For residents of Australia and New Zealand, taking an overseas holiday hasn't really been on the agenda for much of the pandemic due to strict international border controls in both countries. Since April, however, the trans-Tasman bubble has let Aussies take a getaway in NZ and vice versa, all without having to go through quarantine upon arrival. But, with COVID-19 cases growing across Australia again, and the Greater Sydney area and all of both Victoria and South Australia currently in lockdown, NZ has just suspended the arrangement. Announced today, Friday, July 23, by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the pause applies to quarantine-free travel to and from all Aussie states and territories. This isn't the first time that the bubble has been put on hold with all of Australia, with the same thing happening at the end of June. It has been paused with individual Aussie states before, too, as is currently the case with New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This time, though, the nationwide suspension will stay in place for at least the next eight weeks. The pause will come into effect from 11.59pm NZT / 9.59pm AEST today for Australians entering NZ. For New Zealanders heading home, managed return flights will run for the next seven days; however, to get on one, you'll need proof of a negative pre-departure test. And, if you've been in NSW, you will still have to go into managed quarantine for 14 days. Folks who've been in Victoria must self-isolate upon return, and also have a negative Day 3 test. "There are now multiple outbreaks, and in differing stages of containment, that have forced three states into lockdown. The health risk to New Zealanders from these cases is increasing," Prime Minister Ardern said. "We've always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe." https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1418393858795196419 When NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern first announced the two-way bubble between Australia and New Zealand back in April, she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur — so none of the suspensions so far, including this one, are surprising. The NZ Government advised that this current pause "will give Australia time to manage its current outbreaks, while giving New Zealand health officials the time to monitor the situation, assess travel developments in other countries and consider different quarantine-free travel settings while ensuring New Zealanders are safe." To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Mercedes-Benz drivers will soon be able to send text messages, listen to music, change radio channels and update their status on social networks right from the front seat of their car. The company recently announced that they will be integrating Apple’s Siri interface into the electronics systems in their vehicles, allowing drivers to access their iPhone apps using voice commands alone. Mercedes-Benz is the first carmaker to use Apple’s Siri voice command technology in their vehicles. The program, to be known as Drive Kit Plus, will translate the iPhone’s screen onto the in-car system screen, and will come with popular apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Aupeo Personal Radio pre-installed. The new in-car feature will launch next month at the 2012 Geneva auto show. [via PSFK]
If you're reading this article, you almost certainly know about food and craft beer matching and you may know about locations and craft beer matching, but have you heard of (or tried) books and craft beer matching? There are a number of elements to this growing trend. In the US, for example, book bars are becoming part of the urban landscape. Operating on the same principle as book cafes, only with craft beer instead of coffee, these establishments have a strong craft element. The books stocked are often non-mainstream, much like the beers served to accompany them. Elsewhere in North America — Canada, to be precise — beer and book clubs are being formed "for those who like to read a good book, drink a good beer, and maybe combine the two once in a while". Meeting at various pubs within a certain area, these gatherings bring a craft beer twist to the traditional book club. And then, of course, there’s the internet — where all manner of unlikely combinations get together. You'll find blogs about the right beer to drink while following the adventures of your favourite comic book hero, or about craft beers to match to certain authors. But in sites like Book and Beer, you'll also find recommendations for a particular beer to enjoy with a particular book. (For the record, the author — Jason Hensel, a writer, musician and comedian living in Dallas — reckons American Gods by Neil Gaiman is best enjoyed with a glass of James Squire Jack of Spades Porter.) So which book (or series of books) is best suited to the various beers in the James Squire craft beer range? Get reading and sipping this summer, there's Kerouac-paired beers afoot. F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby "It’s a great advantage not to drink among hard drinking people." Pair with James Squire The Chancer Golden Ale. Joseph Heller: Catch-22 "He knew everything there was to know about literature, except how to enjoy it." Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. Ian Fleming: The James Bond series "You only live twice: Once when you're born. And once when you look death in the face." Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings "Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go, to heal my heart and drown my woe." Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. Fyodor Dostoyevsky: Crime and Punishment "The darker the night, the brighter the stars." Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo "All human wisdom is contained in these two words: wait and hope." Pair with James Squire Stowaway IPA. Jack Kerouac: On the Road "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars." Pair with James Squire Orchard Crush Cider. Ian Rankin: The Inspector Rebus series "Rebus drank his coffee and felt his head spin. He was feeling like the detective in a cheap thriller, and wished that he could turn to the last page and stop all his confusion, all the death and the madness and the spinning in his ears." Pair with James Squire The Constable Copper Ale. Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves "Open Sesame!" Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American-style Pale Ale. Jon Cleary: The Sundowners "Do me a favour, will you? If you're gonna be a drover, look like a drover. Get rid of that silly flaming hat." Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager (what else?).
When a musician announces a big Australian and New Zealand leg of their world tour, then postpones just two weeks out, then doesn't set new dates, you can be forgiven for wondering if they'll be making it Down Under at all. In the case of Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye, the answer is no for now. His Aussie and NZ trip has been cancelled for the moment, with ticketholders to receive refunds. The artist was due to hit the stage across both countries in November and December 2023, but rescheduled at the beginning of November without revealing when he'd arrive instead. Since then, there's been no news until now. If you have a ticket, you'll get your funds back in full automatically via whichever method you used to pay. "The Weeknd After Hours Til Dawn Tour for Australia and New Zealand is still in process of being rescheduled," says the statement on the Ticketek website, leaving hope that the tour might be announced again in the future. "Whilst we continue to work through the rescheduling process with the artist, tickets for the existing 2023 tour will be cancelled. All purchased tickets will receive a full refund," the message continues. Back in November, Australia and Aotearoa was advised that the postponement was "due to unforeseen circumstances", in an announcement credited as a statement from The Weeknd to his fans. "New dates will be announced next year and current tickets will be valid for the new shows," said the message at the time. "Refunds will be available for those unable to attend the new dates. Deeply disappointed but can't wait to be there with you!" it went on. The Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star was due to play two shows at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, then head to Sydney for three gigs at Accor Stadium. After that, he had four shows locked in for Marvel Stadium in Melbourne — and then it was meant to Eden Park in Auckland's turn. An arena spectacular, The Weeknd's global tour has notched up soldout shows far and wide when it has been taking place. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. The reason for the whole tour, other than just because, was to celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he has been playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. The Weeknd's 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' 2023 — Cancelled Dates: Monday, November 20–Tuesday, November 21 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, November 24–Saturday, November 25 + Monday, November 27 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Friday, December 1–Saturday, December 2 + Monday, December 4–Tuesday, December 5 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Friday, December 8–Saturday, December 9 — Eden Park, Auckland The Weeknd is no longer touring Australia and New Zealand. The shows have been cancelled, with refunds set to be issued — head to the tour ticketing website for more information.
Local Natives have made it, exploding out of support band status into a headliner demanding to be heard. They have earned their rise through the musical ranks, attracting the attention of indie heavy-hitters The National and Arcade Fire after their critically acclaimed debut, Gorilla Manor, and are now riding a wave of success all the way to Australia. Their tour comes on the back of the highly anticipated sophomore release Hummingbird, an eclectic harmony of sounds ready to be played at all occasions. There are tracks for parties as well as tracks to woo first dates; you name the event and they have it soundtracked. A live performance by Local Natives is also something to behold, with all four band members tugging at your heart strings and making you feel all of the feelings, culminating in an overwhelming sense of happiness. Thankfully you can experience all this on Sunday, May 19, in an intimate performance at The Zoo, and we can guarantee that ticket prices will not be as low as this next time they come back.
One tells of a woman seeking passion instead of a loveless marriage. The other follows star-crossed lovers held back by their respective families' long-simmering feud. Beloved on the page, and rarely far away from a screen or stage, they're two of the most famous stories of the past few centuries. And, both Anna Karenina and Romeo and Juliet are among the big highlights of the Australian Ballet's just-announced 2022 season. Anna Karenina will kick off the Australian Ballet's year with stints in Melbourne (from February 25–March 9) and Sydney (April 5–23). Here, in a co-production with the Joffrey Ballet that had its world premiere in Chicago in 2019 and then debuted locally in Adelaide this year, Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece comes alive with ex-Bolshoi Ballet dancer Yuri Possokhov's choreography. The story remains the same, with its eponymous figure seeking happiness but finding ruin — but you can expect quite the sweeping and sensuous production. Dancing with the Bard, the Australian Ballet's version of Romeo and Juliet will then close out its 2022, with Shakespeare's most famous duo also taking to the stage in Melbourne (October 7–18) and Sydney (December 1–21). Clearly, there's nothing like bookending a year with two stone-cold classics. John Cranko's production has been regular in the company's repertoire ever since it premiered back in 1974, in fact, and will again turn medieval Verona into a sumptuous onstage realm — all set to a score by Sergei Prokofiev that dates back to 1935. [caption id="attachment_830095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pierre Toussaint[/caption] Both Anna Karenina and Romeo and Juliet were originally meant to be highlights of the Australian Ballet's 2021 season, but we all know how this year has turned out. Also in the same camp: Harlequinade, a comedy by Marius Petipa, who choreographed Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. It'll bring its story of young lovers Harlequin and Columbine to Melbourne only (from June 17–25). As well as this rescheduled trio, plenty of other highlights will pirouettes across the stage, including Kunstkamer, which was created at Nederlands Dans Theater and has never before been performed by another company; and triple bill Instruments of Dance, which includes a nine-part ballet designed for 25 dancers and set to a score by Sufjan Stevens. And, there's also Counterpointe, which'll take its focus on ballet's extremes to Adelaide only — plus a regional program that'll tour Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. [caption id="attachment_830092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pierre Toussaint[/caption] THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET 2022 SEASON: Anna Karenina: February 25–March 29 at Arts Centre Melbourne; April 5–23 at the Sydney Opera House. Kunstkamer: April 29–May 15 at the Sydney Opera House; June 3–11 at Arts Centre Melbourne. Harlequinade: June 17–25 at Arts Centre Melbourne. Counterpointe: July 7–13 at Adelaide Festival Centre. Instruments of Dance: September 23–October 1 at Arts Centre Melbourne; November 10–26 at the Sydney Opera House. Romeo and Juliet: October 7–18 at Arts Centre Melbourne; December 1–21 at the Sydney Opera House. Season packages for the Australian Ballet's 2022 Sydney and Melbourne performances go on sale from 12.01am on Wednesday, October 27. For further details, head to the Australian Ballet website. Top image: Simon Eeles.
We say it every year. We'll say it again this year. On Halloween, there's nothing like watching the exceptional slasher flick that is the OG Halloween, aka one of iconic filmmaker John Carpenter's masterpieces, as well as the movie that helped make Jamie Lee Curtis a star. But when October 31 rolls around — and spooky season in general — there are more flicks to binge at home, including new releases from 2023. So, for your next scary movie-fuelled stint of sofa time, we've picked ten horror movies that'd make a killer streaming marathon — and are all available to watch on subscription-based platforms right now. In this bag of tricks: standout Mexican and Chilean fare, an entry in an ace new slasher franchise, inventive examples of the genre that play with the form and, of course, an evil doll. They're all treats, too. HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN The sound of cracking knuckles is one of humanity's most anxiety-inducing. The noise of clicking bones elsewhere? That's even worse. Both help provide Huesera: The Bone Woman's soundtrack — and set the mood for a deeply tense slow-burner that plunges into maternal paranoia like a Mexican riff on Rosemary's Baby, the horror subgenre's perennial all-timer, while also interrogating the reality that bringing children into the world isn't a dream for every woman no matter how much society expects otherwise. Valeria (Natalia Solián, Red Shoes) is thrilled to be pregnant, a state that hasn't come easily. After resorting to praying at a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in desperation, neither she nor partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal, Narcos: Mexico) could be happier, even if her sister Vero (Sonia Couoh, 40 Years Young) caustically comments that she's never seemed that interested in motherhood before. Then, two things shake up her hard-fought situation: a surprise run-in with Octavia (Mayra Batalla, Everything Will Be Fine), the ex-girlfriend she once planned to live a completely different life with; and constant glimpses of a slithering woman whose unnatural body movements echo and unsettle. Filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera (TV series Marea alta) makes her fictional narrative debut with Huesera: The Bone Woman, directing and also writing with first-timer Abia Castillo — and she makes a powerfully chilling and haunting body-horror effort about hopes, dreams, regrets and the torment of being forced into a future that you don't truly foresee as your own. Every aspect of the film, especially Nur Rubio Sherwell's (Don't Blame Karma!) exacting cinematography, reinforces how trapped that Valeria feels even if she can't admit it to herself, and how much that attempting to be the woman Raúl and her family want is eating away at her soul. Solián is fantastic at navigating this journey, including whether the movie is leaning into drama or terror at any given moment. You don't need expressive eyes to be a horror heroine, but she boasts them; she possesses a scream queen's lungs, too. Unsurprisingly, Cervera won the Nora Ephron Award for best female filmmaker at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for this instantly memorable nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman streams via Shudder. EL CONDE What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. His satirical, sharp and gleefully unsubtle version of his homeland's most infamous leader was born Claude Pinoche (Clemente Rodríguez, Manchild), saw Marie Antoinette get beheaded and kept popping up to quell insurgencies before becoming Augusto Pinochet. Now holed up in a farm after faking his own death to avoid legal scrutiny — aka the consequences of being a brutal tyrant — the extremely elderly figure (Jaime Vadell, a Neruda, The Club, No and Post Mortem veteran) is also tired of eternal life. The idea at the heart of El Conde is a gem, with Larraín and his regular co-writer Guillermo Calderón plunging a stake into a despot while showing that the impact of authoritarianism rule stretches on forever (and winning the Venice International Film Festival's Best Screenplay Award this year for their efforts). The execution: just as sublime in a film that's both wryly and dynamically funny, and also a monochrome-shot visual marvel. A moment showing Pinoche licking the blood off the guillotine that's just decapitated Antoinette is instantly unforgettable. As Pinochet flies above Santiago in his cape and military attire in the thick of night, every Edward Lachman (The Velvet Underground)-lensed shot of The Count — as he likes to be called by his wife Lucia (Gloria Münchmeyer, 42 Days of Darkness), butler Fyodor (Alfredo Castro, The Settlers) and adult children — has just as much bite. El Conde's narrative sets its protagonist against an accountant and nun (Paula Luchsinger, Los Espookys) who digs through his crime and sins, and it's a delight that punctures. As seen in the also magnificent Jackie and Spencer, too, Larraín surveys the past like no one else. El Conde streams via Netflix. PEARL 70s-era porn, but make it a slasher flick: when Ti West's X marked the big-screen spot in 2022, that's one of the tricks it pulled. The playful, smart and gory horror standout also arrived with an extra spurt of good news, with West debuting it as part of a trilogy. 30s- and 40s-period technicolour, plus 50s musicals and melodramas, but splatter them with kills, genre thrills and ample blood spills: that's what the filmmaker behind cult favourites The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers now serves up with X prequel Pearl. Shot back to back with its predecessor, sharing mesmerising star Mia Goth (Emma), and co-written by her and West — penned during their two-week COVID-19 quarantine period getting into New Zealand to make the initial movie, in fact — it's a gleaming companion piece. It's also a savvy deepening and recontextualising of a must-see scary-movie franchise that's as much about desire, dreams and determination as notching up deaths. In one of her X roles, Goth was magnetic as aspiring adult-film actor Maxine Minx, a part she'll reprise in the trilogy's upcoming third instalment MaXXXine. As she proved first up and does again in Pearl, she plays nascent, yearning, shrewd and resolute with not just potency, but with a pivotal clash between fortitude and vulnerability; when one of Goth's youthful X Universe characters says that they're special or have the X factor, they do so with an astute blend of certainty, good ol' fashioned wishing and hoping, and naked self-convincing. This second effort's namesake, who Goth also brought to the screen in her elder years in X, wants to make it in the pictures, too. Looking to dance on her feet instead of horizontally, stardom is an escape (again), but Pearl's cruel mother Ruth (Tandi Wright, Creamerie), a religiously devout immigrant from Germany turned bitter from looking after her ailing husband (Mathew Sunderland, The Stranger), laughs at the idea. Pearl is available to stream via Netflix and Binge. Read our full review. SKINAMARINK Age may instil nocturnal bravery in most of us, stopping the flinching and wincing at things that routinely go bump, thump and jump in the night in our ordinary homes, but the childhood feeling of lying awake in the dark with shadows, shapes and strange sounds haunting an eerie void never seeps from memory. Close your eyes, cast your mind back, and the unsettling and uncertain sensation can easily spring again — that's how engrained it is. Or, with your peepers wide open, you could just watch new micro-budget Canadian horror movie Skinamarink. First-time feature filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball has even made this breakout hit, which cost just $15,000 to produce, in the house he grew up in. His characters: two kids, four-year-old Kevin (debutant Lucas Paul) and six-year-old Kaylee (fellow newcomer Dali Rose Tetreault), who wake up deep into the evening. The emotion he's trading in: pure primal dread, because to view this digitally shot but immensely grainy-looking flick is to be plunged back to a time when nightmares lingered the instant that the light switched off. Skinamarink does indeed jump backwards, meeting Kevin and Kaylee in 1995 when they can't find their dad (Ross Paul, Moby Dick) or mum (Jaime Hill, Give and Take) after waking. But, befitting a movie that's an immersive collage of distressing and disquieting images and noises from the get-go, it also pulsates with an air of being trapped in time. It takes its name from a nonsense nursery-rhyme song from 1910, then includes cartoons from the 1930s on Kevin and Kaylee's television to brighten up the night's relentless darkness. In its exacting, hissing sound design especially, it brings David Lynch's 1977 debut Eraserhead to mind. And the influence of 1999's The Blair Witch Project and the 2007-born Paranormal Activity franchise is just as evident, although Skinamarink is far more ambient, experimental and experiential. Ball has evolved from crafting YouTube shorts inspired by online commenters' worst dreams to this: his own creepypasta. Skinamarink is available to stream via Shudder and AMC+. Read our full review. NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU Thanks to Justified, Short Term 12, Booksmart, Unbelievable and Dopesick, Kaitlyn Dever has already notched up plenty of acting highlights; however, No One Will Save You proves one of her best projects yet while only getting the actor to speak just a single line. Instead of using dialogue, this alien invasion flick tells its story without words — and also finds its emotion in Dever's expressive face and physicality. Her character: Mill River resident Brynn Adams, who has no one to talk to long before extra-terrestrials arrive. The local outcast due to a tragic incident from her past, and now living alone in her childhood home following her mother's death, Brynn fills her time by sewing clothes, making models of her unwelcoming small town like she's in Moon and penning letters to her best friend Maude. Then she's woken in the night by an intruder who isn't human, flits between fighting back and fleeing, and is forced into a battle for survival — striving to save her alienated existence in her cosy but lonely abode from grey-hued, long-limbed, telekinetic otherworldly interlopers with a penchant for mind control. With Spontaneous writer/director Brian Duffield's script matched by exacting A Quite Place-level sound design and The Witcher composer Joseph Trapanese's score, this close encounter of the unspoken kind is a visual feat, bouncing, bounding and dancing around Brynn's house and the Mill River community as aliens linger. Every single frame conveys a wealth of detail, as it needs to without chatter to fill in the gaps. Every look on Dever's face does the same, and every glance as well; this is a performance so fine-tuned that this would be a completely different film without her. Bringing the iconic 'Hush' episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to mind, No One Will Save you is smartly plotted, including in explaining why it sashays in silence. Just as crucially — and this time recalling everyone's favourite home-invasion film, aka Home Alone — it's fluidly and evocatively choreographed. There's also a touch of Nope in its depiction of eerie threats from space, plus a veer into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, all without ever feeling like No One Will Save is bluntly cribbing from elsewhere. The result: a new sci-fi/horror standout. No One Will Save You streams via Disney+. TOTALLY KILLER Kiernan Shipka has long said goodbye to Mad Men's Sally Draper, including by starring in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. After her dalliance with witchcraft, she's still sticking with horror in Totally Killer, but in a mix of slasher tropes and a Back to the Future-borrowing premise. There's a body count and a time machine — and 80s fashions aplenty, because where else does a 2023 movie head to when it's venturing into the past? Also present and accounted for: a tale about a high schooler living in a small town cursed by a past serial killer, which brings some Halloween and Scream nods, plus Mean Girls and Heathers-esque teen savagery. And, yes, John Hughes flicks also get some love, complete with shoutouts to Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink star Molly Ringwald. Totally Killer doesn't skimp on knowingly and winkingly mashing up its many influences, clearly, or on enjoying itself while doing so. The end result is a heap of fun, as hailing from Always Be My Maybe's Nahnatchka Khan behind the lens, along with screenwriters David Matalon (The Clearing), Sasha Perl-Raver (Let's Get Married) and Jen D'Angelo (Hocus Pocus 2). Shipka plays Vernon resident Jamie Hughes, who has spent her whole life being told to be careful about everything by her overprotective parents Pam (Julie Bowen, Modern Family) and Blake (Lochlyn Munro, Creepshow) after an October turned deadly back when they were her age. Unsurprisingly, she isn't happy about it. The reason for their caution: in 1987, three 16-year-old girls were murdered in the lead up to Halloween, with the culprit badged the Sweet 16 Killer — and infamy ensuing for Jamie's otherwise ordinary hometown. Pam is still obsessed with finding the murderer decades later, but her daughter only gets involved after a new tragedy. This Jason Blum (The Exorcist: Believer)-produced flick then needs to conjure up a blast in the past to try to fix what happened then to stop the new deaths from occurring. Always knowing that it's a comedy as much as a slasher film (as seen in its bright hues, heard in its snappy dialogue and conveyed in its committed performances), Totally Killer leans into everything about its Frankenstein's monster-style assemblage of pieces, bringing its setup to entertaining life. Totally Killer streams via Prime Video. THEY CLONED TYRONE Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us would already make a killer triple feature with Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You. For a smart and savvy marathon of science fiction-leaning films about race in America by Black filmmakers, now add Juel Taylor's They Cloned Tyrone. The Creed II screenwriter turns first-time feature director with this dystopian movie that slides in alongside Groundhog Day, Moon, The Cabin in the Woods, A Clockwork Orange, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and They Live, too — but is never derivative, not for a second, including in its 70s-style Blaxploitation-esque aesthetic that nods to Shaft and Superfly as well. Exactly what drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega, The Woman King), pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx, Spider-Man: No Way Home) and sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, Candyman) find in their neighbourhood is right there in the film's name. The how, the why, the specifics around both, the sense of humour that goes with all of the above, the savage satire: Taylor and co-writer Tony Rettenmaier perfect the details. Ignore the fact that they both collaborated on the script for the awful Space Jam: A New Legacy, other than considering the excellent They Cloned Tyrone as a far smarter, darker and deeper exploration of exploitation when the powers that be see other people as merely a means to an end. On an ordinary day — and amid vintage-looking threads and hairstyles, and also thoroughly modern shoutouts to SpongeBob SquarePants, Kevin Bacon, Barack Obama, Nancy Drew and bitcoin — Fontaine wakes up, has little cash and doesn't win on an instant scratch-it. He chats to his mother through her bedroom door, tries to collect a debt from Slick Charles and, as Yo-Yo witnesses, is shot. Then he's back in his bed, none the wiser about what just happened, zero wounds to be seen, and going through the same cycle again. When the trio realise that coming back from the dead isn't just a case of déjà vu, they team up to investigate, discovering one helluva conspiracy that helps Taylor's film make a powerful statement. They Cloned Tyrone's lead trio amply assists, too, especially the ever-ace Boyega. Like Sorry to Bother You especially, this is a comedy set within a nightmarish scenario, and the Attack the Block, Star Wars and Small Axe alum perfects both the humour and the horror. One plucky and persistent, the other oozing charm and rocking fur-heavy coats, Parris and Foxx lean into the hijinks as the central threesome go all Scooby-Doo. There isn't just a man in a mask here, however, in this astute and inventive standout. They Cloned Tyrone streams via Netflix. M3GAN Book in a date with 2 M3GAN 2 Furious now: even if it doesn't take that name, which it won't, a sequel to 2023's first guaranteed horror hit will come. Said follow-up also won't be called M3GAN 2: Electric Boogaloo, but that title would fit based on the first flick's TikTok-worthy dance sequence alone. Meme-starting fancy footwork is just one of the titular doll's skills. Earnestly singing 'Titanium' like this is Pitch Perfect, tickling the ivories with 80s classic 'Toy Soldiers', making these moments some of M3GAN's funniest: they're feats the robot achieves like it's designed to, too. Although unafraid to take wild tonal swings, and mining the established comedy-horror talents of New Zealand filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and screenwriter Akela Cooper (Malignant) as well, this killer-plaything flick does feel highly programmed itself, however. It's winking, knowing, silly, satirical, slick and highly engineered all at once, overtly pushing buttons and demanding a response — and, thankfully, mostly earning it. Those Child's Play-meets-Annabelle-meets-The Terminator-meets-HAL 9000 thoughts that M3GAN's basic concept instantly brings to mind? They all prove true. The eponymous droid — a Model 3 Generative Android, to be specific — is a four-foot-tall artificially intelligent doll that takes the task of protecting pre-teen Cady (Violet McGraw, Black Widow) from emotional and physical harm deadly seriously, creeping out and/or causing carnage against everyone who gets in its way. Those Frankenstein-esque sparks, exploring what happens when humanity (or Girls and Get Out's Allison Williams here, as Cady's roboticist aunt Gemma) plays god by creating life? They're just as evident, as relevant to the digital age Ex Machina-style. M3GAN is more formulaic than it should be, though, and also never as thoughtful as it wants to be, but prolific horror figures Jason Blum and James Wan produce a film that's almost always entertaining. M3GAN is available to stream via Binge and Netflix. Read our full review. THE BOOGEYMAN Teenagers are savage in The Boogeyman, specifically to Yellowjackets standout Sophie Thatcher, but none of them literally take a bite. Grief helps usher a stalking dark force to a distraught family's door; however, that malevolent presence obviously doesn't share The Babadook's moniker. What can and can't be seen haunts this dimly lit film from Host and Dashcam director Rob Savage, and yet this isn't Bird Box, which co-star Vivien Lyra Blair also appeared in. And a distressed man visits a psychiatrist to talk about his own losses, especially the otherworldly monster who he claims preyed upon his children, just as in Stephen King's 1973 short story also called The Boogeyman — but while this The Boogeyman is based on that The Boogeyman, which then made it into the author's 1978 Night Shift collection that gave rise to a packed closet full of fellow movie adaptations including Children of the Corn, Graveyard Shift and The Lawnmower Man, this flick uses the horror maestro's words as a mere beginning. On the page and the screen alike, Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian, Boston Strangler) seeks therapist Will Harper's (Chris Messina, Air) assistance, reclining on his couch to relay a tragic tale. As the new patient talks, he isn't just shaken and shellshocked — he's a shadow of a person. He's perturbed by what loiters where light doesn't reach, in fact, and by what he's certain has been lurking in his own home. Here, he couldn't be more adamant that "the thing that comes for your kids when you're not paying attention" did come for his. And, the film Lester has chosen his audience carefully, because Will's wife recently died in a car accident, leaving his daughters Sadie (Thatcher) and Sawyer (Blair) still struggling to cope. On the day of this fateful session, the two girls have just returned to school for the first time, only for Sadie to sneak back when her so-called friends cruelly can't manage any sympathy. The Boogeyman is available to stream via Disney+. Read our full review. KNOCK AT THE CABIN Does M Night Shyamalan hate holidays? The twist-loving writer/director's Knock at the Cabin comes hot on the heels of 2021's Old, swapping beach nightmares for woodland terrors. He isn't the only source of on-screen chaos in vacation locations — see also: Triangle of Sadness' Ruben Östlund, plus oh-so-many past horror movies, and TV's The White Lotus and The Resort as well — but making two flicks in a row with that setup is a pattern. For decades since The Sixth Sense made him the Oscar-nominated king of high-concept premises with shock reveals, Shyamalan explored the idea that everything isn't what it seems in our daily lives. Lately, however, he's been finding insidiousness lingering beyond the regular routine, in picturesque spots, when nothing but relaxation is meant to flow. A holiday can't fix all or any ills, he keeps asserting, including in this engaging adaptation of Paul Tremblay's 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World. For Eric (Jonathan Groff, The Matrix Resurrections), Andrew (Ben Aldridge, Pennyworth) and their seven-year-old daughter Wen (debutant Kristen Cui), a getaway isn't meant to solve much but a yearning for family time in the forest — and thinking about anyone but themselves while Eric and Andrew don robes, and Wen catches pet grasshoppers, isn't on their agenda. Alas, their rural Pennsylvanian idyll shatters swiftly when the soft-spoken but brawny Leonard (Dave Bautista, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) emerges from the trees. He says he wants to be Wen's friend, but he also advises that he's on an important mission. He notes that his task involves the friendly girl and her dads, giving them a hard choice yet also no choice at all. The schoolteacher has colleagues, too: agitated ex-con Redmond (Rupert Grint, Servant), patient nurse Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird, Avenue 5) and nurturing cook Adriane (Abby Quinn, I'm Thinking of Ending Things), all brandishing weapons fashioned from garden tools. Knock at the Cabin is available to stream via Netflix and Binge. Read our full review. Looking for more things to watch? Check out our monthly streaming roundup, as well as our rundown of recent cinema releases that've been fast-tracked to digital home entertainment of late.
Screw German beer and schnitzels, there's a new pun in town of the canine variety. Oh yeah, OctoberFetch is here! If you tune in to Channel 7 every weeknight for Harry’s Practice like everyone else, then this is the doggie day of your dreams. You and your pooch can take part in the 4km dog-a-thon to raise much needed support fund for guide dogs. Have you friends and family sponsor you for the walk and register here to take part, it's only $10 and gets you a starter pack and an entry into the dog competitions. You and your puppy might take home the prize with categories for best trick, best-dressed, most obedient, Bavarian strong dog and waggiest tail. Even if you don't have a dog you can go along and be part of the celebrations: you can be a sponsor and embark in a day of potential petting. There will also be a variety of entertainment including dog demonstrations, a K9 Catwalk (sure to be a treat) and a live stage band. Arguably the best part of the day is the opportunity to meet and greet one of the guide-dog puppies in training. You will have to contain your cuddles until then. Guaranteed to be the cutest thing you will see all weekend, make sure you get your tail down to Strathpine for OctoberFetch.
Whether you went for work, leisure or something in-between, if you've recently travelled to the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region in Western Australia, you were probably happy to venture further than your own city. But with the WA capital currently experiencing a three-day lockdown in response to a new COVID-19 case, state governments around the country are implementing new conditions on travel and crossing interstate borders. The situation varies state by state; however, it's the type of thing that has been happening after new cases and subsequent lockdowns of late. It last occurred in March, when Brisbane went into its most recent set of stay-at-home conditions. In New South Wales, a COVID-19 concerns notice has been issued by NSW Health, applying to the the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region from 12.01am today, Saturday, April 24. Anyone coming to NSW who has been in an affected area either on or after that time has to fill out a self-declaration form either before or upon entering the state. If you have been in either region since Saturday, April 17 and you're now in NSW, you're asked to look at a list of exposure sites issued by the WA Government. If you visited them within the time frames identified, you'll beed to follow the actions outlined and also contact NSW Health immediately. It's a lengthy list, spanning shopping centres, restaurants and an aquatic centre, all between Saturday, April 17–Friday, April 23 so far. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1385504424487882754 In Victoria, a number of changes are now in effect. With WA's lockdown coming in response to a Victorian man who tested positive upon his return to Melbourne after spending 14 days in hotel quarantine in Perth, the Victorian Government has listed both Qantas flight QF778 from Perth to Melbourne on Wednesday, April 21 and Melbourne Airport's Terminal 1 between 7–7.30pm on Wednesday, April 21 as new exposure sights. Folks who were on the plane must get tested for COVID-19 immediately, then self-isolate for 14 days regardless of their initial test result, while anyone at the terminal during that timeframe must also get tested for COVID-19 immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Plus, anyone who has returned from WA recently is also asked to look at a list of exposure sites issued by the WA Government and, if you visited them within the time frames identified, to contact the Victorian Department of Health immediately. Melburnians can also keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Victorian Government Department of Health website — as it may change if more sites are identified. Regarding the Victorian border, the state has classified the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region in Western Australia as red zones under its traffic light border system, which means that non-Victorian residents can't enter the state without an exception, permit or exemption. Also, anyone currently in Victoria who has been in the metro Perth or Peel region between Saturday, April 17–Friday, April 23, other than to transit through either, is required to isolate, get tested within 72 hours and stay isolated until receiving a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1385555025590509568 For Queensland, anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions on or since Saturday, April 17 and entered the Sunshine State before 11.59pm on Friday, April 23 is required to get tested as soon as possible and self-isolate. They'll also be under the same lockdown conditions that are currently in place in Perth until 2am AEST on Tuesday, April 27. Plus, those coming to Queensland after midnight last night who have been in the same parts of WA since Saturday, April 17 are only allowed to enter under an exemption, unless they're a Queensland resident. Either way, they now have to go into hotel quarantine for up to 14 days. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1385569595784790017 South Australia requires anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions on or since Saturday, April 17 to get tested and quarantine until getting a negative result. Only returning SA residents, genuine relocations and domestic violence victims are allowed to SA from the two areas from 12.01am Saturday, April 24, and must now get tested and go into self-quarantine. In the Australian Capital Territory, non-ACT residents wishing to travel over from the Perth or Peel regions — who've been there since Saturday, April 17 — now need an approved exemption from ACT Health. You'll also have to quarantine until 2am AEST on Tuesday, April 27. For residents coming back from the two regions, you'll need to complete an online declaration form before leaving, and then to also stay home until the same time. Tasmania won't allow entry from folks who've been to the Perth or Peel regions within 14 days of their arrival, except for people deemed essential travellers — and then you'll need to quarantine for 14 days. If you've been there, arrived in Tasmania since Saturday, April 17 and attended one of the exposure sites listed by the WA Government, you need to self-isolate and contact Tasmania's Public Health Hotline. The Northern Territory now requires testing for anyone who has been to been to the Perth or Peel regions since Saturday, April 17, but only if they went to one of the exposure sites listed by the WA Government. You'll also need to quarantine until you get a negative result. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
It's called Ghostbusters, not franchisebusters — so, four decades after the initial supernatural comedy flick in the series proved a huge hit, of course the saga is still tackling ghouls on the big screen. There was a 27-year pause between 1989's Ghostbusters II and 2016's women-led, excellent and wrongly maligned Paul Feig-helmed Ghostbusters, but then came 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Next up: its sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. As both the initial teaser back in 2023 and the just-dropped full trailer show, familiar faces are everywhere in the fifth Ghostbusters movie — and from past features both recent and classic. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson: they're all back, teaming up to take on an ancient force that's trying to unleash a second Ice Age. Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) returns as Gary Grooberson, while Coon (The Gilded Age), McKenna Grace (Crater) and Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) are back as Callie, Phoebe and Trevor Spengler. Yes, they're the daughter and grandchildren of the late Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler, who became initiated in the family business when they inherited his old farmhouse in Afterlife. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reverses the last flick's swap, which centred around that eerie abode. So, rather than unfurling in Oklahoma, it returns the series to New York. There, summer is proceeding as normal until an unseasonable chill kicks in. The reason for the plummeting temperatures isn't any old blast of cooler weather, either, which is where the Ghostbusters come in. Also in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's cast: Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales), Patton Oswalt (What We Do in the Shadows), Celeste O'Connor (A Good Person) and Logan Kim (The Walking Dead: Dead City), alongside OGs Murray (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Aykroyd (Zombie Town) and Hudson (Quantum Leap), plus Annie Potts (Young Sheldon). A certain firehouse pops up as well, as does Slimer, an army of ghosts, possessed possessions, rising supernatural attacks and a new paranormal research centre. The latest film sees Gil Kenan (A Boy Called Christmas) directing. After helming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) — who is the son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two movies — co-writes the script this time around. Check out the full trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
The history of street photography is generating more interest than ever, now that street style blogs influence high-end brands, everyone has a spy camera (read: iPhone), and documentaries like Bill Cunningham: New York have charmed DSLRs into the hands of the populace. But what about when it wasn't just about fashion, but about documenting a moment in cultural history? A new look at the origins of the movement, Everybody Street, gathers a group of seminal New York-based street photographers to examine the method and motivation behind this most candid and telling style of documenting the human race. Street photography takes balls. Imagine approaching a total stranger, even a pretty rough-looking one, to ask for their picture — as Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York (with almost a million followers on Facebook) does dozens of times every day. Henri Cartier-Bresson similarly knew how to be bold and keep in the thick of the action, and that's why his opus includes so many arresting images of the major events of the 20th century. Nowadays the rising generation of street photographers in New York, including Le 21-eme, I'm Koo and An Unknown Quantity keep busy chasing down Soho's trendsetters. Everybody Street, on the other hand, asks veteran photographers Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepkoff, Mary Ellen Mark, Jeff Mermelstein, Clayton Patterson, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, Jeff Mermelstein, Max Kozloff and Luc Sante all about how they managed to transgress social boundaries to capture iconic images of their milieu. Jamel Shabazz alone is a phenomenal force in the street photography scene, whose chronicling of the '80s hiphop style movement can be seen in the influential monographs Back in the Days and A Time Before Crack. Shabazz — a former corrections officer with a photographer father — used street photography to perform a type of social work: mainly capturing images of African Americans, he helped to spread pride and self-confidence among young men and women who were at risk of getting mixed up in crack culture. By reminding them they were worth being photographed and admired, and taking the opportunity to talk with them about their lives and share his experiences as a corrections officer, Shabazz hoped to steer people away from drugs and crime. In Everybody Street, documentarian Cheryl Dunn honours Shabazz's story and those of other snap-happy New York street-crawlers who dared to step in and chronicle what was happening every day on the street, and make a difference along the way. Everybody Street will be making its world premiere at the Hot Docs International Film Festival in Canada. Further distribution is TBC. Images by Jamel Shabazz. More on his website.
A new Parisian hotel designed by French artist Matali Crasset is offering travellers a completely new hotel experience. Recently opened in the trendy Rue Chardonne area, Hi-Matic Hotel is entirely internet-based and has no traditional staff. Guests are given a unique code when they make an online reservation and that code gives them access to the building. Once inside, guests are able to check in and pay for their stay on computers (that then dispense their room keys). If they become hungry or bored, guests are able to purchase organic foods, books, music and playful objects from vending machines located in the hotel. The aim of the Hi-Matic is to create a new type of hotel - something unique and luxurious but also practical and accessible. The spaces within the hotel are bright and futuristic, with eco-friendly materials such as organic paint being used throughout. The design is simple but striking and effective. All this does not come without a price, however, with rooms starting at AUD$180 a night. [Via Design Boom]
The impending consequences of the earth's dwindling water supply are no mystery. The question that we all need answered, however, is how to replenish it. French physicist Jérôme Kasparian, may have a solution with his new seeding condensation method. 'Laser-assisted water condensation' is a water-collecting technique which employs powerful lasers. At the flip of a switch, a laser pulse carries trillions of watts of energy into the atmosphere, removing electrons from atmospheric molecules. The removal of electrons creates charged particles, which form water droplets as more and more water molecules accumulate and stick to the original particle. Kasparian's method seems a good alternative to other current precipitation-inducing techniques, which are expensive, risky, and environmentally damaging. It isn't a magical cure-all to drought and drinking water shortages, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5yjHZr_gn18 [via Mother Board]
UPDATE, February 16, 2022: Ginuary has changed venues and will now take place at Covent Garden rather than X Cargo. This article has been updated to reflect that change. UPDATE, January 18, 2022: Ginuary has moved from January 30 to February 27 due to Brisbane's current COVID-19 situation. This article has been updated to reflect that change. All day, every day that it's open, West End's Covent Garden is firmly in the gin game. Gin and tonics, gin cocktails, gin shots — if you like your alcoholic beverages made from juniper spirits, that's what you'll find here. And, that isn't changing in 2022, with the venue once again hosting one of its big gin-fuelled events: Ginuary. As always, we recommend that you arrive thirsty on Sunday, February 27. The shindig will go gin crazy as always, and involve eight gin degustation stations in a gin alley. There'll also be multiple gin bars, plus canapes. Also, you have options ticket-wise. A silver pass starts from $39 and will get you access to the gin stations — and their tastings — as well as those roaming bites to eat. Or, go gold from $145 to get four hours of unlimited drinks, spanning 30 Australian gins from 2020's Hottest 100 Gins countdown. There's also a platinum option from $179 that throws in gin masterclasses, too, and a VIP area. Whichever ticket you go for, you'll still get to enjoy Covent Garden's Hottest 100 Gins countdown for 2021, running through the best Australian and New Zealand tipples,. You can vote online in advance, then revel in the results live on the day. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
Plastics, specifically single-use plastics, have been in the spotlight a lot this year. State governments and supermarket chains have banned single-use plastic bags and plenty of bars and eateries across Australia have introduced plastic straw bans. And now, fast food giant McDonald's is taking a stand against single-use plastic straws, announcing it'll start phasing plastic straws across Australia next month. Australia is not the first country in which the fast food chain has introduced this — it started phasing them out in the UK in April this year. But back in Australia, McDonald's will begin trialling paper straws at two restaurants in August, before banning them completely by 2020. There's no exact figure for Australia, but it's estimated that 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded every day in the US — that's enough to fill 125 school buses. Plastic straws are also part of a wider plastics and general waste being experienced globally, with experts estimating that by 2050 there'll be more plastic in the ocean than fish. While the most recent push to ban plastic straws across Australia has been welcomed by many environmental groups, it also has unwelcome consequences for many disabled Australians. As reported by the ABC, many disabled Australians rely on straws to eat and drink, with reusable options not being suitable because of their inability to bend or to be used in beverages above a certain temperature. Users on both sides of the debate have voiced their opinions on Twitter, with some saying the ban is a no-brainer, while others saying it just further marginalises the disabled members of our community. Some users suggest a straws-on-demand policy could be the answer. It has not yet been announced which Australian restaurants will be trialling the paper straws, or when a wider ban will be implemented, but we'll continue to update as more information is released.
New King, new cast of The Crown. The latter isn't a result of the former; however, change has come to the monarchy IRL, and is also clearly on its way in season five of Netflix's hit regal drama. Chaos and scandal is in the air on-screen, in fact, with the series jumping to the early to mid-1990s — aka the era of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage breakdown. In The Crown's just-dropped trailer for its fifth season, things are tense in the House of Windsor. Actually, that's an understatement. As the relationship between the now-current off-screen King and his first wife stretches, strains and snaps, media interest heats up, Queen Elizabeth II has plenty of worries and Diana refuses to simply toe the family line. None of this will be new news to anyone aware of history, just like almost everything in The Crown since 2016, when it started bringing the British royal family's ups and downs from newspaper headlines to Netflix. And, yes, the film Spencer did cover some of the same territory as The Crown season five, just on the big screen, earlier this year — but come Wednesday, November 9, streaming viewers will be able to see how this award-winning series handles it. Also part of The Crown's fifth season: approaching the 40th anniversary of the Queen's reign, the public questioning the role of the royal family and changes on the international landscape. But it seems that the bulk of the new episodes' focus will sit with Charles, Diana, divorce requests, press scrutiny, explosive books and interviews, and the rest of the fallout. This time around, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton dons the titular headwear, while Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce steps into Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret is played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki takes over the role of Princess Diana, with The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West as Prince Charles. The Crown shakes up its cast every couple of seasons. After starting out with Claire Foy (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) as Queen Elizabeth II, Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret (Pieces of a Woman) in its first two seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2017, the series returned in 2019 with Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Tobias Menzies (This Way Up) and Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) in those roles. Plus, it added Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) as Prince Charles — and, in season four in 2020, Emma Corrin (Misbehaviour) and The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson joined the cast as Lady Diana Spencer and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, respectively. Netflix's full trailer for season five comes after a first sneak peek back in September, which also honed in on Charles and Diana. Season five arrives two months after Queen Elizabeth II's death in early September, and following a pause in the show's production afterwards. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons, with the latter following the monarch into the 2000s, has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. Check out the trailer for The Crown season five below: The Crown's fifth season will hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 9. Images: Keith Bernstein / Netflix
If you wouldn't trust Gumtree, Domain or Craigslist to find you a new roommate, you're not alone. You're probably pretty smart, as well. To help you avoid the slob, the creep, or the no-concept-of-personal-space roommate, Friends With Rooms has created a Facebook roomie-finding app. The app utilises Facebook's social graph to match you up with other people whose profiles contain similar information and interests. Users answer a series of general questions designed to get a more in-depth concept of what type of roommate he or she might be (Do you prefer to stay out late or to rise early?). If you do happen to find a 'match', you can even have a mutual friend vouch for the other person. So rest assured that, thanks to this app, not every roommate has to be like your infamous first-year uni roommate. [via Mashable]
Cannes may be the world's most prestigious film festival, but it sure can be predictable. First of all, you can guarantee there will be a host of big name auteurs strutting around with A-list celebrities, you know the films will largely be about war or poverty — and yes, the critics will of course go crazy for them. With all the glitz and the glamour that comes with such prestige, you can't help but yearn for a little more intrigue. So, to combat all the glowing end-of-festival reports written by the world's best critics, here's a list of the festival's oddities — the things we didn't really see coming. Jean-Luc Godard is still alive, and he's messing with our minds Okay, this may sound insensitive but we just had no idea this guy was still around. It's not totally unreasonable either. Now at age 83, this legendary auteur of the French New Wave has officially reached the time usually reserved for shuffleboard and cryptic crosswords. If he was still making films, we'd kind of expect them to be dawdling black and white tales of an elderly intellectual's battle against his noisy young neighbours. Instead Godard's offering to this year's festival, Goodbye to Language, was a daring formal experiment. In terms of plot, the film is unsurprisingly lacking. In fact Indiewire summarised it simply as a film about a couple and a dog: "She wears clothes only very rarely ... he likes to talk about shit while taking a shit, and the dog is drawn to [some] water." But the buzz around the film came from its unexpected use of 3D technology. At one point in the film, the audience was presented with what reviewers described as "a headache-inducing blur". However, when viewed with one eye closed a clear picture comes into focus. When opening the other eye, a different picture comes to the fore. Who would have thought Godard would be the one to bring Magic Eye books into cinematic reality? Films can basically be shot with Instagram now Another noted formal innovation was by the 25-year-old Canadian wunderkind, Xavier Dolan. His prize-winning film Mommy was shot in an unprecedented 1:1 ratio — the same square size as your average Instagram video. Following the story of a single mother and her 15-year-old son who suffers from ADHD, the film coincidentally shared the Grand Jury Prize with Jean-Luc Godard's Goodbye to Language. The move has created an understandable buzz in the filmmaking industry and has been given incredibly positive reviews by critics and audiences alike. It's been reported that this tight field of vision intensifies the action of the film and gives an effective lens to the character's struggle with ADHD. Not to give anything away, but the screen ratio does however change to full-screen in moments of happiness during the film. It sounds a little corny, but with such a huge prize and stacks of audience approval, Dolan must pull it off pretty well. Ryan Gosling made a film and it sucked I know it seems impossible. Ryan Gosling is supposed to be some kind of superhuman specimen capable of anything except eating cereal, but apparently he's not that great at directing either. Lost River was his very first foray into the director's chair. At first it seemed promising — he recruited his buddies Eva Mendes and Christina Hendricks onto the cast, and the film made its way to Cannes. But after being universally panned by both audiences and critics, it's officially being labelled a flop. Following a single mother's struggles in a new city, the film has harshly been described as both "a student film with an A list cast" and "a cacophony of meaningless motifs stumbling round in service of a plot best summed up by 'woman decides to move house'". Yikes, sorry RyRy. Cinema is dead (according to Quentin Tarantino) We really should have seen this one coming. Between throwing whole scripts away and making films that are basically one giant in-joke, Quentin Tarantino does have a reputation for being a bit of a diva. But before entering a screening of his cult hit Pulp Fiction, the legendary director threw a bit of a hissy fit about digital film. "The fact that most films now are not presented in 35mm means that the war is lost," said Tarantino. He complained that screening films in a digital format is basically the same as watching television in public. "What I knew as cinema is dead," he said. Soon after, Tarantino announced new plans to create a TV miniseries from the unused footage of Django Unchained and did a little dance on the red carpet. So, who knows what this guy will do next. Sometimes sex scenes with Robert Pattinson pay off We know that's an unfair way to put it, but it's true all the same. This year Julianne Moore has won a Best Actress award for her role in David Cronenberg's Maps the the Stars — a satirical filmic look at Hollywood in which Moore has sweaty car sex with Pattinson. Obviously she also entirely deserves the award for her unflinching portrayal of an ageing Hollywood starlet, but seriously... who thought some vehicular good times with RPattz could get you a top gong at Cannes? Better luck next time, KStew.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia wrapped up last Friday after showcasing the best of local fashion design against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Noticeably absent this year were big names Lover, Josh Goot and Dion Lee, as well all as our well-shod friends from across the ditch like Kate Sylvester and Stolen Girlfriends Club, but often it's the emerging designers who put on the most impressive shows. To celebrate five days of more laser lights and short shorts than you could poke a complimentary bottle of San Pellegrino Aranciata at, here are five exciting local labels to familiarise yourself with immediately. 1. MICHAEL LO SORDO To say rising cool kid Michael Lo Sordo’s show at The Apollo was highly anticipated would be a sweeping understatement. Sydney-based Lo Sordo recently took out the Qantas Spirit of Youth Award for his prodigious grasp of construction, and lived up to the hype with a meticulously tailored collection of soft white shirting, coloured metallic tees and knockout party dresses with graphic prints and gladiator detailing. Buy his pieces at Maubourg, Roots & Wings Design or Adelaide’s Chasing Nel. 2. KAYLENE MILNER Among the six talented graduates showing at the highly anticipated TAFE show was Kaylene Milner. Milner has just been selected for an internship with Diane von Furstenberg, and it's thanks to this patchwork-luxe collection juxtaposing earthy furs with vibrant colours. The young designer also has a gutsy back story — she was flipping through a 2007 Vogue during a uni lecture when she decided to ditch musicology in favour of whipping up a portfolio to submit to the prestigious TAFE. Previous designers to have made their runway debut at the Innovators show include Dion Lee and Emma Mulholland, so expectations are justifiably high. 3. AJE Design duo Edwina Robinson and Adrian Norris staged a confident runway debut which mixed sequins, mesh, fishtail skirts and scalloped micro hemlines — sometimes all at once — without sacrificing the label’s nonchalant elegance. Among the many standout pieces was a heavily sequinned mermaid-inspired gown, fittingly anchored by beaten leather boots with the tongue hanging out. Aje is stocked in Desordre in Sydney and Strada in Noosa. 4. CHRISTOPHER ESBER Most 23-year-olds are navigating life one mistake at a time, but Christopher Esber is not most 23-year-olds. The young Sydney designer was one of the standout newcomers at Rosemount Australia Fashion Week last year, consistently proving himself worthy of the hype that has surrounded his collections since he debuted alongside Dion Lee in 2008. Esber’s clothing is characterised by minimalist design, meticulous tailoring and luxurious fabrics, and this season he's all about clinical whites offset by delicate sheer fabric. 5. AN ODE TO NO ONE Few things kick of a runway show like a holographic laser light display, but you don't want the theatrics to outshine the clothing. Luckily An Ode To No One designer Adi Setiadi is a sartorial genius. Last year he penetrated a market saturated with digital prints by rendering his own in trippy 3D, and this time he paraded an army of sci-fi bombshells in Tron-esque geometric dresses, sharply tailored pantsuits and silks that rippled like water. Setiadi cut his teeth working for iconic Aussie designers Akira and Nicola Finetti before starting An Ode To No One in 2008, but his futuristic aesthetic is all his own.
One of Eddie the Eagle's many training montages is set to the toe-tapping refrains of Hall & Oates' 'You Make My Dreams'. For an '80s-set film about a sporting wannabe trying to achieve Olympic glory, it's an appropriate choice in a multitude of ways. It's also rather clichéd. Still, it fits — and the feature knows that it's obvious, making it even more apt. That's Eddie the Eagle in a nutshell: a bit cheesy but completely aware of that fact, and utterly warm and enjoyable as a result. Those who aren't up to date on their British sporting history might be surprised to discover that Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) changed the face of the nation's ski jumping team. Actually, he was the face of the nation's ski jumping team. After struggling to become a downhill skier, the good-natured lad turned his attention to soaring not only down the snowy slopes but through the frosty air as well. England didn't have any other competitors in the field that year. In fact, they'd never had any competitors in the field in any year. But with his dad (Keith Allen) far from impressed, his coach (Hugh Jackman) a heavy-drinking, washed-up former athlete, and his own experience severely lacking, Eddie's Olympic quest wasn't exactly easy. Eddie the Eagle is a crowd-pleaser through and through — and while the term can sometimes have not-so-flattering connotations, that isn't the case here. Indeed, much of the film's success springs from director Dexter Fletcher's happy embrace of the tried-and-tested sports movie formula. While plenty of liberties have been taken with the truth to bolster the film's feel-good credentials, they all suit the story. If only sticking to the inspirational underdog playbook was always this entertaining. Fletcher seems to be following a specific train of thought: if it worked for Cool Runnings, which told of another against-the-odds story at the exact same Winter Olympics, then it can work here too. The actor-turned-filmmaker even nods to the Jamaican bobsled team, and to his own background around the same time, courtesy of a brief appearance from one of his late '80s Press Gang co-stars. Accordingly, his feature isn't just lazily throwing together the usual elements and hoping that something sticks. It's doing so knowingly with a wink, a nod and a smile, and while wearing its retro style and upbeat cheer on both sleeves. A number of other factors assist the all-round amiable effort enormously, including broad but winning performances by Egerton and Jackman in vintage earnest protégé and reluctant mentor mode, respectively. Add a canny splash of visual spectacle, a well-earned sense of genuine tension during the jumping scenes, and other time- and theme-appropriate tunes on the soundtrack, and Eddie the Eagle soars.
Who doesn't love a good chicken burger? There's something about deep-fried, buttery, seasoned chicken breast, coated in some form of tasty sauce and crammed between two fluffy buns that really satisfies a hunger. When the craving for a juicy chicken burger strikes, forget fast food chains (herbs and spices should never be kept a secret, anyway) and try one of these Brisbane venues that are renowned for their unique spin on the classic chicken burger. We've tracked down five spots that know how to make a mighty chicken burger. Whether you like your burg to be an OTT monstrosity with onion rings and maple bacon, or you'd rather go the more traditional route with fresh salad, we've got you covered.
It's that time again for Ekka fever to sweep across Brisbane, as the Royal Queensland Show returns from Saturday, August 9–Sunday, August 17 at the Brisbane Showgrounds. While the carnival rides, show bags, giant vegetables and cute animals are always a hit, perhaps the event's greatest icon is its sweet, sweet strawberry sundae. Yet this time around, you won't have to fight the crowds to get a massive dose of nostalgia. Instead, the Italian stallions at Massimo Restaurant & Bar are serving up their version of the gourmet treat, paying tribute to an Ekka favourite while adding their own spin. Available from Friday, August 1, the date also marks the launch of the restaurant's new menu. "The strawberry sundae is such an integral part of the Ekka experience for so many Queenslanders," says Head Chef Daniel Espinosa. "We wanted to capture that same joy and nostalgia, but with the premium ingredients and attention to detail that our guests know us for. It's comfort food, elevated to an art form." Carefully balancing tradition with a touch of modern-day sophistication, Massimo's elevated strawberry sundae still packs plenty of sugary punch. Featuring house-made strawberry ice cream topped with Queensland-grown strawberries and a signature strawberry sauce, the delicate addition of rose fairy floss brings even more fairground spirit to the show. Served in a bowl reminiscent of old-world Brisbane diners, Massimo's take on Ekka's most cherished treat is as humble as it is delicious. Priced at $15 each and served until the end of August, the sundae is available from 2pm daily. This ensures families and early diners have a chance to make this decadent classic a part of their Ekka adventure. Set in the heart of Brisbane's dining precinct on Eagle Street, Massimo Restaurant & Bar has become a stellar spot for diners seeking a taste of the Amalfi Coast. Drop in for an Ekka-inspired strawberry sundae, but consider delving into the restaurant's top-notch pasta dishes and ocean-caught seafood cuisine that brings a little of the Med to Brissie. Massimo Restaurant & Bar's strawberry sundae is available daily from 2pm until Sunday, August 31, at 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City. Head to the website for more information. Images: Mitch Fresta.
The onset of those searing summer rays should remind us that skin cancer is Australia's biggest killer. But national awareness doesn't seem to mirror the scary statistics. In an attempt to rectify this, Pretty Shady is injecting some style into the skin cancer awareness campaign, with sun protection gear you can get your hands on for free — some of it rather covetable and limited edition. Included is a beautifully designed Basil Bangs beach umbrella (there are 50 of those) and a rad Lister-designed tee (just 40). There's also a stack of reversible bucket hats (800), some handcrafted sunnies (800), and a few hundred litres of sunscreen up for grabs. These items ought to help you kick the habit of poolside tanning. Pretty Shady is aiming to be the generation that stops the spread of skin cancer, one summer at a time. With high-profile ambassadors such as Nicole Warne, Anthony Lister and Gossling, they're packing a pretty powerful cool factor. Enter the competition to win Pretty Shady gear and you'll automatically go into the draw to win even more. The five limited edition items will be released one by one. So jump on in as soon as possible to increase your chances of securing a piece of the shady action. And even if you don't win, we encourage you to find a way to, in the words of a much daggier campaign, slip slop slap.
You've read the books, watched the TV series and seen the concert experience. You're looking forward to all of the television spinoffs that are currently in the works and, once international travel resumes, you're keen to take a tour of its sets, costumes and props. Now, Game of Thrones fans, you can add something else to your list: watching George RR Martin's fantasy world on the stage. Yes, Westeros is heading to the theatre, thanks to a new stage adaptation that'll be set at an important moment in the history of the series. And, with a 2023 target premiere date and seasons on Broadway, in the West End and in Australia mooted, it's set to arrive sooner than you might've expected — and closer to home, too. Martin is involved, working alongside playwright Duncan Macmillan (Lungs, Every Brilliant Thing, 1984), who'll be adapting the author's works and writing the play. Overseeing the production is director Dominic Cooke (On Chesil Beach, The Courier), while Simon Painter and Tim Lawson (The Illusionists) are producing the show. If you're wondering exactly what the as yet unnamed theatre production will cover, few details have been revealed — but, unlike Jon Snow, we do know something. Familiar and well-known characters will definitely feature, as will a story centred around "love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now" according to the press release announcing the play. Martin himself has offered further information. "The seeds of war are often planted in times of peace. Few in Westeros knew the carnage to come when highborn and smallfolk alike gathered at Harrenhal to watch the finest knights of the realm compete in a great tourney, during the Year of the False Spring," he explained. "It is a tourney oft referred during HBO's Game of Thrones, and in my novels, A Song of Ice and Fire... and now, at last, we can tell the whole story... on the stage." Obviously, it's far too early for cast announcements — so just who'll be bringing these dramas to life, and whether any of the TV show's cast members will be involved, is yet to be revealed. If you're wondering whether there'll be dragons, White Walkers or direwolves, that's also yet to be unveiled. Exactly when in 2023 the play will debut also hasn't been advised as yet, or details of the proposed US, UK and Australian seasons. But, thanks to all of those television prequels and spinoffs set to hit the small screen and now this theatre production, you can safely expect to spend plenty more time in Westeros over the coming years. The as yet unnamed Game of Thrones stage production is set to premiere in 2023, with producers aiming for seasons on Broadway, in the West End and in Australia to start. We'll keep you updated when more information comes to hand.
When The Haunting of Hill House hit Netflix back in 2018, it left a strong impression. The horror show clearly had that effect not just on audiences, but on the streaming platform, even though it stepped through a once-off storyline. So, anthology series-style, the service is bringing viewers a follow-up — in the form of The Haunting of Bly Manor. As the name makes plain, an eerie abode definitely plays a very prominent part once again. Created and co-directed by filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), just like its predecessor, The Haunting of Bly Manor adapts Henry James' 1898 horror novella The Turn of the Screw. That means that it heads into gothic chiller and even romance territory; however, given that it's set in 1980s England, you can expect a few tweaks to that story. As both the initial teaser and the just-dropped full trailer demonstrate, the show's narrative kicks off when Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas, Stargirl) hires an American nanny (Victoria Pedretti, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) to look after his orphaned niece Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) and nephew Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). Her employment follows the death of an au pair, and her arrival at Bly Manor exposes the estate's centuries of secrets. If you're a fan of The Haunting of Hill House, you will have spotted that both Thomas and Pedretti return from that series, as do The Invisible Man's Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Gerald's Game's Kate Siegel — all playing different characters this time around. And, if you'd been wondering what you'll be watching to celebrate the spookiest month of the year — October, obviously — The Haunting of Bly Manor has you covered, as it'll drop on Friday, October 9. A word of warning: if you're not too fond of creepy dolls (are there any other kind in horror movies and TV shows?), expect to feel extra unsettled. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tykS7QfTWMQ The Haunting of Bly Manor will hit Netflix on Friday, October 9.
MELT doesn't just celebrate diversity on the stage or on its walls — it also showcases all things queer in the gaming space, too. Welcome to Gayming Night, where inclusivity isn't literally the name of any of the games on offer, but it's definitely the event's underlying motto. For four hours from 6pm on May 24, attendees will play games made by queer developers, chat to them about their work and trial in-progress titles, all across both tabletop and digital platforms. Or, give Virtual Drag a whirl, which is exactly what it sounds like — just with digital sequins and sparkle.
Really, first-date-movie-dates are a waste of time. You can’t talk to the person and you spend the entire time contemplating whether or not you should ‘make a move’ (hint: no, you shouldn’t). You gain no rapport and you might ruin everything by picking the wrong film. However, outdoor cinemas are actually a great way to impress your new Tinder match, with an incredible vibe, great movies, easy location and open setting (in case they want to run away, har har). All this week (and for a few more weeks beyond that), the Moonlight Cinema will be showing some amazing films, cult favourites, new blockbusters and some heartfelt gems so you can’t go wrong with the movie choice. So, if you do want to impress a lady or a fella, you’d do pretty well to pick this as your date night locale. New Farm Park at Brisbane Powerhouse will be the venue for this year’s cinema. Don't forget to indulge in some delicious snacks and perhaps a few beverages to complete your cinematic experience. It's the perfect way to unwind after a hard day and usher in those balmy summer nights. There's also the option of 'Gold Grass' tickets, which gets you a bean-bed in the front rows and designated waitstaff. New releases include the much-anticipated return of Ron Burgundy in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues as well as sneak previews of big Boxing Day releases The Railway Man and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Sometimes it’s the classics that can be most fun, however. Embrace your inner dag and negotiate how much a set of jousting sticks should cost with the much-loved and highly quote-able Aussie comedy The Castle. Or roll out the picnic rug and share a meal fit for Jehovah over Monty Python's 1979 gut-buster, The Life of Brian. If there's one thing Moonlight Cinema has proven itself more than capable of, it's cherry-picking the most enjoyable moments in cinema and creating a relaxed and sociable atmosphere to boot. Check the program for films and dates.
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company West End are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
When you've already announced that you're turning 31 with Kraftwerk, what comes next? Adding an impressive list of other acts. Back in July, Meredith advised that 2023's fest would feature the German electro pioneers. Now, the beloved Victorian event has unveiled who else will be taking to its Supernatural Amphitheatre. Also leading the bill: Caroline Polachek making her first trip Down Under, plus Alvvays and Alex G. Eris Drew & Octo Octa, Flowdan and Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs join the roster, too, as well as Sneaky Sound System, No Fixed Address and Souls of Mischief — and there's more where they came from. 2023's list of talent continues to demonstrate Meredith's knack for curating its lineup to perfection. Australia boasts no shortage of music festivals, but no one puts together a bill like the Aunty crew. "From deep discovery to elementary enjoyment. Subterranean treasures to searing virtuosos, from sunlit essentials to late-nite blasts. Never-thought-it-would-happens amidst hometown heroes. A bellow of resonant revelations." That's Meredith's own suitably evocative description of everyone taking to its single stage from Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10. There's still a few more names to come — "a handful", the festival notes — for what's set to be a massive long weekend. To nab tickets to the beloved three-day BYO camping festival, you'll need to enter the ballot, which is up and running now until 10.31pm AEST on Tuesday, August 22. And if you'd like to head along by volunteering instead, applications are currently open as well. MEREDITH 2023 LINEUP: Kraftwerk Caroline Polachek Alvvays Alex G Eris Drew & Octo Octa Flowdan Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Sneaky Sound System No Fixed Address Souls of Mischief Cable Ties Blawan Floodlights moktar Telenova They Hate Change C.O.F.F.I.N. dameeeela Bumpy Kuniyuki Meninyan Miss Kaninna Gut Health Ali Milo Eastwood Watty Thompson Mary Lattimore Pachyman City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10, 2023. To put your name in the ballot to get your hands on tickets, head to the festival's website before 10.31pm AEST on Tuesday, August 22. Top images: Michael Ridley, Adam Ricco, Chelsea King, Steve Benn and Ben Fletcher.
In 2007, a wave of albino murders swept across Tanzania. Their slaughter was at the command of witch doctors, who believe that albino limbs deliver prosperity and good luck. Horrified, British filmmaker Harry Freeland flew to Tanzania, where he spent spent six years following Josephat Torner, an albino who had left his family home and was travelling from village to village, risking his life to confront superstition. The resulting documentary, In the Shadow of the Sun, is just one of the films in the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, in Brisbane from June 4 to 6. This will be a week of movies you won't forget in a hurry. Jamie Meltzer's Informant, a portrait of fanatical humanitarian-turned-FBI bedfellow Brandon Darby, is a highlight, as is Alex Meillier's Alias Ruby Blade. It's the story of Australian activist Kirsty Sword, who left for East Timor to make documentaries and found herself working as an underground operative for the imprisoned Xanana Gusmao. There will be a complimentary glass of wine on Opening Night (In the Shadow of The Sun). The price for the session will be $18 Adult and $16 Concession. Prices for other sessions are $15 for adults and $13 for concession.
Days are getting longer, and the nights are getting warmer. And we don't doubt that you've already seen Brisbane's pubs and bars flooded with rounds of that most summery of drinks: the Aperol Spritz. That's why we thought it appropriate to create a list of some of our favourite places to go for a sunset spritz in partnership with Aperol. First and foremost, these guys all make a good spritz —that's essential. But, beyond that, each spot offers a great way to experience sunset — whether you're soaking it up from high up on a rooftop bar or enjoying it a riverside breeze. TETTO ROOFTOP BAR, EVERTON PARK Is Tetto the ultimate spritz destination in Brisbane? It might just be. First of all, this Italian rooftop bar is adorned in that famous Aperol orange — from the striped umbrellas to the floor itself. Second, this Everton Park spot also slings out spritzes in a bunch of different ways. If you want to lean into the spritz spirit, then get your crew around a spritz tree, which holds no less than 12 ice-cold spritzes. And as the sun goes down on Fridays and Saturdays, DJs set the mood with vibey tunes, while nights are usually reserved for 90s and old-school R&B bangers. Stay for a boogie or find your own little spot to hide away and hang with your mates. BAR ALTO, NEW FARM While Brisbane Powerhouse might be better known as a contemporary multi-arts venue that hosts regular comedy shows, live music gigs and all kinds of performance art, its breezy first-floor Italian restaurant and bar Bar Alto is a destination in its own right. Grab a seat overlooking the Brisbane River, order a round of spritzes and feast on a big bucket of mussels cooked in a rich garlic and tomato sauce. Whether you're stopping in before a show or making a night of it watching the sunset from this expansive openair space, there are certainly worse ways to spend a weekend evening. THE PRINCE CONSORT HOTEL, FORTITUDE VALLEY Since 1888, a pub has stood on the stretch of Fortitude Valley's Wickham Street approaching Brunswick Street, albeit under different names over the years. Now known as The Prince Consort Hotel, this eight-venue collective seems to always be buzzing — especially in the large beer garden out the back that's awash with plants and pastel hues. Spend a weekend here sipping on a spritz as the sun goes down, or come on a weeknight for an event — there's trivia on Tuesdays, free drag bingo on Wednesdays and a meat raffle on Thursdays. BYBLOS, HAMILTON If you're after sunset hangs on the river, then put this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar on your list. Options abound here: either stop by for a spritz or two as that cool river breeze washes over you, or stay for a proper feast — food at Byblos is made for sharing (so BYO mates), with a banquet that's perfect for a taste of Lebanese classics. Or, order a bunch of meze to complement your night of spritzing. IRIS ROOFTOP, FORTITUDE VALLEY This glam poolside bar and restaurant offers up some mighty stunning views from its Brunswick Street rooftop. Grab a cocktail and gaze over the Brisbane skyline towards New Farm, the Valley and the city beyond, add in a sunset that matches the colour of your spritz, and you have well and truly found your new happy place. If you're coming with a big group and really want to treat yourselves, hire out one of the private cabanas. You can spend hours up here, sinking into the plush seats overlooking the city. IL MOLO, BULIMBA This waterside bar and restaurant brings a little slice of Italy to Bulimba. Amidst black, white and wooden décor or on the sun-lit outdoor deck, patrons of Il Molo can enjoy front-row views of the Brisbane River while eating and drinking their way through some of Italy's greatest hits. Spritzes are, of course, obligatory, but be sure to get some snacks while you're here — tuck into calamari fritti and pancetta-spiked arancini, or order a few pizzas to share with your mates. There's also a dedicated aperitivo time here from 3pm, so you won't have to try too hard to lean into la dolce vita at this great sunset spritz spot. POPOLO, SOUTH BRISBANE Popolo might be one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Brisbane, but you don't have to come here for a full-blown meal — you can very easily grab an al fresco seat by the river and drink away the night. Although while you're here, we recommend you do put some food in your belly and, if you choose anything, make it the heavenly pappardelle pasta with duck leg ragu and generous amounts of Grana Padano, perfect for pairing with a spritz. For more ways to elevate your summer with Aperol, head to the website.
Blissfully kayaking down a crystal-clear mountain stream between Queensland's two highest peaks and stopping along the way to swim and snorkel sounds pretty idyllic to us. Thankfully, the team at Babinda Kayaking can make this dream your reality. Choose between a kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour that'll weave along the beautiful Babinda Creek. Then, look out for fish, turtles and the elusive platypus as the current gently encourages you downstream toward secluded beaches that you can stop at along the way. The trip is self-guided so you can take your time exploring the creek. We recommend packing a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the picturesque sandy patches you'll discover along the way. Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
Already home to the best beach in the world for 2024, Palm Cove in Queensland's north now also boasts the best hotel in the South Pacific — and also Australia — for this year. The first accolade arrived back in March, when the Sunshine State locale near Cairns topped Condé Nast Traveller's beach list. The second has just dropped via Tripadvisor, as part of its Best of the Best Hotels ranking in its 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards. The celebrated hotel: The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove, which takes over the top spot on both the South Pacific and Aussie Tripadvisor lists after coming second to Pinetrees Lodge on Lord Howe Island in 2023. That said, while it earned plenty of local love, it didn't make the global 25, which Pinetrees Lodge managed last year. [caption id="attachment_901977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove[/caption] The Reef House was applauded for its beach access, onsite pools, calming atmosphere and well-appointed rooms, if you're now thinking of heading north for your next getaway. Queensland is also home to the second-best hotel in both the South Pacific and Australia, with that honour going to Emporium Hotel South Bank in Brisbane. It's been a big year or so for showering the Sunshine State with affection, with Brisbane named one of the best places to go in 2024 by The New York Times, travel guide Frommer's also selecting the city as one of 2024's best spots to visit, TIME putting it on its world's greatest places list for 2023, and the World's Best 50 Hotels picking The Calile as its only Australian and Oceanic entry in its inaugural countdown in 2023. [caption id="attachment_952781" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emporium Hotel South Bank[/caption] On Tripadvisor's South Pacific rankings for 2024, Australian hotels scored six of the top ten spots, including MACq 01 Hotel in Hobart in third place, Next Hotel Melbourne in fifth, Quest Orange in sixth and Zagame's House in Melbourne at tenth. They had company from two Fijian places to stay — Tokoriki Island Resort in fourth place and Six Senses Fiji at ninth — as well as the seventh-ranked Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts and eighth-placed Sojourn Apartment Hotel Riddiford in Wellington in New Zealand. The Aussie-only list filled its top six positions with the local hotels named above, then found a spot for Pinetrees Lodge this year, plus Element on Coolum Beach, Terminus Apartment Hotel in Newcastle and The Tasman in Hobart to round out the top ten. The full top 25 spans accommodation in Tamworth, Sydney, South Perth, Adelaide, Echuca and Canberra, too. [caption id="attachment_866700" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MACq 01 Hotel[/caption] Globally, the best place to stay is Hotel Colline de France in Gramado, Brazil — with OBLU SELECT Lobigili in Malé, Maldives coming in second; La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa in Hoi An, Vietnam sitting in third; Adiwana Suweta in Bali, Indonesia taking out fourth; and Iberostar Grand Packard in La Habana, Cuba notching up fifth spot. From there, it's back to the Maldives via Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa on Fasmendhoo Island, then to La Siesta Classic Ma May in Hanoi in Vietnam, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico, Padma Resort Ubud in Bali and finally Sofitel Mexico City Reforma back in Mexico. Next time that you're planning a vacation or a staycation, you've clearly got options. Tripadvisor's rankings are based on reviews on its platform, with its hotel lists joining its beach picks for 2024, which were announced in February. Manly Beach in Sydney was the only Aussie spot in the top ten, coming in seventh place. [caption id="attachment_952780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hotel Colline de France in Brazil[/caption] Top Ten Hotels in the World 2024: 1. Hotel Colline de France — Gramado, Brazil 2. OBLU SELECT Lobigili — Malé, Maldives 3. La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa — Hoi An, Vietnam 4. Adiwana Suweta — Bali, Indonesia 5. Iberostar Grand Packard — La Habana, Cuba 6. Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa — Fasmendhoo Island, Maldives 7. La Siesta Classic Ma May — Hanoi, Vietnam 8. Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya — Akumal, Mexico 9. Padma Resort Ubud — Bali, Indonesia 10. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma — Mexico City, Mexico [caption id="attachment_952783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove[/caption] Top Ten Hotels in the South Pacific 2024: 1. The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove — Palm Cove, Australia 2. Emporium Hotel South Bank — Brisbane, Australia 3. MACq 01 Hotel — Hobart, Australia 4. Tokoriki Island Resort — Tokoriki Island, Fiji 5. Next Hotel Melbourne — Melbourne, Australia 6. Quest Orange — Orange, Australia 7. Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts — Bora Bora, French Polynesia 8. Sojourn Apartment Hotel Riddiford — Wellington, New Zealand 9. Six Senses Fiji — Malolo Island, Fiji 10. Zagame's House — Melbourne, Australia [caption id="attachment_952782" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emporium Hotel South Bank[/caption] Top 25 Hotels in Australia 2024: 1. The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove — Palm Cove, Qld 2. Emporium Hotel South Bank — Brisbane, NSW 3. MACq 01 Hotel — Hobart, Tas 4. Next Hotel Melbourne — Melbourne, Vic 5. Quest Orange — Orange, NSW 6. Zagame's House — Melbourne, Vic 7. Pinetrees Lodge — Lord Howe Island, NSW 8. Element on Coolum Beach — Coolum Beach, Qld 9. Terminus Apartment Hotel — Newcastle, NSW 10. The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel — Hobart, Tas 11. Goonoo Goonoo Station — Tamworth, NSW 12. Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Chippendale — Sydney, NSW 13. The Henry Jones Art Hotel — Hobart, Tas 14. Treasury On Collins — Melbourne, Vic 15. Quest South Perth Foreshore — South Perth, WA 16. Majestic M Suites — North Adelaide, SA 17. Quest Echuca — Echuca, Vic 18. Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury — Adelaide, SA 19. Alcyone Hotel Residences — Brisbane, Qld 20. Vibe Hotel Hobart — Hobart, Tas 21. Little National Hotel Sydney — Sydney, NSW 22. Lancemore Crossley St — Melbourne, Vic 23. East Hotel — Canberra, ACT 24. Deco Hotel Canberra — Canberra, ACT 25. Park Hyatt Melbourne — Melbourne, Vic [caption id="attachment_901978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tokoriki Island Resort[/caption] For more information about Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards, head to the service's website. 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.
Now you're spending a little more time in your home, you may as well pick up a new skill. Always wanted to know how to shake a martini that would impress James Bond? What about learning some handy tricks in the kitchen for the dinner party you're planning when this is all over? Well, Sydney bar and vegetarian diner Golden Gully is letting you level-up from the comfort of your living room. If you're keen to take your boozy drinks from the humble G&T to a whiskey sour or manhattan, join bartenders Rachael and Danny over video chat for a one-hour class, which will show you how to mix up whatever you've got lying in your liquor cabinet. So, you can put that shot of Midori down now. Prefer to learn how to be a whiz in the kitchen? Golden Gully's chef Emma Evans (ex-Alibi) will help you turn water into wine — well more like mi goreng into pad see ew, which is still a mean feat. You'll join her for an hour via video chat to go through a recipe and cook up something tasty, even using the most mundane ingredients in your panty. Each class costs $60 and will not only see you through self-isolation, but also are life skills you should probably have under your belt anyway. To purchase a class, head here. And once that's done, message Golden Gully on Instagram to arrange a time and date. Images: Trent van der Jagt
If you're a bit wary of technology's ever-growing influence in humanity's daily lives — be it artificial intelligence, streaming algorithms, social media, drones, augmented reality or online dating, to name just a few examples — then Charlie Brooker and Black Mirror might be one of the reasons. Since 2011, they've been spinning dystopian nightmares about what might happen as tech evolves. In plenty of cases, they've been satirising and interrogating innovations we use today, and what their next step might be. Yes, that makes Brooker the perfect speaker to get chatting at SXSW Sydney. Just days after the tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival added Chance The Rapper to its list of headliners at its first-ever event outside of the US — celebrating 50 years of hip hop — it has now announced that Black Mirror creator Brooker is on his way to Australia as well. He'll hit Sydney during Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 as part as a stacked lineup that also includes Coachella CEO Paul Tollett, Queer Eye star Tan France and Future Today Institute founder and CEO Amy Webb among its big names. [caption id="attachment_917939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] "Having to quickly provide a personal quote for a press release about how excited I am to join the inaugural Sydney-flavoured SXSW event is exactly the sort of thing ChatGPT is for, but I've written this one myself because I still care about our species, dammit," said Charlie Brooker in a statement announcing his trip Down Under. "Although I initially misspelt 'inaugural' just then until I got corrected by a machine, so actually maybe we're just rubbish." "This tense love-hate relationship with technology is what Black Mirror is all about. That and stories about Prime Ministers and pigs. Anyway, I can't wait to attend and get so cowed by all the creativity and innovation on display that I go home feeling depressed and inadequate. I'm genuinely looking forward to it," Brooker continued. [caption id="attachment_917938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] "SXSW Sydney seeks to offer unique perspectives of the future, making Charlie Brooker an ideal speaker for our event," added SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. "Black Mirror consistently leads the cultural conversation on what we face in the now or may confront in our future, offering a chance for reflection and change. Charlie embodies what attendees can expect from SXSW Sydney: creativity and innovation." Also on the SXSW Sydney lineup so far: a 700-plus strong bill of talent, covering over 300 sessions. The event will feature more than 300 gigs across 25 venues, too, and has been dropping its music highlights and must-attend parties since earlier in 2023. Its dedicated gaming strand will include a tabletop game expo. And, the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival will open with The Royal Hotel, and host the world premiere of Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles. The entire event — the festivals within the bigger fest, exhibitions, talks, networking opportunities and streetside activations — will happen within a walkable precinct in the Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Ultimo, Chippendale and more, with the SXSW Sydney's footprint operating as a huge hub. Venues named so far include Powerhouse Museum, ICC Sydney, UTS, Central Park Mall, the Goods Line Walk, The Abercrombie and Lansdowne Hotel. [caption id="attachment_911084" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jane Greer[/caption] SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Charlie Brooker images: Michael Wharley. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
Summer has had a blistering start, with the country yesterday clocking its hottest ever day on record. Australia's average maximum temperature soared to a whopping 40.9 degrees, barrelling past the previous record of 40.3 set back on January 7, 2013. But, things are looking much more bearable for December 25, as Christmas Day promises some balmy mid-20 conditions for Australia's barbecuing, beach-going and festive-feasting adventures. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne's the big day is set to hit a maximum of 28 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and only a ten-percent chance of any rain. It'll not only be cracking beach weather, but a welcome change of pace, after this coming Friday's expected top of 43. It's also a jump above Melbourne's December average, which clocks in at 24.2 degrees. [caption id="attachment_651722" align="alignnone" width="1920"] St Kilda Beach by Josie Withers for Visit Victoria[/caption] Sydney is on track to enjoy similar conditions, with an overall maximum of 27 degrees and a 40-percent chance of showers on the cards for Christmas Day. However, if you're venturing west, you'll probably want to line up a swim (or air-conditioning) of some sort, as Penrith hits an expected top of 32 degrees. It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a seven-day State of Emergency on December 19, handing over executive powers to the RFS Commissioner, because of predicted worsening bushfire conditions. It's the second State of Emergency declared this fire season, too, which has been particularly devastating, with 768 homes lost and more than 2.7 million hectares burnt at last count. Those travelling over the festive period are being told to prepare for possible road closures, diversions and delays as a result. And before you head out of town, it's suggested you check Fires Near Me and heed any instructions and warnings. Further north in Brisbane, things are looking especially balmy with a sweaty forecast max of 33 degrees. It's just another in a long string of mid-30 days the city's been through this month, though Christmas Day is bucking the trend with a forecast 40-percent chance of rain. You might want to have a contingency plan for that outdoor barbie. [caption id="attachment_703464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bunya River Crossing[/caption] Perth's set to unwrap a sticky top of 36 degrees for Christmas, way beyond the average December maximum of 29.1. With zero chance of rain forecast, it'll likely be the hottest day locals will have had all week, rounding out a string of high-20s and low-30s. Darwin is in for a similarly steamy maximum of 35 degrees with the added bonus of potential thunderstorms — pretty much the exact conditions it'll see every day in the lead-up. Meanwhile, Adelaide folk will be ringing in Christmas Day with a festive top of 32 degrees and Canberra is wrapping up a week of low-40s and mid-30s with a partly cloudy 33. As usual, Tasmania's playing things a little cooler, with Hobart in for a partly cloudy, potentially drizzly maximum of 23 degrees.
Some movies have a moment where they just click and you instinctively know the filmmakers know what they're doing. In The Way, Way Back that moment comes when the painfully awkward Duncan (Liam James) is being driven to the beach house where he will spend the summer and he locks eyes with Owen (Sam Rockwell). The low-key but undeniable chemistry in that scene is a hallmark of a film which gets all the small details right. Having been told he's a "three out of ten" by Trent (Steve Carell), a passive-aggressive jerk who is dating his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), Duncan plans to keep a low profile during his holiday. But any chance of a quiet summer is soon scuppered by nosy neighbour Betty (Allison Janney), who plots to have Duncan become friends with her long-suffering son Peter (River Alexander), who she torments because of his lazy eye. It's Betty's daughter Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb) who can sympathise with Duncan though, and they form a faltering friendship as the adults leave them to their own devices. As Susanna observes, the beachside community is "like spring break for adults" and while Trent and Pam make merry with Trent's friends, the introverted Duncan goes exploring on a a bike and ends up seeking refuge at Water Wizz, the slightly rundown but much-loved local water park managed by perpetual adolescent Owen. Seeing something in the earnest teen that nobody else sees, Owen decides to give Duncan a job as a dogsbody at the park, bringing him into a group of misfits that includes Caitlin (Maya Rudolph), who is growing irked at Owen's irresponsible ways and Lewis (Jim Rash), a sad sack who continually threatens to quit the park to pursue his dreams of being a storm chaser but never quite manages to leave. The Way Way Back's story of a shy teen finding his place in the world over the course of a long, hot summer is by now a well-worn coming-of-age narrative, but this always feels more comfortable than cliched. The seaside small town with its endless beach parties and beer-soaked barbecues is lovingly evoked. The performances from an ensemble cast are uniformly topnotch, though it is Sam Rockwell who steals every scene as the sweet, funny and unexpectedly wise Owen. Writer-directors Jim Rash and Nat Faxon previously collaborated on the Oscar-winning The Descendants and have again struck gold, fashioning a wryly funny and nicely understated script which leaves the actors plenty to do. A big-hearted, bittersweet look at the pleasures and pains of growing up, and the compromises of adulthood, this is perfectly realised and way, way charming. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GiH5wmuexZY
If there are two things that are helping us through this latest stretch of lockdown, it's good food and good tunes. So, it's an extra win that the two are coming together for one exclusive virtual knees-up on Saturday, September 12. Attica's renowned culinary maestro Ben Shewry is teaming up with local electronic legends The Avalanches to host A Party for Melbourne, streamed live and loud, straight to your living room. They're aiming to send fans a big 'thank you', while blasting away a few of those dreary iso blues. The celebrations kick off early with a series of online 'How To Party' videos released in the week leading up, which'll see Shewry sharing his tips and tricks for whipping up the ultimate shindig. He'll guide you through everything from transforming your house into a disco den to creating game-changing prawn cocktails and sausage rolls. They'll be free to watch over on the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF) website, as well as Shewry's and MFWF's social channels. On the big night, things will fire up with a set from DJ Soju Gang, before The Avalanches grace your screens with a show of their own, streamed via YouTube. Best make sure you've cleared plenty of room for dancing the night away. Tickets to this house party are free, but you'll need to register over at the MFWF website.
It's no surprise that many of us are looking to upgrade our home comfort level at the moment. Aussie furniture brand Koala is keen to help you do just that with its cyber sale where you can nab up to 20 percent off mattresses, sheets, sofas, desks and armchairs to help you upgrade your pad or improve your night's sleep. A heap of products from across the brand's range are on sale from Monday, November 23 to Monday, November 30, including the popular Koala mattress, which you can score for up to $250 less than the usual price. Plus, if you order a bed today, you will be sleeping pretty tonight as Koala offers a free four-hour delivery service. Also on offer in the sale is the WFH desk, which is made in Ballarat from hand-sanded timber, easy to assemble and designed with home office use in mind. If you've found yourself working from home a lot more this year, you can pick up the desk for a sweet 15 percent off. Comfy Koala sofa beds, TV units, pillows, bed bases and more are going with a 20 percent discount, too, so you can give your whole house a makeover. And everything comes with a 120-night trial — though, it might be hard to give any of these up after four-months of comfort. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Brisbanites, if you're ready to laugh this autumn, the River City has just the festival for it. Now taking place in late April and all throughout May each year, Brisbane Comedy Festival is the Sunshine State capital's excuse to get giggling. On the 2023 lineup: 350-plus gigs by more than 110 comedians across five weeks. BCF revealed a heap of its bill for this year late in 2022, but that was just the beginning of its roster of chuckle-inducing talent. Now, the full program is here, complete with over 70 more comedians joining the fun from Friday, April 28 till Sunday, May 29, 2023. Across both announcements, the Brisbane Powerhouse-hosted event isn't short on big names, including returning favourites and first-timers alike. David O'Doherty, Danny Bhoy, Micky Bartlett, Ed Byrne, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe, Chris Parker and Ivan Aristeguieta sit on the bill alongside Ross Noble, Jason Manford, Jason Leong, Daniel Kitson and Alfie Brown. Fans of homegrown comedy talent can also look forward to Tripod, Nat's What I Reckon, Rhys Nicholson, Akmal, Mel Buttle, The Umbilical Brothers, Wil Anderson, Dave Hughes, Peter Helliar, Rove McManus, Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford, as well as Tom Ballard, Tommy Little, Michael Hing, Andrew Hansen, Dilruk Jayasinha, Claire Hooper and Geraldine Hickey. And these days, we basically count Irish comedian Jimeoin as a local, don't we? Other highlights include Karen From Finance, Reuben Kaye, Lizzy Hoo, the cabaret-style Dirty Fame Flash Candles Club, the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars, the Multicultural Comedy Gala and Queerstories. Or, there's the return of Two-Man Tarantino, the Sunday Roast and Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare — the latter doing Romeo and Juliet. BCF attendees can check out comedy cabaret Brisbaret, magic circus stunt show Flabbergasters!, free after-work Friday knockoff sessions and Agatha Christie-inspired improvised whodunnit Murder Village as well, plus James Schloeffel from The Shovel and Charles Firth from The Chaser teaming up for Wankernomics. [caption id="attachment_850754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atmosphere Photography[/caption] Updated February 16, 2023.
When Baz Luhrmann (Elvis) decided to bring The Great Gatsby to the screen, he enlisted 2010s Sydney to double for 1920s Long Island and New York. Then, a decade after the Australian director's Oscar-winning movie hit cinemas, a The Great Gatsby-themed club popped up in the Harbour City to host a The Great Gatsby-inspired cabaret variety show. Cut to 2025 and that event, aka GATSBY at The Green Light, now has a different Aussie city in its sights: Brisbane as part of this year's Brisbane Festival. This time, the River City's Twelfth Night Theatre in Bowen Hills is following in Luhrmann's footsteps, with GATSBY at The Green Light making its Brisbane debut between between Tuesday, September 2–Sunday, September 28. The production will take over the Bowen Hills venue with an array of excuses to pretend that it's a century ago — and that you're on the other side of the globe. The GATSBY part of the big spring event's moniker refers to the entertainment, while The Green Light is the temporarily rebadged venue where this party-esque experience will occur. First, the show: taking its cues from F Scott Fitzgerald's book, which is marking its 100th anniversary in 2025, GATSBY gives the classic text the aerial, burlesque, dance and circus treatment. As performers show off their skills, live contemporary music accompanies their efforts. Then, the club: The Green Light gleans inspiration from prohibition-era speakeasies. Yes, drinks are involved. Indeed, while you watch, you'll be able to say cheers to the entertainment with a martini in hand. When it initially hit the stage at the Sydney Opera House — which hosted a sellout season — GATSBY at The Green Light hailed from director Craig Ilott, who added the event to his resume alongside Smoke & Mirrors, La Clique Royale at Edinburgh Festival's The Famous Spiegeltent, and also American Idiot, Amadeus and Velvet Rewired. With GATSBY co-producer Stuart Couzens, he was also involved in L'Hôtel, the dinner theatre experience which turned the exact same Sydney space into a French hotel with cabaret, circus and burlesque. "Our treatment of GATSBY has been akin to that of a concept album; riffing on the essence of a familiar text through a new form to create an evocative experience," said Ilott of GATSBY at The Green Light back when its Sydney run was announced. "We've taken elements entrenched in the 1920s — the vaudeville, the fashion, the hospitality — and remixed them with a bold 2020s beat, with the aim of creating an evening that feels both contemporary and captivating." GATSBY at The Green Light will take over Twelfth Night Theatre, 4 Cintra Road, Bowen Hills, between Tuesday, September 2–Sunday, September 28, 2025 during Brisbane Festival. Head to the fest's website for more details and tickets. Brisbane Festival 2025 runs from Friday, September 5–Saturday, September 27 at various venues around Brisbane. Head to the fest's website for tickets and further details. Images: Daniel Boud / Prudence Upton.
"The punchline is true about me...I did the dumb thing. But I did a lot of other things too." So says Anthony Weiner at the beginning of the documentary that bears his name. His statement is both an admission and a reminder, as presented with a level of candour that mightn't be expected from a former New York congressman. Of course, Weiner isn't any old politician ,and there's a reason that everyone knows who he is. You saw the scandals play out, giggling about someone with his particular surname getting caught texting dick pics. Now we get to see his side of the story. Indeed, we already know why filmmakers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg were keen to peer beyond the international headlines and discover the man behind the very public mockery. What isn't always clear is just why Weiner himself agreed to be involved. Why did he agree to subject himself to a warts-and-all look at his notorious indiscretions and their impact upon his career and marriage. And why did he agree to give the film crew such extraordinarily intimate access? That's the first of many questions that springs from this astute and insightful film, and most of them don't have easy or obvious answers. In fact, when Kriegman is heard interrogating his subject about why he was allowed to chronicle the minutiae of his life, Weiner doesn't really have a response, other than later stating his desire to be seen as more than just a punchline. His loyal wife Huma Abedin, an advisor to Hillary Clinton, and an increasingly distressed figure in the feature, doesn't know what to say either. Still, as the tabloids, news reports and late-night comedians prove relentless in dissecting her decision to stand by her husband, her deteriorating facade speaks volumes. By honing in on Weiner's comeback mayoral bid, which is soon derailed when another explosive revelation rears its head, the documentary does a great many things. It acts as an all-too-familiar twist on the American dream, contemplating not just the path to success, but trying again after falling so far. It examines the difficulty of living a life of incessant scrutiny while trying to put your past behaviour behind you. It offers disarming images of a man watching his world fall down around him yet again. It points the finger at the way the media treats those in their orbit. And it provides an utterly fascinating look at the real inner-workings of a political campaign. Here, the truth is absolutely stranger than fiction — and more compelling, too. Kriegman and Steinberg present rather than judge, and flesh out rather than assume. The end result is patient and observational as it follows Weiner on the campaign trail, yet remains infused with the urgency of his rollercoaster existence. Whatever your thoughts on the man, we're guessing they won't be the same when the end credits roll.
They're famous for singing about an island in the sun. Come October, they'll be playing on one: Australia. Yes, add Weezer to the list of acts that first made it big decades ago that are hitting our shores again, and soon, with the Los Angeles-formed alt-rock band just announcing three big Aussie arena gigs for this spring. Expect the supremely cruisy, holiday vibe-heavy 'Island in the Sun' to get a spin, plus 'Undone — The Sweater Song', 'Buddy Holly', 'El Scorcho', 'Beverly Hills', 'Hash Pip', 'Pork and Beans' and more, all from across the group's three-decade career. Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner and Brian Bell will take to the stage in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on a whirlwind three-day, three-show trip between Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8. [caption id="attachment_912637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Murphy[/caption] Music lovers in Victoria and Queensland's capitals, you'll be catching Weezer play through its hefty discography as headliners, with the band picking up their instruments at John Cain Arena in the former and Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the latter. In support, Brissie legends Regurgitator will warm up the crowd in both cities — another favourite that began rocking the airwaves in the 90s. In Sydney, Weezer fans will need to see KISS, too, with Weezer's only Harbour City show in support of KISS in what's been dubbed the makeup-clad icons' last-ever Australian concert. Weezer love a bit of a nostalgia, at least where their Aussie tours are involved. Back in 2020, they were announced for the Hella Mega Tour's Down Under run, which was meant to hit the country that November with Green Day and Fall Out Boy also headlining. Then the pandemic hit, and the trio's successful worldwide combined gigs cancelled its Australian plans. WEEZER 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: HEADLINE SHOWS: Friday, October 6 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Sunday, October 8 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane KISS: THE FINAL CURTAIN WITH SPECIAL GUESTS WEEZER: Saturday, October 7 — Accord Stadium, Sydney Weezer will tour Australia in October 2023, with early-bird pre-sale tickets for their solo shows available from 9am AEST on Tuesday, August 15, and general sales from 9am AEST on Thursday, August 17. Head to the tour website for further details — and to Ticketek for KISS tickets now. Top image: Hunter Kahn via Wikimedia Commons.
Whether serving up truffle degustations, hosting upmarket wine tastings or just plating up its regular menu, Bacchus was among Brisbane's go-to spots for an indulgent restaurant experience before the pandemic. Over the past two years, though, it's been one of the things that the city has been missing in these chaotic times — but that'll change come Friday, May 20. After a two-year hiatus, the swanky South Bank restaurant is reopening its doors to once again give Brisbanites its decadent fine-diner experience. The ornate, old world-style look and feel is still in place, but the space has had a bit of a revision, including via a new colour scheme that goes heavy on deep mahogany, tobacco and teal. And, Executive Chef Matthew Wood (ex-Stokehouse, Aria Brisbane, Urbane and Hilton Brisbane) and Chef de Cuisine Isaia Dal Fiume (who started his career at the two Michelin-starred restaurant San Domenico in Imola, Italy) are now overseeing the menu. Under their reign, diners can expect a strong focus on responsibly sourced, seasonally focused Australian produce — and a wine list that features more than 600 vinos, as well as an impressive cheese trolley. [caption id="attachment_853697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Woning[/caption] Entrée highlights span kangaroo tartar with beetroot and camel cheese; champagne lobster with macadamia, red cabbage and tarragon; and mushroom with smoked burrata and mushroom broth. They're joined by seven mains, including risotto made with quail from Brisbane Valley, a tagliolini featuring Tasmanian sea urchin, Glacier 51 Heard Island toothfish paired with celeriac textures and celery, and two dishes heroing Queensland wagyu. For dessert, when you're not opting for chamomile and honey or spiced pineapple with coconut sorbet and lime, there's also the chocolate cigar — which boasts coffee, gianduja cremeux, smoked mousse and Irish whiskey ice cream. Also part of the revitalised Bacchus: an 11-course degustation — including a vegan option — with or without matched wines, classic cocktails at the bar, and a luxe high tea that dishes up lemon meringue tarts, tiramisu spheres, quiche lorraine and more. Find Bacchus on level one at Rydges South Bank, 9 Glenelg Street, South Brisbane, from Friday, May 20. For more information or to make a booking, head to the restaurant's website.
Dripping ice creams are just one of the unavoidable realities of a scorching summer day. Until now. Some geniuses at the Biotherapy Development Research Center in Kanazawa, Japan have invented a popsicle that doesn't melt, keeping its cool even when temperatures are skyrocketing. The frosty treats, called Kanazawa Ice were released earlier this year, according to Japan's Asahi Shimbun. They're made using polyphenol, which is extracted from strawberries. Developer Tomihisa Ota told the paper that the ingredient's properties "make it difficult for water and oil to separate, so that a popsicle containing it will be able to retain the original shape of the cream for a longer time than usual and be hard to melt". The company stumbled upon this discovery while trying to create a new kind of confectionary using strawberries that weren't good enough quality to be sold. What they ended up making instead was a frozen snack that stays in perfect drip-free condition, even after a five minute stint in 28-degree heat. A post shared by 金座和アイス (@kanazawaice) on Nov 18, 2017 at 12:45am PST They're currently available in a range of flavours and designs at stores across Kanazawa, Osaka and Tokyo. But we're hoping this icy technology makes its way down under — with sweltering days approaching and our Frosty Fruits in extreme peril, it's a matter of national importance that we ship some here, stat. Via The Asahi Shimbun.
The Way, Way Back is the newest piece of cinematic excellence put forth by Oscar winners Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, writers of the acclaimed The Descendants, and is sure to challenge for silverware come award season. The film tells the heartwarmingly awkward tale of Duncan (Liam James) as he struggles to express himself in a world he doesn't feel comfortable in. This is made all the more complex when his recently divorced mother, Pam (Toni Collette), takes him away on a "spring break for adults" vacation with her obnoxious new boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). Thankfully he befriends Water Wizz water park employee Owen (Sam Rockwell) and finally begins to feel like he belongs — but not without a few hiccups along the way. The comedy is beautifully simple and the all-star cast promises to take us on an emotional roller-coaster as we contemplate the awkward moments of our teenage years and the simple acts of kindness it takes to make someone feel wanted. The Way, Way Back is in cinemas August 1, and to celebrate we have ten double in-season passes — as well as one major prize pack containing a The Way, Way Back drawstring beach bag, towel, sunscreen and a Slip n Slide — to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GiH5wmuexZY
Let there be rock indeed: when AC/DC announced their first Australian tour in a decade, it was always going to be popular. It should come as no surprise, then, that extra gigs have been added now that tickets have gone on sale. Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne have all scored additional shows, with the band now playing two concerts in each of the New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian capitals. Since 2015, it's been a long wait for Aussie fans if you want to rock 'n' roll with AC/DC live, but the group's Power Up tour will see Brian Johnson, Angus Young and company performing at local stadiums in November and December 2025. With the just-announced extra gigs, Melbourne is getting thunderstruck at the MCG on Wednesday, November 12 and Sunday, November 16; Sydney at Accor Stadium on Friday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 25; Adelaide at the bp Adelaide Grand Final on Sunday, November 30; Perth at Optus Stadium on Thursday, December 4; and Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, December 14 and Thursday, December 18. For this run of dates, Amyl and The Sniffers are onboard in support to make these massive Aussie concerts even more so, and to give attendees a taste of two different generations of Aussie rockstars. Playing Sydney isn't just part of a fitting homecoming for AC/DC, but comes more than half a century since the band played their first-ever show in the Harbour City. Their 2025 gig will be just over a month and a half short of 52 years since that 1973 debut. Power Up is also the name of the group's 2020 album, their most-recent record — which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, made multiple best-of lists for that year and scored Grammy nominations. For those about to rock, AC/DC's high-voltage current set list spans their entire career, however, including everything from 'If You Want Blood (You've Got It)', 'Back in Black' and 'Hells Bells' to 'Highway to Hell', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. So far, the Power Up tour has played Europe and North America, selling more than two-million tickets across 24 shows in the former and notching up ten soldout gigs in the latter. AC/DC will be back in Europe, hitting the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, France and Scotland, before their Aussie dates. AC/DC Power Up 2025 Australian Tour Wednesday, November 12 + Sunday, November 16 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, November 21 + Tuesday, November 25 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Sunday, November 30 — bp Adelaide Grand Final, Adelaide Thursday, December 4 — Optus Stadium, Perth Sunday, December 14 + Thursday, December 18 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane AC/DC are touring Australia in November and December 2025, with tickets on sale from Thursday, June 26, 2025. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: Christie Goodwin.
Economic uncertainty and vast urban sprawl have made the dream of owning a home less likely for many citizens. Thankfully, architects and designers around the globe are fusing creativity with the latest technology to build unique homes at a fraction of the price. Pre-fabricated houses are gaining more relevance in today's society as homes that are affordable for most prospective owners. These houses are manufactured in factories and then transported and assembled at a location of your choosing. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, simplicity and a reduced impact on the environment, pre-fabricated houses are a solution that people are looking to with greater interest. Here we have collected some of the most innovative pre-fabricated houses. With the diverse range of materials and designs used in the examples below, pre-fabricated homes have also become one of the primary avenues for creative minds to flaunt their imaginations. Have a look below and consider a pre-fabricated home to make your own. MCube by MDesigns Superb-A House by mnm.MOD PLACE Houses mkLotus by Michelle Kauffman The Crib by Broadhurst Architects Haus Bold by Thomas Bendel House Arc by Bellomo Architects Loftcube Origin by Blu Homes zeroHouse
