As Bruce Wayne's private jet streaks through the skies high above Gotham, Jeremy Irons' steadfast butler Alfred quips: "One misses the days when one's biggest concerns were exploding wind-up penguins." "The good old days" replies a burly, sentient frown in the shape of Ben Affleck. "THEN PLEASE GOD BRING THEM BACK!" screams the audience's frustrated internal monologue from within its collective skull. Welcome to Justice League, the least bad entry in the DC movie universe after this year's smash hit Wonder Woman – not that that's saying a whole lot. Given how low the bar has been set by the likes of Suicide Squad and Batman vs Superman, this superhero team-up flick would have to be truly abysmal not to offer some kind of improvement. Just like its special-effects-laden trailer, Justice League feels like a CGI showreel shot almost entirely in front of a green screen. Its strongest scenes are also its quietest ones: a battered Bruce Wayne being assisted by a sympathetic Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot); Martha Kent and Lois Lane (Diane Lane and Amy Adams) brave-facing their way through hardships in a staff-room cafeteria; The Flash (played by a scene-stealing Ezra Miller) speaking with his incarcerated father. It's in these rare, intimate moments that the film's characters actually begin to feel like characters, each possessed of complicated personal histories, private anxieties and meaningful relationships. Sadly, it's soon back to aliens with lasers, fear-eating bugs, and buildings crashing down in clouds of debris. With a story that feels like it's been lifted from Ghostbusters II, Justice League depicts an earth where hatred and cynicism have reached such heights that it compels the return of a great evil determined to enslave mankind. So arrives Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), a CGI-monster of such poor quality he wouldn't cut the mustard in a cut scene from Gears of War. Steppenwolf is bent on reuniting three powerful Mother Boxes, magic cubes which, when combined, permit him to reshape any planet to resemble his barren home-world. The origins and power of these otherworldly McGuffins actually offers an enticing mystery to be solved in the film's early stages – which is why it's so disappointing when it's all explained away in a single expository scene. The same applies to each of the film's new heroes. Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) arrive with such little fanfare or backstory that even comic book fans already in the know may end up feeling robbed. The exception is The Flash, who imbues the franchise with a long-overdue dose of comedy. The character, as played by Miller, is endearingly awkward, enthusiastic yet timid, and note-perfect in his fanboying around the other superheroes. Likewise, his action sequences are thrilling, amusing and innovative in what is otherwise a highly derivative film. Perhaps the most egregious failing of Justice League, however, is its treatment of Batman. Weary, joyless and stammering, Affleck's Dark Knight acts more like a corporate recruiter than a caped crusader. A joke about his powers stemming from his wealth might get a laugh, but it also wholly undermines what makes the Batman character so compelling: a mortal, unexceptional being who still proves himself capable of holding his own in a world of gods and monsters thanks to his intelligence, discipline and unassailable belief in justice. In Justice League he spends most of the fights on the periphery, and quite often on his back; the superhero version of Lethal Weapon's Danny Glover complaining of being too old for this shit. It's a sad relegation for such a DC icon and speaks volumes as to how mishandled this franchise has been from the moment Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy) handed over the reigns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiAmnKUaNmc
What's more spectacular than spending time in Brisbane's great outdoors? Heading outside for an event dedicated to the city's multicultural community. Taking place at Roma Street Parklands from 10am–5pm on Sunday, September 17, that's the MOSAIC Multicultural Festival through and through — and in 2023, it's part of Brisbane Festival as well. The returning event will unleash a feast of world music, dance and food. Multiple stages will showcase performances, songs and cultural storytelling, including a Welcome to Country to kick off proceedings, plus a new program of workshops weaved into the fun. When you're not paying your respects, listening to live tunes or learning a new skill, hit up the Cultural Kitchen for cooking demonstrations — it'll see refugee and migrant community cooks whipping up a traditional dish while sharing their settlement stories. Markets will be selling handmade wares, and an array of international cuisine will also be on offer. So, in-between checking out the stages and demos, you can eat and drink your way through a range of food stalls. Entry is free, but bring your wallet for the markets and culinary offerings.
Australian summers aren't known for their mild temperatures, but the past three months have been especially toasty. Sydney experienced a record-tying hot spell to kick off 2018. Melbourne endured its hottest day in five years, and then went and almost immediately smashed that top temperature by surviving its hottest day in ten years. A mid-January heatwave rolled across the country, hitting scorching maximums, while the entire first month of the year was deemed Australia's hottest ever. If you've been feeling particularly hot and steamy, there's a good reason — all of the above instances of sweltering weather helped lead to the nation's warmest summer on record. The period from December to February also earned that label in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, while Tasmania and South Australia persisted through their second-hottest summers ever. In Queensland, it was the state's fourth-warmest summer. Both mean and maximum temperatures for the season were exceeded by significant margins, with each reaching nearly one degree higher than the past record, which was set over the summer of 2012–13. Even minimum temperatures soared, with New South Wales hitting its highest on record for summer away from the northeast and far west — and parts of southern inland Queensland, and central northern and eastern Victoria, doing so as well. Here's how maximums looked across the country: [caption id="attachment_710118" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Bureau of Meteorology[/caption] The findings were announced in the Bureau of Meteorology's official summer summary, which also notes that Greater Sydney's daytime temperatures were generally one to three degrees warmer than normal, that Greater Melbourne's maximums were between 1.5–2.5 degrees warmer than the long-term summer average, and that Brisbane experienced a record run of 46 days at or above 30 degrees, spanning from 10 January to 24 February. In short, your three months of seeking solace in beaches, pools and air-conditioning were completely justified. According to Bureau climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio, "the heat we saw this summer was unprecedented". And as for reprieves from above, "rainfall was also well below average for many places, apart from areas in northern Queensland". Summer might now be over; however that doesn't mean that it's time to pull out your jumpers — most of Australia is forecast to score a hotter-than-average autumn. How hot? For mainland Australian residents, there's an 80 percent chance you'll experience autumn temperatures that are a whole lot warmer than the median. Don't go packing away your pedestal fan just yet either. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Another day, another streaming platform. While there's a service for everything these days — Disney flicks, documentaries, Aussie movies, films recommended by Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn and, soon, British television (just to name a couple) — the just-launched Quibi comes with a few twists. We hope you like glueing your eyes to your phone and watching everything in ten-minute chunks, because that's what's on offer with this newcomer. It's all in the title, really, with Quibi shortened from 'quick bites'. Whether you're checking out a new version of Punk'd hosted by Chance the Rapper, seeing Chrissy Teigen preside over small claims cases in the Judge Judy-style Chrissy's Court or getting immersed in a Reese Witherspoon-narrated documentary series about females in natural history, you'll be doing so in small portions. And, you'll be watching on your mobile device of choice, because that's the only place the Quibi app is available. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3awKJu7EN6I Created by ex-Disney chairman and DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg, and led by former eBay president and CEO Meg Whitman, Quibi has been in the works since 2018 — and earning ample attention thanks to its huge stash of cash (reportedly raising $1.75 billion to spend on content), as well as its hefty array of stars and shows (including an upcoming remake of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). But the service's arrival in Australia actually came as a surprise, with the platform touting a US launch on April 6, then becoming available Down Under on the same date. That means Aussie viewers can now catch everything from dramas and comedies to news and reality TV in bite-sized chunks, with instalments maxing out at ten minutes but most running shorter (between five and eight minutes). Also on Quibi's lineup are 'movies in chapters', which are exactly what they sounds like — films broken down into episodic segments to fit the platform's whole concept. Launching with a sizeable range titles — with an ultimate aim of hitting 175 different shows and 7000 episodes in its first year — Quibi highlights include mockumentary Nikki Fre$h, which follows Nicole Richie's efforts to become a wellness-focused rapper; cooking competition show Dishmantled, where host and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess shoots food at two culinary industry figures, then forces them to try to recreate the dish in question; and Lena Waithe-hosted documentary series You Ain't Got These, about sneaker culture. From the 'movies in chapters' lineup, there's also Flipped, starring Will Forte and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson as a down-on-their-luck couple desperate to host their own TV renovation series; Most Dangerous Game, the latest twist on the humans-hunting-humans idea, this time with Christoph Waltz and Liam Hemsworth; and Survive, which casts Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as a suicidal patient suddenly forced to fight for her life after a plane crash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3IRvX9UaIk&feature=emb_logo If you're wondering about watching all of the above on your phone, Quibi is designed to play in full-screen no matter whether your handset is vertical or horizontal — with the image automatically changing as you move your device around. And if you're thinking "clearly this is targeted for people watching on the go, such as on the train to work", you're spot-on. Thanks to COVID-19, of course, that's not how folks will be using the service for the near future, though. That makes Quibi a Netflix-meets-YouTube streaming platform with plenty of things to watch, but a flimsy gimmick — or a poorly timed one, at least. Whether anyone wants to get their TV and movie fix on their phone while they're cooped up at home is one of the questions the service currently faces. The other is the lack of communal viewing, because no one wants to crowd around one handset to watch a show or film with their significant other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPuomRV5C8 Still, Quibi is betting that audiences will be interested anyway, with more big-name titles in the works. Serving up car-based stunts, Elba vs Block will see Idris Elba face off against professional rally driver Ken Block. And expect lots of cuteness in Barkitecture, which'll see the construction of OTT houses — for dogs. In the remake category, a new version of late 90s sports flick Varsity Blues is on the slate, as is a revival of comedy series Reno 911, as well as a Kiefer Sutherland-starring take on 60s TV series and 90s movie The Fugitive. Sci-fi movie Code 8 is getting a Quibi spinoff, starring Robbie and Stephen Amell, while Japanese horror manga Tomie is being adapted for the platform. And even Steven Spielberg is jumping on the bandwagon, courtesy of horror series Spielberg's After Dark. For further details about Quibi, visit the streaming platform's website. To download the Quibi app, head to the App Store or GooglePlay — with a 90-day free trial currently available, and subscriptions costing AU$12.99 per month afterwards. Top images: Survive and Barkitecture
At last, the gluten free gods have answered your prayers. The Gohil family — whose coeliac-friendly products have been gracing local supermarket shelves for 20 years — are making lives even easier, launching the country's first dedicated gluten free, ready-cooked meal delivery service. Just like the recently launched Freshara is doing for Australia's vegan contingent, The Gluten Free Meal Co is opening up the meal delivery game to a whole new group of foodies, with a collection of nourishing, ready-prepared dishes endorsed by Coeliac Australia. They've also done away with the whole subscription caper. Instead, users simply order by selecting from the lineup of $9.90 single-serve meals on The Gluten Free Meal Co's online menu. And, while there's a minimum spend of $65 for each order, you will score free delivery Australia-wide. All meals are whipped up in a state-of-the-art facility and undergo external gluten testing before arriving at your doorstep — although by the looks of that menu, they're designed to tempt taste buds just as much as any gluten-filled goodies. We're talking global-inspired main dishes like crumbed fish fillets and a country-style chicken pie, a solid range of vegetarian meals, and even a dessert selection featuring sweet treats like chocolate profiteroles. "The gluten free community deserves the same privilege of eating a wide variety of high-quality, nourishing food as everyone else," said Pran and Jitesh Gohil. "We're so excited that we can look after everyone with this fantastic range of delicious mains, finger foods and desserts that are indistinguishable from dishes everyone enjoys." For more information about The Gluten Free Meal Co visit www.gfmeals.com.au.
Booze-sipping wannabe Picassos, take note: it's your time to shine. While there are regular classes and even entire businesses devoted to the concept, Brisbane's next excuse to get creative while indulging in a beverage or two is offering something different. Instead of painting any old picture, you can whip up a portrait of your favourite four-legged creature. Keen on having a few drinks, picking up a paintbrush and creating a masterpiece that makes a star out of your beloved cat, dog, goldfish, budgie, rabbit, hermit crab or whatever other pet you might have? That's one of the options at Brush & Barrel's Paint Your Pet nights. How else will your favourite critter know that you love it if you don't paint their likeness? Classes cost $60 — and, because you're not expected to sketch your pet first, you'll need to email through a photo of Fido beforehand. Brush & Barrel's in-house artist will then pre-sketch it on a 40 x 50-centimetre canvas, so all you need to do is paint and drink. This is a BYO affair, so bring your own bottle of wine for liquid inspiration. You can also purchase food to be served to you during the session, too. The next class with tickets currently available takes place at the Fortitude Valley studio (at Shop 12, 421 Brunswick Street) on Friday, July 17, with another session on Saturday, July 25. Or, you could head to B&B's Newstead site (at Shop 2, 22 Masters Street) on Saturday, July 25, Friday, July 31 or Saturday, August 8. A warning: unsurprisingly, these classes are popular and sell out fast, so getting in quickly is recommended. Image: Brush and Barrel.
Sometimes, common sense finds a way. After an interim report demonstrated that Queensland's new liquor laws have had little effect on alcohol-related violence, the State Government has decided not to forge ahead with the second part of their lockouts plan. Folks, say goodbye to concept of 1am curfews. The earlier cutoff was scheduled to apply on February 1, stopping patrons from re-entering pubs and bars a full two hours before current restrictions. Understandably, the idea that forcing people out onto the streets much earlier than they would like was going to stamp out booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour has been fiercely contested. Just as unsurprisingly, heated debate has also raged regarding the impact the curfews would have on Brisbane's nightlife scene. Instead of lockouts, venues in the state's 15 entertainment precincts will have to trial ID scanners to record and store the details of all patrons entering their premises from July 1, 2017. In order to trade past midnight and serve drinks until 3am, nightclubs and other watering holes in the designated area will have to comply — and capture the IDs of every customer, regardless of the time of evening they stop by. Changes will also be made to one-off permits that allow establishments to keep filling up beverages past the cutoff time. The number will be reduced from 12 to 6, with no more than one per month allowed to be issued — and, even then, only for special events. Don't go thinking that you can stretch out your late-night fun as long as you want just yet, though. The existing rules, which came into effect in July 2016, remain in force. That means that last drinks will be served at 2am at venues outside of the approved precincts, and shots will be banned after midnight, no matter what you're consuming. And, if you're knocking back a few beverages at home, grabbing your supplies before 10pm is still a necessity because any new bottle-os won't be able to trade any later. Via ABC News. Image: The Flying Cock.
You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day, and maybe a tad finer at night, but it's at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop to shop the evening away with, especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane's best designers and makers. The regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls, all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. There will be an eclectic selection of handmade clothing, accessories, leather goods, paper goods, homewares and more on show. This market is all about sound, smell and sales — live music will provide a soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there's a soap stall around. Food stalls and a free craft workshop are also on the agenda, with 2019's slate of markets held on May 10, July 26, September 6 and November 30. Each event runs from 4–9pm, so take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty. Image: BrisStyle.
A month-long house party? A place where creative development is rife? A location where the rooms, hallways, nooks and niches are alive with creativity and curious ideas? An invitation so minimal but intriguing that you have no choice but to attend? Freerange 2012 is definitely ticking all the boxes, even though you aren’t sure exactly what it is – are you? Now in its seventh year of occurrence, Free Range will be supporting the next crop of emerging artists in a month long workshop. Giving an eclectic group of independent performance makers the opportunity to refine their work, whilst simultaneously also pushing their boundaries, it’s a great opportunity for both observers and participants alike. This year the new recruits will be pushed further than they ever thought possible with the added bonus of no chance of failure, kinda' like trampolining in a safety net. Or maybe not. I'm sure the group of creatives Metro Arts have gathered could think of a much better visual metaphor. Which is exactly why you should go visit their art-house-party extravaganza. Crazy things happen when you have no boundaries and aren’t limited to words.
Across most of Australia, no one expects to feel particularly warm in June. Even in Brisbane, the temperature always starts to dip before midyear hits. But, just days into winter 2021, the frostiest part of the calendar is making sure that Aussies along the east coast definitely feel the cold — so rugging up is recommended for the next week. The country's southeast is expected to be especially chilly, as you might have already started to realise if you're located in Sydney or Melbourne. The Bureau of Meteorology advises that icy air has been heading up from the Southern Ocean, and it's bringing rain, wind and snow with it. In New South Wales, that means cold, wet and windy conditions for most of the state from Tuesday, June 8, plus snow in sections of the northern and central Tablelands — and alpine areas — on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10. In Melbourne, don't expect temperatures higher than 13 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, or above 16 degrees until Sunday, June 13. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1401658919659917317 Discussing the colder conditions on Sunday, June 6, BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully said that "there is a very strong cold front that's forecast to move across southeastern Australia across Monday and Tuesday" — and "on and beyond that cold front, we're forecasting widespread showers, small hail and isolated thunderstorms." The cold front is expected to move east through NSW and Victoria on Monday and Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, snow is expected to drop to low levels "through parts of Tasmania, Victoria and alpine areas of NSW." From Tuesday night onwards, a complex low pressure area is forecast to develop over the southern part of NSW, then move off the east coast and intensify — bringing a band of rain across the eastern seaboard. That's anticipated to stretch right up from Tasmania to southeast Queensland. "It's a very cold pool of air, so there's the potential for small hail and thunderstorms as well, and showers, and also snow down to low levels," said Scully. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1401701952052994054 So, Sydneysiders, get ready for minimums as low as eight degrees, showers from late Tuesday until Friday, June 11, and a maximum of 15 degrees on Thursday, June 10. In Melbourne, as well as the low top temps mentioned above, the minimum will hit six degrees on Wednesday, and showers are forecast from Tuesday–Thursday. Damaging winds are also expected in southern and alpine regions. Brisbane has been feeling chillier than usual for a few days, thanks to a cool change that was forecast last week. Back when winter started, BOM noted that there was "an outside chance" that the Granite Belt could get snow this week — but Brisbane is in for eight-degree minimums regardless from Thursday–Sunday, and a maximum of just 18 degrees on Thursday as well. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1399558171740442627 Of course, while these are BOM's forecasts as issued up until today, Monday, June 7, conditions may change — so keep an eye on the Bureau's website for the most up-to-date information. For latest weather forecasts, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so there's going to be little in the way of synopsis here. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, a casting agent, thwarted actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. How a film with such an ostensibly narrow focus can be so compelling to so many viewers is one of those wonders of cinema. It just is. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed, at length), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. The film is wittily edited, warm and sensitive to all parties. It has a lightness of touch as might be expected of a distant observer, but all the unguarded reflection that comes from being intimate with her subject. There's a lot of technique to it. Polley reminds us of her own directorial presence constantly: Her father Michael is also the narrator, and we see her barking commands at him in the audio booth. The grainy '80s Super 8 footage that runs throughout cannot be trusted. The nature of 'truth' is being examined, and not just because it suits postmodern obsessions — in this case, it matters to people's lives. And yet (thankfully) these intellectual enquiries don't crowd out the human drama. The result is simply the most enthralling, idiosyncratic and entertaining family memoir around. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ytq4VZ2Nyxg
Last November Jim Finn, of Art vs Science fame, launched his solo project Vydamo with the single 'Gonna Make It', a user-friendly, catchy little anthem of a hit that almost fooled me into thinking the New Radicals had finally followed up their '90s one-hit wonder 'Get What You Give'. But this is real music that is real fun or, as Richard Kingsmill of triple j puts it, this guy (and this music) is "extremely likeable". Vydamo will kick off his first tour this Friday, April 19, when he plays to Sydneysiders at OAF before heading south for a Saturday at the Toff in Melbourne. Next weekend Brisbane will get their taste of Jim Finn solo and live at Alhambra on April 27. Art vs. Science first got our attention in 2008 with the call-and-response dance number 'Flippers'. The dynamic little three-piece have been on the up ever since, and with their most comprehensive tour of the States coming up in June, it could well be worth your while to catch their frontman doing his thing before it starts costing you $200 a pop. We have three double passes to Vydamo gigs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. https://youtube.com/watch?v=weZwxAv9j4I
Think Lunar New Year, and you likely think Chinatown. That understandable — but it's not the only Fortitude Valley spot celebrating the occasion. Over at Bakery and California lanes, the two patches of pavement are putting on a Lunar New Year party. There'll be food. There'll be booze. There'll be lion dances and live music as well. From 6pm on Saturday, January 21, the festivities for the Year of the Rabbit will get into full swing with a lively laneway shindig. Fat Dumpling will be serving up its titular dish (naturally), Gung Ho! Dumpling Ramen Bar will also help fill your stomach, and Chicken of Rock and Jeon's Kitchen will similarly be doing their respective things. Also on offer: cocktails and other boozy beverages at the two laneways' bars, complete with flavours to suit the occasion. All that celebrating is thirsty work, after all. Plus, there'll be lion dances and traditional Chinese music — and you're just a short stroll from the rest of the Valley's celebrations, including in the Brunswick Street Mall, too. Top image: Fat Dumpling.
Skip the airfare but enjoy the party: that's the wallet-friendly outcome when Don't Let Daddy Know makes its Australian debut this summer. First held in Ibiza in 2012, the dance music festival has spread to 20 countries around the world since, including events in the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Belgium and The Netherlands. Now, it has just announced its first trip Down Under. Next stops: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. DLDK will hit Australia's east coast in January 2024, on a three-stop tour over one big weekend. The tunes will start at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday, January 12, then take over Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, January 13, before hitting up Eatons Hill Outdoors on Sunday, January 14. While getting everyone feeling like they're on an island in the Mediterranean Sea isn't an easy task, DLDK will be letting its tunes take care of the vibe. Enter a lineup featuring AFROJACK, Timmy Trumpet, MORTEN and Sub Zero Project, as well as RESTRICTED, Dimatik and Bobby Neon. So, that means dancing to 'Take Over Control', 'Freaks', 'Domestic', 'Darkest Hour' and more, at a festival that's dedicated to pairing well-known dance music names with up and comers. Australia keeps welcoming local stints for well-known overseas fests and parties, after This Never Happened Presents made its first Aussie visit this winter, and also Palm Tree Music Festival in autumn. DON'T LET DADDY KNOW 2024 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Friday, January 12 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, January 13 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Sunday, January 14 — Eatons Hill Outdoors, Brisbane DON'T LET DADDY KNOW 2024 AUSTRALIAN LINEUP: AFROJACK Timmy Trumpet MORTEN Sub Zero Project RESTRICTED Bobby Neon Dimatik Don't Let Daddy Know will tour Australia in January 2024. Ticket pre sales start from 12pm local time on Wednesday, October 11, with general sales from 12pm local time on Tuesday, October 17 — head to the festival's website for further details.
Imagine waking up one day with the realisation that all your favourite foods are the reason you’ve been sick and as a result will have to be culled from your diet. No more pizza pasta smorgasbords, no more Mexican fiestas, no more delicious chocolate binges. Or so you may have thought. But fear not dear coeliacs, your world needn’t come to an end. Instead it must simply modify. Due to the rise in popularity of this particular 21st century disorder, eating options for those with coeliacs are no longer limited to one shelf in the health food aisle of Woolworths. Instead there are gluten free varieties of the majority of foods, while restaurants are also adapting their menus. For those with coeliacs or those just wanting to stay informed, the perfect opportunity is at hand. Coeliac Queensland are presenting the 2012 Gluten Free Food Expo over two exciting days on May 11 and 12. With a whole host of activities to enjoy and information to absorb, the event is a great learning (and tasting) opportunity. To top it off, they’ll also be serving delicious foods like sweet potato, rosemary, brie and onion jam pizza and caramel coated popcorn. If you’re newly diagnosed, don’t fret. Instead go on an excursion to the RNA Showgrounds. Your tastebuds will thank you.
It's already Australia's largest shopping centre by a long shot, and yet Melbourne's Chadstone continues to grow, unveiling plans to incorporate a $130 million luxury hotel. Vicinity Centres, the property group behind the monster retail destination, has announced that work will begin on the MGallery by Sofitel hotel within a matter of months. Once completed, the site will be managed by the country's biggest hotel operator, Accor Hotels. It's no small project either, with the 13-storey hotel set to feature 250 rooms, a 400-capacity ballroom, two restaurants and a bar. With acclaimed Melbourne architects Bates Smart heading up the design, the aim is for this to be Australia's first five-star Green Star-rated hotel. Located close to Chadstone on the Princes Highway, the development will also boast views of the city skyline, and across to the Dandenong Ranges and Port Phillip Bay. According to Vicinity Centres' Executive General Manager of Development Carolyn Viney, the hotel will reap the benefits of Chadstone's annual 23 million visitor count, which is thought to include a huge 350,000 international tourists. "Importantly, the hotel will create new jobs and drive local tourism, further contributing to the economic and social viability of a new CBD hub for the Chadstone-Monash corridor," Viney said. MGallery by Sofitel is expected to open in Chadstone in late 2019.
Few dining experiences compare to a traditional omakase, where highly trained Japanese chefs decide what to serve diners and make their food right in front of them. It's a gastronomical performance like no other. And Chef Kimura, one of the best omakase chefs in the world, has left his Tokyo restaurant (which has received two Michelin stars five years in a row) to bring his particular take on the experience — specifically, jukusei-sushi (aged sushi) — to Australia. This November, the hospo heavyweight — and third-generation sushi chef — will be taking over the kitchens at Sydney's 20-seat Sushi E (on Saturday, November 5) and Byron Bay hot spot Raes on Wategos (on Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9). What's needed to attain the skill of jukusei-sushi? Enough patience, determination and intuition to put most to shame. More complex than simply knowing how long to age each fish for — 12 days for mehikari, for example — it's learning what to do with each species' unique traits. Few can do what Chef Kimura does, as well as he does it. Getting a table at his restaurant in Japan is renowned for being almost impossible, so you'll want to nab a seat at one of these dining experiences, stat. Tickets are going for $300 at Sushi E and $325 in Byron Bay. Chef Kimura will take up residence at Sushi E on Saturday, November 5, across five sittings. Further north, he will be hitting the kitchen at Raes on Wategos for four sittings across Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9.
Since Saturday, July 31, 11 Local Government Areas in and around Greater Brisbane have been back in lockdown, with new locally acquired COVID-19 cases identified in the region. The first case was linked to Indooroopilly State High School and, unsurprisingly, the list of exposure sites has been growing ever since — especially across Brisbane's western suburbs. You know the drill from here, because naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of Queensland's containment strategy, and has been since early 2020. The list has been expanding rapidly over the weekend, and includes one big and notable venue — one that's been named an exposure site a few times now. Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, aka the biggest shopping centre in Brisbane's west, is the highest-profile location to join the list over the weekend. A positive case visited Indro on Thursday, July 29, with seven specific shops within the centre identified as exposure sites. If you went to Myer between 8.50–9.30am, Seed Heritage from 9.20–9.35am, Target between 9.25–9.50am, H&M from 9.45–10.10am, Target again from 10–10.15am, Kmart between 10.10–10.45am, Stacks Discount Store from 10.35–10.50am and/or Country Road between 10.45–11am, you've been at a close contact spot. That means that you need to get tested ASAP and then self-isolate, regardless of whether you receive a negative result — and you'll need to remain in isolation for 14 days, too. Two sets of female toilets at the centre are on the list as well — on level two near Forever New from 8.45–8.50am and on level one near JB Hi-Fi from 10.50–10.55am. They're casual contact spots, so folks who were also there at the same time will need to get tested and self-quarantine until they receive a negative result. Indooroopilly Shopping Centre has also been named as a low-risk venue from 8.30–11am and 3.10–3.30pm on Thursday, July 29, which requires getting tested ASAP, then monitoring for symptoms. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1421766009023700992 Other places of note currently named as exposure sites include two spots at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, multiple areas of the University of Queensland, Aldi at Oxley, Coles at Moggill, and a heap of bus routes. Schools are a big focus this time, with not only Indooroopilly State High School but also Ironside State School, St Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane Boys Grammar and Brisbane Girls Grammar also identified. For the full list, head to the Queensland Health website. As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020. Queensland currently has 53 active cases as last reported on Sunday, August 1. Residents of the 11 LGAs under lockdown are currently only permitted to leave their homes for four permitted reasons; however, getting tested for COVID-19 is one of them. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Palo Alto should come with a warning: may cause optic nerve damage as a result of excessive eye-rolling. Adapted from a collection of semi-autobiographical short stories by Instagram-age Renaissance man James Franco, the film marks the directorial debut of 26-year-old Gia Coppola, the granddaughter and niece of filmmakers Francis Ford and Sofia, respectively. A portrait of teenage disaffection, it's a film that attempts to capture the aimlessness, the angst and the self-aggrandised melancholy of youth. That it more or less succeeds in that goal is a big part of what makes it so unbearable. Emma Robert and newcomer Jack Kilmer play April and Teddy, a pair of brooding high schoolers absorbed by personal drama. He's a delinquent skater who's actually an unappreciated artist; she's the neglected daughter of self-absorbed parents who begins an affair with her creepy soccer coach (Franco). Meanwhile, Teddy's best bud Fred (Nate Wolff) finds himself drawn to increasingly anti-social behaviour to hide his insecurities, while another classmate Emily (Zoe Levine) turns to sex in order to hide her own. While Coppola and Franco do their best to depict the nuances of teenage ennui, their interlocking stories end up bringing little new material to what is already an over-saturated genre. Likewise, while the mannerisms of the characters feel pretty accurate, the kids ultimately come across more like ciphers than real people. There's little insight into why they do the things that they do, other than they're bored, perhaps, or feel entitled. Or maybe the world just, like, doesn't understand. Coppola's direction shows promise, only to fall into indie film cliché. Midnight strolls through deserted streets look as though they've been pulled from a Smashing Pumpkins music video circa 1996, while some of the visual metaphors — Fred driving the wrong way down the freeway, for example — are way too obvious to be profound. Despite this stumble, there's enough in Palo Alto to suggest the youngest Coppola may have a future ahead of her. You'd be less inclined to be charitable towards Franco, whose aggressive desire to be taken seriously makes it basically impossible to do so. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sTqMUu1iTIo
They're no Virgin Oceanic submarine, but the the new U-Boat Worx - the 'personal submarines for yacht and tourism' - might just have to suffice for those ordinary folk among us who are desirous of exploring the depths of the ocean but who suffer the misfortune of not being Richard Branson. That being said, however, by 'ordinary folk' it is of course meant those with a spare $100,000 odd to spend on this underwater charter. There are two U-Boats available - the C-Questers and the C-Explorers - both offering a 360 degree view of the deep through fully acrylic hubs, and a minimum 100m depth (the C-Explorers range from 100m-1000m in depth, whereas the C-Questers stay above the 100m mark). The C-Explorer family is geared more towards professional pursuits, whereas the C-Quester subs provide their leisurely-minded passengers with 8 hours of air conditioned glee in the sea. For your $100,000, U-Boat Worx will transport the sub from their base in Norway to anywhere in the world, and bring with it support staff, insurance and parts. It's costly, but then again, Water Walking Balls are child's play. U-Boat Worx is the real, submerged deal.
Decking your halls with boughs of holly is for Christmastime. Sprucing up your chosen joint with other types of greenery — that's a year-round activity. Why not deck your coffee table with pots of cacti? Adorn your bathroom shelves with planters filled with succulents? Or brighten up your loved ones' homes with whichever leafy morsel you think they'll love. Whichever you choose, you'll find whatever you're looking for at the The Lanes Plant and Homewares Market. It takes over Fortitude Valley's Bakery, Winn and California Lanes on three Saturdays across 2019. Head along on May 11, just in time for Mother's Day; September 18, so you can welcome in spring; and November 16, if you're keen on a stint of early Christmas shopping. Kicking off at 9am, stallholders will be slinging the likes of plants, flowers, kokedamas, ceramics, candles and homewares, with My Botanical Lab, Max and Mort, Alice Nightingale and Bonnie Hislop among the sellers. You can also take part in a macrame workshops, watch a terrarium demonstration and get your plants potted onsite. And the laneways' various cafes and eateries will be open, of course. Images: Max and Mort.
Frances Ha is like a Woody Allen comedy, with Greta Gerwig as Woody Allen. She wrote this script together with director (and love friend) Noah Baumbach (Greenberg). Even if you really, really can't stand films/TV/books about self-involved, twenty-something-year-old white people trying to figure their lives out, this one is poised to charm. Larger than life, socially awkward and totally "undatable", Frances Halladay is one of the most loveable characters you'll meet this year. Her 28th year ends up being a difficult one, as her best friend Sophie (Mickey Sumner) drifts away and she misses out on a position at the dance company she's been training with, but she remains the optimist. Filmed in dreamy black-and-white and also starring Girls' Adam Driver, Frances Ha is full of a scruffy joy that will have you dancing to Bowie's 'Modern Love' for days and days. Frances Ha is in cinemas on August 15 and thanks to Transmission Films, we have ten double passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
While seeing fruit mince pies in your local shopping centre in October feels downright disturbing, there's one Christmas treat that no one ever minds arriving early: Four Pillars annual Christmas Gin. The third iteration of the Healesville distillery's seasonal sip is coming in strong, set to hit shelves next Saturday, November 3. It's the delicious result of a yearly tradition that sees a bunch of Christmas puddings — handmade with the owner's family recipe — distilled with various festive botanicals to create a sought-after tipple that pretty much screams December 25. The flavours of an Aussie Christmas are captured in notes of cinnamon, star anise, juniper, coriander and angelica. The Christmas gin is then blended with some earlier gin that's been carefully ageing in old muscat barrels. It's all finished with a hit of Rutherglen muscat and some of Four Pillars' own matured muscat for a bit of added richness and complexity. Each year, a new unique label is chosen to wrap up this Christmas creation, setting out to evoke that same festive spirit. 2018's bottle design is the work of Stephen Baker, the Melbourne artist responsible for the mural outside Fitzroy Pool and one of the Art Trams currently rattling around the city. The bottle is decorated with his bold geometric shapes and bright hues of bathers by the pool, and pretty much nails the feel of a hot and summery Aussie Christmas. The distillers recommend you drink it in a Christmassy G&T with grapefruit sherbet and star anise, or a cobbler with lemon, muscat and a bit of sugar. Or you can just splash a bit of it on your Christmas pudding — Four Pillars is selling its own four-serve puds for $25 alongside the gin. If you want to nab a bottle, have your fingers poised over the 'buy' button when they go on sale online on November 3. Alternatively, you can stop by the distillery's CBD pop-up on level six of Myer, or Four Pillars HQ in Healesville. Bottles are $100 a pop and you can get it shipped in a copper gift box (with a stirring spoon) for an extra $15. Four Pillars Christmas Gin is available from November 3, in selected retail stores and online. But you'd best be quick — there's only a limited amount of bottles.
With the Beauty and the Beast musical on its way to Australia, a major exhibition focusing on fairy tales as well, and the live-action version of The Little Mermaid set to swim into cinemas, 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for enchanting stories. Here's something else to add to that list: MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins..., a new Australian musical that's been in development for six years and will make its debut in Melbourne come winter. The onstage romantic comedy actually takes its cues from a well-known favourite, and one that's been doing the rounds of Aussie theatres in 2022, with Cinderella its inspiration. But MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... doesn't just tell the familiar narrative the same way as everyone already knows, instead giving it an update. In a production that'll feature Australian musical theatre stars Lucy Durack (Wicked, Legally Blonde, Shrek), Verity Hunt-Ballard (Mary Poppins, Sweet Charity), Thomas McGuane (Frozen, Jersey Boys), Matt Lee (Mary Poppins, Frozen) and Kristie Nguy, MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins...'s heroine Ella doesn't want a prince to sweep her off her feet, even an apparent Prince Charming. But the latter is besotted, and the clock is ticking — with plenty needing to click before the stroke of midnight. The aim: "to create a fully formed, funny, complex heroine for a new generation, and to create the definitive musical version of this magical, evergreen tale", explains co-director Dean Murphy (Charlie & Boots, The Divorce). "The Cinderella story has been retold for hundreds of years with the most widely known version being written in 1950 and reflecting the sensibilities of that era. So, a number of our team with young children felt it was time the world of Cinderella was freshly revisited to explore how this intriguing girl became an icon, but told through a new, empowering story that sees this force-of-nature fight for great change whilst still embracing the love, support and magic from those around her," he continued. "Whilst we still have some of the beloved fairytale characters, there are many new surprises that we know will delight audiences," said producer Spencer McLaren (Dive Club, Puffs the Play, Mother & Son). "MIDNIGHT has many Broadway-style showstoppers that people will be singing for years to come and a world-class cast including Lucy Durack as Ms Madrina, Verity Hunt-Ballard as Madame Bellington, Thomas McGuane as the Prince and Matt Lee as his trusted aide Andre. The coveted role of Ella is still being cast with a nation-wide search underway," he added. Originally slated to premiere in 2020 before the pandemic hit, the new musical will debut at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from June 2023, and boasts music and lyrics by John Foreman (Aussie Pops Orchestra, Carols By Candlelight) and Anthony Costanzo (Life's A Circus, Cross Roads) — plus an additional song by Kate Miller-Heidke (Muriel's Wedding). Billed as an all-ages affair, it hails from Murphy and co-writer/director Pip Mushin (Resident: Book of Mormon, Fiddler on the Roof), and features choreography by Kelly Aykers (So You Think You Can Dance, The Wizard of Oz, Barnum) — with McLaren, Murphy and Craig Donnell (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Grease — The Musical, The Sound of Music) producing. Exact Melbourne season dates haven't yet been revealed, but tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, November 11. Whether MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... will head to other Australian cities after its premiere run also hasn't been announced, but that gives fairy tale, musical, theatre and rom-com fans elsewhere something to wish for to their fairy godmother. MIDNIGHT — The Fairytale Begins... will premiere in June 2023 at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre. For more information, or to join the waitlist for tickets before they go on sale at 9am on Friday, November 11, head to the production's website. Images: Wayne Taylor.
Chocolates and flowers may be Valentine's Day staples, but they're also among the easiest gifts you can give your special someone. Booking a getaway doesn't require too much additional effort; however, it's certainly more exciting — and it doesn't have to fall on February 14. No one has been travelling far to take a romantic vacation over the past year, so you and your significant other have probably spent the majority of 2020 in your own state — and much of 2021 so far, too — thanks to interstate border restrictions. But if you're keen to take your date somewhere other than your own backyard, Virgin Australia is selling flight deals for couples. They're available to multiple destinations around the country, with the cheap flights starting at $69 each for a one-way ticket. Hang on, Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, less than 12 months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital, launched a comeback sale in early July and its voluntary administration officially ended on Tuesday, November 17. Virgin's current Say 'I Do' to Valentine's Day sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, February 17 — or until sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on a number of routes to destinations across the country, with travel dates spanning May and June this year. If you've been waiting to book your first getaway of 2021, now might be the time. The discounted economy flights include seat selection and checked baggage. Some of the routes on offer include Sydney to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay or Coffs Harbour; Melbourne to Launceston or Hobart; Adelaide to Melbourne; and Brisbane to the Whitsundays. [caption id="attachment_785976" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Whitehaven Beach in The Whitsundays[/caption] As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin is also waiving change fees and allowing unlimited booking changes for reservations made before April 30, 2021 for travel before January 31, 2022. Virgin's Say 'I Do' to Valentine's Day sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, February 17 — or until sold out. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
Home ownership. It’s the great Australian dream. And the American dream. And probably a dream for quite a few other nationalities too. But with house prices almost constantly on the rise, the dream can seem unattainable. So how about a home that costs just $200? That’s what this ‘Gypsy Junker’ cost, built from abandoned shipping pallets and recycled materials by Derek Diedricksen, a micro-house enthusiast in Massachusetts. The aim was to design and build a shelter for homeless people, for as little as possible. With only 24 square feet of space, estate agents would no doubt dub it ‘extremely cosy’. While the ‘Gypsy Junker’ was built by a hobbyist to prove the concept, smaller and more affordable housing is a goal for architects too. Revelations Architects in Wisconsin have focused on the fundamental uses of a home – eating, bathing, sleeping and communal fellowship – and worked out they could squeeze it all in to a footprint of just 340 square feet. Named the E.D.G.E (Experimental Dwelling for a Greener Environment), the building is pre-fabricated to simplify construction, and the reconfigurable interior is designed to optimise the use of space. The architects are already working on the next version, and hope to see it put to use as a holiday retreat or full time residence. If you’re thinking: “Tiny houses are fine in America, but we don’t need that here,” think again. There are already plans for a micro-house in Sydney, where a judge wants to build a four story house on a 2.7 metre wide block of land. Down-sized dwellings might be the way of the future for all of us. [Via Neatorama and PSFK]
Anything blessed by Steve Jobs' touch turned to gold, so it's no surprise his biography is expected to be a major sell-out. It also helps that Walter Isaacson, who has documented the lives of Albert Einstein and Walter Benjamin, is the author. Jobs allowed Isaacson a no-holds approach to his life and everyone who knew him, resulting in a revealing deconstruction of how the young hippie with a disregard to rules and washing himself became a billionaire who changed the way we listened to music, communicated and used computers. The interview Isaacson did with 60 Minutes in the US over the weekend is a great option if you don't want to read the book but are still interested in Jobs' life and what he was like to write about - the story behind the story, so to speak. In the interview, Isaacson describes Jobs as "petulant" and "brittle." He could be an extremely mean person to anyone that crossed his path and didn't have the same demand for perfection as he did, be it a waitress who served him or someone who worked tirelessly at Apple. Isaason also notes that Jobs is probably the only person in the world with his kind of wealth who lived in a unremarkable house, without a long, winding driveway or threatening security fences. However, he refused to put a number plate on his Mercedes sports coupe. The biography is available in Australia now. Part One Part Two https://youtube.com/watch?v=LjUYfQ6CUu0
Missing travel during the pandemic? If you've been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can enter an array of different competitions and giveaways that'll help you get back to doing what you love — that is, roaming far and wide — when that's permitted again. Been hanging out to attend big gigs again over the past 18 months or so? Yes, we all have. So, three of Australia's huge tour promoters have teamed up to launch a 'Vaxstage Pass' contest. If you've had your jabs, you can enter to win a heap of free tickets to a heap of live shows in 2022. Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG are the trio of live entertainment companies that've joined forces, and they're focusing on their stadium and arena shows — yes, their big gigs. All three companies have quite the array of talent heading our way next year, so you could be seeing My Chemical Romance, Snoop Dogg, Lorde, Tyler, The Creator, Alanis Morissette and more. Obviously, you will need to have rolled up your sleeves first, and twice. Before you enter — with the contest open from today, Wednesday, September 15 until 11.59pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 30 — you must've had your jabs, in fact. And, when you complete the online form, you'll be asked to also come up with a 25-word (or less) answer about which live event you're most looking forward to seeing and why. [caption id="attachment_749351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] My Chemical Romance[/caption] In total, five winners will be picked — and they'll each nab a double pass to every stadium and/or arena show promoted by Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG in 2022. You will just get one double pass for each artist, though, so if someone is doing multiple shows in one spot, you can only go to one performance. You'll also need to be over the age of 18 and an Australian resident. Also, everyone can only enter the comp once. If you're wondering about proving that you've been vaccinated, you will need access to your Medicare certificate saying you're fully vaxxed; however, only winners will be asked to supply this when they're picked. Add free gigs to the list of things you could score for getting vaccinated, which also includes free beers and discounted sneakers — and also helping Australia reach its 70-percent and 80-percent fully vaxxed thresholds, which is when a heap of restrictions are set to be eased. For more information about Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG's 'Vaxstage Pass' competition, or to enter, head to the Vaxstage Pass website.
It doesn't matter how good your cast is if you don't give them a compelling story to tell. That's the lesson of My Old Lady, the motion picture debut of playwright Israel Horovitz. An obvious stage-to-screen adaptation that shows little consideration to the differences between the two, it's a film so stuffy and slow-moving that it makes its geriatric headliner look positively spritely by comparison. The great Maggie Smith plays the old dame in the title, a 92-year-old British expatriate named Mathilde Gerard, who lives in a spacious Parisian apartment thanks to a peculiar French real-estate law called a viager. Under the arrangement, Madame Gerard receives regular cash instalments from a buyer, who will eventually gain full ownership of the property when the old lady finally dies. It's a fantastic deal for her, but a right pain in the arse for Matthias Gold (Kevin Kline), a deadbeat New Yorker who inherits the building in his estranged father's will. So Matthias skulks around Paris, trying to figure out a way to sell his newfound property while contending with his stubborn new tenant and her hostile adult daughter, Chloe (Kristen Scott Thomas). But soon the comic setup gives way to something much more serious. Information comes to light regarding the relationship between Matthias' father and Gerard, unscrewing the lid on a can of Daddy Issues in the process. It's interesting subject matter, to be sure. The problem is that Horovitz doesn't know how to translate his material to the screen. A vast majority of the truly relevant action takes place inside Gerard's apartment — and no number of aimless shots of Paris can disguise the film's origins on the stage. The dialogue itself feels better suited to the theatre as well, with a number of theatrical monologues in the movies' second half running unnecessarily long. At least it goes without saying that all three of the film's main actors are fantastic. Frankly, it's hard to think of a single bad performance across their entire combined body of work. In truth though, none of their characters are particularly easy to like, each one of them consumed by a mixture of blind entitlement and self-pity. That's the other lesson to be learned from My Old Lady. When a film's central conflict comes down to bickering over a $9 million deed, it's difficult to feel much sympathy for anyone involved.
In life and onstage, singer-songwriters Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter shared plenty. On-screen over the past year, they shared frames in exceptional documentary Wash My Soul in the Rivers Flow, too. And, come 2023, the pair will share a sculpture celebrating and commemorating their work and legacies, which is set to become a permanent fixture in Fitzroy. The Melbourne suburb will welcome a piece that hasn't yet been commissioned and designed, but will be overseen by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Yarra City Council, as well as Roach and Hunter's family members. That process will start now, in preparation for unveiling next year, with the Victorian Government putting $287,000 towards the statue. [caption id="attachment_859315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacinta Keefe[/caption] "I remember good times with my dear baby brother Archie in Fitzroy and with Ruby right beside him," said Roach's sister Myrtle Evans in a statement announcing the news. "We shared many good times here together as a family. Being back here reminds me of those times. I miss those times now. May the spirit of dear Archie and Ruby always be here." Both Roach and Hunter, who passed away earlier in 2022 and in 2010 respectively, enjoyed careers worthy of the heartiest of tributes. It's aimed for the statue to become a landmark for fans to visit, including from within Melbourne, across Victoria, interstate and beyond. The pair's individual achievements are immense, with Ruby's 1994 record Thoughts Within the first solo album released by a First Nations female artist — and Roach's 'Took the Children Away' a powerful anthem for the stolen generations since 1990. Ruby was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2020, and Archie was named Victorian of the Year the same year. The statue will also recognise Roach and Hunter's work with Melbourne's First Peoples communities, including via the Archie Roach Foundation since 2014. "Uncle Archie's and Aunty Ruby's passion for their people inspired these gifted songwriters. They produced lyrics that not only touched the hearts of millions but educated a nation on the Stolen Generations," said Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter. Fitzroy's new sculpture celebrating Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter will be installed and unveiled sometime in 2023. We'll update you when further details are announced — and keep an eye on the City of Yarra website in the interim. Top image: Wash My Soul in the Rivers Flow, Sandy Scheltem.
Here's a way to make an entrance. Ever-evolving ride service Uber has announced their next alternative transportation method and it's set to be a whirlwind (ha). The UberCHOPPER will see 20 racing punters touching down on the Caulfield Cup helipad this weekend, where they'll be greeted (of course) with champagne and VIP passes for the day. A continual do-gooder, this year Uber has saved people on the move from the mediocre arrival methods known as buses, trains and conventional taxis by giving them other options — like luxury cars, water taxis and Optimus Prime. They've repeatedly come to your drunken 3am rescue, and even brought you food and taken you shopping. Like many of these other initiatives, it's unlikely the chopper service will become a regular feature. For now you'll just have to pray you get through in the frantic scramble when the FREECHOPPER code goes live this Saturday, October 18 at 10am. Here's how to book: 1. Download the Uber app onto your smartphone and make an account, if you haven't already. 2. Enter the promo code "FREECHOPPER" when signing up, or in the promotions section of the app if you've already got Uber. 3. At 10am on Saturday, select UberCHOPPER in the app. Get your friends to do it too. Don't be discouraged if at first you don't succeed — it's just that the rest of Melbourne is trying at the same time. 4. Hit "REQUEST CHOPPER". If your booking is accepted — don't panic. (Or do.) You've got 15 minutes to get your race face on before an UberMINI picks you up and transfers you to the helipad.
West Village is already one of the greenest parts of West End, and now it's letting you take some plants home with you. No, you can't raid the precinct's garden — but you can browse the stalls at the spot's returning Plant Market. Looking for something leafy to sit on your window sill? A statement plant for your back deck? Terrariums and kokedamas to place (and hang) wherever fits? Ceramics to spice up your shelves? Succulents and cacti, because they brighten up any space? Good ol' fashioned flowers, just because? Thanks to a long list of participants including All the Green Things, Max and Mort, Luvia Designs, Lecky Studio, Succulent Mummas, Makers of Something Special and Black and Bloom Floral Studio, they're all on offer. Just head on down to the free event from 9am–2pm on Sunday, August 2 — and if you have some plants at home that don't quite suit, you can bring them along to the onsite greenery adoption centre. It works the other way, too, so you can pick up a plant that someone else didn't want and take it home with you for free. The Plant Market runs from 9am–2pm on Sunday, August 2 .
Celebrating the release of last year’s album Stranger, Kelly Clarkson will hit cities across Australia singing new tunes and fan favourites like Already Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You and Because Of You. As the tail end of a year spanning over fifty dates worldwide, the Australian shows of the Stronger tour are gifted by high expectation, with long lists of praise for the previous dates raising them upwards. Kelly Clarkson will dazzle fans. Her simple but versatile performances are all about the music, pulling on heart-strings and transforming the pain behind her writing into something exquisitely beautiful.
Is there anything better than a day out in the sunshine, a cool breeze blowing in your hair, a cuddle from your beloved, a glass of wine in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other? Probably not. Only one thing could really make it better - some incredible musicians to watch and listen to! Essentially this is what A Day on the Green is: food, wine, friends and great music. Now in its eleventh year, A Day on the Green has brought some incredible acts from overseas to Australia, and also coaxed some fantastic Australian acts out of retirement. In previous years performers have included Chris Isaak, Diana Krall, Tom Jones, Ronan Keating, Mark Seymour, Wendy Matthews, The Whitlams, Lionel Ritchie and so many more. This month at Sirromet Winery, punters can see one of the best line-ups yet, with the consumnate musicians Daryl Hall and John Oates strutting their stuff alongside iconic band Icehouse and the likes of Husky, up-and-comers from Melbourne. Take a trip to the 80s and back with a wine in hand.
Live in New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland? Craving a doughnut right about now? There's a very good reason for those hunger pangs. All three states have been affected by Melbourne's latest COVID-19 cluster — the one that saw the city go into lockdown for two weeks, and only just ended — but today, Friday, June 11, the country's entire east coast has recorded zero new locally acquired cases. Yes, it's a doughnut day across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and across the rest of their states as well. Twelve months or so ago, if you uttered that term, you were probably using it in the literal sense between mouthfuls. Thanks to the chaos of the past year, however, the term now refers to this welcome COVID-19 milestone. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1403120157711605764 All three states use slightly different timeframes when it comes to their 24-hour reporting periods — NSW cuts off at 8pm the previous day, for instance, while Victoria counts up until midnight — but the results are the same regardless. In Melbourne, it's the first zero day since the current cluster began. So, it's the first since Monday, May 24. Obviously, with lockdown just finishing last night, that nice round figure is very happy news. While neither Queensland or NSW have had big case numbers lately, the big fat zero is still significant there as well. On Wednesday, it was revealed that two people from Melbourne had driven through NSW and Queensland to the Sunshine Coast, with one then testing positive. The second person then tested positive on Thursday. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1403182248707256320 At the moment, Victoria has 75 active cases, which includes both locally acquired and those in hotel quarantine. NSW has 26 cases being treated at present — and in Queensland there is currently 15 cases. Of course, this doesn't mean the war is over in any of the three states, or around Australia — but it is a very welcome development after the past few days and weeks. For more information about COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions, head to NSW Health. For more information about COVID-19 in Victoria, head over to the Department of Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in the Queensland, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
When clouds start gathering in the sky, rain keeps pouring and storms hit, ever wonder what life would be like if something other than water streamed down from above? Everyone has — and now that idea has become a reality. Meet the world's first tequila-dripping rain cloud. Yes, this visible mass of minute droplets really is made of tequila, unleashing its boozy goodness first as a mist and spray that condenses inside a plastic container, and then as rain that drips down from the whispy structure. All anyone keen for a drink needs to do is stand by with a shot glass in hand. Bring your own lemon and salt. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRa17gCjyiW/?taken-by=visitmexico Unsurprisingly, you won't find the tequila cloud in sky — instead, it's located in a Berlin gallery as part of a promotional campaign devised by creative agency LAPIZ to entice German tourists to Mexico. Sure, it sounds like something out of Parks and Recreation; however it doesn't come with vodka in the form of a flash of light or whisky turned into lotion. Synchronised with the weather outside, the cloud actually starts raining showers of tequila when its natural counterparts in Berlin do the same with good old fashioned H20. The project follows in the footsteps of the agency's melting billboard, which turned ice into snow with the simulated power of the Mexican sun to show Berliners what they were missing (and to try to convince them to book a holiday). Via Food & Wine / The Huffington Post.
There's something particularly enticing about spring in Brisbane. The baking summer heat hasn't arrived quite yet, the flowers are in full bloom and we all just want to spend all our time outdoors. And, between Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 14, Brisbane Powerhouse also happens to be livening up your spring by hosting three nights of free sunset tunes. Yes, that's how you make the most of the season. At Spring Sounds at Sunset, you'll listen to jazz, blues, folk and world music, all while getting comfy on the riverside venue's performance lawn. This is the kind of afternoon shindig that calls for packing a basket, grabbing a rug and gathering the gang. You'll need to sort out who brings what to eat, of course — but Brisbane Powerhouse will take care of the music. On the lineup: Tibetan Australian artist and composer Tenzin Choegyal on Friday, joined by folk singer LT, and a collaboration between jazz ensemble Trichotomy and alt-country singer-songwriter Danny Widdicombe; Dusty Miles singing the blues on Saturday, alongside jazz vocalist Kayleigh Pincott and world music ensemble Cigany Weaver; and Indigenous R&B musician Chris Tamwoy on Sunday, as paired with the Balkan and Mediterranean sounds of East of West, as well as Hussy Hicks. Spring Sounds at Sunset kicks off at 5pm on the Friday and Saturday, and at 3pm on the Sunday. Top image: Xenica Ayling.
For the third time in the 2020s, Fatboy Slim is heading to Australia to break out 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank', 'Praise You' and plenty more dance-floor fillers. After touring the country in 2020 and 2023, the dance music legend is returning in March 2025 on a five-stop trip, four of which will get him spinning tunes in wineries. Trying to dance like Christopher Walken, pretending you're in Cruel Intentions, being transported back to the late 90s and early 00s: that's all on the agenda again. So is making shapes to DJ Seinfeld, CC:DISCO! and Jennifer Loveless, who'll be supporting the British legend at all five gigs — including at Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton on Sunday, March 23. [caption id="attachment_975624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Selbymay via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. Fatboy Slim's discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. [caption id="attachment_897289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carlos Luna/ Secretaría de Cultura CDMX via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top images: neal whitehouse piper via Wikimedia Commons / Carlos Luna/ Secretaría de Cultura CDMX via Wikimedia Commons.
Brewing up beers on Helen Street in Teneriffe for a decade now, Green Beacon Brewing Co has obviously become known for its selection of yeasty beverages. It's also built up a reputation for throwing shindigs, too — oyster parties, block parties, Oktoberfest parties, you name it — so to celebrate hitting ten years in action, it's unsurprisingly hosting a birthday bash. You know what you'll be drinking here, of course: beer, beer and more beer, naturally. Green Beacon's brewpub will be pouring its usual tipples; however, it'll also be pairing them with tunes and four days of partying. It all starts on Thursday, January 26 with limited-release new beers, live tunes, hourly giveaways and specials. Then, on Friday, January 27, knockoff pints, limited-edition merchandise and a DJ-spun soundtrack are on offer. Fancy two countdowns? Both the Triple J Hottest 100 and GABS Hottest 100 will be in the spotlight on Saturday, January 28. And, amid the fun on Sunday, January 29, there'll be a brunch club from 11am–1pm. Images: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Lush greenery, a sky-high hangout and views as far as the eye can see? Now that's how you end one year in style and start another in the same way. And that's what Eleven Rooftop Bar is throwing together, in great news for anyone looking for a party a few levels above the rest. Literally. Other highlights include the usual party inclusions: five hours of drinks and food, ranging from standard to booth to VIP; fireworks views; the chance to dress up, this time in resort style. But it's the leafy theme — and the promise of aerial acts so high above the ground — that should tempt you. Drinks, trees and sky for miles; what a combination.
Riveting dissections of realistic situations: that's where siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have made their careers. Continuing in the same finessed, naturalistic vein, Two Days, One Night compels by rendering relatable circumstances without sentiment but with surprises. It follows the attempts of Sandra (Academy Award-winner Marion Cotillard) to convince her co-workers to save her job. To do so, they would need to forgo a cash bonus they've been offered and in many cases need. The precision with which the filmmakers present a feature almost solely comprised of conversations cannot be underestimated, nor can Cotillard's expert efforts in illustrating the fragility of her striving but uncertain protagonist. Small in stature yet striking in its statement, Two Days, One Night took out the Sydney Film Prize at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Two Days, One Night is in cinemas on November 6. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have two Dardenne Brothers DVD prize packs to give away, each including a double in-season pass to see the new film. Eight runners up will also get double in-season passes. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=qxLqaEGZiDY
Three questions, New Year's Eve partygoers: What's your preferred view? Where would you like to pretend to be? Are you in for a concentrated burst of fun, or for the long haul? If you answered river vantages, on the sea and a hefty chuck of time, then set sail for Riverland's Nautical New Year's Eve. The numbers speak for themselves: 50 metres of open-air river frontage, 80 feet of bar space, five authentic street kitchens, five-and-a-half hours of food and drinks, and $180 for the lot. You'll only see 2018 once, after all. Dressing for the occasion — something stripey if you're lazy, whatever nautical wonder you can come up with if you're feeling creative — is encouraged. And, you'll have one of the best outlooks in the city.
This winter, you won't be chasing the sun and soaking in a European summer. That was off the cards last year, too. But, thanks to eased domestic border restrictions and the trans-Tasman bubble, you can spend the chilliest part of the year surrounded by snow. Of course, whether you're planning to ski, snowboard or just build a snowman, you'll need to rug up — and whatever is currently in your wardrobe mightn't do. Each year — except 2020, for obvious reasons — Aldi hosts a big sale on snow gear. Every time it happens, it draws quite a crowd. It's back for 2021, so mark Saturday, May 22 in your diary. That's when you can head to your nearest Aldi supermarket to pick up everything from snow jackets and boots to face masks and beanies. Available at stores across the nation, and made to withstand extreme weather conditions, 2021's range of gear includes six different varieties of snow jackets, which start at $39.99 for something light and go up to $119.99 for windproof and waterproof numbers; four types of snow pants, including one style with adjustable leg and waist cuffs for $99.99; and ski fleece sets, featuring a hoodie and a pair of pants, for $19.99. Boots for both kids and adults start at $19.99, helmets will cost you between $19.99–24.99, and you'll be spending between $4.99–34.99 for masks, beanies, neck warmers, cabin socks, gloves and balaclavas. Kids clothing is part of the deal, too, if you'll be travelling with younger skiers — ranging from $19.99–34.99. Once you're all kitted out, you're certain to stay toasty if you're making the trip to Perisher Valley, Thredbo, Falls Creek, Hotham or anywhere else local where snowy peaks are a feature. If you're hopping across the ditch instead, you'll find plenty of items to stop you getting frosty up at New Zealand's ski fields. The Aldi Snow Gear Special Buys range is available from Aldi stores nationally from Saturday, May 22.
Sporting giant Adidas has outdone itself with the adiZero f50 miCoach, a new soccer boot that boasts state-of-the-art technology. According to the manufacturer, the boot will be able to measure 'key performance metrics including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance, distance at high intensity levels, steps and stride rates.' Judging by this description, these super-intelligent boots are a serious athlete's dream. The information on the boot can then be stored for up to seven hours, and subsequently uploaded via WiFi or USB to other devices. The thoughtful guys at Adidas have then tapped into the social media aspect of the shoe, as your stats can then be shared with your friends on Facebook, or kept as a record for your own training regimes. You can even compare your own stats with professional (Adidas-sponsored, of course) athletes such as Lionel Messi as they upload their figures. With more features than necessary and more intelligence than you ever thought a shoe could possess, you're probably wondering how much it will cost to get your hands on a pair of these bad boys. They're set to drop in November at a price of $330, which isn't too bad considering that you're pretty much lacing up a computer on your feet. However, keep in mind that the $330 price point is in American dollars and you're probably going to have to fork out a lot more when they eventually land Down Under. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LK_paShxGM8 [Via PSFK]
Discovering Brisbane's queer history is easy at this year's MELT. Just head downstairs to Brisbane Powerhouse's Turbine Studio, walk through the red velvet curtains, enter the cabaret club setup and get ready for an immersive theatre show. Not only pondering the past, but the present and future also, La Silhouette brings the city's LGBTIQ+ scene to the stage by focusing on eight stories of people who've been forced to suffer in years gone by. Running from Thursday, June 27 to Sunday, June 30, The Sui Ensemble's production spends time in a drag queen's dressing room, hearing her secrets; chatting to the police, trying to help an unwell doorman; and in VIP spaces where drinks and games fly freely. The list goes on, in a show that's equally important, eye-opening and entertaining.
If you're flying into or out of Sydney Airport this holiday season, that transit is set to be a whole lot more bearable than usual, thanks to a brand new addition from Archie Rose. The Rosebery distillery has just gifted the Airport's T1 International terminal with a 16-seat pop-up cocktail bar, primed for those pre-flight libations. Aiming to celebrate top Aussie booze, the Archie Rose Cocktail Bar started pouring drinks on Thursday, November 28 — and it's sticking around until February 2020. The custom-designed watering hole serves up a lineup of martinis, manhattans and other signature bottled cocktail creations, crafted on Archie Rose's acclaimed range of gin, whisky and vodka varieties (all of which are made just a stone's throw away, at its Rosebery headquarters). Passengers can also get their hands on the just-dropped Archie Rose x Sydney Opera House Outside and Inside Gins – a twin release celebrating Sydney Harbour's famed architectural icon. As for the space itself, the bar is open yet cosy, with a swag of native plants offering that last little taste of home before you jump on your long-haul flight. Archie Rose is known for its growing range of craft spirits, including the famed Signature Dry Gin, which continues to scoop a stack of international awards. The label is also behind the experimental 'buttered toast spirit', ArchieMite, which Aussies went nuts for when it launched earlier this year. Find the Archie Rose Cocktail Bar at B1045, T1 International Sydney Airport. Images: Kai Leishman
UPDATE, AUGUST 13, 2020: Inception's tenth anniversary season has now undergone so date changes, it almost feels like something out of the movie's twisty plot. It'll now kick off on Thursday, August 13. We've updated this article to reflect that change. With Brisbane's cinemas shutting down for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic — and only beginning to reopen in June — the idea of watching a movie in a darkened theatre in 2020 currently feels a bit surreal. From Thursday, August 13, that'll just be the first level of your dream-like film-going experience. Expect at least four others, with the dreams within dreams (within dreams within dreams) of Christopher Nolan's Inception returning to the big screen. Ten years after it first hit cinemas, the acclaimed mind-bender is back — to mark that anniversary; to help get everyone in the mood for Nolan's new movie, Tenet; and to give film-lovers something else to watch as Aussie picture palaces slowly relaunch. It's actually popping up just a fortnight before Tenet, which has had its Australian release pushed back a few times now. So, has the re-release of this twisty Nolan action-thriller, but now it's locked into the calendar. As written and directed by Nolan, Inception became a fast favourite a decade ago for plenty of reasons, including its dream-hijacking premise, its eye-popping visuals and its fantastic cast. In case you've forgotten the setup, it follows professional thief Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), who steals secret information from his targets' subconscious while they slumber — with help from the likes of Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Michael Caine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFNwbQXGMu4 Inception's tenth anniversary season is screening at various cinemas from Thursday, August 13, with exact dates and times differing depending on the venue — check out your local picture palace for details.
Find yourself surrounded by some of the world's brightest journalists at this year's Storyology, coming to Brisbane for the first time at the end of August. Brought to you by The Walkley Foundation, Australia's networking festival of media and storytelling welcomes Australian and international journalists who will be leading talks and lectures on today's big questions around the forever-changing industry. What will newsrooms look like as new technologies arise and develop? How does one go about turning their stories into successful podcasts? How has the 'Trump Effect' impacted media outside of the US? Topics like these and many more will be discussed in conversations lead by Buzzfeed and Google executives, Pulitzer Prize-winning critics and journalists flying in from across the world. Discuss the realities of fake news at The F-word, learn from investigative reporters about Queensland's life of crime and experience Afghanistan through the eyes of a photojournalist at Capturing Afghanistan, with all events held at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The festival kicks off in Brisbane on August 24 with Storyology After Dark for a 'night of great yarns', and will host events for both journos and the general public. Storyology 2017 takes place in Brisbane from Thursday, August 24 to Saturday, August 26 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. See the full program of events and talks here. We also have a full festival pass for two to giveaway. Enter for your chance to win here.
Spring is dating season. Winter's gloom has lifted, the air is noticeably lighter and the glorious sunshine has both flowers and people blooming. In celebration, we're giving away a bunch of $250 Mastercard cards to ensure that you lovebirds have a suitably romantic springtime soirée. It's entirely up to you how you splash the cash, you can splurge on one opulent night out — indulge in dozens of oysters at a top-notch fine diner — or opt for a more conservative approach and spread those five (virtual) pineapples across multiple dates. After all, you don't have to spend big to make a big impression. The late, great Robin Williams once said, "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'". Well, enter the competition below and your springtime parties for two are on us. [competition]695105[/competition] If you're looking for inspiration in the meantime, check out our top five dates for less than $50 in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and consider splitting the bill easily in under a minute with PayID (which uses the Osko payment service). Find out more here.
Come one, come all to Queensland’s biggest combined show for the antique and military wares collector. Sick of guarding your precious antique cans? Sell them! Need more precious antique cans? Buy them! Collectors can buy, sell AND trade from collectors all over Australia in the one place. This event is literally like walking into the biggest and most fantastic second hand shop you’ve ever seen, and it’s got a little something for everyone. Most collectors, no matter their field, can get their fix from hundreds of stalls. If it’s deadly weapons you’re after, the show will host modern and antique firearms, all types of Militaria from all countries, antique swords and daggers and all types of knives. There will be coins, medals, badges and bank notes as well as something more broadly aimed such as china, bronzes, prints, paintings, furniture, silverware, art, jewellery, comics, books and kitchen collectibles. Honestly, there is too much to even mention. If you are a serious collector and don’t head along to this thing, then you might want to consider taking up a different hobby. If you’re still not quite convinced take it from The Simpson’s favourite arms dealer Herman – “nothing says ‘I love you’ better than a military antique”… erm right on Herman!
