If you watched Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's vampire sharehouse mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows back in 2014, then instantly found yourself yearning for more, that's understandable. Smart, silly and hilarious, the undead flick is one of the past decade's best comedies. Thanks to two TV spinoffs, that dream has come true, letting viewers keep spending time in the movie's supernatural world — and that's not going to end any time soon. In 2018, the New Zealand-made Wellington Paranormal premiered, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural. It proved a hit, and has already returned for both a second and third season. In 2019, an American TV version of What We Do in the Shadows also debuted, focusing on vampire flatmates living in Staten Island. Featuring Toast of London's Matt Berry, Four Lions' Kayvan Novak, British stand-up comedian Natasia Demetriou, The Magicians' Harvey Guillen and The Office's Mark Proksch, it sticks to the same basic concept as the original movie, just with memorable new characters. And yes, it too has already aired its second season, and is about to come back for its third. The US take on What We Do in the Shadows was first hinted at back in 2017, and then confirmed in May 2018. While Clement and Waititi don't star in the new-look series, Berry, Novak and company have been doing them proud as the next batch of ravenous — and comic — vamps. Novak plays the gang's self-appointed leader, 'Nandor The Relentless', who dates back to the Ottoman Empire days and is somewhat stuck in his ways. As for Berry's mischievous British dandy Laszlo and Demetriou's seductive Nadja, they're like a blood-sucking Bonnie and Clyde (but much funnier). Guillén plays Nandor's familiar, who'd do anything to join the undead, while Proksch's Colin is an 'energy vampire'. You know that colleague that sucks all the fun out of the room? That's the kind of vibe Colin has. Plus, this vampire gang has been joined by plenty of familiar faces over the two seasons to-date, including some fellow undead favourites from across popular culture. Can't wait to sink your fangs into more? Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja and Colin will return this year — and, as the just-dropped first season three teaser shows, they'll experience 'vampire reality', the undead's version of VR. The show's new season is due to start airing in the US from September 2 and, if past seasons are any guide, will hopefully show up Down Under not long afterwards. An airdate in Australia and New Zealand hasn't been announced yet, but here's hoping we'll be watch the hilarious small-screen spinoff's latest season sooner rather than later. Check out the first season three teaser below: https://twitter.com/theshadowsfx/status/1415400811346202628 What We Do in the Shadows' third season starts airing on September 2 in the US. Expect it to hit Foxtel in Australia sometime this year, too — we'll update you when exact local airdates are announced.
For the first time in Australia — and more than four decades after his death — American artist Robert Smithson receives a dedicated exhibition. On display at the UQ Art Museum from March 10 to July 8, Robert Smithson: Time Crystals delves into the work of a figure considered one of the most inventive and influential of his time, particularly in his use as the land as a canvas for his sculptures. Indeed, his piece Spiral Jetty still exists today: a 460-metre-long coil of mud, salt crystals, and basalt rocks, spiralling from the shore of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. That's not making its way to St Lucia, but plenty of sculptures, photographs, films, drawings and texts are, as borrowed from major Australian and international collections. Also included are archival and research materials, both from Smithson and others looking into his work, helping to provide visitors with even more detail about his career and artistic practice. "As the most expansive presentation of Smithson's personal papers ever to be publicly exhibited, including a number of important unpublished writings, the exhibition will offer an extraordinary insight into the artist's methods, processes, connections and influences," explains co-curator Dr Amelia Barikin. Image: Robert Smithson, Yucatan Mirror Displacements (1–9) 1969 (detail), nine chromogenic prints from original 126 format slides. each image 61 x 61 cm. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Purchased with funds contributed by the Photography Committee and with funds contributed by the International Director's Council and Executive Committee Members: Edythe Broad, Henry Buhl, Elaine Terner Cooper, Linda Fischbach, Ronnie Heyman, Dakis Joannou, Cindy Johnson, Barbara Lane, Linda Macklowe, Brian McIver, Peter Norton Foundation, Willem Peppler, Denise Rich, Rachel Rudin, David Teiger, Ginny Williams and Elliot K. Wolk, 1999. Photo: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation / Art Resource, NY © Holt-Smithson Foundation/VAGA. Licensed by Viscopy, 2017.
First, it was a zine. Then, it was a radio show. Now, it's a mini-festival. We're talking about Slubberdegullion, or Slubs for short. Yep, you either know what that means, or you're super intrigued by their name. Maybe you've read their more than twenty issues since 2011. Perhaps you've listened in to their weekly 4zzz spots. If you've enjoyed one, both or neither, you can tap your toes at 4zzz Octobermess at The Haunt on October 14. It'll do what Slubs does best, of course: mix music, art, zines and more into a Slubs-tastic combo. As far as tunes go, that's where Bottlecock, Tall Pines, the wrong man, Guava Lava, sydney2000 and Bad Bangers come in, so expect an ace evening of rockin' sounds. Stalls selling zines and other independent publications from local writers and artists — plus Zed merch, too — are also part of the equation, and the $8-10 entry price goes back to the station. There's your Friday night sorted. Image: Guava Lava.
During the working week it can be difficult to eat well. Many of us forget to bring our leftover chicken curries from the night before, while others have no time to eat so might grab a packet of chips and a soft drink from the closest newsagent. A lot of us get stuck in the rut of eating from the same sushi joint or carvery where we feel confident that our order will satisfy our lunch time needs. And often we will walk past places that look appealing but feel too risky, because we don't want our one meal and break of the day to be a disappointing one. Luckily for you Concrete Playground has selected five delicious, ultra-convenient and reasonably priced places from five corners of the Brisbane CBD to satisfy your lunch time needs of speed, economy and good taste. Sage on Ann Sage on Ann is the perfect place for the legal eagles out there. Conveniently close to the courts, Sage on Ann offers healthy and delicious lunch time dishes for you and your colleagues. Enjoy some old-style eating by ordering the macaroni and cheese, or combine fatty with fresh by ordering the pork belly salad. Their sandwich menu is extensive and includes traditional ham, corned beef, and chicken sandwiches, but also provides the adventurous with options such as the peking duck with chilli plum sauce sandwich. They serve DiBella coffee, and will also take pre-orders for those needing to get in and out in a hurry. 140 Ann Street, Brisbane; 3221 4471; www.sageonann.com.au Jan Power's Farmers Markets at Queen Street For those of you who like a bit of variety we highly recommend the Jan Power's Farmers Markets, run every Wednesday. Located at the top of the Queen Street Mall - just across the river from South Bank - these markets can give you everything that you need, including a fun experience. Head to the German Sausage Hut for a delicious hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard; enjoy some hot smoked salmon as you browse through the fruit and veg; treat yourself to some sauteed mushrooms with avocado and salsa; and if you have a sweet tooth, then you must get some Della Mano brownies. Not only will you find many bites to enjoy for lunch, but you can pick up some top quality produce at market price. Queen Street Mall (bridge end), Brisbane; www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au AJ's Vietnamese Noodle House AJ's can seem a bit intimidating for first-timers. There's always a handful of people loitering out the front causing confusion. Usually these people will either be waiting for their take away to be brought out, or they are waiting for a table. AJ's is incredibly popular and with good reason: the food is delicious and cheap. Their rice paper rolls are fat and full of tasty fillings. The spicy beef noodle soup is appropriately sinus-clearing and incredibly flavourful. Their vermicelli salads are all good - we recommend the pork or spring rolls (cut up spring rolls + salad = how to cheat when eating salad). Everything you order will be good and you will only need a $10 note. 70 Charlotte Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 2128 Spring Located on the corner of Felix and Mary Streets, Spring is the one-stop shop for all food experiences, including buying produce, getting take away or dining in. Their menu is full of delicious meal options including the incredible pulled chipotle pork and guacamole sandwich. They also have tasty takeaway options such as ham and cheese croissants, and an endless supply of sugary treats for the sweet tooth. 26 Felix Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 0460; www.spring.com.au Le Bon Choix This piece of French heaven is located at the very end of Queen Street, on the corner of Eagle Street. The French staff make your mid-week lunchtime experience all the more pleasant with their lovely accents and good looks. Line up and decide on what you will have for lunch, making certain that you include dessert. Will it be a chicken baguette with a chocolate eclair for dessert? Or a spinach and feta quiche with an almond croissant? Whatever you choose, you will be incredibly satisfied - their sweet treats will probably change your life. 379 Queen Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 9260; www.lebonchoixbakery.com.au
Easter in 2020 is going to look a whole lot different. With social distancing and public gathering rules in place across the country, we can't skip town to our favourite holiday spot or even go round to a mate's place for a hot cross bun breakfast. But, joining the Easter Bunny this year to spice up this long weekend is another famous figure: The Colonel. For the first time Down Under, KFC is offering free home delivery on orders over $30 via Menulog. So, round up your housemates for a weekend of eleven secret herbs and spices. The limited-time offer is available nationwide and kicks off on Thursday, April 9. To get your hands on some finger lickin' good chook with no extra cost, head to Menulog's website or use the Menulog app and enter KFCatHOME at checkout. And while you're food is on its way, you can meditate with KFChill, a wellness website that lets you unwind to the sound of chicken frying, gravy simmering or bacon sizzling away in a pan. Yes, it'll make you hungry. While you can't road trip to the world's first drive-thru-only KFC or marry your loved at the famed chicken chain this Easter, free delivery on a Family Feast, Mates Burger Box or Party Starter is sure to lift your spirits. Plus, Popcorn Chicken is a pretty good snack for when you're binging Tiger King or streaming this year's Oscar-winning flick. KFC is offering free delivery across Australia on orders over $30 via Menulog and is available from Thursday, April 9 for a limited time only. To order, head here and enter KFCatHOME at checkout.
Byron Bay might steal the headlines, but we'll let you in on a secret: neighbouring Brunswick Heads, just a 15-minute drive north of Byron, provides the truly serene beach holiday you've always dreamed about. Thanks to its location on the Brunswick River and among mangrove forests, this welcoming coastal community is teeming with spots for stellar scuba diving, hiking and dining. If you're ready to hit up the Northern Rivers, we've teamed up with Wild Turkey to present an alluring selection of activities that ensure your visit is simply unbeatable. Whether you prefer wildlife encounters or hanging out in celebrated restaurants, Brunswick Heads has both in spades. [caption id="attachment_745641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Centophobia (Flickr)[/caption] GO WHALE SPOTTING The next whale-watching season is coming up fast, and Brunswick Heads provides the ideal spot to catch these majestic creatures cruising northbound from May to July. The team at Blue Bay Whale Watching has been leading on-water expeditions since 2011, meaning an incredible sighting of a majestic humpback whale or two is almost guaranteed. Each adventure only takes ten passengers on board the Bay Warrior, an 8.5-metre catamaran with 360-degree views of the ocean. There's plenty of shelter if the weather unexpectedly turns, too, so there are indoor and outdoor vantage points for you and your crew to get a glimpse of these magnificent creatures up close. [caption id="attachment_702566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sebastian Pena Lambarri (Unsplash)[/caption] TAKE A DIVE A visit to this part of the world would not be complete without experiencing the striking underwater world that exists off the coast of Brunswick Heads. Julian Rocks is widely recognised as one of the region's premier dive sites, with this craggy outcrop providing several moorings that make reaching this location a relatively straightforward affair. There are suitable spots here for divers of all experience levels, meaning just about anyone can explore the surrounding waters frequented by manta rays, leopard sharks, and yes, the occasional great white, too. While this subtropical oasis certainly isn't for the faint-hearted, diving at one of Australia's top scuba locations will give you plenty of stories to tell. [caption id="attachment_805448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Forson (Pexels)[/caption] PADDLEBOARD AT TORAKINA BEACH Torakina Beach should be your number one choice for stand-up paddleboarding. Set at the mouth of the Brunswick River, this sheltered paradise sees barely a ripple for waves, so pushing yourself along the crystal-clear waters is relatively hassle-free. You're also well within touching distance of Brunswick Heads, with the community's thriving cafe scene just a five-minute walk away for a post-paddle refuel. Want to keep it a bit more rustic? With picnic areas, barbecues and showers spread throughout the surrounding bushland, Torakina Beach is a truly dreamy spot for a day in the sun. [caption id="attachment_844191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mia (Flickr)[/caption] TAKE A GUIDED KAYAK TOUR Brunswick Heads and its surrounds are renowned for kayaking — the series of creeks and tributaries ensures you can get up close with lush landscapes and native wildlife. If you're looking for an expert to give you the inside word, there's no shortage of guided kayaking tours available to book. Byron Bay Eco Cruises provides a comprehensive three-hour tour where you'll take part in a river cruise that delves deep into a rainforest before loading into kayaks to scout out local wildlife (with binoculars provided, too). Finally, there's the chance to stand-up paddleboard amid the Brunswick River's serene environment. [caption id="attachment_844211" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christy Gallois (Flickr)[/caption] EXPERIENCE A LOCAL RITE OF PASSAGE It seems like every small town has a slightly hazardous rite of passage that provides endless stories — both good and bad. In Brunswick Heads, this initiation involves making the leap from the South Beach Road Bridge into Simpson's Creek about four metres below. With the creek providing a wonderful swimming spot at high tide, dozens of people, young and old, test their mettle on a hot summer's day. There's every reason to get involved, but do take caution if you decide to take the leap from this 85-year-old wooden bridge. DISCOVER BRUNSWICK HEADS' DINING SCENE Don't assume the pinnacle of Brunswick Heads' dining starts and finishes with fish and chips on the beach (though we would absolutely recommend doing this). The town has a growing reputation for fine-dining institutions that will knock your proverbial socks off. Fleet (pictured above) is one such venue, but with seating for only 14 guests, you'll have to book early to sample its award-winning hyper-local tasting menu. La Casita is another stellar example of the region's booming culinary scene. The team here works alongside the region's top makers and producers to create its mouth-watering dishes, which feature hearty Mexican flavours that put many city-centric options to shame. Plus, the boozy cocktails ensure you depart with an extra bounce in your step. [caption id="attachment_844194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] TAKE A HIKE AND PICNIC IN THE RAINFOREST There are so many incredible vistas to enjoy throughout the Northern Rivers region, but you don't have to bust a gut to experience some of the best. The easygoing North Head walking track, located on the edge of town in the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve, is a 30-minute trail guiding you through the coastal rainforest. As you break through the canopy and look down upon the Brunswick River, you'll find several spots perfect for unfurling a picnic rug and basket. Once you're back on your feet, the trail leads you through fascinating wildlife habitats and eventually out to the ocean beach. Find out more about Wild Turkey's Discovery Series at the website. Top image: Graham Cook (Flickr)
In the heart of Brisbane's West End, you'll find The Gunshop Cafe. It's the kind of place where you'll see long-time regulars chatting at the counter and where the food is fresh, comforting and delicious. While the neighbourhood has changed over the years, The Gunshop Cafe remains familiar, welcoming, and always worth the visit. Now, after more than two decades, the cafe is shaking up its menu while doubling down on the elements that made it a local haunt in the first place. The History of the Gunshop Cafe Housed in a heritage-listed building with exposed brick walls and large windows spilling sunlight into the cosy dining room, The Gunshop Cafe has been quietly holding down its corner of Mollison Street since 2000, doing what it does best: serving up consistently good food, coffee and company. Today, it's as much a part of the suburb's creative and cultural hub as the Saturday markets or buskers. The Story Behind the Name Long before it became known for weekend queues and perfectly poached eggs, the building was, quite literally, a gun shop. The space was once home to Kingston Bros, a gunsmith operating on-site from the 1970s through to the 1990s, and when the cafe opened its doors in 2000, the new owners decided to preserve that piece of history in the name. The Gunshop Cafe is now a very different kind of place (more smashed avo than Smith & Wesson), but the nod to the past has become part of its charm. Original Dishes and New Favourites One of the most significant updates in recent months is its new seasonal menu. But don't worry, it hasn't ditched the old favourites. The pork, apple and sage sausage, green eggs and ham, and potato and feta hash cakes are still available. But the kitchen now offers Szechuan-style fried chicken and waffles, a summer pasta tossed with scallion and spinach sauce, cherry tomatoes, and ricotta, plus rotating specials like a tempura prawn omelette or French toast with lemon curd. The team designed the menu to reflect what's in season and what they're excited to cook. A Space That Feels Like Home Part of Gunshop's long-lasting charm is the way it balances old and new, not just on the menu but in the atmosphere. It's a place where you can show up in Sunday activewear or on a first date and feel equally at ease. The staff is welcoming, and there's no rush to leave or pressure to stay. Whether you're ordering your usual or trying something new, it always feels like your spot. Inside, the cafe blends exposed brick with original wall murals by renowned Australian artist David Bromley and his apprentice, making it feel like part gallery, part living room. Coffee That Doesn't Miss Coffee is taken seriously here. The cafe's house blend is a smooth, well-balanced mix of Colombian and Costa Rican beans, making it a go-to whether you like it black, milky or somewhere in between. There's also a rotating single-origin and special coffee blend sourced from local roasters for those who like to switch it up. Whether you're ducking in for a quick takeaway or settling in for your second or third cup, the baristas know what they're doing. And yes, they'll probably remember your order. Right now, with a seasonal shake-up and some exciting new dishes on the table, it's the perfect time to pull up a chair. Find The Gunshop Cafe at 53 Mollison Street, West End, open from 7am daily. See the latest menu and make a booking on the website. By Jacque Kennedy
After spending the summer focusing on play, Museum of Brisbane has turned its attention to clay, heroing pottery and ceramics in all their forms. Moving from getting active to appreciating earthy objects, the seasonally appropriate switch has arrived courtesy of the site's new Clay: Collected Ceramics exhibition — its latest free excuse to wander around level three of City Hall in King George Square. Premiering as part of Brisbane Art Design 2023, but gracing the museum's walls and halls until Sunday, October 22, Clay: Collected Ceramics isn't just showing an age-old art form some love (or endeavouring to appeal to fans of Patrick Swayze film Ghost). It's also celebrating Brisbane's clay, pottery and ceramics community, specifically 60 years of clay-based practise in the River City, all via more than 300 pieces. If that sounds like a lot of clay, it is — and there's a vase by Bonnie Hislop decked out not only in colour, but with the words "a bit much" that irreverently sums up the massive showcase. The Yeerongpilly-based ceramicist's works sit among the exhibition's range of newly commissioned, never-before-seen contemporary pieces from local artists, which also includes contributions by Nicolette Johnson, Jane du Rand, Kenji Uranishi and Steph Woods. A big focus: mould-breaking uses of the medium. Other highlights include leaning into the colour often associated with clay — brown — by grouping together works by Carl McConnell, Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, Milton Moon, Lyndal Moor, Kevin Grealy and more that showcase the tone in a variety of shades. And, the private collection of author, poet and Paper Boat Press founder Kylie Johnson features heavily, capitalising upon her lifetime love of collecting pottery. There's also exhibition-within-the-exhibition Commune, with hundreds of memory vessels lent by Brisbane's ceramics community — marking the biggest-ever artist-sourced display in MoB's history, in fact — and an evolving installation by artist-in-residence Jody Rallah. Clay: Collected Ceramics also spans functional pieces dating back to the 70s, plus items that were only ever going to sit on someone's shelves from a range of talents, encouraging a conversation about the plethora of ways that the tactile material in the spotlight can be used. Images: Claudia Baxter.
UPDATE, September 27, 2022: Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert general admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney. On a Sydney stage on Friday, February 24, 2023, here's hoping that Australia's princess of pop utters four specific words: "come into my WorldPride". The massive LGBTQIA+ festival is heading to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, taking over Sydney for two and a half weeks — and who else but Kylie Minogue could open it? Sydney WorldPride has been announcing parts of its lineup since June, including the return of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street after the 2021 and 2022 events were held at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic — and it will drop its full program in November. But Kylie headlining Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, spinning around The Domain and making sure that Sydney WorldPride festivalgoers can't get her out of their heads is obviously massive. LOVERS! For the first time ever, WorldPride is coming to the Southern Hemisphere. YES! I'm so excited to announce that I will be performing at the opening concert in Sydney on 24 February, 2023 at The Domain. Can't wait to see you there! 💖 https://t.co/ExghPi5NEw pic.twitter.com/Wt0q1Szg2n — Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) September 23, 2022 Sydney shall be so lucky — and so will Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert attendees, because it'll mark Kylie's only WorldPride performance. Her set for the night is also being created especially for the evening, so this isn't the kind of Kylie show you've seen before. Already know that you can't make it along? The performance will also be broadcast live nationwide on the ABC. On a night like this, Casey Donovan and Courtney Act will be on hosting duties — and the rest of the Live and Proud lineup will be revealed later this year. Hand on your heart, you know you want to be there, with tickets on sale now. The event doubles as a celebration of 45 years of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, if you needed more motivation to break out your best 'Loco-Motion'. "Kylie is not only a beloved musician and rainbow icon, but the highest selling Australian-born solo artist of all time," said Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett, announcing the news. "We are honoured and INCREDIBLY excited to have Kylie again stand with our community at Sydney WorldPride 2023 — the global rainbow family reunion we've been waiting for." Sydney WorldPride will run from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5, 2023, with the opening concert taking place at The Domain on Friday, February 24. Tickets for Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert are on sale now. For more information about Sydney WorldPride, or for general ticket sales, head to the event's website.
No, it's not a crazy quilt stitched by a mad granny. These are bird's eye views of Holland's tulip fields, blooming into life just in time for the annual Tulip Time festival. Throughout winter, tulip bulbs lie dormant in the freezing ground. When the first few blooms poke their coloured heads through the earth for a breath of sunshine, everyone knows that spring has very much sprung. The festival runs from May 7-14 and celebrates Dutch heritage, culture and hundreds of varieties of the tulip. Over one billion tulips are exported internationally from Holland every year, so you can see what the fuss is all about. Plus these rainbow flower formations are pretty damn gorgeous to boot. [Via Lost At E-Minor]
A great work of art dazzles the eye, buzzes in one's ear and enlivens the senses no matter where it happens to be placed. A truly excellent piece of creativity makes the most of its surroundings — especially if it's located within Noosa's glorious great outdoors. Art festival Floating Land celebrates the latter, thanks to a program filled with standout works all popping up within the Sunshine Coast spot's standout sites. Wandering around the free festival, which runs until Sunday, October 27, visitors will spy projects everywhere from Lake Cootharaba's shores to Noosa National Park. Taking place for its tenth time in 2019, highlights include a retrospective dedicated to Sue Coburn, a river listening tour with sound artist Leah Barclay — which combines a stroll along the Noosa Boardwalk with an immersive soundscape — and a closing shindig. Fancy staying up all night? From 6pm on Sunday, October 27 until 5am on Monday, October 28, pianist Domenico de Clario will pay tribute to the moon's cycles by performing improvised compositions from dusk till dawn, on a lookout off Noosa Boardwalk overhanging Little Cove, while blindfolded. Image: Sue Coburn, Sails 2009. Photographed by Raoul Slater.
Missed Coldplay's sole Down Under stop in 2023, when they played exclusively in Perth? Didn't nab tickets when the British group announced 2024 shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland? Caught the Chris Martin-fronted band's Glastonbury set via the livestream and started wishing you could catch them live next time that you had the chance? Ahead of their upcoming Australian and New Zealand visit, Coldplay have dropped more tickets for their late-October and November concerts. The limited number of additional tickets are on sale now, releasing at 8am AEST and 10am NZST on Tuesday, September 24. There's no extra shows, just extra seats for their four already-announced dates in the Victorian capital, four in the Harbour City and three in Auckland. [caption id="attachment_926978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Lee[/caption] It'll be all yellow at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, October 30–Thursday, October 31 and Saturday, November 2–Sunday, November 3, then at Accor Stadium across Wednesday, November 6—Thursday, November 7 and Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, before heading to Eden Park on Wednesday, November 13 and Friday, November 15–Saturday, November 16. Coldplay's current tour kicked off in March 2022, meaning that the band will have been on the road for almost three years when they make their return to Australia and Aotearoa. Packed stadiums have also been awaiting; when the Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland gigs were initially announced, every show between then and October 2024 had already sold out, with the group hitting up Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Athens, Bucharest, Budapest, Lyon, Rome, Düsseldorf, Helsinki, Munich, Vienna and Dublin before their return trip Down Under. When they take to the stage in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, the British band will play their first shows in each city since 2016. Fans can look forward to a setlist that covers Coldplay's 27-year history, including everything from 'Clocks', 'Fix You' and 'Sparks' to 'A Sky Full of Stars', 'Viva la Vida' and 'The Scientist. On all dates, Ayra Starr, Shone and Emmanuel Kelly are on supporting duties. Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour Australia and New Zealand Dates 2024 Wednesday, October 30–Thursday, October 31 + Saturday, November 2–Sunday, November 3— Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Wednesday, November 6—Thursday, November 7 + Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, November 13 + Friday, November 15–Saturday, November 16 — Eden Park, Auckland Coldplay is touring Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2024, with new tickets available online now. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: Anna Lee.
Get ready for a brand new scenario. Newstead now has a Hip Hop Festival, and it's called Scenario, actually. Taking place at The Triffid on April 30, the fest promises 12 hours of beats, rhymes and more, all in one of Brisbane's best venues, and all for free. If the joint's a-rocking, do come a-knocking from 1pm — and given the lineup, it's bound to be. B Wise, Birdz, Coda Conduct, Jayteehazard, Kaylah Truth and Kudos will all do their thing, heating up the stage on Labour Day Public Holiday Eve. That means that there'll be progress rap rolled out by a Sydney emcee, one of the Norther Territory's finest strutting his stuff, and two talented ladies showing off their quickfire stylings. Also on the bill: an experienced DJ with more than a decade of gracing stages under his belt, just the right blend of pop, rap and hip hop, and poetry and patter.
There's never been a better time to head out to Manly, particularly if you like eating breakfast whenever takes your fancy. You'll find dishes most consider early morning fare on offer right into the afternoon at Banter Coffee House; however that's not the only thing to get excited about. Don't get us wrong — given that Banter's menu features stacked brioche waffles with honeycomb crumbed strawberries, salted caramel anglaise and bee pollen sweet potato crisps, plus crab benedict on a French baguette, chilli scrambled eggs, and soy-glazed pork belly with fried bread, too, there's plenty on their all-day brekkie menu to get your mouth watering. Just leave room for lunch options like octopus salad and feta and asparagus flan, and one of their Fancy Shmancy Shakes as well. Yep, that's what they're called, and they come in apple blueberry pie, snickerdot and banana split flavours. Of course, you don't champion coffee in your name without offering hot cuppas of Uncle Joe's finest (and if you've been to Holland Park's Deedot Coffee House, aka Banter's sister store, then you know the type of caffeinated goodness you're in for). And, anyone keen on a chilled hangout space will find that too, courtesy of an airy Bayside pavilion vibe.
As Carmy in The Bear, Jeremy Allen White was born to cook up kitchen chaos. In Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, he's born to run, slipping into Bruce Springsteen's shoes in the next big music biopic that's on its way to cinemas. Less than 12 months after Bob Dylan scored the same treatment in the Oscar-nominated A Complete Unknown, another icon is getting their filmic time to shine. Deliver Me From Nowhere has a time-specific focus, too, with the making of the rockstar's 1982 Nebraska record in the spotlight. Does the just-dropped first trailer for the film deliver White singing, including belting out 'Born to Run' onstage? Does it also feature Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) monologuing in the role of Springsteen's manager Jon Landau? Does it head into the Boss' New Jersey bedroom, where the acoustic album that joined his discography immediately before 1984's smash-hit Born in the USA was recorded? The answer to all three: yes. Also seen, alongside Allen swapping The Bear for another real-life tale after The Iron Claw: glimpses of Stephen Graham (Adolescence) plays as Springsteen's father Dutch Springsteen and Gaby Hoffmann (Poker Face) as his mother Adele. The movie's cast spans Odessa Young (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), Marc Maron (Stick), Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai) and David Krumholtz (The Studio) as well. Audiences will be able to check out their efforts Down Under from Thursday, October 23, 2025. Scott Cooper (The Pale Blue Eye) both directs and penned the script, adapting the latter from Warren Zanes' book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. The last time that the filmmaker focused on a musician was in his 2009 debut Crazy Heart, fictionalising the story of Hank Thompson — and Jeff Bridges (The Old Man) won the Best Actor Oscar for his starring role. "Making Springsteen was deeply moving as it allowed me to step inside the soul of an artist I've long admired — and to witness, up close, the vulnerability and strength behind his music. The experience felt like a journey through memory, myth and truth. And more than anything, it was a privilege to translate that raw emotional honesty to the screen, and in doing so, it changed me. I cannot thank Bruce and Jon Landau enough for allowing me to tell their story," said Cooper about Deliver Me From Nowhere. Check out the first trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere below: Deliver Me From Nowhere releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Images: © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
With slouchy off-shoulder tops ruling the streets, Drake's Views enjoying an unexpected chart renaissance, and a King Kylie cameo, it feels like we've stepped into the rose-tinted days of 2016 lately. As friends and celebrities alike flood the feed with decade-old throwbacks, look out for flower crowns and American Apparel tennis skirts. Pinkish Rio de Janeiro-esque overlays on grainy iPhone 7 selfies. Zara Larson's Lush Life. Safe to say, the millennials are nostalgic. Amid the never-ending summer vibes, the cult TWOOBS platforms emerged. Founded in Byron Bay by sisters Jess and Stef Dadon, the brand recently marked its 10th birthday with a nostalgic post revisiting its earlier days. A 2016 snap aptly captures the founders decked out in neoprene Triangl bikinis and early prototypes of the now-signature OG sandals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TWOOBS (@twoobs) The Dadon sisters were part of the primordial wave of fashion bloggers who turned their outfit posts into full-time careers. Howtwolive (it's still up!) began in 2012 as a daily outfit diary documenting their shared wardrobe while one of them spent six months in Paris. They became known for their playful, slightly absurd style — think doll heads, wacky prints, and out-there sunglasses — and, above all, a devotion to platforms. "We hated heels. We hated being uncomfortable," Stef shares. "That was where the seeds for TWOOBS were planted. We were known as platform wearers." The Dadon sisters built a following the old-fashioned way: first on their blog, and then on Instagram six months later. The early posts were, as Jess puts it, "taken in very lo-fi ways that would not fly on Instagram today". A stark contrast to today's collective urge to log off, she shares that people were hungrier for content in the early 2010s — her lunch breaks were spent scrolling through iconic blogs like the Olsens Anonymous. While an Instagram following translates to cash today, influencer marketing wasn't as lucrative back then. In fact, it didn't exist. For the sisters' first big break, they were flown out to Sydney to style and model in a campaign for a major brand. Their earnings? $250 in total, plus $150 worth of clothing. In 2025, that's the rough cost of an Instagram story from a microinfluencer. "It was a very different era, and we were definitely doing it for the love of it rather than the money," Stef says. "We saw how people started to get paid for their work, which was awesome... but back then it was much more organic and fun and freeing. Everybody was just doing it as a side hustle because they loved fashion." At the height of the absurdly chunky shoe (Jeffery Campbell's Litas set the tone), Stef recalls the OG sandal being likened to orthopedic shoes. Its adjustable velcro straps and sensible flat soles exuded a utilitarian streak once reserved for the outdoors, if anywhere. It certainly stood out at New York Fashion Week in February 2016, where the Dadon sisters debuted the sandals with bikini-clad models braving the -4 degrees weather. The OG still toed the line, though — a triple-stack version was regrettably recalled when a customer almost broke an ankle in them. A decade later, the OG and its taller sister, the OG+, are performing better than before. "People still call them ugly to this day, but it's kind of like, you want ugly shoes now," Stef quips. Lately, the sisters are partial to the BFF, a chic summer thong born out of "looking at people's feet" at airports. "We noticed men, particularly, wearing these daggy flip flops a few years ago. I remember discussing that on the right person with the right outfit, they could actually be pretty cool," Jess laughs. Eight chic colour variations also amping up the summer appeal; Jess's pick is a playful red tone called Spaghetti Sauce, while Stef defaults to classic black. The BFF is constructed to feel as weightless as possible — the toe post was only perfected on the seventh try — and its cloud-like soles star carbon-soaking sugarcane and bouncy natural rubber. All TWOOBS feature 100% recycled materials — one of the sustainable initiatives introduced to the brand after the founders witnessed the volume of waste in the fashion. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TWOOBS (@twoobs) Subcultures began protesting fast fashion – a term coined by The New York Times in the '90s — as early as the 1970s, but the trend cycle was unstoppable. For decades, sustainability remained the niche domain of anti-sweatshop activists and environmental campaigners, while mainstream shoppers chased bargains bucked by supply chains that could turn runway looks into $20 tops at breakneck speed. "I think price was really what was driving the customer so heavily," Jess says. "It wasn't for another few years until the conversation started to become really environmentally-focused." Like many, TWOOBS initially introduced a cruelty-free ('vegan' was the buzzy shorthand) ethos before moving on to greener pastures. From zero-waste packaging to recyclable materials, she and Stef have inched forward until they realised that a 'sustainable fashion brand' doesn't exist. But a sustainble-r one does. TWOOBS' Byron Bay location is fitted out exclusively through Takesies Backsies — a fun recycling program where old TWOOBS are exchanged for a cash voucher, and broken down to produce office supplies — and the project saved approximately 150 kilograms of plastic from landfill. Today, the store accepts non-TWOOBS shoes too. As cozzie livs strikes again, Jess and Stef are observing an unsettling Temu and SHEIN resurgence. Consumer focus has shifted yet again and TWOOBS has repackaged itself, but that doesn't mean that sustainable-r practices go out the window. "If we can convince everyone to buy our shoes because they're so comfy and so cool, then we're convincing people to buy better for the planet." Find out more about TWOOBS story and shop the collection online. Images: supplied
What's more terrifying than standing out at high school? It Lives Inside scares up an answer. Here, fitting in with the popular kids has haunting costs — literally — as Indian American teen Samidha (Megan Suri, Never Have I Ever) discovers. Her story starts as all memorable movies should: with a sight that's rarely seen on-screen. While beauty routines are familiar-enough film fodder, watching Sam shave her arms, then use skin tone-lightening filters on her photos, instantly demonstrates the lengths that she's going to for schoolyard approval. Among the white girls that she now calls friends, she also prefers to go by Sam. At home, she's increasingly hesitant to speak Hindi with her parents Inesh (Vik Sahay, Lodge 49) and Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal). And when it comes to preparing for and celebrating the Hindu ritual of puja, Sam would rather be elsewhere with Russ (Gage Marsh, Big Sky), the boy that she's keen on. It Lives Inside's frights don't spring from razors and social media, or from shortened names and superficial classmates; however, each one underscores how far that Sam is moving away from her heritage. Worse: they indicate how eagerly she's willing to leave her culture behind, too, a decision that's affected her childhood bond with Tamira (Mohana Krishnan, The Summer I Turned Pretty). As their school's only students with Indian backgrounds, they were once happily inseparable. Now Sam considers Tamira a walking reminder of everything that she's trying to scrub from her American identity. Keeping to herself — skulking around clutching a jar filled with a strange black substance, and virtually hiding behind her unbrushed hair — the latter has become the class outcast. So, when she asks Sam for help, of course no is the answer. Making his feature debut after a sizeable list of shorts —and winning SXSW Austin's 2023 Audience Award in its Midnighters section with the unsettling results — writer/director Bishal Dutta loads It Lives Inside's early moments with gnawing unease. Everything that Sam is putting herself through doesn't sit cosily, nor is it meant to. Distress has been eating away at Tamira as well, as her horrified stare everywhere that Sam looks constantly makes plain. Wild and wide eyes shaped by fear and uncertainty may be one of this genre's staples, but Krishnan sports a perfectly petrified pair of peepers as she pleas for assistance. After Sam smashes the ever-grasped canister in anger, annoyance and disbelief, letting out the flesh-eating demonic entity inside, Suri joins in with her own frequently aghast eyeballs. Casting Get Out's Betty Gabriel as a concerned teacher at Sam and Tamira's school savvily reinforces what audiences can quickly spot with In Lives Inside: this is a social thriller just like Jordan Peele's Oscar-winner (and also Us and Nope), plus everything from Sorry to Bother You and Parasite. Here, with a moniker and a central stalking force that also brings It Follows to mind, cues similarly taken from The Babadook, plus high-school humiliation that'd do Carrie proud, it's the pressure to eschew one's roots to blend in that scores the horror treatment. The supernatural presence doing the spooking is a Pishacha, which hail from Hindu and Buddhist folklore — and, as it feeds on negative vibes, its targets aren't random. Indeed, in painting a portrait of the pains that accompany being caught between the traditions of your parents' homeland and the daily reality of the only place you've ever known and its homogenous demands, Dutta gets his movie sinking its teeth in. There's no doubting that It Lives Inside's feature filmmaking first-timer is a student of scary movies: conventions from English-language frightfests spanning decades keep peeking through. Accordingly, the plot co-penned by Dutta with Ashish Mehta (Hush Hush) does inescapably feel like plenty of other flicks, complete with being set in a Spielbergian-esque town. This film loves splashing around red hues to get nightmarish as well, and peering intently at everyone quivering in Pishacha's presence. Using alarmed and startled people on-screen to evoke the same sensations in viewers might be one of the simplest tricks in the book, but it works: empathy is one helluva horror-movie tool. Dutta understands that, and also how powerful it is to witness Sam being so visibly shaken by being trapped between her background and the Americanised ideal that she's decided is her future. Also working swimmingly: Suri and Krishnan, who both make expressive horror stars (as, given Dutta's affection for close-ups, they need to). When Tamira disappears, forcing Sam to take her otherworldly mythology tale and its life-and-death manifestation seriously, Suri keeps adding weight to It Lives Inside's layered emotional journey. Trying to erase your heritage because you think that's the only option and then grappling with what that truly means aren't easy things to deal with, with or without confronting a monster. While many of the movie's most potent moments don't involve the Pishacha in the frame, Suri sells it all — the angst, the facade, coping with her supposed pals thinking that speaking another language is cute, the frustration over her mum's disapproval and choices since moving stateside, the realisations, and the terror and panic all included. It Lives Inside isn't without its own chilling visual touches, though; proving that hinting works better than showing, one early altercation with the picture's boogeyman gives Dutta an instant resume highlight. And, that it's the situation and its significance rather than the actual murderous beast that lingers is 100-percent by design. Musing about immigration, displacement and conformity, and joining the ranks of culturally specific horror such as Under the Shadow and The Vigil, this is a tense and thoughtful film — even if it too, like Sam, is torn between two realms. Thankfully, the meaning that lives inside It Lives Inside gives freshness to a movie that knows it's working with a formula; filtering US teen horror through the Indian American experience is also one of Dutta's clear quests.
Maybe your nieces and nephews got you onto it, or the other kids in your life. Perhaps you just like all-ages-friendly animation, especially when it's an Australian series about a family of blue heelers. Or, you might've become a convert at one of the hugely popular Bluey live gigs that've been touring the country. Whichever fits, and whether you're a big Bluey fan even without kids in tow or you've always wondered why adults love it as well, Airbnb is bringing the homegrown show to life. As the accommodation platform has done with other pop culture favourites overseas — such as Carrie's Sex and the City apartment and the house from Home Alone — it's putting a replica of the Bluey house in Brisbane up for rent. Two adults and two kids will be able to spend two nights in a home that recreates the Heeler family's abode — but IRL rather than in cute pixels, obviously. Given that the show was created in Queensland, is produced in Queensland and uses Brisbane as inspiration for its on-screen setting, there was clearly only one city that could host this screen-to-reality experience. The Bluey house marks the first-ever Australian location in Airbnb's Only On Airbnb program — aka the part of the platform that lists all those pop culture-themed spots and offers up the type of experiences that money couldn't buy elsewhere. So this time, Aussies don't need to feel envious of their overseas pals. You do have to be ready to spend a couple days immersed in all things Bluey, though. Here's what's on offer: a stay in the house, which is located in suburban Brisbane, between Friday, February 18–Sunday, February 20 for $20 a night; a behind-the-scenes tour of Ludo Studio, where Bluey is created; Chinese takeaway to eat in the backyard; a cake-decorating afternoon, focusing on the show's famous duck cake; and a puppet-making craft session that's all about Bob Bilby. That, and all the work that's been done to make the house look like where Bluey's eponymous six-year-old dog, mum Chilli, dad Bandit and little sister Bingo live. Those decorating touches include the red letterbox, bone-shaped chimney and recognisable bay window, plus other design features — and toys, of course — inside in the rooms and outside in the backyard for kids. If you're keen — and you've got some young relatives to take along with you — you'll need to apply to book at 7am AEST / 8am AEDT on Tuesday, February 15. You'll also need to have a verified Airbnb profile, a history of positive reviews and be aged over 18. Also, no pets are allowed, even while you're celebrating cartoon canines. For more information about Airbnb's Bluey house in Brisbane, or to apply to book at 7am AEST / 8am AEDT on Tuesday, February 15, head to the Airbnb website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Image: Hannah Puechmarin.
When the team behind iconic Fortitude Valley music venue The Zoo dropped word of their latest venture back in March, they announced both a new laneway cocktail spot and a tribute — with Stranded, their fresh addition to Winn Lane, taking its name from The Saints' relentlessly catchy punk hit that'll always be a part of Brisbane's history. The bar opened its doors on Friday, April 8, but its ode to one of the city's pioneering bands echoes even louder just a few days later, following The Saints' frontman Chris Bailey's passing on Saturday, April 9. Owners Shane Chidgzey, Luke Johnston and Cat Clarke couldn't have predicted this turn of events; however, Brisbanites now have a fitting spot to say cheers to a homegrown legend. Obviously, like a snake calling on a phone, you've got no time to be alone at Stranded — which aims to be a haven for music lovers by also decking out the place in rock and punk memorabilia, and generally using 70s and 80s alternative culture as its guiding force. As well as moody lighting, exposed rafters, the requisite centrepiece bar sat in front of a booze-lined wall and DJs spinning vinyl, Stranded is mighty fond of creative tipples — but also pairs its boozy concoctions with bites to eat as well. So, it's the kind of place where you can flick through a 24-page drinks list while tucking into oysters, pumpkin arancini, 30-hour slow-cooked mezcal-rubbed beef cheek and grilled octopus. Oh, and then treat yo'self to piña colada panna cotta for dessert, too. Other menu highlights include boquerones, aka white anchovies and homemade focaccia; gravlax made with mezcal-cured salmon and davidson plum citronette; slow-cooked lamb ribs; Italian pan-roasted chicken with desert lime yoghurt; and affogatos in either espresso, pecan or chocolate flavours. From the drinks lineup, mezcal features prominently again, alongside tequila — there's even a separate section on the menu dedicated to the two, plus raicilla and sotol. But you can also sip your way through the Bernard's Delight (Maker's Mark, averna, sweet vermouth, honey and egg white); a martini made with Jinzu gin, red shisho Liqueur and sake; and a coriander and jalapeno mojito. And, downing blood peach sours on tap, picking from 20 beers, enjoying pet nats and rosé, and keeping a clear head with five virgin cocktails is all also on the agenda. Operating from Wednesday–Monday each week — including opening from 2pm on Sunday afternoons — Stranded is The Zoo crew's second new venture in 2022, after already branching out beyond just gigs with Zoopreme Pizzeria. Presumably, giving The Saints' '(I'm) Stranded' — both the song and the album of the same name — quite a few spins was always going to be the plan, but you can likely expect it to feature heavily on the bar's soundtrack over the coming months. Find Stranded upstairs at 3 Winn Lane, Fortitude Valley — open from 6.30pm–late Wednesday–Saturday and Mondays, and from 2pm–late on Sundays.
Whether played by Julie Andrews in the original 1964 musical film or Emily Blunt in its 2018 sequel, Mary Poppins has always been a quintessentially English character. The beloved nanny is as well-known for being British as for her magical abilities and winning ways with an umbrella, after all. However the famous fictional figure also boasts a link to regional Australia — and now there's an Aussie museum dedicated to that fact. While Maryborough in Queensland's Fraser Coast region may seem worlds away from London, let alone Cherry Tree Lane, it's where author PL Travers was born. She also lived there until she was five, when her family relocated to Allora on the Darling Downs, as the 2013 movie Saving Mr Banks explored. Later, in her twenties, she moved to the UK, where she penned the eight Mary Poppins books that she's best known for. Because claiming any and every possible connection to fame is a thoroughly Aussie trait, Maryborough has long marked its link to Travers — the city hosts an annual Mary Poppins Festival, has been home to a bronze statue of the writer since 2005, and even has Poppins-shaped pedestrian crossing symbols on its traffic lights. With that in mind, the opening of The Story Bank of Maryborough is just the latest step in the town's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious celebrations, forming part of a hub focused on the Aussie-born writer. [caption id="attachment_732352" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Where Imagination Lays in Wait in Maryborough / Gerard via Flickr[/caption] Inside The Story Bank, which is located in the heritage-listed Australian Joint Stock Bank building where Travers actually entered the world, visitors will find a whole showcase about Maryborough's ties with Travers. The museum steps through her life story, her family and the influences on her work — and, as well as featuring plenty of Poppins-themed items (yes, expect umbrellas), it includes images and documents from Travers' estate. If you've ever wanted to Mary Poppins figurines everywhere (including sliding down bannisters, obviously), feast your eyes on book and film memorabilia, or pretend you're in Cherry Tree Lane, here's your chance. The site also features a theatrette, gallery and workshop space, all as part of a $1.5 million restoration project. As well as Travers and Mary Poppins, The Story Bank highlights other talented local artists, as well as the art of storytelling in general. Find The Story Bank of Maryborough on the corner Kent and Richmond Streets, Maryborough, Queensland — and head to the museum's website and Facebook page for further details.
Over the past decade, perhaps the greatest collective strength of the 18 (yes, 18) movies in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe has been their relative independence. From the very first Iron Man through to the most recent Black Panther, each film has (mostly) achieved an impressive balance of telling its own, distinct story while also servicing the ultimate end-game. Each new entry had enough in-jokes and easter eggs to satisfy the super-fans, but never so many that a newcomer couldn't enjoy the experience from an entirely cold start. The same cannot be said for Avengers: Infinity War, but then again, for directors Anthony and Joe Russo, that was never the intention. This isn't just the 19th film in the MCU, it's the culmination of the entire franchise; a sprawling, non-stop action movie purpose built, this time, for the fans. It's relentless, entertaining and more than a touch surprising. Unfortunately it's also starved of substance and likely to leave many feeling shortchanged. Ultimately, it all comes down to scale. Perhaps for the first time, this cinematic universe is truly universal in its scope. It moves from one galaxy to the next with bewildering speed, including planets so ancient and remote many of the characters have either never heard of them or dismissed their existence as the stuff of legend. And of those characters, where to even begin? In January of this year Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, casually dropped mention of an extraordinary 76 separate Marvel characters set to appear in Infinity War. Even if he was being slightly hyperbolic (one quickly loses count, so the number might actually be bang on), his comments nonetheless captures the magnitude of this gargantuan blockbuster. But like the pop culture references in the recent Ready Player One, many of these inclusions offer little substance beyond an excitable Pavlovian response triggered by recognition ("Heeey, it's Black Widow! Ooo it's…whatshisface!"). Even with the film's indulgent 156-minute run time, the decision to pack so many characters into a single film inherently means Infinity War must choose between cameo and character, with the former largely winning out. That means that many of the incredible cast members are saddled with just a handful of lines each, with perhaps the fewest coming from Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther (despite the fact that a significant section of the film taking place in his kingdom of Wakanda). Again though, the Russos have knowingly committed to the 'as read' nature of this film, opting instead to devote the lion's share of screen time and dialogue to the only real newcomer: the villain, Thanos (Josh Brolin). Thanos first appeared during the end credits of the original Avengers movie back in 2012. Since then he's been a constant (if fleeting) reference point for the coming storm that is Infinity War. He is nothing if not formidable – a softly-spoken juggernaut whose vision for a harmonious universe involves the mass genocide of precisely half its inhabitants. To achieve that he requires the fabled 'infinity stones', several of which are unfortunately located on earth in the hands (or foreheads) of various Avengers. He is a worthy antagonist for such an enormous project, and what really separates him from all the other Marvel villains is his capability; an indomitable strength that renders void the efforts of every other hero he encounters. Teamwork has always been the name of the game in the MCU, but even the combined efforts of the entire super-powered lineup seems destined to fall short. Of course Infinity War is actually just part one of two films, with the second instalment scheduled to drop in May 2019. Its ending, hence, leaves a lot to be resolved, and it's difficult not to assume much of that will centre upon some extensive Dr. Strange time reversal. There's a serious chance the series could be veering toward shark-jumping territory, so fingers crossed the Marvel boffins have something far grander and more unexpected planned. Until then, brush up on your backstories and strap in for one helluva ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwievZ1Tx-8
There's nothing quite like staring at a glorious ocean vista while feeling the sand between your toes and knocking back your favourite cold (and boozy) beverage. That's a classic beach club experience, but for a country surrounded by stunning coastlines, Australia hasn't quite been pulling its weight in that department — and the Gold Coast definitely hasn't, either. The Goldie has toyed with the idea before — more than once, in fact — and it's obviously no stranger to waterside bars. Surfers Paradise even just got its own manmade version of a beach club, which does overlook the ocean and include its own patches of sand; however, it's perched up on a rooftop. But when Kurrawa Beach Club launches on Saturday, December 4 on Kurrawa Terrace in Broadbeach, it'll be serving up all the things that scream beach club. And yes, it'll be on the beach, too. Think: cabanas, daybeds, volleyball nets, cocktails, live tunes, seafood and salads, and just generally having a cruisy yet still luxe trip to the seaside, all while surrounded by oh-so-much sand, Queensland's dazzling sun and plenty of blue salty water. Given the go-ahead for a temporary run until Sunday, January 30, 2022, Kurrawa Beach Club is the latest venture by Australian Venue Co, who've been awarded the opportunity to host a trial run over the coming summer. At this stage, it's locked in for a two-month stretch — and whether it could lead to a permanent beach club hasn't yet been revealed. Across its test stint, Broadbeach's European-style stint of lounging, sipping and relaxing by the shore will pair cocktails and brews — including sips from Black Hops Brewing, Wheel & Spoon and Hard Fizz — with a food menu from its container kitchen. So, you'll be tucking into seafood skewers, salads, burgers, and other summer-friendly snacks made using local and seasonal produce. Also on the agenda: live tunes from Gold Coast locals, yoga beach sessions and beach volleyball games, as well as hanging out on those aforementioned daybeds and in the VIP cabanas. If you're keen on the latter, you'll need to book. Kurrawa Beach Club will be a family-friendly affair, too, with a kids' menu and a Sunday Family Day lineup. And, showing some love to the community, it'll rollout a Local Heroes program, donating funds to local causes — with one menu item nominated on one day per week, and a dollar from each sale going to the initiative. While beach clubs aren't a regular part of Aussie beach-going, this isn't Australia's first beach club or beach club-style hangout. Indeed, Adelaide's Moseley Beach Club, Fremantle's Bathers Beach House and St Kilda's The Exchange Beach Club have all made an appearance interstate. Melbourne's version is also run by Australian Venue Co, so the hospitality company will be bringing some experience with it when it unfurls the concept on the Gold Coast. Kurrawa Beach Club will pop up on Kurrawa Terrace, Broadbeach between Saturday, December 4–Sunday, January 30, with dates and hours varying each week. For further information, head to the beach club's website. Images: Exchange Hotel Beach Club.
2023 ain't nuthing ta f' wit: it's the year that Wu-Tang Clan are returning Down Under, after all. After the hip hop legends kicked off their NY State of Mind tour with Nas in 2022, they're bringing the 2023 leg to Australia and New Zealand — and it's still a joint affair. Two of the biggest names in the business since the 90s — with Wu-Tang Clan first making a splash with their 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Nas doing the same with 1994's Illmatic — will play four shows in total on their Aussie and Aotearoa visit. They're the first gigs in the 2023 tour, too, and all in May, kicking off in Auckland before hopping across the ditch for stops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The 2022 leg hit up more than 25 cities, and 2023's is just as epic — after its stint Down Under, it heads through Europe and then back to the US. Along the way, fans can enjoy Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna taking to the stage three decades after they first came to fame — and Nas sharing the mic as well. Over that time, Wu-Tang Clan have dropped seven further albums from a fill discography that, including solo records by its members, notches up more than 85 full-length releases. Their tours pull from the whole lot, as set against that ever-present Wu-Tang 'W' — and honours the deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wu Tang Clan (@wutangclan) WU-TANG CLAN AND NAS 'NY STATE OF MIND' TOUR 2023: Tuesday, May 9 — Spark Arena, Auckland Friday, May 12 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, May 13 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Sunday, May 14 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wu-Tang Clan and Nas tour Australia and New Zealand in May 2023, with pre-sales from 11am local time on Friday, March 3, and general sales from 12pm local time on Monday, March 6. Head to the Live Nation website for tickets and further details.
If you’ve never heard the name Kaitlyn Plyley, then you’ve probably at least heard her voice. Or seen her face. Or read her words. She’s a master story teller, broadcaster, poet and writer on the Brisbane arts scene, and best of all, has the real gift of the gab. And her latest project Not Much To Tell You exercises this talent liberally – Kaitlyn’s got words to say, and she gets them out in a unique fusion of poetry and story telling. Not Much to Tell You explores how Kaitlyn, a nerdy, foreign-sounding Aussie, found her voice. She paves a journey out of her own stories and experiences, all to a backdrop of Australian culture. She finds common space in footy fields, dance floors, restaurants and bedrooms, and presents a picture of what it’s like to be silenced when the whole world has something to say. Tickets for this equal part comedy, personal revelation and cultural critique start at $16, and the show will grace Metro Arts from August 27. Do yourself a favour, and open your ears and eyes to a story that examines the quiet prejudices, small cultural discrepancies and the unspoken power plays that occur daily in Australia. Check out the trailer for Not Much to Tell You here.
For around 140 years, since back in the 1880s, Australians have been able to make calls from public payphones. Most of us might now carry mobile phones around with us in our pockets, but public payphones are still there — in case your battery is flat, you have no signal, you've lost or forgotten your phone, you simply don't have one, or there's an emergency. And, if you need to use one of Telstra's handsets while you're out and about, you now won't have to pay a thing if you're making a local, national or mobile call. Coins, phone cards, credit cards, debit cards: these have been acceptable forms of payment in the past; however, now you won't need them to get dialling in most situations. If you're calling overseas, that'll still cost you, but otherwise you can use Telstra's 15,000 payphones across the country for free. Telstra CEO Andrew Penn announced the news in a statement on the company's website, noting that "since mobiles became nearly universal, a lot of Australians might not give them [payphones] much thought. Until there's a natural disaster. Until you're in vulnerable circumstances, homeless or fleeing domestic violence." He continued: "that's why I decided it's time to make payphones free. Because even in the age of the smartphone, they play such a critical role in our community, particularly in times of need, and particularly for those in need." "I've seen myself how much payphones are part of the fabric of Australia and how important they are in good times, and bad. I've seen queues of people waiting in line, coins at the ready, to use a payphone to call home and tell their family and friends they're safe after a bushfire, a cyclone or some other natural disaster has taken the mobile network down," Penn said. "I know payphones are also a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable Australians — the homeless, the isolated, those escaping domestic violence — and often provide their only link to critical support services and those that care about them." Gone are the days when every 90s kid had a phonecard in their wallet to use when they needed to call home, but Australians still made 11 million payphone calls in 2020, including more than 230,000 to essential services such as Triple Zero. For more information about Telstra's free payphone calls, head to the company's website. Images: Sarah Tee.
Triple J's Hottest 100 is back for another year, counting down the best songs of 2025 as voted by listeners around the country. The nation's biggest music event kicks off from 12pm on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and while you could tune in from home, it's far better with a cold drink in hand and a crowd singing along beside you. Across Australia, venues are turning up the volume and opening their doors for Hottest 100 listening parties, complete with drink specials, live sets and all-day kick-ons once the number one song drops. From inner-city pubs and coastal beer gardens to small-batch breweries and rooftop bars, here's where to celebrate the countdown in style this weekend. NSW: Akasha Brewing Company – Five Dock The Lord Gladstone – Chippendale 4 Pines Truckbar – Brookvale Resin Brewing – Bulli Darlo Bar – Darlinghurst East Village Hotel – Darlinghurst Taphouse Sydney – Darlinghurst The Strand Hotel – Darlinghurst The Golden Barley Hotel – Enmore Bombies – Freshwater The Governor – Macquarie Park Sauce Brewing Co – Marrickville The Courthouse Hotel – Newtown The Marlborough Hotel — Newtown The Old Commodore Hotel — McMahons Point Drink West – Penrith Public House – Petersham Salisbury Hotel – Stanmore General Gordon Hotel – Sydenham The Australian Heritage Hotel – The Rocks La La La's – Wollongong The Illawarra – Wollongong VIC: The Wine List – Euroa The Catfish – Fitzroy Top Yard — Melbourne CBD Holmes Hall — Moonee Ponds Welcome to Thornbury — Northcote Esplanade Hotel — St Kilda Westside Ale Works — South Melbourne QLD: Ric's Bar — Fortitude Valley WA: Rocky Ridge Brewing Co — Busselton Inglewood Hotel – Mt Lawley Rosemount Hotel – North Perth ACT: Assembly The People's Pub – Braddon Capital Brewing Co – Fyshwick NT: One Mile Brewery – Winnellie Don't see a listening party near you? Head to the website for the full list.
2024 marks eight years since Holey Moley first combined pop culture-themed mini-golf courses with cocktails and other beverages right here in Brisbane. How is the brand celebrating that fact? By continuing to expand. Your next tap, tap, tapping destination is Westfield Mt Gravatt, which is now home to a shared 350-person hub featuring not only Funlab's club-swinging chain, but also Hijnx Hotel. Next time that you're keen to escape your routine with a few beverages in a bar that does more than serve up drinks, the River City has a new haven for boozy games and activities, then. First announced back in May, the southside spot opened its doors on Friday, July 26, 2024. On offer: 18 holes of putt putt and ten challenge rooms, as well as karaoke in three function rooms across the site, and two bars slinging cocktails and food. Hit up the precinct and you won't be able to say that you're bored. Funlab, which is also behind Strike, Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons, has rolled out its familiar format for both Holey Moley and Hijnx Hotel — so if you've been to either before, including the former's OG Fortitude Valley digs and its Brisbane CBD spot in the Wintergarden, and the Holey Moley and Hijnx Hotel at Chermside — then you'll know what's in store. At Holey Moley, you'll be tap, tap, tapping your way around holes themed around space, The Simpsons, art, music, other games and more. And at Hijnx Hotel, there'll be a ball pit, UV basketball and a claw machine quiz, plus other spaces. Among the mini-golf courses: the already-popular Moon & Pars and 742 Evergreen Tce, which have become favourites at fellow Holey Moley locations, alongside everything from Vincent Van Golf, The Great Holedini and A Pineapple Under The Tee to Draw Fore, Super Mega Mini Golf, and Skate or Golf. And among the challenge rooms, Zig-a-Zag ah Ball Pool, Poke-The-Dot, The Lodge, Abandoned Arcade and Rubix Cube will also feature. Mt Gravatt's Caddyshack bar is also keep the theming going — and the drinks. Sipping a cocktail out of a bathtub, anyone? That's one beverage that's on the brand's menu. If you're new to Hijinx Hotel, it isn't for vacationing and staycationing in. Instead, it mixes The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shining's Overlook Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, all with puzzles and games to play inside its doors. Throw in alcoholic beverages and it too is aiming to serve up an adult-focused spin on childhood activities, as Holey Moley does — but this time sleuthing your way through various spaces with a beverage or several in your hand. Find Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel at level two, Westfield Mt Gravatt Shopping Centre, Kessels Road, Upper Mount Gravatt — open from 10am–9pm Sunday–Wednesday, 10am–10pm Thursday and 10am–11pm Friday–Saturday. Head to the Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel websites for further details. Images: Markus Ravik.
Nestled into South Bank's River Quay, The Jetty boasts one of the best locations in Brisbane thanks to its waterfront frontage and river vantage. Not content to rest on its picturesque laurels, the bar and eatery has undergone a huge revamp — changing its layout, menu and opening hours. Visitors to the long-time favourite will find a new layout that separates the venue's dining and drinking areas, providing two spaces in one. Pull up a stool at the L-shaped bar for a few afternoon or evening beverages, or take a seat in the restaurant for a leisurely meal. Amidst the timber, metal and tiled decor, the choice is yours. The fresh look and newly demarcated sections come with fresh menus to match, courtesy of chef Rhett Willis. Bar selections include oysters, salumi and soft-shell crab, plus panna cotta, chocolate brownies and sticky fig pudding for dessert, while sit-down options range from starters of papaya salad and charred beef rib with chilli caramel, to mains of wagyu burgers, steak frites and nicoise seared tuna. As for tipples, carafes of punch, Pimms and sangria sit alongside coconut espresso and lemon and vanilla martinis, as well as eight other cocktail concoctions and a hefty range of beer, wine and spirits. Further, in good news for people who like their breakfast and coffee with a scenic view, The Jetty South Bank has become the only shop on the restaurant strip to open at 7am daily. Early morning offerings include pastries and takeaway caffeinated brews. It's been a big few months for places called The Jetty — now, or previously. The Jetty South Bank's renovation and new food range comes hot on the heels of a big change for the place formerly known as The Jetty Oxford, which was rebadged and revamped as all-day Italian joint Il Molo back in May. Find The Jetty South Bank at River Quay, 4 Sidon Street, South Bank or visit their website for further details.
Our team of editors have curated a Hobart getaway package for Concrete Playground Trips, taking guests on an exclusive tour of Tassie's art, wine and culture scene. This trip covers your Hobart essentials, but then we've stepped things up a notch for you. Take a scenic flight over the iconic Wineglass Bay, get the 'posh-as' MONA experience (with a long, boozy lunch included), and squeeze in a series of wine tastings across the region. Plus, all the organising has been done in advance. No need to scour the internet for the best accom (the trip includes a four-night stay at the fantastic Henry Jones Art Hotel), book cabs or create an itinerary of your own. We've done it all for you. But we also know how important it is to keep holiday plans flexible — that's why there's no formalised itinerary for this trip. Instead, you can lock in the below included experiences at a time that suits you. MONA ON A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL If you haven't heard of MONA, you've been living under a rock. This art institution is a can't-miss Hobart experience. And this package doesn't just give you a ticket to the galleries and grounds. Booking through Concrete Playground Trips gives you a ferry ride to MONA and a private guided tour and wine tasting at their Moorilla winery. Then you'll enjoy an excellent two-course lunch that comes with even more locally produced wine, plus a bottle of Moorilla's Muse to take back to your hotel. If you're going to visit MONA, do it this way. WINEGLASS AND WILDLIFE TOUR On another day, guests take to the skies over Wineglass Bay. During a 45-minute flight, you'll soar further above Freycinet National Park, home to dramatic pink granite mountains, secluded bays, crystal clear waters and pristine white beaches. Leaving the peninsula, you'll fly over the seal colony of Ile Des Phoques and continue towards Maria Island, where you'll touch down to explore the island on foot. Known for its abundance of wildlife, Hobart's Maria Island is home to rare and endangered species like the swift parrot and Cape Barren goose, wombats, kangaroos and of course, the Tassie Devil. We even manage to squeeze a decadent seafood and vino lunch into the day – bring on all the local oysters! ACCOMMODATION We have the hotel picked out for you too. The Henry Jones Art Hotel will be your home for four nights, giving you somewhere historic and calming to rest your head. The jam warehouse turned dedicated arts hotel comes with in-house restaurants and cocktail bars serving up innovative feasts and cocktails from Tasmania's best seasonal produce. [caption id="attachment_865273" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania[/caption] Luxe amenities and foodie delights aside, what's most intriguing about a stay at The Henry Jones Art Hotel is the unique opportunity it poses to stay inside a – very comfortable, very cosy – art gallery, essentially. Some 400 artworks (most by emerging Tassie artists) adorn hallways, guest rooms and public spaces here, and you might just spot an artist in residency toiling away on their masterpiece in the lobby. Need further inspiration? Read our Long Weekender's Guide to Hobart and travel further afield to get a taste of all things Tassie with our extensive guide to the best of Tassie's fantastic food, produce and culinary culture. Book tickets to this exclusive getaway through the Concrete Playground Trips website. Main image credit: Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
When the ground rumbles in a disaster movie, do you wish that you could feel it too? When everyone's taking a dip in a watery flick, do you get an instant desire to splash around? Or, perhaps you just think that today's big-screen blockbusters need a little extra off-screen magic? When lightning flickers in a Harry Potter movie, for example, you want it to completely fill the room. Enter four-dimensional cinemas. Because 3D wasn't enough, 4D movie-watching is here to add physical sensations and smells to your film-going experience. The specific technology is called 4DX, and it's a bit like a cross between a theme park ride and watching a flick, in a way. As the movie plays, you sit in motion chairs that move to match what's going on on-screen, while environmental effects blast you with wind, snow and different scents. Vibrating seats, water jets, air jets — the list of effects goes on, and also includes bubbles, fog and rain, plus the smell of fresh coffee and other aromas. And it's all coming to Event Cinemas Chermside and Pacific Fair from December. The Queensland spots are opening their new 4DX cinemas just in time for this year's big batch of holiday movies. While the official list of sensory screenings has not been announced just yet, the Sydney 4DX cinema (Australia's first) is set to show Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Jumanji: The Next Level and Dolittle — and we imagine these will be shown in 4D at Chermside and Pacific Fair, too. If it sounds somewhat familiar, that's because the general overall concept isn't particularly new. In fact, it has been floating around in Australia for years thanks to smaller, more gimmicky sites, including 9D versions. But with 4DX specifically — which first launched back in 2009 in South Korea, has been adding new locations over the past decade, and is already operating in Village Cinemas Century City in Victoria — the idea is becoming more established. Plus, 4DX focuses on full-length movies that are coming to the big screen anyway, rather than shorts that are all about ramping up the in-cinema effects. Event Cinemas' new 4DX sessions are launching in December at Event Cinemas Chermside and Pacific Fair.
Whenever 90s rom-com Pretty Woman comes to mind, Roy Orbison's song likely does as well. When the musical based on the hit flick arrives in Australia for the first time, you'll be getting Bryan Adams tunes lodged in your head, too. The Canadian singer-songwriter helped bring the Julia Roberts (Leave the World Behind)- and Richard Gere (The Agency)-starring film to the stage, penning the music and lyrics for the show — and during his latest Aussie tour, it was announced that Pretty Woman: The Musical is finally heading Down Under, debuting in Brisbane. From Sunday, October 5, 2025, the late 80s-set tale of Vivian met Edward will roll into the QPAC Lyric Theatre in the Queensland capital, following a romance that's already fuelled a box-office smash as a movie, then premiered on Broadway in 2018 as a theatre production. If you've seen the film, you'll know the story, as an escort and a corporate raider fall in love — and you'll also know that it made Roberts a star, complete with a Golden Globe win, plus her first Best Actress Oscar nomination. Alongside America's most-famous theatre district, where it broke records at the Nederlander Theatre, Pretty Woman: The Musical has graced the stage in London's West End, plus Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany. There's no word yet regarding the local cast, so who'll be following in Roberts and Gere's footsteps — and Laura San Giacomo (NCIS) and Hector Elizondo's (Mr Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie) as well — hasn't been announced. Whether Pretty Woman: The Musical will head to other Australian stops also hasn't yet been revealed. Behind the curtain, Adams worked with his songwriting partner Jim Vallance, who he wrote 'Summer of '69', 'Run to You', 'Cuts Like a Knife' and 'Heaven' with, on the music and lyrics. Late filmmaker Garry Marshall (Mother's Day), who directed the Pretty Woman movie — plus Roberts and Gere's on-screen reunion in 1999 in Runaway Bride — penned the book with the OG flick's screenwriter JF Lawnton (Yellow River Christmas). Images: UK tour, Marc Brenner.
"What we need is a hot, fresh dead body — preferably right here or very near to here." So declares Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) in the just-unveiled first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season four. Viewers of 2023's season three already know that exactly that is about to greet him, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez , The Dead Don't Die) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), aka the three New York City-residing podcasters who started teaming up to record audio when murders began occurring in their building. Being aware that there has again been a killing in the Arconia doesn't mean knowing what's in store in the sleuthing comedy's return, though — with season four now locked in to start streaming from Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Indeed, something different is afoot this time around, taking Only Murders in the Building into territory not seen in 2021's season one or 2022's season two, either. Get ready for a trip to Hollywood. Both Oliver, Mabel and Charles' investigation and the cinema business beckon in Los Angeles. A studio wants to turn their podcast — which is also called Only Murders in the Building — into a film. Again, Oliver has the right words for the scenario in the sneak peek: "pack your bags, bitches — we're going to the movies". Cue not only the return of Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up), who joined the cast in season three, but also the arrival of Molly Shannon (The Other Two), Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek), Eva Longoria (Tell It Like a Woman), Zach Galifianakis (The Beanie Bubble), Melissa McCarthy (Unfrosted), Kumail Nanjiani (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) and Richard Kind (Girls5eva) joining the cast. Alongside Short, Gomez and Martin, fellow long-running Only Murders in the Building regulars Michael Cyril Creighton (American Fiction), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (a newly minted Oscar-winner for The Holdovers) and Jane Lynch (Velma) are also back. When it premiered in 2021, the series started with three residents of the same NYC apartment complex crossing paths after a death in their building, then bonding over true-crime podcasts. Next, they did what everyone that's jumped on that bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation: started their own audio series. Every season has given aspiring artist Mabel, Broadway producer Oliver and actor Charles another case to dive into, smartly and amusingly so. In the show's third batch of episodes, it was the murder of star Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) at the opening night of Oliver's latest show that had them turning detective. Check out the first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season four below: Only Murders in the Building streams Down Under via Star on Disney+, and will return for season four on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Read our reviews of season one, season two and season three.
Flying interstate can be frustrating at the best of times — especially during peak periods — but you can expect more than a few cancellations and delays this weekend as some Jetstar employees prepare to strike over three days, on Friday, December 13 until Sunday, December 15. Last week, both the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) and the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) voted to proceed with industrial action in response to ongoing failed negotiations with the airline. The TWU has announced that it will hold a series of two-hour work stoppages on the Friday, while the AFAP will hold two four-hour stoppages — one on Saturday, and one on Sunday. In a statement released today, Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said that, because of the action, Jetstar will cancel 44 flights on Saturday and another 46 on Sunday — which is 90 of an estimated 740 across the weekend. If you're flying with Jetstar on these days and your flight is affected, you've probably been sent your new flight details. Jetstar has re-timed flights and transferred some passengers to Qantas flights to avoid too much chaos, but there's likely to be delays to across Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide airports. https://twitter.com/YourAFAP/status/1204269727264034816 The TWU is at loggerheads with Jetstar after failed negotiations with the airline that sought to secure a number of demands for employees – like more rest breaks, annual wage increases of four percent and a guaranteed 30 hours of work a week. TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said that "disappointingly, Jetstar have rejected the vast majority of the workers' demands outright". Jetstar, however, says the impact of the TWU action is likely to be "minimal" as it would involve "less than half" of its regular ground staff. In a statement released last week, Evans said that the airline has offered a three percent annual wage increase to the union. The AFAP strikes are set to be more disruptive — as they will leave aircraft without anyone to actually fly them. However, despite earlier reports that the action could impact flights over the upcoming busy Christmas period, the union has said that it won't strike between Saturday, December 21 and Friday, January 3. The strikes will take place this weekend, December 13–15. If your flight has been cancelled or changed, Jetstar will contact you directly. For any further flight status updates, check the Jetstar website.
If you're just a hunk, a hunk of burning love for the one and only Elvis Presley, and you live in Australia, you've been having quite the few years. A massive exhibition dedicated to the king of rock 'n' roll came our way, Baz Luhrmann's AACTA-winning and Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis wowed fans, and Sofia Coppola's Priscilla is the headed to the big screen soon. Also on offer: a new Presley-focused stage musical that debuted in Sydney in August, is now playing Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre, and has just locked in its 2024 dates and stops. Called Elvis: A Musical Revolution, this production features more than 40 of the singer's hits, because there's just that many songs to include. All of the expected favourites are worked into the biographical musical, which means everything from 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'That's All Right' and 'All Shook Up' through to 'Suspicious Minds', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Burning Love' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. 'Good Rockin' Tonight', 'Earth Angel', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Are You Lonesome' get a whirl as well, as do 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', 'See See Rider', 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'A Little Less Conversation'. That's what the show's audience hears. As for what everyone sees — what makes the musical one for the money, naturally — the production's story tells Elvis' tale from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi through to his triumphant '68 Comeback Special. If you've seen the aforementioned Elvis, none of it will be new news, but Elvis: A Musical Revolution works its hip-swinging magic anyway. Sydney will get a return date with the musical from February 2024, with Elvis set to be in the building at the State Theatre again. After that, it's Her Majesty's Theatre's turn in Adelaide from April, Crown Theatre in Perth's time in the spotlight from May and HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast's from June. Starring Rob Mallett (House Husbands, Singin' in the Rain), Elvis: A Musical Revolution hails from David Venn Enterprises, which has also been behind Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, The Wedding Singer and Bring It On: The Musical — and arrives via a partnership with Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Also behind the scenes, the musical's book comes courtesy of David Abbinanti and Sean Cercone — who have Saturday Night Fever: The Musical and Ghost: The Musical on their resumes — with Abbinanti also composing the orchestrations, arrangements, and additional musical and lyrics. "We couldn't be happier about the response from audiences, and look forward to celebrating the life and music of Elvis Presley with even more Elvis fans and theatre lovers across the country," said producer David Venn. "It's a testament to our cast and creative team, as well as the enduring legacy of The King." ELVIS: A MUSICAL REVOLUTION 2024 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Until Sunday, December 24, 2023 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne From February 2024 — State Theatre, Sydney From April 2024 — Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide From May 2024 — Crown Theatre, Perth From June 2024 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, the Gold Coast Elvis: A Musical Revolution is currently playing Melbourne, and will keep touring Australia until at least mid-2024. Head to the show's website for further details, tickets for Melbourne and to join the ticket waitlist elsewhere. Images: Ken Leanfore / Daniel Boud.
Let's just call it here and now: Robert Duvall will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor at next year's Academy Awards. It'll be his seventh nomination, and it'll be entirely deserved. The Man. Can. Act, and in his latest film — The Judge — you get the privilege of seeing that ability up close and incredibly personal. As the title suggests, Duvall is 'the Judge' — an elderly statesman of the justice system who's presided over the legal affairs of a small town in Indiana for over 40 years. When his wife passes away, the judge dutifully farewells his sweetheart only to then find himself accused of a hit-and-run that very same night. Thankfully, his high-flying, big-city lawyer son Hank (Robert Downey Jr) is in town for the funeral. Hank is, at least publicly, master of his domain, king of the jungle, pisser on the pants of his opponents. Privately, however, his marriage is crumbling, his daughter pines for more attention and the death of his mother has done nothing to assuage the chasm of estrangement between him and his father. They can scarcely look each other in the eye, let alone share any form of actual dialogue or physical contact, which makes establishing any form of legal defence markedly challenging. Throw in the attentions of the ex-girlfriend (Vera Farmiga), the grumpy brother (Vincent D'Onofrio), the mentally challenged brother (Jeremy Strong) and the unrelenting prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton), and Hank's already reluctant return home fast becomes an almost unliveable nightmare. The Judge was directed by David Dobkin, whose previous films have largely fallen into the comedy/action arena (most notably: Wedding Crashers and Shanghai Knights). Here, he wields the direction with a split personality: sometimes hitting home runs, other times swinging and missing with wildly misfiring scenes. When the latter happens (and, regrettably, it's probably more than the former), The Judge descends into by-the-numbers schmaltz and dials up the cheese. Surprisingly this is often in the courtroom scenes where, traditionally, drama is most at home. The revelations are either too insignificant or heavily flagged, meaning the jurors' gasps and gallery's sighs are more comical than convincing. Downey Jr is well-cast as Hank, bringing the swagger of Iron Man without the bells and whistles to protect him. His scenes with Duvall carry the movie entirely, and whether by design or misstep, every other character becomes little more than background noise. It's not a film with a lot to offer by way of innovation, but it knows how to jerk the tears on more than a few occasions and (despite its unjustifiable length) keeps you engaged enough right through to the end. Most of that engagement, though, comes via Duvall, whose layered and moving performance is right up there with the best of the year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZBvK6ni97W8
"Ain't no American dream for Black folks," Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) is told partway through Miss Juneteenth by her boss Wayman (Marcus M Mauldin). The latter isn't being dismissive or pessimistic, just realistic — he owns the Fort Worth bar and barbecue joint where Turquoise works, and that she's always trying to spruce up; however, he's comfortable simply holding onto the place he's fought so hard to call his own. He outlines that struggle to his super-conscientious and hard-working number-one employee, including the efforts by developers to buy him out and gentrify this corner of Texas. He explains why the comfort-food menu, the boozy regulars and the fact that his joint is a beloved neighbourhood hangout spot all means so much to him. He not only utters a powerful line, but a potent explanation of how the US operates for people of colour, who often aren't even given the luxury of dreaming big. By this point in this observant, tender but clear-eyed film, it's already apparent that Turquoise's life hasn't turned out as she wished as a child, and that she's striving to ensure that things are better for her 15-year-old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Also evident: that Turquoise was on a different path a decade and a half ago, after winning the local Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant and earning a scholarship to the historically Black college of her choosing. Doing the math, it's easy to work out why Turquoise's plans faltered, and why she's so determined that Kai enter the upcoming pageant, wow everyone, win and make the most of the coveted opportunity. Miss Juneteenth is a movie about choices, though — a movie about grabbing what you can when so much is snatched away or simply out of reach for unfair reasons — and it never forgets that it takes strength and courage to truly understand what the best options are. For those wondering about the pageant's portmanteau name, and the movie's, it hails back to June 19, 1865, and the chapter of history it refers to is pivotal to the feature. More than two years earlier, slavery was outlawed in the US via President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation — but Black Texans weren't told until the date now celebrated as Juneteenth. Accordingly, the contest that gives the film its moniker is supposed to be a celebration, a recognition of the past, and a chance for young women to take a proud and empowered step forward. But, as Turquoise's very existence typifies even if she hasn't quite realised it yet, it also enforces a strict set of rules, standards and expectations upon Black teenage girls. It dictates who they should be rather than letting them dare to attempt to follow their own hearts, learn to be independent, shape their own identities, and accept that their own hopes and desires might differ from those imposed upon them. The feature directorial debut of writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples, Miss Juneteenth makes a careful and graceful effort to balance two ideas: that American society doesn't just have a problematic history with race relations, but that inequality is now engrained in everyday life; and that choosing one's own future, rather than ever simply towing a mandated line, is wholeheartedly worth fighting for even with seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way. Turquoise describes her 2004 crown win as feeling "like I was walking into a new life", while Kai would prefer to join her school's dance team and hang out with her boyfriend (Jaime Matthis) than don formal gowns, memorise Maya Angelou poems and learn which cutlery to use when; however, they're not the only people caught in the middle of this situation. Whenever Turquoise asks her mother Charlotte (Lori Hayes) for assistance — to watch Kai while she flits between her two jobs, trying to earn enough money for pageant fees, expensive dresses and to keep the power on — she's confronted by a disapproving woman who uses religion to escape her own deep-seated woes. And while Turquoise's ex and Kai's father Ronnie (Kendrick Sampson) wants to be part of their lives permanently, his unreliable choices — also endeavouring to push him ahead in life — repeatedly spark further worries. Little about Miss Juneteenth's message, themes or the clashing predicament the film covers is new, of course. Nor is the time spent watching, with a cynical eye, the pomp and ceremony of the eponymous pageant. And yet this affecting drama always proves keenly observed, sincerely handled and authentic. Naturalistic cinematography helps — the type that lets audiences see the grimy bathroom Turquoise has to clean at work, but also spots the vivid colours in objects around her — but the picture's naturalistic central portrayals are its biggest strength. Playing a woman who has spent her whole life thinking that success only looks one specific way, Beharie takes Turquoise on an internalised journey that makes its impact known in every gesture and gaze. It's a complex, nuanced performance, and one that demonstrates why the Shame, Black Mirror and Little Fires Everywhere actor should be a bigger presence on the big and small screens. The movie's scenes between Beharie and engaging first-timer Chikaeze are just as special, though, and give Miss Juneteenth its foundation. As a filmmaker, Peoples sees the past, present and future of her characters, and of Black Americans, in tandem — and while her feature doesn't pretend to speak to the entire Black experience, it eagerly, generously and openly endeavours to lay bare as much about its chosen slice of life as possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgUZ2AHp4rU
Maybe you love nothing more than telling simulated people what to do. Perhaps a fantasy universe is your favourite place to escape to when you're mashing buttons. More than a quarter-century back, virtual critters might've been your go-to pastime. The Sims, World of Warcraft and Neopets have all made an impact on the gaming world, and on audiences. All three are also scoring plenty of love when Game Worlds takes over the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. For five months from mid-September 2025 till February 2026, this video-game exhibition will shine a spotlight on 30 iconic titles — and make attendees feel like they're stepping inside some of them, too. Expect everything from original concept art and never-before-seen designs to rare objects to fill the Federation Square site's Gallery 4. Expect to be able to get playing, rather than just peering, as well. [caption id="attachment_997869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] Although the full lineup of games featured hasn't been revealed as yet, they'll span from the 70s until now, and 20 of them will be playable. Demos, games from years gone by, trying to break speed records: they're all part of the setup, which will include international hits, new Australian releases and everything in-between. "As the home of videogames in Australia, Game Worlds celebrates the continuous evolution of this century's defining artform. It builds on ACMI's multi-decade experience in making video-game exhibitions, and our long-term support of the Australian video-game sector through preservation, education, industry partnerships and our dedicated Games Lab," said ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan, announcing the exhibition. "Whether you love games as much as we do or have never picked up a controller, Game Worlds gives fresh insight into video games and their cultural impact." [caption id="attachment_997868" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World of Neopia[/caption] As Chan referrenced, ACMI has staged major video-game showcases before. This is its third, in fact, following 2008's Game On and 2012's Game Masters. Since the latter, the venue has also hosted smaller gaming exhibitions, such as 2017's Code Breakers — where women in the industry were the focus — and 2024's Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. Earlier in 2025, it celebrated 25 years of The Sims across one nostalgic weekend. As it regularly does with its showcases, the gallery will pair Game Worlds with talks, film screenings and other events, family-friendly activities among them. [caption id="attachment_997870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] [caption id="attachment_997871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] Game Worlds displays at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, from Thursday, September 18, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Head to the venue's website for more details. Top image: Electronic Arts.
If the Marvel Cinematic Universe can notch up 30 big-screen entries and counting, and the Fast and Furious franchise can approach double digits, then surely Hollywood — and Keanu Reeves — can keep making John Wick movies forever. Yes, all the titular character wants is out, but that hasn't been turning out as he's planned in film after film after film. And if the assassin's exploits keep hitting screens, audiences will keep watching. For now, we're thinking he's back in John Wick: Chapter 4, which'll hit cinemas in March 2023. During San Diego Comic-Con midyear, the movie dropped its first trailer — and, if you're always in the mood for more Keanu in more things all the time, a bigger sneak peek has just arrived. If you're thinking that Wick's luck might run out at some point, the new film understands. But this stunt-filled saga still has one last way to give its namesake his non-violent life back. He can agree to a duel against the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård, Barbarian) — but of course only one can survive. With that premise, expect the ante to be upped on the saga's latest onslaught of frenetic action scenes, as the new trailer also makes plain. Anywhere that Wick can shoot, fight and dispense with everyone trying to take him down, he will and does. This flick involves hopping around the globe, in fact, including Paris, New York and Berlin — and also getting into sword fights in Japan, and riding horses through a sandy desert. Accordingly, as all John Wick movies have so far — the first in 2014, John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum all included — this one will follow the hitman that other hitmen fear as he takes on his ever-growing list of adversaries. Whatever gets thrown his way hasn't stopped Wick yet, after he got dragged back into the assassin life when a past batch of enemies messed with his dog. Reeves' former stunt double-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski directs again, as he has on all three prior movies. On-screen, Reeves is also joined by a roster of familiar and new John Wick faces, with fellow franchise mainstays Ian McShane (American Gods) and Lance Reddick (Godzilla vs Kong) returning, and Reeves' The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne — after appearing in the past two movies — as well. And, Donnie Yen (Mulan), Hiroyuki Sanada (Mortal Kombat), Shamier Anderson (Son of the South), Rina Sawayama (Turn Up Charlie) and Scott Adkins (Triple Threat) are all also set to feature. In similarly excellent news, a fifth John Wick movie is already in the works, because more ass-kicking Keanu is always a great thing. And, so are two spinoffs: The Continental and Ballerina. The first is a streaming series, clearly set around the hotel that features so prominently in the films as a safe haven for hitmen. As for the second, it's a movie that ties in with John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and will star Ana de Armas (Blonde) — and also feature Reeves and McShane. Check out the full trailer for John Wick: Chapter 4 below: John Wick: Chapter 4 will release Down Under on March 23, 2023.
The festive season might be one of the happiest times of year for many, but there's no denying it can come with an all too heady financial hangover in the new year. And that's a shame because summer's most unmissable events do waggle a price tag. That's why we've teamed up with American Express, which offers a solution for Amex Credit Card card members to split a big cost into manageable sections. That's the idea behind Plan It® Instalments, a feature that allows you to split payments into instalments with no interest to be paid over 3, 6 or 12 months — T&Cs apply. But how can you use Plan It Instalments to live your best life? All over Australia's east coast, there are headline events you can secure a ticket to right now. [caption id="attachment_978661" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 2, 2023[/caption] Sydney The Harbour City rarely has a shortage of things to do. Many summer events take place in the prettiest (and busiest) parts of town, which only increase ticket prices. For a more relaxed but oh-so-luxurious alternative that's just as close to the water, a Sydney must-see is the Westpac OpenAir Cinema. With a program of indie films and blockbusters alike and food supplied by three on-site eateries from top Sydney chefs against a backdrop of the Sydney skyline and harbour, this isn't your average cinema experience. The pricing is worth it and easily broken down with Plan It Instalments. Finally, one of Sydney's biggest events returns in February to round out the season: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. This citywide celebration runs from Friday, February 14 to Sunday, March 2 and has a whole host of offerings. Sure, some events, like the main parade, are free — but many of Mardi Gras' most fun experiences are ticketed. Be it drag brunches, boat parties, concerts and more; you can secure a spot for yourself and any fellow partygoers today. [caption id="attachment_913351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Melbourne Down south in Melbourne, the offering is as stacked as ever in the heat of summer. Don't let the adverse weather stop you from having a good time. Melbourne is kicking off 2025 with a culture-heavy events program and Plan It Instalments will prevent the headline items from denting your savings when you need them. A truly fabulous event is at the top of the cards, TINA: The Tina Turner Story. The musical tells the story of an icon beloved by Australians and is so much more than just a biography. It's a toe-tapping dive into the life of the queen of rock 'n' roll and includes 20 of her most popular songs. Book using Plan It Instalments and get some seats before the show leaves Melbourne for good on Sunday, March 2. If you fancy heading further afield, up in Falls Creek is Feastival. Sure, this alpine town is generally a winter destination, but this three-day festival at the tail end of February will bring a new level of festivity outside of peak season. What's on the cards? Feasting (duh), comedy shows, paint and sips, pilates, heritage walks and a massive weekend of music featuring The Cat Empire, Budjerah, Azure Ryder and more. Make it a great getaway that goes steady via Plan It Instalments. Brisbane Up north in the River City, summer is the season of concerts. The regular summer offerings go on in force, but some of the hottest tickets in town are courtesy of artists stopping by on global tours. Then, on Tuesday, February 25, comes the long-awaited return of The Goo Goo Dolls to Australian shores. On their first visit in 20 years, they'll be joined by Thirsty Merc as they blow the roof off of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with banging ballads like 'Iris', 'Slide', 'Just the Way You Are' and more. Finally, an icon among icons, Kylie Minogue, is playing two shows at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre as a part of the Tension Tour on Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, February 27. Plan It Instalments is available for American Express Credit Card Holders for plans over $100. For more information, visit the website. Plan It Instalments Terms and Conditions: You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may withdraw this offer, prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions. The minimum Plan amount is AUD$100. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24-48 hours to process ("Processing Time"), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after requesting cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date. View the full Plan It Instalments Terms and Conditions here. American Express Consumer Credit Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit License No. 291313.
Crispy, sweet, stuffed with a creamy filling and made in a variety of flavours, there's only one thing wrong with cannoli. No matter how many that you happen to devour in a single sitting (admit it — no one just eats one), it never feels like you've ever had enough. If you know that sensation all too well, then you might want to tempt your tastebuds down to Locale on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6. For two days, the Newstead cafe is setting up a pop-up cannoli bar. Even better — there'll be seven kinds of the Sicilian pastries on the menu. Vanilla creme, traditional chocolate, ricotta chocolate chip and pistachio favours will all be waiting, plus tiramisu, lemon and passionfruit curd as well. They're available until sold out each day, and pre-ordering by contacting Locale in advance is highly recommended. Feeling hungry? The pop-up runs from 7am–2pm daily. Image: Locale.
Remember the name Becky Lucas. So far, the Brisbane comedian has amassed quite the resume, dominating stages in support slots for the likes of Wil Anderson, Jim Norton and Joel Creasey, flexing her comic writing skills for Please Like Me and Matt Okine's upcoming TV show, serving up a riotous newsletter, and generating some of the best Twitter banter around. And that's just the beginning. So, what comes next? Little Bitch. That's Lucas' latest Brisbane Comedy Festival show, and her second in as many years. If you're after fresh, grassroots standup, this is your jam. This is one of our top picks for this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival. Read the whole list.
Tuesdays: no one loves them. The weekend's fun seems like a distant memory, there's more days left in the working week than anyone wants to accept, and the 9-to-5 really is seeming like a grind. And it's not yet hump day, so no one really wants to hear you complain, even though everyone feels the same way. Salt Meats Cheese can't erase your not-quite-midweek apathy, but it can give your day a buzz thanks to their latest weekly special. Every Tuesday is now Espresso Tuesday at the Gasworks eatery — and it comes with $9 espresso martinis on tap all day. Australia's own Mr Black specialty cold brew coffee liqueur will be filling glasses — and if you're not familiar with the caffeinated tipple, it's made on the NSW Central Coast, by hand, and in batches of just 300. Sounds like the perfect bev to wash down a pizza or plate of pasta, and to brighten up your week.
Beer and Asian food — it's a combo as iconic as salt and vinegar and chips and gravy, except it's a little boozier and even better for the soul. Sichuan Bang Bang is a popular Asian street food venue that allows you to bring your own beer to enjoy alongside its menu of popular street food dishes. This relaxed eatery run by Renata Roberts is dedicated to the lip-tingling, eye-watering spicy food that the Sichuan province of China is known for. Head to its Kenmore or Wilston venue and dive into the share-style menu which includes flavour bombs like peking duck, mapo tofu, sizzling Singapore chilli prawns and fish hot pot. Sichuan Bang Bang allows BYO beer and wine. Heading there tonight? Pick up a six-pack of Zytho Brewing Zesty Pale Ale to take with you. Find your closest BWS store here. Image: Hennessytrill
If Melbourne's famous for anything, it's a sense of discovery. Nothing beats the absolute thrill of ducking down a laneway, following the scent of coffee, and stumbling into something you didn't even know you were looking for. In one particularly special part of the city — Little Collins street — that discovery will bring you to Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins. The hotel and its close neighbours are stitched together from historic buildings that once housed everything from Turkish baths to grand music retailers. Inside, things get even cooler. Its interiors are threaded with local stories, from a statement spiral staircase inspired by the drapery sold by Sidney Myer (yes, the founder of the eponymous department store) to a huge lobby mural by renowned Melbourne artist Lisa King. Best of all, the hotel's position on Little Collins street puts you right in the centre of Melbourne's CBD. Here's how to plan your next weekend exploring the neighbourhood. Begin in the Laneways Forget Google Maps for a while. The best part of this Melbourne neighbourhood is its grid-like layout, meaning it's almost impossible to get lost. In fact, the laneways around Little Collins are best explored without a plan. Hosier Lane is the obvious icon, its walls splashed with artwork and graffiti. But veer off course and you'll also stumble upon AC/DC Lane with its nod to Aussie rock, or Centre Place where tiny cafes and restaurants are packed with the local lunch crowd. Take Coffee Seriously It might sound cliché, but in this neighbourhood coffee really is the fuel that keeps everything moving. Pellegrini's, which opened in 1954, is a time capsule of Melbourne's espresso beginnings, when Italian immigrants kickstarted the city's coffee culture. Nearby, Brother Baba Budan is instantly recognisable for the chairs hanging from its ceiling, and Dukes on Flinders Lane is where the locals queue for their morning fix. Staying nearby means you're never more than a few minutes from a genuinely great cup. Dine Like a Local Melbourne is nothing if not a food city and around Little Collins, you'll find flavours from every corner of the globe within walking distance. Fern Bar and Dining, tucked inside Hotel Indigo, is a slick all-day spot where menus lean into seasonal Victorian produce and good vibes. It's perfect for a pre-theatre bite or early-morning brekky. Venture outside the hotel and you're spoiled for choice: Cumulus Inc serves refined share plates in a converted warehouse, Grossi Florentino is your go-to for old-school Italian, and Embla is the best place to crack a bottle of natural wines and seriously good bar food. Our best advice? Come hungry. Soak Up The Architecture From gothic banks to Victorian-era buildings and Art Deco beauties, Melbourne's skyline is a result of decades of boom and reinvention. Design lovers will want to check out the Gothic Revival spires atop the Manchester Unity Building, look up at Gaunt's Clock in Royal Arcade, and explore the intricate mosaic floors inside the Block Arcade. If you're planning a trip for next winter, Open House Melbourne also gives you the rare chance to peek inside heritage buildings usually closed to the public. Around here, even the spaces between buildings are just as interesting as what's inside them. The Perfect Base When you're done wandering, Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins makes for a fitting place to land. Home to 179 modern, stylish rooms, it's built in a historic building and filled with nods to the neighbourhood. With a beautiful lobby area, luxe outdoor courtyard garden, and views across the city from almost every window, the space feels less like a cookie-cutter hotel and more like a continuation of the streets outside. Want to stay in the thick of it? Find out more about Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins here.
Good times are coming Down Under in October, and disco-soul hit 'Good Times', too. As well as locking in spots at 2023's Harvest Rock in Adelaide and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Nile Rodgers & Chic are doing their own headline tour. Ah, Brisbane, get ready to freak out on Friday, October 20 at the Fortitude Music Hall. Not only 'Good Times' but also 'Le Freak' is certain to get a whirl when the one and only Rodgers takes to the stage with the group that he co-founded more than five decades ago. Also on their recent setlists: Chic tracks 'Everybody Dance', 'Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)' and 'I Want Your Love'. [caption id="attachment_916215" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Marshall via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Mention Chic and Rodgers instantly springs to mind; however, as a guitarist, the latter is in a league of his own. You'll also know his work on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, including single 'Get Lucky'. And as a writer and producer, he's had a hand in everything from David Bowie's Let's Dance album to Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'. Accordingly, Nile Rodgers & Chic gigs are known to bust out tracks from across Rodgers' career beyond Chic. Cue 'Get Lucky' and its earworm of a guitar riff, both 'Let's Dance' and the always-delightful 'Modern Love' by Bowie, and also a Madonna double of 'Like a Virgin' and 'Material Girl'. Because Rodgers and late, great fellow Chic member Bernard Edwards were involved in writing, composing and/or producing them, Diana Ross' 'I'm Coming Out' and 'Upside Down' also get a spin, plus Sister Sledge's 'He's the Greatest Dancer' and 'We Are Family'.
If you haven't perked your ears up to have a little listen to The Jensens, then what are you waiting for? This Brisbane five-piece has quickly moved from new kids on the Brisbane block to a band that's pumping out hit after hit without breaking a sweat. Want the proof? Check out their latest, feel good hit 'Elvis is Dead'. Now, to celebrate their newest EP, The Jensens will be hitting up The Foundry for a night of stomp your feet, clap your hands, inhibition-less fun. If you're in the need for a bit of a feel-good groove, then this is probably the weekend gig to get to. Tickets are $10.20 and you can still grab them online. Doors for The Jensens EP Launch open at 8pm, so chuck on some comfy, dancing shoes and head along!
What does a group of pink guards do when they hit an Australian beach? That isn't likely to be a storyline in Squid Game when it returns for its second season on Boxing Day 2024, but we have been given the answer in the lead up to the show's much-anticipated comeback anyway. In Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024, St Kilda Beach welcomed 200 visitors, all kicking back on the sand — on towels, reading, sitting under umbrellas, throwing balls, flying kites and more — in eye-catching Squid Game attire. As announced on Monday, December 9, Netflix sent a continent of pink guards to the seaside patch of the Victorian capital to remind everyone that the show's second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. There wasn't a green tracksuit in sight, but there were plenty of jumpsuit- and mask-wearing folks enjoying a morning out. This isn't the first time that the streaming platform has brought the South Korean sensation Down Under. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. Squid Game's pink guards took over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Head to Netflix's social media for more details. Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced.
If there's a force as frightful as facing certain death, humanity is yet to find it. Knowing that everyone who lives will die is the most terrifying thing that anyone will ever have to deal with, as well as the most obvious and commonplace — and it's also the fear-inducing bogeyman that continues to spook the horror genre. In the form of killer ghosts, malingering spirits and demonic forces from the great beyond, the inescapable end also haunts the Conjuring universe, to the surprise of absolutely no one. The growing franchise's other source of scares, however, is perhaps much less expected. In The Conjuring, the flick that started the series, a family grapples with the spectre of an accused witch. In its sequel, as well as in spin-off The Nun, evil takes the form of a bride of Christ. In the Annabelle films, a doll is possessed by a dead girl, turning murderous. And now in The Curse of the Weeping Woman, the saga finds its shocks in a mother who turns into a child-drowning apparition. This unsettling franchise might be based on the work of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and on Mexican folklore in the current movie's case, but as each new instalment shows, it's not only scared by supernatural stories of death. Womanhood and its symbols are also something to fear here. Women and children are usually the casualties, too. As genuine spooks increasingly give way to haunting by the numbers, the series' need to vilify and victimise its way to box office success is blatant, lazy and more concerning than anything on-screen. The Curse of the Weeping Woman begins with its own origin story, introducing viewers to the tale of La Llorona. In Mexico in 1673, a beautiful young woman (Marisol Ramirez) lives a happy life with her husband and two sons, until she's driven to kill her boys in the river — and destined to keep trying the same trick with other children for all of eternity. Three centuries later, Los Angeles social worker Anna Tate-Garcia (Linda Cardellini) crosses paths with the deadly spirit as part of a case, when she finds that something is amiss with one of her clients (Patricia Velásquez). Soon, La Llorona has her sights set on Anna's kids (Roman Christou and Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen), and only a renegade former priest (Raymond Cruz) can help the fearful family. Directed by first-timer Michael Chaves, The Curse of the Weeping Woman polishes up its formulaic parts more effectively than it might initially seem, especially six films into a flagging franchise. There's nothing new in its bumps and jumps, but many of those creepy moments elicit the right visceral response — while no one will be leaping out of their chairs, viewers might find themselves inching forward automatically. Alas, horror movies aren't just about shocks, scares and keeping a series going in a dutifully unnerving manner. They're not just about swooping camerawork and stalking through a spooky house either, although those are two techniques that the picture also uses well. Conjuring up a momentary reaction lasts for just that, a moment. Retaining audience interest between bouts of ghostly mayhem is much more difficult, particularly given that screenwriters Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis are as eager to stick to cliches as they were in their last script: teen illness weepie Five Feet Apart, which is also currently in cinemas. Many a routine scarefest has found success by taking the same route, which is why such boilerplate films keep appearing. Many an average movie has squandered a great actor — here, the committed Cardellini — within generic horror material. But plonk all of the above in a fast-expanding series that keeps pulling the same stunt, and it wears thin. Specifically package it with another supposedly terrifying tale about an unhinged symbol of womanhood wreaking havoc, and it grates louder than the creakiest of doors and floorboards. What's scariest in The Curse of the Weeping Woman isn't the fact that it lays bare the Conjuring Universe's reliance upon frightening symbols of femininity, but that it makes it plain in such an unashamed way. It might make sense to turn the bringers of life into harbingers of death, preying upon existential worries in the process, but at this point in the franchise it's also wearyingly, disappointingly easy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCOp9jCG07I
If there's one culinary certainty in life, it's this: there's always room for more pizza. That applies equally to pizza places and slices. There mightn't ever be a shortage of either in Brisbane, but, hey, the more the merrier. A sibling venue to Moorooka's Todd and Pup, Zankiki Pizza certainly puts that motto to the test when it comes to tempting your tastebuds with delicious 'za. While you're sitting in the eatery's al fresco dining area on Tarragindi Road, you won't just be able to limit yourself to one type, particularly when Western-style classics like BBQ meatlovers, supreme and Hawaiian are on the menu. Of course, any pizza joints worth their weight in dough — and worth forking out yours at — are really judged by their traditional fare. Here, that includes the Italian sausage and caramelised onion-stacked salsiccia, and the four cheese and truffle honey combo that is quattro formaggi. Plus, there's also blue cheese and chive gnocchi and funghi risotto on the pasta menu, and gelato for dessert. The real cavallo di battaglia, though? Apple crumble calzones and rocky road pizzas. Don't walk, run.
