It might sound like some sort of lunar identity crisis, but the rare super blue blood moon proved a pretty spectacular addition to last night's skies. Stargazers across Australia had prime position to view the celestial phenomenon, which hasn't occurred anywhere in the world in over 35 years. The event combined the first total lunar eclipse since 2015, with a blue moon, or the second full moon of the calendar month. Clouds might have made for sketchy viewing in some parts of the country, though, as always, social media is chock full of impressive snaps from folks lucky enough to catch the astronomical treat. Here are some of the best shots of 2018's blue blood moon from around the planet. A post shared by Ken Perkes Photography (@perkesken) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:44am PST A post shared by Jenny Herron (@jenniferherronn) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:15am PST A post shared by Justin DeLand (@aperture_of_the_soul) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:15pm PST A post shared by +15⚓🌴🍀🌊 (@cristian_perrone) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:24pm PST A post shared by Jeff Morris (@itwasthelight) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:33am PST A post shared by Landscapes-Astro-Cityscapes (@bay.photography) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:58am PST A post shared by Senai Senna (@sennarelax) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:13pm PST A post shared by Carlos Sanchez (@officialcarlossanchez) on Jan 31, 2018 at 7:14am PST A post shared by Maria Heni (@henimaria) on Jan 31, 2018 at 5:38am PST A post shared by @harsha_taurus on Jan 31, 2018 at 2:41pm PST
For a few days the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them and have them lost forever. Lifeline Bookfest is back for another round of vintage bargains and startling ranges of everything from Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica. If you're been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. Prices range from cents to the big bucks — bring a trolley and your glasses and absorb yourself in books. Or, head along from 6pm on January 25, when Bookfest is pairing late-night shopping with live tunes.
If you've seen the last season of Arrested Development — or actually been to Mexico — you'll know that Cinco de Mayo is celebration like no other. Think spicy food, energetic dancing, street stalls and more mariachi bands than you can tip your sombrero to. All that comes to the Cinco de Mayo Mexican Festival, which takes over Riverlife this Sunday. Yep, it's just going to be one of those fast-paced, high-octane events that will have your eyes darting between DJs, dancers, chimichangas, chillis and chicken wings till you collapse. A bit of history on the day: originally Cinco de Mayo commemorated the Mexican battle of Puebla where Mexico defeated the French. Now, the fifth of May marks a celebration of Mexican culture, cuisine, cocktails and music. That means you've finally got a chance to bust out that dusty sombrero and show off your attempt at salsa. The Cinco de Mayo Mexican Festival will take place Sunday May 1 from 12pm till late. Tickets are still available at $65, and can be purchased online.
Whoever said an encyclopaedic knowledge of a cartoon about a dysfunctional yellow family would never come in handy was a real narc. The Brightside is pulling the Comic Book Guy out of every Simpsons fanatic on April 14 with Simpsons Trivia. If you don't know squat about Homer, Marge, Lisa and Bart, then don't even bother checking it out – this is for die-hard fans only. You should at least know the name of Lionel Hutz's law practice? The name of Lisa and Bart's hockey teams coached by Apu and Chief Wiggum? The names of two other Sideshows besides Bob and Mel? And who was Lisa's first hook-up? These are elementary questions. You don't know those answers, quit while you're ahead. Prizes are on offer, of course — and, if the night gets as ruthless as expected, includes a couple of souls. If you've ever been to a Simpsons or Seinfield trivia night before you'll understand these get pretty intense, with some competitors near crazed with cartoon intelligence. So be prepared for the moment you stare at the leader board, hypnotised by self-doubt, and repeatedly, self-pityingly mutter to yourself, "I'm not so S-M-R-T."
For a few days, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them and have them lost forever. Lifeline Bookfest is back for another round of vintage bargains and startling ranges of everything from Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica. If you're been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. Prices range from cents to the big bucks – bring a trolley and your glasses and absorb yourself in books.
If you've never hallucinated a coyote, or simply really really like hot chilli, then get to Kettle and Tin for their annual Chilli Cook Off. If Kettle and Tin's last four cook offs proved anything, it's that this festival isn't one for the timid of stomachs. That's why they've ramped up the action and spread it over two days this year, first offering up a warm up of meat, a barbecue showcase and Bloody Mary masterclasses on March 18, before things heat up on March 19. That's when competitors don't mess around, the chilli proves off-the-scale delish and everything from the food to the drinks bites hard. Admission is $15, with eight Brissie venues battling for supremacy, plus live music and plenty of beverages. Our tip: if you're not a fan of spice, BYO milk. The Chilli Cook Off begins at 10am and is expected to run long into the evening. If you think you can handle the heat, pack your chilli spoon and head along.
Think size is a reflection of quality? Think again. One of Brisbane's quaintest little bars is striving to prove otherwise by showing off some of the nation's emerging talent. Just head down to Ashgrove's Junk Bar this Saturday to catch some of Australia's best acts in the World's Smallest Festival. Playing on two incy wincy stages will be Trevor Ludlow and the Hell Raisers, Seja, Jeremy Cole, and returning hosts Greg Brady and the Anchors. The evening kicks of at 7.30pm, with all of Junk's signature cocktails and drinks guaranteed to be flowing. It's only $13.30, which probably makes it also one of the world's cheapest festivals, too — and it's recommended that you buy tickets in advance. If you've never been to Junk Bar before, this is as good an excuse as any to jump on the Maroon Glider as it heads in the Ashgrove direction and check these humble little digs out. And hey, you might even discover a new favourite band while you're at it.
When it comes to the Institute of Modern Art's sound scouring skills, they don't disappoint. Their latest musical import is a goody, too worthy for us simple Brisbanites — Swans' guitarist Norman Westberg. On Thursday April 14, Westberg will be performing at Mono.21 in his first solo concert outside of North America. His guitar playing with Swans influenced a generation of musicians through his provocative and focused methods. His solo work strays from the rigid structures of Swans, producing composition of deep texture and harmonic intensity. His works generate an affecting quality that drives the listener towards reductive transcendence — and that's reductive transcendence that won't cost you a buck, because this event is free. Joining Norman Westberg is An Infinity Room, the spatial drone project of Australian artist Julian Day.
Richard Tognetti is the Heston Blumenthal of Australian classical music. He is a master of his craft, an experimentalist and most importantly a composer whose work has continuously radiated perfection. Now, in Tognetti's latest and most ambitious project to date, The Reef, he takes his audience to the rugged coast and desert landscape of northern Western Australia. In what is best described as a beautiful yet delicate marriage of pieces, Tognetti intersects music and nature to create a unique cinematic and musical experience. Tognetti, however, is not a solo artist in this production. In what is a remarkable collaboration of artists, including photographer Jon Frank, director Mick Sowry, composer Iain Grandage, didgeridoo player Mark Atkins, singer Stephen Pigram and the young musicians of ACO2, The Reef delves into links between surfing, the ocean, landscape and music. Dive in and be mesmerised by the swirls of music, arid landscapes and captivating footage that is, The Reef. Take a sneak peek at The Reef
Chris Salewicz is probably one of greatest music writers that ever was, and you can catch him in conversation this Saturday at the Triffid. Active at the height of British punk — i.e. the '70s — Salewicz was among the journos credited with really writing the book on music journalism. Through his time at NME, he forged lasting bonds wth some of the world's greatest musicians, such as Joe Strummer and Bob Marley. Now, he's releasing his latest of 15 books, called Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer. Salewicz will be reading a few lines from his book and talking about The Clash, the early days of punk in the UK, all things reggae, and his long friendship with Strummer, of course. The evening kicks off at 5.30pm.
Still sad because you missed The Avalanches much hyped comeback show at Splendour? Well, start saving your pennies because they're back for the Falls Music & Arts Festival. They're just one of the artists on the 2016 lineup, alongside Childish Gambino, London Grammar, Grouplove, Broods, Jamie T, Parquet Courts and heaps, heaps more. As always, Falls will be heading to Byron Bay for three nights over New Year's Eve. The NSW festival will run simultaneously with legs in Marion Bay and Lorne. Falls will also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. Anyway, this is what you're after — here's the full lineup. FALLS FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Childish Gambino (No Sideshows) London Grammar (No Sideshows) The Avalanches Violent Soho Matt Corby Alison Wonderland* Catfish and the Bottlemen* Fat Freddy's Drop* Ta-ku The Rubens* The Jezabels Ball Park Music Grouplove Bernard Fanning* Jamie T Broods Tkay Maidza Grandmaster Flash Illy MØ Hot Dub Time Machine DMA's AlunaGeorge Booka Shade Client Liaison Vallis Alps Parquet Courts City Calm Down LDRU* Modern Baseball Tired Lion* Remi* RY X Marlon Williams* Lemaitre Shura *Not Playing Fremantle
Think your old rusty bicycles belong in the dumpster? Think again. Yes, that old bike can indeed be reincarnated if it falls in the right hands. Carolina Fontoura Alzaga's hands to be exact. Alzaga transforms bicycle chains into beautifully rustic looking chandeliers. Her passion is repurposing castoff materials, and she does it well. Since medieval times, chandeliers have been used as elaborate decorations associated with wealth and power. Alzaga shatters this concept with her warm and elegant designs. Using aspects of her cultural past from Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S., she is able to create unique and appealing artwork. She aims to combine the idea of discarded and forgotten items with the power and influence associated with chandeliers. Using her creativity and visions of a healthier planet, she gives 'trash' a second chance. Below is a video that describes Alzaga's mission to preserve our world. You can order your own chandelier here. Alzaga handcrafts each one upon order. Take a look at these pieces from her ongoing series titled CONNECT.
With its variety of vivid styles, colours, tags and images, street art doesn't just look great on walls and subways. It also shines bright in photographs. And, for almost five decades, Martha Cooper has spent her time snapping pictures of street creativity in its many forms. In 1984, with fellow American photographer Henry Chalfant, she literally published the book on the subject — with their collaboration Subway Art considered not just a chronicle of New York's graffiti movement, but its bible. Cooper hasn't just restricted her focus to the Big Apple, however. From Japan, Haiti and Baltimore to Berlin, Japan and Sao Paulo, she has immortalised street scenes around the world. She sees things that others usually walk straight by — more than that, she takes photos of them — and now the highlights of her career are on display at Brisbane Powerhouse. Running until Sunday, September 22, Martha Cooper: Street Shots 1970–2019 showcases a diverse array of Cooper's work, and her keen eye for urban art. As well as hopping around the globe, the free exhibition also features her own personal mementos and collections. Martha Cooper: Street Shots 1970–2019 is on display in Brisbane Powerhouse's Visy Foyer, open from 9am–5pm on Mondays and 9am–9pm Tuesday–Sunday.
Having completed a sold out Australian tour only last year, funny man Gabriel Iglesias returns to Brisbane for two nights of high-octane laughs. Known for mixing storytelling with voice effects, Iglesias provides a roller coaster of comedic experience from start to finish. Known predominantly for his shows I'm Not Fat I'm Fluffy and Hot and Fluffy, Iglesias' comedy career has been moving forward in leaps and bounds. Having started work for a mobile phone company, Iglesias suddenly changed to a career in comedy, risking his financial security for a shot at his dream. Luckily for us, Inglesias has been performing to audiences all over the world for the last 12 years, and even featured in the 2012 film Magic Mike with Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum. Inglesias will be performing two nights of stand up at the Tivoli. Don't miss your chance at seeing this electric, life-filled performer in the flesh. Gabriel Iglesias 'Drive Thru Voice'
Every year, one of Australia's favourite lit events undergoes a slight, temporary rebranding, simply by dropping their first syllable. Yep, Women of Letters becomes Men of Letters, bringing to the Zoo stage a huge selection of Brisbane's — hell Australia's — best male talent as they rediscover the lost art of letter writing. Included on this year's jam-packed lineup are a wealth of the titular men-folk, including singer and Star Wars star Jay Laga'aia, and The Grates guitarist and Southside Tea Room co-owner John Patterson. They'll be demonstrating their winning ways with words, and they're not alone. Also having a hand in the day's letter writing are local rebel priest Peter Kennedy, Aussie artist Michael Zavros, writer and editor Khalid Warsame, actor Leon Cain, broadcaster Ian 'Dano' Rogerson, Twitter's Thomas Violence (aka Ben McLeay), and former Big Brother contestant Ben Zabel. Each will be penning and reading a letter to 'The Woman Who Changed My Life'. Doors open at 3pm, and wine, cheese, stamps and envelopes are provided. Grab your finest quill and head along.
As far as crime writing goes, UK author Ian Rankin is a master of the craft. Since the release of the first book, 'Knots and Crosses' in his 'Inspector Rebus' series, Rankin has become an international bestseller and one of the biggest names in crime writing today. With books translated into 22 different languages, Rankin has risen to the ranks as one of the world's most recognised and loved crime writers. Now Brisbane is being given the opportunity to meet with this acclaimed author as he discusses his newest novel, 'Standing in Another Man's Grave'. After reader's where left hanging at the conclusion of his last book, Rankin has brought his well-loved character, Inspector John Rebus, out of retirement as he returns to investigate the disappearance of three women in all his maverick glory. Books will be on sale at the Powerhouse with the opportunity for them to be signed by Rankin at the conclusion of the event. Don't miss your chance to meet one of today's greatest crime writers.
Dust off your best bling bling and scour your wardrobe for something Anna Wintour would approve of, because James Street's RESORT is on this week. With local cult label Gail Sorronda among the highlights — albeit with an invite-only event — the annual extravaganza brings yet another fashion frenzy to New Farm. For four days, James Street will transformed into a desert oasis and shopping mirage, with exclusive collections and presentations by the local boutiques on the strip. In the lineup of talks, workshops, drinking and eating that form the street-wide celebration, everything from a stocked fashion gym to a food lab to a celebration of night culture is included. In case you're wondering, the latter is actually a black greenhouse-like structure that comments on the positive experiences that can only take place after dark. Sounds oh-so-chic, doesn't it? And, it sounds like fun. Regardless of how many Hadids you follow on Instagram or how big your wardrobe is, this is the event of events for anyone interested in the contemporary and future states of Australian fashion. Splash out on an outfit you can't afford and enjoy!
Filled with fiery spanish rhythms and lustrous musical numbers, Francesca Zambello’s stunning production, Carmen, makes its Queensland debut at QPAC. Executed with stunning realism, this opera follows the trials of Carmen, a gypsy woman who is arrested by solider Don José. After being seduced by Carmen, José quickly learns that his attempts to tame this spirited gypsy are futile, and becomes murderously enraged when she leaves him for the great Escamillo. Dangerously presenting the complexities of sex, rebellion and violence, Zambello's production captures the very essence of Carmen. Combining rich and provocative spanish music with the powerful vocals of Kirstin Chávez as Carmen and Konstantin Andreyev as Don José, this stunning performance provides a tantalising feast for all the senses. With scenes that will both shock and touch audiences, this production provides a raw and daring take of the 1875 opera masterpiece. By combining daring, fiery music with the violent, sexual turmoil experienced by the characters, Zambello’s Carmen is truly a theatrical triumph not to be missed.
Go buy a 3D printer right now, and show us what you can invent. Every industry is getting cooler thanks to this democratising technology, which is in the process of bringing us 3D-printed organs, 3D-printed cities, and 3D-printed sex toys (including a vibrator modelled on Justin Bieber's head). And what can it do for broken bones? One Victoria University of Wellington graduate has cleverly used 3D printing to reinvent the clunky, sweaty arm cast we all had to wear in primary school after a violent game of handball. Called the 'Cortex', Jake Evill's invention is breathable, eco-friendly and washable. Its polyamide can also be reused. Unlike the oh-so-analogue plaster casts of yore, the Cortex's structure has the potential to be digitally tailored to the injury. Computer software can receive x-rays and measurements of the limb, and via an algorithm, the printer produces (within a slightly lengthy 3 hours) a lightweight cast which protects and supports in all the right places. And excitingly, it can be worn under a long-sleeve shirt. While some would mourn the hallowed tradition of messy cast graffiti, it's our surmise that 3D printing culture will quickly come up with an upgrade for that, too. Via Gizmodo. Image from http://jakevilldesign.dunked.com.
Three world-renowned artists. Two galleries. One big summer of art — and one city bursting with things to see. When Sydney International Art Series returns for 2023–24, it'll do so with a trio of blockbuster Australian-exclusive exhibitions showcasing some of the biggest names to ever unleash their creative talents: Wassily Kandinsky, Louise Bourgeois and Tacita Dean. The newly revamped Art Gallery of NSW will host both Kandinsky and Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day?, both from November 2023. The former will offer a comprehensive overview of the Moscow-born artist's career and work, as drawn from the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation's holdings. And the latter will be the first monographic exhibition to be presented in the Art Gallery's new SANAA-designed building, complete with more than 150 works, marking the largest survey of Bourgeois' work ever displayed in Australia. [caption id="attachment_889026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wassily Kandinsky, Improvisation 28 (second version), 1912, oil on canvas, 112.6 × 162.5 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection, By Gift 37.239. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.[/caption] Fans of Kandinsky's abstract art can look forward to a thorough examination of the European modernist's experimental, influential style, including tracking his beginnings in Munich in the early 1900s, his time back in Moscow during World War I, his role as an instructor at Germany's famed Bauhaus school, and his late years in Paris. The exhibition comes to SIAS after running at the Guggenheim Museum New York as Vasily Kandinsky: Around the Circle in 2021–2022, and will be paired with British medium Georgiana Houghton's 19th-century spirit paintings for its Sydney stint. The Bourgeois showcase will display 13 years after the Paris-born artist passed away in New York in 2010, and after she stamped her imprint upon the art of the 20th century. Visitors to Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? will see her Personage sculptures from the 1940s, textile works of the 1990s and 2000s, and plenty in-between, with the exhibition playing up the duelling themes and ideas in her work by taking over AGNSW's major exhibition gallery and 'the Tank'. This exhibition is a collaboration with The Easton Foundation in New York, too, and ranks among the most extensive exhibitions dedicated to a female artist that Australia has ever seen. [caption id="attachment_889027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Louise Bourgeois, The destruction of the father 1974-2017, archival polyurethane, resin, wood, fabric and red light, 237.8 x 362.3 x 248.6 cm. Glenstone Museum, Potomac, Maryland. Photo: Ron Amstutz. © The Easton Foundation.[/caption] Over at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and equally impressive, exciting and a must-see, is a three-month focus on Berlin- and Los Angeles-based UK artist Tacita Dean that's the largest in-depth presentation of her work in the southern hemisphere. Spanning film, photos, installations, drawings, prints, collages and sounds, and highlighting the poetic vision lingering in her works, this showcase will go heavy on new art from the past five years — all pondering memory, history, time and chance. In the process, it'll display pieces that've never been exhibited in Australia, from recent films through to chalkboard drawings and collaborations with The Royal Ballet. SIAS' three big exhibitions are expected to bring around 28,000 people to Sydney to see them, New South Wales Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin announced in a statement. "Securing these extraordinary, world-renowned artists for the Sydney International Art Series reaffirms Sydney as Australia's cultural capital and a global hub for the arts, where art and creativity are celebrated and nurtured." [caption id="attachment_889029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tacita Dean, Paradise (still), 2021, 35mm colour anamorphic film, with music, Paradiso by Thomas Adès. Image courtesy the artist; Frith Street Gallery, London and Marian Goodman Gallery New York/Paris, © the artist.[/caption] 2023 is shaping up to be a huge year for art lovers Australia-wide, also including a world-first pop art exhibition on the Gold Coast featuring works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring; a separate Warhol exhibition in Adelaide that's all about his photography; a showcase dedicated to Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican modernism, also in the South Australian capital; Brisbane's upcoming fairy tales exhibition; the currently displaying Alexander McQueen showcase in Melbourne; and the Victorian capital's world-premiere ode to women in film history. [caption id="attachment_889024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wassily Kandinsky, Landscape with rain, January 1913, oil on canvas, 70.5 x 78.4 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection 45.962. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.[/caption] SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ART SERIES 2023–24: Saturday, November 4, 2023– Sunday, March 10, 2024 — Kandinsky at AGNSW Saturday, November 25, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024 — Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? at AGNSW Friday, December 8, 2023—Sunday, March 3, 2024 — Tacita Dean at MCA Sydney International Art Series runs from November 2023 — head to the AGNSW and MCA websites for further details. Top image: excerpt from Wassily Kandinsky, Landscape with rain, January 1913, oil on canvas, 70.5 x 78.4 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection 45.962. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
Iceage have made a name for themselves over the past few years thanks to their aggressive yet melodic take on in-your-face punk rock. With a sound that caught the ears of critics and fans alike, the Danish four-piece wasted no time in capitalising on early success by signing record deals with established labels and putting out two acclaimed albums. The band formed in 2008 when the members were only 17 years old. Managing to find a sound and aesthetic this early in their career is astounding and speaks volumes about the talent of Iceage’s members. The group are hitting Australia to play a quick series of shows and we are lucky enough to have them stop in Brisbane to play the edgiest venue in town, The Brightside. Iceage will be supported by some great local bands including the brooding Occults and the cantankerous psych-fuzz band Cobwebbs. Buy your tickets before they are snapped up.
UPDATE, July 26, 2020: Sing Street is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Who amongst us hasn't used music to process their thoughts and feelings? The right song can convey things that words alone cannot, as writer-director John Carney understands. In his films, moving ballads and catchy melodies intertwine with life and love, providing a killer soundtrack to memorable moments and an effective method of expressing emotions. When his characters pen lyrics, strum instruments and grab the mic, they're not just creating tunes and chasing dreams — they're helping make sense of everything around them. Indeed, while he put his foot in his mouth earlier this year, when it comes to making beautiful music — in movies like Once and Begin Again — the Irish filmmaker excels. You'd be right to say that Carney has a formula, but that's by no means a criticism. Although his movies can feel as though they're repeating the same narrative, they're earnest and vibrant in their own ways all the same. Carney sets his latest toe-tapping tale in Dublin in the financially struggling '80s — a period when Duran Duran's glossy 'Rio' clip played on TV, and everyone watching just wanted to make ends meet. For 15-year-old Conor Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), money troubles means changing schools, with his bickering parents (Maria Doyle Kennedy and Aiden Gillen) sending him to the local Christian-run academy. He's bullied by teachers and classmates, but he also crosses paths with aspiring model Raphina (Lucy Boynton), who lives across the road. Eager to get her phone number, he asks her to star in a video for his band...despite the fact that he doesn't actually have one. Conor's quest involves rounding up new friends, including the rabbit-obsessed Eamon (Mark McKenna) and enterprising wannabe manager Darren (Ben Carolan). With the assistance of his college dropout brother Brendan (Jack Reynor), it also means listening to the likes of The Cure, Spandau Ballet and Hall & Oates, and aping their sounds and style. Cue some of the film's best outfits and standout original tunes, including the futurist-leaning 'The Riddle of the Model', the heartfelt 'A Beautiful Sea', and the upbeat 'Drive It Like You Stole It'. The pop tracks do more than entertain; whether amusing or tender, each one is infectious, endearing, exuberant, and anchored in authentic sentiments and experiences. The same descriptions apply to Carney's cast, particularly newcomer Walsh-Peelo and Transformers: Age of Extinction star Reynor, who convincingly capture both the uncertainties and the yearnings of youth. Accordingly, while the film initially seems like a straightforward musical romance, its coming-of-age journey also provides a touching testament to brotherly bonds courtesy of their respective performances. That's just one of a handful of surprises in a story that appears to follow a clear path, yet still finds new ways to offer depth and charm. Carney's colourful imagery and snappy pacing, meanwhile, ensures the movie always feels like the joyous blend of music, emotion and escapism that it is — complete with an inspired riff on Back to the Future that couldn't be more fitting.
Metro Arts have managed to squeeze a whole lot of fun into one evening, so clear your schedule and pencil Friday Night: July in. The evening includes a dance piece titled The Grieving Project. Last June a piece by the same company, Fran Barbe & Guests, caused quite a stir at Metro Arts and a second performance was added as to not disappoint eager audiences. This year, the team have created a new piece performed by Brian Lucas, Julan Renlong-Wong and Kate Lee. As you would expect, The Grieving Project centres around heartbreaking experiences of grief and loss. Other performances during the evening include Cindy Foster's Red Door and Thomas Quirk's The Theory of Everything. You will also be able to feast your eyes on the fruits of two talented artist's labour. Both artists, Tammy Payne and Emily Donaldson, are USQ postgraduate visual art students. Emily will be hosting a discussion on rural life while Tammy's sculptures will be showcased. Keep an eye on Metro Arts' Facebook page as there is even more to be announced.
Parachute Youth are on the brink of something big. The Australian duo's hypnotic single, 'Can't Get Better Than This' is one of the most requested tracks on Triple J and has had electro lovers bopping their heads and drooling. The lads are currently touring their single across Australia and will be playing their only Brisbane show at The Bowler Bar on May 6. Penciling them into your diary is a must. If you haven't heard Parachute Youth, make sure you check them out. The inventive pair combine clever lyrics with funky beats and the result is down right smooth. Their video for 'Can't Get Better Than This' has had over a million views. Shot in Burkina Faso, it features footage from the locals' annual bike race and is pretty spectacular. Doors open at 10pm and The Bowler Bar house DJ's will keep the party going long into the night. You've got no excuse for missing out on what's bound to be a great night as Monday is a public holiday. What better way to spend a Sunday night than listening to sweet tracks and enjoying a May long weekend celebratory glass of champagne or two.
If you're in need of some new procrastination material, you're in luck. Google image 'Banff' and spend a few minutes (or half an hour) taking in the gorgeous pictures of snow-capped mountains, aqua water and towering pines. It's impossible to not daydream while ogling these picture perfect views and over April you have the opportunity to slip into this magical world without ever leaving Brisbane. The Powerhouse is hosting the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour which began in 1976. It's stunning cinematography attracts film buffs and adventurers alike making the festival popular across the world today. Each November hundreds of films enter the competition with the cream of the crop chosen to entertain and amaze festival go-ers. Some of the featured films are from categories including Best Film on Mountain Sport, Best Film on Mountain Environment, Best Film on Mountain Culture, Best Film on Exploration and Adventure, People’s Choice Award and more. Be sure to secure your tickets as it's sure to be a sellout.
Since Brisbane rockers, Drawn From Bees formed in 2008, they have constantly evolved their sound and pushed the limits. For an interesting change, their latest musical production, the five-track album, Web of Thieves, represents a return to the group's earlier sound. If you are curious about the new-old sound, listen to their latest track, ‘Calling You Out’, which features the clear vocals of front man, Dan James, mesmerising harmonies, stripped back guitar and driving drums. The local boys have well and truly spread their wings and played at big name festivals such as, SXSW, Canadian Music Week, Music Matters, MusExpo, V Festival, St Kilda Festival and Woodford Folk Festival. They have also played with The Middle East, Jesus Hones and Emperors to name a few. Before Drawn From Bees take to Black Bear Lodge's stage, Little Odessa and Sports Fan will be treating the audience.
Country singer song-writer, Kimberley Bowden will be filling The New Globe Theatre with some very sweet tunes this weekend. Head along to listen to tracks from her latest EP, Burnt On You. Although she is now based in Brisbane, Kimberley hails from far North Queensland and has travelled the globe to the Mecca of country music – Nashville, Tennessee, to perfect her art. Her gorgeous tunes have also earned their share of radio play and 'Do I' was nominated at the Q Song Awards and The Southern Stars: The Australian Independent Country Music Awards. Treat your ears to 'Little Jane Street' and 'All Your Call'. Keep an eye out for special guest announcements on the event page. Doors open at 3pm and entry is a door donation. So why not pencil in Kimberley Bowden this weekend for an evening of wholesome country pop goodness. Yee-haw!
Combining traditional Indigenous dance with a contemporary version of Zorba the Greek may sound a little bizarre but believe me, the end product is hilarious. You've probably already heard of The Chooky Dancers who shot to YouTube stardom with their clip that was uploaded in 2007. Today, the clip has been viewed more than 2 million times. The Chooky Dancers presented their unique dance on multiple television segments, including Australia's Got Talent and at the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala in 2009 to a captivated and giggly audience. This group of talented performers hail from the remote Northern Territory community of Elcho Island (Galiwin'ku community). After managing to make audiences laugh across the world at their surprising fusion of tradition, comedy and contemporary music and dance, the Chooky Dancers are in Brisbane for their latest performance, Djuki Mala. Their performance features splashes of acrobatics, mixed with dance theatre and a sprinkle of comedy. Do check it out.
Reminiscent of artists such as Ladyhawke and Bat For Lashes, Elizabeth Rose's dreamy electronic pop tunes are making waves this year. The Sydney based producer is only 21, but she already has a few noteworthy notches on her belt – think Parklife, Harvest, Peast Ride Festival, Playground Weekender as well as being named one of Triple J's Next Crop Artists in 2012. Elizabeth Rose's sound combines sweet vocals, catchy melodies, hypnotising samples and floaty electronica that have the ability to transport listeners to another galaxy. She released her debut single 'Ready' earlier this year and is keen to take her astral tunes and tasty beats to the people. On the EP you'll find a mix of genres from down-tempo dark tracks to dance numbers perfect for sweaty dance floors. The next stop on her national tour is student party night Lambda at Alhambra Lounge. Head down to Lambda if you're 'ready' to be amazed and catch Elizabeth Rose doing what she does best this Thursday night. Tickets are available through Oztix as well as at the door. Along with good music, Lambda also boasts cheap drinks, so why not start your weekend early?
GOMA has a new exhibition that will get your tummy rumbling. The wonderful Harvest exhibition celebrates food and art with over 150 pieces from the Gallery's Collection on display. Harvest features stunning still life paintings from the 17th century to now, delicious videos and large installations to fully immerse yourself in. As part of the exhibition, Harvest: Food on Film will focus on the presence and importance of food as a symbol in filmmaking. A discussion program, GOMA Talks will also be held each Thursday evening where you are invited to participate in a discussion with especial guests and ABC Radio National hosts as they discuss food from every angle. There are plenty more programs being held during the exhibition. Eating with your eyes at Harvest may stimulate your mind but leave your stomach wanting more, which is why GOMA have a designed a special lunchtime meal at the cafe bistro. After having your fill of art and working up an appetite, dig into the roasted Spatchcock, puffed corn and toasted grains with blueberry gel with a glass of wine ($20).
Google's self-driving car has already brought widespread automated-automobiling one step closer. Now, a UK town has announced plans to establish a driverless public transportation system. Milton Keynes, home to about 40,000 residents, and situated approximately 87 kilometres northwest of London, will soon host a fleet of 100 self-driving pods. Each has the capacity to carry two passengers, as well as luggage, and can travel up to 19km per hour. Electronic motors provide power and, at first, the pods will travel in their own lanes. These are likely to be dispensed with once passengers have developed the confidence to travel driver-free. A smartphone app will facilitate the reservation and payment of journeys, which will take place between the Milton Keynes train station and various locations in the town centre — about 1.6km away. Each trip is expected to cost 2 GBP ($3.44), with total revenue to amount to 1 million GBP after 12 months. The system will begin its test run in 2015. Initially, just twenty pods, featuring joysticks or steering wheels enabling human intervention, will be used, with all 100 expected to be in full swing by 2017. The trial period will last five years, at a cost of 65 million GBP. Driverless pods have been used at Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, since 2011. During the past two years, a fleet of 21 vehicles travelling along a 3.8km track has transported more than 700,000 passengers. The difference with the pods planned for Milton Keynes is that they will not have the advantage of an installed guideway. Instead, their technology is closer to that utilised in self-driving automobiles, dependent on a combination of GPS, sensors and HD cameras. Via the Independent.
Charlie Murphy deserves some serious credit. Trying to forge a career as a professional comedian is pretty tough at the best of times, let alone when your brother is none other than Eddie Murphy. Yet Charlie has not only taken that plunge – he's come out the other side as a top-billed international comedian playing to sold-out audiences around the world. Next month he'll be bringing his act to both Australia and New Zealand, so he took some time to talk to Tom Glasson about comedy, basketball, being Eddie Murphy's brother and even Lamingtons. Charlie Murphy, hello from Sydney! Hey brother - how ya doin' man? Good mate, yourself? Yeah it's all good. I'm just sitting here in Englewood, New Jersey watching the afternoon news you know. Keeping an eye out for new material? Always brother. Got to keep it fresh for you folks in Australia. Well yeah, it's only a little over a month now until you bring your show – the 'Acid Trip Tour' – down our way. You excited? You better believe it man – I've never been to Australia before so this is my first time and I'm super-charged about coming there. First time? Well then you're probably carrying around some serious '80s clichés and stereotypes about us all! [Laughs] Ha, Crocodile Dundee! But you know, I'm looking forward to seeing all that AND the real deal. It's gonna be fun! So what can people expect from your show? Laughs, man! Whenever people ask me that I always tell them the same thing: you should expect to laugh. I mean you ain't going to a basketball game, you ain't going to a magician, you're going to see a comedian. When you see a comedian you should expect to laugh. But yeah, people ask me that a lot because they haven't seen me before – I'm new to most people – and I let them know it's for them to laugh. And you know, this is my first time coming to Australia; I've been to England, Canada, Scandinavia, all over the US and I've been making people laugh and I enjoy doing it. How would you describe your own sense of humour? What makes you laugh? Oh it's adult, man! I leave it raw and you can take it the way you want it. But it's raw and it's adult. I expect my audience to be adult, too. I don't go do lunchtime crowds at high schools, you know – I have an adult show. Who's making you laugh right now? You know man, it's funny - whoever's funny really. All of them can make me laugh, you know what I'm saying? I mean they're all funny guys. I enjoy all of them. Jumping back a few years, you grew up in Brooklyn right? Yeah. I grew up, partially in Brooklyn, 'til I was 13. Then I moved to Long Island and lived there from 13 to 17. And then I went to the military. And your father was almost a 'slashy' wasn't he, in that he was a transit cop but also a part-time actor and comedian? Well, my father was a police officer – a transit officer – and that's what he really was. He did a little stand-up when he was in high school, he did it on the side a bit, but he never really became a professional stand-up comedian. You know, he did talent shows and – my uncle did it as well – he did local stuff but never became professional where it was their way of making a living. Because that's when I think you can say you're a professional comedian; until then you're just dabbling. Where do you think this passion for comedy came from, since you'd almost have to call it a family business now? Ha, yeah. Well, I was already in the business but not as a comedian. You know I was in the business as an actor, I was in the business as a writer, a producer, but I wasn't in it as a comedian because it was obvious to me at that point that I was "Eddie's brother", you know? Eddie Murphy was the comedian, he was the younger brother and so it was always going to be hard for them to accept me as one too. But then The Chappelle Show kind of knocked that door down and I thought: "wait a minute, you can go out now and play with that." You know, that was a free pass to do it because people wanted to see me all of a sudden, and so I started going out, I started developing it and I've never stopped. I've been on the road for ten years straight! [laughs] You just mentioned Chappelle. Did you have any sense at the time that this was your sort of 'shine the light' moment? That this was when it was all going to change, or was it only retrospectively that you came to appreciate how important it all was? Nah I didn't know that this was going to happen. I had no idea and neither did anyone else. What's happened since is actually kind of unbelievable because I started doing stand-up at 42 years old. I didn't start when I was nine like Chappelle or Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock. I didn't start doing stand-up when I was a teenager, or in my twenties or thirties, I started when I was 42 years old…and my brother was Eddie Murphy! I mean he's one of, or rather the, stand-up guy; the recognised God of stand-up, okay? That's my brother, so to have that in front of you, you know what I'm saying, it's very unlikely that you would firstly take a chance to try to get into it, and then secondly - be successful at it, and I've done both those things. And so that's a blessing. I've jumped over those hurdles and I'm now making a presence for myself and beginning to be appreciated for what I do. And now you're coming out to Australia on tour. That's quite an incredible run. Exactly man! And you know, everywhere I've been it's all part of reaffirming that I'm now doing what I'm supposed to be doing; that I made a very smart choice with my life. And I'm doing something special because I can't think of anybody else that's a comedian who can say: "Okay this guy, he did it like this." I think I'm carving a brand new street. I'm curious about your take on comedy at the moment, because – and I'm thinking here about something one of Conan's writers said, a guy called Andrés du Bouchet – his advice to young comedy writers was: "write and perform comedy for 10 years in obscurity then luck out." Do you feel that's a little cynical or pretty reflective of the nature of the industry? No that's kind of true man, because there are guys out there right now who are really really really good and they're not famous. I know who they are because I'm in the world of stand-up, I'm a comedian so I know who the other comedians are. Like the guy I'm bringing with me to Australia, his name's Freeze Love. You've never heard of him, but he's very very funny in his own right and yet he doesn't have a headliner name, a household name yet, so people say: "who's this guy? We came to see Charlie Murphy!" And then this guy comes out and you forget that you came to see Charlie Murphy because he's that funny. When you come to my show I want you to laugh from the moment you get there to the moment you leave. And I'm only on stage for an hour but the show's an hour and a half, you know, so I make sure you get some variety and when you leave your face is hurting. That's my objective – to hurt your face – and I'm not a boxer! There's this idea that comedy runs parallel with the zeitgeist, so in the '60s and '70s it was all about social change, then in the '80s it was the battle of the sexes, in the '90s it was drugs and most recently it's been terrorism and war. And George W Bush! The human punch-line. Exactly! Do you feel like there's a new theme emerging now? Because a lot of the current acts seem to focus on the influence - and perhaps intrusion - of technology in our lives and how dehumanising and lonely it can all be. Totally, that's it man. But at the same time these comics, people like Louis CK, they're sort of embracing that failing aren't they? Embracing their own shortcomings and emerging as anti-heroes. Yeah man, it's all those things! You named almost everything I cover, like my show encompasses all the things you just talked about. We've had the '60s, '70s, '80s…well this is the new millennium and I'm talking about all of it. You're gonna hear about social issues, you're gonna hear about family, politics…all of that in one hour. And it's going to be fun. A few years ago you said you were a huge fan of Obama but just couldn't see him becoming President given the state of things in America. Now that it's happened a lot of people have called this the 'post race' age, but that seems like a bit of a stretch doesn't it? Exactly. That's not true. Things are just different, you know. Racism's still alive and well. Is it as rigid and defined as it was in the '60s? No, but it's still there. That other way, the old way, it wouldn't be able to exist in the climate we've got now, but it's still there. It just adapted. It's gradually leaving though, because if you look at the young people and their intelligence, there's not as much of that ignorance from the old days any more. Actually I was watching that movie the other day, the J Edgar movie with Leonardo DiCaprio - who does an excellent job by the way - but for me that movie was about this man who, before this movie was made and various documentaries were made, he was held up like a God, a man who could do no wrong, a perfect person. And then that movie exposed that not only was he human – that was the first thing – but he was also flawed like all of us. Severely! I really liked that movie. And just finally Charlie, you're a New Yorker and you recently did some promo stuff for Air Jordan with your Leroy Smith character – I'm guessing you've been caught up in the whole Jeremy Lin saga? Oh yeah man – I'm a big time Knicks fan! And my show's called "The Acid Trip" so I'm glad you brought the Knicks up because I point out things that are really really totally unexpected, like if ten years ago you'd said that in 2012 the highest paid rapper would be white, there's going to be a black President and an Asian's gonna be dominating the NBA, nobody would've believed it! An Asian guy from Harvard no less. Exactly! This is all really happening, it's real, see so that's kind of the metaphor for my show because every day of life is another opportunity for you to go: "Oh wow!" Every day something could happen that's never happened in your life before. You could smell something you've never smelled before, taste something you've never tasted before and I don't know how old you are but think about that. If somebody said to me: "How long did it take you to get here?" and – because the first person who did that said "oh it took me 15 minutes" and I replied "Oh really, because it took me 52 years." So that's how you're looking at it, you know? Well it was well worth it Charlie because we can't wait to have you out here. I can't wait to come out there man. And I want you to give me the heads up on what's the first thing I should try to eat? What's an Australian dish, because I've never had Australian food so what would you recommend I eat when I get there? What's it like? Well it's pretty much like American food except sized for humans. But I suppose the Lamington is the go-to option for something sweet, and of course the good ole meat pie. Meat pie? What kind of meat is it? Okay, it might not be 'meat'. Ha, yeah okay. But I'll do it anyway. Just ask for a regular beef pie and if they like you they'll top it off with some ketchup in the shape of Australia. [Laughs] Okay I'm gonna try that man, and I look forward to seeing you all real soon. Thanks brother. Charlie Murphy's "Acid Trip Tour" will hit Melbourne on 19 and 20 April, Auckland on April 23 and then Sydney on April 26. Check for tickets at www.abpresents.com.au and keep up with Charlie via Twitter @cmurphycomedy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AwgvwFWK_dQ
There were some pretty happy snow bunnies across Victoria and NSW this weekend, as many of the states' ski fields scored record-breaking snow falls, just two weeks after the official start of this year's ski season. The powder bucketed down across the weekend, with Sunday morning seeing Victoria's Mt Buller reporting its fifth deepest snow at this point in the season for the past 40 years. Fellow Victorian ski resort Mt Hotham this morning reported an extra 16cm of snow, beefing up its base to 80cm — the biggest its seen for the second week of the ski season in decades. The mountain has had 95cm of snow altogether this season, with 90cm of that falling in the last seven days. Further north, NSW's Perisher scored another 10cm of fresh snow overnight, bringing the total from the weekend's snow storms there to 82cm. And Thredbo is also covered in a hefty blanket of white, with 20cm of fresh snow in the past 24 hours, pulling its season total to 85cm. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1007411165943730177 According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria's alpine areas have only seen the start of it, with a further 25cm to 50cm expected to drop over the next three days. Meanwhile, conditions in NSW are set to clear right up, as the storm there reaches its end before the middle of the week. Top image: Thredbo
If there's ever going to be any more Indiana Jones movies following this year's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, bringing Ke Huy Quan back as Short Round should be the number-one mission. For now, Disney — which is behind the Indy flicks — is enlisting the Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner in another of its big franchises. And, it's plunging him into more multiverse madness. When Loki finally returns for it second season this spring, Quan will join the cast as OB, who works for the Time Variance Authority. In the just-dropped full trailer for the show's long-awaited comeback, he isn't surprised when the Marvel Cinematic Universe's God of Mischief is glitching. In fact, he's on hand to help. Continuing Loki's small-screen exploits two years since the show that bears the Tom Hiddleston (The Essex Serpent)-played character's name first debuted in 2021 — when it was just the third MCU series to hit Disney+ after WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier — this second season grapples with the aftermath of that initial batch of episodes. Cue a fight for the TVA, alongside Mobius M Mobius (Owen Wilson, Marry Me), Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku, Black Mirror) and more. Also set to pop up: Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), Judge Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Summerland) and Miss Minutes (Tara Strong, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). As also seen in the trailer, Jonathon Majors (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) makes an appearance. Calendars out: after Secret Invasion aired in June and July, Loki will start streaming via Disney+ from. Friday, October 6, making good on the "Loki will return in season two" promise. Also joining the MCU's TV ranks this year is newcomer Echo, a Hawkeye spinoff, which will arrive on Wednesday, November 29 — and enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each show, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards; however, this series about Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) will arrive all at once on the same day. Check out the trailer for Loki season two below: Loki season two will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, October 6. Top image: © Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Move over, every cooking show ever made — and every hotel-based reality TV series as well. If there's ever been an ideal setting for any culinary feat or holiday highlights, it's Castello di Ugento in the southern tip of Puglia in Italy. It's not every day that you get to stay in a 1000-year-old castle that was once a Norman fortress and a lavish 17th century palace, let alone cook up a storm in one, but that's just what the site now offers. After its latest revamp, Castello di Ugento now boasts welcoming a luxe place to stay thanks to a nine-suite boutique hotel, a 1000-square-metre museum wing with restored frescoes, and an extensive culinary centre as well. It's the latter that should entice foodies from around the world, playing permanent host to an Italian cookery school in the castle's old storehouse. State-of-the-art equipment sits inside ancient, lovingly restored walls, with classes offered year-round — on an educational basis for students from the Culinary Institute of America as part of a semester abroad, and for hotel guests. House chef Odette Fada, other well-known chefs and local nonnas all impart their wisdom, spanning cutting-edge techniques and traditional, generations-old family recipes alike. Proving the type of place dreams are made of — because we all fantasise about spending warm Italian summers cooking, lazing about in luxury and roaming through scenic greenery, don't we? — the castle also features a working 17th-century kitchen garden, complete with over 100 kinds of herbs, fruit trees and vegetables, as well as event facilities. In the near future, visitors will also be able to enjoy wine tastings in a 500-year-old cisterna, or spend the night at a nearby restored farmhouse, which has its own pool, tennis court and fruit garden on site. For more information, visit the Castello di Ugento website. Images: Castello di Ugento.
In collaboration with Shane Thompson Architects, Caroline Dunphy presents Hanako — a rumination on Hanjo, a Noh play by Yukio Mishima. This is set to be an experimental work that incorporates elements of media, built structures and live performance. Yukio Mishima's play Hanjo is one of unrequited love; a lonely search for ‘the one’ in the face of every passer by and the agony of longing, disappointment and the continuing wait for a lovers return. Hanako is the featured event for Metro Arts' monthly Friday Night event. There are three performances on Friday evening at 6PM, 7PM and 8PM. Tickets are only available over the phone or at the box office on the evening of the performance. Late-comers will not be allowed entry so get in quick! This is one of many Takeover exhibitions. As the gallery puts it – “These Artists have come to Metro Arts to add the most important element to their work – you.” Don’t deprive the artists of their most crucial element, be a part of something great this Friday. For bookings, call (07) 3002 7100.
If the humble straight-up beer just isn’t cutting it for you anymore, truffle-infused beer is a thing now — and they’re coming to high-end restaurants in New York City. Chicago-based Moody Tongue’s Shaved Black Truffle Pilsner is being sold for $120 for a 22oz bottle, which is just shy of a long neck for the classy folk playing at home. So far the beer has been trialed at Per Se in New York, a top-tier, Michelin-rated restaurant. To make matters even more fancy, the brew was paired with roasted bitter chocolate and truffle black pudding with brioche cream, walnut floss and green almonds. Jared Rouben, chef and now brewmaster behind Moody Tongue in Chicago, has put in a lot of homework and meticulous hours into concocting this extravagant tipple. "I reached out to other chefs to get as much information as possible. I did as much homework as I could to get it just right." Rouben explained to Grub Street that he spent several all-nighters shaving truffles. "Imagine separating egg yolks from egg whites by the hundreds." The beer consists of hand-shaven black perigord truffles, German hops and pilsen malt. For the first batch Rouben made a fairly small yield, about 40 barrels, which would fill 80 kegs. Depending on how well this creation goes down with the high society of New York, further production could be on the cards. Interestingly, the truffles used in the beer were sourced from Australia, as Rouben paired up exclusively with Western Australian truffle aficionados, Wine & Truffle Co. Australia is the fourth largest black truffle producer in the world, just behind, France, Italy and Spain. Retail cost for truffles in Australia is around $2500 per kg — and if you add importing costs on top of that to get the truffles to the States, the hefty price tag for a bottle of beer starts to make sense. Sadly there are no plans as of yet to export this beer, but if they do, we think they should return the truffles to their native homeland. As long as someone else is shouting the round, we’ll happily have a sip. Via Grub Street and New York Post.
The sniffles have set in, you're 100% up-to-date with everything on Netflix (though that's not necessarily a terrible thing) and getting out of bed in the morning is pretty much impossible — sound like you? Well, it's time to get out of that winter funk. The chilly season isn't all bad; there are roasts in the oven, Game of Thrones is back and some of your favourite pubs now feature open fires so you can warm the cockles over a pint by the fire. To those naysayers who think that winter marks the end of fun activities in general, we're about to show you how wrong you are. We've joined up with Hahn to round up a bunch of places you can escape to in your city on the weekend or on a needed personal day. Plus, these escapes won't even involve long drives and heated arguments about the speed limit on the Hume Highway. So, grab your coat and gloves and trot off to some fun winter adventures in your own town. Escaping has never been so easy. THE BARBECUE ESCAPE There's nothing like a huge amount of hot, chargrilled meat to warm you up from the inside out. You can try to avoid any winter rain showers to get all the snags cooked at the same time on the barbecue, or even better, get someone else to do the barbecuing for you. Opting for the latter, you can sit down and relax with a frosty cold Hahn while someone else smokes, grills and barbecues some tasty meats for you. Also, like any good barbecue joint, the convivial atmosphere should warm the heart, too. Where? Dig into the good stuff at Surly's in Sydney, Fancy Hank's in Melbourne and The Smoke BBQ in Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_618412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lucas Dawson.[/caption] THE SPORT ESCAPE Your morning run is a lot harder now that it doesn't get properly light until like midday, we know. But don't fret; there are still ways of keeping active that won't have you freezing your extremities off. The trick here is being inside. Think mini golf with a bar thrown in, so you can reward yourself with a few beers after a tough game against your Bumble date, or even rock climbing you can do safely in wet weather with mobile reception, too. You could also consider a proper competitive sport session like badminton or table tennis to get those endorphins up, and work out your frustrations over how loudly your colleague Tina chews. Where? Head to Holey Moley, a mini-golf bar located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. You can have a game of badminton or table tennis at Sydney's Olympic Park Sports Halls, and climb away at Sydney's Nomad, Melbourne's Hardrock and Brisbane's Urban Climb. THE WATER ESCAPE Not much can beat a hot bath in winter. It's okay if you can't fit a bathtub in your apartment though, because sourcing a large, hot body of water in your city is actually pretty easy. Though a visit to some natural hot pools is the dream winter activity, don't underestimate the heated regular pools you can access during the colder months. Head to an indoor — or even some outdoor — heated pools for a cruisy, wonderfully warm dip, or maybe a few lazy laps. It's also a good time of year where treating yourself to a spa day is less of an indulgence and more necessity, so go for gold. Where? Take a dip at the outdoor, heated Fitzroy Swimming Pool in Melbourne, the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Sydney (which also has a sauna and steam room) and the super retro Spring Hill Baths in Brisbane. Spa-wise, head to the star-speckled Day Spa by Chuan at The Langham in Sydney, Japanese oasis Onsen Ma Spa in Melbourne or try a float session at Brisbane's Beyond Rest. THE HOTEL ESCAPE The classic indulgent getaway, of course, is shooting off to a hotel for a night — and the ultra-indulgent way of doing it is to chuck a sickie and go mid-week. Even if you live pretty close to the city, there's nothing wrong with a minor change in scenery for a night. A staycation is a completely valid life choice and there are plenty of luxe hotels from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne that'll make you feel like you're living the high life — that beer-and-room-service-in-the-bath life. Another viable option is to pack your own slab of beer and check into an Airbnb instead. There's no room service, but you'll get the whole place to yourself. Where? Book into this super lush apartment at Potts Point in Sydney, The Olsen in Melbourne for a boutique, arty feel, and Spicers Balfour Hotel in Brisbane for an art deco-inspired space with a modern twist (and rooftop bar). THE ART ESCAPE Art galleries and cinemas were built for the type of people who like being inside when it's raining (which is quite possibly all of us), so they're the perfect option for a daytime escape. Art galleries set in gardens just outside the city limits, or cinemas showing foreign films not found anywhere else, are all excellent options for a bit of cultural development. See some art or cinema you normally wouldn't on your next day off — take in a bit of modern art or an obscure German film to really make you ponder your existence as a storm wails outside. Plus, most cinemas these days are licensed too, so for an extra good time you can even take a beer along with you. Where? See modern art, architecture and gardens at the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Bulleen in Melbourne, discover abstract art space Factory 49 in Marrickville in Sydney and check out Australian and international contemporary art at TWFINEART in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. For arthouse cinema, your best picks are Cinema Nova in Melbourne's Carlton, Golden Age in Sydney and the Regal Twin cinema in Graceville, Brisbane. Plan your winter escape, and make sure to grab a cheeky Hahn or two on the way.
Today, intricately painted portraits line art gallery walls. Tomorrow, it'll be selfies. In fact, a new Los Angeles museum is dedicating its entire space to the snaps we all take of ourselves. Called The Museum of Selfies, it'll open for a limited time from January. The upcoming addition to LA isn't the first place or exhibition championing the cause, with a site in the Philippines taking that honour, but it is jumping on board with gusto. As well as showcasing selfies in all of their guises, attendees can expect hands-on installations that chart their history, play with common themes and — of course — encourage plenty of snap-taking. Bucking the trend in other galleries in recent years, selfie sticks are certain to be welcome. Highlights will include an Iron Throne made out of those very items, like Westeros would have if it had the technology, plus set-ups dedicated to food selfies, bathroom selfies, rooftop selfies and more. Narcissism, the rise of deaths attributed to selfies and contemporary artists' takes on selfies will also feature, mixing the psychological, societal and creative, plus something designed to make the Guinness Book of World Records. https://www.instagram.com/p/BcDNtLYlR0T/?taken-by=themuseumofselfies Overall, the museum aims to document, probe and challenge our fascination with the self-portrait form, as well as the perception of it in these iPhone-wielding times. Are selfies art? What makes your selfie-filled Instagram feed any different to artist self-portraits on canvas? Why can't we stop taking them? They're just some of the questions that'll be under consideration. The timing comes hot on the heels of a recent study on the concept of 'selfitis', which proposes that excessive selfie-snapping might be a mental disorder. According to research out of Nottingham Trent University, anyone taking at least three selfies a day could be afflicted. Whether or not you're convinced, visitors to The Museum of Selfies are certain to hit that target the moment they walk in the gallery's doors. Via Mashable/Time Out.
If you weren't already astoundingly excited about The Rocky Horror Show's return to Sydney from March 2024, listen closely for the production's latest huge news: Dylan Alcott will take to the stage as The Narrator. The cult-favourite show will do the rounds once more after making its Australian comeback in 2023, with the tennis champion and presenter starring opposite Jason Donovan in the Harbour City. Hitting Theatre Royal Sydney from Sunday, March 31, The Rocky Horror Show's second Sydney season in two successive years also marks a repeat date for Donovan, who slips back into Frank N Furter's fishnets to do the 'Time Warp' again. During 2023's season, Spicks and Specks' Myf Warhurst played The Narrator, which she'll also do in Newcastle in January. When the production makes its return visit to Melbourne from February, Joel Creasey will do the honours. [caption id="attachment_931971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Robenstone[/caption] "Super pumped to join this incredible production of the iconic The Rocky Horror Show. Couldn't think of a better opportunity for my first theatre production, feeling very grateful. Can't wait to get to work and rock it out on stage in Sydney!" said Alcott. The Rocky Horror Show joins the disability advocate's ever-growing resume, which already includes completing both the Golden Slam and Grand Slam in tennis, being a Paralympian, getting named Australian of the Year in 2022, starting Ability Fest, hosting ABC's The Set and winning a Logie. The hit musical first made its Aussie comeback in 2023 to celebrate half a century of the Richard O'Brien-created production, and unsurprisingly wowed crowds with its trademark sci-fi/horror musical madness. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments. The second Sydney season will also feature fellow returnees Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Since initially premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before — and missed the live broadcast from Sydney back in March — this is your turn to join in. THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW 2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: From Friday, January 12 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle. From Friday, February 9 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne From Sunday, March 31 — Theatre Royal Sydney The Rocky Horror Show's 2024 Australian tour will kick off in January 2024, with tickets on sale now via the production's website. Dylan Alcott image: Dylan Alcott at Ability Fest. Rocky Horror images: Daniel Boud.
School holidays might've long stopped being relevant to plenty of our schedules, but they're still worth paying attention to for one reason. When students get a reprieve from class, plenty of places want to help fill their time — and, when something like lakeside glamping pops up for a two-week stint, it's not just for families. From September 22 to October 8, Gypset Glamping is setting up camp at Lake Lyell in New South Wales' central west, about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Sydney. Their pop-up site will let attendees soak in the natural serenity and splendour at Lake Lyell Recreation Park, and enjoy a section of the lake that hasn't been previously used by campers. Facilities-wise, visitors can expect luxe tents for two t0 four people, complete with double beds, silk cushions and solar phone charging ports; however, going glamping isn't just about lazing around in your own home away from home. The camp will also feature a shaded communal area with Bavarian beer hall tables, perfect for post-swim hangouts. Tents start at $150 per night for a two-person setup, and $210 per night for four people, with a two-night minimum stay required. And if the timing isn't right, Gypset have other camps in the works too, with the company largely focusing on the Blue Mountains and central west region — just keep an eye on their website. Gypset Glamping will pop up at Lake Lyell from September 22 to October 8. To book, visit their website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney.
Next year, the force is coming to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida — and now the booze is as well. When Disney opens its new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge zones at the two parks by the end of 2019, it won't just add two 14-acre sites to the respective locations, representing the biggest single-themed expansions each has ever seen. In addition to all of that, Galaxy's Edge will also feature a Star Wars-style cantina. And, at Disneyland, it'll also mark the first time that alcohol has ever been sold on the premises. Yes, we've definitely got a good feeling about Oga's Cantina, which'll serve up boozy tipples at both of its locales. It'll also offer non-alcoholic drinks for younger visitors, including blue milk, plus music to complete the hangout vibe. The cantina forms part of Black Spire Outpost, the village within the Star Wars zone, and comes with a backstory. It's "run by an intriguing alien proprietor, Oga Garra," according to the Disney Theme Parks Blog, and boasts "a history of being a smugglers' safe haven and a popular stopping point for those seeking to avoid the authorities". As for the rest of Galaxy's Edge, it's designed to "transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." To be specific, fans will be able hop onto a star destroyer, fly the Millennium Falcon and just generally wander around like they're part of George Lucas' space-opera world. Expect more details to be unveiled as Galaxy's Edge's opening inches nearer — and for the attractions to tie into all ten Star Wars movies to date, and feature an array of beloved characters making an appearance. Eventually, visitors to Disney World will also be able to stay in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel too, although construction hasn't started yet and an opening date hasn't been announced either. Via Disney Theme Parks Blog.
After introducing a container refund scheme and scrapping disposable plastic bags, Queensland is ramping up its war on waste once again. As first proposed in 2019, then floated by the community in 2020, the Sunshine State is implementing a ban on single-use plastics — with legislation passing Queensland Parliament on Wednesday, March 10. In the immediate crosshairs are plastic straws, cutlery, plates and stirrers, which will all be banned from September 1, 2021 under the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Act 2020. Polystyrene foam food containers and cups will fall under the legislation as well, so you won't be using them when spring hits, either. Crucial to the ban is the existence of already-available alternatives, whether they're reusable (in the case of cutlery and plates) or 100-percent compostable (as seen with paper straws and stirrers). For people with disability, some alternative products to plastic — such as bamboo, paper and metal straws — aren't always a viable option. The legislation does include exemptions for people with disability, or with other relevant healthcare needs, who require access to one of the banned single-use plastic items. Announcing the legislation's passage, Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon advised that the move had widespread support across Queensland. "During our community consultation stage, from March last year, some 94 percent of the 20,000 respondents supported our proposal to ban these items. In addition, our latest online survey, which concluded on January 15, also supported the inclusion in the ban of expanded polystyrene products such as takeaway food containers and cups — with an overwhelming 98 percent of 6800 respondents in favour of removing them from our environment." During the consultation phase, a number of other single-use items were identified by respondents, which may be covered by the ban at a later date. They could include coffee cups, plastic cups and heavy-weight plastic shopping bags, which were all identified by the Qld Government as potential targets when it first announced that it was investigating a single-use plastic ban. "This legislation also makes provision for more single-use items to be banned through regulation in the future,"said Scanlon. "There were many suggestions for other items that could be prohibited which we will now consider. We will conduct extensive public consultation and give business and the community time to transition before any further bans are introduced". Similar laws just came into effect in South Australia, Victoria has set a 2023 deadline for implementing a single-use plastic ban as well and, as a nation, Australia has floated banning all non-recyclable packaging by 2025. And, that's on top of smaller-scale initiatives, not only including bag bans and container schemes, but the phasing out of single-use plastics in various guises at the company level, with Coles, McDonald's, IKEA, Coca-Cola Amatil and Qantas among those making steps in the plastic-free direction. For more information about the Queensland Government's single-use plastics ban, head to the government's website.
Summer is all about long nights, lazy days, cold bevs and occasionally finding a fun competitive activity so intense it brings out your inner Lleyton Hewitt. Friendships have been broken, reformed and strengthened through the tried and true method of a tournament — and everyone's game faces are all the stronger when there are beers involved. This summer, it's not just about the beach. Challenge yourselves to playing something slightly unique (think trampoline dodgeball or Finska), and rediscover your inner competitive fiend. Grab your Hahn slab, nine of your best mates and give one of these competitive games a crack — time to blow into a conch shell and assemble your team. MINI GOLF Not necessarily groundbreaking, mini golf has been around for heaps of your childhood and teenage birthday parties. But it's gotten a whole lot more fun now that you can putt along, beer in hand. Gather some mates, head to Holey Moley and see who can stay on par — or go so over it's comical. A bit of putt-putt always makes you remember how playing tiny golf with tiny clubs is actually not that easy, but at Holey Moley you'll be distracted by beloved pop culture references — like The Simpsons' couch or an Iron Throne made of nine-irons. And when you're on your seventh hit over par, just remember it's the winner who should buy the next round of bevs. Where? Holey Moley Golf Club in Melbourne (CBD), Sydney (Newtown) or Brisbane (Fortitude Valley). [caption id="attachment_649153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Finska.[/caption] FINSKA For something a bit different, look to the Scandinavians. Finska is a game modelled on the ancient game kyykkä, which the Finns created and still take very seriously to this day (there are world championships). A lighter, less serious version, Finska can be easily purchased online so you'll be playing a casual game with your mates in no time. With the tagline, "defeat friend and enemies with strategy, skill and a lump of wood", the game has you basically throwing a cylinder of wood at other numbered wooden things. Trickier than it might seem in the description, though, a game can quickly turn into a riot, so you'll need a large area in which to Finska. Winning is an exact science (50 points only, if you go over you lose points) so you'll also probably need a few beers to keep you and your mates hydrated until that happens for someone. Where? Buy online from Australian Geographic and then find a large park, such as Princes Park in Carlton North, Melbourne; Centennial Park in Sydney; or Robelle Domain in Springfield, Brisbane. TRAMPOLINE DODGEBALL It does sound like a Ben Stiller movie, but it's actually an excellent time. Trampoline parks are already a prime throwback to your childhood days, but you can up the stakes further by incorporating a game of dodgeball. Basically, it's dodgeball with soft balls with the added benefit of feeling like you're flying — you're also getting a huge workout at the same time without even realising it. Take your mates out one by one and/or deal with your recent break up in a healthy way. Patch up your skinned knees afterwards and head out for some bridge-mending beers. Where? Trampoline parks are popping up all over the place. Try BounceInc in Essendon Fields, Melbourne or Sky Zone in Alexandria, Sydney and in Macgregor, Brisbane. CROQUET Not just for the lords and ladies of yonder years, croquet is having its moment in the sun as a low impact/high fun sport (another one that involves hitting stuff with wooden things). To play the noble game, all you need is the ability to wrangle a mallet in one hand while sipping a drink in the other — as well as some medium level of hand-eye coordination to get the balls through the hoops. It's generally a very relaxed afternoon spent in nice grassy surroundings (no golf swings over here, everything is below the knee), so head along on a lazy Sunday. Where? Try Elwood Croquet Club in Melbourne, Coogee Croquet Club in Sydney or Stephens Croquet Club in Yeronga, Brisbane QUIDDITCH Yeah, you heard us. There are leagues across the nation (and the world) that have arisen from J.K. Rowling's famed series about children who do magic and use owls as postmen. If you've always fantasised about your letter from Hogwarts, read up about the rules of Quidditch IRL, then find a big park, a bunch of mates who are in for a good (if silly) time, a broom and off you go. The general gist of the thing here is that you're obviously not flying, you're running around on the ground (so it's a pretty good workout) and the snitch is an actual person with a ball in a sock attached to their pants. It sounds ridiculous, but as far as tournaments go, it's one of the most fun — beers only increase the helpless laughter. Where? BYO broom and find a park, such as Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy, Melbourne; Sydney Park in Newtown, Sydney; or Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane's CBD. [caption id="attachment_649152" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kan Jam.[/caption] KAN JAM Basically, a terrible name for a super fun time, Kan Jam (aka throwing Frisbees in garbage bins) is nothing if not a) utilitarian and b) cheap. All you need is a bin and a Frisbee and at least two people to play. The aim of the game is simply to throw a Frisbee and get it into the bin 50-feet (about 15 metres) away with the help of a 'deflector' teammate. Perfect for beaches, parks or any public space where the bins are mobile and clean enough, Kan Jam might just be your jam this summer. Where? Head to your favourite beach and either commandeer some of its bins or, if you want something a little more sanitised, buy the official Kan Jam online here. GIANT CHESS Much like physical tournaments, mental tournaments can intensify swiftly — especially when it's hot. Ever the game of strategy, chess can be less cerebral when there's an enormous chessboard and you can play as a team. Suddenly, the quiet, solo game becomes a rowdy whole crew activity. Wait for a warm day, find yourself a giant public chessboard and get pawning and rooking. You may want to save any bevs until after you've checkmated, though, so your strategic thinking skills remain on point. Where? Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney all have their own respective giant chessboards. Find chess in Melbourne at Swanston and Little Collins streets, in Sydney at Nagoya Gardens in Hyde Park and the Fortitude Valley Markets in Brisbane. Challenge your mates to a game of friendly competition and, no matter who wins, celebrate your successes with a round of Hahn.
Spring, the season when anything feels possible, has arrived. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are warming up and getaway vibes are buzzing — big get-out-of-the-house energy, too. So, your mind has probably turned to your next holiday. Of course, there's never a bad time to plan a vacation, but knowing that the cold is behind us for another year is mighty great motivation. Here's one way to proceed: making a date with anywhere from the Gold Coast up to Cairns, because this is a glorious time to be in the Sunshine State. Yes, Virgin Australia has just dropped a huge Queensland flight sale, teaming up with the Queensland Government on a big tourism push, and covering trips from October 2023–June 2024. Running now, from Monday, September 4 until 11.59AEST on Sunday, September 10 — or sold out, whichever arrives first — this is another of the airline's sales that's completely dedicated to hitting up everything north of Coolangatta. And, it's slinging a heap of fares: 300,000 of them, in fact. It might be focused on one part of the country, but you still have options in terms of departure points and destinations. Within Queensland, you can leave or arrive in Brisbane, Hamilton Island, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Mt Isa and Proserpine. And, around the rest of the nation, flights to and from Adelaide, Alice Springs, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney are all covered. One-way fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to the Gold Coast and vice versa. Other sale flights include Sydney–Sunshine Coast from $55, Brisbane–Proserpine from $59, Newcastle–Brisbane and Canberra–Gold Coast from $65, and Melbourne–Gold Coast and Brisbane–Cairns from $69. Also, Hamilton Island fares start at $79 from Brisbane, $95 from Sydney and $99 from Melbourne. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel within that October–June period, the exact dates depend on the leg. Only select fares cover seat choice and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in 2021 that it now splits its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. Virgin's latest Queensland Is Calling sale runs from Monday, September 4–Sunday, September 10 (ending at 11.59AEST) — or until sold out. Top image: Internet2014 via Wikimedia Commons. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
In an effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that everyone arriving in the country from overseas will need to self-isolate for 14 days, effective from 12am on Monday, March 16. Announced at the first meeting of Australia's new coronavirus national cabinet, the mandatory self-isolation requirement applies to everyone — no matter where you're entering the country from, and regardless of whether you're an Aussie citizen or permanent resident coming home, or a tourist arriving for a holiday. "Its legal enforcement, that will be the change. If your mate has been to Bali and they come back and they turn up at work and they are sitting next to you, they will be committing an offence — so I think it's up to all of us that we are ensuring it is in place. Australians will exercise commonsense. This provides the backstop of a legal enforcement," said Morrison. The self-isolation requirement only applies to overseas arrivals. At this stage, domestic flights are not affected. The government will also ban international cruise ships from docking in Australia for 30 days, with that decision due to be reviewed on a rolling basis. Australians have also been advised to take social distancing measures, including refraining from shaking hands. The current moves come a day after New Zealand implemented the same measures, and two days after Morris announced an indefinite ban on non-essential organised gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, March 16. He confirmed that ban in today's press conference, and advised that state and territory governments will legislate to officially put it into effect. As was the case on Friday, schools, universities and public transport will not be impacted by the mass gatherings ban at present, Morrison also confirmed — nor will shopping centres or airports themselves. [caption id="attachment_721751" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney. Image: Yaya Stempler.[/caption] Since Friday, many large-scale Australian events have revealed their cancellations and postponements for 2020. The AFL, AFLW and NRL football leagues announced that they'll play in empty stadiums, with fans locked out. Big events such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Vivid Sydney and World Science Festival Brisbane have all been scrapped for the year — and many more smaller events, too, including the Gold Coast Film Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Ability Fest, Sweetstock, Wine Machine, Comedy Steps Up for Bushfire Relief and Cirque du Soleil's Melbourne season of Kurios. Australia's tactics are in line with global moves, too. Over the past days, weeks and months, large swathes of cinemas have shut across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and theme parks have been doing the same in Asia, Europe and the US as well. We've also seen the cancellation of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and postponement of Coachella. And, before Friday's ban was announced, the Grand Prix in Melbourne, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and Brisbane's Paniyiri Greek Festival all announced their cancellations as well. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced early this week that COVID-19 is a pandemic. As at 3pm AEST on Sunday, March 15, Australia has 249 cases confirmed cases of COVID-19. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
In Europe, it's called the Night of Museums: an annual evening when leading cultural institutions across the continent stay open long after they'd normally shut their doors, welcoming in patrons for after-dark art activities. In Melbourne, a new event is taking that idea, running with it and rolling it out across the city — with everything from gigs and movies to immersive dome projections and after-hours exhibition access on offer. That's all on the just-dropped program for Art After Dark, which was initially announced back in March. Back then, Melburnians heard the basics — that the city would be scoring an after-hours extravaganza in May, with State Library Victoria, the NGV, Federation Square, Arts Centre Melbourne, ACMI and Melbourne Museum all involved. That was all well and good and exciting, of course, but the actual lineup is even more dazzling. Set to run from 6pm–1am on both Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, Art After Dark will feature limited-time-only experiences — both free and ticketed — that span live music, visual and performing arts, and food and drink. The Social Crew is producing the inaugural event, which is presented by Visit Victoria. And the aim, unsurprisingly, is to get both locals and visitors to the city to play tourist at Melbourne's cultural venues. At State Library Victoria, things will be particularly bright, all thanks to Midnight at Pink Lake. It's a 360-degree immersive projection that'll light up the La Trobe Reading Room — so yes, looking up is well and truly in order. And, it'll be paired with a themed program called Dream State, which features mindful workshops, music, roving performers, giant chess, and food and drinks. Basically, the venue is going all out on a visual and aural experience, calling it "part guided meditation, part poem, part chant, part song". Next, at NGV Australia, Ron Mueck's Mass from the 2017 Triennial will return — giant skulls and all — accompanied by pop-up poetry readings, choirs and DJs. And, at NGV International, light projections will transform its bluestone exterior thanks to QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection. Also on the bill: Hannah Brontë's video installation EYE HEAR U MAGIK 2020, as well as access to the whole venue itself, with everything free to access across all levels. Over at Fed Square, BRIGGS is headlining Fed Square Live on the Friday night, with Kee'ahn, Soju Gang and Izy in support. And, that's where you'll be able to peer up at Aussie-first art installation Constellations — which'll see artist Joanie Lemercier's monochrome, vector-based aesthetics paired with an electronic soundscape by producer Paul Jebanasam. Also, for something sweet, Fed Square will also be doing free takeaway hot chocolates, coffees, s'mores and glow-in-the-dark fairy floss. Arts Centre Melbourne is also hosting live performances, going nostalgic with Human Nature on the Saturday night. DJs will play from the balcony, food trucks will pop up and the Australian Music Vault will stay open, complete with curators and tour guides diving into the local music scene. At ACMI, drop-in showings of Soda Jerk's phenomenal Terror Nullius will be a big highlight, as will free Oskar Fischinger exhibition Raumlichtkunst — featuring one of the first multimedia projections ever made. The screen-focused museum is teaming up with Collingwood's beloved Bar SK, too, for a room of innovative and interactive entertainment that's all about Aussie game developers. And, it's collaborating with PHOTO 2022 International Festival of Photography on Gillian Wearing: Editing Life, with the British artist in focus. [caption id="attachment_852016" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Triceratops at Melbourne Muserum. Photo by Eugene Hyland[/caption] Last but by no means least, Melbourne Museum is letting folks see its triceratops after dark, and doing projections, hosting food trucks, setting up pop-up bars and inviting DJs to spin tunes. Or, over at IMAX, you'll be able to dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with late sessions of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Art After Dark is expected to see thousands of punters descend on the city for a late-night culture fix — a move that's sure to be welcomed by Melbourne's hard-hit creative industries as they continue through their post-COVID recovery phase. Art After Dark takes place at State Library Victoria, the NGV, Federation Square, Arts Centre Melbourne, ACMI and Melbourne Museum from Friday, May 13–Saturday, May 14. Head to the event's website for further details and tickets. Top image: Performers sing with Mass by Ron Mueck, 2017 on display at NGV Triennial 2017 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hyland.
A dinner party filled with AI versions of famous figures? Or a meal enhanced by virtual reality? Restrictive diets that focus on fasting over feasting? Eating dishes purely because they'll help you sleep? Over the next 12 months, all of the above might come to fruition. Also on the 2018 hit list: African cuisines, creative genetic modification in food and beer, and getting paid to have strangers over for dinner. At least, they're the trends that culinary artists Bompas & Parr are predicting for the year ahead, with Sam Bompas and Harry Parr releasing their first-ever foodie forecast. After ten years in the business, evolving from making jelly to catering to a food-focused experience design agency, their report draws upon their own experience, as well as the psychology behind human behaviour. If technologically enhancements pique your interest, Bompas & Barr expect bots based on celebrities to become the next dinning partners, and mixed reality dining to adorn diners with wearable technology to create a more immersive eating experience — including "embedded microelectronics in crockery and glassware, projection technologies, responsive sound environments and more broadly digital content that's coupled to the taste and aroma of the food and drink on the table". For those keen on making a buck from making dinner for folks you don't know, think Airbnb and Uber, but for the simple act of hosting a meal. That's how you share food in 2018's sharing economy. Elsewhere, watching what you eat might be taken to a fasting extreme, though its hardly new — and it comes with health repercussions. African cooking styles are expected to rise in popularity, exploring the cuisines of the continent's 54 countries. So is food that'll help you get a good night's rest (and no, a nightcap doesn't count), plus biological tinkering with edible substances. You can peruse the full report for further details, and if you're wondering why you should, Bompas & Parr's past culinary exploits should provide all the convincing you need. They've made bespoke cocktails catered to each drinker's DNA, hosted anatomical whisky tastings where spirits were sipped from actual people, served a beating pig's heart as a starter and made London diners kill their next meal. In addition, they've made edible fireworks, a molten lava barbecue and held a 200-course dinner party. Expect them to play with their seven outlined trends next, as part of their continued and creative interrogation of our eating and drinking habits. Via Dezeen. Image: Bompas & Parr.
In the same week that Aussie supermarket giant Woolworths finally banned single-use plastic bags, Melbourne's Crown Complex has also dished up some good news for the future of our planet, announcing it has started cutting down on single-use plastics. Coming from the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere, that's no small feat. Crown Melbourne is kicking things off by joining the global Plastic Free July initiative, which sets out to raise awareness about the impact of pesky, single-use plastics and challenges people to do something about it. For the whole month, the entire Crown Casino Complex will crack down on disposable plastics, promising to remove all single-use plastic "where possible" and to "encourage consumers to change their attitudes and behaviours". Straws will only be available on request, plastic bags have been replaced with paper alternatives in all Crown outlets, and various biodegradable and compostable products are currently being tested, with the aim of phasing out plastic cutlery as well. A spokeswoman for Crown told Concrete Playground, "Crown recognises that the process to phase out single use plastics will take several years, and that we are at the start of our journey." The intention is to continue the plastic crack-down long after the month of July, as more testing's carried out and better alternative products are found.
If soaring down a snowy mountain is your idea of fun, then Switzerland's icy peaks have long been on your bucket list. And if you've always wanted to zip down the country's famous frosty alps but don't all have the coordination and dexterity to ski or snowboard — which is perfectly acceptable — then you can now enjoy the trip via train on one of the world's steepest railways. Opening in mid-December after a 14-year construction period — and 52 million Swiss francs (AU$68 million) in funds — the Stoos Bahn journeys from the town of Schwyz to the nearby village of Stoos, carrying 34 people at a time in less than five minutes. Replacing an older funicular railway, aka a cable-attached railway used near cliffs and on inclined surfaces, it not only spans a distance of 1738 metres, but a height difference of 744 metres. Overall, it boasts a maximum gradient of 110 percent. That makes the Stoos Bahn the steepest funicular railway in Europe, the steepest in the world that regularly ferries passengers and second on the planet overall. If you're wondering which other dizzy-inducing train track pips it for the top spot, that honour goes to an Australian tourist attraction. First created for mining purposes in 1878 and now operating as part of Katoomba Scenic World, the Katoomba Scenic Railway in the Blue Mountains holds the Guinness World Record for the steepest railway gradient, clocking in at 128 percent over its 310-metre expanse. Via Lonely Planet. Image: Stoos-Muotatal
