Retailer of classic silhouettes, every season basics and generally good garb COS will open its first Queensland next month — setting up shop on Queen Street. Owned by the H&M Group, COS already has presences in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. With six stores already offering the brand, the Brisbane store will make one for every day of the week (if you're so inclined). Founded in 2007 in London, COS now has 231 stores worldwide. It opened its first Australian store on Melbourne's Elizabeth Street in 2014 and has been supplying us with sleek and minimalist, yet fundamentally wearable clothing ever since. The new two-storey Wintergarden store will open on November 16 and will fill 474 square metres with clothes, accessories, underwear and shoes for women, men and children. It'll launch with the new spring summer 2018 collection, which features lots of soft tailoring and structured draping in greens, whites, creams and navy. COS Brisbane will open on Friday, November 16 at Wintergarden, 171–209 Queen Street, Brisbane.
Every now and then, Airbnb wants you to sleep somewhere you wouldn't normally be able to visit, such as Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill and Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito abode. Whichever spots that the accommodation platform is offering up, there's usually a common denominator: these once-in-a-lifetime stays aren't Down Under. Hobbiton broke the trend, and the Bluey house, too. So does Logan Martin's Gold Coast home. Fancy spending a long weekend at the Olympic BMX gold medalist's house? This spring, you can. Airbnb has been focusing on well-known folks of late, following up Paltrow's guesthouse with Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis' own oceanside equivalent in Santa Barbara County. Now comes Martin's place, with the Australian champ — who won his gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the first-ever men's BMX freestyle competition at the games — welcoming a group of up to four people from Saturday, September 30–Tuesday, October 3. In some Aussie states — including Queensland — the dates do indeed fall over a long weekend. Even if they don't for you, this is a three-night getaway. And it's cheap. How cheap? Just $16 per night, which is a real cost-of-living crisis bargain. If you're wondering whether Martin will be hanging around, the answer is yes — for a BMX demonstration and session in his backyard. He'll put his very own state-of-the-art, Olympic-sized skatepark to good use, and also show you how to, in an effort to inspire future BMX riders. Scoring the booking also includes making the most of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom Gold Coast hinterland home's views, putting green and sandpit, as well as its pool. Inside, you'll be surrounded by Martin's trophies, medals and other memorabilia. Like all of these special Airbnb stays, you do need to be available to kick back on the specific dates — and you need to be lucky enough to score the reservation, which opens at 9am AEST on Tuesday, September 12. Also, all travel costs fall on you, with the $16-per-night accommodation fee just covering access to the property. "I stay in Airbnbs all over the world, and love how these stays have given my family and I a unique way to explore amazing places and really authentically connect with new communities," said Martin. "As a host, I will bring a unique and adventure-fuelled experience to my guests so they can create exciting lifelong memories — including a very special one-on-one BMX experience in my world class skatepark in my backyard." Airbnb adds this new extremely short-term listing to its roster after also doing the same with Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop and the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage in recent years. For more information about Logan Martin's Gold Coast home on Airbnb, or to book at 9am AEST on Tuesday, September 12 for a stay from Saturday, September 30–Tuesday, October 3, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Luke Marsden Photography. 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.
Comedic duo, Sammy J and Randy are back in Brisbane this week to dish out belly laughs and tons of giggles. The pair have returned to Australian soil after participating in comedy festivals in Montreal and Edinburgh and have hit the ground running. Their show, Sammy J and Randy in The Inheritance, promises to be a light-hearted and entertaining performance. The show focuses on Randy's discovery that he is an heir to an impressive fortune. Moral questions of honestly and jealousy will arise as the two bicker over the cash and of course, hilarity ensues. The show's duration is just a little over an hour and combines puppetry and musical comedy with a theatrical spin. Catch this hilarious Australian act on either their Friday or Saturday night show. The Powerhouse recommends this performance for those over 15 years.
Every year, The Wickham hosts Little Gay Day. Despite the name, it's a sizeable party, all while doubling as a fundraising event for charities that serve the LGBTQIA+ community. And, in 2023, this sister shindig to the venue's Big Gay Day is returning — this time in April. These two fests have swapped spots on the calendar just for this year; however, they're both still attached to long weekends. For Little Gay Day, that means getting Brisbanites partying from 2pm on Sunday, April 30. There'll be live tunes and performances taking over the whole newly revamped venue. There'll be beverages, too, given the location. Zoë Badwi, SGT Slick, BRIEFS, Get Ready with Ruby Slippers, Clara Cupcakes' Good Time Corral, Henny Spaghetti, Dolly Kicks, Stefani Stefani and Reef VS Beef lead the lineup of musicians, drag queens and performers who'll be strutting their stuff, spanning both locals and interstate talents. This year, entry is ticketed, with funds going to Open Doors Youth Service.
What do you have more cash for when you're only spending 50 cents per journey on your commute to and from work, and to get to wherever else you might need via Queensland's Translink public transport? Sunshine State residents are set to find out permanently. The current cost-of-living relief measure that's been discounting fares to a shiny dodecagonal coin since early August 2024 will now continue — on an ongoing basis, not just for the six months that was initially announced in May. Slashing the price of public transport was always going to prove a hit. In its first month, the 50-cent fare trial saw more than 15-million trips taken across southeast Queensland alone, increasing patronage by 2.4 percent on pre-COVID-19 levels. So, not only has the current Labor Queensland Government committed to keeping the reduced price, but so has the state's opposition party. Accordingly, no matter who wins the Sunshine State's next election on Saturday, October 26, 2024, cheap public transport is here to stay. [caption id="attachment_857365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] When the initiative came into effect on Monday, August 5, 2024, it was revealed that it'd run until February — but The Sunday Mail reported that the Queensland Government would reassess the move in early 2025 if Labour was re-elected. No one is now waiting until the ballot, however, given how popular the discounted fares have been. First Queensland Premier Steven Miles announced that the 50-cent prices would become permanent, then Opposition Leader David Crisafulli revealed that the cheap fare would be kept if there's a change of government. [caption id="attachment_796727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The price-slashing move is both a cost-of-living relief measure and an effort to reduce traffic congestion, and it impacts a hefty range of travel options. Translink, which falls within Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads, runs trains, buses, ferries and trams in southeast Queensland, for starters. So for Brisbanites, whether you ride the rails as part of your daily commute, hit the road or hop on a CityCat, you're now scoring a hefty discount, getting there and home for just $1 a day. This is a statewide measure. Translink also runs buses in Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, the Fraser Coast, Gladstone and Gympie — and in Innisfail, Kilcoy, Mackay, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick and The Whitsundays. The 50-cent price applies to everyone, including concession cardholders, but is only available on Translink services. As such, privately operated transport services aren't doing the cheap fares. [caption id="attachment_703636" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Philip-Mallis via Flickr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_754201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_630654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Thomas via Flickr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_749921" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] John via Flickr[/caption] All fares across Translink's Queensland public transport services currently cost 50 cents. To find out more about Translink's services, head to the company's website. Top image: John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons.
If the regular Brisbane scene suddenly seems passé, full of naïve 18 year olds and you’re looking for somewhere a little more sophisticated/impressive to take someone on a date, the Schubert String Quintet might be just what you’re after. Imagine taking that someone special to QPAC, having a glass of champagne and witnessing classical masterpieces performed to perfection - you’d be getting lucky for sure, and you wouldn’t even need a corny pickup line to woo some lass (or lad) into the boudoir. Performing are five principal musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra; Richard Tognetti, Satu Vänskä, Christopher Moore, Timo-Veikko Valve and Jan-Erik Gustafsson. Together they are playing pieces by Bach, Stravinsky and Webern, so your entire musical palate will be satisfied regardless of any classy preferences. This night is a one-off event so you’d better be getting tickets organised quickly and having your formal wear dry-cleaned - you wouldn’t want to miss a chance to show off, would you?
Already a go-to for affordable European spreads, Paddington's Nota has now added a wine bar to the mix. Three years after first opening at 224 Given Terrace, the inner-west restaurant has taken over the space next door, turning it into your next favourite vino-swilling spot. Still present: the exposed brick walls and mirrors aplenty, as Nota has boasted ever since it took over fine diner Montrachet's old Paddington digs after the beloved French eatery moved shop. Now, under the rebadged name Nota Restaurant & Wine Bar, the venue is pairing those eye-catching surroundings with a dedicated area to enjoy tipples — with or without a bite to eat. First announced earlier in 2022 and now up and running, the revamped Nota has become a 90-seater, and has knocked down the adjoining wall between its two spaces so that patrons can mosey between them. On the bar side, you'll find a five-metre wall of wines, wines and more wines. Warm lighting sets the mood, a bar snack menu will keep your stomach from rumbling, and the full Nota menu is also available. Owners Kevin Docherty and Sebastiaan de Kort (ex-Moda) have also enlisted Italian-born, French-trained Head Chef Matteo Pisanu to take care of the kitchen. On the menu: oysters, savoury churros with anchovies, cheeseburger spring rolls and tempura fish sandwiches among the smaller options; plus beef carpaccio, scallops burrata, spanner crab pasta and more. As for all that vino, restaurant manager Yanika Sittisuntorn has grown Nota's range from 12 bottles upon opening to 90-plus now, and is particularly fond of lesser-known and experimental varieties. Find NotaRestaurant & Wine Bar at 224 Given Terrace, Paddington — open 6pm–late on Tuesday, 4pm–late on Wednesday–Thursday and 12pm–late Friday–Saturday. Images: Markus Ravik.
After a three-year hiatus, we are to be once again graced with the Brisbane Indesign Festival. By bringing Brisbane a bevy of local and international talent from a diversity of fields, Brisbane Indesign aims to showcase all that is great in the world of design. If a treasure trove of inspiration from the four corners of the world isn’t enough for those considering attending, real treasure is also on offer this year. The festival’s official partners are offering the opportunity to win some truly awesome prizes, including a collection of Art Series Abstract homewares from Dinosaur Designs, and a trip for two (including return flights and accommodation) to Melbourne for the Saturday Indesign festival courtesy of Stylecraft. The event kicks off on Saturday the 26th May and will continue until Sunday evening throughout various showrooms and pop up stalls along the length of James Street, Fortitude Valley. Free shuttle buses will be running to ferry avid explorers between locations and a host of street performers and artists will also be showcasing their varied talents. Entry to the festival is free. Simply visit the official website and register your intent to attend. For anyone seeking design inspiration, or for those seeking to inspire, this is your time to shine.
At a press conference in Brisbane during his first trip to Australia to see the Down Under production of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda said that the Aussie stars of his hit Tony-, Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning show had been "stacking up against the originals in a very tangible way" ever since casting took place three years back. That isn't the only time the acclaimed theatre talent has been chatting during his Australian visit, however, taking part in a live public Q&A session for fans in the Sunshine State capital. Missed out on being in the room where that happened? Thankfully, you'll have a shot to watch the results in your own room — and soon. Given that Leigh Sales hosted the discussion, which took place on Sunday, March 5, it should hardly come as a surprise that the talk is heading to the ABC and ABC iView. It'll air on TV twice: at 6pm on Saturday, March 18 and 10pm on Tuesday, March 21, as well as joining the iView catalogue. Viewers can watch Miranda step through the smash-hit musical that's had the whole world talking since it first debuted off-Broadway in 2015. His chat with Sales came the day after he saw the Aussie version of Hamilton at the QPAC Lyric Theatre — the same stage he took to discuss it, in fact. Viewers can expect to hear about everything from the process Miranda went through to make the musical to begin with, behind-the-scenes details and the Aussie production's impressive talents. [caption id="attachment_870525" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] The biggest show in musical theatre this century, this game-changing, award-winning, rightly raved-about take on 18th-century American politics is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America. Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book for the critically acclaimed hip hop musical. The Broadway hit's Aussie production features a cast that currently includes Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, Martha Berhane as Eliza Hamilton, Callan Purcell as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Matu Ngaropo as George Washington, and Victory Ndukwe as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Sami Afuni plays Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, Wern Mak does double duty as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha plays Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, and Brent Hill steps into King George III's robes. [caption id="attachment_870526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] When it finishes its Brisbane season at QPAC's Lyric Theatre on Sunday, April 23, the show will leave the country for a New Zealand run. That'll mean that Aussie fans will then need to be content with watching the filmed version of Hamilton's Broadway production, which started streaming via Disney+ in 2020, again. (And yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard). Brisbanites keen to see Hamilton for cheap in-person can also try the $10 ticket lottery, which offers tickets for less than the cost of lunch. Lin-Manuel Miranda's chat with Leigh Sales at QPAC's Lyric Theatre will hit the ABC and ABC iView at 6pm on Saturday, March 18, and air again on the ABC at 10pm on Tuesday, March 21. Hamilton's Brisbane season runs until Sunday, April 23 at QPAC's Lyric Theatre, South Bank, with tickets available via the musical's website. You can also read our rundown of what Lin-Manuel Miranda had to say at his Brisbane press conference. Top image: Joan Marcus.
The funniest comics from Australia and across the globe will be in town between February 26 and March 24 for this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival. Be prepared for an onslaught of hilarity as comedians such as Stephen K. Amos, Sammy J & Randy, Dave O'Neil, Dave Thornton, and Hannah Gadsby take to the stage. Although you may not know their faces, you'll definitely recognise the voices of Triple J presenter, Mel Buttle and Tom Ballard, who will also tickle your funny bone. This year's colourful bunch of comedians include well-known entertainers as well as up-and-comers. Newbies have the chance to make you giggle at the Breakout Comedy show from February 21. Another highlight of the festival is Chalkboard, a late-night session held on Friday and Saturday nights where a variety of comedians get the chance to share their new material. Held at the Brisbane Powerhouse, this much-loved festival will make you laugh until you cry — or at least until you need to change your underwear.
During its eight-season run between 2011–19, Game of Thrones served up more drama than several fire-breathing dragons could whip up. It also delivered HBO huge ratings, plenty of advertising dollars and free-flowing acclaim, so the US cable network is understandably keen to keep the franchise going — and it looks like it has three more GoT-related TV shows in the works. We say 'more' because HBO already has three others in various stages of development. Indeed, just which new programs will spin off from the world created by George RR Martin has been a hefty source of drama in itself over the past few years. Before GoT even finished, there was chatter about what would come next, with the network first announcing that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later decided to adapt Martin's House Targaryen-focused Fire & Blood for the small screen as a show called House of the Dragon instead. Next, it opted to also give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment — and to work on an animated GoT show as well. Now, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that fans might be able to look forward to 9 Voyages, 10,000 Ships and a third show set in Flea Bottom, the King's Landing slum. So, like residents of Westeros hoping that summer (or at least autumn) will last for ever, you don't need to let go of this highly successful fantasy world anytime soon. Hailing from Rome creator Bruno Heller, 9 Voyages plans to focus on Lord Corlys Velaryon, who is also known as The Sea Snake, Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon. If he doesn't yet sound familiar, that's because he's set to appear in House of the Dragon, where he'll be played by Steve Toussaint (It's a Sin). As for 10,000 Ships, it'll be about Princess Nymeria, an ancestor of House Martell who started the kingdom of Dorne. If it goes ahead, the show will tell a tale that takes place around 1000 years before the events in GoT. Then there's the the Flea Bottom series, which doesn't yet have even a working title. But, viewers can expect to spend time in the spot where Davos Seaworth and Gendry Baratheon were born. So far, only House of the Dragon — which will star Olivia Cooke (Pixie), Emma D'Arcy (Misbehaviour), Paddy Considine (The Third Day), Rhys Ifans (Official Secrets), Matt Smith (His House), Sonoya Mizuno (Devs) and Eve Best (Nurse Jackie) — is confirmed to be forging ahead. You can probably pencil in 2022 in your diary, if you're wondering when you might be able to see it. As for the other five GoT-related shows, they're just in various stages of development, so it's too early to say when they might pop up or who'll star in them. As the scrapping of the first proposed prequel illustrates — as mentioned above — the fact that HBO is pondering making new Westeros-set programs doesn't mean that they'll end up coming to fruition. At some point, Martin's saga will also live on in his books, whenever the author finally publishes the long-awaited next instalment of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Until any of the GoT prequels and spinoffs actually drop, you can always rewatch the original — which is streaming in Australia via Binge — or revisit a trailer from its eighth and final season below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuLUyJdRvSU Via The Hollywood Reporter.
It's that time again, somehow: time to start filling your calendar with festive events. If you're the kind of person who can't wait to celebrate Christmas each year, you're in luck. If you think that October is too early to start thinking about all things jolly, Brisbane's social calendar in general doesn't care — and neither does Rivermakers Heritage Quarter. South Bank has a huge revamp on the cards, and Northshore Hamilton as well. Portside is enjoying a makeover right now, while Howard Smith Wharves joined Brisbane's riverside so recently that it still feels brand new. But they aren't the only food-, drink- and entertainment-filled precincts by the water that are inviting Brisbanites in, with Rivermakers Heritage Quarter popping up in the city's east, turning a patch of Colmslie Road in Morningside into a new must-visit destination and regularly hosting events to celebrate. If you haven't had the chance to stop by the 30-hectare heritage-listed spot yet at its open day, 2022 Christmas party, Hottest 100 shindig or autumn's debut Makers on the River, here's your next chance: the return of the latter, aka a waterside festival with live music, a heap of markets, plenty of drinking opportunities and sky-brightening fireworks. Makers on the River will make a Christmas season comeback from 12–4–9pm on Saturday, November 11, showcasing Rivermakers' sights — and everything you can eat, drink and do, from sipping brews and taking brewing masterclasses at Revel Brewing Co's second site through to dancing to tunes and checking out roving performers. The yet-to-be-announced music bill will celebrate local talents. Selling their wares: over 50 stalls from artisan vendors, with a focus on all things bespoke, handmade and local. An array of food options will also take care of the culinary side of things, complete with a cheese and oyster bar. And Milton Rum's pop-up bar will help quench your thirst. For kids, there'll be rides as well. And those fireworks will liven up the heavens at 8.30pm. The full Rivermakers precinct sprawls across a patch of land at the end of Junction Road that first housed a lime factory back in 1917. Since then, it's been used for alcohol distillation, radio broadcasting, naval barracks and a migrant hostel, and as the base for Hans Continental Smallgoods. Now, Low & Slow Meat Co, Bavay Distillery and ceramics workshop Mas & Miek are among Rivermakers' tenants. Makers on the River: Christmas Edition takes place from 4–9pm on Saturday, November 11. Head to Rivermakers website for further details.
Australians can't travel far in 2020, but domestic flight sales have been doing big business. When Jetstar launched a heap of cheap options in mid-June, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours. And when Alliance Airlines offered $99 trips from Brisbane to the Whitsundays, it understandably received plenty of interest, too. If you're a Queenslander still eager to head north for a getaway in the next few months (to salvage what's left of 2020, perhaps), it's now Virgin Australia's turn to help your holiday plans. The airline is holding a sale on flights from Brissie to Hamilton Island — costing $129 each way. The sale has already kicked off, and is available until it sells out — so there's no official end date but, obviously, it's likely to be popular and seats will probably get snapped up quickly. In terms of making the trip, you can get tropical between Monday, October 12–Sunday, December 13, giving you a hefty two-month period to slot in your island vacation. And, heading to Hamilton Island won't require you to navigate Queensland's borders, given that you'll be staying within the state. Via its app, Virgin is also offering 20 percent off a selection of other fares — not just to Hamilton Island and back — between Wednesday, October 13–Wednesday, December 9. To nab those cheap flights, you'll have to make a purchase before midnight on Thursday, October 8, or until they're sold out. Virgin Australia's $129 sale on flights between Hamilton Island and Brisbane runs until sold out — and its 20-percent-off app sale runs until midnight on Thursday, October 8 (or until sold out).
What's more believable — and plot twists follow: a pre-teen playing a 33-year-old woman pretending to be a nine-year-old orphan, with a hormone disorder explaining the character's eerily youthful appearance; or an adult playing a 31-year-old woman pretending to be a lost child returned at age nine, again with that medical condition making everyone else oblivious? For viewers of 2009's Orphan and its 13-years-later follow-up Orphan: First Kill, which is a prequel, neither are particularly credible to witness. But the first film delivered its age trickery as an off-kilter final-act reveal, as paired with a phenomenal performance by then 12-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman in the pivotal role. Audiences bought the big shift — or remembered it, at least — because Fuhrman was so creepy and so committed to the bit, and because it suited the OTT horror-thriller. This time, that wild revelation is old news, but that doesn't stop Orphan: First Kill from leaning on the same two key pillars: an out-there turn of events and fervent portrayals. Fuhrman (The Novice) returns as Esther, the Estonian adult who posed as a parentless Russian girl in the initial feature. In Orphan: First Kill, she's introduced as Leena Klammer, the most dangerous resident at the Saarne Institute mental hospital. The prequel's first sighted kill comes early, as a means of escape. The second follows swiftly, because the film needs to get its central figure to the US. Fans of the previous picture will recall that Esther already had a troubled history when she was adopted and started wreaking the movie's main havoc, involving the family that brought her to America — and her time with that brood, aka wealthy Connecticut-based artist Allen Albright (Rossif Sutherland, Possessor), his gala-hosting wife Tricia (Julia Stiles, Hustlers) and their teen son Gunnar (Matthew Finlan, My Fake Boyfriend), is this flick's focus. Like their counterparts in Orphan, the Albrights have suffered a loss and are struggling to move on. When Leena poses as their missing daughter Esther, Allen especially seems like his old self again. As also happened in Orphan, however, the pigtail- and ribbon-wearing new addition to their home doesn't settle in smoothly. Orphan: First Kill repeats the original movie's greatest hits, including the arty doting dad, the wary brother, taunts labelling Esther a freak and a thorny relationship with her mum. Also covered: suspicious external parties, bathroom tantrums, swearing to get attention and spying on her parents having sex. And yes, anyone who has seen Orphan knows how this all turns out, and that it leads to the above again in Orphan, too. Thankfully, that's only part of Orphan: First Kill's narrative. Twists can be curious narrative tools; sometimes they're inspired, sometimes they're a crutch propping up a flimsy screenplay, and sometimes they seesaw between both. Orphan: First Kill tumbles gleefully into the latter category, thanks to a revelation midway that's patently ridiculous — although no more ridiculous than Orphan earning a follow-up in the first place — and also among the best things about the movie. It's a big risk, making a film that's initially so laughably formulaic that it just seems lazy, then letting a sudden switch completely change the game, the tone and the audience's perception of what's transpired so far. That proved a charm for the thoroughly unrelated Malignant in 2021, and it's a gamble that filmmaker William Brent Bell (The Boy and Brahms: The Boy II) and screenwriter David Coggeshall (Scream: The TV Series) take. Working with a story by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) and Alex Mace (who earned the same credit on the original), it's one of their savviest choices. Another crucial decision that would've shattered the film had it gone the other way: getting Fuhrman back. Given she's now definitely an adult, it's downright preposterous to buy her as passing for nine, Lizzie Borden dresses and all — but with the jig already up for viewers before this flick even begins, that visible discrepancy adds another sinister layer to everything Esther gets up to. Yes, Bell and cinematographer Karim Hussain (Firestarter) are toying with everyone watching just like their evil protagonist does, not only with the Albrights but with unconvinced Detective Donnan (Hiro Kanagawa, Pachinko) and doubtful Dr Segar (Samantha Walkes, Murdoch Mysteries) as well. Fuhrman makes you want to go along with the gambit; she's again a force to be reckoned with as the malevolent, manipulative miniature psychopath, playing her part with equal parts steely determination and calm-faced derangement, and with the help of camera angles and practical effects to keep up the act. Bell knows that Orphan's twist is now as familiar as those in The Sixth Sense, The Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green. He also knows that Orphan is more famous for how it ends than being a genre standout otherwise, which it isn't. And, he knows that viewers are aware that Fuhrman is now an adult portraying an adult impersonating a child, rather than a child portraying a woman professing to be a kid. That also works emotionally for Orphan: First Kill, laying the groundwork for its own change of direction. In Orphan, Esther always resembles a brattish girl, even when she drops her disguise, and sympathising with her adoptive mother's anguish comes easily. Here, she's clearly an adult, and wondering why her ruse seems to work so smoothly also comes with the territory. Orphan didn't just boast one big performance, of course, and neither does Orphan: First Kill. More Julia Stiles in all things is always welcome, including when she's dealing with demonic tykes as she also did in The Omen remake. The twist she's saddled with here is inescapably silly, but Stiles has a glorious amount of fun with it — and helps answer the question that hangs over the film's first half (that'd be "why is Julia Stiles in this?"). She isn't quite enough to justify Orphan: First Kill's existence, and nor is Fuhrman repeating her first big success, the new surprise development that the whole picture hinges on, all the callbacks or the whole origin-story vibe. The world didn't really need to know why Esther likes blacklight paintings or where she first got her ribbons, which adds zero depth to the franchise. Attempting to evoke empathy for the murder-happy figure doesn't strike the chord it's meant to, either. But that revelation is still worth discovering, and Fuhrman and Stiles' performances are still worth watching, in a movie that knows it's a lurid and needless second effort — and happily leans in.
Forget all other music rivalries; since the 1960s, nothing has eclipsed The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones. One seemed like the friendly guys next door, the other like edgy bad boys - and while the iconic groups themselves largely played nice, their fans have argued for supremacy over the past five decades. For the second instalment of their 'Choose Your Weapon' series, The New Globe wants to resolve the issue once and for all. To do so, four bands will showcase their takes on a catalogue of classics, on this hard day’s night where it’s only rock ’n' roll. All Hawkmoon and Drawn From Bees need is love to strut their stuff, though they might get by with a little help from their friends. Switchblade Suzie and Stone Majesty are certain to have sympathy for the devil as they start things up and paint it black. Of course, the real winner is you, the audience, gifted with a night of legendary tunes interpreted by great local acts. Those in the Stones camp might want to arrive early for something extra special — infamous tour documentary Gimme Shelter screens at 6.30pm, before the bands start battling it out.
Gift giving can be stressful business. Finding that perfect gift that ticks all the boxes of convenience, affordability, and, most importantly, thoughtfulness can become a mission. Lucky for us that perfect gift is simply a click away thanks to the hundreds of boutiques popping up on the net. Here are eight of the most quirky, inspiring, and fun online boutiques for gift shopping. Prepare to waste many, many hours bookmarking from these sites. And while you're at it, go on buy yourself a little present, too. Bodega Deluxe Sometime in 2011 Bodega Deluxe popped onto the radar. Frustrated with Australian shopping and too impatient to wait weeks for items to deliver, the folks at Bodega Deluxe took matters into their own hands and set up shop. Inspired by New York's local neighbourhood convenience stores, 'bodegas', the boutique sources the most quirky and fantastically random gifts and titbits that won't break the bank. Think Japanese anime DVDs (Totoro, anyone?), paint-your-own babushka dolls, and cinnamon mint flavoured toothpaste sourced from Italy. Despite the relatively small range, Bodega Deluxe's mix of tongue-in-cheek gifts and spiffed-up everyday items makes it a fuss-free, stress-free shopping zone. http://www.bodegadeluxe.com/ Culture Label Hailing from the motherland, Culture Label should be your go-to site when you’re looking for a gift that's just a little bit fancy. The site describes itself as the "crossroads of the cultural world; where art, design, style, heritage and emerging talent meet". Or in other words, so trendy it hurts. If you're stuck for ideas of what to buy the guy/girl who has everything, Culture Label will sort you out. There are hundreds of luxury or unusual gifts that ooze quirky British humour, such as vintage posters (a la Attack of the 50 Foot Woman), a Shakespeare's Hamlet-inspired Kindle cover, and a lips telephone. Bonus features such as personalised currency converter, giftware guides, and limited edition items give Culture Label the tick of approval. As the site acts as a hub for individual vendors, keep in mind that different postal costs apply depending on what you order. http://www.culturelabel.com/ Hello Polly Well, Hello there Polly. This young gun may have only been established for a year, but it feels like home, sweet home. It’s no surprise that, coming from an art background, founder Sarah Kelk has filled this cute-as-a-button boutique with crafty knickknacks for the home, graphic artwork, and bright accessories. It's the perfect online shopping destination to source gifts for the hostesses, decorators, and little ones in your life. You’ll find offbeat products like a breadboard shaped as a button or cardboard convertible toys by Flatout Frankie that will certainly prompt a squeal of delight from the lucky gift receiver. https://hellopolly.com.au/ Lark Sorry boys, this one's for the ladies. Hailing from Daylesford, Australia to the worldwide web, Lark is all quirky, cute, and girly. Think an '80s chick-flick in web form. This family-run boutique certainly lives up to its motto, 'live a beautiful life'. You'll find smile-inducing items such as a classic Etch A Sketch, brightly coloured metal signs spelling 'don't worry be happy', and, just in time for the silly season, that neon Christmas tree you always dreamed off. You'll have to spend over $120 to get the free shipping deal, but frankly, your mum, best friend, and niece will thank you for bulk buying their presents. http://www.larkmade.com.au/ Pigeonhole In five short years Pigeonhole has gone from being a one-man show in an old arcade in Perth to a five-store-strong, cafe-touting, and online extravaganza. For those not living on the west side, Pigeonhole online brings the best of their fashion and gift ranges to the masses. As far as gift shops go, Pigeonhole sits nicely in the all-rounder corner with something for every family member or friend. Shopping for a keen photog? Buy them the Impossible Project From Polaroid to Impossible book. Your mum’s a caffeine fiend? Show her you care with a heart-shaped espresso cup. Is your boyfriend always running late? Give him a hint and a 100 percent natural wood watch. http://www.pigeonhole.com/ Society 6 One of the best parts about gift giving is that it doesn’t have to be something the recipient needs but something they want (or don't yet know they want). This is where Society 6 comes in. Society 6 sources artwork in the form of prints, iPhone cases, T-shirts, and more from thousands of artists worldwide. If you want to buy someone special something very personal and unique, you can't go past this site. Prepare to waste many hours agonising over whether to buy one of the dozens of Batman prints, a stormwalker (moonwalking stormtrooper) laptop case, or a skull sprouting flowers tote bag. http://society6.com/ Think Geek Whether it’s Star Wars or superheros, Think Geek takes your fandom seriously. This online shopping site wholeheartedly celebrates all things tech, sci-fi, and fantasy with its range of gadgets and pop culture memorabilia. You can even shop by category and, yes, as we go to print there are almost a hundred products in the Zombies & Bacon category. It's a great place to find a gift for your mate that shows you care but won't have you breaking open the piggy bank. How about Star Wars Chop Sabers ('eat sushi, defend the galaxy') ora cupcake-shaped stress ball? Keep in mind that shipping depends on what you are ordering, how much you are ordering, and where it is shipping. http://www.thinkgeek.com/ Top 3 by design Top 3 by design live by the motto less is more. This online boutique stocks up to three products per category. This thorough editing process means each product really lives up to its potential. The range of functional, original, and clever products has an industrial rather than handcrafted edge. You'll find classic designs that have withstood the test of time, such as Josef Hartwig for Naef's Bauhaus chess set and board alongside modern innovations such as Andreas Engevik's Menu Pin Table (an outdoor table that literally can be pushed into the grass like a pin). Be warned that designer gifts come with designer prices, so save this site for when gift-buying for a special occasion or pool in with others. http://www.top3.com.au/index.html Main image: Hello Polly.
When the 2020 Emmy Awards handed out its gongs, a big upset hit the Lead Actress in a Drama category. Zendaya got the nod, and became its youngest-ever winner in the process. Of course, anyone who has watched Euphoria wasn't shocked at all. Playing Rue Bennett, a high schooler who has long tried to self-medicate her way out of her struggles, she's fantastic. She's also a major reason that the show's eight-episode first season quickly proved such a hit — and that the series will not only return for a second season, but is also dropping two specials in the interim. A sex-, drug-, lust- and love-fuelled teen drama mightn't sound like HBO's usual wheelhouse; however, fans of the US network already know one key truth: that it rarely puts a foot wrong. Not only is Euphoria vivid, energetic and dazzling to look at, but it's unflinchingly honest, raw and authentic as it follows Rue and her friends as they navigate their turbulence of being teenagers.
If you thought the Suitcase Rummage markets couldn’t get any better then I have some news for you. The best market in town just got better! Hard to believe, but it’s all true. Suitcase Rummage is taking part in the new creative community event The Home Festival, and is delivering a brand spankin’ new market, appropriately named ‘The Wardrobe Markets.’ The Wardrobe Markets will be just like the regular rummage markets were you can buy the best vintage, hand made and second hand goods Brisbane has to offer, but now instead of rummaging through suitcases the markets will be set up like a giant wardrobe. This means tables, clothing racks, lamps, rugs and other homely displays to make your shopping experience just that little bit more unique. The Home Festival has created different 'rooms' for people to visit throughout the day, (a lounge room, kitchen, study, garage etc) and the Suitcase Rummage stall holders will be setting up the scene of the rooms with their wares. PLUS there will be other events happening including live bands, workshops, zine making and outdoor screenings. The Home Festival's got it all baby. So this month you get double the market intake with the regular Suitcase Rummage on April 3 and the new Wardrobe Markets on April 9. Huzzah! Image by Jono Robert
With international travel on the back burner for the foreseeable future, we're really leaning into the idea of holidaying a lot closer to home this year. With its pristine beaches, idyllic islands and lush rainforests, Queensland has much to offer — and there's never been a better excuse to explore it. But let's face it, the state is huge. If the thought of spending hours driving doesn't exactly sound like a holiday, why not take advantage of the myriad other ways to explore the Sunshine State? We've teamed up with P&O Cruises to get you out from behind the wheel and find your inner adventurer. Because life's too short to spend hours in the car. [caption id="attachment_804261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] GO ON A WHALE WATCHING TOUR Summer might be over, but things are starting to heat up in Queensland in other ways. From autumn through to spring, humpback whales migrate to the Queensland coast, providing locals and visitors with ample opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of the majestic mammals. There are plenty of dedicated whale watching tours that operate from Brisbane as well as from the Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, The Whitsundays and the Tropical North. [caption id="attachment_804262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Manta Ray Bay, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] HIRE A BOAT AND EXPLORE THE STUNNING WHITSUNDAYS Prefer to choose your own adventure? The islands off the North Queensland coast are definitely having a moment right now — you've probably seen them popping up all over your Instagram feed. Just a quick one-and-a-half hour flight from Brisbane, The Whitsundays is home to a whopping 74 tropical islands. And with so many to choose from, why not hire a boat so you can visit as many as you can? Take your pick from a number of operators offering charter vessels to explore the region at your leisure. While Hamilton, Hayman and Daydream are the most notable of the islands, and a great spot to base yourself, lesser-known gems like Haslewood and Hook Islands are definitely worth stop. SET SAIL ON A P&O CRUISE Always wanted to get better acquainted with the Great Barrier Reef? P&O's Barrier Reef Discovery cruise (from $749 per person) is the best way to do just that. The week-long adventure, which begins and ends in Brisbane, provides the perfect launching pad to discover our very own world-famous natural wonder, with stops at Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island along the way. While onboard, you can enjoy the full suite of P&O's A-class amenities, including plush accommodation, seriously good dining options and indulgent spa treatments. [caption id="attachment_720261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamborine National Park, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] TAKE A STROLL THROUGH ONE OF OUR MANY NATIONAL PARKS We're blessed with beautiful natural landscapes all over Australia, but we Queenslanders are particularly lucky. Brisbane itself is surrounded by national parks, each one more beautiful than the next. Gheebulum Coonungai (Moreton Island) National Park is teeming with sweeping views of the Coral Sea, as well as sandy beaches, clear waters and wild marine life. If lush rainforest is more your scene, Lamington National Park should be right up your alley, with its ancient treescapes, majestic waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of walking trails. Elsewhere, Tamborine National Park, Queensland's first national park, offers relatively easy walking trails and a diverse range of wildlife in its natural habitat. [caption id="attachment_798103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tangalooma Wrecks, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] SNORKEL AMONG SHIPWRECKS AT TANGALOOMA It sounds like something out of a Disney movie — 15 shipwrecks anchored to the bottom of the ocean floor, ready to be explored. Set amongst the national and marine parks of beautiful Moreton Island, Tangalooma is an adventure seeker's playground. In addition to the underwater vessels, a trip to Tangalooma can include feeding dolphins at dusk, quad biking sand dunes and parasailing over crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. Getting there couldn't be more simple — it's just a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane. For more information about P&O Cruises, head to the company's website. Top image: Whitsundays Coral Beach, Gareth McGuigan
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the latest installment from the empire of J.K. Rowling. It's the first in a series of prequels to the Harry Potter films, that start in New York City in 1926. The film relies on the classic Pandora's box trope to drive the superficial layer of narrative. A magical trunk full of beasts is released upon New York and, in this case, Pandora is Newt Scamander, an eccentric British wizard played by Eddie Redmayne. Scamander, just in case you aren't as obsessed with the Potterverse as we are, is referenced throughout the Harry Potter series as the author of a foundational Hogwart's text book titled, you guessed it, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". Written by Rowling herself, the crust of the plot is a little bit slapstick. Essentially, after a series of bumbles in a muggle bank (or a 'no-maj' bank, as the Yanks would say), Scamander's trunk is swapped with the trunk of Jacob Kowalski, a typical, goofy muggle and aspirational baker played beautifully by Dan Fogler. When Kowalski unwittingly releases the cheeky beasties from the trunk, Scamander must team up with Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), a low-level Magical Congress employee scheming to get her Auror stripes back. This is where we dip down into the mantle of the plot and things get a bit more complicated. Turns out there are a faction of individuals in the community who believe magical beings are superior to muggles and that wizards should come out of hiding to enslave them. Without giving too much away, as the good guys race around New York collecting up their escaped creatures, Colin Farrell's character Percival Graves is lurking in the wings, trying to collect power. Also a church of fanatical, witch-hating muggles are seeking to expose magic. Also, a malevolent force is tearing around NYC ripping up side walks. Also, the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald is on the loose. Fantastic Beasts' goblet truly runneth over with plot and this might not be a good thing. The difficulty with this particular film franchise is that it has to be ambitious, since they've slated another four films at least. So this first installment labours to lay the foundations for the series. But the audience has no road map as to what is and isn't significant. There are numerous scenes, and indeed entire subplots, that could have been cut, seemingly without compromising any of the story arcs. Perhaps they'll bear fruit in later editions, but until then they're just kind of...there. Fortunately, the film makes up for its pacing problems with cauldron-loads of charm. From the overtures of friendship between Scamander and Kowalski to the soft-core romance blossoming every-damn-where; from the timely Ron Weasley-esque notes of comedy to the practical use of magic, everything in this film is just so damn whimsical. Untethered from any pre-existing book, this film takes magic use to it's logical conclusion: domestic automation. For some unknown reason, Hogwarts students learned how to turn each other into teapots but never seemed to learn any practical spells that would make their lives any easier. This film rectifies that annoyance completely and for Potter fans it's immensely satisfying. Also, we can't leave without mentioning the beasts, which as the film's title suggests are truly fantastic. The strongest part of the movie are Scamander's creatures and their various quirks – it's a handy plot device that the protagonist carries around a trunk full of talented beasts, and the script uses them to it's full advantage. And ultimately, that's the key to the film's success. At times it does feel as though the cheesiness of the Potterverse doesn't quite translate into this rather more adult world. Nevertheless, the magic that's powered Rowling's creations until now remains as palpable as ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vso5o11LuGU
From the screen to the page, tales of the future have promised us many, many things over the years. Some of them were good, like Back to the Future: Part II's hoverboards. Some of them weren't, such as 1984's vision of governmental control. Some of them just keep finding new ways to turn technological advances into a horror story, which is why Black Mirror keeps us all hooked. Now, imagine this kind of thinking, but in a sketch comedy show. The end result: Slack Mirror. Hitting Brisbane Powerhouse from Thursday, November 28–Sunday, December 1 as part of this year's Wonderland festival, it packages bleak dystopian visions with a sense of humour. Amy Currie (Love/Hate Actually) and Drew Lochrie (Titanic: the Movie, the Play) will be your guides into the future — and expect their take on things to come to take a "well we may as well laugh about it" approach.
Whether it's predatory behaviour, racial slurs or people being too pushy in a crowded space, there is always behaviour at music festivals that makes people — generally minorities or females — feel unsafe. Like day-to-day life, it's unfortunately part of the experience. But after five women reported being sexually assaulted at the Marion Bay leg of Falls Festival over the New Year period, Laneway Festival has announced it will instate a hotline that punters can call in real time to report harassment or disrespectful behaviour on its 2017 tour. It's the first time Laneway has provided such a service, but it's an extension of the boss ladies of Melbourne band Camp Cope's #ItTakesOne campaign, which they launched last year to call-out and end harassment at gigs. The idea is that it only takes one dickhead to do something to make someone feel unsafe, but it also only takes one person to call them out and stop it. In a video released this week — which also includes Julia Jacklin and Ella Thompson from GL — Camp Cope said they wanted "to ensure everyone at our shows feels valued and important — our music is for anyone to enjoy, and to feel safe and respected while they're enjoying it". If you've got a ticket to Laneway — which heads to Melbourne this weekend and Sydney the next — jot down the number 1800 LANEWAY (that's 1800 526 3929). If you see any shitty or disrespectful behaviour, give it a call. An on-the-ground operator will be able to help you and sort the situation out. Look after your mates and the people around you to make sure everyone has the opportunity to dance their heart out while feeling safe. Image: Andy Fraser.
Many equations are at work in X+Y, and not just the part of one that forms the film's pithy title. Mathematics features prominently throughout the movie, as a child prodigy finds solace in numbers after being diagnosed on the autism spectrum, then attends maths camp and strives to participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad. Again, that's not all, with bigger, broader calculations at work throughout the feature. Indeed, the end product is simply one giant sum of clear-cut components. Take a true tale, add a director who has previously made the story into a documentary, plus the standard outsider-overcomes-adversity themes. Multiply the heartwarming emotions already swelling with a dash of family tragedy, a teacher looking for meaning and a teenage romance. The result is filmmaker Morgan Matthews' fictionalised account of his 2007 TV effort Beautiful Young Minds, as well as his fiction film debut. There's no mistaking the tender mood he's not only attempting to conjure but succeeds in bathing the feature in from start to finish. There's just no mistaking the obvious formula either, even given the movie's real-life basis. After the death of his father (Martin McCann), Nathan (played by Edward Baker-Close as a 10-year-old, and Asa Butterfield as he ages) struggles to connect to his well-meaning mother (Sally Hawkins). Instead, he escapes into his love of maths, warming to a local teacher, Mr Humphreys (Rafe Spall), during private lessons. Their shared affinity for advanced arithmetic sparks dreams of competing at the highest level, even more so when Nathan is selected to train in Taipei to hone his skills. There, he meets fellow numbers wiz Zhang Mei (Jo Yang), a friendship growing alongside the usually awkward Nathan's own confidence. What makes X+Y amble by isn't the narrative that would shout its message of acceptance from the rooftops if it could've found a way to make that seem even remotely plausible, but the cast. The film may lack subtlety in most areas, especially dialogue; however, it finds nuance in the work of Butterfield, Hawkins and Spall. All have played their roles before — the lonely boy looking for a place to belong, the caring woman striving to make the best of a complicated situation, and loveable but troubled companion — yet they never let that flavour their performances. Others who come into their orbit, including Eddie Marsan as Humphreys' own maths teacher, offer similarly perceptive portrayals. Elsewhere, it's a sweet affair, both in the way the film feels and looks. On one hand, that means huge helpings of syrup in the screenplay, more so as it reaches its predictable conclusion. On the other hand, the film's frames are often saturated in colour, a stylistic flourish actually — and surprisingly — also grounded in the script. Alas, though such a great visual touch shows a willingness to do more than paint by numbers, as does a brief but breezed-over flirtation with a darker subplot, such thinking outside the box is all too fleeting. The final equation: X+Y equals a nicely acted and ultimately conventional coming-of-age effort, with 111 minutes of running time as its proof.
UPDATE, October 19, 2020: Climax is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. A bowl of LSD-laced sangria. A thumping soundtrack. Dancers at the top of their game. With the lurid and kinetic Climax, Gaspar Noé takes a trip into a memorable, manic and murderous all-night party. Loosely based on a true story that dates back to the 90s, it starts with a troupe busting moves, downing beverages and blowing off steam after rehearsals, then discovering that their drinks have been spiked. That said, 'discover' isn't really the best word to describe folks realising that their nightmare is real. It's wholly accurate, however it can't completely convey Selva (Sofia Boutella) and her crew's horrific predicament. Writing as well as directing and co-editing, Noé isn't interested in explaining or describing, so that's about as far as his narrative goes. But, as the Argentine-born, French-based provocateur keeps demonstrating with each successive picture, he loves plunging audiences into hallucinatory and immersive worlds. From I Stand Alone and Irreversible to Enter the Void and Love, every movie on his resume involves a straightforward set-up, followed by a descent into chaos and mayhem of varying kinds. That said, Climax's might just be the most literal. One moment, everyone is eagerly strutting their stuff in a seemingly safe space. The next, an orgy of screams, tears, paranoia, sex, blood and death is the new normal. From a largely non-professional cast that numbers 24, all trapped in a remote hall as snow falls outside, connective threads emerge. Selva isn't particularly happy with anyone, and David (Romain Guillermic) considers himself the ladies man of the gang. Emmanuelle (Claude Gajan Maull) is trying to balance her career with being a mother to the young Tito (Vince Galliot Cumant), while everyone just wants to let loose as Daddy the DJ (Kiddy Smile) hits the decks. Personal squabbles, petty grievances and plenty of baggage all add to a jittery, claustrophobic mood, and that's before the acid takes effect. When the drugs kick in, so too do the group's fears and insecurities, the competitive vibe that comes with performing for a living, and the emotional and physical slaughter. Epitomising the idea that style can equal substance (as he has across his entire filmography), it's how Noé spins this story that mesmerises. Whether he's watching the troupe unleash their stellar dance skills in Climax's hypnotic first half, or charting carnage in its second, there's never a dull moment. There's never an average or unengaging moment either, or one that doesn't want to get a rise out of viewers. All of the director's usual traits are on display, from the propulsive tunes that set a distinctive rhythm, to the fluid and floating camerawork by his now four-time cinematographer Benoît Debie, to his penchant for evocative red lighting. And yet, pairing them with dance is a masterstroke. Noé already has a handful of music videos to his name, including for Nick Cave, Placebo and Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter (who contributes a new song to Climax's soundtrack), but in mixing fancy footwork and horror, he might've found his true calling. That's not to say that Climax doesn't have thematic bite as it both revels in and dissects hedonism, and posits that creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. Nor does it mean that Noé isn't up to his usual tongue-in-cheek tricks (he introduces his main players via video auditions screened on a TV, with VHS tapes of boundary-pushing classics like Suspiria and Salò underneath). But the film is an experience above all else. Purposefully overwhelming the senses — and trying to shatter them, too — it pulls you in with a lengthy sequence of astonishing choreography. It gets your toes tapping until they can't stop. Then, it forces its pulsating frenzy into your soul. The result is Noé at his best, and is best summarised by a song by his regular collaborator Bangalter. In a sea of sweat and terror, Climax loses itself, its characters and its audience to dance in the most bold, unhinged and thrilling way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-ydNrDCw58c
You'll find big things in small packages at the St Kilda Film Festival this year. That's true every year, of course, even when Melbourne has been under lockdown. But in these pandemic-adjusted times, you'll also find bite-sized flicks gracing screens both big and small — because while Australia's oldest short film festival is very much happening in-person in 2022, physically descending upon St Kilda venues, there's also still an online option that screens to movie buffs at home and nationally. This hybrid version of the fest — the event's 39th outing, in fact — places the emphasis on the in-cinema experience, though. And, it's just as devoted as ever to showcasing works by some of the best up-and-coming filmmakers in the country. So, across ten days between Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 5, 13 out-of-the-house sessions will pop up all around St Kilda, kicking off with opening night at The Astor Theatre. As always, the backbone of the festival is Australia's Top Short Films, featuring filmmakers from every corner of the country competing for prizes. Also on the bill at ticketed screenings: programs dedicated to queer, documentary, student, horror-themed, family-friendly animation, Aussie animation, homegrown in general, Australian drama, female-directed, First Peoples' and Victorian-made shorts. And, for those playing along from their couches, online sessions include a couple of programs curated by the Scottish Documentary Institute, highlights from the Obu Short Film Festival in Japan (aka the City of Port Phillip's sister city) and the closing night awards. Plus, there's also a look at acclaimed Aussie filmmaker Warwick Thornton's (Sweet Country) early works as a cinematography student, and then cinematographer and director. [caption id="attachment_572561" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jim Lee[/caption]
Apologies, scorned women — when it comes to cinema, hell hath no fury like an impassioned filmmaker angry about race relations in his beloved country. Or, to put it another way, no one makes a seething big-screen statement about bigotry in the US like Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and Chi-Raq director Spike Lee. You could call his latest joint many things, and they all fit: a crusading comedy laced with searing commentary, a tale so enraging and ridiculous that it can only be true, and a savage political polemic, for starters. Still, what echoes loudest in BlacKkKlansman isn't the megaphone that the film gives to its specific, valid and vital perspective. Rather, it's the shocked silence that emanates as the 70s-set picture holds a much-needed mirror up to America today. In the type of true story that'd be accused of being too far-fetched if it was fiction, BlacKkKlansman chronicles that one time an African–American police officer went undercover in the Ku Klux Klan. All his infiltration mission took was three things, each as crucial as the last. Firstly, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) had to get a job as a Colorado Springs detective, then convince his superiors that his talents exceeded the records room. Next, he had to spot a newspaper ad, put on a white-sounding voice and call the Ku Klux Klan's local chapter. Finally, he had to enlist his Jewish colleague Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) to be the face of his fake persona. That Stallworth also managed to strike up a phone-based friendship with Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke (Topher Grace) didn't hurt, either. With Lee adapting the real-life Stallworth's book with a trio of co-writers, BlacKkKlansman's narrative is filled with telling juxtapositions. The fact that everything on screen did happen, despite all logic seeming to dictate otherwise, is just the beginning. Furthermore, the contrast between the film's comic and horrific elements only scratches the surface. Also peppered throughout: the progressive posturing of the police force versus the bureaucratic reality, the discrimination faced along racial lines compared to gender and religion, and the smarts needed to bring down an organisation that operates on such sheer stupidity. Plus, as Stallworth strikes up a fledgling relationship with student activist Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier) — who happens to be escorting a Black Panther leader (Corey Hawkins) into town — the movie explores clashing methods of fighting deep-seeded racism. Helming the film it feels like he was born to make, Lee approaches his weighty material with the complexity that it deserves. Indeed, there's nothing simple about BlacKkKlansman, not only in its themes but in every element both in front of and behind the lens. Acting-wise, Washington puts in an intelligent, assured performance — sharing his dad Denzel's knack for commanding the screen with little more than a look and some silent swagger — while Driver's usual casual vibe serves his character well, and Grace gives prejudice a chillingly articulate face. Stylistically, the movie boasts the visual depth and texture that comes from shooting on 35mm, a suitably layered yet stirring soundtrack, and the energetic pace you'd expect from a filmmaker so committed to his cause. And yet, there's one aspect that Lee and company perfect above all else. Tonally, BlacKkKlansman is a feat that might never be beaten. It's a procedural and a caper that combines a mix of history, humour, tragedy and a sense of injustice; a film that has no interest in subtlety, and yet sometimes feels like it's actually (and purposefully) holding back. That's not one of the movie's many juxtapositions, and nor is it a failing of nerve. Instead, it's a concerted and clever choice. Lee waves his ire around like a flag, while at the same time adopting the best approach to capture broader attention. His fury and ferocity never subsides, but rather shape-shifts through awkward laughs, surreal encounters, world-weary sorrow and raw terror alike. Whether kicking things off with a pointed overview of cinema's racist leanings since the advent of the medium, sticking to its period setting, or underscoring the narrative's parallels with the reality of today via heartbreaking news footage, BlacKkKlansman is all the more powerful, resonant and relevant as a result. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpxJIWz8MNQ
UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island—Wareamah—is set to be transformed into a world-class public destination, under a bold new vision put forward by the Harbour Trust this week. New precincts for Sydney's largest harbour island include a new arts quarter, dining pavilion, parklands and dedicated educational spaces. The proposal also outlines the importance of preserving the island's rich Indigenous cultural heritage, with a key focus on elevating First Nations voices and respecting Wareamah's significance as a sacred women's place. Plans for Bunggal grounds, permanent First Nations public artwork and the restoration of native fauna and flora have been put forward, in consultation with First Nations communities and cultural leaders. [caption id="attachment_810573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's impression of Cockatoo Island's Creative Precinct[/caption] "We heard that more needed to be done to respectfully acknowledge the Island's First Nations' past as a sacred women's place and in identifying Cockatoo Island as a place of cultural connection," Chair of The Harbour Trust, Joseph Carrozzi said in a statement. "From these conversations with the community, we have developed an early vision that considers the Island's potential while respecting and celebrating its important past." The 18-hectare area would encompass a new creative precinct hosting live performance, exhibitions and pop-up events, while a revitalised Fitzroy Dock is promised to host a bevvy of Sydney's best dining and retail options. Wareamah Tidal Terrace will become a sprawling new parkland on the island's edge, with transformed gardens, picnic areas and a harbour boardwalk. [caption id="attachment_810574" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's impression of Cockatoo Island's Harbour Walk[/caption] A large adventure and water playground, new accommodation options including high-end glamping and improved campground facilities are also outlined within the Harbour Trust's proposal. "We want to create a truly special destination for both Sydneysiders and all visitors—a destination that acknowledges the historic significance of Cockatoo Island for First Nations Peoples, and its important role in the history of modern Australia," Carrozzi said. To deliver the sprawling transformation, Harbour Trust would seek funding from both state and federal governments as well as the private sector. The vision comes after an Independent Review of the Harbour Trust last year highlighted the need for a restoration plan for the island. The Harbour Trust will seek community consultation on its draft vision, with everyone in the community invited to provide feedback. You can visit harbourtrust.gov.au to view the Draft Concept now. The consultation period closes on Tuesday, June 11.
Since the beginning of May, life has become a little more normal for Brisbanites. So far as part of Queensland's gradual easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, restaurants, cafes and pubs have reopened for dine-in service, you can have 20 people over and you can head on a regional holiday. Plus, a little later in the month, we'll be allowed to once again visit some of the city's cultural institutions. While Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gave the green light for art galleries and museums to reopen from June 1, a number of Brisbane's major cultural institutions at South Bank have announced that they won't officially relaunch until later in the month. Similarly to restaurants and cafes, they'll need to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines and will be allowed one visitor per four square metres. The list of late-June reopenings includes the Queensland Art Gallery, which'll welcome visitors back in from Monday, June 22, including in the QAG store and QAG cafe. Queensland Museum and SparkLab, Sciencentre will open to annual pass holders on the same day, before allowing the general public back in the doors from Thursday, June 25. If you're wondering about the Gallery of Modern Art, it'll relaunch over a month afterwards, reopening on Friday, August 7. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBB9sEAlb80/ As capacity is limited, it's expected that time-allotted visits will be on the cards, and that galleries and museums may require pre-purchased tickets. QAGOMA has advised that it'll be providing handwashing and sanitiser facilities, distance markers for queuing and will be increasing how often it cleans the galleries, with full details to be provided close to Queensland Art Gallery's reopening. The Queensland Museum / SparkLab, Sciencentre will also release the specifics of its COVID-safe conditions before it relaunches. South Bank's major art and cultural institutions have been closed to the public since mid-March. So, in order to keep a sense of connection going — between artist and audience, venue and punter — many institutions made the transition to digital. GOMA's #HomeWithGOMA series features online tours and videos, with QAGOMA also hosting virtual meditation and yoga sessions, plus online talks and classes. Over at Queensland Museum, almost 800,000 items in its collection can be viewed online, while its At Home hub includes tours, peeks behind the scenes and curated activities. Top image: Queensland Museum.
When Dr Jane Goodall volunteered to live among chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, newspaper headlines were dismissive. Nearly 60 years later, the pioneering primatologist is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research — highlighting how closely connected humans are to our closest living relatives. Having dedicated the past six decades to her ongoing study, animal welfare in general and conservation, Goodall has lived a vastly fascinating life, which she'll be chatting about when she comes to Australia in May 2019. Goodall will appear at Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future event, which heads to the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11. The session will feature a 40-minute lecture by Goodall about her work, followed by a conversation between Goodall and a host for the same duration. Topics certain to get a mention include just how revolutionary her findings were at the time — and the impact they still have now — as well as her connection with the resident primates of Gombe. You can also expect Goodall to discuss her subsequent efforts to fight against threats to African chimpanzee populations, such as deforestation, illegal trade and unethical mining operations. Indeed, wildlife and environmental conservation is the main aim of the Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977. The Jane Goodall Institute Australia and Think Inc. are behind her 2019 Aussie trip. Catch Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future at the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11, with tickets on sale now.
Winter is here, the gloves and beanies are out of storage, and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. That's how every June starts — and, this year, Krispy Kreme wants to help with the latter. How? By giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. You're probably now wondering what constitutes an excessive amount of doughnuts. Polishing off a packet by yourself doesn't count, at least in this instance. Krispy Kreme's giveaway is going big, with the chain slinging 100,000 doughnuts in conjunction with National Doughnut Day. Whether or not you're a big fan of food 'days', we're guessing you are quite fond of free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, head to your closest store in Sydney, Brisbane or Perth on Friday, June 4. Sydneysiders have 11 stores — stretching from Penrith to the CBD — to choose from, while Queenslanders can pick from seven different doughnut shops, with the most central in Albert Street in the CBD. And, in Perth, you can head to one of four Krispy Kreme stores. The deal isn't available at BP outlets, 7-Eleven stores, Jesters or Woolworths, or in states other than New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Because of stay-at-home restrictions in Victoria, National Doughnut Day won't be celebrated in the state just yet. Krispy Kreme plans to in the future, though — we'll keep you updated when something eventuates. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across the participating stores, so you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth on Friday, June 4. To find your closest store and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Everyone remembers the great takeaway pivot, when restaurants everywhere adapted to the beginning of the pandemic, stay-at-home orders and hospitality restrictions. Being able to enjoy a meal from your favourite eatery, no matter how luxe, was one of the things that made a difference during lockdowns. Can't fit a sitdown feast at Donna Chang into your schedule now, but still craving the luxe Chinese joint's steamed market fish with ginger and shallots? The George Street venue has just launched takeaways on an ongoing basis. Seven days a week from midday onwards, ordering Donna Chang's bites to eat at home is now on the menu. The restaurant's Dan Dan noodles, cumin spiced lamb buns, scallop and prawn wontons, and lobster rolls are among the options. So is the smashed cucumber salad, sesame prawn toast with seaweed mayonnaise, chow mein noodles, stir-fried beef with pickled chilli peppers and char siu pork neck with honey glaze as well. You can also expect to be tucking in speedily, with orders available within 30 minutes or less. That's not long to wait for chicken, prawn and shiitake siu mai for a snack, mapo-style hot fried pork and tofu for dinner, or vegetarian spring rolls just because. If you're new to Donna Chang, it sits inside the heritage-listed sandstone building on the corner Elizabeth Street, spread across both the ground floor and the mezzanine level — and in the same abode as Boom Boom Room, which is in the basement. Eating in at Donna Chang means being surrounded by pink, green and neutral-toned furniture while tucking into Chinese dishes with elevated Sichuan and Cantonese flavours and influences that aim for that highly sought-after blend of the old and the new. And while that's still one of Brisbane's best dining experiences — the eatery is one of the city's best restaurants, too — sometimes life gets in the way of dropping by for a full meal. Donna Chang hails from the Ghanem Group, the folks behind Blackbird, The Valley's high-end rotisserie and grill Bisou Bisou, sky-high bar Iris Rooftop and Byblos Bar & Restaurant. Find Donna Chang at 3/171 George Street, Brisbane City — with orders available online from 12pm–close seven days a week. Images: Markus Ravik.
Ever wondered what happens to a Playboy Bunny after she’s given an affectionate tap on the cottontail by Mr Hefner, and sent on her jolly way? No, neither did we. That is until we saw American photographer Robyn Twomey’s ‘Playboy’ collection. The fine art portrait photographer, who has shot the likes of Glenn Close, Bill Gates and Ashton Kutcher, photographed a number of former Bunnies after meeting the women at a recent Playboy reunion in Las Vegas. Beautifully shot and powerfully impartial, Twomey has captured each woman’s individuality – some choosing to play on their Playboy heritage, some not. The full portfolio is available on Twomey’s website, showing a fresh insight into life after Playboy. Photos by Robyn Twomey.
'Fresh' may be what we've been told to go for, with every other cafe and restaurant coaxing us in with the term, but not all things should be consumed according to a 'best by' date; some, dare we say, should have a 'better after' date instead. Really, some things are just better with age (see: wine, whisky, wisdom). So, in partnership with Coopers to celebrate their 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're exploring the lesser-known delicacies which can also improve with a bit of time — like beer. From increasing depth of flavour in drinks to the endless health benefits of ageing certain foods, time can sometimes be of the essence when it comes to the finest things in life. BEER While the idea of a wine cellar is pretty commonplace, far fewer have heard of a beer cellar. Like the ageing of a fine wine, beer too can get better with age. Whether preserved in a bottle or barrel-aged, saving your beer for a later date can often bring out complex characteristics that could not be achieved when freshly brewed. This is true of most darker, bigger beers, like stouts, porters and barley wines (which is actually just a style of ale). They hold deep malt flavours and high alcohol content that has yet to be unpacked when still fresh. Take the Coopers Limited Release 2017 Vintage Ale, for example, which is specifically brewed to be cellared, saved for a later date. This year's recipe balances caramalt with Denali and Calypso hops to bring out a fruity and delicate aroma that gives way to rich, sweet, caramel characters when aged. Many sour beers are also prime for saving, especially those brewed with brettanomyces yeast, notable for its rather funky character. While ageing dark beers generally intensifies flavours, ageing sours normally mellows out the brew, so if you're into a big funky beer, then cellaring it may not be the right choice. Now, not all beer is better when aged. Though Coopers ales have a 'best after' date due to the secondary fermentation that takes place in the bottle or keg, and while their pale ale is better with time and even an aged version of their sparkling ale is starting to pop up on tap at certain bars, IPAs and golden ales will struggle to last if stored away. These beers should be consumed fresh, or they'll lose their hop flavour and often go skunked. And whenever you are looking to save a special bottle of beer, the same rules apply as for cellaring wine — keep in a dark, cool place. Though, unlike wine, beer should be stored upright, or else it can lose its carbonation. TEA Not all teas are created equal. While some teas are meant to be consumed fresh and young, like white, yellow and most green teas, other teas are best consumed once they've been 'rested'. Rested teas are simply those that have been stored away to, well, rest for some time. Much like the contrast of storing dark and sour beers, rested teas can be stored to allow for any sharp flavours to soften, or conversely, to deepen flavours and bring out a richer character. Once a tea has been stored long enough, it can then fall into the 'aged tea' category. While there's no definitive timeframe for when a tea will be officially considered 'aged', generally teas that have been rested for at least five years can receive the title (and in turn a hefty price tag). And as with cellaring wine and beer, you shouldn't store any old tea. Deciding which teas to age depends on the type of tea, quality of the leaves and, most importantly, what will happen with the flavour profile as it ages. BEEF Old meat is spoilt meat, right? Wrong. Pretty much all of the beef you eat is aged because, as it turns out, it actually tastes better that way. Strangely enough, fresh beef actually tastes less like what we think beef is supposed to taste like. So, all fresh beef is aged for at least a few days and up to several weeks in order to allow the natural enzymes to break down the muscle tissue, making for a better texture and flavour. For optimal tenderness, dry ageing is most effective between 14–28 days, while some high-end restaurants age beef for up to 240 days to enhance flavour — they'll charge you a pretty penny for that 'old' meat, too. The general consensus is that 30–40 days of dry ageing will bring you some pretty tasty meat, though. Wet-aged beef is also popular, though less spoken about, and is when meat is aged in a vacuum-sealed bag to retain moisture. SOURDOUGH The pillowy addictiveness of sourdough bread is known far and wide, which is not so much the case for where the 'sour' comes from. This type of bread is made from an aged starter, which begins as nothing but flour and water and is then fermented over time with wild yeast and lactobacillus. That same starter is used time and again, for years and years, because generally the older your starter, the better tasting the bread. Some of the best are over 30 years old, with supposedly some that have even aged over 100 years. And as a bonus, this ageing process doesn't just help make the bread incredibly airy, but also makes it healthier for you. The slow fermentation and long preparation time of sourdough neutralises phytic acid, making it better for your gut to digest, even for those sensitive to gluten. [caption id="attachment_599287" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Steve Woodburn.[/caption] VEGETABLES The idea of aged veggies isn't a very pleasant one. Like meat, we're taught that fresh is the ultimate way to get your greens. Though, that fresh veg crunch is something we crave, and even some raw vegetables are best that way (lettuce), experimenting with the ageing process can enhance the flavours (and health benefits) of your vegetables. The world of fermented foods is pretty vast. You have your known — cabbage into sauerkraut, cucumbers into gherkins — and you have your lesser-known, which includes an extensive list of veg that you can age using various pickling techniques. Fermenting vegetables usually only requires some salt, water and, depending, maybe some whey. Plus, you can pickle almost anything, from the usual cabbage and cucumbers to root vegetables, radishes, string beans, garlic, cauliflower, ginger and even pineapple. Sometimes ageing can be a great thing. Get your hands on some Coopers Vintage Ale 2017 and try it yourself. Words: Marissa Ciampi and Quinn Connors.
Google's just made life a whole lot easier for people across the world, this week launching a new wheelchair-friendly transit feature for its Maps app. While Google Maps has been helping users get around their cities on public transport for years, a lack of information about important things like wheelchair accessible trains and elevator locations has made the app way less user-friendly for those with limited mobility. But that's set to change, with Google Maps in Sydney, Tokyo, New York, London, Boston and Mexico City now featuring wheelchair accessible route options. When getting directions for public transport, users in these cities can simply hit 'options' and select 'wheelchair accessible' under 'routes' to access a list of suggested courses that take mobility needs into consideration. It's not only a huge (and overdue) win for travellers with physical disabilities, but it's also useful for those getting around on crutches or pushing prams. Google's been enlisting the help of people across the globe to improve this part of its services, gathering accessibility information from individuals and groups of Local Guides for over 12 million places. Plenty more cities are expected to add these wheelchair accessible routes in the coming months — let's hope Melbourne and Brisbane are among them.
Winter is coming, and while there aren't any white walkers to fear in Tasmania (that we know of), it does get pretty darn cold. But don't get ahead of yourself. There's something incredibly magical about the cooler months in Tassie. While us northerners get chilly, rainy grey days once winter settles in, this southern state becomes a glittering wonderland that looks like it's straight out of a fairytale. Plus, along with the dustings of snow prettying up the place, the season brings a calendar of epic events. You really have no reason to hibernate this year. From 5000-strong singalongs around massive bonfires to dressing up in costumes to scare away evil spirits in the apple orchards, partaking in Tasmania's winter events is much more enjoyable than hibernation. To help you start planning, we've compiled a list of the best, most interesting experiences the island state has to offer. So, pack your warmest winter woollies, grab some mates and prepare yourself for a jam-packed Tasmanian winter adventure. [caption id="attachment_619512" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie.[/caption] SWIM NAKED WITH A THOUSAND PEOPLE DURING THE WINTER SOLSTICE You haven't swum, till you've swum stark naked — in the company of a thousand people and in really, really, really cold water. This chilling event happens every year as part of Dark Mofo, MONA's midwinter festival that delves into ancient rituals and mythologies to uncover all things dark — and light. The swim always takes place at sunrise on the winter solstice (set this year on Saturday, June 22 at 7.42am), with swimmers lining the shores of the River Derwent in the dark, before donning red bathing caps and diving in simultaneously. Oh, and the water temperature? It's usually at a cosy seven degrees celsius, give or take. [caption id="attachment_719539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Festival of Voices by Phil Kitt.[/caption] SING ALONG AT THE FESTIVAL OF VOICES If you were one of those kids at camp that actually enjoyed sitting around the campfire and singing 'Kum Ba Yah', then you're going to love the Festival of Voices. First held as a way for the community of Tasmania to stay active and warm over the island state's famously chilly winter, the event now attracts thousands of people each year to come and sing together around a huge bonfire in Hobart's Salamanca. It's a pretty raucous affair, unsurprisingly. Plus, now that the festival is so popular, there are also plenty of professional performances all over Hobart and its surrounds that you can catch while it's on. [caption id="attachment_719533" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Enchanted Walk by Paul Fleming.[/caption] WANDER ALONG CRADLE MOUNTAIN'S ENCHANTED WALK The Lord of the Rings movies might've been shot in New Zealand, but Tasmania could have easily been a secondary location choice. Nowhere is this truer than Cradle Mountain, where the landscape is an utterly stunning combination of misty rivers, ancient trees and rugged peaks. One of the best ways to experience this beauty is the Enchanted Walk. Beginning at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, this short, one-kilometre trek winds its way around Pencil Pine River, a lovely waterfall and a whole host of magical looking snow-dusted vegetation, before finally ending at Ronny Creek. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of some wombats grazing among the buttongrass. [caption id="attachment_719537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Island, courtesy of RACT Destinations.[/caption] TAKE TO THE WATER ON THE GORDON RIVER CRUISE Speaking of misty rivers and ancient trees, you'll find both deep within the heart of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area, where the Gordon River is setting the bar high when it comes to mystical landscapes. If you're keen to experience that magic in all its glory, jump on a Gordon River Cruise and set sail past some of Tasmania's most historic landmarks and wild wonders. From Hells Gates at Macquarie Harbour to rare white-breasted sea eagles and ancient rainforests filled with Huon pine (Australia's oldest tree), you'll have a chance to learn all about Tasmania's convict history while also taking in some of the most incredible scenery you'll ever lay eyes on. [caption id="attachment_719541" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival by Natalie Mendham Photography.[/caption] PARTY AT THE HUON VALLEY MID-WINTER FESTIVAL Known in some circles as the Apple Isle, it's not surprising that Tasmania and its locals are pretty keen on the crispy red fruit — and that's exactly why the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival has become so popular in recent years. Luring people in with the promise of apple cider, huge feasts, dancing and a big ol' bonfire, it's the wassailing event that's the festival's most famous. Performed to bring on a good apple harvest, the ancient English tradition involves dressing up in all sorts of strange, sometimes animal-like costumes to scare away evil spirits from the apple orchard. But if ceremonies aren't your thing, there's still plenty of live music, Willie Smith's Organic Apple Cider and locally sourced food to enjoy. Top image: Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest by Lusy Productions.
In the misfire that's always been 1996's Space Jam, basketball superstar-turned-unconvincing actor Michael Jordan is asked to hurry up. "C'mon Michael, it's game time! Get your Hanes on, lace up your Nikes, grab your Wheaties and your Gatorade, and we'll pick up a Big Mac on the way to the ballpark," he's told. Spoken by go-to 90s schemester Wayne Knight (aka Seinfeld's Newman), this line couldn't better sum up the film or the franchise it has now spawned. The Space Jam movies aren't really about the comedic chaos that springs when a famous sportsperson pals around with cartoons. That's the plot, complicated in the original flick and now 25-years-later sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy by evil forces that turn a basketball game into a battle ground; however, it's also just a means to an end. These features are truly about bringing brands together in a case of mutual leveraging, as product placement always is. Connect Looney Tunes with the NBA, and audiences will think of both when they think of either, the strategy aims. It has worked, of course — and with A New Legacy, the approach is put to even broader and more shameless use. Everyone who has ever even just heard of Space Jam in passing knows its central equation: Looney Tunes + hoop dreams. The first Space Jam's viewers mightn't also remember the aforementioned product name-drops, but Warner Bros, the studio behind this saga, hopes A New Legacy's audience will forever recall its new references. All the brands shoehorned in here are WB's own, with its other pop culture franchises and properties mentioned repeatedly. The company also has Harry Potter, The Matrix, the DC Extended Universe flicks such as Wonder Woman, and Mad Max: Fury Road in its stable. Its catalogue includes Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty, The Lord of the Rings, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, too. And, it holds the rights to everything from The Wizard of Oz, Metropolis and Casablanca to A Clockwork Orange and IT. A New Legacy wants to forcefully and brazenly impress these titles into viewers' minds so that they'll always equate them with the studio. In other words, this is just a Warner Bros ad with LeBron James and Looney Tunes as its spokespeople. You don't need to be a cynic or have zero nostalgia for the OG Space Jam to see A New Legacy as purely a marketing exercise. Bringing brands together is what the movie literally focuses on. James takes over from Jordan as the flesh-and-blood figure who hops onto the court with the Tune Squad, including Bugs Bunny (Jeff Bergman, Our Cartoon President), Lola Bunny (Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie), Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Teen Titans Go!'s Eric Bauza) — and he's plunged into the game by Warner Bros itself. On-screen, the studio is run by an algorithm unimaginatively named Al G Rhythm (Don Cheadle, Avengers: Endgame), which wants to capitalise upon the Los Angeles Lakers star's popularity. The plan: digitising James' likeness and inserting it into some of WB's best-known fare, all via a computer realm called the Warner 3000 Serververse. While there's also a subplot involving the sportsman's fictional son Dom (Cedric Joe, Loving Him), who'd rather be coding than dribbling, is pushed towards the latter by his dad, but creates the basketball video game the elder James and his animated teammates eventually find themselves playing, that always comes second to Warner Bros doing exactly what LeBron condemns in the flick itself. Perhaps we're all supposed to be too distracted by constantly spotting the likes of the Iron Giant, Austin Powers, King Kong and the Gremlins to notice that A New Legacy makes corporate synergy the bad guy while also epitomising the concept. Perhaps we're meant to be so overwhelmed not just by the pointless intellectual property onslaught, but by the frenetic visuals and domineering soundtrack favoured by director Malcolm D Lee (Girls Trip, Night School), that we just succumb. Maybe, given that Wreck-It Ralph and Ready Player One have charted similar reference-heavy territory before — the first engagingly, the second to puff up a terrible movie — we should all be accustomed to blatant advertising passing itself off as films by now. Maybe Warner Bros just thinks that saying "hey, all these other well-known movies and shows exist" constitutes a narrative, even if it takes six credited screenwriters to come up with an abysmal script. A New Legacy operates as if all the above is true, and also tries to convince itself that it has genuine emotions at its core, but it's impossible to see this as anything other than a commercial. WB's parent company also owns US streaming service HBO Max and, wouldn't you know it, many of the pop culture titles referenced in A New Legacy are available on the platform. Now kids will link them all together, and to Warner Bros; advertising mission accomplished. Again, the original Space Jam is beloved only through the lens of nostalgia — it's a mess of a Nike ad, and little more — but A New Legacy didn't have to be like this. James was a genuinely funny scene-stealer in Trainwreck. Looney Tunes fare is too rarely seen these days, and the tiny snippets of the cartoon's old-school antics that do feature here, including with a cartoon James, are among A New Legacy's best moments. (That the toons' 1996 big-screen outing inspired 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action isn't as widely remembered, but everyone needs some animated slapstick in their lives every now and then.) A New Legacy really should've trusted its basic elements; however, that would've been bucking the trend established by the saga's initial flick. At least the new film does deploy one obvious but nonetheless excellent joke regarding Space Jam's original hoop shooter, although in a better movie, that wouldn't be as much of a highlight as it proves. It doesn't involve basketball, but a far better option than this designed-by-algorithm shambles is to just rewatch Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which remains the pinnacle of live-action/animated hybrids.
However you spend the 9-to-5 grind, including singing Dolly Parton songs in your head, everyone's working hours are always better with a pet. Had an average meeting? Rover will always be there for you. Stressed about a deadline? Patch's purring will help soothe whatever ails you. Need to look at something other than a screen for a bit? Whatever kind of animal companion you have, they're perfect for exactly that. Most of the above situations lend themselves to working from home, as we've all enjoyed over the past few years — but if you're back in the office, or at least out of your house and away from Zoom calls, you mightn't have a furry, feathered or scaly friend on hand to help brighten up your day. Well, usually. Today, Friday, June 24, just happens to be National Take Your Dog To Work Day. Yes, there's a day for everything. Yes, you still have time to bring Fido with you today. And, to help — because wrangling an animal on public transport isn't necessarily easy — Uber is doing discounted rides for everyone taking their pets into the office. The half-price fare comes courtesy of Uber Pet, which launched in Australia back in 2020. To grab the deal, you'll need to travel between 7am–7pm today — and, if you do so with your pet for company, you'll nab 50-percent off your trip up to a total of $30 off. The discount is valid everywhere that Uber Pet is available in Australia, which covers Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Hobart, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Wollongong and Darwin. There is a $6–7 'pet fee' on top of the standard ride fare, though. To get the discount, just go to the Uber app, click on your account in the bottom right corner, select 'wallet' and then scroll down till you hit 'add promo code'. That code: FURBABY. (What else would it be?) Each person can only use the code twice, but that'll get you and Max to work and back. And yes, your day just got better, obviously — for you and your fluffball. Uber Pet is doing half-price rides from 7am–7pm today, Friday, June 24. For more information, head to the Uber website.
Black Bear Lodge is about to get funky. Two of the best up and coming producers in Australia are teaming up to release their respective new singles and perform some assuredly great sets this Thursday night. Sydney’s Oliver Tank and Adelaide’s Oisima are both ascending the ranks of the Australian electronic scene at a rapid rate, with rave reviews heralding each new release. Both artists are on the cusp of releasing new material to the world and to celebrate, they are playing a few shows around Queensland. Oliver Tank has supported notable artists like Lana Del Rey, Active Child, Youth Lagoon and Megan Washington, as well as selling out his own headline tours across Australia. His debut EP, Dreams, was a success, and his next release, Slow Motion Music, will probably follow suit. Oisima’s jazz, soul and hip-hop influenced form of ambient electronica has made waves in the Australian electronic scene. Artists like Chet Faker and Flume count themselves as fans, and his EP, Goddess was released by Berlin’s Herbebe records. With a debut full length in the works, his new single 'Everything About Her' is already getting rave reviews, so his album is already off to a good start. Oliver Tank and Oisima will be supported by Yukon Snakes and Silo DJ’s.
Seattle fans got a mid-2000s throwback last night (Tuesday, September 24) when the Jonas Brothers reunited with The Veronicas on stage for the first time in 17 years. As part of their JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown 20th anniversary tour, Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas have been surprising audiences with guest performers. On Tuesday, they brought Brisbane sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso on stage to perform their 2005 hit '4ever'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by THE VERONICAS (@theveronicas) It was the first time the two acts had performed together since 2008, when The Veronicas supported the brothers on their Burnin' Up tour at the height of Disney-fuelled pop mania. For fans who came of age in that era, the reunion was a full-circle moment — The Veronicas were breaking through internationally while the Jonas Brothers were cementing themselves as teen-pop icons. The brothers teased the cameo with a tongue-in-cheek skit posted earlier in the day, in which Kevin asked, "You think they're going to play 4ever by The Veronicas?" A deadpan Joe replied, "No," before cutting to the onstage moment. Within hours, the clip had amassed more than 500,000 views. @jonasbrothers @THE VERONICAS ♬ original sound - Jonas Brothers Clips of the joint performance quickly flooded social media, with fans calling it "the crossover we didn't know we needed" and "2007 in the best way possible." For the Jonas Brothers, it was another highlight in a tour that's doubled as both a victory lap and a nostalgic tribute to their history. For The Veronicas, it was a reminder that '4ever' still hits hard, 20 years on. Top image: Getty
It's a war that's been waged for decades among regional bakeries the country over: who's dishing up Australia's best pie? Whose pastry comes closest to perfection? Which filling reigns supreme? Well, this year's top dog has officially been named, with Kyneton's Country Cob Bakery taking out top honours at the 2019 edition of Australia's Best Pie and Pastie Competition. While you might have your own thoughts about which pie makes the best road trip accompaniment, this nationally recognised contest is run by the experts at the Baking Association of Australia. The 2019 competition saw 12 professional judges sample a whopping 1760 pies from 345 bakeries, across three days. And for the third year in a row, Country Cob claimed the top title, this time winning over tastebuds with a caramelised pork and pepper pie creation loaded with local ingredients. It's an impressive run for baker brothers Ryan and Chan Khun, who've owned and operated the bakery for the past three years. [caption id="attachment_726906" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The award-winning pie.[/caption] The two backed up their big win with 11 other gold medals, including taking out the title of Best Seafood Pie for their curry scallop number, and scoring Best Gourmet Pie with that same champion pork round. Other winners included Gusto Bakery's curried pumpkin, feta and spinach number for Best Vegetarian Pie (which you can find in Fairfield and Moonee Ponds), and Whittlesea Bakehouse claimed the title of Best Plain Chunky Beef Pie. Further afield, JoJo's Gluten Free in the Bass Coast Shire took out Best Gluten-Free Pie as well as Best Pastie overall. Coeliacs might want to lock in a road trip ASAP. And if you fancy sampling Country Cob's primo pie for yourself, Kyneton sits about an hour north of Melbourne just off the Calder, making the perfect pit-stop on a trip to Bendigo. The champion pastry will be sticking on the menu for the foreseeable future. Find Country Cob Bakery at 130-132 Mollison Street, Kyneton, Victoria — it's open from 6am–4.30pm on weekdays and 6am–3pm on weekends.
If the phrase 'cheap beer' is music to your ears on a stinkin' hot day, then the bartenders at the Abbotts Hotel are about to become your favourite musicians in the city. The Waterloo pub has started offering beer prices based on the barometer or 'beer-o-meter' as they're calling it. When the temperature reaches 38 degrees — on the Bureau of Meteorology app, not your dodgy car thermometer — schooners are knocked down from $6 to $3.80. As the temperature continues to rise, the prices keep dropping until it hits 45 degrees (otherwise known as 'hell'). At this point, your beer is free. Yep, that's right, free. You'll never complain about the weather again. Abbotts will be honouring these discounts if anywhere in greater Sydney is sweltering, so keep an eye on your app and keep the bar accountable. The offer will run for the foreseeable future (with whispers of the beer-o-meter swapping in winter to sling cheap stouts when the temp drops) so we'll be crossing our fingers for a steamy March. Abbotts Hotel is located at 47 Botany Road, Waterloo. In the event of free beer, it will be limited to one per person, per day.
Named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022, southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region isn't short on highlights, whether it's gorgeous scenery or farm-fresh produce you're after. Keen on the latter for festive season, but can't make the trip south from Brisbane anytime soon? Don't worry — Tommerup's Dairy Farm, Valley Pride Produce, Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Cauldron Distillery, Olive View Estate and more are coming to you on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Save the road trip for another weekend — instead, head to the Christmas edition of Farm Gate to City Door Markets at the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct. It'll operate from 8am–12pm, serving up everything from fruit and vegetables, salted cultured butter and cheese through to boutique spirits, local wines and honey straight from the hive. You can also nab handmade bath and body products, such as goat milk soaps. Since 2022, the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct has regularly hosted this country-meets-city event. Iif it gets you thinking about holidaying in the Scenic Rim, there's a stall for planning that as well. Live music will provide a soundtrack — and some of the seasonal treats on offer include ginger- and Christmas pudding-flavoured ice cream, which will also help get you into the festive spirit now.
If the current wave of boozy exercise classes has taught us anything, it's that alcohol is a great motivator. If it has taught us anything else, it's that we mightn't be too far away from a future where the alternative — aka getting active without a drink in your hand — seems strange. Add Yin & Gin Fridays to the list of sessions making the case for simultaneous sipping and stretching. Here, you'll strike your best yoga pose while knocking back some juniper spirits, and, thanks to its Friday afternoon, post-work timeslot, you'll unwind from the 9-to-5 in quite the relaxing fashion. Unsurprisingly, something this ace is proving rather popular — and while Stretch Yoga have two classes scheduled, from 5.30pm on both December 1 and 8, the latter has already sold out. The sessions include an Ink Gin cocktail, a Deep Stretch Yoga class, and cheese and nibbles afterwards, all in support of the Women's Legal Service. Bookings are essential.
Held at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach each year, Crafted Beer Festival will unite more than 50 of Australia's top craft breweries, over 400 different brews, and some good food and live music to line your stomachs and ears when it returns for 2023. The dates to pop in your diary: Saturday, September 9–Sunday, September 10. Locals like Balter Brewing Company, Black Hops Brewing, Currumbin Valley Brewing, Burleigh Barrels, Madocke Beer and Two Mates Brewing will be joining up with visitors from elsewhere in Queensland and interstate, such as Ballistic, Slipstream and Revel — and that's but a few of the many beer houses to be represented on the day. More of a cider person? Expect a range of cideries making the pilgrimage to the coast, too. Although the focus on beer and cider is right there in the name, Crafted will also welcome Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery for cocktails and craft spirits served out of a vintage two-storey bar. And, if that still doesn't cover everything that you want to drink, Carafe Wine will be on vino duty, while seltzers, ginger beers and non-alcoholic beers will be on offer as well. Food-wise, there'll be food trucks and other street food eats, including Bigoli Italian Street Food bringing its truffle gnocchi. German sausages from Brat House, Samba Catering Co's paella and Brazilian barbecue, Flamin Grillas' low-and-slow meat plates and brisket burgers, 2 Serial Grillers' Mexican bites and I Heart Calamari's seafood dishes help round out the menu. As for music lineup, Polish Club and Fat Picnic top Saturday's bill, while Tijuana Cartel and Kurilpa Reach are among the bands doing the honours on the Sunday. Also on the fest's agenda is beer yoga, where you can perform a few downward dogs before you down your beer — it's all about balance, after all. Or, enjoy some comedy, play tipsy Twister and enter a hot wing-eating contest instead. CRAFTED 2023 LINEUP: SATURDAY Polish Club Fat Picnic Sputnik Sweetheart Being Jane Lane Lucid Safari Fragile Animals The Dandys Beatniks DJs SUNDAY Tijuana Cartel Kurilpa Reach Nana Klumpp Ruby Gilbert The Colliflowers James Street Preachers Beatniks DJs
If there's ever a time to treat yo'self, it's the end of the year. The very end. The last day, in fact. It's your final chance to soak in everything that 2018 has to offer, whether you're celebrating a stellar 12 months or eagerly looking forward to 2019. If poolside parties with killer views and plenty of vodka are your idea of treating yo'self — aren't they everyone's? — then W Brisbane has your plans covered for Monday, December 31. Marking the new hotel's latest decadent party for 2018, it's ramping up the shenanigans on the WET Deck. Also on the agenda: tunes spun by Emily Scott, with help from W's music curator Kane Dignum. For your $220 ticket, you'll also get a four-and-a-half hour food and drink package. Think a welcome glass of Champagne, two different types of cocktails, and a range of wine, beer and cider — plus an oyster bar, king prawns, gin and tonic spheres, a charcuterie and cheese station, three varieties of sliders and four kinds of dessert. And given the location, you'll be in the perfect spot to peer out over the river when the fireworks start brightening up the sky. The party starts at 8pm, running through 12.30am.
If you live in southeast Queensland, coming up with a reason to hit the beach is easy. The sand and surf is just there, waiting, and luring Brisbanites up and down the coast. But if you plan your beachy stints around festivals, then you've likely been loving the growing number of new oceanside events that keep joining the region's cultural calendar — such as music fest Springtime in Surfers Paradise, Byron Bay's Revel Food and Culture Festival and now the just-announced Burleigh Festival. The latter will debut across the weekend of Friday, September 16–Sunday, September 18, taking over Justins Park on the Burleigh Heads Foreshore for three days. On the agenda: food, wine, music and surfing — aka a golden quartet for any festival, especially one setting up shop right by the water. Burleigh Heads' culinary scene sits at the centre of the new fest — and while the event is free overall, obviously you'll be paying for what you eat and sip. Food-wise, venues such as Tropic, Tommy's, Maman, Costa Taco and Tarte will serve up their signature dishes, spanning everything from Mediterranean bites and Italian cuisine through to Middle Eastern-inspired and Mexican dishes. Also on the vendor list: Al Natural Oysters, Freddy's, Lil Mami, Lucia, NAAMI and Rosellas. And, to wash everything down, Burleigh Festival is celebrating local wine via tipples from Naked Bunch, Flor Grocer and Jackson West. Grabbing a plate, some vino and enjoying a beachside picnic is one of the fest's big drawcards — but the event will give you something to watch and listen to as you eat and drink, too. The music lineup hasn't been announced as yet; however, it'll showcase local talent as it soundtracks your festival experience, with Boo Seeka curating the bill. If it's the surfing part of the program that'll have you rushing to the shore and vicariously living out your Point Break or Blue Crush dreams, you'll be able to catch spectacular wave action via the the inaugural Burleigh Festival King and Queen of the Point surfing competition. Hosted by Burleigh Boardriders and Summer of Surf, it'll run across two days, on Saturday, September 17–Sunday, September 18, and see top Aussie surfers competing for a $5000 prize pool. Burleigh Festival runs from Friday, September 16–Sunday, September 18 at Justins Park on the Burleigh Heads Foreshore, Burleigh Heads. For further information, head to the event's website.
Here, you can get your hands on what's known as 'true authentic sourdough', the highest standard of sourdough production that requires nothing more than flour, water and salt. Each loaf takes at least 24 hours to be ready to eat, but the wait is more than worth it. The bakery, which is only open to the public for one more per week, produces up to 800 loaves per week, alongside pizza bases, pastries and cakes.
Everyone knows novelty-sized things are infinitely better than their regular-sized counterparts. Fishbowl margaritas! The teeny tiny toys you get in Kinder Surprise eggs! The only drawback I can think of is 'fun-sized' chocolate bars. There's nothing 'fun' about teasing me with a Mars bar half as big as it should rightfully be. Now the ever-popular novelty trade is turing its sights to the post — can our love of adorably small things save a dying industry? The World's Smallest Post Service is a project run out of California by Leafcutter Designs and its founder Lea Redmond, though Redmond herself can't really tell you why it exists. Since launching a tiny letter transcription service in 2008, Redmond has been channeling her passion for miniature things and finessing the ultimate form of correspondence. Six years and one fully-funded Kickstarter project later, the tiny stationery service has hit the big time (pun unfortunately intended). The entire package — which includes enough materials to create 24 tiny letters, six tiny packages and one 3D mailbox — is only as wide as a regular pen and features a much-needed magnifying glass. Once the kit is purchased you can scribe the cutesiest of cutesy messages to your friends, pass notes in class without ever being caught, and your life will invariably be one step closer to that of a character in a Wes Anderson film. Of course, these novelties aren't wholly impractical. The deluxe kit features translucent regular-sized envelopes so you can send your tiny mail through the real-world post. It may be a little more hassle than the regular route, but at least the person receiving the letter will know that you battled the fiddly ordeal that is tiny envelope origami and microscopic stamp hell. How romantic. The Kickstarter campaign is still in full swing despite having already reached its goal (it seems people really, really want this). Get on board now if you're keen to nab some of the pledgers' perks. Remember: Twitter may be an easier means to sending tiny messages but it's nowhere near as darn cute.
Time flies when you're slurping up mussels and listening to the sounds of jazz, as the folks at South Melbourne Market well and truly know. The Coventry and Cecil corner mainstay has been celebrating both for seven years now at its annual festival. The latest will take place on March 7 and 8, with the Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival returning to serve up a mollusc-focused street party. Oh, and more than six tonnes of mussels. It's free, it'll fill your stomach with locally sourced seafood, and it'll offer up a feast of other treats, including sweets, tipples and dance-worthy tunes. When it comes to enjoying the tasty sea creatures, Claypots, Köy, Paco y Lola, Simply Spanish and Bambu are just some of the eateries popping up — and whipping up an array of different mussel dishes. Seafood lovers will be able to dive into everything from mussel paella to wok-cooked drunken mussels. And you'll be eating for a good cause. The shells will be collected by Shuck Don't Chuck and used to help restore Port Phillip Bay's shellfish reefs. Taking care of the entertainment are local singer Loretta Miller, Alma Zygier, La Nuit Blanche, Margie Lou Dyer and a New Orleans-inspired seven-piece called the Horns of Leroy. Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival runs from 12–10pm on Saturday and 12–8pm on Sunday. Image: Simon Shiff.
While horror has traditionally been the realm of the silver screen, The Walking Dead and newcomer Hannibal have brought all the magnificent gore, thrills and frights of the genre into our homes and onto our televisions. Part cop drama, part serial killer thriller, NBC's Hannibal is a somewhat-prequel to Silence of the Lambs starring Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy (you can guess which one's the conniving, cannibalistic title character). Recently renewed for a second season, it investigates the lives of Will Graham, an FBI agent, and Hannibal Lecter, forensic psychiatrist. The story is based loosely on the material of Thomas Harris's horrific novel Red Dragon but adds a few grotesque twists along the way. The A.V. Club's Todd VanDerWerff described the series as "an intricately twisted serial-killer thriller, but it's also a surprisingly deep series about psychiatry and the state of the human mind", adding that it "had every reason to be a cheap cash-in and has, instead, turned into one of TV's best shows." The Walking Dead, meanwhile, is more out-and-out horror — and, at this point, one of the most well-known and loved TV shows on the planet. Zombies, backstabbing, amputations: totally gross, and totally excellent. About to start its fourth season, it's packed with scream-out-loud scares, and brings a "film-quality drama series about zombies" to life on television. Season three picked up the story three months after season two ended, with both factions of the main characters attempting to keep their lives together whilst, of course, fighting off the infected zombies. Hannibal: Season One and The Walking Dead: Season Three are released on DVD in Australia on September 25. Thanks to Hopscotch Films, we've got 10 prize packs including copies of both series to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
