Great movies live on forever, garnering acclaim and accolades, earning eager rewatches and retrospective screenings, and getting discovered afresh by new audiences. Terrible flicks can also keep drawing in fans, becoming cult hits and having spoons thrown at them — and films don't get much worse-but-glorious than the one and only The Room. In the near future, Tommy Wiseau's disasterpiece won't be a one-off, however. Twenty years after it first hit screens, it's being remade. No, Wiseau isn't behind the do-over, although that does sound like a very Wiseau thing to do. Instead, the new The Room stars Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul favourite Bob Odenkirk. This is a greenscreen remake, which Slashfilm first reported — and then Odenkirk confirmed. "This is real. This is true. And let me tell you, I tried my best to SELL every line, as honestly as I could... and I had a BLAST," the actor tweeted. If this news is tearing you apart, that's understandable. This is real. This is true. And let me tell you, I tried my best to SELL every line, as honestly as I could...and I had a BLAST https://t.co/v261E1DKnG — Mr. Bob Odenkirk (@mrbobodenkirk) March 9, 2023 If you're wondering why — and you want more than the obvious answer: why not? — The Room 2.0 is coming to life for Acting for a Cause, which raises money for charity. And if you're wondering about The Room's storyline because you've missed this whole film phenomenon over the past two decades, it tells the tale of a banker, his adulterous fiancée, his conflicted best friend, a local teen caught up in a drug deal, a mother with cancer, a particularly tense party, a bunch of guys playing football in tuxedos and the worst apartment decorating scheme you've ever seen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by B̸R̸A̸N̸D̸O̸ ̸C̸R̸A̸W̸F̸O̸R̸D̸ (@professorbrando) The Room truly is the vampire of bad movies. It's been living on via event screenings, Greg Sestero's memoir The Disaster Artist, the the star-studded film that book spawned and Sestero's frequent tours. For a while, Wiseau even put it online for free in high-definition. There's no word yet as to when it'll be time to say "oh hi Bob", or where. There's also no sneak peek at the end result, either. But, to tide you over, you can check out the OG film's trailer below: The Bob Odenkirk-starring remake of The Room doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when further details are announced. Via Slashfilm. Top image: Better Call Saul.
In the months since hell decided to casually freeze over and see Donald J. Trump installed on the Iron Throne, things have seemed bleak for the future of American tourism. And they probably are! Now to add insult to injury: Canada has been voted as this year's best travel destination by not only Lonely Planet, but NY Times and Conde Nast too. America's northern neighbour is finally getting the recognition it deserves for being, well, mostly stable while Canada's Pants goes off the rails. No seriously. Canada's comparable safety and stability have been cited as big contributing factors to why the maple syrup capital of the world has won the prestigious title. The Great White North really does have all the tasty stuff you may once have sought out in the US: vast, punishing wilderness, vibrant capital cities (from big ol' Toronto and Ottawa to film-loving Vancouver and French havens Montréal and Québec City), Grammy-winning artists and ridiculously decadent national cuisines (wassup, poutine) — with a relatively much less controversial leader. Colombia, Chile and Croatia all feature in the top lists too, as well as oft overlooked but bountiful Scandinavian countries Finland, Sweden and Norway. Look, if the US election outcome has given us anything (other than a golden era of SNL) it's the chance to temporarily give up on the American road trip dream for four years and set our holiday sights on neighbouring, Drake-raising destinations. Via AFR.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. You might know that Adelaide is the original home of the pie floater. But did you also know that it boasts more restaurants per head than any other city in Australia? For way too long, the South Australian capital has been Australia’s beleaguered middle child, struggling to get the attention of which it’s worthy, and defending itself against the nation’s collective jokes. But, earlier this year, things changed. When Lonely Planet published its 2014 Top 10 Cities of the World, the “city of churches, festivals and homicides” burst into the international spotlight at number nine. “Adelaide is effortlessly chic,” commented Lonely Planet media and communications manager Adam Bennett, “and like a perfectly cellared red, it’s ready to be uncorked and sampled.” And the especially good news? Wotif.com wants you to do the sampling. So, they’re giving away a holiday of epic proportions. One creative reader and their guest will score return economy flights to Adelaide from their nearest capital city, four days’ car hire and three nights’ accommodation. The first two will be spent in king-beds and deep baths at the luxurious Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, situated just 50 metres from the cultural epicentre of Rundle Street. On the third, the winners will find themselves at Mount Lofty House, a 160-year-old manor in the Adelaide Hills, where they’ll be treated to a five-course degustation with matching wines and wake up to a buffet breakfast. What’s more, to ensure a comprehensive experience of the food and wine adventures that so impressed Lonely Planet, there’s a Penfolds Magill Estate Tour, a Top Food and Wine Choco-latte Tour and an Adelaide Central Market Morning Tour thrown in. All you’ve got to do is give your creative fruit a squeeze and tell Wotif.com why they should send you to Adelaide, in 25 words or less. The video below might help you to get thinking left of centre.
ANZAC Day might be more than a month away, but it's still being affected by efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. With non-essential events with over 500 people now banned indefinitely, services around the country are being cancelled and reduced in size. The situation differs state by state, with each respective branch of the RSL making a call on their usual commemorations. Of paramount concern nationwide isn't just protecting the general public, but protecting veterans, especially those of an older age who are particularly at risk from the coronavirus. In New South Wales, that means scrapping all public services entirely. The same is the case in Queensland, although it'll look into options to mark the occasion "without placing veterans and the general public at risk". Western Australia and Tasmania are also completely scrapping their plans. [caption id="attachment_665411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shrine of Remembrance Flickr[/caption] In Victoria, events will go ahead — but the public won't be able to attend. There'll be a single dawn service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, which will be conducted "with a small number of official guests and modified to minimise COVID-19 risk"; however, the midday service at the same spot won't go ahead, and neither will the ANZAC Day march. RSL sub branches across Victoria will also be allowed to conduct one commemorative service only, but these will not be open to the public either. If the mass gatherings ban is still in place on April 25, it's likely another major part of ANZAC Day in Australia won't go ahead either: the annual games of two-up. ANZAC Day services will no longer go ahead on Saturday, April 25 in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. In Victoria, all services have been cancelled except a dawn service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, but it will not be open to the public. 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. Top image: ANZAC Day at Dee Why RSL.
Following up on his contribution to the Venice Biennale earlier this year, internationally renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has crafted a visually immersive structure made entirely of bicycles. The unveiling of the impressive centrepiece, titled Forever Bicycles for this year's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche has been met with widespread enthusiasm, quickly becoming a crowd favourite. The Toronto initiative, otherwise known as the 'Sleepless Night' festival, is a celebration of contemporary art in public places. Installed at Nathan Phillip Square, the spectacular installation consists of 3144 interconnected stainless steel bicycles. The visual effect of the artwork is mesmerising — it's as if it were designed for slow exposure photography, especially when bathed in pink and blue lights during the evening. The multitude of different viewing positions also means that the work is constantly changing. In this way, it evokes a sense of the fast-paced social transformation that China is currently undergoing. Viewers will be able to walk through the colossal labyrinth-like structure until it is dismantled in late October. Ai Weiwei has been known for his innovative and architectural use of everyday objects. His practice also frequently blurs the boundaries between art and politics, notably speaking out against China's social policies, human rights record and strict censorship laws. Via My Modern Met.
Taking over the northern stretch of the river, the CBD's new Brisbane Quarter is making its presence known. First it became home to the luxe W Hotel, complete with the first Brisbane outpost for Sydney's Three Blue Ducks — and now Heritij has joined the precinct. Initially announced in March, the Indian restaurant hails from top chef Manjunath Mural, Malt Dining's Nick Pinn and Sridhar Penumechu from Gold Coast restaurant Saffron. Mural was the first Indian executive chef to receive a Michelin star for an Indian restaurant in southeast Asia, for Singapore's Song of India. In his Brisbane venture, he's turning his applauded talents towards an inventive take on both Indian and Asian cuisine. "My dream is to share my style in presenting Indian cuisine in a way which is relevant to diners across the world, and that haute Indian cuisine will one day be as accepted as haute French dining," explains Mural. With that in mind, his menu features hearty, spicy and creative dishes that you won't find at your local Indian takeaway joint. The flambé leg of lamb is the restaurant's signature option, flambéed right there at the table before diners dig in, and served with roast accompaniments such as heirloom carrots, beetroot and mint sauce. Or, patrons can tuck into sambal barramundi with charred silverbeet and caviar, a plate of pomegranate prawns, or papdi chaat, which is described as Indian street nachos. Also on the lengthy list: the delicious-sounding masala fondue. It's all served up within Heritij's nearly 800-square-metre space, which features a 400-square-metre terrace, four private dining rooms and a bar. Unsurprisingly, the latter is where Pinn's influence can be felt, courtesy of a cocktail lineup blends new house styles with old favourites. Think dirty chai martinis with rum, chai syrup, Kahlua and espresso, or the flavoursome Saffronside with gin, mint, saffron syrup and lemon — plus Singapore slings, mai tais and Pimms cups. Heritij also places a particular focus on whisky, highlighting both American and international blends. And, if you'd rather drop by for a tipple and a snack while you look out over the river, the bar boasts a street food grazing menu as well. Find Heritij at Brisbane Quarter, 300 Queen Street, Brisbane from 11.30am–11.45pm Monday to Saturday. Images: Mark Buckley.
What has happened to that once glorious Hollywood staple, the romantic comedy? Even at its most saccharine, it was a dependable genre, the type that left you in a kind of terrible movie heaven of enjoyably unlikely plot premises, clueslessly fated lovers, and fairytale endings. Trashy, sure, but reliably trashy — carefree and frothy and silly. Beautiful people, overcoming mindlessly familiar cinematic hurdles and falling in love — it's comforting stuff for hopeless romantics like myself who get most of their life philosophies from Michel Gondry films. But a genre that focuses more on seduction and courtship and the happily-ever-after, bridal magazine moments eventually leaves viewers craving something a little more substantial. After all, anyone who lives in the real world knows that the real work in relationships begins at the point where rom coms usually end: the kiss, the wedding, the honeymoon period, the beginning. The reality and ridiculousness and complexity of relationships and sex and romance — surely this is the kind of thing that mainstream film should finally start getting right. That's why I Give It a Year should work. British director Dan Mazer has styled it as a renovated, thinking-person's rom com, one that starts at the wedding and explores the difficulty of staying in love. It's a worthwhile project, and one that The Simpsons creative director James L. Brooks has made into a career. Broadcast News, Terms of Endearment, and even the cruelly critically maligned How Do You Know? all subtly inverted the rom com rules by showing more realistic characters with more realistic relationships. And they were funnier for their closer collision with real life. Mazer has his work cut out for him by Brooks. Rose Byrnes' highly strung Nat and Rafe Spall's man-boy Josh are not meant to be — they marry too quickly and are obviously more suited to the two supporting characters, played by Simon Baker (on charismatic autopilot) and Anna Faris (on tedious autopilot. Why is she a thing?). But ultimately the film refuses to bust out of the conventional rom com template. Its plot remains face-punchingly implausible, its characters straitjacketed by stereotype, and its humour terminally planted in Mazer's familiar ground of extreme awkwardness and feeble frat-boy crassness. This is, after all, the man who produced Borat and Sacha Baron Cohen's other cinematic mis/adventures. Oddly enough for a love story, I Give It a Year fails to get to any kind of genuine emotional core for the characters or their relationships. Perhaps the highlight of the film is Rose Byrnes' wardrobe, a procession of pastel cashmere sweaters and tailored designer clothing this reviewer will never, ever be able to afford. Yes, Byrnes and Baker are lovely to watch, but it is frankly demoralising to see them wasting their presence on such an eye-rollingly unfunny project. The Office's Stephen Merchant is particularly misused given his considerable comedic talents. Despite its admirable aims, I Give It A Year is a 102-minute exercise in endurance. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3UgPWKPDlvA
I could summarise Paranoia's plot. But to do so would be to compile a stock-standard litany of signposts of the corporate espionage genre: Dastardly capitalists who'll stop at nothing to retain their market share! An ambitious upstart from a working-class family who is recruited to steal secrets and quickly realises he's out of his depth! A hot love interest who our hero must lie to in order to retain his compromised position spying in the belly of the beast! Sinister henchmen who appear in little more than silhouette! Hard-edged, Matrix-style, millennial typefaces for the opening credits! The film equivalent of Getty stock images of New York's time-lapsed skyline at night! And finally, a mediocre title bluntly aimed at edginess: 'Sniper'? 'Hunted'? 'Suspect'? No, it's Paranoia! Here, the wide-eyed protagonist is Our Liam (Hemsworth), direct from Summer Bay via The Hunger Games, and our scheming tech billionaires are autopiloted by Gary Oldman (with an inexplicable Cockney accent) and Harrison Ford, who appears to be possessed by a necromancer. All of these actors are totally interchangeable — Hemsworth could be traded for Chris Pine or Ryan Reynolds, and Oldman or Ford could be any old guy with credibility for hire. Who's swindling who?! Have the tables turned? Fear not, each 'twist' is signalled from a pantomime-long distance. And remember, we're in a pro-Facebook, post-GFC era now, so we'll need just enough references to 'cutbacks' and 'socially networked devices' to make some token social commentary. But beyond the name dropping, terms like 'insider trading' are merely fuel for the generic, white-collar thriller fire. Paranoia really is so cliched and tiresome, it could be a minor work of cinemasochistic genius by Australian, Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic. No, the best thing for this sort of exercise in filmic pollution is to stealthily organise your cinema trip around a genre-based drinking game with a group of friends. Gratuitous Apple Mac product placement? Drink! Garden variety corporate-speak ("Competition breeds innovation!" "We need more R&D!")? Drink! Hey, maybe this movie's not so bad after all. Maybe the filmmakers were playing us for dupes and intend Paranoia to have a long and healthy DVD afterlife in the 'so bad it's good' category of home viewing. The tables have turned! Or have they? https://youtube.com/watch?v=kiwTRLwmm4w
To call Enough Said a romantic comedy seems wrongly restrictive. Essentially, it's just that, but really, it's much more. A quirky divorcee starts falling for a slobby, overweight but very loveable dude, then realises it's her friend's despised ex-husband. Antics ensue. The title and the poster are something of an undersell — 'Enough Said' sounds like any other moronically make-believe candyfloss crap in which an unlikely yet star-crossed couple with Hollywood cheekbones and poreless skin battle for 90 minutes and get together — forever, of course — in the final scene. The title is oddly generic; try slipping 'About Time', 'Here's the Thing' or 'Wouldn't You Know?' in its place. Here's the difference: Nicole Holofcener is one of the smartest, wryest female American directors around. Friends with Money established her as a someone who makes real films with real characters for real grown-ups. She then joined the television glory days, directing episodes of HBO's Enlightened — two short seasons of confronting and hilarious viewing. Laura Dern and Mike White's amazing creation, the deluded yet totally empathisable Amy Jellicoe, could make you question if your own deepest-held longings are just impossible and impossibly vivid self-deceptions. With Enough Said, Holofcener makes a pitch for the mainstream, moving in on the edge of the territory staked out by James L. Brooks: rom-coms that are actually, miraculously both romantic and comedic. I can't help but wonder if it's because her last film, Please Give, was a well-intentioned but dour project that somehow missed its mark, as well as the wide audience that this super cluey director deserves. In Enough Said, she's cast Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the usual Catherine Keener role. Where on earth has Louis-Dreyfus been for the last decade and a half? She is a flat-out great leading actress. Here, she perfects what she revealed on Seinfeld in the 1990s: a character's failed attempts at carefree casualness. With wide-eyed, sideways glances and upturned intonation, she relays cluelessness and hopefulness, her yearning earnestness betraying her surface breeziness. (A side note: Claudia Karvan does this best in Australia.) The whole cast is spot-on, and James Gandolfini is especially endearing in his last, quite slight role — though I couldn't help wonder what complexity Louis CK could have brought to the character. There's something extraordinary about seeing quite ordinary women on film. In Gravity, Sandra Bullock's astronaut-taut face barely moved from the effects of what one hoped was zero gravity but was more likely astronomical proportions of filler and muscle relaxant. By contrast, Keener and Louis-Dreyfus aren't great beauties, but they are uncommonly lovely and a delight to watch — animated, bright, baffled and trying and trying and trying their fallible human best to succeed in love. Despite the unambitious nature of this easy Friday night film, Holofcener is a freakishly perceptive observer of our time's obsessions and longings. There aren't nearly enough films about the relationship between your different relationships and love after love. I laughed at the film's sticky, recognisable truths for the whole hour and a half. She's succeeded in making something for the masses without resorting to lowest-common-denominator bullshit. And that's really something. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nEEJaIjF_Lo
Sometimes, getting out of your car to purchase food is just too much effort. For those occasions, humanity invented the drive-thru. It's a fast food staple, and the concept has been getting quite the workout during the pandemic — so obviously a drive-thru dedicated to lasagne and wine was bound to happen. The Lasagne Drive-Thru is the latest venture from Jerome Dalton, owner of Dalton Catering and — since last July – of CJ's Pasta as well. The latter no longer operates as a bricks-and-mortar business, instead focusing on selling pasta to restaurants and wholesalers. But for folks at home who love a bit of layered pasta with bechamel sauce, CJ's Pasta is now letting you roll up to Fortitude Valley's Prospect Street in your car each Friday, remain seated, and take home one of four different lasagnes and multiple varieties of wine. The idea first came about in response to Brisbane's most recent lockdown at the end of March, with the Lasagne Drive-Thru kicking into action while everyone was staying at home for three days. Unsurprisingly, it proved popular, so Dalton is bringing it back every Friday from now on. Brisbanites can choose from beef lasagne in 1.2-kilogram and three-kilogram servings, a three-kilogram sand crab lasagne and a three-kilogram vegetarian lasagne, all of which come with a cheesy garlic focaccia. The small-sized beef costs $50 and serves two or three people, while the larger size costs $100 for beef and vegetarian and $120 for crab, and will keep six stomachs satisfied. Salumi boxes filled with mortadella, salami, bread and pickles are also available ($50, to serve two or three people). On the wine front, prices range from $39–80, with prosecco, champagne, pinot grigio and chianti among the varieties on offer. If you're keen come Friday, you'll need to order in advance via phone, then motor on over to pick up your ready-to-eat meal and vino. You can still try your luck on the day without preordering, but you'll be getting a chilled lasagne that you'll need to heat up at home.
Most superheroes don't boast the same skills; however, in making the leap from comics to the screen and beyond, they can follow similar paths. Yes, the fact that great power means great responsibility should apply to all caped crusaders. Yes, many often segue from ordinary folks to suddenly super-powered saviours. And yes, in Black Panther and now the Spider-Man franchise's cases, one of their best are returning to cinemas a couple of years later as a spectacular movie-and-music event. Film fans can see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in cinemas right now, and should. It's exceptional, and already one of the best flicks of 2023. Keen to revisit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the title that started everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood webslinger's current animated movie series? That's coming to Australia via Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert. Five years after Into the Spider-Verse debuted on the silver screen, it's swinging back onto one, this time at The Plenary at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, October 21. Making its Australian premiere as a concert, the animated masterpiece will be accompanied by a 32-piece orchestra, plus DJ Total Eclipse from The X-Ecutioners on the turntables. Everything from The Lion King to Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story as well, have scored or are about to score the orchestral treatment — but that approach alone wouldn't suit Into the Spider-Verse and its Brooklyn-based Spidey Miles Morales (Shameik Moore, Wu-Tang: An American Saga). Hence the fusion with DJ-spun tracks, to truly do not only Daniel Pemberton's (an Oscar-nominee for The Trial of the Chicago 7) score justice, but also the soundtrack featuring Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Jaden Smith and Nicki Minaj, too. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of my favourite scores I've ever written. Utilising a full orchestra, crazy electronics and unbelievable turntable scratching techniques amongst a million other things, it is so technically complex I never thought we'd ever be able to actually reproduce it in a live concert, but somehow, we have," said Pemberton about the project. The concert version heads Down Under after premiering in New York in March 2023, and with fellow stops around the US currently taking place, as well as shows in the UK planned after its Australian run. Fingers crossed that this dazzling mix of sound and vision will do whatever the Spider-Verse can in other Australian cities, although only a Melbourne date has been announced so far. Check out the trailers for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in Concert and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse itself below: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert is playing The Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne on Saturday, October 21, with tickets on sale via Ticketmaster from Friday, July 28. Images: Adela Loconte.
In normal circumstances, Brisbane is home to a bustling nightlife scene every evening of the week. You can fill your calendar with a hefty array of fun activities — see a gig one night, party to retro tunes the next and get kidulting over a few brews the evening afterwards. That isn't the case at present, though, with the city still slowing awakening from Queensland's COVID-19 lockdown. But, fingers crossed, this town of ours will be thriving after dark once again — and hopefully soon. If you've spent much of your time at home dreaming of all the things you'd rather be doing, don't stress — we know the feeling. So, we've teamed up with Miller Genuine Draft, as part of this year's Miller Design Lab, to plan an itinerary for when life starts to resemble its former self. Miller Design Lab is the home of creativity and self-expression built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology and fashion. Together, we're celebrating what our nightlife was — and will be again — and its impact on culture. Here are five businesses to put on your must-visit list to visit and support as normality returns. [caption id="attachment_734386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vincent Shaw[/caption] GOING TO GIGS AT THE FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL It's been less than a year since Brisbane's newest music venue opened its doors, and it has played host to a sizeable lineup of talent in that time. Sat smack-bang in the middle of Brunswick Street Mall, the Fortitude Music Hall also instantly became one of the nicest places in the city to see a gig, because making shapes on a dance floor beneath glittering chandeliers will have that effect. The venue's 3300-person capacity means that it's unlikely to reopen at full steam anytime soon, but when it does, you'll want to nab tickets. If it wasn't the case already, the idea of having a communal experience with that many fellow music lovers — when it's safe to do so again, of course — definitely sounds like bliss. ATTENDING POOL PARTIES AT W HOTEL'S WET DECK You don't need to book yourself a staycation to splash around at W Hotel in the CBD. But you could if you feel like really treating yourself (and you're sick of the sight of your own four walls). If you'd be happy with a dip, some drinks and hanging out on a scenic deck — and taking in views across the city, too — you can simply look forward to one of the venue's Wet Deck pool parties instead. They happen regularly, and combine beverages, tasty bites to eat and a zebra-striped body of water that screams decadence. Sip cocktails, dance to DJs and pretend you're on holiday, which is a feeling we could definitely all use after this hectic year so far. DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE ELEPHANT'S 90s AND 00s PARTIES Sorry, 70s disco track 'Love Is in the Air'; in 2020, nostalgia is in the air instead. That Aussie hit actually made a comeback in the 90s thanks to Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom — and if getting retro to tunes from three decades ago is your idea of a good night out, then you might find yourself dancing to it at The Elephant's regular No Scrubs 90s and early-00s parties. The concept is self-explanatory, really. You'll cut a rug to songs you grew up with, whether you're fond of boy bands, thumping beats or pop divas. The shindig itself takes care of the old-school music. However, you have an important task, too. Sure, you don't have to dress up in era-appropriate outfits, but it's so much more fun if you do. FEELING LIKE YOU'RE IN 'THE GREAT GATSBY' AT CLOUDLAND Every Brisbanite remembers the first time they walked into Cloudland. It's a space that makes a statement, and that keeps your eyes busy — because, when you're not checking out the thousands of plants and the waterfall, you're peering up at the shimmering light fixtures. And, it sports an old-meets-new kind of vibe, which is probably why the Fortitude Valley spot frequently hosts luxe cabaret dinners complete with plenty of beverages and a big band show. It's your excuse to channel your inner flapper, dress up like it's a century ago and enjoy a mighty fine (and mighty luxe) night. You'll also eat your way through a three-course meal, and be entertained by burlesque performers as well. HAVING A LITTLE KIDULT FUN AT SEMI-PRO BREWING Don't let anyone tell you that Lego is just for kids. If you can remember needing your parents' help with a particularly tricky kit way back in the day — and can remember that they enjoyed it, too — you'll know that those beloved plastic building blocks really do deliver fun for all ages. At East Brisbane's Semi-Pro Brewing, they're also the focus of a monthly 'bricks and beer' night, where the brews flow, everyone gets creative and a good nostalgic time is had by all. It's free to attend, each session is themed and there are prizes. You're also playing with toys in an inner-city brewery, which is the type of activity your younger self probably didn't even know that they wanted. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way.
With 1654 stores to its name worldwide, Five Guys' burger joints have become a common sight across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia — and soon, they'll also be opening in Australia and New Zealand. That news was announced in 2020, but 2021 brings further details, including the fact that it'll be launching its first eatery Down Under this year. Once the middle of 2021 rolls around, Five Guys will be serving up burgers, fries and shakes in Penrith — making Sydney the first Aussie city to taste the chain's wares. Originally, the debut store Down Under was slated for Sydney's CBD, but those plans changed due to COVID-19. An exact mid-year opening date hasn't been revealed; however, Sydneysiders will find restaurant next to Krispy Kreme and the Panthers League Club on Mulgoa Road in the western Sydney suburb when it launches. Construction on the store is due to start in the coming weeks. The cult-favourite chain is making the leap to Australia and New Zealand as part of a master franchise agreement with Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, aka the folks behind The Meat & Wine Co, Hunter & Barrel, 6 Head, Ribs & Burgers, Italian Street Kitchen and Butcher and the Farmer. Around 20 stores are due to launch in Australia alone, plus more in NZ — although exactly where else and when Five Guys will be popping up is yet to be revealed. In Sydney, additional sites are currently under consideration, including in the CBD around Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Broadway. Overseas, Five Guys has amassed quite the reputation — and, even given the number of big-name US burger chains with hefty followings, such as Shake Shack and In-N-Out, it stands out. Its made-to-order burgers skew in the classic rather than oversized, jam-packed direction. They come with two hand-formed patties on toasted buns with your choice of toppings (including pickles, grilled mushrooms and jalapeños), plus bacon cheeseburgers that add two strips of bacon and two slices of Kraft American cheese as well. Five Guys also serves up hotdogs, sandwiches, hand-cut fries (with or without Cajun spices) and vanilla milkshakes. Don't go thinking the latter are boring, though — you can add bacon, bananas, peanut butter, salted caramel and even Oreo pieces to your design-your-own beverage. The chain started back in 1986 in the Washington, DC area and, as anyone with allergies should note, only cooks its fries in peanut oil. Five Guys will launch its first Australian store on Mulgoa Road in Penrith sometime in the middle of 2021, with stores in other Australian states — and in New Zealand — to follow. No exact opening dates have been revealed as yet — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
Grab your guitar and a boot-scootin' babe, and saddle up for the biggest event on the Australian country music calendar. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is now in its 46th year and is back, bigger than ever. There will be over 700 artists performing across 120 venues around the city over the course of the ten-day festival, with both ticketed and free events on offer. Tamworth will be alive with the coos of country music, from street corners to pubs to backyards, and everything in between. Spot the next Troy Cassar-Daley at the Australian Country Music Busking Championships and marvel at the Toyota Cavalcade, which features over 100 floats, bands and magnificent groups of horses marching through town. And let's not forget Australian country music's night of nights, the 46th Country Music Awards of Australia, where the best country artists will be named and get to take home golden guitar statues.
Just like Tuesdays as a kid signified cheap rentals from your local video store, Tuesdays as an adult mean one thing, and one thing only: trivia. Grab your most knowledgeable pals and head down to Archive Beer Boutique in West End to compete in some competitive pub trivia. It's a gold coin donation to play, but the winners take all — so you can hit the jackpot while downing a few pints from Archive's 22 taps.
Spinning origin stories might be one of Hollywood's favourite trends at the moment — and for years, in fact — but few characters have screamed for an entire movie dedicated to their backstory like Furiosa. In Mad Max: Fury Road, Mad Max's moniker was right there in the title; however, it was as much Charlize Theron's (Fast X) film as Furiosa as it was Tom Hardy's (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) as the picture's eponymous figure. Cue Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which will dive into her history from May. As the just-dropped second trailer for the feature shows — following an initial sneak peek in late 2023 — there's no shortage of details to explore. The new footage starts with Furiosa being robbed of her family as a child, then beginning her quest for vengeance. Australian director George Miller knows to name his characters fittingly, clearly. Shaving her head, vehicular chaos in the wasteland, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Super Mario Bros Movie) looking fierce in the part, Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love and Thunder) co-starring: that's all also covered. Shot in Australia, arriving nine years since Mad Max: Fury Road reached cinemas and became the best action movie of this century so far — and the best Australian flick of the same period — Furiosa marks the fifth instalment in Miller's dystopian Mad Max franchise. That delay means nothing given that there was a 30-gap between 1985's not-so-great Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road's triumphant arrival in 2015, however. More Miller extending his passion project is always worth waiting for. Furiosa's storyline follows the younger Furiosa as she's taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers, ends up with a biker horde led by Warlord Dementus, and then gets caught in the middle of a war being waged with the Citadel's Immortan Joe — all while trying to escape and get back home. And, as the both glimpses of the movie illustrate so far, the look and feel is all classic Mad Max. Miller not only directs but co-writes with Mad Max: Fury Road co-scribe Nico Lathouris, while Alyla Browne (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) and Tom Burke (Living) are also among the movie's stars. A heap of Miller's other behind-the-scenes collaborators are back, including production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, all Fury Road Oscar-winners. Check out the second trailer for Furiosa below: Furiosa releases in cinemas Down Under on May 23, 2024.
The Powerhouse has established itself as one of the premier locations for just about anything stage-oriented. Music and theatre have become their specialty of late, and now they are combining the two for the World Theatre Festival, taking place this month. Contemporary reimaginings and new, creative titles are on display — hoping to change perceptions of modern theatre and how it is considered by critics and audiences alike. With performances sure to encourage discussion and debate, make sure you are a part of the fun or miss out on some enlightening entertainment. The program includes Ireland's playful Pan Pan Theatre doing a contemporary spin on The Doll's House as well as the first play written in response to Norway's Utoya Island massacre, The Economist. Keep an eye on our pages for more select recommendations, but we encourage you to check out the itinerary on The Powerhouse website and decide for yourself. Prices vary, but ticket packages are on offer.
Pick a side of Brisbane, any side you like, and odds are you'll find a thriving craft beer scene. Choose whichever part of town you prefer and you'll likely find an organised way to hop between the area's breweries, too — such as Tour de North on the city's northside. The south has the Beermuda Triangle, and there's been more than a few inner west brewery crawls over the years, but this one is all about showcasing All Inn Brewing Co, Aether Brewing and Fick Brewing. They're the three beer-pouring spots you'll mosey between from 12pm on Saturday, November 12. Actually, a free bus will take you to each, and also stop at Northgate station. Sip Aussie craft brews, experience and support three Brissie breweries, get between them safely: that's all on the itinerary until 6pm. This is the first time that All Inn, Aether and Fick have collaborated on this kind of event, and they're also putting on live tunes for the occasion. To line the stomach, food trucks will be slinging their wares. And, drinks-wise, each of the three breweries will have their own range of tipples.
Today, Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the twos clearly have it — on your calendar and, thanks to Jetstar, in your wallet as well. To celebrate 22.02.2022 like only a low-cost airline would, the Australian carrier has dropped 22,000 $22 flights. You shouldn't need to be told twice that that's a bargain. The Twosday sale is a one-day-only affair, running until 11.59pm AEDT today — so, obviously, getting in quick is a must. In fact, by the time you're reading this, you might find a number of routes already sold out. Thankfully, Jetstar is slinging cheap tickets across a hefty range of flights, so you you should find a cheap holiday option on offer. Destinations include everywhere from Cairns and Hamilton Island to Hobart and Uluru, depending where you're departing from. You can head from Sydney to Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne to Hamilton Island and Launceston, and Brisbane to Mackay and Adelaide, for instance. Other spots covered span Townsville, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Darwin. And if this is the inspiration you need for a weekend somewhere you wouldn't have planned a getaway to otherwise, consider that a bonus. Tickets in the sale are for trips this coming spring, between various dates in October and November, with exact days varying in each region. And there are a few caveats, as is always the case. The discounted flights are one way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light, or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's Twosday sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 22, or until sold out.
When October rolls around each year, there's really only one appropriate thing to watch. That'd be horror movies, horror movies and more horror movies — all leading up to Halloween, obviously. Australia's A Night of Horror International Film Festival clearly loves the genre no matter the time of year; however, in 2021, it's showcasing its lineup of fear-inducing flicks in the two weeks right before the spookiest day of them all. So, from Monday, October 18–Sunday, October 31, you can get your scares at its virtual fest. And yes, by jumping online, that means the event is accessible nationally as well. This is A Night of Horror's 13th fest, fittingly, and it comes with an unsettling program of shorts and features. From the full-length titles on the bill, highlights include the UK's Lair, about an occult expert and skeptic with a pal who thinks he's possessed; New Zealand's The Turn of the Screw, the latest big-screen adaptation of Henry James' novel; and the Aussie-made My Cherry Pie, which nods back to 80s slasher fare — plus dreamlike Austrian effort Memory, and the supernatural and sinister Sunod from The Philippines.
It doesn't snow in Brisbane. It doesn't usually get all that cold in winter, either, although 2022 has been putting that idea to the test. Still, for a few weeks this June and July, Brisbanites will be able to walk through snow, build a snowman, make snowballs and throw the latter at targets in an arcade — all by heading to Springfield. No, the weather won't be extra frosty just in the westside suburb. No, we're not living in a Hollywood disaster movie. Rather, Snow4Kids is returning for 2022. The idea is simple: this winter wonderland will bring a heap of real snow to the Orion Shopping Centre, then let anyone with a $25 ticket frolic through it, with the space open daily from 9.30am–4.30pm between Saturday, June 25–Sunday, July 10. This is a family-friendly event, as the name gives away. If you have littlies to bring along, that'll be welcome news. If you're an adult without any kids in tow, you're still able to head along — but the organisers ask that you be mindful of the fact that you'll have plenty of pint-sized company. Also: no snowball fights.
This news isn't like rain on your wedding day. It doesn't resemble finding a black fly in your chardonnay. And it definitely isn't anything like hitting a traffic jam when you're already late, either. But, it will have you singing those lines — and it is news that you oughta know, too — because 15-time Tony Award-nominated musical Jagged Little Pill is heading to Australia. The Broadway show's trip Down Under was first announced back in April; however, a lot can happen in just a few months during a pandemic. Indeed, back in July, Jagged Little Pill the Musical postponed its planned September launch — but now it's locked in to make its local debut on Thursday, December 2. The acclaimed production is making its first trip beyond Broadway, in fact, when it hits the Theatre Royal Sydney. And, when the curtains are raised, it'll help mark another milestone, reopening the Theatre Royal five years after it closed its doors in 2016. Inspired by Alanis Morissette's 1995 album of the same name, Jagged Little Pill the Musical weaves a story around songs from that iconic record. So yes, it's a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages. Famed tracks 'Ironic', 'You Oughta Know', 'Hand in My Pocket', 'Head Over Feet' and 'You Learn' all feature, in a production that boasts music by Morissette and her album co-writer and producer Glen Ballard, lyrics by Morissette, and a book by Juno Oscar-winner Diablo Cody. And, songs such as 'Thank U', 'So Pure', 'That I Would Be Good', 'So Unsexy' and 'Hands Clean' all pop up as well, even though they hail from the musician's subsequent albums. At present, tickets are on sale for shows until Sunday, December 19, all starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She'll play Mary Jane Healey, with Jagged Little Pill the Musical telling the Healey family's tale as they struggle with their seemingly idyllic suburban lives after a troubling event in their community. Expect to hear Morissette's tunes — including two new songs written just for the show — used in a story about social issues relevant to today, but also with an overall message of hope, healing and togetherness. Australians keen to see the musical can look forward to watching it in a venue with quite the history. The 1100-seat Theatre Royal is one of Australia's oldest theatres, dating back to the 1870s. But most folks will know it in its current form, after it reopened in the 1970s with a design by famed Australian architect Harry Seidler as a replacement for the old theatre that was demolished when the MLC Centre was built. Jagged Little Pill the Musical will play the Theatre Royal Sydney at 108 King Street, Sydney, from Thursday, December 2 — with exact season dates yet to be announced. For further details and to buy tickets, head to the musical's website. Top image: Jagged Little Pill the Musical Broadway opening night curtain call, Bruce Glikas.
Where: River Terrace, Kangaroo Point Whether it is from the top or the bottom of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, this is more than likely the best spot for a picnic in Brisbane. On any given day, locals and tourists flock to the area to soak up the sunshine and admire the city that the once cultural backwater of Brisbane has now become. From the top the view includes the Eastern stretch of the CBD in the foreground, with the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in the background. From the bottom, a riverside view of the city greets the eyes of the beholder. The parks, both top and bottom, boast gazebos, seats and tables, barbecues and enough grassy areas to lay down a picnic spread. There are cafés for lazy picnickers and rock climbing and cycleways for the more adventurous spirits. The best time to visit the cliffs would have to be the afternoon as the sun slowly shrinks behind Mt Coo-tha and the city's buildings begin to light up the night sky. For those daring enough to play frisbee from the top of the cliffs, let it be noted that you do so at your own peril – it’s quite a workout retrieving a poorly thrown disc from the bottom of the cliffs.
Brisbanites, if catching a train is on your weekend agenda, you might want to make other plans. As part of city-wide track maintenance, every line that runs through the Brisbane CBD is experiencing closures until Monday morning — including every single stop from Roma Street to Albion. The list of impacted stations is considerable, running out to Corinda on the Ipswich line, Murarrie on the Cleveland line, and Yeerongpilly on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines, too. Northsiders fare much better, with the track work only extending as far as Albion in that direction. If this sounds familiar, yes, it's the second time this has happened this year. Buses will replace trains through the CBD over the weekend, although Translink advises that passengers should add an extra hour onto their travel time until the first service on Monday. And if you're wondering why, the list of maintenance tasks is hefty, including general track and overhead line work, wire replacement at Roma Street, and track reconditioning at Central Station and Yeronga. Rails will be replaced from Corinda to Yeerongpilly and Graceville to Sherwood, and bridge replacement works will also occur on the Ipswich line. Image: Denisbin via Flickr.
In a provocative move usually found in the realms of contemporary art, Austrian men's magazine Vangardist has just printed 3000 copies of their latest edition with blood-infused ink from people with HIV. A new project with Saatchi & Saatchi Switzerland, Vangardist's #HIVHeroes issue aims to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, trigger discussion around the attached social stigmas and raise funds — all profits from this edition go to charity foundations fighting the stigma of HIV/AIDS. The blood-infused ink comes from three HIV-positive donors: a wife and mother, a heterosexual man and a homosexual man. The #HIVHeroes issue comes sealed in plastic, encouraging readers to face their HIV contact fears when physically opening the magazine. According to Dezeen, Vangardist followed Harvard and Innsbruck-produced guidelines to ensure handling of the magazine had no risk of infection. Vangardist describes the plastic-sealed issue as "100% safe", a provocative nod to the prevailing social fear attached to HIV/AIDS and the people who live with it every day. "Although people with HIV can live a normal life in countries with good medical care, they are still faced with a hard social stigma of exclusion," says the Vangardist team. "Most conceal their illness for fear of losing their friends, their job or their partners or even to find a partner. Because still there are still too many people who are afraid to touch a person with HIV, to embrace or kiss. "No matter how one learns of the issue, whether one hears about in the news or reading the newspaper about it, everyone is wondering: "Would I attack this magazine? In any case, anyone who buys one of the limited edition of 3000 pieces is inevitably faced, when opening the special packaging, with its own fears and discomfort. If these are overcome, the next contact with an HIV positive person is very natural run." Vangardist's blood-printed issue is being launched to coincide with Vienna's Life Ball, one of the globe's biggest AIDS charity events. The magazine is only distributed in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, although you can contact their customer service if you want to get your hands on a copy. Via Dezeen. Images: Julian Behrenbeck.
Look, we could be mad. We could have been angry when LCD Soundsystem — the legendary band that called their final show at Madison Square Garden back in 2011 — turned up on the 2016 Coachella lineup. We could have been mildly annoyed when they announced they were reuniting last year. And we could have been pissed when they showed up on this year's Splendour in the Grass lineup and did shows in Sydney and Melbourne. But we're not. We can't be — we're just so goddamn happy the band's back together. And now, less than six months since LCD graced our shores, they've announced that they'll be back in 2018. The band will return to Australia in February for headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Call all your friends. Tickets will sell out so get your fingers ready for 3pm (2pm in Brissie) on November 27 if you're a Frontier member, or, for everyone else, 11am on November 30. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 2018 TOUR DATES Monday, February 12 — HBF Stadium, Perth Thursday, February 15 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Friday, February 16 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Wednesday, February 21 — Riverstage, Brisbane. LCD Soundsystem will tour Australia in February 2018. You can buy tickets here. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons.
A small, rotating cast of volunteer musicians come together as The String Orchestra of Brooklyn (SOB) to produce site-specific musical experiments and collaborations with other New York area musicians. According to executive director and founder Eli Spindel, the strength of SOB lies in the orchestra's versatility. "We have the flexibility to take risks and follow our musical curiosity wherever it might lead," he said. Recently, SOB's "musical curiosity" led to a collaboration with ISSUE Project Room on the March 17 production of String Theories 2012. Held in St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn, String Theories featured the works of four commissioned composers: Anthony Coleman, Eric Wubbels, Spencer Yeh, and MV Carbon. The goal of the project was to create performances on a larger-than-realistic scale, playing on the physicality of the orchestra members and adopting new musical techniques. "It will definitely get a bit rowdy," Spindel said pre-performance. Upcoming events include the 2012 Parks Concert Series, where SOB, in collaboration with The Fort Greene Park Conservatory, has joined the outdoor concert lineup. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UU6VdE35Htg
Things happen quickly in the digital world. Movies about it don't always earn the same description. In the TRON franchise's case, the first film hit cinemas in 1982, then sequel TRON: Legacy arrived 28 years later in 2010. A third movie was announced the very same year, but TRON: Ares won't return cinemagoers to the grid until 2025. Some flicks fall into the "I'll believe it when I'm actually sitting in a theatre watching it with my own eyes" category, and this has been one of them for more than a decade. But Disney has not only announced that TRON: Ares has a date with picture palaces next year — although the exact date itself hasn't been revealed — but also dropped a first image now that production is underway. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) If your immediate response to this news is to hear "the grid, a digital frontier" in your head in Jeff Bridges' voice while Daft Punk's music plays, then you're obviously a fan. At present, there's no word on who'll be taking care of the score this time around, trying to follow in TRON: Legacy's huge footsteps. Cast-wise, TRON: Ares spans a heap of familar names. Jared Leto (Haunted Mansion) plays Ares, while Greta Lee will be worlds away from Past Lives. Evan Peters (Wish), Hasan Minhaj (No Hard Feelings), Jodie Turner-Smith (White Noise), Arturo Castro (The Vince Staples Show), Cameron Monaghan (Shameless) and Gillian Anderson (Sex Education) also feature. As for the plot, TRON: Ares follows the program that shares its moniker, which makes the jump from the digital realm to the real world. So, it's a tale about AI, plus humanity's first encounter with it. [caption id="attachment_935550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TRON: Legacy, ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] The film started shooting in January in Vancouver, with Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) directing — taking over from Australian Lion and Foe filmmaker Garth Davis, who was initially attached to the movie. "TRON: Ares builds upon the legacy of cutting-edge design, technology and storytelling. Now more than ever, it feels like the right time to return to the grid," said Rønning. TRON: Ares doesn't have a trailer as yet, but you can check out the trailers for TRON and TRON: Legacy below: TRON: Ares is set to release in cinemas Down Under in 2025 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
Sometime next year, we can expect Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown to cruise in on their DeLorean, looking to save McFly’s future offspring from incarceration, according to the Back to the Future timeline. So, 26 years later, how does Robert Zemeckis’s vision of 2015 shape up? Ubiquitous cameras? Check. Video chat? Check. The explosion of plastic surgery? Check. Flying cars? They’re not exactly part of the furniture, but they're on their way. How about self-tying sneakers? Well, according to Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, their ascent to the market is set to coincide with McFly’s fantastical arrival. “Are we gonna see power laces in 2015? To that, I say YES!” he said during an appearance at Jordan Brand’s Flight Lab Space in New Orleans. On September 8, 2011, Nike unexpectedly released a limited-edition version of McFly’s high-top, named the MAG. Complete with electroluminescent strap and LED panelling, it was a striking replica. It was also Nike's first-ever rechargeable shoe, with every charge providing five hours’ worth of glow. 'Power laces' were, however, conspicuously absent. Still, that didn’t stop all 1,500 pairs of MAGs released on eBay from auctioning to the tune of US$6 million. Footwear fanatics, sci-fi fans and celebrities spent up big, with prices starting at $10,000 and ending at $90,000+. Every cent went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for research into Parkinson's Disease. We know that Nike bought an auto-lacing patent back in 2010, but we’ve no idea how the next round of Back to the Future-inspired sneakers will look. To find out whether or not they’ll come attached to another edition of MAGs, modelled by McFly as he makes his descent, or built into an altogether new model, you’ll have to keep an eye out for the next instalment. Via SlashFilm.
Well, it's finally happened. Google has gone and ruined Pictionary forever. The internet giant has just unveiled a new web-based tool for computer, mobile and tablet that helps translate your incomprehensible scribbling into legible images. And while it's certainly got lots of useful applications, one thing is crystal clear: family game night will never be the same again. AutoDraw uses "machine learning" to deduce what users are trying to draw, and then presents them with a number of simple artist drawn sketches to choose from. Basically it's like autocorrect for art. Google released an explainer video, which you can check out below. You can have a play around with the tool over here. And no, for the record, it doesn't spit out dirty pictures, no matter how much you might want it to (full disclosure: we tried, a lot). That said, Google is accepting artist submissions, so maybe someone can sneak one through. And look, if nothing else, at least it'll help people avoid situations like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-NH6TGZTcc
Dubai is truly the land of structural opportunity, the Hollywood of the architectural world. There seems to be no limit to what can be built in Dubai, and while they've spent the last few decades ranging upwards with more and more outlandishly tall towers — Dubai Civil Defence is even training a fleet of jet-packed fire fighters to respond to the crazy heights — they now have set their sights on the magical realm of under the sea. Dubai's first partially underwater villa, named The Floating Seahorse, has just been completed in the Heart of Europe, a cluster of luxury man-made islands just a few miles off the shore. The lower level of the three-storey structure is completely submerged so you can literally sleep with the fishes (in a non-life threatening kind of way). The house also features a man-made reef to encourage the growth and protect marine life in the area, with a special focus on their namesake, the seahorse. The villa is one of 42 being built in the area, all of which have apparently been sold for a cool $2.7 million clams. If you missed out, we suggest turning the heater up to humid and grabbing a copy of the Sims 3: Island Paradise expansion — it's basically the same thing but for a fraction of the price. While the villas are astounding, they're not altogether surprising because we, the collective consciousness of the Internet, have recently been going bananas for everything submerged. The Airbnb room literally inside an aquarium shark tank, Africa's first underwater hotel and Subsix in the Maldives — a sunken restaurant with 360 degree views of the surrounding marine life — all point towards an interest in watery accommodation. Something Sebastian the crab said must have really gotten into our brains because we all want to be under the sea (ideally with a hot crustacean band). And now we can. Via Travel + Leisure.
It's not easy being green in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So far, Kermit the Frog — the OG source of that nugget of wisdom — hasn't made the leap into the sprawling big- and small-screen franchise; however, the MCU's emerald-hued characters have still faced their struggles. Bruce Banner aka the Hulk is one. Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora is another. Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Green Goblin fits, too. And now, so does Jennifer Walters — who's about to be know to Disney+ viewers as She-Hulk. The premise of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is right there in its name. Walters (Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black, Perry Mason) is a lawyer newly specialising in superhuman law. After an experiment by Banner (Mark Ruffalo, Dark Waters, I Know This Much Is True), she's soon turning green when she's scared and angry. As the just-dropped trailer for the new MCU show points out, those two emotions "are the baseline for any woman just existing" — and how that plays out will be covered when the new series hits your streaming queue from August 17. If your memory of TV extends back to the late 90s and early 00s, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law should give you big Ally McBeal vibes — but with superheroes instead of Calista Flockhart and dancing babies. Walters' work life, her efforts to balance being an attorney and being She-Hulk, her dating experiences: they're all covered in the initial sneak peek, as is sitting around chatting about everything with her best pal (Ginger Gonzaga, Kidding) over drinks. [caption id="attachment_854362" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] As it explores what it's like to be a single thirtysomething attorney who is also a green six-foot-seven-inch hulk — you know, that old chestnut — the show's nine-episode first season will also feature familiar MCU faces in the form of Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) as Wong and Tim Roth (Bergman Island) as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination. Rounding out the cast is a heap of recent sitcom standouts: Josh Segarra (The Other Two), Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Jon Bass (Miracle Workers) and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva). And, behind the lens, Kat Coiro (Marry Me) and Anu Valia (And Just Like That...) share directing duties across the season, with Jessica Gao (Rick and Morty) as head writer. When She-Hulk: Attorney at Law arrives in August, it'll be the latest dose of Marvel mania in what's proving to be a huge MCU year. It follows Moon Knight and the soon-to-drop Ms Marvel on streaming, then Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder in cinemas. Check out the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law trailer below: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law will start streaming via Disney+ from August 17.
Japanese artist Ryosuke Fukusada has created a wooden light bulb using an ancient technique called 'rokuro'. By wrapping an LED light bulb in a thin layer of wood, Fukusada's bulb was launched recently at New York Design Week. The bulb's LED lighting creates only a small amount of heat, meaning it will not catch alight. A recyclable aluminum socket works with the wood to create a sleek, modern and sustainable design, which recently received an award at the Kyoto Design competition. The bulb is currently being developed.
Public transport just stepped up a notch in France. Are you done with hair-pullingly long off-course commutes, but don't have the sweet funds for a ride of your own? The French city of Grenoble has found the perfect middle ground between two evils — electric, tiny, publicly-owned car sharing. Driven by Toyota's brand new, three-wheeled, Tron-like i-ROAD electric vehicle, the French city is trialling a new car sharing program called Smart City; designed to bring public and private transport together in one big planet-saving exercise. The City of Grenoble has teamed up with Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, EDF Group, Toyota and Citélib to put these ultra-compact, sustainable automobiles on the road amongst its current car sharing program. Basically, Grenoblians (yeah? Maybe Grenoblites?) pick up the Toyota EVs at one station and drop it off at another, kind of like NYC's Citi Bike or London's Barclays for cars. The tiny, tiny electric cars take up less space than those terrible, terrible pollution-happy 4WDs, so parking and traffic congestion loosen up while air quality increases. Two people can sit in tandem, if you're feeling like giving the Goose to your Maverick a lift. Even if you already own a car, the initiative is meant to get commuters to switch vehicles for the last leg of the journey into the CBD problem zone. Nice one, Grenobliers. The Toyota i-ROAD cars will zoom around Grenoble within the car sharing program for the next three years. Plans to bring the cars to Japan are underway, but no talks for programs in Australia or New Zealand have been had yet. And although these gloriously '90s-looking colour ranges... ...are slightly too similar to this... ...we're all for investing in sustainability, saving the planet one multicoloured faddish gizmo at a time. Via Inhabitat.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. As usual, speculation has run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce — will Kendrick and the Arctic Monkeys make an appearance? Will there by more than three females on the lineup? — but the details for Splendour 2018 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. There will be no Arctic Monkeys, but King Kunta himself, Kendrick Lamar, will be Splendouring. The lineup also doesn't state that Splendour is his only show, so stay tuned for news of a national tour (hopefully). The other huge name is Lorde, who will be doing her only Oz show at the Parklands — better get practising that 'Green Light' hair flip now. She leads a female contingent — that is kick-ass but still nowhere near as big as the pool of male performers — which includes Amy Shark, the Lauren Mayberry-led Chvrches, Sampa The Great, Alex Lahey, Jack River, Anna Lunoe, Stella Donnelly, female four-piece All Our Exes Live in Texas and Wafia. Also doing their only Australian shows at Splendour will be Vampire Weekend, Khalid and Girl Talk. The lineup seems to go on forever, including The Wombats, Gang of Youths, Franz Ferdinand, Superorganism and MGMT. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP Kendrick Lamar Lorde (only AUS show) Vampire Weekend (only AUS show) Khalid (only AUS show) The Wombats Hilltop Hoods Chvrches Miguel Girl Talk (only AUS show) Angus & Julia Stone Gang of Youths Franz Ferdinand MGMT Ben Howard Dune Rats & Friends James Bay PNAU Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite The Avalanches DJ set Chromeo DMA'S Ball Park Music Henry Rollins (only AUS show) SAFIA The Jungle Giants Lil Xan Methyl Ethel Amy Shark The Bronx Ocean Alley Carmada (L D R U & Yahtzel) DZ Deathrays Lord Huron Middle Kids Hockey Dad Towkio Cub Sport Touch Sensitive Sampa The Great Dean Lewis Skegss Albert Hammond Jr Mallrat Marmozets Alex Lahey Riton & Kah-Lo Jack River Superorganism Anna Lunoe Lewis Capaldi All Our Exes Live In Texas Alex The Astronaut Yungblud Crooked Colours Nina Las Vegas Soccer Mommy (only AUS show) Elderbrook Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Tim Sweeney Stella Donnelly Bully Baker Boy Wafia No Mono Waax Angie McMahon West Thebarton Eves Karydas G Flip The Babe Rainbow Haiku Hands Didirri Alice Ivy Amyl & The Sniffers Ziggy Ramo Fantastic Man Lo'99 Human Movement Manu Crook$ Kasbo Madam X Andras Alta Ara Koufax Two People B Wise Made In Paris Jensen Interceptor Woodes Teischa Antony & Cleopatra Muto Elk Road triple j Unearthed winners (TBA) Mike Gurrieri Love Deluxe Lauren Hansom Poolclvb Godlands Nyxen Emma Stevenson Ebony Boadu Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday, July 18. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 19 at 9am sharp AEST. More info will soon be available at the official Splendour In The Grass site. Image: Bianca Holderness.
If movies have taught us anything, it's that there's nothing quite like a romantic vacation with your significant other. Obviously, real life has taught us that as well. And with Valentine's Day upon us for 2023, Jetstar has dropped a hefty sale to help make that amorous dream come true — another round of its popular 'return for free' sale, no less. The airline is doing discounted flights across Australia and to a range of international destinations, including in Thailand, Japan and New Zealand. Wherever you'd like to head, the key part of this sale is coming home without paying for the flight, making your holiday oh-so-much cheaper for you and your special someone. Running from Valentine's Day through till 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 20, or until sold out, it really is as straightforward as it sounds. Whatever flights you opt for as part of the sale, you'll get the return fare for nothing. There is a twist this time around, however. Jetstar's current return-for-free sale is focused on holiday packages, rather than just airfares. So, you'll be nabbing your flights and accommodation in the one transaction, and scoring those return fares for nothing in the process. On the destinations list: Tokyo, Phuket, Queenstown, Uluru, The Whitsundays and more. Out of Melbourne, flights and five nights at Nap Patong Phuket starts at $751 per person, for instance, while heading from Sydney to Daydream Island Resort for three nights kicks in from $784 per person. Deals include staying everywhere from Tokyo's Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, aka the Japanese capital's famous Godzilla hotel, through to mountainview resort options aplenty in NZ. Packages in the sale are for trips across a variety of dates depending on the destination, but are generally focused on mid-July—late November this year. Inclusions also vary per location and hotel, but span daily breakfast, dinner and late checkout. There are a few rules, as is always the case. You have to the same departure and arrival ports for the two fares — so you can go from Melbourne to Honolulu and back, for instance, but can't return via another place or to another city. And, the sale fares don't include checked baggage, so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's 'return for free' sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 20 — or until sold out. 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.
Feeling a lust for life, literature fans of Brisbane? If you're not already, you might be when this year's Brisbane Writers Festival rolls around. No stranger to visiting the River City for this book-loving fest, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh headlines BWF's 2023 lineup. He has a new release, The Long Knives, to talk about; however, given that this year marks a whopping three decades since his Scotland-set debut novel hit shelves, the book that then sparked a Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)-starring cult-hit movie is also getting its own anniversary session. BWF has plenty more in its catalogue, too, when it unleashes its annual celebration of words and the tales they help tell from Wednesday, May 10–Sunday, May 14 at various venues around Brisbane — and at 150-plus live literary events. The first festival under new Artistic Director Jackie Ryan, this feast for bookworms and literature lovers also spans Booker Prize-winner Shehan Karunatilaka, who emerged victorious in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Plus, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow's Gabrielle Zevin will be on hand to explore the New York Times bestseller. Among local names, Stan Grant, Grace Tame, Tim Winton and Kate Morton all feature. Grant has new tome The Queen Is Dead to chat about, Tame will dive into her memoir The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Winton's TV series Love Letter to Ningaloo is in the spotlight and The Shifting Fog's Morton will explore her latest, Homecoming. Other highlights from the full lineup span First Nations authors such as Lionel Fogarty, Brooke Blurton, Alexis Wright and Lystra Rose — and a big focus on South Korean authors including Bora Chung, Park Sang Young, Krys Lee and Kim Min Jeong. In a deeply Brisbane inclusion, Regurgitator's Ben Ely also has a 30th anniversary to reflect upon — because that's how long it has been since the Brissie band got together, which he'll dive into with writers Tony Wellington and Andrew Stafford. Elsewhere on the bill, the Blockbuster Crime panel will see Welsh team up with crime-fiction names Tracey Lien, Candice Fox and Garry Disher; Boy Swallows Universe's Trent Dalton will turn his attention to romances; Nat's What I Reckon has a session about being a YouTube hit; and the Literary Death Match, aka a writers' battle royale, returns. Sessions on democracy, YA, refugee and migrant stories, whodunnits, zines, making the leap from the page to screen, rom-coms, heroes and villains, poetry, Australian gothic, sporting books — they're all on the roster as well, in what's set to be a dazzling five days for word nerds no matter what kind of text you like to devour. Images: Bianca Holderness.
Brisbane cat lovers, our neighbours Sydney and Melbourne have had enough kitty cuddle time. They've been basking in the smuggery of Australia's first cat cafe, Sydney's first pop-up kitten cafe, all the kitty time. But the global trend is finally moving north. Yes, Brisbane is finally getting its own cat cafe. If you're in desperate need of some kitten hugs, this new Red Hill establishment has you covered. Aptly called the Cat Cuddle Cafe — what else? — everyone's new favourite place will take up residence on Musgrave Road. Well, it will if it meets its funding goal. Making a haven for mousers and their fans doesn't come cheap, you know. Those pledging their hard earned cash for cats will be helping create a space that humans and kittens alike will never want to leave, with donations going towards crucial stuff like leases, insurance and permits. And catnip, scratching posts, fake mice and all the treats felines can eat, we assume. Of course, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas, there'll be a menu with food (we hear cat-shaped cookies), coffee and the like — but, admit it, that's not what anyone will really be going there for. You'll also be assisting critters in need of affection and shelter, with the kitty hangout opening its doors to rescued tabbies and toms. Brisbane cat rescue Pussies Galore will be running the cafe in conjunction with the Animal Rescue Support Network, so you'll be snuggling with rescue cats from PG and other Brisbane rescue shelters. Yes, this is a cat cafe that not only showers patrons with feline fun, but makes a real difference to the animals it adores. To support the Cat Cuddle Café, visit their fundraising campaign page. View all Brisbane Cafes.
David Bowie lit up the entertainment world like a flash of lightning. In fact, after wearing a bolt of brightness across his face on the cover of his 1973 album Aladdin Sane, the symbol became forever linked with the star. Now, a collective of Bowie-obsessed designers are trying to ensure that he continues to dazzle London thanks to a proposed permanent public memorial. In a plan that has must-visit tourist attraction written all over it, creative consultancy This Ain't Rock'n'Roll have launched a crowdfunding campaign to see a three-storey-high, red and blue coloured piece of stainless steel art built in the centre of Brixton, just five streets away from where Bowie was born. Yes, it'll take the shape of a lightning bolt. Yes, they've already thought of calling it the ZiggyZag. Yes, measuring nine metres in height and almost seven metres in width, it'll be just like the man who inspired it — impossible to ignore. The structure will sit next to another Bowie tribute in the form of Jimmy C's internationally famous Aladdin Sane mural, turning the Brixton spot into an absolute haven for worshipping the artist. If it eventuates, we're guessing there'll be plenty of dancing in the streets. Created in consultation with Bowie's team in New York and London, the project has a target of £990,000 — raising £43,647 so far at the time of writing — with the pledge period ending on March 21. Those who donate funds won't just play a part in making history, but can also receive books, pins, prints, t-shirts, pendants, limited-edition art and even 3D-printed miniature replicas, depending on the level of their contribution. For more information, visit the David Bowie memorial's crowdfunding page.
No one likes the middle seat on a plane. Does anyone book flights, select where to sit and genuinely (and willingly) pick being stuck between two other people, with no window to look out and no easy access to the aisle, if there's another option? No, no they don't. Until now, that is, because Virgin Australia has just started throwing some love towards folks who do indeed take everyone's least-favourite spot — via a new Middle Seat Lottery. Running since Monday, October 24, and showering people sitting in the middle with prizes until Sunday, April 23, 2023, the Middle Seat Lottery is as self-explanatory as it sounds. Plonk yourself down in the abhorred seat — with a ticket, of course — and you could score goodies for your trouble. The freebies change each week, but there's more than $230,000 in prizes on offer across the six-month competition — only if you either select the middle seat or you're assigned it. Those prizes include Caribbean cruises with Virgin Voyages, complete with flights to and from the USA; a helicopter pub crawl in Darwin, again with flights there and back included; and a Cairns adventure package, which covers flights, accommodation, bungy jumping, river rafting and other activities There's also flights and tickets to your AFL team's away games in 2023 — and, still on Aussie rules, an AFL Grand Final package, covering a lunch, tickets to the game, being on the boundary line before the match, merch and an after party. One prize will be given out each week, with 26 prizes in total across the competition's duration. And if your week doesn't coincide with a holiday giveaway, platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer status with one million points is also on the freebies list. An hour or so in a seat you wouldn't normally pick for the chance to win holidays, heaps of footy or frequent flyer points to book more holidays? Worth it, probably. To go in the running to win any of the above, you do need to be a Velocity Frequent Flyer member over the age of 18. And, you'll have to fly somewhere within Australia, on a Virgin Australia-operated domestic flight, during the competition period — in a middle seat, obviously. Also, to enter, you then need to use the Virgin Australia app within 48 hours of your flight's scheduled departure time, tapping on the Middle Seat Lottery tile, finding your flight and entering your details. From there, winners will be drawn each week and contacted if they're successful. Virgin Australia's Middle Seat Lottery runs from Monday, October 24, 2022–Sunday, April 23, 2023. For more information, head to the Virgin website. Images: Carly Ravenhall. 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.
Have you ever wondered who the people on our money actually are? Sure, the Queen's pretty obvious. Okay, we seem to be a little enamoured with our native animals. But wouldn't if be great if you could actually relate to the people proudly emblazoned on our currency? Imagine if you could pay for a cold beer with a few cheeky Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That's a world I want to live in. So to does German-based designer Andre Levy. Working on an popular Instagram turned Tumblr project called Tales You Lose, this skilled artist has been altering currency from around the world to suit this great idea. He's transformed politicians, royalty and cultural icons into the likes of Princess Leia, Amy Winehouse, Flash and Apu from The Simpsons. "I never collected coins," he told Hyperallergic. "What initially made me accumulate a few was the fact that I keep forgetting them in my pockets ... I saw those coins as massively reproduced sculptures, and felt they could be turned into templates for something richer." Though the act is inherently a kind of defacement, Levy says his intentions aren't political. His subjects are instead decided by convenience. For instance, he often chooses to colour over Queen Elizabeth because of her easily manipulated silhouette. He especially like the Italian 'Vitruvian Man' because you can sneak in a whole standing figure. As far as we can tell, he hasn't yet tackled any Australian currency, though he's always thinking up new ideas for artworks. Right now, he's actually looking for a coin to transform into RuPaul. Seeing as our only pictured person other than the Queen is an Aboriginal elder, I don't think Australia can help him out. Via Hyperallergic.
There's thinking outside of the box, and then there's redesigning the box — and when it comes to the structure certain to be Taiwan's next landscape, Dutch architecture firm MVRDV has done the latter. To be specific, their new home design does away with squares, preferring a rather unusual form instead. Meet Y House, which is shaped just like the letter, and comes complete with a sky-high pool between the inevitable rooftop gap. "Why not?" is what everyone involved in the project must've sad when someone came up with the idea for a holiday home that resembles a giant Y-shaped sponge. While it'll be made out of concrete when it comes to fruition, the mutiple-storey building will also be littered with circular windows from top to bottom. In addition to the eye-catching pool between the sloped surfaces of the structure's roof, Y House will also feature two multiple levels of communal living space (including a solarium, change rooms, and entertaining and dining area), two lower floors filled with bedrooms, and ground-level garden tea room. A landscaped, Feng Shui-friendly garden will surround the home, as will a second decorative pool with stepping stone paths. The structure might sound futuristic; however it'll become a reality sooner than you might think, with the building due to be constructed in 2017 in a new residential community on the outskirts of Taiwan's Tainan city. And the best part: because it'll be used as a holiday house, you can cross your fingers and hope that the owners will list it on an accommodation-sharing website when they're not using the place. Via Dezeen.
Staying on a private island seems like something reserved for Beyonce, Jay Z and Blue somewhere in the Caribbean (and most definitely with some kind of a yacht). Because where do mere mortals even access entire islands, anyway? And do you have to be a millionaire to access one? These are all questions people who haven't had the pleasure of erasing all unwanted human contact from their lives for a period of time ask. All we know is that, in the words of Liz Lemon, we want to go to there. Enter Satellite Island. Just off the coast of Tasmania, the small 30-hectare piece of land in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel is every bit the idyllic alpine Tasmanian dream getaway you could hope for. And when you visit, it's totally, 100% only inhabited by you. The island has been owned by the Alstergren family for a few generations, but when Will and Kate inherited it six years ago, they decided to open it to the public for the first time. Which is great news for everyone else, because it's crazy beautiful. Sea cliffs drop down into that clear, fresh Tassie water, blue gums cover the landscape and you can see across to Bruny Island. Just take a look at where you could be sleeping. The island is yours to explore, with walking tracks, kayaks and fishing rods available for use. You can walk around the island in an hour and a half, so do that. Plus, Bruny Island is only a five minute boat ride away, so duck over there for all your cheese, wine and oyster supplies and come back and eat them on the deck as the sun goes down. Oof. Satellite Island is accessible from the Satellite Island private jetty at Middleton, about a 40 minute drive from Hobart. The manager will meet you to take you to the island. For more information, visit their website. Image: Tess Newman-Morris via Instagram
"Is this really happening again?" asks Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) in the just-dropped first teaser trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three. "Well, you know, who are we without a homicide?" replies his neighbour, fellow murder-mystery buff and co-podcaster Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die). Clearly, this hit sleuthing comedy is returning as it's always gone on — since season one made it one of the best new shows of 2021 and season two put it in the best returning category in 2022. Also starring Steve Martin (It's Complicated), the hit Disney+ series will drop its third season sometime in 2023 — and while there's no official release date as yet, the first sneak peek sets the tone for what's to come. Mabel, Oliver and Charles-Haden Savage's (Martin) dynamic is filled with as much banter as ever, and there's another murder to solve. The latter won't come as a surprise, of course, because season two ended with another big death. So, that's what the new batch of episodes will look into, complete with Paul Rudd (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) and the one and only Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up) joining the Only Murders in the Building cast. The newly released trailer serves up a glimpse at both, too — one for the first time, one after making quite the series debut last time around. From the looks of it, season three will spend a fair amount of time working through the events leading up to that last murder at the end of season two. So far, though, few other details have been revealed. Indeed, the new trailer focuses on "a surprise you never saw coming" — which is Streep, although her casting was announced earlier in 2023. The series does love adding names to its on-screen roster. Over both season one and two, Tina Fey (Girls5eva) has been a significant presence, Sting and Amy Schumer have played themselves, and Cara Delevingne (Carnival Row) has also popped up. If you're still yet to experience the series' charms, it follows the odd trio of Charles-Haden, Oliver and the much-younger Mabel after they bond over two things: listening to a Serial-style podcast hosted by the show's own version of Sarah Koenig, aka Cinda Canning (Fey); and a death in their luxe abode. Of course, they did what everyone that's jumped on the true-crime bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second go-around, another death needed investigating. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Check out the first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building's third season doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Season one and two are currently streaming Down Under via Star on Disney+. Read our full review of season two — and of the show's first season, too.
With the chilly weather well and truly upon us, what makes for a better night in than snuggling up with a cup of tea and a good read? It’s true, nothing beats a good book. How many times has the book been better than the movie, or you’ve kept reading just one more page into the wee hours of the morning, or you’ve fallen head of heals in love with a fictional character… oh, Mr Darcy. If your bookcase is gathering some dust and you’re dying to sink your teeth into a new page turner, head to the Lifeline Bookfest, the world’s biggest second-hand book sale. Hundreds of books are up for grabs so you’ll be sure to snag a bargain. Most importantly though, all money raised from the Bookfest supports Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis line as well as suicide prevention and awareness programs. Support a wonderful cause by finding a few pre-loved books at the Brisbane Lifeline Bookfest. Happy reading!
Bottle shops. You know the drill; hovering wistfully in front of an arsenal of bottles, hand stroking chin, staring at the labels and hoping the one with the nice font is a surefire winner. But as soon as your cluelessly-picked vino makes its way to the glass, that shit's way too woody man. Too dry. Too fruity. High damn acidity. It's all wrong. You know what you like, when you get it, but you can never quite pick it. Luckily, a brand new app is about to hook you up with your perfect match — using science. Next Glass is a brand new app which acts as a 'matchmaker' between humans, wine and beer, hoping to Cupid you straight to your favourite new drop according to your tastes. Ditch the wine diary, these guys are using science. The Next Glass team have analysed ingredients from microbreweries and vineyards across the globe — and even taste-tested them, in what sounds like the most applauseworthy 'research' excuse for throwing back bucketloads of drank we've heard yet. App developers George Taylor and Stephen Pond have been analysing up to 200 bottles of beer a day through a project called The Beer Census, attempting to hoard every beer in America and rate their chemical makeup in the lead-up to Next Glass's release. Party at George and Stephen's lab y'all. So how do you use it? To start with, users build a profile by finding wines and beers they already like through the app and give them a rating out of four. Kind of like Spotify for booze, the app gives better recommendations the longer you use it and the more flags you raise on what you like and don't. Then, when you find a shiny new Pinot Noir to try, all you have to do is scan the bottle and the wine's profile will be matched to your preferences. You'll be given a percentage rate of how the wine fits in with your tastes and if the score's over 90 you've got a pretty great match. Like all apps nowadays, users can share their findings and connect with other Next Glassers (as well as giving vital stats to beer and wine distributors, always). Plus, if you and your buds all scan the same bottle you can get a few more scores to see how you all compare — Max might be a Savvy-B type of guy, while Lisa might get all up in Riesling, but this cheeky wine might suit them both. And if trying out an app is excuse enough to 'scan' multiple bottles of wine among friends, we're in. While the app's only available in the US so far, fingers crossed for an Australian taste-testing team call-out. Next Glass is available for free on the App Store and Google Play — but only works in the US so far. Via Springwise and Grub Street. Image credit: djwtwo via photopin cc.
Australia's leading lady of sassy, smokey and sultry blues, Lanie Lane is heading to Brisbane for her Bangity Bang National Tour. Lanie Lane channels a golden era of music as she drenches her tales of love, lust and heartbreak with her distinctive and soulful voice. Her music is a unique blend of rockabilly, blues and country making her a must see. Her single, 'Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling in Love With a Cowboy' has been regularly spun and requested on Triple J. Although she might look sweet as sugar, it's Lanie Lane's swagger that makes her performances such a treat. Sydney's indie group The Rubens will warm up the crowd for Lanie Lane. The talented four piece specialise in relaxed blues and with the addition of a copious amount of soul, The Rubens are destined for big things. Their track, 'Lay It Down' is a heartfelt, dreamy blues number with raw vocals, best enjoyed with eyes closed. The rich and original sound these guys are making has caused music lovers to prick their ears and eagerly await for more. Tickets for Lanie Lane's Bangity Bang National Tour, with special guests The Rubens are just $20. Grab one before they sell out.
Brisbane favourites The Trouble with Templeton are playing a final headline show before heading off for their UK and Europe tour. The five piece have a lot to celebrate as they have recently been signed to UK Indie label Bella Union alongside the likes of Fleet Foxes, Midlake and Flaming Lips. Get your last hit of Templeton goodness at the Old Museum before the jet setters take off. The quintet will be playing their successful tracks such as 'You Are New' and Soldiers. Check out their clip for 'Soldiers' filmed around town and only released a couple of weeks ago. What's more, the alternative rock group have their debut album, Rookie, on sale for you to get into before you see them live. The ever charming Little Scout will be performing earlier in the night.
Hot on the heels of its Brisbane opening earlier this month, global hotel chain W Hotel has just announced that it'll be landing in Sydney's Darling Harbour in 2020. Set to become part of The Ribbon – a sleek new $730 million development designed by HASSEL architects and sitting on the former IMAX theatre site, which was demolished in late 2016 – W Sydney is promising, not just a hotel, but a luxury hideaway. As with every W Hotel, you can expect impeccably-designed futuristic spaces, eateries overseen by expert chefs, cocktails created by top-notch bartenders and collaborations with local artists, musicians and designers. One of W Sydney's drawcards — apart from its 593 rooms and suites spread across 25 storeys — will be a stunning pool deck, overlooking the water. Also in the plans are a signature spa, a ballroom and two bars, including a W Living Room with expansive glass walls and an extraordinary sound system. We don't know, quite yet, who'll be running the restaurant, but chances are it'll be some local legend, given that the Three Blue Ducks are in-house at W Brisbane. Sydney was previously home to a W Hotel on Woolloomooloo Wharf, but it was sold to the Taj Hotel Group in 2007, then again the Hind Group (the owners of Ovolo) in 2014. The new W Hotel is only one part of new The Ribbon development, which will also be home to serviced apartments, retail spaces and — potentially, most excitingly — a huge new IMAX theatre. W Sydney is slated to open in 2020 and will be Australia's third W Hotel, following Brisbane and Melbourne, which is also due to open in 2020. The brand is aiming to be 75-strong hotel worldwide within the next two years. W Hotel is a branch of Marriott International, the world's largest hotel group, which now owns 18 hotels across our nation.
They started as an opening act for the Beastie Boys. They've been fighting the power for almost four decades. They're no strangers to big hats and giant clocks, or for fighting for a worthy cause. They've been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2013. They'll forever come to mind whenever Def Jam and Long Island come up. They're Public Enemy, of course, and they're about to get Australia believing the hype when they bring the noise — and their latest tour — Down Under in October 2024. Chuck D, Flavor Flav and company have announced six Aussie dates for their spring visit, starting in Perth at Red Hill Auditorium. From there, they'll head to Adelaide's AEC Theatre, John Cain Arena in Melbourne, Sydney's Hordern Pavilion and Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, before ending the trip in Brisbane at Eatons Hill Outdoor. Audiences, you're gonna get yours when the icons take to the stage to play through 37 years of tunes that began with 1987 singles 'Public Enemy No 1' and, yes, 'You're Gonna Get Yours', all from their debut studio album Yo! Bum Rush the Show. Expect tracks from 1988's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and 1990's Fear of a Black Planet — two of the most-influential records of the period, and home to 'Bring the Noise', 'Don't Believe the Hype', 'Rebel Without a Pause', '911 Is a Joke' and 'Fight the Power' — as well, through to songs from 2020's What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, their most-recent album. For company, Public Enemy have AB Original in support, pairing one classic duo with another in Briggs and Trials — and matching the US group's commitment to social rights activism with an Australian act just as devoted to standing up against injustice. Public Enemy last played in Australia a decade ago, on a 2014 tour that included Golden Plains, plus gigs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Launceston. Public Enemy On the Grid 35th Anniversary Tour Dates: Wednesday, October 2 — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth Friday, October 4 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide Saturday, October 5 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Wednesday, October 9 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Friday, October 11 — Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle Saturday, October 12 — Eatons Hill Outdoor, Brisbane Public Enemy are touring Australia in October 2024, with Telstra presales from 10am local time on Friday, June 28, Ticketek presales from 10am local time on Monday, July 1 and general sales from 10am local time on Tuesday, July 2 — head to the tour website for further details.
