In all the regular ways, this hasn't felt like a big year. Neither did last year, and we all know why that's proven the case both then and now. It has been a chaotic time, of course, although that's completely different. But on the final night of 2021, Eagle Farm Racecourse will feel huge. That's when the site is welcoming the Factory Summer Festival back to town, following the event's Brissie debut in 2020. Unlike last year, this year's fest is a one-night-only affair — with Broods, Masked Wolf, Example, Young Franco, Stace Cadet + KLP and Electric Fields among the acts on the just-announced bill. Yes, that's your New Year's Eve plans sorted. The 2020 event spanned multiple stages and bars, a silent disco, carnival rides and a games arcade, so fingers crossed that's all on the agenda this time around as well. Pre-sale tickets are available from Tuesday, September 14, with registrations open now.
In the face of the increasing cynicism and self-self-self-referentialness of art, thank god for the Italians. They still like romance in their films the way they insist on full fat milk in their coffee. Now in its 14th season, the Italian FIlm Festival promises to return "like the lingering embrace of a cherished lover". Twenty-seven films will deliver stories in which uncontrolled passions run high. Highlights include A Five Star Life (Viaggio Sola), the tale of a jetsetting hotel critic who knows her five stars from her four but whose analytical faculties let her down when it comes to her own life; A Perfect Family (Una famiglia perfetta), a comedy about a rich but lonely man who 'rents' a family for Christmas and even writes a script for each member; and Ali Blue Eyes, a Romeo and Juliet-esque drama driven by a taboo love affair and a stabbing. Both opening and closing nights will feature films that'll make you want to go to Rome: Paolo Sorrentino's The Great Beauty, starring Toni Servillo as a renowned journalist and ladies man who once dreamed of becoming a novelist, and Fellini's 1972 classic Roma. Young European star Clara Ponsot will be making guest appearances in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, presenting her new film, Cosimo and Nicole. Screenings at Palace Centro and Barracks. Image: The Great Beauty https://youtube.com/watch?v=m2bcwSwNgOQ
With the Golden Globes having just passed, and the Oscars fast approaching, the internet has gone wild with appropriations of the nominated films and people involved in them. From Facebook pages dedicated to the funny things Jennifer Lawrence says to adulterated posters with their 'honest' titles, the world wide web loves to poke fun at the films we hold dear. And this new addition to the fray is hilarious. Created by YouTuber Pop Culture Brain, this video is a parody trailer of Spike Jonze's latest offering, Her. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as Samantha, the artificially intelligent operating system in the introverted Theodore's (Joaquin Pheonix) home. Pop Culture Brain, however, swaps out Johansson with another famous Samantha — Sex and the City's Samantha Jones. Cue the silliness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IhIbmgQSyDE Kim Cattrall's notorious character is crass, lewd and oh so '90s. When you cut the quotes from the context of the show and switch them with the dialogue from the original trailer for Her, what you get is an absurdly uproarious piece of gutter humour. Rather than an unconventional love story, Spike Jonze's solo script writing debut becomes a rampant sex party between a computer and a lonely guy. Naturally, its audio is NSFW. Via Huffington Post.
If you're going to watch a romantic film with your other half this Valentine's Day, you may as well do so while you're splashing around in a pool — especially if that's the kind of watery movie date that you've never had before. That's what's on the bill at Brisbane's returning outdoor cinema pop-up, aka the fittingly called Float-In Cinema. Once again setting up at W Brisbane, it's taking over the riverside hotel's WET Deck for three nights in February to pair swim-in flicks with food and cocktails. Screening from Monday, February 12–Wednesday, February 14 — with a 6.30pm seating time for a 7.15pm start — Float-In Cinema costs $115 per person. For that price, you'll float on the water in an inflatable lounger, watch the movie (obviously), tuck into your choice of three grazing boxes, sip a glass of bubbles or a One in a Melon cocktail upon arrival, and enjoy unlimited sweet or salty popcorn. Those food options include a cheese box packed with aged cheddar, double brie and blue cheese; a savoury box with prosciutto, bresaola and truffled salumi; and a sweet box with macaroons, mini tarts and mini cakes. Whichever you select, you'll need to email the venue in advance to make your pick. If you're keen, you might want to get in quick, as seats are limited per session. And as for what you'll be watching, romance is the natural theme. So, that means La La Land, The Notebook (because as Barbie demonstrated, there's no such thing as too much Ryan Gosling) and — yes, on the day itself — Valentine's Day.
Whether sprawling across a Tokyo warehouse, taking over a Japanese castle, turning old oil tanks into waterfalls or even popping up in Melbourne, the digital art made by creative collective Teamlab can make you feel like you're in another world. That's a sensation we could all after the past year year, even if visiting the group's overseas sites is currently off limits due to international travel restrictions. Enter Teamlab's latest project: the online-only Sakura Bombing Home. If it sounds familiar, that's because it's a twist on Flowers Bombing Home, which Teamlab launched in 2020. The project has been updated for cherry blossom season, because Japanese students usually graduate at this time of year — but can't currently enjoy the usual festivities due to the pandemic. Like the bulk of Teamlab's work, Sakura Bombing Home is interactive; however, as its name suggests, art lovers can take part from their own couch. The collective is asking its audience to draw and colour-in pictures of cherry blossoms — either on paper or on your phone — then take a photo and upload it to the group's site. Your pics will then be added to the bright, kaleidoscopic, constantly moving and evolving piece. That's the participatory part of the project. When it comes to watching — whether you've gotten arty first, or you just want to view the piece without breaking out your colouring pencils — you can head to Teamlab's YouTube channel. Sakura Bombing Home is live streaming constantly, joining together cherry blossoms created by folks all over the world. While viewing, you'll notice petals scattering, then coming together to form new images. Unsurprisingly given the sensory nature of its physical installations, Teamlab recommends viewing Sakura Bombing Home on your television set, "or as large a device as possible". The project will be available for the foreseeable future, too, with the collective advising that it "will bloom until the end of the coronavirus" — and that it'll also stick around afterwards "for people to remember this era". For more information about Teamlab's 'Sakura Bombing Home' — or to add your own drawing — visit the art collective's website. To watch the live-streamed artwork, head to its YouTube channel.
Melbourne Fringe Festival is set to return this month (November 12–29), and with it comes one helluva opening night party. But, this year, the party will take place in your lounge room. Club Fringe will broadcast into homes all over Australia from 9.30pm on Thursday, November 12. For this year's festivities, Fringe has joined forces with the folks behind Yirramboi Festival as part of NAIDOC Week. They've curated an all-First Nations lineup including some of Melbourne's best independent talent. The night will kick off with a Boonwurrung Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country. Then, rapper Deejai with vocalist Breanna Lee, Arrernte drag artist Stone Motherless Cold and electro-tribal pop duo The Merindas will all take to the virtual stage. DJ Soju Gang will keep the party vibes going until midnight. Don't forget to nab your tickets, which are choose what you pay (with a $10 suggested donation). Then prep your dance floor (aka living room), deck yourself out in glitter and get ready to party like its 2020. Top image: The Merindas
Canberra music, food and art festival Spilt Milk is set to return to the capital this November, celebrating its third outing with a suitably huge lineup, announced this morning. Heading up the bill is none other than US hip hop star Childish Gambino, fresh off the back of a #1 Billboard Charts debut for his single This Is America. He hasn't yet announced any other Australian shows, but Spilt Milk isn't billing his appearance as an exclusive, so chances are he'll announce at least a few more shows. (We've still got out fingers crossed that he bring his Pharos festival here after New Zealand.) He'll be joined at the capital's Commonwealth Park on November 17 by fellow international stars, UK pop legends The Wombats and LA producer RL Grime. There's also plenty of homegrown goodness on the menu, with the likes of Sydney singer-songwriter Vera Blue, indie-pop sensation Jack River, dance floor darling Hayden James and Canberra's own high-energy duo Peking Duk all set to take the Spilt Milk stage. But the musical lineup's not to be outdone by the rest of the program, with a ripper serve of visual art, tasty eats and pop-up bars on the cards. Get ready for a multisensory feast, as Hamburg-based artist Stefanie Thiele leads a team of local talent in creating a wondrous playground of installations and art experiences. And keep those taste buds satisfied throughout the day, with eats from the likes of Dirty Bird Food Truck, Bao Brothers, Happy As Larry and Chur Burger. If you fancy being a part of Spilt Milk round three, you'd best not dilly dally — the festival's debut event in 2016 sold out in a mere 18 minutes, while the following year's tickets were all snapped up within nine minutes. This year, Canberra locals will get first dibs, with Homegrown tickets on sale July 1. After that, pre-sale tickets will be available Australia-wide from noon on July 3, with a general admission release on sale at 12pm, Thursday, July 5. In the meantime, here's what you came for — the full lineup for Spilt Milk 2018. SPILT MILK 2018 LINEUP Blanke Camouflage Rose Channel Tres Childish Gambino Cub Sport Ebony Boadu Hatchie Hayden James Jack River Kinder Kira Puru Kwame Manu Crook$ Methyl Ethel Miss Blanks Moaning Lisa Peking Duk RL Grime Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Shockone Skeggs Thandi Phoenix The Jungle Giants The Wombats Thundamentals Vera Blue Willaris. K YG ARTISTS Faith Kerehona JBR Roskoe Stefanie Thiele VOIR (With more to be announced) FOOD Bao Brothers Eatery Chur Burger Dirty Bird Food Truck Happy As Larry Sofrito Paella Spilt Milk Festival will run on Saturday, November 17 at Commonwealth Park, Canberra. Tickets go on sale next week at spilt-milk.com.au. Image: Cole Bennetts.
As with most DC universe superhero stories, Wonder Woman isn't aiming for lofty heights. Which is probably a good thing, because it hits right in the middle. We saw the superheroine appear briefly in Batman vs. Superman, where she was far and away the best part of the film. Now, in her origin movie, we get to see where she came from. Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, or Princess Diana of Themyscira (Gal Gadot), is raised on the secret island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons. When American soldier Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) washes up on their island, Diana defies her mother Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) by freeing him, before setting out to help humanity escape from, what she infers must be, the wicked influence of Ares the God of War (the Amazons are supposedly tasked with protecting humanity from Ares, although they seem to mostly just chill on their island). Diana and Steve sail to London in a dinghy, and travel to the front of World War I to find the wellspring of evil and end the war. Rollicking adventures soon ensue. As a narrative, Wonder Woman leaves plenty to be desired; a standard hero's quest but without elegance or depth. Words like 'love' and 'innocent lives' and 'protect humanity' are thrown around until they lose all meaning – although apparently, German soldiers do not count as humanity since the film sees them slaughtered in droves. The horrific trench warfare of WW1 is once again co-opted as gritty texture in an otherwise textureless film. Director Patty Jenkins manages to tick all the boxes of the worn out genre: fast-paced fight scenes, goodies versus baddies, a smattering of humour and a dramatic final showdown. If you're into caped crusaders, Wonder Woman is still probably worth your time. It's also good to see a superhero film with a strong female cohort – Gadot in front of camera, Jenkins behind, an island full of Amazonian warriors, and Elena Anaya playing the wicked Doctor Poison. And yet it's still basically impossible to call Wonder Woman a feminist film. For all the buzz about female empowerment, the movie falls prey to the same tired, sexist tropes that define all male-dominated movie franchises. We're talking blatant objectification, lack of agency, and outdated stereotypes. Diana is superhuman, with a whip that compels truthfulness and magic wrist guards that deflect bullets. She speaks over a hundred languages and has literally been raised from birth on an island surrounded by fierce fighting women. And yet everywhere she goes, she's greeted with comments about how smokin' hot she is. Can you imagine anyone doing that to Batman? Steve Trevor helps her off a boat and steers her through the streets of London with a possessive hand on her arm. He bosses her around. The men in her ragtag gang see her destroy a church and flip over a tank, but they don't quite believe she knows what she's talking about when it comes to strategy. They simply refuse to let her infiltrate the gala seething with German high command. At the end of the day, the woman is saddled with the same old shit – just as a protagonist and not a one-dimensional narrative device. At the end of the day, if you're just looking for another superhero flick, Wonder Woman should suit you just fine. But if you were hoping to see something revolutionary in terms of the representation of women, prepare to be bitterly disappointed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8fG0TtVAY
Gathering all your friends and family for a delicious feed on your birthday is a party that everyone can get around. But let's face it, finding a place that suits everyone's tastebuds is tough enough, let alone locking down a gem that also caters to all their various dietary restrictions. To make sure the stress doesn't take over and lead to you pulling a denial-heavy 'I don't even enjoy celebrating my birthday' night on the couch, we've scoured the streets of Brisbane for the best menus that have plenty of options for your meat-free mates. Some of these restaurants are old favourites and some are new faces, but what they have in common is that they're all known for their top-notch food and drink offerings. The best part? They all accept BYO, too — raise a glass to that (and you getting another year older).
American photojournalist John Stanmeyer has been named winner of the 57th Annual World Press Photo Contest. The competition's international judging panel named Stanmeyer's photo, 'Signal', both the overall winner and first prize in the contemporary issues category. Shot for National Geographic Magazine on the shores of Djibouti, the image (shown above) captures African migrants holding up their phones, hoping to tap into cheap signal from neighbouring Somalia. En route to new lives in Europe and the Middle East, they're trying to make contact with loved ones elsewhere. Commenting on the winning image, judge Jillian Edelstein said, "It's a photo that is connected to so many other stories — it opens up discussions about technology, globalisation, migration, poverty, desperation, alienation, humanity. It's a very sophisticated, powerfully nuanced image. It is so subtly done, so poetic, yet instilled with meaning, conveying issues of great gravity and concern in the world today.” The competition received over 98,000 submissions and granted prizes to 53 photographers of 25 nationalities across categories ranging from sports to nature to world news. Following controversy last year, stricter image manipulation guidelines apparently saw 8 percent of entries disqualified. Winning photographs will now tour over 45 countries as an international exhibition. See the full gallery of winners at the World Press Photo website. 3rd Prize in Daily Life Category: "Street Dogs," Julie McGuire, UK 1st prize in Spot News (singles) category: Typhoon Survivors, Philippe Lopez, France 2nd prize in Spot News (stories) category: Massacre at Westgate Mall, Tyler Hicks, USA 3rd Prize in Staged Portraits (singles) category: Chiwetel Ejlofor, Nadav Kander, UK 1st Prize in General News (singles) category: Temporary Accommodation, Alessandro Penso, Italy Third Prize in Sports Action (singles) category: Forehand Foreward, Al Bello, USA 2nd Prize in Nature (singles) category: A flock of Guillemots, Markus Varsvuo, Finland 1st prize in Contemporary Issues (stories) category: A Portrait of Domestic Violence, Sara Naomi Lewkowicz 3rd Prize in Observed Portraits (singles) category: A Traditional Berber Bride, Pau Barrena, Spain 2nd prize in Sports Feature (singles) category: Kite Skier on the Mountain, Anastas Tarpanov, Bulgaria
The unnerving talents and complex family ties of The Kransky Sisters are back for more laughs, inappropriate anecdotes and creative instrumentals, hosted by Brisbane’s Powerhouse. The most popular and recognised musical talents are the inspiration for their musical repertoire, however it would seem that those who know the least about such musicians and artists as Beyonce, Pink Floyd and AC/DC comprise The Kransky Sisters. They learned by listening to the “wireless” at home, which are sometimes faulty and interrupted thanks to the wavering reception in their hometown, Esk. These sheltered ladies are left to their own devices, interpreting popular songs in any way they see fit, often applying these meanings to personal stories of their unusual and tumultuous family dynamic. Nevertheless, their faithful 1958 Morris Major is back from the auto repair shop, they’ve got their home-made website up and running and they’ve freshly tuned their musical saw, tuba, pots and pans and are on their way for what is sure to be an unforgettably eventful evening.
After the work-week marathon, holing up at home all weekend can be mighty tempting. Still, while technology has gifted us with the amazing ability to get both food and entertainment without changing out of our PJs, you might still feel like fresh air and socialising. So, on the first Sunday of each month — starting on Sunday, February 2 for 2025 — you can swap the hermit life for an outside hangout. The Sound Society is an initiative that fills Roma Street Parklands with music on the regular, with live tunes echoing through different parts of the inner city spot depending on the day and date. This time around, if a slow Sunday lunchtime with a soundtrack is your style, this is the place to head — picnic blanket in hand. [caption id="attachment_793757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Flickr[/caption] Head along from 11am–2pm for tunes by various musicians, with Sunny Luwe doing the honours in March on the Banyan Lawn. Food trucks will also be onsite, and also The Garden Room Cafe does picnic hampers — or you can BYO snacks if you prefer. Updated Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
What do Elvis Presley, Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso and Ancient Greece have in common? In the coming months, all four will have items and objects on display across Victoria. Accordingly, if you're looking for an excuse to spend the cooler months in a museum or gallery, you have several — including peering at 44 ancient works dating back to the early bronze age. Those historic pieces will hit Melbourne Museum courtesy of Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections, a new exhibition that's set to open on Saturday, April 23. Co-created and presented with the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Australian-first showcase will feature pieces from the Greek organisation's collection — which happens to be the richest range of artefacts from Greek antiquity worldwide — all of which will be making an appearance Down Under for the first time. In the case of two of the exhibition's big highlights — the gold Theseus ring, which dates back to the 15th century BCE, as well as a 2500-year-old marble sphinx that depicts a female head with the body of a winged lion — they'll make their debut outside of the National Archaeological Museum, too. Also coming our way: a collection of artefacts depicting Greek hero Heracles, as well as pieces that date through to the Roman period. [caption id="attachment_845137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Column krater, clay, Herakles slaying the king of Egypt, Busiris, and his attendants. B. Maenad and Satyrs. By the Cleveland Painter.Unknown provenance.About 470 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Eleytherios Galanopoulos[/caption] Overall, Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections will focus on not just Ancient Greece itself, but how the trade of ideas and goods influenced its culture — and how the Greeks also influenced the rest of the ancient world. "Since antiquity, the Greeks have always followed the open horizons of the sea, constantly travelling to every corner of the world. Extroversion, broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism, as well as the ability to embrace and utilise foreign influences in a creative and original way have been integral elements of Hellenic culture," explains Minister of Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports Dr Lina Mendoni. Announcing the news, Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell said "we are excited to be collaborating with the National Archaeological Museum to bring some of the most remarkable artefacts direct from Athens for audiences in Melbourne to enjoy. This captivating exhibition will invite visitors to explore the cross-cultural connections that contributed to the formation of Ancient Greece." Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections opens at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, on Saturday, April 23. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the museum's website. Top image: One of a pair of antefixes Clay Representations of Chimaera and Bellerophon mounting his winged horse, Pegasus. From Thasos. 550-500 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Magoulas.
It's an interesting experience to watch a film when you know exactly how it's going to end. And when that end is tragedy, it's more interesting still. In the case of Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler's debut feature film, we're aware from the word go that the film culminates in the fatal shooting of a young man. Don't fret, it's not a spoiler: the movie opens with the camera phone footage of the shooting captured by witnesses. It's an interesting way to open the film, as you become instantly aware of the gravity of the movie. You have just witnessed a man die, and you are about to see why. Twenty-two-year-old Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) was shot in the back by police officers in the early hours of New Year's Day, 2009, and Fruitvale Station lays out his final hours. The film tracks Grant's relationships with the major players in his life — his mother, his girlfriend, his daughter. The audience is allowed, in a somewhat voyeuristic way, to look into the life of a regular guy. A life that ends up being cut far too short. The film itself is beautifully made. It's filmed entirely with a handheld camera (much like another Sundance Winner, Beasts of the Southern Wild), which adds to the effect of the audience bearing witness to a life, not a story. The camerawork also mimics the actual footage at the start of the film, lending a certain truthfulness to the entire piece. The score is played down and sombre, and so doesn't detract from the dialogue, the plot and the actors at all, while still building a mood of dull dread. The actors are phenomenal, with Jordan (from The Wire and Friday Night Lights) tenaciously capturing the character of a young man yearning for a second chance. In support, The Help's Octavia Spencer is the perfect picture of a concerned and loving mother, and 29-year-old indie star Melonie Diaz is beautifully heartbreaking as Grant's girlfriend, Sophina. The film was produced by screen legend Forest Whitaker and has cleaned up on the awards circuit, including taking out the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The events that transpired at Fruitvale Station featured heavily in the US headlines, detailing the questionably unsubstantiated murder of a young man by law enforcement officers. Oscar Grant's death was a terrible tragedy, and Fruitvale Station carries that emotion onto the silver screen. A film of unmet redemption, it's a stunningly made, deeply emotional story that will have you glued to your seat and, perhaps, wiping away tears. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ceVVVils8z4
UPDATE, JANUARY 6, 2023: New year, new Moonlight Cinema program, with the outdoor venue's January lineup also filled with highlights. Catch sneak peeks of Guy Ritchie's latest Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and British rom-com What's Love Got To Do With It — or check out new Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Tom Hanks getting cantankerous in A Man Called Otto, the culinary savagery of The Menu, Disney's animated gem Strange World and the wild true tale that is The Lost King. Plus, January's retro programming includes Twilight, The Princess Diaries, Con Air, Clueless, Magic Mike and the OG Top Gun. So, that's sparkly vampires, 90s greats, royal hijinks, Nicolas Cage, barely clad men and a need for speed taken care of. If nothing says Christmas to you like catching a festive film under the stars, ideally while kicking back on bean beds and eating a picnic, then Moonlight Cinema's November and December 2022 program has you firmly in its sights. The beloved Australian outdoor movie-viewing setup is back for another summer, and it's kicking off with a heap of recent big-name flicks — plus a couple of weeks of the merriest pictures that it can find. Fresh from revealing its dates for the summer 2022–23, Moonlight Cinema has now locked in its first titles, with the openair picture palace heading to Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland from Thursday, November 24–Sunday, February 19. The lineup kicks off with Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, and also includes Top Gun: Maverick, Smile and Ticket to Paradise — plus Bros, Don't Worry Darling, Where the Crawdads Sing, Bros, Bullet Train, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Adam and Minions: The Rise of Gru. Yes, there's a throwback session of Grease in the first part of the program as well – because retro flicks are always a big part of this event — and then the festive fun begins. Yes, Elf, Home Alone, The Holiday and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are on the lineup. So is Die Hard twice and Love Actually a whopping three times. To wrap up December, there's also a preview session of Steven Spielberg's new release The Fabelmans, culinary thrills with The Menu and a preview of Australian drama Blueback — plus the family-friendly Lyle, Lyle Crocodile and Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. The rest of the Moonlight lineup will drop month by month. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and non-boozy drinks, but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of bites to eat from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. There'll be a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a beauty cart handing out samples, and dogs are welcome at — there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches.
UPDATE, February 12, 2021: The Big Sick is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. On paper, The Big Sick sounds like the standard kind of rom-com that's been made countless times before. Guy meets girl, sparks fly, only for roadblocks to get in the path of true romance... yep, we all know how that story goes. Not only that, but given the film depicts star and writer Kumail Nanjiani's real-life courtship with his co-scribe and now-wife Emily V. Gordon, we actually know how this specific story ends as well. Still, there's plenty to like about the sweet, sincere and heart-swelling details and detours that this emotionally insightful gem offers up along the way. When we first meet Kumail, he's a standup comic slogging it out in Chicago. Fame remains a distant dream, as does making a living out of comedy, but at least his set strikes a chord with grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan). While neither of them are really looking for love, their one-night-stand soon becomes something more. There are one or two complicating factors, however. For starters, he can't bring himself to tell her that his Pakistani parents expect him to have an arranged marriage, any more than he can bring himself to tell them he's fallen for an American. But that's just a minor speed bump compared to the mysterious condition that renders Emily comatose for much of the movie's second and third acts. The Big Sick isn't being poetic or ironic with its title, even if a heady dash of romance can feel a bit like an illness. Instead, it's an accurate description of the film, which largely revolves around Emily's sickness, and the uneasy dynamic between Kumail and her parents (the always excellent Holly Hunter, and a surprisingly great Ray Romano). That it manages to make a thoughtful and earnest rom-com out of some of the worst experiences a person can go through is a testament to the movie's success. Life is chaotic, bodies fail, relationships are hard, and this film does't shy away from any of it. Truth be told, the further that Nanjiani and Gordon's script gets into the tumultuous early days of their romance, the messier and more surprising everything becomes. Crucially, director Michael Showalter (one of the creative forces behind Wet Hot American Summer) manages to layer cultural, generational and interpersonal clashes with dating banter, medical drama, family tensions and twenty-something existential dilemmas. In his hands, a film that could have come across like a Judd Apatow-produced version of '90s Sandra Bullock vehicle While You Were Sleeping instead proves a textured, multifaceted example of rom-coms at their very best. It's also worth giving The Big Sick credit for getting the best out of its leading lady, even while she spends much of the film's running time in a coma. Though Emily's illness stems from reality, it still could have easily felt like a cheap ploy – a way to keep the focus on the male protagonist. Yet that's never the case here, in large part because Kazan makes such a lasting impression when her character is conscious. This may be Nanjiani's life story, but his performance wouldn't feel nearly so honest — or the movie so authentic — without Kazan making sure we're all as enamoured with Emily as he is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO5fXEczlGQ
Feeling a little chilly, Brisbanites? That's understandable — the sky is grey and cloudy, sunshine is mostly absent and the unseasonably cooler weather isn't expected to lift until next week. It's not just a colder-than-usual spell at this time of year that's making the city shiver, however, but the fact that Brisbane just experienced its coldest May day since 1980. Yesterday, Friday, May 22, the mercury didn't pass 17.9 degrees. And if you can't remember the last time it was this cool at this exact time of year, that's because it has been almost half a century since anything in May came close, the Bureau of Meteorology reports. Usually, Brissie averages a maximum of 23.2 degrees in May, so that frosty temperature is well below the norm. In fact, the average minimum at this time of year is usually 13.3 degrees. Today, Saturday, May 23, might beat yesterday's record, too — with BOM only forecasting a maximum of 17.5. At the time of writing, the mercury hasn't ventured past 13.6 degrees as yet for the day, in case you're wondering why you're feeling particularly cold while you're reading this. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1263981305408167937 While tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, is only expected to reach a top of 21 degrees, that'll obviously be considerably warmer than the last few days. And, it'll be the start of more normal temps, too. From Monday, May 24 onwards, maximum temperatures will hover between 24–25 and come paired with either sunny or mostly sunny conditions — just the way Brisbanites like their lead-up to winter. Via Bureau of Meteorology.
In the hustle and bustle of Brisbane, a good cold brew is like liquid gold — or at least it can be priced that way. And, even if you're constantly on the lookout for a good caffeine fix, that won't always fit into the budget. Luckily, coffee roaster Industry Beans is celebrating the second birthday of its Newstead store with a special giveaway. From Thursday, September 23–Saturday, September 25, the chain is offering up 1000 of its famed cold brews for free. All you need to do is head in to either Industry Beans' Newstead or Adelaide Street outposts, and make a purchase. You can head down before work on Thursday or Friday — or, if you have a big night planned to start the weekend, set a reminder for yourself Saturday morning. That's when an ice-cold coffee might just be what you need to bring yourself back to life.
Australia's capital cities aren't the only places filled with music fans. That's one of the ideas behind Groovin the Moo, which rounds up a heap of huge names and takes them on the road to play regional locations. And, in 2023, those acts are indeed big — Fatboy Slim, Denzel Curry, Eliza Rose and Skepta-level big. They're four of the music stars on the just-announced lineup for the beloved large-scale touring music fest, which returns in 2023 after a pandemic-enforced break, then a smaller tour in 2022. This year, it's back with a full nationwide run, heading to six different states and territories across April and May. Along the way, it'll finally mark a comeback in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland — and hit up New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria as well. [caption id="attachment_878696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carlos Luna / Secretaría de Cultura CDMX[/caption] Also on the bill: everyone from Amy Shark, Ball Park Music and Barkaa through to Alt-J, Ocean Alley and Omar Apollo — plus Slayyyter and Sophie May as well. The full lineup spans an impressive mix of overseas and local talent, including Laurel and BBNO$ among the acts making the trip. The list goes on, meaning that folks in Wayville, Maitland, Canberra, Bendigo, the Sunshine Coast and Bunbury — or heading to them just for GTM — have plenty to look forward to. And yes, Queenslanders will note the already-revealed new Sunshine Coast location, after logistical challenges and increased financial pressures forced a move from Townsville. Already grabbing your gumboots? Getting ready to dance in a paddock to one helluva bill? Then you'll be keen to nab tickets from 12pm local time on Tuesday, February 7. And, GTM still has a few details to drop, such as the triple j Unearthed, Fresh Produce artists and Community programs. GROOVIN THE MOO 2023 LINEUP: Alt-J Amy Shark Ball Park Music Barkaa BBNO$ The Chats Choomba Confidence Man Denzel Curry Eliza Rose Fatboy Slim Laurel Luude Ocean Alley Omar Apollo Royel Otis Skegss Skepta Slayyyter Slowly Slowly Sophie May Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers Teenage Dads Teenage Joans Hosts: Lex and Pookie Plus triple j Unearthed, Fresh Produce artists and Community programs still to be announced. GROOVIN THE MOO 2023 DATES AND VENUES: Friday, April 21 — Adelaide Showground, Kaurna Country, Wayville, SA Saturday, April 22 — Maitland Showground, Wonnarua Country, Maitland, NSW Sunday, April 23 — Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country, Mitchell, ACT Saturday, April 29 — Bendigo's Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Bendigo, VIC Sunday, April 30 — Kawana Sports Western Precinct, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country, Warana, QLD Saturday, May 6 — Hay Park, Wardandi Noongar Country, Bunbury, WA Groovin the Moo will tour Australia in April and May 2023. For more information, or for tickets from 12pm local time on Tuesday, February 7, head to the festival's website. Top images: Ruby Boyland, Ash Caygill and Chloe Hall.
Lime Cordiale are showing some love to some of Australia's biggest regional hubs on a new tour that will see them performing in RSL clubs and intimate venues along the east coast. Spanning eight shows stretching between the Sunshine Coast and Frankston, the Fantastical Country Club Experience will deliver the band's catalogue of beloved hits, plus tracks from their upcoming third studio album, to cities and towns that are often missed on major national tours. The tour will kick off just north of Sydney with a pair of shows at the Dee Why RSL on Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19. From there, Lime Cordiale will head to Wollongong's Waves, Beer Deluxe in Albury, The Pier in Frankston, Venue 114 on the Sunshine Coast, Panthers Port Macquarie and, finally, The Coliseum in Rooty Hill on Sunday, April 15. Two of the stops — Dee Why RSL on March 19 and Venue 114 on Saturday, April 8 — are all-ages affairs, meaning Lime Cordiale fans young and old on the Central Coast and the Sunshine Coast can head along. The infectious five-piece will be joined by upcoming singer-songwriter Aleksiah on all eight dates, as well as Gold Coast musician Bella Amor in Dee Why, Wollongong and Albury, and sunny four-piece Coterie across the final four shows of the tour. Lime Cordiale recently landed four songs in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2022 including 'Holy Moley', their latest in a series of collaborations with the multi-talented British actor, DJ and musician Idris Elba. Their upcoming album hasn't been given a name or release date yet, but it's set to feature recent singles 'Colin', 'Country Club' and 'Facts of Life'. LIME CORDIALE'S FANTASTICAL COUNTRY CLUB TOUR 2023: Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19 — Dee Why RSL Friday, March 24 — Waves, Wollongong Friday, March 31 — Beer Deluxe, Albury Sunday, April 2 — The Pier, Frankston Saturday, April 8 — Venue 114, Sunshine Coast Sunday, April 9 — Panthers, Port Macquarie Saturday, April 15 — The Coliseum, Rooty Hill Lime Cordiale will tour the east coast of Australia in March and April. Tickets to the 'Fantastical Country Club Tour' are on sale now.
In Victoria, enjoying a meal at a restaurant run by chef Scott Pickett's hospitality group is always a good bet. Whether you're after a European bistro experience at Chancery Lane, modern Australian dishes at Estelle and Matilda, or Thai dishes at Longrain, Melbourne has an option. On the Mornington Peninsula, there's also the eateries at The Continental Sorrento. Smith St Bistrot is Pickett's French restaurant in Melbourne, too, but it isn't the only place that Gallic dishes will be on the menu under his watch in April. For one night only, he's heading to Brisbane to team up with Woolloongabba's C'est Bon. The date to mark in your diary: Wednesday, April 10. Keen to experience the Melbourne culinary figure's dishes without a trip south? This is your chance. There'll be sittings at 6pm and 8.30pm, with Pickett teaming up with C'est Bon's own Andy Ashby — after they initially collaborated at Pickett's The Point in Albert Park more than a decade go, where Ashby worked under Pickett — for C'est Bon and Beyond: A French Affair. Patrons will enjoy four snacks and four courses, with Pickett also bringing Scott Pickett Group Executive Chef Stu McVeigh to help. C'est Bon advises that the night "draws inspiration from the rich history of French gastronomy, with the menu paying homage to classic French techniques while incorporating innovative twists and locally sourced ingredients". On the snacks menu: oeuf mayonnaise caviar, parfait onion jam brioche, barbecue redclaw with basque piperade and mustard flowers, and smoked potato croissant with truffle. After that, the courses start with Moreton Bay bugs with sweetcorn, kelp and shellfish sauce — and then move on to Murray cod a la Grenobloise with roasted cauliflower and finger lime. Next, dry-aged quail and foie gras pithivier with rouge cherry and chicory will be on offer. Finally, the evening will go out with roasted chestnut 'Mont Blanc' with burnt vanilla crème. "We're thrilled to welcome Scott and Stu to C'est Bon for this special collaboration. It's been a while since I've seen my old pal and we're excited to offer up a menu that celebrates the rich history and traditions of French cuisine, while also incorporating our own unique influences and creative flair," said Ashby. [caption id="attachment_903811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] C'est Bon, Mitch Lowe[/caption] Consider it the meeting of two standout Gallic restaurants over one impressive evening. Expect $135 tickets to sell out quickly, too, when they go on sale on Wednesday, March 6. Pay extra and you'll get wine to match. Pickett's career has taken him from an apprenticeship in Adelaide in the 90s to opening his own restaurants, hosting TV shows and publishing a recipe book, and collecting ample acclaim along the way — and now, to giving Brisbane a taste of his cooking, even if only for one bound-to-be-popular evening. [caption id="attachment_944814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Squadrito[/caption] [caption id="attachment_837435" align="alignnone" width="1920"] C'est Bon, Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_849501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Smith St Bistrot, Shannon McGrath[/caption] [caption id="attachment_845615" align="alignnone" width="1920"] C'est Bon, Mitch Lowe[/caption] C'est Bon and Beyond: A French Affair takes place at 6pm and 8.30pm on Wednesday, April 10 at C'est Bon, 609/611 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba. For more information and to buy tickets from 5pm on Thursday, March 6, head to the C'est Bon website. Top image: Simon Shiff.
After a year's delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympics are almost upon us. The 2020 games will be a little different to usual, though. Firstly, it's obviously now 2021, with the postponed games being held in Tokyo from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8. Also, there won't be any spectators due to the pandemic — with neither overseas travellers nor local residents permitted to attend. That's all well and good and interesting; however, we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship that's also popping up this July. On Thursday, July 22, viewers can watch four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own paw-lympics. Yep, that's a thing and we're definitely here for it. For the second year in a row, the folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the Puppy Games — and it'll be streaming on a device near you, too. The event will see young trainee guide dogs Chessy, Frieda, Isobel and Ivory tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. Watch the pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'puppy patience' food bowl challenge and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. The games will stream at 1pm on Thursday via the event's website — and, whether you're in lockdown in Sydney, Victoria or South Australia, or you're located elsewhere in Australia, it sounds like perfect lunchtime viewing. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, of course, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link on the event's website. This year, the appeal is shooting for a goal of $750,000 to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least 15 Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost. The Puppy Games will stream via the event's website from 1pm on Thursday, July 22.
When is a record store more than just a record store? When it's also a cafe and community space as well. And when is a stint of scouring Echo & Bounce's racks more than just a shopping trip? When the Woolloongabba spot welcomes everyone in for a day-long open house complete with DJs, live music, art and markets in Jacob Lane. This excuse to stack your vinyl collection made the move from Fortitude Valley's Winn Lane to Brisbane's inner east in 2022, to a two-storey perch in an old heritage building — and it wants you to drop by during Brisbane Art Design 2023. On Saturday, May 27, you'll browse, listen, buy, eat, drink, hang out and engage from 7am–8pm. The fun starts over breakfast, including tunes both spun and performed live, plus installations to peer at. Then, from 12–5pm, the community market will span music, art, objects and wearables. Echo & Bounce's open house will take over its carpark space, courtyard and living room, as well as the store's loft if the weather turns wet.
After blockbuster exhibitions in 2017 and 2019, The National: New Australian Art — an epic contemporary Australian art exhibition held across three major Sydney galleries — is back. Due to open on Friday, March 26, the program will feature works from 39 emerging, mid-career and established artists at the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA and Carriageworks. At the helm for this edition of the biennial set of exhibitions are Matt Cox and Erin Vink (AGNSW), Abigail Moncrieff (Carriageworks) and Rachel Kent (MCA). Each gallery will exhibit a unique and distinct collection of new Australian art from artists such as Abdullah MI Syed and Lauren Berkowitz, plus artistic collective such as A Constructed World and the Karrabing Film Collective. The exhibitions will run simultaneously across the three galleries, all kicking off on the same date but finishing at various times until Sunday, September 5. Find out more at The National's website — and find out which artists are being exhibited at which galleries via the MCA, AGNSW and Carriageworks. [caption id="attachment_804284" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bilirubin Bezoarn, 2019, installation view, photographer: Christo Crocker[/caption] Top image: Zan Wimberley
This post is presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan. There's plenty of fun to be had in this city each week, but there's only a small handful of truly fresh urban adventures to be had. We've partnered with Toyota to find the very best of these shiny-new experiences in Brisbane. Presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan, these are our picks to put you on the road to a life of goodtimes. Now your only challenge is getting to them all. This week is all about jaffle appreciation, rooftop hot tubbing, handling the heat and smashing art forms together. Eat: Little Pawpaw It can be hard being the younger sibling, especially when your older sister is so successful. This week the Venzin Group (owners of Pawpaw Cafe, Mons Ban Sabai, Picnic and Green Papaya) made the bold, unheard of move to open their fifth venture north of the river. Going where no southsider has ever gone before, Little Pawpaw’s first week has not been without rave reviews and we hear they are bringing back the jaffle. Enjoy the kitsch and vibrant interior while sipping your favourite Campos brew. 145 Kitchener Road, Kedron Drink: Limes Fortunately for us Queenslanders, it’s never too late in the year to celebrate a rooftop relaunch. Limes Hotel’s top deck was recently refurbished, and finally christened last weekend — with Olympic synchronised swimmers to seal the deal. Expect a relaxed space to kick back at the alfresco cinema, enjoy resort-style drinks and a Sunday afternoon barbecue, or stay up late for the midnight pool parties. Most notable to the reno are the two rooftop hot tubs. Pack your togs (or not) and head over for a dip. 142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley See: Seen + Heard GoMA is here to prove that pop culture isn’t all Andy Warhol and Simpsons references. The latest exhibition, Seen + Heard, is here for a good time, not for a long time, and draws on major artworks, installations and multiples from the gallery’s collection. The works address the intersections, clashes and marriages of pop culture, music, sound and visual art with pieces from sculptural sound pioneer Nam June Paik and musical, performance and sound installations to keep you ticking. See it and hear it until April 3. Do: judge a chilli comp Kettle and Tin is doing the honours by kicking off Brewsvegas’ with the first festival event, the Second Annual Chilli Cook Off. This Sunday contestants coming from various Brisbane restaurants will compete for the prestigious title of Chilli Master. If you think your tastebuds are ready to handle the heat, trot on over from 11am to help judge the People’s Choice award. And when the spice gets the better of you, Burleigh Brewing Co will have your back with a crafty cold one.
Whether you're in Singapore for the first time or are lucky enough to have visited before, there's always more to do, see and experience around the Lion City. Rather than just stop in and marvel at iconic attractions, discover local stories and learn something new the next time you're in the city, with a guided tour by local experts. In partnership with Singapore Tourism, we've pulled together some fascinating tours — many of which are free — where you can get access to insider knowledge to uncover a new side to Singapore. Singapore Walking Tours Kick off your Singapore trip with a walking tour to get your lay of the land. There are several tour operators around the city, but Monster Day Tours is one of the few that offers free daily walking tours through different neighbourhoods. Over two-and-a-half hours, you'll be guided through the historic areas of Chinatown, Kampong Gelam or Little India. If you're more interested in the contemporary side of Singapore, there's also tours of Marina Bay and the Singapore City. You can try your luck joining in on the day, but priority is given to those who have booked a spot in advance. [caption id="attachment_976861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marklin Ang[/caption] Gardens by the Bay With 1.5 million plants from across the globe spread across over 100 hectares, you could visit the Gardens by the Bay many times over and still not have seen it all. That's why the Gardens offers a series of free sustainability and nature tours around the massive park. Every Saturday and Sunday between 8.30–11.30am, you can learn about topics such as water conservation and sustainable design practices, biodiversity and ecosystems, the sensory features of plants, and the impact of carbon on our climate as a guide takes you through parts of the park. Although it's free to join, you'll have to reserve a spot ahead of time to ensure you don't miss out. Mandai Wildlife Reserve Make some new furry friends when you get a close-up look at local wildlife on a behind-the-scenes tour. Mandai Wildlife Reserve consists of Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Night Safari, and each park offers a range of exciting experiences. Explore Asia's first river-themed animal park with a personal guide or embark on a nighttime adventure through the world's first nocturnal wildlife park. At the Singapore Zoo, you can jump aboard a private buggy for a tour of the orangutans, tigers, KidsWorld and Wild Africa, before you get to meet a giant tortoise and participate in feeding the giraffes. Be sure to add on a backstage experience when you book your ticket. Brass Lion Distillery Brass Lion Distillery is a gin distillery known for its flagship Singapore Dry Gin, along with atypical gins that incorporate local flavours and aromatics, such as osmanthus oolong, butterfly pea and jasmine. For an in-depth experience, book in for the 50-minute distillery tour. Not only will a guide take you through the history of the brand and its production process, but you'll also be treated to a welcome drink and tasting flight of three gins in the upstairs Tasting Room. For a bespoke souvenir, choose your own botanicals and make your own gin to take home at the Brass Lion Gin School. National Gallery Singapore Let's be honest — it can sometimes be a struggle to fully comprehend or appreciate complex works of art. Give the artists the admiration they deserve and delve into major works by Singapore, Southeast Asian and international artists with docent-led tours at the National Gallery of Singapore. There are free tours ranging from deep dives into specific exhibitions and artists to a highlight tour of the whole gallery or building tours of City Hall and the former Supreme Court. Some of these tours require admission passes and you can register for a spot once you're at the National Gallery. Peranakan Museum Explore a significant part of Singapore's history and culture at the Peranakan Museum. 'Peranakan' is derived from the Malay word meaning 'local descendants', and the museum showcases the origins of Peranakan culture in Southeast Asia, as well as contemporary expressions of the culture. Peruse historical artefacts alongside textiles, furnishings and ceramics. The museum also offers free guided tours every day, and you can register on the day once you've paid for admission to the museum. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre.
As part of the 2013–14 Sydney International Art Series and part of an exclusive deal with the NSW government, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and Destination NSW present, War Is Over! (if you want it): Yoko Ono. Legendary artist, musician, activist and perhaps one of the most controversial figures in the history of rock 'n' roll, Yoko Ono has developed her first solo exhibition made up of five decades worth of art in diverse media. Over the past decade skeptics of Ono and her involvement with the Beatles disintegration in 1970, have let the past go and have started to embrace Ono's musical and artistic endeavours. Ono brings back to life the iconic message, 'War Is Over!' that she and her late husband John Lennon spent years spreading around the world. First appearing in 1969 across billboards worldwide, the message may be the most recognised symbol of public outcry for peace during the Vietnam War. Over the past decade some of those who were once skeptical of Ono and her possible involvement in the Beatles 1970 disintegration, have let the past go and begun to embrace Ono's musical and artistic endeavours. MCA Senior Curator Rachel Kent has worked closely with Ono on the survey. The exhibition reaffirms Ono's belief in a better future. Sydney's MCA will be the only Australian venue for Ono's artwork which includes performances, sculpture, written texts, films, sound compositions, and participatory pieces of art that involve the viewers. The exhibit is to be presented throughout the Level Three Galleries in November of next year. Ono is expected to attend.
What do John Williams' Star Wars theme, Alan Silvestri's compositions in The Avengers, and Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's score for Gladiator all have in common? When you hear each and every one, they instantly transport you into the world of their respective films. That's what a good piece of movie music does — whether or not the accompanying images are playing in front of you. On Saturday, April 24, all of the above pieces will also echo through QPAC's Concert Hall, with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra putting on a show dedicated to movie heroes and heroines. You won't be watching the relevant flicks, but rather soaking in their sounds as they're all played live. Other highlights include tracks from movies as diverse as My Neighbour Totoro, The Incredibles and Captain Marvel — and The Imitation Game, The Man From Snowy River and Miss Marple as well. QSO will be performing two concerts, at 3pm and 7.30pm. And to get you in the mood, here's an excerpt from the always-enchanting Totoro soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qtYnxlLng8
Pickles and beer are a winning mix. If you've ever paired meat, cheese and fermented vegetables with a pint or several — and who hasn't? —then you clearly think so too, even if you don't realise it. Ploughman, Alderley's latest cafe-bar hybrid, certainly does; indeed, that's what the new addition to Samford Road is all about. Because you can't beat a good food-and-drink combo, you'll find platters overflowing with all the usual charcuterie essentials and house-made pickles, plus taps flowing with a rotating range of local, national and international brews. Yum. If it sounds rather straightforward, that's because it is — but sometimes the best things in life are the simplest. Plus, it's a nifty idea for a bar that's housed within a former 19th century general store and saddler, has been overhauled by an electrician and architect, and also serves grilled cheese toasties and small-batch spirits. And yes, like the name suggests, ploughman sandwiches stacked with leg ham, cheese, bread, mustard and pickles are also on the menu.
Before Monday, March 28 comes to a close Down Under, Hollywood will have anointed a new batch of winners. After months of chatter — almost two since the nominations were announced, in fact — and even longer still of speculation, the Academy Awards will shower accolades upon its 94th round of recipients. Sweeping revisionist westerns, heartwarming animated hits, sci-fi spectacles, history-making documentaries: amid the gorgeous gowns, snappy monologues and sweet speeches that'll inevitably come with 2022's Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes-hosted ceremony, they're all in the running. Yes, the list goes in. And, in a bonus for movie lovers in Australia, you can watch 36 of this year's nominated features right now. Some are showing in cinemas, others are streaming, and a few give you options for either big- or small-screen viewings — and here's your pre-Oscars binging rundown on where to see them all. ON THE BIG SCREEN: BELFAST Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Kenneth Branagh), Best Supporting Actor (Ciarán Hinds), Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Our thoughts: Warm, cosy, rosy, charming, feel-good: typically when a film spins its story during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, none of these words apply. But with Belfast, Kenneth Branagh has made a movie set in its eponymous city when the Protestant-versus-Catholic violence was a constant sight, and also helmed a Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe and Judi Dench-starring feature that's about a childhood spent with that conflict as a backdrop. Where to watch: Belfast is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. CYRANO Nominations: Best Costume Design Our thoughts: Love can spring quickly, igniting sparks instantly. Or, it can build gradually and gracefully, including over a lifetime. In the sumptuous confines of Cyrano, all of the above happens — and, with director Joe Wright helming a handsome, detail-laden, rhythmic piece of cinema starring a fantastic Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett and Kelvin Harrison Jr, this musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac truly sings. Where to watch: Cyrano is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. DRIVE MY CAR Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Ryusuke Hamaguchi), Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay Our thoughts: Forget Green Book and Driving Miss Daisy, American Oscar-applauded films similarly about drivers, passengers and unexpected camaraderie — Drive My Car is in a lane of its own. Filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi takes his central pair and his audience on a patient, engrossing and rewarding trip that cuts to the heart of dealing with life, love, loss, pain, shame and despair, and also sees how fickle twists of chance unavoidably dictate our routes. Where to watch: Drive My Car is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. FLEE Nominations: Best International Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Pairing animation with factual storytelling is still rare enough that it stands out, but that blend alone isn't what makes Flee special. Writer/director Jonas Poher Rasmussen has created one of the best instances of the combination yet, all to share the story of an Afghan refugee who was once a kid in war-torn Kabul, then a teenager seeking asylum in Copenhagen, and now talks through the astonishing ups and downs in his tale. Where to watch: Flee is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. LICORICE PIZZA Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: Paul Thomas Anderson's ninth feature births two new on-screen talents, both putting in two of the past year's best performances and two of the finest-ever movie debuts. In this sublime tale of friendship, romance, hanging out and navigating the 70s in San Fernando Valley, that's evident from the first grainy 35-millimetre-shot moments, as Alana Haim (of Haim) and Cooper Hoffman (son of Philip Seymour Hoffman) do little more than chat, stroll and charm. Where to watch: Licorice Pizza is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. PARALLEL MOTHERS Nominations: Best Actress (Penélope Cruz), Best Original Score Our thoughts: Parallel Mothers is classic Pedro Almodóvar, but nothing about that description ever simply unfurls as expected. Once again, he puts Penélope Cruz at the centre of his frames, paints with the vibrant-toned costume and set design that make his movies such a blissful sight for colour-seeking eyes, and focuses on mothers of all shades navigating life's many difficulties — and the result is one of his best films so far. Where to watch: Parallel Mothers is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. IN CINEMAS OR AT HOME: DUNE Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Our thoughts: A spice-war space opera about feuding houses on far-flung planets, Dune has long been a pop-culture building block. It's always been something special, too — but as he did with Blade Runner 2049, writer/director Denis Villeneuve has once again grasped something already enormously influential, peered at it with astute eyes, built it anew and created an instant sci-fi classic in the process. Where to watch: Dune is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. ENCANTO Nominations: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, Best Song Our thoughts: Five years after Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney first teamed up on an animated musical with the catchiest of tunes, aka Moana, they're back at it again with Encanto. To viewers eager for another colourful, thoughtful and engaging film — and another that embraces a particular culture with the heartiest of hugs, and is all the better for it — what can the past decade's most influential composer and biggest entertainment behemoth say except you're welcome? Where to watch: Encanto is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Disney+,Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. HOUSE OF GUCCI Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: For the second time in as many movies, Lady Gaga is caught in a bad romance in House of Gucci. Yes, she's already sung the song to match. The pop diva doesn't belt out ballads or croon upbeat tunes in this true-crime drama about the titular fashion family, unlike in her Oscar-nominated role in A Star Is Born, but she does shimmy into a tale about love and revenge, horror and design, and wanting someone's everything as long as it's free. Where to watch: House of Gucci is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. KING RICHARD Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Will Smith), Best Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: Stepping into Venus and Serena Williams' childhood as aspiring tennis stars, King Richard mostly lobs around smaller moments — and it's a tale about imperfections, struggles and contradictions in the pursuit of excellence, too. It spies the sporting greats' formative years through their father (Will Smith), but still steps through life-defining events for the entire family — and the end product is an easy win, though, rather than an all-timer Where to watch: King Richard is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. NIGHTMARE ALLEY Nominations: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design Our thoughts: Don't mistake the blaze that starts Nightmare Alley for warmth; in his 11th film, Guillermo del Toro gets chillier than he ever has. A lover of gothic tales told with empathy and curiosity, the Mexican filmmaker has always understood that escapism and agony go hand in hand — and here, in a carnival noir that springs from William Lindsay Gresham's 1946 novel and previously reached cinemas in 1947, he runs headfirst into cold, unrelenting darkness. Where to watch: Nightmare Alley is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SPENCER Nominations: Best Actress (Kristen Stewart) Our thoughts: Spencer joins Kristen Stewart's resume after weighty parts in Clouds of Sils Maria, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Seberg, and has her do something she's long done magnificently: let a world of pain and uncertainty seep quietly from her entire being. The new regal drama should do just that, of course, given its subject — but saying that director Pablo Larraín has cast his Diana well, pitch-perfect head tilt and all, is a royal understatement. Where to watch: Spencer is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Prime Video. Read our full review. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Spider-Man: No Way Home isn't without its charms; Tom Holland and Zendaya's chemistry still sparkles, it's a definite treat to see Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina back in the fold, and, as blasts from the pasts keep popping up, director Jon Watts cleverly juggles the varying tones of all three different web-slinging franchises. But this spider-sequel is always happiest when it's trying to catch the audience's claps and cheers just like flies. Where to watch: Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. WEST SIDE STORY Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Our thoughts: Tonight, tonight, there's only Steven Spielberg's lavish and dynamic version of West Side Story tonight — not to detract from or forget the 1961 movie of the same name. With this swooning, socially aware remake of one of cinema's favourite stories about star-crossed lovers, the veteran filmmaker pirouettes back from the atrocious Ready Player One by embracing something he clearly adores, and being unafraid to give it rhythmic swirls and thematic twirls. Where to watch: West Side Story is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD Nominations: Best International Feature, Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: Capturing the relentlessly on-the-go sensation that comes with adulthood, as well as the inertia of feeling like you're never quite getting anywhere that you're meant to be, The Worst Person in the World is filled with running scenes that paint a wonderfully evocative and relatable image. Those are apt terms for Norwegian writer/director Joachim Trier's latest gem overall, actually, which meets Julie as she's pinballing through the shambles of her millennial life. Where to watch: The Worst Person in the World is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. VIA STREAMING: ASCENSION Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Starting with factory recruitment on the streets, then stepping into mass production, then climbing the social hierarchy up to the rich and privileged, Ascension explores employment, consumerism and the everyday dream in China. Observational to a mesmerising degree, it lets its slices of life and the behaviour, attitudes and patterns they capture do the talking — and what a smart, telling, incisive and surreal story they unfurl. Where to watch: Ascension is available to stream via Paramount+. ATTICA Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Half a century after the infamous Attica uprising at the New York jail — which ended with 33 inmates and 10 correctional officers dead, all most all at the hands of law enforcement — this intelligent, compassionate and powerful documentary asks prisoners who were there to share their stories. Entwined with archival footage, it isn't an easy watch, but it's not just grim and infuriating but gripping and essential during every second. Where to watch: Attica is available to stream via Paramount+. BEING THE RICARDOS Nominations: Best Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Supporting Actor (JK Simmons) Our thoughts: If Aaron Sorkin's name is attached to a project, film or TV alike, plenty of talk always ensues. That's no different in this Sorkin-written and directed biopic about Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) — which focuses on a difficult time in their marriage, and in their sitcom I Love Lucy, but largely just makes viewers wish that they were watching that television series and the real-life Ball instead. Where to watch: Being the Ricardos is available to stream via Prime Video. CODA Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur), Best Adapted Screenplay, Our thoughts: CODA, the sophomore feature from writer/director Sian Heder (Tallulah), takes its cues from 2014 French hit La Famille Bélier — and it's a rare example of the remake bettering the original. Following 17-year-old Ruby Rossi's (Emilia Jones, Locke & Key) struggle to balance her commitments to her family, all of whom are deaf, with her dreams of attending music school, it's filled with warmth, naturalism, engaging performances and a welcome lack of cheesiness. Where to watch: CODA is available to stream via Apple TV+. Read our full review. COMING 2 AMERICA Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: Coming 2 America might make knowing jokes about pointless sequels made decades after original hits, but that winking attitude doesn't make this 33-years-later sequel to Coming to America any better. This time around, Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem of Zamunda has to grapple with becoming king, finding out he has a 30-year-old son and realising that his country's patriarchal traditions need dismantling, and laughs are thin from start to finish. Where to watch: Coming 2 America is available to stream via Prime Video. CRUELLA Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: A killer dress, a statement jacket, a devastating head-to-toe ensemble: if they truly match their descriptions, they stand the test of time. Set in 70s London as punk takes over the aesthetic, live-action 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella is full of such outfits — but if the Emma Stone-starring affair was a fashion item itself, though, it'd be a piece that appears fabulous from afar, but can't hide its seams. Where to watch: Cruella is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. DON'T LOOK UP Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: On paper, Don't Look Up sounds like a dream. Using a comet hurtling towards earth as a stand-in, Adam McKay parodies climate change inaction and the circus that tackling COVID-19 has turned into in the US, spoofs self-serious disaster blockbusters and enlists a fantasy cast. But he's still simply making the most blatant gags, all while assuming viewers wouldn't care about saving the planet, or their own lives, without such star-studded and glossily shot packaging. Where to watch: Don't Look Up is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE Nominations: Best Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: Not for the first time, the eyes have it, but then they always have with Tammy Faye Bakker. The second film called The Eyes of Tammy Faye to tell the 70s and 80s televangelist's tale, this biopic, frequently puts its namesake's OTT and instantly eye-grabbing peepers in focus. That's apt, given the Jessica Chastain-starring flick hones in on perspective; however, it'd be a better film if it pondered what she truly saw, or didn't. Where to watch: The Eyes of Tammy Faye is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. FOUR GOOD DAYS Nominations: Best Original Song Our thoughts: Based on a true tale and coming to the screen via a Washington Post article, Four Good Days isn't subtle — but Mila Kunis and Glenn Close's performances still hit the mark with power and empathy. They play a mother and daughter, the former a ten-year heroin addict trying to get clean for the 15th time, the latter her long-suffering mother, and both wading through a lifetime of woes in search of a brighter future. Where to watch: Four Good Days is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. FREE GUY Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Free Guy is a big-budget, star-led movie that primarily exists to answer two not-at-all pressing questions: what would The Truman Show look like if it starred Ryan Reynolds, and how would that 1998 classic would fare if it was about massive online video games instead of TV? In the process, it's firmly Hollywood's equivalent of mass-produced soft furnishings emblazoned with self-help platitudes and designed to sit on as many couches as possible. Where to watch: Free Guy is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE HAND OF GOD Nominations: Best International Feature Our thoughts: The Hand of God isn't a Diego Maradona biopic; however, Paolo Sorrentino's film takes its name from the soccer star's move during a 1986 World Cup match, where he used his hand to score a goal and helped win the game. Based on the filmmaker's own youth, it also tells of a time when the player was a deity to the not-yet-movie-obsessed future Italian cinema great — and the life-changing personal dramas that occurred with that soccer worship in the background. Where to watch: The Hand of God is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. THE LOST DAUGHTER Nominations: Best Actress (Olivia Colman), Best Supporting Actress (Jessie Buckley), Best Adapted Screenplay Our thoughts: Watching Olivia Colman play a complicated woman is like staring at the ocean: it's never the same twice; it couldn't be more unpredictable, no matter how comfortable it appears; and all that surface texture bobs, floats, swells, gleams and glides atop leagues of unseen complexity. The Lost Daughter is the latest example, and it's exceptional, with actor-turned-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal making a bold directorial debut bringing Elena Ferrante's novel to the screen. Where to watch: The Lost Daughter is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. LUCA Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Even when Pixar makes a minor delight, like Luca, its usually swims well beyond most of the other family-friendly fare that gets pumped in front of young eyes. Set in Italy over a resplendent summer, this coming-of-age tale might be the closest that Pixar ever gets to making a Frankenstein movie. Forget the whole coming back from the dead part; instead, teenage sea monsters Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) just want to belong. Where to watch: Luca is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Fighting the robot apocalypse has rarely been as fun on-screen as it is in this feel-good, family-friendly (and family-loving) animated delight. Artificial intelligence takes over, the world's technological gadgets enslave humans, and it's up to a film-obsessed teenager and her quirky family to save the day, work through their baggage and ensure that humanity has a future — all of which makes for smart, funny, warmhearted and savvily playful viewing. Where to watch: The Mitchells vs the Machines is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. NO TIME TO DIE Nominations: Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Our thoughts: James Bond might prefer his martinis shaken, not stirred, but No Time to Die doesn't quite take that advice. While the enterprising spy hasn't changed his drink order, the latest film he's gives its regular ingredients both a mix and a jiggle. The action is dazzlingly choreographed, a menacing criminal has an evil scheme and the world is in peril. But, there's more weight in Daniel Craig's performance, more emotion all round, and a greater willingness to contemplate the stakes. Where to watch: No Time to Die is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE POWER OF THE DOG Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jane Campion), Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actor (Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee), Best Supporting Actress (Kirsten Dunst), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Our thoughts: Jane Campion has never helmed anything less than stellar, and she's immensely capable of unearthing rich new pastures in well-ploughed terrain. With The Power of the Dog, the New Zealand director is at the height of her skills trotting into her latest mesmerising musing on strength, desire and isolation — this time via a venomous western that's as perilously bewitching as its mountainous backdrop, and is also teeming with stunning performances. Where to watch: The Power of the Dog is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Featuring a vibrant animated spectacle that heroes vivid green and blue hues, a rousing central figure who is never a stock-standard Disney princess and lively voice work, Raya and the Last Dragon boasts plenty of highlights. It embraces southeast Asian culture with a warm hug; it's always detailed, organic, inclusive and thoughtful, and never tokenistic; and it benefits from the pitch-perfect vocal stylings of Awkwafina as the playful, mystical half of the film's title. Where to watch: Raya and the Last Dragon is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: In Marvel's 25th film, Simu Liu anchors a film about history and destiny, too — one that's about breaking free from the past and committing to the future — and he heartily embraces the occasion. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings itself flits between offering up a lively picture that strives to carve out its own space in the series, and simply serving up more of the usual Marvel template but in enticing packaging, however, but it's always entertaining. Where to watch: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Much of Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) involves stunning archival footage, as recorded more than five decades ago and never seen since, capturing live performances by an astonishing lineup of musicians at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Directed by Questlove, consider this glorious documentary an act of unearthing, reclamation and celebration, then. It's a gift, too — and a phenomenal one. Where to watch: Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. TICK, TICK... BOOM! Nominations: Best Actor (Andrew Garfield), Best Film Editing Our thoughts: Lin-Manuel Miranda's filmmaking directorial debut, Tick, Tick… Boom! charts theatre composer Jonathan Larson's (Andrew Garfield) path to the autobiographical one-man-show that shares its name — before he went on to make a little production called Rent. It's a loving ode, albeit an inescapably overexcited one. And it's also clearly a case of art imitating life, with Larson's enthusiasm for the art form he cherished so feverishly coming through strong. Where to watch: Tick, Tick... Boom! is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH Nominations: Best Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design Our thoughts: Bringing Shakespeare to the big screen is no longer just about doing the material justice, or even letting a new batch of the medium's standout talents give their best to the Bard's immortal words. For everyone attempting the feat (a list that just keeps growing), it's also about gifting the playwright's material with the finest touches that cinema allows — and this version of Macbeth, directed solo by Joel Coen, bubbles not only with toil and trouble but with all of the above. Where to watch: The Tragedy of Macbeth is available to stream via Apple TV+. Read our full review.
Even though, officially, Apple continues to remain tight-lipped on precisely what will be revealed at its unveiling next Tuesday, September 9, a confident New York Times report suggests that we can expect two iPhones with bigger, better screens and Apple's first wearable computer, which journos and techies the world over have dubbed the iWatch. The smartwatch will be the first brand new product to have hit the Apple shelves since Timothy D. Cook took the reins following Steve Jobs' death in October 2011. Industry experts are predicting the wearable Mac will be available in two sizes, feature a flexible screen protected by tough-as-nails sapphire crystal and perform miracles via a teeny-tiny, stamp-sized circuit board. Okay, not exactly miracles, but similar tasks like displaying maps and measuring bodily movements (such as heart rate and footsteps) with frightening accuracy. What's more, speculation is rife that both the iWatch and the iPhones will take us one step closer to a cashless society: forget fumbling with cards and coins, you'll just flash your wrist at the register and your bill will be taken care of. So you’ll be able to pick up bread and milk on the way home from your morning marathon session without jingling for the whole run. This will work using what’s known as 'near-field communication', technology that powers devices within proximity to swap info wirelessly. It also looks like the iWatch (and possibly the iPhones) will be capable of wireless charging. Beyond this, most of the hype surrounding the iPhones is around the old 'size matters' adage. We’re pretty sure that, like the iWatches, they’ll come in two sizes — one at 4.7 inches and the other at 5.5. Edges are highly likely to take on the tapered design that gives iPads such a sleek look and feel. Of course, this possibility has led busy urban types to ask the big question: how will we text with just one hand? Unsurprisingly, Apple has preempted the concern and made changes to the software interface. Apparently, there'll be two different modes on offer — one that you can make work with one hand while the other's clinging to your coffee; the other requiring the commitment of both paws. You can switch from one to the other as you please. The potentially less exciting news is that you might have to get your Guns 'N' Roses on and practise a little patience. While the iPhones should be retailing within the next few weeks, the chances are that you won’t be able to buy your very own iWatch until 2015. You might as well enjoy your exercise sessions multi-tasking free in the meantime. Via New York Times. Image credit: iWatch concept based on the Nike Fuelband by Todd Hamilton.
Over the past 25 years, Brisbane music lovers have flocked to The Zoo for its packed lineup of live gigs. From this point onwards, however, anyone eager to catch a band on its stage should plan on an earlier night, with the Fortitude Valley mainstay now closing at midnight. The move is a direct response to Queensland's ID scanning laws, and comes less than eight months after the legislation was implemented. In a Facebook post, the venue announced: "We have made the choice to say bye-bye to those inefficient, inaccurate, expensive (useless) scanners... and with this decision comes our reduced trading hours to a 12am close." This means that, like Cinderella, Brissie gig-goers will need to scramble for the exits as the clock approaches 12, with The Zoo deciding that winding back their hours of operation was a better business decision than enforcing the ID scanning requirements. Under the laws that came into force on July 1, 2017, in order to trade past midnight and serve drinks until 3am, venues in designated entertainment areas like the Valley have to capture the IDs of every customer — regardless of the time of evening they stop by. Unsurprisingly, the new scanning requirements have been widely slammed by the music industry, the state's nightlife scene and patrons since their introduction, with reports of venues closing early to escape the legislation starting the same month. In September, even Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said they were damaging Brisbane's reputation. With one of the city's best venues now shutting up shop at midnight each night to avoid the scanners, there's not really other way to look at it. Image: Google Street View.
In 2023, Queensland made history when it became the first Australian state to commit to pill-testing services not just ad hoc or at festivals, but on an ongoing and permanent basis. The Sunshine State's strategy is now being put into place, starting over 2024's Easter long weekend. Accordingly, festivalgoers at 2024's Rabbits Eat Lettuce will be able to use Queensland's first event-based pill testing service onsite. The aim, at fests and in general, is to ensure that Queenslanders heading for a night out and to big music events can check their illicit substances for dangerous ingredients — and do so for free, voluntarily and confidentially. The state-funded sites are being established as a harm-reduction strategy, to minimise overdoses and other adverse effects resulting from party drugs. Exactly where in southeast Queensland the permanent locations will pop up hasn't been revealed as yet, but there'll be two venues. As well as winning the tender for the initial pair of fixed-site spots, Queensland Injectors Health Network, The Loop Australia, and the Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action will also provide at least one festival-based service this year. Harm Reduction Australia, which operates as Pill Testing Australia, will take care of several other pill-testing services at festivals in 2024 and 2025, capitalising upon its experience in Canberra at fests and at a fixed-site spot. Indeed, Queensland's move comes after trials in Canberra, which has included Groovin' the Moo in 2018 and 2019. The Australian Capital Territory also launched the country's first fixed testing site as part of a six-month trial. Drug checking has been used overseas since the 90s, but remains a controversial topic in Australia. Indeed, when Groovin the Moo conducted its first trial in 2018, calls to offer pill testing had been circulating for the prior two years, after a 15-year-old collapsed from an overdose at the fest's Maitland event in 2016. Rabbits Eat Lettuce, which takes place just outside of Warwick in Elbow Valley, experienced two deaths at its 2019 festival. "In 2021, there were 2231 drug-induced deaths in Australia — the equivalent of five deaths a day. That's 2231 deaths too many, and we know this number will continue to grow if we don't act now," said Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service Shannon Fentiman. "I want to be clear that these services are all about harm minimisation; we don't want people ending up in our emergency departments — or worse, losing their life. They aim to make people aware of the dangers of taking illicit substances, influence behaviour and, ideally, reduce their use of substances," Fentiman continued. [caption id="attachment_809941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Byrne[/caption] For more information about pill testing in Queensland, head to the Queensland Government website.
UPDATE, July 9: Due to Sydney's lockdown, Lord of the Fries won't be celebrating National Fry Day at its Newtown store. For Sydney only, the free chip giveaway will take place on a different, yet-to-be-advised date. This article has been updated to reflect that change — and we'll provide you with more details for Sydney when they're announced. Despite also serving up everything from all-day breakfast to ice cream sandwiches, we still think that fries are the best thing about Lord of the Fries. It's right there in the name, after all. The chain's chips are particularly tasty — as made with Australian potatoes and cooked in a cottonseed sunflower oil blend. There is one thing better than Lord of the Fries' titular dish, however. That'd be free fries from the chip-loving establishment. And on Tuesday, July 13, the vegan fast food joint is giving away just that. Free. Fries. Yes, really. To snag free fries on Tuesday, you'll need to head to your chosen store in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia between 1–2pm — and you'll be gifted a serving of shoestring deliciousness. You don't even have to purchase any vego nuggets to redeem them. There is a limit of one freebie per person, though, so take that into consideration if you're feeling particularly peckish. You'll get your choice of classic sauces, too. This is great news for, Melburnians, Brisbanites and Adelaideans who like fries — aka everyone. Folks in in Melbourne can choose between 14 different stores, Brisbanites can flock to Fortitude Valley (or Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast) and people in Adelaide can hit up Hindley Street and Glenelg. And if you're wondering why, that's because it's National Fry Day. Of course it is. Lord of the Fries also has a store in Newtown in Sydney; however, it will celebrate National Fry Day with a free fries giveaway on a different, yet-to-be-advised date. We'll provide you with more details for Sydney when they're announced. Lord of the Fries is giving away free fries from 1–2pm on Tuesday, July 13 at all of its Australian stores outside of Sydney. To find your closest store, head to the chain's website.
Sydney yacht rock dudes The Holidays have announced a string of huge shows around Australia, following on from their wildly successful album release tour in March. Filling out venues from Sydney's Metro Theatre, Melbourne's Hi-Fi to Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge with hyped up Sydney electronic producer Thief, the threesome will also stop by Newcastle's Bar on the Hill on campus with indie pop maestro Pluto Jonze, Wollongong's Uni Bar with Sydney garage ratbags Step-Panther. The new Groupie Magazine-presented dates coincide with the release of third single 'Tongue Talk', taken from the outfit's super pop-fuelled second album Real Feel. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday 14 May, with more details on The Holidays' Facebook page. THE HOLIDAYS 'TONGUE TALK' TOUR DATES Wed 28 May — Bar on the Hill, Newcastle (with Pluto Jonze). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Thur 5 June — Uni Bar, Wollongong (with Step-Panther). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Fri 13 June — Metro Theatre, Sydney ALL AGES (with Thief). Tickets available from Metro Theatre and Ticketek. Fri 20 June — Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (with Thief). Tickets available from Alhambra Lounge and Moshtix. Fri 4 July — The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (with Thief). Tickets available from The Hi-Fi and Oztix. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiHQLvAu2lg
Brewbakers in Albion are all about baking bread, bagels and sourdough doughnuts, and we are all about devouring them until our heart's content. Bread comes in the form of the high-top como, French baguette and sourdough fruit loaf to name but a few. The bakers like to experiment, so don't be surprised to see any number of fusion baked goods (think: bagel dog). Still, they don't forget much-adored favourites like drool-inducing jam, chocolate and butterscotch sourdough doughnuts.
You may remember a few months back we had a look at some of the best zines that the creative minds in Brisbane had to offer. There was some great stuff; words, art, thought – everything. Now there is a newcomer in their midst, a zine that aims to provoke with words and to promote the authors and their creativity; it goes by the name WISEenough. To celebrate its first hard copy collection of work (collated from submissions from some of Brisbane’s best wordsmiths), there will be a shindig at the home of some of Brisbane’s best artistic endeavours, The Box. There will be live poetry installations and some food and drink on offer, as well as some performances from some interesting Brisbane musicians. Scott Wings, White Elephant and The Bell Divers will be performing sets between 7pm and 10pm, so make sure you get wise and get on over to The Box on time to celebrate with some of our city’s brightest minds. Entry is by donation.
If you live in Brisbane, you love air-conditioning. Or, to be more specific, you love the reprieve from the heat that it offers. Still, grabbing a cuppa in a garden is one of the best possible things you could do if you're venturing out into the warmth — and Wooloowin now has the perfect spot for it. Making a cute little weatherboard space its own, Shambhala Espresso isn't just about cranking out your caffeine fix, with its blends of choice coming courtesy of Brissie's own Louie Louie Roasters. The shady cafe is also all about serving up great bites to eat to go with it. Until midday on weekends and 2pm on weekdays, that includes all all-day menu of seasonal offerings that really will satisfy your stomach at any time, plus a host of specials. Regular fare includes date and apricot fruit toast, avo with minty beetroot and ricotta spread on quinoa and soy sourdough, and a stacked rueben with Swiss cheese and house-made pickles, because standard versions of all of the above just won't cut it. As for once-offs, Shambhala has whipped up sweet and savoury blinis; baked egg white frittata; bacon, egg and haloumi burgers; brioche French toast and roasted mushrooms with garlic butter so far. Yes, you'll have to stop by more than once. Image: Styl in Images.
Proving that the Australian film industry isn't immune to the sequelitis that has plagued American horror franchises for decades, director Greg McLean has teamed back up with star John Jarratt for a follow-up to their stomach-turning 2005 sleeper hit, Wolf Creek. Not unsurprisingly, the result feels very much like a cash grab. A film no one was asking for, Wolf Creek 2 trades the raw, taboo-shattering violence of its predecessor for a cheaper, more predictable yet somehow nastier kind of carnage. The difference between the two films becomes obvious almost immediately. Although notorious for the graphic tortures inflicted on its backpacking protagonists, the original Wolf Creek actually runs for almost an hour before the first drop of blood is even spilled. Prior to that, McLean spends his time getting us to care about his characters, making their eventual demise, at the hands of Jarratt's Akubra-wearing serial killer, that much more distressing. In comparison, Wolf Creek 2 puts the villain front and centre, allowing him his first kill before we even see a title card. Focusing on the killer is a standard move for a horror sequel, and seems all the more logical here in light of Jarratt's fantastic performance. A blood-soaked ocker stereotype from hell (with a sick sense of humour to match), killer Mick Taylor is a cinematic sadist for the ages; his menacing chortle sends shivers down your spine, even as his profane, xenophobic rants strike savagely at the heart of so-called Australian values. But while Jarratt's performance is the sequel's best feature, his character's increased role is also its biggest problem. Unlike in the first film, McLean never bothers to flesh out Taylor's prey, which this time consists of two Germans and a Pom. Conversely, Taylor is clearly the character that viewers are meant to be most excited to see. At times, it even feels like we're meant to root for him, which I found difficult to reconcile with the fact that he's a murderer and a rapist. Wolf Creek was effectively shocking because it made no attempt to make its violence entertaining. Wolf Creek 2 does just that, making it a far more exploitative film. This might be less of a sticking point if the movie was actually scary. But it's not — just intermittently gory. Most of the film consists of Taylor chasing his helpless quarry through the outback, their capture or grizzly death (probably both) a glum inevitability. Things briefly get interesting in the film's final third, when McLean finally rediscovers the notion that terror comes not just from violence, but from the threat of it. But by then it's too little, too late. https://youtube.com/watch?v=s4bqeT5edbs
Next time you head out for a big night in Fortitude Valley, it might come with a sense of history in more ways than one. Hopefully, you'll be having the kind of wild fun that cements unforgettable memories in your brain. But if you make a date with new nightclub Superfly Disco, you'll also be dancing and drinking in a new throwback spot that adores the tunes, attitude and decor of five decades back — and happens to be nestled into the site of an old Brisbane favourite. That gone-but-not-forgotten spot: Alhambra Lounge on McLachlan Street, which has been closed for eight years. Now, its former McLachlan Street space has gone retro with vinyl, boomboxes and old-school vibes, plus a light-up dance floor that'll have you living out your Saturday Night Fever dreams (or curious to watch the John Travolta-starring 70s hit if you've never seen it). Forget DeLoreans; making an evening of it at Superfly Disco will send you back in time, although disco classics will pump through the speakers alongside recent party hits. The rest of the fitout suits the mood, complete with walls of records, neon lights, disco balls aplenty — including in the bathrooms — and murals featuring famous music faces from the bar's celebrated era. Whatever the venue's disc jockeys happen to be spinning at any given time, they'll be doing so from a DJ car, another piece of Superfly Disco's retro aesthetic and vibe. The space has been completely gutted from its Alhambra days, and given an entirely new look — including raising the floor by an inch and a half to accommodate those lights underneath. Yes, when you're not hanging out in private booths, you should be dancing here — and feeling the city breakin' and everybody shakin', and obviously thinking about other Bee Gees disco tracks. Unsurprisingly, the team behind Superfly Disco see a big future in functions and parties; it isn't by accident that the venue's opening, on Friday, October 7 after first being announced a few months back, is timed just before festive season. That crew? The Drunken Monkey Group team, adding another venue to its portfolio alongside Brooklyn Standard, Fat Angel Sports Bar and Suzie Wong's Good Time Bar. Suzie Wong's venue manager Michael Pattison has become the general manager role across the group's Valley sites, while Kyle Weir, who owns fellow nightclub Queens, oversees DJ bookings. Drinks-wise, cocktails are the tipples of choice, all with themed names. Try the Hollywood Divorce with whisky, chocolate, orange and bitters; the Lula's Disco Daiquiri with white rum, orange, pineapple, guava, lime and falernium; and the Theme From Shaft with 12-year-old Chivas, cherry heering, dark cacao, honey and egg white. Or, there's also a sizeable range of champagne, sparkling, and red and white wines. Entry will cost you a $10 cover charge on the door — and wearing flares and platform shoes is totally optional, but it'd fit the atmosphere. Find Superfly Disco at 12 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 8pm–3am Friday–Sunday.
If you're a CBD worker, you're familiar with the lunch frenzy that descends over the city each day between noon and 2pm. The options are many, from sushi to stirfry and everything in between. With limited time on their hands, many want a quick, tasty lunch that's light on the wallet. In the other camp are the lovers of the long lunch meeting. With a glass of wine or two and a few friendly associates, these people are looking for quality and atmosphere. Alimentari on Adelaide manages to satisfy both groups. Out front you will find a range of sandwiches, wraps and sweets that are both filling and delicious. Venture a bit further back and you'll end up in the small restaurant section, with a menu bursting with freshness and flavour. The interior of the restaurant contrasts sharply with the hectic lunchtime pace of Adelaide Street outside. Exposed brick walls and polished floorboards create an atmosphere of cool sophistication and wines are displayed on a large shelf lining one wall. While entrees and salads are available to diners in the restaurant, the star of the show is the pasta menu. The puttanesca is bright and tasty, the Italian-style crab lasagne is a fresh twist on a traditional classic, and all of the pasta sauces are authentic and traditional. If pasta isn't your first love, don't be put off. The other meals on offer are all delicious and won't leave a huge crater in your wallet. There is a wide range of wine also available if you need some inspiration for your afternoon back in the office. The restaurant staff members are immaculately presented and hospitable and can help you with food and wine recommendations if you're unsure. Alimentari is also open for dinner on Friday nights.
In 2022, The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were meant to share the same Splendour in the Grass bill. Karen O's band didn't make it to what became Splendour in the Mud, but the two groups have shared plenty before — and for decades. Their maps have overlapped since pre-9/11 New York, when both were formed in the turn-of-the-millennium indie-rock wave, then surfed it to success and worldwide fame. Both The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were born of the Lower East Side pre-gentrification. Both spun in the same orbit as late-90s saccharine pop and Y2K nu-metal rock gave way to electrifying guitar riffs and an explosive sound that'd become a whole scene. Both are led by charismatic singers who came alive onstage, but also found chaos and challenges. Alongside Interpol, LCD Soundsystem, The Moldy Peaches, The Rapture and TV on the Radio, both now sit at the heart of documentary Meet Me in the Bathroom. Based on Lizzy Goodman's 2017 book Meet Me in the Bathroom, an oral history that focuses on exactly what its subtitle says it does — Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001–2011 — this is a fond look back at bands setting the room on fire and rolling heads as one century gave way to the next. While the film isn't about just one or two groups, it returns to The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs again and again, and not simply because they're two of the early 00s' biggest NYC post-punk, garage-rock revival names. Listening to The Strokes' first record, 2001's Is This It, is a jolt and a buzz. With Julian Casablancas behind the microphone, it thrums and hums with the energy of hopping between bars, gigs and parties, and with the thrill of a heady night, week, month, year and just being in your 20s. Hearing O's voice is galvanising — intoxicating as well — and has been since the Yeah Yeah Yeah's self-titled EP, also in 2001. It's no wonder that directors Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern just want to keep listening, and also inhabiting that vibe. Meet Me in the Bathroom jumps around like a mixtape — or, befitting the period, like illicit tunes acquired by Napster and LimeWire, tools that aren't irrelevant to this story. Before technology changed the radio star again, making global fandom easier, better, faster and stronger, the movie's bands had to come to fruition in the first place, however. Lovelace and Southern start with images of the Manhattan skyline, and of New York's subway system. They hero Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and Blondie, ticking through New York icon after New York icon. They position The Strokes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and company's arrival as the next step and, by using such familiar NYC mainstays, they mark Meet Me in the Bathroom's key players as era-defining legends who were always going be legends. Before this, Lovelace and Southern's best-known film was Shut Up and Play the Hits. In that James Murphy-centric doco about what was then LCD Soundsystem's last gig at Madison Square Garden and in this alike, the directing duo are patently enamoured with their subjects. That doesn't dampen or discount Meet Me in the Bathroom's passion and insights, not for a second — but the film is preaching to the long ago-converted rather initiating 00s-period indie-rock newcomers. There's a wistfulness beyond nostalgia to the movie as well that's a few strums away from being out of tune. The years have passed, naturally. It'll never be the advent of the 21st century again, short of time-travelling DeLoreans or phone booths. Still, The Strokes' last album arrived in 2020, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol released new records in 2022; they're all still together and still touring. In a counterpoint to Meet Me in the Bathroom's confidence that this talent in this town was always going to lead to this tale, The Moldy Peaches' Adam Green voices early doubts: "I remember thinking maybe New York isn't the kind of city anymore that produces iconic bands." The film wouldn't exist if the names it surveys hadn't made their mark, of course, and helped ensure their scene made a mark. Viewers know that going in, but watching the process via archival footage, home movies and gig snippets from the time, much of it handheld and atmospheric — and hearing from Casablancas, O, Murphy, Green, Interpol's Paul Banks and more — is as immersive and transporting as Lovelace and Southern want it to be. A like-you're-there sensation kicks in; Casablancas looking so fresh-faced assists, plus O talking through how fronting a band helped her work out who she was. (Her comment that there were no women in rock leading the way beforehand aren't as spot-on.) O is a fascinating, mesmerising, don't-want-to-look-away point of Meet Me in the Bathroom's focus. The movie does peer elsewhere, but the audience wants it to swiftly return. Her transformation from a quiet girl with an acoustic guitar from New Jersey to a rock goddess doesn't just feel fated, but earned. Her honesty, especially when chatting about the solace from racism and sexism she sought in music, then the treatment that women in rock receive, is pivotal to making Meet Me in the Bathroom more than a vivid effort to revisit a time, place, mood and scene. Also, her candour sits in contrast to Casablancas, who the doco gravitates towards as the world did, but conveys most of what he's going to by saying little. The bigger The Strokes get, the less comfortable he is. And, given that everything in the film's frames comes from back in the day, that's without Casablancas knowing that two decades later this documentary would take its name from a track from The Strokes' second album. Affectionate, in the moment, revealing, reverent: Meet Me in the Bathroom hits all of those notes. It also covers much, from Y2K predictions to 9/11 and its aftermath, sweaty club shows to internet-enabled album leaks, and whirlwind tours through to struggling to get deals and records out. With editors Andrew Cross (Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World) and Sam Rice-Edwards (Whitney), Lovelace and Southern structure the film by feel more than anything else. There's a timeline to this time capsule, but in flitting from one band to the next and back again, choosing where to linger — including an indulgent midsection spent charting Murphy's switch from producer to LCD Soundsystem frontman — and picking what to leave out, mood seems the biggest influence. That's music, though, as anyone who has happily lost themselves to The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on a heaving dance floor or among a jostling festival crowd knows, as does Meet Me in the Bathroom.
Caitlin Park Electronic whiz kids don't come more stylin' than Sydney's multitalented Caitlin Park. With her 2011 debut album Milk Annual applauded Australia-wide and the 2012 Qantas Spirit Of The Youth Award under her belt, Park inked a deal with Create/Control in February this year (home to fellow Aussies Oliver Tank, Feelings, Go Violets and internationals Parquet Courts and Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros). Marking the team-up with the release of her second album The Sleeper, the smoky-voiced Sydneysider will bring her brand new tunes to The Hive on Saturday, August 2. Disarmingly catchy singles like 'Lemonade' are sure to get this all-ages gig significantly toe-tappin'. Saturday at The Hive. More info here. Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing 2014 Recognised nationwide, the Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing is a significant event on the Brisbane arts calendar. Hundreds of entries are submitted for consideration, showcasing the amount of depth and imagination within our artistic community. Now in its fifth year, the prize exhibition will be one of the best yet. The 2014 exhibition is directed by Holly Riding (founder of Nancy Zine) and Peter Breen, and will run until the 18th of August. The opening night festivities will include the announcement of the winner and a vote for the People’s Choice Award. This is an important night for many, and everyone is encouraged to attend to support all the selected artists and to witness Brisbane art history in the making. Saturday and Sunday (until August 18) at Jugglers Art Space. More info here. Devil's Knot It’s the movie that was always going to be made, the re-enacted version of one of the most heartbreaking small-town murder mysteries and biggest miscarriages of justice the United States has seen. It’s also the movie that never should have been made, for the devastating true tale as told in four documentaries now — the Paradise Lost trilogy, and West of Memphis — can’t be embellished, fictionalised or bested. Yet exist Devil’s Knot does, a cinematic facsimile of the originals, albeit with an ample dose of star power. Though the potency of the facts remains, the sensationalist and the sentimental combine in an attempt to craft a cautionary case of tragedy crippling a community not just in its initial appearance but in the way it is then handled. Saturday and Sunday, various cinemas in Brisbane. More info and our review here. Jungle Love Festival Launch The Jungle Love Festival is a brand new music and arts festival, set to take place in November at the picturesque Moogerah Dam. Details are still being kept hush-hush at the moment, but anticipation is building steadily. To further stoke the fires of expectation, the team behind the festival are hosting a launch party at new West End venue, The Motor Room. There will be live art from Brisbane art collective, Lost Movements, a performance by Leanna Donovan aka Pent Upglamour and musical performances by Desmond Cheese (pictured) and HRBRT. Also, Stone and Wood Brewing will be on tap and the Bun Mobile will be parked right outside. Also, Trainspotters will be hosting the launch-party after party, so you can get all your pent up partying out in one night. Saturday at The Motor Room. More info here. New Farm Cinemas Everything old is new again at the New Farm Cinemas, the iconic Brisbane venue formerly known as the Village Twin finally reopening its doors. On August 1, the revamped theatre will welcome the public into its retro-styled confines for the first time since 2003. Boutique in style but big in impact, stage one of the renovated venue sees two screens entice cinephiles with a lineup of new and recent blockbusters — Guardians of the Galaxy, Lucy and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes among them. Patrons will enjoy state-of-the-art digital projection equipment and an Australian-first audio system as they sit in either all-new cinema seating or beanbags. Saturday and Sunday (and so forth) at New Farm Cinemas. Head behind the scenes over here. Claire Stening: Shutter Light Grab a paintbrush, find something pretty, pick a surface, add a little texture, finish it off with some shadow, and you’ve got yourself a still life. While these types of paintings tend to shoot straight as far as execution, Brisbane artist Claire Stening adds a unique tranquility to her depiction of everyday objects. Stening has exhibited extensively throughout Australia, was the finalist in the Portia Geech Memorial Award 2010 and was invited to show with the Salon Des Refuses from 2008 to 2010. Now, you can see her calming and creative work in the flesh at Edwina Corlette Gallery till August 16. Saturday and Sunday (until August 16) at Edwina Corlette Gallery. More info here. A Healthy Nosh Mission Not so long ago, going on a health kick meant shutting yourself off from the world, rejecting all dinner invitations and telling yourself you could never eat out again. Not anymore it seems. Brisbane restaurant meal options now include organic, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, raw — the list goes on. To think we can still remember a time when white rice was considered good for you and only coeliacs had to worry about gluten. Mindful eaters and health fanatics should find much to celebrate in our list of the top ten healthy eating spots in Brisbane. There may even be a little something for everyone else. All weekend long, make it a healthy one. Our top ten is over here.
There are many reasons to thank Mike White, creator and writer of The White Lotus, for bringing the hit HBO series to our screens. He's responsible for one of the best TV shows of both 2021 and 2022 — a program that has weaponised luxurious settings, helped set travel itineraries, thoroughly eaten the rich, spun twisty murder-mysteries, and kept viewers guessing throughout each and every episode of both season one and season two. He's also helped shower affection and attention upon the one and only Jennifer Coolidge, a screen icon who always deserves such love. Indeed, if it wasn't for White and The White Lotus, the world wouldn't have had the joy that is Coolidge's various awards speeches for playing Tanya McQuoid. For folks in Sydney on Saturday, June 10, worshipping the White-and-Coolidge pairing — hearing Coolidge talk about her time on The White Lotus, too — won't just involve checking out Emmy and Golden Globe clips. In huge news in general, and for the Vivid Sydney lineup, the duo is coming to the Harbour City for what's set to be the biggest in-conversation session of the 23-day, 300-plus-event festival. [caption id="attachment_891047" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HBO[/caption] While Vivid dropped its program back in March, it has been making additions since, including literally underground light and laser show Dark Spectrum and now this. Unsurprisingly, the Vivid team has dubbed its latest addition one of the biggest announcements in the festival's 13-year history — which is no small feat for an event that's seen everyone from The Cure to Robert Pattinson and Spike Lee grace its bill in past years. Coolidge and White won't just chat about The White Lotus, McQuoid's utter lack of luck in love and a certain fateful boat ride — and, on White's part, likely skirt around answering where the third season will be set (the word so far: Thailand). They'll also discuss their full careers, and both have plenty to dive into. Coolidge has been a screen presence for years, thanks to parts in everything from American Pie, Best in Show and the Legally Blonde franchise through to Party Down's original run, Joey and Promising Young Woman. As for White, he's written the screenplay for School of Rock, and acted in it — and given the TV-watching world the Laura Dern-starring Enlightened, which he also appeared on. He has Year of the Dog and Brad's Status on his directing resume as well, and penned and produced episodes of Dawson's Creek and Freaks and Geeks. Also, he was famously an Amazing Race and Survivor contestant. Benjamin Law will be asking the questions at this in-conversation event, which takes place at Aware Super Theatre, ICC Sydney. Tickets are on sale now — and they'll get snapped up quicker than McQuoid falls in love. "We're thrilled to share that The White Lotus creator Mike White and star of the series Jennifer Coolidge will join this year's Vivid Sydney lineup. Securing these huge megastars cements Vivid Sydney 2023 as the biggest and most culturally relevant program yet," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini, announcing the addition to the fest's program. "This exclusive event will allow audiences to see behind the curtain on what has become a massive cultural zeitgeist and hear from two of the hottest figures in the creative industries right now." Vivid Sydney 2023 will run from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17, with Mike White and Jennifer Coolidge in Conversation taking place on Saturday, June 10 at Aware Super Theatre, ICC Sydney. For further information and tickets, head to the event's website. Top image: HBO.
Every week/month/year, we promise that we'll get better at life admin. And every week/month/year, we forget to pay bills, call our mums and make important appointments. Sound familiar? If so, then you're likely going to want a barber that allows walk-ins for those times when you catch your reflection and you realise you're way overdue for a chop. Tony's Chopshop Barbershop is always welcome to walk-in customers. The barbershop, owned and operated by veteran barber Tony Micale, is set inside Coorparoo Square. The space dances the line between retro and contemporary with retro barber chairs, dark leather couches, herringbone flooring and shelves packed with secondhand books and grooming products. Here, you can team a luxurious cut-throat face shave with a hair restyling, plus there are plenty of aftercare products available to buy.
If you're going to open a new burger place in what must surely be the country's burger capital by now, you probably want to give the concept a bit of a kick in a different direction. Or a sonic boom, or maybe a hadouken, perhaps? Don't worry, once you're done eating, you won't have to travel to a different country to do it all over again. Yes, that '80s and '90s arcade and Super Nintendo staple that is Street Fighter is the source of inspiration for Super Combo, which joins the growing number of eateries making the Brisbane's Showgrounds' King Street precinct some of the most coveted culinary real estate in the city (with The Lamb Shop, GG's Espresso, The George, Fat Dumpling, Il Verde, Sushi & Nori and Hello Chicken also among the current or coming tenants). And now it will be slinging burgs with the same fury that Ryu, Blanka and company approach brawling in public — that is, with plenty. The retro-styled joint comes from childhood friends Michael Nham and Hao Vu, who, as you might've guessed, found hanging around their local Brissie takeaway shop smashing out super Street Fighter combos the best way to spend their time. They're also behind Melbourne's NSHRY, with Nham boasting two Vietnamese restaurants including Banoi on his resume (which is set to open in Brisbane this year). When it came to opening a place with such strong ties to their youth, however, it made sense to get things started in Brisbane. Indeed, the King Street digs is being trumpeted as Super Combo's first in Australia, so you can bet that more burgs will be flying to more cities in good time. As for just what those edible morsels will be, expect a menu influenced by international cuisine, plus sides, globally sourced speciality sauces and epic shakes. Yep, everyone really is a winner here. UPDATE MARCH 7, 2018: To celebrate a year of operation, Super Combo is unleashing its slickest moves yet: $5 burgers. From 11.30am on March 10, the first 1000 customers that walk through the Bowen Hills' eatery's doors will get their burg for little more than pocket change. The offer isn't available via UberEATS, Deliveroo or Foodora.
Broadway and West End smash An American in Paris is singing and dancing its way into Brisbane, with the four-time Tony-winner kicking off its Australian run of shows at the QPAC Lyric Theatre on Saturday, January 8. The dazzling show is based on 1951 film of the same name so yes, if you're a fan of classic movies — and classic big-screen musicals starring none other than the inimitable Gene Kelly at that — its name will definitely sound familiar. Story-wise, the musical follows an American soldier in Paris (because its moniker is that straightforward). Set at the end of the Second World War, it charts US GI's Jerry Mulligan's exploits as he falls for a French woman. Well, he is celebrating the end of the combat in the notably romantic city, after all. Bringing the Oscar-winning 70-year-old film to the stage, this version of An American in Paris is directed by acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon — and adapted for theatre and choreographed by him, too. The Aussie run is also being staged in collaboration with the Australian Ballet, so expect to see some of their dancers helping to bring the musical to life. George and Ira Gershwin's songs make the leap to the theatre as well, including 'I Got Rhythm', 'S Wonderful', 'But Not For Me' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'. Initially, An American in Paris debuted in Paris — where else? — in 2014, before hitting Broadway, Boston and West End. In Brisbane, it'll play until Sunday, January 30. [caption id="attachment_828886" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tristram Kenton[/caption] Images: Tristram Kenton.
Springtime in Brisbane is the season of Melt Festival. The program is packed with 120+ events and 220+ individual performances in 70+ venues and four festival hubs. This is no small fry festival. One such festival hub is the Brisbane Powerhouse, which is hosting a program ready to occupy your spare time in late October and early November. It's an absolutely massive series with so much worth your time, but we can give you a little taster of what to expect with the Brisbane Powerhouse events lineup. If you love a bit of Tina Turner, TINA – A Tropical Love Story is an ode to the late superstar, a story of resilience, empowerment and the transformative power music can have on a community, taking place at two shows on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26. Hitting the Underground Theatre on Sunday, October 26, is Thank God You're Queer, a Melt Festival spin on a beloved Aussie improv show, with audience interaction and resulting laughs guaranteed. From Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2, 'serial nudist' and sex worker Frankie Van Kan will take to the stage for A Body at Work, an intimate piece of confessional theatre about 16 years and counting of queerness in the sex industry. On the same dates at the Underground Theatre is Leather Lungs: Shut up & Sing!, a drag show that promises "one of the most phenomenal voices you'll ever hear". Standup star Scout Boxall is also coming to town, with three shows between October 31 and November 2, promising a blend of " the finest and crispiest treats" made of material old and new. In something slightly different, Mark Trevorrow, Rupert Noffs and Bev Kennedy will host three shows from November 7–9 of cabaret performances of songs by composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. If theatre is your jam, be sure to catch Helios, a modern-day spin on the Ancient Greek tale of the son of the sun god, taking place at Switch Room from November 7–10. There'll be an unforgettable show with Hans: Disco Spektakulär, bringing America's Got Talent! cabaret alumni to the stage with a live band. Additionally, acclaimed standup comic and journalist Jessi Ryan is returning to Melt for the first time since 2018 with Functional Bottom, a darkly humorous and unapologetic exploration of love, sex, death and emergency colon removal. TikTok sensations Rudy Jean Rigg and Hannah McElhinney are bringing their Rainbow History Class to a live show, and drag performer Alex Hines combines absurdist satire with supernatural pop in Juniper Wilde — Demon Slayer. All these events and more are coming to Brisbane as part of Melt Festival from Wednesday, October 23 to Sunday, November 10. For more information or to get tickets, visit the website.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 18,000 garages are expected to open their doors to bargain hunters, selling two million items, when the event returns for its tenth time across the weekend of Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Brisbane, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online from Saturday, August 10 to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
