Want to get back to nature without actually having to rough it? Lucky for you, you can now take in the rolling hills of Mudgee in New South Wales, with the region's first ever luxury glamping service. Now taking guests, Sierra Escape is located 20 minutes drive from Mudgee's town centre, some 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney. The 280-acre property boasts spectacular views and is home to wildlife including kangaroos, deer and a variety of native birds. So yeah, basically it's paradise. The $350 per night tent — if you can even call something this opulent a tent — includes floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-sized bed, a camp stove and fridge, an ethanol fireplace and a separate bathroom complete with freestanding bath, shower and flushing toilet. It's insulated for all seasons, and there's even a deck out front where you can kick back and watch the sunset. "Sierra Escape aims to provide off-the-grid accommodation for those who love the outdoors but still enjoy the comforts of a luxury hotel," said co-owners Cam and Tasch D'Arcy. "Sierra is close to wineries and restaurants, but far enough from it all that it's the perfect retreat. We're excited to share Sierra with visitors to the area and hope their glamping experiences inspire a new way of travelling." For more information visit www.sierraescape.com.au.
At the beginning of 2024, Woolloongabba's South City Square promised to spend some of its Friday nights this year hosting market-fuelled food festivals — and the inner-east precinct keeps delivering. First came a Latin Fiesta Pop-Up, and then a Vegan/Vego Laneway Fest. Next, it's time for an Asian Hawker Feast. On Friday, June 14, heading to the Logan Road spot after work means eating dishes from a selection of Brisbane's Asian food stalls while listening to live tunes. From 4–8.30pm, everyone from Uncle Hugh's Korean and Yum Yum East Tibetan to Little Mamak and Yakitori Kiku Charcoal Grill will be onsite, plus Yummy Nami, Chef 365, Yu Fang and Get Loaded Roti as well. Alongside music for a soundtrack, there'll be a rice paper Chinese art activity to extend the fun beyond everything that's tempting your tastebuds. And if you do need more culinary options, Little Red Dumpling, Hane Sushi and Uncle Don are among the permanent South City Square eateries that are already perfect for the event. Entry is free, as is onsite parking for five hours — and if you're wondering what else is to come in South City Square's monthly series, look out for a European Food Trail in the future.
Each year, thousands of travellers from near and far make their way down to the bottom of Australia to get a taste of gorgeous locations — the type that Tasmania just seems to have an endless supply of. And while it's nice to experience many of them under the sun, winter offers a whole new perspective that visitors will love just as much. From wild ancient forests with awe-inspiring frozen lakes and waterfalls to rocky mountainsides that take on a thick coat of snow, Tasmania's landscape offers something that'll warm everyone's cockles. So, here are six beautiful sights that seem to get even better once the winter chill grabs hold of the scenery. Pack a beanie and scarf and start planning your wintry escape. [caption id="attachment_718788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Russell Falls by Tourism Tasmania and Michael Walters Photography.[/caption] MOUNT FIELD NATIONAL PARK Mount Field National Park is Tasmania's first and oldest national park, and many consider it to still be the best. If you're looking to get the most out of the Tasmanian winter, then this rugged landscape might just fulfil all your hopes and dreams. Across this sprawling region, there are plenty of highlights to choose from. But don't look past Russell Falls and its alluring tiered cascades, which are widely considered the centrepiece of the entire park. Elsewhere, Lake Dobson's shimmering waterfront can be taken in from many a great nearby hike. And at just over 90 minutes from Hobart, Mount Mawson takes on a brilliant cover of snow that offers skiers and snowboarders a challenging but worthwhile experience — to get to the summit, you'll need to hike 30-minutes uphill through alpine forest then jump on a rope tow. We promise, it's worth it. [caption id="attachment_720512" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Lomond National Park by Tourism Tasmania and Brooke Saward.[/caption] BEN LOMOND NATIONAL PARK Located in Tasmania's northeast, Ben Lomond National Park towers above the landscape, reaching up an imposing 1500 metres. The rugged landscape features sharp cliff faces and sheer drops that make it appear almost insurmountable. But once winter arrives, the mountain comes to life with skiers making the most of the steep scenery — and the variety of exciting downhill skiing routes that come with it. If you're not much of a skier, you can also drive up Jacobs Ladder, Ben Lomond's winding ascent, and experience the wonderful alpine plateau from its summit. Up here, you'll catch quite the surreal sight as you peer out upon the distant countryside — looking down on the rocky mountainside and its dramatic outcrops makes you feel completely mesmerised. [caption id="attachment_718784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cradle Mountain by Jason Charles Hill.[/caption] CRADLE MOUNTAIN There's never a bad time to visit the famed Cradle Mountain, but winter is when this incredible spot truly comes into its own. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the mountain and its surrounds feature ancient rainforests and grasslands that sweep across its boundaries, as well as some remarkable glacial lakes and bubbling creeks that careen between the nearby mountaintops. While exploring, keep your eyes peeled as the surrounding Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is full of native wildlife, including wombats, echidnas, wallabies, quolls and pademelons. Don't forget about the low-lying lakes here either — in particular, Dove Lake, which is circled by an easy-to-access six-kilometre walking track. You might recognise it from photos (like the above) but, in real life, it's something else. As you wind your way around the lake, the trees get denser and the lookouts get quieter, and you'll feel like you've left the country for a European retreat. On a clear day you'll be able to see right across the lake; on a stormy one you'll be able to watch the sky do its thing. If you're lucky, you'll get to visit twice and see both. [caption id="attachment_718789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arthur River by Jess Bonde.[/caption] THE TARKINE As the second largest cool-temperate rainforest in the world, The Tarkine should be at the top of the rugged adventurer's list. Set in Tasmania's northwest, the scenery here is largely varied and only becomes more extreme and breathtaking in the winter months. Start your adventure at the Edge of the World (actual name) and look out over the Arthur River — the water here is intense as it's where it meets the Southern Ocean. Or head inland and find shelter by venturing deep into the rainforest at the upper end of the river and discover the spectacular multi-tiered Philosopher Falls. [caption id="attachment_718786" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mount Wellington lookout by Tourism Australia and Graham Freeman.[/caption] KUNANYI / MOUNT WELLINGTON PARK Just a 20-minute drive from Hobart, kunanyi / Mount Wellington is probably the easiest way to immerse yourself in Tasmania's most beautiful sights. kunanyi /Mount Wellington Park showcases more than 18,000 hectares of remarkably picturesque scenery and links Hobart's outer reaches with world-class native bushland. You can drive right up to the Pinnacle, or take the challenge to walk to the summit. Do the whole 14 kilometres from Hobart — stopping at the Cascade Brewery along the way — or choose one of the smaller loop routes to conquer. On the way, you'll be able to enjoy sub-alpine flora and fauna that dots the towering landmass's upper reaches. Winter is a particularly special time to visit as the mountaintop is often dusted in snow (making it prime for snowball fights). Afterwards, warm yourself up with something hot at the Lost Freight Cafe, a shipping container coffee spot halfway up the mountain at The Springs. [caption id="attachment_718785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Currie Lighthouse on King Island by Andrew Wilson.[/caption] KING ISLAND Set halfway between Tasmania and Victoria, King Island is a hidden gem. Which means you'll be able to nab the island's best (and most secluded) spots all to yourself. Currie is the island's main hotspot. Here you can explore the historic lighthouse built in the 1870s and wander the seaside town's quaint streets. It may be too cold to have a picnic outdoors, but you can do one indoors at the Boathouse. Described as a restaurant with no food, this stunning waterfront dining room if free for you to use as your own — you just have to bring your own nosh. Step things up a notch and see King Island from one of the country's most impressive saunas at Porky Beach Retreat. You'll be able to look out over the beach, wine in-hand, from the warmest spot on the island. King Island is only accessible by plane — but with flights coming in from Melbourne multiple times a day, it's an easy and rewarding place to visit. Top image: Cradle Mountain by Emilie Ristevski.
It was once a thriving hospitality empire with giant doughnuts on seemingly every corner, pink-hued ice cream parlours slinging hip hop-themed desserts, over-the-top cakes tempting tastebuds, and everything from luxe hotels to cruisy bars lining the streets (and sometimes the same block) of Brisbane. And, as far as those round, doughy iced sweet treats were concerned, Damian Griffiths' footprints spread right throughout Sydney and Melbourne too. Now, however, the mogul's string of businesses have faltered. Given how prominent Doughnut Time's heaving presence proved across the east coast — rapidly expanding to 30 locations in the three years between 2015 and 2017, plus its own food truck at one point — the brand's demise has been impossible to miss. After a tumultuous few months, where its pastel green-coloured hole-in-the-wall outlets once littered Brissie, Sydney and Melbourne's streets, empty stores painted stark white now sit. But Doughnut Time is just the tip of the iceberg — Griffiths has been caught up in bankruptcy proceedings, liquidation, attempted sales and more since late 2017. Hundreds have lost their jobs (some reportedly without payment) and there's been a huge cloud of uncertainty around what this means for the slew of venues that operate under Griffiths' name, particularly in Brisbane. If you're wondering what the situation means for some of your former favourites, here's a rundown. DOUGHNUT TIME The doughnut chain has been splashed across the headlines in recent weeks, and for good reason. Reports include failing to pay staff, breaching rental contracts and racking up huge debts, which ultimately led to a potential sale to former Doughnut Time CEO Dan Strachotta. When that fell through, the company went into liquidation and promptly closed all of its stores. There's now no salvaging the business — as reported by the ABC, liquidator Michael Caspaney has noted that "there is no money anywhere". Staff owed backpay and superannuation can seek compensation through the Australian Government's Fair Entitlements Guarantee, but only if they're an Australian citizen or permanent resident. MISTER FITZ While Doughnut Time has monopolised attention of late, Mister Fitz's apparent demise has flown under the radar — but visit one of its three former Brisbane sites and you'll find empty stores. Indeed, East Brisbane has been closed for at least a month, pre-dating the shuttering of Doughnut Time next door. Over at South Bank, where it also shared space with Doughnut Time, a sign advises "our lease has ended and we are planning bigger and better things." And, at the original Mister Fitz site in the Valley, a sign states "we are taking a little holiday while we undergo renovations" — with the confusing addition of "but don't worry, you can still find us at South Bank". LES BUBBLES Opening in 2015, Les Bubbles courted controversy from the outset. When you launch a bar and steakhouse in a site that was once Bubbles Bathhouse, a seedy underground casino and 'massage parlour' back in the late 80s, then you're clearly asking for attention. The Wickham Street joint got it — not just via its neon sign announcing "we regret to inform you we are no longer a brothel", but courtesy of a wind-up application from the ATO in November 2017, then administration this year. At present, it's still trading, after being sold to a business owned by Strachotta last year. CHESTER STREET BAKERY Les Bubbles wasn't the only Griffiths business in trouble in 2017. Around the same time that the ATO was pursuing the Valley joint, Chester Street Bakery was collapsing. The Griffiths-owned KTG Bakeries went under in November, with CSB's once-bustling Newstead store now sitting empty — with not a towering, rainbow-coloured piece of cake in sight. THE LIMES The original jewel in Griffith's hospitality crown, The Limes is up for sale, under the instruction of the receivers charged with managing the business at present. Expressions of interest close in April, but this isn't the first time it's been in this position, with an attempted sell-off in 2015 failing to come to fruition. The Limes is currently still taking bookings. ALFRED & CONSTANCE Alfred & Constance is also up for sale — separately from The Limes, but under the same instructions — with expressions of interest also closing in April. The Valley hangout has also garnered news headlines in the past few months after unexpectedly shutting up shop over the Christmas period, and failing to open for a planned New Year's Eve party, despite selling tickets (and not even bothering to notify patrons). Amidst questions about the venue's future given Griffiths' situation, it reopened in February and continues to trade. On-site restaurants Kwan Bros and Alf's Place remain closed, however. A&C and Kwan Bros have also been put up for sale previously, back in 2016.
Throw those feathered headbands, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. Triggering road trippin' pilgrimages country-wide since 2001, Splendour is a locked-in date for many a festival reveller (with lineup announcements and ticket sales mornings causing widespread panic and cold sweats). So who's playing this year? Confirmed as headliners after an awkward leaked post by the duo on the Splendour website, Outkast will be taking out the top spot on the first night. After a seven-year hiatus, Big Boi and Andre 3000 made a triumphant return to the stage recently at Coachella Music and Arts Festival in California. Cailfornian festival favourites Foster The People were a 'Pumped Up Kicks'-loving Splendour crowd favourite in 2011 and will return with more material this year. British trio London Grammar will bring their ethereal trip hop to Byron after their billing last year didn't work out due to timing. Two Door Cinema Club and Lily Allen will return to Australia for their first shows here in over a year. But one of the biggest surprises is the addition of Brooklyn's beloved Interpol, who no one really saw coming. After letting tour plans slip on triple j, Sky Ferreira can now officially confirm her spot on the lineup, returning quite soon after a recent Australian tour. Others who couldn't keep away include Danny Brown, Childish Gambino, Darkside, Parquet Courts and CHVRCHES, all of whom recently played killer shows around these parts. The Australian contingent (lead by deadset legends Hoodoo Gurus) sees Angus and Julia Stone and Spiderbait return to the stage, as well as RÜFÜS, Vance Joy, The Preatures, Hilltop Hoods, Sticky Fingers, The Jezabels, Ball Park Music, Courtney Barnett, DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho and more homegrown favourites sure to prompt All The Singalongs. There's a few wildcards sure to stir significant hype closer to the date, including Icelandic melodic folkster Ásgeir, New York punk rockers Skaters and returning eclectic folk-pop queen tUnE-yArDs. Splendour in the Grass 2014 will take place from Friday July 25 through to Sunday July 27, returning to the festival's new home of North Byron Parklands, Yelgun. Full lineup: Outkast (Only Aus Show) Two Door Cinema Club (Only Aus Show) Lily Allen Interpol (Only Aus Show) Childish Gambino Foster The People Angus & Julia Stone City And Colour London Grammar Sam Smith Hilltop Hoods Vance Joy Darkside (Only Aus Show) RÜFÜS Ben Howard Kelis Metronomy Hoodoo Gurus Chvrches (Only Aus Show) Grouplove The Jezabels Tune-Yards 360 Wild Beasts Danny Brown (Only Aus Show) Illy First Aid Kit Violent Soho Ásgeir Spiderbait The 1975 Ball Park Music Art Vs Science Buraka Som Sistema (Only Aus Show) The Preatures Parquet Courts (Only Aus Show) Sticky Fingers Peking Duk Sky Ferreira Future Islands Courtney Barnett Phantogram DZ Deathrays Skaters Gossling Jungle The Strypes Hot Dub Time Machine The Kite String Tangle Ry-X Mikhael Paskalev Wave Racer The Acid Saskwatch Kingswood Circa Waves Broods Dustin Tebbutt The Head And The Heart DMA'S Darren Middleton Little May Darlia D.D Dumbo Tkay Maidza The Creases The Wild Feathers Chrome Sparks Fractures Mas Ysa Nick Mulvey Triple J Unearthed Winners Plus DJs & Producers: Nina Las Vegas Yacht Club DJs Motez Touch Sensitive Indian Summer Wordlife L D R U & Yahtzel DJs Cosmos Midnight Sable Kilter Basenji KLP Fishing DJs Paces Charles Murdoch More information over here at the Splendour website.
Australia's toast game just levelled up with a little help from our neighbours across the ditch. If you're a fan of slathering nut butters across slices of heated bread, then you've likely heard of cult-favourite Wellington brand Fix & Fogg — and instead of stuffing your suitcases with their products when you're coming back from a New Zealand holiday, you can now head to Woolworths to pick up ten different types. Woolies already stocked two Fix & Fogg products: Everything Butter, which combines a bit of everything as the name suggests (aka hemp, chia, sesame, sunflower, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts and almonds), plus granola butter (which is made with toasted South Island oats, cashew nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and peanuts). Joining them are multiple types and sizes of peanut butter, plus a range of other creative flavours. Peanut butter and jelly in a jar, anyone? If you're all about the OG peanut butter by itself, you can go smooth or crunchy in either 375-gram and 750-gram jars. Or, there's the chilli and paprika-spiced Smoke and Fire peanut butter in 275-gram containers, as well as choc berry and almond-heavy versions of the Everything Butter. In Australia, you'll now find the ten Fix & Fogg varieties at all 990 Woolies locations nationwide from today, Monday, August 15. For folks new to Fix & Fogg, it makes the type of nut butters that you'll easily want to eat by the spoonful, sans toast — which is one of the reasons that the company has evolved from selling its wares at Wellington markets to picking up a huge homegrown and now international following. Fix & Fogg's expanded presence at Woolies comes after the brand hit the US in a big way in 2021, getting stocked at 3500 Whole Foods stores around the country. Find ten of Fix & Fogg's nut butters on Woolworths shelves from Monday, August 15.
Khaled Sabsabi presents his latest exhibition, a presentation of two of his most remarkable works to date. 70,000 Veils (2014) is an installation of film, delving into the complex ties of the spiritual and the religious in a modern world; it will make its way from the 5th Marrakech Biennale for the exhibition, a venture made possible by the Australian Council for the Arts. Guerilla (2007) is a real portrayal of life after civil war. It shares the stories from multiple perspectives by means of painted photographs. Come and share in the works of Sabsabi, an reflective artist who delves into the scars topics of border identity, migrant territories and identity production. Issues so engrained in national history and populace are vital to the understanding of the people and their individual stories. An opportunity to gain such specific insight is truly hard come by, particularly in such a stunning format.
First, the bad news: if you don't already have a ticket to Laneway Festival 2025 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to see Charli XCX, Djo, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Barry Can't Swim, Remi Wolf and more, they've completely soldout. Now, some good news: in each of the three east coast cities, Laneway has just announced official afterparties. The small club shows will feature STÜM, RONA. and Fcukers, plus others, with the lineup varying per location — and it's your next chance to get in on the Laneway action. The dates for the three shindigs are obviously the same as the Laneway dates in each destination. Accordingly, Brisbane's turn comes on Saturday, February 8, then Sydney's on Sunday, February 9 and Melbourne's on Friday, February 14. As for venues, River City revellers are headed to The Brightside, Harbour City residents to Oxford Art Factory and folks in the Victorian capital have a date with The Night Cat. In Brissie, STÜM, DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Cyber DJs will be taking to the stage. Sydney's gig features RONA., Fcukers doing a DJ set, DJ Ivan Berko popping up again, and both Loosie Grind and BEMAN. And in Melbourne, RONA. and DJ Ivan Berko are back, as is nate sib, alongside Laneway Festival's own DJs. Tickets are limited — so, like all things Laneway, getting in fast is recommended. As for the festival itself, if you've been lucky enough to nab tix, its lineup also features BICEP doing their CHROMA AV DJ set, Olivia Dean, Eyedress, Skegss, Hamdi, Joey Valence & Brae, 2hollis, Ninajirachi, Julie, Girl and Girl, and more. For its 2025 season, the event started by Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio in the mid-00s is also headed to Bonython Park in Adelaide and Wellington Square in Perth in Australia — but without afterparties. Laneway Festival 2025 Afterparties Saturday, February 8 — The Brightside, Brisbane, with STÜM, DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Cyber DJs Sunday, February 9 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, with RONA., Fcukers, DJ Ivan Berko, Loosie Grind and BEMAN Friday, February 14 — The Night Cat, Melbourne, with RONA., DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Laneway Festival's DJs Laneway Festival 2025 Dates and Venues Thursday, February 6 – Western Springs, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau Saturday, February 8 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane / Turrbal Targun Sunday, February 9 — Centennial Park, Sydney / Burramattagal Land & Wangal Land Friday, February 14 — Flemington Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri Biik Saturday, February 15 — Bonython Park, Adelaide / Kaurna Yerta Sunday, February 16 — Wellington Square, Perth / Whadjuk Boodjar [caption id="attachment_975321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Harley Weir[/caption] Laneway Festival 2025 Lineup Charli XCX Beabadoobee Clairo Barry Can't Swim BICEP present CHROMA (AV DJ set) Djo Remi Wolf Olivia Dean Eyedress Skegss STÜM RONA Hamdi Joey Valence & Brae 2hollis Fcukers Ninajirachi Julie Girl and Girl + Triple J unearthed winners [caption id="attachment_975961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guido Gazzilli[/caption] St Jerome's Laneway Festival is touring Australia in February 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details and tickets. Afterparties are being held at the fest's east coast stops — with tickets on sale for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's events now. Laneway festival images: Charlie Hardy / Daniel Boud / Maclay Heriot / Cedric Tang.
If you're the type of person that loves getting into heated pop-culture debates with friends, then you'll definitely want to get on board with this Kickstarter project. Part card game, part ridiculous debate, the Metagame asks players to consider questions like 'Which feels like first love: Pride and Prejudice or Hungry Hungry Hippos?' and 'Which should be required in schools: Dungeons and Dragons or the Bible?' The game comes with two decks of cards: one set of discussion cards with questions like 'Which will save the world?' or 'Which best represents America?', and one set of culture cards, which feature various works of art and pop culture, like Helvetica, the Rubik's Cube and 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)'. There isn't really a set way of playing, but the makers include a few game suggestions and encourage players to invent their own. Most of the suggested games involve players choosing culture cards that best answer the question and debating their choices. The Metagame was created by Local No. 12, a game design collective made up of Eric Zimmerman, Colleen Macklin and John Sharp. While the original Metagame focused on video games, the trio decided to release 'Metagame: The Culture Edition' following numerous requests for music and film versions. The game is still in prototype form, but it's already attracting praise from Filmmaker Magazine and Attract Mode, and the original Metagame was also an official selection of the 2013 IndieCade International Festival of Independent Games. The project has raised over $50,000 on Kickstarter — nearly double their original target of $25,000. Potential backers have the option of donating anything from $1 (which gets you early access to a print-and-play PDF version) to $500 or more (which gets you your own version of the Metagame, where you pick the rules).
It has been over three years since Australia's most ambitious outdoor cinema held its first pop-up, letting movie lovers catch a flick under the stars while getting cosy in one of its beds (yes, beds). After four fast-selling seasons in Sydney, Mov'In Bed has announced its first national tour, bringing its comfy setup to three other capital cities. Cinephiles in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, it's your time to hop into one of 150 beds and stare up at the silver screen. Mov'In Bed will make its way around the nation this year, going to Perth and Brisbane before making its Melbourne debut at St Kilda Beach in January and February 2020. It'll return to Sydney for a summer season at the Entertainment Quarter, too, from January till March. While the film program hasn't been announced yet, audiences in each city can expect the same experience — the same number of beds, around 30–50 screenings, and just generally grabbing a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) for a unique night at the movies. In Sydney across previous seasons, Mov'In Bed has hosted themed and party nights too, so here's hoping that's also on the agenda. The outdoor cinema also features the usual range of movie snacks — beer, lollies and popcorn, of course — and has seen Burger Project and Fratelli Fresh bring food directly to Sydneysiders' beds. If you don't want to shell out for a bed (which have ranged from $40 for a single person to $74 for a couple in the past), it also lets patrons bring a picnic blanket and chill out on the grass. MOV'IN BED 2019–20 SEASON Perth, Ozone Reserve — October 18 – December 8, 2019 Melbourne, St Kilda Beach — January 3 – February 23, 2020 Sydney, Entertainment Quarter — January 17 – March 8, 2020 Mov'In Bed will pop up from October 2019, and tickets will go on sale later this year. For more information, keep an eye on movinbed.com.au. Updated: September 3, 2019.
Sports have been bringing people together for hundreds of thousands of years now, and for a new country, Australia does its best to catch up — and pretty damn well at that. We've got our fingers in numerous pies like AFL, NRL, the cricket and soccer, plus we have women's leagues across the country in most of these (about time, right?) If you're a diehard Collingwood supporter, live and breathe Brisbane Roar or want to see some serious boss lady power on the field, chances are you'll want a little pre-game session to get you pumped before the match. We've got you. In partnership with Hahn, we've cross-checked top pre-drink venues with some of the biggest sporting venues to bring you our list of convenient pre-game watering holes. There's also nothing wrong with visiting these spots for a cheeky post-game drink, either. SYDNEY: THE LIGHT BRIGADE HOTEL FOR THE SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND Pre-game into your best self before a thumper of a match at Sydney Cricket Ground. The Light Brigade in Paddington is a pub drenched in history, full of art deco charm and it's only about a kilometre away from the SCG. There's a bunch of levels to accommodate your pre-drinks vibe with a restaurant on level one, cocktail bar on level two and a rooftop terrace bonanza up the top. By the time you've hit all three, it'll be time to move on to the game — though we'd suggest just grabbing a beer and heading straight to the rooftop for that view. MELBOURNE: THE CORNER HOTEL FOR THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND Tried and true, there'll be something at The Corner Hotel in Richmond for everyone. If it isn't a crowded gig on a Thursday night, perhaps it's trivia on Wednesdays, lunch in the rooftop beer garden or you've missed the last train and you just want to have a drown-your-sorrows pint. During the AFL season, The Corner is on to a very good, meaty thing, bringing fans of every team together with $10 barbecue hotdogs before every game. Have a couple of bevs, smash down a dog then cruise along with the rest of the crowd to the MCG to catch a solid showdown. [caption id="attachment_636204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Facebook / The Paddo.[/caption] BRISBANE: THE PADDINGTON TAVERN FOR SUNCORP STADIUM Brisbane Roar is Brissie's offering to A-League soccer, so when Roar fans ready themselves for a big season, it's also a big season of pre-drinking. The Paddington Tavern (aka The Paddo) is your go-to for a big plate of pub grub that'll keep you going through both halves of the game. It also does late night dining for a post-match feed, and — most importantly for your pre-drinking needs — the pub holds three different bars to get your round of drinks sorted. SYDNEY: THE GREENS FOR NORTH SYDNEY OVAL The Greens in North Sydney is full of bowls club charm, with live music and a pretty outlook. There are also quirky weekend additions like a petting zoo on Sundays, and it expands its sporting pedigree with yoga classes on Monday mornings. Consider hitting up The Greens before you run off to catch a match at the neighbouring North Sydney Oval. Play a game of bowls if you need to get yourself in the bowling mood pre-game, or just enjoy some drinks in the sun in their vast beer garden. BRISBANE: THE PINEAPPLE HOTEL FOR THE GABBA For your pre-match drinks within a few blocks from the Gabba, The Pineapple Hotel is your go-to. They're known for their steaks — tuck into an eye fillet, a wagyu rump or a T-bone with some ace sides for a good dose of protein — the pub features an extensive, ever-changing beer list, and its aptly named Park Bar offers up outdoor seating with views overlooking the neighbouring Raymond Park. Before the game, give yourself some time to work your way down the steak menu and sideways along the fifteen beer taps. [caption id="attachment_636203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Instagram / Royal Saxon.[/caption] MELBOURNE: ROYAL SAXON FOR AAMI PARK For any big game at AAMI Park, we'd suggest kicking back in preparation for the match. If you start things off in Richmond, it'll just be a short stroll down to the big game (or a $5 Uber). The Royal Saxon on Church Street does hearty Italian grub to line your tums and give you enough energy to yell about onside and offside all day. They also have a comprehensive wine list, a whole slew of bottled and draught beers and their negroni is pretty great, too. Mark your calendars for when your team is playing, and plan to head out for a pre-game Hahn or two.
By this point in Netflix's lifespan, and in its history of releasing original series, viewers know what marks the streaming service likes to hit. It's mostly fond of well-known faces, twisty tales and unfurling stories at a fast pace. It also likes ending each jam-packed episode with a big reveal or a new mystery — yes, a cliffhanger — so that you'll keep watching the next one straight away. We don't call these kinds of series 'clickbait', because serialised TV has been leaning on all of these elements since before the term was around, and far longer than we've been streaming television shows via internet platforms, too. But that word is apt when it comes to Netflix's latest eight-part limited series, which is Clickbait by both name and nature. The setup is designed to lure viewers in quickly. The casting is as well. And, they're both meant to be buzzy enough to keep you watching after you've clicked the buttons on your TV remote or laptop, then clicked them again — another task that's easily achieved. Here, the day after a tumultuous family dinner ends with Nick Brewer (Entourage's Adrian Grenier) telling his sister Pia (Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick) that he wants her out of his life, he can't be found. Worse: a video has popped up on the internet featuring him looking bloody, dishevelled and unhappy, and making a shocking claim. In the clip, he holds a card that says "I abuse women. At 5 million views, I die." People start clicking, because of course they do. While attending to a patient at work, nurse Pia sees it and understandably freaks out. Quickly, she starts doing anything she can to try to find and save her brother. So too does Nick's distressed wife Sophie (Betty Gabriel, Get Out), teenage sons Kai (Jaylin Fletcher, Snowpiercer) and Ethan (Camaron Engels, R#J), and detective, Roshan Amiri (Phoenix Raei, Stateless), who has been assigned to the case — and seeing how a situation like this spirals out, looping in more and more people as they watch, chase leads, share information, search online and offer their two cents' worth, is all part of the drama. Playing fictional movie star Vincent Chase for eight seasons — and in the forgettable (and terrible) Entourage movie, too — Grenier got rather comfortable playing someone who was constantly in front of the camera. It's his most famous role, and audiences know it. Clickbait leans upon that awareness, but thankfully not via any overt winks or nods. The series casts him as a man thrust into the spotlight unwittingly. It tracks how his nearest and dearest handle the situation without him, given that he's missing. In multiple ways, it flips the situation that viewers have associated with Grenier for almost two decades now, and plays it for pulpy, tensely directed thrills (as helmed by Hounds of Love's Ben Young, The Newsreader's Emma Freeman, Beirut's Brad Anderson and Thank God He Met Lizzie's Cherie Nolan). Across eight episodes, Clickbait follows the efforts to locate Nick, and to discover why the kidnapping, video and everything it sparks have come about — all by switching between different characters' perspectives. As conveyed through performances a tad weightier than the narrative, the nervy, flighty Pia kicks things off, before the ambitious, promotion-chasing Roshan gets his time in the spotlight, and then the shocked but slightly aloof Sophie. Next comes other figures, including some only revealed as the story dives deeper. The show's structure teases and taunts, and strings out the detail a little longer than it should, but it also remains bingeable. This is a detective tale, with almost everyone on-screen either sleuthing or proving a suspect — among a cast that also spans Daniel Henshall (A Sunburnt Christmas), Abraham Lim (The Boys), Ian Meadows (Dead Lucky) and Jessica Collins (Free State of Jones) — and, even after just an episode or two, viewers get invested enough to want to learn the outcome. Created by Australian filmmaker Tony Ayres (Stateless, Cut Snake) with screenwriter Christian White (Relic) — both of whom pen several instalments — Clickbait also aims to make larger statements, including about the big, important and constantly relevant intersection between our identities and our increasing use of social media. Just how our online and real-life selves can differ, and what types of behaviours we might indulge virtually that we wouldn't IRL, is only going to continue to garner the world's attention. So, this Melbourne-shot series attempts to tap into the conversation, and to make other broad nods towards issues such as racism and sexism. It's less successful in its pondering than in its puzzling, including when it thinks it's making giant swerves in unexpected directions to stress various points about the repercussions of our digitally mediated existence. As the name makes plain. Clickbait is still slick, suspenseful and very easy to keep devouring, though. Check out the trailer below: All eight episodes of Clickbait are available to stream via Netflix. Top images: Ben King/Netflix.
While festivals and concerts around the world have been cancelled and postponed (Bluesfest, Dark Mofo, gigs at the Sydney Opera House and Splendour in the Grass to name a few), a bunch of Sydney mates have created their own virtual gig: Room 2 Radio. Dubbed Sydney's first online nightclub, this party is letting you get your groove on even if you're stuck at home. Bringing the club to your bedroom, this online boogie kicked off in March and sees local DJs perform on your screens every Friday. This week, the night is aptly dubbed Pretty over it and will see the likes of Johnny Lieu playing early 2000s garage and bassline bangers, DJ, R&B artist and FBi Radio host Latifa Tee and eclectic Sydney-based selector Papi Chulo. So, expect more than just a video of someone hitting play on Spotify. Room 2 Radio is scheduled to run every week until further notice, with each week's program being announced via Facebook. To add to the good times, there'll be disco lights, drink recommendations and a live chat going so you can socialise with other partygoers. Room 2 Radio even played a sneak peak set to get things started, which you can check out here. Is this the future of nightlife? Who knows in these wild times, but at least for now we can party together, at home. To check out upcoming programs, head here. Updated, July 31, 2020.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures and plenty of people staying home in iso will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you've had a close-contact run-in. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are 18 that you can watch right now at home. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Imagine living in a universe where Michelle Yeoh isn't the wuxia superstar she is. No, no one should want to dwell in that reality. Now, envisage a world where everyone has hot dogs for fingers, including the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon icon. Next, picture another where Ratatouille is real, but with raccoons. Then, conjure up a sparse realm where life only exists in sentient rocks. An alternative to this onslaught of pondering: watching Everything Everywhere All At Once, which throws all of the above at the screen and a helluva lot more. Yes, its title is marvellously appropriate. Written and directed by the Daniels, aka Swiss Army Man's Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this multiverse-hopping wonder is a funhouse of a film that just keeps spinning through wild and wacky ideas. Instead of asking "what if Daniel Radcliffe was a farting corpse that could be used as a jet ski?" as their also-surreal debut flick did, the pair now muses on Yeoh, her place in the universe, and everyone else's along with her. Although Yeoh doesn't play herself in Everything Everywhere All At Once, she is seen as herself; keep an eye out for red-carpet footage from her Crazy Rich Asians days. Such glitz and glamour isn't the norm for middle-aged Chinese American woman Evelyn Wang, her laundromat-owning character in the movie's main timeline, but it might've been if life had turned out differently. That's such a familiar train of thought — a resigned sigh we've all emitted, even if only when alone — and the Daniels use it as their foundation. Their film starts with Evelyn, her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom's Short Round and The Goonies' Data) and a hectic time. Evelyn's dad (James Hong, Turning Red) is visiting from China, the Wangs' daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) brings her girlfriend Becky (Tallie Medel, The Carnivores) home, and IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween Kills) is conducting a punishing audit. Then Evelyn learns she's the only one who can save, well, everything, everywhere and everyone. Everything Everywhere All At Once is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE LOST CITY Sometimes, they do still make 'em like they used to: action-adventure rom-coms in this case. Drive a DeLorean back to 1984, to the year before Robert Zemeckis made DeLoreans one of the most famous types of movie cars ever, and the director's Romancing the Stone did huge box-office business — and it's that hit that The Lost City keenly tries to emulate. This new Sandra Bullock- and Channing Tatum-starring romp doesn't hide that aim for a second, and even uses the same broad overall setup. Once again, a lonely romance novelist is swept up in a chaotic adventure involving treasure, a jungle-hopping jaunt and a stint of kidnapping, aka exactly what she writes about in her best-selling books. The one big change: the writer is held hostage, rather than her sister. But if you've seen Romancing the Stone, you know what you're in for. As penned by writer/director duo directors Aaron and Adam Nee (Band of Robbers) with Oren Uziel (Mortal Kombat) and Dana Fox (Cruella) — based on a story by Baywatch director Seth Gordon — The Lost City's plot is ridiculously easy to spot. Also, it's often flat-out ridiculous. Anyone who has ever seen any kind of flick along the same lines, such as Jungle Cruise most recently, will quickly see that Loretta Sage (Bullock, The Unforgivable), this movie's protagonist, could've written it herself. Once she finds herself living this type of narrative, that truth isn't lost on her, either. First, though, she's five years into a grief-stricken reclusive spell, and is only out in the world promoting her new release because her publisher Beth (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The United States vs Billie Holiday) forces her to. She's also far from happy at being stuck once again with the man who has been sharing her limelight over the years, Fabio-style model Alan (Tatum, Dog), who has graced her book's covers and had women falling over themselves to lust-read their pages. And Loretta is hardly thrilled about the whole spectacle that becomes her latest Q&A as a result, and that makes her a distracted easy mark for billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe, Guns Akimbo) afterwards. The Lost City is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MEMORIA When Memoria begins, it echoes with a thud that's not only booming and instantly arresting — a clamour that'd make anyone stop and listen — but is also deeply haunting. It arrives with a noise that, if the movie's opening scene was a viral clip rather than part of Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul's spectacular Cannes Jury Prize-winning feature, it'd be tweeted around with a familiar message: sound on. The racket wakes up Jessica Holland (Tilda Swinton, The Souvenir: Part II) in the night, and it's soon all that she can think about; like character, like film. It's a din that she later describes as "a big ball of concrete that falls into a metal well which is surrounded by seawater"; however, that doesn't help her work out what it is, where it's coming from or why it's reverberating. The other question that starts to brood: is she the only one who can hear it? So springs a feature that's all about listening, and truly understands that while movies are innately visual — they're moving pictures, hence the term — no one should forget the audio that's gone with it for nearly a century now. Watching Weerasethakul's work has always engaged the ears intently, with the writer/director behind the Palme d'Or-winning Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and just-as-lyrical Cemetery of Splendour crafting cinema that genuinely values all that the filmic format can offer. Enjoying Memoria intuitively serves up a reminder of how crucial sound can be to that experience, emphasising the cavernous chasm between pictures that live and breathe such a truth and those that could simply be pictures. Of course, feasting on Weerasethakul's films has also always been about appreciating not only cinema in all its wonders, but as an inimitable art form. Like the noise that lingers in his protagonist's brain here, his movies aren't easily forgotten. Memoria is available to stream via SBS On Demand. Read our full review. AFTER YANG What flickers in a robot's circuitry in its idle moments has fascinated the world for decades, famously so in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. In writer/director/editor Kogonada's (TV series Pachinko) After Yang, one machine appears to long for everything humans do. The titular Yang (Justin H Min, The Umbrella Academy) was bought to give Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith, Queen & Slim) and Jake's (Colin Farrell, The Batman) adopted Chinese daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, iCarly) a technosapien brother, babysitter, companion and purveyor of "fun facts" about her heritage. He dotes amid his duties, perennially calm and loving, and clearly an essential part of the family. What concerns his wiring beyond his assigned tasks doesn't interest anyone, though, until he stops operating. Mika is distressed, and Kyra and Jake are merely inconvenienced initially, but the latter pledges to figure out how to fix Yang — which is where his desires factor in. Yang is unresponsive and unable to play his usual part as the household's robotic fourth member. If Jake can't get him up and running quickly, he'll also experience the "cultural techno" version of dying, his humanoid skin even decomposing. That puts a deadline on a solution, which isn't straightforward, particularly given that Yang was bought from a now-shuttered reseller secondhand, rather than from the manufacturer anew. Tinkering with the android's black box is also illegal, although Jake is convinced to anyway by a repairman (Ritchie Coster, The Flight Attendant). He acquiesces not only because it's what Mika desperately wants, but because he's told that Yang might possess spyware — aka recordings of the family — that'd otherwise become corporate property. After Yang is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. AMBULANCE Following a high-stakes Los Angeles bank robbery that goes south swiftly, forcing two perpetrators to hijack an EMT vehicle — while a paramedic tries to save a shot cop's life as the van flees the LAPD and the FBI, too — Ambulance is characteristically ridiculous. Although based on the 2005 Danish film Ambulancen, it's a Michael Bay from go to whoa; screenwriter and feature newcomer Chris Fedak (TV's Chuck, Prodigal Son) even references his director's past movies in the dialogue. The first time, when The Rock is mentioned, it's done in a matter-of-fact way that's as brazen as anything Bay has ever achieved when his flicks defy the laws of physics. In the second instance mere minutes later, it's perhaps the most hilarious thing he's put in his movies. It's worth remembering that Divinyls' 'I Touch Myself' was one of his music-clip jobs; Bay sure does love what only he can thrust onto screens, and he wants audiences to know it while adoring it as well. Ambulance's key duo, brothers Will (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, The Matrix Resurrections) and Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal, The Guilty), are a former Marine and ostensible luxury-car dealer/actual career criminal with hugely different reasons for attempting to pilfer a $32-million payday. For the unemployed Will, it's about the cash needed to pay for his wife Amy's (Moses Ingram, The Tragedy of Macbeth) experimental surgery, which his veteran's health insurance won't cover — but his sibling just wants money. Will is reluctant but desperate, Danny couldn't be more eager, and both race through a mess of a day. Naturally, it gets more hectic when they're hurtling along as the hotshot Cam (Eiza González, Godzilla vs Kong) works on wounded rookie police officer Zach (Jackson White, The Space Between), arm-deep in his guts at one point, while Captain Monroe (Garrett Dillahunt, Army of the Dead), Agent Anson Clark (Keir O'Donnell, The Dry) and their forces are in hot pursuit. Ambulance is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT "Nic fuckiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing Cage." That's how the man himself utters his name in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and he knows what he's about. Now four decades into his acting career to the year — after making his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High under his actual name Nicolas Coppola, playing a bit-part character who didn't even get a moniker — Cage is keenly aware of exactly what he's done on-screen over that time, and in what, and why and how. He also knows how the world has responded, with that recognition baked into every second of his his latest movie. He plays himself, dubbed Nick Cage. He cycles through action-hero Cage, comically OTT Cage, floppy-haired 80s- and 90s-era Cage, besuited Cage, neurotic Cage and more in the process. And, as he winks, nods, and bobs and weaves through a lifetime of all things Cage, he's a Cage-tastic delight to watch. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent does have a narrative around all that Cage as Cage, as penned by writer/director Tom Gormican (Are We Officially Dating?) and co-scribe Kevin Etten (Kevin Can F**K Himself). Here, the man who could eat a peach for days in Face/Off would do anything for as long as he needed to if he could lock in a weighty new part. The fictionalised Cage isn't happy with his roles of late, as he complains to his agent (Neil Patrick Harris, The Matrix Resurrections), but directors aren't buying what he's enthusiastically selling. He has debts and other art-parodies-life problems, though, plus an ex-wife (Sharon Horgan, This Way Up) and a teen daughter (Lily Sheen, IRL daughter of Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen). So, he reluctantly takes a $1-million gig he wishes he didn't have to: flying to southern Spain to hang out with billionaire Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal, The Bubble), who is such a Cage diehard that he even has his own mini museum filled with Cage memorabilia, and has also written a screenplay he wants Cage to star in. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE SOUVENIR: PART II In showbusiness, nepotism is as inescapable as movies about movies. Both are accounted for in The Souvenir: Part II. But when talents as transcendent as Honor Swinton Byrne, her mother Tilda Swinton and writer/director Joanna Hogg are involved — with the latter working with the elder Swinton since her first short, her graduation piece Caprice, back in 1986 before Honor was even born — neither family ties nor filmmaking navel-gazing feel like something routine. Why this isn't a surprise with this trio is right there in the movie's name, after the initial The Souvenir proved such a devastatingly astute gem in 2019. It was also simply devastating, following an aspiring director's romance with a charismatic older man through to its traumatic end. Both in its masterful narrative and its profound impact, Part II firmly picks up where its predecessor left off. In just her third film role — first working with her mum in 2009's I Am Love before The Souvenir and now this — Swinton Byrne again plays 80s-era filmmaking student Julie Harte. But there's now a numbness to the wannabe helmer after her boyfriend Anthony's (Tom Burke, Mank) death, plus soul-wearying shock after discovering the double life he'd been living that her comfortable and cosy worldview hadn't conditioned her to ever expect. Decamping to the Norfolk countryside, to her family home and to the warm but entirely upper-middle-class, stiff-upper-lip embrace of her well-to-do parents Rosalind (Swinton, The French Dispatch) and William (James Spencer Ashworth) is only a short-term solution, however. Julie's thesis film still needs to be made — yearns to pour onto celluloid, in fact — but that's hardly a straightforward task. The Souvenir: Part II is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. RRR The letters in RRR's title are short for Rise Roar Revolt. They could also stand for riveting, rollicking and relentless. They link in with the Indian action movie's three main forces, too — writer/director SS Rajamouli (Baahubali: The Beginning), plus stars NT Rama Rao Jr (Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava) and Ram Charan (Vinaya Vidheya Rama) — and could describe the sound of some of its standout moments. What noise echoes when a motorcycle is used in a bridge-jumping rescue plot, as aided by a horse and the Indian flag, amid a crashing train? Or when a truck full of wild animals is driven into a decadent British colonialist shindig and its caged menagerie unleashed? What racket resounds when a motorbike figures again, this time tossed around by hand (yes, really) to knock out those imperialists, and then an arrow is kicked through a tree into someone's head? Or, when the movie's two leads fight, shoot, leap over walls and get acrobatic, all while one is sat on the other's shoulders? RRR isn't subtle. Instead, it's big, bright, boisterous, boldly energetic, and brazenly unapologetic about how OTT and hyperactive it is. The 187-minute Tollywood action epic — complete with huge musical numbers, of course — is also a vastly captivating pleasure to watch. Narrative-wise, it follows the impact of the British Raj (aka England's rule over the subcontinent between 1858–1947), especially upon two men. In the 1920s, Bheem (Jr NTR, as Rao is known) is determined to rescue young fellow villager Malli (first-timer Twinkle Sharma), after she's forcibly taken by Governor Scott Buxton (Ray Stevenson, Vikings) and his wife Catherine (Alison Doody, Beaver Falls) for no reason but they're powerful and they can. Officer Raju (Charan) is tasked by the crown with making sure Bheem doesn't succeed in rescuing the girl, and also keeping India's population in their place because their oppressors couldn't be more prejudiced. RRR is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. THE DUKE Back in 1962, in the first-ever Bond film Dr No, the suave, Scottish-accented, Sean Connery-starring version of 007 admires a painting in the eponymous evil villain's underwater lair. That picture: Francisco Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington. The artwork itself is very much real, too, although the genuine article doesn't appear in the feature. Even if the filmmakers had wanted to use the actual piece, it was missing at the time. In fact, making a joke about that exact situation is why the portrait is even referenced in Dr No. That's quite the situation: the debut big-screen instalment in one of cinema's most famous and longest-running franchises, and a saga about super spies and formidable villains at that, including a gag about a real-life art heist. The truth behind the painting's disappearance is even more fantastical, however, as The Duke captures. The year prior to Bond's first martini, a mere 19 days after the early 19th-century Goya piece was put on display in the National Gallery in London, the portrait was stolen. Unsurprisingly, the pilfering earned plenty of attention — especially given that the government-owned institution had bought the picture for the hefty sum of £140,000, which'd likely be almost £3 million today. International master criminals were suspected. Years passed, two more 007 movies hit cinemas, and there was zero sign of the artwork or the culprit. And, that might've remained the case if eccentric Newcastle sexagenarian Kempton Bunton (played here by Six Minutes to Midnight's Jim Broadbent) hadn't turned himself in in 1965. As seen in this wild caper from filmmaker Roger Michell (My Cousin Rachel, Blackbird), Bunton advised that he'd gotten light-fingered in protest at the obscene amount spent on Portrait of the Duke of Wellington using taxpayer funds — money that could've been better deployed to provide pensioners with TV licenses, a cause he had openly campaigned for (and even been imprisoned over after refusing to pay his own television fee). The Duke is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. WASH MY SOUL IN THE RIVER'S FLOW A silent hero and a rowdy troublemaker. That's what Ruby Hunter calls Archie Roach, her partner in life and sometimes music, then characterises herself. She offers those words casually, as if she's merely breathing, with an accompanying smile and a glint in her eyes as she talks. They aren't the only thoughts uttered in Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, which intersperses concert and rehearsal clips with chats with Hunter and Roach, plus snippets of biographical details from and recollections about their lives as intertitles, and then majestic footage of the winding Murray River in Ngarrindjeri Country, where Hunter was born, too. Still, even before those two-word descriptions are mentioned, the film shows how they resonate within couple's relationship. Watching their dynamic, which had ebbed and flowed over three-plus decades when the movie's footage was shot in 2004, it's plain to see how these two icons of Australian music are dissimilar in personality and yet intertwine harmoniously. Every relationship is perched upon interlocking personalities: how well they complement each other, where their differences blend seamlessly and how their opposing traits spark challenges in the best possible ways. Every song, too, is a balance of disparate but coordinated pieces. And, every ecosystem on the planet also fits the bill. With Hunter and Roach as its focus, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow contemplates all three — love, music and Country — all through 2004 concert Kura Tungar — Songs from the River. Recorded for the documentary at Melbourne's Hamer Hall, that gig series interlaced additional parts, thanks to a collaboration with Paul Grabowsky's 22-piece Australian Art Orchestra — and the movie that producer-turned-writer/director Philippa Bateman makes of it, and about two Indigenous stars, their experience as members of Australia's Stolen Generations, their ties to Country and their love, is equally, gloriously and mesmerisingly multifaceted. Wash My Soul in the River's Flow is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. BLIND AMBITION From fleeing Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe to taking their nation's first-ever team to the World Wine Blind Testing Championships in Burgundy, Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon have quite the story to tell. The quartet met in South Africa, where they each individually made their home long before they crossed paths. They all also found themselves working with wine, despite not drinking it as Pentecostal Christians — and, in the process, they discovered a knack for an industry they mightn't have even contemplated otherwise. That's the tale that Blind Ambition relays, and it's a rousing and moving one. Indeed, it won't come as a surprise that the movie won Australian filmmakers Warwick Ross and Rob Coe (Red Obsession) the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary. Blind wine testing is a serious business; the first word isn't slang for inebriation, but describes how teams sample an array of wines without knowing what they're drinking. Then, they must pick everything from the country to the vintage to the varietal within two minutes of sipping. As stressed both verbally and visually throughout the doco, there's a specific — and very white — crowd for this endeavour. Accordingly, Team Zimbabwe instantly stands out. Heralding diversity is one of their achievements; their infectious joy, pride and enthusiasm for the field, for competing at the Olympics of the wine world, for the fact that their plight has taken them from refugees to finding a new calling, and for opening up the world to African vino, is just as resonant. Blind Ambition is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE What a difference Mads Mikkelsen can make. What a difference the stellar Danish actor can't, too. The Another Round and Riders of Justice star enjoys his Wizarding World debut in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, taking over the part of evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald's Johnny Depp — who did the same from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them's Colin Farrell first, albeit in a scripted change — and he's impressively sinister and engagingly insidious in the role. He needs to be: his fascist character, aka the 1930s-set movie's magical version of Hitler, wants to eradicate muggles. He's also keen to grab power however he must to do so. But a compelling casting switch can't conjure up the winning wonder needed to power an almost two-and-a-half-hour film in a flailing franchise, even one that's really just accioing already-devoted Harry Potter fans into cinemas. Nearly four years have passed since The Crimes of Grindelwald hit cinemas, but its successor picks up its wand where that dull sequel left off. That means reuniting with young Albus Dumbledore, who was the best thing about the last feature thanks to Jude Law (The Third Day) following smoothly in Michael Gambon and Richard Harris' footsteps. And, it means explaining that Dumbledore and Grindelwald pledged not to harm each other years earlier, which precludes any fray between them now. Enter magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne, The Trial of the Chicago 7) and his pals. Well, most of them. Newt's assistant Bunty (Victoria Yeates, Call the Midwife), brother Theseus (Callum Turner, Emma), No-Maj mate Jacob (Dan Fogler, The Walking Dead), Hogwarts professor Lally (Jessica Williams, Love Life) and Leta Lestrange's brother Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam, Stillwater) are accounted for, while former friend Queenie (Alison Sudol, The Last Full Measure) has defected to Grindelwald. As for the latter's sister Tina (Katherine Waterston, The World to Come), she's spirited aside, conspicuously sitting Operation Avoid Muggle Genocide out. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. NOBODY HAS TO KNOW Before Belgian actor and filmmaker Bouli Lanners started gracing screens big and small — writing and directing projects for the former as well — he trained as a painter. If you didn't know that fact, it'd be easy to guess while watching Nobody Has to Know. He helms and scripts, as he did 2011 Cannes award-winner The Giant, plus 2016's The First, the Last. He acts, as he has in everything from A Very Long Engagement and Rust and Bone to Raw and Bye Bye Morons. But it's the careful eye he brings to all that fills Nobody Has to Know's frames that immediately leaves an impression, starting with simply staring at the windswept Scottish scenery that provides the movie's backdrop. It's picturesque but also ordinary, finding visual poetry in the scenic and sweeping and yet also everyday. That's what the feature does with its slow-burning romantic narrative, too. On a remote island, Philippe Haubin (Lanners) has made a humble home. Working as a farmhand, he stands out with his arms covered in tattoos and his accent, but he's also been welcomed into the close-knit community. And, when he's found on the beach after suffering a stroke, his friends swiftly rally around — his younger colleague Brian (Andrew Still, Waterloo Road), who spreads the word; the latter's aunt Millie (Michelle Fairley, Game of Thrones), who ferries him around town; and her stern father Angus (Julian Glover, The Toll), who welcomes him back to work once he's out of hospital. But Phil returns with amnesia, which unsurprisingly complicates his daily interactions. He doesn't know what Brian means when he jokes about Phil now being the island's Jason Bourne, he has no idea if the dog in his house is his own, and he has no knowledge of any past, or not, with Millie. Nobody Has to Know is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MORBIUS Jumping into the Sony Shared Universe from the DCEU — that'd be the DC Extended Universe, the pictures based around Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad and the like (but not including Joker or The Batman) — Jared Leto plays Morbius' eponymous figure. A renowned scientist, Dr Michael Morbius has a keen interest in the red liquid pumping through humans' veins stemming from his own health issues. As seen in early scenes set during his childhood, young Michael (Charlie Shotwell, The Nest) was a sickly kid in a medical facility thanks to a rare disease that stops him from producing new blood. There, under the care of Dr Emil Nikols (Jared Harris, Foundation), he befriended another unwell boy (debutant Joseph Esson), showed his smarts and earned a prestigious scholarship. As an adult, he now refuses the Nobel Prize for creating artificial plasma, then tries to cure himself using genes from vampire bats. Morbius sports an awkward tone that filmmaker Daniel Espinosa (Life) can't overcome; its namesake may be a future big-screen baddie, but he's also meant to be this sympathetic flick's hero — and buying either is a stretch. In the overacting Leto's hands, he's too tedious to convince as a threat or someone to root for. He's too gleefully eccentric to resemble anything more than a skit at Leto's expense, too. Indeed, evoking any interest in Morbius' inner wrestling (because saving his own life with his experimental procedure comes at a bloodsucking cost) proves plodding. It does take a special set of skills to make such OTT displays so pedestrian at best, though, and that's a talent that Leto keeps showing to the misfortune of movie-goers. He offers more restraint here than in Suicide Squad (not to be confused with The Suicide Squad), The Little Things, House of Gucci or streaming series WeCrashed, but his post-Dallas Buyers Club Oscar-win resume remains dire — Blade Runner 2049 being the sole exception. Morbius is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 It was true in the 90s, and it remains that way now: when Jim Carrey lets loose, thrusting the entire might of his OTT comedic powers onto the silver screen, it's an unparalleled sight to behold. It doesn't always work, and he's a spectacular actor when putting in a toned-down or even serious performance — see: The Truman Show, The Majestic, I Love You Phillip Morris and his best work ever, the sublime Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — but there's a reason that the Ace Venture flicks, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber were some of the biggest movies made three decades back. Carrey is now a rarity in cinemas, but one franchise has been reminding viewers what his full-throttle comic efforts look like. Sadly, he's also the best thing about the resulting films, even if they're hardly his finest work. That was accurate in 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog, and it's the same of sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — which once again focuses on the speedy video game character but couldn't feel like more of a drag. The first Sonic movie established its namesake's life on earth, as well as his reason for being here. Accordingly, the blue-hued planet-hopping hedgehog (voiced by The Afterparty's Ben Schwartz) already made friends with small-town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden, The Stand). He already upended the Montana resident's life, too, including Tom's plans to move to San Francisco with his wife Maddie (Tika Sumpter, Mixed-ish). And, as well as eventually becoming a loveable member of the Wachowski family, Sonic also wreaked havoc with his rapid pace, and earned the wrath of the evil Dr Robotnik (Carrey, Kidding) in the process. More of the same occurs this time around, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 taking a more-is-more approach. There's a wedding to ruin, magic gems to find and revenge on the part of Robotnik. He's teamed up with super-strong echidna Knuckles (voiced by The Harder They Fall's Idris Elba), in fact, while Sonic gets help from smart-but-shy fox Tails (voice-acting veteran Colleen O'Shaughnessey). Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. DEADLY CUTS The Full Monty wasn't the first to do it, and it definitely hasn't been the last. But for the quarter century since that crowd-pleasing comedy became an enormous worldwide hit, British movies about underdogs banding together to save their livelihoods and communities have no longer been scrappy battlers themselves. Irish film Deadly Cuts is the latest, joining an ever-growing pile that also includes everything from Calendar Girls to Swimming with Men — and first-time feature writer/director Rachel Carey knows the formula she's playing with. Each such picture needs to be set in a distinctive world, follow a close-knit group, see them face an apparently insurmountable task and serve up a big public spectacle that promises redemption, and every step in that recipe is covered here. But a movie can stick to a clear template and still boast enough spirit to make even the creakiest of plot inclusions feel likely and entertaining enough, and that's this low-budget affair from start to finish. It does raise a smile that AhhHair, the glamorous hairdressing contest that Deadly Cuts' main characters want to enter and win, is all about innovation in its chosen form. The movie itself would never emerge victorious at such a competition, but it's filled with broad, blackly comic fun along the way, even if it boasts about as much subtlety as a mohawk. The setting: Piglington, Dublin, an as-yet-ungentrified corner of the Irish capital, where the titular salon is a mainstay. The aim: saving the shop from being torn down and replaced with shiny new apartments. The wholly predictable complications: the determination of corrupt local politician Darryl Flynn (Aidan McArdle, The Fall) to forge ahead with the development, which'll boost his bank account; and the suburb-scaring thugs led by the overbearing Deano (Ian Lloyd Anderson, Herself), who throw their weight around at every chance they get. Deadly Cuts is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. IT SNOWS IN BENIDORM Forty-four years have passed since Timothy Spall first graced the silver screen — and what a gift he's given both cinema and television since. He won Cannes Best Actor prize for Mr Turner, earned five BAFTA nominations in five years between 1997–2002, popped up in lively Aussie crime flick Gettin' Square, stole every scene he was in in The Party and recently proved formidable in Spencer. He has everything from multiple Harry Potter movies to playing Winston Churchill in The King's Speech on his resume, too, and also routinely improves whatever he's in with his presence alone. In fact, he does exactly that with It Snows in Benidorm, which'd be a mere wisp of a film otherwise. Following a just-made-redundant bank employee to Spain, this meandering drama by Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet (Elisa & Marcela) frequently mistakes mood for depth — and while Spall can't polish away its struggles, he's always the key reason to keep watching. A fan of the weather and little else, Spall's Peter Riordan has given decades of his life to his employer, and is so settled into the routine he's fashioned around his job that it's as natural and automatic to him as breathing. Accordingly, when he's unceremoniously let go, he finds it difficult to adjust. He's told that being freed from the monotony of his work is a gift, allowing him to retire early — so in that spirit, he heads off to the Mediterranean coast's tourist mecca to spend time with the brother he otherwise rarely talks to. But upon his arrival, Peter finds his sibling conspicuously absent. He still stays in his high-rise apartment, but what was meant to be a family reunion-style holiday now becomes a detective quest. Helping him is Alex (Sarita Choudhury, And Just Like That...), who worked with Peter's shady club-owning brother, might know more than she's letting on about his whereabouts, and also welcomes her new pal's tender companionship the more that they spend time together. It Snows in Benidorm is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. OFF THE RAILS In need of a bland and derivative friends-on-holidays flick that's painted with the broadest of strokes? Keen to dive once more into the pool of movies about pals heading abroad to scatter ashes and simultaneously reflect upon their current lot in life? Fancy yet another supposedly feel-good film that endeavours to wring humour out of culture clashes between English-speaking protagonists and the places they visit? Yearning for more glimpses of thinly written women getting their grooves back and realising what's important on a wild Eurotrip? Call Off the Rails, not that anyone should. Coloured with every cliche that all of the above scenarios always throw up, and also covered from start to finish in schmaltz, the debut feature from director Jules Williamson is a travel-themed slog that no one could want to remember. A grab bag of overdone tropes and treacly sentiment, it also doubles as an ode to the songs of Blondie, which fill its soundtrack — but even the vocal stylings of the great Debbie Harry can't breathe vibrancy into this trainwreck. Once close, Kate (Jenny Seagrove, Peripheral), Liz (Sally Phillips, Blinded by the Light) and Cassie (Preston, Gotti) now just call on big occasions — and even then, they're barely there for each other. But when fellow pal Anna dies, they reunite at her funeral, and are asked to carry out her final wish by her mother (Belfast's Judi Dench, in a thankless cameo). The task: catching a train across Europe, through Paris to Girona, Barcelona and Palma in Spain, to recreate a backpacking jaunt the four took decades earlier. Specifically, they're headed to La Seu, a cathedral with stained-glass windows that look particularly spectacular when the sun hits at the right time (the film calls it "god's disco ball"). Anna already bought their Interrail passes, and her 18-year-old daughter Maddie (Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips, Fortitude) decides she'll join the voyage, too. Off the Rails is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows, or check out the movies that were fast-tracked to digital in January, February, March, April and May.
Sorry Jamie and Nigella, every other cookbook is now irrelevant. Based on the actually genius blog that we've somehow only just discovered, Thug Kitchen gives you the full rundown on clean eating with a satisfyingly foul mouth. These are recipes for newbies to healthy living; people like us who need a proper kick in the arse to finish our plate of kale or quinoa. Though the book itself doesn't hit our shelves until next month, the trailer has just been released. And wow, it is so many types of great. Ringing a little too true for those of us scoffing our faces with two-minute noodles and artery-clogging burgers, this idea is crazy enough to actually work. Who knew profanity would pique our interest in healthy food so quickly? And here's the kicker: the food is actually pretty great. Their recipes online include Pina Colada ice cream, peach pancakes (presented in comic form) and dishes so tasty they threaten to completely "change the noodle game". Putting an end to those "sugar shakes" and "meat sweats" you've become so familiar with, the Thug Kitchen cookbook will only be available in the UK, Canada and Australia next month. Because of course we'd be interested in something that swears this much. Remember What the Fuck Should I Make For Dinner? We basically lived off that. Keep an eye on the Thug Kitchen Facebook page for a specific release date but until then, here are a few bits and pieces to get you in the right mindset. Time to get your shit together, Australia.
Appeteaser is the latest collection from Lucy Folk, and boy, is it tempting. This season Folk has used sterling silver, rose and yellow gold vermeil, freshwater pearls, powder-coated steel, 22 carat gold, rubies, white and black diamonds, tsavorite garnets, ceylon sapphires and a playful bout of colour in a series of pieces designed to make you look delicious. Some of the old favourites are back, but with a twist. There's gold corn chip necklaces, peppercorn earrings and mini-taco-adorned friendship bracelets. But expect an element of decadence with this seasons offerings, as elegant pearls and precious jewels are added in subtle ways. A couple of examples we are loving from this collection include the silver and rose gold ‘Caviar Rings’ dotted with sapphires and diamonds to add some sparkle to the seduction. Anchovy cuffs for your wrists and your ears add an intriguing texture to staple pieces, and the peppercorn and pearl earrings are delicate and divine. Probably the standout piece of the collection, however, is the Appeteaser Aphrodisiac necklace. A shucked freshwater oyster shell in either sterling silver or rose gold — with a pearl in the centre, of course — it is sure to make you the topic of conversation at any dinner party. At $750 (silver)/$850 (rose gold) a pop, you might be dining out on the cheap for a while, but if you feel like treating yourself to something scrumptious, you’d be hard pressed to beat this beauty. The Lucy Folk Appeteaser collection hits stores today and is also available online. Check out the saucily tongue-in-cheek campaign video for a little more amuse(-bouche)ment.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken us from New York skyscrapers to the far reaches of space, but for one weekend this year, it's landing right here in Sydney. Under the direction of Conductor Benjamin Northey, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is bringing Marvel's Infinity Saga to life at the Sydney Opera House with a brand-new film concert experience featuring the biggest moments from 23 movies, with every heroic (and villainous) note performed live to screen. You will hear a selection of heart-pounding themes live at the Sydney Opera House, including Academy Award-winning scores by Ramin Djawadi, Alan Silvestri, Ludwig Göransson, Danny Elfman and a taste of the Guardians of the Galaxy mixtape. To celebrate hearing the soundtracks of MCU's biggest personalities in our own backyard, we've rounded up the ultimate Marvel-inspired list of places to visit in the city. From rooftop cocktails fit for a billionaire inventor to Viking-worthy feasts, here's where you can hit up to feel like you're the main character of your own movie. Iron Man If Tony Stark is your vibe, you don't just book any old dinner reservation; you expect sky-high views, sleek interiors and a drinks list as inventive as your tech. At O Bar and Dining, you could sip a martini while surveying the city from its revolving perch. For something moodier, Joji offers the kind of minimalist design and premium whisky selection Stark would absolutely approve of. And for sunset cocktails with harbour views? Zephyr ticks all the boxes: luxury rooftop elegance with a modern feel. Thor Sydney may not have Asgard's golden towers, but it can still offer a feast worthy of the God of Thunder. Mjolner is an obvious choice — not only for its Viking-inspired decor and meat-heavy menu, but for its weekly 'ThorsDay' all-you-can-eat night. In between bites, you can burn off some energy at Throw Axe Penrith, showing off your hammer-throwing skills. And since Thor's not one to shy away from mingling with other gods, dinner at Olympus Dining would be a fitting nod to his Greek counterparts. Captain America Steve Rogers is a man out of time, but luckily, Sydney has spots that speak to his 1940s nostalgia and all-American charm. Kittyhawk (named after a US fighter jet) is a perfect choice for its vintage wartime and aviation theme. For something more casual, Surly's American Tavern serves up classic barbecue and cold beer that would feel like home for Captain America. But before a feed, you can make like Rogers by doing sets at One Playground Gym, keeping your superhero conditioning in check. Hulk Bruce Banner might prefer the quiet life, but when the Other Guy takes over, it's all about big energy and bigger portions. At Smash Room City, you can release some Hulk-sized tension — no collateral damage to Sydney's buildings required. Wings and Tins might be next, where the beer-can smashers at each table would make for a very on-brand dinner ritual. And for a calmer Sunday, The Lord Dudley offers a classic roast feast in a cosy pub. Bonus points for the building's green facade that gives a subtle nod to his alter ego. Captain Marvel Carol Danvers may have been born on Earth, but her powers deserve a Sydney itinerary that's a little… otherworldly. Bar Planet is the aptly named Newtown favourite where even a soldier of the Kree might feel at home. The 81st-floor Infinity Bar gives you panoramic views of the city (and perhaps a moment to check in on other galaxies). And for a rush without leaving the atmosphere, Indoor Skydiving Sydney offers the pure adrenaline hit of flight powers. Whether you're team hero or villain, the Marvel's Infinity Saga Concert Experience is your chance to relive the best moments of the MCU in an entirely new way. Relive the most iconic moments from these beloved films in this unforgettable concert experience live at the Sydney Opera House. Book tickets now. Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts © Disney
When the National Gallery of Victoria dedicates its blockbuster summer or winter exhibitions to big fashion names, one word usually applies no matter which designer is in the spotlight: stunning. It was true back in 2022 when the Melbourne venue turned its focus to Alexander McQueen, for instance, and also in 2021 when it did the same with Gabrielle Chanel. Expect the same across the summer of 2025–26, when it's Vivienne Westwood's time to shine, plus Rei Kawakubo from Comme des Garçons' moment as well. Heading to NGV International across Sunday, December 7, 2025–Sunday, April 19, 2026, Westwood | Kawakubo is both an Australian and a world first, pairing pieces by both the British talent and the Japanese designer in one massive showcase. No matter which of the duo's works you're looking at, you'll be revelling in rule-breaking, status quo-subverting threads. Some helped define the fashion of the punk movement in the 70s. Others have earned the world's attention at the Met Gala. In-between, items donned by supermodels, seen in films and from collections worn by plenty of well-known names will feature. [caption id="attachment_1011675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivienne Westwood, London (fashion house), Vivienne Westwood (designer). Outfits from the Portrait collection, autumn–winter 1990–91 (detail). 116 Pall Mall, London, March 1990. Photo © John van Hasselt / Sygma via Getty Images. Models: Susie Bick & Denice D. Lewis.[/caption] In total, more than 140 designs are set to display at the NGV. To assemble such a wide range, the gallery has sourced pieces from New York's Metropolitan Museum, The Victoria & Albert Museum, Palais Galliera and the Vivienne Westwood archive, plus its own collection. Over 40 works are new gifts to the gallery from Comme des Garçons especially for Westwood | Kawakubo, as chosen by Kawakubo. Among the full lineup of items: punk ensembles made famous by The Sex Pistols and Siousie Sioux, the wedding gown that Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That...) wore in Sex and the City: The Movie and the tartan dress that Kate Moss stepped into in Westwood's Anglomania collection in the mid 90s — and also a version of Rihanna's petal-heavy 2017 Met Gala outfit, plus pieces from collections that Lady Gaga and Tracee Ellis Ross (Black Mirror) have sported. [caption id="attachment_1011671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rhianna wearing Comme des Garçons, Tokyo (fashion house), Rei Kawakubo (designer) at The Met Gala, 2017. Photo © Francois Durand via Getty Images.[/caption] Westwood | Kawakubo will span from taffeta to tweed, vinyl and leather to silk, and corsetry to ruffles and knitwear, then — and much beyond. The exhibition is designed to step through Westwood and Kawakubo's careers across five thematic strands, including the former's punk-era work and the influence of the movement on the latter, their shared needs to rebel against the norm, how the two women have looked either forward or back in their pieces, eschewing objectification and using fashion to make a statement. "This exhibition celebrates two leading female fashion designers from different cultural backgrounds, who both had strong creative spirits and pushed boundaries," explained NGV Director Tony Ellwood, announcing the showcase. "Through more than 140 designs from the NGV Collection and key international loans, Westwood | Kawakubo invites audiences to reflect on the enduring legacies of these groundbreaking designers and contemplate the ways in which fashion can be a vehicle for self-expression and freedom." [caption id="attachment_1011673" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivienne Westwood, London (fashion house), Vivienne Westwood (designer) Look 49, from the Anglomania collection, autumn–winter 1993–94. Le Cercle Républicain, Paris, March 1993. Photo © firstVIEW. Model: Kate Moss.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1011677" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Comme des Garçons, Tokyo (fashion house), Rei Kawakubo (designer) Look 9, from the 2 Dimensions collection, autumn–winter 2012. Paris, 3 March 2012. Image © Comme des Garçons. Model: Henna Lintukangas.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1011676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown on the set of Sex and the City: The Movie, New York City, 12 October 2007. Photo © James Devaney / WireImage via Getty Images.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1011678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Comme des Garçons, Tokyo (fashion house), Rei Kawakubo (designer) Look 1, from the Blue Witch collection, spring–summer 2016. Paris, 3 October 2015. Image © Comme des Garçons. Model: Maja Brodin.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1011674" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World's End, London (fashion house), Vivienne Westwood (designer), Malcolm McLaren (designer) Outfit from the Savage collection, spring–summer 1982. Pillar Hall, Olympia, London, 22 October 1981. Photo © Robyn Beeche.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1011679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Comme des Garçons, Tokyo (fashion house), Rei Kawakubo (designer) Look 13, from the Uncertain Future collection, spring–summer 2025. Paris, 28 September 2024. Image © Comme des Garçons. Model: Astrid Wagemakers.[/caption] Westwood | Kawakubo displays from Sunday, December 7, 2025–Sunday, April 19, 2026 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Head to the gallery website for tickets and more details. Top image: excerpt of Rhianna wearing Comme des Garçons, Tokyo (fashion house), Rei Kawakubo (designer) at The Met Gala, 2017. Photo © Francois Durand via Getty Images.
"The mormons are coming", posters popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane promised in the 2010s. If you start spotting something similar now, they might feature the words "the mormons are back" instead. After breaking records on its first Australian run, The Book of Mormon is returning Down Under, with the smash-hit musical's suitcases are packed for Sydney. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most-lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints and African missions — and to approached both with Parker and Stone's usual humour. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in the US in 2011, when it was called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Australia's OG date with The Book of Mormon also earned accolades, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical at the 2017 Helpmann Awards. When the show premiered in the Victorian capital in 2015, it enjoyed the highest-selling on-sale period for a show at Melbourne's Princess Theatre. When it first went to Sydney, it also set a record for the highest-grossing musical in the city's history. A decade ago, Parker and Stone's hilariously irreverent hit production spent a year in Melbourne, then did the same in Sydney, then made two trips to Brisbane — because one wasn't enough. This time, debuting from July 2025, The Book of Mormon is hitting Sydney's Capitol Theatre first up. Exact dates haven't yet been revealed, however, and neither has any planned stops in other Aussie cities. If missed it then or you're keen to see it again, you'll be plenty excited that you're getting a new chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. The waitlist is open now for the Sydney season, with no word yet as to when tickets will go on sale — or about who'll be taking to the stage in the cast, either. The Book of Mormon will play Sydney's Capitol Theatre from July 2025 — we'll update you when exact dates are announced. To sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website. Images: Paul Coltas, London Company.
Family feuds are a deadly business in Bad Sisters, Apple TV+'s latest must-see. Just don't believe the first word in its title for a second. Starring, co-written and co-developed by Sharon Horgan, as Catastrophe was before it, this ten-part streaming series focuses on the Garvey girls, a quintet of Irish siblings who became bonded by more than blood when they were orphaned years earlier. Horgan's Eva took on the matriarch role and has doted on her siblings Grace (Anne-Marie Duff, Sex Education), Ursula (Eva Birthistle, The Last Kingdom), Bibi (Sarah Greene, Normal People) and Becka (Eve Hewson, Behind Her Eyes) ever since, even now that they range from their late twenties through to their forties. Used to doing whatever they must for each other, there's nothing bad about their sisterly devotion — but it just might include killing Grace's husband. A pitch-black comedy, a murder-mystery and a family drama all in one — an Irish riff on Big Little Lies, too, although it's actually adapted from Belgian TV's Clan from back in 2012 — Bad Sisters ponders two questions. Firstly, it wonders what lengths loyal siblings would truly go to to protect one of their own. Secondly, it contemplates what comeuppance women pushed to their limits will exact upon the source of their misery. Indeed, it's a darkly funny revenge fantasy as well, and a puzzle to compulsively sleuth along with. Do the Garveys get their wish? How will they try to make their dream a reality? Will their various murder plots work? What'll go wrong next? These queries also keep coming, and unfurling the answers makes for equally riveting, entertaining, empathetic and amusing viewing. Bad Sisters begins on the day of a funeral, farewelling John Paul Williams (Claes Bang, The Northman) after Grace makes sure that his erection won't be noticed first. Her dead husband has long been nicknamed 'The Prick' anyway, with his four sisters-in-law all thoroughly unimpressed, to say the least, about the toxic way he openly treated his dutiful wife. They're all sick of the underhanded abuse he also directed towards each of them, as well as anyone he didn't like, and the unearned air of superiority that always came with it. Calling him manipulative, callous, misogynistic, racist, narcissistic, spiteful, vicious, pitiless, ruthless, flat-out intolerable — they all fit. When a guest offers condolences at JP's wake, Eva's response is: "I'm just glad the suffering's over". When she's then asked if he was ill, she replies with a blunt and loaded "no". Relief lingers during JP's sendoff, but so does tension. Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka long wanted The Prick dead and, as flashbacks show, had been planning to bring about that very end. Complicating matters: two insurance agents, aka half-brothers Thomas (Brian Gleeson, Death of a Ladies' Man) and Matthew Claffin (Daryl McCormack, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), who start nosing around as John Paul is being laid to rest. Their family-run outfit is meant to pay out on his life insurance policy, but it's a hefty amount of cash and will bankrupt the firm. And with Thomas' wife Theresa (Seána Kerslake, My Salinger Year) heavily pregnant and on bed rest, the Claffins already have their own share of family stresses. As brought to Apple TV+ by Horgan with United States of Tara, New Girl and 30 Rock's Brett Baer and Dave Finkel, Bad Sisters uses that insurance investigation to justify its jumps backwards — and it's a savvy tactic. In its weekly instalments, the series works through JP's awfulness and the Garveys' campaign of vengeance in two directions, contrasting the sisters' motivations in the months leading up to their brother-in-law's death with the aftermath. That said, exactly how Grace ends up a widow, who's responsible and which of the siblings knows what all drive the show's whodunnit angle, sharply and entertainingly so. Bad Sisters teases out the precise reasons that Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka can't stand JP, too, because The Prick's abysmal behaviour made enemies out of everyone around him over and over. Boasting a devilish setup is just one of Bad Sisters' drawcards. What a premise it is, though. The whole 'offing your arsehole brother-in-law' idea may seem obvious at the outset, but this is a series with both bite and warmth as it unpacks what happens when women don't have any other options but potentially breaking bad — and sticking together. The pervasive feeling: wish fulfilment and catharsis, as Grace's siblings attempt to make everyone's lives better, even if it requires one of the most drastic moves there is. Just as Horgan inhabits her part with fierce affection, as characters played by the This Way Up star tend to sport, the entire ten-episode run bubbles with unfailing determination. It's dedicated to seeing the horrors of coercive control and the harrowing ordeal that is life with someone like JP, but it's as devoted to maintaining hope in the Garveys' sense of sorority. Bad Sisters is also unflinching about perfecting the right balance between twisted, heartfelt, weighty, amusing, sincere and audacious — as resolute as it is about filling its frames with scenic Irish sights. The show's roster of writers and directors, which includes Dearbhla Walsh (Tales From the Loop), Rebecca Gatward (The Spanish Princess) and Josephine Bornebusch (Love Me) behind the lens, ensure four outcomes: lapping up every twist and turn; wishing you're a Garvey yourself; planning a getaway to Ireland; and feeling seen if you've ever been treated terribly by someone you love or even someone you know, be it a relative, friend, neighbour, boss, colleague or acquaintance of an acquaintance. There's no doubting the impact of Bad Sisters' on-screen talents in making it such an instantly addictive Irish delight, however. It isn't merely the central murder-mystery that lures viewers in — and the comic way the series cycles through the Garveys' schemes — but also the show's wonderful leading ladies. From Horgan through to Hewson, the eponymous sisters are exceptionally well-cast, with all five actors conveying the clan's strengths, flaws, differences, fights and camaraderie, including at an individual level and together. Duff is especially heartbreaking as the spouse who has convinced herself that her husband's exploitation and cruelty is normal, while the Bang ensures that the potently odious, easily despised JP is abhorrent on every level but never cartoonish. They're all ably supported by the charmingly bumbling Gleeson and just charmingly charming McCormack, who help reinforce that every family has its ups and downs — including when no one is contemplating homicide. Check out the trailer for Bad Sisters below: Bad Sisters streams via Apple TV+.
California's endless sunshine and awe-inspiring scenery helped establish it as the home of US filmmaking. Nowadays, just about every nook and cranny in the state has appeared on the silver screen, with Hollywood productions making the most of dynamic landscapes and architectural wonders. Ready to see some of pop culture's most iconic scenes in person? We've teamed up with Visit California to highlight ten of the best attractions to visit when you want to geek out on cinematic history. [caption id="attachment_960577" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hang Tran via iStock[/caption] Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Perched on the side of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory offers incredible views across Los Angeles stretching from downtown to the Pacific Ocean. After dark, it becomes a buzz of activity as free telescopes give visitors glimpses into deep space. Inside, cosmos-related exhibitions dazzle guests. A go-to spot for directors, Griffith Observatory has been the setting for hundreds of productions. You might recall the opening shot of The Terminator, featuring a stark-naked Arnold Schwarzenegger, or a mesmerising musical number in La La Land. Don't miss the James Dean busk to celebrate the observatory's role in Rebel Without a Cause. [caption id="attachment_960579" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Travelview via iStock[/caption] Union Station, Los Angeles Few train stations have appeared on camera more than Union Station. Although it typically serves as LA's major rail terminal, its fascinating combination of art deco and Spanish colonial revival architecture gives it an undeniable gravitas that makes for a powerful scene. In the original Blade Runner, Union Station stands in for Los Angeles Police Station, while The Dark Knight Rises sees it transformed into a kangaroo court overseen by the Scarecrow. Although surprisingly rare, Union Station was simply a train station in Pearl Harbor. [caption id="attachment_961524" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ross G Perry[/caption] Fox Plaza, Los Angeles You might still debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas flick, but there's no doubting where it all began for Detective John McClane. Better known as Fox Plaza, or 2121 Avenue of the Stars, this LA skyscraper is where villainous mastermind Hans Gruber met his match. Yet McClane isn't the only cop to roam this building. In Brooklyn 99, Jake makes the team detour to the fictional Nakatomi Plaza, quoting McClane every step of the way. You can also catch Fox Plaza's exterior in Lethal Weapon 2, connecting more made-up cops to the building's legacy. [caption id="attachment_960584" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Overstreet via iStock[/caption] Bodega Bay, Sonoma County North of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is one of the top spots on the West Coast for whale-watching, peaceful hiking trails and day spas. It's also a must-visit on a cinema-inspired road trip along the coast. Though you might not get that impression from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic, The Birds. After socialite Melanie Daniels follows lawyer Mitch Brenner to Bodega Bay, mysterious bird attacks terrorise the townspeople. Head along to discover how the reality is far more tranquil. [caption id="attachment_961526" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Marie Beschen[/caption] Museum of Western Film History, Lone Pine Western films had a defining role in the development of American cinema, with the desolate surroundings of Lone Pine central from the beginning. Over 400 feature films were shot across the Alabama Hills, the Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley since 1920, starting with the silent film, The Round Up, starring Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle. Iconic films like Gunga Din, High Sierra and The Lone Ranger have featured the same vast landscape. For a true movie-buff experience, the Museum of Western Film History offers a diverse collection of frontier film memorabilia. [caption id="attachment_960608" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Olga U via iStock[/caption] Alabama Hills, Owens Valley On the outskirts of Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills is where numerous seminal western genre films were captured. Surrounded by towering rock formations and seemingly endless desert, traversing Movie Road with the Sierra Mountains adorning the horizon is a great way to get introduced. Films new and old were shot along this barren stretch, with the likes of The Lone Ranger, Iron Man and Gladiator just some of the best-known. Discover landmark geological wonders rising from the desert like the Mobius Arch, Nightmare Rock and Cyclops Arch. Kansas City Barbecue, San Diego Belt out 'Great Balls of Fire' just like Maverick and Goose in Top Gun at Kansas City Barbecue — the setting for the iconic diner scene. It was discovered by Paramount Studios' location scout ahead of production who liked the atmosphere so much that he returned with director Tony Scott. Situated in the harbour district of San Diego, Kansas City Barbecue serves up jam-packed meat dishes and hearty sides. If the classic diner vibe wasn't enough, the walls are adorned with assorted Top Gun memorabilia and the real piano used in the movie is still there. [caption id="attachment_960613" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Damien Verrier via iStock[/caption] Death Valley National Park, Southwest California Tatooine might seem like a galaxy away in Star Wars Episodes IV and VI, but these otherworldly scenes were shot in the dunes and canyons of Death Valley National Park. Wander into Artist's Palette — a colourful collection of volcanic deposits — just like R2-D2 does in A New Hope. The movie also used one of Death Valley's most impressive vantage points, Dante's View, to capture a panorama of Mos Eisley, a spaceport town filled with scum and villainy. [caption id="attachment_961525" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Courtesy of Flickr[/caption] Hillard House, San Francisco Featuring a masterclass in comedic performance by Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire remains an essential childhood film for millions. Many of the jokes might have gone over your head as a youngster, but this 90s classic still has much to say when you watch as an adult. Located in the upmarket Pacific Heights neighbourhood of San Francisco, Hillard House, featured throughout Mrs Doubtfire, still looks much the same. Although the interiors were shot on a soundstage, it's well worth climbing the hills to visit. Plus, the bay views are incredible. [caption id="attachment_960618" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rebecca Todd[/caption] Muir Woods, San Francisco Bay Delve into Muir Woods to discover a fascinating old-growth coastal redwood forest. With some of these towering trees dating to over 1,000 years old, this ancient landscape is bound to leave you feeling in touch with nature. Throughout the Planet of the Apes series, Muir Woods becomes home to a super-intelligent colony of apes. Although these scenes in the films were captured in Vancouver with the help of a little old-fashioned movie magic, the in-universe setting is a stunning location, easily driven to from San Francisco, and it makes for an unforgettable detour. Start planning your tour of California, America's ultimate playground, today. Header images: B Alberts via iStock, Visit California
Tucked along the coast close to the Victorian-South Australian border, and just beyond the westernmost end of the Great Ocean Road, Nelson is a charming country town brimming with incredible outdoor adventures. With its tight-knit local community and hardy surrounding wilderness, this is one spot to put on your list if you're looking for top-notch hiking, surfing, fishing and more. Nelson might not be considered the end of the earth, but its veritable collection of stunning landscapes means you and your pals will struggle to find a place with better access to nature. Whether you get your kicks from underground walkways, remote inland hikes or riding rugged waves, we've teamed up with Wild Turkey to present a collection of experiences in this thriving border town where unforgettable memories are guaranteed. [caption id="attachment_841188" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] EXPLORE THE DRAMATIC PRINCESS MARGARET ROSE CAVE Situated along the banks of the Glenelg River, the Princess Margaret Rose Cave sees daring travellers descend into a subterranean cavern where calcite formations have ebbed and flowed over the last 700,000 years. Opened in 1940 as one of Australia's first show caves, the limestone lair is one of Nelson's standout destinations. Make the most of your time underground with a guided tour, during which you'll have 45 minutes to wander illuminated walkways flanked by crystalline stalagmites and stalactites that have expanded to over six metres in length. If you can't get enough of your surrounds, the Princess Margaret Rose Cave is located next to a picturesque campground, where you can find close encounters with native wildlife among a eucalypt forest. [caption id="attachment_841190" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] TACKLE THE GREAT SOUTH WEST WALK AND SPEND A NIGHT BENEATH THE STARS A staggering amount of rewarding hikes are located along the Great Ocean Road's 243 kilometres, but few are as impressive as the Great South West Walk. While the total distance of this epic journey through Victoria's western coast takes around 12 days to complete — the whole trail is longer than the Great Ocean Road itself — choosing a section or two to tackle is a far more realistic prospect for most. Across full-day hikes and laidback loops, the path meanders from the coastal edge inland through Cobboboonee National Park and side-by-side with the Glenelg River, meaning you'll see both lush forests and idyllic seaside villages. If you're looking to really connect with nature, pack a tent and set yourself up at one of the 14 well-maintained campsites along the way, which provide fitting amenities for an overnight stay. [caption id="attachment_843921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] SEE WHERE THE RIVER MEETS THE OCEAN AT DISCOVERY BAY ESTUARY BEACH Exploring scenic beaches is one of the main reasons to cruise Victoria's western fringe. Discovery Bay Estuary Beach is a particularly beautiful highlight, as the meeting point of the Glenelg River and the rugged Southern Ocean. And whether you want to take it easy on the river side or test your mettle on the ocean side, the two kilometres of sandy shoreline means that the swimming and surfing potential is virtually endless. Fair warning: the beach isn't patrolled by lifesavers so be sure you know what you're doing before you set off. Situated about a five-minute drive from the centre of Nelson, this beach is also beloved for its fishing, with local anglers heading out by boat or seeing what they can catch in the shallows. Plus, the surrounding wetlands and sand dunes provide critical ecosystems for hundreds of rare waterbirds and plant species, ensuring you feel that enchanting connection with nature. [caption id="attachment_841194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] SURF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN AT DISCOVERY BAY COASTAL PARK For even more surfing possibilities, heading further south to the Discovery Bay Coastal Park leaves you totally spoilt for choice. Spanning nearly 26,000 acres from Cape Nelson to the South Australian border, this spectacular national park welcomes you to soak up the diverse landscape from end to end. While you might feel the urge to dive in anywhere, several top-quality breaks present the best waves. Crumpet Beach and Blacknose Point are ideal for newbies, while Descartes is where more experienced surfers test their skills. Meanwhile, Discovery Bay Marine National Park offers outstanding underwater ecosystems, so be sure to pack your snorkelling gear. There's plenty happening inland, too, thanks to soaring coastal cliffs, impressive sand dunes and idyllic freshwater lakes and swamps. Feel free to take your time here — there are several vantage points within the park where you can catch one of the best sunsets in Victoria. [caption id="attachment_841197" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] HEAD TO CAPE BRIDGEWATER FOR OTHERWORLDLY ROCK FORMATIONS Set in an ancient volcanic crater, Cape Bridgewater's otherworldly landscape is perfect for road trippers seeking a unique adventure. Its jagged coastline is home to some of Victoria's highest clifftops, and the countryside beyond overflows with freshwater lakes that are excellent for fishing and water skiing. However, the coast remains the main attraction, with the Bridgewater Blowholes helping travellers get up close to rock formations forged in the basalt and scoria rock over millions of years. The cape is also well-known for its population of fur seals, with a dedicated viewing platform providing a glimpse of this year-round colony situated on the ocean edge. [caption id="attachment_843922" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] FISH AND PADDLE ALONG THE GLENELG RIVER Spanning 350 kilometres from Nelson's Discovery Bay to the lofty Southern Grampians, the Glenelg River boasts a thriving biosphere that makes for a captivating day on the water. With the waterway considered one of the state's top fishing destinations, you can cast a line for flathead, morwong and silver sweep throughout the year. If you decide to explore the inland reaches of the Glenelg River, Dartmoor is great for a pitstop. Here, Paestan Canoe Hire provides everything you need for a peaceful paddle beneath the shaded banks. For something a little different, tee off for a round at Dartmoor Golf Club or feast on classic pub grub at the Dartmoor Hotel Motel. Find out more about Wild Turkey's Discovery Series at the website. Top image: Visit Victoria
Frozen has done it. Beauty and the Beast and Shrek, too. The Lion King is set to again in 2026. We're talking about animated movies making the leap from the screen to the stage Down Under, as another childhood favourite will before 2025 is out. With Anastasia, Russian history first inspired a 90s hit, which then became a Broadway stage production since 2017. When the musical treads the boards in Melbourne from December, it'll mark the show's Australian debut. The Victorian capital's Regent Theatre will host Anastasia's Aussie premiere, but it isn't the only venue — or city — that'll welcome the production. So far, John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia have also locked in seasons in Perth and Sydney, the former from March 2026 at Crown Theatre and the latter from April 2026 at the Lyric Theatre. At each stop, the Tony-nominated musical will unveil an all-ages-friendly tale inspired by Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov during the Russian Revolution, as the 1997 movie also charted. Accordingly, accompanied by songs such as 'Journey to the Past' and 'Once Upon a December' — both from the big-screen release — theatregoers can get ready to spend time with a young woman named Anya on her journey to discover her past, and to unearth a story that some in the narrative don't want revealed. Audiences have writer Terrence McNally and songwriting team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens to thank for Anastasia's existence as a stage musical — and between its Broadway run and its Aussie stint, Anastasia has also toured North America, and hit the stage in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. "The legend of Anastasia has intrigued the world for many years and I've been wanting to bring this musical to Australia since it premiered on Broadway in 2017. It's a story full of mystery and romance with a magnificent score that I know Australia is going to fall in love with," said producer John Frost AM. "Opera Australia is thrilled to be once again partnering with John Frost to bring another world-class musical to Australian theatres. We expect the glorious music, spectacle and intrigue of Anastasia will captivate audiences around the country," added Opera Australia's Acting CEO Simon Militano. Anastasia Australian Dates From December 2025 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne From March 2026 — Crown Theatre, Perth From April 2026 — Lyric Theatre, Sydney Anastasia will premiere in Australia in Melbourne from December 2025, then head to Perth from March 2026, then Sydney from April 2026. Head to the musical's website for more details, and to join the waitlist for tickets. Images: Roy Beusker.
There's never been a better time to sport a healthy interest in true crime, as your streaming and podcast queues can probably attest. The genre is hardly new, but thanks to the likes of Serial and Making a Murderer (and S-Town, Dr Death, Teacher's Pet, Dirty John, The Case Against Adnan Syed and The Bundy Tapes too, to name just a few), exploring real-life tales about untoward acts is positively booming. These days, you can nearly shape your whole media diet around true crime. And, especially in the podcast space, there's almost something new to discover every day. Eager to dive into the latest and greatest grim stories? Looking for something fresh to pipe into your ears, but don't know where to start? Here are six newcomers that you should begin listening to ASAP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZIf8RpN1A MONSTER: THE ZODIAC KILLER When it comes to creepy unsolved mysteries, the Zodiac Killer sits at the top of the heap. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, an unidentified man murdered victims across northern California, then claimed responsibility by writing to local newspapers — and, to this day, the culprit has not been caught. Before he made Mindhunter everyone's favourite Netflix series, David Fincher explored the story in his excellent 2007 drama Zodiac. He's not the only person obsessed with the case, with the team behind 2018 hit podcast Atlanta Monster (aka Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks) delving into the story in its latest season. The two groups are really just taking turns chronicling fascinating terrain (the second season of Mindhunter focuses on the Atlanta Child Murders, too). However, if you can't get enough of these bleak, disturbing real-life tales, then Monster: The Zodiac Killer is a must-listen, with hosts Payne Lindsey and Matt Frederick stepping through the minutiae in intricate detail across 15 episodes. Listen to Monster: The Zodiac Killer here. MAN IN THE WINDOW: THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER If you're looking for even more California crime stories, then add Man in the Window: The Golden State Killer to your list. For more than a decade between 1974–86, the murderer, rapist and burglar wreaked havoc across the state, with at least 13 deaths, more than 50 sexual assaults and over 100 break-and-enters to his name. For those who've been following true crime news over the past couple of years, you'll know that this case picked up again in 2018 in a big way. If you're not aware of the particulars, this riveting podcast, which started back in June, will take you through all of the historical and recent ins and outs. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paige St John is behind it, as are Wondery and the LA Times (the folks who brought us Dirty John). A word of warning, though: if you're spooked out by hearing actual evidence, including phone calls made to victims, then you'd best steel yourself in advance. Listen to Man in the Window: The Golden State Killer here. GHOSTHUNTER Since the birth of cinema, movies have often taken inspiration from reality, especially at its most twisted. Now, a crime-fuelled mystery can become the subject of a documentary, then get turned into a podcast by its filmmaker. That's exactly what has happened with Ghosthunter. It first brought the story of Sydney's Jason King to the big screen last year, and has now been expanded upon in audio form. Director Ben Lawrence is behind both versions of this far-from-ordinary tale, which is the result of spending seven years delving into King's life. Press play for an account of a security guard who doubles as a ghost hunter — yes, really — and keep listening for police investigations, court dramas, family secrets, difficult traumas, murky mysteries and estranged figures from King's history. It unfurls over five parts, and we can guarantee that you won't guess where it's all going. Listen to Ghosthunter here. SHREDS: MURDER ON THE DOCK True crime podcasts can take a plethora of shapes and forms; however, three kinds tend to stand out. The first unravel the cases of notorious serial killers. The second sift through stories that are just so astonishing, they can only stem from actuality. The third examine not only blood-curdling crimes, but just as horrific miscarriages of justice. Ticking both of the latter two boxes, the BBC's Shreds: Murder on the Dock revisits the Cardiff killing of Lynette White, the subsequent charging of five black and mixed-race men with her death, and what became — at the time — the longest murder trial in British history. The specifics of White's last moments are awful, with the 20-year-old's body found on Valentine's Day back in 1988. The circus that followed is equally chilling, including another record-breaking feat: the largest police corruption trial in British criminal history. Listen to Shreds: Murder on the Dock here. THE BURIAL FILES Whether you're a local who regularly commutes through the spot, or an out-of-towner who has just whizzed through it once or twice on the airport train, you'll never look at Sydney's Central Station the same way once you've listened to The Burial Files. Before it was a busy transport hub, it was the city's first major colonial-era cemetery. Yes, on the spot that a quarter of a million people transit through every single day, the remains of around 30,000 people were interred between 1820–1900. Unsurprisingly, this macabre history is the source of many a story, which the podcast delves into with the help of historians, archaeologists, forensic experts and even railway enthusiasts. The result of years of research, The Burial Files stems from the State Library of NSW, and from curator Elise Edmonds, who reveals details you'd never know otherwise — including about the mass exhumations of most of the site's bodies at the turn of the 20th century. Listen to The Burial Files here. [caption id="attachment_738014" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Pendulum[/caption] PENDULUM A few months back, 7 News jumped into the podcast game, getting listeners whipped into a frenzy with The Lady Vanishes. Pendulum is the network's second foray into the field — and into an Australian case that still deserves plenty of attention decades after it happened. This time around, 21-year-old Queenslander Margaret Ann Kirstenfeldt is in the spotlight. The mother of a seven-month-old, she was found with brutal, fatal injuries in the coastal town of Sarina back in 1978, with theories swirling about the incident ever since. Initially treated as a rape and murder, a pathologist then deemed her injuries self-inflicted; however, one top cop on the case was never able to accept that finding. Diving deep into a shocking death, Pendulum also speaks with Kirstenfeldt's husband and mother, while pondering if the perpetrator is still out there. Listen to Pendulum here. Top image: Ghosthunter
This could be love: a classic 80s film that's been adored for decades, a new date with the big screen, and a live band and singers bringing its soundtrack to life as you watch. Dirty Dancing in Concert isn't new to Australia, but it keeps returning to tour the country because the movie at its centre is one that audiences can't get enough of. If you're a fan, you'll know which phrase fits: ideally, you'll have the time of your film-watching life. On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey will dance up a storm in the 1987 romantic drama at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. While this event is clearly hoping that you've never felt like this before, that'll only apply if you didn't go to 2022's or 2023's shows. Whether you're a Dirty Dancing in Concert first-timer or returning after seeing it before, you'll not only see the movie — you'll also hit up the party afterwards. Accordingly, as you celebrate one of Swayze's biggest and most-charming film roles, you'll be immersed in the world of the picture from the moment that you take your seat. Although no one will be carrying watermelons or checking into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, the digitally remastered feature will grace the big screen, its iconic songs will get a workout live, then the musicians will stick around afterwards to headline a party that'll naturally have you singing and dancing. If you're feeling adventurous and inspired by the movie, you might even want to try to recreate the famous lift. Here, nobody will put you or Francis 'Baby' Houseman in a corner — and you'd be just a fool to believe otherwise. Your hungry eyes will soak in Baby's first taste of dirty dancing, her eager rehearsals and her growing infatuation with Johnny Castle, as well as her parents' bitter unhappiness about the entire situation. Dirty Dancing in Concert images: Zdenko Hanout.
Normally ugliness is relative and objective, but not if you’re at one of the stranger events taking place during the Basque city of Bilbao’s annual cultural festival Aste Nagusia or ‘Big Week’. Somewhere in between the comparatively commonplace displays of music, art, fireworks and bullfights taking place over the nine-day celebration falls the bewildering Concurso de Feos, which literally translates to ‘The Ugly Competition’. Concurso de Feos was apparently initiated as a spin on the controversial and outdated beauty pageant. Though it is also a great alternative for those not endowed with the skills required to perform the spectacular facial feat known as a gurn (perhaps due to still having at least six teeth) but who continue to dream of having their ugliest mug immortalised on the Internet. The Spanish competition apparently encourages the use of fingers to assist with the distorting process, with entrants stuffing digits into their nostrils, eyeballs and inner cheeks in their quest to perform the most unsightly sneer in all the land. There appears to be no age restrictions on competing, with the event popular amongst both old and young alike. And, obligatory jokes aside, Concurso de Feos can claim the dual merits of providing locals with a comical distraction from the Basque County’s economic woes and the rest of the world with a good boost of self-confidence. via Geekologie
It could potentially be the final film for Studio Ghibli. And by gum, it looks like our hearts will be firmly in our hands. Set for limited release across Australia on May 14 for two weeks only, When Marnie Was There could be the last Ghibli feature film ever; after the Japanese animation legends announced the possibly permanent closure of their film division last year. Spirited Away creator and Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki retired from filmmaking before the 2013 release of The Wind Rises, and fellow Ghibli head Isao Takahata's Academy Award-nominated film The Tale of the Princess Kaguya didn't fare too well at the box office outside Japan. So we've got big hopes for the studio's last wild feature-length ride, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty). When Marnie Was There following the life of a lonely girl, Anne, whose foster parents decide to send her to the country to stay with distant family. After stumbling across a strangely familar old mansion, she meets Marnie, the mysterious girl who lives there. Ghibli magic ensues. Check out the trailer here: When Marnie Was There is set for limited release across Australia on May 14 for two weeks only, screening in both original Japanese language and English dubbed versions. Check your local cinema listings.
Pappa Flock has been on a flyer since landing on the scene in 2023, most recently launching its first Queensland venue (and tenth overall) at Westfield Chermside. With over 450 locals turning out to celebrate the opening, expect a similarly large crowd as the crew reveals its new Mt Gravatt location at 12pm on Thursday, October 2. In fact, the fanfare might be even greater than ever before, with Pappa Flock giving away $100 gift cards to the first 100 customers in the queue. Naturally, the lucky winners will have more than enough to cover a massive serving of the eatery's American-style crispy, crunchy chicken tenders for themselves and all their friends. "The response at Chermside blew us away! Hundreds of people lining up for hours to get their hands on our crispy chicken from Sydney was a proud moment for the crew and team," said Rachel Korbel, Chief Marketing Officer at Pappa Flock. "Mt Gravatt feels like the perfect next step and we can't wait to welcome even more Queensland Flockers into the family." Tucked into the outdoor dining precinct at Westfield Mt Gravatt, the new store will be the chain's largest to date. Featuring plenty of space for 80 diners, relishing signature Flock Boxes and crunchy goodness feels just right in an extensive openair seating area or diner complete with an air hockey table — perfect for challenging your pals before or after a feast.
First finding life in Brisbane's markets, Nodo's doughnuts rapidly rose to become the landmark sweets of the River City. Expanding from a market stall to two cafes and then four kiosks, Nodo's latest is another cafe in South Bank. The 22-seater offers coffee, sweets and brunch plates to diners soaking in the sun or fuelling quiet contemplation during a lunchtime stroll. Nodo's doughnuts are all gluten-free (no dough, get it?), a detail that occasionally surprises someone who already enjoyed one despite the name spelling it out clearly. Plus, all doughnuts are oven-baked, not fried — a surprisingly restrained move for a shop touting lamington doughnuts rolled in shaved coconut and topped with pink cream and freeze-dried berry dust. "Make people happy" is the shop's mission statement, and it's bleedingly obvious once you've peeped the menu. Beyond doughnuts, drinks include a signature 'Wake Up Beautiful' coffee blend, ceremonial-grade matcha, seasonal iced teas and fruity smoothies. Burgers and toasties are an easy pick, but don't sleep on their Bang Bang Bene. With Sichuan pork hock on house-made brioche, the dish is such an original take on eggs benny that it should be listed as a notable example on the Wikipedia page. Images supplied
It's not every artist who'd revisit their Year Two saxophone skills on their debut album. But Melbourne's Chet Faker (aka Nick Murphy) isn't afraid of giving anything a whirl for the sake of sound. Following the release of his debut EP Thinking In Textures via Downtown Records in 2012, Murphy gained international high-fives and 'Breakthrough Artist of the Year' at the Australian Independent Records Awards, made an EP with Flume, toured with Bonobo, played at South by South West and scored a Super Bowl ad with his breakthrough cover of Blackstreet's 'No Diggity'. After settling into his own snuggly studio space in North Melbourne, Murphy painstakingly tweaked, experimented and self-produced his debut album Built On Glass. An eclectic and unpredictable mix of electronic soul ballads, deep house journeys and hip hop beats, Murphy's love of experimentation and letting sound breathe makes Built On Glass one of the year's most overwhelmingly confident debut releases. Heartbreakingly honest lyrics, minimalist electronic groovery and Murphy's unmistakably soulful vocals make for serious repeat button action. Kicking off a huge worldwide tour in April, Chet Faker will hit venues in UK, US and Canada for a gargantuan string of dates before heading home for his national Australian headliner tour; stopping at The Tivoli on June 20 and 21. Supporting is New Zealand dream pop trio Yumi Zouma, whose four-track EP The Brae saw the Christchurch locals gain quite the following on Soundcloud. Head here for our chats with Chet Faker about his upcoming worldwide debut album tour, jogging on the road and his genuine disdain for pigeonholes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aP_-P_BS6KY
Anyone who's caught The Jezabels live can nod to a hoarse throat and an emotional upheaval at the close. One of Australia's best live outfits, the Sydney foursome sure pack a punch on stage, leaving festival crowds at St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Groovin the Moo and Big Day Out thoroughly uplifted and homeproud. After extensive UK touring and support slots for Depeche Mode and the Pixies, The Jezabels are back on home turf ready to blow minds at The Tivoli for their 2014 headliner tour. Following the release of their colossally successful debut release Prisoner, The Jezabels spent two years on a furious touring escapade; leaving fans generally euphoric at over 200 shows worldwide. Gradually refining their epic live presence, the Sydney locals are a long way from their university band comp days — rounding out 2013 by opening for Depeche Mode and the Pixies through Ireland and the UK. The crew based themselves in London, hooked up with UK Producer Dan Grech-Marguerat (Radiohead, The Kooks, Lana Del Rey) and crafted their second album, The Brink, which debuted at #2 on the ARIA chart. No biggie. For their first headline dates for 2014, The Jezabels will fill every eave of The Tivoli with Hayley Mary's supercharged vocals. Sydney power pop dudes Gang of Youths will warm up The Tivoli with their debut single 'Evangelists', fresh from recent UK support slots for Vampire Weekend and Frightened Rabbit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pQ3fAMOz-Ic
Brisbane is home to plenty of glorious cinemas, new and old, in former skating rinks and in art galleries alike, but sometimes you just want to see a movie somewhere other than an indoor picture palace. Cue outdoor cinemas, which the River City has its fair share of, too, including the permanent year-round setup at Dendy Powerhouse. Here's another that's just launched to get you catching flicks under the stars: Queen's Wharf's new Skyline Cinema. A place to watch films was long promised as part of Queen's Wharf, over the years that the precinct was in the works before it finally opened in 2024. Skyline Cinema sits on the site's Leisure Deck on level seven, and pairs its range of movies with Brisbane by twilight as a backdrop. The one catch: it's only operating once a week, getting the projector whirring on Wednesday evenings. From 6pm, you won't be catching brand-new releases, but rather settling in to watch recent-ish and retro fare while also peering out over the city. On the upcoming lineup at the time of writing: Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) proving super sweet in Wonka, Sydney-shot action rom-com The Fall Guy, a blast of ABBA with Mamma Mia!, more musical throwbacks courtesy of Grease, and Aussie favourites The Castle and Red Dog. Tickets cost $10, which gets you entry, a comfy perch on a beanbag, plus popcorn and a soft drink. Luke Nguyen's Fat Noodle is also delivering dishes such as chicken salad, seafood laksa, wok-tossed pad thai and caramelised honey pork bowls to your seat, although that'll cost you extra. Add Skyline Cinema to the list of reasons to check out Queen's Wharf, which also includes restaurants Pompette, HUA, Dark Shepherd, Luc Lac, Sokyo Brisbane, Cucina Regina and Black Hide Steak and Seafood — plus the Sky Deck's Cicada Blu, Babblers and Aloria. It also joins not just Dendy Powerhouse, but also the seasonal Moonlight Cinema and Brisbane City Council-hosted pop-ups, among Brisbane's outdoor cinemas. Skyline Cinema operates on Wednesday nights from 6pm at the Queen's Wharf Leisure Deck, level seven, Queen's Wharf Road, Brisbane — head to the cinema's website for tickets and more details.
During the working week it can be difficult to eat well. Many of us forget to bring our leftover chicken curries from the night before, while others have no time to eat so might grab a packet of chips and a soft drink from the closest newsagent. A lot of us get stuck in the rut of eating from the same sushi joint or carvery where we feel confident that our order will satisfy our lunch time needs. And often we will walk past places that look appealing but feel too risky, because we don't want our one meal and break of the day to be a disappointing one. Luckily for you Concrete Playground has selected five delicious, ultra-convenient and reasonably priced places from five corners of the Brisbane CBD to satisfy your lunch time needs of speed, economy and good taste. Sage on Ann Sage on Ann is the perfect place for the legal eagles out there. Conveniently close to the courts, Sage on Ann offers healthy and delicious lunch time dishes for you and your colleagues. Enjoy some old-style eating by ordering the macaroni and cheese, or combine fatty with fresh by ordering the pork belly salad. Their sandwich menu is extensive and includes traditional ham, corned beef, and chicken sandwiches, but also provides the adventurous with options such as the peking duck with chilli plum sauce sandwich. They serve DiBella coffee, and will also take pre-orders for those needing to get in and out in a hurry. 140 Ann Street, Brisbane; 3221 4471; www.sageonann.com.au Jan Power's Farmers Markets at Queen Street For those of you who like a bit of variety we highly recommend the Jan Power's Farmers Markets, run every Wednesday. Located at the top of the Queen Street Mall - just across the river from South Bank - these markets can give you everything that you need, including a fun experience. Head to the German Sausage Hut for a delicious hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard; enjoy some hot smoked salmon as you browse through the fruit and veg; treat yourself to some sauteed mushrooms with avocado and salsa; and if you have a sweet tooth, then you must get some Della Mano brownies. Not only will you find many bites to enjoy for lunch, but you can pick up some top quality produce at market price. Queen Street Mall (bridge end), Brisbane; www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au AJ's Vietnamese Noodle House AJ's can seem a bit intimidating for first-timers. There's always a handful of people loitering out the front causing confusion. Usually these people will either be waiting for their take away to be brought out, or they are waiting for a table. AJ's is incredibly popular and with good reason: the food is delicious and cheap. Their rice paper rolls are fat and full of tasty fillings. The spicy beef noodle soup is appropriately sinus-clearing and incredibly flavourful. Their vermicelli salads are all good - we recommend the pork or spring rolls (cut up spring rolls + salad = how to cheat when eating salad). Everything you order will be good and you will only need a $10 note. 70 Charlotte Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 2128 Spring Located on the corner of Felix and Mary Streets, Spring is the one-stop shop for all food experiences, including buying produce, getting take away or dining in. Their menu is full of delicious meal options including the incredible pulled chipotle pork and guacamole sandwich. They also have tasty takeaway options such as ham and cheese croissants, and an endless supply of sugary treats for the sweet tooth. 26 Felix Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 0460; www.spring.com.au Le Bon Choix This piece of French heaven is located at the very end of Queen Street, on the corner of Eagle Street. The French staff make your mid-week lunchtime experience all the more pleasant with their lovely accents and good looks. Line up and decide on what you will have for lunch, making certain that you include dessert. Will it be a chicken baguette with a chocolate eclair for dessert? Or a spinach and feta quiche with an almond croissant? Whatever you choose, you will be incredibly satisfied - their sweet treats will probably change your life. 379 Queen Street, Brisbane; 07 3229 9260; www.lebonchoixbakery.com.au
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, you can't go on a holiday (locally or overseas). But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. Winding through the rugged expanse of Victoria's Wimmera Mallee region, lies the country's largest outdoor gallery, where the artworks are metres tall, and grace not walls, but towering grain silos. First dreamt up back in 2016, evolving from a small community art project, the now famed Silo Art Trail unfolds over 200 kilometres, where six large-scale works have transformed structures in Brim, Patchewollock, Lascelles, Rupanyup, Sheep Hills and Rosebery. The mural portraits, painted by a collective of artists in conjunction with Yarriambiack Shire Council and international street art agency Juddy Roller, capture the spirit and history of this unique corner of the world, each work offering a snapshot of its host town. If you're visiting the art trail from Melbourne, the closest silo is in Rupanyup — approximately 3.5-hours' drive from the CBD. From there, it'll take you just over two hours to reach the other end of the art trail in Patchewollock. That's the order we've listed the artworks here, but to design an alternate route, head to the Silo Art Trail website. [caption id="attachment_681273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] RUPANYUP, JULIA VOLCHKOVA When you reach Rupanyup, you'll spy a realistic pair of faces by Russian muralist Julia Volchkova, an homage to local youngsters Ebony Baker and Jordan Weidemann. Kitted out in their sports gear and looking bright-eyed and fearless, the characters are a nod to the region's younger generation and the realities of rural life for adolescents. Here, Volchkova has used monochrome tones to capture a spirit of strength, creating a lifelike mural similar to her large-scale works depicting locals across Southeast Asia. [caption id="attachment_681271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] SHEEP HILLS, ADNATE Shining a light on the region's indigenous history and community, the 80-year-old GrainCorp silos in Sheep Hills now boast a vibrant portrait of four locals — Wergaia Elder Uncle Ron Marks and Wotjobaluk Elder Aunty Regina Hood, alongside children Curtly McDonald and Savannah Marks — with a bold, dreamtime-inspired night sky as the background. The striking piece is the work of Melbourne artist Adnate, whose creative focus often lies in sharing the stories and cultures of Aboriginal Australians. Here, he has embraced the concept of customs and wisdom being passed down through the generations, and the strong ancestral bonds shared among the area's indigenous community. [caption id="attachment_681276" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] BRIM, GUIDO VAN HELTEN The striking Guido van Helten mural in Brim is where it all began in 2016, spurring inspiration for the rest of the project after putting this sleepy town on the map. Melbourne-raised van Helten kicked things off strongly with his earthy-toned portrait of four farmers, all varying ages, themed around shifting ideas of community identity. The artist's work using translucent aerosol paints lends a faded, ghostlike quality to the characters, shaking the concept of time. [caption id="attachment_681274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] ROSEBERY, KAFF-EINE The latest addition to the Silo Art Trail is a captivating Rosebery mural by lawyer-turned-street artist Kaff-eine. She has set out to embrace the region's past, present and future, with a portrait of a young female sheep farmer, alongside one of a horseman bonding with his four-legged mate. Elements like cowboy boots, Akubra hat and oilskin vest aren't just an unmistakable nod to country life, but capture the strong sense of symbolism that is signature to much of Kaff-eine's work. [caption id="attachment_681275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] LASCELLES, RONE Meanwhile, over in Lascelles, there's a sense of quiet wisdom that emanates from the portrait of fourth-generation farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, wrapped around two decades-old grain silos. Captured by Melbourne's Rone in 2017, this one speaks to a people's deep, long-running connection to the land, with monochrome hues and water-blended paint creating a hazy, ghostly effect through the work. [caption id="attachment_681272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed[/caption] PATCHEWOLLOCK, FINTAN MAGEE In Patchewollock, Fintan Magee's 2016 silo mural was inspired by a stay at the local pub, where he met his portrait subject, local farmer Nick "Noodle" Hulland. The colourful, 35-metre-tall piece is a fitting ode to the hard-working Aussie farming community and its rugged spirit. Hulland's shown gazing to the horizon wearing the classic faded flanny, sun-bleached hair and weathered face that so often go hand in hand with life on the land.
Tamborine Mountain is Queensland's proud emerald escape, offering a hinterland experience rich in subtropical rainforests, reflective swimming holes and plunging gorges. Now this lush destination has an elemental bathhouse to match, with the long-awaited arrival of SOL Elements launching as the first floating relaxation experience of its kind in Australia. Four years in the making, the spa's uncompromising vision has made the wait more than worth it. Inspired by earth, air, fire and water, the spa's lean into the elemental isn't lighthearted. Centred around a contemporary circular structure, the bathhouse rests on a tranquil lake's edge immersed in nature. Think turtles in the water and native birds in the trees. Then, hidden within the structure's external form, a 16-sided hexadecagon design offers a sacred bridge between the earth and the divine, ensuring your relaxation experience is even more transcendent. Stepping inside, a spiritual encounter takes shape. At the botanical scrub bar, 111 hand-carved bowls allow guests to prepare their bodies for the bathing experience ahead. That includes three outdoor communal magnesium thermal pools heated to 38 degrees, two cold plunges at a refreshing 12 degrees and two bookable magnesium float caves infused with 39% salt. Meanwhile, a cedar wood sauna features a glass-fronted perch to admire the lake, as well as a steam room and a Himalayan salt cave. With the communal space limited to 30 guests at a time, soaking up Tamborine Mountain's blissful natural beauty is never an issue. To help you dry off, there's also an outdoor firepit, set just below water level as part of the bathing experience. Listen to the gentle crackling of the fire while you connect with yourself or other guests. Just know, this sanctuary is completely distraction-free, so leave your devices behind. "No element of SOL has gone without conscious creation and planning. The location and design are just the beginning — the real magic happens when you experience the SOL ethos and philosophy — driven by community, connection and the immersion of all senses," says SOL Elements co-founder Russell Raven, who guided the project alongside his wife, Shae. Soaking in this sensory experience is made even better from one of SOL Element's two refined suites. Designed for couples or small groups seeking secluded relaxation, both feature thermal mineral baths on private balconies, alongside indoor infrared saunas, ice baths and panoramic views of the glistening lake. Guest stays are also elevated through access to exclusive botanical scrubs and wellness-inspired mini bars stocked with 'spatinis' and ceremonial teas. While you're welcome to self-guide your relaxation journey, SOL Elements also offers alchemy spa rituals, designed for extra indulgent encounters. Lasting up to 2 hours, each treatment blends energetic, alternative, and traditional healing techniques, using advanced wellness methods. Says Russell: "This has been four years in the making — a journey filled with challenges, breakthroughs, tears and laughter. Every detail has been considered, every element crafted with intention, to create something we believe hasn't been seen before in the Australian wellness space." SOL Elements is now open at Cedar Creek Falls Rd & and Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine Mountain. Head to the website for more information.
Brisbane isn't a seaside city, but it knows how do seafood well. From fine-diners to neighbourhood fish 'n' chipperies, finding a top-notch serving of the ocean's finest isn't hard around town. Add New Farm Seafood to the list of eateries plating up fish, prawns, bugs, oysters, calamari, Japanese sea scallops, mussels and more — to dine in, for takeaway and also to cook at home from its market. Open six days a week, this Merthyr Village spot does double duty as a seafood-focused diner and a spot to pick up fresh catches. Whichever you choose, you'll be getting something sourced from Australian and New Zealand waters by owner Michael Hatzifotis. The eatery's fish is line-caught, while its market is stocked with wares fresh from the trawler. Both for eating on the premises while sitting in the venue's outdoor seating and taking cooked dishes home, options include oysters with rosemary and lemon granita, fish croquettes with saffron aioli, lemon pepper calamari, bug rolls, focaccia baked in-house with taramasalata, caviar and blinis, and fish burgers. The menu also spans a few meals that you can only enjoy if you're dining in, such as the aforementioned Japanese sea scallops (which come with cauliflower cream, macadamia and basil oil), one-kilogram servings of mussels (steamed, and paired with chilli, tomato, feta and garlic) and whole baked fish. Packs and platters are also on offer, such as takeaway-only family and one-person feasts, plus both cooked and fresh platters that come stacked with seafood. Opt for your choice of cod, snapper of flathead crumbed or battered in tempura, and it comes paired with fries. Go with grilled barramundi, ocean trout or blue-eye trevalla instead, and you'll get fennel puree and orange salad as sides. You can also select from non-seafood dishes, some of which reflect Hatzifotis' Greek heritage — which is where the one-kilogram Greek lamb shoulder, Greek beef hamburgers and traditional Greek salad comes in. Among the other choices: rib fillet steak on the bone with onion rings and salsa verde, and creme brûlée for dessert. And to drink? The beverage list features a small lineup of sparkling, rosé, red and white wines, plus beers. Feel like going all out? This is also the kind of place that pours Cristal for $490 a bottle if you're particularly flush with cash. Among the takeaway range, you'll also find heat-and-eat meals and items to stock your pantry, including marinades, sauces and stocks.
Get ready for wagyu with a view in West End's West Village, with Ippin Japanese Dining set to join the growing space. When it opens its doors in 2023, the new restaurant will sit inside the precinct's Garden Pavilion, peering down on openair lawn The Common from the second floor — and pairing a menu bursting with Queensland seafood and meat, plus products imported from Japan, with greenery-filled vistas. Mark April in your diaries, Brisbanites, and prepare for company, with Ippin seating 140. It's already badging itself as a hidden gem given that it'll be one level up from West Village's hustle and bustle, but word of great Japanese eats spreads fast in the River City. If you're fond of yakitori grill, toothfish, wagyu beef, tempura cuttlefish and lobster popcorn, prepare to have your tastebuds tempted, too — they'll all be on the menu. If the latter sounds familiar, that's because it's a Sydney favourite thanks to Kenny Lee, the restaurateur and owner of the New South Wales capital's Kuon Omakase, Allta and Funda restaurants, with that dish making the leap to Queensland. Lee has helped whip up Ippin's menu with head chef Tatsuya Miwa, plus owners Helen Lea and Jane Ma, with the culinary lineup also slated to include traditional Japanese seafood starters — and a rotating array of two-to-three desserts made by a specialised pastry chef. Keen on tuna? Ippin will host showcases dedicated to the fish, with Tatsuya chopping up a whole tuna in-venue, then auctioning it off. These will be ticketed, sake-fuelled events, doing their best to make you feel like you're in Japan rather than at a precinct based around Brisbane's old Peters ice-cream factory. Ippin's decor will tie into its both its culinary influence and its setting, however, featuring Japanese touches but working with the timber and brickwork that's prominent around West Village. Drinks-wise, expect sake — naturally — as well as a small lineup of cocktails and spirits, and a list of Australian, French and Italian wines. The new Japanese go-to joins West End's already hefty range of food options, including gelato, burgers, Italian eats, doughnuts, Mediterranean cuisine, Hungarian pastries and Greek eats. Find Ippin Japanese Dining at West End's West Village precinct, 97 Boundary Street, West End, from April 2023 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when one is announced.
It's not every day you get to hang out with a Hollywood A-lister and step into a fully immersive experience that's as close to the Land of Oz as you'll ever likely encounter. Yet that's precisely what's going down just outside Los Angeles, as Airbnb celebrates the release of Wicked: For Good with the launch of Elphaba's Retreat. Made for Wicked fanatics, this one-of-a-kind experience and overnight stay is worth the international adventure alone. Taking place on Wednesday, December 3, superstar Cynthia Erivo — aka Elphaba in the films — is inviting 20 guests to discover Elphaba's Retreat through a three-hour experience. Stepping into a picture-perfect refuge, those selected will have the chance to hang out with the Grammy, Emmy, Tony-winning and three-time Academy Award nominee that goes far beyond a simple meet-and-greet. On the day, you'll sip tea by the fireside with Cynthia, while a sommelier serves a special blend steeped in forest flora. Then, guests undertake a guided exploration, revealing easter eggs and authentic artifacts from the movies before taking part in a multi-sensory sing-along that brings the Ozian Forest to life. Finally, there's still time for a creative workshop where you'll weave your own witch's broom from willow, moss, poppies and more. Yet this fantastical adventure gets even better for a lucky guest and their plus-one who experience Elphaba's Retreat through an overnight stay. With the witch heading out of town for the night on Saturday, December 6, this whimsical accom filled with whispers will serve as a peaceful after-dark hideaway. Throughout the night, guests can expect a quiet meal and an enchanting evening of non-stop stargazing. Ready to change for good? Guests can now request to book the experience with Cynthia Erivo on the Airbnb website for free, with submissions closing at 2am AEST on Thursday, November 14. At the same time, guests can request to book the overnight stay — you'll have until 2am AEST on Friday, November 21, to submit. Designed as the ultimate Wicked experience, there's no better way to get immersed in Elphaba's world. "Elphaba taught me that our differences are what makes us powerful," says Cynthia Erivo. "Her story transformed me, and I can't wait to share that journey with you." Submissions for the Airbnb Wicked: For Good experience close at 2am AEST on Thursday, November 14, while booking requests for the overnight stay remain open until 2am AEST on Friday, November 21. Head to the website for more information.
Like Christmas, Easter brings a wealth of family film fare to cinemas — but not all flicks seemingly targeted at kids are created equal. Not all movies find their story in Mexican and Latin American culture in general, and in Día de los Muertos (or the Day of the Dead) specifically, for example. And not all all-ages efforts are produced by Pan's Labyrinth and Pacific Rim's Guillermo del Toro. If you haven't already guessed, The Book of Life isn't much like other offerings aimed at viewers young and old, and the reasons keep on coming. Though it tells a tale of adventure and romance, it also plunges into worlds laced with death and filled with souls lurking beyond the grave. It may stick with the usual trick of using celebrity voices, but they're not your standard selections, nor do their vocals overwhelm the visuals. And it certainly doesn't look like anything else you've seen before, with its distinctively animated frames depicting the bulk of the characters as intricately crafted marionettes. Instead, The Book of Life is an entertaining feast for the eyes and for the heart, both beautiful to watch and to become immersed in. It starts with school students bored with a museum tour, then sparked into intrigue by a savvy guide (Christina Applegate). The story she shares centres on two warring spirits — La Muerte (Kate del Castillo), ruler of the Land of the Remembered, and Xibalba (Ron Perlman), ruler of the Land of the Forgotten — who make a bet over the control of their realms. Three friends draw their attention: the feisty Maria (Zoe Saldana), who refuses to conform to customary female roles just because it is the done thing; the guitar-playing Manolo (Diego Luna), who is expected to follow in his father's bullfighting footsteps; and the headstrong Joaquin (Channing Tatum), the son of their town's famed but fallen protector. La Muerte wagers that the sensitive Manolo will win Maria's love, while Xibalba backs the bandit-fighting Joaquin. Now, don't go dismissing the film for its formulaic focus on men tussling over a woman, because that's only the broad outline of the narrative. No one in the feature adheres to type, just like the movie itself. Everyone has to open their minds to finding their right path. Everyone has stereotypes to overcome. Indeed, experienced animator turned first-time feature writer and director Jorge R. Gutiérrez oozes affection for departing from the tradition of family fare everywhere he can, including ramping up the gothic, del Toro-esque touches, playfully bathing dark material in an abundance of colour, rendering villains in metal in contrast to the wooden heroes, and using Ice Cube as a hip hop overseer of all life. It's the little things like this that make The Book of Life as fun as it sounds — and it already sounds incredibly fun. Far removed from the usual movies of the season, this is one magically macabre cinema outing.
Italian Riviera-loving restaurant Bar Gusto is the latest addition to Rydges Fortitude Valley. The 190-seater gives pizza and pasta pride of place on the menu, and puts one of the King Street precinct's fig trees at the heart of its outdoor space. Dine outdoors on the terrace here — or drop in for an al fresco drink — and being surrounded by greenery is part of the package. Bar Gusto's deck has been built around the century-old tree, in fact. Indoors, the fitout heroes walnut panelling with antique brass. The vibe that the joint is aiming for: laidback but timeless. In a place that seats 150 in its main areas, plus 40 in its private dining room, executive Chef Francesco Trucco leads the kitchen — whipping up a menu that goes big on tradition, with family recipes steering his dishes. Cooked in a Valoriani Vesuvio Igloo pizza oven, the restaurant's slices come in eight varieties, including sausage and taleggio; pancetta atop carbonara paste; a mushroom and ham number made with truffle paste; and a combination of Mooloolaba tiger prawns, caviar and crab meat. If you prefer pasta, black squid linguine is the signature dish, the ravioli comes filled with carbonara sauce and tucking into nonna's meatballs in napoli sauce is an option. Among the smaller bites, pumpkin and basil arancini, potatoes crocchette with crab and bruschetta sit alongside rosemary olives, fries and those Mooloolaba tiger prawns again, this time in chilli garlic butter. Gusto does grazing boards, too, while panna cotta and tiramisu are the dessert choices. Whether you're just after a sip or you're pairing your beverage with a meal, the wine list favours Italian and local vino. Prefer a cocktail? They're a big feature. Think: the Gusto Aperitivo (made with Campari, Regal Rogue wild rose, lime juice, grapefruit soda and orange slices), Dolce Colada (Sailor Jerry, banana liqueur, coconut, lemon, pineapple and coconut foam), Bond, Rosemary Bond (Tanqueray, Cinzano Bianco, rosemary syrup, lemon and peach bitters) and Razzmatazz (vodka and Chambord with citrus, vanilla syrup, seat salt and egg whites). In total, seven types are available for just one person, two more for sharing (including the summery watermelon punch), plus two mocktails as well. And, if you prefer a classic other than Bar Gusto's specials, just ask.
Tranquility and Lutwyche now go hand in hand. So do pastels and Lutwyche; Mediterranean-style bathhouses and Lutwyche; and escaping life's chaos in saunas, steam rooms and ice baths in Lutwyche. The reason: Contro Wellness, where you can relax, slow down and put your wellbeing first. With its soft and calming hues, Contro Wellness has gone dreamy with its bathhouse setup. Patrons will find both traditional and infrared saunas, float therapy, mineral soaks, red-light therapy and salt therapy inside, too. Also, if you're keen on not just relaxation, but some alone time — or sharing your experience with a date or mate — this isn't the kind of place where you'll be using the facilities with other folks. All services are private, which is handy if you're also the type of person who finds trying to de-stress surrounded by people who don't know anything but calming. Price-wise, you'll be forking out at least $30, which is where Contro Wellness' services start. Sessions are also available in packs of five and ten, so you can plan out your future visits. And, the bathhouse lets you book in via its app, letting you lock in your next stint of unwinding at the touch of a button. Images: Contro Wellness, Luke Donegan.
A cucumber is more or less responsible for Andrew Mowbray's obsession with the gourd. Wandering around his garden one fateful morning, he made a rather unusual discovery. Between his fence and a tree, a cucumber was growing, but as a result of being squashed on both sides, it looked more like a hard, green pancake - 'pressed flat with rounded edges and completely trapped'. Finding the form 'formally interesting' and 'architecturally amazing', he started thinking about how he might be able to re-create it in a manner that would not be threatened by decomposition. Research led him to the Lagenaria gourd, which won't come as a surprise to those acquainted with the robust plant. When people initially came up with the idea of cultivating plants, the Lagenaria gourd was one of the first with which they experimented. Once dried, it becomes as tough as wood, making for a trusty container, bottle, ladle or birdhouse. The West Africans were the first to transform it into an instrument, and the concept soon spread through Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. The gourd is one of the few plants that we grow for aesthetic and practical purposes, rather than to feed ourselves. Now, Mowbray is taking its functionality to new heights, by transforming the gourd into a building block. He grows each one in an acrylic container, which is cubic, with semi-circular depressions enabling the development of 'nubs or buttons'. A modular unit' can be created by locking several of them together. At the same time, he is exploring the sculptural potential of the gourd's form, through emulation with plaster, cement and other materials. [VIA Inhabitat]
"We were just saying, we love an Aussie." When you're My Old Ass writer/director Megan Park and Australia's own Margot Robbie has produced your latest film, it's easy to understand why. Gleaning why she greets Concrete Playground that way isn't hard, either. "We do," adds Maisy Stella, the movie's star. "Yeah, we really, really do," Park chimes back in. Robbie's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, which has I, Tonya, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and Barbie to its name as well — and, among flicks that don't boast its co-founder on-screen, Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, too — is also onboard for Park's next release after this marvel of a coming-of-age tale. Viewers of My Old Ass have more from Park to look forward to, then. Right now, though, they already have a must-see to enjoy courtesy of her second feature as a filmmaker. Actually, that also applies to her debut. An actor herself, Park initially jumped behind the lens on 2021's excellent Jenna Ortega (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)-led The Fallout, which plunged into the aftermath of a school tragedy. Now, the former The Secret Life of the American Teenager star has penned and helmed a picture set as its protagonist gets ready to leave her small-town home behind for college. [caption id="attachment_974458" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] For her second movie about teens making sense of their world, too, Park embraces a high-concept setup — and one that heads down a universal path that resonates with viewers of all ages. Have you ever wanted to get life advice from your future self? Or, conversely, to give your younger self some words of wisdom, whether about what not to worry about or who to avoid? Focusing on Nashville's Stella as the just-turned-18 Elliott — and featuring Parks and Recreation, The White Lotus and Agatha All Along favourite Aubrey Plaza as the older version — that's My Old Ass' storyline. If you're wondering how the two Elliotts come to meet, the film uses a mushroom trip to head into magical-realism territory. When they come face to face, Plaza's 39-year-old Elliott has a specific piece of advice for the girl that she once was: stay away from Chad (Wednesday's Percy Hynes White). We all know what happens when you tell someone not to do something, especially a carefree teenager, so of course Stella's Elliott doesn't heed that warning. This is a film, however, that understands the urge to want to send your former self in a certain direction, because it understands what it's like to live with the ups and downs that life takes us on just as firmly. It equally appreciates that it's those ebbs and flows — and joys and hurts as well, so our course for better and for worse — that make us who we are. [caption id="attachment_974462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] What would Stella do if the Sundance Film Festival-premiering movie's premise became an IRL possibility for her? It depends on which way the advice was flowing. Park is of the same opinion. They'd each be keen to talk to their younger selves, but not their older guises. "I've decided that I reject it. I really reject it. I've been asked this and every time I try to think of something, and I think the reason that I don't have anything is because I would not take the opportunity. I would take the opportunity to meet younger self. But the older, it just feels a little scary to me," Stella tells us. "It gets dicey. See, it goes dark quick. I mean, it really takes a turn," she continues. "Yeah, it's a it's a scary one," agrees Park. "I think I'm going to hard pass on it too, probably. I'd want to go back and meet my younger self." Thinking about these questions is unavoidable after watching My Old Ass, no matter whether you decide that you'd seize or shirk the chance that Elliott is given. Also part of the viewing experience: wishing that Plaza could pop up in your life either way. We also chatted with Park and Stella about where the idea for the film sprang from, what Park was interested in exploring with it, Stella's excitement about playing Elliott, how she approached the character, and working with both Plaza and Robbie. On What Inspired My Old Ass, and What Park Was Interested in Exploring Megan: "I think the themes that I really wanted to explore were grief and time passing, and nostalgia — and motherhood, truthfully, was a big one that I wanted. I was a new mum when I wrote this script, so it was those feelings that were really the entry point into this idea that's so universal, I think, of wanting to talk to your older or younger self. Or regrets. Regret is another big one. I think I'm such an emotionally driven writer that I'm not thinking about necessarily the structure of the story, and what's going to happen and what are people going to take from the movie — I'm just driven from that emotional place, at least I have been so far in the two movies I've written. It's all I really know how to do it. So those were the themes I wanted to explore. And then as I didn't know where it was going, as soon as Elliott came to me, and older Elliott, I just followed that lead and figured out the story as I went." On Stella's Initial Reaction to the Script, and What She Thought That She Could Bring to the Younger Elliott Maisy: "My first reaction to it was just beaming with excitement. It was funny, because I had been auditioning for so long and I really enjoy auditioning, and I really enjoy reading scripts and I read a lot of scripts at that time, and it was just my favourite thing I'd read in forever. And I was immediately met with anxiety. The second I started reading it, the thought of it being taken from me, I was like 'no!'. And it wasn't even mine at all. But the thought of not getting to be a part of this amazing project was so scary to me. So yeah, my initial reaction to it was deeply, deeply moved; really excited and inspired by it; and would have just been so grateful and lucky to have been a part of it. And it worked out for me. I'm very grateful and lucky." [caption id="attachment_974461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] On the Journey to Realising That Aubrey Plaza Was the Ideal Older Elliott Megan: "Truthfully, I'd written the role for somebody to be much older, like in their late 40s, early 50s. And we cast the film around Maisy, and so we were really stuck on who looks the most like her, who's in that age range and who's available to come to Canada to film the movie. And there just was never anybody that came up that was the right match for the tone of the movie, for energetically with Maisy, for the comedy. It wasn't until there was a list of names that somebody had suggested, and Aubrey was on there. It was like 'wait a second, I'm such a fan of hers' — and I knew Maisy was a fan of hers. She was not even 40 and doesn't look anything like Maisy really, but we were like 'wait a second', and for some reason the energy and the chemistry was just such a connection. And it just made the whole movie make sense in a whole new way for me. I'm close to age to Aubrey and I thought 'wow, I've actually never felt older than hanging out with all the 18 year olds'. And there was something so funny to me about this idea that she thinks she's so old and she's not even 40. And even the title became funnier when it was Aubrey." Maisy: "Yes!" Megan: "So then, luckily we sent it to her, and only her, and she read it and loved it and wanted to be a part of it. So once we got it to her, the stars really aligned quickly, but it was kind of me getting out of my own way and being like 'wait, instead of worrying about who looks the most like Maisy, who fits into the movie?'." Maisy: "Instead of worrying about who's blonde?" Megan: "Yeah, exactly." On Collaboration When You're Playing the Younger Version of a Character While Sharing Scenes with the Older Version Maisy: "It was quick. What happened, I was filming for like two weeks when Aubrey was officially attached. So my younger Elliott was already kind of established. On anything else, if this was any other situation, I would have been meeting Aubrey — and she kind of had to meet me because I was filming. So it was a quick thing, she came for like a week and we just went for it." [caption id="attachment_974460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] Megan: "She'd been watching dailies and studying Maisy a bit before." Maisy: "And then when we met, I felt Aubrey staring and filming me with her eyes, and getting the mannerisms and physicality. I think that was probably more what we focused on. And also just creating a friendship and a nice connection was probably the most important part, rather than mimicking each other. It felt more enjoyable." Megan: "I remember Aubrey asking me 'do you want me to mimic her? How deep do you want me to go with this?' And I was like 'I feel like that's not the most important part of it. I'd rather we just build the chemistry and the rapport'. And that was totally what I think was the main thing. We just spent the weekend together, talked through stuff." Maisy: "100 percent." Megan: "And it was just about building that chemistry — which, they're both genius actors, they can build chemistry so quickly. That's a skill that I think the best actors can do. And the two of them together were just able to connect so quickly." [caption id="attachment_974459" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] On Having Margot Robbie as a Producer, and How That Helped Shape the Film Megan: "As we were saying, we love an Aussie. Our other producer, Bronte Payne at LuckyChap, is also Australian. It happened really organically. I had a general meeting with the company, with Bronte, who had seen The Fallout — and she really loved the film, and she just wanted to sit and chat. And she was the one, honestly, who was like 'do you have any other ideas?'. And I was like 'I mean, there's this one thing I'm thinking about'. And she was like 'we'd love to hear more about that. We think that's a great idea'. Then she introduced me to the rest of people at the company, Tom [Ackerley, also one of LuckyChap's founders] and Margot and Josey [McNamara, another LuckyChap founder]. And they are just so — it's really hard to find good people in this industry who are really honest and smart and hardworking, and treat everybody, no matter if it's the star of the movie or the PA, they're just so consistent. And they're so grounded and down to earth, and there's a reason why they get so much repeat business with their directors. It's because it's genuine, and they're obviously very smart. So they were incredibly helpful, not only helping me build the script, but every step of the way — they've just been so invaluable and so easygoing. And just lovely, lovely human beings. I'm doing my next film with them, and I hope to work with them over and over again. They're incredible." On Balancing Playing a Carefree 18-Year-Old with Their Whole Life Ahead of Them with Elliott Getting to Take Stock of Her Existence Decades Before Anyone Usually Expects To Maisy: "Preparing-wise, I honestly read the script so many times. That was really my prep, just reading it. I didn't do too much, I didn't practice the deliveries." Megan: "We just talked through the scenes." Maisy: "We'd just talk it through. And on my own time, I had months before I went to film — but after I booked it, I enjoyed reading it so I would obsessively just read it and think about it a lot. I really lived with the concept and with the message. I thought about it a lot. I think was my preparation." [caption id="attachment_974457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] Megan: "And you believed in it." Maisy: "And I believed in it and I meant it. I really meant it. Everything that Elliott says, I ended up meaning on the day. Even if I was learning from her and trying to mean it, I did end up meaning it." Megan: "Yeah." Maisy: "And with an indie, with the director like you [talks to Megan], where you really like things to feel like you press record and you're just like watching people exist, there's only so much you can do for prep to keep it feeling natural and real and sparky." My Old Ass opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, September 26, 2024. My Old Ass images: Marni Grossman © Amazon Content Services LLC.
The list of ways that Brisbane's inner city will change when Queen's Wharf launches from August 2024 — and the range of new eateries opening to help — is hefty. The $3.6-billion precinct has 12 hectares to fill, after all. Don't go thinking that you've heard about all of them yet, either. Lúc Lắc is the latest restaurant and bar that's been announced for the revamped riverside stretch of the CBD, with the Ghanem Group getting in on the Queens Wharf's action. This hospitality crew is already behind Donna Chang, Boom Boom Room, Bisou Bisou, Iris Rooftop, Byblos Bar & Restaurant and Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events in the Queensland capital — and for Lúc Lắc, it's keeping a focus on Asian cuisine, as the first two fellow venues on that roster also sport. This time, rather than Chinese or Japanese meals, Indochine-inspired cuisine will be on the menu. So, you'll be tucking into flavours from Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, all in an 159-seat site within The Star Brisbane. Set to open sometime in September 2024, Lúc Lắc takes its name from a dish, in fact: Bo Lúc Lắc, aka shaking beef. Brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, Ghanem Group's directors, came across it 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. Under Executive Chef Jake Nicolson, Lúc Lắc will indeed serve up its namesake, but as a peppered beef tossed with lemongrass and betel leaf. That's one of the restaurant's signature offerings, alongside spring rolls with pork and snail, baby goat yellow curry and crispy spotted blue grouper. Elsewhere on the menu, claypot curries, plenty of dishes tossed in the wok and grilled meats will feature, plus Australian produce such as Fraser Isle spanner crab, Moreton Bay bugs, King River wagyu, Skull Island prawns, scampi caviar from Western Australia, and periwinkles and abalone sourced from Victoria. While enjoying a bite — starting with lunch and running through till late, when DJs will provide a soundtrack — patrons will peer into the open kitchen. Around the place, subtropical decor featuring floral fabrics, brass and animal prints are designed to leave an imprint. If you choose to eat indoors, you'll be in the 58-seat main area with booths. Outdoors, 46 guests can get cosy. Made from jade onyx stone slabs, the bar sits in a space that also caters to 58 people, all beneath its rattan pendant lights. That's where Asian beers and international wines, including a riesling from the Clare Valley's Rieslingfreak made especially for Lúc Lắc, will hail from — as will cocktails crafted with Asian ingredients. "We are thrilled to be a part of a world-class entertainment and leisure destination of the calibre of The Star and to bring another unique Ghanem Group concept to the city's dynamic dining landscape," said Nehme Ghanem. "Our family has earned its hospitality stripes in Brisbane since 1978. With two successful Asian restaurants already in our portfolio, our love of Asian food and culture inspired us to extend these culinary credentials further. We have poured much love, meticulous detail, and incredible design into Lúc Lắc, which we are looking forward to unveiling in coming months." [caption id="attachment_701902" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Donna Chang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_784444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Boom Boom Room[/caption] Find Lúc Lắc at The Star Brisbane, Queen's Wharf Road, Brisbane from sometime in September 2024 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when it is announced. Head to the restaurant's website for more details in the interim.
Every year, the question of what to do for New Year's Eve is heavily debated in group chats across Brisbane. It all comes down to the kind of night you want to have: views of fireworks or a DJ spinning fire? A sit-down dinner or a night that ends well after midnight? Thankfully, Brisbane's hospitality lineup has all your bases covered. Loyalty program The Pass is hosting a number of New Year's Eve celebrations in Brisbane to send off 2025 in style. From live sax and dancefloors to elegant flame-grilled dining — we have a feeling you'll find what you're looking for. [caption id="attachment_1053560" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Regatta[/caption] NYE Around the World, The Regatta The Regatta is one of Brisbane's most beloved pubs for a reason. While you'll currently find it wrapped in a giant bow for Christmas, come December 31, the pub will be in full 2026 mode with NYE celebrations across its many bars. On the ground level, The Boatshed's After Dark experience includes a five-course dinner and drinks package centred around their flame-grilled steaks. On level two, you'll find the three-course, gourmet New Year's Eve in Paris experience, complete with riverside firework views. Meanwhile, over on level one, expect more of a party atmosphere at Rio Carnival. Book in for a four-hour canapé and drinks package with river views from the wraparound balcony. Or, opt for the Midnight in NYC on the ground floor for live music, a vibe-filled countdown and a New York-themed space. Book tickets at the Regatta website. [caption id="attachment_1053559" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hey Chica![/caption] Jungle Fever NYE Fiesta, Hey Chica! Fortitude Valley's Hey Chica! is transforming this New Year's Eve. The typically Latin-styled bar will undergo a jungle-inspired makeover to play host to a night of dancing well past the countdown. Live DJs will be in the booth all night, alongside live instrumentalists. Entry is just $35, or book your crew in for the all-inclusive canapé and drinks package from 8pm to midnight. Book tickets at the Hey Chica! website. [caption id="attachment_1053558" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lefty's Music Hall[/caption] Bigger Than Texas New Year's Eve, Lefty's Music Hall Where else to ring in the new year than in the hallowed Americana jewel of Caxton Street? This year, the theme is country — as always, you'll find live music, dancing (read: boot scootin'), and good-old-fashioned Lefty's hospitality. Entry is $44.90, or snag early-bird pricing for the food and beverage package at just $127. Book tickets via the Oztix website. [caption id="attachment_1053557" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wickham[/caption] No Scrubs: NYE Party, The Wickham If — like Troye Sivan and Charli XCX — you just wanna go back to 1999, The Wickham's No Scrubs: NYE Party is for you. Dust off your butterfly clips, low-rise jeans, and Clueless looks and prepare for a night soundtracked by 90s anthems. From 'Bye Bye Bye' to 'Genie in a Bottle', you'll be ringing in 2026 with at least one pop classic stuck in your head. You'll find themed drinks, giveaways for the first people through the door, and, of course, a Wickham-style heaving dance floor. Book tickets via the Oztix website. [caption id="attachment_1053556" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Riverland[/caption] NYE Celebrations, Riverland Riverland is always one of the best views in Brisbane, but come NYE — it's extra special. For front row firework vistas, grab tickets to this year's celebrations, featuring a four-hour food and drinks package that includes live cooking stations, roaming canapés, premium drinks packages, live music, DJs, and entertainment weaving through the crowd. Then, as the clock ticks closer to midnight, sit back and watch as the Brisbane River erupts with fireworks as you welcome 2026. Book tickets via Oztix website. [caption id="attachment_1053555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fridays[/caption] New Year's Eve, Fridays When you think of river-side views in Brisbane, you tend to think of Fridays iconic, leafy outdoor area. As always, Fridays is doing one of the city's best NYE packages, featuring firework views out across the Story Bridge and river. Alongside a live band from 7pm, DJs and roaming entertainment, your ticket also includes four hours of free-flowing premium drinks packages, as well as plenty of nibbles. The venue is open until late, so you can keep celebrating past midnight. Book tickets via the Oztix website. [caption id="attachment_1053554" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Babylon Brisbane[/caption] New Year's Eve Party, Babylon There is a reason that Babylon's NYE tickets sell quickly each year. Mostly due to the fact you'll be celebrating right on the banks of the brown snake with uninterrupted views, and the venue's stacked menu to dine on. You can either make a booking in the restaurant at a time of your choosing (if you'd rather be in bed by midnight) or join in the party at Babylon Gardens. Over in the gardens, enjoy Levantine-inspired canapés, curated food stations and a premium beverage package. There will be a DJ, a saxophonist and fire twirlers bringing the atmosphere as the skyline bursts into technicolour. Book via the Babylon website. [caption id="attachment_1053561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Retro's[/caption] Midnight in Vegas, Retro's Fortitude Valley If you have always wanted to do NYE in Vegas but never seem to be organised enough, then Retro's Vegas-themed celebration is for you. The Valley stalwart will be decked out with dazzling lights, Vegas ambience and great music until 5am. Naturally, the dance floor will be full thanks to the venue's penchant for retro anthems and party classics. The venue's celebrations sell out every year — so don't miss out on tickets. Book via the Retro's website. Discover more of Australian Venue Co.'s New Year's Eve celebrations at the website.
New arts collective Nuclear Family, believe everyone deserves nice things — especially you. As a result, you're invited to join in their new and very exciting arts event, HEY, NICE THINGS — and boy, is it full of some the most delightful things Brisbane has to offer. Hosted by Burnett Lane's cosy alcove of a bar Brew, HEY, NICE THINGS is a showcase of Brisbane's best upcoming musicians, matched with a selection of art by Henri Henri, Kendall Coffin-Grey, Lynette Letic and more. The evening will begin with melancholic, pop-folk songwriter Hannah Karydas; followed by the quirky, mischievous sound of Sahara Beck; with funkalicious brothers Wheeler finishing the evening with a healthy dose of angsty, fun-filled rock. Browse the art, grab a drink and let the delightful selection of sights and sounds take you to a place of all things nice — you deserve it.
Wave your hand, see a massive roster of musicians behind the microphone across the Harbour City: that's the SXSW Sydney Music Festival setup. The live tunes part of the event lets you wander between more than 200 performances on 25 stages over seven days if you have a wristband, and the 2024 lineup just keeps expanding. After a successful Australian debut in 2023, SXSW Sydney is back for a second year from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 — and the program announcements continue to drop. This time, the festival's music strand has added over 25 acts, plus a heap of speakers. When you're not dancing to China's Berlin Psycho Nurses, Indonesia's KATHMANDU and mindfreakk, YONLAPA from Thailand and Sydney's own 2touch making their live debut — and also the likes of Touch Sensitive, Heno., dogworld, GIMMY and Kurilpa Reach — you'll be hearing from Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman as the man behind the Slumdog Millionaire score gets chatting. SXSW Sydney 2024 started revealing its lineup details back in May, and has kept growing it since. A further announcement arrived in June, then not one, not two, but three more in July — and also another, focusing on the free hub at Tumbalong Park, at the beginning of August. Accordingly, no one can say that they don't have anything to see when the fest makes its comeback this year, especially if the music bill gets your toes tapping. Other fresh additions span Arky Waters, Bakers Eddy, Big Sand, Charm of Finches, Dave Kent, Elizabeth M Drummond, Holiday Sidewinder, Hydra Fashion Week, Ivoris, Kinder Bloomen, Majak Door, Nao Yoshioka, overpass, Rub Of Rub, Tim Hicks, YAHYAH and Yawdoesitall among the folks taking to the stage. Joining the speakers: Priyanka Khimani, who was named one of the top music lawyers by Billboard; veteran bookers Marty Diamond and Larry Webman; A&R Island Records head Marihuzka Cornelius; and plenty more. In one of those aforementioned July drops, 2024's SXSW Sydney Music Festival also added 40-plus talents, such as the UK's Jorja Smith on the 'Be Honest' musician's Australian tour — and also Canada's Aysanabee, Thailand's PYRA, New Zealand's Brandn Shiraz and XUZZ, and the UK's Submerse. Aussies Brazen Barbie, Jamahl Yami, Kitschen Boy and Special Feelings scored a spot as well. And prior to that, the 2024 program already confirmed human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, author Johann Hari, Australian race car driver Molly Taylor, pianist Chad Lawson, Westworld's Luke Hemsworth hosting a session about the Tasmanian tiger, Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, TikTok marketing head Sofia Hernandez, Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon, cricketer David Warner, Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid and documentary Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts, about the new uses of former Pizza Hut buildings across America — and that's barely scratching the surface of the lineup specifics announced so far. SXSW Sydney 2024 will run from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Images: Peter McMillan, Jordan Kirk, Jess Gleeson and Ian Laidlaw.
Sipping drinks at soaring heights: if that's your preferred way to while away your days in Brisbane, there's no shortage of spots to head to. But the latest sky-high venue to open in our fair city doesn't just want you to eat and drink while soaking in the view. That's all part of Catalina, of course — but, in a 1500-square-metre bar that's taken its cues from the Mediterranean, this beach club-inspired spot wants you to get swimming as well. Head up to the top level at 74–80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane and you'll be enjoying a splash in two ways: in your glass and in the 30-metre rooftop infinity pool. Hang out in daybeds, sunken lounges and booths by the water, stare out over the Brissie skyline, and enjoy an atmosphere that's designed to make you feel like you're on holidays without leaving town. Open since mid-February — but bound to make the most of Brisbane's year-round balmy weather — Catalina is the latest venture from Icatha Hospitality's Ross Ledingham and Salt Meat Cheese Group's Stefano De Blasi. Blue, white and neutral tones help set the vacation mood, both indoors and out. The prevailing vibe: lounge all day, party through the night, with the venue open from brunch till midnight from Wednesday–Friday, and kicking things off at 7am on weekends. Relaxing by the pool is hungry work, so the food menu spans restaurant fare, waterside options, bar snacks and sharing spreads. Accordingly, you can grab seafood from the raw bar — oysters, scampi caviar, salmon gravlax and tuna tartar all included — then tuck into a 1.1-kilogram flank steak, lobster thermidor, pork belly or duck breast (with a side of truffle mac 'n' cheese if that also tempts your tastebuds). Or, snack on charcuterie, lobster rolls, octopus roulade and karaage chicken — no matter where you sit. Plus, the sharing menu spans both three- and four-course options, and desserts include deconstructed mango cheesecake and strawberries and cream panna cotta. For those Saturday and Sunday early starts, the brekkie range features house-baked corn bread, hotcakes, eggs benedict, zucchini flowers, and herb and potato rosti. And, drinks-wise, 14 different signature cocktails — think: Catalina bellinis with boysenberry tea-infused vermouth and edible stamps, sours made with jalapeno and pineapple syrup, and a fruity fizz featuring honey and apricot jam — sit alongside four low- and no-alcohol concoctions. Or, there are beers by the schooner and bottle, a sizeable spirits range (especially agave), and coffees, teas and hot chocolates. Catalina also hosts Sunday sessions, complete with DJ-spun house and disco tunes — if you need another excuse to turn lazing, paddling and sipping on a South Brisbane rooftop into a party. Find Catalina at 74–80 Tribune Street, South Brisbane — open 11am–12am Wednesday–Friday and 7am–12am Saturday–Sunday.
Alex Seton crafts sculptures out of marble, and yet the name of his latest exhibition actively invites audiences to think of paper. That's not by accident. He might be working with a strong substance, but the circumstances he's trying to bring attention to are fragile. The chasm between the large amount of time he has spent making his pieces, and their usual quick, easy and flimsy appearance, is also by design. With 400 carved boats the centerpiece of the show, Paper Armada responds to Australia's current asylum seeker policies. Consider his collection a depiction of complex political and humanitarian issues. The exhibition is also the latest example of Seton's existence as an analogue artist living in a digital world. He's drawn to the sensory and tactile appeal of materials, and believes that powerful emotion is attached to works of art made by the human hand. Gazing at his recreations of paper boats in all their glistening marble glory, it's difficult not to agree with him.
Utes are as ubiquitously Australian as Vegemite, meat pies and nicknames abbreviated to capitulate in the letter O. This is what makes a trip to the legendary Deni Ute Muster a perfect excursion for those keen to experience a classic Australian road trip. The annual event held in the NSW Riverina town of Deniliquin (a 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne) is a celebration of the iconic vehicle. But you don't need to be a rev-head or even own your own ute to get amongst this uniquely Australian shindig. Parked between the Commodores and Falcons, Rangers and Hiluxes, will be a lineup of some of the country's biggest names in music, tasty food pop-ups and the opportunity to do two nights of camping on Friday, 29 and Saturday, 30 September. Expect to spot Jess Mauboy, John Williamson, Missy Higgins and Lee Kernaghan belting out hits over the weekend. Off-stage, entertainment will be provided courtesy of activities like an ice skating rink, Bogan Bingo, camel rides, monster truck rides and a muster sandpit. Tickets start at $310 which also covers camping, so you can bring your own tent or caravan — or simply roll out a swag in the back of your ute. Deni Ute Muster is on from Friday, September 29 to Saturday, September 30 2023. For further details, head to the website.
