Australia's favourite portrait exhibition, the Archibald Prize, is currently on at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. And, now, the Gallery is giving you another reason to visit — or revisit — thanks to its newly launched free program of art, music, performance and dance. Dubbed Archie Plus, it celebrates people, portraiture and the power of community after a really tough year with the aim to honour diversity, resilience and acts of care. To make it happen, the Gallery is working with New South Wales-based artists, performers and community collaborators to create an alternative experience of portraiture. The program will see dynamic portrait-inspired pieces popping up across the entire ground floor of the Gallery, as well as a lower-level corridor. You can expect to catch more than 60 ceramic sculptures by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran gracing the grand entrance vestibule, an eye-catching mural from Studio A and newly commissioned works capturing dance, music and spoken word by likes of Nardean and L-Fresh the Lion. The project is bringing numerous artists on-site to create new work, too, so you may be lucky enough to encounter a live performance or work-in-progress during your visit. [caption id="attachment_790674" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, 'Avatar towers' 2020 (installation view) © the artist. Photo: Mark Pokorny[/caption] For more details, check out the Art Gallery of NSW's website. Top Images (in order): Mathew Calandra, Emily Crockford, Annette Galstaun, Lauren Kerjan, Jaycee Kim, Catherine McGuiness, and Meagan Pelham of Studio 'A Love owls and mermaids singing in the rainbow pop' 2020 © the artists; 'Our superpowers' 2020, designed by children of Plunkett Street Public School, Woolloomooloo with Abdul Abdullah, and families supported by the Asylum Seekers Centre, Newtown and contributors to Together In Art Kids; Angela Tiatia 'The Golden Hour 2020' © the artist; and Peter Drew, 'Aussie' poster series displayed in the Grand Courts, Art Gallery of NSW, Thea Proctor Memorial Fund 2020 © Peter Drew.
It's bright, lively, neon-lit, and wholly unapologetic about blending colour, cocktails and Tex-Mex cuisine — and now, the fast-growing El Camino Cantina has doubled its Brisbane footprint. After setting up shop in Bowen Hills last year, the chain has launched a second joint in Westfield Chermside. It's the latest expansion for the brand, which also operates in Sydney and Melbourne, all under the guidance of Rockpool Dining Group (Sake, Burger Project and, of course, Rockpool Bar & Grill). For its first venue in Brissie's north, El Camino's new site seats 220, taking over the space formerly inhabited by Hermosa. If you've already been to the existing local eatery, then you'll know this casual dining venue takes its vibe seriously. Think loud and over-the-top, complete with giant margaritas, rock 'n' roll jukeboxes, fluorescent signage and a heap of Tex-Mex staples. Menu-wise, all of the chain's favourites make the jump to the new spot. Slushie machines serve up brain freezes in margarita form, with El Camino's coming in multiple sizes and many renditions, including a tropical Red Bull flavour. Other options span a host of beers from near and far, and a sizeable collection of mezcals and tequilas. The food lineup remains fun and casual, like the drinks. Think fiery buffalo wings, sizzling fajitas, plump burritos, soft shell tacos loaded with punchy flavour combinations, and unlimited complimentary corn chips and salsas. The brand's Bowen Hills specials are available at Chermside, too — including $2 tacos on Tuesdays, ten-cent wings on Wednesdays and half-price fajitas on Thursdays.
Brisbane's own curly haired DJ Sampology will be finishing up his Super Visual Monster Mash tour this weekend. Meshing musical beats with visual delights, Samplogy's tour is an impressive feat in technical brilliance. Where most DJs are focused on their headphones and mixing tracks in and out, Samplogy is busy manipulating video via two turntables along with triggering animations from a drum machine, all projected live onto a big-ass wide-screen – all the while dropping his signature dance-frenzy tunes. Talk about being a multi-tasking-mix-master. Fresh from his US tour where he played in New York, LA and the reputable SXSW festival, Samplogy will be ending his epic tour on a high note in his home town. There to welcome him home will be some of Sampology's own personal favourite DJs. Cut a rug to Cutloose, Tom Thumb, Charlie Hustle, Danny Cool and of course Samplogy. Cancel that gym membership – Saturday night will see you see you get that heart rate going in no time.
Most years, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre becomes a culinary, boozy wonderland for three jam-packed days. An alley dedicated to cheese, wine almost as far as the eye can see, an array of food and beverage stalls serving up samples — yep, it's a reality. That's the Good Food and Wine Show in a nutshell, with the next event hitting the city from Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29 in 2023. If you've been before, you'll be eager to head along again. Basically, it's the Ekka of food and wine, just without the rides, dodgems and goldfish . Each year's show notches up big numbers; think: 250 producers, 600-plus wines to taste and more than 60 types of cheese this year. It also dedicates a whole section to a section dedicated to small Australia producers, too, so you can share some love with homegrown outfits. Big-name culinary stars make appearances, complete with workshops and masterclasses. Some cost extra; however if you're just keen to wander and enjoy samples, don't worry — that's all included in the regular admission. A word from the wise: you'll be eating and drinking all day, but do make sure you have a light breakfast beforehand. Lining the stomach is always a good idea, and you'll thank us later. Images: Joseph Byford / J Wyld / L Riley.
Maybe you discovered omurice on a holiday to Japan. Perhaps you saw it in a Japanese film or TV show, instantly tempting your tastebuds. The dish's viral fame might've started your stomach rumbling. Whichever fits, the combination of omelette and rice is up there with sushi and ramen as a beloved Japanese staple — and Brisbane just keeps scoring new excuses to tuck in. Alongside conjuring up pavlova bao and air cheesecakes with a Mont Blanc spin, Harajuku Gyoza has been championing omurice in a big way in Brisbane. Already in 2024, it has hosted an omurice pop-up at its Albert Lane store and welcomed in chef Motokichi Yukimura from Kyoto's Kichi Kichi. The latter is also returning in July. So news that Harajuku Gyoza's South Bank store is next dedicating six weeks to omurice isn't at all surprising. It is delicious, though. Some dishes are as straightforward as they sound, and omurice — aka omelette rice — is one of them. It's an omelette made with fried rice, then typically topped with sauce. Yes, it's an easy concept to get around. From Saturday, July 27, Brisbanites will be treated to three versions from Osaka Omurice's Chef Tadamichi, who is coming to the Queensland capital to prepare and serve up the popular meal at diners' tables. Starting at his family's market stall, Tadamichi has been cooking up omurice since he was 14. In Brisbane, he'll be making the classic version, one with ketchup and an Osaka okonomiyaki-style take, his signature. It features okonomi sauce on top, as well as mayonnaise and katsuobushi flakes. Whichever you choose, you'll be paying $28 a dish from 4–8pm Wednesday–Thursday and from 5–8pm Friday–Sunday, as well as for lunch from 11.30am–3pm Friday–Sunday.
If films like The Darjeeling Limited or Slumdog Millionaire weren’t enough to convince you that India should be your next travel destination, cyber architect James Law's new concept is sure to challenge your stance. The Aquaria Grande is a breathtaking residential complex design thought up by Law for real estate company, The Wadhwa Group, in Mumbai, India. Aesthetically and architecturally stunning, the signature features of the facility are the floating pools located at the edge of each apartment’s balcony. Although the pools may not be ideal for those of us who are prone to vertigo, The Aquaria Grande boasts 37 storeys of 200 luxurious, eco-conscious, energy efficient apartments. In the densely populated city of Mumbai, it provides a fresh new outlook on the direction of the architectural industry in India where there are increasing pressures on the land. Designs like James Law's are not only innovative but necessary to provide sustainable living in a increasingly developed city like Mumbai where cars and high rise buildings make the prospect of eco-friendly living fragile. By raising the bar on architectural aesthetics and design, the Aquaria Grande is sure to place India on the map in terms of the international architectural scene. Now all we need is someone to build one of these complexes in Australia.
New Zealand's golden child of coffee roasting serves up some of the best coffee in Brisbane. The beautiful light-filled and peaceful space is found on Wellington Road, a fitting location for the Queensland Allpress flagship and the cafe is a must-visit destination for coffee lovers and sandwich aficionados alike. Our pick is the tuna, egg and olive sandwich for a comforting lunchtime feed.
It's a juicy and joyous combination of noodles, protein, veggies, herbs and broth, and it's about to take over Brisbane. No, we don't mean ramen. Prepare your tastebuds for another great kind of Asian-style soup: pho. At Phat Pho on Commercial Road in Newstead, that's exactly what's on offer, as the name makes clear. Nestled into a 1920s-era shop, the new Vietnamese street food eatery doesn't just lean on one type of cuisine, though. Noodle salads, lettuce wraps, rice paper rolls, bao, banh mi thit and dinner-time dishes of pork belly and lemongrass chilli chicken are also on the menu, as is ca phe sua da — aka traditional Vietnamese iced coffee. Of course, the phrase "when at Phat Pho" comes to mind, meaning that if you're going to drop by, you really should try their specialty. If tucking into a bowl of bubbling liquid simmered for four-and-a-half hours, littered with pho rice noodles, topped with basil, sprouts, onion, shallots and lime, available in chicken or beef, and cooked according to owner Hong Nguyen's secret recipe doesn't get you in the slurping mood, then nothing will. Image: Bruce Truong.
Tasmania, with its perfectly calibrated natural conditions for turning out brilliant produce, is a paradise for foodies, attracting some of Australia's best and brightest. The locals know it and it calls acclaimed chefs and writers to up sticks and chase their flavour bliss in the rugged south. We've got five tastemakers of the Tasmanian food industry that you should keep an eye on. Passionate advocates and entrepreneurs, their food spans north to south, from flavours of the wild to tastes of terroir and the finest produce the earth and sea can offer. Whether they're homegrown Tasmanian talent or keen mainland foodies who uprooted for a more delicious life, they all share a love for this land and all it produces. We've partnered with Tourism Tasmania to find out what inspires their culinary creations, and captures their hearts — and tastebuds. MASSIMO MELE "Keep it fresh, use the best ingredients and let the produce be the hero." It's a recipe for success and it has served Massimo Mele well. Tasmanian-born Massimo has cheffed his way through restaurants in the US, London and Italy. But he found his home turf was the best place on earth to make the most of this ethos. As Food Director at Grain of Silos in Launceston, he's created a fine dining experience that shows off rustic roots, from refined riffs on wholesome classics to naming local producers. As Culinary Director at Peppina, Mele's flagship restaurant at Hobart's famous Salamanca Place, he can offer 'Italian the Tasmanian way', staying true to core principles of seasonal, local and Nonna-inspired. That means championing artisans, handpicked produce, small-batch, single-vineyard wines, and the home comfort of a porchetta roast and tiramisu — all made for enjoying with others. KIM SEAGRAM Did you hear? Launceston is an official UNESCO City of Gastronomy. And culinary industry overachievers like Kim Seagram are one good reason why. Her passion has helped launch a multitude of exciting hospitality endeavours. One example is Black Cow Bistro, which serves up "Tasmania on a Plate" in its Launceston home. Black Cow's culinary approach is centred on the sacred power of the cow as a symbol of nourishment, abundance… and flavour. She is the co-founder of Launceston's Harvest Market and is also the Chair of Fermentasmania. Stillwater, the luxury accommodation and restaurant offering that was developed with the help of Kim's talent and expertise, has an unparalleled location — sitting right beside Cataract Gorge. With water sourced from Cape Grim, food from passionate local producers, sustainably harvested seafood and character-filled rooms filled with Tassie products, it's a true immersion. Finally, there's Abel Gin — Seagram's collaboration with distiller Natalie Fryar, capturing the tastes of the Tasmanian wilderness. And that's why we referred to her as a culinary overachiever. BEN MILBOURNE Influenced by his dad's seafood cooking, his grandmother's passion for great ingredients and his home in the unique landscape of Tasmania's north west coast, Ben Milbourne's life as a professional foodie was inevitable. He's grown up on some of the best produce in his own backyard. After his success on season four of MasterChef Australia, he continues his commitment to celebrating the people who farm, fish and make the incredible ingredients he has been lucky enough to have access to. His TV series Left Off The Map showcases the best of the best in Tassie, a grand tour every locavore should take notes from. Where to eat, where to stay — a true foodie's guide to exploring Tasmania. Plus he has recipes to do that produce justice. Fact is, travelling in Tasmania gives you access to the kind of ingredients chefs go absolutely wild for. Why not try it out, if you have the chance to cook with the best? [caption id="attachment_867641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Gibson[/caption] ANALIESE GREGORY What drives an acclaimed young chef from Michelin star restaurants of Paris and Sydney to leave it all behind with a dramatic tree change? The call of idyllic cottage life in one of the finest food and vino regions in the world. Analiese Gregory wrote her book, How Wild Things Are, to share her knowledge of farming, fishing, hunting, foraging and sourcing food from the farms and wilderness of Tasmania, and — of course — how to cook it beautifully. If you've watched her SBS series A Girl's Guide To Hunting, Fishing and Wild Cooking… you'll already know some of her favourite small-batch, local growers and makers of Tasmania. And if you're lucky, you might find her making culinary magic with this produce at events and pop-ups when you visit. MATTHEW EVANS Champion of sustainability, regeneration and learning farming by trial and error (and now great success), Matthew Evans is a writer, cook and farmer. Evans, together with his partner in life and in business, Sadie Chrestman, established Fat Pig Farm in the beautiful Huon Valley. He thinks Tasmanian producers are worth making noise about, and he's published numerous books on food, farming and even good soil. You can follow his journey from food critic to food producer on SBS series Gourmet Farmer, where he shares the spotlight with many local mates and collaborators, including Nick Haddow of Bruny Island Cheese and Glen Huon Dairy Farm. Sign up for a workshop in sustainable farming skills or try the food for yourself at a Fat Pig Farm Feast, a long afternoon celebration of sharing seasonal produce sourced as much from the farm as possible, with matched drinks and a guided tour, so you can see exactly where it all comes from. It doesn't get more farm-to-table than this ultra-locavore experience. Ready to plan a trip for your tastebuds around Tasmania? To discover more of what the island state has to offer, visit the website.
Brisbane has a new home for luxury retail, with the arrival of The New Trend (TNT) on James Street. Founded by Vanessa Spencer in Melbourne in 2017, the multi-brand retailer has gradually expanded to numerous brick-and-mortar locations in both Victoria and New South Wales. Now, a brand-new flagshop store is set to make contemporary fashion more accessible. At the heart of the brand's success is its carefully curated selection. Serving as a go-to destination for global fashion powerhouses like The Attico, Coperni and Wardrobe NYC, each store also offers several leading designers from Australia and New Zealand. Think Christopher Esber, Alemais, ESSE Studios, Wynn Hamlyn and Harris Tapper. Yet what sets TNT apart from other Fortitude Valley spots is how it operates as more than just a stockist. Through meaningful dialogue with the local brands it believes in, a collaborative approach puts considered feedback and development support front and centre. Together, this creates a robust platform that aims to elevate local designers into international names. The new James Street boutique will help support this aspiration. Thoughtfully located in a high-end retail precinct like TNT's other stores, renowned interior design studio AKI was brought on board to shape a suitably refined, inviting space that complements the building's existing facade and architectural context. Browsing the racks at TNT James Street, shoppers will be immersed in natural light, with high ceilings, layered textures and organic materials that reflect the luxe garments on display. Meanwhile, custom-designed furniture produced by local designers adds to the sophisticated atmosphere, where every detail has been carefully crafted with purpose. As for the client experience, personalised attention transforms retail therapy into a VIP encounter. Inside dedicated styling suites, knowledgeable staff offer one-on-one advice so you nail your dream look. Plus, select appointments come complete with refreshments and champagne — a tailored experience you won't get scrolling at home. The New Trend is now open Monday–Friday from 9.30am–5.30pm, Saturday from 9.30am–5pm and Sunday from 10am–4pm at Shop 3, 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley. Head to the website for more information.
Wandering around a market while the sun shines is all well and good, but there's something extra appealing about the nighttime variety. Happening every Friday and Saturday night in Brisbane's north — and back for 2022, too — BITE Markets fits the bill. And, it serves up plenty of food, because that's what every night market attendee really wants. Created by caterer Tom Burke, the twice-weekly setup boasts more than 20 'flavour makers' on its lineup, all trying to keep your hunger in check. Fancy a big heap of pasta? Sweet treats in the form of chocolates, doughnuts, gelato, shakes and poffertjes? Bao, bubble tea, baked spuds, German sausages and wings? They're all on the menu, with the likes of Doin' Donuts, It's a Wing Thing, Shakes and Bakes, Slide Wayz and Wurst-Meister coming to North Harbour to sling their wares. A shipping container setup like Hamilton's Eat Street — complete with landscaping and a dining precinct — BITE Markets showcases local talents, so prepare to feast on meals whipped up by the best producers, food creators and artisans in the area. Running from 4–10pm each Friday and Saturday, the huge foodie gathering calls a patch of Nolan Drive in Morayfield home. Entry costs $3 for adults, dogs are welcome — and for those driving north, there's more than 600 car parks onsite.
Another month, another piece of important bridge news in Brisbane. This time, the Queensland capital isn't gaining a new expanse across the river. This latest development isn't about giving the city a new restaurant in a bridge, either. Instead, we come bearing the revelation that the five-decade-old Victoria Bridge from Queen Street to South Bank is getting an upgrade. The aim? Making moseying over the structure much less sunny. Whether you're heading from the CBD over to the Cultural Centre, or you're taking the reverse meander, the views are always excellent from the Victoria Bridge — but the sun is almost aways glaring. That's about to change, however, as part of Brisbane City Council's new City to South Bank Vision. Yes, shade is about to make a heap of difference to cross-river strolls. The council has advised that it will build a new shade structure over Victoria Bridge's pathway, aiming to provide year-round weather protection for pedestrians. Exactly when it will be added hasn't been revealed as yet, though. And, the roadway section of the bridge — which is only open to buses — will remain uncovered. "A large number of pedestrians, including both residents and visitors, already travel across Victoria Bridge each day," said Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, announcing the news. "Shading Victoria Bridge will significantly enhance walkability between South Brisbane and the CBD, particularly during the hotter months of the year," the Lord Mayor continued Placing shade over Victoria Bridge is just one element of the City to South Bank Vision. Also included: tearing down Milano's and the Pig 'N' Whistle in the Queen Street Mall to make the precinct more open, and potentially adding pop-up gin bars, brewery tastings and food trucks in their place. The council will also purchase Reddacliff Place between George Street and the Victoria Bridge to save it from future development. [caption id="attachment_900947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Brisbane sure does love its bridges. Forget the River City — the Bridge City should be our nickname. New green bridges are in the works at Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek. And, the Neville Bonner Bridge from the new Queen's Wharf precinct to the Cultural Centre Forecourt is currently under construction as well In the CBD alone, we already have the Go Between Bridge, which caters for vehicles, cyclists and walkers between West End and Milton; the William Jolly Bridge that links Grey Street with North Quay; the foot traffic-only Kurilpa Bridge that runs from the Gallery of Modern Art over to Tank Street; and the pedestrian-only Goodwill Bridge that spans from the southern end of South Bank over to the Queensland University of Technology. And, of course, the Victoria Bridge from QPAC to George Street — soon with added shade. For more information about Brisbane City Council's City to South Bank Vision, head to Councillor Vicki Howard's website.
When New Zealand comedy Nude Tuesday hits screens Down Under this winter, it'll be business time. Despite what star Jemaine Clement has sung in Flight of the Conchords, however, few folks on-screen will still be wearing their socks. Birthday suits are the preferred attire here, as made plain in the new movie's name. It does follow an unhappy couple who are gifted a trip to a remote couples' retreat to help save their marriage — a spot where getting in the buff often is recommended — after all. Playing that duo: fellow NZ treasure Jackie van Beek, who co-starred with Clement in What We Do in the Shadows, and Australian The Tourist actor Damon Herriman. And no, the latter isn't portraying Charles Manson, as he did in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Laura and Bruno, the pair's characters, find scenic sights awaiting at their mountainside getaway — and also Clement as Bjorg Rassmussen. Laughter workshops, tantric dance, sexual liberation and emotional animals all pop up, too, as does baring all to truly work out how they are. See: the just-dropped and very funny trailer. All that flesh, and that cast, is one reason that Nude Tuesday stands out. The other: it's entirely spoken in a made-up language. The cast improvised gibberish as they filmed, and British comedian and writer Julia Davis (Camping) then came up with the subtitles for the movie afterwards. There was a script behind the narrative, though — penned by van Beek, who also co-wrote and co-directed fellow NZ comedy The Breaker Upperers. Here, van Beek came up with the story with filmmaker Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water), who is on helming duties. New Zealanders will be able to see how it all turns out in cinemas on June 16, while Nude Tuesday hits Australian cinemas on June 23 — and will also stream in the latter via Stan from July 7. In Australia, multiple versions of the movie will make their way to streaming, including one subtitled by Aussie comedians Celia Pacquola and Ronny Chieng. Check out the Nude Tuesday trailer below: Nude Tuesday opens in New Zealand cinemas on June 16, in Australian cinemas on June 23, and will stream via Stan in Australia from July 7.
Fortitude Valley hotspot Limes Hotel has long been the pinnacle of lush and stylish nightlife revelry. From their exquisite cocktails to their on-point music selection and uber-chic decor, Limes know how to throw a party. But they also know how to dial it down a notch and go for something a bit more low key. For a while now, Limes have opened their doors midweek for their rooftop cinema nights. Patrons get to relax amongst the luxurious setting, enjoy a drink and watch some cinematic excellence. Movies start promptly at 7pm, and the coolest ticket in the house is the Plunge Pool package, which gives you and your posse the luxury of a pool to watch from. See the latest programming at the Limes Hotel Rooftop Cinema website.
Locals and holidaygoers alike have long been loyal to Broadbeach favourite Mamasan. Now, on its tenth anniversary, Mamamsan reopens, unveiling a striking new design and an exciting new menu. Mamasan Co-founder Lauren Duitsch says, "Reaching our ten-year anniversary gave us the opportunity to reimagine every detail of Mamasan. The new design allows for more experiences and memories to be made and a stronger connection between our spaces." The major transformation has introduced new dining spaces to the venue, including a sun-drenched al fresco area and a new private dining room. The private sanctuary is enclosed in Japanese charred timber panelling and centred around a large round table, perfect for corporate gatherings or private celebrations. Co-founder of Zero 9 Constructions, Ryan McAlpin, who undertook the project with Space Cubed Design Studio, says, "Zero 9 are honoured to be entrusted with the renovation of the iconic Mamasam restaurant. It was a privilege to help preserve its legacy while bringing new life to such a beloved [Gold Coast] landmark." Executive Chef Tan has developed a menu that includes classic Mamasan dishes and many intriguing new additions. The menu is extensive, and it won't be easy to narrow down what you want to order. Perhaps you'll start with shallot focaccia with house butter, a tuna taco with ginger ponzu, Korean fried chicken ribs with gochujang, and a wagyu katsu sando. Next, consider the spanner crab tortellini or cod and cuttlefish wontons with chilli oil. The menu's chargrill section includes whole tiger prawns with shellfish kombu butter, bone marrow with butter curry, and lamb ribs with fennel and cumin salt. If you've still got stomach space, share a few main plates among the table, such as the hot and sour crispy eggplant, a 12-hour braised pork belly or a satay crispy half chicken. The kitchen's specialities — perfect for milestone celebrations — include a three-day dry-aged whole duck served with pancakes, cucumber and scallions, Eastern lobster with Hong Kong 'typhoon shelter' chilli garlic crumb, and an MB9+ wagyu striploin. Co-founder JP Duitsch notes, "The renovation creates new possibilities for the venue while preserving the sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere that has made it a destination for our loyal regulars and new diners." Images: Supplied.
After almost two years in the making, Supernormal Brisbane is getting ready to welcome in diners. July 2024 in the River City is proving a big month for Andrew McConnell, first opening Bar Miette — a brand-new terrace cafe and wine bar — and now bringing the Supernormal expansion plan first announced back in 2022 to fruition. Both venues share the same address, making 443 Queen Street in the CBD the Queensland base for the acclaimed chef, Jo McGann and their hospitality empire. If you're familiar with Supernormal in Melbourne, yes, the New England lobster rolls are making the jump north when the new outpost opens its doors on Tuesday, July 23. So is the 150-seater restaurant's focus on Asian-influenced dishes, as influenced by McConnell's time in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul. But the aim is to both give the OG Supernormal a sibling and Supernormal Brisbane its own vibe — including by embracing the place it calls home, an ethos that's also driving Bar Miette. "As a chef, it has always been my aim to offer experiences that are highly reflective of their time and place," explains McConnell. "I am incredibly proud of what we have created — it feels very at home to me in this location, and reflects many of the things I know and love about Brisbane — the nuanced hues of the landscape, the warm climate, the abundance of produce grown on the doorstep." "It feels like the right evolution for Supernormal. Whilst the design sets the two restaurants apart, there is a DNA that runs through them that is grounded in the food, the service, the drinks and the sense of location," McConnell continues. Accordingly, from its riverside site next to Customs House — between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves, complete with water and Story Bridge views — Supernormal Brisbane is pairing signature dishes with newcomers, all while paying tribute to Queensland ingredients. You'll spot the former as you tuck into the restaurant's half crispy duck, which comes cured in salt and cooked twice, for instance. From a lineup that spans appetisers, a raw bar, dumplings, dishes to share and more, other menu highlights include claypot sticky pork rib dumplings, baked abalone pastries, and Szechuan and yellow chilli-poached Moreton Bay bugs. This is the type of spread that you'll want several visits to feast your way through, also featuring mussel and kimchi flatbread, smoked beef with mustard leaf and clam mayonnaise, squid and spring onion skewers, and sour and salty crispy lamb. The same sentiment applies to the four-strong dessert range, where milk gelato with shiso oil, plus apple and sorrel gelato, sit alongside a mix of Valrhona chocolate, caramelised miso, peanuts and sesame; the strawberry, yuzu and pineapple sage meringue; and fresh mangosteen on ice. Saying cheers to a hefty wine list with almost 400 options is equally a multi-trip quest, with the vino selection favouring family-owned producers both emerging and established. If you prefer cocktails, the libation are taking their cues from Brisbane's subtropical climate. For those with an occasion worth celebrating, Supernormal Brisbane also features private dining in The Bridge Room, catering to up to 50 people surrounded by sandstone walls. As well as overseeing the fitout for Bar Miette, Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME have been on design duties for Supernormal Brisbane since it was announced. With creating a sensory experience from the moment that patrons step inside the guiding principle, they've decked out the eatery with an emerald marble maître' d station, green terrazzo floor, carved timber bar that's meant to resemble growth rings on tropical trees, giant columns, bamboo pendant lights, and timber and rattan aplenty. Those vistas? You'll peer at them through floor-to-ceiling glass, giving your meal — lunch, dinner, and whatever suits you across Supernormal Brisbane's daily midday–11pm operating hours — quite the backdrop. Mirrors also feature prominently to ensure that you can see the view, even as a reflection, no matter where you sit. Find Supernormal Brisbane at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane from Tuesday, July 23, 2024 — open from 12–11pm daily. For more information, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Earl Carter.
When is a brewery about more than just beer? When its pizzas are so in demand that it launches its own pizzeria, too. That's the story at Newstead's Range Brewing, which opened its doors on Byres Street in 2018, expanded to Melbourne in 2020 and now has its own onsite slice-slinging eatery at its OG Brisbane venue. Jacopo's Pizza isn't the only new addition joining Range's range in 2023, either. Roman-style pizza has been on the menu at Range since the beginning, with the brewery priding itself on having some of the thinnest bases around. A big driving force: the Newstead site's original Roman-born chef Jacopo, who has since moved back to Italy but still lends the company his name for this new venture. "It's a little ode to him and his dough recipe – which has been tweaked a little bit since then, but is very much still the base of our recipe," Range's co-founder Matt McIver tells Concrete Playground. "We've also added on some really fun, interesting sides as well — Italian-inspired eats that people can enjoy casually with friends. And we think it works really well with the space and with the beers we have to offer." At Jacopo's, which sits inside Range Brewing itself and operates from Wednesday–Sunday, 24-hour slow-rise sourdough bases are the star. They're made with a cold-fermentation process that allows the dough more time to whip up its flavour and texture, which is also how they also get so thin. Seven different combinations of toppings are available, including the vegetarian-friendly Aunty Marg; the Pied Piper, which comes with fermented chilli, honey, salami and pickled peppers; a vegan number called The Spice Rack, as made on a pumpkin base, then packed with twice-roasted chickpeas and spiced eggplant; and the House Arrest, aka ham and pineapple. Another option pops house-made 'nduja meatballs on top, or you can get them with focaccia as a snack. Jacopo's also does cacio e pepe rice balls, fried chicken with ranch sauce every Thursday and a dessert of the week — which might have you tucking into peanut butter cheesecake, for instance. And, if you don't have time to drop by for a bite and brew, the pizzeria does takeaways. Open since March, Jacopo's is scoring some new company from Saturday, May 13, when Range Brewing's second addition for the year starts welcoming Brisbanites in. Meet The Bethnal, a barrel room next door to the Newstead taproom that's been in the works since late 2022, and is all about giving Range a space for events. Fancy getting married at the brewery? This is where you can tie the knot and celebrate afterwards. Hosting 120 people cocktail-style and 80 folks sitting down, The Bethnal also owes its name to Range's beginnings. When McIver and fellow co-founders Gerard Martin planned their jump into owning their own brewery years back, they did so at a pub in Bethnal Green in the United Kingdom. "Bethnal Green is where Gerard and myself lived when we came up with Range the concept, Range the brewery and Range the name. We planned most of the brewery while we were still living in London, and came home to get it off the ground," advises McIver "Bethnal Green holds a very firm place in our hearts. We actually struggled for a really long time to name that venue. This was something that I came up with which links to the brewery and our story." Given that The Bethnal is a barrel room, those oak cylinders line the walls atop polished concrete floors and beneath an exposed ceiling. The vibe is dark and industrial yet also warm; in other words, it's purposefully dramatic. The floor-to-ceiling barrels also house Range's wild-fermented beers and barrel-aged stouts, but the venue's own custom-built private bar will pour its own in-house red and white wines as well. Made in partnership with LATTA Vino from Victoria's Coghills Creek, you'll only find them at Range's own premises. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Range Brewing (@rangebrewing) Soon, that'll include a third newcomer: Patio, which is headed to Rosalie in Paddington by the end of May or beginning of June. "Patio is going to be a neighbourhood craft beer, wine and cocktail bar. It's something that we've wanted to do for a little while, which is have more of a suburban presence in Brisbane, and really latch onto another community that we think a space like that will work in," McIver explains. Find Jacopo's Pizza and The Bethnal at Range Brewing, 4 Byres Street, Newstead — with Jacopo's open now and The Bethnal launching on Saturday, May 13.
Anyone that's spent time at Kirra has fond memories of Kirra Beach Hotel. Since late 2023, the Gold Coast pub wants you to drop by to make new ones. Three years after closing down, including being demolished in 2021, the water-adjacent watering hole returned to pouring drinks by the surf as part of the new Kirra Point Precinct. Eleven years in the making, the beachside spot is making this stretch of Kirra look rather different. Residential and vacation apartments are on the way, with a 116-unit tower dedicated to folks living the beach life year-round. If you're not residing or staying onsite, you can still look forward to hitting the shops, plus gaining a new excuse to sip and snack while feeling the coastal breeze. One of development's big drawcards: its seafront perch. Another: the return of Kirra Beach Hotel, complete with killer ocean vistas. This neighbourhood favourite is aiming to level up the classic beachside pub concept. A watering hole has stood onsite since 1956, but this current iteration is all new. Designed to be breezy and casual — think: a sunny beer garden opposite the surf, five-metre-high ceilings and windows letting the fresh air in — it sprawls across 1300 square metres on the corner of Marine Parade and Miles Street, and is filled with surfing memorabilia heroing the sport's famous names like Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson. Attracting all kinds of beachgoers is another big focus. So, Kirra Beach Hotel includes a family-friendly bistro, a public bar and a sports bar filled with hefty TVs. For a tipple to take home, there's also a bottle-o that champions homegrown fare. And, for anyone heading by straight from the beach, there's a tub of thongs for folks who don't have shoes with them. If you're dropping by for something to eat, pub favourites such as fish and chips (of course), schnitzels and beef rissoles with mash return, sitting on the menu alongside burgers, meats from the grill, salads and raw seafood. Local produce is firmly in the spotlight, as are trawler-fresh weekly seafood specials. Think: oysters both natural and kilpatrick, bugs and prawns by the half kilo, tempura-battered bug tails in toasted brioche rolls and stacked platters. Brews-wise, expect to sip local names like Balter and Burleigh Brewing on the beer side, and Brookie's Gin for spirits. Australian wines help round out the drinks selection — which is just one of the new Kirra Beach Hotel's many things to say cheers to.
The Tinder trawl just got a little more rom-com; brand new dating app Happn aims to take your missed Meet Cutes and turn them into potential dates. Using the GPS function on your phone, Happn encourages you to "find the people you've crossed paths with" in an attempt at fast-tracked 'romance'. If you've ever wondered if the babe in the cereal aisle was giving you the eyeball, now you can check without risking an ego-shattering diss. Invented by three Frenchmen (growth hacker Fabien Cohen, entrepeneur Didier Rappaport and computer engineer Antony Cohen), Happn is generating serious buzz in Europe with its cut-to-the-chase hook up philosophy. While Tinder's flick left or right mechanism is undoubtedly based on looks, lack of Southern Cross tattoos and inclusion of Distracting Hot Friends in profile pics, Tinder also brings up shared interests (if you both like Game of Thrones on Facebook, it'll show up so there's something to talk about rather than "Sup, wanna bang?"). Happn leaves this behind in favour of distance to dates. If you're within 250 metres of each other, Happn uses your phone's GPS to flag your potential romance-o-meter. Of course, your mystery spunk has to have Happn installed on their phone too (so you might be waiting a while to hear from your eyelash-battering stranger if they ain't connected). The timeline shows you the profiles of all the people you’ve crossed paths with, in real-time. Every time you come across someone in real life, their profile appears on your app. Passing someone in the supermarket aisle just got a little more loaded. Happn's sole philosophy is based around celebrating coincedence, "boosting luck" and saving you from "missed connections." But although it sounds simultaneously romantic and an easy carnal escapade, the whole GPS situation is creeping some of us out. Importantly, your position on Happn isn't saved and remains completely invisible to other members — the coordinates of where you passed another Happn user is the only thing registered; the bus stop where That Guy hopped on, the record store where you noticed Her in the hip hop section, the park where your terrier 'accidentally' found itself off leash and headed toward a swoonworthy husky owner. But what of unwanted attention from creepos using technology to be predatory, like many, many creepos tend to do? "The app is designed to guarantee the safety of all users and the confidentiality of their data," say the Happn team. "You can decide at any given time that a profile doesn’t interest you anymore; you’ll never cross paths with each other on Happn again, and they’ll never know. Also, you can report any unwanted behaviour or block a profile by clicking on the little flag at the bottom of every profile." Avoid the creeps, follow up your Meet Cute and let us know where the reception's at. You can download Happn in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Via Guardian.
For the past five years, Josh Niland has been showcasing his seafood prowess to Sydneysiders, with the acclaimed chef first opening restaurant Saint Peter in 2016, then launching fishmonger Fish Butchery in 2018. Last year, he shared his recipes in The Whole Fish Cookbook, letting seafood fiends everywhere follow in his footsteps at home. And now that ocean-focused text has just picked up the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award. On Wednesday, May 27 in the US, Niland nabbed the coveted prize — which is considered the top culinary book award in America and worldwide. Handed out by the culinary-focused non-profit James Beard Foundation each year, the James Beard Awards recognise food-centric media across a number of categories, including chefs and restaurants, books, journalism and broadcast media. They also bestow prizes in fields such as restaurant design, leadership, humanitarian work and lifetime achievement. In receiving the Book of the Year Award, Niland became the first Australian to ever take out the prize. And, he scored a second honour as well, with The Whole Fish Cookbook also winning in the Restaurant and Professional field. Niland's debut cookbook, The Whole Fish Cookbook champions his culinary philosophy, with an ethical and sustainable approach to seafood paramount to his cooking. The book's recipes include cod liver pate on toast, fish cassoulet, roast fish bone marrow, and the chef's 'perfect' version of fish and chips. [caption id="attachment_771910" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] The Whole Fish Cookbook has been picking up praise and accolades since it was first published last September, with the James Beard Book of the Year Award joining a long list of gongs. It also received the Food Book Award at the 2019 André Simon Awards, was named illustrated book of the year at the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards, earned photographer Rob Palmer the National Portrait Gallery's National Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 for one of his photos of Niland, and has been longlisted for the Australian Booksellers Association Booksellers' Choice Awards 2020. To peruse the full list of 2020 James Beard Award winners, visit the awards' website. For more information about The Whole Fish Cookbook, head to publisher Hardie Grant's website. Top images: Rob Palmer.
Anything can happen at Dark Mofo. One of two massive arts festivals run by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, the winter event has always prided itself on being a fest where the dark, sinister, confronting and boundary-pushing come together, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. So, for its first program announcement for 2023, a wild dance theatre performance inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy sounds completely in the event's wheelhouse. That production is A Divine Comedy, hailing from Austrian choreographer and performance artist Florentina Holzinger, and hitting Dark Mofo as both an Australian premiere and an Aussie exclusive. Playing for three days throughout the festival's Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 dates for 2023, it dives into the hell, purgatory and paradise of Dante's classic work, all to explore how humans negotiate life and death. "We are thrilled to present Florentina Holzinger's A Divine Comedy for Dark Mofo 2023. She is a super-talented artist who is brazenly contemporary and culturally relevant," Creative Director Leigh Carmichael said, announcing the news. "This is the most incredibly wild theatre performance that we have presented in the history of Dark Mofo. Its scale is unprecedented and bold, a fitting highlight for our tenth festival. We can safely say the audience will be anything but bored." Holzinger is known for making challenging and provocative theatre, and for exploring gender relations — including how women's bodies are represented in art and media. For A Divine Comedy, she's staging the whole show as a giant autopsy room, in fact, then unleashing choreography that dances with existence, mortality, the end that awaits us all, and our struggle to cope with what that all means. Dark Mofo attendees will watch a cast of all-female-identifying performers spanning all ages, as well as a variety of physical, musical and athletic disciplines, take to the stage for the work. And, they'll see nude performers, slapstick acts, bodily substances and references to slasher movies as well — plus a jam-packed selection of nods to art and dance's respective histories. A Divine Comedy will play Dark Mofo from Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18, with the rest of the fest's program set to be revealed this autumn. Whatever else joins the bill to help the event officially hit ten years, it'll be part of Carmichael's last at the helm. He'll step down after Dark Mofo 2023, making way for a new Artistic Director from 2024 onwards. [caption id="attachment_846523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021, Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2021. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Wondering what else might be in store? Previous years' lineups have seen a fantastical combination of musical performances, performance art and large-scale installations come together. In 2019, the program featured the likes of artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, American musician Sharon Van Etten and one of the world's largest glockenspiels, for instance. In 2022, patrons were treated to performances by The Kid LAROI, and the sounds of Chernobyl and Candyman — plus rainbow installations, and signature festivities such as the Nude Solstice Swim, the City of Hobart Winter Feast, Night Mass: Transcendence in the In The Hanging Garden precinct and the Reclamation Walk. Already keen to get booking? Fancy a Tasmania trip in the interim? Our Concrete Playground Trips Hobart getaway might also be of interest. [caption id="attachment_800592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lusy Productions[/caption] Dark Mofo 2023 will run from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. The 2023 program will be announced in autumn — check back here for further details. A Divine Comedy will play Dark Mofo from Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18. A ticket ballot for the show is open until 12pm AEST on Friday, February 10. A Divine Comedy images: Nicole Marianna Wytyczak. 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.
When the first motion pictures flickered across the big screen 120-plus years ago, audiences were reportedly scared. The line between truth, embellishment and fiction has become muddled over time, but the idea viewers were astonished and startled when they watched the Lumière brothers' famous The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station makes one hell of an urban legend. That was back in 1896. As we know all these years later, cinema hasn't stopped causing bumps and jumps since. The world's first horror film is thought to have released the same year — Georges Méliès' three-minute short called The House of the Devil — and plenty of folks have taken his lead afterwards. Today, that means horror's on-screen cup truly runneth over. Thanks to streaming, a wealth of unnerving flicks linger at everyone's fingertips. If you prefer celebrating Halloween by dimming the lights, popping some corn and getting cosy on the couch for a marathon of unsettling movies, we've put together ten classic recommendations — from creepy vampire films that are almost a century old to more modern must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQ40cI5C0E NEAR DARK Before she took Keanu Reeves surfing in Point Break, tasked Jeremy Renner with defusing bombs in The Hurt Locker and dramatised the international manhunt for Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty — and before she became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar, too — Kathryn Bigelow sunk her teeth into the vampire genre. Near Dark, her 1987 sophomore film, takes elements of the western genre, throws in a clan of roving bloodsuckers and lets atmospheric horror thrills ensue. Bigelow's work has always been lean but weighty, and her dance with the fanged undead is no different. In fact, it's a flat-out vamp classic. Near Dark is available to stream on SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5SG_2n4sM TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME As 2017's Twin Peaks revival proved, no one conjures up unsettling imagery quite like David Lynch. He's been thrusting eerie visuals out into the world since 1977's Eraserhead — but if you like your Lynchian unease with some damn fine coffee and a slice of cherry pie, there's nothing better than 1992's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Set in the lead-up to Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) death, the prequel flick burrows deep into the sinister forces at play. It's a movie of sheer dread, even though viewers know what's going to happen. As only he can, Lynch steeps every frame in the pain, terror and suffering of his doomed protagonist, all while baking in his usual surrealist touches. No wonder it lingers long after watching, like the two seasons of Twin Peaks before it and the belated third season that followed 25 years later. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is available to stream on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyW5YXDcIGs THE EXORCIST Back in 1973, the horror genre was possessed — and it has never truly recovered. That's not a criticism; The Exorcist is a landmark piece of spine-tingling cinema, with William Friedkin's film leaving a heavy imprint on everything that's followed. It even became the first horror flick to score an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, a feat that's still much more rare than it should be. When a movie spends the bulk of its time with a 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair) whose body has been overtaken by a demon, as well as with the two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller) trying to cast the devil out and save her soul, it's going to make an impact. The fact that the film was based on a William Peter Blatty novel inspired by real-life exorcisms also helped, as did Friedkin's handling of Blatty's script, which gives the supernatural details a raw, visceral feel. The Exorcist is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-daIHTY4NQ BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER How funky is your chicken? How loose is your goose? And, to keep the questions going, how well do you remember the original Buffy? Before Sarah Michelle Gellar stepped into her shoes in the cult TV show, everyone's favourite vampire slayer shouted the above cheers, took guidance from Donald Sutherland, battled Rutger Hauer and romanced Luke Perry in the 1992 big-screen comedy. The Joss Whedon-scripted flick still takes its premise seriously, but there's a looser vibe to the movie than the television series. And a thoroughly early 90s vibe, as well. While you're enjoying the undead-killing antics, keep an eye out for everyone from Hilary Swank to Thomas Jane and Ben Affleck among the cast, too. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmvQ_ii42mc HALLOWEEN This time last year, the latest Halloween film hit cinemas. In 2020 and 2021, sequels Halloween Kills and then Halloween Ends will reach the big-screen in late October. But, when it comes to the absolutely best franchise for this time of year, 2019 is unfortunately an anomaly. While Michael Myers isn't terrorising a theatre near you at this very moment, John Carpenter's original 1979 flick is always worth revisiting — in the slasher-thriller realm, it's an utter masterclass. From Jamie Lee Curtis' pitch-perfect performance as formidable babysitter Laurie Strode, to the pervasive air of unease looming over suburbia and Carpenter's own exceptionally unnerving score, the original Halloween is both supremely scary and sublime. Halloween is available to stream from the Apple Store. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJew_11l6n8 HOUSEBOUND Scaring cinemagoers while simultaneously making them laugh isn't as easy as it might sound. Plenty of films call themselves horror-comedies, but they're usually just comedies with horror theming — and they're about as sinister as clown without makeup. While 2014 New Zealand picture Housebound falls into the tried-and-tested sub-genre that is haunted house flicks, writer/director Gerard Johnstone finds the ideal balance between spooks and giggles, all by following a small-time criminal placed on house arrest. Kylie (Morgana O'Reilly) would rather be anywhere but stuck at home for eight months with her mother (Rima Te Wiata); however she soon discovers that they have company in a movie that serves up jumps and chuckles in tandem. Housebound is available to stream on SBS On Demand and Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOipA99GxY NOSFERATU It's the best Dracula film that doesn't actually mention the word "Dracula". In fact, when FW Murnau adapted Bram Stoker's gothic classic in 1922 without getting permission to do so, a court ordered that the movie be destroyed. Thankfully, a few prints survived, which is how we can still soak in the wonders of Nosferatu. Even with a few changes (the famed bloodsucker is now called Count Orlock, for example) the story lures viewers in, but it's not just the plot that's captivating. As proves the case with all German Expressionist cinema from the 1920s, it's how the tale is told in a visual sense that makes an enormous impact. Also significant today, almost a century later, is how free Nosferatu is from everything that's since become a vampire cliche — with the film cutting to the heart of Stoker's disquieting narrative instead. Nosferatu is available to stream on Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWuHv2-Abk TRAIN TO BUSAN Forget Snakes on a Plane — if you want to see what happens when something scary is let loose in a confined space, but you don't want to cringe the whole time, opt for zombies on a train instead. Yeon Sang-ho's instant classic doesn't use the obvious moniker; however this frenetic thrill ride definitely fits the description. It's far, far better than that simplistic outline might seem to suggest, though. As well as forcing a father (Gong Yoo) and daughter (Kim Su-an) to fend off the shuffling hordes while they're in mid-transit, and fleshing its protagonists out more than most zombie flicks manage, Train to Busan also paints a probing picture of modern-day South Korean society. It's part of a franchise, too, with animated prequel Seoul Station exploring another aspect of the outbreak, and a sequel is also in the works. Train to Busan is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWin2LZkvrA THE CRAFT Is a horror classic really a horror classic if it hasn't spawned a remake? In The Craft's case, no one will need to ponder this question for much longer. A new version is currently in the works, but that doesn't mean that the 90s original is going anywhere — and if you like your retro horror fun packaged with teen goth witches, then you'll always want to go back to where it all began. Starring Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk and Rachel True, the 1996 hit charts the fallout when a group of high-schoolers start messing around with the occult and using it to rule the school. It owes a significant debt to Heathers, just with added witches, but The Craft still casts its own enjoyable spell. The Craft is available to stream on on Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7hLdktC_jY THE STUFF If you ever come across a gooey substance on the ground, don't eat it. Things don't turn out well when this exact scenario happens in 1985 satirical horror/sci-fi The Stuff — especially after the titular substance is sold in supermarkets, marketed as being calorie-free and starts a huge food craze. Where it goes from there is best discovered by watching, but don't expect anything in the way of subtlety or realism. Larry Cohen sits in the director's chair, and this is the kind of playful horror fun that the prolific B-movie filmmaker was known for. Everyone needs their spooks with a dose of silliness now and then, after all. The Stuff is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
In just a few years time, the Academy Awards will notch up a century of celebrating the best movies to grace the silver screen each year. How will the acclaimed accolades build up to that point? In 2024, at the 96th ceremony, probably with a whole lot of love sent Oppenheimer's way. The J Robert Oppenheimer biopic earned the most nominations of any film from the past year. Don't be surprised if it takes home the most trophies as well, including for Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. We won't be come Monday, March 11, Down Under time. While winning an Oscar — or a swag of them — over other flicks doesn't mean that there aren't masterpieces among the fellow nominees, or among pictures that didn't even make the cut as well, Oppenheimer is a worthy favourite in a range of 2024 Oscar fields. What will it collect? What will it nab that another film should instead? Who else might win, and what? Can't they just give both Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone Best Actress Oscars? That's all part of our predictions. As we did in 2022 and 2023, we've watched everything — many of which you can too in both Australia and New Zealand right now — and done some assessing and prognosticating. Here are the results, aka the movies and folks likely to shortly be able to add "Oscar-winner" to their posters and resumes in 15 key categories. Best Motion Picture The nominees: American Fiction Anatomy of a Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer Past Lives Poor Things The Zone of Interest Should win: Poor Things Could win: Poor Things Will win: Oppenheimer Barbenheimer was a phenomenon before either Oppenheimer or Barbie even reached cinemas in 2023, with both arriving on the same day to create a memorable pop-culture moment. They shared a release date, and the same wave of attention — but only one can win Best Motion Picture at the Oscars. That one: Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan's biopic of J Robert Oppenheimer is a mind-blower, and one of 2023's absolute best films. It has some stunning company in this category, however, most of which would also make excellent picks for the Academy's big gong: Anatomy of a Fall, Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives and The Zone of Interest, for instance. Then there's Poor Things, which is pure jaw-on-the-floor viewing, and its own unique creation at every turn. It deserves to win. It could achieve the feat. Even if it misses out to Oppenheimer, it'll still be the standout feature of the past 12 months. Best Director The nominees: Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest Should win: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Could win: Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Will win: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Despite his stunning resume, Christopher Nolan has only been nominated for the Best Director Oscar once before, for Dunkirk. If Greta Gerwig had secured a nod for Barbie, they would've faced off again; the first time, Guillermo del Toro deservedly won for The Shape of Water. Everyone knows that the Academy completely overlooked Gerwig this year — but this is Nolan's year anyway. Don't discount Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things, though. This is also his second nomination, after The Favourite — and again (see: Best Motion Picture above), there's nothing like his riff on Frankenstein. Nolan and Lanthimos' fellow nominees are equally at the top of their games with their latest work, so there's no bad choice here if Justine Triet becomes just the fourth woman to win this category, Martin Scorsese collects just his second directing Oscar or Jonathan Glazer nabs his first. Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role The nominees: Annette Bening, Nyad Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall Carey Mulligan, Maestro Emma Stone, Poor Things Should win: Emma Stone, Poor Things Could win: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Will win: Emma Stone, Poor Things Give Emma Stone an Oscar for her line reading of "I must go punch that baby!" alone. Of course, that's not the only reason that she should win the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role category for a second time — the first was for La La Land — but it's emblematic of the commitment that she gives her work in Poor Things. Her delivery, her physicality, her constant ability to surprise: now that's a performance. If only two actors could share this field, though. With heartbreaking subtlety as well as searing defiance, Lily Gladstone is exquisite in Killers of the Flower Moon — and if she wins, which she may well, it'll be wonderful. Her speech will also be the highlight of the night. She's also already the first Native American woman to receive a nomination in this field, and will keep making history if she ends up with a statuette in her hands. Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role The nominees: Bradley Cooper, Maestro Colman Domingo, Rustin Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction Should win: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Could win: NA — Cillian Murphy will win for Oppenheimer Will win: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer "Dearest Cillian. Finally a chance to see you lead... Love, Chris." That's how Cillian Murphy's script for Oppenheimer came — and although this isn't the Irish talent's first-ever leading part, Christopher Nolan pushing him to the fore of his latest film will garner him an Oscar. It's remarkable casting, even given that Murphy is never less than excellent in anything that he's in, back to and preceding when 28 Days Later first thrust him to broader attention. If anyone else has their name read out, it'll be a massive shock. That's not criticism of Murphy's fellow nominees, though. Bradley Cooper directs himself to a career-best portrayal in Maestro, while none of Rustin, The Holdovers or American Fiction would be the movies they are without Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright, respectively. Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role The nominees: Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple America Ferrera, Barbie Jodie Foster, Nyad Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Should win: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Could win: NA — Da'Vine Joy Randolph will win for The Holdovers Will win: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Not all award-winners keep their accolades on a mantle; however, Da'Vine Joy Randolph's must be getting crowded — or wherever else she puts the trophies that she's been collecting for her soulful turn in The Holdovers. She won at the BAFTAs, Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, Satellite Awards, Film Independent Spirit Awards, National Board of Review and Screen Actors Guild, plus thanks to an extremely hefty list of other critics' associations. She won't leave the Oscars empty-handed. As with Best Actor, this is a category where there's no shortage of deserving nominees, but still one certain winner. If someone else does cause an upset, Jodie Foster being rewarded for her efforts in Nyad would see her win for just her second nomination in this field — she's received the Best Actress prize twice for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs — a whopping 47 years after her first for Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role The nominees: Sterling K Brown, American Fiction Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Ryan Gosling, Barbie Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things Should win: Ryan Gosling, Barbie Could win: Ryan Gosling, Barbie Will win: Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer There's no walking out of Oppenheimer without thinking that Robert Downey Jr is going to win an Oscar for playing AEC commissioner Lewis Strauss. And no, he won't just emerge victorious because he's not playing Iron Man, although it's such a treat to see him in such a weighty part (and outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) again. That said, if you did the Barbenheimer double on the same day (Barbie then Oppenheimer is the best order), then you would've walked out of Barbie thinking that Ryan Gosling should get the Best Supporting Actor prize, too. Winning for comedy is significantly difficult at the Oscars, but his Ken almost stole Barbie from Margot Robbie. Whatever the outcome, Gosling will sing 'I'm Just Ken' at the ceremony, so he'll be up on stage at least once. Best Original Screenplay The nominees: Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari The Holdovers, David Hemingson Maestro, Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer May December, Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik Past Lives, Celine Song Should win: Past Lives, Celine Song Could win: Past Lives, Celine Song Will win: Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari That Celine Song's Past Lives only received two Oscar nominations is near unfathomable. That it might go home without any awards is as well. Song missed out in the Best Director field, but the Academy does like to use its screenwriting awards to redress wrongs elsewhere — Quentin Tarantino and Jordan Peele both have wins here, for instance. It's for the same reason that Justine Triet and Arthur Harari will likely win for Anatomy of a Fall, especially given that France didn't put the film forward for Best International Feature, so it couldn't have been nominated and obviously can't win there. It's worth noting that May December's sole Oscar recognition is in this category, and that that's a ridiculous oversight, so an award for it would also be stellar. Best Adapted Screenplay The nominees: American Fiction, Cord Jefferson Barbie, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan Poor Things, Tony McNamara The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer Should win: Poor Things, Tony McNamara Could win: Barbie, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach Will win: Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan As noted in the Best Original Screenplay category, winners for putting pen to paper — or fingers to the keyboard — often let the Academy throw some love towards movies largely ignored elsewhere. Consequently, if Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach score victory for Barbie, that trend just might hold up again (although Barbie is particularly in with a great chance in Best Costume Design and Best Production Design). If Barbie loses, expect Oppenheimer to top it — again. Anything could succeed in this field, though, because Poor Things, The Zone of Interest and American Fiction all also boast cracking scripts. Poor Things isn't just a marvel; it's as bold as any movie could ever dream of. Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara did get nominated for The Favourite, too. Best International Feature The nominees: Io Capitano, Italy Perfect Days, Japan Society of the Snow, Spain The Teachers' Lounge, Germany The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom Should win: Perfect Days, Japan Could win: Society of the Snow, Spain Will win: The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom Finding a viewing experience that's more sublime, soulful and thoughtful than Perfect Days — not just among the nominees for Best International Feature, but in general — is a near-impossible task. Watching the Tokyo-set Japanese contender about a toilet cleaner, which is directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence), is as life-changing as cinema gets. A British film set in Germany and told in German, The Zone of Interest is unforgettable in a completely different way given that it is set during the Holocaust among a family living next door to Auschwitz. It's also exceptional — and an worthy recipient of this award. Indeed, there's no wrong pick, which means that Society of the Snow could sneak in for also telling a harrowing real-life tale. Best Animated Feature The nominees: The Boy and the Heron Elemental Nimona Robot Dreams Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Should win: The Boy and the Heron Could win: The Boy and the Heron Will win: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won an Academy Award in this very category. Among the American films that've made it to the final five in 2024, sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the pick of the bunch — and another spectacular achievement for the medium of animation. Twice now, watching the Spider-Verse movies means realising how live-action takes on superheroes will never be able to relay the full story. If Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse wins, that'll be an ace outcome. Going past Hayao Miyazaki's comeback The Boy and the Heron would be downright audacious at the same time, however. With his first film since 2013's The Wind Rises, the master Studio Ghibli co-founder adds one of his best movies yet to his resume. It's imaginative, heartfelt, smart, breathtaking and awe-inspiring — and that's just the beginning. Best Documentary Feature The nominees: Bobi Wine: The People's President The Eternal Memory Four Daughters To Kill a Tiger 20 Days in Mariupol Should win: 20 Days in Mariupol Could win: NA — 20 Days in Mariupol will win Will win: 20 Days in Mariupol For two years in a row, the Best Documentary Feature field will likely offer a damning indictment of Russia with its winner. Navalny did just that in 2023, with the film must-see viewing then and even more so since Vladimir Putin opponent Alexei Navalny's recent death in incarceration. With 20 Days in Mariupol, the invasion of Ukraine is in the spotlight. This is a movie that can't be unseen, nor forgotten. An on-the-ground exploration of the first 20 days of the war in the titular city, including in hospitals where victims of bombings and shellings are sent, this is as essential as documentary filmmaking gets. Fighting for freedom is also at the heart of Bobi Wine: The People's President, which could earn some love — and battling for justice similarly drives the also-excellent To Kill a Tiger. Best Original Score The nominees: American Fiction, Laura Karpman Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, John Williams Killers of the Flower Moon, Robbie Robertson Oppenheimer, Ludwig Göransson Poor Things, Jerskin Fendrix Should win: Poor Things, Jerskin Fendrix Could win: Poor Things, Jerskin Fendrix Will win: Oppenheimer, Ludwig Göransson Ludwig Göransson knows what it's like to win an Oscar thanks to Black Panther. Soon, the Swedish composer will probably know what it's like to win two. As the greatest scores do, his work on Oppenheimer turns it into the film that it needs to be but wouldn't without such influentual music — which, seeing how astounding everything else is about the movie, isn't a minor achievement. Jerskin Fendrix's tunes for Poor Things do all of that with such distinctiveness, while also feeling so deeply perfect for the feature, that it would come as a surprise to no one if he was somehow composing from within its frames. Giving this award to Robbie Robertson, who does wondrous work for Killers of the Flower Moon, would also be a touching posthumous tribute to The Band musician and regular Martin Scorsese collaborator. Best Original Song The nominees: 'The Fire Inside', Flamin' Hot, Diane Warren 'I'm Just Ken', Barbie, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt 'It Never Went Away', American Symphony, Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson 'Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)', Killers of the Flower Moon, Scott George 'What Was I Made For?', Barbie, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell Should win: 'I'm Just Ken', Barbie, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt Could win: 'I'm Just Ken', Barbie, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt Will win: 'What Was I Made For?', Barbie, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell First, the obvious observation: Best Original Song is Barbie's to lose. Bringing the eponymous doll to the screen notched up two of the five nominees in this category, and is almost certain to win for one of them — after they're both performed live, with Ryan Gosling singing 'I'm Just Ken', of course, and Billie Eilish belting out 'What Was I Made For?'. Expect Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell to take home the trophy, which'll be the pair's second Oscar thanks to 'No Time to Die' from, yes, No Time to Die. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt's catchy dive into Ken's soul keeps getting stuck in the world's heads due to more than just its melody, though. And if there's a non-Barbie upset, it might come from Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson's 'It Never Went Away' from American Symphony. Best Cinematography The nominees: El Conde, Edward Lachman Killers of the Flower Moon, Rodrigo Prieto Maestro, Matthew Libatique Oppenheimer, Hoyte van Hoytema Poor Things, Robbie Ryan Should win: Oppenheimer, Hoyte van Hoytema Could win: Poor Things, Robbie Ryan Will win: Oppenheimer, Hoyte van Hoytema Again and again throughout 2024's Oscar contenders, the fields often come down to two prime candidates: Oppenheimer and Poor Things. Either winning in most categories is a magnificent outcome; when movies this superb are competing against each other, there's no such thing as a losing flick — just one that gets the trophy and one that doesn't. Hoyte van Hoytema and Robbie Ryan's lensing for this pair of pictures is exquisite in different ways; stark and precise for the former, dreamy and inventive for the latter. Oppenheimer emerged with the prize at this year's American Society of Cinematographers Awards, though, which can be a reliable guide. Don't discount Rodrigo Prieto for Killers of the Flower Moon, even if he should've been nominated for Barbie as well. Best Film Editing The nominees: Anatomy of a Fall, Laurent Sénéchal The Holdovers, Kevin Tent Killers of the Flower Moon, Thelma Schoonmaker Oppenheimer, Jennifer Lame Poor Things, Yorgos Mavropsaridis Should win: Oppenheimer, Jennifer Lame Could win: Poor Things, Yorgos Mavropsaridis Will win: Oppenheimer, Jennifer Lame It's happening again: Oppenheimer and Poor Things leading the pack, that is — and likely Oppenheimer winning. Just as with Best Cinematography, there's form for Christopher Nolan's film getting the nod over Yorgos Lanthimos' flick thanks to other accolades. Oppenheimer's Jennifer Lame won at the American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards, for instance. Thelma Schoonmaker is an editing icon, however; this is her eighth Oscar nomination for a Martin Scorsese movie, a run that spans wins for The Aviator and The Departed. And editing is so pivotal to Anatomy of a Fall in telling its story — over every other contender in this field, actually — that Laurent Sénéchal's chances can't be ruled out. The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Wondering where to watch this year's Oscar contenders? We've put together a rundown for both Australia and New Zealand.
The dusty expanse of a post-apocalyptic world. Life before everything changed forever. Bunker existence. Giant robotic suits. All of the above are set to feature in Fallout season two — as they did in the show's first season — and Prime Video has just dropped a series of first-look images to give viewers a glimpse at what's in store. After premiering in 2024 and becoming one of the platform's top-three most-watched shows ever, notching up more than 100-million viewers globally, the game-to-screen hit is returning for its second season in December 2025. There's no exact release date yet, and there isn't a trailer so far either, but you can get a peek via the new pictures from upcoming episodes. Yes, this is a blast — as was the news earlier in 2025 that Fallout has already been renewed for a third season. Clearly, if you bring a massively beloved video game to TV in the right way, as season one did, then viewers will come flocking. We all know that that worked for The Last of Us as well, with its second season already airing this year and a third also in the works. For season two of Fallout, audiences can look forward not only to picking up where season one's finale left off, but to venturing through the Mojave wasteland to New Vegas — and to more time spent with stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (The White Lotus) and Aaron Moten (Emancipation) as Lucy, The Ghoul and Maximus, respectively. When it dropped its initial eight episodes in 2024, Fallout took its cues from the games that first debuted on computers back in 1997, with three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs all following. The live-action television iteration follows Lucy, a lifelong vault-dweller, who leaves her cosy underground digs to navigate the irradiated wasteland that earth has remained for two centuries after the nuclear apocalypse. Crossing her path: bounty hunter The Ghoul, who has ties to life before the devastation; and Maximus, an aspiring soldier with the Brotherhood of Steel, who don those huge mechanical outfits. In this nightmarish future, a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence awaits beyond the bunker that the optimistic Lucy, daughter of Hank (Kyle MacLachlan, Overcompensating), who oversees Vault 33, has always called home. Bringing the chaos to life is a behind-the-scenes team featuring Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, as well as Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) as writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in it as well. There's no trailer for Fallout season two yet, but you can check out the trailer for season one below: Fallout streams via Prime Video. Season two will arrive in December 2025 — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Read our review of season one, and our interview with Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
Cristiano, Neymar and Messi have been rendered as the futurist Incredibles in a new series of illustrations by up-and-coming artist Rafael Mayani. Bringing together twelve of the finest players in the FIFA 2014 World Cup, Mayani brought his playful style — often reserved for stunning, Disney and Nintendo characters — to slick renditions of Marco Reus, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and more WC favourites. Relatively unknown on the international circuit, Mexico City-based Mayani's talent for sketching footballers is evident in his sfumato charcoal Pele posted on his Facebook page: All twelve of the players feature on a limited edition poster available at Society 6. Devoid of sweat patches, day-old Cheezels and beer-stained couch groove, your World Cup addiction never looked so elegant. Marco Reus Didier Drogba Cristiano Ronaldo Iker Casillas Andrea Pirlo Leo Messi Via Fubiz.
If you happen to have an outfit in your wardrobe that's the same shade favoured by Squid Game's guards, here's a piece of advice: it'd be best not to wear it to St Kilda Beach on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. A huge 200 people will already be there in that exact attire, with Netflix sending a continent of pink guards to the sandy patch of Melbourne to remind everyone that the hit series' second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Ahead of Squid Game's second season, the Victorian capital is getting in on the action. If your morning routine involves hitting the beach in Melbourne, you'll clearly have plenty of company — not just from the guards, but from others keen for a glimpse at the pop-up. And if you're located elsewhere in Australia, expect to see photos all over social media. Netflix is promising "a true Aussie takeover", all to celebrate Squid Game season two sliding into your streaming queue on Boxing Day. It might be wise to avoid wearing green tracksuits to St Kilda at the same time that the stunt is taking place, too, to avoid earning the pink guards' attention. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. Check out the full trailer for Squid Game season below: Squid Game's pink guards are taking over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Keep an eye on Netflix's social media for more details. Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: No Ju-han/Netflix.
Before August 2024, it was normal to spend at least $5 per day to get to and from work via public transport in Queensland. Now, for all trips there and back across a five-day week, no one should be forking out more than $5 in total. As promised during the state's election, the 50-cent fare trial that's been in place since midyear is no longer just a pilot — it's sticking around permanently. What do you have more cash for when each journey on your commute to and from your job only costs 50 cents (and to get to wherever else you might need) via the Sunshine State's Translink public transport? Queensland residents will keep finding out. The bargain fares were introduced as cost-of-living relief measure, discounting tickets to a shiny dodecagonal coin. Unsurprisingly, they've proven so much of a hit that the move is now here to stay. Slashing the price of public transport was always going to be popular. In its first month, the 50-cent fare trial saw more than 15-million trips taken across southeast Queensland alone, increasing patronage by 2.4 percent on pre-COVID-19 levels. Up until the end of October 2024, patronage went up 5.1 percent on the same pre-COVID-19 period. During the election campaign, the then-Labor Queensland Government committed to keeping the reduced price. So did the Liberal party, which won power. Now, the Crisafulli government has locked in cheap public transport on Translink's buses, trains, ferries and trams on an ongoing basis. The price-slashing move is also an effort to reduce traffic congestion, and impacts a hefty range of travel options. Translink, which falls within Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads, runs trains, buses, ferries and trams in southeast Queensland, for starters. So for Brisbanites, whether you ride the rails as part of your daily commute, hit the road or hop on a CityCat, you're now scoring a hefty discount, getting there and home for just $1 a day. This is a statewide measure. Translink also runs buses in Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, the Fraser Coast, Gladstone and Gympie — and in Innisfail, Kilcoy, Mackay, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick and The Whitsundays. The 50-cent price applies to everyone, including concession cardholders, but is only available on Translink services. As such, privately operated transport services aren't doing the cheap fares. [caption id="attachment_958247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_857365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_796727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_703636" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Philip-Mallis via Flickr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_754201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_630654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Thomas via Flickr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_749921" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] John via Flickr[/caption] All fares across Translink's Queensland public transport services only cost 50 cents on an ongoing basis. To find out more about Translink's services, head to the company's website.
It has been twenty years since James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet recreated one of the deadliest ship disasters in modern history — you know the one. Titanic also launched a lifetime of folks standing at the bow of boats and exclaiming "I'm the king of the world", and made the world endure a Celine Dion song that, as the lyrics promised, would go on. As well as snag a huge bag of Oscars and big, big bucks at the box office, the film did something else: reignite public fascination with the 1912 sinking. If you've ever watched and wondered what it'd be like to see the real thing, then wonder no more. You'd just better have a cool $137,000 sitting in your bank account. Commencing in 2018, travel company Blue Marble Private will be taking nine fascinated seafarers down to the famous ship on an eight-day journey. Departing from the coast of Newfoundland in Canada, they'll dive four kilometres down into the North Atlantic Ocean in a titanium and carbon fibre submersible — accompanied by experts, of course — to cruise around the passenger liner's deck, glide over its grand staircase and wander through the vessel that went down on its maiden voyage, taking more than 1500 people with it. The hefty price tag is supposed to reflect the cost of a first class ticket on the RMS Titanic 105 years ago, although it's hardly surprising that plunging deep into both the ocean's depths and a historical wreck costs a massive stack of cash and then some. This isn't the first time tours have been offered — indeed, presumably using some of the loot his romantic drama pulled in, James Cameron has made the journey three times — but it's still estimated that only 140 people have seen the site in person since it was first discovered in 1984. Via: The Australian. Image: OceanGate.
If the Marvel Cinematic Universe can notch up 30 big-screen entries and counting, and the Fast and Furious franchise can approach double digits, then surely Hollywood — and Keanu Reeves — can keep making John Wick movies forever. Yes, all the titular character wants is out, but that hasn't been turning out as he's planned in film after film after film. And if the assassin's exploits keep hitting screens, audiences will keep watching. For now, we're thinking he's back in John Wick: Chapter 4, which'll hit cinemas in March 2023. During San Diego Comic-Con midyear, the movie dropped its first trailer — and, if you're always in the mood for more Keanu in more things all the time, a bigger sneak peek has just arrived. If you're thinking that Wick's luck might run out at some point, the new film understands. But this stunt-filled saga still has one last way to give its namesake his non-violent life back. He can agree to a duel against the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård, Barbarian) — but of course only one can survive. With that premise, expect the ante to be upped on the saga's latest onslaught of frenetic action scenes, as the new trailer also makes plain. Anywhere that Wick can shoot, fight and dispense with everyone trying to take him down, he will and does. This flick involves hopping around the globe, in fact, including Paris, New York and Berlin — and also getting into sword fights in Japan, and riding horses through a sandy desert. Accordingly, as all John Wick movies have so far — the first in 2014, John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum all included — this one will follow the hitman that other hitmen fear as he takes on his ever-growing list of adversaries. Whatever gets thrown his way hasn't stopped Wick yet, after he got dragged back into the assassin life when a past batch of enemies messed with his dog. Reeves' former stunt double-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski directs again, as he has on all three prior movies. On-screen, Reeves is also joined by a roster of familiar and new John Wick faces, with fellow franchise mainstays Ian McShane (American Gods) and Lance Reddick (Godzilla vs Kong) returning, and Reeves' The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne — after appearing in the past two movies — as well. And, Donnie Yen (Mulan), Hiroyuki Sanada (Mortal Kombat), Shamier Anderson (Son of the South), Rina Sawayama (Turn Up Charlie) and Scott Adkins (Triple Threat) are all also set to feature. In similarly excellent news, a fifth John Wick movie is already in the works, because more ass-kicking Keanu is always a great thing. And, so are two spinoffs: The Continental and Ballerina. The first is a streaming series, clearly set around the hotel that features so prominently in the films as a safe haven for hitmen. As for the second, it's a movie that ties in with John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and will star Ana de Armas (Blonde) — and also feature Reeves and McShane. Check out the full trailer for John Wick: Chapter 4 below: John Wick: Chapter 4 will release Down Under on March 23, 2023.
Music festivals and writers festivals have existed for years, but they rarely mix. Sure, you'll hear poetic lyrics at the former, and maybe attend a tunes-inspired session at the latter. A true fusion of the two, though, is an elusive beast. Well, it was, until a few smart-thinking folks decided to organise a rock and roll writers festival. In an Australian first, the weekend-long event will explore the relationship between the literary and musical worlds. It's an idea that's so great, we can't believe that no one has done it locally before. From April 2 to 3, some of Australia's finest authors, songwriters, lyricists and music commentators will converge upon Brisbane for two days of discussions, interviews, panels and more. The lineup boasts stacks of talented speakers, featuring performer Jackie Marshall, previous jMag editor Jenny Valentish, journalist and Australian Music Prize judge Kate Hennessy, former Time Off editor and owner Sean Sennett, Courier Mail music writer Noel Mengel, and Pig City: From The Saints To Savage Garden author Andrew Stafford, among others. They'll all natter on about everything that's great about words, songs and the combination of the two, while trying to surprise, entertain, enlighten and challenge attendees in the process. And they'll do at the Brightside, because if you're going to throw a rock and roll writers festival, you have to do it at a rock and roll venue.
The turn of the century was a helluva time. Excitement and a nervous anticipation of a potential apocalypse filled the air. If you, like me, weren't around to see it firsthand, there was concern that computing systems worldwide would flatline at the turn of the century as the dates became impossible to compute. Obviously, that didn't happen. We're still here and, for better or worse, so are the computers. The entire situation left quite a mark on our culture. Now, 23 years later, the notion of Y2K is on the rise once more. As our world once again gets a little bit scary, we need to make every day count and just be ourselves. These are the brands that are bringing Y2K back for... Y23K? We'll workshop the name. PIT VIPER If Y2K is about being unapologetically yourself, Pit Viper gets top marks. There's no piece of eyewear on the market quite as flashy as these beauties. In Pit Viper's own words: "Sunrise to sunset, reef breaks to ridgelines, holeshots to holy sh*t, we build the functional, fun-loving gear that is serious about taking things less seriously". It's hard for an Aussie not to recognise these flashy fluorescent designs, and when you take a spin on the website, you'll be teleported straight back to the 2000s. Once you've adjusted, take a tour through the product range; from the iconic polarised range of 'The Originals' (The 1993 or The Miami Nights) sunnies to the rounded, heavier-duty range of 'The Slammers', there's eyewear of every shape and colour on offer. Pit Viper extends its identity through goggles suitable for dirt and snow, clothes for your head, top and 'power bottom', and even rigs to help keep the glasses on your face. [caption id="attachment_924540" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Oleg Shatilov via Unsplash[/caption] CHAOTIC THREADS While the cultural concept of Gen Z has really only grown in recent years, the generation was quite literally born in the Y2K era, between 1997 and 2012. We might not be able to remember it all physically, but thanks to the internet, its memory is well preserved. The style of Y2K is growing in popularity among Gen Z, and that harmony is plain to see with brands like Chaotic Threads. Chaotic Threads was founded in Melbourne and prides itself on sustainability and style in equal parts. Each piece is created from a single inspiration, meaning every design is limited-run. The upside is every bit of scrap fabric will be reused to create more accessorie. The product range is always shifting, so check the website or Instagram to see what's currently available. [caption id="attachment_924503" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lilli via iStock[/caption] ACTUAL ANGEL A similarly Gen Z-charged brand (which also happens to be based in Melbourne) is Actual Angel. You might take a shine to these pieces if you have ever had a goth phase. Every design is handmade, ranging from heavy gothic designs to mystical pieces that tread closer to the modern fairy core. Actual Angel's range spans gorgeous stellar earring designs, chokers of all textures and colours and even tote bags made from the likes of velour satin and lace designs. It's all whimsical, comfortable and, most importantly, it's handmade independently. Actual Angel can be found on Instagram, but you can find the entire product range on Depop. [caption id="attachment_924511" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ivan Martynov via iStock[/caption] THREADHEADS A marker of Y2K fashion is graphic design — as technology and pop culture evolved, the option to print customised designs onto clothing became more accessible. One of the most popular graphic tee brands right now is Threadheads. Quickly achieving viral status thanks to a satirical but stylish approach to designs, this is the ideal brand for anyone with a sense of humour. Design themes cover pop culture, gaming, 80s and 90s, parody, retro, anime and more. Threadheads also loves a collab, with official collections made with Rick and Morty, DC Comics, NASA, Seinfeld, Cobra Kai and others. A new addition to the catalogue is custom tees, a great gift for any lovers of bootleg designs. [caption id="attachment_924502" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] IC Productions via iStock[/caption] DIESEL Diesel predates Y2K, going back to the vintage days of 1978. But as many fashion labels move to the next new and exciting thing, Diesel reflects on all the wonder of the Y2K era with a product range that will take you back to the finest pop videos of the noughties. How so? Diesel's specialty denim line still reigns supreme, but a closer look through the catalogue will reveal the likes of tie-dyed belt bags, futuristic metallic tops, baby tees, frayed high tops and other icons of the era. Ranging across men and women, clothes, accessories, homewares and more, there has to be something for everyone in there. [caption id="attachment_922788" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Millie Savage[/caption] MILLIE SAVAGE The final cornerstone of Y2K fashion for us to discuss is the statement jewellery pieces. Big and bright — there was nothing minimalist about these pieces. A brand that keeps that trend alive is Millie Savage. Yet another fashion label based in Melbourne (though now also boasting a Bali studio), Millie Savage is run by an all-female team of designers that specialises in precious gems, all ethically sourced. Millie Savage has a particular love of opals, mainly sourced from South Australia. Every product has the Millie Savage touch: namely, a lack of playing by the rules. It's especially visible in the one-off beauties collection, where no two pieces are alike in the slightest. Check out the designs across rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. For more information on Pit Viper or its products, visit the website.
What's better than one IMAX in Sydney? Two, obviously, which is a big-screen dream that's about to become a reality. A second IMAX experience is on its way to the Harbour City, setting up shop in an Event Cinemas location. The where and when haven't yet been revealed — but this is still literally massive news. Between 2016 and spring 2023, movie lovers in the New South Wales capital would've been content with just one IMAX, of course, after Sydney's IMAX at Darling Harbour closed down to get demolished and then rebuilt. The venue was originally meant to get its projectors running again in 2019, then in 2021; however, that didn't happen. Thankfully, giant flicks have been back on the agenda since October on one of the biggest cinema screens in the world, which measures 692 square metres. The news of a second Sydney IMAX comes via EVT and IMAX Corporation. The former is the hospitality company behind IMAX Sydney, Event Cinemas, Moonlight Cinema, the Skyline Drive-In and the State Theatre; the arrival of surround-screen viewing Down Under; a heap of bars and restaurants; QT Hotels, Rydges and other hotel chains; plus IMAX venues in Auckland and Queensgate in New Zealand, as well as IMAX Karlsruhe in Germany. The latter is self-explanatory. Together, the duo announced a deal for five new state-of-the-art IMAX setups, but only one in coming to Australia. To check out the other four, you'll need to head to Germany. "Expanding our collaboration with IMAX aligns to our strategy of providing customers with choice on how they want to watch a movie. The right combination of our proprietary cinema experiences such as gold class, boutique and V-Max alongside global premium formats like IMAX is proving to be successful," said EVT CEO Jane Hastings, announcing the news. "IMAX performs exceptionally well at our current locations in Sydney, New Zealand and Germany, and we are thrilled to bring state-of-the-art IMAX with Laser systems to more locations in Australia and Germany in the near future," Hastings continued. "On the heels of the wildly successful debut of IMAX Sydney, we are excited to expand our collaboration with EVT, a partner that transcends exhibition in creating premium experiences that span cinema, hospitality, leisure and more," added IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. "Australia and Germany are two markets where consumer demand for IMAX vastly outstrips our footprint, and this deal is great for our fans in both countries and our continued network growth worldwide." That Sydney success that Gelfond mentioned? Within mere weeks of opening, the new IMAX Sydney has become IMAX's highest-grossing location outside of the United States and United Kingdom. Wherever the second Sydney IMAX experience pops up, it'll combine Laser by IMAX technology, which means 4K laser projection showing the flicks, plus EVT's range of seating. At Darling Harbour, choices to get comfortable include standard places to sit, as well as getting comfortable in a full recliner, cosying up with your plus one in a couples' recliner and going with a private box for up to four people on an elevated platform. Film fans outside of Sydney, you'll have a second spot to add to your must-visit list when you visit the Harbour City — especially if you're in a city like Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth that doesn't have its own IMAX. IMAX Sydney is now open at Darling Harbour, 1/35 Wheat Road, Sydney, from Wednesday, October 11. Details of the city's second IMAX experience, including where it'll be located and when it will open, are yet to be announced — we'll update you when more information is revealed. Images: IMAX Sydney.
Career-wise, the past decade has been kind to Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton. It all started back in 2009, when he won the Cannes Film Festival's Camera d'Or — the award for best first feature — for the fantastic Samson and Delilah. Since then, he has explored ghost stories in The Dark Side, and opened the Sydney Film Festival with We Don't Need a Map, a documentary exploring the prominence of the Southern Cross in Australian culture. In 2017, he also directed one of the best, most blistering Australian westerns ever made, Sweet Country. And, more recently, he co-helmed the second six-part season of TV series Mystery Road — which premiered at this year's Berlin Film Festival before hitting screens Down Under. All that hustle and bustle has had an impact, however, as his next project explores. In The Beach, Thornton documents his own quest to step back from his busy life by living alone on an isolated stretch of sand by the shoreline — at Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest coast of Western Australia. Thornton directs the exquisite-looking documentary, with his son — Robbie Hood and Finke: There and Back filmmaker Dylan River — shooting the entire series. As well as helming, Thornton obviously stars in the six-part series, too. And it's understandably a highly personal affair; "The Beach is one of the most important projects of my life. It's about my life. It is my life," the acclaimed director explains. Accordingly, when the documentary hits NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand on Friday, May 29 — airing on NITV and SBS simultaneously in one big block, and dropping on the broadcaster's streaming platform at the same time — it'll chronicle Thornton's efforts as he lives alone, endeavouring to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors, the Kaytetye people. Solely relying upon the land, he spends his days in scenic surroundings while hunting and gathering for food, with the docuseries observing unobtrusively as he attempts to transform his existence, connect to Country, and nourish both his body and spirit. As the just-released trailer shows, it makes for quite the striking viewing. And, given the current state of the world, immensely timely viewing too. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMIcuVH83M All six episodes of The Beach will air on NITV and SBS on Friday, May 29, with the docuseries available to stream via SBS On Demand from the same time.
Have you ever wondered if there was a way to salvage the flavour of burnt rice, how to test if an egg is still fresh, how to prevent cheese from going off, or bread from going stale? Unorthodox but incredibly helpful kitchen and cooking tips are a great way to make the cooking experience much quicker and easier, and can be employed in your everyday cooking routine. Here are ten of the most helpful cooking tips that you may not know, but should. 1. Make Garlic Easier to Peel How? By microwaving it for 20 seconds. Zapping garlic in the microwave for a short amount of time is believed to heat the water in the garlic and cause the cells to rupture thus breaking the bond between skin and flesh and causing the skin to slip straight off. It is thought to make the garlic slightly less pungent but apparently doesn't alter it's flavour or texture. 2. Keep Delicate Dishes Warm How? By placing the saucepan on top of a fry pan. Whilst placing a saucepan over a stove on low may suffice for some dishes, delicate sauces or mashed potatoes can easily be burnt and ruin a perfectly good meal. A great trick is to put a cast-iron skillet over a low flame and then place the saucepan on top of this to ensure the heat is evenly spread throughout the meal. 3. Absorb Excess Fat from Soup How? By placing a lettuce leaf on top of it. Placing a lettuce leaf on the surface of a soup is an organic and effective way to defat the liquid, and it is a much easier and cheaper alternative than using gravy separators. The leaf can then easily be thrown away it has absorbed the unwanted fat. 4. Test the Freshness of an Egg How? By placing it in cold water. You can determine the age of an egg (while still encased in it's shell) through the amount of air in it's air pocket simply by placing it inside glass or bowl of cold water and seeing if it floats. If the egg sinks it is fresh, if it tilts slightly up or moves to a semi-horizontal position it is about a week old, but if it moves to a vertical position or floats to the surface of the water it is stale. It's that easy! 5. Avoid Curdled Cream How? By adding baking soda. Have you ever wondered how the age old quandary of cream curdling when you place it over fruit can be avoided? Well wonder no longer, because the solution is as easy as adding a pinch of baking soda to the cream before serving. 6. Keep Cheese Longer How? By wrapping it in a paper towel that's been moistened with vinegar. To avoid losing your cheese to mould, all you have to do is place a paper towel that's been soaked in white wine vinegar at the bottom of an air-tight container and put the cheese on top then keep the container in the fridge. 7. Eradicate Bacon Curling How? By soaking it in cold water before frying. In order to avoid the dreaded bacon curling that occurs when frying it, soak it in cold water for two minutes before frying it and dry well with paper towel. If that doesn't work simply sprinkle some flour over it, and if you still have no luck then try poking some holes in it. 8. Remove the Bitter Taste of Burnt Rice How? By placing a piece of white bread over it. Burnt your rice? Never fear, because all you need to do is place a slice of white bread on top of the rice, close the lid and let it sit for 15 minutes, then vualah, take the bread out and enjoy your non-bitter tasting rice. The bread will apparently absorb the bitter flavour of the rice you burned and restored it's taste back to normal. 9. Tenderize Meat and Speed up Defrosting How? By pouring vinegar over frozen meat. If defrosting meat has always been one of those processes that has baffled you, make life easier for yourself just by adding some vinegar. Pouring a cup of vinegar over the frozen meat lowers it's freezing temperature, making it thaw more quickly, and the acid in the vinegar breaks down connective tissue to increase it's tenderness. 10. Prevent Bread from Going Stale How? By adding a celery stick to the bread bag. By simply adding a piece of celery to a sealed bread bag overnight, you can refresh your bread and make it taste as good as when you first bought it. The bread is supposed to absorb the humidity of the celery, but it's flavour shouldn't change due to the bland taste of the celery.
After years of international border closures, and also the shutting down of overseas travel from Australia except for specific approved purposes, seeing the world open back up to tourism country by country is a far more pleasing trend. And, with that in mind, you can now add another destination to your next overseas holiday — yes, that one you've probably spent two years dreaming about now thanks to the pandemic. That location: Bali, which will start welcoming back Australian tourists from Friday, February 4. The Indonesian island will reopen to all international travellers, coinciding with a move to shorten the quarantine period for vaccinated visitors from seven to five days upon arrival. So, if you're now raring for a getaway, you'll still need to factor a stay in isolation into your travels — which likely means spending that time in a bubble hotel. Discussing the reopening, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that Bali's quarantine options for international traveler include "bubble quarantine at five hotels for now with a total of 447 rooms, and on live-on-board ships". The move follows an earlier reopening, back in mid-October, but just to some countries — with opening Bali to all tourists now happening to help boost the holiday hotspot's economy. Late in 2021, Virgin started selling flights from Australia to Bali for travel from late March, while Qantas signalled an April date to restart its Bali routes. Australians will obviously need to factor in the various state rules around international travel, too — some helpful, such as Queensland's recent scrapping of quarantine for double-vaccinated international travellers, and some that'll still delay your plans, like Western Australia's decision to indefinitely delay its border reopening. For more information about Bali's reopening plan, head to the Indonesian Government's website.
It's a war that's been waged for decades among regional bakeries the country over: who's dishing up Australia's best pie? Whose pastry comes closest to perfection? Which filling reigns supreme? Well, 2023's top dog has officially been named, with Victoria's Country Cob Bakery taking out top honours at this year's edition of Australia's Best Pie and Pastie Competition. While you might have your own thoughts about which pie makes the best road-trip accompaniment, goes down best at the footy or makes for the ultimate comfort food, this nationally recognised contest is run by the experts at the Baking Association of Australia. The 2023 competition saw professional judges sample pies from hundreds of bakeries across three days. And for the fourth time — including in 2018, 2019 and 2020 — Country Cob claimed the top title, this time winning over tastebuds with a Cambodian fish amok pie, which was named the Best Seafood Pie as well. Country Cob not only has form, but has a range of ace pies. Back in 2020, it won for a pepper beef pie creation loaded with local ingredients. In 2019, it came out on top with its caramelised pork and pepper pie — and its satay seafood pie took out the top gong in 2018. It's an impressive run for baker brothers Ryan and Chan Khun, who've owned and operated the bakery since 2016. Over that time, they've won more than 350 trophies and medals for their baked goods. If that doesn't put their bakeries in Kyneton, Boronia and Springvale on your must-visit list, then we only have one conclusion: you hate pies. In 2023, the two backed up their big win with a slew of other awards, including taking out the title of Best Pepper Beef Pie, Best Mushroom Pie and Best Meat Pastie. And if you're new to fish amok — or amok trei (អាម៉ុកត្រី) — it's a Khmer steamed fish curry. Made with a mousse-style texture, and thought to date back to between the 9th and 15th centuries, it's one of Cambodia's national dishes. In pie form, it's clearly now an Aussie favourite as well. Country Cob Bakery is located at 130-132 Mollison Street, Kyneton; 951 Mountain Highway, Boronia; and 890-892 Princes Highway, Springvale — all in Victoria.
Pirates of Australia: prepare to panic and startle the parrot perched on your rough, sea dog shoulder. The Pirate Bay, the worst enabler of petty criminality in Australia (probably), will be blocked in the next 15 days. According to ABC News, in a case before the Federal Court of Australia, Foxtel and Village Roadshow have asked for five major torrent sites, including The Pirate Bay, to be blocked by major internet service providers. Other sites include Torrentz, TorrentHound, IsoHunt and SolarMovie. It'll be up to the ISPs to decide how to do the blocking. In what is presumably favourable news for piraters, the ISPs haven't been granted a rolling injunction, which means new sites can't be added to the block list as they spring up. This means mirroring can (and most probably will) spring up, making the whole legal exercise a little redundant. One commenter on the ABC post offered their experience of similar legal orders in the UK. What the lack of rolling injunction means is that if a site like TorrentHound (which doesn't actually exist anymore), closes down and restarts under a different name, they will have to go back to court to shut it down. It's been noted (again and again, mind you) that VPNs are an easy and cheap way around the blocks, but Graham Burke — co-chief executive of Village Roadshow, who, as well as being one of the copyright-holding applicants, have also proposed a plan to fine illegal downloaders — told the ABC he doesn't think they are a significant issue. "The experience overseas is not many people use VPNs because they cost money as well," he told ABC News. Sure thing. While the outcome of this court case doesn't worry most people — and there's nothing in the act that mentions any fines or penalties for people who try to access the blocked sites — the precedent has been set, so it'll be easier in future to litigate. In a live Facebook video chat, ABC journalists Will Ockenden and Jake Sturmer note that piracy rates have dropped since sites like Presto, Netflix and Stan have become widely available in Australia, so it's possible a solution is out there. What did they expect, though? Australia was colonised by a steady stream of low-key crims from the start. If they could have downloaded bread in the 1700s, you know the convicts would have been racing home every Monday to download the latest tastiest loaf from HBO. Via ABC News.
Walking through a cathedral made of 100,000-plus lights, moseying beneath a canopy of glowing multi-coloured trees, wandering between ribbons of flashing beams — you'll be able to do all of this when Lightscape heads to Australia for the first time in 2022. Originally meant to debut Down Under in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, the after-dark light festival will be taking over the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria — Melbourne from Friday, June 24–Sunday, August 7, beaming away from 5.15pm Wednesday–Sunday. While the leafy Birdwood Avenue spot is already extremely scenic, to say that Lightscape will be brightening up the place is quite the understatement. Prepare to see the garden illuminated by immersive and large-scale installations scattered along a 1.8-kilometre route, including sparkling trees, luminous walkways and bursts of colour that look like fireworks. A big highlight: large-scale works like Winter Cathedral, the aforementioned installation that'll feature more than 100,000 globes and make you feel like you're being bathed in radiance. Lightscape comes to Australia after taking over gardens across the United Kingdom and the United States. Developed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK, it's understandably proven a huge success — and more than two-million people wandered along its glowing trails last season. In Melbourne, Lightscape will also commission local artists to create works that'll celebrate the city's culture and nature — giving the after-dark light festival a local touch. Fingers crossed for pop-up food and drink stalls scattered throughout — selling, we hope, mulled wine to keep hands warm during the chilly winter nights. Lightscape will light up Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, from Friday, June 24–Sunday, August 7. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
You step inside a room, painted white from floor to ceiling. All surfaces, fixtures, furniture and objects are white, and not just the usual things, either. Every single item that features — a fireplace trimmed with stockings, perhaps, or maybe a kitchen filled with utensils — are all white as well. From there, it's up to you and your fellow visitors to add spots of colour to The Obliteration Room in sticker form. This interactive project stems from Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's childhood perception, seeing the world through a screen of tiny dots. In her work that followed, she covered everything with dots in a process she calls "obliteration". That's what Kusama asks everyone to do here: obliterate the installation's pristine state. And yes, running around sticking spots on everything is as fun and therapeutic as it sounds. [caption id="attachment_1008415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama / Japan b.1929 / The Obliteration Room (installation view) 2002–present / Furniture, white paint, dot stickers / Dimensions variable / Collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Queensland Art Gallery. Commissioned by the Queensland Art Gallery. Gift of the artist through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2012 / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © Yayoi Kusama / Photograph: N Harth © QAGOMA[/caption] Developed for the Queensland Art Gallery in 2002, The Obliteration Room has toured the world, but it keeps coming back to Brisbane, including for the Gallery of Modern Art's Wonderstruck exhibition across Saturday, June 28–Monday, October 6, 2025. It may be a feature of GOMA's Children's Art Centre; however, witnessing and participating in the transformative process is a delight for big kids as well. You'll want to go back again and again during the just over three-month run, but don't forget to check out the rest of the free showcase as well. [caption id="attachment_677199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gallery of Modern Art. Exterior south and east face. James Turrell artwork.[/caption] Top image: Yayoi Kusama. The obliteration room 2002–present. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. © YAYOI KUSAMA
When Cocaine Bear made its leap from a true tale to a movie that was always bound to fall short of reality, it arrived with a promotional online game where a bear chomps on cocaine, plus people who get in its way, in a playful riff on Pac-Man. Called The Rise of Pablo Escobear, the game is more entertaining than the film, but it isn't the best low-fi button-clicking tie-in of 2023. That honour now goes to Feed Eggs, which anyone that's seen I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson season three will immediately want to play. How does a sketch comedy where assholes take centre stage work in a game about feeding eggs to a bigger egg? The answer to that is sublime, impossible to foresee, and completely in tune with the show's obsession with office culture at its most grating — and people being oh-so unbearably irritating. Eat-the-rich stories are delicious, and also everywhere; however, Succession, Triangle of Sadness and the like aren't the only on-screen sources of terrible but terribly entertaining people. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has been stacking streaming queues with appalling folks since 2019, as usually played by the eponymous Detroiters star — and long may it continue. In season three, which dropped in full on Netflix on Tuesday, May 30, the show takes its gallery of assholes literally in the most ridiculous and unexpected way, so much so that no one could ever dream of guessing what happens in advance. That's still this sketch comedy's not-so-secret power. Each time that it unleashes a new batch of six episodes, all screaming to be binged in one 90-minute sitting, there's no telling where Robinson, co-creator and co-writer Zach Kanin (Saturday Night Live), and their committed colleagues will venture. Three key constants: Robinson giving his rubbery facial expressions a helluva workout, memes upon memes flowing afterwards and a fresh round of quotable lines that'll never get old — even if you used to be a piece of shit slopping up steaks, and babies know it. Each of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's skits tend to hone in on someone being the worst in some way, doubling down on being the worst and refusing to admit that they're the worst (or even that they're wrong). And, while everyone around them might wish that they'd leave — that feeling is right there in the name — the central antagonist in every sketch is never going to. Nothing ever ends smoothly, either. In a comedy that's previously worked in hot dog costumes and television shows about bodies dropping out of coffins to hilarious effect, anything can genuinely happen to its parade of insufferable characters. In fact, the more absurd and chaotic that I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson gets, and the more unpredictable, the better that the show gets as well. It should come as zero surprise, then, that no description can do I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's sketches justice. Almost every one is a comedic marvel that has to be seen to be believed, as again delivered in 15-minute episodes in the series' third run. The usual complaint applies: for a show about people overstaying their welcome, the program itself flies by too quickly, always leaving viewers wanting more. Everything from dog doors, designated drivers and novelty venues to HR training, street parking and wearing the same shirt as a stranger are in Robinson's sights this time, plus people who won't stop talking about their kids, wedding photos and proposals, group-think party behaviour, paying it forward and boss-employee beefs as well. Game shows get parodied again and again — an I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson staple — and gloriously. Season three also finds time to skewer viral videos and folks desperate to make them, obnoxious audiences not once but twice, one-note pundits enamoured with the sound of their own voices and the kind of competitive romantic shows that reality TV is filled with. Indeed, although the nine-to-five grind has always been a treasure trove for I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's jerks, so have the screens that are as deeply entrenched in our lives. That innocent idea that every kid has about the people beamed into their homes, how wonderful they must be and wanting to be just like them? Robinson douses it with vodka shots. The series also makes plain that a camera is just a magnifying glass, especially when it comes to vexing traits. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson may thrive on being erratic, but it's easy to see its evolution from the cancelled-too-soon Detroiters. In the 2017–18 sitcom, Robinson and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson regular Sam Richardson (The Afterparty) play best friends, next-door neighbours and colleagues, the latter at a Detroit advertising agency specialising in low-budget ads that are frequently OTT and ludicrous. Kanin co-created the series with Robinson and Richardson, plus Joe Kelly, who went on to co-develop Ted Lasso. Sans moustache, Jason Sudeikis also executive produced and gave Detroiters its first big guest star — someone dealing with over-eager characters who weren't assholes, but also wouldn't take no for an answer. In its instant-gem debut season, its equally wild and wonderful second season in 2021, and now the just-released season three, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has kept evolving. More often than before, Robinson lets his co-stars play the asshole, too. Some have been here and done that magnificently before — Richardson, of course, plus the also-returning Will Forte (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), Patti Harrison (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law), Conner O'Malley (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Tim Heidecker (Killing It) and Biff Wiff (Jury Duty) — while some pop up as they do in seemingly every comedy ever made, which is where Fred Armisen (Barry) and Tim Meadows (Poker Face) come in. Among the newcomers, when Jason Schwartzman (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) join in, they're also on the pitch-perfect wavelength. Social awkwardness and awfulness is infectious within I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's frames. It's also the driving force behind Netflix's best-ever comedy, and the best way that anyone can spend an hour and a half — or four-and-a-half hours now, to be honest, because watching one season of this sidesplitting series always sparks the need to re-binge the others ASAP. Check out the trailer for I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson season three below: I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson streams via Netflix. Images: Netflix.
If your daily life consists of more screen time than time spent outdoors, you're probably itching for a next-level escape — somewhere you can truly disconnect. With such a diverse and lush landscape right at our fingertips in NSW, why not switch up your daily routine, switch off your devices and get off the grid in the great outdoors? We've highlighted some top-notch experiences across the state where you can achieve a true sense of freedom. We're talking floating high above the Byron Bay hinterland as day breaks and hanging out with sea life on the far south coast. Your digital detox starts here.
Getting from Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane CBD and back by foot or by bicycle just got easier, with the $288-million Kangaroo Point Bridge opening for pedestrians and cyclists. Welcoming its first Brisbanites on Sunday, December 15, 2024, the new 460-metre bridge connects Alice and Edward streets in the inner city to Scott Street across the river. Moseying over the River City's latest river crossing means making your way over a piece of infrastructure that has instantly made history: this is now Queensland's tallest bridge. To lift its 95-metre mast in place, it also required the use of the world's strongest crane. Still on numbers, the single-mast cable stay structure features eight spans, including one that's 182.7-metres long, and deploys 32 tensioned cables. For those walking across, the bridge boasts five pause points to peer out over the city skyline and the Brisbane River, breaking up the journey along the 6.8-metre-minimum cycle and pedestrian paths. It was back in 2021 that construction started on this River City river crossing, which also sports seating and lighting across its expanse, plus a cover over its pedestrian walkway that helps power the bridge via solar panels. The Kangaroo Point Bridge is Brisbane's third new green bridge to open in 2024, maintaining the city's love for ways to get across the Old Brown Snake. Breakfast Creek's Yowoggera Green Bridge and Queen's Wharf's Neville Bonner Bridge have also been unveiled in the past 12 months. Also in 2021, news arrived of the Kangaroo Point Bridge's plan to become a destination for eating and drinking, too, thanks to an overwater venue and a cafe in its plaza area. In 2023, Brisbane City Council revealed a heap more details, such as that two dining spots will open — and that Tassis Group, the hospitality crew with Fatcow on James St, Longwang, Fosh Restaurant & Bar, Opa Bar + Mezze, Yamas Greek + Drink, Rich & Rare, and Massimo Restaurant and Bar to its name, is behind them. Originally due to launch in 2024 but now opening sometime early in 2025, restaurant and bar Stilts Dining — which was formerly going to be called Bombora — will be the bridge's go-to for bites and drinks ten metres above the Brisbane River, while Mulga Bill's cafe will take care of bridge visitors' caffeine fix. Neither have exact launch dates at present. Views are clearly a big highlight at Stilts, which will boast vistas spanning over the Brisbane River, CBD, Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point cliffs. Nothing has been unveiled about the menu yet, but the venue's design will take its perch to heart, evoking moving water in a homage to its above-the-river spot. As for Mulga Bill's, it'll sit by the river in the new urban plaza that's being created on the corner of Edward and Alice streets. The cafe is pitched as a stopover spot for frequent bridge users, which it'll reflect in its bicycle-themed decor. And, food-wise, it'll serve up wood-fired pizzas, steak and seafood to eat in, plus pastries and picnic boxes to grab and go. Both venues are expected to score ample foot traffic. Indeed, more than 6000 pedestrians, cyclists and e-mobility riders are forecast to be using the bridge every day by 2036. "The Kangaroo Point Bridge is fast becoming a new Brisbane icon and provides the opportunity for more people to get into the city without the need to drive," said Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, launching the structure. "For the first time in Brisbane's history, there is now a direct connection between Kangaroo Point and the CBD, which is great for residents and visitors as well as businesses on both sides of the river." "The incredible design means this bridge won't just help ease congestion on our roads, it will be a must-do destination." The Kangaroo Point Bridge is now open stretching from Alice Street and Edward streets in the CBD to Scott Street in Kangaroo Point. Head to the Brisbane City Council website for more details. Stilts Dining and Mulga Bill's are set to open sometime in early 2025 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when it's announced. Images: Brisbane City Council.
The Northern Rivers' food scene has got a new kid on the block, and it's bringing more than a little of the Big Apple with it. Tucked inside a newly renovated community business precinct in Byron Bay, Baloney's is a New York-Italian-style deli and cafe that's serving up nostalgia, deli meats and loaded sambos — no baloney. It's been brought to life by founder George McFarlane as a passion project that puts a breezy Byron spin on Italian-American food culture. And while the two-hander sandwiches might be the initial drawcard, the space itself — designed by Northern Rivers studio Happy Hour — is full of character. Inside, you'll find black-and-white checkerboard tiles, a standing espresso bar and a restored vintage church bench that serves as a nod to old-school delis, while outside, a sun-soaked, 40-person deck sets the stage for relaxed al fresco hangs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baloney's Deli (@baloneys_deli) If you reckon the name sounds playful, that's exactly the point. Inspired by the Americanisation of mortadella — a meat banned by the US government during the Italian migration waves of the late 19th and early 20th centuries — 'baloney' became both a regulation-friendly substitute and, in time, slang for 'nonsense'. And McFarlane is actively leaning into the word's double meaning, too: "I am not Italian or American, however I am passionate about Italian and American food so I'm a phoney baloney," he tells Concrete Playground. As for the menu? Expect stacked sandwiches with a personal twist. Each one is named after someone close to McFarlane — like the Spicy Gabita, a tribute to his partner — who, according to McFarlane, is "a little bit spicy" — that sees eggplant, mozzarella, rocket, fermented chilli and balsamic layered on fluffy focaccia. You'll also find other creative combinations like the Alt Tayo, which features lemon-spiked cannellini beans, roast capsicum and vegan basil pesto, alongside the likes of a classic Reuben and, of course, a loaded mortadella, stracciatella and green olive number. If that's not enough to get you road tripping, there's also java juice by Coffee Supreme, artisan deli goods and a rotating selection of sandwich specials. Baloney's also carries the influence of McFarlane's time cutting his proverbial teeth at Mortadeli in Torquay, Victoria, and Byron's much-loved Pixie Food & Wine. Baloney's is another feather in the cap for the burgeoning Byron food scene, which continues to evolve far beyond açai bowls and organic smoothies. Baloney's is located at 10-12 Shirley Street, Byron Bay. It's open Tuesday–Sunday, 8am–2.30pm. For more info, head to the venue's Instagram page.
Following a series of sold out shows through New Zealand, and the immense success of their award winning album One, Tomorrow People are coming to Brisbane for one night only. With a reggae-centric sound with added touches of dancehall raga, Tomorrow People are defined as 'sunshine reggae', a vibe built around strong vocals, soothing harmonies, catchy hooks, aggressive raps and feel good rhythms. Since emerging as a studio project, the seven-piece band have seen their mid-tempo sound burst in popularity, and climb the ladder of Wellington’s respected local music scene. With members of mixed descent with decades of experience in varied genres, Tomorrow People take influence for their music from Jamaican and Hawaiian artists along with roots in traditional New Zealand music, all of which combine to make the clean, laid back sound that has earned rave reviews and radio play.
Brisbane's inner city has come into its own in recent years. Gone are the days of skipping the CBD for New Farm or Mount Tamborine. Areas like South Brisbane, West End, and the inner city now have a laundry list of places to eat, drink, shop and explore. At the edge of the CBD lies Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre. The boutique hotel is perfectly situated for a weekend getaway or an inner-city staycation. Located at North Quay, the hotel is ready to serve as a home base for a weekend that will inspire your creative side. Each Hotel Indigo accommodation draws inspiration from its local neighbourhood, meaning the atmosphere of the city is woven into the design and experience of your stay. The hotel is adorned with hand-painted sculptures and artworks and features an industrial chic aesthetic that complements Brisbane's gritty atmosphere. Plus, the location puts you right in the heart of the action as it straddles the CBD and South Brisbane. Whether you're looking for some new inspiration as a local or you're planning a weekend away, here's how to explore Brisbane's inner city neighbourhood. [caption id="attachment_984027" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Lune Croissanterie[/caption] Fuel the Right Way Start your day with some fuel. Lune Croissanterie CBD is located just around the corner from Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre. Enter via Burnett Lane and you'll find strong coffee and a warm pastry fresh out of the oven. If you need something a little more substantial for your first meal of the day, just down the road you'll find Felix For Goodness, a hole-in-the-wall cafe that serves fresh produce and mouth-watering brunch. For other great Brisbane beans, try Edward Espresso on Edward Street or the hidden gem Coffee Iconic. [caption id="attachment_900348" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Bambi Corro (Unsplash)[/caption] South Bank Stroll Located right on the riverfront, South Bank is Brisbane's premier arts and culture hub. A short stroll over Victoria Bridge will find you in the green gardens of the South Bank Parklands. Here, you can take a dip at the famous Streets Beach, which is actually a public swimming pool with a stunning city view. There's a whole host of cafes and eateries in South Bank, so you could easily spend the day getting lost and enjoying Brisbane's unrivalled outdoor lifestyle. [caption id="attachment_910812" align="alignleft" width="1920"] GOMA[/caption] Cultural Hub In addition to being a place for people to enjoy the great outdoors amidst the concrete jungle, South Bank is also home to several cultural institutions. From the Queensland Art Gallery to the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Museum, it's a culture lover's mecca. With an ever-rotating roster of exhibitions, the inner city arts precinct is one to add to your Brisbane list. Plus, the air conditioning is a nice reprieve from the Sunshine State's warmth. [caption id="attachment_937352" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Como[/caption] Dine Like a Local Brisbane has also become a foodie's paradise in recent years. With the opening of Supernormal and the chic James Street precinct, there's a wealth of restaurants to choose from. If you're specifically thinking about Inner City Brisbane, however, consider a trip to Fish Lane. Just a 15-minute walk from Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, you'll find a number of cuisines to choose from. There's pizza at Como and Julius, Asian fusion at Southside and Chu The Phat and unrivalled cocktails at bars such as Bar Brutus, Midtown and Maeve Wine Bar. In the CBD, you can't go past the riverwalk restaurants: Felons Brewing Co, Babylon, Riverbar & Kitchen and Riverland are all perfect inner city eateries to book for a long lunch and watch the sun set over the river. If you prefer something closer to your accommodation, Bar 1603 is located inside Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre. The speakeasy-inspired space brings together Japanese minimalism and Brisbane flair, perfect for an evening tipple. [caption id="attachment_1034184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar 1603[/caption] The Perfect Base When you're done eating and drinking your way through Brisbane city and its surrounds, Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre is the boutique accommodation to refill your cup. With modern and stylish rooms and artistic nods to the neighbourhood, you can wind down and prepare to enjoy more of what Brisbane has to offer. Want to stay in the thick of it? Find out more about Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre here. Lead image: Riverland Brisbane
Whether you're treating yourself to a staycation or travelling further afield, no one likes going on holiday without their four-legged best friend. That adorable pooch isn't just your trusty companion at home, but in general — and, as every dog lover knows, those barking cuties like doing everything you do (and 100-percent think they can, too). At QT Hotels & Resorts across Australia and New Zealand, your dog can now come for a luxurious sleepover with you, with the chain going pet-friendly. Book yourself and your pupper in for a night, and you won't be the only one ordering off the dine-in menu or scoping out the mini-bar, either. Now on offer at all of QT's sites, the chain's Pup Yeah! fur-friendly stays include a night's accommodation for you and your doggo, an in-room menu specifically for woofers, a pooch-friendly mini bar offering and designer canine bedding. The doggy food range is overseen by the brand's head of treats — Nic Wood in Australia and Jiwon Do in NZ — and includes steak tartare with raw beef, mushrooms and egg yolk; bone marrow risotto with bone broth and crispy pigs ears; and chicken livers and pork necks on wholemeal toast with chicken gravy. Fancy a pupper dessert? There's also a bacon ice cream sandwich, made from bacon ice cream, dried liver and oat biscuits. If your canine has dietary requirements, QT also has appropriate options thanks to Eden Bondi — including vegetable terrine, sweet potato meatballs, and pupcakes with watermelon. And, in the mini-bar, there are also treats from pet bakery Woof Gateau for Aussie dogs, while NZ pooches can snack on bites from Wellington dog bakery Smack Bang. Bedding-wise, in Australia your pupper will be reclining in comfort thanks to a Nice Digs sleep set — and Wolves of Wellington is doing the honours in NZ. Some QT sites are even doing dog treatments at their onsite spas, such as pedicures, mud masks and blow dries. If you're now thinking of planning an indulgent getaway with your pooch, you'll just need to make sure it weighs less than 20 kilograms. Packages start at $450 per night, which includes bedding, a water bowl and a dish for your doggo from the in-room menu. For more information about QT Hotels & Resorts' Pup Yeah! dog sleepovers — and to book a stay — visit the chain's website.
As you read this, Kiwi charity Live More Awesome are getting their hands dirty, literally, constructing the world's biggest waterslide. This 650m long monster is the length of two Sky Towers and is located just 30 minutes from Auckland, New Zealand. The aim of the event is to raise funds and increase awareness for depression, as the not-for-profit charity is all about combatting mental illness through life changes, not just drugs. D-day is set for the 23rd and 24th of February and will feature three waterslides (the others will be a more standard 60m and 80m), food, and a shady area to hang out, complete with Kiwi entertainment (courtesy of George FM). Co-founder Jim Hunt says, "The World's Biggest Waterslide is all about pushing boundaries and creating the ultimate summer event. We have some epic entertainment planned for the day and we can't wait to see the reaction on people's faces as they come down the slides, it will be a truly unique experience". According to MentalHealth.org.nz, depression in New Zealand has affected as many as 1 in 5 people within the past year alone. "We're a couple of Kiwi guys who like so many others have really suffered at hands of depression," co-founder Dan Drupsteen says. "It was really tough, but having come out the other side we decided the best way for us to keep depression at bay was to 'Live More Awesome'. We hope this amazing project will encourage others to do the same and we want people to know it's ok to ask for help." Ticket prices start at $46 and are limited to 2000 people. You can contribute to the building of the waterslide through Indiegogo. Check out their progress so far in the video below.
Is there any activity that KFC doesn't think could be improved by fried chicken? Given that the fast-food chain has put on weddings, opened a pop-up nightclub, held a music festival and hosted an 11-course degustation, there clearly isn't. The next to join the list is holidays. Even better, the chook-slinging brand is serving up free holidays. Always wanted to know what KFC dishes up in other countries? Now you can head there to find out on the brand's dime. KFC is calling its giveaway Kentucky Fly Chicken, naturally. Is Kentucky on the destination list? That hasn't been revealed, because exactly where you could be spending time is being kept a surprise. The promotion starts on Tuesday, February 20, runs through to Monday, March 18, and includes giving away trips over four weeks. Each week's winner scores a jaunt to somewhere around the world were fried chicken is definitely on the menu, of course. To enter, you do indeed need to buy some KFC first. Wannabe travellers can hit up the KFC app, then look for the international products among the usual range. They'll stand out in terms of what they're dishing up, but they're hidden. Locate them, spend at least $1 on an order, then cross your chicken-loving fingers that you emerge victorious in the winners' draw. Whatever the special meal is that you're looking for on the app, the nation that it's from is where you'll be flying to if your name is picked. And while there's only four trips on offer now, the campaign unofficially started with a fifth getaway which has already been won. It was to Tokyo, and involved spotting the wafu cutlet burger on the Aussie app, then jetting to Japan to try it in-person. The four folks who receive the rest of the prize getaways will get business-class flights, four-star accommodation, plus $6000 in total in cultural experiences and spending money while you're there. KFC is calling the promotion a travel service, because arranging your itinerary is covered. Depending on the destination, this might be an excuse to break out your KFC sweater — or your bucket hat from the chain's 2023 couture line. To enter the Kentucky Fly Chicken promotion, head to the KFC app between Tuesday, February 20–Monday, March 18, look for the international products among the menu and spend at least $1 on an order. Visit the KFC website for more details.
