If you've ever needed your texts in physical form, designer Joe Doucet has created a nifty little mobile printer that produces your text message conversations on paper. The 'Blackbox SMS Printer' simply connects to your phone through a cable to produce two identical records of any conversation, no matter how long, using a "standard, non-carbon receipt printing system." Importantly, the designer states that this printer is appropriate "whether the communique is of a loving or legal nature." So if you're keen on treasuring some heartwarming messages from your lover, and also scared of the inevitable cracking of your iPhone screen making them illegible, the Blackbox will be right up your alley. Furthermore, it's only a matter of time before these little text message scripts become evidence of communication between dodgy drug dealers in high profile court cases. [via PSFK]
The mercury is dropping, days are getting shorter and actually wearing long sleeves in Brisbane is about to become a reality. Also on the way: not just winter, but the longest night of the year, with West End's Solstice Market returning to celebrate. The inner-city suburb is no stranger to markets in general, of course, but this one will give the West End Markets a one-night-only spin on Friday, June 20. On the menu is all the food, drinks and stalls you'd expect — 150-plus stalls, in fact — plus live music and bonfires lighting up the night at Davies Park as well. When you're not shopping for artisanal wares and grabbing a bite to eat — from spots including Little Caracas, Tibetan Dumpling and Choco Bliss — you can hit up the Swiss Alps-themed pop-up bar and sip glühwein. Entry is free, as is parking, and the event runs from 4–10pm.
Everyone has different priorities when it comes to planning a holiday. For some, it's a jam-packed itinerary of outdoor adventures. Others may be looking for a place to kick back and relax. But for you, it may be all about seeking out good food and drinks. Hey, we don't blame you. You've got to keep fuel in the tank for that sightseeing. Canberra is one city that delivers all of the above on a silver platter. A weekend here can be filled with wondrous epicurean delights, plus a hell of a lot of life-affirming tasty vino. You'll find everything from fine dining establishments and cosy wine bars to bustling markets and top-notch wineries. Throw in a few more unique food experiences that you're unlikely to find in your city and you've got yourself a pretty amazing food-filled weekend. If you're guilty of planning every single meal in advance, right down to the dishes you (and your travelling companion) will order, we've got you covered. Read on to discover five spots around the capital that you must make a stop at on your next trip. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Since it kicked off in 2015, Melbourne clothing not-for-profit HoMie has been one of the most genuine 'feel good' brands on the market. Their clothes look great, and their mission – combatting homelessness – is more important than ever. Now, HoMie has joined forces with global mega label Champion to launch a very special winter capsule. Dubbed 'Champion Change', all profits from the new campaign will go towards HoMie's mission of helping young people experiencing homelessness or hardship. You might remember other capsules from these guys. HoMie and Champion have technically been collaborating since 2019, and previous collections have all been absolute winners. It's HoMie meets Champion — what's not to like? Champion Change features six bespoke apparel pieces and accessories, all designed to keep you warm this winter. You'll notice the logo isn't the normal HoMie badge: they've co-designed a new-look design with Champion. There are genderless hoodies, crew jumpers and an eye-catching reversible parka in camo print. A little something for everyone. 100% of profits will go towards training, clothing and job opportunities for young people experiencing homelessness. The capsule is available for a limited time, or until stock runs out, so get around it. You can shop the new look here. Images: Supplied
Have you been known to look at a doughnut and think "you belong with me"? Do you consider sweet treats your karma? Does happiness to you come in round orbs of pastry? Do you have your eyes open for all things Taylor Swift — or just for free doughnuts? The pop superstar has hit Australia, finally bringing her Eras tour Down Under thanks to three shows in Melbourne and four in Sydney. Her Aussie stint starts today, Friday, February 16. And to celebrate, Krispy Kreme is getting in on the action to give out free doughnuts to Swifties, and also to anyone — as long as you're wearing a friendship bracelet when you head into its Australian or Auckland stores. The chain is known for giving away its round treats, including handing out 100,000 of them each National Doughnut Day. In 2023 for Halloween, it also doled out freebies if you went in in costume. So, it's thoroughly unsurprising that it's linking in with Swiftmania. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, make a beeline to your closest Krispy Kreme store in Australia or Auckland on Friday, February 16 while wearing a friendship bracelet. The last part isn't optional. You'll then receive one original glazed doughnut per person, and you don't have to buy anything else to nab the treat without paying a cent. This is a while-stocks-last giveaway, so getting in as quick as someone trying to nab Taylor Swift tickets is obviously recommended. That gives everyone a heap of places to flock to: 38 in Australia and six in New Zealand. Sydneysiders are able to hit up stores stretching from Penrith to the CBD, Victorians can visit locations from Chadstone to Collins Street, and Queenslanders have Albert Street in the Brisbane CBD and Surfers Paradise among the choices. For residents of Perth, Hay Street, Cannington and more await. In Aotearoa, all options are in Auckland — including at Newmarket, Chancery Square and the domestic airport terminal. Krispy Kreme's Taylor Swift giveaway is taking place in-store on Friday, February 16 in Australia and Auckland. To find your closest shop and check its opening hours, head to Krispy Kreme's Australian and New Zealand websites.
Sophisticated courtyard bar Capulet is set to have a new neighbour by early August — the Montagues are moving in. The team behind the fairy-lit Fortitude Valley bar is transforming a neighbouring space into the cafe-restaurant-cocktail bar hybrid Montague. Complementing the romance and vintage flair of Capulet, the new Euro-inspired venue will have a distinctly lavish yesteryear aesthetic, with gilt mirrors, red velvet armchairs and plush booths to sink down low in. Though open for breakfast and lunch, Montague promises to come into its own after dark. Co-owner Liegh Metzeling, operations manager Scott Griffin and bar manager Addam Winkels have collaborated on a cocktail list inspired by spirits from across the globe, and if Capulet's drinks list in anything to go by, expect high-quality creations. The real attraction of this new venture is the crepe menu. Riding on the city's recent trend of French-inspired eateries, including 127 Bar & Bistro and Libertine Bar & Restaurant, Montague is taking its crepes seriously. French chef Jean-Paul Bayer will design the menu, and has already ordered crepe-making equipment direct from Paris. There'll be sweet and savoury varieties, as well as a 'super-crepe', filled with cacao, goji berries, banana and coconut oil. But crepes, like cocktails, are made for indulgence, so why not go all out and sample the crepe with speculoos — a decadent Belgium spread with the consistency of peanut butter and the flavour of caramelised gingerbread. Find Montague next door to Capulet, at 188 Brunswick Street, Brisbane, from early August. The cafe will be open from 6.30am Monday to Friday and the bar from Wednesday to Sunday (until late).
It feels like something out of a movie: Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall in or near Brisbane on either late Thursday, March 6, 2025 or early on Friday, March 7, and southeast Queensland is understandably shutting down in preparation. The River City is no stranger to flooding, including multiple times in the past decade and a half, but this will be the first cyclone to cross the coast in this part of the state in half a century, since 1974. CityCats and ferries have already stopped service. Buses and trains will as well from the last service on Wednesday, March 5. Green Day's Gold Coast show has been cancelled. It took days for the AFL to make the decision, but the Brisbane Lions v Geelong game that was meant to open the 2025 season at the Gabba on Thursday, March 6 has been postponed — as has the Gold Coast Suns v Essendon match on the Gold Coast on Saturday, March 8. The list of services, events and venues impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred is growing, and will continue to do so as the storm approaches, and if damage and flooding eventuates. Going out shouldn't be at the top of anyone's to-do list right now, but to keep you informed of what's been cancelled, postponed and suspended — and which venues are temporarily closed — here's our live list, updated as it happens. [caption id="attachment_927874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rearranged: Art of the Flower, Katie Bennett[/caption] Venues Brisbane City Council libraries: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Brisbane City Council pools: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Brisbane Powerhouse: postponing all shows and events, and closed from Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Dendy Cinemas — Coorparoo, Portside, Southport and Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. The Edge: closed from 5pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. Event Cinemas — Brisbane City, Capalaba, Carindale, Chermside, Coomera, Indooroopilly, Kawana, Loganholme, Maroochydore, Mt Gravatt, Noosa, North Lakes, Pacific Fair, Robina, Southport, Springfield, Strathpine and Toowoomba: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Five Star Cinemas — Elizabeth, Regal, New Farm, Red Hill: closed from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Five Star Cinemas — Yatala Drive-In: closed from Tuesday, March 4–Friday, March 7. [caption id="attachment_882045" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Metro Arts: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until Monday, March 10. Museum of Brisbane: closed from 2pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. Palace Cinemas — Palace James St and Palace Barracks: closed from the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: both galleries are closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. [caption id="attachment_857941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Queensland Museum: closed from Thursday, March 6 until further notice. Queensland Performing Arts Centre: all performances cancelled or postponed from 6pm on Wednesday, March 5 until Friday, March 7. Reading Cinemas — Newmarket, Jindalee and Harbour Town: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. State Library of Queensland: closed from 5pm on Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. UQ Art Museum: closed from Wednesday, March 5 until further notice. [caption id="attachment_972776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr.[/caption] Shows/Gigs/Exhibitions/Events AFL — Brisbane Lions v Geelong on Thursday, March 6: postponed, not yet rescheduled. AFL — Gold Coast Suns v Essendon on Saturday, March 8: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Alliance Française French Film Festival: cancelled until Saturday, March 8, with opening night now taking place on Friday, March 14 at Palace Barracks. The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art: closed between Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Bluey's World: closed between Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Discovering Ancient Egypt: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Feel Good Program: cancelled up until and including Saturday, March 8. [caption id="attachment_988954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Discovering Ancient Egypt[/caption] Gold Coast Festival of Golf on Thursday, March 6–Sunday, March 9: cancelled. Green Day's The Saviors Tour at CBUS Super Stadium, Robina on Wednesday, March 5: cancelled. Innocent Bystander Tasting Bar at Babylon Garden: free tattoos postponed until Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16. Macbeth at LaBoite Theatre: cancelled until Monday, March 10. Meatstock Toowoomba on Friday, March 7–Saturday, March 8: cancelled. New Bloom Fest on Saturday, March 8: cancelled. ΩHM Festival of Other Music — Toby Wren, Songs for Dead Sailors on Wednesday, March 5: postponed, not yet rescheduled. [caption id="attachment_993025" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Somefx[/caption] ΩHM Festival of Other Music — Camille O'Sullivan on Friday, March 7: postponed, not yet rescheduled. Pride & Prejudice: cancelled from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. Secrets: Objects of Intrigue: closed Thursday, March 6–Friday, March 7. Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy: cancelled from Wednesday, March 5–Friday, March 7. [caption id="attachment_990459" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] To keep up to date with the latest conditions, warnings, alerts and timetables, Brisbanites can head to the below services: The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland warnings page, tropical cyclone advice, Queensland X and Facebook Brisbane City Council's emergency dashboard Queensland Government's disaster site Brisbane City Council's X and Facebook Translink's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Qld Traffic Top image: QPAC.
From towering mountains and serene fiords shrouded in mist, to black sand beaches and forests housing some of the world's oldest trees, Aotearoa New Zealand's natural landscapes truly are something else. No matter when you visit, you'll feel the wairua (spirit) of New Zealand's landscapes drawing you in as you're immersed in them and they envelop you. This is scenery you'll feel, rather than merely 'view'. Winter transforms vistas as the skies darken, mountains rising from the horizon are dusted in snow and the seasonal passing by of wildlife occurs. During autumn and spring, you'll be bathed in warmer temperatures and lingering sunlight that casts a different light over the landscapes. We teamed up with 100% Pure New Zealand to unveil some of the most awe-inspiring scenery New Zealand has to offer each season, so you can plan a trip that's made all the more memorable by these breathtaking encounters. Flick the switch for our top picks of experiences to have in autumn, winter and spring and see how New Zealand changes with the seasons. Jump to switcher
2024 is a double Dune year. First, Dune: Part Two brought the science-fiction franchise back to the big screen with help from director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), plus stars Timothée Chalamet (Wonka) and Zendaya (Euphoria). Next, television's Dune: Prophecy will arrive before spring is out. A six-part prequel series from HBO, it's set 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides — and, as the latest teaser trailer for the show advises, this is a time when sacrifices must be made. Dune: Prophecy marks this book-to-screen universe's return to the small screen. Over the past four decades, the saga started on the page by Frank Herbert has hit cinemas three times so far, including David Lynch's 1984 film and Villeneuve's 2021 standout Dune: Part One. In the 00s, it also spread sandy across TV via two miniseries. Everything in pop culture has to span both movies and television at the same time these days, however, hence Dune: Prophecy — even though the tale of Paul, aka sci-fi's spiciest man, is set to continue in a third Dune film that doesn't yet have a release date. Come November, including via Binge in Australia, Dune: Prophecy will follow the sect that gives rise to the Bene Gesserit, aka the sisterhood that secretly sways the universe. In the debut sneak peek back in May, the narration explained how the faction formed, and was "assigned to the great houses to help them sift truth from lies" — but also noted that that power comes with a price. The new glimpse doubles down on the costs and chaos. Across both trailers, cue plenty of plotting, lurking in dramatically shadowy spaces, schemes, rituals, battles and marriages. The focus falls on two Harkonnen sisters — part of the same family that includes Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen, Dave Bautista's (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) Rabban and Austin Butler's (The Bikeriders) Feyd-Rautha in the movies — who are attempting to sure up humanity's future. Dune: Prophecy is inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's novel Sisterhood of Dune, and features Emily Watson (Small Things Like These), Olivia Williams (The Crown), Travis Fimmel (Boy Swallows Universe), Jodhi May (Renegade Nell), Mark Strong (Tár), Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Colony), Josh Heuston (Heartbreak High) and Jessica Barden (You & Me) among the cast. HBO is as keen as most Dune characters are about spice on turning films into TV shows at the moment, with The Batman spinoff The Penguin, IT prequel series Welcome to Derry and a Harry Potter remake as a television show all also on the way. Check out the latest teaser trailer for Dune: Prophecy below: Dune: Prophecy will stream from in November 2024, including via Binge in Australia — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Read our reviews of Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, and our interview with cinematographer Greig Fraser.
Who doesn't want to fling some tropical fruit around on a public holiday? It's a strange concept, we know — and one that's exactly as silly and simple as it sounds — however this day seems to not only embrace tradition, but novelty. Of course, when it comes to throwing pineapples, there's only one iconic, 130-year-old venue for it. Head to one of Woolloongabba's finest, enjoy the other Australia Day merriment (including pub food, brews and the Hottest 100), and then try your luck in the 10th annual competition. The winner won't just receive bragging rights, but $750 for their efforts.
How do you know when an event has well and truly become a part of a city's cultural landscape? When you can't remember a time before it graced the annual calendar, that's when. MELT, Brisbane Powerhouse's celebration of queer arts and culture, has only been doing its thing since 2015 — but based on the program on offer in the festival's third year, you wouldn't know it. Over the course of 12 days from January 25 to February 5, MELT will be living up to its name by melting hearts with its celebratory, inclusive and diverse lineup. Think LGBTI+ art, theatre, cabaret, comedy, music and ideas, all in one huge package. Yes, it's Brisbane's answer to Mardi Gras and Midsumma — and yes, you should snap up tickets as soon as you can.
So, you haven't been to River Quay — and you don't know where River Quay is. It's the pocket of South Bank that now houses a host of restaurants, plenty of grass and a great view of the river, and it's the place to be from January 26 t0 28. For four days, the eateries in the area — aka Aquitaine Brasserie, Cove Bar & Dining, Popolo and The Jetty — will showcase their wares, offering not only a sample of everything that makes them great, but a feast of Queensland ingredients as well. A lineup of live performances including Phil Jamieson and Dan Kelly provides just the right kind of mood music, and a fireworks display sets the mood on Australia Day. If Great Australian Bites sounds like the perfect way to while away an afternoon, that's because it is. Who doesn't love taster plates piled up, pop-ups, local artists and scenic sights, after all? No one, that's who.
When Green Beacon Brewing Co opened its doors back in 2013, few could've known the yeasty, tasty joy that would follow. Actually, that's not true. Predicting that a brewery in Newstead was going to be a hit — well, that can't have been all that difficult. Now, three years later, they're doing what every brewery is obliged to do on such an occasion, aka throwing a massive birthday bash. And because the Beacon doesn't do things by halves, they not just throwing a shindig — they're making the most of it over the course of a week-long celebration. It all kicks off with Big Thanks Thursday on January 21, with the help of How We Rolls and some IPA pork belly. Yep, booze and food is the ongoing theme, as also seen in Saturday's food truck and beer special event, Fiesta of the Froth. If you like four-course meals matched with mouthwatering tipples — and who doesn't? — then we recommend dropping by on Monday for the Statler & Waldorf pop-up. Finish up the fun with a good ol' fashioned Australia Day party; tis the day for it, and all that.
It's been 12 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival is back for 2017. Returning to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Auckland and Singapore next January and February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a killer lineup. Following the already announced appearance of AB Original and Chet Faker (or is it Nick Murphy now?), Laneway will see one heck of a crew on their stages, including Aussies Tame Impala — who will be only doing Laneway this time, no sideshows. Oxford band Glass Animals will be coming out for the festival, along wiht other international acts Tourist, Tycho, Nao and riot grrl Kathleen Hanna. There's plenty of local love on the lineup too, with Gang of Youths, Jagwar Ma, Sampa the Great and Camp Cope all making appearances. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2017 LINEUP A.B.Original AURORA Baro* Bob Moses Camp Cope Car Seat Headrest Clams Casino Ecca Vandal* Fascinator Floating Points (live) Flyying Colours* Gang of Youths GL Glass Animals Jagwar Ma Jess Kent Julia Jacklin Koi Child Luca Brasi Mick Jenkins Mr. Carmack NAO Nicholas Allbrook Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker)** Roland Tings Sampa The Great Tame Impala** Tash Sultana The Julie Ruin Tourist Tycho White Lung Whitney *Melbourne only **Exclusive to Laneway, no sideshows Image: Andy Fraser.
One of the best restaurants in Australia will be immortalised in print, thanks to a new book by chef Dan Hunter. Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant will showcase the history, philosophy and food of the iconic eatery in country Victoria, and is shaping up as one of the most salivating reads of the year. Due to hit shelves on May 1 thanks to Phaidon Press, the 256-page hardback will explore the early days of Brae, while also charting Hunter's journey from kitchen porter to celebrated chef. Personal essays will explore Hunter's ethical vision and strong preference for local ingredients. It's an approach that saw Brae rewarded with the number two spot on the list of Australia's Best Restaurants last year. Amateur cooks will also be keen to get a glimpse of Hunter's recipes, a number of which will be included in the tome. Finally, the book will feature more than 150 of artist Colin Page's photographs, detailing the food, the kitchen and breathtaking Australian landscape that surrounds the restaurant on all sides. Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant hits bookshelves and online stores from May 1 with a recommended retail price of $75.
Before 2023 rolled around, enjoying a meal with a view in Brisbane didn't mean hanging off the side of a building while you eat. Tucking into a degustation didn't happen on a bus decked out to become a fine-diner, either. They're two of the gems that this year has brought the River City's culinary scene — and two restaurants that you need to try as soon as you can, if you haven't already. Queensland's capital welcomed in everything from new celebrity chef-run venues and New York-inspired riverside joints to decadent Japanese spots and mouthwatering steak havens over the past 12 months, all to the delight of Brisbanites' tastebuds. Wondering where to start playing catch up? Which eateries to revisit? We've picked ten that impressed us in 2023. Bon appétit!
What happens when xenomorphs and other terrifying extra-terrestrial creatures find their way to earth? So explores Alien: Earth, which brings the iconic horror/sci-fi saga first started by Ridley Scott's (Gladiator II) Alien to humanity's home, as well as to television. Another way to discover the answer to that question has popped up in Australia to celebrate the new series' arrival: an IRL hive quarantine zone, complete with ominous eggs and organisms, which is enjoying a two-day stint in Sydney. From 12–8pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025 and also from 8am–8pm on Friday, August 15, 2025, 348 Kent Street in the Harbour City is undergoing an otherworldly makeover. Expect ovomorph eggs, a crate containing a "class-one" hostile critter and Prodigy Corp workers donning hazmat suits trying to control the area. As for the show itself, which debuted on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, one of the trailers has some pertinent words: "we don't lock them down, it will be too late." This time, as other sneak peeks have also made clear, there's more than just one type of extra-terrestrial to deal with. So, while watching, you can hear humanity's screams in response, with this spinoff from the iconic Alien films featuring "five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe" wreaking havoc. Not once, not twice, but nine times now across 46 years, cinema audiences have stepped into the world of xenomorphs, facehuggers and chestbursters — and of cats onboard spaceships, androids resembling people and shouts not heard in the universe's vast expanse. When the initial Alien dropped in 1979, it started a phenomenon. 1986's Aliens, 1992's Alien 3, 1997's Alien Resurrection, 2012's Prometheus, 2017's Alien: Covenant and 2024's Alien: Romulus have all followed, as well as the 2004 Alien vs Predator and 2007 Aliens vs Predator: Requiem crossover flicks with the Predator franchise. 2025's Alien: Earth is a first, however, given that it's the franchise's debut TV series. Executive produced by Scott, this is Noah Hawley's addition to the saga — and another of his projects, after Fargo, where he's expanding upon the realm of a beloved film on the small screen. Set in 2120, his Alien entry follows the fallout of deep-space research vessel USCSS Maginot crashing onto earth, then the discoveries made as a result by a crew of soldiers that includes human-robot hybrid Wendy (Sydney Chandler, Sugar). As it peers just under a century into the future, Alien: Earth sees its namesake planet under the control of five companies: Weyland-Yutani, of course, because this is the Alien franchise, plus Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. It also witnesses a society where hybrids like Wendy — the first of her kind, with human consciousness inside a robot body — live side by side with humans, cyborgs and AI-driven synthetics. Hawley's cast not only includes Chandler, but also Fargo alums Timothy Olyphant (Havoc) and David Rysdahl (The Luckiest Man in America), plus Alex Lawther (Andor), Essie Davis (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), Adrian Edmondson (Kidnapped), Samuel Blenkin (Mickey 17), Babou Ceesay (Killer Heat), Lily Newmark (A Gentleman in Moscow) and more. Find the Alien: Earth pop-up at 348 Kent Street, Sydney, from 12–8pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025 and also from 8am–8pm on Friday, August 15, 2025. Alien: Earth streams in Australia via Disney+.
Shaking beef isn't a great name for a restaurant, but Lúc Lắc is, and still allows this addition to Brisbane's Queen's Wharf precinct to nod to one specific dish in its moniker. That meal: Bo Lúc Lắc, which brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, Ghanem Group's directors, came across on a research trip to Asia. They're aiming to make their new venture as memorable and as vibrant as they found the traditional Vietnamese staple — and as flavoursome. Lúc Lắc is among Ghanem Group's venues in Brisbane. Its sibling eateries and bars: Donna Chang, Boom Boom Room, Bisou Bisou, Iris Rooftop, Byblos Bar & Restaurant and Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events. Here, a combination of Vietnamese and Thai tastes await, starting with the dish that gets its nickname from the motion used when it's in the wok. The restaurant's take on its signature features Kampot peppered wagyu beef, cherry tomatoes and capsicum. It's just one of the restaurant's must-tries, however. Under Ghanem Group Executive Chef Jake Nicolson and Lúc Lắc Head Chef Dann Rowell (ex-Balfour Kitchen & Bar, Longitude 131°, Silky Oaks Lodge and Southern Ocean Lodge), the range of options includes escargot and pork spring rolls, tumeric-marinated swordfish and a Vietnamese-inspired twist on tiramisu, too. Steamed and braised duck leg bao, pork bun cha, and wagyu skewers with sweet soy glaze and chilli lime butter are among the smaller dishes, while Singapore-style noodles, lemongrass-braised pork belly, and goat curry with sweet potato and Thai basil are heartier choices. Or, tuck into the roasted red duck curry with lychee and bean sprouts. Fancy fried chook? Lúc Lắc's version poaches the chicken in house-made masterstock first, then batters and fries it before adding a shrimp paste caramel. The 159-seat site within The Star Brisbane also operates as a place for drinks till late, when DJs provide a soundtrack. For beverages, patrons can choose from a 19-option cocktails list, with 15 boozy concoctions and four without the hard stuff. A handy tip: the Thai iced tea comes in both alcoholic and virgin varieties. Asian beers and international wines, including a riesling from the Clare Valley's Rieslingfreak made especially for Lúc Lắc, are also on offer. Design-wise courtesy of Space Cubed Design Studio, Lúc Lắc's subtropical decor features floral fabrics, brass and animal prints, all chosen to leave an imprint. If you eat indoors, you'll be in the 58-seat main area with booths — and the bar made from jade onyx stone slabs. Outdoors, 46 guests can get cosy.
Love may not cost a thing, as many a pop song has told us, but a nice date often requires a little cash. The good news, of course, is that taking your significant other out for dinner needn't empty out your bank account. On the other hand, if you have some money to splash around, there's always a top-notch place to do so. Brisbane's dining scene caters for both scenarios and everything in between at that. If you're all about quality time rather than dolling out the cash; if your wallet is feeling healthy, but not too stuffed; and if you're eager to go all out for a special occasion (or just because) — we've teamed up with Suncorp to find a tiptop date spot for any budget. Suncorp's Platinum Credit Card* works with your existing spending habits, earning you extra points for every dollar you spend on everyday essentials like groceries, that cheeky mid-week wine or this date you're now planning. Read on to discover five places for your next date night — whether you're looking to spend under $40 or ready to make it rain. [caption id="attachment_637609" align="aligncenter" width="1620"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] UNDER $40: TARO'S RAMEN, ASCOT A trip to Tokyo isn't the most affordable date, sadly, even if you're an online shopping wizard and manage to nab super cheap airfares. A trip to Taro's Ramen will make you feel like you've made the flight anyway, however, even it takes far less time to get to one of its authentic-style eateries around town. Heading to the original spot in Ascot is recommended, as is sitting outside on Racecourse Road, ordering a fiery bowl of tonkatsu and slurping away. A spicy, noisy broth makes the heart grow fonder, perhaps? Of course it does — and a delicious noodle soup from one of Brisbane's premiere Japanese joints, paired with a refreshing splash of sake, most definitely will. UNDER $60 PER PERSON: NOTA, PADDINGTON Taking over the Paddington space formerly occupied by relocated fine-diner Montrachet, Nota is big on casual style — but refreshingly light on your wallet. On the menu are "simple but satisfying meals", according to owners (and ex-Moda alumni) Kevin Docherty and Sebastiaan de Kort, aka the kind that go well with a few relaxing wines and great conversation. Standouts include the slow-cooked octopus with raspberry emulsion, fennel and citrus; and the Brisbane Valley quail with sweet corn polenta and burnt butter. And if you're after more of a snacks-and-vino kind of date, and less of a sit-down affair, you can get cosy at the bar and tuck into a range of bites that start from $5. UNDER $80: HELLO GORGEOUS, NEWSTEAD You've gotta love a bar and restaurant with a name that doubles as an ace greeting for your date. Grab your gorgeous partner, take them along to this Newstead spot and welcome them to a neon-hued meal with a cruisy tropical vibe. Cocktails are a huge highlight at Hello Gorgeous — and if you or your other half prefer flavoursome beverages with a bit less booze (or one of you has to guide the chariot home), both non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic options are available. As for the food, it's all designed to share, like the fun you'll be having. Go small with oysters, ceviche, beef carpaccio or stuffed chilli crab; graze over a charcuterie, cheese or vegetarian board (or several); or opt for tuna loin burgers, lamb cutlets or black angus tenderloin from the mains selection. UNDER $100: MR PERCIVAL'S, BRISBANE CITY Are you a firm believer that a stellar date needs a sublime location? If so, then Mr Percival's is the place you're looking for. One of the first spots to open at the CBD's revamped Howard Smith Wharves precinct, this bar and restaurant isn't simply sat next to the river; as the movie pelican it takes its name from, it's perched on top of it. That means that you and your partner can snuggle up inside an overwater octagon, take in the view and swoon over the pastel pink decor (when you're not swooning over each other, naturally). Nosh on lobster rolls, whipped cod roe served with a warm baguette, and anchovies topped with olive oil, lemon and garlic, because seafood is unsurprisingly a focus here. Then, pick from 17 different cocktails or 50 wines — and feel the love. ONE BIG BLOWOUT: 1889 ENOTECA, WOOLLOONGABBA If the way to your loved one's heart is through their Italian-loving stomach, you'll want to make a beeline to Woolloongabba's resident Roma-style restaurant at the cosy end of Logan Road. 1889 Enoteca has been a Brisbane favourite for years, not only thanks to its heaped bowls of sugo-topped rigatoni, sand crab linguine, succulent veal saltimbocca or espresso-soaked tiramisui, but because you'll get comfy in a booth and never want to leave. For those who are really heading in for the long haul, the four-course Roma menu is a top way to tuck into many of the eatery's signature dishes — and comes with matched wines in both half and full-glass options. Speaking of vino, 1889 Enoteca is known for its packed cellar, so expect to be spoiled for boozy choice. Seize the day, make your everyday moments count and get rewarded all the while with Suncorp. *Issued by Citigroup Pty Limited ABN 88 004 325 080 AFSL No. 238098 Australian credit licence 238098.
Being a sports fan involves taking every opportunity you can get to show your love for your chosen team. Attending matches, nabbing all the merchandise, decking yourself out in the appropriate hues: they're some of the easy ways to go about it. If you're particularly dedicated, so is naming a pet after your favourite player or squad. We can't all call a koala joey Matilda, however, like the folks at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have to celebrate the 2023 Women's World Cup. Over the past few weeks, the fortunes of Australia's national women's soccer team have been the best conversation topic there is. How is Sam Kerr's calf? How many goals can Hayley Raso kick? How stunning was that game against Canada? Here's the latest question: how cute is this Gold Coast koala that now shares the Matildas' name? The answer: very. Matilda the koala is now 12 months old, about 25 centimetres in size and has been given her moniker to honour the Aussie squad. "The real Matildas are achieving great things, and many of the staff and volunteers at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have been following their journey closely," said Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Koala Specialist Sarah Eccleston. "When discussing a name for the newest addition to our Koala nursery, Matilda was a clear favourite and seemed very fitting." "Matilda is very sweet but also a bit cheeky. She is already making herself known in the nursery, just like the Matildas in the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament," Eccleston continued. At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Matilda was born from the breeding and conservation program, and will soon join it to help the endangered species' future. The wildlife haven is home to more than 50 of its own fluffy-eared marsupials, which visitors can see on a trip to the park or via a daily behind-the-scenes tour, breakfast with koalas sessions five days a week and regular grazing experiences in its koala habitat. [caption id="attachment_912105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shiftchange via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Find Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin — head to the venue's website for further information. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs until Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website.
Want to go dancing on Christmas night? Stick with us here. After spending the day with your family, feasting on more food than you really should've and likely baking in the Brisbane heat, you're probably going to be in desperate need of a lively evening. Just picture it: the lights are low, the floor is pumping, and while music is echoing throughout the room, no one is singing Christmas carols. If it sounds like your kind of bliss, you have Oh Hello! to thank for the event — aka the seasonal gift you didn't know you needed. Yes, the Fortitude Valley hotspot knows the perfect antidote to the usual holiday customs, which is why they're cooking up some festive fun of their own. And with a name like Keeping The Tradition Alive, it's primed to become your annual December 25th highlight. Now you really will need to have that after-lunch nap to keep your energy levels up.
Perhaps you've always been a fan of Mickey Mouse. Maybe you can remember how it felt when you first watched Bambi. Or, you might be able to sing all of Genie's lyrics in Aladdin. You could've fallen head over heels for Raya and the Last Dragon or Encanto more recently, too. Whichever category fits — and we're guessing that at least one does — Disney's animated movies have likely played a significant part in your life. We all have those childhood memories. We've all grown up with a lingering fondness for the Mouse House. Based on its just-announced big 2022 exhibition, the team at the Queensland Museum clearly knows the feeling as well. From Friday, June 24, the South Bank venue will become one of the happiest places in Australia (and on earth) by hosting a huge Disney exhibition: Disney: The Magic of Animation, the Mouse House showcase that already dazzled Melbourne during 2021 up until January this year. On display will be more than 500 original artworks, including paintings, sketches, drawings and concept art, all from Disney's beloved catalogue of animated movies. Disney: The Magic of Animation explores everything from 1928's Steamboat Willie — the first talkie to feature Mickey Mouse — through to other recent fare such as Moana. Obviously, a wealth of other titles get the nod between those two flicks. Fantasia, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King also feature, as do Mulan, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia. And yes, some of these movies have been remade in live-action or photo-realistic CGI; however, QM's showcase is only about the animated films. The big drawcard: art from the Mouse House's hefty back catalogue of titles, which almost dates back a century now — and heaps of it. The entire lineup has been specially selected by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, and will let you get a glimpse at just how the movie magic comes to life, how some of Disney's famous stories were developed and which animation techniques brought them to the big screen. Get ready to peer at hand-drawn dalmatians (which is timely, given that Cruella released last year), marvel over Frozen and Frozen II's artwork (timely again, seeing that Frozen the Musical plays Brisbane this year), stare closely at Mickey Mouse's evolution, examine Wreck-It Ralph models and pose next to Snow White. If the Queensland Museum setup mimics Melbourne's, wall-sized artworks will pay tribute to a number of movies, too, such as The Little Mermaid — and feeling like you're stepping into a Disney movie will be an unsurprising side effect. Disney: The Magic of Animation's arrival in Brisbane is fantastic news for local Mouse House aficionados, especially after the exhibition's Melbourne run was initially billed as an Aussie exclusive. Announcing the Queensland season, which'll be QM's blockbuster showcase for the year, Queensland Museum Network CEO Dr Jim Thompson said that the venue is "delighted to welcome an iconic and well-known brand such as Disney to our museum this winter, and we believe Queensland residents will excitedly anticipate taking a step behind the scenes to see how their favourite animated characters have been brought to life in this exhibition". Disney: The Magic of Animation arrives in Queensland after past seasons in cities such as Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, too, and is clearly designed to appeal to Mouse House fans of all ages. You, your parents, today's primary school kids — you've all grown up watching Disney flicks. So, while you're pondering tales as old as time, being QM's guest, contemplating the animated circle of life and definitely not letting your nostalgia go, prepare to be accompanied by aficionados both young and young at heart. Disney: The Magic of Animation will open on Friday, June 24 at the Queensland Museum, corner of Grey and Melbourne streets, South Bank, South Brisbane. For more information or to join the ticket waitlist, head to the Queensland Museum website. For more information about the exhibition, read through our run-through of Disney: The Magic of Animation's season. Images: Phoebe Powell, ACMI.
When you consider the ever-inflating costs associated with owning your own patch of urban paradise, it’s little wonder that people are turning to a more compact way of living. In response, quirky micro houses are appearing in cities around the globe, as architects and owners turn their attention to designing houses with simplicity and sustainability in mind. Many designers have been influenced by Japanese architects like Yasuhiro Yamashita, who has responded to the challenge posed by space constraints by creating small but comfortable and functional living quarters like his Lucky Drops house in Tokyo. As more and more attractive alternatives to traditional homes pop up each week, we take a look at some of our favourite not-so-grand designs. Small House in Tokyo, Japan Tunnel Vision in Manhattan, New York Small House Surry Hills, Sydney Steel Life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lucky Drops in Tokyo, Japan
Rosebery's award-winning distillery Archie Rose is going experimental this month as it launches ArchieMite: a new 'buttered toast spirit' that uses Pepe Saya butter, a house-mix of 'mite' spreads and Sonoma sourdough toast in the distilling process. The umami-packed liqueur will launch at the Archie Rose Bar on Wednesday, May 8 — and we're not sure if we should be excited or not. ArchieMite certainly won't be everyone's favourite, as descriptors like salty, buttery and savoury are not normally attributed to alcohol. But fans of Vegemite (and other umami-rich yeast-extract spreads) will likely appreciate this unusual spirit. Apart from the 'mites', a whopping 25-kilograms of freshly churned Pepe Saya and 15-kilograms of Sonoma's toasted sourdough went into the ArchieMite making. If you want to taste the spirit in its best form, head along to Archie Rose Bar on the weekend for its themed Mitey Brunches — which will run noon–2pm every Saturday and Sunday from May 11–June 2. On the menu will be a list ArchieMite cocktails, so expect to drink the likes of a Mitey Bloody Mary, Espresso Mite-Ini, Mitey Colada and ArchieMite Pickleback. For food, there'll be build-your-own platters on offer, with the obvious options including Sonoma bread, Pepe Saya butter and breakfast spreads aplenty. Next door at Gelato Messina's Rosebery HQ, the team has created ArchieMite-infused gelato sandwiches, too — using Sonoma bread, Pepe Saya butter and breakfast 'mite' spreads, of course. These will be available at the Archie Rose Bar from Wednesday, May 8 until sold out. And the Australia Museum will stay open after-dark to host a ArchieMite makers night in July. The limited-edition run of 3000 bottles will also be available in bars, independent bottle shops and online for $79 per bottle. Come and get it. Archie Rose's ArchieMite is available to purchase online from 10.30am on Wednesday, May 8.
The end of winter means warming temperatures, blooming flowers and summer inching closer. In 2023, it also means looking up. To close out August, a super blue moon will take to the sky — or a blue supermoon, if you prefer. Both terms fit, because the Earth's only natural satellite will serve up both a supermoon and a blue moon. The date to point your eyes to the heavens: Thursday, August 31. Stare upwards with your own two eyes and you'll see a noteworthy sight — but it'll actually be at its peak that morning. Heading outdoors at 11.35 AEST is recommended; however, if you train your peepers towards the sky the evening before or afterwards, you'll still be in for a glowing show. While super full moons aren't particularly rare — several usually happen each year — blue moons only happen every few years. Wondering why else you should check this one out? We've run through the details below. [caption id="attachment_769713" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NASA/Joel Kowsky[/caption] WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. As we all learned back in November 2016, a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. Again, they're not all that uncommon — and because the supermoon on Thursday, August 31 is a full moon (and not a new moon), it's called a super full moon. A blue moon refers to the second full moon occurring in a calendar month. Despite the name, it isn't blue in colour. Also, despite the saying, they happen more often than you might think, but still only ever few years. The next monthly blue moon after this is set to occur at the end of May in 2026. Normally, the August moon is also a sturgeon moon, too — and while that's the case in 2023 as always, that moon has already been and gone. That's what happens when there's two months in a month, with this year's sturgeon moon happening on Wednesday, August 2. The name, doesn't refer to its shape or any other physical characteristics, but to the time of year. In the northern hemisphere, August is around the time that sturgeon fish start to show up in big numbers in North America's lakes. Of course, that doesn't apply in the southern hemisphere, but the name still sticks. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? As mentioned above, the super blue moon will officially be at its peak at 11.35am AEST on Thursday, August 31, Down Under — but thankfully it will be visible from Wednesday night Australia and New Zealand time. The moon does usually appear full for a few days each month, so you should find the night sky looking a little brighter this week anyway. That 11.35am AEST time applies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with folks in Perth needing to look at 9.35am local time and people in Adelaide at 11.05am local time. In New Zealand, get peering at 1.35pm NZST. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking at glowing sights in the sky always applies — so city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. Fancy checking it out online? The Virtual Telescope Project is set to stream the view from Rome at 1.30pm AEST on Thursday, August 31, too. For more information about the super blue moon on Thursday, August 31, head to timeanddate.com.
Pharrell's putting that giant-hatted brain to good use; the multi-Grammy award-winning artist has co-designed and curated the first ever denim collection made with recycled plastic yarn. Fronting the G-Star crew as creative director of Bionic Yarn, Pharrell is spearheading G-Star's eco-friendly collections for men and women, dubbed RAW for Ocean. Sounding like something Iron Man knits mittens with, Bionic Yarn is an eco-thread of fibres made from recycled plastic bottles found littering the ocean. Having already recycled a whopping ten tonnes of plastic waste from the seas, RAW for Ocean is the first ever collection to use Bionic Yarn to create a denim collection. And when three times as much rubbish is dumped into the ocean as the weight of fish caught every year, this is a sustainable initiative we can truly get behind. At the forefront of sustainable fashion, G-Star and Pharrell have teamed up with some pretty kickass initiatives to see the collection come to fruition. The Vortex Project works to retrieve and recycle the millions of kilos of plastic floating in our global oceans, hoping to reduce it and come up with smart awareness campaigns to disrupt the vicious cycle. Parley for the Oceans is another top notch platform which brings together artists, musicians, fashion designers, scientists, engineers and other environmentally-conscious legends to talk about the ocean's massive problem in high-profile events and activations. They've also got Sea Shepherd giving them the thumbs up. So what's in store for the collection? Raw for Ocean will see jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, caps and more created from Bionic Yarn — all featuring different shades of mazarine indigo blue and black. One of the cornerstone pieces for men is a modern trench cut from the Bionic Yarn raw denim, the A-Crotch Trench, while ladies can look forward to a printed denim Fallden Bomber. The RAW for Ocean collection even has a dorky little mascot, Otto the Octopus, whose presence in the collection becomes a quirky take on the classic houndstooth print. Sea Shepherd's Paul Watson said, "Creativity is the key to saving creation from our darker side and the key to a future of ecological harmony between humanity and the diversity of wondrous species we share this planet with." Big ups to G-Star and Pharrell for getting on board. The RAW for Ocean collection drops September 10 in stores and online.
When 2023 arrived, it marked two decades since composer Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman took a book inspired by The Wizard of Oz, put it to music and turned it into one of Broadway's biggest hits of the 21st century. Now, before 2024 is out, this year will give Brisbane musical theatre fans their latest chance to see that very show right here at home — because Wicked is flying into the Queensland capital from September. Even if you haven't seen the stage blockbuster before, including on its past Aussie run from 2008–11, then you've likely heard of it. Following the Land of Oz's witches — telling their untold true tale is the musical's whole angle, in fact — Wicked has notched up more awards than you can fit in a hefty cauldron over the years. That includes three Tonys from ten nominations, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and six Drama Desk Awards. Also huge: its worldwide footprint, playing in 16 countries around the globe since its 2003 debut. And, when it makes its way to QPAC's Lyric Theatre for its next stop on its current Aussie run, following its past Sydney season and present Melbourne season, it'll do so after enchanting itself into fourth place in the list of longest-running Broadway shows ever — even surpassing Cats. Story-wise, Wicked starts before The Wizard of Oz and continues its narrative after Dorothy Gale lands, adapting Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The text itself has sold 5.5-million copies, including five million since the musical first opened. Here, before Dorothy blows in, two other women meet in the Land of Oz: Elphaba and Galinda. One will later be known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while the other will become Glinda the Good Witch. Exactly why that happens, and how, and the pair's relationship from rivals to unlikely friends to grappling with their new labels, fuels the show's tale. Popping on your ruby slippers, clicking your heels three times and defying gravity at the Brisbane stage show means seeing Courtney Monsma in her debut lead role as Galinda/Glinda, Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, Robyn Nevin as Madame Morrible and Todd McKenney as the Wizard — plus Liam Head as Fiyero, Adam Murphy as Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay as Nessarose and Kurtis Papadinis as Boq. Wicked has been brought back to Australia by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B Platt and David Stone — and is taking to the stage again before the two-part film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo (Pinocchio) as Elphaba and Ariana Grande (Don't Look Up) as Galinda, and directed by Jon M Chu (In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians), is due to start reaching cinemas from November 2024. Wicked will play Brisbane's QPAC Lyric Theatre from September 2024. For more information or to join the ticket waitlist ahead of sales — with general sales from Friday, March 22, and presales the week prior — head to the production's website. Images: Jeff Busby.
When 2025 began, starting off March with wet and windy weather thanks to a cyclone threatening to hit the River City wasn't on any Brisbanite's bingo card; however, that's been the reality due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. After a chaotic weekend that saw the city avoid the worst predictions regarding the cyclone's impact, but still endure damaging winds, intense rain and flooding, Brisbane remains in a soggy state. The wet conditions continue, and so does the flash-flooding risk. Nothing has returned to normal yet, then, including venturing out of the house via public transport. It's been a week since CityCat and ferry services were suspended as at the last service on Monday, March 3, with buses and trains in southeast Queensland following from the final service on Wednesday, March 5. As at Monday, March 10, Brisbane's public transport network is now slowly starting to resume, but the severe weather is still having a say. Indeed, buses initially resumed on Sunday, March 9, only to be suspended again. At the time of writing, Translink advises that "public transport is continuing to come back online after major impacts due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred", but "some services will remain offline while our crews can undertake critical repairs and clean-up work while there are ongoing impacts due to localised flooding, road closures and staff availability." Accordingly, although some bus, train, CityCat and ferry services are beginning again in and around Brisbane, you'll want to check Translink before heading out — and also be prepared for further changes as the weather keeps developing. [caption id="attachment_844368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ash Kyd via Flickr[/caption] Brisbane City Council bus services are still suspended "until further notice due to overnight weather impacts causing flooding and road closures", for instance, but some Logan, Redlands and Moreton Bay services are running. If you usually travel by rail, the Cleveland, Doomben, Gold Coast and Redcliffe Peninsula lines aren't back in action yet, but the others are, operating on Sunday timetables. There are no CityCat services on Monday, March 10, but some currently have timetables up for Tuesday, March 11. Translink advises that its online journey planner will be updated each day at 6pm, outlining services for the next day. [caption id="attachment_754201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] To keep up to date with the latest conditions, warnings, alerts and timetables, Brisbanites can head to the below services: The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland warnings page, Queensland X and Facebook Brisbane City Council's emergency dashboard Queensland Government's disaster site Brisbane City Council's X and Facebook Translink's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's website, X, Facebook and Instagram Qld Traffic Stay safe and dry out there, Queenslanders. For the latest transport news, timetables and service changes, head to the Translink website. Brisbane City Council is continuing to update its emergency dashboard. The Bureau of Meteorology is continuing to update its warnings regularly — visit its website for further details.
Thanks to its prime location on Melbourne Street in South Brisbane, as well as its multiple levels of bars, the Fox Hotel was once one of the River City's must-hit pubs — and recently. Soon, it's aiming to be exactly that again. Ghanem Group has announced that it is taking over the well-known and heritage-listed spot, and will reopening the site before 2025 is out. Expect stacked levels of eating and drinking, turning the venue into a new dining, events and entertainment precinct. "This is our largest and one of our most-exciting projects to date," said Ghanem Group Director Adonis Ghanem, announcing the company's next venture, which follows the launch of Lúc Lắc at Queen's Wharf late in 2024. "The growing community of this area has long awaited the return of this legendary venue, and to have the opportunity to bring the next era of dining and entertainment to this iconic site is a true honour. This is a project that we are very much excited about." There's no exact reopening date as yet, but it will be before 2026 arrives. Overall, the aim is get Brisbanites flocking back to the landmark venue, and to make the most of its position as part of Fish Lane. Expect the revitalisation to pay tribute to one helluva building, too, and to both nod to the past and cement the site's future across its various floors. Yes, making a date here will feel like hitting up different venues in one, with each level adding to a diverse setup. You'll head in via a new entry on Fish Lane, then either hang out in the public bar on the ground floor — where you can grab a bite at the bistro as well — or venture upstairs. Function spaces, a bottle shop and a late-night cocktail lounge will all be included in the Fox's latest guise, as will the rooftop terrace. Space Cubed Design Studio is leading the charge on the interior redesign and fitout, but heritage features will remain, as will the building's art deco touches. Initially it opened in 1927 as the Hotel Terminus, replacing a prior hotel on the site. As for what you'll be eating, an array of different cuisines will be on the menu across the Fox's levels. The pub joins not only Lúc Lắc, but also Donna Chang, Boom Boom Room, Bisou Bisou, Iris Rooftop, Byblós Bar & Restaurant and Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events among Ghanem Group's Brisbane ventures. Adonis and his brother Nehme started the company in 2006, which is when Byblós Brisbane launched, but their family history dates back further, to Lebanese restaurants owned by their parents from the late 70s. [caption id="attachment_760445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Fox Hotel[/caption] The Fox Hotel will reopen at 71/73 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane sometime in late 2025 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Keep an eye on the Ghanem Group's website for further information in the interim.
By the time that March 2025 is out, Australians will have a new streaming service vying for their eyeballs. As rumoured since 2024, confirmed the same year and given an exact launch date earlier this year, Warner Bros Discovery's Max platform is launching locally on Monday, March 31. As that date approaches, more details have arrived regarding what'll be on offer, as well as pricing and plans, if you're keen to sign up to the new Aussie home of HBO's shows. As already revealed, you'll want to subscribe if you're a The Last of Us fan — that's where you'll be watching the hit game-to-screen series' second season when it debuts on Monday, April 14. Max will also boast other HBO Originals, returning, new and old alike, such as The White Lotus; House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and any other Game of Thrones spinoffs; Euphoria; upcoming IT prequel series Welcome to Derry; and everything from True Detective,The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire, Oz, Deadwood, Big Love, True Blood, Big Little Lies and Westworld through to Succession, The Larry Sanders Show, Sex and the City, Flight of the Conchords, Bored to Death, Girls, Veep, Barry and Enlightened. The platform's own Max Originals — so made for it, rather than for HBO — include And Just Like That...,, Peacemaker and The Pitt, while the Warner Bros television library also spans Friends, Rick and Morty, Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl and more. Adventure Time, Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo are among the cartoon names hitting the service. Plus, content TV networks Discovery, Cartoon Network, TLC, Food Network, ID and HGTV are also on their way to the platform. If you're a film fan, get excited about access to recent cinema releases at home, as well as classic fare. Alongside boasting movies from Warner Bros Pictures from the past few years, such as Barbie, Wonka, Trap, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice and Twisters — and also big franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Dune, the DC Universe and Harry Potter — Max will screen blockbusters fast-tracked from their silver-screen dates. And, the service will feature a TCM hub, which is where all-time greats such as Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket and Rebel Without a Cause will be available. As for plans and pricing, there's three of the former — starting with a basic package that includes ads, then offering standard and premium options. The first spans full HD resolution and two devices streaming simultaneously, as does the second, with the latter also including 30 downloads to watch offline. Opt for premium and 4K resolution plus Dolby Atmos sound are featured, if they're available per title; four devices can stream simultaneously; and the downloads go up to 100. As a launch special until Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the basic with ads plan is available for $7.99 per month for the first 12 months or $79.99 for the first year (or $11.99 per month/$119.99 per year from Thursday, May 1, 2025). The standard plan special is $11.99 per month for the first 12 months or $119.99 for the first year ($15.99 per month/$159.99 per year afterwards), while premium is available for $17.99 per month for the first 12 months or $179.99 for the first year (or $21.99 per month/$219.99 per year afterwards). While the great streaming service rush, when new platforms seemed to appear every few weeks or so, is a few years in the past, HBO bringing Max to Australia remains huge news. At present, the US network's shows largely screen and stream to Aussie viewers via Binge and Foxtel. When the former launched, boasting HBO's catalogue was one of its big selling points. The deal between Binge, Foxtel and Warner Bros Discovery — which owns HBO — was extended in 2023, but it was reported at the time, accurately so it proves, that Max might debut in Australia from 2025. Max will be available direct to consumers via its website and app stores — you'll sign up for it by itself — for viewing via mobile, tablet, gaming consoles and connected TV, but it will still keep a connection with Foxtel. If you subscribe to the pay-TV service, you'll get access to the Max app without paying extra. Max launches in Australia on Monday, March 31, 2025 — head to the streaming service's website for more details.
The Alliance Francais French Film Festival is back for another year, ready to celebrate the best in French cinema. Returning to select Palace locations around the country, this year’s program is packed with exciting goodies, including dramas, comedies, docos, kids' films and an entire stream dedicated to movies about the First World War. With almost 50 movies on offer — most of them Australian premieres — it’s shaping up to be one of the festival’s most exciting years ever. Of all those titles, we’ve selected five that you absolutely owe it to yourself to see. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Lea Seydoux (Blue Is the Warmest Colour) and Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) star in this sumptuous adaptation of the classic French fairy tale. An enormous French-German co-production, the film’s trailer is absolutely packed with gorgeous visuals, and appears to have a darker edge than the animated Disney version we all know and love. The last couple of years have seen a bunch of big budget Hollywood “reboots” of fairy tale stories, most of them not very good. Here’s hoping the French (and the Germans) can get it right. GIRLHOOD Aged just 36, writer-director Celine Sciamma first caught our attention with Tomboy, a tender coming-of-age story about a 10-year-old girl pretending to be a boy. Her follow-up, Girlhood, belongs to a similar genre, although this time her protagonists are a little older. The film explores the dynamic between four reckless teenage girls as they struggle to pave a future for themselves in one of the poorer parts of Paris. The film has received a ton of buzz on the international festival circuit, and we can’t wait to check it out. THE NEW GIRLFRIEND When it comes to sexually provocative cinema, no one does it better than director Francois Ozon. The man behind such films as In the House and Swimming Pool, Ozon has made a career out of titillating pulp, and his latest film looks to be absolutely no exception. A story of death and deception with some cross-dressing thrown in, The New Girlfriend has been described as a mix of Hitchcockian thriller and Almodóvar-style sexual comedy. It should probably go without saying, but this one’s for adults only. SAINT LAURENT Last year saw the release of Yves Saint Laurent, the first in a pair of competing biographical dramas about the legendary French fashion designer. Unfortunately, that film was pretty bloody awful. But we’re holding out hope for this alternate version, which competed for the Palme d’Or at last year’s Festival de Cannes and got much kinder notices from critics. TOKYO FIANCEE Finishing off our list with something a little lighter, romantic comedy Tokyo Fiancee has drawn comparisons to Amelie — and presumably not just because their protagonists have the same name. The film concerns a young French woman obsessed with all things Japanese, who decides to book herself a one-way ticket to Tokyo. Once there she finds work as a French tutor, only to begin a relationship with one of her students. The film is one of the favourites of festival patrons David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz. And really, who are we to argue with them? The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is on around Australia in March. Catch it in Sydney from March 3-22, Melbourne from March 4-22 and Brisbane from March 13 - April 1. Check the festival website for the full program.
Alicia Taylor is one of Melbourne's most promising young photographers — you've probably seen her work splashed across your social feeds already. She learned the tricks of her trade at RMIT, where she studied design and photography, and combined her love of both in the career we all dream of: international photographer. Still, she's a Melburnian through and through, and knows the city's art and design scene as few can ever hope to. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Melbourne, we've called in Alicia, whose favourite spots range from the city's weirdest commercial art gallery to a restaurant whose impressive interior design is finished off with a four-metre brass compass. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in Melbourne — Albert Park or On the Park in East Melbourne — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Alicia's perspective on Melbourne's art and design hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. SOPHIE GANNON GALLERY The Sophie Gannon Gallery in Richmond is set away in an unassuming, single-level brick enclave, but housed within is the life's work of one of Australia's most ambitious art dealers, Sophie Gannon herself. Sophie came up from managing a handful of artists to handling some of Australia's finest — including my personal favourite, Emily Ferretti. Her gallery is also a showroom, as they so often are, and I love dropping by whenever I'm in the neighbourhood. There's no need to preplan; you can just trust that Sophie will have something beautiful adorning the walls. ACCA The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is a great interactive contemporary art space located in Southbank. It's one of my favourite architectural spaces in Melbourne. You won't be able to miss it — in a sparse, industrial part of town, the ACCA building really draws attention to itself. It was completed in 1983 by Wood Marsh Architecture. The distinctive rusted steel facade of interpressed metal has since become a beloved architectural icon. The exhibitions presented at ACCA are often thought-provoking, innovative and bold, and the program of talks and symposiums that accompany them are some of Melbourne's finest. [caption id="attachment_644313" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brook Andrew at Tolarno Galleries Melbourne. Photo by Andrew Curtis[/caption] TOLARNO GALLERIES The Tolarno Galleries is one of the Melbourne's weirdest commercial contemporary art galleries, nestled in a spacious and well-appointed venue on Exhibition Street in the CBD. The director, Jan Minchin (formerly a curator at the National Gallery of Victoria), is known for creating the perfect blend of controversial and popular exhibitions with lawless artists (and some of my favourites) like Ben Quilty and Bill Henson. Remember Patricia Piccinini, blowing our minds over and over? Imagine that kind of work given free rein. The clean, white exhibition space is filled with soft, filtered light. I find it acts as a perfect oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city and an introspective atmosphere to take it all in. TARLO & GRAHAM You haven't truly experienced eclectic vintage until you've visited Tarlo and Graham on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. It's a cornucopia of eccentric pieces, and it's difficult for me to even try to predict what you might find on a visit. It could be anything. You might stumble across a rare lithograph from a beloved Australian artist, a dozen trombones or a family of ceramic clowns. It's all possible at Tarlo and Graham, which is why i love to while away an afternoon here. Goodies are piled high in every corner, but it's not always random. The warmth and humour of the proprietors shines through in their weird and wonderful displays and combinations. CHRISTOPHER BOOTS Lighting stores, with their dramatic and changeable lighting landscapes, are a world of their own, and the Christopher Boots showroom is, in my opinion, one of Melbourne's best. Located on Gore Street in Fitzroy, it's part art installation, part gallery and part lighting retailer. The intimate and artful showroom is ever-changing and also a delight to walk through. The CB team work in their open-plan office next to the displays. They might specialise in lighting, but the team's expertise in all things texture shines through in the beautiful warehouse and workspaces. JARDAN The Jardan store in Richmond (you'll find it nestled in furniture row, on Church Street) is a beautiful venue to spend a morning wandering around. The light-soaked space displays furniture and art pieces that will make you sigh and say 'One day'. Or, today could be your day! Pieces from some of Australia's best contemporary designers are housed here in a range of styled spaces. The store itself is a stroke of design genius, featuring a combination of a stark gold facade, eggshell whites, overflowing greenery and varied natural textures that showcase but don't overpower the pieces they surround. FENTON & FENTON Fenton & Fenton is a colourful cave of wonders in Prahan and a must-do for any design lover or interior decorator (amateur or otherwise). They sell an extensive collection of art and design on the premises, as well as bits and pieces you won't find anywhere else: jewellery, curios, furnishings and a diverse range of homewares and lifestyle products. Fenton & Fenton also have a team of lovely stylists on hand (or a phone call away) to guide you if you get stuck between cushions, and the shop itself is always so beautifully styled, I think it's an inspiration in its own right. HIGHER GROUND Higher Ground, conveniently found in the CBD, is an outstanding example of architectural retrofitting done right (they serve excellent food too — prepare to salivate). Nathan Toleman (the man behind Top Paddock and Kettle Black) and his partners — Sam Slattery, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas — have created another dazzling cafe experience. Higher Ground started its life as an old power station and has been transformed into a spacious and lush eating space with gentle lighting. I've noticed the breakfast menu is earning a bit of a reputation, and I can't go past the colourful ricotta hotcake served with seeds, cream, seasonal fruit and flowers or the butter poached white asparagus, served with comté, tarragon, bronze fennel, poached eggs and rye toast. Their tea menu is also out of the ordinary. ATLAS DINING The design concept at Atlas Dining, located on Commercial Road in South Yarra, is truly exceptional. The contemporary, clean space — designed by Sydney-based architects Belinda Pajkovic and Tamara Frangelli — is defined by leather banquettes, soft lighting and white birch timber, topped off with a four-metre brass compass hanging from the ceiling. It blows my mind every time I visit. And the elegance continues through to the rotating menu, which is completely changed every three months (I never know what I'll get and that's fun). Chef Charlie Carrington's dishes are beautifully plated and balanced. They say Atlas will be a true adventure and they're right — it's a must-do Melbourne experience. ACNE STUDIOS Melbourne's Acne Studios store opened in 2014. It's already an iconic landmark on The Strand and has also raised the bar for retail design in the CBD. The fit-out was designed by Swedish firm Bozarthfornell Architects. They've been responsible for Acne Studios stores all over the world, but the Melbourne iteration is like no other, with stark, industrial dividers slicing up the space. It's both functional and brutal in perfect balance. If you're anything like me, a stroll through Acne Studios will have your senses pinging and your fingers itching to swipe your credit card. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
There's no shortage of ways to celebrate Halloween, whether scary movies, eerie art, a trick-or-treating stint, playing with Lego or themed mini golf is your thing. Here's a particularly tasty one: getting dressed up in costume and scoring a free Krispy Kreme doughnut. The chain is known for giving away its round treats, including handing out 100,000 of them each National Doughnut Day. For Tuesday, October 31, it isn't locking in an exact number of doughnuts that'll be on offer — but it will give one to everyone who turns up to a Krispy Kreme store dressed for the occasion. If that isn't an excuse to don your spookiest outfit, then what is? To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, head to your closest Krispy Kreme store in Australia or New Zealand on Tuesday, October 31 while wearing a Halloween-appropriate costume. You'll receive one original glazed doughnut per person, and you don't have to buy anything else to nab the treat without paying a cent. That gives everyone a heap of places to flock to: 38 in Australia and six in New Zealand. Sydneysiders able to hit up 17 stores stretching from Penrith to the CBD, Victorians can visit nine locations from Chadstone to Collins Street, and Queenslanders given eight different doughnut shops to pick from (with the most central in Albert Street in the CBD). Residents of Perth can make a date with one of four Krispy Kreme locations. In Aotearoa, all options are in Auckland — including at Newmarket, Chancery Square and the domestic airport terminal. Of course, Krispy Kreme is hoping that you will be possessed by the Halloween vibe while you're in-store — or beforehand — and treat yourself to something from its themed range. On offer until Tuesday, October 31: four different varieties. If you opt for the Spiderweb, you'll get an OG doughnut that's been dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with white truffle. The Jack O'Lantern takes a shell doughnut, packs it with choc crème, then dips it in orange-coloured truffle — what else? — before giving it an eyes and mouth via sugar fondant. The Ghost goes with a white truffle dip, plus white choc flakes and candy for eyes. And the Graveyard fills a shell doughnut with strawberry filling, covers the outside with green truffle, then uses sour gummy worms and ground chocolate crumb as soil. Krispy Kreme's Halloween giveaway takes place in-store on Tuesday, October 31. The chain's Halloween range is available until the same date. To find your closest shop and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
No one needs an excuse to welcome in their Sunday with a boozy brunch, but Fiume Bar atop the Crystalbrook Vincent just came up with a new one anyway. Pairing your meal and drinks with a killer view is always reason enough to get up, and get eating and sipping — and the vantage from Howard Smith Wharves' resident rooftop bar sure is mighty spectacular. Wherever you find yourself at this inner-city precinct, you'll be staring at the Brisbane River. You may as well take a gander while you're enjoying a three-course Italian brunch, though, and knocking back cocktails, spritzes, beers and wine. That's what's on the menu at Fiume's La Dolce Vita Brunch, which run every Sunday through spring and summer from Sunday, September 12–Sunday, February 27. Your $115 ticket will nab you multiple choices when it comes to each course, so hazelnut and coffee castagnoles (aka mini Italian-style doughnuts), a pain au chocolate, chargrilled watermelon with parma ham, and a potato and thyme terrine topped with a poached egg could be in your future. Drinks-wise, you'll be saying cheers for two hours, including with mimosas, bloody marys, spritzes, prosecco, wine and Italian beers. And, you can choose between 10am–12pm or 12.30–2.30pm sessions (because yes, on weekends, brunch can start after midday if you want it to). Images: Markus Ravik. Updated November 16.
Sydney has really stepped up its art game this year. In addition to increased investment in some of our most beloved galleries, the city has secured exhibitions by some of the most influential artists of their generation from home and abroad across the next few months. From prizes celebrating Australia's best contemporary art to retrospectives from the masters, there's something for everyone whether you're a studied aficionado or a casual fan. Each of the following exhibitions is worthy of an article in itself, but let's start with a little taster. We've teamed up with Destination NSW to give you the lowdown on the seven of the most anticipated exhibitions to have on your radar.
With Irma Vep, French filmmaker Olivier Assayas (Wasp Network) retraces his own footsteps, turning his cult-favourite 1996 movie of the same name into an Alicia Vikander-starring HBO miniseries. There's more to that act both on- and off-screen, and Assayas couldn't be having more fun with the whole concept. But first, David Lynch's Twin Peaks deserves a mention. No, not just because it's always worth thinking about. When that cult-favourite series returned in 2017 after a quarter-century gap, it ended its 18-hour run by asking "what year is this?". That query made complete sense in the show's narrative with its Lynchian logic; however, it's also as perfect a comment on the state of entertainment today as anything could utter. In Lynch's hands, Twin Peaks was never going to feel like slipping cosily back into the past to rehash old glories. Almost everything else that's hit screens of late can't make that claim, though. Among 2022's big box-office successes so far sits the latest Batman flick, the 28th Marvel movie, a 36-years-later sequel, the 11th Wizarding World instalment, yet another Spider-Man film and more Ghostbusters; what year is this indeed? Irma Vep doesn't belong in their company, however. It slides into streaming queues knowing the everything-old-is-new-again status quo, and probing, challenging and satirising it. It also jokes about whether an episodic project aired on TV can really be a movie, playfully riffing on the chatter about Twin Peaks' third season — and it's one of the best things to reach television since that masterpiece. Streaming weekly in Australia via Binge since Tuesday, June 7, and in New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, June 14, Irma Vep also requires some unpacking. The term 'layered' has rarely ever applied to a show quite as it does here. So, Assayas remakes his own film — and the resulting series follows a director remaking one of his own past flicks as a TV project, too. In all versions of Irma Vep, the movies and shows being made are also remakes of 1915–16 French crime effort Les Vampires. It was a ten-episode, seven-hour cinema serial, and it's supremely real. Indeed, by first helming a feature about remaking Les Vampires, and now a series about remaking a movie that remakes Les Vampires (which, IRL, is also a remake of a movie that remakes Les Vampires), Assayas keeps remaking Les Vampires in his own way. The nested dolls that are Irma Vep's meta setup just keep stacking. The 1996 Irma Vep starred Maggie Cheung, who'd later become Assayas' wife, then ex-wife — and the 2022 Irma Vep haunts its on-screen filmmaker René Vidal (Vincent Macaigne, Non-Fiction) with visions of his ex-wife Jade Lee (Vivian Wu, Dead Pigs), who, yes, led his movie. If you're a fan of word puzzles, you might've also noticed that Irma Vep is an anagram of vampire; that said, Les Vampires isn't actually about bloodsuckers, and nor is any iteration of Irma Vep. To add to the list, while Cheung played a version of herself, Vikander (Blue Bayou, The Green Knight) plays fictional American star Mira — a name that's an anagram of Irma. You can also take that moniker literally, because mirroring is patently a pivotal aspect of Irma Vep in every guise. This lengthy roster of links, nods and connections isn't done yet, with René clearly a fictionalised version of Assayas, and the latter finding inspiration for Mira elsewhere in his career. Two of his recent gems, the sublime duo that is Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper, both starred Kristen Stewart — and spotting similarities between her professional and personal lives and Mira's is oh-so-easy. In fact, Mira signs up for René's new Irma Vep after leading huge Hollywood hits, then yearning for more complex and substantial work. She also has a famous actor ex, Eamonn (Tom Sturridge, the upcoming The Sandman), and moved on with her now-former personal assistant Laurie (Adria Arjona, Morbius). As delightful as it is for diehard cinephiles, knowing all of the above isn't essential before watching Irma Vep 2.0. It helps put viewers on its wavelength, though — and this is a show that's all about wavelengths. René can't find his, with the production plagued by insurance woes, actors demanding either big sex scenes (Sorry Angel's Vincent Lacoste) or crack (Proxima's Lars Eidinger), and a financier who only stumped up the cash to get Mira to front his new perfume line. Amid that chaos, and after finishing promotional duties on her last blockbuster (and running into the now-married Laurie in the process), Mira attempts to plunge as deeply as she can into her role. She adores the black velvet catsuit that costume designer Zoe (Jeanne Balibar, Memoria) has fashioned — almost as much as Zoe visibly adores her — and, even under her new assistant Regina's (newcomer Devon Ross) watchful eye, immerses herself in playing Irma Vep far more than the script requires. Everyone's sinking their teeth into something here, or trying to, just as Assayas bites into a smart and savvy satire about the entertainment industry. Everyone's feasting on something, too, including Hollywood's insatiable need to devour itself one sequel and remake at a time. Irma Vep tackles these ideas, and parodies the incessant lust for more and more screen content, the perils and perks of fame, on-set antics and plenty of online discussion about cinema over the past decade, all while musing on the lines between art and reality as well. Oh, and while throwing in a wonderful Emily in Paris gag. But Assayas is an arthouse auteur above all else, and he's always grounded and naturalistic rather than campy and farcical — even when Irma Vep is hilarious, which is often. In contemplating why we consume art, or make it so that others can (and for others still to capitalise upon), he also revels in both dissecting and simply hanging out among behind-the-scenes shenanigans. If that wasn't all phenomenal enough — and equally thoughtful, playful and savagely clever — Irma Vep is hypnotically lensed like it belongs on the big screen. It also shimmers with the full force of Vikander at her absolute best (yes, better than her Oscar-winning turn in The Danish Girl). There's such an earthiness to her performance that it hardly feels like watching a performance at all. She's acting, of course — Irma Vep doesn't add that layer to its pile — but she inhabits Mira with relaxed effortlessness, whether she's projecting the cool, calm and collected movie-star persona, showing the character's vulnerabilities, or diving into the allure that the series-within-a-series version of Irma Vep holds. Macaigne, the always-impressive Lacoste and Eidinger, and Balibar and Ross also do their utmost, because this show isn't short on standouts. But that key combination of Assayas, Vikander and all things Irma Vep is what dreams are made of, as is one of 2022's most glorious new TV shows. Check out the trailer for Irma Vep below: Irma Vep streams week by week in Australia via Binge since Tuesday, June 7 — and in New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, June 14. Images: Carole Bethuel/HBO.
Another streaming service is about to boost your viewing options, focusing on Australian movies and television while letting you watch for free. We might live in peak online-viewing times, with no shortage of platforms vying for eyeballs, but Brollie is launching with a couple of clear points of difference. Firstly, there's the lack of price tag. Secondly, there's the homegrown love. When Brollie arrives on Thursday, November 23, it will hail from independent Australian and New Zealand distributor Umbrella Entertainment — hence the name — and draw upon the company's catalogue. Open debut, that'll mean 300-plus titles ready to view. While the Aussie contingent is a big drawcard, there'll also be overseas releases among the range. So, get ready to watch local-made gems such as The Babadook and Two Hands; classics like Walkabout and Storm Boy that feature the late, great David Gulpilil; the Kylie Minogue-starring Cut; Hugh Jackman (The Son) in Erskineville Kings; and the Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness)-led BMX Bandits. Documentaries such as Servant or Slave and Ablaze will also be available. Or, get excited about Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid)-led masterpiece You Were Never Really Here, the live-action OG Super Mario Bros, and mind-bender Vivarium with Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) and Imogen Poots (Outer Range) among the international titles. You'll be watching along via Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Chromecast with Google TV and on your browser. Because Brollie is free, however, the caveat is that you'll also be watching ads. To help viewers sort through the Brollie collection, the service's team will highlight its best-of picks twice monthly, and also hero Aussie horror via an Australian Nightmares collection. "We know these iconic films and TV shows can find new and old audiences instead of gathering dust on the shelf. Brollie is about helping Aussies to access this world-class storytelling easily and, most importantly, for free so everyone can enjoy our epic screen legacy," said Ari Harrison, General Manager and Head of Sales & Acquisitions, announcing Brollie's arrival. Brollie will launch on Thursday, November 23 — head to the streaming platform's website to subscribe and for further details.
The strengths and weaknesses of Legend can be summed up via two of its key scenes. The first comes about halfway through the film, when infamous London gangster Reggie Kray (played by Tom Hardy) does a flawless impersonation of his twin brother Ron. The thing is, Ron is also played by Tom Hardy in one of those Social Network Winklevae situations. It's just that Hardy's performance is so strong and each character is so defined, you genuinely think of the Krays as two entirely distinct humans played by two very different actors. It's a powerhouse performance showcasing Hardy's imposing abilities, both physically and dramatically. The second scene comes a little earlier. The Krays are lured to a neutral pub under the auspices of negotiating a truce with their gangland rivals, only to discover themselves surrounded and grossly outnumbered. Where most would cower, the Krays respond with a mix of nonchalance and outrage: Reggie pulls himself a beer while Ron storms out, complaining of a half-arsed gunfight without any guns. Seconds later, of course, he returns unseen and together with his brother lays waste to the entire group of thugs. The problem with this second scene (and, in turn, much of the film), is that it’s terrifically entertaining. The music, dialogue, performance and direction all play it light and whimsical — even flippant — despite its confronting savagery (the Krays employ a brutal combination of hammers and brass knuckles). Under certain circumstances, the juxtaposition of violence and comedy in film is defensible, even appropriate, so long as the genre fits (think Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, or Pulp Fiction). Here, though, it’s wildly misplaced. Yes, it successfully conveys the Krays’ character and composure, but this isn’t fiction. The Krays brutalised and murdered their way to the top in real life, and the duty of a biopic is to tell a story as it was, not to glorify it as some might have wanted it to be. And that, in short, is Legend: a film defined by its spectacular performances and misfiring direction. Alongside Hardy, the supporting cast of Emily Browning, David Thewlis and Christopher Eccleston does a decent job despite the middling script, but the overall feeling is one of dullness and disappointment.
As far as food in Brisbane goes, you could say that Mexican, American and gyoza are among the buzz-trends of the moment. These are undoubtedly fantastic additions to what Brisbane has to offer, but it can be all too easy to overlook the classics during such a surge of the new and exciting. The Continental Cafe in New Farm has been giving Brisbane a taste of Europe for close to two decades, and it's not stopping any time soon. Inside you’ll find a warm, cosy dining room being tended by excellent waitstaff. Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation when it comes to food and wine; they're more than happy to help and they know their stuff. The food selection includes a collection of 'Continental Classics', along with seasonal specials. The focus is on simple, honest dishes, brilliantly executed. With generous servings and bold flavours, this is true comfort food. If there is one menu item that you absolutely must not miss, it's the twice-baked goat's cheese souffle ($21.90). Rest assured the calories are absolutely worth it. Fluffy on the inside, crisp on top, and swimming in a thick cheese sauce, it's the ultimate death-by-cheese experience. You might want to balance the cheesiness out with a fresh and tasty serve of bruschetta ($13.50). The roast veal ($28.90) is a decadent, heaped serving of perfectly cooked meat, buttery smoked potato mash, sauteed mushrooms and deeply flavoursome gravy. It's a dish you could almost climb into — the perfect winter warmer for a chilly night. The seafood risotto ($27.50) consists of a rich, tomato-based sauce thickened with cream; it is bursting with fish, squid, and mussels. For dessert, your eyes won't want to wander past their classic creme brulee: creamy vanilla custard with a perfectly caramelised top ($12). The Continental Cafe is a New Farm institution and holds its own against other restaurants both new and old. With beautiful food, excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a great destination for a date, a casual dinner with friends, or a function.
Trivia nights usually mean teaming up with your mates, enjoying a few beverages and trying to convert your respective stores of knowledge into glory. At this particular trivia night, you can do all that — just virtually, from your own (possibly orange) couch. And, you can do so while celebrating 90s TV series Friends, which is in the spotlight at this online battle of pop culture tidbits. If you think you know everything there is to know about the show that caused viewers to agonise over whether Ross and Rachel would get together, wish that Joey and Chandler lived next door, and get their hair cut like Jennifer Aniston, here's your chance to prove it. Play along from 7.30pm AEST on Friday, April 24, with a live host overseeing the live-streamed Friends Virtual Quiz — and tickets costing $10, There'll be prizes, and if you want to break out those 90s and early 00s fashions while joining the fun from home, absolutely no one will stop you. No one told you that watching endless television reruns could turn out this way — or binging on episodes on Stan, either, if you you want to boost your knowledge with a marathon in the lead up to the quiz. Images: Friends via Stan.
The New Look, Apple TV+'s ten-part series about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, hasn't chosen its points of focus because they were frequently in each other's company; as depicted here, at least, they weren't. Instead, it's a portrait of rivals, but it isn't that concerned with why the two Parisians might be adversaries beyond their shared field. That said, they're tied by more than both being French fashion figures who were working at the same time, made pioneering haute couture choices and started labels that retain household recognition today. And, when the show opens in 1954, it does so with Chanel (Juliette Binoche, The Staircase) offering harsh words about Dior (Ben Mendelsohn, Secret Invasion) to the press as she's about to unveil her first post-war collection. Her chatter is crosscut with his at the Sorbonne, where he's being honoured — and asked by students why he kept working during the Second World War while Chanel closed her atelier. Dior's answer: that such a description of the two designers' actions during WWII is the truth, but that there's also more truth behind it. Unpicking the reality — and stitching together Dior and Chanel's plights at the same time — is the series' mission from Wednesday, February 14. The garments that its two couturiers make might be pristine in their stylishness, but neither's history can earn the same term. Creator Todd A Kessler (Damages, Bloodline) makes a drama about choices, then. Again, it isn't fuelled by the pair being in close physical proximity, which only happens twice in the show — or even acrimony between them — but by comparing and contrasting the moves that Dior and Chanel each made during Nazi-occupied Paris and immediately afterwards. Kessler takes the series' title from words uttered by Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow (Glenn Close, Heart of Stone) upon seeing Dior's debut collection in 1947. The New Look also takes its overarching perspective from the notion that haute couture's impact in assisting to revive French culture following the war was revolutionary and "helped humanity find beauty and the desire to live again" (to quote how Dior is introduced as he's being feted at his big retrospective). With Dior and Chanel's prowess treated as a given, the bulk of its frames, handsomely shot as they are — and filled intermittently with gorgeous gowns designed by Dior and his previous employer Lucien Lelong (John Malkovich, Billions) — hone in on the personal. (Atelier antics are weaved in and out, but never at the level of detail delivered by 2014 documentary Dior and I, about Raf Simons' first collection for the House of Christian Dior 65 years later.) The 1950s are pure framing for The New Look. The majority of its narrative charts Dior and Chanel from 1943–47, with the fact that he'll be so successful that he's celebrated mere years later and she'll eventually return to fashion instantly already established. Indeed, while the series charts their professional journeys over the period, work is rarely the source of its tension. Rather, Dior's difficult decision to leave Lelong to start his own fashion house, and the also tricky choices in getting established, help flesh out his character. For Chanel, so does her angling over the perfume side of her business, legal battles included. Everyone watching already knows the names Dior and Chanel, after all, and that both labels endure today, even if they've never donned clothing or scents bearing either's monikers. Dior keeps his needle in hand in Vichy France — for Lelong, as a nobody with no fame of his own, and under spirited protest if he ever gets wind of who'll be wearing his dresses. His justification, as he tells fellow designers such as Cristóbal Balenciaga (Nuno Lopes, Les derniers hommes) and Pierre Balmain (Thomas Poitevin, Encore vous?): that his paycheque helps support his younger sister Catherine (Maisie Williams, Pistol). She's fighting the occupation as part of the French Resistance. When Catherine is captured by the gestapo, tortured and sent to a work camp, Christian becomes a picture of guilt as he desperately endeavours to find her, or even just discover if she's still alive. The New Look's Dior is a man haunted, always, in a softer part for Mendelsohn and it suits him. The already-renowned Chanel has downed tools, but relies upon Nazi links to first secure the release of her captured nephew André (Joseph Olivennes, Deep Fear), a French soldier, and then help herself. The Hotel Ritz, where she lives, is a German base. Spy Hans Günther von Dincklage (Claes Bang, Bad Sisters) is soon in her bed. A dinner with Heinrich Himmler (Thure Lindhardt, Hammarskjöld), using antisemitic laws to her advantage and a stint of active collaboration — roping in her old friend Elsa Lombardi (Emily Mortimer, The Pursuit of Love) as well — all follow. Lombardi has been fictionalised, but the ins and outs of Chanel's choices haven't. The New Look doesn't even dream of sewing in a defence of Chanel. Where Mendelsohn plays vulnerable with potency and depth, Binoche's part is all calculated and self-serving opportunism. If their characters were dresses, his would sport elaborate lace and hers flashy sequins. Their performances are equally impressive, though. In what might be the least typically Mendo role of his recent career, the Australian Animal Kingdom, Starred Up, The Outsider and Cyrano actor is quietly masterful. In ensuring that Chanel's complications are on full display but also never excused, Binoche threads the needle expertly. Similarly superb: Game of Thrones' Williams, including in making the case that Catherine deserves to be more than a supporting player; Bang, again excelling at villainy; and Mortimer, who makes the show's most erratic character feel as real and lived-in as its protagonists. With Kessler himself, Station Eleven alums Jeremy Podeswa and Helen Shaver, and 2021 Palme d'Or-winner Julia Ducournau (Titane) in the director's chairs, there's no faulting The New Look's technical handiwork as it spins its fascinating, complex story. Opulence abounds visually, intricacy thematically. Learning more about the craft of haute couture isn't the show's remit, however — as glaringly apparently whether you're a fashion diehard or only know Dior and Chanel's names — but contemplating the decisions behind some of fashion's biggest labels, and the choices made when life is anything but cut to a pattern, is ready to wear. Check out the trailer for The New Look below: The New Look streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
It takes place in New York, not London. The era: modern times, not centuries back. Fleet Street gives way to Washington Heights, the demon barber to a masseuse nicknamed "Magic Hands", and pies to empanadas. There's still a body count, however, and people end up in pastries as well. Yes, The Horror of Dolores Roach namedrops Sweeney Todd early, as it needs to; there's no denying where this eight-part Prime Video series takes inspiration, as did the one-woman off-Broadway play that it's based on, plus the podcast that followed before the TV version on Friday, July 7. On the stage, the airwaves and now via streaming, creator Aaron Mark asks a question: what if the fictional cannibalism-inciting character who first graced penny dreadfuls almost two centuries back, then leapt to theatres, films and, most famously, musicals, had a successor today? Viewers can watch the answer via a dramedy that also belongs on the same menu as Santa Clarita Diet, Yellowjackets and Bones and All. Amid this recent feast of on-screen dishes about humans munching on humans, The Horror of Dolores Roach is light yet grisly, but it's also a survivalist thriller in its own way — and laced with twisted attempts at romance, too. That knowing callout to Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes amid an early banquet of knowing callouts, as The Horror of Dolores Roach begins with a play based on a podcast that's wrapping up its opening night. Newspaper clippings in actor Flora Frias' (Jessica Pimentel, Orange is the New Black) dressing room establish that the show takes its cues from a woman who got murderous in the Big Apple four years prior, and helped get unwitting NYC residents taking a bite out of each other. Meet the series' framing device; before the stage production's star can head to the afterparty, she's face to face with a furious Dolores (Justina Machado, One Day at a Time) herself. The latter isn't there to slay, but to haunt the woman spilling her tale by sharing the real details. Two decades earlier, Dolores was a happy resident of Lin-Manuel Miranda's favourite slice of New York, a drug-dealer's girlfriend, and a fan of the local empanada shop. Then the cops busted in while she was helping her beau, who was conveniently absent, with The Horror of Dolores Roach's namesake refusing to snitch and getting a 16-year sentence in return. When she's released after serving that entire stretch, gentrification has changed the neighbourhood. Also, her other half is nowhere to be found. Only Luis Batista (Alejandro Hernandez, New Amsterdam) remains that remembers her. His dad owned and ran the empanada joint, Luis was the teenaged delivery boy with a big crush on Dolores, and he couldn't be keener on letting her stay with him in his basement apartment below the store. After the best part of two decades inside, Dolores only dreams of the straight and narrow, and of putting the massage skills that she learned from her cellmate — which were quite a hit, hence the new moniker — to use in a legitimate job. Getting a paycheque isn't easy, but when Luis says that she can operate an unlicensed setup out of their flat, customers flock to get their shoulders kneaded. While it isn't the future that gave her something to look forward to behind bars, it'll do; however, the upscaling trend that's sweeping the community soon poses a threat. When Dolores offs her first victim, she's reacting; The Horror of Dolores Roach takes eating the rich literally. There's about as much subtlety to the series as slathering an empanada in whichever sauce takes your fancy, plus a mix of clashing tones on par with the guava and cheese variety that Dolores adores. But a show about turning people into pastries Sweeney Todd-style isn't aiming to be nuanced. Neither is a program that also namechecks producer Jason Blum, or heavily uses its narration to adapt its play and podcast roots for the screen. When Marc Maron (To Leslie) gleefully plays an uncaring landlord, and 80s music icon Cyndi Lauper a grey-locked private detective who could waltz out of this and into Only Murders in the Building, no one is going for understated, either. That's one of the reasons that The Horror of Dolores Roach proves tasty and entertaining: it's actively and openly trying to be a lot, and it sinks its teeth in hard. "I'm not the monster you're making me out to be," says Dolores to Flora, though, a statement that The Horror of Dolores Roach doesn't just give lip service to. The series knows that its protagonist is a serial killer, makes it plain from the outset and doesn't excuse it. And yet, it also knows that that can be true, and that Dolores can be a victim herself. Indeed, the show has the many horrors that are splashed her way firmly on its plate. She's betrayed and taken advantage of to land in prison, then judged and cast aside afterwards; she suffers for America's fondness for mass incarceration; she's robbed of a huge chunk of her life for weed only for it to start to be legalised while she's doing her time; and she's among the Washington Heights residents pushed out by the well-to-do. Again, none of this justifies Dolores' choices, but it adds flesh to the cutthroat world that The Horror of Dolores Roach constantly sees as it is. Having the always-great Machado play Dolores also helps ground the series. Much around her may get cartoonish, but the Six Feet Under, Jane the Virgin and Queen of the South actor always anchors the story in a woman seeing her life spiral in the worst possible ways. She's as adept at mining darkly comic laughs as she is tragedy, boasts pitch-perfect reactions to the series' gore, and makes a great pair with the lively Hernandez. Actually, she's stellar opposite everyone — Maron, Lauper, Pimentel, The Rehearsal's K Todd Freeman as the usual meat merchant and Dispatches From Elsewhere's Kita Updike as Luis' sole empanada-slinging employee included — and, like The Horror of Dolores Roach itself, bloody great. Check out the trailer for The Horror of Dolores Roach below: The Horror of Dolores Roach streams via Prime Video from Friday, July 7.
Just when you thought you'd used every excuse there is to drink espresso martinis — different flavours, different festivals, because it's Friday, because you're tired — along comes a new one. And, let's face it, boozy espresso martini soft serve isn't the kind of frozen cocktail treat that you get to have every day. The chilled, caffeinated delight is on offer at Riverbar and Kitchen for the month of February, as part of a month-long party the riverside venue has dubbed 'pool bar'. Sadly, there isn't an actual pool, so keep your togs at home. But there are a whole heap of inflatable animals and deck chairs, as well as a menu that might make you think you're sitting by a spot of water that isn't just the Brisbane river. In addition to the soft serve, you can tuck into other frozen drinks and vodka cocktails — plus snacks like charred corn on the cob paired with chipotle mayo, potato scallops covered in chicken salt, prawn po'boys, and both Cubano and haloumi and portobello mushroom sandwiches. Entry is free, with the pool bar vibes hanging around every day until February is out. Heading by on weekends is recommended, though, with live music also on the bill.
When SBS's new free-to-air 24-hour World Movies channel arrives in July, it'll boast plenty of reasons to get cosy on your couch, ignore the world and settle in for your own stay-at-home film festival. In fact, you might want to cancel your weekend daytime plans for the month — because you'll be spending every Saturday and Sunday watching a non-stop Studio Ghibli marathon. From 6am–7.30pm each weekend during July, the new channel will work its way through a heap of the studio's beloved flicks, including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, The Secret World of Arrietty, Tales From Earthsea, The Cat Returns, The Castle of Cagliostro, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There. If that's not enough delightful Japanese animation for you, a couple of other films will be thrown into the mix — such as The Red Turtle, a gorgeous Ghibli co-production directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit; the lively Mary and the Witch's Flower, which was made by animators who previously worked at Studio Ghibli; and The Boy and The Beast and Summer Wars, which both hail from rightfully acclaimed filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wf57f5F09c SBS has also revealed what else will be screening on World Movies throughout its first month, and it's a hefty list that includes box office hits, festival favourites and plenty of familiar faces. Get teary over Lion's Oscar-nominated real-life reunion tale, start pondering the afterlife in A Ghost Story (aka the film where Rooney Mara devours a pie and Casey Affleck stands under a sheet), or check out the moving, banned-in-Kenya lesbian romance Rafiki. Elsewhere, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem team up for the second time in as many years in Loving Pablo, which follows a journalist who falls for Pablo Escobar, while applauded Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke unveils a sprawling crime epic in Ash Is the Purest White. If you're looking for something to do on a Tuesday, the channel is devoting the night to French actor Romain Duris (Heartbreaker, The New Girlfriend), while Thursday evenings will be all about women in film. SBS World Movies launches on Monday, July 1 on channel 32. For its full lineup, visit the SBS TV guide.
If you've got a hard earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered — and that's been the case for a couple of years. Hankering not just for any old branded VB gear for your wardrobe, but for a retro knitted Christmas sweater? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just added a new woolly piece to its range. Called the Very Best Christmas Sweater, VB's new jumper looks exactly like you'd want a festive VB piece of apparel to look — and yes, it comes covered with stubbies and snowflakes. Naturally, it makes great use of the brand's red, green and white colour scheme, too. Indeed, the beer's logo has really just been screaming for the Christmas treatment. If you're eager to celebrate Christmas in July by sinking a few brews, you now have the perfect outfit for it. That said, only 500 will be available to purchase. The first 100 have already sold out after going on sale this week, but 400 more will be up for grabs — for $80 each — sometime in the week commencing July 13. Keep an eye on VB's 'Big Cold gear' website for further details. [caption id="attachment_775621" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Victoria Bitter[/caption] Also on offer: the rest of the brand's retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. Victoria Bitter's 'Big Cold Gear' line is available for purchase online, including its Very Best Christmas Sweater. Top image: Victoria Bitter
A trip to France might not be on your agenda in 2024. Sans DeLorean, travelling back in time definitely isn't. But add visiting regional Victoria to your itinerary between March–July and you can enjoy a look at Paris in the Belle Époque period. Bendigo Art Gallery is hosting Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925, a big exhibition that benefits from pieces from Parisian history museum Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris. This is an exclusive showcase, so hitting the town from Saturday, March 16–Sunday July 14 is the only way to see it in Australia. Art and artisan objects will be on loan from Musée Carnavalet, and they'll have company thanks to fashion pieces from houses of the era, which will be provided by National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia. [caption id="attachment_943227" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Georges Stein. Riders, and carriages on the avenue du Bois c. 1900. oil on canvas. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.[/caption] More than 170 works will be on display from Paris' oldest municipal museum, which is a mere fraction of its 620,000-strong collection. This is the first time that an exhibition has been solely developed from the Musée Carnavalet for an international gallery only featuring its own pieces — other than the fashion that Bendigo Art Gallery is pairing with it — which is no small coup for the venue. Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925 will split its wares into seven strands, all endeavouring to show Paris of the era as seen by those who lived there. Accordingly, including across 90-plus paintings, attendees will peer at gardens, the Seine's banks, theatres, Montmartre's cabarets, openair markets, restaurants and more. Among the artists featured: Ludovic Vallée, Albert Marquet, Louis Abel-Truchet, Maurice Utrillo, Paul Signac, Jean Béraud, Maximilien Luce, Jules Chéret and Leonetto Capiello. [caption id="attachment_943231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Signac, Le Pont des Arts 1928, oil on canvas. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.[/caption] Henri de Toulouse Lautrec's theatre posters will also be a big drawcard. Or, you can check out shop signs from cafes and hairdressers, illustrated dining menus, and souvenirs from the 1889 and 1900 Exposition Universelles. It was for the 1889 event that the Eiffel Tower was built (see also: the film Eiffel). As for the fashion, it'll cover pieces from the late-19th century to the 1920s, too, including from House of Worth, Jacques Doucet, Madeleine Vionnet and the Callot Souers. [caption id="attachment_943228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Poster for the cabaret venue Divan Japonais at 75 rue des Martyrs 1892. colour lithograph. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.[/caption] "Paris is without doubt one of the world's most picturesque and captivating cities, and the exhibition distils its beauty and energy, from the busy banks of the Seine, bustling marketplaces, grand boulevards, idyllic public gardens and the bohemian Montmartre area, as it was portrayed by some of the most influential artists and artisans of the period," said Jessica Bridgfoot, Director of Bendigo Art Gallery. "This is a rare opportunity for audiences to take a promenade through turn-of-the-century Paris, a dynamic time when the city courted the attention of the world." Stepping back into Parisian history is also on the agenda in Sydney this year, thanks to the Art Gallery of New South Wales' huge Alphonse Mucha exhibition, while both The LUME in Melbourne and HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast are focusing on the Italian renaissance. [caption id="attachment_943230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ludovic Vallée, Montsouris Park c1900, oil on canvas. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_943232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Souvenir fan with panorama of the 1889 Universal Exhibition 1889, printed glazed cotton percale and wood. Musée Carnavalet © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.[/caption] Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925 will display at Bendigo Art Gallery, 42 View Street, Bendigo from Saturday, March 16–Sunday July 14 — head to the gallery's website for further details. Top image: Jean Béraud, The Entrance to the 1889 Universal Exhibition 1889, oil on wood. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris.
If life's got you feeling a little stressed of late, your good mates at KFC are here to help you out — albeit in a pretty unexpected way. You can turf your mindfulness phone apps and ditch that meditation class, because the global fried chicken chain has created a new online offering, where you can unwind to the soothing sounds of chicken frying. Launched to coincide with Mindfulness Day on September 12, KFChill is the fried chicken empire's new website offering its own cheeky spin on mindfulness practices, with a series of 'pink noises' that take the listener on a journey through a KFC kitchen. Click through the trio of hour-long sound files to unwind to the noise of chicken frying, gravy simmering or bacon sizzling away in a pan. No word on how effective this actually is for your relaxation levels, though we can guarantee some mad cravings for fried chicken once you're done.
You demanded it, Australia. After apparently hypnotising the country with The Ghan, a three hour documentary about a train travelling from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs, SBS Viceland has announced it'll be broadcasting the extended edition of the film, which clocks in at a whopping 17 hours. Take that, Return of the King director's cut! The initial three-hour cut — billed as Australia's first foray into 'slow TV' — was a massive surprise hit for the network, drawing an average of 583,000 viewers. That makes it Viceland's biggest hit of the past 12 months. The doco was also widely discussed on social media, with #TheGhan trending nationally last Sunday night. https://twitter.com/mel_laah/status/949940354588999681 https://twitter.com/sgbrens/status/949959735905722368 https://twitter.com/quinnal/status/949932847497846785 https://twitter.com/kplyley/status/949959657530916864 The extended version will air this Sunday, January 14 starting at the bright and early time of 2.40am. It'll feature the entire 2979 kilometres, minus the sections at night when the screen would just be black, which, even by slow TV standards, doesn't sound all that interesting. In the meantime, you can catch up with the (relatively) short version of The Ghan via SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiG3ipuB0Sw
Scenic sights, food-filled days and nights, a jam-packed program teeming with event highlights: that's how winter starts each year in the Scenic Rim. For the month of June, this world-renowned southeast Queensland region gets into festival mode, celebrating the eating and drinking options that the area is known for. When you're not touring farms, for instance, you're tucking into farm-to-table feasts. When you're not settling in for long lunches and fire-cooked meals, too, you're learning how to make cheese, saying cheers to spirits, meeting camels or picking edible flowers. That's the Scenic Rim Eat Local Month way, as attendees can enjoy from Friday, May 30–Sunday, June 29 in 2025. By the numbers, this year's fest is going big, with more than 100 food events on the itinerary — and almost 40 of them newcomers to the program. Among that total figure, there's also over 40 long lunches, dinners and degustations; 64 on-farm activities; and 25 workshops and classes. As Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Tom Sharp explains it, "Eat Local Month provides the opportunity for our local community, visitors and people from all ages and backgrounds to enjoy an authentic paddock-to-plate experience, and to renew their connection with our natural environment and agricultural production." "Traditionally, growers have taken their product to market; however, we are seeing an increase in consumers wanting to connect with where their food comes from and buy direct from the producers and growers in region. People are not only tasting the freshness and quality of the product, but gain an understanding of the farmers' experience, their lifestyle and their dedication to quality produce," Sharp continues. "From its modest beginnings in 2011, this event has provided a boost to our rural sector, helping to create jobs and drive our region's prosperity. However, it also increases the appreciation for those who put food on our tables and where our food comes from." It falls at the end of 2025's Scenic Rim Eat Local Month, but the fest-within-a-fest celebration that is the Winter Harvest Festival remains one of the event's standouts, taking over Kalbar for three days. Beforehand, across a region that spans from Beaudesert, Kerry and Mount Alford to Beechmont and Tamborine Mountain, too, camel tours, vodka tastings, becoming a brewmaster for a day, high tea and cocktails in a rainforest, a market put on by Towri Sheep Cheeses and learning to make citrus liqueur are among the month's offerings. Also included: a fest dedicated to fermented food, taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon, crafting your own rum, picnicking and walking with alpacas, meandering along an edible garden trail and marking the winter solstice with a camping cookout. If you've ever tasted carrot ice cream, that's likely because you've hit up Scenic Rim Eat Local Month before — or Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, as it was known until 2022. This is the only time of the year that Moffatt's Fresh Produce whip up the unique dessert. The event's annual Kalfresh Carrot Day is also on the agenda, and is always popular. This is a part of the world where 600 million of the orange vegetables are grown each year, after all. For extra motivation to attend, 12 big culinary names have given 2025's festival their tick of approval, with Scenic Rim Eat Local Month's ambassador chefs starting with Alison Alexander, Brenda Fawdon (Picnic Real Food Bar), Cameron Matthews (Mapleton Public House), Caroline Jones (Three Girls Skipping), Daniel Groneberg (Kooroomba Vineyard and Restaurant) and Elliot Platz (Monte Land Wine Bar). Pastry chef Glen Barratt is also among the figures getting behind this treat for lovers of food, drink and gorgeous surroundings, as are Jack Stuart (Blume Restaurant), Javier Codina (Moda), Josh Lopez (Lopez at Home), Olivier Boudon (Roastbeef and The Frog at The Overflow Estate 1895) and Richard Ousby (Cru Bar & Sixes and Sevens). Scenic Rim Eat Local Month 2025 runs from Friday, May 30–Sunday, June 29 at various locations in the Scenic Rim. Head to the festival's website for more information and tickets.
