Cosmo's Midnight is the playful moniker for the much-adored Sydney-based production duo made up of twins Cosmo and Patrick Liney. The pair have been writing and producing feel-good jams since 2012, with their ever-evolving sound and clear natural talent seeing them only continue to rise in popularity across the globe. For the uninitiated, their songs are eclectic and yet instantly recognisable: dance tracks heavy on the instrumentals, floaty lyrics and sky-high vibes. After a 2022 chock-full of buzzing festival crowds and tours here and abroad, Cosmo's Midnight are getting ready to take to the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) followed by legs in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5) — along with a stacked lineup. Joining them are legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX and Duke Dumont, plus Budjerah, Sonny Fodera and Snakehips to name a few. Ahead of their tour with For The Love (curated by renowned party-throwers from Untitled Group), we caught up with Cosmo and Patrick to chat about their summer highs, creative influences and how they're feeling ahead of the waterside gigs. First up, how are you both? Enjoying summer? You've spent the warmer months hitting festival stages here and abroad — there must be some exhaustion in there! "Doing very well, it's nice to finally have a summer where we aren't dodging flood waters. After pretty extensive touring for the last half of 2022, it's been so good to recoup and hit the beach in between writing sessions. We're currently writing some of the best music we've ever put together and can't wait to show some of the stuff Pat and I have been working on." On and off the stage, what have been your summer highs? "Hitting Hobbiton in New Zealand was a massive highlight, we've been massive fans of LOTR and Tolkien as a whole our entire lives. It was so magical walking through the set and having the opportunity to get turpsed at The Green Dragon, the pub from The Shire. Also just touring with our band is so fun, they've been good mates of ours since before we started doing shows together and we spent one torrential day in Auckland go-karting in inch-deep water. No one else was on the track so the people running it just let us have free reign, trying to destroy each other and doing our best to recreate Tokyo Drift." Amazing! What's it like touring with your sibling? "It's really easy despite the fact we have little sibling tiffs every now and then — they're always quickly resolved and never spiral into something sinister. Luckily we both enjoy the same general things outside of music, so there's no massive vote required to figure out what the band is going to do when we're not on stage." You both exude such a positive energy when performing, how does it feel to be on stage? "We both love performing, as far as music goes it's the biggest payoff of writing and developing a live show. Seeing how people respond to your music is the truest review you can get in this age of music streaming, where it's hard to tell what people think immediately — where we more so just watch the play counts rack up." For The Love is about to kick off its run of music events to see out Australia's summer, how are you both feeling ahead of taking the stage? "Really excited, we're keen to debut some new music and renditions of old songs to up the ante even further. It's been a while since we've hit a national tour in Australia so it will be great to see some familiar spaces and faces!" How do you prep for a gig? Any non-negotiables in the lead up? "Always rehearse really close to show day. Despite all the touring we did last year, we made sure to go through everything again with the band before we hit a tour. We all got so familiar with our live set last year after touring through Europe, UK, USA that I think we got a bit cocky and thought it might be okay to skip it... luckily we decided against it. Always gotta break out the WD-40 even when nothing sounds rusty." Whose set on the For The Love lineup are you most excited to catch? "I'm so excited to see Charli perform, we've been big fans of hers throughout her career and the ebbs and flows she's had as she explores different genres and styles. Unfortunately we've never caught her live, so it's going to be a massive highlight to see her at FTL — I hope we get to meet her!" I have everything crossed for you! Do you have a favourite track to perform? "It changes as time goes on but currently we have a really fun extended version of CUDI that is just so satisfying and exciting to play. I feel like if your song doesn't give you tingles when you're performing it, you've got to work on it until it does and we've reached that sweet spot with CUDI." You've got a unique and recognisable sound — inherently upbeat with a little eighties-disco edge. What are you influenced by creatively? "You're entirely right, we do listen to a lot of disco for inspiration. Before every new musical endeavour we do a massive amount of listening to kind of figure out the palette and sound for our next project. These last two years, we've extended our listening into more recent decades like the nineties and two-thousands to see both how the natural progression of disco leaned to house and pop — and what we can take from those eras that is so timeless and exciting." I've had a good old internet dig, and gleaned that your third album is well on its way to ears — how are you feeling about it? What can we expect from Cosmo's Midnight in the near-ish future? "Solid investigative work you've done there! It's well on the way, some would even say its getting wrapped up soon! We're feeling really excited and confident for the new project, it's some of the most upbeat and fluid writing we've done to date and we're really looking forward to dripping them out so everyone can get across them all." Are you taking any time off after the For The Love run? "We're going to take some time off to plan the rest of the year music and touring-wise. We're also going to use some downtime to work on other artists' projects, maybe do some writing camps and holidaying! It's always a good time mid-year to see what is happening up in the northern hemisphere." And finally, what are your three favourite places to eat and drink in Sydney? "Shameless plugs for friends: I love visiting my mates over at Baba's Place in Marrickville for a bite to eat! Then Naija Jollof has really good West African food just up the street from me, which is really hearty and spicy. Cafe Nho in Marrickville has the coffee with the closest taste to that in Vietnam, if you've travelled there and miss the coffee I'd strongly recommend trying it out!" Cosmo's Midnight are set to take the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) and in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5). For more info and to nab your tickets, head to the website.
If there's one thing summer has in abundance it's activities. Whether you're heading on a trip or staying local, there's always plenty to do, see and explore when the sun comes out to play. Yet, somehow, we still seem to always do the same old things: quick dips in the ocean and having mates round for a Sunday session in your backyard. Don't get us wrong, they're both great. But, after a pretty rough year, why not take things up a notch and make this one more memorable? We've partnered up with Bacardi to help you be a bit more unconventional over the warmer months. Here are seven ways you can make the most of the glorious weather, without resorting to the predictable. Think underwater art museums, camping with the crew, multi-venue festivals and cocktail parties in parks. TAKE A HIKE Sure, it might not be the most original summer activity on the list, but getting out into nature is rewarding at any time of year. You'll want to avoid heatstroke, so it's best to get going early or in the late arvo when the temperature starts to drop — which means you'll see some mighty fine sunrises and sunsets. So, put on your best outdoor shoes, slap on some sunscreen and ready yourself for an adventure. If you're in Sydney, you can cruise along one of the city's many coastal walks or hike in a national park, where you'll find some swimming holes to cool off in. In Brisbane, you can conquer epic mountains, check out rushing falls and look out over stunning vistas, without having to venture too far from the big smoke — check out five of the best walks here. Down south in Victoria, there's everything from out-of-town seaside strolls to epic multi-day hikes, boasting idyllic views of pristine beaches, sprawling countryside and serene vineyards, plus plenty of local wildlife. [caption id="attachment_784354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney+ Drive-In[/caption] CATCH A FLICK AT A DRIVE-IN CINEMA Looking for an idea for a date or fun night out with mates? Forget the recliner, keep to social-distancing requirements and catch a movie under the stars, while keeping cool in your car at a drive-in cinema. Head to Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown, Sydney, where you can catch something on the big screen every night of the week, whether it's a new blockbuster or cult classic. If you grew up in Brissy, you've probably already been to old fave Yatala Dive-In and, with such a great rotating program, who could blame you? If you'd rather do something different, though, head to The Tivoli Drive-In on a Saturday. Melbourne locals, you're spoiled for choice with Dandenong Lunar Drive-In and Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In and, come December, a pop-up Disney+ Drive-In. HOST A COCKTAIL PARTY IN A PARK Know a good patch of green near you? Then, take your next event to the park and impress your mates with an impromptu cocktail party — with a dress code encouraged, of course. Grab some picnic blankets, portable speakers and fun snacks, then get ready to whip up some next-level bevvies. For tropical tipples, you'll need a few bottles of Bacardi, then check out these four super-easy rum cocktails. We recommend batch-making some frozen strawberry daiquiris to keep things simple — just make sure your party guests know to arrive on time. And, because no good cocktail party is complete without snacks, head to a park with a barbecue so you can throw on some snags, too. [caption id="attachment_770817" align="alignnone" width="2000"] White Rabbit 'And Now' by Kimberley Low[/caption] STAY COOL AT A BLOCKBUSTER ART EXHIBITION While being outdoors when it's sunny is ace, sometimes you just want to kick back in air-conditioning. If that's the case, head to an indoor art exhibition where you can get your cultural kicks — and stay cool. Check out contemporary Chinese art at White Rabbit Gallery, the MCA's landmark summer exhibition Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop or head to Eveleigh arts and cultural institution Carriageworks. Or, step into Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), with Unfinished Business: The Art of Gordon Bennett currently showing, or see some Bauhaus designs at the Museum of Brisbane. But, perhaps the most exciting of all is Victoria's NGV Triennial, running from December 19 till April next year. Expect to see marine monsters, giant mirrored sculptures by Jeff Koons and a multi-sensory walkway at this massive exhibition. The capital currently has a groundbreaking exhibition showing at the NGA, too, profiling prominent Aussie women artists. GO CAMPING WITH THE CREW No matter where you are in Australia, there's always a spot waiting nearby for you to set up camp. Whether your crew wants to be close to sandy shores or in a remote pocket of wilderness under luminous stars, camping is an awesome way to escape the daily grind. Because we're big fans of reconnecting with nature here at Concrete Playground, we've already sought out some of the top camping spots around the country, too. New South Wales has a bunch of free campgrounds — you can find our pick of the bunch over here, from riverside spots to mountainous getaways. If you're more into the high life, Queensland has plenty of luxe glaming stays. Otherwise, pitch your own tent in Lamington National Park or right by the beach at one of these ten spots. If you're keen to check out regional Victoria, there's beach camping galore as well as plenty of top-notch free grounds not too far from Melbourne. As most of us won't be travelling far this summer (or at least not overseas), many campgrounds are already starting to book out, so be sure to do your research before hitting the road. [caption id="attachment_792466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mushroom Creative House[/caption] SEE A LIVE GIG If there's one thing Australia does well across the country, it's live music — even now amid a global pandemic. After months of catching live tunes from our living rooms, it's time to chair-dance at IRL gigs once again. Sydney's Enmore Theatre, Mary's Underground, The Vanguard and Oxford Art Factory all have stellar lineups over the next few months and the annual Sydney Festival never disappoints. If you're in Queensland, or can make it up to the Sunshine State over summer, there are a bunch of COVID-Safe festivals going ahead, including To The Point Festival, This That, The Tivoli's Open Season and Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. Although Melbourne is still waiting for live gigs to come back, punters can see a live comedy show at The Catfish in Fitzroy and be sure to keep an eye out for gig announcements likely to come to a heap of Melbourne live music venues. HIT THE HIGH SEAS There's nothing like diving into the ocean when the mercury is rising. But, rather than just splash about by the shore, there are plenty of other ways you can hit the highs seas instead. Think paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing Sydney seas, or swimming with turtles and scuba diving with manta rays, which are particularly grand on the Queensland coast. While you're there, you should check out the southern hemisphere's first underwater art museum, too. Melbourne may not be known for its beaches, but you can chase plenty of nearby waterfalls instead, or take a windsurfing lesson at St Kilda Beach. Do what moves you this summer with Bacardi. Once you've ticked off all the above adventures, check out Bacardi's competition, where you and 20 mates could win the chance to attend Australia's smallest music festival. Top image: Bec Taylor
Each year, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre becomes a culinary, boozy wonderland for three jam-packed days, aka the Good Food and Wine Show. An alley dedicated to cheese, wine almost as far as the eye can see, an array of food and beverage stalls serving up samples — and the 2025 run is fast approaching. In 2025, the event hits the city from Friday, October 24–Sunday, October 26. If you've been before, you'll be eager to head along again. If you've not been, it's the Ekka of food and wine, minus the rides, dodgems and goldfish. Each year's Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show notches up big numbers; this year, the show has gourmet products from over 300 producers on the cards. Big-name culinary stars Miguel Maestre, Dani Venn, Luke Nguyen, and Kristen Tibballs are making appearances with workshops and masterclasses. Food writer Jane de Graaff and content creator George Georgievski will be on an egg-themed cooking stage, sharing easy but egg-cellent recipes with the crowd. Or enter the guided tasting rooms, where four Aussie wines are paired with accompanying bites. Some activities cost extra; however, if you're just keen to wander and enjoy samples, don't worry — that's all included in the regular admission, plus a wine tasting class hosted by sommelier Shanteh Wale of Quay Restaurant. If you're devoted to gin or wine, though, consider the Gin Lover or Wine Lover tickets. They come with exclusive access to producers, exhibitors and freebies. A word from the wise: you'll be eating and drinking all day, but do make sure you have a light breakfast beforehand. For more information on the show, or to get your tickets, visit the website. Images: Joseph Byford / J Wyld / L Riley.
No one loves choosing between two of their favourite foods. Also, everyone likes pies. They're two of the truths behind Banjo's Bakery Cafe's range of culinary hybrids, and it has just come up with another: the spaghetti bolognese pie. After introducing Australian tastebuds to the lasagne pie and the double cheeseburger pie — plus Tasmanian scallop pies, bangers and mash pies, and chicken parmigiana pies, too — the Banjo's team has launched another Frankenstein's monster of a snack. Pastry is a feature, as usual. This time, though, it encases angel hair spaghetti and meaty bolognese sauce, and is then topped with melted cheese and parsley. Yes, they're exactly what they sound like. Yes, your tastebuds now want to devour them ASAP. Yes, being unable to think of anything else until you eat one of these creations is completely understandable. The aim: to satisfy your cravings when you just can't bring yourself to pick between a pie and some spag bog, obviously. If you're a little indecisive when it comes to choosing what to eat in general, you're probably already a big fan of food mashups that find ways to combine two popular dishes — so this is an easy must-try. The spaghetti bolognese pies have joined Banjo's signature range, alongside the aforementioned other creative varieties — but only for a limited time. They'll be available from the company's stores from today, Wednesday, June 8, as well as via online click-and-collect orders and delivery services. In NSW, you'll need to head north to Glendale to get your fix. In Victoria, stores are located in Mornington, Traralgon and Mildura. Queenslanders can pick from ten spots, including Darra, Cleveland, Park Ridge and Redcliffe, while pie-loving SA residents can hit up Glenelg — and there's 27 stores in Tasmania. Banjo's Bakery Cafe's spaghetti bolognese pie is on the menu at the chain's stores nationally from Wednesday, June 8. To find your nearest location, visit the company's website.
Australian beaches are pretty damn beautiful whichever way you look at them, but the scene on Tasmania's northwest coast at the moment pretty much takes the cake. Not content with just being the only place in Australia to catch a glimpse of Aurora Australis, Tassie has had another inexplicably luminescent natural phenomena appear — but this time, in the sea. An appearance of bioluminescent phytoplankton (otherwise known as sea sparkle, which is much more fun to say) have caused parts of the ocean to light up in an otherworldly bright blue on parts of the coast. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the sparkle was spotted near the town of Penguin over the weekend, while this shot was taken by Leanne Marshall a few beaches west at Rocky Cape. A post shared by Leanne Marshall (@leannemarshall) on Mar 13, 2017 at 12:35pm PDT Apparently the phytoplankton turn bright blue when threatened, so it's hard to say how long they'll stick around for. If you can't go algae-chasing on the Tassie coastline, here's some photos of the phenomena. A post shared by Brett Chatwin (@brett.chatwin) on Mar 12, 2017 at 9:50pm PDT A post shared by Sarah Kubank (@sarah_the_explorer_76) on Mar 13, 2017 at 6:34am PDT Via The Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Leanne Marshall via Instagram.
There shouldn't have been a dry eye in the house, or watching on from around the world, when Ke Huy Quan took to Hollywood's Dolby Theatre stage in March 2023 to collect the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. His performance in the multiverse-hipping hit, which was only his second stint in front of the camera in two decades, thoroughly earned the coveted accolade on its merits. Just as with the feature's fellow Academy Award-winning actors Michelle Yeoh (The Brothers Sun) and Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear), the sci-fi-, comedy-, fantasy-, drama- and martial arts-mashing film wouldn't have been the success it was without him. It's always moving to see a well-deserving talent get their time to shine. Quan's off-screen story was responsible for some of those tears, however. Thirty-nine years ago at the time, he was also all over the silver screen as a child actor in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Quan will always be the film's Short Round — and, in his next high-profile part afterwards, The Goonies' Data as well. After a handful of other roles, including TV's Head of the Class and 90s comedy Encino Man, he then stepped away from acting. Quan didn't farewell the screen industry, though. Off-camera, his credits include assistant fight choreography and stunt rigging on the first X-Men, action choreography assistant director on The One and first assistant director to iconic filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai on 2046. What's followed since Everything Everywhere All At Once wasn't something that he could've ever foreseen — as a teenager hitting it big, when he gave acting away and even when he was cast in the movie that changed his life. Neither was his upcoming part leading action movie Love Hurts. As Martin Gable, Quan steps into John Wick territory. He's also in Nobody terrain a touch, too. As seen in the feature's just-dropped trailer ahead of its February 2025 release, Love Hurts' protagonist is a real-estate agent who is devoted to his job, and has a Regional Realtor of the Year Award to show for it. He's also dedicated to helping people find their dream house. His slogan: "I want a home for you". His motto: "every day is an opportunity to change your life". But before this ordinary existence, Martin was in a completely different line of work as an assassin. [caption id="attachment_976823" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Nguyen, ©AMPAS[/caption] In a film that boasts another Oscar-winner on-screen in West Side Story's Ariana DeBose (Argylle), of course that history finds its way back into Marvin's present. If Love Hurts sounds like classic David Leitch territory, that's because the stunt performer-turned John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, Bullet Train and The Fall Guy helmer adds it to the producing side of his resume, where Nobody also sits, courtesy of his production and action design company 87North. Another former stunt professional makes his directorial debut with the movie, with Jonathan Eusebio also a fight coordinator on the first three John Wick flicks (and on plenty others, such as Iron Man 2, The Avengers, The Bourne Legacy, Doctor Strange, The Fate of the Furious, Black Panther and The Matrix Resurrections). Quan hasn't ever been a real-estate agent and obviously was never a hitman, let alone an ex-assassin turned realtor. Still, playing someone being drawn back into a line of work that they'd moved away from has clear synergy with his own path since 2021's Finding 'Ohana brought him back to the screen, then Everything Everywhere All At Once worked its magic, leading to TV's American Born Chinese and Loki season two, voice acting in Kung Fu Panda 4 and now this. We chatted to Quan about that synchronicity, doing something that he never imagined he'd get to in being number one the call sheet for an action film and his 'no compromise' approach to the feature's fight scenes — and about the last few years, capitalising upon and celebrating second chances, and becoming an inspiration to anyone who has ever thought their dream was out of reach. On Reflecting His Own Recent Experience by Making a Movie About Someone Drawn Back Into Their Old Line of Work "Oh, my god, what a great question. You made the connection that I didn't even make. The only difference is Marvin Gable is trying to get away from his past, and it hurts him so much that he can't — versus I want to get back to my past where I am an actor, and I'm very fortunate to be able to do so and have this incredible second chance. One of the things that I love about the character Marvin Gable is that he knows what he's done in the past, and he's very ashamed of it, and he's doing everything he can to redeem himself. And that's why he's a real-estate agent, because he has destroyed so many homes in the past and now all he wants to do is to help people's dream of owning a home come true. He wants to help build homes and not destroy them. And there is beauty in that, and there's that question: are we able to get away from the past that we don't like? That's what the movie is trying to answer." On Leading an Action Film — and Jumping Into John Wick Territory "I always loved the action genre. So John Wick and any action movies, I love, because they're just really fun to watch. And they're a great escape for you to forget about all your problems and just have a good time for 90 minutes. That's what we try to do with this movie. There's no agenda. There's nothing else that we're trying to do, just to entertain the audience for 90 minutes. One of the biggest differences with this movie is what David Leitch and our producers in 87North and Universal Studios try to do to create a new kind of action star. We have seen action movies for the longest time and they always have a certain type of action hero. This one is very different. He doesn't look like an action hero. He doesn't look bad-ass. But he's truly a bass-ass when the situation calls for it. And because of that element of surprise, I find that very refreshing, and I love it. [caption id="attachment_892688" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Everything Everywhere All At Once[/caption] Also, one of the things that I was adamant about when I came onboard was that I wanted to do everything myself. I'm not talking about stunts. Stunts is jumping off a building, getting hit by a car or being set on fire. That is a very specific skill. What I mean by doing everything myself with all the fights, all the punches that I threw myself, all the kicks — and I trained very hard for it with 87North's action team for this. And mentally and physically, it was exhausting. But it was also very gratifying, because I finally got to do it." [caption id="attachment_884620" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Everything Everywhere All At Once[/caption] On How Quan's Stunt and Action Choreography Background Helped Him with Love Hurts "Oh my gosh, it was so advantageous to have that experience and that knowledge. And I did it for a long time. But the only difference is I was behind the camera, and one of my responsibilities was to train actors to do that. For example, like on X-Men, I was helping Hugh Jackman to learn those moves. So to have that knowledge and to be able to utilise all of that in this movie was incredible. And it was a big, big help. I don't think I could have done this had I not worked as an action choreographer. The only difference is I haven't done it for a long time so it's really bringing my muscle memory back to forefront — and also getting myself mentally and physically prepared for it. It was a lot of fun to do." On the Preparation Process for Starring in an Action Movie — and Giving the Genre a Different Type of Hero "I trained for almost three months with our action team, and the training didn't stop when we started production. It carried on till the end of the movie. It was very intense. There was a lot of weights, a lot of core training, muscle training — and, most importantly, a lot of stretching. Because not only you don't want to hurt yourself, but also doing those kicks, you need to be flexible. So there was a lot of stretching involved as well. And I've got to tell you, when we were shooting making this movie, one of the most-difficult things was the time constraint. Actions take time. And ever since day one, I told everybody, I said 'please, there's no compromise. If we don't get it, please do not move on. It doesn't matter how many takes we do'. [caption id="attachment_976827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] American Born Chinese[/caption] Because this is an 87North movie and the audience who watches this movie expects a certain level of action. There was a certain demand from them, expectation from them. So I didn't want to disappoint them. And what that entailed is sometimes shooting 15 hours 16, 17 — I think one day we shot 18 hours. Now 18 hours shooting a dialogue scene is exhausting. But can you imagine what shooting a fight scene is like? And as the hours progress, your muscles get tired. Your mental capacity goes down. But when you do a fight, it takes tremendous focus. One, you have to remember the choreography. And second, you don't want to hurt the person you're fighting with and you certainly don't want to get hurt by them, so you have to remember the choreography. It was really demanding and at the same time, like I said, I didn't want us to compromise. In fact, our action team, at the end of the shoot they printed a shirt that says 'no compromise' and gave it to everybody." [caption id="attachment_976825" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Everything Everywhere All At Once[/caption] On What Quan Learned From Wong-Kar Wai That He Still Draws Upon Today "Nobody makes a movie the way Wong Kar-Wai makes them. He can spend an entire day finessing one shot. And what I learned from that is the dedication, the perseverance, the determination to achieve your goal, and I applied that to this movie. That's why I said 'let's not compromise it. If we don't get it, let's keep on doing it. If we don't have the time, then let's be creative. How can we find time and how can we make it work?'. And Wong Kar-Wai was part of that training that I had. It was seeing him go ' if it's no good, let's go again, and if there are problems, okay, then let's take a step back and let's find out what the problem is'. We applied that to the fight scenes that we did. There are five big action sequences in this movie. When it's just a fight scene, the audience gets tired of watching it very quickly. So what we try to do, what I learned from my experience on those action days was that you have to put a story behind those fights. All the characters, they fight a little bit differently, because that's who they are, that's their personality, that's their character — and we tried to apply that to this movie. And it was fun, but also at the same time it was very challenging to do it in the one movie for five scenes. You understand that the audience has a very sophisticated eye nowadays. They've seen everything already. So it's hard to throw them. I'm going to give you a great quote from Steven Spielberg. He says it's very hard to throw an audience with spectacle, but it's easy to do it if you give them a good story. And that's what we try to do with this, with the fight sequences in this movie." [caption id="attachment_851369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Everything Everywhere All At Once[/caption] On What the Last Couple of Years, From Everything Everywhere All At Once Onwards, Have Been Like for Quan "It's incredible. Like Marvin Gable the character, it's about redemption and about second chances. When you talk about second chances, I really resonate with that. I got this incredible second chance to be an actor again and everything that has happened since 2022, when Everything Everywhere came out, has just been incredible. And Love Hurts is another proof that I didn't think I would ever get — being the lead actor in a major motion studio film, being number one on the call sheet, I didn't think that would ever happen. And one of the things that I really enjoy and love that came out of all of this is so many people have come up to me and said 'wow Ke, I've also struggled and seeing what you're going through, what happened to you, leaves me a lot of hope. And it gives me a lot of strength to keep on fighting, to continue to struggle, because it can happen'. I keep saying to everybody 'if it can happen to me, it can certainly happen to anybody'. This incredible opportunity to be in Love Hurts, it's kind of my answer to all those questions that they are asking themselves: 'if I put in the work, if I'm patient enough, if I'm determined enough, will one day my future get better? Will one day my dream come true?'. It's a great feeling to have, to be able to do that." [caption id="attachment_921343" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Loki. Photo by Gareth Gatrell. © 2023 MARVEL.[/caption] On Becoming a Source of Inspiration Thanks to His Glorious Comeback "It's amazing, because I have been inspired by so many people, so many wonderful actors that I've enjoyed, so many filmmakers — and not only that, also people outside of our industry. When I watch the news and I see people do incredible charity, I'm very inspired by that. I never thought I would ever be in a position to inspire others, and to be able to do that is one of the greatest feelings I ever had. It just gives me this really warm feeling inside that, I don't know what to say. I know I've been saying a lot of the same things for the last years, where you hear me say it all the time — grateful or it's a great blessing and I'm lucky, and certainly those are true adjectives." [caption id="attachment_976824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phil McCarten, ©AMPAS[/caption] On Not Knowing What Was Set to Come When Quan Was Cast in Everything Everywhere All At Once "I didn't think in terms of how much it was going to change my life, and I certainly didn't expect the incredible response that we got, all those incredible accolades that the movie has received. I just thought it was a great script, and I thought the Daniels were incredible filmmakers, and I just wanted to be on that journey with them. So I didn't expect this, but I knew that I would be proud of the movie. Because when I saw Swiss Army Man and it was such an absurd premise, but they were able to move me to tears, keep me at the edge of my seat and have me totally immersed in the story — and I said 'oh my god, if they can do that with that, that's their promise, I cannot imagine what they could do with this incredible script'. And surely they did exactly that and more. And, of course, in the process they changed my life. I didn't expect them to change my life. I was just very grateful that they believed that I can act again after such a long hiatus." Love Hurts releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Melbourne's Moon Dog has gone and brought a whole new meaning to the words 'go big, or go home'. The brewing company has unveiled its hotly anticipated, mammoth new brewery in the suburb of Preston, dubbed Moon Dog World. And it's somewhere you'll want to put on your list for your next Melbourne visit. The team's made good on the grand plans it announced for the venue back in March. Clocking in at 12,000 square metres, the multi-warehouse site is supposedly longer than the MCG end-to-end, and has room for a huge 725 punters. The name hints at a theme park or adventure land and, between the jungle of greenery, the Tiki-style bar, the indoor waterfall and the illuminated rainforest lagoon flowing right through the centre, that's basically what awaits. Blue and white-striped deck chairs perched right by the water promise to be prime real estate in the coming months. Over to one side presides an elevated DJ booth and VIP terrace, while opposite, a two-level conglomeration of shipping containers has been transformed into a series of cosy rooms, hidden booths and open balconies. You'll even find a mini pinball arcade tucked away somewhere inside. A hefty central bar is pouring one heck of a beer list, decked out with no less than 72 taps — never has there been this many Moon Dog brews offered in one spot. True to form, it's a diverse collection, featuring label favourites including the Old Mate pale ale and Cake Hole black forest stout, alongside seasonal releases like the Cherry Seinfeld sour ale. A rotation of guest drops rounds out the beer offering, though there's also an all-Aussie wine lineup, classic tap cocktails and a few signature concoctions, for those after something different. [caption id="attachment_744578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The swordfish skewers.[/caption] It's a space for all occasions, with a food offering to match, featuring burgers, share plates and charcoal dishes. Grab a beer and settle in with some crispy chicken ribs doused in lime and chilli caramel, squid karaage served with lemon and kewpie mayo, or maybe the swordfish skewers finished with feta, almond dukkah and a capsicum mojo rojo. Burgers run from the likes of a crispy chicken number loaded with kewpie and barbecue sauce, to a vegan creation starring a sweet potato and kimchi patty. You can even grab a half or whole free-range chook, hot off the kitchen's charcoal rotisserie and served with gravy, chilli oil or spicy za'atar oil. Perfect Sunday session food. Add to all that the handful of sports screens and a sunny outdoor beer garden, and this is one boozy theme park you'll never want to leave. The venue was heaving on its opening weekend — and it looks set to be an interstate beer destination worth travelling for. Find Moon Dog World at 32-46 Chifley Drive, Preston, Melbourne. It's open from 11am daily. Images: Kate Shanasy.
All fascinating true-crime tales double as mysteries, exploring murky cases, following thorny leads, and asking questions that don't have easy or obvious answers. With ten-episode Australian podcast Blood Territory, listeners are in for all of the above, with the new Audible release not only delving into the death of 24-year-old Northern Territory man Jimmy O'Connell, but also chronicling his parents' fight to prove his convicted killer's innocence. Back in 2006, it was a murder that sparked many a headline, as you'd expect when a body is found mummified, mutilated and missing clothes in a dry creek bed in the Northern Territory — all, apparently, because of a fight over an esky. After O'Connell's best friend and fishing companion, 33-year-old Philip Mather, was tried and convicted for his death, the case sparked even more attention. Mather insists that his confession was coerced, and that he only plead guilty to avoid spending his whole life in jail. Astonishingly, O'Connell's mother and father believe him. An examination of a grisly murder that also ponders potential police corruption, as well as possible judicial prejudice against the NT's Indigenous peoples (Mather is himself an Indigenous Australian), Blood Territory isn't short on twists — or material for journalist Mark Whittaker to draw upon. Following the O'Connells' desperate quest for the truth, his podcast chats with family members, witnesses and professionals involved in the original case, sifts through new evidence, and dives deep into the legal complications surrounding Mather's conviction. It also proposes its own theory about Jimmy's death. "The Top End of Australia is notorious for hiding people, and secrets that don't want to be found — it's the perfect backdrop for such a cryptic story," explains Whittaker. "As the sequences of events and unusual characters are revealed, it becomes clear this is one of the strangest Aussie mysteries I've ever encountered." Blood Territory marks Audible's second Aussie true-crime podcast, after exploring the tale of a ghost-hunting Sydney security guard in Ghosthunter. Blood Territory is available now on Audible — for free until November 20 with an Audible account.
A few years back at Southside in South Brisbane, diners were treated to a dream collaboration: chefs Benny Lam and Brendan Fong joining forces. On Sunday, April 27, 2025 over at Central in the Brisbane CBD, the pair — the former being the underground eatery's Executive Chef, the latter a Brisbane-born kitchen talent — are teaming up again. Here's how to close out your long weekend: with a two-hour lunch sitting feasting on dishes whipped up by these two friends. Lam and Fong have a particular focus at event that's been dubbed B2B: A Franco-Canto Culinary Affair, drawing upon their backgrounds training in classical French dishes and Cantonese cuisine. For $144 per person, you'll tuck into four courses plus dessert. For an extra $88 each, you'll get wines to match as well. On the menu: rock oysters, raw scallops, razor clams, and smoked foie gras with salted duck eggs among the starters; pork and pistachio siu mai, lobster and prawn har gow with caviar, and prawn toast as dim sum picks; Moreton Bay bug thermidor with house XO sauce for a small bite; and smoked duck à l'orange, stir-fried red emperor fillet and chicken fat rice pilaf as larger dishes. And for dessert? Jasmine tea crème brûlée.
Roll up, roll up, the big top is here — but when you step into Infamous' spiegeltent, you're not stepping into an ordinary circus. A blend of acrobatics, clowning, dancing, comedy, cabaret and burlesque, this is strictly an adults-only affair. Think performers getting a little risqué, acrobats with ripped abs and displays of raunchy dancing, as well as death-defying acts with a devilish dash and plenty of cheeky laughs. Yes, this is a show that comes with a word of warning, so prepare for a two-hour stint of naughtiness that ramps up the indulgence and the hedonism — and the sauciness as well. After packing out previous seasons throughout southeast Queensland, Infamous hits Rocklea between Thursday, April 8 and Sunday, May 30. You'll find its big top at the Showgrounds, with performances running from Thursday to Sunday during its almost two-month stay — and with tickets ranging from $52.30 all the way up to $247.35 for the best seats in the house.
Calvin Seibert just took a ten-day holiday in Hawaii. The good news for us is that we now have a fresh selection of jaw-droppingly amazing sand sculptures to marvel over (we last marvelled here). The New York-based artist is gaining a bit of a following thanks to his striking geometric designs, and the staggering level of patience it takes to construct them. Sometimes his creations resemble castles, but more often they cross over into a more imaginative realm and we see strangely shaped mountains, mysterious walled cities and futuristic landscapes. "Building 'sandcastles' is a bit of a test," says Seibert. "Nature will always be against you and time is always running out ... I rarely start with a plan, just a vague notion of trying to do something different each time. "When they are successful they don't feel contained or finished. They become organic machines that might grow and expand. I am always adding just one more bit and if time allowed I wouldn't stop." Like what you see? You can follow Seibert's work at his Flickr account.
In this or any other galaxy far, far away, now and a long time ago alike, this is a first: an exhibition displaying the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, and ranking as the biggest touring Lego showcase ever. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition was initially announced in 2024, and now unveils the scenes crafted from its eight-million-plus plastic bricks at Melbourne Museum on the best day for it: May the fourth. The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, in this world-premiering exhibition featuring Lego models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. Locations, characters, duels: they're all included, such as the Millennium Falcon, Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards, a stormtrooper helmet, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader facing off, and the Mandalorian and Moff Gideon doing the same. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition hails from Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of the smash-hit franchise that's been soaring across screens big and small — and beyond — for almost five decades now. To build, the showcase took more than 25,000 hours at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. As it constructs an immersive experience and follows in the footsteps of the Jurassic World series, which has also received the Lego treatment from Brickman, Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition has plenty of material to draw upon. On-screen, so far it spans the initial film trilogy that released from 1977–83, then the prequels from 1999–2005, then the sequels — including The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker — from 2015–2019. Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew: the list goes on across cinemas and TV, including the wealth of animated efforts in the saga. This is not just the first Lego showcase dedicated to Star Wars, but the only Lego showcase devoted to it. Another drawcard: being able to build your own Lego brick lightsaber, then giving it a swing in augmented reality. If you're keen to check it out and you don't live in Melbourne, you'll need to head to the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. Alongside the hosting the world-premiere season, which runs until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. "Building the Star Wars galaxy from Lego bricks has been a dream project, and I couldn't be prouder of what we've created. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition takes some of the most-iconic moments from the beloved saga and reimagines them at a scale that's never been done before. The detail, the size and the sheer number of bricks used to make this exhibition is something truly special. Whether you're a lifelong Star Wars fan or just love to build, it's an experience that everyone can enjoy," said McNaught. "This world-first exhibition unites two of the most-iconic and -imaginative forces in global culture ‚ right here in Melbourne. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition boldly blends creativity, storytelling and interactivity into an adventure for curious minds of all ages," added Museums Victoria Chief Executive Officer and Director Lynley Crosswell. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition runs from Sunday, May 4, 2025–Monday, January 26, 2026 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the exhibition's website for tickets and more details. Exhibition images: Eugene Hyland, Museums Victoria / The Brickman.
After boasting Australia's only run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, then playing host to a natural history exhibition based on the Fantastic Beasts films, Victoria is set to enchant wannabe wizards and witches again — and muggles, too — with a new Harry Potter-themed experience in 2024. This time, you'll be walking around an illuminated woodland filled with nods to the Wizarding World, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience finally heading Down Under. Accio joy, clearly. Think: Lightscape, which is returning to Melbourne in 2024, but all about the world that's sprung up around the Boy Who Lived on the page, screen and stage. So, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience taking over The Briars, Mount Martha from Saturday, April 6, 2024, attendees will enjoy a nighttime stroll around a 230-hectare property an hour out of Melbourne. Entering the Forbidden Forest is clearly the big attraction, as lit up with dazzling lights, all while also spying creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. A hippogriff will feature, as will nifflers and unicorns, plus the chance to pose for a photo mid-wand duel — and to summon up a patronus spell as well. Accordingly, you won't just be surrounded by all things Wizarding World after dark in a forest; you'll be joining in like every aspiring Hogwarts student has always wanted to. Sounds and special effects will also help bring the experience to life, as aided by award-winning behind-the-scenes folks. Expect to spend around 90 minutes being immersed in the all-ages event — plus however long you need at the onsite shop afterwards buying merchandise. That's part of the village at the end of the trail, where you'll also be able to grab a bite and something to drink. Wands crossed for butterbeer, obviously. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience comes to Australia after seasons in the UK, Europe and the US, and a current stint in Singapore, with Warner Bros behind it just like the films and upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Also helping conjure up the fun is events platform Fever, adding to a recent Australian slate spanning Banksy and NBA exhibitions, plus the Unko Museum: The Kawaii Poop Experience. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience will take over The Briars, Mount Martha, from Saturday, April 6, 2024, with tickets on sale from 9am AEDT on Wednesday, December 202, 2023 and the waitlist open now. Head to the event's website for further details.
For over 50 years, Artisan has backed the makers and lovers of contemporary craft and design. The not-for-profit organisation runs exhibitions, events and workshops for the Australian art community as well as the bricks-and-mortar Artisan store on King Street. In-store you'll find colourful and far-out hand-crafted jewellery, homewares and accessories that are the works of Australian designers and creatives with new artisanal products added regularly. Community-run events like book clubs, sculpting classes and market days are held there regularly for like-minded individuals to meet and get inspired.
Lego Camera is a 3-Megapixel camera made entirely out of its namesake. It is a new go-to gadget for any shelf that’s looking a little bare and any hands that are feeling a little bored because, being Lego, you can add extra pieces to build a totally customised camera. Fortunately, it can't be pulled apart, which means you won’t find yourself scrambling on all fours looking for that missing piece. The camera, available online at Urban Outfitters, has pretty simple features: fixed focus, digital zoom, in-built flash and a 1.5 inch colour-screen with memory to store 8 shots. This may be marketed to the younger generation, but for those who never outgrew their childhood Lego fixation to operate this is certainly a fun option. [Via Desktop Mag]
Search for Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Jungle Book, Mulan and Cinderella on Disney+ and you don't just get one option. Thanks to the Mouse House's devotion to remaking its animated hits in live-action, viewers can watch versions brought to life with actors, too. Come April, search for Peter Pan and the same will apply, courtesy of the Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore)-starring Peter Pan & Wendy. The first of Disney's do-overs for 2023, arriving before The Little Mermaid, this one is heading straight to streaming. There, it'll join Lady and the Tramp and Pinocchio, too, with both also bypassed cinemas. And, this take on JM Barrie's classic hails from a filmmaker with experience bringing animated fare to live with flesh and blood, with David Lowery also behind the gorgeous Pete's Dragon. Based on the just-dropped trailer, Peter Pan & Wendy's storyline goes heavy on the latter, as she meets that other titular figure, tiny fairy Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys. With her brothers, she's spirited off to Neverland, where Captain Hook awaits — listing off her full name like she's in trouble, in fact. Cast-wise, Ever Anderson — daughter of actor Milla Jovovich and filmmaker Paul WS Anderson, and also seen in the pair's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter — plays Wendy, while Alexander Molony (The Reluctant Landlord) gets flying as Peter. They're joined by Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish) as Tinker Bell, Joshua Pickering (A Discovery of Witches) and Jacobi Jupe (Cupid) as John and Michael Darling, and everyone from Molly Parker (Pieces of a Woman) and Alan Tudyk (Strange World) to Jim Gaffigan (Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania). With Lowery coming to Peter Pan & Wendy fresh from The Green Knight, the first trailer for the former shares the latter's love of lush greenery — and memorable villains. Indeed, don't go expecting a dashing, debonair version of Law as Captain Hook. Lowery's version of Peter Pan aims to take cues from both the novel and Disney's animated adaptation. "We wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart, and a grand yearning for adventure. Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen; I'm excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride, and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective," the filmmaker said. Check out the Peter Pan & Wendy trailer below: Peter Pan & Wendy will be available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, April 28.
Curating the perfect wine list is an oft-underrated skill. How do you balance pleasing the crowd while also pushing the envelope? Creating something far-reaching while still carving out an identity? Well, a group of Australian venues have been recognised at the international Star Wine List of the Year awards for 2023 for doing just that, with a Sydney bar taking out the top prize in one of the categories. The Star Wine List of the Year International Final took place in Stockholm in June, with Redfern's La Salut becoming the first-ever Australian venue to ever claim gold in one of its fields. The Cleveland Street haunt that specialises in Spanish and Catalonian wines, with an onus on minimal-intervention drops, was nominated for two different awards: Best Medium-Sized Wine List and the Special Jury Prize. While London's Michelin-starred Trivet took out the top mid-sized list gong for venues offering 200–600 wines, La Salut was crowned the champion in the Special Jury Prize. [caption id="attachment_860300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] La Salut, Dexter Kim[/caption] This award recognises "a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value". La Salut beat out finalists from across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia to claim the prize, being praised for the exemplary spotlight it places on Spain's best vino and the storytelling it achieves through its curation. "It often feels like Spanish wine is largely ignored by wine-focused venues in Australia, which is a huge shame considering that Spain is currently producing some of the most exhilarating wine in the world," says La Salut co-owner Matt Swieboda. "I suppose our philosophy might be different to others in that we want to really push guests to try wine styles that they may never have had the opportunity to have tried." [caption id="attachment_658147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Embla[/caption] Elsewhere, other Australian spots received nominations but didn't claim gold. Melbourne's Embla was nominated for the Best Short List for bars with under 200 wines, Bentley Restaurant & Wine Bar was nominated in the Grand Prix for bars with over 600 wines, and Perth's Rockpool Bar & Grill received nominations for both the best wine list with Austrian wines and Best Sparkling Wine List. A couple of regional favourites also picked up nominations, with Margaret River's Setter's Tavern recognised in the sustainability-focused category and Mornington Peninsula's Ten Minutes by Tractor earning some love in the Best By the Glass List category. You can start making plans for a few wine-fuelled nights around Australia — and abroad ‚ by browsing the full list of nominees and winners. [caption id="attachment_637744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bentley Restaurant + Bar[/caption] For more information about the Star Wine List of the Year, head to the awards' website. Top image: Nikki To.
Take advantage of the Labour Day holiday and get out of town. Dance the night away and recover in style at Establishment Hotel, indulge in award-winning food at Lake House or sample the best wine the Margaret River has to offer at Empire Retreat and Spa. Whether you go bush at Arkaba Station, swim with the manta rays at Pinctada Cable Beach or pamper yourself at Lyall Hotel and Spa, it will be a weekend well spent. Establishment Hotel, Sydney The building that holds the decadent Establishment Hotel is an all-in-one affair, with a two-hatted restaurant, nightclub, speakeasy and exclusive cocktail bar at your fingertips. For the ultimate opulent experience, book the top-floor Loft Penthouse or huge two-level Duplex Penthouse. Either way, you’ll want a room on the higher levels; the all-inclusive set-up means noise from the revellers downstairs is unavoidable. Head to .est on level one for a fine dining experience like no other, and continue the party with drinks at Hemmesphere, the luxurious cocktail lounge on level four. When the music calls, venture downstairs to Establishment Main Bar to dance until the early hours. Step outside the door to be in the heart of the city — the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are literally a hop, skip and a jump away. Smith Extra: VIP access to Establishment’s lounge bar Hemmesphere, nightclub Ivy and Pool Club, and a bottle of sparkling wine. QT Port Douglas, Qld Soak up the spring sun at QT Port Douglas, the tropical getaway tucked away from the bustle of the main town. Lounge by the lagoon-shaped pool with a good book; the island deck will ensure you’re the centre of attention. Use the free guest bikes to explore the town or take the path down to Four Mile Beach for a leisurely ocean swim. Recover with a luxurious treatment at spaQ before spying on the shenanigans by the pool’s swim-up bar from the balcony of your One-Bedroom Pool View Villa. In winter and spring, QT also hosts Moonlight Cinema — enjoy a delicious snack while watching a classic or latest release on a state-of-the-art outdoor screen. Indulge with a meal at Bazaar, the resort’s main restaurant. The glass fridges hold fabulous produce that the chefs cook to order. Start with salad and seafood, before moving onto dishes from around the world (just make sure to leave room for dessert). Smith Extra: A bottle of bubbly plus late check-out (12 noon). Arkaba Station and Walk, Flinders Ranges Find your inner farmer at Arkaba Station and Walk, a 60,000-acre homestead and sheep station. Nature is king here; watch for kangaroos and emus or listen for the pink-hued galahs flocking the trees around the property. The exclusive homestead has five rooms, meaning you can bring friends along for an adventure. Each room brings a little of the outdoors inside, with cowhide rugs and wool-sack-wrapped bedside tables. Escape the spring heat with a dip in the outdoor pool, admiring the view of Arkaba Creek, hills and bush. The more adventurous can book a three-night guided walk, sleeping in comfy campsite swag beds for two nights before a night at the station. Eat food made over the fire, have an alfresco bush shower and fall asleep with a sheepskin hot-water bottle keeping you warm. Smith Extra: An assortment of Australian bush spices. Pinctada Cable Beach, Broome Perched between one of Australia’s most iconic beaches and the vast Kimberley, Pinctada Cable Beach delivers both beachside relaxation and rugged desert adventures. Rooms reference the town’s Asian heritage: the Honjin (meaning ‘most honoured guest’ in Japanese) Courtyard Suites share a serene courtyard and a plunge pool between four. Ocean adventurers can go swimming with manta rays on Cable Beach or take a camel ride along the white sand. Meanwhile, guests in search of rejuvenation can be pampered with an Aboriginal-influenced treatment at Pinctada Spa, which champions Li’Tya products and local plants and spices. Finish the day at Selene Brassiere, where the menu blends North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours with a taste of the Kimberley. Pair your meal with an excellent selection of Australian wines. Smith Extra: A bottle of wine and canapes. Lake House, Daylesford The runner-up for Best Hotel Restaurant in the Smith Hotel Awards 2013, Lake House boasts an award-winning restaurant, rural lodge and a state-of-the-art spa just outside the rustic town of Daylesford. Indulge in a signature Salus Bliss treatment at the Salus Spa, or unwind in the hot mineral-water tubs looking over the lake. For a private experience, try the Spa Villa, which boasts a courtyard with a sunken hot tub and direct access to the lake. Sample the local produce at chef Alla Wolf-Tasker’s destination restaurant — almost everything on the menu is grown in the kitchen garden or in the region. Alla’s husband Allan is responsible for the paintings that adorn the interiors, adding a splash of exuberance to an otherwise tranquil space. Smith Extra: Elemis spa products presented in a satin travel pouch. Lyall Hotel and Spa, Melbourne For a stylish mini-break with designer shopping on your doorstep, look no further than Lyall Hotel and Spa. The spacious one-bedroom suites are a sleek affair, resembling deluxe city apartments. For extra room, try the Platinum Suite — it comes with a living room, ensuite bathroom, double spa bath and full kitchen. You’ll find the space filling up after an afternoon in the boutiques of South Yarra; the credit card — and your legs — will be given a proper workout. Comfort your weary pins with a signature treatment at the hotel’s destination day spa, a three-storey space perfumed with mandarin and ylang-ylang. Unwind in one of two steam rooms or just relax in the indoor-outdoor area. Wear your latest purchase to the sexy Lyall Champagne Bar, an intimate space with a soundtrack of easy listening tunes. Choose between an apple crumble martini and a selection of champagne by the glass. Smith Extra: A bottle of Chandon NV on arrival. Empire Retreat and Spa, Margaret River While the weekend away at the slick Empire Retreat and Spa, smack-bang in the centre of Margaret River wine country. Tour the onsite vineyard and sample the estate’s chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, the region’s dominant varieties. Sip a glass in front of the open fireplace in a Luxury Villa or have a shower in your private courtyard. There’s no pool, but a secluded Jacuzzi should satisfy your watery whims. Achieve full relaxation with a treatment at Empire Spa — the three-hour Opulence session lives up to its name with an exfoliation, wrap, massage, bath and facial. There’s no restaurant, but the communal kitchen in the heart of the property is open to guests, meaning you can whip up a meal to match your wine. You can find excellent examples of the local offerings at Moss Wood, Cullen Wines and Leeuwin Estate. Smith Extra: A bottle of Empire Estate wine and a cheese plate. Saffire, Tas Just minutes from the azure water and white sand of Wineglass Bay, Saffire goes back to nature with a blend of stone and timber, beach views and locally sourced food and wine. For the ultimate in private comfort, book one of four Private Pavilions — they each have their own courtyard plunge pool, spacious living and bedroom areas, a front deck and a kitchen where a hotel chef can rustle something up for you. Room rates also include a treatment at Spa Saffire, so you’d be silly not to visit. The facials in the Jewel Collection are particularly special — all of the therapists have been trained by celebrity facialist Marionne De Candia. Other free activities include exploring the secret life of oysters at Freycinet Marine Farm, learning about the local produce with the hotel’s award-winning chef or quad biking around the wetlands. Smith Extra: A bottle of champagne. The Australasian Circa 1858, Fleurieu Peninsula With the facade of a heritage pub and graced with light, Asian-inspired interiors, The Australasian Circa 1858 offers the weariest of weekenders an intimate and stylish retreat from reality. The Parlour Room whispers extravagance with a huge tub in a step-up area of the bedroom, perfect for a spot of reading and relaxing. This adults-only sanctuary specialises in fine dining, with co-owner and head chef Juliet Mitchell preparing meals with an Asian theme. The restaurant is only open to guests (except Saturday night), but for extra privacy, dine in your room. The hotel is only open from Wednesday to Sunday each week, but its location makes it a perfect stopover before continuing onto Kangaroo Island — only a 45-minute ferry ride away. Smith Extra: A tasting selection of ales from the Steam Exchange Brewery at Goolwa Wharf Kingsford Homestead, Barossa Valley, SA Put your station-owner hat on at Kingsford Homestead, an historic estate with an impressive cellar in the Barossa Valley. The rooms are named after the former owners of the property — the Kerry Packer suite catches the afternoon sunshine and has a gorgeous claw-foot bath tub, and the Stephen King suite (named after the founder, not the famous author) is perfect for families as it connects to the John Angas Suite. There’s no pool, but the alfresco bush bath, located in a secluded corner of the grounds, is big enough for two. Follow up with an in-room massage or facial — but be sure to book in advance. Local produce dominates the menu here; chef Stuart Oldfield has developed strong relationships with local farmers. The menu changes by the season, but the wine will always be Barossa. Enjoy drinks and canapes on the veranda while watching the resident kangaroos have their dinner. Smith Extra: A picnic hamper. Browse other long weekend stays, or contact Smith’s expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627.
When Walt Disney Animation Studios had Dwayne Johnson sing a ridiculously catchy tune that was penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2016's Moana, it gave itself the perfect response to all the love thrown the film's way. Adore the movie? You're welcome. Can't stop crooning its songs? You're also welcome. Excited about the just-confirmed sequel that'll hit cinemas in November 2024? What can the Mouse House say except... yes, "you're welcome" again. Disney has announced that Moana 2 is on its way to the big screen before the year is out, on November 27 in the US. Down Under, films usually release on Thursdays, which would make it November 28; however, the exact local date is yet to be revealed. It'll be another animated musical, and both Moana and Maui will return — and there's also a first-look announcement video. [caption id="attachment_940041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moana[/caption] Story-wise, the feature will see its namesake take to the seas of Oceania to answer the call from her ancestors, which is where new characters will come in. Who they'll be and who'll be voicing them hasn't yet been revealed. Neither has whether Johnson (Fast X) will be back as Maui and Auli'i Cravalho (Mean Girls) as Moana. In the director's chair: Dave Derrick Jr, who was a storyboard artist on the original Moana. And on music duties this time are singer-songwriter Abigail Barlow, composer Emily Bear (Dog Gone), Opetaia Foa'i (returning from the first film) and Mark Mancina (also back from the initial movie). Whether Miranda is involved again also hasn't been mentioned. [caption id="attachment_940042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moana 2[/caption] "This was originally developed as a series, but we were impressed with what we saw and we knew it deserved a theatrical release," said Disney CEO Bob Iger, announcing the sequel in the company's first-quarter earnings call for 2024. "The original Moana film from 2016 recently crossed one-billion hours streamed on Disney+ and was the most streamed movie of 2023 on any platform in the U.S." Moana 2 is one of two new Moana movies in the works, with a live-action adaptation of the first Moana also on the way — and with Johnson starring. "Along with the live-action version of the original film that's currently in development, Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise," continued Iger. Check out the announcement video for Moana 2 below: Moana 2 will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas in November 2024 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Read our interview with Jemaine Clement about Moana.
What music goes best with turning eight-million Lego bricks into the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The end result: Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition, which is a world-first showcase of Lego models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. It'll arrive in Australia in 2025, making its global premiere — and it sparks another question for attendees: which tracks will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is. Exactly where all of those millions of Lego bricks will display hasn't been revealed as yet, and neither have exact exhibition dates, but you can start getting as excited as a Skywalker learning how to first use a lightsaber. The full list of models that'll feature also hasn't been unveiled so far, but battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader will be on display, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're in Melbourne and Sydney, you can also get a sneak peek right now — with the first two at Westfield Doncaster from Wednesday, May 1–Monday, May 6, and the third at Sydney Arcade's huge Lego store (the world's largest, in fact) for the month of May. As it constructs an immersive experience and follows in the footsteps of the Jurassic World franchise, which has also scored the Lego treatment from Brickman, Star Wars: The Exhibition has plenty of material to draw upon. On-screen, the series spans the initial film trilogy that released from 1977–83, then the prequels from 1999–2005, then the sequels — including The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker — from 2015–2019. Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka: the list goes on across the big and small screens. There's also TV's The Acolyte, which arrives in June 2024, plus the wealth of animated efforts in the saga. "Building real people and characters is one of the hardest things you can possibly make out of Lego bricks. Each model not only has to represent who it is in incredible detail, but also needs to capture the moment, the emotion, the struggle, the tension," said McNaught about Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. "Translating those epic scenes, iconic characters and spacecraft from Star Wars into little bricks is really hard and that's why they are rarely done, and even more so on this scale. Nobody has ever recreated these fight scenes at this scale out of Lego before — and I'm excited to be able to help premiere this in Australia for the first time in 2025." Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition will hit Australia in 2025, with when and where still to be revealed — we'll let you know more when it is announced. Head to the exhibition's website to sign up for updates in the interim.
For viewers, much that occurs in Such Brave Girls inspires two words: "here's hoping". Here's hoping that no one IRL has ever been contractually obliged to slip their hand down the pants of the boyfriend that they despise twice a week and on special occasions, for instance. Here's hoping that no one has ever sat in a doctor's office caked in green wicked witch makeup waiting for an appointment about deeply intimate matters, either. The emotions that both situations capture in this brilliant new three-time BAFTA-nominated British sitcom— one digging into the feeling of being stuck on a path that's anything but your dream and dispiritedly going with it, the other surveying life's uncanny ability to put everyone in circumstances so absurd that they seem surreal — are that raw and resonant, however, that watching resembles looking in a mirror no matter your own experiences. If Such Brave Girls seems close to reality, that's because it is. In the A24 co-produced series — which joins the cult-favourite entertainment company's TV slate alongside other standouts such as Beef, Irma Vep, Mo and The Curse over the past two years, and streams via Stan in Australia — sisters Kat Sadler and Lizzie Davidson star as well as take cues from their lives and personalities. This isn't a play-by-play retelling, though. It doesn't claim to bring anyone faithfully and exactly to the screen. But it understands the truth of dealing with trauma, and its fallout and damage, making that plain vividly and with unflinching commitment. "Death, silence, hate" is this duo's personal spin on "live, laugh, love", they jest in a joking-but-not-joking way in-character; Such Brave Girls gets everyone giggling at the idea, but also backs it up. Making their TV acting debuts together — Sadler has previously written for Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Joe Lycett's Got Your Back and more — Sadler and Davidson also play siblings. Josie and Billie, their respective on-screen surrogates, are navigating life's lows not only when the show's six-episode first season begins, but as it goes on. The entire setup was sparked by a phone conversation between the duo IRL, when one had attempted to take her life twice and the other was £20,000 in debt. While for most, a sitcom wouldn't come next, laughing at and lampooning themselves, plus seeing the absurdity, is part of Such Brave Girls' cathartic purpose for its driving forces. If you've ever thought "what else can you do?" when finding yourself inexplicably chuckling at your own misfortune, that's this series — this sharp, unsparing, candid, complex and darkly comedic series — from start to finish. As well as creating the show and penning it, Sadler leads it as Josie, a bundle of nerves and uncertainty that's always earning Billie and their mother Deb's (Louise Brealey, Lockwood & Co) brutal honesty rather than sympathetic support. She's in her twenties, struggling with her mental health and aspiring to be an artist — but, above any firm sense of a career or a dream, she's largely working through a never-ending gap year as she tries to get through day after day. She receives a paycheque from a bookstore job that she abhors, usually while catching her colleagues off guard with her anecdotes. After hours, Josie's doting boyfriend Seb (Freddie Meredith, A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou) awaits — hovers at her side, pleads for sex and moves in without anyone telling her, to be precise — but she's certain that she's queer and only passionate about bartender Sid (Jude Mack, I Hate Suzie). Davidson's Billie is the eternally optimistic opposite of her sister — albeit really only about the fact that Nicky (Sam Buchanan, Back to Black), the guy that she's hooking up with, will stop cheating on her, fall in love and whisk her away to Manchester to open a vodka bar bearing her name. There's nothing that she won't do to make that happen, whether it means bleaching her hair to look identical to her competition (Carla Woodcock, Tell Me Everything) or agreeing to be Nicky's cover when he's busted at a nightclub for drugs. The other thing that Billie has an unwavering belief in, to a delusional degree: that their dad, who went out for teabags a decade ago and never came home, has just gotten lost at the shops because it rearranges its aisles all the time. Both girls live with the exasperated Deb, who also sees a relationship as the solution to her problems, setting her sights on the iPad-addicted Dev (Paul Bazely, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves). She's saddled with debt thanks to Josie and Billie's father going AWOL, and has picked her latest paramour as a path to financial stability thanks to his sprawling house alone. So, when she's not sternly advising her daughters to settle for what's easiest — "I know it's hard, but as you get older, you learn to love with less of your heart — less and less until eventually there's nothing left anymore" is one such piece of guidance; "work isn't about fulfilment, it's just so you can buy stuff to make you feel fulfilled" is another — she's telling them not to do anything to jeopardise what she considers the best chance they've all got as a family for a solvent future. With actor-slash-director Simon Bird behind the lens — alongside first-timer Marco Alessi on one episode — if Such Brave Girls seems like it belongs in the same acerbically comedic realm as The Inbetweeners and Everyone Else Burns, there's clearly a reason for that, too. That said, in its mix of humour and bleakness, alongside its dedication to diving headfirst into the messy existences of its three key female characters, it's also in Fleabag's wheelhouse. Nothing is too grim to find guffaws in, though, whether it's depression, existential malaise, suicide, termination, abandonment, daddy issues, death, grief, narcissism, infidelity or realising how much about life is simply learning to stomach disappointment. Call it searing, call it ruthless, call it insightful, call it hilarious: each one applies. Here's another "here's hoping" for Such Brave Girls' audience to put out into the world: here's hoping that there's more to come. Actually, here's yet one more: here's hoping that this is the start of big on-screen comedy careers for the show's sisters, who bring such a layered rapport to Josie and Billie that viewers who don't know that they're genuinely related will guess quickly, and who deliver masterclasses in comic timing again and again in the process. Brealey, who has Sherlock, A Discovery of Witches and Back also to her name, might appear to have a hard task, then, playing a convincing mum to real-life siblings. But Such Brave Girls doesn't just feel blisteringly authentic, even at its most ridiculous, whenever Sadler and Davidson are in the spotlight; it's that unvarnished with everyone. Check out the trailer for Such Brave Girls below: Such Brave Girls streams via Stan.
When the pandemic started impacting events in 2020, Dark Mofo was one of the first to scrap its plans for the year. So, when festival organisers said that they'd be forging ahead in 2021, it was welcome news for fans of its weird, wonderful, distinctive and attention-grabbing programs. There's a difference between pushing boundaries and completely misjudging them, though, as the Tasmanian fest has discovered in the past few days. Accordingly, after revealing its first artwork for the 2021 festival, Dark Mofo has now announced that the piece will no longer go ahead. The backlash to the event's first program reveal for this year hasn't been surprising. In a piece called Union Flag, Spanish artist Santiago Sierra was planning to immerse a British flag in the blood of First Nations peoples from territories colonised by the British Empire. Yes, that sounds ill-thought-out, as well as immensely tone deaf and traumatic — as did the accompanying request for First Nations peoples to donate their blood for the artwork. Dark Mofo announced its plans for Union Flag on Saturday, March 20, and received calls for it to be cancelled the same day. Again, that should surprise absolutely no one. Nor should the fact that those calls have only grown since the weekend — as you'd expect given that the project asks First Nations peoples to literally spill their blood, and for a piece of art that purports to comment on a painful colonial history of being forced to do just that. Today, Tuesday, March 23, Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael has announced that Union Flag has been scrapped, and also issued an apology. "We've heard the community's response to Santiago Sierra's Union Flag. In the end the hurt that will be caused by proceeding isn't worth it," Carmichael said. "We made a mistake, and take full responsibility. The project will be cancelled. We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dark Mofo (@dark_mofo) The news comes just a day after Carmichael issued a statement supporting the piece. Yesterday, on Monday, March 22, Carmichael said that Dark Mofo had "been overwhelmed with responses to Santiago Sierra's Union Flag by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from around the world, but that "self-expression is a fundamental human right, and we support artists to make and present work regardless of their nationality or cultural background." Dark Mofo will announce its 2021 program — without Union Flag — in April. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 16–Tuesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For further details, head to the festival's website. Top image: Lusy Productions.
For a country that's girt by sea, as our anthem reminds us, Australia has become rather obsessed with waves of the man-made kind of late. The Sunshine Coast was supposed to be getting a wave pool that hasn't yet come to fruition, work on URBNSURF's 2.1-hectare space near the Melbourne airport has already begun — targeting an April 2019 opening — and a 3.2-hectare Sydney spot was approved late last year. Indeed, 'who needs real beaches?' seems to be the current line of thinking. If a regional Queensland surf park that's set to become operational this year proves a success, we could all living out at Point Break dreams at more places — called Surf Lakes, it's actually a prototype facility designed to give a new kind of technology a whirl. Located near Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast, the park is built around a central mechanism that sends waves from the middle of the 200-metre by 150-metre lake towards the edge. With the water lapping over eight distinctive breaks, it'll produce 2400 surfable waves per hour. [caption id="attachment_676066" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Surf Lakes[/caption] Surf Lakes also has some high-profile support, with Aussie surfers Mark Occhilupo and Barton Lynch the park's two ambassadors. More than just lending his encouragement to the project, Occy is lending a hand on an attraction called Occy's Peak, The Morning Bulletin reports. It's a barrelling break that'll range up to 2.4 metres high — the park record — and span across 60 metres. The full-scale demo site is currently to slated to be up-and-running around August, according to Stab Magazine; however don't go booking a trip to central Queensland just yet. At present, it'll be run as a test facility for media and folks who might be interested in licensing the idea for other parks, although there are plans to open to the public at a later date.
Those at the G20 last weekend may have been some of the most powerful people in the world, but they're also just humans. Like us, they all need food. While here in Brisbane the world leaders, their spouses, delegates and international media got busy dining and drinking out and about in the city. But where did they go? Don't worry, we've done the research. If you didn’t get to catch a glance of the Obamacade rushing through, take the chance to dine in their foodsteps at some of Brisbane’s finest establishments. GOMA Restaurant GOMA Restaurant can thank its lucky stars for the chance to host all the G20 world leaders last week for a cocktail reception and leaders' dinner, chaired by our Finance Minister, Joe Hockey. Executive chef Josh Lopez designed a special menu featuring one of GOMA's signature dishes — the wattle seed custard, Daintree chocolate and vanilla curd. You know, the one that looks more like art than food. The three-course menu was inspired by Queensland's best produce including Hervey Bay scallops, Kalbar carrot, Lockyer Valley cauliflower and Kenilworth VIP Wagyu fillet. On December 2, they're offering everyone the chance to dine on the same menu for $250. Brewski We all need the chance to let our hair down sometimes, and Caxton Street is a great place to do it. As we're sure you’ve heard, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had the right idea when stopping by craft beer bar Brewski to mingle with the locals and get to know Brisbane’s bar scene. Not one of the 205 beers Brewski stock is German, but I'm sure the owners could find you something you'd enjoy too. Be sure to request '99 Luft Balloons' to make your experience authentic. Stokehouse Afraid of being shirtfronted by Julie Bishop, British Prime Minister David Cameron hid out riverside at Stokehouse in South Bank on Friday night. If bugs are on the menu, the choice is always easy, so we hope he dined on Moreton Bay's finest with braised leeks, spinach, whole-egg fazzoletti and shellfish butter. And there's always room for dessert, right David? You can't get more Queensland than slow-roasted pineapple with young coconut, kaffir lime sorbet and passionfruit. Alchemy Hola! The Mexican president and delegation found a home at Alchemy one evening. We assume they went for the degustation, because when you're the president you can do that sort of thing more regularly. If so, he got a taste for our fine state with courgette flowers from Noosa, Hervey Bay scallops, and pork belly from Kingaroy. And of course, it's all best washed down with a healthy dose of tequila. Esquire You don't become Brisbane's top restaurant — or earn yourself three hats — for nothing. Last week another Mexican leader took a liking to this local legned. The Secretary-General of the OECD dined at the restaurant no less than three times in the week he was here. He even found the time to grab dinner on his way back from Hamilton Island before jetting home on Wednesday night. The establishment also hosted a number of economic world leaders including International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde. Oui oui! Bacchus Set up within the restricted area, Bacchus proved to be a safe haven for many during the G20. The Australians stayed there, the Spanish President and delegation popped by for dinner and Madame Lagarde was spotted yet again. Sure the location was convenient, but from what we’ve tried there before, the food was fit for royalty of all kinds. Post G20 meetings, we’re told the Aussies invited all to kick on at Soleil Pool Bar for a Sunday session (of sorts). Jade Buddha Known for its Full Moon parties, Jade Buddha was an unexpected choice for the glamorous wife of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Mexico's First Lady, Angelica Rivera, popped out for a drink at Jade Buddha bar at Eagle Street Pier and allegedly stayed two hours to enjoy a cold glass of white wine. And we don't blame her — it was certainly the right weather for it. Gambaro Seafood Restaurant Angela Merkel proved to be a lady about town while in Brisbane, also stopping by Gambaro Seafood for a feed. Further projecting her image as 'one of us' ordinary people, her delegation required no special attention as the group dined straight off the a la carte menu. Sadly no #MerkelSelfies have surfaced. Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon found himself at home here too, but may have been tight on space since the Germans conquered the private dining room for their office, and used the function centre to meet with the Indonesian President. Pony Dining While Pony didn’t host any official delegates, it did host a number of quizzical minds. The venue became the unofficial media hangout with reporters from New Zealand found grazing about, and an entourage of American journalists hunting Obama’s every move. The more the merrier, Pony is best known for it’s share plates. Room Service A lot of these VIPs opted to ‘dine in’, and judging by the security entourage they cart around, that was surely the easy option. Sadly for us, this made it hard for celebrity spotting. The Hilton was home to Putin and his pals, Gambaro had Angela Merkel and Barack was found at The Marriott. Treat yourself, stay the night and order take in. Photos via Dominika Lis/G20 Australia and KassandraBayResort via photopin cc.
Two friends meet for a beer. Which are you? The one who pulls out a chair, sits down and starts checking who's been 'totes amazed' by your status update since you jumped off the train ten minutes ago, or the other, looking around, feigning fascination with the pub decor, muttering passive aggressive incantations under your breath? Whether you're the connectivity addict or the addict's tortured friend, you'll be pleased to know that a remedy is nigh. It involves drinking more beer and sitting close together. Brazilian beer company Polar has invented a beer holder that not only keeps your beverage cold but also blocks any 3G or 4G signal within a 1.5m radius. 'Share a Polar Beer, not a link', suggests the ad campaign. The product of collaboration with communications agency Paim, the device employs a scaled-down version of the technology that prevents prisoners from connecting via cell from their, ah, cells. Previous attempts to discourage mobile phone obsession have included an oddly shaped beer glass (also a Brazilian invention) and the designation of 'cell phone areas' in Los Angeles restaurant Bucato. The big question is: will the Polar 'cell phone nullifier' actually boost conversation, or merely cause people to stand further apart (at least 1.5m from their beers, that is)? Via PSFK.
Bookshops are known for their variety. Everyone should be able to step into any store celebrating the printed word and find something they want to read ASAP. Writers festivals operate under the same principle, bringing together a wide array of authors covering a broad range of subjects and styles — so of course the 2023 Melbourne Writers Festival jumps from viral recipes to beloved movie stars, and also from award-winners to Australian music icons. One huge highlight of this year's MWF program: Alison Roman, whose home-cooking tips you might've followed more than once. Making her first trip to Australia, the Brooklyn-based food writer and chef will chat about her dessert-focused cookbook Sweet Enough, and also all those recipes that've had the internet salivating, plus her general approach to the kitchen. [caption id="attachment_894138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alison Roman by Chris Bernabeo[/caption] Roman leads a lineup with its commitment to surveying writing in a wealth of forms, and from a swag of scribes, firmly intact — and a festival that hits Melbourne a little earlier in 2023, too. If it feels like the last MWF was just upon us, that's because it happened in September last year. From now on, however, the fest is settling into May dates instead, running from Thursday, May 4—Sunday, May 7 in 2023 at a variety of venues around the city. One such location is Melbourne Town Hall, which'll play host to four blockbuster sessions over two evenings to get MWF 2023 started. That includes an opening night event that asks a cast of writers to reflect upon the fest's theme 'I've Been Away for a While', with Penguin Random House copy chief and author Benjamin Dreyer doing the honours alongside nonfiction writer Bill Hayes, Sweet Country filmmaker and Kaytetye man Warwick Thornton, writer and critic Sarah Krasnostein, and Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money. Also at the same venue that evening: Paul Kelly celebrating words penned by others — and likely not about making gravy — which'll see him perform Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Les Murray and more. Jurassic Park favourite Sam Neill is set to do the writers festival rounds, coming to Melbourne to chat about his career and new memoir with comedy star Jane Kennedy before doing something similar in Sydney — and two Booker Prize-winners are hitting both fests as well. So, the Victorian capital can also look forward to the most-recent recipient, with Shehan Karunatilaka emerging victorious in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida; plus Girl Woman Other's Bernardine Evaristo, the first Black woman to ever win the award. Other 2023 highlights include Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow's Gabrielle Zevin exploring the New York Times bestseller; Emma Straub, writer of This Time Tomorrow and owner of Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic, getting talking; and Grace Tame chatting about The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner: A Memoir. Or, there's Dreyer doing his 'Guardian of Grammar' thing in-conversation with Richard Fidler — and Fidler himself focusing on his new historical nonfiction publication The Book of Roads and Kingdoms. Stan Grant will discuss his latest The Queen is Dead — on the weekend of King Charles' coronation, no less — and Ellen van Neerven will unpack Personal Score, their examination of sport from a First Nations and queer perspective. Also, aforementioned author and photographer Hayes dives into Sweat, which is about exercise and its history; and actor Heather Mitchell (whose recent credits include Love Me, Blaze and The Great Gatsby) joins the guests with memoirs to unfurl. The festival's events lineup also features the return of the MWF Big Debate, asking 'do books matter more than sport?'; Queering the Canon, which'll see its speakers plunge into the texts that influenced how they think and write about sexuality and gender; and a discussion of the past year in politics. Spanning talks, panels, workshops and other activities, the program keeps turning pages from there — so if you're keen on hearing from Shirley Hazzard's biographer Professor Brigitta Olubas, learning about art and writing from a First Nations viewpoint, exploring where memoirs stand in the search for meaning, pondering how difficult it is to write about your heroes and celebrating the return to travel, that's all on the bill. So is the In the Suburbs series, which takes authors beyond the Melbourne CBD. This year, that includes The Dry writer Jane Harper chatting about Exiles, her final instalment in the Aaron Falk series, in Narre Warren — a handy session to go to ahead of Force of Nature hitting the big screen in August. Melbourne Writers Festival 2023 runs from Thursday, May 4—Sunday, May 7 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Alison Roman by Chris Bernabeo.
Summer in Brisbane is hot. There's no denying that. Other than taking a dip, what better way to take the heat off than with a (free) ice-cold beverage? Luckily, these bars and pubs around Brisbane are offering a complimentary Chandon Garden Spritz on arrival on Friday, February 28. Make a beeline to these beach clubs and inner city rooftops to enjoy a Chandon Spritz on the house to end your summer with a pick-me-up. Chandon's Garden Spritz is a natural, ready-to-serve blend of sparkling wine handcrafted with navel and blood oranges, dried orange peel and natural herbs and spices. All the way from the Yarra Valley, it's not too bitter, but not too sweet and has half the sugar of most spritzes thanks to its natural ingredients. For the perfect serve, just add ice and an orange slice, and top with a sprig of rosemary if you're feeling fancy. Juju Nobby Beach This Mermaid Beach hotspot is one of the best on Nobby's strip. A combination of fine dining and Gold Coast party vibes, Juju has space for 400, so it's always pumping, making it the perfect spot to cheers to the end of summer with a free Chandon Spritz. Little Miss Sunshine Nestled in the heart of Brisbane's CBD, Little Miss Sunshine is an ode to the sunny state. The bistro and brewery is one of a kind, with a huge space set across two levels (which sprawls out into the laneway), serving up brews and an Aussie-Mediterranean-style menu. And what better way to balance out all the beer-drinking than with a blood-orange-infused spritz? Isles Lane This inner-city dining haunt is an ideal spot to end your summer. The airy eatery is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is known for its delicious cocktails and refined take on classic pub food. The only thing that could make a long lunch (or early morning brekky) better is a complimentary spritz. Cali Beach Club We can't think of a more suitable place to indulge in a Chandon Spritz than Australia's largest rooftop beach club. With epic views, live music and the perfect dose of luxury, Cali Beach Club is the place to be on the last day of summer. Tetto Rooftop For the ultimate rooftop vibes, head to Tetto Rooftop in Everton Park. The coastal Italian-inspired hub hosts DJ's every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The venue is also infamous for its bottomless weekends, which are always a good idea. If sipping an ice-cold Chandon Spritz on a rooftop bar with share plates and panoramic views is your idea of heaven, then you know what to do. The Beach Hotel Broadbeach This laid-back Gold Coast pub is a favourite among locals. The menu focuses on fresh seafood and elevated pub classics, with a fun cocktail menu, perfect for when you've finished your spritz and are looking to keep the party going. Head into these venues around Australia on the last day of summer to receive a complimentary Chandon Spritz on arrival. First in best dressed and T&C's apply. Enjoy Chandon Responsibly. Images: Supplied.
Winter might currently be in full swing in Australia, but here's a trusty reminder that there's plenty of summer fun to look forward to: the ticket ballot for 2025's Meredith Music Festival is officially open. If spending three days and two nights watching one stage at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre is your favourite way to kick off the warmest season of the year, then you'll want to go in the running to attend the regional Victorian fest ASAP. 2025 marks the beloved event's 33rd year, and its' promising "a midland melodrama in three parts". This three-decade-plus tradition will take over its namesake locale across Friday, December 5–Sunday, December 7, 2025. In the festival's own words, patrons can look forward to the "same shape, same size, and all on the one stage" once more. The other crucial date for your diary right now is Monday, August 11, 2025 — and 10.33pm AEST specifically that day. As at Wednesday, July 16, 2025, that's when the three-day BYO camping festival's ticket ballot is open until for this year. So, book that long weekend, enter for tickets, then cross your fingers that you'll be spending a trio of days at The Sup. There's no lineup as yet, as Meredith has long stopped being the kind of festival where attendance is dictated by whoever is taking to the stage. In both 2023 and 2024, the roster of acts dropped in mid-August. This year, Meredith has confirmed that 2025 lineup will be revealed with the ballot draws. 2023 saw 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 and plenty more on the bill. For 2024, Jamie xx, Waxahatchee, Genesis Owusu, Mk.gee, ZAPP, Angie McMahon, The Dare and Glass Beams were just some of the fest's names. Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith from Friday, December 5–Sunday, December 7, 2025. To put your name in the ballot to get your hands on tickets, head to the festival's website before 10.33pm AEST on Monday, August 11. Images: Chip Mooney, Ben Fletcher, Chelsea King and Steve Benn.
First Nations cultural currents run deep across Australia, marking the landscape with diverse history and meaning from its glistening coastlines, across the mountains and out to the expansive desert plains. With more than 60,000 years of human experience to contemplate, the best way to learn about this living history is by seeking guidance from the Traditional Custodians of the lands. Join First Nations tour operators and guides on these nine experiences that will take you across New South Wales on knowledge-seeking journeys.
Pull out that old Discman, break out the cargo pants and start practising your smoothest early noughties dance moves — the pop tour of your wildest teenage dreams is hitting Aussie shores this summer and it's got more stars than a TV Hits sticker collection. Next January and February, the inaugural So Pop festival is set to deliver a huge serve of nostalgia to stadiums across the country, pulling together an extra juicy lineup of old-school icons, headlined by none other than Aqua and Vengaboys. Stages in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Auckland will be transported back to the 90s and 00s for one glorious night each, playing host to the pop-drenched soundtrack of your youth. Heading up the show are Danish group Aqua, who promise to leave tunes like 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones' firmly wedged in your head, and from the Netherlands, Vengaboys, with party-starting smash hits like 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' and 'We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)' — and none other than Lou Bega with, of course, 'Mambo No.5'. Relive more of the glory days with sounds from Irish legends B*Witched — who gifted us with the likes of 'C'est La Vie' and 'Rollercoaster' — UK heroes Blue, of 'All Rise' fame. Italy's Eiffel 65, dance pop act Mr. President ('Coco Jambo'), the USA's Outhere Brothers and The Netherlands' 2 Unlimited ('No Limit', 'Get Ready') round out the throwback showdown. SO POP 2019 DATES Perth — HBF Stadium on Wednesday, January 30 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena on Friday, February 1 Melbourne — Melbourne Arena on Saturday, February 2 Adelaide — Entertainment Centre on Sunday, February 3 Auckland — Spark Arena on Tuesday, February 5 Brisbane — Eaton Hills Outdoor on Saturday, February 9 So Pop pre-sale tickets are up for grabs — on the concert's very retro website — for 24 hours from 11am AEDT this Thursday, October 11, while the rest are on sale from 10am AEDT on Tuesday, October 16.
Twisted true tales getting the TV treatment: that's 2022 in a nutshell. The trend isn't confined to this year alone, it won't go away once December 31 hits, and it isn't new or a passing fad; however, the list of crime dramas based on IRL events has just kept growing in recent months. From Pam & Tommy to Inventing Anna, and The Dropout through to The Girl From Plainville and The Staircase, one case after another has been filling streaming queues — and that's just to name a few such shows. Still, even with such a hefty roster reaching screens of late, Black Bird grabs attention. It also boasts an immediately compelling premise: the quest to get a serial killer to confess to his crimes to ensure that he'll never be released from prison. Now available to stream in full via Apple TV+, the six-episode miniseries focuses on Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton, Rocketman), a former star high-school footballer turned drug dealer. A charmer — with women and in his illicit line of work alike — he's happy in his narcotics-financed life, even if facing hairy situations comes with the territory. But that all crumbles when he's arrested in a sting, and has zero chance of escaping jail time. Offered a plea bargain with the promise of a five-year sentence (four with parole) by prosecutor Edmund Beaumont (Robert Wisdom, Barry), he takes the deal on the advice of his former cop dad Big Jim (the late Ray Liotta, The Many Saints of Newark), but ends up getting ten anyway. Seven months afterwards, still fuming at Beaumont and worried about Big Jim's ailing health, Keene is given the opportunity to go free. The catch: as put to him by FBI agent Lauren McCauley (Sepideh Moafi, The Killing of Two Lovers), he needs to transfer to a different maximum-security prison out of state, where the most vicious and violent are held, and where hellish conditions await. While there, he'll have to befriend suspected kidnapper and murderer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser, Cruella), an avid civil war reenactment attendee. Hall is accused of abducting, raping and killing up to 14 girls young teenage girls, possibly more, and Keene's job is to get him to reveal where he's buried his victims' bodies. The first instalment of Black Bird is unsurprisingly instantly gripping, charting Keene's downfall, the out-of-ordinary situation put to him and the police investigation into one Hall's suspected victims. When Jessica Roach (debutant Laney Stiebing) is found dead, Vermilion County sheriff's investigator Brian Miller (Greg Kinnear, Crisis) tracks the clues to the man considered a harmless weirdo by those who know him — and given that includes local law enforcement in Hall's own hometown, the cop's intuition is dismissed. The slow-spoken, sideburn-sporting person of interest, and grave-digger's son, also has a history of confessing to murders, then routinely recanting and proving unreliable. Accordingly, Hall is labelled an attention-seeking serial confessor, but Miller isn't convinced that's all there is to his story. Black Bird takes its tale from Keene's autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, making two things plain from the outset for those who don't know the tale. Clearly, he'll have to get to the point where there's a memoir to write — and he'll have to be alive to do so. But that doesn't make the series any less compelling, tense or chilling; in fact, the wild and riveting details just keep on coming in each episode. With Dennis Lehane, author of Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River and Shutter Island, as its behind-the-scenes driving force, Black Bird dives deep into its complicated scenario as Keene starts to truly realise that his own life and freedom aren't the most important things at stake. A prison drama, a catch-a-killer game of cat and mouse, a psychological thriller, a redemption journey: Black Bird ticks all of these boxes. As Keene strikes up a tentative friendship with the reluctant Hall, the series also features a sadistic guard (Joe Williamson, All Rise) extorting Keene for cash under threat of blowing his cover, plus a mafia old-timer (Tony Amendola, Father Stu) with his own veiled threats — and Miller and McCauley's continued investigations, especially after one of Hall's appeals is granted. It covers Hall's relationship with his handsome twin brother Gary (Jake McLaughlin, Quantico) as well, and Big Jim's guilt over failing to stop Jimmy ending up behind bars, which compounds his health woes. These all add emotion and detail, but if Lehane had solely focused Black Bird's grey-hued frames on its two central inmates, the series wouldn't have been any less powerful. At its core, this is an intense two-hander about two men laying bare their true natures in thorny, anxiety-dripping back and forths, and Keene learning the cost of getting his life back in the process. In a weighty acting showcase, the look on Egerton's face frequently says it all in; Keene will always have to live with what he discovers from Larry, with crimes like these impossible to forget. 2022 marks a decade since Egerton's first on-screen credit as a then-23 year old, and he's rarely been out of the cinematic spotlight since — but Black Bird is his most mature performance yet. The confidence that's so crucial to his work in the Kingsman movies dissipates the further that Keene is plunged into a nightmare. The adaptability that worked so well for Egerton as he hopped through Eddie the Eagle, Robin Hood and Rocketman also comes in handy. It's a multi-faceted turn, and it's fantastic. Black Bird is home to excellent performances all round, each one proving pivotal. Liotta makes a firm imprint as Big Jim, and is particularly heartbreaking to watch after the actor's sudden passing in May. Hauser's menacing efforts won't ever be forgotten, either — and ranks among the great on-screen serial killer portrayals. That too is a packed field, but from the sluggish, wheezy voice through to the distinctive casual-yet-taught body language, his time as Hall is that unnerving, that raw, and that eerily extraordinary. If you were to come across the actor in-character after watching the series, you'd want to run the other way. That, and feeling echoes of Mindhunter as well, couldn't be more of a compliment. Check out the trailer for Black Bird below: Black Bird streams via Apple TV+.
When winter arrives in Australia, the nation copes with the cold by heading out of the house and into a heap of stunning arts festivals. That's true in Sydney, with Vivid hitting just as the weather gets frosty. It's also the case in Melbourne, all thanks to RISING. But there's something extra enticing about Dark Mofo — perhaps because it's an excuse for mainlanders to head to Tasmania, and also because it always delivers a program filled with weird and wild surprises. Run by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art — the venue's winter festivities, with sibling event Mona Foma happening in summer — this is an arts celebration where anything truly can occur. In 2023, on the just-dropped full program, that includes a Twin Peaks-inspired ball, a teddy bear with laser eyes, sleeping over, catching Soda Jerk's latest film and seeing punk icons Black Flag play their first Aussie gig since 2013. [caption id="attachment_895363" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teddy | Dark Mofo 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] A haven for shows, gigs and installations of the dark, sinister, confronting and boundary-pushing variety, Dark Mofo unveiled its first 2023 highlight back in January — and with Florentina Holzinger's dance theatre performance A Divine Comedy, an Australian premiere and an Aussie exclusive that reimagines Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise, it set itself a high bar. Just from the aforementioned events, the complete program is set to match, all taking place in Hobart between Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22. That ball both wonderful and strange? That'd be Dark Mofo's hedonistic masquerade, which this year is called The Blue Rose Ball. David Lynch fans, this sounds like heaven — in a mystery venue turned into the Blue Velvet Lounge, and with live tunes and performances all on theme. If your costume includes red and white zigzags, you've obviously nailed it. [caption id="attachment_886260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Marianna Wytyczak[/caption] That teddy bear? It's called Giant Teddy, a new commission by Dark Mofo from EJ Son. Festival attendees will see a giant Korean pop culture-inspired teddy bear that, yes, has lasers for eyes — plus a camera that'll show its live surveillance elsewhere in Hobart. The sleepover comes courtesy of Max Richter's SLEEP, which returns to Australia for an eight-and-a-half-hour overnight stint. You'll slumber, and Richter's compositions will play. The former will happen on beds provided by Dark Mofo, and the latter is based on the neuroscience of getting some shuteye. And if you've seen the documentary about it, you'll already be excited — and have your pyjamas ready. [caption id="attachment_895364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Soda Jerk joins the fold with Hello Dankness, which compiles samples into a 70-minute survey of American politics circa 2016–21 — so, a chaotic time. And Black Flag won't have Henry Rollins with them, but will be doing a one-off exclusive Australian show in Tassie. Other highlights from founder and Creative Director Leigh Carmichael's final program, of which there's a treasure trove, include Richter also doing two other performances, large-scale light-and-sound installation Silent Symphony, the jailbroken musical toys of Jason Phu's Without Us You Would Have Never Learnt About Love, and 1974 experimental time-lapse film The Text of Light paired with an improvised live soundtrack by Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth with Alan Licht and Ulrich Krieger. [caption id="attachment_895371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drab Majesty | Dark Mofo 2023. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] The music bill also features First Nations artists BARKAA, Tasman Keith, dameeeela, DENNI, MARLON X RULLA, Uncle Dougie Mansell, Katarnya Maynard, Rob Braslin and more on opening night; Ethel Cain hitting Australia for the first time; Thundercat breaking out the bass; and Witch with Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis on the drums. Squarepusher, Trentemøller, Drab Majesty, Plaid, Sleaford Mods, Deafheaven — yes, the list goes on, with Zindzi & The Zillionaires, as led by Play School host Zindzi Okenyo, also on offer for younger attendees. Dark Mofo's arts lineup spans two new pieces by Martu artist Curtis Taylor: video work Ngarnda (pain) about blood rituals, cultural rites and lived experiences; and multi-media installation Boong, which focuses on exposing racial violence. And, there's Western Flag from Irish talent John Gerrard — aka a ten-metre-by-ten-metre digital screen depicting a flagpole, but spewing out black smoke non-stop, in a reference to the world's first major oil find in Texas in 1901. [caption id="attachment_895366" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trentemøller | Dark Mofo 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] Alongside the masquerade, other adored Dark Mofo rituals returning to the program range from the Winter Feast and art hub Dark Park through to final-night fire The Burning and, of course, the Nude Solstice Swim. It's no wonder that the fest has a hefty list of venues playing host, then, including the Odeon Theatre, In The Hanging Garden, Altar, Federation Concert Hall, Princes Wharf 1, MAC2 and the Goods Shed. Festivalgoers will also be hitting up MyState Bank Arena, the Baha'i Centre, Hobart Town Hall, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Contemporary Art Tasmania, Good Grief Studios, Plimsoll Gallery and Hobart Library — plus Long Beach in Sandy Bay. [caption id="attachment_895365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo/Rosie Hastie, 2021. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania, with subscriber tickets on sale from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, April 5 and general tickets from 2pm AEST Wednesday, April 5. Top images: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2022. Photo credit: Rémi Chauvin, 2022. Image courtesy of Dark Mofo 2022. // Dark Park | Dark Mofo. // Ethel Cain | Dark Mofo 2023. Photo credit: Helen Kirbo. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo. // Western Flag | Dark Mofo 2023. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo. 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.
Sun, surf, sand, ice cream: what a combination. As cemented in the childhood memories of most Australians, there's nothing like pairing a trip to the beach with a frosty dessert. Haven't had the pleasure of that experience lately? Keen for a sweet treat by the shore just because? Fancy enjoying one of life's simple delights for just 36 cents? Enter the ALDI ice cream truck. For one day only in each of Sydney, Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, the supermarket chain is sending an ice cream van to the beach with cheap chilled bites. While the 36-cent price only applies to mini yoghurt sticks, nothing else on the nine-item menu costs more than $1 each. [caption id="attachment_987508" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] So, you can enjoy ALDI's take on choc-coated ice creams on a stick for 40 cents, its version of Splices for 50 cents and its Paddle Pop alternative — in both chocolate and rainbow — for 62 cents, for instance. An ice cream sandwich will cost you 95 cents, a Drumstick equivalent is 92 cents and the brand's version of a Golden Gaytime is $1. Sydneysiders will need to head to Balmoral Reserve, near the rotunda, at Mosman on Thursday, January 30. Melburnians have a date with Green Point Reserve, Brighton on Sunday, February 2, while Queenslanders should make the trip to the Alexandra Heads Surf Life Saving Club at Alexandra Headland on Saturday, February 8. At all three locations, the truck will be serving up its menu from 11am–3pm. [caption id="attachment_781735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] The reason for the pop-ups is to spruik ALDI's in-store ice creams, which is what it's dishing up — and at the same price that you'd pay per ice cream if you were to purchase a box of each in the supermarket. Buy them individually from the truck and you'll also be helping a good cause, with 100-percent of the sales going to Camp Quality. In the past, Aldi has showcased its low prices by hosting a pop-up bar where gin, wine and cheese only cost $4.41, serving up six gyoza for $1.44 at a pop-up dumpling truck, slinging 37-cent barista-made coffee and opening a pop-up pub with beer for just $3.25. ALDI Ice Cream Truck Stops Thursday, January 30 — 11am–3pm at Balmoral Reserve (near the rotunda), 8 The Esplanade, Mosman Sunday, February 2 — 11am–3pm at Green Point Reserve, Brighton Saturday, February 8 — 11am–3pm at Alexandra Heads Surf Life Saving Club, 167 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland The ALDI ice cream truck is popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Sunshine Coast in January and February — keep an eye on ALDI's social media for more details.
You can always count on Hunter S. Thompson for memorable epigrams and useful life lessons. The same man who pioneered Gonzo journalism, penned Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and requested that he have his ashes fired out of a cannon has always been good for a bit of advice. And as an inveterate drinker and connoisseur of a range of substances, he tended to know what he was talking about. Since his suicide in 2005, various bits and pieces have posthumously emerged from the Thompson archive, most recently with Playboy's publication of its entire correspondence with him during the 1960s and 70s. This, of course, was when Playboy was a little bit classy, and included writings from Vladimir Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, Anne Sexton and Saul Bellow amongst its pictures of scantily-clad women. Found amidst the papers was Thompson's hangover cure, undated and scrawled on stationary from the Beverly Hills Hotel. The cure reads: "P.S. — inre: Oui's request for "my hangover cure" — it's 12 amyl nitrites (one box), in conjunction with as many beers as necessary. OK H." That's right kids, it's beer and amyl nitrate that will really kill that throbbing in your skull. According to Hunter S. Thompson, anyhow. If you want to check out the rest of his Playboy correspondence you can do it here. [Via Gawker]
They're just humble cucumbers left to ferment in vinegar, but pickles certainly get plenty of attention. We love them on sandwiches, and to munch on individually. We love drinking whisky, then chasing it down with a shot of pickle brine. Sometimes, folks even make beer that showcases the zesty pickle flavour. If you're fond of all of the above, then get your pickle-loving self to Pickle Fest. Hosted by The Woods Bar, the event celebrates its eponymous ingredient in a whole range of guises. In other words, it's an excuse to eat pickles, drink pickle brine and sip pickle-flavoured brews. And, to eat reuben sandwiches, aka the go-to food when anyone thinks of pickles (and a great way to line your stomach, too). Also on the menu: deep-fried pickled jalapeños galore, as well as loaded bloody marys. Obviously, if you don't like that sour, tart, put-a-spring-in-your-step pickle taste, this fest isn't for you — but if you can't get enough of it, head to Mitchelton from 12pm on Sunday, February 20. The one-day festival takes place on Sunday, December 1, with the Mitchelton watering hole getting into the pickled spirit from from 11am. Image: The Woods Bar.
There's no bad place to slurp oysters, no matter which bar or restaurant around Brisbane you pick — but there's just something extra enticing about tucking into the seafood favourite when the actual sea is in sight. Fancy getting your fix on a boat, while cruising over to Moreton Island touring an oyster farm? Yes, of course you do. Tour outfit River to Bay is doing champagne and oyster trips — so you won't just be slurping, but also sipping. These voyages are setting sail on Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24, and include a three-hour tour, half a dozen oysters, three glasses of French sparkling, and plenty of dolphin, turtle, stingray and dugong spotting. Did we mention that those oysters will be coming straight from the ocean? And, you can pre-purchase more if you think six won't be enough, or you'd like to take some home with you. You can also buy extra champers, too. The cruises set off from Northshore Harbour Cafe at 2pm on the Thursday and 3pm on the Friday, and prices start at $149 per adult — with $289 discounts for couples also available.
What do you think of when I say Daphne Mayo? Chances are you think you don’t know much– if anything at all – about her. Let me help you out: Daphne Mayo is one of Australia’s foremost sculptors, and is particularly significant to Brisbane’s sculptural heritage. Still drawing a blank? Trust me, if you are a native to Brisbane, or have spent any time here at all, I guarantee you will have seen at least one, if not more, of her works. Walking through the centre of the city, Mayo’s work is all around you: from the tympanum (carved bit) over the entrance to City Hall, to the Queensland Women’s War Memorial in Anzac Square and the statue of Major General Sir William Glasgow in Post Office Square. But listen, don’t feel bad about it; instead, get yourself to the Queensland Art Gallery to catch up on everything that you’ve missed! The exhibition comprises over 50 works from public and private collections around Australia, ranging from portrait busts to architecture monuments; official commissions to creative, modernist experiments; and include ceramics, paintings and drawings as well as sculptures. And, best of all, it’s free!
Despite Australian supermarkets' current two-item limits, trying to get your hands on — and covered in — sanitiser is much harder than it should be at present. The liquid disinfectant is on everyone's must-buy list, leaving empty supermarket shelves seemingly everywhere. Luckily, a bunch of Australian distilleries are using their booze to make the now-essential product. It makes sense, because alcohol is a crucial ingredient in sanitiser — especially ones that are effective against COVID-19. So, next time you slather your hands with sanitiser, you could be covering them with your favourite booze, too. Meaning there's now no excuse not to clean your hands, you detty pigs. 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. MANLY SPIRITS CO Normally, north Sydney's Manly Spirits Co makes gin, vodka, whisky and liqueurs. Of course, these aren't normal times, so it's using its high-grade gin to whip up its own sanitiser. So, if you're wanting to disinfect your hands and smell like botanicals, now you can. Understandably, that's likely to make you thirsty, so the company is making 50 millilitre bottles available for free with every Manly Spirits Co bottle of spirits purchased, which can be ordered here. To discourage stockpiling, however, there is a limit of one free sanitiser per person. Plus, it's supplying its Manly Spirits Hand Sanitiser with Gin Aroma to local community groups, charities and organisations in larger five-litre sizes, to assist with their crucial operations. MR BLACK COFFEE LIQUEUR Fans of caffeinated booze can look forward to freshening their fingers with their preferred tipple thanks to Mr Black's new hand sanitiser. The distillery has made thousands of bottles and you can grab a maximum of two 500 millilitre bottles, for $19.95 each, plus a $10 flat-rate national shipping fee. It's also donated bottles of its A-class sani to a bunch of charities, medical centres and COVID-19 testing clinics. The hand sanitiser is made using a World Health Organisation recipe with 80 percent ethanol, and as bottles don't come with a pump they're designed to be used as refills. While currently out of stock, Mr Black will be adding more early next week and you can join a waitlist over here. And if you decide to invest in some actual coffee liqueur while you're on the site — the OG ($60), single-origin ($75) and amaro ($80) versions are all for sale, as is the most adorable 50-millilitre bottle ($5.99) — or some sweet merch, and spend over $80, you'll get free shipping. BRIX DISTILLERS Sydney's only rum distillery has also jumped on the sanitiser wagon — and selling twin-packs of 300-millilitre bottles for $34. While you're on the site, you can nab a bottle of white, gold or spiced rum; a mix-your-own espresso martini pack; or barrel-aged rum negroni from these guys, too. Plus, Brix is offering $10 off and free shipping on its core range of rums. Nab your booze and sani over here. CAPE BYRON DISTILLERY Premium spirits slinger Cape Byron Distillery is turning its awarded Brookie's Byron Gin into a natural hand and surface sanitiser. Made with 70 percent ethanol, gin byproducts, filtered spring water, aloe vera and citrus, this hand cleaner is also scented with lime and gin botanicals, so your hands will smell like a G&T. As well as supplying large containers of the stuff to local medical centres, doctors, hospitals and care workers, 500-millilitre bottles are also available for purchase via Cape Byron's website for a reasonable $14.99. ARCHIE ROSE The much-loved Rosebery distillery has reallocated its spirits production capacity to hand sanitiser. And in doing so, it's been able to keep majority of its staff in a job. Unsurprisingly, Archie Rose's sanitiser sold out in an instant, but you can pre-order a 500-millilitre bottle via the website. The latest release will leave Archie Rose's facilities the week of April 27, so hopefully you have some in the cupboard for the meantime. ANIMUS DISTILLERY Located in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, Animus is known for its small-batch gins and is using its distillery to now make sanitiser. A 100-millilitre bottle will only cost you $10 and is available for purchase online or pick up in person at the distillery. To discourage hoarding, there's a six-bottle limit per person. You can feel good about buying it, too, with 50 percent of all profits being used to subsidise access to sanitiser for those in need. POOR TOMS GIN Need to restock your gin supply? Poor Toms is still delivering its goods — and it's throwing in a free bottle of its hand sani with any gin purchase. But only for a limited time, so best be quick. As the distillery is supplying frontline healthcare professionals, the botanical-scented sanitiser is not available for retail sale. So, nab yourself some of its classic, strawberry-infused or Fool's Cut gin and maybe throw in a bottle of its amaro, too, and you'll receive 200 millilitres of high-grade, limited-edition sanitiser. It's only $10 shipping across Australia. Available online.
Every three years, the Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery take stock of their place in the world. From their riverside stretch of South Brisbane, the neighbouring art institutions are keenly aware of the importance of celebrating not only the city's creativity, but that of the country and the Asia-Pacific region as well. That's exactly what the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is all about, and has been since 1993. The huge multi-gallery exhibition highlights the wealth of artistic treasures crafted in our own backyard — from the skyscrapers to the suburbs, the outback to the ocean, and the heart of Australia to the sprawl of neighbouring Asian cities. Marking its ninth event and running until April 28, 2019, the latest APT takes its task seriously. There's so much excellent art from the region to showcase, and so many talented artists as well. Indeed, the numbers paint one of the exhibition's biggest pictures, with the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art featuring more than 400 artworks by over 80 individuals, collectives and groups. If you're wondering which of APT9's pictures, paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and more that you should see at the free exhibition, we've singled out six must-sees. [caption id="attachment_700271" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gary Carsley 'Purple Reign'. APT9 Kids. GOMA 1.4. Installation view.[/caption] 'PURPLE REIGN' BY GARY CARSLEY Ignore GOMA's Children's Art Centre at your peril. The home of Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room every time that it comes to town, it's a space where art and interactivity combine for big and little kids alike. For APT9, it's overflowing with something that (basically) everyone loves: jacarandas. Most of Brisbane has just been blossoming with the distinctive purple flowers, but here they're taking over the walls. This piece is called Purple Reign for a reason (and not just to make a great Prince pun). As inspired by R Godfrey Rivers's painting Under the jacaranda 1903, visitors play with touch screens and video to explore the gorgeous blooms, which brighten up nearly every surface in the room. [caption id="attachment_700275" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ALBAIQUNI Zico. Indonesia, b. 1987. When it Shook - The Earth stood Still (After Pirous) 2018. Oil on canvas. 200 x 120 cm. Courtesy: The artist and Yavuz Gallery.[/caption] THE WORK OF ZICO ALBAIQUNI In a huge exhibition designed to catch many an eye — both as a whole, and via its individual artworks — some of APT9's most vibrant pieces take art aficionados to Indonesia. More than that, they delve into the country's landscape and history — but not quite how you might expect. That's what artist Zico Albaiquni does, with exploring his country's traditions, its time under Dutch colonial rule and the state of the environment today all part of his practise. Working at the larger end of the scale, his paintings envelop viewers with their size, their scale and with their use of design, as well as with their almost forceful (and definitely attention-grabbing) use of colour. [caption id="attachment_700270" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] CAO Fei. Beijing, China b. 1978. Asia One 2018. HD video installation: 63:20 minutes, sound, colour, ed. 2/7 (edition TBC). Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.[/caption] 'ASIA ONE' AND '11.11' BY CAO FEI Every room holds a treasure at APT9, particularly the darkened corner of GOMA where Cao Fei's video works play on a loop. The Chinese artist is particularly interested in a topic that's beginning to monopolise cinematic pieces from the region: the changing way of life that's accompanying China's rapid modernisation. For both narrative effort Asia One and documentary 11.11, she steps inside the logistics hub of online retailer JD.com, exploring today's daily reality and pondering the intersection of humanity and technology in the future. And while the videos are worth watching alone, the exhibition's staging helps draw you in — you'll feel like you're in a warehouse rather than a gallery. [caption id="attachment_700273" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] "On the second day, Saturday, your three minutes..."Art Basel HK Encounter, 2017, performance/installation[/caption] 'ON THE SECOND SATURDAY, YOUR THREE MINUTES' BY JOYCE HO Need a rest, art lovers? Fancy sitting down and contemplating everything that you've seen? Thanks to Joyce Ho's addition to the exhibition, you'll find two lines of seats ready and waiting. This isn't about getting cosy, however, with the seats set up in separate spaces that resemble waiting rooms. There are no magazines or muted TVs here, but rather a mirrored window between the two chambers. Plonk yourself down on either side, and you'll spy both your reflection and the ghostly image of whoever happens to be sitting opposite, with the two combining in quite the striking and memorable fashion. [caption id="attachment_700267" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, GOMA, The 9th Asia and Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9), Exhibition no. 2018.05.Organisation Queensland Art Gallery, Start date 24 November 2018. End date 28 April 2019. Installation view.[/caption] 'UNTITLED (GIRAN)' BY JONATHAN JONES Nearly 2000 sculptures comprise Australian artist Jonathan Jones' piece, which spans across an entire wall. It's the kind of artwork that stuns from afar, making you step back to appreciate its full glory, while simultaneously inviting you closer to investigate its exceptional detail. Curved in appearance and with feathers featuring prominently, it's designed to resemble birds flying on the wind, although each individual element is actually one of six different types of tool. Made with family and Wiradjuri community members from raw materials, and crafted in collaboration with elder Dr Uncle Stan Grant Snr, it instantly conveys the movement and change that comes with the breeze — and turning an already evocative static piece into an immersive installation, it's also accompanied by sounds of the wind, bird calls, breathing and the Wiradjuri language. [caption id="attachment_700272" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. QAG Watermall. The 9th Asia and Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9). Exhibition no. 2018.05. Organisation Queensland Art Gallery. Start date 24 November 2018. End date 28 April 2019. Installation view.[/caption] 'MY FOREST IS NOT YOUR GARDEN' BY DONNA ONG AND ROBERT ZHAO RENHUI A sea of green above a pool of water sounds like everyone's ideal of blissful eye candy. At APT9, it's Donna One and Robert Zhao Renhui's contribution to the fold, as found in QAG's already peaceful and serene Watermall. Walk across the platform above the indoor pond, and plenty of plants await, although these aren't any old potted pieces. They're actually a mixed-media assemblage that makes a statement about the use of nature in both Chinese and European art, with each one littered with tiny animals. Plus, while you're wandering through this leafy part of the exhibition, you'll also be able to see Kawayan de Guia's bright wall of works — a mashup of pop culture images and references to Filipino politics — in front of it. The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art runs until April 28, 2019 at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane. Top image: CAO Fei. Beijing, China b. 1978. Asia One 2018. HD video installation: 63:20 minutes, sound, colour, ed. 2/7 (edition TBC) Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.
Francophiles know there's something inherently romantic about the Parisian lifestyle, shown to us Aussies through countless rom-coms and years of Instagram pics of proposals by the Eiffel Tower. Everyone knows at least one person who has spent their winter months chasing the European sun, coming home with tales of wandering the streets of Paris looking for the perfect croissant and weekenders in the French countryside. Alas, it's not that time of year right now and you're (presumably) not in that part of the world either. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to embrace the French lifestyle and make the most of the spectacular Australian summer in your own backyard. We've partnered with French vodka Grey Goose, to show you how to live like a Parisian in your own city this summer. [caption id="attachment_697085" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcie Raw[/caption] START THE DAY WITH CROISSANTS Of course, one of the best things about being in Paris is strolling down to a market in the morning and carefully selecting a fresh croissant made from an old family recipe. The flaky, buttery treats are perfect for an easy brekkie on the go before a day of sightseeing or shopping, or perched in a window table with an espresso accompaniment. Thankfully, we've got some truly talented pastry chefs down in this part of the world, too. In Melbourne, you'll find internationally renowned croissants at Lune in Fitzroy and on Collins Street in the CBD; head to Flour and Stone in Woolloomooloo for some of Sydney's best pastries; while in Brisbane you can find scrumptious croissants all around town at Le Bon Choix. [caption id="attachment_753173" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Creative Commons/Tim Green[/caption] SIGN UP FOR A FRENCH LANGUAGE CLASS Parlez-vous francais? Non? True Parisians won't speak English if they don't have to, so why not sign up for a French language class this summer (or as your 2020 goal) and become a worldly bilingual? Alliance Francais — a network of not-for-profit organisations aimed at promoting French language and culture — has chapters in all capital cities and major regional hubs, which all run a bunch of different courses that will have you speaking like a Parisian in no time. If nightmares of your high school language classes still haunt you, it'll be comforting to know that Alliance Francais' classes are small and casual, and they run a variety of social events and workshops, such as Melbourne's weekly Vin and Fromage night. [caption id="attachment_737107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Formaggi Ocello[/caption] GRAB LUNCH FROM A FROMAGERIE Cheese, but make it fancy. Surry Hills' Formaggi Ocello has Sydneysiders covered, with the cheese specialist stocking more than 200 varieties, from French classics to lesser-known imports, plus everything you need for a truly impressive cheese board. Pop in any time for a nibble and a tipple, sign up for one its monthly cheese and wine tasting nights or stop by from 4pm for an aperitif, where you get a free cheese tasting plate with your glass of wine. In Melbourne, La Parisienne Pates is a French deli that has been specialising in traditional smallgoods for more than 20 years. At its Carlton and South Yarra cafes, you'll find rare cheeses that you'd struggle to find elsewhere in Australia, plus gourmet charcuterie delicacies and French pastries made the old-fashioned way. Up in Brisbane, market favourite turned Morningside store Le Fromage Yard will help make all your cheese dreams come true. TAKE YOUR GREY GOOSE X MAISON LABICHE TOWEL TO THE BEACH In honour of the small celebrations we have in the summer, such as catching up with friends, and making the most of the outdoors, Grey Goose and French fashion label Maison Labiche have extended their annual Riviera collaboration into a collection of fashion and travel pieces to help you live in the moment this summer. There's also a limited-edition French Riviera-themed bottle of Grey Goose that you can buy. Our pick is the Maison Labiche beach towel. Take it to the beach or a park and (if permitted — check your local council websites) make a batched Grey Goose cocktail for a boozy afternoon in the sun. [caption id="attachment_742671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] So French So Chic[/caption] LISTEN TO THE LINEUP FOR SO FRENCHY SO CHIC There's nothing like a good soundtrack to get you in a particular mood, so cue up some French vibes by the stellar artists taking the stage at the upcoming So Frenchy So Chic festival in Melbourne and Sydney. Say hello to disco-electronica queen Corine, who channels the glamour artists of the Parisian nightclub scene of the 70s and 80s with an erotic spin that is all her own; bow down to French pop royalty Lou Doillon (the daughter of actor Jane Birkin and director Jacques Doillon) and her 2019 album Soliloquy; celebrate new wave cover band Nouvelle Vague's 15th year as a group; and fall in love with the soulful voice of Senegal-born French troubadour Tété. [caption id="attachment_753163" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Erin Stevenson O'Connor[/caption] CHALLENGE YOUR MATES TO A GAME OF PETANQUE Make the most of a warm summer day with a little friendly competition and embrace petanque like you're holidaying in Provence. If you're wondering what the difference is between petanque and other boules games like bocce, it's all in the name. Derived from an old expression, pes tancats, meaning 'feet planted' — petanque is for the truly lazy, as you keep your feet firmly on the ground. The St Kilda Petanque Club welcomes curious visitors at its weekly social gathering on Fridays at 5pm. In Sydney, the Boules Artistes Petanque Club hosts weekly social games in Kirribilli and Coogee, while the Brisbane Petanque Club welcomes novices at Kalinga Park. Or you can borrow Nan's boules set and hit the local park or beach and make it up as you go along. [caption id="attachment_526669" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Incu[/caption] PICK UP A MAISON BALZAC CANDLE FOR A SENSORY THROWBACK French-born and Sydney-based Elise Pioch had the right idea when she created Maison Balzac — she wanted to develop a product that would take her right back to her childhood. Short of creating a time machine, she achieved that goal with her range of candles, or "signature objects that evoke olfactory memories or experiences". You can pick up one of her luxurious candles — with scents inspired by mornings in the Mediterranean, long summer days on the beach, roses from Pioch's grandmother's garden and spiritual havens in the villages of France — from Incu in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. MAKE YOURSELF A LE GRAND FIZZ To really make it feel like you're on holiday, you need a cocktail. Level up your beverage game with something ice cold with a refreshing taste, and just a little more sophisticated than your usual savvy b. Thankfully, you don't need to go out and buy a full bartending kit and a heap of ingredients. All you need for the Le Grand Fizz (find the recipe, and others, here) is Grey Goose vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh limes and soda water. [caption id="attachment_751776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Felix[/caption] TREAT YOURSELF TO A NIGHT OUT AT A FRENCH RESTAURANT Relive (or imagine) long afternoons that stretch into evenings, sipping wine and luxuriating over supper at a French bistro. There are plenty of spots around Australia serving authentic French food with all the trimmings — perfect for living like a Parisian on a night out this summer. Enjoy yellowfin tuna crudo at Felix or steak frites at Kittyhawk in Sydney, have oysters on the terrace at Entrecote or beetroot gazpacho Philippe in Melbourne, and sample the saucisson brioche at Montrachet or mille-feuille aux escargots at La Cache a Vin in Brisbane. Upgrade your summer by choosing premium vodka Grey Goose. Each bottle is distilled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100-percent traceable production process, from crop to cork.
It might've hit our streaming queues way back in mid-2019, but we all remember how Stranger Things wrapped up its third season. Change swept through the 80s-set Netflix sci-fi series in a big way — seeing multiple characters head out town and venture towards several destinations will do that — leaving us all wondering how things will play out in season four. In 2022, we'll finally find out after a hefty delay due to the pandemic. And to help fill the gap, Netflix has dropped another teaser trailer that offers a glimpse of what's to come. Yes, another one. This time around, the brief clip heads to California, which is where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong), Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America), Will (Noah Schnapp, Waiting for Anya) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The New Mutants) have washed up. Eleven is settling in as well as she can settle in anywhere, as she explains in a letter to Mike (Finn Wolfhard, The Goldfinch) — but she also can't wait until she can see him in person again. It's the latest Stranger Things season four trailer in a long line of them, starting back in February 2020. Since then, a couple more teasers dropped in May this year, then another one back in August, followed by yet another in September. So, we've now caught a glimpse of what happens to beloved police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour, Black Widow) after season three's big cliffhanger and Russian-set post-script, and spent time with Steve (Joe Keery, Spree), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy) and Max's (Sadie Sink, The Last Castle) in a haunted house in Hawkins. We've also headed back to Hawkins Laboratory and its whole eerie setup and, now, seen a new Californian future as well. Of course, it's worth remembering that when Netflix announced the show's renewal for a fourth season back in 2019, it did so with the catchphrase "we're not in Hawkins anymore". That clearly applies in a number of different ways. If you're wishing it was 2022 already, you're not alone. Check out the latest Stranger Things season four sneak peek below: Stranger Things season four will be able to stream via Netflix sometime in 2022 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
Bars where you can do more than just sit around and drink are really having a moment in Brisbane, and specifically in Fortitude Valley. In no small part, it's thanks to the ever-expanding empire of Funlab. The company is in charge of the ever-popular Holey Moley, plus Strike Bowling in the CBD and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq down in Sydney. Of course, Holey Moley leads the charge in the Valley's boozy kidulting scene, alongside the independently owned Netherworld. Now, Funlab has just launched its latest brainchild: B. Lucky & Sons. It's a kidult-friendly bar-meets-arcade with some actually good pawn-shop prizes, instead of the usual plastic crap you get. Think vintage Chanel bags, classic cameras and rare vinyls, plus Playstation 4s. Yup, they've gone real old school-meets-new school with this one. The bar is now open in the Valley's TCB Building — and it's hidden behind the facade of an old pawn shop, so expect something a little bit different. Like its Melbourne counterpart, the venue is also decked out with eclectic furnishings, from old-world casino chandeliers to neon-lit red octagonal booths. This East-meets-West fit-out extends to the food, where pizzas are topped with the likes of crispy wonton wrappers and bonito flakes or sausage, gravy and potato crisps. For drinks, the bar slings canned cocktails, alcoholic bubble teas and other creative concoctions — like Taro Bang (Frangelico, rum and taro with blueberry pearls and jellies) and the Passion Crackle (vodka, passion fruit and peach teas with apple flavoured pearls and jellies). Not to mention punch bowls served with floral tea cups, a gold-rimmed espresso martini and one with a side of toast and raspberry jam. The bar's games are clear throwbacks for the millennial generation — featuring everything from Mario Kart and Daytona to NBA Hoops. And although the venue is open to littluns during the day, it's strictly adults-only at night, so you don't have to worry about being laughed at by a ten-year-old when you fall off Rainbow Road for the fourteenth time. Find B.Lucky & Sons at the TCB Building, 315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. The venue is open Sunday–Wednesday from 12–10pm and Thursday–Saturday from 12pm–2am. Images: Zennieshia Photography
Though most of us spend July huddled in the depths of our doonas, there's also a thick and juicy silver lining to be had: Good Food Month. The city-wide food festival will return to Brisbane for the month of July to fill our bellies with a cure for the winter blues, and this year it could rebranded Great Food Month — Brisbane has really upped its culinary game in the last 12 months. There's a lot on the program, but here's a rundown of some of the highlights of the festival to pencil in to you iCal. NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS We probably don't even need to remind you about this one. The Cultural Forecourt at South Bank will be packed out with Asian hawker-style stalls and some delightful options for dessert. You'll find your favourite Gelato Messina, Waffleland, Teppanyaki Noodles, Little Kyoto, Donburi Station, Spanthai, Hoy Pinoy and a Blackstar x N2 Extreme Gelato collab. And leave you cash money at home because this year all stalls will accept cashless payment (a terrifying prospect for those of us with no self control — best slap a daily limit on your credit card). BRISBANE'S YOUNG CHEFS LUNCH This event is always generates some great buzz and will let you get an inside track on the up-and-coming stars of the culinary scene. This year it's hosted at Aria under the watchful eye of head chef Ben Russell. ESCAPE TO HALYCON HOUSE So, if you've got an anniversary coming up — or you just want to be extra indulgent — check out this super luxurious overnight escape to Halcyon House. Though it'll cost you back $2K, you'll be treated like Obama and Michelle. Luxury car transfers, drinks by the pool, dinner cooked by Paper Daisy chef Ben Devil, a Champagne brekky and a seasonal cooking class, all while staying in what might be Australia's most beautiful hotel. Well, we can dream. LANEWAY! STREET FOOD! MUSIC! The name says it all, really. You'll be up for a night of cold beers and street food at Fish Lane, made by Good Food Month's best chefs. A $50 ticket buys you four beers and three serves of food, which is actually really good value (not something we say often). Not a bad substitute on the above event. Good Food Month runs from July 1-31 at various locations across Brisbane. For more infomation, visit goodfoodmonth.com/brisbane.
It's the island that Brisbanites can drive to — and anyone who grew up in this town of ours has more than a few childhood memories to prove it. We're talking about Bribie Island, of course; however, a trip over the bridge isn't just about taking a swim in Pumicestone Passage. If you'd rather enjoy a few drinks and a meal in a sprawling beer garden, that's now on the menu at Bribie Island Hotel. The waterside pub has just been given a huge makeover, with Australian Venue Co spending $2.2 million to revamp the venue. Bribie Island Hotel is now home to a hefty outdoor space decked out with grass, white picnic tables and shady umbrellas, as well as a a new-look bistro that's serving up pub classics. So, you can grab a beer, tuck into a chicken schnitzel, play lawn games, sit under a brolly and make the most of island life. Also big: the hotel's new capacity, which can cater to 400 people both indoors and outside. If you opt for the latter, you'll also be sitting under fairy lights — so planning an evening visit is recommended. While Executive Chef Dylan Kemp has filled the new menu with trusty favourites such as bruschetta, salt and pepper calamari, steaks, fish and chips, woodfired pizzas, spaghetti bolognese, caesar salad and lasagne, patrons will also find bacon and cheese garlic bread, duck shanks with peking sauce, pork scotch with chorizo butter beans and baked cauliflower salad on offer. Dessert-wise, warm chocolate brownies with honeycomb and fudge sauce sit alongside the old fave that is sticky date pudding (served here with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream), plus doughnut fries that come covered in cinnamon sugar, honey and crushed pistachios. Bribie Island Hotel is also hosting regular events, so you can make the trip to listen to live tunes on Fridays and Saturdays, and to play musical bingo and themed trivia.
Passion. Vulnerability. Determination. This is what Mia Thompson offers when asked what's needed to make a career out of dance. The full-time artist speaks from a position of experience, having had both feet planted in the world of dance since childhood. "I started dancing when I was 4," Thompson shares. "I wouldn't say I was a superstar — just running around in a cute little tutu thinking everything's great. I have six sisters, so I think it was a way to get us into a controlled space together that was also artistic. It's in our family's blood to be artistic." Embarking on any creative journey is difficult — embarking on one as your 9–5 that satisfies your inherent creativity and enables you to share your craft with the world is especially so. With the support of LG SIGNATURE — a proud partner of Sydney Dance Company and supporter of the wider arts community — we had a chat with Thompson, exploring her travels to the world's stages, her current position with Sydney Dance Company and what it takes to be a full-time dancer. [caption id="attachment_866757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pedro Greig[/caption] "I THOUGHT WHAT YOU DID WITH DANCE WAS TEACH" Not fussy on her favourite style, Thompson fell in love with all forms of dance. Ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop — for Thompson, it was a joy to just be moving. In high school, after watching an older sister perform, she realised that the world of dance extended further than the classes she was in. "I thought what you did with dance was teach," she laughs. "I saw the Queensland Ballet do The Sleeping Beauty and I was like, 'They're getting paid to do that?! I want to do that!'" After finishing high school, Thompson joined Queensland Ballet's professional program. "I did one year but the director didn't really like me — he thought I was only doing it 'cos my sister was. I was told it'd be unlikely that I'd get a contract with them, and that I could stay and get my training or find another program with a segue into another company." A heavy blow, but a blessing in the end. Because, what's vital to flourishing in the world of professional movement art? "A school or teacher that supports you as an individual. You can go to the top school in Europe, but it might not be the top school for you. If they don't understand you, they're not going to give you the most that you can get out of yourself as an artist. I was so headstrong on getting a ballet career, so being in a contemporary [dance] company now, maybe Queensland Ballet could see something I couldn't." Following her training in Queensland, Thompson went westwards with a successful audition for WAAPA. Living away from home for the first time, evolving as a dancer and starting friendships, the tingle for travel set in. Thompson secured a spot in the Scottish Ballet where, in 2018, she was promoted to first dancer. [caption id="attachment_865975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rimbaud Patron[/caption] LANDING ON HOME SOIL While at the Scottish Ballet, she met her future fiancé. "He wanted to do contemporary and I told him about Sydney Dance Company. We were just friends at this point, and I was like 'You should go'." He auditioned, got in and the pair got together, giving long-distance love a go for a year. In the audience of a Sydney Dance Company production — and seeing the new-found articulation in her partner's body — Thompson had a revelation: "With ballet, you're striving for perfection. Watching the [Sydney Dance Company] dancers — the way they moved and the understanding they had for their body — there was nothing that I could relate to. I wanted that, I wanted to be able to speak on behalf of myself and my body." Dance is a notoriously cutthroat industry. There's limited spots, stiff competition and a relatively short career span. "You have no idea how many dancers, even in Europe, are just desperate to get into Sydney Dance Company. We are the leading contemporary dance company in Australia, even in the world. Young artists leaving school are just so keen to get in, they want to know everything about you, it's like we're celebrities. It's very easy to forget — I remember myself at that age, dancers would walk past and my jaw would drop. Even before I auditioned, that was me looking at the company." The chance to audition arose and she took it. She got the longed-for call and high-tailed it Down Under, finishing her time with the Scottish Ballet as Cinderella. As Thompson speaks, she radiates an almost palpable enthusiasm for her vocation. Sydney Dance Company's stellar reputation is one that has not only been earned, but continues to be a work in progress. "If we're not performing, a typical day starts at 9.30am and ends at 6pm. You rehearse repertoire or create new work, explore ways of moving. You can have your steps, but every day I see dancers in the mirror or talking to each other trying to find new ways to develop it. It literally never stops growing, which is beautiful in itself." [caption id="attachment_866753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pedro Greig[/caption] "IT'S FLOW STATE" When seated behind a desk, it's difficult to imagine a work life dedicated to exploring and executing movement. Beyond perfecting shape after shape, there's a bottomless list of to-dos. "After a show," Thompson shares, "you'll see most of the dancers in a cubicle, with our feet shoved in an ice bucket to cool." Plus, there's warm-up classes, prehab/rehab (to safeguard those hardworking bodies), rehearsals, feedback sessions and self-review videos, collaboration, hair and makeup, stage direction and spacial notes. The end result? Expertly controlled dancers commanding the stage, allowing audiences to connect and feel something. When asked what it feels like to perform on stage, Thompson's eyes widen and she lifts her chin. "When I dance I feel a great sense of freedom and release," she smiles. "It's like I'm in a trance. There's no better feeling than feeling completely lost on stage, surrounded by your colleagues. Working with them but also feeling completely alone in this world. It's my happiness, it's my sadness, it's my expressive therapy. It's flow state." Defining what it takes to be a full-time dancer is so subjective that it's no simple task. But, when you reflect on Thompson's persistence and determination, her desire to understand her body and to collaborate on stage, and the palpable energy and emotion that buzzes around her when she speaks about dancing, it's clear that it's not just a job. "Some days can feel like work," Mia finishes. "But the minute you step out on stage, you just get lost in it." A supporter of the wider arts community, LG SIGNATURE is a proud partner of Sydney Dance Company. Head to the website to learn more about the partnership. Top image: Pedro Greig
If furniture could talk, the couch from Friends would have plenty to say. For a decade up until 2004, the orange-hued lounge played a pivotal part on everyone's favourite 90s sitcom, as Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe whiled away the hours in Central Perk, reclined upon the sofa's comfortable-looking cushions, drank copious amounts of coffee and nattered non-stop about their lives. As far as on-screen seats go, it's up there with the most famous. And, almost two decades since the show went off the air, it's now in Australia. The Friends Experience has brought that bright-coloured sofa Down Under, finally hitting our shores after stops in New York City, Long Beach, Detroit, Birmingham and Brussels. This isn't the actual couch that Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer plonked their butts on for ten seasons, but it is a replica — as is much at The Friends Experience. That includes a version of Central Perk itself, as well as the fountain, Monica's kitchen, and Chandler and Joey's recliners. Why? Nostalgia and all those snaps everyone is going to take, obviously. Keen to sit where your TV besties once did (or on a settee that resembles the one they sat on, to be precise)? Then you can do just that from Friday, September 1 until the end of summer at The District Docklands in Melbourne, where The Friends Experience is making its Aussie debut. We can't promise that the sofa will always be empty, like it magically was whenever Monica, Rachel and the gang wanted to grab a caffeine hit, but you will be able to see and touch the replica either way. Yes, a version of the couch has done the rounds Down Under before, but that's not going to stop Friends diehards from heading along. Also, this is an official dive into the Friends world, complete not just with set recreations, but costumes and props, plus a gift shop filled with merchandise if you need a souvenir. Could you be any more excited? Images: Nico Photography / Fiona Hamilton. Updated Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
A tiger, or even a volleyball called Wilson, wouldn't go astray in Adrift. Instead, this seafaring survivalist drama attempts to keep afloat on the strength of Shailene Woodley's performance. The talented star can do many things, from bringing a semblance of life to the bland Divergent franchise, to comfortably holding her own against some of today's best actors in TV's Big Little Lies. But she's given a tricky task in this unremarkable drama, with Adrift wading through waters tackled by better, similar films, even though it's actually based on a noteworthy true story. Woodley plays the real-life Tami Oldham, a restless twentysomething who finds herself in Tahiti in 1983. Eager to explore the world — and to avoid going home to San Diego — Tami is looking for her next globe-trotting adventure, but finds love instead with fellow sailor Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin). Their courtship is as quick and breezy as the wind their shared passion for boating relies upon, making the decision to take a friend's yacht nearly 6000 kilometres to America a relatively easy one. Once the couple are on their way, however, a thunderous hurricane has other ideas for their planned romantic journey. With Oldham's ordeal having taken place more than three decades ago, director Baltasar Kormákur (Everest) and his team of three writers clearly hope that the details have slipped from the public's collective memory. Or, at the very least, that no one in the watching audience knows what happened or has ever read Oldham's memoir. They're the only reasons that can possibly explain Adrift's two storytelling missteps: sticking to a unimaginative formula and leaning too hard on its love story.When the movie isn't charting a course straight through the same territory previously traversed in All is Lost, The Mercy and Life of Pi (in the last decade alone), it's jumping backwards and forwards in its timeline to ramp up the amorous aspect of the narrative. To the film's detriment, neither following the usual template nor mixing a potential tragedy with romance proves anything other than routine. Still, just as it takes grit to try to stay alive when nature trashes your boat in the middle of the ocean, it also takes fortitude and determination to play someone trapped in such stressful circumstances. Woodley is at her near-best as Oldham, never giving the plucky protagonist superhero-like strength or abilities, and never losing sight of both the physical and emotional toll that arises when you think your life is about to end. It's the same kind of empathetic portrayal that has served Woodley well across her career, and it's well-suited to this rare female-centric dive into the survivalist pool. Her co-star Claflin is given little to do other than take on the token love interest part. Pushing a determined woman to the fore and rendering the male character as a supporting player, it's a role-reversal that doesn't escape attention, although Adrift doesn't capitalise upon it as much as it could've. As Everest illustrated, Kormákur is fond of tense true tales about courage in the face of seemingly fatal adversity. As his 2012 Icelandic movie The Deep also demonstrated, the filmmaker is similarly drawn to life-or-death exploits in the water. Adrift owes a little to both but falls somewhere in the middle; it's as driven by incident and spectacle as the former, yet also proves as intimate as the latter. As a result, when Woodley isn't stealing the show, her unforgiving surroundings — and Robert Richardson's (Breathe) glossy cinematography — jostle for attention. Indeed, a stripped-back version of the story that simply focused on its star tussling with the sea would've made for compelling viewing. But by giving it the standard disaster flick approach and trying to tug at the heartstrings as well, Adrift sadly starts to sink. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LunQJEnmNdU
IKEA's blue-and-yellow Frakta bag has been a shop staple for more than three decades. It has helped carry your purchases of (too many) tea light candles, and proven an integral part of moving house. It's been used to make everything from masks and boots to bucket hats and even outfits for dogs, and has inspired a $2000 Balenciaga knockoff as well. And now, it's getting a new colour — so get ready to add a different hue to that pile of bags stuffed in one of your cupboards. Back in 2019, the Swedish retailer dropped a limited-edition rainbow version of the instantly recognisable, and super versatile bag; however, it was only available for short time. From November this year, IKEA will release a vibrant pink iteration as well, this time as part of a new collaboration with designer Zandra Rhodes. The vivid Karismatisk bag falls under the Rhodes-designed, 26-piece collection of the same name and, obviously, it's pink. The colour is bright, and there's another design flourish you won't find on the regular blue Frakta, too: side frills. "It is playful and functional — and the colour pop of pink adds an extra Zandra accent," said the designer. The Karismatisk bag will be available to purchase at IKEA stores n Richmond, Rhodes and Logan from November for $3. It'll also be available online at the same time. Across the rest of Rhodes' collection, you can also pick up cushions with eye-catching prints, both blue and pink vases, gold lampshades, and a range of rugs — plus mirrors, LED lighting, and candlestick and tea light candle holders. The Karismatisk bag will be available to purchase at IKEAs stores in Richmond, Rhodes and Logan from November for $3, and online via the retailer's website at the same time.
Stephen King's horror novels, and the movies based on them, have taught the world many things. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, hanging out in a pet cemetery isn't a great idea, toxic fandom exists and bullying is awful (although everyone already knew the last one). If one life lesson from the author's pages stands out above the rest, however, it's this: clowns can be creepy, chilling and downright terrifying. Fancy seeing how you cope with the eerie figures while you're on the mini golf course? Wondering if all that makeup put you off your short game? Brisbane is about to get a Halloween putt putt setup, so it's time to do the monster mash while you're tap, tap, tapping — and avoiding frightening jokers. At Christmas, the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course gives itself a festive revamp. Mini golf is more fun with reindeer, obviously. At Easter, a candy-themed course pops up — and over Valentine's Day, the venue went big on love. Next, from Friday, September 16–Monday, October 31, that's when the Halloween spirit kicks in. The venue's greens will be getting a spooky makeover and, no, missing a hole in one won't be the most terrifying thing about your next stint on the course. Zombies, witches, spiders, toxic waste barrels, bones, pumpkins — they're also among the petrifying things that'll be improving or scaring your short game. If a haunted house was to meet up with a mini golf course, this is what it'd look like. If you went along to last year's Halloween putt putt, you're in for an extra bonus — this year's will have a whole set of new and different decorations, so you won't just be hitting a ball around the same setup. Bookings are essential, with the course open from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday. Fancy a few holes before work? Want to add some fun to your lunch break? Need something to look forward to come quitting time? They're all options. Just remember that it's a family-friendly affair, so you'll likely have plenty of company — and tickets cost $23 per adult. Also, making a visit between Friday, October 28–Monday, October 31 is particularly recommended. That's when Victoria Park is hosting a Wicked Weekend, complete with Altos Tequila slushie margaritas or a non-alcoholic versions, plus added augmented-reality scares. Halloween Putt Putt takes over the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course at 309 Herston Road, Herston from Friday, September 16–Monday, October 31, open 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday — with tickets costing $23 for adults. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Pandora Photography.
