With sandy islands to the east and rugged mountains to the west, Brisbane is surrounded by jaw-dropping views. There are many ways to see them — from driving through the hinterland to horse riding. But, when you really need to escape your daily cares and clear your head, the best option is with your own two feet. In the spirit of turning off and seeking out some wholesome nature, we tracked down some top-notch tracks where you can unwind, refresh and get among some incredible Aussie landscapes. It's time to dig out your hiking boots and go in search of something wilder. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. While hiking is now permitted in Queensland, some of the tracks mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. [caption id="attachment_720391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Taylor via Tourism Events Queensland[/caption] MOUNT COOT-THA SUMMIT TRACK People have been visiting Mount Coot-tha Lookout for more than 100 years. This splendid spot comes with some breathtaking vistas over Brisbane and, beyond that, Moreton Island. Plus, it's only seven kilometres west of the CBD so there's no excuse. You can drive, catch a free shuttle bus or even arrive by helicopter if that's more your speed. Once on foot, follow the Mount Coot-tha Summit Track, which begins at JC Slaughter Falls and travels along an easy two-kilometre path. Return the same way or, for a bit of added adventure, choose the three-kilometre Magohany Trail, which loops back around to JC Slaughter Falls. [caption id="attachment_720393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] CAPE MORETON WALK, MORETON ISLAND There are many stunning walks on Moreton Island, the 37-kilometre-long sand island that lies about 40 kilometres off the Brisbane coast and is accessible via ferry, barge or boat (check the Queensland Parks website before your trip for closures and transport details). For optimal views, the Cape Moreton Walk is hard to beat. Expect plenty of sea, sand and sunshine on this 1.5-kilometre journey through the island's remote northernmost point. And on the way, keep your eyes peeled; Moreton Island is 95-percent national park, meaning there's plenty of wildlife to spot. Look out for dolphins, turtles and, between June and November, whales. The track also passes Cape Moreton Lighthouse, built in 1857 out of local sandstone. You can't go inside, but you can wander around the grounds and visit the lonely grave of a former resident. [caption id="attachment_720373" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samford Valley from Jollys Lookout by Chris Waller via Flickr[/caption] THYLOGALE TRACK, FROM JOLLYS LOOKOUT TO BOOMBANA Drive just 30 minutes west of Brisbane, and you'll find the city gives way to the foothills of the D'Aguilar Range. The first mountain you'll come across is Mount Nebo — home to a quaint village and Jollys Lookout, which offers panoramic vistas of Samford Valley set against Brisbane in the background. From here, follow the Thylogale Track through rainforest, eucalypts and native wisteria vines. After four kilometres, you'll reach Boombana, a great place for a leisurely picnic with an open fire pit and toilets. Walk back the same way rather than taking the road, which can get busy with traffic. [caption id="attachment_720261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] SANDY CREEK CIRCUIT, TAMBORINE NATIONAL PARK Full of striking mountain peaks, waterfalls, babbling creeks, swimming holes and lush rainforest, Tamborine National Park is found an hour's drive south of Brisbane in the Gold Coast Hinterland. To experience all the rich sights in just one walk, take the Sandy Creek Circuit. This 2.6-kilometre stroll begins at a car park on Knoll Road, where a well-defined path leads to a concrete bridge across Sandy Creek, then onto Cameron Falls. From the western lookout, see the falls cascading into a gorge below, as well as epic views of Mount Flinders and Brisbane's southern outskirts. On a misty day, you might even spot a rainbow. [caption id="attachment_720398" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] NORTH GORGE WALK, NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND Stradbroke Island is famous for its white sands and crystal-clear waters — and this haven is only 30 kilometres off the Brisbane coast and accessible via ferry or water taxi. One of the most beautiful walks here is the North Gorge Walk, which crosses the northern tip of North Stradbroke. On an effortless 30-minute saunter, you'll be completely surrounded by invigorating seascapes, rugged rock formations, unspoiled bushland and loads of wildlife. If you're lucky, you might even spot a giant sea turtle. Although the walk is brief, you should take your time to make the most of it. There are plenty of seats where you can rest for a few minutes and soak up all of the sublime surrounds. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Stradbroke Island by Paul Giggle via Tourism and Events Queensland
Keeping up a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, especially when work gets busy, 4pm cocktails roll around, and your lovely boss just bought a box of choccies to thank you for all that overtime. We've all made goals to lead a healthier life at work, whether it's incorporating more exercise, eating fewer snacks or saying no to midweek drinks once in a while — but sticking to those resolutions is another story. Our daily slip-ups — whether it's ditching your homemade salad for a takeaway slice of pizza, or skipping the gym because you're just too exhausted — can all add up over time. But some of the simplest improvements to your health don't have to come with revolutionary lifestyle changes. Whether you start your day with a walk or swap your morning toast for a fibre-rich crispbread, there are quick ways to kickstart (or restart) your 2020 health resolutions. In partnership with Ryvita, we've come up with six healthy changes that you can adopt into your working day. EAT A HEALTHY TREAT TO AVOID INDULGENT SNACKING LATER We're all guilty of mindless snacking, especially when trying to focus on a task at work. When 3pm hits, it's easy to reach for the nearest sugary hit to give us more energy or to plug the gap our bland salad lunch left behind. By planning ahead — and knowing your trigger times for not-so-great habits — you can master those cravings by preparing a healthier, more satiating snack ahead of time. Health experts say Australians aren't getting enough fibre in their diets, and so packing in a high-fibre snack can help you make a healthier snacking choice in your week. Eating Ryvita crispbreads is an achievable way to contribute to the dietary fibre target of 30 grams per day, and you can get creative with your toppings — think pea and mint hummus, scrambled eggs, wasabi mashed avo and more. Ryvita has high-fibre recipe ideas, here. [caption id="attachment_748260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Sydney[/caption] ENJOY SOME CULTURE AT LUNCH Getting out and about to enjoy the city you live in shouldn't be something restricted to weekends or before and after work. There's plenty of things to do to stimulate your mind, and it's a far more exciting lunchtime break than eating your sandwich in the staffroom. For keen readers (or anyone who needs to escape for a little while), why not head to the local library and find a quiet corner for a short break? Or, if you only have ten minutes, go to your nearest bookshop and browse the new releases to read on your commute. Prefer to keep moving? Take a wander around an art gallery or museum (just for a short while) and you can distract yourself from spreadsheets and see artworks or learn a snippet of history. If you can't escape the office, use your break to flex your creative side — story writing tasks or colouring books are just as engaging when you want to take your mind off work. TAKE YOUR MEETING FOR A WALK Why catch up in a stuffy, fluorescent, lifeless boardroom when you could walk and talk? The walking-talking catch up can transform your personal and professional energy — research by Stanford University has shown that walking leads to an increase in creative thinking, plus it allows for more honest and open exchanges if you feel like you can't speak your mind in front of other colleagues. While not all meetings are suitable for walking (tough negotiations or ones with presentations), they're great for consulting with your team or exploring solutions. You're also increasing that step count while you're at it. [caption id="attachment_762267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jopwell[/caption] TAKE MINI STANDING BREAKS Repeat after us: taking a break at work is not a waste of time. Walking away from your desk once in a while is hugely important to help boost your performance. Taking mini breaks throughout the day improves your energy, relieves stress and drives your productivity. Whether it's setting up a yoga mat in an empty room and doing some meditation or actually listening to your watch when it tells you to stand up every hour, these small breaks help you focus when you return to the work task at hand — and they make you feel better, too. Mini breaks are an easy (and free) positive change you can make to your workday. [caption id="attachment_762289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helena Lopes[/caption] DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE Doing something for your colleagues is another way to get your body moving, with the bonus of supporting your work Significant Others. Go on a coffee run, empty the dishwasher, reach out to a colleague you don't usually interact with. By doing something for someone else — without doing it in exchange for a promotion or other perceived benefit to you — can create wonders for your sense of wellbeing and community. Take a moment to bond with your new friend at work and you'll notice the difference in how you feel. [caption id="attachment_762291" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christina Morillo[/caption] LISTEN TO A PRODUCTIVE PODCAST OR PLAYLIST There are thousands of podcasts out there, providing countless episodes on how to become a more productive individual, and there are plenty that focus on health and wellness, too. Slate Magazine's Political Gabfest or The Saturday Paper's 7am will have you brushing up on international and domestic politics that'll help you elevate your kitchen chat; ABC's The Pineapple Project, hosted by journalist Jan Fran, and Ladies We Need to Talk, hosted by Yumi Stynes dive head-on into financial and lifestyle advice and queries that can feed into your work/life balance goals. And, The Tim Ferriss Show interviews successful people at the top of their game, giving you something to aspire towards. For more high-fibre recipe ideas from Ryvita, head here. Top image: Jopwells from Pexels.
It's a great time to be a fan of Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, thanks to not one, not two, but three new projects hitting Australian screens in 2022 — aka Nightmare Alley, Cabinet of Curiosities and Pinocchio. But if you adore the director's stunning Pan's Labyrinth, as everyone should, then 2023 is going to be even better in Brisbane. The reason? The wondrous film is getting the Hear My Eyes treatment Remixing cinematic masterpieces with a brand-new live score is Hear My Eyes' big thing, as seen in its take on Chopper in 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne, plus past tours of No Country for Old Men with Tropical F*ck Storm and Suspiria with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — and more. It hasn't ever done the same with Pan's Labyrinth before, however, so this performance at 7.30pm on Friday, March 24 at Brisbane Powerhouse is a premiere. Sleep D and artists Hektor and RBI (Ruby Willis) are writing and performing the new score, giving a hypnotic and resonant picture matching sounds. The end result is set to be one of the most transporting examples of movies meeting music you'll ever go to; think of it as a cinema session and a concert in one. Need a refresher on the film? Released in 2006 and winning three Oscars for its efforts — including Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Makeup — Pan's Labyrinth takes audiences to Spain during the Franco regime, specifically in the summer of 1944. That when and where ten-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) gets drawn into a stone maze, with the lines between her reality and this dreamworld colliding — and creating powerful, moving and dazzling movie magic.
Morning brown, morning brown, this bit of news is better than a cup of morning brown — because Aunty Donna is returning to your TV. After gifting your streaming queue one of the best new shows of 2020, aka Netflix's Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun, the Australian comedy group is teaming up with one of the country's national broadcasters on a new sitcom. Yes, Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane are heading to the ABC. The fact that the network is also known as Aunty is obviously incredibly apt — and it isn't the first time that the two have joined forces, with Aunty Donna's Fresh Blood hitting iView back in 2014. This time, Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane are headed to the ABC for a show called Aunty Donna's Untitled Project, a half-hour series that'll see the trio star in a Melbourne-set comedy. The premise: three best mates run a cafe in one of Melbourne's laneways. Their coffee-slinging establishment is trendy, but the stretch of pavement it's in on isn't. You can expect cups of morning brown to be served. Hopefully, the song about them will get a whirl. Will the cafe be open on Christmas and serve up a little bit of pud, too? You'll have to watch to find out. As soon as Neighbours ended it opened a lot of doors for us. — Aunty Donna (@AuntyDonnaBoys) August 24, 2022 This new show will be replacing the highly rated ABC @BreakfastNews show — Aunty Donna (@AuntyDonnaBoys) August 24, 2022 Announcing the news, Aunty Donna said: "we make show, you will love." Hey, it worked with Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun. Fingers crossed that Aunty Donna's Untitled Project proves just as absurd — although Aunty Donna seem incapable of creating anything else, hilariously so. [caption id="attachment_791048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun, Netflix[/caption] "ABC audiences first got a taste of Aunty Donna in 2014 in Fresh Blood, so we couldn't be more excited to have them back where they belong and to be the home of their first narrative comedy series. Strap yourselves in... this is going to be a wild ride," said ABC Head of Comedy Todd Abbott. Aunty Donna's Untitled Project is set to air on ABC TV and ABC iview sometime in 2023, with exact dates yet to be announced. In the interim, you can check out the announcement video for the series below: Aunty Donna's Untitled Project is set to hit ABC and ABC iView sometime in 2023 — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced.
There's never a bad time to drink gin. If you're a fan of juniper spirits, any day ending in 'y' is a great day for your favourite tipple. But Brisbane's annual Ginuary Festival picks one date on the calendar, pours plenty of the beverage in the spotlight and turns it into a celebration. In 2023, all that gin sipping is happening on Sunday, January 22. We recommend that you arrive thirsty, as always — and that you prepare for plenty of company. Taking place for the fifth year, this shindig keeps going gin crazy and attracting a crowd, so this one is being held at Howard Smith Wharves' Rivershed and The Green House. Prepare to sip your way around ten gin degustation stations, too, which you'll find in a dedicated gin tasting hall. All samples are included in your ticket price, and there'll also be multiple gin bars — plus canapes to line your stomach. Also, you have options ticket-wise. A regular pass starts from $59 plus booking fee if you nab an early-bird ticket, or $69 afterwards, and gets you access to the gin stations — and their tastings — as well as those roaming bites to eat. Or, go VIP from $99/119 (plus booking fee) to get a festival bag, three 100-millilitre gin bottles and a few other take-home goodies. While any fest can say cheers to gin just because, Ginuary is also counting down 2022's Hottest 100 Gins, as it does every year. Accordingly, whichever ticket you go for, you'll still get to enjoy the best juniper-fuelled Australian and New Zealand tipples. You can vote online in advance, then revel in the results live on the day.
Whoever decided it was perfectly acceptable to roll out of bed, hit up your favourite watering hole and start your weekend with boozy brunch has changed more than a few lives. But not every alcohol-fuelled mid-morning meal comes with drag queen bingo — aka a way to make sipping bubbles with your first bites of the day even better. That said, Drag Queen Bingo, Bubbles and Bites — Sleigh at The Osbourne doesn't actually kick off till 12pm on Sunday, December 18 — but hey, if it's before 1pm, it still counts. The event is taking place during festive season, so it basically doubles as a Christmas party, complete with plenty of theming to suit the occasion. Hosts Lady Saint Diva and Miss Synthetique will oversee the proceedings, with help from special guest Queen Taylor Ette. Expect drag performances and bingo, obviously, plus plenty of banter and even stocking stuffers Those bubbles will keep flowing from 12–2pm, all as part of your $63.07 ticket, and you'll be snacking on a Christmas spin on charcuterie that'l feature roast meats, breads and condiments. Fancy making a whole afternoon of it? Live tunes will start from 3.30pm, too.
Maybe you've spent much of 2020 glued to the small screen, viewing your way through this year's lockdown periods. Perhaps, as cinemas have been reopening around the country, you've flocked to the big screen to get your movie fix. Either way, if you've been thinking and supporting local — as has been the trend all-round in 2020 — then you've had plenty of Australian films and television shows to watch. And, from this hectic year, the best of the bunch have just been named 2020 AACTA Award nominees. The AACTA Awards — which were previously called the AFI Awards, before changing their name — span multiple types of screen content, so there's a hefty number of local productions vying for a gong when the winners are announced on Monday, November 30. From the initial rundown of nominees — with more set to be revealed on November 12 — three of the year's best Aussie movies rank among the top film contenders, with teen cancer drama Babyteeth scoring 12 nods, the blistering True History of the Kelly Gang picking up ten and the latest version of The Invisible Man receiving eight. Other movie nominees across directing, acting and cinematography categories include the family-friendly H is for Happiness, horror flick Relic, zombie movie Little Monsters, sheep farming comedy-drama Rams and Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman. In terms of stars, everyone from Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Russell Crowe and Ben Mendelsohn to Eliza Scanlen, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Essie Davis and Deborah Mailman are in the running — as well as overseas actors such as Elisabeth Moss, Lupita Nyong'o, Sam Neill and George MacKay. On the TV front, if you've been watching Mystery Road's latest season and mini-series Stateless, they each picked up seven nods a piece. Comedy-wise, series nominees include At Home Alone Together, Black Comedy, The Other Guy, Rosehaven and Upright. The 2020 AACTA Awards will take place on Monday, November 30. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees as they're announced on the AACTA's website: AACTA NOMINEES 2020 FILM AWARDS: BEST FILM Babyteeth H is for Happiness I Am Woman The Invisible Man True History of the Kelly Gang Relic BEST INDIE FILM A Boy Called Sailboat Hot Mess Koko: A Red Dog Story A Lion Returns Standing Up for Sunny Unsound BEST DIRECTION Shannon Murphy, Babyteeth John Sheedy, H is for Happiness Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man Justin Kurzel, True History of the Kelly Gang Natalie Erika James, Relic BEST LEAD ACTOR George MacKay, True History of the Kelly Gang Sam Neill, Rams Richard Roxburgh, H is for Happiness Toby Wallace, Babyteeth Hugo Weaving, Measure for Measure BEST LEAD ACTRESS Tilda Cobham-Hervey, I Am Woman Laura Gordon, Undertow Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters Eliza Scanlen, Babyteeth BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Fayssal Bazzi, Measure for Measure Russell Crowe, True History of the Kelly Gang Aaron Jeffery, The Flood Ben Mendelsohn, Babyteeth Wesley Patten, H is for Happiness BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Emma Booth, H is for Happiness Essie Davis, Babyteeth Bella Heathcote, Relic Deborah Mailman, H is for Happiness Doris Younane, Measure for Measure BEST SCREENPLAY Rita Kalnejais, Babyteeth Abe Forsythe, Little Monsters Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man Natalie Erika James and Christian White, Relic Shaun Grant, True History of the Kelly Gang BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Andrew Commis, Babyteeth Brad Shield, Bloody Hell Geoffrey Hall, Escape From Pretoria Bonnie Elliott, H is for Happiness Stefan Duscio, The Invisible Man BEST DOCUMENTARY Brazen Hussies Brock: Over the Top Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra Slim & I Suzi Q TELEVISION AWARDS: BEST DRAMA SERIES Bloom Doctor Doctor Halixfax: Retribution The Heights Mystery Road Wentworth BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINISERIES The Gloaming Hungry Ghosts Operation Buffalo The Secrets She Keeps Stateless BEST COMEDY SERIES At Home Alone Together Black Comedy The Other Guy Rosehaven Upright BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Fayssal Bazzi, Stateless Bryan Brown, Bloom Jai Courtney, Stateless Ewen Leslie, Operation Buffalo Aaron Pedersen, Mystery Road BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Jada Alberts, Mystery Road Rebecca Gibney, Halixfax: Retribution Asher Keddie, Stateless Pamela Rabe, Wentworth Yvonne Strahovski, Stateless BEST COMEDY PERFORMER Milly Alcock, Upright Anne Edmonds, At Home Together Luke McGregor, Rosehaven Tim Minchin, Upright Celia Pacquola, Rosehaven BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Rob Collins, Mystery Road Darren Gilshenan, Stateless Damon Herriman, The Commons Callan Mulvey, Mystery Road Ed Oxenbould, Bloom BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Cate Blanchett, Stateless Jacqueline McKenzie, Bloom Ngaire Pigram, Mystery Road Tasma Walton, Mystery Road Jacki Weaver, Bloom
For an entire month leading up to Christmas, kicking off back on November 25, Brisbane's CBD gets into the festive spirit. King George Square becomes home to a 22-metre-tall tree, decorations line the Queen Street Mall and markets pop up. As part of a program called Christmas in Brisbane, City Hall gets bathed in nightly light shows, too, and roving performances take place along the mall. Also on the Christmas list in 2022: a jazz lounge around the Queen Street Mall's stage, with performances by local quartet Scat. From Friday, December 9–Saturday, December 24, Brisbanites can stop by for a merry soundtrack that doesn't just involve listening to Mariah Carey and George Michael over and over (and over and over some more). The jazz performances are free, and run for five hours daily across two time slots. Get all up in the Christmas jazz over lunch from 12–2.30pm or listen to smooth tunes from 5–7.30pm during late-night trading. Or, if you have a hefty amount of shopping to do — or you work in the CBD — dropping by for both is definitely an option.
Christmas is coming to Rocklea, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. The Brisbane Markets love celebrating an occasion, so dedicating three Saturday mornings in December to all things festive was always bound to happen. Taking place from 6am–12pm on Saturday, December 10, 17 and 24 — yes, even on Christmas Eve — Christmas Lane will be filled with holiday supplies. If you normally do your grocery shopping here, then your ham, prawn and produce needs will be sorted. But stocking your shelves and fridge at home is just one part of the market. For presents, you'll be able to browse the markets' dedicated gift area (just don't let your loved ones see what you're buying them). Think: arts and crafts, homewares, fashion, jewellery and other handmade goods. If you're keen on giving plants and flowers — or food — you'll find them here as well. And, because all of that shopping is hungry work, you can nab breakfast onsite. Expect entertainment as a soundtrack, too — likely something that'll make you feel mighty jolly.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws its first hangout of 2023. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff with a live broadcast, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty — as well as games, stunts and even activities for kids. Plus, you can also bring your doggo. Happy 2023 indeed.
To watch films written and directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi is to watch people playing a part — in multiple ways. That's one of the key truths to features not only by the Japanese filmmaker, but by anyone helming a movie that relies upon actors. It's so obvious that it doesn't usually need mentioning, in fact. Nonetheless, the notion is as essential to Hamaguchi's pictures as cameras to capture the drama. He bakes the idea into his films via as many methods as he can, pondering what it means to step into all the posts that life demands: friend, lover, spouse, ex, sibling, child, employee, student, classmate and the like. Hamaguchi loves contemplating the overt act of performance, too — his Best International Feature Oscar-winning Drive My Car, which also nabbed its helmer a Best Director nomination at this year's Academy Awards, hones in on a play and the rehearsals for it in dilligent detail — but the auteur who's also behind Happy Hour and Asako I and II has long been aware that the art of portrayal isn't just limited to thespians. Shakespeare said it centuries back, of course. To be precise, he had As You Like It's Jaques utter it: "all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players". Hamaguchi's Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, his second film to reach cinemas in mere months, definitely isn't a French-set comedy; however, it lives and breathes the Bard's famous words anyway. Here, three tales about romance, desire and fate get a spin. This trio of stories all muse on chance, choice, identity, regret and inescapable echoes as well, and focus on complex women reacting to the vagaries of life and everyday relationships. They're about sliding into roles in daily existence, and making choices regarding how to behave, which way to present yourself and who you decide to be depending upon the company you're in. While Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy mightn't ultimately mimic Drive My Car's Oscars success, it's equally masterful. In the first segment — dubbed 'Magic (or Something Less Assuring)' — model Meiko (Kotone Furukawa, 21st Century Girl) discovers that her best friend Tsugumi (Hyunri, Wife of a Spy) has just started seeing her ex-boyfriend Kazuaki (Ayumu Nakajima, Saturday Fiction). She's told in a sprawling taxi chat, which makes for stellar early sequence, and then she grapples with her complicated feelings while musing on what could eventuate from there. Meiko also heads straight to her former paramour, which was never going to simplify the situation. Her mantle to bear: either remaining the picture of a supportive pal by failing to tell Tsugumi about her past with Kazuaki, or laying out their history and forever shifting the dynamic. It's a devastating tale in how intricately it understands the push and pull of bonds that splay in different directions, and how we hold ourselves in various ways depending on who we're with. Next, in 'Door Wide Open', college student Nao (Katsuki Mori, Sea Opening) is enlisted to seduce Professor Sagawa (Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Tezuka's Barbara) as part of a revenge plan by her lover Sasaki (Shouma Kai, Signal 100). She's forced into the part — which blatantly requires her to play a part — by the entitled Sasaki, all because the professor won't give him a passing grade. Nao is married, adding further shades to the roles she's inhabiting at any given time. She's also wholly uncomfortable with the position that her boyfriend has placed her in, but it still leads to authentic connections and revelations. Another of Hamaguchi's strong and frequently repeated truths: that the pretences we all sport, for whatever reasons we adopt them in any particular circumstances, are often barriers to genuine emotions and attachments. Finally, in a world where the internet has been eradicated due to a virus — making third chapter 'Once Again' a piece of science fiction, too, and as quietly fantastical as the feature gets — Natsuko (Fusako Urabe, Voices in the Wind) and Nana (Aoba Kawai, Marriage with a Large Age Gap) cross paths. The former has returned home to attend her high-school reunion, bumping into the latter within moments of getting off the train, with the two women instantly thinking that they were classmates decades ago. Thanks to the preceding portions of the film and also Hamaguchi's filmography in general, it's instantly clear that this scenario won't be straightforward, either. Nana invites Natsuko back to her house, the two chat and reminisce, but neither is all that confident about their shared history in a segment that tenderly but candidly examines role-playing as a two-way street, and also deception as a social grace. Hamaguchi's resume is littered with other obsessions beyond the fictions people spin to get through their days — to themselves and to each other, and willingly and unthinkingly alike — many of which also pop up in Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Coincidence has a role in each of the movie's trio of intelligently and painstakingly plotted narratives, and destiny and fortune as well (as the name makes plain). The tangled web that romance weaves, and the sticky strands that represent alluring exes, also leave a firm imprint. So does seduction, and not always in its usual and most apparent form. All three of the picture's sections could stand alone, but each could've been fleshed out to feature length as well; as they exist, they leave viewers wanting more time with their lead characters. Commonalities ebb and flow between them, though, because this is a smart, astute and savvily layered triptych that's brought to the screen with everything that makes Hamaguchi's work so empathetic, warmly intimate and also entrancing. On the list: a canny knack for domestic drama that spies the revelatory in the seemingly ordinary and mundane; a willingness to let dialogue guide each story, yet never by resorting to only speaking in exposition dumps or lazily telling over showing; and, to help with that crucial last component, piercing and haunting long shots by cinematographer (Yukiko Iioka, Listen to Light) in every chapter. Indeed, each portion of Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy almost resembles a full-length film as it is courtesy of these trademark traits, which make the entire movie seem deeply lived-in. It should come as no surprise, then, that Hamaguchi's cast fares just as brilliantly. With the filmmaker's patent fascination with performance on full display, the restrained yet meticulously textured portrayals he exacts from his cast are uniformly excellent. They're more than that; in a beguiling piece about playing parts, and that makes the process of adopting a role its very reason for flickering, peering at its actors feels like peering at reality at its most soulful, insightful and also playful.
Brisbanites, it's time for a night at the museum. It's time for several, actually. You won't find Ben Stiller roaming the halls here; however, Queensland Museum will be filled with almost a century of Mouse House magic, all thanks to spectacular exhibition Disney: The Magic of Animation. Clearly, these after-hours evenings will still feel rather adventurous — and, if you're a big Disney animation fan, dazzling as well. Queensland Museum has held these types of events before for past exhibitions, and just in general, but pairing it with more than 500 original sketches and artworks from Disney's beloved animated flicks takes things up several notches. While you're being the South Bank spot's guest at Disney: The Magic of Animation After Dark — which is completely adults-only — you'll walk, talk, drink take a tour of the exhibition and party while surrounded by all those Disney treasures. There'll be live tunes, too, and the rest of QM will be open as well, so expect to check out SparkLab and Sciencentre's wonders, and even meet native wombats, crocodiles and birds. A word of warning: these shindigs often sell out even when everything from Steamboat Willie — the first talkie to feature Mickey Mouse — through to last year's Raya and the Last Dragon aren't involved. So, you'll want to nab a $40 ticket quickly (and note that that price doesn't include food and drinks). Disney: The Magic of Animation After Dark takes place from 5.30–8.30pm on Friday, June 24; Friday, August 5; Friday, September 2; Saturday, October 29; Friday, December 2; and Thursday, January 19. Top image: Phoebe Powell, ACMI.
There’s not an awful lot you can do in 48 hours. You could get halfway through all of Lost, two sevenths of the way through all the Doctor Whos or have just enough time to track down a killer, as proved by Eddie Murphy - let alone, make a movie! Alas there’s a group of local filmmakers who’ve defied the odds, given up on Sawyer’s plight and traded in the couch for a camera for two days of intense movie making. These filmmakers will join more than 60,000 people from 120 countries to see who can make the best short film in a weekend – they’ve even got a chance to be screened in Cannes 2014. The Judith Wright Centre will be debuting these Brisbane entries over two big nights, 4-5 October. Check out the screening program here and get behind a bunch of up and coming JJ Abrams.
When Whitney Houston sang 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', the world believed her. It wasn't just the energetic beat or joyous tone that struck a chord, but the dynamic power of Houston's voice. Her prowess wasn't new news — released in 1987, the track was the first single from her second album, and became her fourth consecutive number one single in the US. And yet, when she trilled so explosively about finding someone to dance with, she seemed like a woman who not only wanted to share her life with that one special person, but also wanted to share her talent with the entire planet. With Whitney, director Kevin Macdonald tests that theory. Giving the pop superstar the same probing treatment that has driven his previous movies about Bob Marley, artist Cai Guo-Qiang and fellow documentarian Errol Morris, among others, the filmmaker behind Touching the Void, State of Play and Black Sea explores the what, how and why of Houston's life in a thoughtful and solemn fashion. What did she want out of her career? How did she try to achieve it? Why did her story turn out the way it did? They're the questions at the heart of this birth-to-death portrait, all examining the tragic tale of someone who sang like no one else, crooned hits that were heard around the globe and broke music records, but was rarely able to be herself. If you're already a fan, you'll know the minutiae. Even if you're not, you'll still be aware of Houston's substance abuse issues, and the way that her life came to an end. Macdonald combines candid interviews with Houston's loved ones — including her gospel singer mother Cissy Houston and her ex-husband Bobby Brown — with archival footage, performance clips, family photos, recording demos and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the movie's eponymous figure. Of course, it's not only Houston's specific tale that feels familiar, but the fact that this narrative has played out with plenty of other famous folks of late. Recent documentaries about Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain relayed very similar details, and Whitney: Can I Be Me? tread very similar ground just last year, albeit relying more heavily on backstage footage and focusing more firmly on Houston's relationship with friend Robyn Crawford. Whitney mightn't tell viewers much that's new; however it assembles its various pieces with a force on par with Houston's roaring voice. The editing on display in the film's contextual montages — which weave together ads and events from the time, Houston's work, and intimate photographs — sets a swift pace that never lets up, as Macdonald squeezes as much as he can into the documentary's two-hour running time. There are gaps, with Brown refusing to talk about drug use, and only some parts of Houston's career getting in-depth attention. There are also splashes of particularly incisive, penetrating insight, including a dissection of the impact of race and class. And there's one huge, heartbreaking revelation, although the way it's treated as a third-act twist sits cheaply and uncomfortably. Throughout it all, there's Houston herself. As the rise-and-fall music biopic genre understands all too well, there's no substitute for letting a film's subject prove their merits in their own way, with their own voice and in their own words. In Whitney, it's seeing Houston perform that shapes the documentary's sorrowful melody — and, expressly, seeing her shows evolve over the years. First, she's a bright-eyed teenager making her first TV appearance. Soon, she's the most famous singer in the world, unleashing her distinctive take on 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the 1991 Super Bowl. Later, she's an object of derision during her final tour, which caused walkouts when she came to Brisbane, as the movie shows. Out of all of the above, it's her 1983 rendition of 'Home' on The Merv Griffin Show that echoes throughout the doco, so much so that Macdonald uses it to bookend the picture. With Houston radiant in a purple dress but shining brighter out of sheer talent, the clip perfectly embodies the film's message: that she simply wanted to sing, dance and soar, but couldn't chase away her demons as she chased her dreams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU2g2w70kG0
Any good 'twist movie' carries with it two inescapable truths: joy to behold, bitch to review. The best to which a critic can aspire is circumspection bordering on indifference, tempered like a card shark sitting on an unbeatable hand. That task becomes even more formidable when the twist itself provides the basis for the entire plot. In those cases, as it is with Steven Soderbergh's latest (and supposedly last) film Side Effects, even just stating what the film's about in the broadest possible terms discloses more than can ever be justified. Ultimately, there's little more that can be said beyond "This film is great and you really ought to see it." And yet, sufficient as that review might be, in this instance Side Effects' name and tagline — "One pill can change your life" — helpfully offer at least a permissible insight into the movie's umbrella theme: prescription drugs. Its main character Emily (Rooney Mara) flits back and forth from one antidepressant to the next like they were competing brands of cereal, forever in search of that consequence-free panacea to her daily "poisonous fog bank rolling in". Her well-intentioned psychiatrist (Jude Law) dutifully doles out each prescription, just as eager to cure her melancholy yet also candidly advocating certain medications over others in exchange for those companies' generous consultancy fees. However, just as Side Effects appears to be establishing itself as the fictionalised version of similarly themed documentaries like Generation RX and Prescription for Disaster, it takes such a sudden and monumental shift that the audience audibly gasped in our screening. From that moment on, Soderbergh (who also filmed and edited the movie under pseudonyms) has you questioning and requestioning everything you see and hear, grasping for clarity, and staving off paranoia like the very characters before you. If indeed this is to be his swan song, then we can take solace in knowing he's left us with another gripping, intelligent, and complex psychological thriller befitting both his status as an auteur and his extraordinary back catalogue of films.
UPDATE, May 29, 2021: Baby Done is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. A relic of a time when women were considered wives, mothers and little else, the public need to comment on whether someone has a baby or is planning to have a baby is flat-out garbage behaviour. In your twenties or thirties, and in a couple? Yet to procreate? If so, the world at large apparently thinks that it's completely acceptable to ask questions, make its judgement known and demand answers. Baby Done offers a great take on this kind of situation. Surrounded by proud new parents and parents-to-be at a baby shower, Zoe (Rose Matafeo) refuses to smile and nod along with all the polite cooing over infants — existing and yet to make their way into the world — and smug discussions about the joys of creating life. An arborist more interested in scaling trees at both the national and world championships than starting a family, she simply refuses to temper who she is to fit society's cookie-cutter expectations. Her partner Tim (Matthew Lewis) is on the same wavelength, and they visibly have more fun than everyone else at the party. With a title such as Baby Done, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise when this New Zealand comedy soon upsets Zoe and Tim's status quo. She discovers that she's expecting and, while he starts dutifully preparing to an almost unnervingly sensible extent, she also struggles to face the change that's coming their way. At the forefront of Zoe's mind is a phenomenon she has noticed with most of her friends, other than the still single and child-free Molly (Emily Barclay) — who just might be more pregnancy-phobic than she is. When women become mothers, that's often the only way they're seen by the world and themselves. Zoe is also concerned about being forced to put her own dreams on hold. In fact, even as her bump expands and everyone from her doctor to her parents tells her otherwise, she's adamant that she's still heading overseas to climb as many branches in the pursuit of arboriculture glory as she can. Comedies about the trials and tribulations of parenthood, and of the journey to become parents, are almost as common as people asking "when are you two having kids?" without prompting at parties. But this addition to the genre from director Curtis Vowell and screenwriter Sophie Henderson (both veterans of 2013 film Fantail) approaches a well-worn topic from a savvy angle. Zoe clearly isn't a stereotypical mother-to-be, and doesn't experience the stereotypical feelings women have been told they're supposed to feel about having children — and Baby Done leans into that fact. The role-reversal at the movie's centre really shouldn't feel so refreshing. Neither should depicting a women daring to think that, even though she wants to have a baby, she doesn't want her entire life as she currently knows it to disappear. It also shouldn't stand out that, instead of depicting an impending father who's less than fussed about taking on that responsibility as plenty of previous flicks have, Baby Done focuses on an expectant mother who'd rather carry on as if nothing big is happening — but it does. In her first lead big-screen role, comedian Matafeo stands out, too. Indeed, it's easy to wonder whether Baby Done would've worked so engagingly and thoughtfully with someone else as its star. In her hands, Zoe instantly feels like a fully realised character that has walked off the street and into the camera's sights — because, even in an obvious comedy that's constantly trying to evoke laughs, its protagonist is always relatable, fleshed out, and the sum of both her clear strengths and overt struggles. That's the kind of balance that the leads in the last female-led, Taika Waititi-produced New Zealand comedy that touched on motherhood, The Breaker Upperers, also perfected. Matafeo has her own presence, however; playing plucky, outgoing and friendly, but also stubborn and wilfully in denial about what she's going through, she could easily (and will hopefully) step out of Baby Done and into a host of other affable and amusing movies. Understanding that motherhood means different things to different women and subverting the usual gender roles in the process doesn't stop the brightly shot, breezily toned Baby Done from sticking to a largely, sweetly predictable narrative, though. Or, from serving up just as easy-to-anticipate jokes amongst a particularly awkward threesome and a series of encounters with a pregnophile. Neither does Matafeo's excellent efforts, or her also likeable co-stars Lewis and Browning — with the former worlds away from his time as the Harry Potter franchise's Neville Longbottom, and the latter in her second offbeat supporting part this year after Babyteeth. And yet, as the likes of Knocked Up and Juno have shown entertainingly (especially in comparison to tripe like What to Expect When You're Expecting), finding an astute way to tackle a familiar topic really can't be underestimated. Again, Baby Done shouldn't feel like an outlier in its genre. In many ways, it really isn't, in fact. But charting one woman's pregnancy experience, and her backlash to the widely accepted notion that motherhood is the pinnacle of a woman's life, proves poignant and charming more often than not here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbIxi2VHTTk
Though most of us spend July huddled in the depths of our doonas, there's also a thick and juicy silver lining to be had: Good Food Month. The city-wide food festival will return to Brisbane for the month of July to fill our bellies with a cure for the winter blues, and this year it could rebranded Great Food Month — Brisbane has really upped its culinary game in the last 12 months. There's a lot on the program, but here's a rundown of some of the highlights of the festival to pencil in to you iCal. NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS We probably don't even need to remind you about this one. The Cultural Forecourt at South Bank will be packed out with Asian hawker-style stalls and some delightful options for dessert. You'll find your favourite Gelato Messina, Waffleland, Teppanyaki Noodles, Little Kyoto, Donburi Station, Spanthai, Hoy Pinoy and a Blackstar x N2 Extreme Gelato collab. And leave you cash money at home because this year all stalls will accept cashless payment (a terrifying prospect for those of us with no self control — best slap a daily limit on your credit card). BRISBANE'S YOUNG CHEFS LUNCH This event is always generates some great buzz and will let you get an inside track on the up-and-coming stars of the culinary scene. This year it's hosted at Aria under the watchful eye of head chef Ben Russell. ESCAPE TO HALYCON HOUSE So, if you've got an anniversary coming up — or you just want to be extra indulgent — check out this super luxurious overnight escape to Halcyon House. Though it'll cost you back $2K, you'll be treated like Obama and Michelle. Luxury car transfers, drinks by the pool, dinner cooked by Paper Daisy chef Ben Devil, a Champagne brekky and a seasonal cooking class, all while staying in what might be Australia's most beautiful hotel. Well, we can dream. LANEWAY! STREET FOOD! MUSIC! The name says it all, really. You'll be up for a night of cold beers and street food at Fish Lane, made by Good Food Month's best chefs. A $50 ticket buys you four beers and three serves of food, which is actually really good value (not something we say often). Not a bad substitute on the above event. Good Food Month runs from July 1-31 at various locations across Brisbane. For more infomation, visit goodfoodmonth.com/brisbane.
Cosmo's Midnight is the playful moniker for the much-adored Sydney-based production duo made up of twins Cosmo and Patrick Liney. The pair have been writing and producing feel-good jams since 2012, with their ever-evolving sound and clear natural talent seeing them only continue to rise in popularity across the globe. For the uninitiated, their songs are eclectic and yet instantly recognisable: dance tracks heavy on the instrumentals, floaty lyrics and sky-high vibes. After a 2022 chock-full of buzzing festival crowds and tours here and abroad, Cosmo's Midnight are getting ready to take to the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) followed by legs in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5) — along with a stacked lineup. Joining them are legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX and Duke Dumont, plus Budjerah, Sonny Fodera and Snakehips to name a few. Ahead of their tour with For The Love (curated by renowned party-throwers from Untitled Group), we caught up with Cosmo and Patrick to chat about their summer highs, creative influences and how they're feeling ahead of the waterside gigs. First up, how are you both? Enjoying summer? You've spent the warmer months hitting festival stages here and abroad — there must be some exhaustion in there! "Doing very well, it's nice to finally have a summer where we aren't dodging flood waters. After pretty extensive touring for the last half of 2022, it's been so good to recoup and hit the beach in between writing sessions. We're currently writing some of the best music we've ever put together and can't wait to show some of the stuff Pat and I have been working on." On and off the stage, what have been your summer highs? "Hitting Hobbiton in New Zealand was a massive highlight, we've been massive fans of LOTR and Tolkien as a whole our entire lives. It was so magical walking through the set and having the opportunity to get turpsed at The Green Dragon, the pub from The Shire. Also just touring with our band is so fun, they've been good mates of ours since before we started doing shows together and we spent one torrential day in Auckland go-karting in inch-deep water. No one else was on the track so the people running it just let us have free reign, trying to destroy each other and doing our best to recreate Tokyo Drift." Amazing! What's it like touring with your sibling? "It's really easy despite the fact we have little sibling tiffs every now and then — they're always quickly resolved and never spiral into something sinister. Luckily we both enjoy the same general things outside of music, so there's no massive vote required to figure out what the band is going to do when we're not on stage." You both exude such a positive energy when performing, how does it feel to be on stage? "We both love performing, as far as music goes it's the biggest payoff of writing and developing a live show. Seeing how people respond to your music is the truest review you can get in this age of music streaming, where it's hard to tell what people think immediately — where we more so just watch the play counts rack up." For The Love is about to kick off its run of music events to see out Australia's summer, how are you both feeling ahead of taking the stage? "Really excited, we're keen to debut some new music and renditions of old songs to up the ante even further. It's been a while since we've hit a national tour in Australia so it will be great to see some familiar spaces and faces!" How do you prep for a gig? Any non-negotiables in the lead up? "Always rehearse really close to show day. Despite all the touring we did last year, we made sure to go through everything again with the band before we hit a tour. We all got so familiar with our live set last year after touring through Europe, UK, USA that I think we got a bit cocky and thought it might be okay to skip it... luckily we decided against it. Always gotta break out the WD-40 even when nothing sounds rusty." Whose set on the For The Love lineup are you most excited to catch? "I'm so excited to see Charli perform, we've been big fans of hers throughout her career and the ebbs and flows she's had as she explores different genres and styles. Unfortunately we've never caught her live, so it's going to be a massive highlight to see her at FTL — I hope we get to meet her!" I have everything crossed for you! Do you have a favourite track to perform? "It changes as time goes on but currently we have a really fun extended version of CUDI that is just so satisfying and exciting to play. I feel like if your song doesn't give you tingles when you're performing it, you've got to work on it until it does and we've reached that sweet spot with CUDI." You've got a unique and recognisable sound — inherently upbeat with a little eighties-disco edge. What are you influenced by creatively? "You're entirely right, we do listen to a lot of disco for inspiration. Before every new musical endeavour we do a massive amount of listening to kind of figure out the palette and sound for our next project. These last two years, we've extended our listening into more recent decades like the nineties and two-thousands to see both how the natural progression of disco leaned to house and pop — and what we can take from those eras that is so timeless and exciting." I've had a good old internet dig, and gleaned that your third album is well on its way to ears — how are you feeling about it? What can we expect from Cosmo's Midnight in the near-ish future? "Solid investigative work you've done there! It's well on the way, some would even say its getting wrapped up soon! We're feeling really excited and confident for the new project, it's some of the most upbeat and fluid writing we've done to date and we're really looking forward to dripping them out so everyone can get across them all." Are you taking any time off after the For The Love run? "We're going to take some time off to plan the rest of the year music and touring-wise. We're also going to use some downtime to work on other artists' projects, maybe do some writing camps and holidaying! It's always a good time mid-year to see what is happening up in the northern hemisphere." And finally, what are your three favourite places to eat and drink in Sydney? "Shameless plugs for friends: I love visiting my mates over at Baba's Place in Marrickville for a bite to eat! Then Naija Jollof has really good West African food just up the street from me, which is really hearty and spicy. Cafe Nho in Marrickville has the coffee with the closest taste to that in Vietnam, if you've travelled there and miss the coffee I'd strongly recommend trying it out!" Cosmo's Midnight are set to take the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) and in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5). For more info and to nab your tickets, head to the website.
Not to bag out on the nation’s biggest punk and hardcore festival at present – you know the one I’m talking about...but it is incredibly frustrating when acts pull out at the last moment or the festival is unable to go ahead due to weather or for other (un)avoidable reasons. Such is not the case with the Total Attack festival, which is run indoors and features a list of bands bigger than this article can accommodate. What’s more is that these bands actually want to play and are either emerging or established musicians in Brisbane and Australia. This festival mightn’t be for everyone, but if you’re a lover of hardcore or punk, then this event is the crème de le crème for your niche. The 3 day festival kicks off on Friday at the MDH Studios with an all ages showdown featuring Straightjacket Nation, Kromosom, Evil Ways and plenty more that will make everyone in the room sore from head banging. On Saturday the festival peaks with a Jubilee Hotel set with Teargas, Useless Children, Shackles and half a dozen more, and is also 18+, probably because things are going to get pretty hectic. The festival will come to an end on Sunday at Basement 243 with the aptly named headliners Shit Weather, as well as Undead Apes, Last Chaos and Debacle. These sorts of festivals only come around a couple of times a year and if it’s your kettle of fish then it’s definitely worth a look.
Whether you're travelling for work, leisure or something in-between, if you're a Brisbanite who has been in New South Wales lately, you've probably been happy to venture further than your own city. But with four Local Government Areas in Sydney about to be placed under stay-at-home orders from 11.59pm tonight, Friday, June 25 — yes, that's another term for a lockdown — the Queensland Government now requires anyone who has visited the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick council areas since Friday, June 11 to also abide by the same conditions. Yes, you should be feeling a bit of deja vu. This type of thing now tends to happen when another city goes into lockdown, so it has indeed occurred before. Queensland has already closed its borders to the Greater Sydney area in response to the city's current COVID-19 outbreak, but the state has now put a new stay-at-home requirement in place for anyone currently in Queensland who has been to the four specified LGAs. As announced in a Queensland Health public health alert released today, if you fall into that category, you're required to follow the same conditions that would be in place if you were in those four Sydney areas at the moment. The rules are the same as during Brisbane's three lockdowns, which means that you're only allowed to leave the house for select reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for outdoor exercise, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. The City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick LGAs will be under stay-at-home orders until at least 11.59pm on Friday, July 2. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1408274632910655496 Queensland is giving folks who've been in the four LGAs a little bit of extra leeway, though — if you're in the Sunshine State, the lockdown requirement won't kick in until 1am on Saturday, June 26. That said, Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young advised that "if you're one of these people, please don't rush off to another location on holiday — if you do, you'll still need to follow these rules wherever you are." And, although Greater Sydney has already been deemed a hotspot by Queensland, that declaration is being backdated for the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick LGAs as well. So, if you're a Sunshine State resident who returns home after 1am on Saturday, June 26, and you've been in the four LGAs since Friday, June 11 — even if that's not where you're arriving back from now — you'll need to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days. Dr Young is also advising Queenslanders to "reconsider their need to travel to New South Wales during this time." Residents of seven Sydney LGAs — not just the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick, but also Bayside, Canada Bay and Inner West — are not permitted to leave the metropolitan Sydney area. As always, the usual general advice regarding hygiene and social distancing applies in Queensland, as it has throughout the pandemic. For more information about Queensland's COVID-19 border restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? Alongside whether or not you're a fan of pineapple on pizza, pet preference is one of humanity's great dividing factors. Some folks love the unconditional affection that a barking bestie brings. Others thrive on the contented purrs of a meowing mouser sitting on their lap. Whichever camp you fall into, here's something that even the most-avid pup proponents and feline fanciers can agree on: that an exhibition dedicated to both cats and dogs, charting their place in art, design and human history, is a delightful must-see. Cats & Dogs is that showcase, giving NGV Australia in Melbourne's Federation Square one of its big summer highlights. It's a great time to be an art lover in the Victorian capital, or visiting the city, with all things Yayoi Kusama taking over NGV International and beyond — and also this thoughtful and adorable exhibition bringing joy via more than 250 cat- and dog-focused works at the Ian Potter Centre until Sunday, July 20, 2025. If your camera roll demonstrates your firm belief that there's no such thing as too many pet pictures, consider this the wide-ranging display that understands, then illustrates that idea — literally — via art. Pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco de Goya, Pierre Bonnard, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Hulda Guzmán, Atong Atem, Charles Blackman, Grace Cossington Smith and Nora Heysen are among the works featured, spanning both international and Australian artists. And yes, because cats and dogs don't always get along, the exhibition places dog pieces on one side and cats on the other. For plenty of pet lovers, you could hang all the pictures in the world of cats and dogs in a gallery and it'd instantly become a cherished art experience, but NGV International has arranged its showcase thematically to dig into what these two types of cute creatures mean to us. Using works from the NGV Collection, it explores subjects such as working dogs and cats, how the two pets feature in mythology and the occult, and their significance in religion and spirituality. So, expect cattle dogs, superstition-inspiring black cats and everything in-between, Also included in a display that ranges from ancient history to today: a survey of cats in popular culture. And if thinking about moggies and art gets you thinking about Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen's 1896 Chat Noir art nouveau poster, the recent acquisition by the NGV is part of the exhibition. Paintings of cats and dogs, prints of cats and dogs, drawings of cats and dogs, photos of cats and dogs, sculptures of cats and dogs, fashion featuring cats and dogs: they're all covered, as are textiles and decorative arts heroing the two critters. Other specific highlights include Atomicus, the surrealist photography by Philippe Halsman with Salvador Dalí pictured next to flying cats; Thomas Gainsborough's two-metre-high oil painting Richard St George Mansergh-St George, focusing on a soldier and his hound; Atong Atem's 2022 self-portrait Maria of Mars, complete with a lapdog earning atttention; pieces by First Nations artists, such as wooden carvings of camp dogs by Far North Queensland's Aurukun artists; and fashion by Alexander McQueen, Romance Was Born and others. Do you know in your bones that your own cat or dog belongs in the same company? There's a pet portrait gallery, too, where attendees can share images of their own pets. Images: Installation view of Cats & Dogs at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 1 November 2024 to 20 July 2025. Photos: Eugene Hyland and Tom Ross.
The Trouble with Templeton are a band whose music pushes the dynamics of their genre to the limit. Known for a sound that stems from meekness, softness and raw emotion matched with lyrics that ripple wisdom and angst, this seminal five-piece preach, rather than play, their music. Since the success of their latest single 'Six Months in a Cast', The Trouble with Templeton have hit the ground running with a new album in production, a follow up single in the making and a trip to America only weeks away. With their barbed-guitar leads, melodic tunes and the hypnotising voice of frontman, Thomas Calder, there is no doubt that great things are in store for this much loved group of musicians. The Trouble with Templeton are currently recording in Brisbane, before packing up and heading to the States. As a farewell, they will be playing one final show at Black Bear Lodge before jetting off – witness their quirky, ernest and bittersweet songs before we lose them to the yanks.
Following a big night out, scrolling through your snaps may be part of your morning-after routine, letting you bask in the glory of all those photos immortalising all that fun. Or, hitting up a gig, bar or party just mightn't be complete unless you're filling your socials while you're there. Whether one or both of the above apply to you, neither is out of the ordinary — so much so that heading to a shindig without being able to access your phone is now a novelty. That's exactly the kind of situation that Lane 8's record label This Never Happened is embracing, however, when it tours Australia's east coast with for a series of gatherings. At This Never Happens Presents, you won't have a screen in your hand — or face. You won't be swiping, texting or doing anything else with the gadget we're all addicted to, either. Attendees will have their phones taped upon arrival, because these dance music get-togethers are all about connecting IRL and in the moment. The tour has three stops over one July weekend, starting on Friday, July 14 at 170 Russell in Melbourne, then moving to Sydney's Metro Theatre on Saturday, July 15, before wrapping up at Brightside Outdoors in Brisbane on Sunday, July 16. In each city, you'll enjoy tunes from Le Youth, Sultan & Shepard and PARIS on the dance floor — and you'll just have to rely upon your noggin to remember all the highlights afterwards. These will be This Never Happen's first shows in this part of the world, after launching in 2016, signing artists who've toured with producer and DJ Lane 8, and first hosting parties in 2017 and 2019 elsewhere around the globe. Pics or it didn't happen? Not here. THIS NEVER HAPPENED PRESENTS 2023 DATES: Friday, July 14 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Saturday, July 15 — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sunday, July 16 — Brightside Outdoors, Brisbane THIS NEVER HAPPENED PRESENTS 2023 LINEUP: Le Youth Sultan & Shepard PARIS This Never Happened Presents tours Australia's east coast in July, with ticket pre-sales from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, May 10 and general sales from 12pm on Thursday, May 11.
Here's your latest excuse to pretend that it's the late 90s and 00s: The Offspring and Simple Plan are teaming up for a heap of 2025 Australian shows. After playing an Aussie gig late in 2024 as part of Victoria's Always Live music season — their only concert on that trip, which sold out in 30 seconds — the band is returning to hit up arenas in four cities. In Brisbane, they have two dates with Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, May 14–Thursday, May 15. It's been a quarter of a century since The Offspring earned a claim to fame that every music fan Down Under should know: topping Triple J's Hottest 100 with 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)', a win that still ranks as the annual countdown's most-controversial result to date. 2024 marked four decades since the band first formed in the early 80s, and more than 30 years since it came to mainstream attention with hits like 'Come Out and Play' and 'Self Esteem' — and the Californian outfit isn't done belting out its catchy brand of punk just yet. While the band released albums Let the Bad Times Roll and Supercharged in 2021 and 2024, respectively, you can still expect to hear their famous tracks — including 'Gotta Get Away', 'Why Don't You Get a Job?', 'The Kids Aren't Alright' and the song that's forever cemented in Australian radio history, obviously. Still led by frontman and guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland — the group's only remaining member from its initial 1984 lineup, so you can definitely call him the original prankster — The Offspring will have company in the form of Canada's Simple Plan. From The Offspring alone, you'll get the words "gunter glieben glauchen globen" stuck in your head for another couple of decades. Images: Daveed Benito.
What would your last meal be? Many of us don't get to choose, but if you're a famous criminal on Death Row, you actually have to pick your final foods. Luckily, for most law-abiding citizens, you won't have to make that selection. But what did Ted Bundy choose? What about John Wayne Gacy — aka Killer Clown? Brisbane's Transcontinental Hotel want to take Henry Hargreaves' idea of photographing Death Row prisoners' last meals and actually let you taste them, with an upcoming dinner this September. It's a risky concept, one that was recently slammed in London. At the Last Meal Conviction Dinner on September 17, The Trans and Rocks Brewing are teaming up to offer morsels tinged with all things morbid. You'll drink craft beer while choosing to eat one of the last meals actually ordered by infamous criminals, photographed here by Hargreaves for the bittersweet No Seconds series. First, there's the Ted Bundy, featuring medium-rare steak, eggs over easy, toast with butter and hash browns. Or, perhaps you'd prefer the spread favoured by John Wayne Gacy, which includes the odd pairings of fried chicken, fries, fried shrimp and strawberries. Last but not least, you can feast on Jeffery Dillingham's ultimate request of a triple cheeseburger without mayo, eggs, fries, lasagne, garlic bread, macaroni and cheese, cinnamon rolls and nacho cheese. These men committed terrible crimes, and paid the price for their actions, but choosing their final food wasn't one of them. Tickets cost $45, which includes your choice of last meal plus one pot and three ponys of Rocks beer — aka the ideal amount of alcohol to help assuage any inner ickiness you're feeling. For those happy to embrace the serial killer thrills, dressing up is encouraged, and there'll even be prizes on offer for the best costume. The Last Meal Conviction Dinner takes place at the Trans on September 17. For more information, or to book tickets, visit their website. Images: Henry Hargreaves.
Nature lovers, listen up. Australian Geographic has put together an exploration of the plants and animals that help make this country of ours what it is, with Our Country going big on the multi-sensory experience. When it hits Brisbane from Saturday, March 11–Sunday, May 7, the exhibition will let visitors wander through 40-plus screens that reach up to six metres tall, with its super-sized projections spanning across 1200 square metres and featuring works by 25 accomplished cinematographers. Here, attendees will encounter mist, starry night skies, all creatures big and small, and a 360-degree soundtrack. You'll feel like you're stepping across the nation's stunning landscape, rather than simply through the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Yes, that's a big part of the point. Each screen will be present previously unseen footage collected from over 100,000 hours in the field from the lineup of cinematographers, which includes Peter Nearhos, a frequent collaborator of David Attenborough. Nearhos has worked on documentaries such as One Life and David Attenborough's Tasmania, and it's exactly this type of close-up look at Australia's wildlife that you can expect to revel in. Emmy Award-winner Karina Holden (Love on the Spectrum) was tasked with the challenge of whittling down this footage, curating an intimate look at ecosystems across the country. Bustling bushland, expansive desserts and vibrant rainforests all make an appearance. Also featuring contributions by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, sound designers and performers, this is Australian Geographic's first-ever multi-sensory experience. Tickets are available for $34.90 for adults, $24.90 for kids under 16 and $94.90 for families. Images: Ben Broady. Updated April 17.
When that slice of inner-city delights known as Teneriffe was officially named a suburb back in 2010, locals threw a party to celebrate. More than a decade on, that shindig is still going strong annually and attracting 45,000 people a year — you know it as the Teneriffe Festival. For its 2023 outing, the event will boast another wide-ranging day of fun, aka the kind of shindig that previous attendees have come to expect. When 10am–9pm rolls around on Saturday, May 27, there'll be tunes, food, markets and more, all helping locals and visitors alike make the most of the bustling locale. On the music bill, as curated by The Triffid: Boy & Bear on headliner duties, plus GANGgajang and Odette. There's also Flowertruck, Felivand, The Moving Stills, Betty Taylor and Dizzy Days — and the list goes on. The lineup will hit two main stages, plus a dedicated riverside jazz garden stage with sounds provided by the Jazz Music Institute — and the tunes will keep going via DJs and roving performers. Between stints of dancing in the street, attendees will be able to sample the area's bars and restaurants, find a feast of from a food truck, hit up a pop-up beer garden — which is being overseen by Stone & Wood — then walk around bespoke market stalls. TENERIFFE FESTIVAL 2023 LINEUP: Boy & Bear GANGgajang Odette Tijuana Cartel Flowertruck Felivand The Moving Stills Betty Taylor Dizzy Days Kurilpa Reach Doggie Heaven Tjaka Radium Dolls Ghost Mutt Neish Smallest Horse Melody Graves and The Hokum Redemption Dave & The Mudcrabs Updated May 11.
Any venue can serve up a brunch that goes on for hours, or so it seems given the sheer number of such mid-morning sessions across Brisbane. Cloudland's Brunch with Bite fits that mould, offering plenty of food as well as bottomless booze — but it also adds something a little different to the menu. Fancy getting a bit of camp drag comedy with your meal? Watching an uproarious game show? Belting out a tune while brunch rolls on? They're all on the bill at this banquet, with the lineup changing weekly. Food-wise, you'll tuck into an Italian-inspired spread and nab a drink on arrival, all as part of your $88.80 ticket. The event kicks off at 11am, with two hours of bottomless mimosas, bloody marys, Canadian Clubs, select beers and sangria on offer between 11.15am–1.15pm. And, if you're going booze-free, you can opt for mocktails instead.
You don't have to go to Tokyo to enjoy an immersive Japanese experience. You can, of course, and you should at some point, because there's really nowhere else in the world quite like it. But if you're eager to eat like you're already there, watch performances and take part in cultural activities, you can save yourself the airfare at the Matsuri Japanese Festival. Your bank account will thank you, and you'll take care of that nagging travel envy for an afternoon. A one-day celebration returning to Mount Gravatt Showgrounds from 12–6.30pm on Saturday, September 7 after last year's fest proved such a hit, it's Brisbane's own ode to the country that brought us sushi, katsu, yakitori, sake, matcha lattes and more. Expect to find more than a few things from that list on offer, and plenty of things to see and do as well. Admission is free and, like every great cultural festival, you can expect a little bit of everything that makes Japan so ace.
Here's the exceptional thing about being a movie lover: you're never short on stuff to watch. And, because where you see something can have a big imprint on your viewing experience, you're rarely lacking great places to get your cinema fix. Brisbane's latest: the city's riverside CBD brewery. On Tuesday nights between now and Christmas, in a series called Summer Cinema Sessions, Felons Brewing Co is turning its Barrel Hall into a cinema and showing classic flicks — for free. From 7pm, you'll get comfy on a bean bag, lock your eyes on the big screen and enjoy a movie fave, all without paying a cent. You'll also drink brews, but that part will cost you. There'll be cinema snacks on offer as well and, again, that's when you'll need your wallet. On the agenda: Kill Bill (on November 8), The Breakfast Club (November 15), Jurassic Park (November 22), Shrek (November 29), The Grinch (December 6), Elf (December 13) and The Polar Express (December 20), so you have options in terms of genre. Those last three festive screenings — made all the more merry with beers, naturally — will definitely have you feeling jolly heading into Christmas.
One of the things I miss the most about being younger is my childlike outlook on life – if I wanted to climb a tree, I didn’t think about falling off; if I didn’t like something, I didn’t worry about if someone opposed my opinion. Then, with age comes life experiences that eventually quash that blindly optimistic and innocent perspective (‘if I fall out of the tree, I’ll definitely break an arm or a neck’/‘I can’t tell him his hair is stupid because he’ll totally bitch about me when I leave oh my god but it really is so dumb’), so sometimes I need a reminder of that childlike grace. Enter The Alphabet Two Ways – a picture book developed and shot by four-year-old Cody King and her mother, Tricia King. It retains the basic concept of an alphabet book – with a picture corresponding to each letter – with a unique twist: each ‘word’ is shot by both Cody and Tricia simultaneously, offering varying physical perspectives of each object and displaying varying elements of interest in each scene. Example: in R for Rain, where mum sees the reflection of the sky on the wet concrete, daughter sees her bare feet standing on the wet deck. It’s a simple concept that challenges little minds and big minds both with a beautiful series if photographs.
Mockumentaries tend to get a bit of a bad rap in critical circles. 'Lazy filmmaking' is the most common smear, and — to be fair — they are a far gentler form of screenwriting than an out-and-out screenplay. They've also experienced massive growth in recent years, most notably in television, with the likes of Modern Family, The Office and Summer Heights High all achieving both popular and critical success. In film, This Is Spinal Tap set the benchmark way back in 1984 and has reigned supreme ever since — an 11 out of 10, if you will. The newest edition in the genre is What We Do In The Shadows, a collaboration between writer/directors Taika Waititi and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. Billed as "a couple of interviews with a couple of vampires", it's a fly on the wall 'documentary' about four vampires sharing a flat in present-day New Zealand and is, quite simply, hilarious. The subjects of the film are: Viago (Waititi), an 18th-century dandy whose anal retentiveness makes him 'that' flatmate; Vlad (Clement), a legendary Lothario and formerly prolific hypnotist; Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), the self-proclaimed 'sexy one'; and Petyr (Ben Fransham) an ancient vampire from the early days. Key to its appeal is the way What We Do In The Shadows presents the needs, problems and activities of vampires as entirely commonplace. It makes them immediately relatable, treating something like the accidental puncturing of a victim's jugular and subsequent living room mess with no more pomp or fanfare than a spilled drink on a beige couch. The flatmates cruise the clubs of Wellington seeking victims like others seek a one night stand, they jeer each other on when a back-alley argument descends into a 'bat fight', and they projectile vomit blood when they absentmindedly eat actual food. Yes, they've their share of 'vampire' problems (sunlight, vampire hunters, etc), but also more normal ones, like having to tell your best friend you're the undead and suppressing the unceasing desire to kill him. What We Do in the Shadows also comes in at the welcome length of just 87 minutes, but its brevity doesn't come at the expense of jokes. It's packed with laughs, both visual and scripted, as well as offering a decent dose of improv (a common trait for mockumentaries). There's also more than a bit of horror and gore (so much so that with minimal tweaking this could easily have been reshaped as a solid B-grade scary film), yet there's no fear of fear thanks to the unbroken procession of gags. If this is lazy filmmaking, then bring on the trackies and couch surfing, because it suits us just fine. Check out Concrete Playground NZ's interview with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8
When I was in primary school, weekday morning cartoons were a big no-no as my parents believed it would make my brain hyper active, or something equally as ridiculous. This ban, however, only served to make Saturday Morning Disney all the more sweeter. The famous ears, the distinctive theme song, and not to mention the wide variety of cartoons, all fueled my love for the most famous mouse in the world. Sadly my days in front of the television are over, partly because I work most weekends but also because they replaced Shelly, Mel and Dan – sad face. Yet with my love for Disney still going strong, I am constantly tasked with finding new mouse inspired activities. Australia’s lack of a Disneyworld also puts a spanner in the works, but I finally found a winner at the Brisbane Convention Centre with Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. Really, it even sounds like they’re trying to cater for the 18+ set who are still softies at heart. With Mickey bringing over 25 of his pals (and your favourite characters) Down Under to fill in the chorus line, all the greatest hits that have featured in Disney movies over the years will be in full rotation. With promises of hip hop, pop, swing, reggae and rock remixes, Mr Mouse is really aiming to please. Before you start 2012 back in reality, why not spend an afternoon hanging out with Ariel, Buzz Lightyear and Goofy, singing some tunes?
In the realm of franchise filmmaking, "to infinity and beyond" isn't just a catchphrase exclaimed by an animated plaything — it's how far and long Hollywood hopes every hit big-screen saga will extend. With that in mind, has a Pixar movie ever felt as inevitable as Lightyear? Given the main Toy Story plot wrapped up in 2019's Toy Story 4, and did so charmingly, keeping this series going by jumping backwards was always bound to happen. So it is that space ranger figurine Buzz Lightyear gets an origin story. That said, the trinket's history is covered immediately and quickly in this film's opening splash of text on-screen. Back in the OG Toy Story, Andy was excited to receive a new Buzz Lightyear action figure because — as this feature tells us — he'd just seen and loved a sci-fi movie featuring fictional character Buzz Lightyear. In this franchise's world, Lightyear is that picture. It's hard not to see Lightyear as a new cash cow — the Toy Story series' cash calf, perhaps. It's also difficult not to notice that the Disney-owned Pixar has made a movie that renders a famed character a piece of film-promoting merchandise, all while also releasing a new range of Lightyear-promoting merch so that IRL kids can have their own Buzz Lightyear toy again, too. In 2049, will audiences be watching a flick about someone who saw this as a child, nagged their parents for a Buzz and developed their own love of animation, space, franchises or all of the above? It wouldn't be surprising. Of course, there's form for making Buzz a movie tie-in toy; the overarching series' other main figure, pull-string cowboy Woody, stemmed from a fictional western TV show called Woody's Roundup. Maybe that's what Pixar will now make next. Or, perhaps it'll release a film or show based on one of Lightyear's new characters, feline robot companion SOX. Yes, you can now buy toy versions of it in reality as well, because of course you can. Buzz Lightyear and a cute cat that talks? The head of Disney merchandising must've seen potential piles of cash stacked to infinity and beyond purely at the thought of it, and director Angus MacLane (Finding Dory) along with him. Thankfully, as calculated as Lightyear's existence clearly is — and it's as blatantly engineered by bean counters as any movie can be — it's still likeable enough. It only slightly feels like a flick that might've actually come out around 1995, though, even if Apollo 13 sat second at the global box office that year (behind Toy Story, fittingly). And, after sending the wonderful Soul and Turning Red straight to streaming during the pandemic, plus Luca, it's also a standard pick for Pixar's return to the big screen. Buzz the live-action film hero — flesh and blood to in-franchise viewers like Andy, that is, but animated to us — also goes on an all-too-familiar journey in Lightyear. Voiced by Chris Evans (Knives Out) to distinguish the movie Buzz from toy Buzz (where he's voiced by Last Man Standing's Tim Allen), the Star Command space ranger is so convinced that he's the biggest hero there is, and him alone, that teamwork isn't anywhere near his strength. Then, as happens to the figurine version in Toy Story, that illusion gets a reality check. To survive being marooned on T'Kani Prime, a planet 4.2 million light-years from earth filled with attacking vines and giant flying insects, the egotistical and stubborn Buzz needs to learn to play nice with others. For someone who hates rookies, as well as using autopilot, realising he can only succeed with help takes time. Time is a slippery concept for Buzz, however, courtesy of his new predicament. To zoom back home, the Star Command mission team must make the right fuel, and test it — and on each attempt, as Buzz zips into hyper-speed in scenes reminiscent of Top Gun: Maverick, time dilates. His flights pass in minutes, but four years go by for his crew while he's in the air. Still, he keeps soaring and trying, and his best friend Commander Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba, Mrs America) keeps greeting him upon his return. But her life continues, including marrying the girlfriend she falls for among their colleagues, and having a family. She gets older, too. In contrast, Buzz barely ages, or moves on, until he's also trying to fight an alien spaceship piloted by giant robot Zurg (James Brolin, Sisters) with Alisha's granddaughter Izzy (Keke Palmer, Hustlers), plus her fellow junior rangers Mo (Taika Waititi, Our Flag Means Death) and Darby (Dale Soules, Orange Is the New Black). There's a lot that's average about Lightyear, including the pieces it cobbles together from Top Gun and Star Wars, and everything from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Starship Troopers, Gravity and Interstellar to Pixar's own Wall-E and Up. There are meta twists that make zero sense in the broader Toy Story narrative, too. There's also a jettisoning of early 2000s TV series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and its take on Buzz's backstory, and a lingering question: what if Andy had just loved a different movie and wanted a different toy for his birthday instead? And, there's a toy chest filled with Pixar's usual go-to themes, including not being afraid to make mistakes. Obviously, in that same vein — and because the animation studio is owned by the same entity behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars, two forever-sprawling sagas — there's room left for a sequel. Great voice casting makes an impact, luckily. While it can't push Lightyear past its limits as an inessential Toy Story spinoff that doesn't add anything crucial to the series, there's liveliness, emotion and plenty of heart in the film's engaging vocal work. Evans doesn't try to shake Buzz's rampant sense of self-importance, but to unpack it, and finds tenderness and vulnerability in the process. And, he gives the character texture even amid such slick and gleaming animation. Aduba and Palmer also shine in their supporting parts, while Waititi perfects his comedic sidekick gig. Peter Sohn — director of The Good Dinosaur, and also a regular-enough Pixar voice actor — goes one better with SOX, however. Friendly, funny, adorable, and able solve scientific problems while meowing and cough up handy tools alike, that robo-cat is a scene-stealer. Still, finding him entertaining and thinking he could fuel an entire future film himself aren't the same thing, although, as Lightyear shows, no one learned that lesson about Buzz.
When is a comedy show more than just a comedy show? When it is also supporting an excellent cause beyond getting audiences giggling, chuckling and guffawing. That's what's on the agenda at Frocking Hilarious, which isn't just about showcasing Australia's comedy queens — although that's definitely a highlight — but also about raising funds to help champion women's rights around the world. Hitting the stage: Claire Hooper as host, plus Michelle Brasier, Rose Callaghan, Emma Holland, Jo Gowda and Alexandra Hudson among the hilarious ladies busting out bite-sized comedy sets. They'll be telling jokes to champion ActionAid's work in 45 nations, and to fly the flag for battling gender inequality, poverty and injustice. Happening as part of Brisbane Comedy Festival 2023, this is a one-night only gig from 8pm on Saturday, May 6, taking place in Brisbane Powerhouse's outdoor Pleasuredome. And, it'll also be Auslan interpreted.
If dressing up in costume is your favourite part of Halloween, then your wardrobe is getting a workout right now. And, you clearly already know one of the ace (and related) standout things about this time of year: it's perfectly acceptable to wear those costumes anywhere and everywhere. On Friday, October 28 from 8pm, that includes kitting up to head to iconic Brisbane music venue The Zoo. Just over a month out from its big 30th-anniversary celebrations, the venue is marking Halloween by hosting Creepshow — a one-night-only music fest that's all about live tunes and eerie vibes. Yes, dressing up is encouraged — heartily. There'll even be prizes, including for best solo costume and best group. So, either showing off your individual Halloween look or gathering the gang for a combined stint of scary style should be on the agenda. That said, whatever you're wearing, obviously the music is the real star of the show. Get ready to listen to Girl and Girl, Radium Dolls, Citypiss, Talk Heavy and The Dandys, all taking to the stage in Creepshow's second year. Images: The Zoo.
When you're a winery that's located in the inner city — without vines, but still with plenty of stomping — you've already given Brisbanites a very good reason to drop by. Fortitude Valley's City Winery doesn't just stand out because of its concept, however. It also serves up plenty of other excuses to get sipping, such as its new Sunday sessions. Every week from 2.30pm, the Wandoo Street spot is now pouring frosé slushies to wrap up the weekend. 'Tis the time of year to get your booze in frozen form, thanks to the weather. It's also an excuse to get slurping at the oyster bar, and to listen to live tunes by local saxophonist Ryan Livings. A DJ will also be on the decks, so expect plenty of music. City Winery's chefs are hosting streetside barbecues as well, so you'll have something to tuck into other than seafood. Bookings aren't necessary, which means that you just need to gather the gang, head to the Valley, get comfy and grab a glass — or several.
Named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022, southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region isn't short on highlights, whether it's gorgeous scenery or farm-fresh produce you're after. Keen on the latter but can't make the trip south from Brisbane on Saturday, May 6?Don't worry — Bee All Natural, Canungra Creek Finger Limes, Cauldron Distillery, My Mountain Farm and more are coming to you. Save the road trip for another weekend — instead, head to the Farm Gate to City Door Scenic Rim Markets: Mother's Day Edition at the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct. It'll operate from 8am–12pm, serving up everything from fruit and vegetables, honey straight from the hive and cheese through to craft beer, boutique spirits and fresh ice cream. You can also nab handmade bath and body products, as well as some seedlings to help start your own garden. This country-meets-city event returns to Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct after debuting in 2022 — and, if it gets you thinking about holidaying in the Scenic Rim, there's a stall for planning that as well. Live music will provide a soundtrack, plus Mica Brasserie will be doing coffees. Feel like hitting the river afterwards, and tucking into some of the produce you've just bought? GoBoat and its picnic boats is also right there. And, because this market is all about Mother's Day, expect plenty of gift ideas, as well as a yoga class from 7.30–8.30am.
Buy this for a dollar: a history-making gay rom-com that's smart, sweet, self-aware and funny, and also deep knows the genre it slips into, including the heteronormative tropes and cliches that viewers have seen ad nauseam. Actually, Billy Eichner would clearly prefer that audiences purchase tickets for Bros for more that that sum of money, even if he spent five seasons offering it to New Yorkers in Billy on the Street while sprinting along the sidewalk and yelling about pop culture. Thinking about that comedy series comes with the territory here, however, and not just because Eichner brought it back to promote this very movie. Starring and co-written by the Parks and Recreation and The Lion King actor — with Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the Bad Neighbours franchise's Nicholas Stoller directing and co-scripting — Bros both presents and unpacks the public persona that helped make Billy on the Street such a hit: opinionated, forceful and wry, as well as acidic and cranky. No one person, be it the version of himself that Eichner plays in the series that helped push him to fame or the fictional character he brings to the screen in Bros — or, in-between, his struggling comedian and actor part in three-season sitcom Difficult People, too — is just those five traits, of course. One of Bros' strengths is how it examines why it's easy to lean into that personality, where the sheen of caustic irritability comes from, the neuroses it's covering up and what all that means when it comes to relationships. The movie does so knowingly as well. It's well aware that Eichner's fans are familiar with his on-screen type, and that even newcomers likely are also. Accordingly, when Bros begins, Eichner's in-film alter ego is shouting about pop culture and being adamant, grumpy and cutting about it. In fact, he's on a podcast, where he's relaying his failed attempt to pen a script for exactly the kind of flick he's in. A mainstream, studio-produced gay romantic comedy that starts out riffing on the difficulties of making a mainstream, studio-produced gay romantic comedy? Yes, that's Bros. ("Am I going to be in the middle of some high-speed chase and all of a sudden fall in love with Ice Cube?", Eichner asks as the feature's protagonist Bobby Lieber.) A film about a gay man known for a biting and droll disposition, starring a gay man similarly known for that type of biting and droll disposition? Yes, that's Bros as well. It's also a movie that makes fun of Hallmark rom-com schmaltz while featuring one of the US network's go-tos — that'd be Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen, A Shoe Addict's Christmas, Christmas in My Heart and The Mistletoe Promise's Luke Macfarlane — and a flick blasting Schitt's Creek some scorn while charting a comparable queer storyline. So, it's a feature that wears its obviousness and its contradictions in tandem, purposefully and proudly. Eichner's Bobby is 40, just received an LGBTQIA+-community Best Cis Male Gay Man award and has a dream gig setting up America's first national queer history museum. Rom-com logic, which Bros heartily subscribes to, means he has to discover his seeming opposite in a memorable way: a gay dance party where he complains to shirtless probate lawyer Aaron Shepard (Macfarlane) and finds sparks flying. How Stoller and Eichner handle this scene says plenty about the film, and the authentic view of gay romance, dating and sex it's committed to. Neither man — Grindr-swiping, emotionally unavailable, hardly content as they both are — is anything but himself. For Bobby, that means awkwardly flirting, getting furious when Aaron disappears mid-conversation, tracking him down and telling him about it, but also being non-committal and even angry for being attracted to him. For Aaron, it involves continuing to breeze around the party like nothing out of the ordinary has happened; "I'm supposed to fuck him and his husband later," he tells Bobby about two other buff, sweaty guys on the dancefloor as they're chatting. Even when the genre isn't giving the world the first romantic comedy about two gay men to be released by a major Hollywood studio — the first romantic comedy both written by and starring an openly gay man as well, and also one with an entirely LGBTQ+ main cast — rom-coms adore Bros' basic scenario. In the broad strokes, there's plenty that's universal in the overarching storyline about opposites attracting, the chaos that springs, and the risks and vulnerabilities it takes to love someone. Still, even when it's nodding to Meg Ryan's filmography and also managing to be a Christmas flick as well — and when it's brightly shot and bouncily paced, which is always — this is never a movie where its leads just happen to be gay. A straight couple couldn't just be subbed in with zero changes, and the chief aim is never to show that the same stock-standard struggles plague everyone in matters of the heart regardless of sexuality. Instead, Bros is brimming with detail specific to being a gay man today. That's true in the throuples, group sex and "must see pic of ass" dating-app requests that spark a hunt for ring lights and razors, and in the commentary about tragedy-heavy mainstream queer movies that typically catapult heterosexual actors to Hollywood awards. And, it echoes in the short but hilarious gag about a fictional new app called Zellweger, "for gays who want to talk about actresses and go to bed". Bros spans further, however, examining how Bobby has internalised a lifetime of homophobia directed his way, how that's shaped the persona he projects to the world, its influence over his romantic outlook and his underlying self-criticism. When the film also ponders why he's so conflicted about Aaron, and so acerbic and cynical towards parts of queer culture and its stereotypes, it digs into the same ideas — with a joke always mere seconds away, but with both thoughtfulness and heart. Bros remains unashamedly frothy, although never syrupy or saccharine. It's predictable, even if you've somehow only ever seen one rom-com before now. It runs on charm, care, warmth and insight, though — and more than enough eagerness to make the most of making history. There's just as much willingness, too, to add weight and heft to the picture's gay take on rom-com conventions, all amid Debra Messing appearances, Cher gags, Fire Island's Bowen Yang having all the fun as a rich investor, and the savvy bickering between Bobby's museum colleagues about the infinite shades of the rainbow gleaming in the LGBTQIA+ community. Crucially, there's an engaging and heartfelt boy-meets-boy story at the core of it all, as brought to the screen with two well-matched and affecting performances, in a movie that's determined to be equally honest, pioneering and entertaining.
"I kneel before no one," says Teth-Adam, aka Black Adam, aka the DC Comics character that dates back to 1945, and that Dwayne Johnson (Red Notice) has long wanted to play. That proclamation is made early in the film that bears the burly, flying, impervious-to-everything figure's name, echoing as a statement of might as well as mood: he doesn't need to bow down to anyone or anything, and if he did he wouldn't anyway. Yet the DC Extended Universe flick that Black Adam is in — the 11th in a saga that's rarely great — kneels frequently to almost everything. It bends the knee to the dispiritingly by-the-numbers template that keeps lurking behind this comic book-inspired series' most forgettable entries, and the whole franchise's efforts to emulate the rival (and more successful) Marvel Cinematic Universe, for starters. It also shows deference to the lack of spark and personality that makes the lesser DC-based features so routine at best, too. Even worse, Black Adam kneels to the idea that slipping Johnson into a sprawling superhero franchise means robbing the wrestler-turned-actor himself of any on-screen personality. Glowering and gloomy is a personality, for sure, but it's not what's made The Rock such a box office drawcard — and, rather than branching out, breaking the mould or suiting the character, he just appears to be pouting and coasting. He looks the physical part, of course, as he needs to playing a slave-turned-champion who now can't be killed or hurt. It's hard not to wish that the Fast and Furious franchise's humour seeped into his performance, however, or even the goofy corniness of Jungle Cruise, Johnson's last collaboration with filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra. The latter has template-esque action flicks Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night and The Commuter on his resume before that, and helms his current star here like he'd rather still directing Liam Neeson. That said, Black Adam, the character, has much to scowl about — and scowl he does. Black Adam, the film, has much backstory to lay out, with exposition slathered on thick during the opening ten minutes. As a mere human in 2600 BCE in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Kahndaq, its namesake was among an entire populace caught under a cruel ruler hungry for power, and for a powerful supernatural crown fashioned out a mineral called 'eternium' that said subjects were forced to mine. Now, 5000 years later, Black Adam is a just-awakened mortal-turned-god who isn't too thrilled about the modern world, or being in it. Bridging the gap: the fact that back in the day, one boy was anointed with magic by ancient wizards to defend Kahndaq's people (the word "shazam!" gets uttered, because Black Adam dwells in the same part of the DCEU as 2019's Shazam! and its upcoming sequel), but misusing those skills ended in entombment until modern-day resistance fighters interfere. The above really is just the preamble. Black Adam is freed by widowed professor Adrianna (Sarah Shahi, Sex/Life), who is trying to fight the Intergang, the mercenaries who've been Kahndaq's new oppressors for decades — and, yes, Black Adam gets caught up in that battle. But being out and about, instead of interred in a cave, gets the attention of the Justice Society. The DCEU already has the Justice League and the Suicide Squad, but it apparently still needs another super-powered crew. Indeed, Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad's Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, The First Lady) even shows up to help put this new gang together. That's how Hawkman (Aldis Hodge, One Night in Miami), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan, The Misfits), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell, Voyagers) and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo, the To All the Boys movies) don their caped-crusader getup and try to stop Black Adam, or convince him to stop himself. Another blatant act of kneeling on this film's part: its new team. The Justice Society isn't new on the page, and some of its number pre-date their patent Marvel counterparts — but reaching the screen now, after the MCU and the X-Men movies, makes this bunch seem like a rehash. Wings like the Falcon, seeing the future like Dr Strange, controlling the weather like Cyclone, changing size like Ant-Man: that's all covered here, and it's impossible not to make comparisons. That Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone and Atom Smasher are also given little personality doesn't help. The cast behind them visibly commit, and there's a better flick to be made with far more Brosnan waving around a golden helmet in it (a welcomely sillier one, too), but character development clearly wasn't high among screenwriters Adam Sztykiel (Scoob!), Rory Haines (The Mauritanian) and Sohrab Noshirvani's (also The Mauritanian) priorities. As often proves the case in this genre, because superhero movies have been their own genre for years, the main aim of Black Adam is laying the groundwork for more to come. The titular figure gets an origin story, then an entryway into the broader DCEU, then sets up future franchise appearances, then teases the next step via the obligatory post-credits sting — stop us when this doesn't sound familiar. It's little wonder, then, that everyone around Black Adam feels like filler, including Adrianna's son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui, The Baby-Sitters Club), as well as the villain of the piece. And it's hardly surprising that any attempts at thematic relevance or resonance are thinner than Black Adam's smile. This tries to be a picture about the great responsibility that comes with great power (yep, again), choosing to do the right thing, and the thorniness of being an anti-hero, and also about the merits (or not) of throwing American force around (or not) in other countries; 'tries' is the key word. Collet-Serra does give Sabongui the best action sequences, though, all involving sneaking out of, skateboarding around and skirting attacks in his apartment/building. There's a tactile sense to these moments — as lively and as lived-in as the film gets, too — that's thoroughly absent in the bland, generic look and feel elsewhere. That Black Adam kneels before and could simply be mashing up parts of 300, Clash of the Titans and Tomb Raider for much of its running time, especially visually, just makes a dull movie duller (the DCEU really can't move on from Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League director Zack Snyder, so it seems). When the feature busts out The Rolling Stones' 'Paint It Black', because of course it does, it's both as obvious a choice as there is and a rare dose of energy. And when it shows iconic spaghetti western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on a TV screen, wishing you were watching that instead comes swiftly — or watching Aquaman's gleeful ridiculousness, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'s rampant flair, or the non-DCEU weightiness of Joker or The Batman, actually.
Aside from that time Bart Simpson called Australia and learnt that Australian toilets drain clockwise (and subsequently had to travel out 'ere to apologise), The Simpsons hasn't really uncovered many of our country's truths. But that's not true anymore with a new Simpsons short — which takes place outside the Sydney Opera House — released online yesterday. In the video, Homer manages to take down our accents, diss Rupert Murdoch, meet the Sydney seal and get attacked by seagulls in little more than a minute. It was created by Matt Groening ahead of his appearance at the Sydney Opera House for their GRAPHIC festival, which will run over one weekend in November. The fest celebrates pop culture and graphic storytelling, animation and music. Groening will be doing a keynote (which has already sold out), as well as a talk with fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry. Finally, the rest of the world can know the truth: the Australian animal to be afraid of isn't snakes — it's seagulls. Watch the full short video below. Video: THE SIMPSONS TM & ©2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
Australia's annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival marked its 30th year back in 2019, and celebrated the big occasion with no troubles at all. Proving that no one loves entering their 30s, however, the event hit a few struggles when it turned 31. That happened in March 2020, when Australia started to go into lockdown. The fest was already underway, so AFFFF had to stop screening, postpone its plans, then pick things up again in July and August after cinemas started reopening. Here's hoping that 2021, the fest's 32nd year, all runs smoothly. AFFFF has 37 films on its hefty lineup this time around, and it's touring them around the country from March 2–April 22. The event will be making its usual capital city stops, so French movie fans in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart can start blocking out time in their diaries. There'll also be seasons playing in Byron Bay and Parramatta as well. As for what you'll be seeing, AFFFF will open its 2021 lineup with Eiffel, a new biopic starring Romain Duris (All the Money in the World) as the civil engineer who gave Paris' most famous attraction its name. At the other end of its program, the fest will close out with rom-com #Iamhere, which follows a French chef who falls in love via Instagram. And, in-between its two big bookending events, viewers can look forward to a heap of movies starring recognisable faces — including Monica Bellucci, Lupin's charming Omar Sy, the incomparable Isabelle Huppert and Kristin Scott Thomas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXVezkYnDL0 Highlights include The Man Who Sold His Skin, a twisty tale about a Syrian refugee, a tattoo artist and an unusual bargain; Summer of 85, the latest film from acclaimed director François Ozon; and police drama Night Shift, which dives deep into not only law enforcement, but alsoits handling of immigration matters. Or, there's Fahim, the Little Chess Prince, about the Bangladeshi refugee who became a national French chess champion; The Godmother, which sees Huppert tussle with the drug game; and Aline, which is inspired by the life of Céline Dion. Elsewhere, the story of France's first restaurant hits the screen via 18th-century-set period drama, Delicious; Final Set sees an ageing tennis player try to win the French Open; Miss follows a boy who'd like to enter the Miss France beauty pageant; and delightful animated feature Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary imagines Calamity Jane's early years. Fans of Deerskin filmmaker Quentin Dupieux can also check out his latest, Mandibles — and, because AFFF always shows at least one absolute classic French flick, this year it's screening Jean-Luc Godard's 1959 masterpiece Breathless. Check out the festival trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBm8ztOVnC4 The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from March 2–April 22, screening at Sydney's Palace Central, Palace Verona, Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne from March 2–April 5; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Astor Theatre, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema from March 3–April 5; Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Windsor Cinema, Luna on SX and Camelot Outdoor Cinema from March 10–April 11; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from March 17–April 15; and Adelaide's Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas from March 23–April 22. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.
Usually when you're at a bar choosing which kind of cocktail to sip, you're picking between multiple different styles. That's still the case at Sasso Italiano, the new Woolloongabba bar and trattoria in the inner east suburb's South City Square precinct — but selecting one of the 11 different negronis on the list is the most tempting option. Opening on Thursday, November 18, this Logan Road newcomer pours classic negronis, fig negronis, negroni sodas and negronis made with Campari and orange sorbet — and they're just some of the options. There's also the vintage birthday negroni, which features a different gin, vermouth and Campari from between the 60s and the 00s, depending on the year you were born. Sasso Italiano does more than drinks, of course — although its beverage lineup also spans a tiramisu martini made with mascarpone and amaretto foam, a G&T that features peach bitters, and the venue's own take on manhattans and margaritas. There's also three types of spritzes, three non-boozy cocktails (including a nogroni, of course), and a sizeable range of natural wines. And, beer-wise, it's serving a bespoke Birra Cazino from Aether Brewing that's made exclusively for the bar. With former Ovolo and QT Food and Beverage Directors Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault behind the eatery, and Head Chef Gabriele Di Landri (ex-Dolphin Hotel, Chiswick Restaurant and Aria) leading the open-plan kitchen, Sasso Italiano's food menu is also a big drawcard. Think: 11 types of pizza, pastas including spaghetti cacio e pepe and linguine marinara, and bistecca alla fiorentina, Tuscan steak and Mediterranean-style half roast chicken among the mains. For those after a smaller bite, the starters selection includes gnocco fritto and arancini, while the crudo lineup features oysters, king salmon and and yellow fin tuna tartare. Or, opt for 50-gram charcuterie servings, house-pickled sardines, confit octopus and the trusty favourite that is burrata. Desserts span tiramisu — to pair with one of those aforementioned tiramisu martinis, perhaps — plus cannoli, bomboloni, a range of gelato and sorbet, and a cheese selection. And, if plenty of Sasso Italiano's dishes sound like classics, that's because the restaurant and bar is going for an old-school, neighbourhood-style, 70s-inspired feel. Dim lighting suits the mood, as does the warm-hued colour palette and wraparound seating. Sasso Italiano marks the first of Lombino and Thibault's planned eateries in South City Square, with more set to open by May 2022. Find Sasso Italiano at South City Square, 4/148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, from Thursday, November 18 — open for lunch from 12–3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and for dinner from 5–10.30pm from Tuesday–Saturday.
Based on James Patterson's world wide best selling novels, Alex Cross follows the action-packed journey of young detective/psychologist (Tyler Perry) as he meets his match in a serial killer (Matthew Fox) who is fascinated by pain and specialises in torturing his victims. In this psychological thriller Cross is pushed to his moral limits and when the mission gets personal, he is willing to protect his family at all costs. Alex Cross (previously played by veteran Morgan Freeman in Kiss The Girls & Along Came A Spider) embarks on a high-stakes mission to put an end to a vicious serial killer in this high-speed, suspenseful action thriller. Concrete Playground has 15 double passes to giveaway to see Alex Cross. To go in the running just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au
It can be difficult to unearth quality gifts for our paternal figures — especially when it's at a distance. No matter how many times your pops insists on "not wanting any presents" this year, you know that deep down he does. To take the guesswork out of gift giving on Dad's big day, we've compiled a list of six interesting presents you can send the father figure in your life. Whether you're near or far from the human you'd like to celebrate this September, these gifts will ensure you attain favourite child status from the comfort of your couch. THE BEER-LOVING DAD When Father's Day rolls around, the Beer-Loving Dad will want to spend it with a cold one in hand. But, being a special occasion, it's likely he'll want to go beyond his usual brew. To mix things up for your dad this Father's Day, consider sending him a BoozeBud Hops and Socks for Pops Gift Pack. Inside, he'll find 16 delicious types of beer to try, including pale ales, IPAs, lagers, sours and a comfy pair of socks to match. The pack includes independent brewery mainstays like Stone & Wood and Coopers, plus newer kids on the block such as Capital Brewing Co and Atomic Beer Project. THE ACTIVE DAD Know a dad that really loves being active? Like, a lot. You know the type — they're up at the crack of dawn for a lycra-clad, early morning cycle or a surf before they head to work. If you've got one of these in your life, then there's a good chance he could do with a new pair of running shoes because the Active Dad is known to keep a close watch of their step count. So, why not help them hit their daily 10000 strides in style with a pair of new Nike kicks. They're practical, versatile and, if you choose wisely, could elevate your dad's street cred tenfold. THE MASTERCHEF DAD Some dad's are famous for whipping up one-pot wonders. If you've never heard of this culinary creation before, lucky you. Typically, this dish consists of an assortment of limp vegetables tossed into a singular pot with stock and whatever herbs and/or spices happen to be in the pantry. Then, after being boiled within an inch of its life, dinner is served. Other dads, however, take their cooking much more seriously. Whether the father figure in your life is merely an expert in tinned things on toast or could be a serious contender on the next season of MasterChef Australia, sending a quality cookbook his way this Father's Day is top-tier gift idea. Not sure which one to buy? Try Cooking with Koori by Nathan Lyons or The Chin Chin Book bursting with recipes and intel from Benjamin Cooper. THE OUTDOORSY DAD Have a dad who's obsessed with the great outdoors? He's a loveable character who's a huge fan of getting out of town, off the grid and into good ol' fashioned nature. Perhaps this human is still reeling over the cancellation of the TV show of the same name back in 2009. If that's your guy, consider slinging him a lil something that'll level up his outdoor adventure set up and help fill the Ernie Dingo-shaped hole in his heart. We suggest sending a lightweight camping hammock or the latest cooking gear so he can test it out at home — even if the backyard is the furthest he can travel this Father's Day. THE DAD JOKE DAD A lot of dad's consider themselves comedic masterminds. Maybe there's an anonymous course they attend right before the birth of their children that instils a wacky sense of humour in them. Or, perhaps simply becoming a dad unlocks something that was within them all along. Either way, the Dad Joke Dad is a sucker for top-notch merch to help to show off his kooky personality. Thankfully, the BoozeBud Hops and Socks for Pops Gift Pack contains a pair of sidesplitting socks that dad will never want to take off. THE MUSO DAD The Muso Dad often considers himself as a rebellious type. But, despite his desire to be counter-cultural, he is somewhat easy to spot in the wild and typically exhibit one or more of the following behaviours: a history of taking you to live gigs; owning Rage merchandise; and unironically throwing around the phrase "back when music was good". Sorting out a few tickets to your muso dad's favourite band is a lil trickier this year, so we suggest taking his advice and digging into the music archives. Do your darndest to find that vinyl he's been chasing for years; sort him out with a Spotify membership complete with personalised playlists of his faves; or, if you've got a bit of extra cash to splash, send him a record player so he can dust off the record collection and put it to good use. We recommend checking out Sydney's Repressed Records, Melbourne's Discrepancy Records or Rocking Horse Records in Brisbane. Learn more about BoozeBud by visiting the website here. Top image: Discrepancy Records, Tracey Ah-kee
If you've ever felt guilty about staying at home on a Saturday night to play video games, learn Beyoncé dance moves off YouTube or watch six straight hours of Netflix — don't. The Sydney Opera House has just announced that they'll be hosting an epic overnight 24-hour festival dedicated to binging on pop culture in a totally acceptable social setting. Think Buffy marathons, Street Fighter, Shia LeBeouf — and cats. Bingefest is a brand new festival for the Opera House (their first newbie in five years) and will pull together this year's pop culture phenomenons to discuss, celebrate and — most importantly — enjoy them for what they are when it comes to the Opera House for 24 hours (or so) this December 17 and 18. The biggest announcement is that actor and artist Shia LeBeouf — along with collaborators Nastja Säde Rönkkön and Luke Turner — will be coming along to the fest. Best known for their live performance art like Take Me Anywhere, where they posted their coordinates and waited for the first people to find them and pick them up, the trio will be creating a work especially for Bingefest. No word on what it is yet though. The program — which will run from about 3pm on Saturday until 6am on Monday morning — includes a whole range of things we consume on the Internet, from TV and video games to podcasts and viral videos. Running overnight on the Saturday will be a Buffy marathon, in which lovers of the kickass femme vampire can relive the best episodes all over again (and all night), as well as a 24-hour Street Fighter session. Those familiar with the cult '80s video game will be able to drop in at any point in the night for a go. Other highlights include a talk from The AV Club, where four of their editorial staff will take you through all the TV you should have watched by now. Community's Dan Harmon and Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola (from the soon-to-air ABC show Rosehaven) will write a TV-show from scratch in front of an audience, Serial producer Julie Snyder will discuss binge-worthy journalism and Amrita Hepi will hold two Rihanna and Beyoncé dance clases in the Opera House's ballet rehearsal room (perfect post-Buffy binge). Redfern Convenience Store will even be holding a pop-up snack store. Also, in what could be the most captivating performance the forecourt has seen this year, the Internet Cat Festival will make its Sydney debut on the Saturday night. It will be held in partnership with the RSPCA and will be goddamn adorable. Bingefest founder and curator Danielle Harvey says the festival is an opportunity for people to consume pop culture together as a community. As something that's largely consumed personally at home, the live participation of festival makes it a whole different experience. Danielle is a co-curator of other Opera House events like All About Women and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, but unlike the other festivals that incorporate elements of pop culture, Bingefest will be 100 percent dedicated to featuring it in a more celebratory way. Bingefest will take place at the Sydney Opera House from the afternoon of Saturday, December 17 until the morning of Monday, December 19. FOr more info and to buy tickets, visit bingefest.sydneyoperahouse.com.
Whether you're a longtime Brisbane local or just in town for the week, the possibilities to feel as though you're experiencing a new city are endless. From brand-new bar openings to immersive experiences popping up, this city can surprise you and make you want to stay just that little bit longer. In partnership with online travel website Wotif.com, we've rounded up a bunch of happenings across the city that you might not have checked out yet. But, look sharp: some of them are here for a good time, not a long time. Complete a Pop-Up Escape Room Challenge for the Chance to Win Big on Travel If you're in need of a holiday (aren't we all?), we've found a way to make those dreams a reality even sooner. Between Wednesday, March 26 and Friday, March 28, King George Square is hosting a very exciting free pop-up that will give you the chance to score a $5000 Wotif Domestic Travel Credit. All you have to do to be in the running is enter The Wotif Great Summer Escape, a multi-sensory escape room with a series of puzzles waiting for you to crack. Each puzzle solved unlocks a door with views of beautiful Australian locations, which in turn earns you a token to enter the draw. There are also spot prizes up for grabs, such as hotel coupons valued between $250-500, but if you can't make it down, the competition can also be entered online. Visit Brisbane's New Self-Pour Wine Bar Being able to sample some of the world's best wines for a fraction of the price? We'll say cheers to that. That's the driving force behind Woolloongabba's new wine bar, Stickybeak. From the crew behind BTG Wine, Stickybeak has over 80 labels on offer across its two-level venue, ranging from local drops to bottles from Germany, France and New Zealand. It offers pours in 25-, 75- and 150-millilitre amounts, so you can sample a bunch without breaking the bank. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet: no need to stress about waving down a bartender because the venue has ten self-serve dispensing wine fridges. You just tap your card, select your pour size and it does the rest. If you happen to be watching the two upcoming Brisbane Lion games, why not stay at a hotel nearby and enjoy this bar pre- or post-game? Explore Antarctica Without Leaving the City Tourism to Antarctica seems to be having a moment on social media but it's not without its ethical and environmental challenges. So here's a way to visit the big white continent guilt-free. As part of World Science Festival Brisbane, QUT The Cube is hosting a free experience across Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. It uses 29 multi-touch screens to immerse you in the vast Antarctic landscape and demonstrate how various robotic systems are helping to explore and research this fragile ecosystem safely and efficiently. Eat Dinner Prepared by an Internet-Famous Japanese Chef If your social media algorithms are tuned to food content, you've no doubt come across Motokichi Yukimura before. As flamboyant as his pink-hued hair, Yukimura has been cooking for over 45 years and made a name for himself for perfecting one dish, omurice (omelette rice), which he serves at Kyoto restaurant Kichi Kichi. Though, we think it's as much about the performance he puts on as it is about the actual food. Between Sunday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 25, Brisbane locals can get the Kichi Kichi experience at Harajuku Gyoza with Yukimara hosting a series of "meet and eat" sessions, which includes the viral omurice dish, a bunch of other Harajuku Gyoza signature plates and meeting the chef. Be fast though, there are only a few booking slots still available. Need a place to stay nearby? Try one of these South Brisbane hotels. Then Enjoy a Campfire-Inspired Cruffin for Dessert Although summer is almost over there are some elements of winter worth getting excited about. Not having to pump the air con, for one. Another? Winter getaways. And one of the best things about an off-grid escape is getting cosy by a campfire. To get you in the wintery mood, the masters at Lune have whipped up a monthly special inspired by the classic campfire treat, s'mores. The Toasted Marshmallow features a cruffin rolled in biscuit sugar, filled with choc-fudge sauce and a toasted marshmallow whip, then topped with mini marshmallows and strawberry sherbet. Give us five. The Wotif Great Summer Escape is running from March 26-28 between 8am-6pm. For more information or to enter the competition online, head to the website. AU residents 18+ only. Runs 26-28 March '25 Entry method 1: during promo period, go to game room activation at King George Square, Bne (8am – 6pm) & solve puzzles (in 3 mins) to unlock doors to find tokens - each token = 1 entry into draw (must fill in entry form via Rep's iPad onsite). Max 1 turn in game p/person p/day. Play as individual or as a team (max. 6 ppl). For teams, each person in team (18+) gets same # of entry/ies into draw as any token/s collected by team. Entry method 2: during promo dates (between 12.01am – 11.59pm AEST) visit www.wotif.com/vc/blog/summerescape & solve puzzle on screen to fill out entry form to get 1 entry into draw. Max 1 entry p/person for this entry method. Entries from both entry methods combined for draw, held at 12pm AEST 01/04/25, L13, 447 Collins St, Melb Vic. 3 prizes: 1st drawn wins $5000AUD Wotif.com Travel credit, 2nd drawn wins $500 Wotif hotel coupon, 3rd drawn wins $250AUD Wotif hotel coupon (use coupons to make booking by 31/08/25. Max 1 prize p/person (except in SA). Winners told by email & published on website 28/04/25. See website for full conditions incl. privacy statement. Promoter: Expedia Australia Pty Limited (ABN 12 101 694 946). SA Permit: T25/306 ACT Permit: TP25/00409
There’s more to Chicks on Speed than 'We Don’t Play Guitars', the 2003 single so catchy that you probably have it stuck in your head just from reading its title. They pioneered the electroclash style of 1980s disco meets 1990s synth pop, but that’s still only the beginning of their feats. Since forming in Munich in 1997, the multidisciplinary art collective has dabbled in performance, collage, photography, textiles, short films and more. By more, we mean smashing records while DJing, and founding illegal bars. We also mean creating wearable sound sculptures, called objektinstruments. Now you can sample just what makes the music and fine art ensemble great across the audio and visual spectrums. In their first exhibition with Milani Gallery, they’ll present a selection of new and recent efforts from their range of artforms. Expect a little bit of everything — and, in keeping with Chicks on Speed’s style, expect surprises.
Prepare yourself for a serious dose of girl power: Janelle Monáe and Kimbra are joining forces for an Australian tour. The two pop heavyweights, who bonded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland last July, are coming to Australia for The Golden Electric Tour at the end of May. Scheduled for four shows throughout Australia, the dynamic duo is hitting up the Brisbane Convention Centre on Wednesday, May 21. The award-winning pop powerhouses will co-headline the tour, combining forces for a portion of the show while also playing individual sets. Kimbra and Monáe first made sweet music together at an impromptu bar gig when they met last year. Their taste for eccentric pop music coupled with fierce vocals proved a heavenly match, thus the idea for a joint tour was born. To (successfully) hype us all up for the endeavour, the pair released an unfathomably adorable video singing a mash-up of Aretha Franklin's 'Rock Steady' and Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Something', both of which are sure to be on the set list. Monáe will feature tracks from her 2013 release The Electric Lady, as well as her celebrated 2010 debut album The ArchAndroid. Kimbra is expected to release the follow-up to her 2011 album Vows later this year, so fans should expect some new gems amongst the singalongs. Tickets go on sale 10am on Thursday, April 17 via Live Nation. Pre-sale is available for My Live Nation members at 10am on Monday, April 14. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyqltX5lRhQ
