through its online store, but keep an eye out for them in your local craft pub, bar or bottle-o. NORMAN AUSTRALIAN ALE, YULLI'S BREWS About halfway down Crown Street in Surry Hills there's a small, unassuming restaurant with a well-deserved reputation for serving some of the finest vegetarian food in town. To make it even better, they're also responsible for one of the finest local drops on the market. Created by bar staff seeking an approachable and casual beer that could also stand alongside fine dining, Norman is a light, refreshing summer ale with notes of apple and pear, followed by a gentle, clean, bitter finish. The green and gold cans adorned with a charmingly idiosyncratic cartoon character make for a staple in any Aussie fridge this summer. Perfect for a barbecue or beachside evening picnic, Norman is a friend you want to have around again and again. Available from Yulli's restaurant, Surry Hills, on tap and in cans at The Clock Hotel bottle shop. [caption id="attachment_648241" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA[/caption] TONIC, DOCTOR'S ORDERS The Sydney brewing scene's equivalent of the eccentric cartoon mad scientist Rick Sanchez (from Rick and Morty), 'Dr' Darren Robinson has been brewing weird, wacky and wonderful styles of beer since 2009. The latest seasonal prescription from the Doc is a sessionable witbier with an impressive array of botanicals including orange peel, juniper berries, lemon myrtle and cinchona bark. This inventive blend of flavours is enough to make for a beautiful summer drop all by itself, however, it is also a brilliant mixer with your favourite gin. This is the second seasonal release of the Tonic, which was a massive success last year and sure to become a summer favourite of both gin and beer enthusiasts. Available from the The Wine Cellar, Newtown, in cans.
It isn't easy to capture a person on a canvas, or to attempt to convey who someone is in a piece of art beyond recreating their appearance. For more than a century, the Archibald Prize has not only understood this, but also rewarded the very best Australian examples. The prestigious art award turns 104 in 2025, and will again anoint the top instance of Aussie portraiture from an impressive range of contenders. Will a painting of artist Jason Phu by Abdul Abdullah win? Also, how will likenesses of Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Boy Swallows Universe star Felix Cameron, Miranda Otto, Grace Tame, Vincent Namatjira, filmmaker Warwick Thornton and comedian Aaron Chen fare? These are some of the questions sparked by this year's Archibald Prize shortlist, with 57 finalists in contention. After the Art Gallery of New South Wales revealed the pieces that are down to the last hurdle on Thursday, May 1, it will announced 2025's winner on Friday, May 9. [caption id="attachment_1002023" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Packing Room Prize 2025, Abdul Abdullah 'No mountain high enough', oil on linen, 162.4 x 136.7 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Abdullah has already claimed a gong for his depiction of his friend Phu, with No mountain high enough earning the Archibald's Packing Room Prize for 2025. Decided by gallery staff that unpack and hang the awards' entries each year, the accolade is in its 34th year. With his place among the Archie finalists, Abdullah has now made the shortlist on seven occasions, alongside placing on the Wynne and Sulman prize lists in the past as well. Courtesy of No mountain high enough, Abdullah's latest Archibald achievement is for a work showing another of this year's contenders, too. Phu, who is also a previous finalist for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, is among 2025's Archie competitors for his portrait of Weaving. [caption id="attachment_1002027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Abdul Abdullah, image courtesy the artist[/caption] "It is always an honour to be selected as a finalist for the Archibald Prize, and I am especially honoured to be picked for the Packing Room Prize. I see it as a sort of community prize, where the Packing Room team, which is made up of professional art handlers — many of whom are artists themselves — get to pick a painting they like. I am so glad they picked this one. It's kind of like an artists' pick, and I'm extra happy for that," said Abdullah. "Jason is my best friend. We talk on the phone every day, he was the best man at my wedding and we have travelled together. I've painted him as I see him, as a ceaseless adventurer who at any one time is involved in a dozen conversations on a dozen different platforms, bringing his unique perspective to one flummoxed friend or another." [caption id="attachment_1002026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Art Gallery of New South Wales Packing Room team with director Maud Page and the Packing Room Prize 2025 winning work by Abdul Abdullah 'No mountain high enough', photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio[/caption] The Packing Room team selected No mountain high enough after being "instantly drawn to Abdul Abdullah's portrait of Jason Phu. Both are accomplished artists whose works have a distinct style and engage with complex social and cultural themes using wit and cartoonish references. The team holds great respect for the way both Abdul and Jason have progressed in their careers," advised AGNSW's Senior Installation Officer Alexis Wildman. "On a technical level, this portrait is very well painted. It really captures the essence of the subject with the image of a lone ranger, an intrepid jokester or a quiet hero navigating the rocky terrain of today's social climate. This immediately sparked conversation among the Packing Room team." [caption id="attachment_1002028" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Vincent Namatjira 'King Dingo', 8 panels: synthetic polymer paint and oil stick on linen, 152.9 x 204 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Abdullah's Phu portrait and its 56 fellow finalists were picked from 904 Archibald Prize entries, with the total pool of 2394 submissions across the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes marking the second-highest number ever received. Only 2020 had more. For the Wynne, which is all about landscape painting, 52 finalists are in contention. With the Sulman, which rewards genre painting, subject painting and mural projects, 30 are vying for the prize. Across all three, 2025 is the first year that there's more finalist works by women artists in the accolades' history. This year's Archibald Prize recipient will follow 2024 winner Laura Jones for her portrait of author Tim Winton, 2023's Julia Gutman for a depiction of Montaigne, Blak Douglas' 2022 victory for a likeness of artist Karla Dickens in the Lismore floods, Peter Wegner's 2021 portrait of fellow artist Guy Warren and Vincent Namatjira's 2020 piece featuring Adam Goodes among the gongs' picks in the 2020s so far. [caption id="attachment_1002029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Jason Phu 'older hugo from the future fighting hugo from right now in a swamp and all the frogs and insects and fish and flowers now look on', synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 183.2 x 152.5 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1002030" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Jaq Grantford 'Sisters', oil on canvas, 167.5 x 167.5 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1002031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Adrian Jangala Robertson 'Warwick Thornton', synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 61.1 x 61.7 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Archibald Prize 2025 Exhibition Dates Saturday, May 10–Sunday, August 17, 2025 — Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW Saturday, August 30–Sunday, November 9, 2025 — Geelong Gallery, Victoria Saturday, November 22, 2025–Sunday, January 11, 2026 — Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW Saturday, January 23–Saturday, March 7, 2026 — Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW Friday, March 20–Saturday, May 3, 2026 — Mudgee Arts Precinct, NSW Saturday, May 16–Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW [caption id="attachment_1002032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Jeremy Eden 'Felix Cameron', oil on canvas, 119.6 x 180.1 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] The winner of 2025's Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes will be announced on Friday, May 9 at 12pm — check back here then. If you can't make it to any of the above exhibition dates, you can check out the award winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website. Top image: Winner Packing Room Prize 2025, Abdul Abdullah 'No mountain high enough', oil on linen, 162.4 x 136.7 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Get ready for "the Super Bowl of stripping", Channing Tatum's latest excuse to get shirtless and the culmination of a franchise about male dancers chasing the American dream — and endeavouring to bring women pleasure — one scantily clad routine at a time. Magic Mike is back for another ride, and another stint onstage, too, courtesy of the the series' third and final flick Magic Mike's Last Dance. Initially confirmed back in November 2021, this threequel brings Tatum (The Lost City) as Mike Lane, the saga's consistent source of smooth, sultry and sweaty moves while wearing very little. As the just-dropped first trailer shows, this time around he's bartending to get by, and hiding that six-pack under the required garb, until he shows his latest love interest (Salma Hayek, House of Gucci) what he's really good at — and she convinces him to get back to what he loves. No, Ginuwine's 90s banger 'Pony' doesn't get another workout in Magic Mike's Last Dance's first sneak peek. Yes, there's another dose of art imitating life here, which has always been the Magic Mike franchise's remit. The initial 2012 hit took its cues from Tatum's own time stripping in Tampa, Florida before becoming a famous actor, and this flick nods to the fact that that movie and its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL spawned their own Tatum-produced live show. If you somehow missed the first movie a decade ago, it became one of 2012's most perceptive flicks. The Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer-starring film unsurprisingly became a box-office success, too, with its combination of blue collar struggles and gyrating on-stage antics striking a chord to the tune of $167.2 million in takings. It was then followed by Magic Mike XXL, which did indeed manage to live up to its name — not merely by doubling down on what made the first movie such a success, but by also shrewdly recognising the power of the female gaze. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Kimi, No Sudden Move) directed, shot and edited the initial movie, then just shot and edited the second; however, he's sitting back in the helmer's chair for Magic Mike's Last Dance. Also returning is screenwriter Reid Carolin, who has done the honours all the entire franchise so far. As for when you can see the Magic Mike series' last go-around, the bumping and grinding will arrive in cinemas Down Under in February. Savvily, it's timed just before Valentine's Day. Check out the first trailer for Magic Mike's Last Dance below: Magic Mike's Last Dance will release in cinemas Down Under on February 9, 2023.
The upcoming federal budget has many waiting with bated breath, especially those hoping for urgent action to tackle Australia's severe housing crisis. But ahead of the wider announcements on Tuesday, the ABC has reported that this year's federal budget will include funding for an AI tool that can approve housing developments. The housing crisis is a major part of affordability concerns that are driving voting decisions nationwide, and the federal government seems to want to address the problem rapidly. But not immediately. The AI program, which will reportedly take four years to develop, comes with $105.9 million in funds and is intended to speed up project approvals and tackle the supply problems in the housing market by sharing environmental data. In a statement celebrating the news, Home Industry Association Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said, "Australia's environmental approvals system has not kept pace with the scale or urgency of our housing challenge. This Budget begins the shift toward a modern system that uses better data, digital tools and AI to deliver faster, clearer and more consistent decisions." [caption id="attachment_1100893" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] VM Studios via iStock[/caption] The news of this technology push comes off the back of the government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation strike team, which was deployed in August of 2025 to address a backlog of project approvals, and is reportedly on track to achieve a target of 26,000 approvals by July of this year. Other changes to come on Tuesday include $2 billion to support infrastructure for new housing lots, changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, as well as $250 million in funding to establish Australia's first National Environmental Protection Agency, which, among other things, will cut back on delays from environmental approvals, presumably with some assistance from the aforementioned AI tool, should it be finalised. The pressure is on for major parties to tackle the housing crisis, as frustrations from a lack of any concrete measures from Labor and Liberal has seen a notable uptick in popularity for independent candidates, Greens and even One Nation, which won its first lower house election in 30 years at the Farrel by-election on Saturday. [caption id="attachment_1100895" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Juan Gomez via iStock[/caption] After that result, Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg said of the major parties, "We are where we deserve to be, over the last 10 years we haven't done enough policy work, and I think the generation of millennials, my generation, are pretty dirty on the major parties and with good reason.… it's been about a decade since we've had a decent policy." The 2026 federal budget will be delivered in full by Treasurer Jim Chalmers at 7.30pm AEST on Tuesday, May 12. Lead image: Phillip Witke via iStock
When Dirty John and The Case Against Adnan Syed leapt from audio to television, it was a floodgates moment. The true-crime genre definitely isn't new, but more shows based on grim real-life stories — and inspired by the podcasts that cover them, to be specific — were always going to follow. Dr Death is the latest, sporting a moniker that speaks volumes from the outset. Even if you know nothing about Christopher Duntsch going in, and you've also never heard the Wondery podcast that shares the series' name, that title really doesn't bode well for the surgeon's patients. Working in Dallas during the past decade, Duntsch was originally a rising neurosurgery star. Then, as the series charts, his patients started leaving the operating theatre either permanently maimed or dead. If you've ever faced going under the knife, this is pure, unfettered and deeply disturbing nightmare fuel — and it all really happened. Joshua Jackson plays Duntsch, and is bound to shed any lingering Dawson's Creek-era affection audiences might have for him in the process (and fondness from The Mighty Ducks and Fringe, too). He's joined by Alec Baldwin (Pixie) and Christian Slater (Dirty John) as fellow surgeons who raise the alarm, and also by AnnaSophia Robb (Words on Bathroom Walls) as the Dallas prosecutor who takes the case. As the just-dropped first trailer for the series show, this is quite the bleak story. Whether you already know how it all turns out or you'll be discovering the details fresh, you'll be able to watch Dr Death on Stan sometime this year — although exactly when it'll start streaming hasn't yet been announced. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYWEAWFONSw Dr Death will be available to stream via Stan sometime in 2021 — we'll update you with a release date when further details are announced.
Electric Avenue is the kind of place you could kick-start your evening, drop by late or hang around all night. Brought to Brissie by Canvas owners Daniel Rodriguez and Bodie Schofield, their former head bartender Nick Royds and carpenter Adam Pykett, the team describe the bar and bistro as "a fun, intimate venue with a few secrets to discover". Electric Avenue boasts ex-Sourced Grocer chef Will Quartel in the kitchen, whipping up more than just your usual bar food. Whole grilled kimchi-glazed fish, blackened duck breast and black garlic crepes — yes, that's a dessert — are just some of the menu standouts. Lunch includes the Fish and Bush combo of crispy fish and tempura saltbush, while snacks range from pork crackling with pecan salt and pepper and corn husk aioli to crispy cockscomb (that's the top 'comb' on the chicken, in case you didn't know) with spicy remoulade. Patrons can wash all of that down with their choice of more than 70 wines, or a range of cocktails. Yes, one is called And Then We'll Take It Higher in honour of the track you're still humming as you read this, and features dark rum, sherry, dark chocolate liqueur, house pimento bitters and espresso in an absinthe misted glass. Electric Avenue also has over five function space options, including a secret whisky room — so consider booking for your next party or work shindig.
The Black Lung Theatre and Whaling Firm have endeared themselves to us with bonkers performances of the likes of And They Called Him Mr Glamour. To save their brand of surreal self-analysis from going around in circles, in 2008 they stepped out of their familiar inner-Melbourne world — and into Timor Leste. Working with East Timorese creatives Galaxy and Liurai Fo'er, they've emerged with Doku Rai (You, dead man, I don't believe you), the first international theatre production to be created in East Timor. (Specifically, extraordinarily, in an abandoned colonial hotel on a remote island off Dili. In the distance, Balibo was being filmed.) Going off reviews of its first Darwin Festival and Melbourne performances in 2012, the show breaks the mould of how we think about cross-cultural theatre. It opens with a set from garage rock band Galaxy, stars of Timor Leste, for starters. The story then follows a man who is struck with a killing curse (doku) but continues to rise from the grave. On top of that is a layer of playfulness, meta, multimedia, and more pop musical interludes. Australia hasn't always been kind to the tiny nation that is one of our closest neighbours, so that the kooks at Black Lung can go there and have a mind-meld with locals is an exciting thing. Directed by Thomas M Wright, the production will hit the festival circuit hard in Australia in 2013, then it's on to Europe.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters is giving you a mighty good reason to get out the house and explore some of Brisbane's greatest cafes. The West End relaunched in 2022 after hefty renovations, opening up its warehouse and cafe space so that patrons can make the most of getting their caffeine fix in a coffee joint that's also roastery. Expect to see the behind-the-scenes magic happen while you're drinking your warm beverage of choice, all in a space that can seat 50 inside and 16 outdoors. Veneziano's revamped site is airy, light and bright with white surfaces aplenty, plus glass walls that let you peer from the dining space to the coffee roastery and warehouse. And it's also now home to training studios and a cupping lab — running sessions for both professional baristas and folks keen to make their best coffee at home. The renovations come more than a decade after Veneziano opened in West End in 2009, with alterations made to the Montague Road spot with its Richmond headquarters in Melbourne and Surry Hills cafe in Sydney in mind. The aim: to ensure that stopping by is about more than just getting a buzz, turning it into an interactive coffee experience. The food here is classic breakfast dishes with a fresh spin, while coffee-wise, Veneziano's Soar is the house blend. Expect honey, pineapple, cherry and chocolate malt notes in your cuppa — but this will change seasonally. Or amid plenty of other options, there's a rotating range of microlots which are served via filter pour-over, plus a limited-edition selection of nanolots.
Home to raindrop cakes, Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza, Harajuku Gyoza clearly likes getting creative with its sweet treats. The chain is fond of trying out new things with its savouring dumpling range, too, as its experiment with mac 'n' cheese and pepperoni pizza versions showed — but it obviously has a soft spot for the kind of desserts you won't find on any old menu. From Thursday, April 1, the Australian gyoza brand is serving up a new menu item that turns marshmallows into gyoza. You'll find them stuffed inside each dumpling, and also sprinkled on top. And, if your stomach isn't already rumbling, they'll come dusted with icing sugar and paired with Nutella sauce as well. The fried and crispy marshmallow gyoza are joining the chain's dessert lineup in plates of five, which'll cost you $10. And if you fancy tucking into the new gyoza after devouring two old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Harajuku Gyoza's marshmallow gyoza will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, April 1.
Not only is Lunar New Year one of the biggest celebrations in the Asia Pacific region, it's easily also one of the most delicious. If you're not celebrating it already, your palate is missing out. Cue family feasts — friends are also more than welcome — and a table stacked with all the greatest hits. The biggest at-home celebration of LNY typically happens on Lunar New Year's Eve and usually takes the form of a dinner that's not unlike Christmas lunch. The best part about the celebration is that the dishes you'll typically find are surprisingly simple to prepare and come together in no time at all. Whether the celebrations are taking place in Hanoi or Hong Kong, Singapore or Sydney, everyday dishes tend to land on Lunar New Year's Eve dinner tables. There are regional differences when it comes to must-have Lunar New Year dishes, but dumplings and fish or seafood are mainstays in most places where Lunar New Year is celebrated. You'll find them at LNY dinners and enjoyed as ordinary meals throughout the year. The enduring appeal of these dishes is just how easily they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. And that's before we even factor in how delicious they are. [caption id="attachment_987199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Mullins[/caption] After some inspo for an authentic festive spread that's easy enough for everyday meals but seriously impressive for a celebratory gathering? Look no further. In partnership with Oriental Merchant, we've called in chef Jason Chan, owner of newly opened pan-Asian restaurant Rice Kid, for two recipes he turns to when it's time to ring in Lunar New Year at home. XO Pipis [caption id="attachment_987205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Mullins[/caption] Seafood is a staple ingredient in many quintessential Lunar New Year dishes. The festivities are a reason to shell out on premium seafood to celebrate the special occasion. For Chan, Lunar New Year is the time to "have all those special dishes that you don't really get to eat every week." And it doesn't get more impressive or mouth-watering than XO pipis, which — despite being known as a restaurant special — is a surprisingly straightforward dish that can be replicated at home. In Chan's recipe, half a kilo of fresh pipis transform into a delectable showstopper that packs an umami punch thanks to the sauce trifecta of XO, soy and oyster. Ingredients: 500g fresh pipis (if you can't find live pipis, you can substitute with prawns or any other seafood to your liking) 100g Lee Kum Kee XO Sauce 50ml Lee Kum Kee Premium Dark Soy Sauce 50g Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Oyster Sauce 100ml Shao Xing cooking wine 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp salt 1 tsp chicken powder 1L water 50g shallot rondelle Coriander for garnish Slurry: 50g corn starch or potato starch 100ml water Method: Use a wok or pan on high heat and add Lee Kum Kee XO Sauce and cook for 5–10 secs, deglaze with Shao Xing cooking wine, add water and bring it to the boil. Once boiling, add pipis and cook until they are completely open. Discard any unopened pipis. Add Lee Kum Kee Premium Dark Soy Sauce, Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Oyster Sauce, sugar, chicken powder, salt and shallot rondelle and cook for a further minute to infuse all the flavours into the pipis. Mix slurry and pour into the XO pipis to thicken. Garnish with coriander or shallot rondelle. [caption id="attachment_987287" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Mullins[/caption] Moreton Bay Bug and Prawn Siu Mai or Wonton [caption id="attachment_987203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Mullins[/caption] Dumplings are another dish which sit proudly on dinner tables — particularly in northern China — during Lunar New Year festivities. Traditional dumplings are said to resemble ancient Chinese money and are symbolic of prosperity. Today, all kinds of dumplings and wontons make the festive cut. Whether they're crescent-shaped dumplings, wontons or siu mai, this is a dish that is great for everyday dinners as well as during Lunar New Year. For an elevated everyday wonton or siu mai (the only difference is how you wrap them), this recipe is as fun as it is delicious. Finesse your folding skills by wrapping your parcels of seafood yourself, or get the whole dinner crew involved before sitting down to celebrate. Ingredients: 250g fresh or frozen prawn meat 250g Queensland Moreton Bay bug meat 25ml Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce 25ml Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand soy sauce 10g minced garlic 10g coriander root finely sliced (use stems for extra aroma) 5g lime zest 20g sugar 25g potato starch 50ml garlic oil (canola oil can be substituted) 1 packet of wonton skin Method: Place prawn and bug meat in food processor and slightly pulse 4–5 times. Ensure the prawn and bug meat retain small chunky pieces for texture. Take out the processed prawn and bug meat and place in bowl. Add in Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce, Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Oyster Sauce, minced garlic, coriander, sugar, garlic oil and mix until everything is combined and bound together. Add in the remaining ingredients: potato starch and lime zest. CHEF'S TIP: You don't want the starch to form clumps, do not skip step 3 with step 2! Place filling in fridge for 30 minutes. Once it is set, you can begin making the dumplings. Blanch wontons for about 5–6 minutes or until they float. To serve, place blanched wontons in a bowl and garnish with shallot and a few drizzles of sesame oil. Dip into preferred sauce (see below for sauce options). [caption id="attachment_987286" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Mullins[/caption] Simple Dipping Sauce for WontonAdd Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Style Chilli Oil, soy sauce, sesame oil and black vinegar. Season to taste. Simple Dipping Sauce for Siu Mai Add Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Style Chilli Oil and soy sauce. Season to taste. Experience the flavours of Lunar New Year everyday with Oriental Merchant authentic Asian ingredients.
"Spectacles, not survivors". If you've ever wondered what the creator of The Hunger Games wants from its participants, they're his exact words. Meet Casca Highbottom, Dean of the Academy, and the reason that children from 12 of Panem's districts fight to the death every year for the entertainment of the masses — as well as a looming force of evil in prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Yes, every movie franchise ever has to keep returning to screens, as Harry Potter and Twilight are as well. Unlike those two page-to-screen hits — two other favourites straight out of YA literature, too — The Hunger Games is making a cinematic comeback. And, it's gracing theatres again this November because author Suzanne Collins followed up her original trilogy of novels from 2008–10 with a step backwards in 2020. While Casca Highbottom is a pivotal figure in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, complete with Peter Dinklage (Cyrano) playing the part, another usually- nefarious presence is the movie's protagonist. If you've ever wondered about Coriolanus Snow's life before he became President of Panem and kept having encounters with Katniss Everdeen, here's your answer. This prequel is set 64 years prior to the dystopian tales told in the saga's initial four films between 2012–15, with Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) doing his best to become a young Donald Sutherland. If the Wizarding World can have young Dumbledore, The Hunger Games can have young Snow, clearly. As the just-dropped first trailer for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes starts to cover, his backstory includes hailing from a family that's hit hard times in the postwar Capitol. That's how he becomes a mentor to District 12's Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler, Shazam! Fury of the Gods). And that "spectacles, not survivors" comment is spoken his way, in fact, as a word of warning about what's expected in his new role. Of course, this wouldn't be a Hunger Games story if one of its tributes didn't earn plenty of attention — and hearts. When his protege proves a hit, Snow starts to think about turning the odds in their favour. That said, viewers already know that any good he achieves here won't change the fate that's already been seen in the novels and past movies. As well as Blyth, Zegler and Dinklage, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes features a stacked cast spanning Jason Schwartzman (I Love That for You), Viola Davis (Air), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) and Josh Andrés Rivera (Zegler's West Side Story co-star). Francis Lawrence jumps behind the lens again, as he did with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part II. Check out the trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes below: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes releases in cinemas Down Under on November 16, 2023. Images: Murray Close.
If it's a feast of weird, wild and wonderful movies that you're after, then one Australian film festival has been delivering for 16 years now: the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Dedicated to strange and surreal cinema, it screens the kinds of flicks that don't usually turn up at your local multiplex — although, this year, the event itself is making the move to one such venue. 2022 marks a huge milestone for SUFF in two ways. Firstly, it's the fest's return to a physical event for the first time since 2019, thanks to a couple of pandemic-affected years. Secondly, SUFF is shifting to a new location. Accordingly, come Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, Sydneysiders will want to flock to Event Cinemas George Street to watch everything from hilarious Pete Davidson-featuring horror satires through to the latest and greatest genre shorts. And if you're not in Sydney, the fest's online program will return from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25 as well. For those keen on an in-person experience, I Love My Dad will open the fest, telling a tale about an estranged father (played by Patton Oswalt, Gaslit) who catfishes his own son in an effort to reconnect. From there, highlights include new releases by a few mighty impressive filmmakers: closing night's Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, the latest from A Girl Walks Home at Night's Ana Lily Amirpour, and Something in the Dirt, by The Endless and Synchronic's Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. And, of course, there's the aforementioned Bodies Bodies Bodies — which not only features The King of Staten Island's Davidson, but also Dear Evan Hansen's Amandla Stenberg and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova. They star in a film that turns a party game into a slasher onslaught, and tears into not only its characters, but Gen Z and today's always-online world. Also on the in-cinema bill: Dual, the Aaron Paul (Westworld) and Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame)-starring new deadpan comedy by The Art of Self-Defense's Riley Stearns; On the Count of Three, Jerrod Carmichael's (Rothaniel) feature film debut as a director; and documentary I Get Knocked Down, about Chumbawamba singer Dunstan Bruce. Or, you can see the world premiere of horror flick Pig Killer, which is inspired by a true story; catch Norway's Sick of Myself, which also screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival; and check out a charity screening of Rhino by Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. For those watching at home around the country, SUFF's online program includes queer Canadian drama Compulsus, horror/sci-fi film LandLocked, and an impressive range of documentaries — such as F@k This Job, about Russian TV channel Dozhd and its founder Natasha Sindeeva; Girl Gang, which follows a 14-year-old London influencer; the self-explanatory Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC; Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, about the Hellboy creator; and Circus of the Scars, about sideshow performers. Plus, SUFF's dedication to the most out-there shorts the fest can compile will also hit screens in-person at Event Cinemas George Street and via the virtual lineup. Sydney Underground Film Festival will screen at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney, from Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, then head online from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to SUFF's website.
Joining vinyl records and 8-track tapes on the dusty shelf of obsoleteness, CDs have fallen by the wayside. In 2011, the number of people in the US who downloaded their music had far surpassed that of people who bought physical albums. In an era when our grandchildren won't know what a Walkman is, what are we to do with our now-digitised CD collections? As it turns out, Amazon wants them. Beginning last week, Amazon launched alterations to its Trade-in Program, which allows customers to swap their old stuff for Amazon store credit. Amazon has previously accepted pre-loved items such as Kindles, textbooks, and DVDs in exchange for credit but hasn't accepted used CDs until now. The store credit can be used to buy new, downloadable albums, or any product from the site. We can't decide which we are more excited about: an extra buck or two, or forever banishing our questionable '90s music decisions.
Wondering which restaurants around the globe should tempt your tastebuds each year? There's an annual Top 100 list for that. Keen to sip drinks made by Australia's best bartenders, too? There's a countdown of those as well. Fancy tucking into a meal made by the only Aussie figure to nab a spot on the Top 100 Best Chefs list for 2022? Yes, you can also do that — and you'll be making a beeline to Josh Niland's various eateries. The Sydney seafood king has just scored some love at The Best Chef Awards 2022, becoming the only Australian to make this year's gongs. He placed in 78th spot, and also won another accolade: the Best Chef Innovation Award, for his nose-to-tail approach to the ocean's finest. [caption id="attachment_855330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Niland[/caption] Sydneysiders will be familiar with Niland thanks to Saint Peter since 2016 and Fish Butchery since 2018 — the latter now in both Paddington and Waterloo — as well as sustainable fish and chip shop Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay. As for everyone else, Niland has been winning fans and awards for a few years now, including via his applauded The Whole Fish Cookbook. It earned him the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award back in 2020 (becoming the first Australian to ever take out the prize, in fact). The reason that Niland keeps proving such a hit? His culinary philosophy, with an ethical and sustainable approach to seafood paramount to his cooking. The Whole Fish Cookbook's recipes include cod liver pate on toast, fish cassoulet, roast fish bone marrow, and the chef's 'perfect' version of fish and chips — and the tome also collected the Food Book Award at the 2019 André Simon Awards, and was named illustrated book of the year at the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards. [caption id="attachment_866128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Pynt[/caption] While Niland is the only Aussie to receive recognition at The Best Chef Awards 2022, Dave Pynt, the Perth-born chef-owner of Burnt Ends in Singapore, made the long list of candidates that the Top 100 was chosen from — after placing 86th in 2021. Also, the UK's Clare Smyth took 35th spot in 2022 — fresh from opening Oncore 26 levels above Sydney Harbour, her first restaurant outside of the United Kingdom, in late 2021. [caption id="attachment_830929" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clare Smyth[/caption] Unsurprisingly, the bulk of the male-dominated list for this year includes well-known global names such as Spain's Dabiz Muñoz in top spot, Denmark's René Redzepi in second place, Spain's Joan Roca in third, Italy's Massimo Bottura in fourth position and Spain's Andoni Luis Aduriz coming in at fifth. And if you're wondering what The Best Chef Awards are about, and how they came about, they were created in 2015 by Polish neuroscientist Joanna Slusarczyk and Italian gastronomist Cristian Gadau. The aim: to showcase the best of the world's gastronomic scene, including its experienced, passionate and determined talents. For the full The Best Chef Awards 2022 list, head to the awards' website. Josh Niland images: Rob Palmer.
Put that bottle of fake tan down. Yes, summer may be fading, but the boutique hotel hunters at Mr & Mrs Smith can give you a last-minute dose of Vitamin D. Complete with stretches of beyond-blonde beach, #unfiltered views and too-turquoise water, these ten boutique bolt-holes will have you topping up your tan faster than the autumn leaves darken. Constance Moofushi, Maldives What: Sea world Where: South Ari Atoll, Ari Atoll Don’t be surprised if a sojourn at luxury escape Constance Moofushi has you tearing up your passport the moment you spy the private-island locale, sprawling beach and lagoon-toting villas. (You can tear up your wallet, too, thanks to the generous all-inclusive rates, which even include free cigarettes from the humidor.) Snag a sunbed by the knee-weakeningly seductive pool — curved to mirror the shape of the beach — for uninterrupted Indian Ocean views. If splashing around brings on the munchies, make the most of the afternoon tea and pancakes, served poolside every afternoon. Adrenaline junkies can get their fix with a spot of windsurfing, kayaking, pedal boating and snorkelling; for a different kind of liquid thrill, head to Totem or Manta Bar, where a DJ will have you cutting shapes until the early hours (the potent cocktails should help, too). Anantara Seminyak, Bali What: Balearic style in Bali Where: Jl. Abimanyu (Dhyana Pura), Seminyak, Bali From its perch overlooking one of Bali’s most popular beaches, Anantara Seminyak boasts some serious style: suites are kitted out with marble, dark wood and just-so Balinese accents; some have access to a private or semi-private pool. Following an afternoon of peaceful paddling in the infinity-edge swimming pool, it’s only a few barefoot steps to poolside eatery Wild Orchard. Wednesdays see the restaurant dishing up an Indonesian buffet dinner with traditional dance performances. On Saturdays, Wild Orchard plays host to a seafood barbecue. For drinks with a view, head up to the fourth-floor rooftop and SOS Supper Club to laze on oversized day-beds and listen to tune-pumping DJs. Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia What: Castaway luxury Where: Koh Ouen, Koh Rong Islands Spread over a pair of pristine tropical isles, Song Saa Private Island is a green-minded resort that doesn’t skimp on glamour. All of the villas have breathtaking ocean views, private pools and an effortlessly elegant blend of thatched roofs, rustic timber beams, polished marble walls, Moroccan lanterns and carved tribal statues. If you’ve forgotten to pack sarongs and kaftans, the island’s two exclusive boutiques are stocked with designer labels. The resort offers snorkelling trips around Song Saa, island and marine safaris, nature treasure hunts and sunrise yoga classes; couples seeking a romantic canoodle can have a night in with in-villa movies and private poolside dining. Hotel El Ganzo, Mexico What: Hipster yacht party Where: Blvd. Tiburón s/n – La Playita, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur Doubling as an arts and culture centre, design den Hotel El Ganzo is the first of its kind in Los Cabos. It lures the hip and beautiful faster than a pair of new-season Ray Bans, abd it’s not hard to see why: charms include a private beach club with one of the area’s few swimmable beaches, a rooftop pool, sushi bar and a recording studio for would-be chart-toppers. When being hip-achingly cool takes its toll, choose from the treatment list at Spa El Ganzo — from traditional Swedish massage to agave-scrub — or take a turn in the sauna, steam room, salon and marina-view gym. By day, Ganzo Downstairs restaurant serves fresh, locally sourced dishes — ceviche, lion’s paw scallops, chilaquiles, and so on. As the sun sets, locals flock to this buzzy hotspot for the free-flowing tequila, churros and soft tunes. Qualia, Great Barrier Reef What: High-end luxury Where Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays, Queensland & Great Barrier Reef Sitting smack-bang in the Great Barrier Reef, Qualia has dazzling views from every angle. Villas are dotted amid the 30 acres of immaculately manicured gardens and each has postcard-perfect views of the Whitsundays or tropical bushland, and their own two-seater buggie. The Long Pavilion, helmed by chef Alastair Waddell, serves modern Australian cuisine — milk-fed veal, pork and marron tail, coral trout, white gazpacho — on candlelit tables, backdropped by neighbouring islands and spectacular sunsets. Enjoy a tropical fruit-inspired sundowner in the sunken lounge or in a raised area overlooking Qualia’s lap pool. Monastero Santa Rosa, Amalfi Coast What: Ancient monastery, reborn for sybarites Where: 2 Via Roma, Conca dei Marini, Campania, Italy Clinging to a cliff overlooking the azure-blue ocean, Monastero Santa Rosa is postcard perfection. Once a monastery, the hotel pays homage to its heritage by naming each of the former nuns’ quarters after herbs grown in the private gardens. Rooms are decorated with furniture and one-of-a-kind antiques (handpicked by the owner); some have terraces swathed in bougainvillea. Days are spent ambling in the tiered gardens and filling in tan lines by the heated infinity pool. Plucked from Alain Ducasse’s thrice Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, chef Christoph Bob dishes up the spectacular using organic ingredients grown onsite. The hotel’s spa is a destination in its own right, boasting a Finnish sauna, steam room, ice fountain and hydro pool. The Nam Hai, Vietnam What: Seaside design shrine Where: Hamlet 1, Dien Duong Village, Dien Ban District, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Traditional Vietnamese chic meets cutting-edge design at The Nam Hai. Rooms are decorated with romantic net-canopied platform beds, freestanding eggshell-lacquered baths, private gardens and outdoor rain showers. Water-babies can work their way between the three pools, beginning with the temperature-controlled upper pool with artsy ceramic urns, onto the long lap pool and finishing at the infinity pool that melts into the ocean horizon. The Beach Restaurant is perfect for a lazy, poolside lunch. The restaurant has views over the East Sea, high ceilings and a menu that champions contemporary fusion and authentic Indian fare. Trisara, Phuket, Thailand What: Understated glamour Where: 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand Overlooking a private bay in Phuket’s less developed north-west coast, each suite or villa at Trisara has jaw-dropping ocean vistas, its own pool and sexy outdoor showers. With your underwater-friendly camera in tow, mingle with technicolour fish in the bay. Back on dry land, there are muay Thai classes, tennis courts, a library and gym. For slower-paced pursuits, the hillside-set Trisara Spa has double treatment rooms and indulgent offerings including body wraps, facials and scrubs. If two nimble-knuckled hands just won’t do, opt for the Royal Trisara, a six-hand massage by three therapists. When hunger strikes, grab a table on the palm-shaded deck for ultra-fresh Thai and international cuisine. Beachfront eatery Trisara Seafood features the freshest fruits de mer, plucked from local waters. Maia Luxury Resort & Spa, Seychelles What: Wholly holistic happy hideaway Where: Anse Louis, Mahé Have knots in your shoulders? An aching back? Treat them to a restorative retreat at Maia Luxury Resort & Spa. We challenge even the most furrowed of brows not to unfurl after spying the turquoise waters gently lapping at sugar-sand beaches, tall palms waving in the breeze and thatched roofs dotted amid lush gardens. Forget about lifting a finger; each villa has its own private butler who can fill your days with snorkelling and cookery lessons, make dinner reservations, unpack luggage and even run a bath. Coaxing guests out of their villas is Maia’s spa. Hidden down dainty lanes flanked by bread fruit trees and hibiscus blooms, this shrine to pampering has a built-in soundtrack of birdsong and trickling water. Alila Villas Soori, Bali What: Sleek sea-kissed sanctuary Where: Banjar Dukuh, Desa Kelating, Kerambitan, Tabanan, Bali Pairing its spectacular scenery — untouched beaches and lush rice paddies — with effortless architecture makes Alila Villas Soori a visual delight. From the minimalist pads (complete with personal butler) to the communal areas, the hotel is sleek and effortlessly elegant, with neutral hues and dark accents. At the resort’s heart, the 25m infinity pool has four submerged day-beds at the shallow end to allow for slinky water access. Days begin with a tasting-style breakfast at open-air Coast. Lunch and dinner sees the talented chefs rustle up authentic Indonesian dishes. For something more swish, Ombak is a posh-nosh eatery perfect for romance. Find more boutique bolt-holes at Mr & Mrs Smith and search all the hotel collections. Smith members enjoy exclusive extras on all stays.
Lives of extravagant luxury. Globe-hopping getaways. Whiling away cocktail-soaked days in gorgeous beachy locales. Throw in the level of wealth and comfort needed to make those three things an easy, breezy everyday reality, and the world's sweetest dreams are supposedly made of this. On TV since 2021, HBO's hit dramedy The White Lotus has been, too. Indeed, in its Emmy-winning first season, the series was a phenomenon of a biting satire, scorching the one percent, colonialism and class divides in a twisty, astute, savage and hilarious fashion. It struck such a chord, in fact, that what was meant to be a one-and-done limited season was renewed for a second go-around, sparking an anthology. That Sicily-set second effort arrives Down Under on Monday, October 31, airing week to week — via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — and the several suitcase loads of scathing chaos it brings with it are well worth unpacking again. Sex, status, staring head-on at mortality and accepting the unshakeable fact that life is short for everyone but truly sweet for oh-so-few, regardless of bank balance: they're The White Lotus season two's concerns. All three played key parts in season one as well, but this sunnily shot seven-episode second run emphatically stresses that the bliss money is meant to bring is truly a mirage, as is the carefree air of a vacation. Accordingly, another group of well-off holidaymakers slip into another splashy, flashy White Lotus property — this time in Taormina in Italy, sat atop jagged cliffs and beneath the looming Mount Etna — and work through their jumbled existences over drinks by the pool, dinners at the bar, hefty room-service bills and sightseeing trips around town. Another death lingers over their trip, with The White Lotus again starting with an unnamed body — bodies, actually — then jumping back seven days to tell its tale from the beginning. Running the Sicilian outpost of the high-end resort chain, White Lotus manager Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore, Across the River and Into the Trees) is barely surprised by the corpse that kicks off season two. Non-plussed about the hotel's demanding guests, her staff and men in particular, she's barely surprised at much beforehand, either. Initially, viewers will share her lack of astonishment, with writer/director/creator Mike White (Brad's Status) setting up this return visit with similar elements as season one. New location, new hotel employees, a mostly new cohort of travellers, same malaise and mayhem: that's The White Lotus' second season at the outset and on the surface. As it proved the first time around with such potency, however, this series is exceptional at letting the supposedly straightforward and idyllic blister like a sunbather catching some rays — and at peeling away layer upon layer of ostensible ecstasy in a seeming utopia. Now married to Greg (Jon Gries, Dream Corp LLC), who she met in Hawaii in season one, Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (Jennifer Coolidge, The Watcher) is among the resort's fresh arrivals — and, with her husband, the show's familiar faces. Everyone else around Sicily skips through the series for the first time, some with a heartier spring in their step than others. Tanya's assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson, After Yang) is hardly thrilled when she's dispatched to her room, for instance, after Greg gets furious that she's on their vacation with them. She wants this jaunt away to be an experience after spending years alone in her room doomscrolling through the pandemic, but her boss just wants an emotional lap dog. Actually, Portia wants her trip to become a lusty Italian sex comedy, which White gleefully plays up across his slate of season-two characters; when in the country, clearly. Also having a conflicted time are three generations of Di Grasso men: Bert (F Murray Abraham, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), who wants to visit his mother's village and flirts with every woman he sees; Dominic (Michael Imperioli, The Many Saints of Newark), a Hollywood hotshot navigating a marital breakdown due to his philandering; and the Stanford-educated Albie (Adam DiMarco, The Order), who's determined for his relationships with women to be everything his grandad's and dad's aren't. And, there's another far-from-content group in the Spillers and the Babcocks, with tech whiz Ethan (Will Sharpe, Defending the Guilty) and his employment-lawyer spouse Harper (Aubrey Plaza, Best Sellers) newly flush with cash after the former sold his company, but begrudgingly accepting a getaway invite from his finance-bro college roommate Cameron (Theo James, The Time Traveller's Wife) and his stay-at-home wife Daphne (Meghann Fahy, The Bold Type). In the superbly written first five episodes of season two, White examines an array of familiar and relatable dynamics among Sicily's tourists, spanning new and long-standing couples, bosses and employees, and fathers and sons. When Portia and Albie cross paths early, it adds strangers potentially tumbling into a vacation romance to the itinerary a well. Delightfully, devilishly detailed characters are one of this show's strengths again, though, as aided by pitch-perfect performances all-round — especially from Coolidge once more, the endlessly cynical and expressive Plaza, and the tumultuous-and-loving-it Abraham. Another of The White Lotus' key drawcards, as paralleled in the new opening credits which play with Renaissance-style paintings: exposing how much emptiness, unhappiness and uncertainty sits behind such privileged lives, even in picturesque surroundings where opulence and relaxation are touted as the only aims. Eating the rich — and why they're eating themselves — is one of film and TV's favourite topics of late, whether Succession is spinning it into a similarly stellar satire across streaming queues, or Parasite and then Triangle of Sadness are winning the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or. The White Lotus has always found extra bite in surveying the high-end holiday industry that relies upon well-to-do tourism, catering to such guests' every whim no matter how demanding or outlandish, too, by contrasting the vast difference between such vacationers and the staff at their beck and call, and acknowledging that true euphoria is never the end result. In season two, the remit broadens to Sicily locals who don't work at the titular resort — not officially, anyway. Sex worker Lucia (Simona Tabasco, The Ties) and aspiring singer Mia (Beatrice Grannò, Security) hang around the hotel to meet and chase both clients and dreams, and to covet the excess around them. All that glitters isn't gold for them, either. All similarly isn't quite what it seems for Palermo-dwelling Brit Quentin (Tom Hollander, The King's Man), who decamped to Sicily decades back and, with his nephew Jack (Leo Woodall, Cherry), rounds out season two's key character list. Through them, The White Lotus' widened scope also encompasses the expat community, as well as the reality behind turning a holiday into your daily life. There's new shades to the show this time around, but its overall insights aren't surprising, of course. Still, White keeps pushing further, cutting both sharply and deep as he takes down and tears apart the fallacy of wealth and lavishness. What's always made The White Lotus so delicious — and such a potent, perceptive, snaky and amusing must-see — isn't just its moneyed misery and messiness, after all, but smartly stripping bare the idea that stacks of cash and scenic settings can buy perfection and satisfaction, even fleetingly, for anyone. Check out the trailer for The White Lotus season two below: The second season of The White Lotus starts streaming Down Under from Monday, October 31 via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Images: HBO.
If you live in Brisbane, you've heard all about the city's connections with Asia; we're the home of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, which is currently gracing Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery or Modern Art for the tenth time, and we've also hosted the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, after all. Since 2013, the BrisAsia Festival has been on that list as well, paying homage to the many cultures that originated from the continent. Timed around Lunar New Year — and running from Tuesday, February 1–Sunday, February 20 this year — the 2022 program features yet another mix of traditional and contemporary Asian arts, channelled into events across Brisbane. And while some of the unmistakable highlights will treat your stomach — a brand-new laneway tea festival in South Brisbane's Fish Lane, plus a Southside by Night event at Willawong that'll combine street food with a car meet (yes, think Fast and Furious vibes) — that's just the beginning of the fun. Overall, there's 50-plus events taking place in ten Brisbane suburbs, so you won't be lacking in things to do. The fest will sneakily start a few days early, on Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, to celebrate Vietnamese Lunar New Year, before starting its music program at venues around town — QPAC's Melbourne Street Green, The Zoo and Queen Street Mall included — and hosting a big (and free) launch party at Fortitude Music Hall. Elsewhere, you can attend an Asian-pop celebration and get decked out in bright hues at the returning Holi – Festival of Colours — or scope out the new BrisAsia Fashion Festival, which'll focus on labels and designers with Asian, Indigenous and international heritages. Plus, Brissie's Asian Australian comedians will also take to the stage for a night of standup comedy, the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens will host a night of love songs from around the globe in the lead up to Valentine's Day, and digital storytelling initiative Mother's Table will showcase local restaurant owners Maggie Nguyen, Mie Mie Wing Kee and Taro Akimoto chatting about their eateries and signature dishes. BrisAsia 2022 runs from Tuesday, February 1–Sunday, February 20. For further details, head to the event's website. Top image: Kim Borg, Ozwide Photography.
For their first film program of 2018, the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque is offering up its own take on old adage: if you can't explore the world, then bring the world to you. In All the World's Memories, that includes seeing the planet through a seasoned documentary cinematographer's eyes in the highly acclaimed Cameraperson, stepping into a treasure trove of lost nitrate film prints in Dawson City: Frozen Time, examining American race relations in I Am Not Your Negro and travelling through the last trips made by an Austrian filmmaker in Untitled. And, they're just some of the more recent titles that feature in the program. From January 5 to February 24, GOMA will highlight the best factual flicks, film essays and artist videos not only from the past year, but throughout the history of cinema as a medium. The showcase is designed to delve into humanity's desire to understand our world, as seen in everything from collages and compilations to personal explorations and probing pieces. Other highlights span from perennial favourite Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, to the applauded and influential San Soleil, to the clip-focused Los Angeles Plays Itself and Final Cut — Ladies and Gentlemen — plus the pioneering Man With a Movie Camera, the 1929 effort dismissed in its own time but now considered one of the best docos ever made. And, in even better news for cinephiles looking to catch a few films that have never graced Brissie's big screens, movie buffs keen to revisit some old factual faves and anyone eager for quite the movie journey, the entire program is free. Sessions run on Wednesday and Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday during the day.
That rush you get when you knock off work, then work up a sweat? It's a great (and addictive) feeling. That said, when the end of the week hits, you might want to do a little more than simply bend and stretch. That's one of the reasons that boozy yoga was invented — and, now, why Live DJ Yoga exists as well. You won't be sipping tipples at this exercise session, so consider it a post-work, pre-drinks kind of activity. But, you will be busting out your best downward dog while listing to DJs drop beats right there in front of you. If the pose calls for it, you'll probably also find yourself watching a heap of Brisbane's best behind-the-decks talent do their thing while you test our your flexibility. Fish Lane's just-opened Pilgrim Hot Yoga is hosting the 90-minute classes each Friday at 6pm, and you can expect a who's who of Brissie DJs spinning tracks. And, price-wise, tickets cost $20 for studio members and $35 otherwise.
Whether you're a longtime Brisbane local or just in town for the week, the possibilities to feel as though you're experiencing a new city are endless. From brand-new bar openings to immersive experiences popping up, this city can surprise you and make you want to stay just that little bit longer. In partnership with online travel website Wotif.com, we've rounded up a bunch of happenings across the city that you might not have checked out yet. But, look sharp: some of them are here for a good time, not a long time. Complete a Pop-Up Escape Room Challenge for the Chance to Win Big on Travel If you're in need of a holiday (aren't we all?), we've found a way to make those dreams a reality even sooner. Between Wednesday, March 26 and Friday, March 28, King George Square is hosting a very exciting free pop-up that will give you the chance to score a $5000 Wotif Domestic Travel Credit. All you have to do to be in the running is enter The Wotif Great Summer Escape, a multi-sensory escape room with a series of puzzles waiting for you to crack. Each puzzle solved unlocks a door with views of beautiful Australian locations, which in turn earns you a token to enter the draw. There are also spot prizes up for grabs, such as hotel coupons valued between $250-500, but if you can't make it down, the competition can also be entered online. Visit Brisbane's New Self-Pour Wine Bar Being able to sample some of the world's best wines for a fraction of the price? We'll say cheers to that. That's the driving force behind Woolloongabba's new wine bar, Stickybeak. From the crew behind BTG Wine, Stickybeak has over 80 labels on offer across its two-level venue, ranging from local drops to bottles from Germany, France and New Zealand. It offers pours in 25-, 75- and 150-millilitre amounts, so you can sample a bunch without breaking the bank. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet: no need to stress about waving down a bartender because the venue has ten self-serve dispensing wine fridges. You just tap your card, select your pour size and it does the rest. If you happen to be watching the two upcoming Brisbane Lion games, why not stay at a hotel nearby and enjoy this bar pre- or post-game? Explore Antarctica Without Leaving the City Tourism to Antarctica seems to be having a moment on social media but it's not without its ethical and environmental challenges. So here's a way to visit the big white continent guilt-free. As part of World Science Festival Brisbane, QUT The Cube is hosting a free experience across Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. It uses 29 multi-touch screens to immerse you in the vast Antarctic landscape and demonstrate how various robotic systems are helping to explore and research this fragile ecosystem safely and efficiently. Eat Dinner Prepared by an Internet-Famous Japanese Chef If your social media algorithms are tuned to food content, you've no doubt come across Motokichi Yukimura before. As flamboyant as his pink-hued hair, Yukimura has been cooking for over 45 years and made a name for himself for perfecting one dish, omurice (omelette rice), which he serves at Kyoto restaurant Kichi Kichi. Though, we think it's as much about the performance he puts on as it is about the actual food. Between Sunday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 25, Brisbane locals can get the Kichi Kichi experience at Harajuku Gyoza with Yukimara hosting a series of "meet and eat" sessions, which includes the viral omurice dish, a bunch of other Harajuku Gyoza signature plates and meeting the chef. Be fast though, there are only a few booking slots still available. Need a place to stay nearby? Try one of these South Brisbane hotels. Then Enjoy a Campfire-Inspired Cruffin for Dessert Although summer is almost over there are some elements of winter worth getting excited about. Not having to pump the air con, for one. Another? Winter getaways. And one of the best things about an off-grid escape is getting cosy by a campfire. To get you in the wintery mood, the masters at Lune have whipped up a monthly special inspired by the classic campfire treat, s'mores. The Toasted Marshmallow features a cruffin rolled in biscuit sugar, filled with choc-fudge sauce and a toasted marshmallow whip, then topped with mini marshmallows and strawberry sherbet. Give us five. The Wotif Great Summer Escape is running from March 26-28 between 8am-6pm. For more information or to enter the competition online, head to the website. AU residents 18+ only. Runs 26-28 March '25 Entry method 1: during promo period, go to game room activation at King George Square, Bne (8am – 6pm) & solve puzzles (in 3 mins) to unlock doors to find tokens - each token = 1 entry into draw (must fill in entry form via Rep's iPad onsite). Max 1 turn in game p/person p/day. Play as individual or as a team (max. 6 ppl). For teams, each person in team (18+) gets same # of entry/ies into draw as any token/s collected by team. Entry method 2: during promo dates (between 12.01am – 11.59pm AEST) visit www.wotif.com/vc/blog/summerescape & solve puzzle on screen to fill out entry form to get 1 entry into draw. Max 1 entry p/person for this entry method. Entries from both entry methods combined for draw, held at 12pm AEST 01/04/25, L13, 447 Collins St, Melb Vic. 3 prizes: 1st drawn wins $5000AUD Wotif.com Travel credit, 2nd drawn wins $500 Wotif hotel coupon, 3rd drawn wins $250AUD Wotif hotel coupon (use coupons to make booking by 31/08/25. Max 1 prize p/person (except in SA). Winners told by email & published on website 28/04/25. See website for full conditions incl. privacy statement. Promoter: Expedia Australia Pty Limited (ABN 12 101 694 946). SA Permit: T25/306 ACT Permit: TP25/00409
Got a costume burning a hole in your wardrobe, and nowhere to wear it? While the former might be true, the latter no longer is. Who needs a convention to break out some cosplay? Not The Brightside, of course. On January 28, the Warner Street venue goes Strictly Kawaii, embracing all things cute and Japanese from top to bottom. Dress code: sorted. Music: K, J and C-pop, spun by Freshmaster Frankzille G. There'll also be a live set by Scarlett Kill with some special guests, plus plenty of drinks. Those needing some encouragement to dress up might flock to their fancy threads once they discover that everyone in costume scores $5 off the entry price; however there's yet another drawcard in the midst, too. Cranking up the ol' Brighty projector is part and parcel of their parties, but showing an array of anime and Japanese animation is a one-night-only kind of deal.
On most days of the year, a Brisbanite can wander into a Fortitude Valley venue and listen to live tunes. In most years, too, the inner-city suburb celebrates that fact in a huge way. We've all been to a Valley Fiesta. We've all been to several, in fact, because they've been filling the Brunswick Street Mall and surrounding bars with music for 24 years now — and the suburb-specific festival is back in full swing in 2021. Running from Thursday, October 28–Saturday, October 30, this year's three-day Valley Fiesta is hitting up 23 locations with oh-so-much live music. Get ready to hop between Black Bear Lodge, The Brightside and its outdoor area, Cloudland, Greaser, Netherworld, The Tivoli, The Triffid, The Wickham and The Zoo. You'll also be heading to Backdock Arts, Birdees, EC Venue, Kings, La La Land, O'Skulligans, Press Club, Queens, Suzie Wongs Good Time Bar, The Prince Consort and Woolly Mammoth as well. As for who you'll be listening to, the list of acts includes more than 150 artists and bands, so you can get ready to check out Blonde on Blonde, Butterfingers, Beddy Rays, Nerve, DVNA, Jesswar, VOIID and SixFtHick — plus DZ Deathrays doing a DJ set — among a heap of other names. Prices vary and tickets for each event are sold separately — and, obviously, it'll be a COVID-safe affair with the applicable capacity restrictions. And, if you're wondering why this year's Fiesta kicks off on a Thursday, that's because Friday, October 29 is the rescheduled Ekka public holiday. So, your long weekend itinerary can including hitting up a Brisbane favourite — and also heading into the mall on the Saturday for a huge music marketplace that'll span record swaps, vintage clothing and pop-up DJs. VALLEY FIESTA 2021 LINEUP A Love Supreme Alivian Blu Allora Amarri Amy L Annoying Neighbours Asphyxia B-boy Cielo B-girl Tinylocks Bad Neighbour Band 42 BBTK Beddy Rays Being Jane Lane Betty Taylor Big Dinner Birdman Randy & The Ivory Street Preachers Blonde on Blonde Blussh Bombshell Academy Breakfast at Nans BRIA Brief Habits Brixton Alley Buttered Butterfingers Callin Malley Big Band Carmouflage Rose Charlesworth Chelsea Drive Chukale Clarence Kent Colourblind Cooper Riley Creed Tha Kid Curtis Sciliba (DJ) Dahlia Dyer Dahlia Gunn David Carberry Day of Embers De La Vinx DJ Bacon DJ Fukhed DJ Lil J Don Rual Dream Coast Dumb Things DVNA DZ Deathrays (DJ) Ebony Ruth Echowave Ella Fence Eloelo Ethan Enoch Feelsclub First Beige (DJ) Flamingo Blonde FOMI Foul Face Frenchie Darling Friends of Friends General Press: GP001 Halfway Haliday Hive Mind Hope D Hot Reno J-Funk Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks Jacob Tompkins Jesswar Kessin King Stingray Kweir La bOum Lacy Pop Late November Lazy Leis Lila Lux Lilith Revere LO'99 Local Safari Loiter Lotus Ship Lunchtime Madeline Glasseater Malibu Stacey Margeaux Le Gogo Melaleuca Mellow Miranda vs Arizona Mou MoZza Nerve Nice Biscuit Nicole McKinney Oh Bailey Parachute Youth Passionfruit People Mover Phatnug Phil Smart Pocketlove Pure Milk Pvcker Up Radolescent Ramjet Rose Rogers Ruckus Slam S*A*S*H Halloween Sachem Saint Lane Sametime Selfish Sons Sellma Soul Set The Record Shifting Sands Siala Sid The Entertainer SixFtHick Skanalosos Skies Collide Skrub Sleeping Slowrip Slurpee Jerks Smak Soviet X-Ray Record Club Start Together Stone & Wood Garden Sessions Strictly Classics Sunsets syrup, go on Teen Sensations The Buzzing Towers The Double Happiness The Lonesomes The Mangroves The New Black The Sleepyheads The Unknowns The Wolston Butchers Toby Hobart TOWNS Trilla D VERUM VOIID Waxflower Wet Season Wetlands Wharves White Light Station Yellowcatredcat Yr Familiar Zed Charles Images: Dave Kan.
Whichever food or drink happens to be in the spotlight, festivals dedicated to bites and sips always give two gifts. Firstly, they showcase folks and companies making top-notch products. Secondly, for attendees, they serve up plenty of reasons to celebrate — and sample. The Good Spirits Festival is the latest such event, and it has those two aims in mind — all across one afternoon and evening at Nightquarter on the Sunshine Coast. From 4pm on Saturday, September 10, a curated selection of local craft distilleries is in the spotlight. Your job: to throw them some love by drinking their wares. Hosting pop-ups: Sunshine & Sons, Milton Rum, Lula Rum and Beachtree Distilling Co, as well as Paradise Rum, Spirits Platform and more. There'll also be drinks from Your Mates, Lyre's and So Soda, to mix things up with brews and non-alcoholic options. Entry costs $3, you'll pay for what you drink, and both Sunshine & Sons and Nil Desperandum Rum are doing masterclasses for $19.38 each as well.
Any reason to take a holiday is a good reason to take a holiday, but a little bit of international acclaim certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to choosing a getaway spot. So, if you've been thinking about heading to Kangaroo Island at some point, or making the trip to Australia's Red Centre to soak in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park's wonders, here's the push you might've been waiting for: they've both been named by The New York Times as two of the best places to visit in 2023. The publication has put together a '52 Places to Go' list for this year, with the pair of Aussie destinations earning mentions. Even better: Kangaroo Island, the South Australian landmass that's also the nation's third-largest island, landed in the top ten. The location came in seventh, and was specifically called out for its "incredible wildlife, breathtaking ocean views, and its status as an ecological haven". [caption id="attachment_688401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivonne Bar/SA Tourism Commission[/caption] If you're wondering exactly where the NYT says you should check out on the island, that'd be the Kangaroo Island Koala and Wildlife Rescue Centre, especially its private tours of its animal hospital facilities and bottle-feeding a joey while you're there — and watching sea lions at the Seal Bay Conservation Park. The Southern Ocean Lodge also scored a shoutout for when it reopens. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia's second spot on the list, ranked 29th. It was recognised for being "the shape-shifting sandstone heart of a continent and its Indigenous heritage" — and yes, its world-famous monolith obviously got a mention. [caption id="attachment_869882" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT[/caption] Still Down Under but across the ditch, the entire city of Auckland pipped both Australian locales by coming in fifth, and was dubbed New Zealand's "culinary capital". According to the NYT, travellers should add visits to Hugo's Bistro, Cazador, Omni and Little French Cafe — which serves up "mille-feuille rivaling Paris's best" — to their itineraries. Elsewhere around the globe, London came in first for being "a buzzing city ready for a coronation, a brand-new airport link and a prehistoric colossus"; with Morioka in Japan sitting in second; Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park taking out third place; and Scotland's Kilmartin Glen in fourth. Rounding out the top ten, alongside Auckland in fifth and Kangaroo Island in seventh: California's Palm Springs at sixth, Vjosa River in Albania at eighth, Accra in Ghana sitting ninth and Tromso in Norway at tenth. Other places named include Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, the Namib Desert in Southern Africa, Flores in Indonesia, Nîmes in France, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [caption id="attachment_886033" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Little French Cafe[/caption] For The New York Times' full 52 Places to Go list for 2023, head to the publication's website. Top image: Ben Goode via South Australian Tourism Commission. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world — including Kangaroo Island.
If Colin From Accounts won you over as quickly as a cute dog in the street when it first arrived in 2022 — when it became one of that year's best new TV shows in the process — then you've probably been hanging out for the Aussie rom-com sitcom's second season. The show was unsurprisingly renewed in 2023, and now has an official return date: Thursday, May 30. When it debuted, Colin From Accounts had everyone bingeing their way through this tale of an awkward but memorable meet-cute, which began when a medical student and a microbrewery owner crossed paths in Sydney, ended up with an injured dog between them, then went from strangers to pet co-owners almost instantly. This time, however, the series will be dropping its episodes weekly on Binge instead of in one batch. If you're new to the show, which won Best Narrative Comedy Series at the 2024 AACTAs and a trio of Logies — Most Outstanding Comedy Program, Most Outstanding Actor and Most Outstanding Actress — in 2023, it's the latest collaboration between real-life couple and No Activity stars Harriet Dyer (The Invisible Man) and Patrick Brammall (Evil). Story-wise, the first season of Colin From Accounts charted what happened after Brammall's Gordon was distracted by Dyer's Ashley one otherwise ordinary morning, then accidentally hit a stray dog with his car. The pair took the pooch to receive veterinary treatment, then committed to look after him — and, yes, named him Colin From Accounts — causing their already-messy lives to intertwine. In season two, Ashley and Gordon are living together, which brings its own chaos — including the quest to get Colin From Accounts back from his new owners. A heap of fresh faces are joining the series for its second date, such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Virginia Gay (Mother and Son), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me), Lynne Porteous (Frayed) and John Howard (Bump). Season two of Colin From Accounts doesn't yet have a sneak peek, but you can check out the trailer for season one below: Colin From Accounts season two will stream via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Read our review of season one. Images: Lisa Tomasetti.
Food is glorious for a whole heap of reasons. It's tasty and it provides much-needed sustenance, for starters — and nothing brings people together like a good meal. That's the principle behind A Taste of Belonging, the latest event in the State Library of Queensland's Belonging series. On April 22, sitting down for a three-course dinner becomes a meaningful culinary experience, complete with an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Iranian, Chinese and Venezuelan cuisines, and insights into the history and culture behind each dish. Plus, the entire mouthwatering feast will be whipped up by Wandering Cooks and Alphabet Cafe based on recipes shared by the Romero Centre's migrant communities.
How do you solve a problem like the dreaded middle seat, everyone's least-favourite spot to sit on a plane? While Qantas is letting customers pay extra to have no one next to them, Virgin has taken a different approach: hosting a Middle Seat Lottery to encourage passengers to nestle in, with a heap of prizes on offer as incentives. One such reward for slotting into the middle? Limited-edition Virgin bar carts. If you've always wanted your own at home — and, based on how quickly Qantas' fully stocked versions sold when it put them up for grabs during the pandemic's early days, you do — you just have to agree to sit somewhere you usually wouldn't by choice to go in the running. There are four money-can't-buy Virgin bar carts on offer, all with a different theme. These ones don't just come stocked with booze, either, with each hand-refurbished cart filled with goodies focused around either disco, day spas, watching flicks at home and sports. The first cart, which is the prize for whoever wins the lottery for flights between November 14–20, includes a spinning mirror ball, cocktail shaker, Bluetooth speaker and smoke machine. That'd be the disco fever cart, clearly, and it's all shimmery on the outside as well Exactly when the other carts will slot into the Middle Seat Lottery's prize pool hasn't yet been revealed, but they're all similarly packed. The day spa cart comes covered in rattan, and features a robe, eye mask, slippers, aromatherapy diffuser and candles, while the at-home cinema cart includes a customisable cinema-style letter board, a popcorn maker, candy bar and movie projector (and it's upholstered in red velvet). Or, sports fans can enjoy a cart with a removable esky, drinks coolers, a Marshall speaker, an AFL Sherrin and a pop-out basketball hoop. Running since late October until Sunday, April 23, 2023, the Middle Seat Lottery is as self-explanatory as it sounds. Plonk yourself down in the abhorred seat — with a ticket, of course — and you could score goodies for your trouble. The freebies change each week, but there's more than $230,000 in prizes on offer across the six-month competition — only if you either select the middle seat or you're assigned it. As well as the bar carts, those prizes span Caribbean cruises with Virgin Voyages, complete with flights to and from the USA; a helicopter pub crawl in Darwin, again with flights there and back included; and a Cairns adventure package, which covers flights, accommodation, bungy jumping, river rafting and other activities There's also flights and tickets to your AFL team's away games in 2023 — and, still on Aussie rules, an AFL Grand Final package, covering a lunch, tickets to the game, being on the boundary line before the match, merch and an after party. One prize will be given out each week, with 26 prizes in total across the competition's duration. And if your week doesn't coincide with a holiday giveaway, platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer status with one million points is also on the freebies list. An hour or so in a seat you wouldn't normally pick for the chance to win holidays, heaps of footy or frequent flyer points to book more holidays? Worth it, probably. To go in the running to win any of the above, you do need to be a Velocity Frequent Flyer member over the age of 18. And, you'll have to fly somewhere within Australia, on a Virgin Australia-operated domestic flight, during the competition period — in a middle seat, obviously. Also, to enter, you then need to use the Virgin Australia app within 48 hours of your flight's scheduled departure time, tapping on the Middle Seat Lottery tile, finding your flight and entering your details. From there, winners will be drawn each week and contacted if they're successful. Virgin Australia's Middle Seat Lottery runs until Sunday, April 23, 2023. For more information, head to the Virgin website. Images: Carly Ravenhall. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you're thinking of heading to Tassie for Dark Mofo this year, this could be the clincher. MONA is hosting its next big exhibition, Zero — a celebration of Germany's radical artists of the 1950s and 60s. The show gets its name from the term the artists used, collectively, to describe themselves. They didn't identify as belonging to a movement, style or group, but instead felt connected by a "vision of the things", as explained by Otto Piene, one of the founders. The show will feature artworks by original Zero artists, as well as those that have since absorbed their influence. These include Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Günther Uecker and Adolf Luther from Germany; Lucio Fontana, Nanda Vigo, Grazia Varisco, Enrico Castellani and Gianni Colombo from Italy; with Marcel Duchamp, Yves Klein and François Morellet from France; Henk Peeters from The Netherlands; Christian Megert from Switzerland; Jesús Soto from Venezuela; and Yayoi Kusama from Japan. Given that these artworks were often ephemeral, many will be reconstructions. Expect sound effects, music, optical illusions, moving parts, shifting lights and reflective materials. There'll be a particular focus on vibration, which Mack described in 1958 as "resting restlessness…the expression of continuous movement, which we call 'vibration'…Its harmony stirs our souls, as the life and breath of the work." Taking care of curation is Mattijs Visser, founding director of the international Zero Foundation. "Zero is one of the most significant, yet largely forgotten, art movements since the Second World War...Zero needs to be discovered now, while several of their speakers are still with us," he says.
Any serious specialty coffee place knows beans should not be a one-size-fits-all option for their different brews. One kind of roast and grind, for example, won't necessarily work as well for a long black as it does a milky latte, which is why Masters St Coffee uses completely different brands for each. The independent coffee haunt serves up Sydney roasteries Single O (usually used for black brews) and Reuben Hills (for its milky numbers) daily as well as a number of regularly rotating guest roasters. Coffee is the primary focus here, but a selection of sweets (like Nutella-filled doughnuts, Butterbings and danishes) can sometimes be found at the counter to tempt you. Grab and go or sit in at one of the few tables set out in this little nook on Masters Street in Newstead and take your time. Images: Kiel Wode
Who made the rule that Valentine's Day was just for pairs, couples and duos? You can turf that old-school thinking out the window, because we're here in 2023, happy in the knowledge that love comes in all shapes and sizes. And this year, the QT hotel chain is embracing that notion with an inclusive Valentine's Day celebration that's best enjoyed in a crew of three. On Tuesday, February 14, the brand's sites around the country — in Melbourne, plus also Sydney, Bondi, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and Perth — are paying special homage to the throuples and trios out there in lovers' land with a one-night-only You, Plus Two package. While venues across the nation will likely be brimming with tables for two, these hotels will be celebrating three as the magic number. The details vary slightly in different cities, but the first step is the same: book a table for three at a resident QT restaurant (or, for QT Bondi, at North Bondi Fish). Do so at Gowings at QT Sydney, Pascale at QT Melbourne, Capitol Grill at QT Canberra, Jana Restaurant at QT Newcastle and Santini Grill at QT Perth that evening and you'll enjoy a little extra love in the form of the venue's Aphrodisiac Hour offering. That's half a dozen oysters and three mini vodka martinis on the house, all to kick off your date night right. At Yamagen at QT Gold Coast, you'll receive the half-dozen oysters for Aphrodisiac Hour. And at North Bondi Fish, you won't score any free bites, but you will go in the running for a giveaway that's running everywhere. That competition? All tables of three at each venue on the night will be in with a shot at being crowned the Throuple in Residence for that QT hotel. If you win at whichever QT spot you're at (or North Bondi Fish for QT Bondi), you'll be invited to keep the loved-up festivities going with a private hotel room, complete with robes, pillows and all the cushy amenities you could hope for. QT's You, Plus Two package is available for all tables of three booked for Tuesday, February 14, with slightly different deals at different hotels. Secure your spot online.
2025 is a shaping up to be a big year for Netflix finales — and it will end that way, too. First, Squid Game is coming to a conclusion in June 2025. Then, Stranger Things will begin following suit with its fifth and last season. You'll be tuning in not once, not twice, but three times for this farewell trip to Hawkins, Indiana, however — starting in November 2025, then checking in again twice in December this year. Those specific dates: Wednesday, November 26 for the first four-episode volume of season five, then Thursday, December 25 for its second three-chapter volume, followed by Wednesday, December 31 for the finale. Netflix locked in the release schedule as part of a date-announcement video which also provides an initial glimpse at how everything will wrap up. Included in the clip: looks backwards at the tale that Stranger Things has told so far, which means peering at how young the cast was when the show premiered in 2016. From what's to come, comas, bedside vigils, the military, exploring via torchlight, shaking floors and a key piece of advice — "run" — all feature. Season five makes finding and killing Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower, Emmanuelle) its main aim, all while the town has been placed under quarantine and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, The Electric State) has been forced into hiding We know already that the year is 1987 and the time is autumn, jumping forward from the fourth season's spring 1986 timing. We're also aware that one way or another, the residents of Hawkins that viewers know and love will have their last experience with the eeriness that's been plaguing their town for years. That's the promise that accompanies saying goodbye to Stranger Things, of course, even if the hit Netflix show's end won't be it for the franchise's broader universe. If it feels like there's been a lengthy wait for more — even with the series no stranger to long delays between seasons — that's because there has been. When November rolls around, it will have been almost three-and-a-half years since season four, a gap extended due to 2023's Hollywood strikes. Before that, just under three years elapsed between seasons three and four, and just under two between the second and third seasons. The 13-month gap between seasons one and two seems positively short, then. Late in 2024, Netflix revealed the titles of Stranger Things' eight season-five episodes. If you feel like obsessing over the monikers for clues, you've had eight hints for a while, then. The season will kick off with 'The Crawl', then deliver 'The Vanishing of ...', 'The Turnbow Trap' and 'Sorcerer'. Next comes 'Shock Jock', 'Escape From Camazotz' and 'The Bridge', before it all ends with the enticingly named 'The Rightside Up'. Fans also already know that this season features Terminator franchise icon Linda Hamilton, jumping from one sci-fi hit to another. Season five brings back all of the usual faces, too — so, alongside Brown and Bower, Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), David Harbour (Thunderbolts*), Finn Wolfhard (Saturday Night), Gaten Matarazzo (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Caleb McLaughlin (The Deliverance), Noah Schnapp (The Tutor), Sadie Sink (O'Dessa), Natalia Dyer (All Fun and Games), Charlie Heaton (The Souvenir: Part II), Joe Keery (Fargo), Maya Hawke (Inside Out 2), Priah Ferguson (The Curse of Bridge Hollow), Brett Gelman (Lady in the Lake) and Cara Buono (Things Like This). As for more Stranger Things-related antics after season five, when creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that their sci-fi show was working towards its endgame back in 2022, they also said that they had more stories to tell in this fictional realm. Instantly, we all knew what that meant. Netflix doesn't like letting go of its hits easily, after all, so the quest to find a way to keep wandering through this franchise was about as surprising as Jim Hopper's (Harbour) usual gruff mood. Check out the date-announcement video for Stranger Things season five below: Stranger Things season five will arrive in three parts, on Wednesday, November 26, Thursday, December 25 and Wednesday, December 31, 2025. You can stream the first four seasons now via Netflix — and read our review of season four. Images: Netflix.
Imagine carrying home five grocery bags heaving with fresh, shiny fruits and vegetables, then picking up one bag, walking to the bin, and throwing it in. Startling isn't it? That's exactly what the average Aussie household discards on a regular basis — one out of every five bags of grocery we buy — and it's contributing to the 800,000 tonnes of food thrown out by Australian householders each year. So why are we doing it? One of the main culprits cited by food conservationists is our urban, time-poor lifestyle. We go grocery shopping on a Monday with dreams of becoming the next Nigella but by Friday we morph into Matt Prestons, wanting to eat our way through an array of diners regardless of what's fermenting in the fridge. Think our favourite restaurants are doing a better job at conserving food? Think again. With our fickle appetite for food trends, our local eateries have been known to toss out an estimated 340,000 tonnes of food annually. But swearing off your favourite nosh pit for life isn't only improbable — can you really go without your favourite pad thai or your sticky pork-rib Friday night food staple? — it might not necessarily be the answer. A sustainable table movement has been quietly sweeping the state, with some organisations — from food rescue groups like OzHarvest to restaurants that specialise in using seasonal, local produce like Sydney's Cornersmith — showing that today's funnily shaped fruit and veg could be tomorrow's gourmet offering. According to Cornersmith's owner and 'chief pickler' Alex Elliott-Howery, fruit and veg that's gone past its official use by date, or that doesn't always match an aesthetic ideal, is often best for cooking. "We have a very close relationship with imperfect fruit and vegetables at Cornersmith," he says. "By imperfect I don't mean rotten. So many vegetables and fruits that don't look like they come from a plastic mould get thrown away when in fact they are delicious and there are millions of ways to use them. "[For example] we make pickles out of bendy cucumbers; chutney, sauces, and compotes for our milk shakes out of very ripe fruits; pesto out of basil leaves that may be slightly affected by weather conditions or insects." In fact, Cornersmith takes food wastage so seriously there's a zero-tolerance approach that underpins every aspect of the business. From the small, seasonally oriented menu, which ensures key ingredients are used across several dishes, to the on-site food composting, rooftop beehive, and Monday 'preserving day', food wastage loathers can take a leaf out Cornersmith's book. "We just got a whole lot of lemons that are too 'ugly' for the grower to sell at the markets but are delicious, so we're using them for juicing, jam making, and dressings," says Alex. Similarly, Glebe diner Two Peas, launched by former Jamie's Italian alumni Nick Johnson and Tom Stoneham, has a "through-the-line" approach to sustainable and ethical dining with the goal of not only minimising food wastage but also decreasing the resource intensive paddock-to-plate process. "People don't often think about where their food comes from and the resources involved in getting it to their plate," says Tom. "Take something as simple as the wine you're drinking, people from NSW love wines from other regions. Although there's nothing wrong with that, there are often hidden costs involved in transporting it from cellar to tabletop. We're very conscious of that at Two Peas; in fact, everything we use is grown in Australian and sourced from local suppliers wherever possible." But where other eateries may stop at the produce, Two Peas goes even further in its holistic approach to sustainable dining. "Our tablecloths, napkins, and takeaway containers are made from recycled materials, whilst our menus, which we print ourselves, are made from post-consumer recycled material." With our love affair with food showing no signs of abating (just look at the recent glut of prime-time cooking shows), how can savvy diners get on the sustainable food train? According to Tom, education and awareness are the key, as well as an open mind. "Start by looking at what produce is in season and seeing if this is reflected in what's being offered at the restaurants you visit. For example, if you see asparagus on the menu and it's not in season, you can be sure it's been sourced from overseas. It's also a good idea to try something new, rather than sticking with your favourite dish, because it's a great way of showing support for seasonally designed menus." With a menu based around reusing excess food, the Cornersmith chefs don't just practice what they preach; they take an active role in educating the community as well. "We are starting our pickling and preserving classes and sustainable food workshops in April of this year," says Alex. "We figure that teaching people how to deal with their excess produce will help to stop food waste in the community." All images (except top) from Cornersmith's Instagram.
Booking a trip has changed significantly over the last few decades — just 40 years ago, the only way to book a flight, really, was through a travel agent. It wasn't until the early '90s that travellers could take the reins and actually book a ticket for themselves online. Thankfully, we have progressed. Gloriously. Travelling is only getting easier due to the evolution of highly useful, intuitive apps. These ten currently available apps will make your travels that much smoother. And the better news? None of them cost a cent. FOR HEALTH MATTERS: TRAVWELL Let's be real. Health is an easy thing to take for granted while travelling. Powered by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, TravWell brings a great sense of calmness to travellers going overseas. We suggest downloading this well before departing. Users can select the destination they are travelling to, and the app will list which vaccines and medications to take. TravWell also has space to store photos and organise documents such as vaccine records. Plus, for every destination that the app covers, there are corresponding emergency services phone numbers on hand. FOR CONVERTING CASH: CURRENCY CONVERTER PLUS This app is one of the most popular out there, drawing over one million downloads worldwide. Currency Converter Plus hosts 191 currencies and regularly updates conversion rates. When you don't have access to Wi-Fi in that Moroccan souk or Beijing market, the app's ability to work offline definitely comes in handy. It can also convert currency to gold, silver and platinum, perfect if you're indulging in a cheeky jewellery shop during your stopover in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The calculator function is what separates this app from the rest. Say your Vietnamese feast in Hanoi costs 200,000VND, and you have $5US dollars you want to use — enter both into the app and it will calculate and convert simultaneously, saving you the brainwork. FOR OFFLINE MAPS: MAPS.ME As much as we'd like to assume that our orientation skills are on point, sometimes we get it wrong. Really wrong. And you end up six kilometres away from your hotel, in the dodgy depths of a city with no idea how to get back. MAPS.ME, to the rescue. The app is trusted by over 65 million travellers, probably because it's usable offline. Simply download the map of the country or city you are visiting (when you have internet connection), and it's there for good. Within the app, users can search for restaurants, attractions, ATMs and public transport. We're not done. MAPS.ME also gives people the option to book accommodation through Booking.com. Alternatively, you can't go wrong with offline Google Maps. FOR EDITING HOLIDAY SNAPS: SNAPSEED There's an inordinate number of photo editing apps out there. A lifetime could be devoted looking for the best. Let us save you a little bit of that time. Snapseed, which was created by Google, is not only ridiculously easy to use, but also fun. It has 26 tools and editing features including the ability to adjust exposure, contrast, saturation, ambiance, fix skewed lines, alter perspectives, heal areas of a photo, add in text and throw on a filter. And when you're all finished playing around, Snapseed provides the option to upload to your edited masterpiece straight to Instagram. FOR CONQUERING LANGUAGE BARRIERS: GOOGLE TRANSLATE Speaking of Google (again), it's insanely hard to beat Google Translate at its game. The app offers the most languages out of any single translation engine out there — a mere 103. Now, translating words, phrases and sentences is one thing, but pronouncing them is another. Users can listen to translations before attempting and potentially embarrassing themselves. The app has evolved dramatically since its birth, now integrating a photo feature where you can hold your camera up to a text while Google magically translates it, given the font is readable. The fairy godmother of translators, we're naming it. FOR GROUP TRIPS: SPLITWISE Travelling with friends can get tricky money-wise, no matter how much you try to prevent it. Attempting to recall who shouted what at NYC's Please Don't Tell and how much that friend owes you for dinner at Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook is too much to keep track of sometimes. Splitwise is a simple way to share bills, and keep track of what everyone has paid. Each person creates an account, and from there groups can be formed. Users then log in to see their balance, what is owed to them and what they owe to others. FOR AIRPORT RELAXATION: LOUNGEKEY LoungeKey is the ultimate airport lounge library. After entering an airport or city name into the app, a list of lounges on offer comes up. LoungeKey details exactly where lounges are located in an airport (don't laugh, some are harder to find that you would assume), what facilities are included, and provides photos, trading hours and prices. There is also a 'nearby' function for when you are absolutely exhausted and just want to pop into the closest lounge. FOR EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS: GUIDES BY LONELY PLANET There's a lot of noise when it comes to travel guides and recommendations, but among all the madness is Lonely Planet — one of the most trustworthy and inspiring names out there. The Guides app incorporates advice from local experts, including must-see sights and essential tips for each location. There's also an offline maps function, language phrasebooks and a currency converter. It's an all-in-one app, currently covering 100 cities, with more to come. FOR CONNECTIVITY: FREE WI-FI FINDER If you don't fancy buying a sim card in every country you visit, and therefore heavily rely on finding a Wi-Fi connection, this one's a winner. Free Wi-Fi Finder promises exactly what's in its title —free Wi-Fi connection spots, with absolutely no charges. The app lists locations in over 50 countries. You can search by state and city, or locate the closest to wherever you find yourself at that point in time. The app also gives users the option to list Wi-Fi spots themselves and assist other travellers. People-powered, we like that. FOR FINDING THINGS TO DO: AIRBNB (FOR THE 'EXPERIENCES' FUNCTION) Airbnb continues its rampage of revolutionising the travel industry. The app hosts a plethora of affordable accommodation options — apartments, cabins, igloos and beyond — opening up a world of travel to those who were unable to access it before. In late 2016, the app took things up a notch, launching Airbnb 'experiences'. These are curated events, tours, classes and workshops created by local guides, inspiring people not just to travel to a place, but immerse themselves in it. Experiences span from two-day food tours in Seoul, three-day salsa camps in Havana or cocktail-making classes in San Francisco.
Whichever caped crusader is your favourite, and whichever comics-to-screen film franchise you like best, you've seen plenty of superheroes on screens large and small over the past decade or so. They're everywhere — including at Brisbane City Hall at present. The heroes gracing the walls here aren't your usual icons, though. Instead, Dylan Mooney's Blak Superheroes gives First Nations characters a comic book-style makeover. The aims: representation and empowerment, all while championing survival, pride and power. The Yuwi, Torres Strait Islander and Australian-born South Sea Island artist explains that, in the past "Blak characters' representation in history has always been in the background, never the focal point, and characterised by racist stereotypes" — so his works seek to uplift, to showcase First Nations figures, and to show that surviving and thriving in Australia has required resilience and innovation. Mooney uses drawing, printmaking and street art techniques to illustrate his creations, which are on display for free until Monday, April 18, 2022. [caption id="attachment_818265" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dylan Mooney, Resist from the ongoing series 'Blak Superheroes', digital drawing. Courtesy the artist and N Smith Gallery, Gadigal Country.[/caption]
