The Mungalli Creek Dairy farm in the Atherton Tablelands is much more than cows and pasture — it's one big living organism. With over 30 years of organic biodynamic farming practices under its belt, this family-run farm has mastered the art of cultivating delicious dairy products for decades. At the heart of the property you'll find The Farmhouse Cafe, which was once the house that owners and brothers Rob and Danny Watson grew up in. Take a seat on the cafe's verandah overlooking the Johnston River Gorge, World Heritage-listed rainforest and Bartle Frere — Queensland's highest mountain — and enjoy a meal loaded with the farm's biodynamic dairy products and locally sourced organic produce. The cafe is also BYO, so take a bottle of tropical wine to pair with one of its cheese platters. Hot tip: make sure you leave room for the crepes — they're a family recipe and are served with Mungalli's luxurious, lactose and gluten-free Broken Nose vanilla ice cream.
It feels like something out of a movie: Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall in or near Brisbane on either late Thursday, March 6, 2025 or early on Friday, March 7, and southeast Queensland is understandably shutting down in preparation. The River City is no stranger to flooding, including multiple times in the past decade and a half, but this will be the first cyclone to cross the coast in this part of the state in half a century, since 1974. CityCats and ferries have already stopped service. Buses and trains will as well from the last service on Wednesday, March 5. Green Day's Gold Coast show has been cancelled. It took days for the AFL to make the decision, but the Brisbane Lions v Geelong game that was meant to open the 2025 season at the Gabba on Thursday, March 6 has been postponed — as has the Gold Coast Suns v Essendon match on the Gold Coast on Saturday, March 8. The list of services, events and venues impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred is growing, and will continue to do so as the storm approaches, and if damage and flooding eventuates. Going out shouldn't be at the top of anyone's to-do list right now, but to keep you informed of what's been cancelled, postponed and suspended — and which venues are temporarily closed — here's our live list, updated as it happens. [caption id="attachment_927874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rearranged: Art of the Flower, Katie Bennett[/caption] Venues Brisbane City Council libraries: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Brisbane City Council pools: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Brisbane Powerhouse: postponing all shows and events, and closed from Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Dendy Cinemas — Coorparoo, Portside, Southport and Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. The Edge: closed from 5pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. Event Cinemas — Brisbane City, Capalaba, Carindale, Chermside, Coomera, Indooroopilly, Kawana, Loganholme, Maroochydore, Mt Gravatt, Noosa, North Lakes, Pacific Fair, Robina, Southport, Springfield, Strathpine and Toowoomba: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Five Star Cinemas — Elizabeth, Regal, New Farm, Red Hill: closed from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Five Star Cinemas — Yatala Drive-In: closed from Tuesday, March 4–Friday, March 7. [caption id="attachment_882045" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Metro Arts: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until Monday, March 10. Museum of Brisbane: closed from 2pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. Palace Cinemas — Palace James St and Palace Barracks: closed from the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: both galleries are closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. [caption id="attachment_857941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Queensland Museum: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Queensland Performing Arts Centre: all performances cancelled or postponed from 6pm on Wednesday, March 5 until Friday, March 7. Reading Cinemas — Newmarket, Jindalee and Harbour Town: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. State Library of Queensland: closed from 5pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. UQ Art Museum: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. [caption id="attachment_972776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr.[/caption] Shows/Gigs/Exhibitions/Events AFL — Brisbane Lions v Geelong on Thursday, March 6: postponed, not yet rescheduled. AFL — Gold Coast Suns v Essendon on Saturday, March 8: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Alliance Française French Film Festival: cancelled until Saturday, March 8, with opening night now taking place on Friday, March 14 at Palace Barracks. The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art: closed between Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Bluey's World: closed between Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Discovering Ancient Egypt: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Feel Good Program: cancelled up until and including Saturday, March 8. [caption id="attachment_988954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Discovering Ancient Egypt[/caption] Gold Coast Festival of Golf on Thursday, March 6–Sunday, March 9: cancelled. Green Day's The Saviors Tour at CBUS Super Stadium, Robina on Wednesday, March 5: cancelled. Innocent Bystander Tasting Bar at Babylon Garden: free tattoos postponed until Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16. Macbeth at LaBoite Theatre: cancelled until Monday, March 10. Meatstock Toowoomba on Friday, March 7–Saturday, March 8: cancelled. New Bloom Fest on Saturday, March 8: cancelled. ΩHM Festival of Other Music — Toby Wren, Songs for Dead Sailors on Wednesday, March 5: postponed, not yet rescheduled. [caption id="attachment_993025" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Somefx[/caption] ΩHM Festival of Other Music — Camille O'Sullivan on Friday, March 7: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Pride & Prejudice: cancelled from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Secrets: Objects of Intrigue: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy: cancelled from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. [caption id="attachment_990459" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] To keep up to date with the latest conditions, warnings, alerts and timetables, Brisbanites can head to the below services: The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland warnings page, tropical cyclone advice, Queensland X and Facebook Brisbane City Council's emergency dashboard Queensland Government's disaster site Brisbane City Council's X and Facebook Translink's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Qld Traffic Top image: QPAC.
While those clever kids at Apple may one day run out of ideas, that doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon. The world's first trillion dollar company is clearly putting all that money to good use, unveiling its latest iPhone creations in California overnight. As always, it has upped the ante, dropping three new phones with a stack of bells and whistles that render your old iPhone X instantly uncool. As well as producing its biggest iPhone screen yet, Apple's ramped up the facial ID tech, unveiled an all-new Liquid Retina display and even engineered a fancy-pants dual camera system. Here are eight details about the new iPhone XS (pronounced 'ten ess') in dot point form that you can use for prime water cooler convo at work today. IT HAS THE LARGEST DISPLAY OF ANY IPHONE, EVER While the iPhone XS' screen clocks in at a pretty healthy 5.8 inches, the XS Max takes the cake with a 6.5-inch display — the biggest ever on an iPhone model. Basically, it makes your iPhone 8 look tiny by comparison. Team that with the highest pixel density of any Apple device and colour density to rival all other brands, and you've got yourself some pretty good on-phone video viewing. THERE'S A SWAG OF NEW COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM That's right, folks — things are getting extra colourful in Apple town. Alongside the usual black and white, the XR (more on what this is later) is also available in bright blue, yellow, red and coral. The iPhone XS and XS Max keep things a little tamer, in space grey, silver and Apple's first plain gold-hued edition. IT'S SERIOUSLY TOUGH , WITH THE MOST DURABLE GLASS EVER DEVELOPED FOR A SMARTPHONE If broken phone screens are the bane of your existence, then the new iPhone XR was pretty much made for you. Boasting the most durable front glass display ever seen in any smartphone, it's precision-fitted, water-resistant up to one metre for 30 minutes, and laughs in the face of those coffee spills. IT HAS PORTRAIT MODE ON THE BACK AND FRONT CAMERAS Get ready to take your selfie game to a whole new level, with the iPhone XS' super high-tech dual camera system. This beauty has portrait mode on both the back camera and the front true-depth camera, with both enabling facial detection and landmarking. What's more, new technology means you can now adjust your snap's depth of field after the photo's taken. FACE ID IS HEAPS FASTER Now that we've all gotten used to the idea of unlocking our phones with only our eyeballs, Apple's honed its original Face ID technology, apparently making it faster and easier to use. A swag of new tech has made it even more secure, too, while advanced machine learning means it's smart enough to recognise changes to your appearance. IT TAKES LONGER TO DIE In excellent news for those fed up with lugging a charger everywhere they go, the iPhone XS Max is kitted out with iPhone's biggest battery ever, offering up to 90 minutes more battery life than any other phone you've had. IT'S REALLY REALLY PRICEY While the points above all sound great, they do, the whiz-bang new XS is gonna set you back a few dollaroos — 1629 dollaroos to be exact. Well, that's the starting price. The cool $1629 will get you a phone with 64GB, but f you want 512GB, you'll need to drop $2199. [caption id="attachment_688269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] iPhone XR[/caption] BUT APPLE HAS ALSO RELEASED A NEW AND CHEAPER OPTION It's called the iPhone XR, and in terms of size, it's in between the X and XS, but it's cheaper — $1229 — because it has a single rear camera, an aluminium frame and LCD screen. As mentioned above, it's also available in a heap more colours: white, black, blue, yellow, coral and red. If you this one, though, you'll need to wait a tad longer — it won't be available until October 26. The iPhone XS will be available from September 21, and keen beans can pre-order from September 14 here.
As plant-based eating has become increasingly normalised (just ask these top chefs), it can be difficult to begin when it comes to incorporating more plant-based meals into the home. This probably shouldn't be all that surprising — with so much to work with, rather than just the standard protein and three veg many of us grew up with, there really is a whole world of delicious, nutritious and, yes, even indulgent ingredients that can easily be transformed into meals that are as good for you as they are for the planet. To make things a little easier for you, we've teamed up with Vegkit to showcase seven easy-to-make plant-based dishes that'll please even the pickiest of eaters, from entrée right through to dessert. HERBED MUSHROOM AND LENTIL SAUSAGE ROLLS Whether it's a playful entrée or a game-night staple, sausage rolls are always a no-brainer when you've got guests over. This plant-based version is an umami-laden treat, packed with mushrooms, lentils and a host of fragrant herbs and spices. They're a cinch to make, too — especially when you let a food processor do the heavy lifting — but also make it look like you've gone to more effort than you probably have. That's what we call a win-win, folks. ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CRANBERRY AND ALMOND SALAD Take the humble brussels sprout from supporting player to headline act with this delicious salad. This hearty dish is just as good as part of a lazy weekend spread as it is to elevate a quick weeknight dinner, thanks to its minimal prep time and abbreviated list of ingredients (most of which you probably already have on hand). Less definitely means more in this case, though, with well-balanced flavours that seriously pack a punch. One more reason to add this dish to the rotation: with the cooler months approaching, brussels sprouts are back in season. TOMATO FILO TART WITH PESTO This golden, flaky tart looks more difficult to make than it is — and when it looks this good, that's really saying something. We reckon this all-rounder would go down well at any time of the day, whether it's for a plant-based brunch or an easy weeknight dinner. You can use any tomatoes you like, and the recipe also calls for a homemade pesto, so it's a great fridge-clearer that you can graze on all day. EASY CHEESY CAULIFLOWER BAKE The clue is in the name with this one, folks (maybe not the 'cheesy' bit though, to be fair) — it's an easy-as, warming AF bake that we think could become a new weeknight favourite. Think of this like mac and cheese's sophisticated sibling, with florets of cauliflower topped with a creamy (in consistency only, we assure you) garlicky cashew mix and crunchy golden breadcrumbs. Your favourite comfort dish just got a wholesome upgrade. MUSHROOM AND LEEK PIE Pie time to upgrade your baking game? Start here. This very doable — and very smashable — plant-based pie is comfort food at its finest, with a golden filo ceiling giving way to a luxuriously gooey mushroom and leek filling that's lifted with onions, garlic and a hum of cracked pepper. You can also add a whack of protein by adding cubed tofu (smoked tofu works particularly well here) to the white sauce when you stir the veggies through it. APPLE BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE What looks like a pie, smells like a pie, even tastes like a pie, but is a whole lot easier to make than a pie? This fragrant, colourful beauty. Just ten minutes' prep and 15 minutes of oven time is all you need to serve up this rustic, indulgent apple blueberry crumble. While the cinnamon-laced fruit is an umami-packed delight, the real highlight here is the homemade crumble, a buttery, toasty mix of oats, wholewheat flour, maple syrup and coconut oil. Top with a generous scoop of vegan ice cream or thick vanilla-flavoured coconut yoghurt to take this dessert to the next level. MANGO, LIME AND COCONUT SWIRL POPSICLES The only difficult thing about making these summer-ready mango, lime and coconut swirl popsicles will be waiting for them to set. These sticks feature all your favourite summer flavours, and are the perfect treat at any time of the day — and surely one of these would count as one of your five-a-day, right? The recipe for these bad boys calls for just four ingredients, but we'd suggest a cheeky fifth if you're making them for grown-ups: a splash of rum. Piña colada popsicles, anyone? To discover even more plant-based dining and recipe inspiration, head to the VegKit website, or check out MasterChef Australia's Simon Toohey's three favourite plant-based breakfasts to get your day started. Don't feel like cooking tonight? Try our picks of the best date spots with plant-based menus in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Cunnamulla offers visitors a range of comfortable accommodation options. But if you're looking for a unique outback stay, resting up at Charlotte Plains Station will deliver something special. Spanning a mind-boggling 70,000 acres, this massive property offers endless ways to reconnect with nature. While hundreds of working sheep and cattle are dotted across the farm, parts of the property have been transformed into idyllic countryside retreats, with powered camping sites, bungalows and more. With guests invited to shear sheep, search for stunning wildlife and bathe overlooking an ancient bore, this outback experience is like no other. Head to the website to plan your stay. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Phone or tablet? If that's a question that you've ever asked yourself, Samsung now has the answer. This week, the company unveiled the prototype for its new foldable smartphone, confirming one of the biggest rumours in the technology game. At the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco on November 7–8, the company revealed a device that's clearly still in development, but combines the best of both worlds when it comes to regular-sized touchscreen phones and their larger siblings, aka tablets. The handset boasts a new interface and display that enables it to both function as the former and fold out to become the latter — for those times when you just need a bigger screen, we guess. The interface is called One UI and is designed for one-handed use, anchoring the most relevant information to the bottom of the screen. As for the Infinity Flex Display, as well as being able to fold in the middle, it will also move whatever you're looking at from its smaller size to its larger size as you unfold the phone. In what might be one of the biggest drawcards, it'll support simultaneous app use when the larger display is used, thanks to functionality Samsung has dubbed Multi Active Window. Yes, this means that you can have three things open and active at the same time. Design-wise, the device uses one single screen that is foldable down the centre like a book, instead of flipping from the top like the clamshell handsets that have long defined the way we all think about flip phones. Other details are scarce — this was Samsung's first real teaser that the new foldable format is definitely in the works, rather than an actual product launch. It's not the first time that the company has mentioned the device. Speaking with CNBC earlier in the year, IT and mobile communications division CEO DJ Koh noted that more details would be revealed at SDC — although clearly we'll all have to keep waiting for in-depth specifications, and even information such as a name, release date and price. Contrary to how the device might seem at present, Koh also noted that it won't just be a tablet in a more compact form. Images: Samsung.
They're two of the biggest food trends filling stomachs around the globe, and they're making their way to Brisbane. We're talking about poke bowls and sushi burritos. One is a Hawaiian salad dish combining rice, greens and raw fish, while the other is exactly what you think it is — and they'll both be available at South Bank newcomer Suki from April 18. Originally slated to open last November, the latest venture from The Ole Group (aka the folks behind Mucho Mexicano, Ole Restaurant and Mister Paganini) will be Brisbane's first specialty sushi burrito and poke bowl eatery. And, while pre-designed options will be available, Suki won't just provide its scrumptious offerings from a set menu. Making your own is all the rage here, with diners selecting the grain base, protein filling, other accompaniments and type of wrap for their burritos, and stepping through a similar process for their bowls. Prepare to be spoilt for choice, basically. Seaweed wraps, bamboo rice, kelp leaves, swordfish, sticky beef with soy and ginger, pickled daikon, wasabi peas, soy eggs, pickled ginger and nine different types of sauces are all on the bill — and that's just a tiny selection of the various ingredients everyone conjuring up their own bowls and burritos can choose from. As well as quite the hefty array of edible components, Suki will boast both indoor and outdoor seating for 60 as it serves up its wares from 11am to 9pm seven days a week. A second store is already in the works, and while the location hasn't yet been revealed, it's set to open in the coming months. Find Suki at 182 Grey Street, South Bank from April 18. Check out their website for further information.
Mark Ronson's newly released memoir Night People: How to Be a DJ in '90s New York City is officially being adapted into a feature film. As first reported by Variety, the Grammy- and Oscar-winning producer's story of New York nightlife will be brought to the big screen by Plan B, the production company co-founded by Brad Pitt. The studio has been behind acclaimed projects including Moonlight, F1 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, as well as Netflix's Emmy-winning series Adolescence. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Ronson said the deal only came together a fortnight ago after Plan B co-president Jeremy Kleiner reached out. "He just loved the book," Ronson explained. "He was like, 'I think this could be a great film.' And for me, I'm kind of a modest guy. It's my life. I was just so happy to be finished with the book. But it's a brilliant era, and they make such brilliant films. I'm so excited to see what they want to do with it." The exact direction of the movie is still up in the air — whether it will follow a biopic-style arc or take looser inspiration from Ronson's stories. "I actually don't think they've even decided yet, so it could be whatever," he said. "I think whoever the director is, the visionary who comes into it, [they are] gonna definitely lead that as well." Ronson also revealed he'll likely have input on creative decisions — including casting. "I think so, yeah. Only if it's Timothée Chalamet will I agree on this picture," he joked. "[Plan B] make such great films and I'm just down for whatever they wanna do." Night People: How to Be a DJ in '90s New York City is out now, and you can find more details via Penguin Random House. Images: Getty
After giving Looking for Alibrandi and Nosferatu the page-to-screen-to-stage treatment in recent years, Malthouse Theatre has another cinema great in its sights for 2025: The Birds, which started its life as a book by Daphne du Maurier, then hit picture palaces thanks to Alfred Hitchcock. A source of ornithophobia for more than half a century, the tale is swooping into the Melbourne theatre company, but not as anyone has seen it before. A world-premiere production, it's being staged as a one-woman show — and, courtesy of headphones, it's ensuring that audiences don't miss a single fluttering wing or blood-curdling squawk. Paula Arundell, a Helpmann Award-nominee for playing Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will be in the only actor onstage when The Birds flues into Malthouse's Beckett Theatre between Friday, May 16–Saturday, June 7, 2025. In an approach that brings Sydney Theatre Company's The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Dracula to mind, She's tasked with conveying the terrors of a family facing the animal world's feathered creatures turning deadly, but going far beyond Tippi Hedren's efforts in Hitchcock's 62-year-old movie given that she's the show's sole performer. "The Birds is a thriller about a family who are living through an extraordinary crisis — the day birds, as an entire species, turn on humankind. Paula is one of the country's most astonishing actors, and this will be the performance of a lifetime, and you'll be in the theatre, wearing headphones, experiencing every whisper and every swoop intimately with her," said Matthew Lutton, who directs the production after finishing his ten-year run as Malthouse Theatre's Artistic Director. If you haven't seen the classic film or read the 1952 horror story that it's based on, as penned by an author that Hitchcock adapted more than once — see also: Rebecca and Jamaica Inn — it focuses on an unexplained attack on a coastal town, plus the fight to try to survive it. Malthouse's version, hailing from playwright Louise Fox, is giving The Birds a modern spin. [caption id="attachment_995200" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shkuru Afshar via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] As for listening in, J David Franzke is responsible for the sound design and compositions — and getting theatregoers donning headsets is all about sensory immersion. At present, anyone wanting to catch the end result for this new take on The Birds will need to hit up the Melbourne season, but cross your fingers that the production will eventually take flight elsewhere around the country in the future. The Birds' world-premiere season runs from Friday, May 16–Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Beckett Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, Melbourne. Head to the Malthouse Theatre website for tickets and further details.
Brisbane's luxury hotel scene has been playing a bit of musical chairs in recent months, all thanks to the Hong Kong-based chain Ovolo. First, it took over the Inchcolm Hotel in Spring Hill, turning the art deco spot into a glam mix of the old and the new. Now, it has revamped the Fortitude Valley spot that was previously known as the Emporium. If you're still playing catch-up on all of these changes, the Emporium brand actually moved over to a new site at South Bank — one which, as of October, boasts a decadent rooftop bar on its 21st floor. But the old Emporium is quite the stunner too. Now called Ovolo The Valley, the 103-room hotel has had a $55 million facelift with a design-led focus, including two suites inspired by David Bowie. Fancy being a hero just for one day (and night)? In 'rockstar' suites aptly named Major Tom and Rebel Rebel, guests will find 1970s-inspired velvet lounges and a gold bar. If you're not up for channelling your inner icon, all rooms feature rich colours that take their cues from the Valley's streets and laneways, plus custom wallpaper and eclectic furniture choices. Also standard across the board is 24-hour room service, flat-screen TVs with Google Chromecast and an in-room Alexa to answer all of your questions — plus access to the rooftop swimming pool, gym and sauna. Like other Ovolo sites, Ovolo The Valley offers a heap of freebies: a free mini-bar with every room (including a lolly bag full of treats), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free laundry and free happy hour drinks each day. That said, rooms start from $300 a night, so it's still an indulgent staycation. The colourful new fitout was overseen by architecture firm Woods Bagot, who're also looking after the Howard Smith Wharves redevelopment. Collaborating with Chloe Want from AvroKO in New York, they'll be working through into next year on Ovolo The Valley's final touch — a standalone restaurant and bar slated to launch in early 2019, with chef and restauranteur Justin North heading up the kitchen. Ovolo The Valley is now open at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley.
When Marco Pierre White hits Australia in May, he'll treat food fans to his first-ever live theatre show. He does love notching up firsts, after all. He was the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars. When that happened when he was 33, he was the youngest chef to do so, too. And, amid all the chatter his work and life has earned — in no small part thanks to his cookbook White Heat, the 1990 tome that played up his "bad boy" image — he's been dubbed "the first celebrity chef" as well. White won't just be taking to the stage on his 2023 Aussie tour, however. In what definitely isn't a first, he's heading to the kitchen — this time for a four-course dinner on the Gold Coast. If you'd like to tuck into a meal co-curated by the chef, mark Saturday, May 27 in your diary and make a date with HOTA, Home of the Arts. Also overseeing the one-night-only affair: Palette Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law, with the dinner taking place at HOTA's onsite restaurant. They'll whip up a menu that's guided by locally sourced ingredients, and paired with top-notch wine. And, in addition to getting to eat the end results, patrons will also see White in action in the kitchen — and hear from him, too, via a 15–20-minute Q&A session. Unsurprisingly, this hot ticket is has limited seats, with only 80 folks able to attend. If you're keen, you'll need to register at the HOTA website before 11.59pm on Sunday, April 23 for your chance to go along. Exactly what's on White and Hartill-Law's menu hasn't yet been revealed, but this is a rare chance to enjoy the former's cuisine right here in southeast Queensland.
It's a comfort food staple and a favourite of dairy lovers, and it needn't only be on the menu when you're in your own house. That humble dish: the cheese toastie. When everyone's go-to dairy product is placed between two slices of bread, then warmed to its edible oozing point, it becomes a gooey force that cannot be contained — and it's now on offer at Melt Brothers' new Chermside location. Brisbane's dedicated cheese toastie joint first opened its doors back in 2016, starting in the CBD, then also launched a now-closed Mt Gravatt venue. It currently operates in two inner-city spots: the Myer Centre and Post Office Square, plus its new Westfield Chermside food court site. This chain's love of the best thing you can do with sliced bread knows no bounds — so it's spreading. Bringing Melt Brothers' dairy-filled delights to the shopping centre's first level, underneath the cinemas, the Chermside location dishes up the same delicious menu while also ensuring that northsiders don't have to hit the CBD to live out their melted cheese dreams. This is the first time that the brand has headed to this side of town, and it trades seven days a week. That includes sangas till 8.30pm during late-night trading on Thursdays, plus bites till 7pm on Fridays. Cheese fiends can grab all-day fare like the three-cheese Mouse Trap, and the bacon and egg-filled Morning Glory, or stop by for a M.C. Cheesy (with macaroni and cheese). Melt Brothers also does non-cheesy items, including avo toast with or without eggs or smoked salmon, bagels, hash browns, and fries. Clearly, the mozzarella sticks keep the theme going.
This just out: Damian Griffiths, local Brisbane go-getter and owner of newfangled eateries Alfredo's Pizzeria and Chester Street Bakery and Bar (among a whole list of others) is opening a new hole-in-the-wall, artisan doughnut bar in the Valley — with the apt name Doughnut Time. Taking over a sectioned-off corner of Alfredo's on Alfred Street, and with design by Alex Lotersztain (who's provided interiors and accoutrements for most of Griffiths' other joints), Doughnut Time will start serving up its "hand-dipped artisan doughnuts" next month. If Chester Street's doughnut offerings are anything to go by (think blueberry crumble, key lime, and passionfruit meringue varieties), we're only too excited to see (taste) the sure-to-be-mod delicacies that Griffiths' dedicated doughnut shop will come up with. We're crossing our fingers for more desserts converted into doughy, iced-and-garnished circular confections of your dreams, and perhaps a good old-fashioned jam doughnut, oozing with tongue-burning strawberry conserve straight out of the oven. The bottom line is: expect to leave sticky-fingered and happily ready to sell your soul to Ned Flanders in a devil's outfit. Via The Courier Mail.
May the force be with your streaming queue over the next few months, with not one but two new Star Wars series heading to Disney+. Both follow the same format, too, taking a character from the films, then spinning a whole show around parts of their backstories — and slotting in either before or between the tales that viewers have already seen. The first such program, Obi-Wan Kenobi, starts streaming today, Friday, May 27. The second, Andor, just dropped its first trailer today as well. On the agenda for the latter: not only a prequel to 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but bringing espionage thrills to a galaxy far, far away. As its name makes plain, Andor focuses on its namesake — Cassian Andor, again played by Diego Luna (If Beale Street Could Talk). Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story ends, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in fighting the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. The moody and shadowy just-dropped first sneak peek ends with telling words, after all: "that's what a reckoning sounds like". In fact, it's filled with statements like that, setting the tone for an intrigue-filled first season — which'll start streaming on Wednesday, August 31. Alongside Luna, Andor sees filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — return to the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. And, on-screen, Luna is joined by the Genevieve O'Reilly (The Dry) — who is also back as Mon Mothma — as well as Stellan Skarsgård (Dune), Adria Arjona (Morbius), Denise Gough (Monday) and Kyle Soller (Poldark). Oh, and a cute-looking new robot that's seen scurrying around in the trailer, although how big a part it'll play is yet to be revealed. Andor is set to span two seasons, both running for 12 episodes each and adding to Disney+'s ever-expanding array of Star Wars programming. Also on its way: the third season of The Mandalorian, which'll arrive in February 2023; and the just-announced Skeleton Crew, which'll star Jude Law and hit streaming queues sometime next year as well. Check out the first trailer for Andor below: Andor will start streaming via Disney+ from Wednesday, August 31.
Summer means sunny days, escaping to your closest body of water whenever you can, openair drinks aplenty and treating yo'self to all the tastebud-cooling ice cream you like. This summer, it also means making sure that your home also smells like sweet treats — like Bubble O'Bills, Paddle Pops, Golden Gaytimes and Splices, to be exact. Some scents will always stay with you — and for anyone who grew up eating as many rainbow Paddle Pops as they could manage whenever the weather was warm, that sweet treat's caramel-meets-vanilla aroma is 100-percent the scent of summer. Now, it can be the fragrance that wafts through your home when the weather is warm (and during every other season, too), with Dusk bringing back its range ice cream-flavoured candles. The company first launched these enticingly scented, dessert craving-sparking goods back in winter and they promptly sold out, but now's clearly an ideal time for them. In a collaboration with Streets, the two-wick candles are hitting the shelves in-store again — and online — from Thursday, November 24. Obviously, one candle is scented like rainbow Paddle Pops, the go-to gem of supermarket freezers. Yes, each one smells like vanilla bean, strawberry and caramel. Yes, you'll feel hungry. Among the candles scented like fellow classic sweet treats, the Golden Gaytime version emits the aroma of toffee, vanilla and chocolate, while the Bubble O'Bill number smells like strawberries and raspberries — not bubblegum. As for the Splice, the scent of pine lime and vanilla will be floating through your home. Each two-wick candle costs $54.99, and drops not only in time for summer, but also for Christmas. Yes, buying one/some for yourself as a gift is perfectly acceptable. Constantly being hungry for ice cream is about to become your new reality, clearly — and if you also decked out your abode with Gelato Messina candles a few years back, and Tim Tam candles as well, consider this your latest sweet-smelling must-have. Dusk's range of Paddle Pop, Golden Gaytime, Splice and Bubble O'Bill candles hit stores and online again from 9am AEST on Thursday, November 24. Head to the company's website for further information.
UPDATE, April 16, 2021: Crawl is available to stream via Netflix, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Part creature feature and part disaster movie, Crawl is a gleeful ripper of a thriller. Not only unleashing a ferocious hurricane upon its father-daughter duo, but a congregation of snapping alligators as well, its premise is simple — what the film lacks in narrative surprises, however, it makes up for in suspense and tension. That's the holy grail of fear-inducing flicks. Regardless of the concept, if a movie can make the audience feel as if they're in the same space as the characters they're watching, enduring every bump and jump, and sharing their life-or-death terror, then it has done its job. By playing it straight, serious and scary, Crawl manages to exceed its Sharknado rip-off status to craft a highly effective battle between humans, animals and the elements. The film introduces aspiring swimming star Haley Keller (Kaya Scodelario) on a wet and windy day, although she initially misses the wild weather warnings while she's doing laps at training. A panicked call from her sister (Moryfydd Clark) doesn't rattle the no-nonsense young woman, and nor does the news that her divorced father Dave (Barry Pepper) isn't answering his phone. Still, thanks to a few unresolved daddy-daughter issues nagging at her conscience, Haley is quickly driving down the blustery highway, flagrantly ignoring police instructions and heading to their old family home. It's no spoiler to say that she discovers more than she bargained for down in their basement, with Haley soon trying to save the injured Dave, stay alive herself, fend off ravenous gators and stay ahead of rising flood waters. In telling this tale, writers Michael and Shawn Rasmussen (The Ward) haven't met a cliche they didn't love, an emotional beat they didn't want to hit, or a convenient twist of the narrative screws that they didn't want to turn. It can't be overstated just how much of Crawl, in a story sense, plays out exactly as expected. Plot developments and character decisions all stick to the usual formula, as does animal behaviour and storm surges (if you're a screenwriter, it's possible to control the very forces that your protagonists can't). But it's worth thanking the cinema gods that Alexandre Aja is sitting in the director's chair — and that he knows a thing or two about creature features and horror movies. While the French filmmaker has both hits and misses to his name (including Haute Tension, remakes of The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha, and the devilish Daniel Radcliffe flick Horns), here he masters the art of conveying an alligator's menace. Of course, it could be argued that much of Crawl's work is easy. Along with sharks, gators already rank among the most frightening beasts on the planet. Courtesy of their teeth, speed, size and power, just thinking about them gives plenty of people the shivers — so, on paper, all that an unsettling film need do is place the scaly critters front and centre. And yet, as too many Jaws wannabes have shown since Steven Spielberg's massive hit created the concept of the blockbuster as we know it, it's not enough just to throw a bunch of attacking animals at some clueless folks. As more comic takes have demonstrated in Sharknado, Snakes on a Plane and the Birdemic movies, it's not enough to write off the whole scenario as simple silliness either. There's an existential basis to the genre's underlying idea, unpacking how humanity truly copes when it's made to face nature. As a species, much of our sense of collective worth stems from our ability to shape and control our world, and yet we can't stop weather systems from morphing into destructive hurricanes, or hungry reptiles from doing what they're designed to do. Mainly lurking in the Kellers' dank, dark, rat-infested crawlspace, Crawl leans into the primal side of pitting people against the environment. Aja takes every chance to emphasise the scampering threats eager to gobble up Haley and Dave. With assistance from his regular cinematographer Maxime Alexandre, he ramps up the unease, deploying tried and tested filmmaking techniques such as low shots, quick cuts, point-of-view perspectives, dim lighting, and ample movement and shadow. A couple of gory kill sequences add to the mood, as does the movie's approach to its swirling winds and rushing water. Indeed, amid the rampant CGI, there's a sense of awe for the havoc that alligators and hurricanes can each wreak, which only heightens the stressful atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, fear and tension radiates through the film as a result — and through its key duo, too. Although Scodelario and Pepper are given about as much room for character development as their cold-blooded foes, they still bring a naturalistic air to their performances, portraying anxious everyday folks just fighting to survive by doing whatever it takes. No matter what's thrown at us, or how, or where, that's what making humanity grapple with our surroundings boils down to, after all. In fact, given the state of the planet, Crawl's central theme not only proves frightening and fuels an effective thriller, but also feels unnervingly prescient. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WuVXo_XAM
2024 is set to be a huge year for Australia's most-inclusive music festival, with the Dylan Alcott-founded Ability Fest not only playing Melbourne but also hitting up Brisbane for the first time as well. Expanding is a massive achievement for the event. Also hefty: the lineup, with Ocean Alley, King Stingray, Cub Sport and Bag Raiders leading the bill. In Queensland, Ability Fest will head to Victoria Park/Barrambin in Brisbane on Saturday, October 26. As for what'll get you moving to the tunes, attendees will also see Asha Jefferies, Boone, Brenn!, Dewbs, Eliza Hull and jamesjamesjames, alongside Jordan Brando, Jordz, Kita Alexander and a triple j Unearthed winner. From there, Brisbanites will can catch Middle Kids, Cheq, Eves Karydas, Mikalah Watego, Moss, Neesha Alexander and Xeimma as well. Ability Fest is splitting its musicians across two stages, one for bands and one for DJs. The fully accessible event, which launched in 2018, has been carefully designed from the get-go. It features ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus, there's also quiet zones, dedicated sensory areas and accessible toilets. The Brisbane festival will cater to around 5000 people, and Ability Fest is committed to being financially accessible during the current cost-of-living crisis in both of its stops. Accordingly, tickets will only cost $60 plus booking fee, and carers will receive complimentary entry. The fest is also lowering the age of admission to 16 so more folks can head along. While dishing up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities, the not-for-profit fest also raises money for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, with 100-percent of its ticket proceeds going to the organisation. [caption id="attachment_963996" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Lineup: Asha Jefferies Bag Raiders Boone Brenn! Cub Sport Dewbs Eliza Hull jamesjamesjames Jordan Brando Jordz King Stingray Kita Alexander Ocean Alley triple j Unearthed winner Brisbane only: Cheq Eves Karydas Middle Kids Mikalah Watego Moss Neesha Alexander Xeimma Top images: Ian Laidlaw, Chloe Hall and Jayden Ostwald.
Adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel, the film version of Never Let Me Go is equal parts science fiction and love triangle, with one pretty girl wistfully gazing after the attractive boy who falls for another and remains impervious to her waif-like charms. Starring Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley, who both scored Academy Award nominations for their performances, the film has earned itself critical acclaim and a reputation for possibly making you cry. Beginning as a British boarding school jaunt with a period feel, you quickly learn that this is no ordinary school. Instead, it unravels that theirs is a boarding school for clones designed to become organ donors in a dystopian alternate reality where humans create people with the express purpose of killing them. We follow the three main characters through school and into adulthood, as they have to begin to come to terms with the tumultuous feelings they have for each other, while they face the haunting future that awaits them all. We have 30 double passes on offer to the film, which opens on March 31. To enter, make sure you're a subscriber to the Concrete Playground newsletter, and then shoot us an email at hello@concreteplayground.com.au for your chance to win. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EUPsKjdtQSM
Shopping isn't always simple when you want to purchase goods that align with your ethics. However, the Handmade + Plant-Based Market focuses on designers and customers who prioritise treading lightly. Held from 10am–3pm on Sunday, August 24, this one-day event will transform the Old Museum in Bowen Hills. Teeming with quality pieces guided by sustainable and ethical practices, it's a stellar opportunity to support small local businesses. Spanning 60 independent makers and producers, expect mindfully made products, unique gifts and delicious handmade goodies. Crafted with intention, buying a few choice pieces might just enhance your slow living philosophy. The event will be spread across two studios — one filled with 100 percent plant-based and vegan products, and another with handmade products shaped by values just as much as aesthetics. Entry is $5, with kids under 12 free.
Grabbing a meal in Brisbane's north is about to get a whole lot better thanks to Chermside's newest addition. As part of the shopping centre's massive revamp, they're adding a huge dining precinct, complete with 20 new eateries, a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, and a light-filled dome. Due to launch from June 22, the culinary-focused space will boast Brisbane's first Betty's Burgers, Bin 931 Bar and Dining from Gold Coast Little Truffle restaurateur and chef Daniel Ridgeway, and Bootlegger from Sydney's Tom Chidiac of Sourdough and The Naked Duck fame. They'll be joined by Motto Motto and Zeus Street Greek adding to their Brissie footprint, plus the likes of Tapworks Bar & Grill, Hermosa by Olé, The Bavarian, 4Fingers Crispy Chicken, Landmark Yum Cha, Fiery Deli and Kamikaze Teppanyaki. If all of that food isn't enough to marvel at, shoppers can also feast their eyes on The Urchin. In case you're wondering, it's a dome-shaped structure that, yes, looks a sea urchin. It's also the latest part of the site's redevelopment, following the opening of a new fashion precinct over the past months, and will see Westfield Chermside become the largest Westfield in Australia.
UPDATE, April 27, 2021: Late Night is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Thank the powers that be that we live in a world where Mindy Kaling is making smart, funny, warmly subversive TV series and movies. Actually, thank American television network NBC. Over a decade ago, it gave the then-24-year-old a job in The Office's writers room as a diversity hire, which Kaling revealed while doing promotional duties for her new film, Late Night. She goes a step further in the picture itself. Playing a chemical plant quality control supervisor who dreams of joining the writing staff on an evening talk show, she puts the same idea into the movie (as well as starring, she penned the script). Molly Patel, her on-screen alter-ego, is hired because she's a woman, plain and simple. She's then saddled with being the token beacon for inclusiveness in an otherwise all-white, all-male, all-middling group of scribes, with her new colleagues all-too-happy to keep aiming for average rather than risk rocking the boat with their boss. Only Kaling, or someone who has been in her circumstances, could turn the above situation into a gag — not to mention an effective, perceptive and amusing one. More than that, she uses Late Night to point out the ridiculousness of complaints that almost everyone who isn't a white male has heard: that they've landed a gig for reasons other than their skills and talents. It's a go-to lament against the advancement of women and people of colour in many fields, and it's supremely petty. Late Night specifically calls it out in a pointedly cartoonish but undeniably scathing way. "I wish I was a woman of colour so I could get any job I wanted with zero qualifications," one of Molly's unhappy co-workers grumbles, sounding suitably inane. This is a comedy, so Late Night pokes fun at the entertainment industry status quo in the same way that Kaling's long-running, now-finished TV sitcom The Mindy Project toyed with rom-com tropes. Think light, bubbly yet also sharp. Molly doesn't have the same experience as her co-workers, but she's still great at her job, because that's a genuine possibility. She works harder, longer and puts more pressure on herself, because that's the reality. By not fitting the usual mould, Molly shines a glaring spotlight on the complacency that can come with avoiding change or challenge. Crucially, however, while she's highly motivated and determined (and usually considerably overdressed for work compared to her peers), she also sports plenty of flaws — whether she's offering unfettered criticism on her first day or bursting into tears whenever things hit even the tiniest rough patch. Late Night has another commentary-laden twist up its sleeve: the program's host of nearly three decades, Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson), clearly doesn't fit the usual mould either. It's a big deal in the movie, which recognises that she's a trailblazer. In real life, female-fronted talk shows like Katherine's aren't just rare — they're basically non-existent. So unfurls Late Night's twin dilemmas, sparked by the host's discovery that her position is under threat thanks to a new network executive (Amy Ryan). With rising frat boy-style standup Daniel Tennant (Ike Barinholtz) waiting in the wings, fierce perfectionist Katherine endeavours to elevate her flagging series, adapt to the times and retain the values she holds dear. Arriving just as this crisis hits, and overwhelmed by working for her idol, Molly tries to demonstrate her worth and also remain true to herself. There's an obvious, endearing element of fantasy at the core of Late Night. If only viewers could watch Thompson, or the kind of intelligent and hilarious woman she plays, on late-night TV on a daily basis. If only we could all get a shot at showing that we're made for our bucket-list jobs as well. But dreaming big, satirising reality and marrying genuine insights with laughs all frequently make great bedfellows, as proves the case here. Directed with charm, spark, and a zippy look and feel by Nisha Ganatra (Dear White People, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), this is a workplace comedy that has plenty to say about media and entertainment, sexism and ageism, the treatment of women, and the way that ladies are often stereotypically expected to compete against each other. It's also willing to get gleefully blunt in exploring these matters, especially in its dialogue. The film follows a predictable narrative path, lacking the absurdity and surprises of television's 30 Rock and The Larry Sanders Show, yet that doesn't make it any less enjoyable, incisive or on-target. We've said it before, but it bears repeating: watching Late Night and wishing that Thompson's formidable Katherine really had a regular place on our screens goes hand-in-hand. Playing a multiple-Emmy winner, the real-life dual-Oscar recipient leans into the character's savage British wit and ample imperfections, while seeming like she could walk straight out of the film and onto any late-night show she'd like. And, although love interests abound for both Thompson and Kaling, the two women's seemingly chalk-and-cheese pairing sits at the heart of the film. John Lithgow pops up as the former's ailing composer husband, Veep's Reid Scott is the latter's snarkiest colleague, and Hannibal's Hugh Dancy is the office's resident ladies' man, but Late Night is at its best when it's heeding Molly's advice for Katherine: speaking from a perspective that only its protagonists (and its creative force) can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-OSUZp9pjw
For the third time in a year, across both the men's and the women's AFL competitions, the Brisbane Lions have made it to the grand final. Accordingly, also for the third time in a year, South Bank is dedicating its big screens to showing the Aussie Rules action. Just as it did twice in 2023, the waterside precinct is hosting a live viewing site, this time for the men's decider on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Go maroon, blue and gold: they're the colours that you should be wearing at either the South Bank Cultural Forecourt or while enjoying a splash at Streets Beach when the Brisbane Lions take on the Sydney Swans for the 2024 AFL men's premiership. On the day itself, the free grand final hub will start screening at both locations from 1pm, with kickoff at 2.30pm. South Bank isn't just celebrating the Lions on grand final day, however. The hub action begins on Wednesday, September 25, with AFL-themed activities taking over the Cultural Forecourt for three days before the match. On the agenda: AFL clinics and other all-ages-friendly activities. Fancy seeing if you can hit an inflatable target with a handball? You can try that, too — and there's also face painting for kids, merchandise stalls slinging Lions gear (of course), and signups for both children and adults who are keen to play Aussie Rules footy themselves. When the big dance rolls around on the Saturday, attendees just need to remember that both live viewing sites are alcohol-free — and also that you'll need to check your bags. If you're an AFL fan, there's no better way to spend the last Saturday in September. This is the first time ever that Brisbane and Sydney have faced off in the grand final as Brisbane and Sydney. The last time that the two teams competed against each other for the premiership was back in 1899 as Fitzroy and South Melbourne. In the 2024 AFL season, Brisbane and Sydney played one match, in Brisbane at the Gabba in July, with the Lions winning by two points. The Brisbane Lions 2024 AFL Grand Final hub at South Bank runs from Wednesday, September 25–Saturday, September 26 — head to the Lions website for more information
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment as part of the precinct's seasonal festivities. But these free films aren't just for families. Any yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Monday, December 18–Saturday, December 23. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Elf, A Christmas Carol, Elliott: The Littlest Reindeer, Arthur Christmas and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — as well as The Holiday, Happiest Season and 8-Bit Christmas. Among a varied lineup catering for all ages, there's also The Grinch, Home Alone 2, Batman Returns and Gremlins. Attending is free, and the family-friendly flicks screen at 6pm, with each evening's second session showing at 8pm.
If you live in Brisbane and rum is mentioned, everyone's minds jump to one particular tipple: Bundaberg Rum. But it isn't the only variety of boozy sugar cane juice on offer — not by far. Fancy widening your rum repertoire? Feel like experimenting? Keen to learn more about this molasses-based liquor? Enter Brisbane Rum Revolution, a returning one-day festival that'll have you sipping and tasting not just one rum, or a few, but more than 100 different rums from its hefty menu. Running across two sessions from 11am–2.30pm and 3.30–7pm on Saturday, November 5 at Brisbane Showgrounds (and calling itself Australia's biggest-ever rum festival), the event is playing host to 30-plus rum distilleries. It's also showcasing rums from South America, the Caribbean, the UK and locally, so prepared to be spoiled for choice. That lineup includes brand new tipples, as well as Brisbane Rum Revolution exclusives that you won't find elsewhere. All tastings are included in your $69 ticket — and the event also includes live music, pop-up bars and food, as well as cocktails galore. And, of course, saying cheers with a rum in your hand again and again. Fancy sticking around for both sessions? There's a $117 ticket for that.
Dinner then gelato? A movie followed by some ice cream? Grabbing a scoop just because? Whichever takes your fancy, everyone in South City Square's vicinity can now put La Macelleria's artisanal desserts on their list, with Matteo Zini and Matteo Casone's Brisbane-based chain opening its latest outpost in Woolloongabba. The Logan Road digs still keep La Macelleria's footprint at four, with its Coorparoo Square venue closing down. So, Zini and company are retaining a presence in the city's east, but in a different new precinct (and with another cinema, this time Australia's first-ever Angelika Film Centre, nearby). Don't expect to wander inside the latest La Macelleria, however. This is a pint-sized joint, putting its focus on scooping up gelato rather than giving patrons somewhere to sit. "We are introducing a genuine 'hole-in-the-wall' gelateria, reminiscent of those you would typically encounter in Italy," explains Zini of La Macelleria's new nine-square-metre space, which he's also dubbing "the smallest Gelateria in the southern hemisphere". Setting up shop in a precinct that also includes hole-in-the-wall taqueria Los Felix, Italian bar and eatery Sasso, Chinese Peruvian joint Casa Chow, Palm Springs-inspired gin-pouring garden bar Purple Palm, and European-influenced wine bar and wine shop South City Wine, La Macelleria's South City Square venue arrives just in time for ice cream season — aka Queensland's warming spring and summer weather when Brisbane's best gelaterias and ice creameries get an even bigger workout than usual. Joining La Macelleria's existing Teneriffe and West End joints, plus its Mermaid Waters venue as well, the new spot to get a scoop boasts the same creamy artisanal Italian gelato that has made the brand such a hit, of course. Think: flavours such as tiramisu, salted caramel, raspberry cheesecake, mandorla al caffe (aka roasted almond and roasted coffee beans) and bacio Australiano (white chocolate with caramelised macadamia chips). And, to celebrate scooping up dessert in a new location in Brisbane's east, the chain is throwing a grand opening shindig in its usual fashion — that is, with free gelato. The fun kicks off at 1pm on Saturday, November 25, with freebies available for the first 100 people. After that, you'll pay $4 for a small cup with up to two flavours, $5 for a medium cup with up to three varieties and $6 for a large with up to four types. Find La Macelleria at South City Square, 148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba — open 1–9pm Monday–Thursday and 1–10pm Friday–Saturday.
Even after 112 years, creating a musical comedy about a disaster that claimed more than 2200 lives could feel tone deaf. So it's important to note that Titanique is not about a historic tragedy. Not really. This raucous and rib-tickling show began its life as an in-joke between three Broadway luminaries — performers Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli and director Tye Blue — who wanted to pose the question: what if the true hero of James Cameron's Titanic was, in fact, Canada's greatest icon, Céline Dion? The result is 90 minutes of pure joy, underpinned by the belting power ballads of Québec's most famous daughter and a shade of outrageous humour bluer than the Heart of the Ocean. Much like its humble off-Broadway origins, the Australian premiere of Titanique has been staged in one of Sydney's smaller theatres, The Grand Electric in Redfern. While packing a larger auditorium would have been an easy task for such a feel-good show, producers Michael Cassel and Eva Price's decision to place this production in such an intimate space is a master stroke. In these close quarters, where the performers are within touching distance, there are even more opportunities to bulldoze the fourth wall and amp up the camp extremes of the show's bawdy zingers. But Titanique doesn't just deliver laughs. While the bizarre plot — a fever dream retelling of Cameron's cinematic epic from the perspective of Céline Dion, via the songs of Céline Dion — offers comedy of the silliest kind, the singing prowess on display is no joke. Marney McQueen delivers a forensically detailed impression of Dion, backed up with astonishing vocals all but indistinguishable from the real thing. Indeed, the entire cast wow with their voices, which only acts to make the narrative absurdities even more hilarious — it's a truly unique experience to hear McQueen, Abigail Dixon as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown and Georgina Hopson as Rose, flawlessly nailing the chorus of 'Tell Him' while suggestively rubbing an eggplant. Much like The Book of Mormon (which is returning to Sydney next year), Titanique taps a rare yet potent duality: the guilty pleasure of gutter humour and the soaring thrill of a virtuosic performance. Through this double-dose of serotonin, peppered with crude one-liners, pop culture references (with some fresh Australian content added for local benefit) and a generous drenching of fabulosity, this is a show that will leave your heart full and your sides split. Images: Daniel Boud
Were Picasso's Cubist portraits of women true to life? It would suggest there were a lot of chicks with displaced eye sockets hanging round Paris in the 1900s. Now a Spanish fashion photographer, Eugenio Recuenco, has reimagined Picasso's Cubist muses as live beings, styling his models in the same surrealist manner that Picasso painted them. Recuenco's portraits are weird, emotional and lovely in their own right. His women subjects mirror the poses of the originals, with elegant silhouettes, painted skin and outlandish costumery all projecting a moody atmosphere. Post-production by Recuenco gave the photographs the same feel as the paintings via color manipulation, while the mysterious spaces he used amp up the dreamlike quality. Recuenco has a large dossier of equally stylised art and fashion projects. Beside this project, which was published in the Spanish weekly SMODA, his website shows fairytale scenes and tableaux vivants that suggest their own narrative worlds channelling the work of artists Goya, El Greco and Zurbaran. Check out a selection of the Picasso-inspired portraits below. Via Flavorwire.
Australians will never be torn apart from their love of an 80s power ballad by one of the nation's most-successful rock bands: that's what the first-ever Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs revealed. First announced in June 2025, open for voting for a month and unveiling its countdown on Saturday, July 26, the public-voted ranking of the country's favourite homegrown tunes of all time culminated with INXS topping the poll with the yearning refrains of 'Never Tear Us Apart'. The Michael Hutchence-crooned song was one of two by the band to make the list. The other: 'Need You Tonight', also from their 1987 blockbuster album Kick, which came in at number 59. Although Triple J advised that the largest number of voters hailed from the 18–29-year-old age group, everyone took the task of truly surveying classic Aussie tracks seriously, with more than half of that demographic's picks going to songs released before they were even in high school. Nothing in the top ten initially hit airwaves before 2011. After 'Never Tear Us Apart', the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs featured Hilltop Hoods' 2003 release 'The Nosebleed Section' in second place, followed by The Veronicas' 2007 track 'Untouched' in third, then 'Scar' by Missy Higgins from 2004 in fourth and Crowded House's 1986 tune 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House in fifth. Next came 2000's 'My Happiness' by Powderfinger — the highest-ranked former annual Hottest 100 winner — then a Cold Chisel double with 1984's 'Flame Tree's and 1978's 'Khe Sanh', Paul Kelly 1996 Christmas favourite 'How to Make Gravy', and Gotye and Kimbra's 2011 smash 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. As well as 'My Happiness' and 'Somebody That I Used to Know', a heap of other prior yearly Hottest 100 victors made the all-Aussie ranking: Powderfinger again with 'These Days', Angus and Julia Stone courtesy of 'Big Jet Plane', Jet's 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', Flume featuring Kai with 'Never Be Like You', Augie March's 'One Crowded Hour', Vance Joy with 'Riptide', Bernard Fanning's 'Wish You Well', Chet Faker's 'Talk Is Cheap', 'Confidence' by Ocean Alley and The Whitlams with 'No Aphrodisiac'. Tame Impala's 'The Less I Know the Better' also featured after winning the Hottest 100 of the 2010s. Indeed, only Spiderbait's 'Buy Me a Pony', Alex Lloyd's 'Amazing', The Rubens' 'Hoops', Flume's 'Say Nothing' and The Wiggles' cover of 'Elephant' didn't make the Hottest 100 of Australian songs after previously topping the yearly poll. A range of artists ranked up multiple appearances in the countdown, starting with Fanning with four — three courtesy of Powderfinger. Hilltop Hoods, Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, AC/DC, Silverchair, Midnight Oil and Gang of Youths all picked up three, while not just INXS but also The Veronicas, Higgins, Cold Chisel, Kelly, Gotye, Angus & Julia Stone, Empire of the Sun, Hunters & Collectors, The Church, Icehouse, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Avalanches and Spiderbait nabbed two places apiece. Although no one needs a reason to celebrate Aussie music, Triple J has one: 2025 marks its 50th birthday. That fact tied into one big caveat with the poll, with voters needing to choose a track that was released before the station hit that milestone on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Stats-wise, the chosen 100 tunes came from 2,655,826 total votes, the fourth highest that have ever been received for a Triple J Hottest 100. Also, more tunes sprang from the 2000s than any other decade, while 24 artists on the list championed the benefits of Triple J Unearthed, because that's where they got their start. Daddy Cool's 'Eagle Rock' from 1971 is the oldest tune that made the cut, while 2021's 'Hertz' from Amyl and The Sniffers is the most recent. And yes, both 'You're the Voice' by John Farnham and 'The Horses' by Daryl Braithwaite earned a place. Here's the full Hottest 100 of Australian Songs list: 1 'Never Tear Us Apart', INXS 2 'The Nosebleed Section', Hilltop Hoods 3 'Untouched', The Veronicas 4 'Scar', Missy Higgins 5 'Don't Dream It's Over', Crowded House 6 'My Happiness', Powderfinger 7 'Flame Trees', Cold Chisel 8 'Khe Sanh', Cold Chisel 9 'How to Make Gravy', Paul Kelly 10 'Somebody That I Used to Know', Gotye featuring Kimbra 11 'Sweet Disposition', The Temper Trap 12 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again', The Angels 13 'Thunderstruck', AC/DC 14 'These Days', Powderfinger 15 'You're the Voice', John Farnham 16 'Innerbloom', Rüfüs Du Sol 17 'Tomorrow', Silverchair 18 'Beds Are Burning', Midnight Oil 19 'The Less I Know the Better', Tame Impala 20 'Big Jet Plane', Angus & Julia Stone 21 'Down Under', Men at Work 22 'To Her Door', Paul Kelly & the Messengers 23 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', Jet 24 'Walking on a Dream', Empire of the Sun 25 'Throw Your Arms Around Me', Hunters & Collectors 26 'Never Be Like You', Flume featuring Kai 27 'Can't Get You Out of My Head', Kylie Minogue 28 'Straight Lines,' Silverchair 29 'Under the Milky Way', The Church 30 'The Horses', Daryl Braithwaite 31 'Highway to Hell', AC/DC 32 'Torn', Natalie Imbruglia 33 'One Crowded Hour', Augie March 34 'Booster Seat', Spacey Jane 35 'Great Southern Land', Icehouse 36 'Treaty (Radio Mix)', Yothu Yindi 37 'Back in Black', AC/DC 38 'Better Be Home Soon', Crowded House 39 'Reckless', Australian Crawl 40 'Covered in Chrome', Violent Soho 41 'Prisoner of Society', The Living End 42 'Magnolia', Gang of Youths 43 'Joker & the Thief', Wolfmother 44 'Into My Arms', Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 45 'Eagle Rock', Daddy Cool 46 'Shooting Stars', Bag Raiders 47 'Solid Rock', Goanna 48 'Riptide', Vance Joy 49 'It's Nice to Be Alive', Ball Park Music 50 'Holy Grail', Hunters & Collectors 51 'Brother', Matt Corby 52 'The Special Two', Missy Higgins 53 'Better in Blak', Thelma Plum 54 'I Touch Myself,' Divinyls 55 'My People', The Presets 56 'Working Class Man', Jimmy Barnes 57 'Wish You Well', Bernard Fanning 58 'Frontier Psychiatrist', The Avalanches 59 'Need You Tonight', INXS 60 'Let Me Down Easy', Gang of Youths 61 'Talk Is Cheap', Chet Faker 62 'Australia Street', Sticky Fingers 63 'I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)', Redgum 64 'Cosby Sweater', Hilltop Hoods 65 'Confidence', Ocean Alley 66 'Power and the Passion', Midnight Oil 67 '! (The Song Formerly Known As)', Regurgitator 68 'Chemical Heart', Grinspoon 69 'Weather with You', Crowded House 70 '(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind', Powderfinger 71 'Jimmy Recard', Drapht 72 'Freak', Silverchair 73 '1955', Hilltop Hoods featuring Montaigne and Tom Thum 74 'London Still', The Waifs 75 'The Unguarded Moment', The Church 76 '4ever', The Veronicas 77 'Weir', Killing Heidi 78 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine', Eskimo Joe 79 'Hello', The Cat Empire 80 'We Are the People', Empire of the Sun 81 'Berlin Chair', You Am I 82 'High', Peking Duk featuring Nicole Millar 83 'Cigarettes Will Kill You', Ben Lee 84 'Streets of Your Town', The Go-Betweens 85 'Delete', DMA's 86 'Hearts a Mess', Gotye 87 'The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows', Gang of Youths 88 'Chateau', Angus & Julia Stone 89 'Hertz', Amyl and the Sniffers 90 'Black Betty', Spiderbait 91 'No Aphrodisiac', The Whitlams 92 'Electric Blue', Icehouse 93 'Since I Left You', The Avalanches 94 'Clair de Lune', Flight Facilities featuring Christine Hoberg 95 'Calypso', Spiderbait 96 'Evie', Stevie Wright 97 'I Want You', Savage Garden 98 'Red Right Hand', Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 99 'Blue Sky Mine', Midnight Oil 100 'Better', The Screaming Jets Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs was unveiled on Saturday, July 26, 2025. For more information, head to the Triple J website. Top image: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images.
Trying not to think about Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is about to become impossible in Australia. So will getting Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' out of your head, where it's dwelled for most people since the Oscar-winning track was released in 1997. The reason: a new Titanic exhibition is dropping anchor Down Under, making Melbourne Museum its berth for four months. From Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024 Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition will bring 200-plus items from the ship to the Victorian capital, in its Aussie trip after selling out its Paris season and also proving a hit in the US. The pieces on display are legitimately from the vessel's wreck site, too, after the RMS Titanic's ill-fated voyage in April 1912 — aka the events that James Cameron (Avatar: The Way of Water) turned into the DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon)- and Winslet (Ammonite)-starring Titanic more than a quarter-century ago. For everyone bound to exclaim "I'm the king of the world" while walking through Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition's Australian-exclusive stop, this is the king of all Titanic exhibitions. In fact, it's the most extensive in the world. As well seeing the genuine objects from the ship, attendees will wander through full-scale recreations of the vessel's interiors, such as the veranda cafe, first-class parlour suite and grand staircase. "Tragedy, heroism, sacrifice, survival and loss — these are themes the evokes which continue to resonate today, with people of all ages across the globe," said Museums Victoria CEO & Director Lynley Crosswell, announcing the exhibition. In addition to the recovered items and recreations of the Titanic's spaces, the exhibition will tell tales about those who were onboard the ship that launched its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, only to sink five days later on April 15 after hitting an iceberg. This exploration of a tragic chapter in history will focus on passengers and crew alike, while also stepping through the vessel's class divisions and pondering the boat's legacy. Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition will display at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton from Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024 — head to the venue's website for further details and tickets. Images: EMG / Alexandre Schoelcher / Museums Victoria.
Thanks to her vibrant, playful and dot-filled body of work, Yayoi Kusama is known for many things. Her brightly coloured pumpkins, often blown up to larger-than-life size, are instantly recognisable. Her mirrored infinity rooms constantly dazzle the eye, too. But when it comes to interacting with her pieces, the Japanese artist's obliteration rooms might be her most entertaining creation. The concept really couldn't be more simple. As every visitor enters the space, they're given a page of stickers. Then, as quickly or slowly as each person sees fit, it's their job to place those stickers around the room. If you're heading along at the beginning of the exhibition's run, you might see plenty of white surfaces just waiting to be covered with circles of colour. If you're taking part towards the end of its season, a rainbow of dots might already fill every nook and cranny. First developed for children as part of an Australian show — Queensland Art Gallery's APT 2002: Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art — back in 2002, obliteration rooms have been part of Kusama's repertoire ever since. That said, in almost two decades, she hasn't extended the idea to a greenhouse — until now. As announced in mid-2019, a huge site-specific Kusama exhibition will display at the New York Botanical Garden, kicking off in May this year. KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature sprawl over The Bronx venue's entire 250 acres, both inside and out. And, while the broad details were unveiled when the show was first revealed, the site has started announcing specifics — such as Kusama's first obliteration greenhouse. Called Flower Obsession, the interactive artwork will task visitors with applying coral flower stickers throughout the interior of the space. Given that KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature is all about celebrating the natural world and its inspiration on the artist's work, it's safe to assume that the greenhouse will actually function as a greenhouse. Just don't go plastering any stickers on the plants, of course. [caption id="attachment_732283" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] New York Botanical Garden, Robert Benson[/caption] Another just-revealed highlight: Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart, which'll take Kusama's famed infinity room concept outdoors, responding to changing light throughout each day and season. Dancing Pumpkin will tower 16-feet high — and be shaped like the vegetable, naturally — while the vivid I Want to Fly to the Universe will span 13 feet in height, with the biomorphic form featuring a yellow face and polka dots. They're all brand new works; however the exhibition will also reimagine some of the artist's existing pieces. A recreation of the painting Alone, Buried In A Flower Garden might be the most striking, with the NYBG's horticulturists planting a whole garden that mimics its shapes and colours. Elsewhere, tulips and irises will be planted in formations that'll resemble pumpkins when they bloom. Also, floral presentations will bring another of Kusama's pieces to life in a new medium — using violas, salvias, zinnias and chrysanthemums. [caption id="attachment_758873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart (2020)[/caption] As all of these aspects of the exhibition make plain, attendees won't just be walking through multiple halls filled with Kusama's work or moseying around an entire gallery. This is a multi-sensory experience, involving wandering around the whole grounds and spying her pieces not only placed on walls and floors everywhere, but mixed among the natural wonders outside. When the showcase kicks off in 2020, running from May 9 to November 1, visitors can also expect a host of Kusama's giant floral pieces, nature-based paintings, botanical sketches, collages and soft sculptures. KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature marks the first-ever large-scale exploration of the acclaimed artist's overflowing fondness for the natural world — and, taking its cues from nature, the show is designed to transform over the course of the exhibition. Obviously, interactive installations such as Flower Obsession will evolve thanks to audience participation, but the whole space will also change with the seasons. Transitioning from spring to summer to autumn during the exhibition's duration, the different conditions will add a new tone to Kusama's work. If you've been contemplating making New York travel plans for this year, consider this some extra motivation. Yayoi Kusama's exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden will run from May 9, 2020 to November 1, 2020. Head to the venue's website for further details — and to purchase tickets from February 26.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre isn't the best chance to see Aubrey Plaza slink around swanky locales filled with the one-percent in the past year. That honour goes, of course, to her award-nominated turn in the second season of The White Lotus. Plaza's new action-comedy also isn't the best recent movie to cast the deadpan talent as enterprising, resourceful and calculating, and see her plunged into a dangerous, largely male-only realm, all while putting a scheming plan into action. That film is the exceptional Emily the Criminal, which sadly bypassed cinemas Down Under. And, thanks to her star-making turn in Parks and Recreation, wannabe franchise-starter Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre definitely isn't the finest example of her wry comic talents, either. But in a rarity for writer/director Guy Ritchie and his typically testosterone-dripping capers — see: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and The Gentlemen — Plaza is the gleaming gem at the centre of this formulaic flick. Putting in a more vibrant performance than the scowling Jason Statham isn't hard, but this is firmly Plaza's picture. Ritchie's go-to leading man still plays Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre's namesake, though: the improbably titled super-spy Orson Fortune, an off-the-books agent who does jobs the British Government can't officially be involved with. Handler Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes, Best Sellers) has one such task, recovering a just-stolen item known as 'the handle', which the powers-that-be don't want going to nefarious parties. But, in a mission that first requires collecting a contact at Madrid's airport, then gets far more chaotic quickly, Fortune will have to work with a new team. And, he'll have to jet around the globe with stops at Cannes, in Turkey and more, doing an aspiring Bond and Mission: Impossible act, but in a film that never even threatens to shake or stir the espionage genre. It also doesn't venture beyond mixing Ritchie's beloved bag of tricks together, reading like an effort to split the difference between his last two movies: The Gentlemen and effective revenge thriller Wrath of Man. On-screen, enter Plaza as American tech wiz Sarah Fidel, plus British rapper and actor Bugzy Malone (The Gentlemen) as righthand man JJ Davis. To cosy up to a fake-tanned Hugh Grant (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as international arms dealer Greg Simmonds, also enter Josh Hartnett (The Fear Index) as Hollywood acting big-shot Danny Francesco. The gambit: Simmonds adores Francesco so much that he's bought a car the latter is famous for driving in a movie, so the thespian is the crew's in, with Fidel undercover as his girlfriend and Fortune pretending to be his stern-faced manager. Accordingly, their fresh-faced ring-in will have to inhabit the role he's been born to: himself, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent-style, but without the extra meta layer of a game and entertaining Hartnett actually genuinely doing the same thing. (Nods to everything from Halloween H20, The Faculty and The Virgin Suicides to Sin City and Penny Dreadful would've been a welcome touch here.) When Statham and Ritchie reteamed for Wrath of Man — which Hartnett also co-starred in — it was the first time they'd collaborated in 16 years. Crucially, and one of the primary reasons it worked so well, it was a lean, mean affair that didn't just feel as if its two key figures were simply doing what they've always done together, even though it was indeed another heist flick. The same can't be said about Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which endeavours to hoodwink its audience by sometimes similarly adopting a straight-down-the-line tone. That ruse doesn't stick, however, in a film that couldn't paint any more blatantly by Ritchie's usual numbers. He's dallied with spies before, in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre wishes it was that as well. With its first-billed talent and director comfortably on autopilot, it's no wonder that Plaza, Hartnett and Grant provide the movie's personality. While they don't merely stand out because everything else around them is so routine, a feature this stock-standard puts anything that deviates from its template under a massive magnifying glass. When Plaza isn't engagingly and savvily tackling everything that's thrown Fidel's way, from Fortune's gruff, dismissive demeanour to the Cockney-accented Simmonds' overt attentions — plus chatting modern art as an early distraction technique, and getting thrust into the middle of gunfights and car chases in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre's third act — the film screams for her presence. Hartnett is also having a great time, as is Grant. It never mentions it, but consider this another ode to the Paddington franchise, too, making its audience wish they were rewatching Grant's OTT villainous portrayal in Paddington 2 instead. In a storyline penned by Ritchie with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, who've both contributed to his past three films in a row now — and do the same with the upcoming The Covenant, which is also due in cinemas in 2023 — Simmonds is in business with violent Ukrainian heavies. Avoiding the movie's MacGuffin from ending up in their hands is the plot's main point, after all. That helps spark those glossily lensed (by Alan Stewart, also a Wrath of Man and The Gentleman alum) but predictable action sequences, and the reported reason that Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was delayed from its initial 2022 release dates. Whenever it arrived, this was always going to be perfunctory, especially when it wrings zero tension out of the narrative's must-find object. Ritchie and company keep the specifics to themselves for much of the feature, but that doesn't make anyone care what it is — or invest in anything that's going on, a rivalry with a fellow mercenary group led by the one-step-ahead Mike (Peter Ferdinando, The Curse) included. Covert operatives are meant to slip in, get their high-stakes jobs done and leave their marks none the wiser, at least until their quest is safely achieved. Although that never happens on screens big or small, spy stories themselves aren't supposed to be largely unmemorable as well. Again, Plaza isn't. Neither are Hartnett and Grant, but Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre's high-profile supporting players can't make the picture anything more than average. Here's hoping that any sequel, if it eventuates — which this flick advocates for instantly in its moniker, premise and, naturally, its final scenes — realises where its focus should truly be. Bond mightn't be likely to serve up a female lead yet despite Daniel Craig's farewell, but pushing Plaza to the fore, and changing its title in the process, would be any future Operation Fortune instalment's best move.
Some kinds of movie magic never get old, and Studio Ghibli's films are exactly that type. Understandably, a whole heap of Brisbane cinemas have agreed with that idea over the years, hosting their own events dedicated to the Japanese animation house. The Elizabeth Picture Theatre is one of them, and the venue just keeps bringing back its Ghibli film festival again and again. We understand — who doesn't want to watch these animated delights over and over? Returning for 2022 this August and September, and screening twice a week from Thursday, August 4–Saturday, September 29 — at 2pm and 7pm on Thursdays and Sundays, to be specific — this year's fest gives fans yet another chance to catch Studio Ghibli's gorgeous features on the big screen. Yes, you should make like a moving castle to see Howl's Moving Castle this time. And yes, you'll be palling around with My Neighbour Totoro once again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM1fzCdPHSU Other highlights include Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke — which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022 — and Porco Rosso. From the studio's more recent flicks, there's also From Up on Poppy Hill and The Wind Rises. If you've missed these films in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up. Sure, you might've seen everything that Studio Ghibli has made before — but these movies really are something extra special when they're flickering across the silver screen.
A beach has long sat at the end of Morningside's Colmslie Road. For the past few years, so has Brisbane's newest riverside precinct — and it's about to get bigger. Sprawling across 30 hectares by the water in the River City's inner east, Rivermakers is already home to Revel Brewing Co, Mas & Miek's ceramic workshop and Bavay Distillery. Next comes The Hills of Rivermakers, which is weaving around the site's existing venues to turn the location into a new dining and entertainment precinct. In a year that's already seen Potentia Solutions Leisure open Claw BBQ & Grill, the second of its crab shack eateries, on this side of town at Carindale, the hospitality company that's also behind rooftop bars Lina and Soko, tequileria Carmen and Azteca at Queen's Wharf is now launching its most-ambitious project yet. On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Brisbanites will be able to head to The Hills, where spots to eat and drink will sit alongside a range of things to do. There'll be an urban winery, for instance, as well as an openair cinema. Rivermakers' Heritage Quarter is at the centre of The Hills — a place with history, given that the restored building dates back to 1910, was once the Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory and also operated as an armament factory in World War I. Across its lengthy past, this patch of Brisbane hasn't ever been a hub with different culinary zones, however, accompanied by river views. The urban winery will give locally crafted vino some love, pairing drops with charcuterie boards and cheese platters. You'll be able to sit either indoors in the lounge or out under the stars. Fancy a slice instead? The Hills will also feature a pizzeria lab, heroing seasonal ingredients and getting patrons dining on tables and chairs on the grass. Fish and chips will be on the menu at the seafood market, spanning oysters, prawns, calamari and more, while the gelato factory will be on hand to cover dessert. From breakfast through till dinner, the bakery and cafe will welcome in customers. For a coffee fix, The Hills will boast its own roastery. For a beer over pub food, The Roadhouse is your destination. Food- and drink-wise, the list doesn't stop there, but not everything is launching upon opening. Serving up meats, dairy and produce, The Providore will join the site in 2025. Outdoor movies will grace The Hills' cinema screen, where film lovers can sit on bean bags, picnic blankets or on the lawn, and pair their viewing with bites from the onsite eateries. Or, to get up close with animals, head to the pop-up petting zoo featuring alpacas, rabbits, chickens, ducks, goats, guinea pigs, pigs and sheep. For those keen to throw their own celebration, a 400-person events hall is available to book, as is the more-intimate Events Engineers Hut. The openair cinema, lawn and picnic area, and petting zoo can each be reserved as well. The Hills is also planning to deck out the place with seasonal theming, starting — of course — with festive fun across Tuesday, December 17–Monday, December 23. Find The Hills of Rivermakers at 82 Colmslie Road, Morningside from Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Head to the precinct's website for further details.
We get it, sometimes you don't want to go home straight away. Whether you've had a fun shopping date with the girls or just finished chair-dancing the night away at a gig, there are nights when you want to eke out the fun for just that little bit longer. It mightn't be obvious where to head to first, so we've teamed up with Maker's Mark to bring you eight cocktail bars in Brisbane that have great tipples and good vibes for when you want to make the magic last. [caption id="attachment_734843" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] AFTER GOING TO A GIG, POP INTO MRS BROWNS FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED There's something about seeing your favourite band live that makes you want to keep the night going. Just a short stumble from The Triffid, Mrs Brown's Bar & Kitchen has become somewhat of a Brisbane institution in recent years for its lively vibe and impressive menu. Stop in for a nightcap after your next gig — it has a particularly good old-fashioned that pairs nicely with its bar snacks, including chicken and cheese spring rolls and korean fried cauliflower. AFTER LATE-NIGHT SHOPPING, HEAD TO THE BOOM BOOM ROOM Whether you're getting a head start on your Christmas shopping, or you're simply browsing for a new outfit, late night shopping is thirsty work. Extend your trip into the city with a cheeky tipple at one of the many bars situated a stone's throw from Queen Street Mall. Our pick? The Boom Boom Room — Brisbane's coolest basement bar. Housed under swanky Donna Chang in a heritage-listed 1920s bank, the venue has recently undergone a transformation into an izakaya, and with that comes a more relaxed, moody restaurant and bar vibe. It also has an extensive cocktail menu so you can get your whiskey fix to round off your night. Ask for a Maker's Mark in a whiskey sour or manhattan. [caption id="attachment_794652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elevate[/caption] AFTER SEEING A BLOCKBUSTER FLICK, DEBRIEF AT NEARBY AT SIXES AND SEVENS You've seen the latest release at New Farm Cinemas and you're desperate to talk about it before heading home. Instead of calling an Uber, wander down to Fortitude Valley fave At Sixes and Sevens. The venue's charming white facade takes pride of place on James Street, with a relaxed, laidback atmosphere indoor and out. You'll find icy cold beers and cider on tap, classic cocktails and light eats like house-made onion rings, popcorn chicken served with yogurt and fermented chilli sauce, or artisanal cheeseboards perfect for sharing. [caption id="attachment_755182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Ward[/caption] AFTER SEEING AN EXHIBITION AT GOMA, HEAD TO THE TERRACE FOR A NIGHT CAP South Bank is a lively hub of activity, with Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and plenty of restaurants and bars for late-night antics. After seeing Water at the Gallery, seek out first-class views of the CBD skyline. As Brisbane's premier openair rooftop bar and restaurant, The Terrace boasts unrivalled views and, importantly, a team of talented bartenders just waiting to mix up one of their specialities. Peckish? Pair your cocktail with a bite to eat from the Asian-inspired menu, featuring soft shell crab tacos, wagyu short rib pancakes and wasabi fries. AFTER A TWILIGHT BIKE RIDE, COOL OFF AT MR PERCIVAL'S Summer is here, and that means long afternoons spent riverside. When you're out for a twilight bike ride along the river, stop in for a cheeky drink at octagonal bar Mr Percival's. As you cool down, order a whiskey cocktail and take in the views. This jewel of the Howard Smith Wharves' crown is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and prime position over the river. Take your pick from woodfired pizzas and burgers to king prawns and coral trout mains. AFTER A ROMANTIC PICNIC, MAKE YOUR WAY TO GERARD'S BAR Is there anything more romantic than a park picnic? Yes, there is actually: continuing onto a cool bar for a cocktail to keep the night going. There's certainly no shortage of bars close to New Farm Park, but in our humble opinion, you can't go past a whiskey sour at Gerard's Bar. Tucked just off James Street, Gerard's is home to Middle Eastern-inspired fare and an enviable collection of signature cocktails. Perch yourself inside at the bar or outside for a more casual experience. [caption id="attachment_769028" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jorge Flores[/caption] AFTER KARAOKE AT BLUTE'S, HEAD TO SAVILE ROW FOR A WHISKEY Belting out sub-par renditions of the classics at live karaoke bar Blute's will leave you in need of a good drink afterwards. Look no further than Fortitude Valley's famed whiskey bar Savile Rowe. Hidden behind an unassuming and unmarked bright orange door on Ann Street, Savile Row is all about low lighting and leather booths. The real showstopper, however, is the back bar stacked tall with some 750 spirits, spotlighted by a statement chandelier. While you're here, order a whiskey drink made with Maker's Mark, such as a mint julep, sour or old-fashioned. [caption id="attachment_681171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] AFTER A SCORING A STRIKE, FINISH UP AT THE GRESHAM When your Christmas party plan is a night at the ten-pin bowls alley, you should have a cocktail bar up your sleeve for afterwards. The Gresham is an experience loaded with charm. From the limestone walls to polished furniture, the venue is just made for savouring a couple of fancy cocktails. Our pick is a Tip of the Hat (Maker's Mark, pandan, cherry-flavored liqueur, port and chocolate bitters). Find out more about Maker's Mark and how to make an old-fashioned, here. Top image: The Boom Boom Room
For more than a century, screens have transported viewers to places far and wide, first via cinemas and then via television, phones and any other device that can get streaming. In the art world, screens and projections have been playing a similar function of late, but in a different way. They've let us wander through immersive van Gogh pop-ups that surround you with the artist's famed works, for instance — and they're about to unleash something similar via Australian Geographic with Aussie flora and fauna. 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, April 16, 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, and comes to Brisbane after debuting in Sydney over summer. Australian Geographic: Our Country displays at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Glenelg Street, South Brisbane, from Saturday, March 11–Sunday, April 16. Head to the exhibition website for further details, and to Ticketek for tickets. Images: Ben Broady.
Things are looking up in Brisbane, with rooftop bars popping up all around the River City in recent years, plus a new 100-metre-high Sky Deck set to follow. Sydney has the Sydney Tower Eye, Melbourne has its Skydeck and now the Queensland capital will gain its own lofty tourist attraction — complete with a restaurant, bar, glass-floor viewing platform, and 360-degree vantage out over the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane River. The Brisbane Sky Deck forms part of the city's $3.6-billion Queen's Wharf precinct, a project that's been in the works for at least eight years now. Finally slated to open by the end of 2023, and sprawling between Alice, George, Queen and William streets, the development will be crowned by the sky-high spot to grab a bite, drink and take in stunning views — which'll sit atop everything other dining options, hotels, shops, apartments and a heap of public space. While part of one of Queen's Wharf's resident resorts — it's set to feature four hotels — Sky Deck will be open to the public. Also, it isn't small, with a capacity of 1500 visitors at a time. Here, folks keen to scale great heights can also host parties, with an events space part of the setup. Brisbanites, your shindigs are looking up as well. Specific details about Sky Deck's restaurant and bar, including their menus and operators, haven't yet been revealed; however, that glass-bottomed platform will sit around the midway mark of the structure. From the just-released artists impressions of the venue, locals and tourists alike can expect ample greenery and crucial outdoor seating elsewhere, the latter giving everyone plenty of places to stop, sit and take in the panoramic vista. Expect Brisbane's Sky Deck to be popular, too. The Queensland Government certainly does, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles advising in a statement that "the Sky Deck will be a magnet for the estimated 1.4 million international, interstate and local visitors to the city each year." As for the rest of the Queen's Wharf Brisbane redevelopment area, it spans across 12 hectares in the CBD, and will include around 50 new bars, cafes and restaurant; a casino; those four aforementioned hotels; approximately 1500 apartments; and a swathe of retailers in a huge new shopping precinct. The full precinct features repurposed heritage buildings, too, plus the Neville Bonner Bridge and Brissie's first riverside bikeway cafe. For Brisbane inhabitants, Queen's Wharf has been in the making for so long — and the construction around it just seems to be taking forever, too — that it feels like it has always been coming. But "let's meet at Queen's Wharf" is something that'll soon be able to be said, including by visitors. Ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the River City is transformation central, including tearing down and rebuilding the Gabba; renewing and reinvigorating South Bank, complete with a treetop walk, a permanent handmade goods market and new riverside lawns; making over Victoria Park; and revamping and expanding Northshore Hamilton. Also, a new seven-hectare riverside parkland is set to join South Brisbane, QPAC's fifth theatre is under construction and Kangaroo Point is set to score a new green bridge with an overwater bar and restaurant. Queen's Wharf is slated to start opening in the Brisbane CBD from late 2023. We'll update you when a specific date is announced — and you can find out further details in the interim via the development's website.
If you hoped that 2021 might see an end to border restrictions and lockdowns, the first few days of January — and the end of December 2020, too — have sadly scuppered that kind of thinking. Today, Friday, January 8, it was announced that the Greater Brisbane area in Queensland will be going into a three-day lockdown in response to the latest local case of COVID-19 in Brisbane, in a hotel quarantine worker. And that now has implications for folks in New South Wales who've been in Greater Brisbane recently. NSW isn't closing its border to Queensland, or to the Greater Brisbane area. But at the daily NSW press conference on Friday, January 8, Acting Premier John Barilaro announced new requirements for anyone in NSW who has been to Greater Brisbane — which includes the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas — since 12.01am on Saturday, January 2. If you fall into that category, you're required to isolate under the same conditions that'd be in place if you were still in Greater Brisbane. Accordingly, from 6pm AEST/7pm AEDT on Friday, January 8 until 6pm AEST/7pm AEDT on Monday, January 11, anyone who has been in Greater Brisbane since 12.01am on Saturday, January 2 are required to stay at home. The rules in place are the same as during March's lockdown — which means that you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. While Queensland has had community cases of the coronavirus before — including back in July and August, when restrictions were tightened only weeks after they had been relaxed from the first lockdown — the state is being particularly cautious in the current instance because it involves the new, more contagious UK strain of COVID-19. That's why NSW has also taken action, and is applying stay-at-home conditions to anyone who has departed, left, worked or been in those Greater Brisbane areas. Unsurprisingly, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard also advised that "if you don't have to come [to NSW] from Brisbane, don't come in the next few days". He continued: "if you really need to, comply with the moments your government has placed on new in Brisbane but comply with them here in New South Wales". https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1347334261926359040 The news comes as NSW reported 11 new cases over the past 24 hours, including four new local cases and seven acquired from overseas. Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited over the past week — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, get tested immediately and self-isolate. You can also have a look at the venue alerts over at this new interactive map. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Located in Post Office Sqaure, Melt Brothers offers the type of toasted sandwiches you dreamed of as a kid (but your mum wouldn't let you use all the cheese in the fridge to make). Things start on the simple side — think ham, cheddar and tomato chutney or smashed avo with tomato and feta. But keep browsing through the menu and you'll hit the motherload — decadent toasties loaded with multiple types of cheese and more. Our pick is the M.C. Cheesy, which features mac 'n' cheese, maple bacon, smokey barbecue sauce, mozzarella and aged cheddar. For a vegetarian option, check out the Hippy Cheese, with grilled eggplant, mozzarella, basil pesto, capsicum and tomato loaded sandwiches. And the best part? They're all less than a tenner. For a truly indulgent meal, throw in some sides — like loaded potato gems or mozzarella sticks — and wash it down with a chocolate fudge thick shake.
With its latest movie-fuelled event, Immersive Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-adored 1987 romantic drama. The second part is easy. As for the first, you might've actually stepped into this interactive Dirty Dancing experience back in 2019 when it first came to Australia. Who doesn't want to have the time of their life twice, though? For its second Aussie stint, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience is only heading to Melbourne, taking over the Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. If Francis 'Baby' Houseman can take a trip to Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills with her family, you can hit up the venue — and the Victorian capital if you're not a Melburnian — to get whisked away to the next best thing. Here, attendees will get plunged into the world of Dirty Dancing. Taking over the outdoor venue, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into the flick's setting, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet, mini golf and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, and definitely a dance showcase. And yes, it all ends with an evening screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind and, food- and drink-wise, Americana-style eats will be available at 12 different dining spots, while seven pop-up bars will sling summery cocktails — all on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). Also, there'll be a dedicated watermelon stand, plus a picnic area among the rose bushes. You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces. That includes the staff quarters where Baby Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, as well as the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle. Wherever you head, nobody will be putting Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — and everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, but appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Also, because no one had phones back in the 60s, it's a technology-free experience as well. The only screen that matters: the big one showing the movie, of course. Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience will take over Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. Ticket presales start at 10am AEDT on Monday, November 28, with general public tickets available from 10am on Wednesday, November 30. Images: Mushroom Creative House.
Wintertime is gallery time in Melbourne, so it's no surprise the NGV took a go-big-or-go-home attitude to follow up their extended Van Gogh and the Seasons exhibition. Thankfully, they haven't disappointed with a huge display of the works of Katsushika Hokusai. Running until October 15, the Hokusai exhibition is the largest single assemblage of the artist's work ever to be seen in Australia. More than 150 of his works are on display – including his five career-defining series of woodblock prints, the complete 15 editions of handprinted manga, plus silk works and rarely exhibited paintings. To make the exhibition a reality, NGV curator of Asian art Wayne Crothers worked closely with the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (JUM), a privately owned gallery and one of the world's largest collectors of Japanese woodblock prints. Crothers says this relationship allowed the NGV to showcase the "highest quality examples" of Hokusai's work available. On entering Hokusai, you'll get to know the artist from works from his early career before coming to his universally acclaimed Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji series. Created during Hokusai's own circumvention of Mt Fuji and his eventual summit, this series is the best instance of Hokusai's uncanny ability to depict everyday Japanese life and the population's closeness to nature. Next up is the unmistakable centrepiece — The Great Wave off Kanagawa — while across the gallery threshold is A Tour to the Waterfalls in Various Provinces, which rests against a distinctly 'Hokusaian' Prussian blue backdrop. Here, the gallery splinters into various spaces dedicated to his many manga volumes, and other lesser-known (but equally as impressive) works. While we're fortunate enough to be able to see many of Hokusai's headline artworks for the first time in Australia, Crothers explains the artist's most famous works are only the beginning to this exhibition: "One of the things we wanted to show through this exhibition was for everyone to enjoy 'The Wave', but then move beyond it and to experience the imagination in Hokusai's other creative projects." Here, with the help of Crothers' nuanced insight, we've selected five great works (aside from The Great Wave) from the Hokusai collection that you can't possibly miss. [caption id="attachment_630150" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Amida Falls in the far reaches of the Kisokaidō Road, courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto.[/caption] THE AMIDA WATERFALL ON THE KISO ROCK, A TOUR TO THE WATERFALLS IN VARIOUS PROVINCES, (C. 1832-1833) The Waterfalls series represents some of the most experimental and creative works Hokusai produced at any time throughout his career. A stunning design piece, The Amida Waterfall on the Kiso Road shows an overhead view of flowing water, before halfway down the work changing perspective to a right-angled illustration of a waterfall. [caption id="attachment_630153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hokusai install at NGV, shot by Tom Ross.[/caption] VIEW OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE AT SANO IN KOZUKE, REMARKABLE VIEWS OF BRIDGES IN VARIOUS PROVINCES (1830) One of Crothers' favourite works of the exhibition, this piece captures the beautiful Japanese winter landscapes, while the travellers trudge across the snow covered pontoon in silence. Throughout this series, Hokusai illustrates the changing of the seasons across diverse locations and depicts the lives of working class Japanese people during this period. [caption id="attachment_630155" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The ghost of Kohada Koheiji, courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto.[/caption] 100 GHOST STORIES (1831) Based upon numerous well-known Japanese supernatural tales, the Ghost Stories series is Hokusai's surreal interpretation of these stories. Taking a satirical and humorous approach, for this woodblock print series Hokusai took one small detail from each popular fable and crafted caricatures, which mocked government corruption, societal wrongs and other common issues during this era. An immaculate collection, Crothers says these prints best demonstrate Hokusai's "vivid imagination". [caption id="attachment_630159" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hokusai installation, shot by Tom Ross.[/caption] CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN, THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF MT FUJI (C. 1830-1833) While you might assume Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji has 36 accompanying prints, in fact, the series was so popular that Hokusai created an additional ten prints (although the original title was kept). Described by Crothers as the perfect 'final gesture', this 46th print depicts a group near Mt Fuji's summit, which was said to hold the key to immortality — a topic Hokusai often showed interest in. REFLECTION IN LAKE AT MISAKA IN KAI PROVINCE, THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF MT FUJI (C. 1830-1833) Depicting a peaceful reflection of the summertime summit of Mt Fuji in its lush landscape, this woodblock print is another from the subsequent ten prints to the original series. Hokusai is known for including many subtle details and references throughout his work, and on closer inspection of this piece, you'll notice the distinctly summer time Mt Fuji shows off its wintery side in the lake's reflection. Hokusai is now showing at NGV International.
International fast food giant KFC is inviting its diehard fans to take their gravy drinking habits to the next level, unveiling one of its wackiest, most unnecessary releases yet — a series of cocktail recipes crafted on its signature gravy. Yep, the same marketing team that last year gifted the world with fried chicken-scented bath bombs has found another way to infuse flavours of the deep frier where they probably shouldn't be infused. According to the Independent, KFC's taken cues from bone broth cocktails that have been creeping onto forward-thinking (read: paleo) drink lists around the world, working with cocktail pros to design three boozy sips that hero its legendary gravy. The lineup includes a meaty version of the classic bloody mary (complete with a popcorn chicken skewer as the suggested garnish), and The Southern Twist, featuring bourbon and a parsley brown sugar rim. Requiring a touch more flair is the Finger Lickin' Sour, made with mezcal, cherry liqueur, marmalade and egg white. Gravy so good you can drink it... #BlueMonday pic.twitter.com/G5C1IgfM0H — KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) January 15, 2018 This is of course another elaborate publicity campaign by the brand, but one that admittedly sums up weird food trends pretty well. And the recipes are indeed available online, along with videos created by London-based ad agency Mother, just in case you feel like getting creative the next time you order KFC. Come to think of it, this would make one hell of a hair of the dog drink. Via the Independent. Image: YouTube.
It was the early 1950s when the world got its first glimpse of Andrew Geller's holiday home designs. On the beach and full of light, Geller's unique homes were created to serve one purpose: an escape. Nicknamed 'the architect of happiness', Geller left behind a legacy of beautiful beach-dwelling designs. Holiday houses hold a special place in the heart of peace-seekers and sun-worshippers. Andrew Geller dedicated most of his career to making that place of relaxation and sunshine just right. His homes are considered modest but distinctive. Popping out of dune grass in interesting wooden shapes, Geller's work reflects his creativity and desire to create useful designs. Many of his designs have fallen victim to reconstruction and the test of time. And though he passed recently, Geller's iconic designs live on through memories and photographs of homes once filled with laugher and sandy feet.
Melbourne-born furniture label Jardan now has a new space in which to showcase its covetable designs, this week opening the doors to its stunning Sydney flagship store on Paddington's Oxford Street. IF Architecture — the Melbourne firm responsible for the likes of wine bar Marion, Cutler & Co's recent makeover and Jardan's Melbourne and Brisbane stores — has transformed the two-storey art deco building once home to Ariel Booksellers into a seriously good-looking showroom, where colour reigns supreme. Reflecting Jardan's own 30-year connection with Australian home life, the interiors of the new store pay homage to the country's most influential art and design families, inspired by their iconic interpretations of Sydney's ever-changing colour palette. To that end, expect tones that speak to the vivid blues of Brett Whiteley's Sydney Harbour painting, the oranges, blues and greens synonymous with Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy's Dinosaur Designs, and the bold colours favoured by celebrated interior designer Marion Hall Best. The store — which is their first in Sydney — will leave design buffs with their jaw on the floor. Even if you're not in the market for some expensive new designer furniture, if you're in Sydney, it's well worth dropping in for a peek. Jardan's new Sydney flagship store is located at 42 Oxford Street, Paddington. For more info, visit jardan.com.au.
When West Village revamped its chosen patch of West End, it took over a site of significance. From 1928–1996, the Boundary Street spot was home to the Peters Ice Cream Factory, which churned out frosty dairy desserts for seven decades. That's why, to mark the precinct's past, West Village hosts an annual ice cream festival — and it's also now home to Anita Gelato. The international chain already has stores in Barcelona, New York, San Juan, Tel Aviv and Sydney, but its new West Village spot marks its first Queensland shop. Its specialty: boutique handmade gelato, with more than 150 flavours in its range. That hefty lineup includes yogurt and sorbets, too, as well as its organic, sugar-free, fat-free, soy-based and real cream-based gelato. For those new to the brand, it started almost 20 years ago in the Mediterranean, with its namesake and her youngest son Nir making frozen desserts for their friends and neighbours. Then, Nir began selling their ice creams — which use Anita's homemade jams for flavour — at local markets. Opening a store was the next step, then more followed around the world. Those jams, still made in Anita's kitchen, remain a feature — although you can choose from other toppings, such as fresh fruit, syrups and chocolate. You'll spy a heap of those add-ons on display in gold tiered trays at Anita's eye-catching West End setup, which goes big on green hues, wooden furniture and mirrors. Wondering what kinds of flavours rank among that 150-strong list? While you won't find them all on offer every day, the list includes creamy varieties such as pavlova, salted bagel, chocolate cheesecake, cappuccino with butter cookies, and chestnut with hazelnut cream.
Forget long-haul flights and lengthy stopovers — our closest neighbours are brimming with idyllic islands, gorgeous beaches and scenic regions just waiting to be enjoyed. It's never too late or too early to start planning your next holiday — and New Zealand has plenty to offer if you're looking for an unforgettable travel adventure in the middle of the year. Between geothermal phenomena and snow-capped peaks, the country is home to first-class skifields, dramatic volcanic landscapes, practically untouched coastal tracks and foodie paradises. While it can be tempting to curl up and stay in come cooler temperatures, nature's most fun playground emerges during winter and an escape to New Zealand is the only way to make the most of the season. To help you get planning for your mid-year break, here are ten places worth working your 2025 travels around. Wānaka Just a one-hour drive from Queenstown over the dramatic Crown Range and through Cardrona Valley is Wānaka, a lakeside village offering an equal level of heart-stirring beauty as its larger sibling. Boasting its own microclimate, Wānaka comes to life in the winter. The waters become icy and the surrounding peaks, which become cloaked in snow, reflect off the lake. The arrival of winter also marks the start of ski season and Wānaka is home to not one, but four ski resorts — each with distinct terrain. There's the world-class Cardrona Alpine Resort, straddling Queenstown and Wānaka, where the southern hemisphere's most extensive terrain park proudly sits alongside a mix of groomed runs and backcountry options. Conquering Roys Peak — one of the South Island's signature hikes — on foot is weather dependent during winter and you might need confident hiking skills, but Treble Cone Ski Area offers breathtaking views of the peak and Lake Wānaka regardless of whether you hit the resort's steep slopes. Rounding out Wānaka's resorts are Snow Farm and Soho Basin by Amisfield, both offering one-of-a-kind experiences. The former is where you'll find New Zealand's only cross-country facility while the latter is home to a guided catskiing experience that will take you deep into the backcountry beyond resort boundaries with catering by Queenstown's lauded wine producer and restaurant Amisfield. Back on solid ground, the family-owned Maude Wines is highly recommended for wine lovers, while beer fans are spoiled for choice with everything from tasting rooms to open-plan breweries and garden bars. [caption id="attachment_986162" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Trafford[/caption] Wellington New Zealand's capital is brimming with more restaurants, cafes and craft breweries than you can poke a wizard's staff at. It's no secret that the city has more cafes, bars and restaurants per capita than New York City — meaning you'd have to try pretty hard to have a horrible meal or bevvy in the city. (Here are five spots to get you started at any rate.) Your weekend on the waterfront might also include wandering through street art-filled laneways, copping postcard-worthy views from the top of Mount Vic, taking in some culture at our national museum or getting up close and personal with native birdlife at the world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. The relatively small Wellington CBD also makes hopping around the city, and between eateries, a breeze. [caption id="attachment_986165" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] Abel Tasman National Park The Abel Tasman National Park is best known for its coastal track which bypasses stunning shoreline and lush native bush that's accessible year-round. A 60-kilometre one-way journey might seem like a long way to trek, but when you can set your pack down and rest on secluded golden sand beaches, it's well worth it. On the way you'll discover Cleopatra's Pool — a natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide — negotiate tidal crossings, walk across a suspension bridge and encounter a seal colony. If you'd prefer a more relaxing adventure, you can take a water taxi or kayak between different locations. Top beaches worthy of a visit include Anchorage Bay, which is home to the track's first large camping spot, Torrent Bay, Kaiteriteri and Awaroa. [caption id="attachment_986166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] The Poor Knights Islands Northland's Poor Knights Islands and its underwater network of caves, cliffs and tunnels are renowned for their diving and snorkelling. Jacques Cousteau once rated the area as one of the top ten dives in the world. The sea surrounding the islands has been a marine reserve since 1981, and offers a great variety of underwater habitats to explore, from kelp forest and sponge gardens inhabited by a multitude of exotic fish — many of which aren't found anywhere else in New Zealand, to black coral found in deeper waters and the steep cliffs that plunge up to 100 metres below sea level. If you're willing to brave the colder winter water temperatures, you'll be rewarded with exceptional visibility in the water that's still rich with sealife to observe. Aoraki/Mount Cook Standing at 3724 metres, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's tallest mountain. With its sharp peak and plummeting crevasses, the sheer sight is enough to keep you on edge, but the company of the mountain is oddly comforting. Ngai Tahu, the main iwi of the region, consider Aoraki as the most sacred of the ancestors that they had descended from. The name is believed to mean cloud piercer. Ascending the steep peak is no easy feat and should be reserved for the most experienced climbers, or those safely tucked inside a helicopter. Winter transforms the mountain and unleashes its full natural beauty. From Hooker Lake, south of the mountain, the modern explorer can indulge in the ever-inspiring lake and mountain. As you drive into the region, past the electric blue Lake Pukaki, and catch the first glimpse of the mountain in the background, you know you're in for a vision of a lifetime. [caption id="attachment_791440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Sinclair.[/caption] Wharariki This windswept beach at the top of the South Island has to be one of the country's most photographed sections of coastline. Wharariki is only accessible via a 20-minute track from the end of Wharariki Road, which travels over farmland and through coastal forest. With particularly big seas, sightseeing is the number one attraction here — and the Archway Islands will certainly serve up the goods. The group of four rock formations rising from the tide provide an exception photo opp, especially if you decide to tour the region on horseback. The beach is popular year-round, but winter is the best time to walk the flat shores if you prefer your vistas less busy. [caption id="attachment_610026" align="alignnone" width="1282"] Rob Tucker.[/caption] New Plymouth Sitting on the western knob of the North Island, halfway between Auckland and Wellington, is New Plymouth — one of the country's best-kept secrets and a town bored of being thrown into the same basket as Palmerston North. At the heels of the mighty Mount Taranaki, or mini-Mount Fuji, you'll find a blossoming foodie paradise, a thriving arts scene and world-class festivals like WOMAD. The 13-kilometre coastal walkway is a must when visiting the region — head along the winding trail past the rugged coast and popular surf beaches. Elsewhere, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre is the first gallery in New Zealand dedicated entirely to a single artist. The structure's undulating stainless steel exterior is a major landmark in the CBD, a work of art in itself, and gives great insight into the groundbreaking artist and his obsession with 'art of movement'. [caption id="attachment_791436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor Klatko.[/caption] Ninety Mile Beach This epic 88-kilometre-long stretch of sand has to be seen to be believed. The famed northland beach starts near Kaitaia and makes its way up to Cape Reinga. At low tide, the beach is officially a public highway, but don't even think about bringing your rental hatchback here — several have been swallowed by the unforgiving seas. The dunes at Te Paki in the north are famously used for bodyboarding — just expect to take home pockets full of sand. Whether you're sliding on down when the weather dips or in full sunshine, bring water and sunscreen. [caption id="attachment_986368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] Waipoua Forest The walking track to Tāne Mahuta, the largest known living kauri tree in Aotearoa, in Waipoua Forest only just re-opened at the end of 2024, which makes exploring this pocket of New Zealand even more special. Nearby is Te Matua Ngahere, which just might be the oldest tree in New Zealand. While it's not possible to test the tree to confirm, Waipoua Forest on the whole is incredibly lush, verdant and well worth exploring. Fiordland At the heart of Fiordland sits Milford Sound. A spot that hardly needs an introduction, visiting Milford Sound during the winter months is a chance to experience a completely different side to one of New Zealand's best-known and most-visited landmarks. Famously one of the wettest places not just in New Zealand, but the world, winter is one of the few times in the year when Fiordland dries up just a touch, revealing crystal clear skies and unobstructed views. Although it's still best to be prepared for wet weather, this is the season to try your luck. Just as we retreat inwards during the winter, so too do marine wildlife — during the winter, seals, penguins and dolphins tend to head inwards into the Sound, which makes spotting them in one of New Zealand's most breathtaking vistas a very real possibility. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here. Top image: Miles Holden.
Don't just grab a drink. If you're heading out for a sip with a date or mate, you want it to feel like an occasion, even if there's nothing particularly special to celebrate. Located inside the W Brisbane hotel, Living Room Bar understands that train of thought. Even better — it keeps trying to make knocking back cocktails within its walls stand out via creative collaborations and installations. In 2022, the venue teamed up with top Barcelona bar Paradiso, aka the third-best bar on the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2021, on a special menu featuring the Spanish spot's globally acclaimed beverages. Now, for at least six months across the second half of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, Living Room Bar is pairing its latest cocktail offering with an immersive light, sound and art setup. The watering hotel has dubbed its latest excuse to drop by Sensory Sips, with art and design studio Loose Collective taking care of everything that patrons see and hear. On offer: bespoke work all around the North Quay bar, including mesmerising lighting effects, audiovisual sculptures, motion graphics, and patterns projected across the floor, roof and even the bar itself. In one especially eye-catching piece called Light Lines, 400 lit-up vines made from medical-grade silicon look like they're floating. That's what Sensory Sips has opened with. The idea is for this dazzling setup to not just let cocktail lovers feel like they're escaping, but for it evolve over its stay, which started in August 2023 and will run until mid-February 2024 at the earliest. So, that means that Brisbanites have plenty of motivation to head along more than once — and ample time to do so. As for the drinks, the event's nine cocktails are made with Brown-Forman spirits, with each concoction designed to also engage the senses just like the installations around the bar (and given names such as The Hypnotist, The Heist and Mystique to match). Among the highlights, The Illusionist goes floral and colourful with gin, violet-flavoured liqueur, white chocolate bitters, hibiscus, coconut, lemon and butterfly pea ice — and, crafted to appear as if it is floating, The Magician combines whisky, Frangelico, cocoa nibs and bloody mary drops. If you opt for the Cirque Du Fizz, you'll be sharing your sips with at least one other person (minimum: two) while tasting vodka, butterscotch bitters, marmalade cordial, sage, lychee and Australian Daintree tea. Not hitting the hard stuff? The Ballerina is Sensory Sips' non-alcoholic option, as made with a lemon marmalade and hibiscus non-boozy wine, zero-alcohol dry gin, lemon and lychee foam. And, when it's served, it comes with a light projection showing stars. Sensory Sips at W Brisbane's Living Room Bar, 81 North Quay, Brisbane will run until at least mid-February 2024 — head to the venue's website for further details and bookings. Images: Markus Ravik.
Over the past few years, almost every pub in Brisbane has undergone a revamp — or that's how it feels, at least. Many of those makeovers have come courtesy of Australian Venue Co, which has been renovating a heap of its watering holes around and near the River City. Brighton Hotel is the latest, getting a new lease of life in the northside coastal suburb. Cue a new beer garden, a new bistro and a new sports bar for the spot on Brighton Terrace. AVC has also rolled out the remodelling crew to The Wickham, the Cleveland Sands, Salisbury Hotel, the Crown Hotel in Lutwyche, Royal Hotel in Nundah, Bribie Island Hotel and Capalaba's Koala Tavern since 2021; yes, the company has been busy. At Brighton Hotel, which is freshly reopened as at the beginning of May, sprucing up the place took five months — and now patrons can reap the benefits. In the beer garden, picnic-style seats await, as does festoon lighting — plus, because the pub has relaunched just as the weather gets cooler, heaters as well. You won't miss the outdoor area, as it is the first part of the venue upon arrival. Expect it to be particularly busy when spring and summer roll back around. Two skylights brighten up the bistro, which also features greenery. Sit down for a meal and you'll have chargrilled Australian king prawns with confit garlic butter, buffalo cauliflower tacos, beef and pork rissoles, wagyu beef burgers, chicken schnitzels and chicken parmigianas, and roast of the day among your options. From the grill, four steak choices range from 180-gram eye fillets to 500-gram rumps. And for dessert, baked custard tarts, plus the candied ginger and sticky date pudding, should tempt tastebuds. Visiting the sports bar means choosing between booth and high-table seating, and having whatever game happens to be on as either a drawcard or a backdrop on the big-screen LED TVs. Also, because the venue is also a motel — so, if you want to turn the trip 20 minutes from Brisbane into an overnight stay, you can — its rooms have had a makeover as well. Whatever day you head by, you can take advantage of menu specials. Happy hour runs from 3–5pm Monday–Thursday with selected schooners and house wines costing $6, $10 cocktails are on offer between the same times on Saturdays and Sundays, $20 steaks and trivia are available on Tuesday evenings you can tuck into a $19 roast on Wednesdays, for instance. Brighton Hotel is also celebrating its reopening over the weekend of Friday, May 17–Sunday, May 19 with live tunes, a barbecue, a meat raffle, a prawn-peeling contest and more. Find Brighton Hotel at 196 Brighton Terrace, Brighton — open from 10am–1.30am Monday–Saturday and 10am–1am Sunday. Head to the venue's website for more details.
After playing to sold-out arenas the globe over, the Black Keys will return to Australia this October. The Lollapalooza and Coachella headliners are bringing their latest album 'El Camino' to six Aussie locations. Though the Black Keys started out humbly as a two-member garage band, their rise to festival and arena headliners is a testimony to their music. Australian fans welcomed the band to Oz in 2003, and have since enjoyed five more Black Keys tours. This tour highlights the band's seventh album in a show which promises to be their best yet. The Black Keys will make appearances in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and at Perth's Rock It festival. Don't miss out: tickets go on sale after noon today here.
