If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef without spending hours on a boat, Lizard Island Resort is the ideal place to base yourself. This luxury lodge is quite literally surrounded by the reef meaning you can roll out of bed and right into one of the world's natural wonders in minutes. But it's not just its proximity to the reef that lures people to the island. The all-inclusive accomodation helps take the guesswork out of holiday planning with meals, drinks, snorkelling gear, paddleboards, sea kayaks and more included in your stay. The toughest choice you'll make during your trip will be deciding which of the opulent day spa treatments will make you feel the most relaxed. If you do want to explore a little further, the resort has an onsite naturalist that hosts guided walks to share the island's cultural heritage, particularly that of the Traditional Land Owners, Jiogurru of the Dingaal Aboriginal people.
The year was 2005. The album: Hold Your Colour. That's when Pendulum hit the big time, and also why. The Perth-born drum-and-bass group not only became a homegrown sensation with their debut record and its tracks 'Slam', 'Tarantula' and 'Fasten Your Seatbelts', but made it into the UK Top 40 Singles Chart as well. Now, the year is 2023. Almost two decades after that breakout album, the Perth-born electronic favourites are breaking out their latest Down Under tour. Five stops, two countries, plenty of echoing arenas: that's what's in store when Pendulum play Australia and New Zealand in October, including on Thursday, October 12 at the Riverstage in Brisbane. This'll be the first time that the band has performed across either country since 2021. Pendulum won't just be giving Hold Your Colour's tunes a whirl, but also songs from 2008's In Silico and 2010's Immersion. Expect to hear new single 'Halo' featuring Bullet for My Valentine singer Matt Tuck get a spin, too. Currently comprised of Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillien, Peredur ap Gwynedd and KJ Sawka, Pendulum heads home with experience playing huge overseas festivals such as Glastonbury, Creamfields, Coachella, Rock Am Ring, Reading and Leeds, and also recently headlining Ultra Miami. The band went on hiatus from early 2012, with Swire and McGrillien focusing on side project Knife Party, before starting to reunite in 2015. Joining Pendulum on their latest Aussie and Aotearoa tour: fellow Perth-bred drum and bass talent ShockOne, aka Karl Thomas. Images: Luke Dyson.
While it's still up and running — the Kangaroo Point favourite will close in April 2025 — add One Fish Two Fish to the list of Brisbane eateries that know how to celebrate an occasion. So, with Valentine's Day upon us for this year, it's serving up a feast to match. Already have plans on Friday, February 14? Hate loving love on such a commercialised date? The fish 'n' chippery is putting on its special meal across five days, from Wednesday, February 12–Sunday, February 16. On the menu: a four-course spread featuring Moreton Bay bugs. The only dish that doesn't include them is dessert, where strawberry and vanilla cheesecake is on the menu. Before that, you'll start with a Moreton Bay bug cocktail, which pairs the obvious with nashi pear, kohlrabi, shallots, soft herbs and avocado mousse. Then, it's time for grilled Moreton Bay bugs that've been basted with herb and garlic butter, then topped with crispy pancetta and paprika oil — plus Moreton Bay bug ravioli, alongside shellfish bisque. Heading along costs $95 per person, with sittings at 6.30pm Wednesday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday, 12.30pm Friday–Sunday, and both 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Friday.
The single greatest cult film this side of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming back to Brisbane for a timely Friday night engagement. With The Disaster Artist taking audiences behind the scenes not that long ago, and Greg Sestero hitting up our fair town a couple of years back, The Room never gets old — and it's back once again. Described by critics as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies", with one critic comparing the film to "being stabbed in the head", Tommy Wiseau's The Room is an indescribable mess of plot holes, non-sequiturs, blurry camerawork and soft-core sex scenes, topped off by some of worst performances ever put to film. So naturally, we're recommending you go and see it. Of course, the truth is that no one really sees this movie. Rather, they experience it. Screenings of The Room are fully interactive, with audience members screaming lines of dialogue, dressing up like their favourite characters and hurling plastic spoons at the screen. This behaviour is actively encouraged by venues — although, at New Farm Cinemas's next session, you will need to bring your own cutlery with you. The cinema bar will be open ahead of the screening, something you should probably take full advantage of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRAUPqK9Y7I The Room screens at New Farm Cinemas Friday, July 31 at 9pm, with tickets costing $12–17.
The folks over at Gelato Messina know how to whip lovers of all things sweet and frozen into a frenzy, and they've done it again, announcing that their Sydney degustation bar will be venturing north to Brisbane. The Messina Creative Department will be setting up shop for the first time at the South Brisbane store for two weeks only, from August 31 until September 9. An offshoot of the famed gelato parlour, the Messina Creative Department offers an epic seven-course degustation, complete with non-alcoholic drink pairing. Since opening next door to their OG Darlinghurst venue last year to rapturous response, the tiny dessert table space has proved to be immensely popular, with places booking out almost as soon as they're released. Their recent sold-out truffle degustations in Sydney and Melbourne have been similarly received. With two to three sittings per night and just 12 seats available per sitting, Brisbanites had best book these $130-per-head spots at the ice cream sorcery table as soon as possible. The menu should have you doing just that. It will be a combo of the best dishes from Sydney and Melbourne (along with a few brand new Brissie creations) — previous dessert dinners have seen the likes of garlic gelato, a sugar egg filled with delights and an amazing matcha and pistachio cake concoction. A recent dish matched a vanilla and black truffle oil with vanilla and parsnip puree, a parsnip crisp and a vanilla 'fern' matched with a chai latte. It's dessert meets art meets one helluva tastebud adventure.
If you liked choosing your way through Black Mirror: Bandersnatch — or telling Bear Grylls what to do in interactive series You vs. Wild — then Netflix has more where that came from. Come Tuesday, May 12, you'll be able to decide what happens to everyone's favourite kidnapping victim turned wide-eyed New Yorker in a one-off Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt special. While the Tina Fey co-created, 18-time Emmy-nominated comedy finished up its regular run with 2019's batch of episodes, which closed out the show's fourth season, it's coming back this month to put viewers in control. Netflix has actually been in the interactive game for a couple of years thanks to its children's shows like Puss in Boots, Buddy Thunderstruck and Stretch Armstrong; however this'll mark the streamer's first interactive comedy. Always wanted to curb Kimmy's (Ellie Kemper) ample enthusiasm? Keen to steer ex-socialite Jacqueline White (Jane Krakowski) towards a few sensible decisions? Think that landlord Lillian (Carol Kane) could be more eccentric and misanthropic? Just love everything that aspiring actor and singer Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) does? Then this is for you, obviously. If you're fond of Jon Hamm's Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, too, you're also in luck — this interactive episode is called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, after all. A whole heap of other famous faces co-star as well, including Daniel Radcliffe, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Jack McBrayer and Johnny Knoxville. Story-wise, as the just-dropped trailer shows, Kimmy is preparing to marry Radcliffe's Frederick in three days. Then she finds an old library book in her beloved childhood backpack, which sets her on a collision course with the Reverend — who just might have another bunker hidden away. Viewers can expect a wedding, a journey across three US states, explosions, an evil plan and potentially starting a war against robots. Along the way, you'll help Kimmy decide if she should make out with Frederick, and choose whether Titus should wait 4000 minutes for an Uber instead of walking — and they're just the two decision points shown in the trailer. Announcing the special last year, Tina Fey explained that "fans will be able to make choices on behalf of our characters, taking different story paths with, of course, different jokes," in a Netflix statement. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZWmRUxOj9g Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend will hit Netflix on Tuesday, May 12. Top images: Netflix.
In 2013, 300 people danced to Kate Bush's' 'Wuthering Heights' in a field — and now in 2018, the idea is back and bigger than ever. Yes, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is happening in Brisbane on Saturday, July 14. Yes, everyone should be dressed as Kate Bush, complete with a red dress, red stockings and black belt (men, that means you as well). On the day, a clowder (that's the collective noun for Kate Bushes, just FYI) will descend upon the park and copy Bush's swaying, kicky dance in unison just for the pure joy of it. Support for this weird and wonderful outing has been widespread, and Kate Bush fans from around the world have been inspired to create events in their home cities. So get your gear together (dressmakers are being flooded with orders for the day, check it out here) and ready yourself to roll and fall in green, out on the wily, windy moors of Bedford Park. If you need an incentive — other than the event itself, of course — this year marks Bush's 60th birthday and 40 years since the song was first released.
To watch mother! is to watch Jennifer Lawrence's housewife protagonist, and to see the world through her eyes. As she remains confined to her sprawling country abode, which she's restoring for her poet husband (Javier Bardem), the camera remains largely fixed on either her face or her perspective. When she awakens to an empty bed, the film looks on. When outward politeness masks internal horror following the arrival of an unexpected guest (Ed Harris), viewers switch between witnessing her dismay and sharing her cautious gaze. Her despair heightens further when the man's wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) arrives, followed by their feuding adult sons (Brian and Domhnall Gleeson). And as her sense of anxiety grows, so too does writer-director Darren Aronofsky dive deeper and deeper into the character's inner turmoil. The idea of a woman not quite coping with a change to her home life might sound fairly standard, even old-fashioned. Run-of-the-mill dramas, clichéd comedies and scary flicks have been there and done that before. But mother! doesn't fit into those categories. It's not your usual unwanted visitor tale. Nor is it the Rosemary's Baby riff that's hinted at during its ominous first half. Never one to colour within the filmmaking lines (see Black Swan, Noah and Requiem for a Dream), with mother! Aronofsky serves up his boldest work to date – an ambitious, unnerving, immersive exercise that defies all sense of expectation. From walls that beat like a heart when they're touched, to a freewheeling third act that has to be seen to be believed, mother! is a movie driven by emotions and experiences. Lawrence's unnamed figure reacts to the ups and downs of her existence, and the film responds in turn. As destruction grows, life-changing decisions are made, and one woman's wants and needs are routinely ignored, it's not so much what happens that really matters. Rather, what's crucial is how it all makes the protagonist feel, and how Aronofsky aligns the audience with her mindset. Disgust, fear, frustration and sadness provide the film its palette, layered on top of its distinctive grey-hued colour scheme. Likewise, in a movie without music, the silence of hurt, confusion, neglect, betrayal and disappointment takes the place of a conventional soundtrack. There's no evading anything that Aronofsky throws at his viewers, as he makes it almost impossible to hold onto one's bearings. With the lens trained on Lawrence in close up for more than half of the movie's running time, the sense that you can't grasp onto anything else is clearly by design. She's the fraying canvas that all these swirling sensations converge upon — and, amidst the inescapable chaos, she plays her part to near-perfection And still the question remains: what exactly is mother!? Ultimately, there are many answers. At its most basic level, it's a tense psychological thriller built on domestic and social unease, spiralling into the disorder caused by humanity's worst urges, and touching upon everything from biblical parallels to a savage reflection of our current cutthroat society. It's also an exploration of a woman forced to ponder her place and purpose, with Lawrence's central character saddled with the duties of the caring, supportive, devoted spouse as Bardem's writer gets increasingly enamoured with his own fame. Indeed, in a movie that stays intimate in its focus but universal in its escalating mayhem, Aronofsky applies that line of thinking to all women subjected to the control and demands of men – a thematic fascination seen in many of his earlier films. On top of all of that, mother! is a fever dream of a cinema experience, audacious and utterly unique. Be warned: you'll either love it or hate it. We fall gleefully into the first category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXy6aD_m-gk Image: Paramount Pictures
The restaurant bar is a curious beast. In recent times, it's gone from being something of an afterthought — at best, a prelude to the main event — to a considered part of the experience in many a restaurant. At its best, a restaurant bar is a destination in its own right. To shine the light on these spots, we've lined up some of the best restaurant bars in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for when you want to elevate your next night on the town. Round up your crew, get the booze flowing and your night is set.
Maybe you're an expert at putting pencil to paper. Perhaps you need some liquid encouragement. Either way, Work-Shop's latest class has the artistic and the beverage-swilling firmly in mind. At Botanical Drawing with Drinks, you'll develop your skills with a glass of vino in hand. You bring your creative self — they'll supply the rest. Taking place at Work-Shop's Brisbane headquarters from 6.30pm on July 6, the two-hour class will help you turn plant-life into painted or sketched pictures, and ensure that you enjoy the process. If grape-made booze isn't your thing, there'll also be beer — and nibbles as well. With ceramic artist Vanessa Wallace leading the charge, you'll learn, sip and add some liveliness to your Thursday evening. Plus, if you like what you come up with, you'll get a botanic beauty for your wall at home.
A man born to make music, Ewan Mackenzie comes to Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge. As a child, Ewan, like many others like him, was inspired by The Beatles and Johnny Cash, and doing so changed his life, leading him away from the bagpipes of his own heritage and towards his own separate musical future. By nineteen Mackenzie was earning a living supporting bands like Daddy Cool and Santana around the country, but one afternoon his life changed again when he heard the manouche guitarist, Tchavob Schmitt in the movie Swing. Soon, he began to devote himself to mastering Schmitt’s craft and, in time, became one of Australia’s foremost players in the genre, blending together his customary delicate melodicism and inventiveness with good ol’ fashion gypsy fire.
Mornings, we know them well. Roll out of bed, sleepily shuffle to the kitchen and get that elixir of life into us as fast as possible. Yep, we're talking about coffee. No matter how many cups you get through, each coffee comes with an impact on our environment, from disposable takeaway cups right down to single-use coffee pods. By now you've probably invested in a reusable cup, but what about your at-home caffeine routine? If you're lucky enough to own a super-handy Nespresso machine, there's one simple switch you can make and that's to use Tripod Coffee pods. A sustainable alternative to the George Clooney-fronted pod giant, Tripod Coffee was born from two Aussie cricketers — Steve Cazzulino and Ed Cowan — plus their mate Dave Siegel, and the trio's insatiable love of coffee. When the boys couldn't find the local, eco-friendly answer to the convenience of pod coffee, they decided it was about time someone changed that. "On a rainy day we thought, why don't we have a crack and take on the big boys?" Cowan told Concrete Playground. "We could fill the capsules with coffee that we really enjoy drinking". The result: compostable pods filled with cafe-quality coffee that neatly fit into a Nespresso machine. [caption id="attachment_781754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ed Cowan and Dave Siegel. Photography: Kitti Gould[/caption] It's a well-known fact us Aussies love our coffee, so making the switch to Tripod will help reduce the amount of aluminium and plastic going to landfill, which can take up to 500 years to break down. Plus, you won't have to dig deep into your pockets as Cazzulino, Cowan and Siegel believe "Australians shouldn't have to pay more for sustainability," with Tripod capsules priced similarly to Nespresso, costing $7.50–8.50 for packs of ten. So, first things first: the coffee. Tripod sources the best beans around, which are then roasted, ground and packed right here in Australia. You'll find a lot of Central and South American coffees used by Tripod and that's because "the coffees from those areas really suit the [capsule] extraction process," Cowan told CP. Currently, there are seven varieties to choose from, from a light roast to extra dark, single origin, decaf and a blend wholly made from organic and fair trade beans. Because you shouldn't have to choose between a delicious cup of joe and the earth. So how does it work? Tripod's 100-percent certified compostable pods, made from plant-based bio-polymers and sealed with a paper lid, are designed to be broken down in as little as 90 days. You can't exactly throw them into your garden, but you can chuck them into your green-lid wheelie bin if your council accepts food scraps as organic waste, which you can handily check here. If your council doesn't, no worries, Tripod's already one step ahead of you. Closing the loop on the usual issues associated with coffee capsules, the company's Pod-to-Plant program collects your pods for composting with the help of a third party. Just simply add a reply-paid Pod-to-Plant return kit ($10) to your next Tripod Coffee order and you'll get everything you need — and you'll score $10 off your next order, too. If you're into details, the composting process creates two byproducts: nutrient-rich, organic fertiliser and methane. The fertiliser is used by local farmers, growers and horticulturalists, whereas the methane is converted into green electricity. To top it off, Tripod donates one percent of its profits towards restoring the Daintree Rainforest. [caption id="attachment_781507" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @iamdanok[/caption] "We're in the business of eliminating waste and helping people live more sustainable lives. That's the lens for every decision we make — from carbon neutral shipping to the materials on promotional stickers," says Siegel. So, why not go green with your caffeine routine? You don't need to travel far to get your hands on these super-sustainable pods either, because Tripod delivers right around Australia, with free shipping for all orders over $75, or, for smaller orders, at a flat rate of $9.50. If you're in New Zealand, it's a flat rate of $20. Tripod Coffee is combating climate change with one compostable coffee pod at a time. To make your caffeine fix more sustainable, make the switch by ordering yourself a pack or signing up to one of Tripod's subscription services. Lead image: @Bridgetfeyfit
Ryan Matthew Smith doesn't just cook and eat food - he spills its, throws it, sets it on fire and then shoots it with a sniper rifle to make sure. He's also a photographer, and has documented these sick culinary experiments in a 2,400 page tome on the subject, Modernist Cuisine: the Art and Science of Cooking. From collating several individual exposures for one delectable cutaway shot of hamburgers on a grill to shooting a lineup of eggs with a sniper rifle at 6200 frames per second, Smith shot 1,400 images for the cookbook/artwork. Despite little experience in studio work, Smith explains in an interview with Feature Shoot that his extensive portfolio of nature and architecture photography helped prepare him for the task. "Having a strong artistic sense towards photography in general can easily transfer through any of the disciplines from advertising all the way to fine art," he says. [via Coolhunting]
Brothers, we have something special to show you and no, it's not kitty cat man. US comedy duo Tim and Eric are bringing their bizarre sense of humor to Australia and New Zealand for a national tour. The Tim and Eric – 'Stralia – Zealand Experience will be making stops at Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland. Since meeting at uni in 1994, the pair have gone on to create an animated series, a hilarious sketch series for Adult Swim, a feature film and even a book. You might not have heard of them, but you've definitely seen their kooky comedic genius before; how about the Vodka movie with Zach Galifianakis for Absolut or their Old Spice commercials with Terry Crews? Grab yourself a ticket and bear witness to the pair's crazy directing style, unique sketches and DJ Douggpound. Celebrate getting tickets by dancing like celery man (you won't be the only ones). Shiny suit and bolo tie optional. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAFcEU6atk[/embed]
"Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream." Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: the fifth edition of this Brisbane event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris 28 years ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, 2000+ of Brisbane's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, October 22 for the event held at a predictably stunning location that remains secret until the very last moment (over the last few years, the beautiful banks of the Brisbane River at Portside and Roma St. Parklands proved welcoming venues). Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous (but don't get any ideas, a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a ticket. Here's what happened in 2014:
With fresh COVID-19 cases continuing to pop up across Australia and community transmission still a very real issue, the Victorian Government has launched a new travel permit system in an attempt to keep the coronavirus out of the state. Victoria has just chalked up six days straight without any new locally transmitted coronavirus cases; however, with other states experiencing outbreaks in recent weeks, the Victorian Government is now tightening the borders and rolling out new regulations for anyone wanting to enter from interstate locations. After going live yesterday, Monday, January 11, the new permit scheme will now manage all domestic travel into Victoria, using a traffic light-style system to categorise origin locations as red, orange or green — based on their level of risk. It applies to visitors who reside in other parts of Australia, as well as to any Victorian residents returning home from elsewhere. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1348469170472509440 Under the new system, travellers wanting to head into Victoria will need to apply for one of the various permit types, depending on where they've been beforehand. Anyone who has been in a designated red zone — the highest level in the system, which currently covers Greater Brisbane and Greater Sydney — is barred from entering the state. Exceptions apply to residents of NSW/Victorian border communities, and folks who've been in a red zone can also apply to receive an exemption or a permitted worker permit. The former covers instances such as emergency relocations, funerals, essential medical care, and people needing to return home for health, wellbeing, care or compassionate reasons. That said, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) states that exceptions are limited and that they'll only be granted in special circumstances. Victoria will be cracking down on rule-breakers, too — the government has warned that trying to make a land border crossing from a red zone will get you turned away, while attempting to enter by plane or sea without a permit will score you a $4957 fine. Travellers coming from orange and green zones may apply online for a permit. During the application process, you'll be asked where you've travelled to — and you'll also need to answer questions about any symptoms, close contacts and previous COVID-19 diagnoses. Anyone travelling from green zones should get a permit granted easily and only need to monitor for symptoms once they've arrived, as long as you've steered clear of any red or orange zones in the previous 14 days. If you're coming from an orange zone, you'll be required to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your arrival in Victoria, and to self-isolate before and after the test until you're given the all-clear. Of course, the current designated zones and regulations are subject to change, with DHHS advising that "border arrangements are constantly reviewed based on the health situation in each state and territory". When the system went live yesterday, it did so almost three hours after its announced launch time of 5.59pm; however, it is now up and running. For more information on Victoria's new permit system — or to apply for one — head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Bringing the beloved Mattel doll to cinemas in live-action for the first time, Barbie wasn't specifically made for concert screenings. But with a soundtrack filled with Oscar-winning and -nominated tunes, as well as tracks by Dua Lipa, Haim, Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, Pink Pantheress and more, it's certain to prove quite the treat when the hit film makes its way around Australia with a live orchestra playing its music. Yes, Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) take on the iconic toy is returning to the big screen Down Under, this time with Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?', the Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy)-crooned 'I'm Just Ken' and more performed by the orchestra as audiences watch — all thanks to Symphonic Cinema Presents. Barbie the Movie in Concert's sessions will first kick off in Melbourne at the end of 2025. After that, it's set to tour the country in 2026. So far, only the Victorian capital gig has announced its details, hitting Plenary Theatre at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, December 13, 2025. It's a Barbie bonanza in the city of late, given that it is also currently playing host to the Malibu Barbie Cafe's first-ever Australian appearance until the end of summer. If you're located elsewhere across the nation, you'll need to wait to find out when the event is coming to you — and giving you another date with the box-office sensation of 2023. Whenever and wherever else it pops up, expect Kenergy aplenty. As viewers already know from the Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring flick, Barbie can be anything. Although screenings of the film can't be President, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a diplomat and a Supreme Court justice, or a mermaid, doctor, lawyer and Pulitzer-winner, they can take many guises, such as movie-and-music events like these upcoming screenings. Symphonic Cinema Presents is also touring concert sessions of Top Gun: Maverick, Gladiator and The Nightmare Before Christmas if you're keen to see other beloved films with their tunes performed live in the coming months. Check out the trailer for Barbie below: Barbie the Movie in Concert is playing Plenary Theatre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne on Saturday, December 13, 2025 — with ticket presales from 10am on Tuesday, August 5 — and then touring the country in 2026, with dates to be announced. Head to the Symphonic Cinema Presents website for more details.
By this stage, most of us have come to terms with the fact that jetting off to USA or Europe is a seriously long slog, made worse by unavoidable (sometimes long, always painful) stopovers. But Qantas has been pondering making those trips a whole lot more bearable via direct flights from the east coast to both London and New York — even running two trial journeys over the last two months. The aim is to get the routes up and running from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane by the beginning of 2023 — as long as the proposed non-stop plan, which is called Project Sunrise, is given the go-ahead by Qantas' top brass. The airline was due to make the call this month, but it's now giving itself a few extra months to weigh up all the necessary details. March 2020 is the new decision deadline. A third trial flight from New York to Sydney was always planned before the future of Project Sunrise was finalised, and will take place on Tuesday, December 17; however the three-month decision delay will also give Qantas extra time to continue their industrial negotiations with pilots. Otherwise, the company looks to be powering forward. Based on current data, the airline has been provisionally told by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority "that it sees no regulatory obstacles to the Sunrise flights," it advised in a statement. Just as crucially, Qantas has chosen its preferred aircraft. If the direct flights do become a reality, they'll take place on Airbus A350-1000 planes, which have been in use in the industry for more than two years. Airbus will add an additional fuel tank to the aircraft, and slightly increase the maximum takeoff weight. Qantas hasn't placed an order yet, but if the non-stop routes go ahead, it'll purchase 12. Back in 2017, Qantas first revealed that it was exploring non-stop routes from Sydney — routes that would eclipse those direct flights between Perth and London, which launched in March 2018. Since then, the airline has been pursuing the idea enthusiastically, putting out a call for aircraft that can handle the trip and widening their plan to include departures to and from Brisbane as well. In numbers, the A350-1000s will need to be able to handle more than 19 hours in the air (around 20 hours and 20 minutes between Sydney and London, and 18 hours and seven minutes from Sydney to New York). Before its current test flights, the airline had done its homework, analysing a decade's worth of wind and weather data to confirm the lengthy routes were actually possible. Right now, the world's longest direct flight clocks in at over 19 hours, with Singapore Airlines flying 15,322-kilometres along its Singapore-to-New York route. Previously, the journey from Doha and Auckland earned that honour, taking around 18 hours to travel 14,529 kilometres. Image: Qantas/Airbus
If a trip to SXSW has always been on your bucket list, here's an alternative much closer to home: Australia's own — and first — huge five-day technology and music festival. Called Sound West, the new event is headed to Sydney's west in early 2022, and will combine a two-day conference at CommBank Stadium with three days of live music events. Networking, workshops, mentoring, big tech brands and music industry leaders, performances by local, national and international talent — that's all on the bill. Mark Wednesday, March 30–Sunday April 3 in your diary, as that's when Parramatta will play host to an event that's been three years in the making — after the team behind Sound West conceived of giving Greater Western Sydney its own landmark fest. The end result will take over venues large, small and unique, bring together the music and tech industries, and both recognise and develop the next generation of talent in the two fields. Exactly what'll be on the entire lineup won't be revealed until February — which is when tickets will also go on sale — but Dylan Alcott OAM, L-Fresh The Lion, Khaled Rohaim and Serwah Attafuah will all pop up among Sound West's presenters and performers. Alcott will chat about his accessibility-focused music festival Ability Fest, L-Fresh The Lion will collaborate on a number of singer-songwriter initiatives, Rohaim will discuss his work with Rihanna, Ty Dolla $ign and The Kid Laroi (including working from his western Sydney bedroom), and Attafuah will cover her moves in the NFTs and their relevance to the music industry. [caption id="attachment_831234" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Khaled Rohaim[/caption] The program will also feature keynote addresses, panels, one-on-one sessions, live podcasting and interactive activations. SXSW has been known to get creative in the latter space, so fingers crossed that proves the same at Sound West. And, brand-wise, plenty of big music and tech names will be represented, such as NEC Australia, TikTok, Shopify, Warner Music, Universal Music Australia, Live Nation, Apple Music, ARIA and APRA AMCOS. "This region is going from strength to strength through industry development, investment in research and innovation, and a rich cultural foundation that makes for a dynamic city to live, work, visit and host events," said Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Tourism and Western Sydney, announcing the festival. "Sound West is the first of its kind in Australia and will bring together brilliant minds, industry leaders and music enthusiasts to share ideas, network and enjoy the creativity of home-grown artists." Sound West Technology and Music Festival will run from Wednesday, March 30–Sunday April 3, 2022, in Parramatta. The full event lineup will be revealed in February — we'll update you with further details then.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As well as helping Brisbanites bend and stretch with kittens this weekend, Stretch Yoga is also sharing the love with cute canines as part of their latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, aka Stretch for a Stray. Marking the studio's fourth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that is Kitt Kat Care, Puppy Yoga & Pilates gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses and pilates moves. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 6.10pm and 7.10pm on April 26, but register early — the $40 classes sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. If you decide to back it up with a kitten session on April 27 or 28, too, we'd totally understand.
Is the type of film festival that dedicates an afternoon and evening to a killer clown your type of film festival? If so, you should be excited about Monster Fest's return. In just a few short years, the Terrifier movies have become horror must-sees if you can't get enough of slashers splashing about gore aplenty. With the latest flick in the franchise on the way, Monster Fest is screening all three Terrifier titles, old and new — so, giving audiences an extended date with Art the Clown — as a key part of its 2024 program. The Australian premiere of Terrifier 3 will follow the OG Terrifier and first sequel Terrifier 2 on Saturday, October 5 in Brisbane. The festival kicks off on Friday, October 4, running until Sunday, October 6 at Event Cinemas Uptown (in the old Myer Centre). While getting creeped out by cinema's most-sadistic clown is a big Monster Fest 2024 drawcard, it's The Rule of Jenny Pen from Coming Home in the Dark filmmaker James Ashcroft that's the event's opening-night pick. At the other end of the festival, horror-comedy Frankie Freako by Psycho Goreman's Steven Kostanski is in the closing slot. Both pictures embrace puppets, the first with help from John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon) and the second featuring a dancing goblin. Other highlights include the latest Hellboy movie, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which heads back to the 1950s; Azrael, as led by Australian actor Samara Weaving (Scream VI), and telling of a woman's attempt to escape from mute zealots; New Zealand body-horror film Grafted; and documentary Generation Terror, which focuses on the horror genre from the late-90s to mid-00s.
When Stephen King's Doctor Sleep released in 2013, it didn't just return readers to the world of his 1977 hit The Shining — it also meant that a film adaptation became inevitable. Hollywood loves a sequel after all, so it should come as no surprise that the book is indeed headed to the big screen, with the movie's director just announced. Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil) will helm the follow-up, which explores the adult life of Danny Torrance, aka the tricycle-riding tyke at the centre of the first story. And while it might seem like the filmmaker has pretty big shoes to fill — particularly given Stanley Kubrick directed the 1980 classic that became one of the greatest horror movies of all time — Flanagan is no stranger to King's work. In fact, the last credit on his resume is last year's Gerald's Game, as based on the famous author's 1992 novel. A bestseller when it was released in print, Doctor Sleep checks back in on Danny — now going by Dan — who is unsurprisingly bearing emotional and psychological scars from his experiences at the Overlook Hotel. Variety reports that Flanagan will also rewrite the script, which was originally adapted by A Beautiful Mind Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman. Goldsman was also among the writers of last year's awful King-based effort The Dark Tower, as well as Transformers: The Last Knight and Rings. Via Variety.
There's a wonderfully authentic innocence about the circus. The combination of childish comedy mixed with the professionalism of performers is a sure way to keep you enthused and entertained, even more so when you become involved in the performance concept. After impressing crowds at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Brisbane’s new contemporary circus company Casus treat local audiences to their stunning premiere work with their latest performance, Knee Deep. Knee Deep invites the audience to re-imagine notions of limitation. Throughout this journey, the artists demonstrate that delicacy does not necessarily equate to fragility, although it is often a fine line to tread. The circus's four performers explore the boundaries of strength and tenderness. Bodies are pushed and pulled, weighed and tested, probing the limits of both physicality and feeling to question your stance of limitation and boundary. When was the last time you took a break from life's boring debacles? Jump on the fun bandwagon and brighten your grin with Casus's brilliant circus.
Size matters. So too, does timing. It's safe to say that in the wake of the sprawling Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp is precisely the kind of modest, self-contained movie the team at Marvel needed to make. Set shortly before The Avengers' dust-up with Thanos, the film acknowledges its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet cleverly distances itself from intergalactic conflict by instead focusing on three very intimate human stories. The first concerns Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, played again by the seemingly ageless Paul Rudd. Thanks to his exploits in Captain America: Civil War, he now finds himself subject to house arrest and attempts to while away his two-year sentence by both establishing a security consultancy company and creatively entertaining his young daughter. The second picks up with Lang's two (now former) partners: Hope van Dyne aka The Wasp (Evangeline Lily) and her father Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) as they attempt to rescue Hope's long-lost mother from the mind-boggling Quantum Realm. The third follows a pair of villains: superhuman Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and black marketeer Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), each of whom seeks to steal Pym's quantum tech for themselves. That's the sum of it. There are no aliens here, no space ships or wormholes. There aren't even many lives at stake. Instead, Ant-Man and The Wasp mostly concerns itself with the preservation and/or restoration of fading relationships. The small-scale (no pun intended) storytelling proves a welcome reprieve from the MCU's growing complexity, while the filmmakers also smartly retain the innovative action and laugh out loud comedy from their character's first big screen outing. The danger for this franchise was always going to be the Honey I Shrunk The Superhero dynamic getting old. Thankfully, the creative minds behind Ant-Man and The Wasp continue to deliver the unexpected in almost every major sequence, tinkering with the size of everything from cars to buildings to Pez dispensers. As Lang, Rudd very much holds court again, his disarming awkwardness acting as the perfect foil for the more stern performances of Lily and Douglas. Not every joke lands, and a few of the one-liners seem crowbarred in, but the tone remains impressively consistent throughout, almost to the point of feeling like a straight-up comedy (thanks in no small way to another scene-stealing turn from Michael Pena). Goggins, too, is as reliable as ever as the Southern Gentleman rogue, while John-Kamen's Ghost offers the film its necessary dramatic streak without ever descending into two-dimensional villainy. Later appearances by some other big names (whose identity we'll preserve for the sake of surprise) lend additional gravitas to an already impressive cast, and even Stan Lee's inevitable cameo brings a laugh instead of the usual eye roll. Unsurprisingly, Ant-Man and The Wasp also addresses the shocking finale to Infinity War, although it does so in a neatly inconclusive way, allowing for much speculation and very little certainty. In all, it's a well calculated step by Marvel and a timely reminder that superhero movies can tell compelling human stories without resorting to world-ending CGI chaos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_rTIAOohas
Comedian Kyle Ayers was enjoying the view from the rooftop of his New York City apartment one day with some neighbours when a couple in the midst of a heated squabble suddenly appeared. So what did Ayers do? Politely look the other way and mind his own business? Of course not. Like any good social (media) Samaritan, he whipped out his smartphone and started tweeting about the whole ordeal. His series of live-tweets of the couple's retorts caused quite a buzz in the Twittersphere and was traceable by the fitting tag, #roofbreakup. He started the sequence on Saturday evening, saying "A couple is breaking up on my roof right now. I was just trying to enjoy the view. Now I will live tweet the breakup." Rapidly reporting the exchange between 'guy' and 'girl' (who we later learnt was named Rachel), Ayers captured their dislikes of friends, questions of moving in together and accusations of infidelity. Highlights include: "Say something else about my fucking wardrobe" -guy #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "I'm not looking for marriage, just what's right below marriage" -girl #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "Your roommates are fucking assholes" -guy #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "You think I'm immature? Calling people immature is immature!" -guy #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "Do you love me?" -girl (OH BOY HERE WE GO, PEOPLE) #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "My roommates are always like 'wheres your boyfriend?' And I'm like 'hmm' and stuff." -girl #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 This guy is four cigs deep right now. #roofbreakup #teamrachel — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "I don't think we need to talk about this up here with some random guy over there." -guy (uh oh, I'm that guy over here) #roofbreak — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 "He's just sitting on his fucking phone he doesn't care (talking about me). Answer my question." -girl (hahahahahahaha) #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 and the royal cherry on top: "Are we getting pizza or what? I don't mean to change the subject but are we?" -guy #roofbreakup — Kyle Ayers (@kyleayers) November 17, 2013 The guy, who was furiously chain-smoking the entire time, finally declared "I'm not talking about love on a roof in Brooklyn." Clearly, this is the 21st century's adaptation of Clark Gable's famous retort, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." How debonair. Read the full #roofbreakup tweets on Storify. Via Huffington Post.
After closing its doors two years ago, Woolloongabba's popular Chalk Hotel is set to spring back into business. Don't go queueing for a drink on the corner of Stanley and Reid streets or planning your post-cricket or -footy brews just yet, however. The watering hole's revamp will form part of the surrounding site's redevelopment, meaning that it's likely to be a couple more years in the making. Still, the resurrection of the pub on the city's outskirts will come as welcome news for locals, or anyone who headed to the inner east for a pint and a pizza during the ten years it was in operation. Since shutting up shop when the company behind the hotspot went into receivership, the building has lain dormant, with nothing else popping up inside to replace it. The Courier-Mail reports that the Barakat Group and Dyldam Group will spend $3 million on the venue, including a new beer garden and an interior refurbishment, aiming to bring the site into line with the commercial, hotel and residential buildings that are in the works at adjacent properties. The Chalk's reopening is planned once the rest of development is finished, with construction slated to start within the next year, and to take up to 18 months. Via The Courier-Mail.
UPDATE, Thursday, February 27, 2025: Drake was also scheduled to play Brisbane on Tuesday, March 4, but that gig has been postponed to a yet-to-be-confirmed future date. Here's the headlines: Drake is coming to Australia in 2025; it's his first trip this way since 2017; and you're now going to have 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' stuck in your head again. The Canadian artist is bringing his Anita Max Win tour Down Under, including to Brisbane in February and March. The five-time Grammy-winner is hitting the Sunshine State capital for two shows. Drake will play Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Monday, February 24–Tuesday, February 25. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star last took to the stage in this neck of the woods on his Boy Meets World tour, which means that eight years have passed between those gigs and his 2025 visit. The platinum-selling singer is fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. On that prior trip, Drake had four studio albums to his name: 2010's Thank Me Later, 2011's Take Care, 2013's Nothing Was the Same and 2016's Views. He's doubled that since, so expect tunes from 2018's Scorpion, 2021's Certified Lover Boy, 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs, too. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
In the decade since her gone-too-soon death in 2012, Whitney Houston has proven one of filmmaking's greatest loves of all. No fewer than five movies have told her tale, including documentaries Whitney: Can I Be Me and Whitney. And, that's without including a feature about her daughter Bobbi Kristina, a miniseries focused on her ex-husband Bobby Brown and dramas clearly based on her story. If she was still alive, a movie like Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody would've still reached screens at some point, though. Hollywood adores music biopics, especially lately, with Houston's latest stint in the celluloid spotlight following Elvis, Respect, The United States vs Billie Holiday, Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody in recent years alone. I Wanna Dance with Somebody even shares screenwriter Anthony McCarten with the latter — formula and inevitability combining, as is this genre's repeated refrain. All of that attention has been echoing around Houston for obvious — and patently well-documented — reasons. Her mezzo-soprano voice, which earned her the nickname "The Voice", soared to stratospheric and literally breathtaking levels. She still holds the record for the most consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, which she took from The Beatles and the Bee Gees, as her career zoomed skyward as well. Houston's list of hits is massive and varied, spanning ballads such as 'Saving All My Love For You', dancefloor-filling pop like 'How Will I Know' and the anthemic 'I'm Every Woman', to name a mere few tracks. That swift rise from New Jersey church choir member to one of the biggest bestselling music artists ever was matched by tabloid-fodder lows, however, and that tragic passing — and I Wanna Dance with Somebody charts it all. Taking its name from one of Houston's most exuberant singles isn't just a music biopic 101 move, although it's definitely that. Director Kasi Lemmons (Harriet) follows the standard Wikipedia entry-like genre template, piecing together all of the requisite details, but she wants those titular words to constantly make a statement. Houston does want to dance — one of the strengths of that 80s tune has always been how genuine it feels — with the phrase used here to reflect how Whitney (Naomi Ackie, Master of None) just wants to be herself, to be loved as such, and openly be with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams, Black Lightning). While still dreaming of success, Whitney and Robyn meet and sparks fly, but the times, attitudes and the demands of fame don't treat their romance kindly. I Wanna Dance with Somebody doesn't shy away from their relationship, or from the disapproval of Whitney's gospel singer mother Cissy Houston (Tamara Tunie, Cowboy Bebop) and stern father John (Clarke Peters, The Man Who Fell to Earth). Whitney just wants to keep her hair short and wear jeans, too, but being a young Black woman in the 80s shooting for music stardom comes with demands. I Wanna Dance with Somebody is never so simplistic to equate having to don dresses and wigs with not being able to be true to her sexuality, but it paints a picture of a woman consistently forced to put others' expectations of her first. So, after being signed to Arista Records at 19 by producer and executive Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci, The King's Man), Whitney becomes America's princess next door. I Wanna Dance with Somebody doesn't ignore her willingness to play the game, either — to perform the part she's told to if it means she'll keep rocketing higher, as a scene recreating the 'How Will I Know' music video shows — but the film's thesis is plain: made to be someone she wasn't, and stripped of the support she always wanted, this tale was unlikely to have a happy ending. Joining the list of Lady Macbeth actors going on to huge things — the other: Florence Pugh — Ackie gives a commanding, multi-layered performance as the conflicted Houston. I Wanna Dance with Somebody is more concerned with attitude and emotion than strict physical resemblance, and it works. That the film is raw, heartfelt and moving in conveying Whitney's plight, including through her criticism for being too white, tumultuous relationship with Brown, moving into cinema with The Bodyguard, battles with her dad over his management and her substance-abuse troubles, all comes down to that pivotal portrayal. Indeed, such is the power in Ackie's efforts, she's still a tour-de-force while she's lip-synching. Smartly, Lemmons uses Houston's own vocals. When you're making a movie about "The Voice", you need to let your audience hear said voice. Visibly, is Ackie singing herself — the feature just dubs in the star she's playing over the top — and, unsurprisingly, the scenes where Whitney is on a stage or behind a microphone are high among I Wanna Dance with Somebody's standouts. In a film that's impassioned, too, serving up electrifying performance recreations is a wise move. Baz Luhrmann's Elvis turned concert scenes into a dizzying, multi-sensory, like-you're-there art, helping demonstrate why its subject had such an impact — an approach Lemmons and her cinematographer Barry Ackroyd (The Old Guard) apply to expressing Houston's immense vocal talent. Among the key Whitney moments restaged: singing 'Home' during her 1983 stint on The Merv Griffin Show shortly after being signed by Davis, her slowed-down version of the American national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, busting out 'I Will Always Love You' at The Concert for a New South Africa in 1994 and her American Music Awards medley of 'I Loves You Porgy', 'And I Am Telling You' and 'I Have Nothing' that same year. Throughout the script, talk turns to breathing, challenges and the mechanics of crooning — belting out that above trio is dubbed "climbing Mount Everest without oxygen" — but seeing is believing. Spying Ackie's arms outstretched, spreading far and wide as Houston reaches for those high notes, is a potent and understandably repeated sight. Still, unlike the singer at its centre, I Wanna Dance with Somebody is content with staying in expected territory. That makes for a rousing yet routine addition to the music biopic canon — and, because Lemmons and McCarten are committed to covering as much as possible, a rushed one as well despite its 146-minute running time. As proves the case of many famous figures who earn dramatisations of their lives, there's so much to include here that multiple movies could've easily eventuated. Again, plenty of other films about Houston have already. This jam-packed on-screen dance wants to have it all and show where Houston's broken heart went, but it doesn't burn deep enough to last.
Books and good lighting have never seemed to go together. As a child I was always encouraged to read less, because "you'll ruin your eyes!" Clearly my parents never anticipated that glasses would become cool. Regardless, I spent most of my childhood reading in bad light, and I am now quietly smug that I have reached my early twenties and have never had a cavity despite refusing to drink milk, have curly hair without eating my crusts, and have perfect vision, unaided by optometrists, despite having spent most of my life with my head in a book. Now Swiss designer Boris Dennler, in his 2007 series of lamps entitled Livresse, is bringing books and good lighting together in one lovely, yet contradictory, invention. Dennler has chosen to re-purpose books, an item frequently overlooked when it comes to the world of interior lighting, and transform them into eco-friendly lamps. The books are turned into fully functional soft-lighting lamps without causing damage to the pages, and can be easily changed if you need to swap your Mills and Boon lamps for early French philosophers. The lamps are also portable, so you could easily freak people out by hanging them from the trees. Recycling at it's best. [Via Designboom]
After headlining Splendour in the Grass earlier this year, The National are bringing their moody, Nick Cave-esque brand of indie rock back to Australia in February 2014. The tour kicks off in Adelaide before heading to Sydney (where they'll be performing on the Opera House forecourt), Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Given we're an island on the other side of the world, it took the New York-based band a while to make their way Down Under, but better late than never right? We've loved them doubly ever since. The National first came to Australia in 2008 to promote their fourth album, Boxer, before coming back in 2010 and 2011 for the Falls Festival and Harvest. They took a break for a few years before returning with their sixth album, Trouble Will Find Me, which is being hailed as their best to date. After appearances at several major festivals like Reading and Leeds and Lollapalooza, The National are fast building a reputation as a must-see live act. Fans can expect to hear some of their older songs, like 'Demons', 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' and 'Fake Empire' (which was controversially used in a Mitt Romney election video without their knowledge) as well as newer stuff from Trouble Will Find Me. https://youtube.com/watch?v=N527oBKIPMc
"I didn't want to simply be a socialite," Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) tells us. "I wanted to become the king of socialites." He has succeeded grandly in this most empty of ambitions; his life seems an endless parade of high-society gatherings, fashionable soirees and art gallery openings. A louche writer resting on the laurels of his lone novel and the occasional magazine piece, Jep has turned recently turned 65 and is shaken from his decadent torpor when he learns that his first love has died. The news acts as a reminder of his own looming mortality and is a chance to reflect on the gradual decline of Rome. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino's last film was the somewhat divisive little gem This Must Be The Place; this is a much more elaborate affair, stuffing dozens of vignettes of city life into its 142-minute running length. It evokes comparison with his great countrymen Federico Fellini and feels like a belated companion piece to La Dolce Vita, in its ambition, sweep and affectionate but pointedly warts-and-all portrait of a decaying, decadent metropolis. The Great Beauty is in cinemas on January 23, and thanks to Palace Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=koxRDhAQOpw
Matt Brady has been a pioneer of Brisbane street culture for a long time. The owner of iconic Brisbane clothing store The Outpost has also had a large role in shaping Brisbane culture in the arenas of art and music. Matt used to own the very popular Woodland venue, where live music was a major focus, and for the past decade he has been in charge of running I Used To Skate Once, an art exhibition that celebrated local talent and skating culture. The tenth iteration of this event is set to be the biggest yet, with The Zoo accommodating the exhibition itself as well as having a separate experimental music room installed in a shopfront below. The art on display is from a wide variety of local artists and interstate talent, some of who are veterans of the scene and some of who are up-and-comers. We spoke to Matt in the lead-up to the exhibition to talk about where it all started and what we can expect this year. Where did the initial idea for IUTSO come from? We wanted to do something that wasn't a fashion parade — every man and his dog were doing fashion events around that time. I also realised that there were a lot of creative people that were customers. So the skateboard thing was something small canvas and that was relevant to most people who shopped with us. In New York there is a guy called Aaron Rose who did a similar show called Minimal Tricks around the same time. His book for his gallery came out a few years back and he did a skateboard art show. I thought 'I'm on the right page' with something new to do. What made you want to make it an annual thing? We had so much fun doing it that we wanted to do it again! ... It was great because it was all of our friends together. It was a real nice atmosphere, everyone had a good time. It was like having a house party and an art show at the same time. Everyone knew each other. Looking back at the photos now, it was such a nice big group of people that really supported one another — and they still do! A lot of them are in the show on Thursday. How do you go about selecting your showcase artists? It kind of snowballs; there is no rhyme or reason. It starts off with me picking five or so people I really want to have in the show and then it will snowball from there. I do work with a lot of artists that produce products from the shop. There are always new kids coming through that are doing photography or have their own thing going and I will grab them as well. I try to make a mixture of fifty percent male and fifty percent female. Sometimes I just pick people that are loyal customers. Sometimes they aren't the most talented artists but I like to give them a chance. There is a pretty weird selection process; we can't have everyone we want in the show unfortunately. What do you do to keep things fresh and interesting? Lately I have been trying to mix up certain elements. One year we had all of the bands on the floor instead of the stage, the next year we custom built a quarter-pipe. This year we have an experimental electronic room. Obviously we like people being creative with music as well as art. There will be visuals from Pale Earth in that room as well, so there will be an artistic element to it. What do you think of the current art and music scene in Brisbane? Do you think it is in a good place right now or could it be improved? Brisbane is a great place. We are lucky to have places like GOMA and events like GOMA Up-Late, there are a lot of smaller, artist-run galleries that have come and there are a lot of great bands, regardless of genres. New venues like The Brightside are fantastic for music. I keep a low profile most times but there always seems something to do. Are there are any local artists and musicians that you are digging at the moment? I really like Charlie Hillhouse's photography; Heinz Riegler has been great with music and art; Alex Gillies with his woodcuts is amazing. He just had a show in Melbourne. Elana Mullaly is in the show and she is amazing. Band wise, I like Brainbeau (who are headlining the electronic room). Roku Music, obviously — their stuff sounds like My Bloody Valentine which is great! Per Purpose are sounding really good these days and Blank Realm are going to take over the world; they will, that's happening. What are your favourite places to eat, drink and party? I always drink coffee at Jamie's Espresso in the morning. I don't mind doing a quiet bar hop in West End, so I might go to the Bearded Lady, The End and then see a band at The Hi-Fi or The Waiting Room, then go home. I find West End to be really easy for me. I have been in The Valley for so long that it is nice to have somewhere else to go. I still love Black Bear Lodge, though! I'm into being around like-minded people which can be hard in big clubs. Sometimes I like going out to Sunnybank, any of the restaurants there are great. I like places that are high-end cuisine and cheaper eats. I Used To Skate Once 10 is taking place on June 26 at The Zoo. Live performances from Roku Music, Statler+Waldorf, Goon Sax, Brainbeau, Pale Earth and more. Entry is free.
Brisbane theatre, musical and fairytale fans, one of your wishes is about to come true — and yes, it involves a fairy godmother. Finally coming to Australia in 2022 after the pandemic delayed its planned 2021 run, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical version of Cinderella is heading our way. Get ready for glass slippers and pumpkin carriages to take over the town, with the show dancing its way into QPAC's Lyric Theatre from Friday, August 5. First premiering in New York in 2013, this version of the adored fairy tale features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a couple of the best-known names in musical theatre history. The pair actually wrote their songs for a 1957 television production, which starred a pre-Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music Julie Andrews. (If you've seen the 1997 TV movie with Brandy and Whitney Houston — which remade that original small-screen flick — then you've already seen a version based on Rodgers and Hammerstein's original efforts.) Now, the Broadway production is making the jump Down Under. Don't expect the exact same story you're used to, though — as you read as a kid, and saw in Disney's classic animated film and its live-action remake. Here, Cinderella is a contemporary figure, but living in a fairytale setting. While she's still transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, the tale has been given a firmly modern spin. Shubshri Kandiah (Aladdin, Fangirls) will play Ella, Ainsley Melham (Merrily We Roll Along, Aladdin) has been cast Prince Topher and Silvie Paladino (Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables) will sparkle as Marie, the Fairy Godmother. Also set to feature in the Australian production: Tina Bursill (Doctor Doctor, Wentworth) as Madame, Ella's stepmother, as well as Todd McKenney (The Boy From Oz, Shrek) as Sebastian, the Lord Chancellor. The cast will be working with a production penned by playwright Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, Sister Act) based on Hammerstein's work — which was, of course, adapted from the fairy tale about a young woman dreaming of a better life. The Broadway production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won one, for Best Costume Design. In the US, Carly Rae Jepsen played Ella for a stint, while The Nanny's Fran Drescher also took on the role of Madame, Ella's stepmother, for a period. Top image: Jeff Busby.
Us Aussies might not get to enjoy a white Christmas here on home turf, but that doesn't mean we can't indulge in all the classic wintery yuletide treats. Think, fruit mince pies, creamy egg nog and spiced gingerbread fresh from the oven. Or hey, how about a festive fusion of gingerbread and gin, like you'll find in the latest drop from The Craft & Co? The Collingwood distillery has just announced the return of its cult favourite Gingerbread Gin, a seasonal creation that's been steadily growing in popularity since debuting in 2019. Having just scooped another medal at last month's Australian Gin Awards, the spiced tipple is once again heading to a bottle shop shelf near you, with this year's edition now available to buy from The Craft & Co's online store and select booze retailers. The spirit is a nod to one of the classic food and drink pairings, inspired by stories from 18th-century England, when Brits would apparently warm the cockles with a combination of hot gin and gingerbread. The Craft & Co's riff on this concept takes the form of a rich, smooth gin, with warming flavours imparted by a mix of cinnamon, macerated ginger root, smashed nutmeg and tonka bean. It's unfiltered and clocks in with an ABV of 40 percent. So, how to put this Gingerbread Gin to good use? Apart from sipping it neat or on ice for a quick hit of Christmas cheer, the distillers recommend matching the drink with some blood orange soda or ginger beer. We're told it also works a treat in milky cocktails, and you can find recipes for a Gingerbread Gin Alexander and a Gingerbread Gin Egg Nog over on The Craft & Co's website. You can grab a Gingerbread Gin for $85 from The Craft & Co's online store or at its cellar door at 390 Smith Street, Collingwood. It's also available from select retailers including Dan Murphy's, BWS and Boozebud.
Whether you're in lockdown, working from home, social distancing in general or just in need of a pick-me-up, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past 18 months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Over the last year or so, Melbourne's zoos have live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong — and the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas, and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary went with a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has kept growing, too, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. Melbourne Zoo set up this webcam last year, actually, when it was trained on the venue's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. Now, it's still capturing the little cuties — and their parents — via two cameras. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwww," obviously. The pups were born in February last year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopards and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
After more than a year of teasing — including initial hints in 2019, official confirmation in 2020, a first teaser a week ago and a full trailer a couple of days back — Friends: The Reunion will finally hit screens this month. HBO's US streaming platform HBO Max has gotten the gang back together, reuniting Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow to chat about orange couches, smelly cats and whether a couple is on a break. And, in just-announced news, Australian viewers will be able to get their own hefty dose of 90s sitcom nostalgia at the same time as folks in America. Local streaming platform Binge has just announced that Friends: The Reunion will hit the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27. Aussie fans were always going to be able to watch the special somewhere, and Binge was always the likely destination, but that has only been confirmed less than a week out from the show's airdate. Dubbed 'The One Where They Get Back Together' in the special's teasers, the reunion comes 27 years since the TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Aniston, Cox, Perry, LeBlanc, Schwimmer and Kudrow, Friends has done just that. Sure, the hit series wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia, by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas and in boozy brunch parties, for example. Friends: The Reunion promises to take pop culture's lingering affection for the show to another level, though. During the unscripted special, the actors behind Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross and Phoebe will chat about their experiences on and memories of the show — all on the same soundstage where Friends was originally shot, so expect to see some familiar faces and some recognisable decor. Aniston, Cox and the gang also have a few other famous pals for company, with the hefty guest lineup spanning folks with connections to the show and others that must just love it. On the list: David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin and Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. Check out the Friends: The Reunion trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYB1HvwHnkg Friends: The Reunion will be available to stream in Australia via Binge, hitting the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27.
When Iron Man, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Captain America and their fellow caped-crusader pals all cross paths on-screen, they do so within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When it's Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman's turn, they populate the DC Extended Universe. But these kind of big-screen franchises aren't just the domain of superheroes. In the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, for instance, a number of Spider-Man supervillains are getting their own interconnected movies. First came 2018's Venom, starring Tom Hardy (Dunkirk) as a journalist who is forced to share his body with an alien symbiote. Next year — delayed from 2020 — Morbius will see Jared Leto (The Little Things) play a figure also known as the "Living Vampire". In-between the two, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is also hitting screens. The initial flick about Hardy's Eddie Brock and his parasitic pal did ridiculously big business at the box office, so it was always going to get a sequel. Due to hit cinemas Down Under this October — after being delayed from its September release date — Venom: Let There Be Carnage signals its other main point of focus in its title. This time around, Venom isn't the only formidable figure that Brock has to deal with, with Woody Harrelson (Zombieland: Double Tap) joining the cast as Carnage. For those who haven't dived deep into Spider-Man's comic book history, Carnage is another of the web-slinger's adversaries. Inhabiting the body of a serial killer called Cletus Kasady, he's also Venom's nemesis. And while Eddie's life isn't all that straightforward as seen in both the original Venom: Let There Be Carnage trailer and the just-dropped new sneak peek — living in harmony with Venom is about as easy as it sounds — things get a whole lot more chaotic when Carnage enters the scene. As these two villains face off, here's hoping that Venom: Let There Be Carnage gives Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon) more to do than the first Venom movie did, with the four-time Oscar-nominee returning as Eddie's ex-fiancée. Also seen briefly in the trailers: Naomie Harris (The Third Day) as yet another Spider-Man villain, Shriek, plus Stephen Graham (The Virtues) as Detective Mulligan. And, behind the lens, Lord of the Rings actor-turned-Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle filmmaker Andy Serkis directs. Check out the latest trailer below: Venom: Let There Be Carnage opens in Australian cinemas sometime in October — we'll update you when an exact date is announced.
Exploring dreams, memory and emotion is the brand new exhibition, Grace, by well known photographer Tina Fiveash. This series uses stop-motion animation and lenticular photography to create dream-like imagery that evokes emotional responses, enabling audiences to engage with the evolving narrative within the works. Grace is one of several new exhibitions currently on display at the Queensland Centre for Photography, so make a day of it and explore the brand new images from some of Queensland’s best.
As if Bill Murray's moustache wasn't excitement enough, the entire soundtrack to Wes Anderson's new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, is currently streaming ahead of its release at Pitchfork. And true to the director's form, the 32 songs have enough whimsy and intrigue in them to knock Jude Law on his pipe-smoking, tweed-wearing back. Unlike Anderson's more gutsy early offerings like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the Grand Budapest soundtrack easily favours Russian folk songs over anything like The Ramones or The Velvet Underground. In that way, it's much more akin to the music found in Moonrise Kingdom or Fantastic Mr. Fox — one could easily imagine the characters scurrying around while looking at ornate objects from above. In fact, that's what the film looks like as a whole. From the trailers already released it seems much less like Wes's early, thoughtful character studies, and much more a madcap reunion of his on-screen favourites. Not that we're ones to complain about another opportunity to see Jason Schwartzman with cigarettes morosely hanging out of his mouth, or Bill Murray in high-waisted pants. Like all things Wes, this soundtrack is an acquired taste. If you're already a fan, the music has the ability to transport you — its folksiness is almost otherworldly. If you're not, we recommend you stay clear of it. If Wes couldn't win you over with The Beatles and Elliott Smith, I doubt the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra is going to do the trick. The Grand Budapest Hotel will be released in Australian cinemas on April 10. Stream the soundtrack here.
The fact that Australia is hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup is mighty sweet news. That matches are happening right here in Brisbane? That's even sweeter. The Matildas winning the whole thing would be the sweetest outcome of all — but, whatever happens on the turf, Emporium Hotel South Bank has a few sweet tricks of its own. The towering hotel and its bars and eateries love celebrating an occasion, so of course the whole lot is going all-in for this football extravaganza. You've got two places to head to until Sunday, August 20: up to the The Terrace 21 storeys up for drinks, and to French patisserie Belle Epoque downstairs for dessert. First, the tipples. There, two options are on offer, too — one inspired by the Matildas, the other by their initial adversaries in Ireland, with both costing $26. Grab a limited-edition Matilda cocktail and you'll be sipping Aussie rum, passionfruit, vanilla and saffron in a coconut-dipped glass. Or, with the Cold Irish Coffee, you'll enjoy Jameson whisky with Mr Black coffee liqueur, plus honey, muscovado sugar, filtered coffee and cream. Now, dessert time. Belle Epoque's Executive Pastry Chef Charith Arachchige has created a macadamia chocolate caramel tart that looks like a soccer ball. The $12 treat features a chocolate ball shell, grass made out of green fondant, and salted caramel and milk chocolate cremeux as a filling. Whoever ends up winning the Women's World Cup, your tastebuds will clearly emerge victorious as well.
From slinging back a shot of whisky with a frosty lager to chase, to sampling a flight of single malts with paired craft brews, whisky and beer have walked hand in hand for years. But what is it about these two particular drinks that just works? What other possibilities exist on the horizon of adult beverages, beyond the humble boilermaker? We caught up with Michael Nouri, brand ambassador of single malt whisky, Auchentoshan (pronounced 'ock-un-tosh-un'), to delve deeper into the world of fermented grains. No stranger to the heavenly duo, Auchentoshan are serving up their own take on whisky and beer throughout June in Sydney and Melbourne with the Auchentoshan & Ale, a refreshing cocktail of Auchentoshan American Oak, pale ale, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup. So strap in, friends, to see why whisky and beer make up a power couple that rivals even the Underwoods. THE IRREFUTABLE FACTS OF CHEMISTRY While the idea of actually mixing whisky and beer together might seem a little counterintuitive, the result exposes a whole new level of flavours. By the very nature of their chemistry, the brew and spirit are simply destined to be partners in crime. "Whisky starts its life as beer," Michael explains, so from the get go, the two share characteristics that complement one another. "You're taking whisky back to its origins. The spirit has a great cereal-like, grain structure to its flavour profile, and so does beer," so putting the two together is a no brainer, like with the Auchentoshan & Ale, where the scotch's distinctive nut and citrus base notes match those of many pale ales. However, even though whisky and beer have so much in common, another important part of the pairing equation is the fact that they're also so different. As their shared characteristics are enhanced by combining the two, the differing aspects of their profiles are also accentuated. Since beer is so refreshing, it adds a nice counterbalance to the warmth and intensity of a straight spirit like whisky, Michael explains. Auchentoshan American Oak, for example, balances the sweetness of the oak with the subtle fruity hops and citrus acidity of pale ale; ice-cold frothiness meets with a slick heat, and that's where the magic happens. "You know what whisky tastes like, and you know what beer tastes like, but when you put them together, it's a completely different beast." AN ENDLESS WORLD OF POSSIBILITY When you've got two ingredients that both complement and contrast each other, you're left with a combination that's too great to fail, and what's even better is how there's an absolutely endless stream of pairing possibilities. From matching a young bourbon to a rich porter, to combining a crisp pale ale with a rounded scotch like in the Auchentoshan & Ale, there are endless whiskies and beers to try together, and the industry is always coming out with new variations. "The beer camp, just by virtue of the industry itself, is quite progressive," Michael says. And while the whisky world can be a little conservative, it is catching up with new trends and ideas. You have distillers like Auchentoshan who are challenging the norms, and triple distilling their whisky to create a delicate flavour that's great on its own, but also makes for an interesting drop to experiment with. "You've got a whole variety of experimentation happening now, with different grains, with rice, with quinoa and a whole variety of other stuff," and these new variations mean boundless products to pair up. BEYOND THE BOILERMAKER With these endless possibilities, comes a lot of experimentation. The boilermaker is almost old hat now that both brewers and distillers are trialling more and more combination styles. "That's the whole beauty of what we do, it's experimental. We're trying new things, we're discovering combinations, and we're finding new ways to bring something interesting to people that they've never thought was interesting before" — like combining scotch, pale ale, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup into one refreshing tipple. But when it all comes down to it, it's important to bear in mind that "ultimately, all you want to do is sit there, close your eyes and enjoy that drink." We couldn't agree more. Sit back, close your eyes and enjoy an Auchentoshan & Ale found around Sydney and Melbourne until the end of June.
Russian photographer and world traveller Murad Osmann is asking his Twitter fans to #followmeto all the incredible, exotic places he and his girlfriend have been exploring across the globe. And his followers, plus millions of other people across the internet, are certainly having no trouble doing that: Osmann's photographic journey takes viewers on a trip of their own, which is stunning in more ways than one. Osmann's series depicts backgrounds of beautiful scenery from the most distinct and glorious cities, mountains, buildings, and even shopping centres around the world. The feature that sets his photographs apart from other scenic pictures, however, is the subject within each and every image: Osmann's girlfriend appears with her back to the lens in the centre of each frame, clasping her lover's hand and leading him to these various attractions — however, often due to her limited clothing, she herself may easily become the main attraction of the shot. The idea for the image series first began in Barcelona in 2011 when the photographer's girlfriend got fed up with him snapping every sight they saw and consequently tried to pull him away from the lens. Instead, this gave birth to the vast photo series that the loved-up couple have been working together on practically ever since. From his hometown Moscow to his study-town London, holiday spots such as San Sebastian and Disneyland, and even more mundane scenes such as riding an escalator or being pushed in a shopping trolley, take a look at these original and dazzling images that will be sure to make you want to travel the world with your loved one. Via Daily Mail. Rooftop Pool, Singapore Entering the Gates of Disneyland, California The Meadows of Austria The Rice Fields in Bali The Big Ben and House of Parliament, London The Lovebirds Fly High in a Hot Air Balloon San Sebastian, Spain The Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow The Back Streets of Venice Strolling through the Aisles of Ikea 10,000 Buddhas Monastery, Hong Kong Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Twin Peaks: you either love it or you love it, right? Don't just take our word for it — take Janey-E's, with her reaction expressing every Peaks-loving TV fan's as well. Indeed, both a quarter of a century ago and now, there's just absolutely nothing like David Lynch's most wonderful and strange television series. And, thanks to the music stylings of Angelo Badalamenti, there's nothing like its score and soundtrack either. In fact, the composer won a Grammy for the Twin Peaks theme, and since 1990 many a muso has tried to follow in his footsteps. Xiu Xiu have toured a stunning rendition of the show's tunes, and now it's time for a bunch of Brisbanites to try their hand at Brisbane Powerhouse's Fire Walk With Us: The Music Of Twin Peaks. As they've done in previous years at The Junk Bar, Electric Moon will assemble a 12-piece ensemble of musicians to reinterpret Badalamenti's compositions, this time for the Wonderland festival. Together, they'll be belting out new renditions of Twin Peaks' minimalist, atmospheric tracks, channelling their inner Julee Cruise, and maybe even imagining they're making like "the Nine Inch Nails" and taking to The Roadhouse's stage. Booking now for 6pm show on Sunday, November 24 is recommended, because these tickets usually sell out quicker than damn fine cherry pie.
From global behemoth Netflix to the arthouse, indie and documentary-focused Kanopy, picking a streaming platform can take as much time as actually picking something to watch on a streaming platform. The latest to enter the market has quite the point of difference, however — and not just because it's free. If viewing the likes of Bronson, Drive, Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon has you on the same wavelength as filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, then you're in luck — the Danish writer/director has started his own streaming service. Called byNWR.com, it's a self-appointed "an unadulterated expressway for the arts", according to the site itself. After opening in beta in July, it's now officially up and running. A venture in conjunction with existing platform Mubi as well as the Harvard Film Archive, byNWR.com highlights a different restored cult classic each month, with the selection picked by a guest editor. Each film is supported by content themed around the chosen flick, such as essays, videos, photos and music. If you're thinking that you've probably seen the movies on offer (and that they're probably available elsewhere), think again. The site launched with three titles chosen by journalist Jimmy McDonough, and it's highly unlikely that you've watched and rewatched 1965 horror effort The Nest of the Cuckoo Birds, 1967's Hot Thrills and Warm Chills and 1967's Shanty Tramp endlessly, or even seen them on a big or small screen recently. The second volume will start rolling out from September, and will include 1961 thriller Night Tide starring Dennis Hopper, 1971's If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?, and 1967's Spring Night, Summer Night — all curated by film publication Little White Lies. "I hope my site will inspire people to see the world a different way," Refn explained The Guardian, while also touching upon something fans of the filmmaker's own work will be more than familiar with: pushing people out of their comfort zones. If Refn's choices sound like the kind of thing you would like to see in a cinema, Little White Lies also reports that the streaming site will be accompanied by special screenings around the globe.
Between Saturday, January 18 and Monday, January 27, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them and have them lost forever. Lifeline Bookfest is back for another round of vintage bargains and startling ranges of everything from Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica. If you're been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. Prices range from cents to the big bucks — bring a trolley and your glasses, and absorb yourself in books. Bookfest runs from 7.30am–6pm on its opening day, then from 8.30am–6pm afterwards. Image: Bookfest.
No strangers to a party, the Treasury Casino is getting into the swing of summer with not just one shindig, or two, but several. On the first three Friday nights in December, the inner-city venue is heading to the adjacent Queen's Park, settling in on the paved area and letting the drinks flow. Taking place from 4.30–7.30pm on Friday, December 6, 13 and 20 — Summertime Drinks is really all about kicking back when the working week is done, enjoying the sunny weather and letting the season wash over you. If you're heading out for a big night to celebrate the weekend or the festive season, it's a way to warm up for the evening. If you're just looking for a few tipples on the way home, consider it your stopover before the bus or train comes calling. Entry is free, and includes live entertainment. And while the beverages aren't free (sorry), you'll be able to knock back Byron Bay Brewing beers and a selection of cocktails. Images: Treasury Brisbane.
After eight days in lockdown again in a bid to stop another COVID-19 outbreak — including an initial three-day snap lockdown, and then an extra five days to keep cases under control — southeast Queensland emerged from stay-at-home conditions at 4pm on Sunday, August 8. Gone are the four reasons to leave your home, as well as the travel radius — which means that you can now head out of the house whenever you like, for whatever reason you like and to go almost anywhere you like. Still, new restrictions are in place until at least 4pm on Sunday, August 22, and the list of rules can be a bit overwhelming. To help, we've broken down just what you can and can't do. This information is correct as of Monday, August 9. For what reasons am I allowed to leave the house? Remember those four reasons announced at the end of July? They're no longer in effect. So, after eight days of only being able to leave home to purchase groceries and other essentials, for care and caregiving (including getting vaccinated), for permitted work, for outdoor exercise and recreation, you can now leave for any reason you like. For how long can I leave the house? There's no time limit on leaving the house, as long as you're abiding by all other restriction. Is there a curfew? No, there is no curfew. You are allowed out of your house at any hour — and for any reason and for as much time as you like, too. Do I still have to wear a mask? Yes, masks are still compulsory whenever you leave home. Masks must still be worn both indoors and outside whenever you're anywhere other than your own home. You can only ditch your mask if you're alone in your car or with members of your household, you're alone outdoors or with folks you live with, if you're eating or drinking, if you're doing strenuous exercise, or if it is unsafe to do so. And, you must always carry a mask with you, too. How far can I travel? You can travel within the 11 Local Government Areas that were in lockdown as much and as far as you like — so in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs. But, residents of these areas are asked to avoid travelling to regional Queensland for the next fortnight. And if you wanted to travel interstate, border rules in other parts of Australia may hamper your trip — check the relevant state for details. Can I see friends and family? Yes, but there are a few caveats. You can catch up with up to ten people both inside and outside of your home — but if you're doing so at home, that number includes the people who live in your house. Outside, you can exercise in groups of up to ten, have a picnic — socially distanced, of course — or do whatever else you like. Can I have a session with a personal trainer in a park? Yes, groups of ten are allowed to meet up for personal training and bootcamp sessions. Can I have a picnic in a park? Yes, as long as it's with up to ten people (including yourself). Also, it'll need to be within the 11 LGAs that are under restrictions. Here are some of our favourite spots. Can I go to the beach? Yes, but you can only go with up to ten people (including yourself) — and as long as it is within the 11 LGAs that are under restrictions. Can I drive to a park or beach? You most certainly can, as long as it is within the 11 LGAs that are under restrictions. Can I visit a regional town? Residents of the 11 LGAs that have just come out of lockdown are asked to avoid travelling to regional Queensland for the next fortnight. You can travel within the 11 LGAs that were in lockdown as much and as far as you like, however. Can I go shopping? For any reason, yes. But some shops may still have altered hours, so check before you head off. And, capacity and density restrictions have been put in place. The one person per-four-square-metres rule is in effect inside, and the one person per-two-square-metres outside. How about to a restaurant or cafe? Yes, you can head to a hospitality venue, but capacity and density restrictions are in effect. The one person per-four-square-metres rule applies inside, and the one person per-two-square-metres outside — but smaller venues up to 200 square metres can have one person per-two-square-metres overall, up to a maximum of 50 people. Also, you must be seated to eat and drink — so vertical consumption isn't allowed. Can I dance? At a bar, club or other venue? No. Dancing is not permitted under the current restrictions, either inside or outside — except at weddings (see below). Can I go to gyms or other recreational services? Yes. But like at retail and hospitality venues, capacity and density restrictions apply — so the one person per-four-square-metres rule is in effect inside, and the one person per-two-square-metres outside. How about a movie? Yes, indoor seated venues such as cinemas can reopen. Again, capacity and density restrictions are in effect. So, the one person per-four-square-metres rule applies — but, where there's ticketed and allocated seating (which is all cinemas, generally), venues can fill to 50-percent capacity. Can I play sport? Community sport is not permitted to go ahead under the current restrictions. That includes organised sport of any description — including community, club and recreational sport. Professional sport is allowed to go ahead, however, under COVID Safe Professional Sport Plans. Can I attend a funeral? Yes, however funerals are limited to 20 mourners, plus the people conducting the service. Can I attend a wedding? Yes, however weddings are limited to 20 people, including the celebrant and two witnesses. Dancing is also permitted at weddings, but nowhere else. Eleven LGAs in the Greater Brisbane area came out of lockdown at 4pm on Sunday, August 8. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website. Top image: Brisbane City Council, Flickr.
Look, it was only a matter of time before this happened. Following on from the success of similar places in New York and Amsterdam, Australia's first avocado pop-up cafe is coming to Sydney. And it'll be avocado everything, seven days a week. Don't act surprised — we created this monster. The pop-up — named Good Fat, because everyone knows that's the best health benefit/justification for eating copious amounts of avo smash — will opens its doors on November 2 in Surry Hills with about 20 items on the menu that incorporate avocado. Sydneysiders will be able to indulge in creations such as the avocado breakfast skin (an avocado smoothie bowl served in its own skin) and a Cornetto-inspired avo ice cream cone. If you haven't already twigged, the whole thing is a promo for Australian Avocados, a non-profit representative body for the Australian avocado industry. But even so, avocados are a brand we're happy to support with our love and money. If you feel the same, the pop-up will be open will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner until November 30 and all dishes will be under $20. Good Fat will be open from November 2–30, from 7am to 9pm on Monday through Saturday and 8pm to 5pm on Sundays, at 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25; however Fritzenberger is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. It's hosting two trivia nights that are all about Seinfeld's take on the season, with Man vs Bear on hand to ask the questions. The evening quiz takes place at the Petrie Terrace burger joint on Wednesday, December 11, and over at the Wilston abode on Thursday, December 12. Yes, that's a few days before the official Festivus date of December 23 — but hey, if you're not happy about that, add it to your grievance list. We don't know if there really will be a grievances box, but you'll certainly be able to air your unhappiness. Entry is free, and registering in advance is recommended — as is wearing your favourite puffy shirt. Need a Festivus refresher? Let the show itself help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdnqjnegEs
