Uber has become a worldwide phenomenon, expanding across the globe to more than 70 cities in its brief five-year history. The mobile app and car sharing service, bankrolled by investors including Google and Goldman Sachs, has caused waves with its recent valuation of a hefty US $18.2 billion. With growing business as smartphone ownership continues to spread, those in need of a post-gig ride home are viewing Uber as a more convenient — and often cheaper — alternative to a taxi. Now, the cabbies have finally had enough. Claiming that the mobile app is affecting their livelihoods, taxi drivers in London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Rio de Janeiro protested in the streets. Blockading access to major CBDs and shopping districts across these cities for hours on end, cabbies demanded tougher regulations to be imposed on Uber drivers. Taxi drivers in Europe often pay between $200,000 and $300,000 for their license, while Uber promotes their ‘No Sign Up Fee’ policy openly on their website. How could a cabbie compete with that? Taxi drivers in London slowed traffic to a crawl near Trafalgar Square, continuing on to Dowling Street where they honked their horns as they passed Parliament and the Prime Minister’s address. Home to the iconic black cabs, London saw the most monumental protests, with more than 10,000 taxis participating in the demonstration. Ironically, Uber reported an increase in downloads of the app by 850 percent in the past week. That's 850 percent. Similarly, cabbies from the other European cities cited severe damage to their income and loose, easily manipulated laws for those working under the Uber umbrella. In Rio de Janeiro, taxi drivers participated in the demonstrations ahead of the World Cup — seemingly apprehensive of the possible impact it will have on what should be their highest payday yet. The protests overseas come shortly after contention in Australia over the parameters of ride-sharing cars. The Victorian government was dishing up fines of $1,700 a pop to Uber drivers. The company’s response was to pledge that they would cover any and all of these penalties. Last month, the NSW government claimed Uber drivers could face a charge of up to $110,000 for being in breach of state law. It seems Australia has been imposing the regulations taxi drivers overseas so dearly wish to see in their own regions, yet Uber continues to be a viable — and profitable — business for drivers across the country. Cabbies in Uber-inhabited regions around the globe are feeling the brute force of an evolving world. It seems the tides of change are causing an insurmountable swell for the humble taxi driver, with no sign of an end. Via Reuters and Fast Company. Images via Mashable and Business Week.
These days, having actual cash in your wallet is a real rarity. But it's probably not something you'll need to worry about when picking up your next copy of The Big Issue, with many of the charity magazine's street vendors accepting cashless payments from today. This move into the digital economy means customers can now purchase an edition of the magazine using a debit or credit card. Two cashless options are being rolled out by vendors across the country, including regular tap-and-go, and via mobile payment app Beem It, which can receive instant payments. The Big Issue street vendors are able to choose whether they'll offer one or both of the card options, or simply stick with the previous cash system. The fortnightly magazine, which provides work opportunities for homeless or disadvantaged people, without access to mainstream jobs, has been operating in Australia since 1996. It's hoped the new digital payment offering will boost sales of the magazine, reaching more customers and helping those selling it to increase their profits, putting more money back into the pockets of disadvantaged Aussies. As always, each of the fortnightly editions will sell for $7, with half of that kept by the vendor. The newest edition — aptly titled 'Cashless Revolution' — hits the streets today. Vendor images: Nicole Reed.
When Pantone's colour experts picked the shade they thought would define 2017, they went green. To be precise, they chose a hue called Greenery (PANTONE 15-0343) — a pick chosen to offer reassurance in trying times and symbolise the yearning to reconnect. Yep, we understand. Looking at it is one thing, however; setting foot in a house that brings the colour to life is quite another. Enter Airbnb and a London abode that's showering visitors in the "fresh and zesty yellow-green shade". Here, contrary to the advice Kermit the Frog has espoused for years, it is easy being green. Dubbed the 'Outside In' house, the Clerkenwell property casts aside traditional notions of internal and external spaces. How? Well, a plant-filled garden bedroom that even boasts a mown lawn and topiaries, herb garden kitchen, tropical lagoon bath, woodland reception area with a groundskeeper, and dining room that's actually an indoor greenhouse might just do the trick. It's designed to "provide an antidote to January blues and encourage all those who enter it to embrace 2017 with fresh optimism and excitement", and serves up more than just a unique, colour- and plant-centric place to stay. To promote Airbnb's new Experiences service, which endeavours to combine their accommodation offerings with ace things to see and do, guests can also take their pick from the house's greenery to build their own sustainable terrarium, learn the art of artisan printing using foliage, and pick tea leaves on-site for a tai chi and cuppa session. Sure, that all sounds good — but, if you like plant-based drinks, making your own gin is the definite highlight. Like the company's other attention-grabbing concepts — Dracula's castle, shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair , to name a few — the 'Outside In' house is only open for a small window of time: from January 27 to 30. For more information, visit the listing on Airbnb.
The Australia-wide Human Rights Arts and Film Festival is the only cultural event devoted exclusively to exploring humanitarian issues through creative media. The not-for-profit event will be showing at the Tribal Cinema in Brisbane for four days in June, and Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway for the opening night event on June 5. Showing an eclectic collection of films from across the country, the opening night is a celebration of Australian Shorts. Starting at 7pm, the films include an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, and the life and times of a much-loved transgender icon, Carmen Rupe, directed by Lucy Hayes. It's also a chance to see those films that struggle to make it to the big screen, like The Chicken Hawk and the Crow — an animation in the Yanyuwa language with English subtitles — and Unity in Diversity — a documentary featuring immigrant children from the Springvale community, who open up about their life-changing move to Australia. To get your hands on a pair of tickets, make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground, then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
If things fall through with the whole politics schtick, President Obama has a future in stand-up. The lovable leader let the gags loose at the Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner over the weekend, beginning his address with a video spoof in which Steven Spielberg announced plans for a follow-up to Lincoln titled Obama. The president then pretended to be Daniel Day-Lewis reflecting on the difficulties of personifying Obama, beginning with the challenges of affixing oversized fake ears — "I don't know how he walks around with these things." The lolocoaster continued as the ultimate Renaissance man cracked jokes about his past as a "strapping young Muslim socialist", suggested the opposition should funnel funds into bribing him to drop out of the presidential race rather than spend money on negative advertising ("Michelle would have taken it. You think I'm joking") and even busted a move to DJ Khaled's 'All I Do Is Win'. Why can't Julia spend more time wining and dining the likes of Psy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kevin Spacey? Via BBC News.
Ever wished you could be spirited away into a Studio Ghibli film? Stop dreaming and start making travel plans. Turning movie magic into a real-life wonder, Japan's beloved animation house is opening its own My Neighbour Totoro theme park. Set to liven up the space known as Expo Park in Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture, the 200-hectare site will recreate the world of the 1988 film, building upon an existing attraction. Since 2005, the park has boasted a replica of Satsuki and Mei's house, the home of two characters from the movie. It'll stay, of course — and be joined by other, yet-to-be-revealed Totoro additions. Yes, we're all hoping for a cat bus, some susuwatari (those gorgeous little balls of floating soot), something umbrella shaped and tiny seeds sprouting into giant trees, in a place that'll basically transform that cute video of Ghibli characters out in the world into a reality. Here's hoping it'll nod to a few other Studio Ghibli greats too, although their current focus is understandable. Just try to go into a gift store in Japan without coming across a treasure trove of soft, cuddly Totoros that you can call your own — it's impossible. The park is scheduled to open in 2020, however, in the interim, Ghibli-loving visitors to Japan can still get their dose of animated joy at Tokyo's Ghibli Museum. Plus, back in 2015, it was announced that co-founder and all-round Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki was building his own park on Kume Island in the Okinawa Prefecture. Designed to preserve and celebrate nature, it's set to launch in 2018. Via Anime News Network.
It's pretty ironic that a YouTube clip criticising internet culture is going viral. Nonetheless this parody of The Wolf of Wall Street made by Half Day Today is pitch perfect. In a remake of the film's trailer, the hedonistic tale of American conman Jordan Belfort is transposed to the life of Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti. Hilarity ensues. Everyone knows Buzzfeed is a bit of a black hole. You stumble across something in a Facebook newsfeed and suddenly you're falling into an internet-shaped abyss that no longer houses your study or work but only thousands of lists about Harry Styles, '90s cartoons and what '90s cartoons would looks like if they were recast with Harry Styles. This is your life now. And, while no one's saying it's directly Jonah Peretti's fault... it sure is nice to blame someone. "With these lists you can create a stupid GIF, write a nonsensical blob of text, and it will get retweeted millions of times without ever using an even number in your title," says the video's Peretti. Much like Jordan Belfort's dubious pathway to success using penny stocks, there seems to be something vaguely criminal about the Buzzfeed marketing strategy and it's somewhat confronting to see it played out in front of your eye. Still. We can't help ourselves. This is still 100 percent our reaction whenever we find a relatable listicle or a new viral video to share *coughcough*.
Playing ice hockey isn't a regular part of growing up Down Under, but watching a ragtag team of underdogs try their best on the ice has been a childhood staple since the 90s. The reason: the Mighty Ducks franchise. The three Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson-starring films hit screens between 1992–6, and have remained nostalgic favourites ever since. The trio of movies also spanned an animated show back in 1996; however, that's not the franchise's only leap into television. Because everything old is new again — including making that observation, because it just keeps proving relevant — Disney+ is bringing Mighty Ducks back courtesy of new series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. If Karate Kid can live on via the small screen, then so can this other beloved sports-focused saga, it seems. And like Cobra Kai, Game Changers is bringing back a familiar face when it debuts its ten-episode first season on Friday, March 26. That'd be Estevez, who reprises his role as Coach Gordon Bombay. Sadly, Jackson isn't involved this time around — but Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham will feature as the mother of a hockey-loving boy who helps him create his own team. Aimed at all ages — so at kids just discovering Mighty Ducks for the first time, and adults with fond memories — the show looks set to follow the underdog formula established in the films, as both its first teaser trailer and its just-dropped full trailer illustrates. The series is set in Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks are now a big deal, 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) gets cut from the team, and he and his mom (Graham) bring together their own crew in response — with the help of Bombay, of course. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZTouNvgPCM&feature=youtu.be The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers starts airing on Disney+ from Friday, March 26. Top image: Disney+.
Packing is no one's favourite part of going on holidays. If you're the kind of traveller who needs to cater for every occasion, stuffing your baggage is a massive task. If you like going light, whittling your outfits down but still ensuring that you've got the basics isn't as easy as it sounds. But, why not ditch all of that, and your suitcase? That's Japan Airlines' new solution thanks to its just-launched clothing rental service. Instead of tourists agonising over what to take to Japan with you — or stressing over what not to take — the carrier is offering a clothing sharing service with Sumitomo Corporation called Any Wear, Anywhere. You reserve a range of clothes, including choosing according to the season, and whether you're after a casual or smarter look. Then, that attire gets delivered to your hotel. When you're heading home, the rental clothes will be collected from wherever you're staying, too. And no, you don't have to do any laundry before handing them back over. The aim: not only to make travelling easier for tourists, but to do the environment a solid as well. If you're hiring clothes, less luggage needs to transported internationally. Japan Airlines will be monitoring the change in checked-in baggage weight thanks to the service, to see how it reduces the carrier's carbon emissions. Also, heroing the circular economy, the outfits on offer will be sourced from pre-owned clothing and excess stock from fashion stores. And, the airline is promoting the service as a way for tourists to support local options — not just for accommodation and food, but also for clothing. At this stage, Japan Airlines is trialling Any Wear, Anywhere from Wednesday, July 5, 2023 to Saturday, August 31, 2024 — and the service is only available for customers travelling to Japan via Japan Airlines. Price-wise, costs start at AU$42 / NZ$45 (¥4000) for a set of summer threads, which covers three tops and two bottoms. The most you'll pay is AU$73 / NZ $79 (¥4000), which gets you a winter range of six tops and three bottoms. You can keep the threads for up to two weeks, and bookings are available from a month before you travel. Wouldn't dream of travelling without a suitcase? Coming home, you can now fill it with souvenirs instead of dirty clothes. Japan Airlines and and Sumitomo Corporation's Any Wear, Anywhere clothing sharing service is being trialled until Saturday, August 31, 2024 — head to the Any Wear, Anywhere website for further details and bookings. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Injecting a little sparkle and shine into otherwise dull neighborhoods, these architectural designs celebrate all that glitters. Gilded in gold, sequins, crystals, and more, each structure looks fit to house a disco party, or perhaps a drag-queen. Peruse 10 of the world's most blinged-out buildings, and indulge in a little decadence, dahhhling. 1. Maison Martin Margiela @ Beverly Hills, US 2. Golden House @ Nuweiba, Egypt 3. 8 Woningen Kettingstraat @ The Hague, Netherlands 4. Zaha Hadid’s proposal for a new gold Lego-covered courtyard building at The Louvre @ Paris, France 5. Theresa Himmer's 'Glacier #01' @ Reykjavik, Iceland 6. Swarovski flagship store @ Tokyo, Japan 7. Copper sulphate crystal-covered abandoned housing estate @ London, England 8. Theresa Himmer's 'Volcano #01' @ Reykjavik, Iceland 9. Theresa Himmer's 'Waterfall #01' @ Reykjavik, Iceland 10. The Visionary Art Museum @ Baltimore, US [via Flavorwire]
Playing ice hockey isn't a regular part of growing up Down Under, but watching a ragtag team of underdogs try their best on the ice has been a childhood staple since the 90s. The reason: the Mighty Ducks franchise. The three Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson-starring films hit screens between 1992–6, and have remained nostalgic favourites ever since. The trio of movies also spanned an animated show back in 1996; however, that's not the franchise's only leap into television. Because everything old is new again — including making that observation, because it just keeps proving relevant — Disney+ is bringing Mighty Ducks back courtesy of new series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. If Karate Kid can live on via the small screen, then so can this other beloved sports-focused saga, it seems. And like Cobra Kai, Game Changers is bringing back a familiar face when it debuts its ten-episode first season on Friday, March 26. That'd be Estevez, who reprises his role as Coach Gordon Bombay. Sadly, Jackson isn't involved this time around — but Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham will feature as the mother of a hockey-loving boy who helps him create his own team. Aimed at all ages — so at kids just discovering Mighty Ducks for the first time, and adults with fond memories — the show looks set to follow the underdog formula established in the films, as the first teaser trailer illustrates. It's set in Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks are now a big deal, 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) gets cut from the team, and he and his mom (Graham) bring together their own crew in response — with the help of Bombay, of course. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zryz5mHXtw&feature=youtu.be The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers starts airing on Disney+ from Friday, March 26. Top image: Disney+.
Biding your time until the next seasons of Stranger Things and Orange Is the New Black start, or just looking for a fun new procrastination technique? Netflix's new online video game helps you do both — and outrun the Demogorgon, avoid prison cafeteria trays, send Pablo Escobar speeding through the Colombian jungle or Marco Polo dashing along a Chinese street. Four of the streaming service's popular original shows have been turned into levels in the free side-scrolling game Netflix Infinite Runner, and yes, the title is a great indication of what players will be doing. They each involve pressing the spacebar to send a running Mike Wheeler, Piper Chapman and company jumping over obstacles like Hawkins National Laboratory works and collecting items such as chickens. That's really all there is to it, but we all know that the simplest things can be the most addictive. Basically, don't underestimate how much time you're likely to spend playing them (and yes, we're talking from experience). Plus, in keeping with the low-res vibe, you'll also hear a version of each program's theme while you play. https://twitter.com/NetflixAsia/status/817263342838370311 Via The Verge.
Pakistani activist and history's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai is heading Down Under, for two exclusive talks in Sydney and Melbourne this December. She'll appear as part of The Growth Faculty's thought-provoking Women World Changers speaker series — the same event that brought Hillary Clinton to Australia and New Zealand in May this year. Yousafzai was just 11 when she first launched her campaign to promote education for girls, penning a blog from her home city in Pakistan's Swat Valley. At 15, she survived an attack by the Taliban, and in 2014, went on to become the youngest person ever awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Her remarkable story continues, as she sticks with the fight for education rights for every girl in the world. The activist co-founded the Malala Fund and currently studies at the University of Oxford. Now, for the first time, the inspirational 21-year-old will share her experiences with Australian audiences, speaking at Sydney's International Convention Centre on Monday, December 10, and at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre the following night. Catch An Evening with Malala Yousafzai at the International Convention Centre, Sydney, on Monday, December 10, and at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, on Tuesday, December 11. Tickets are $99, available via The Growth Faculty's website.
A group of Yale University professors and students may have discovered an unconventional solution to the earth's growing waste problem: fungi. Participating in the university's Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory educational program, students engaged in discovery-based research, searching for plants and culturing the micro-organisms within their tissue. It was through this process that they came across fungi which can degrade and utilise the common plastic polyurethane. The fungus can survive solely off of this plastic, without any use of oxygen. As polyurethane is a large contributor to our waste issue, the introduction of this fungi could have real potential. The results of the study have been published in the 'Applied and Environmental Microbiology' journal. [via PSFK]
Thirty years' worth of PCBs, as well as heavy metals, sewage and urban runoff, have made the Hudson River a hazard for would-be swimmers for nearly a century. Clean-ups, initiated in the 1960s by Pete Seeger's Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organisation, and enforced since the 1980s by the US Environmental Protection Agency, have improved conditions significantly. Now, a new Kickstarter project, titled + POOL, promises to create a swimming basin in the Hudson's brother, the East River, right on the liquid doorstep of New York City. Fitted with an enormous layered filtration system, the pool will purify as much as half a million gallons of water daily. Consequently, New Yorkers will be able to swim in that part of the river, enjoying a level of cleanliness similar to 19th-century standards. Plus, of course, they’ll have the benefit of a 21st-century view. According to the project's creators, "+ POOL started with a simple goal: instead of trying to clean the entire river, what if you started by just cleaning a small piece of it? And what if you could change how New Yorkers see their rivers, just by giving them a chance to swim in it?" With 17 days of campaigning left to go, + POOL has raised US$120,360 of its initial US$250,000 goal, which will enable the construction of a 35' x 35' ‘Float Lab’ in August 2013. The final project is set to be completed in summer 2016, just before the Olympic Games. Donors receive rewards in the form of pool tiles and, so far, 1,328 people have pledged support. For US$25, you’ll see your name alongside seven others on a 'group tile'. For US$2500, you’ll earn yourself a 'graphic tile', featuring your logo, signature or any single-colour image of your choice, as well as 20 tickets to 'First Dips'. This means that you and 19 friends will be among the first individuals to jump into the pool, in the week leading up to its public opening.
George RR Martin is joining forces with art collective Meow Wolf to produce the most insanely magic art complex imaginable. Attempting to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter, the installation artists and the Game of Thrones mastermind want to build one epic art space: The Meow Wolf Art Complex in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Built within the site of an old bowling alley Martin bought specifically for the project, the complex will house 19 affordable artist studios, two rotating gallery spaces, and The David Loughridge Learning Center with arts education programming by local non-profit ARTsmart. But the real jaw-dropper here is Meow Wolf's plan for unprecedented 20,000 sq. ft. complex to be constructed by over 75 artists — dubbed The House of Eternal Return. Celebrated for their large-scale, immersive installation experiences, the Sante Fe-based collective Meow Wolf have just the ideas Martin was looking for when he bought the bowling alley. Following Meow Wolf's wildly successful interdimensional ship installation The Due Return in 2011, the team will likely be using most of the Kickstarter funds toward Meow Wolf's first permanent exhibition, The House of Eternal Return. Visitors will be able to crawl, climb and be immersed within the 'rooms' of the house, from trailer parks to crazy tree houses to spaceship-like condos. "The House of Eternal Return will be a radical new form of storytelling, where audiences are immersed within a multimedia art experience that unfolds through an interactive and magical narrative," says the team on their Kickstarter page. Here's their artist renditions of what's planned for the House: 'Crazy Tree Houses' 'Cactus Trailer Dream' 'Portals Bermuda' Martin and Meow Wolf have so far raised $45,654 of their $100,000 goal with 13 days to go. Martin intends to fully renovate the space ahead of Meow Wolf's 10-year lease on the property. Whattaguy. Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
From towering silos to inner-city suburban landmarks, Melbourne-based street artist Rone has always been pretty creative about where he paints his large-scale murals. But for the last 12 months, he's been hiding away in the lush community of Sherbrooke, in the Dandenong Ranges, transforming the dilapidated art deco mansion Burnham Beeches into an artsy dreamland. Famous for his massive portraits that combine elements of beauty and ruin, alongside concepts of new and old, Empire is Rone's most ambitious project to date. It's set in the 'decaying glory' of the 1930s estate, which has periodically acted as a family home, research facility, children's hospital and luxury hotel. The mansion is now owned by the Vue Group but has been vacant for over 20 years. Empire spans 12 (previously empty) rooms over multiple storeys and centres around a series of the artist's signature 'Jane Doe' monochrome portraits — the muse for which is actress Lily Sullivan (Mental, Picnic at Hanging Rock). Apart from the murals, the art deco-era furnishings are courtesy of interior stylist Carly Spooner (Fitzroy's The Establishment Studios), who also worked on Rone's The Omega Project. The rooms have been furnished with over 500 antique pieces, including a moss-covered grand piano — which was left exposed in the open garden for several weeks to attain an aged effect. The four seasons play a major role in Empire, and this varying atmosphere was accomplished by a team of specialists — flairs of art, vision, sound, light, virtual reality, scent and botanical design will take visitors on an immersive multi-sensory experience. Expect a hauntingly beautiful vibe of an era-gone-by, as Rone seeks to create an ambiguous storyline that can be felt by each guest individually. Rone takes personal inspiration for the space from the Mark Romanek-directed music video for the Johnny Cash cover of Hurt (originally by Nine Inch Nails) — which should give a sense of what you're in for. Empire will run from Wednesday, March 6 to Monday, April 22 at Burnham Beeches. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here.
“Lies bind the fabric of every human life. We are imaginatively masked, adorned with the lie, bedecked with the elegance of verbal dissimulation. To be so is the very mark of adult humanity. Or so it may seem,” (Paul J. Griffiths, 2004). Contemporary dance company Prying Eye Productions bring you A Likely Distrust, exploring the theme of trust and its affects on close personal relationships. In today’s society many guard their true emotions out of fear and distrust. These themes and issues are explored in depth through the integration of dance, theatre and video interaction. A Likely Distrust is actually in its second development, building upon the discoveries from their first stage development in 2009. The whole project aims to build an important collaborative language between the artists involved to assist with creating sustainable working practices for future creations and developments. As part of the development, the group also post their processes via weekly blogs and snippets of video rehearsals. You can follow their developments via their facebook page. Otherwise you can witness the real deal - a wonderful display of skill, development and insight into deep trust issues during their month long residency at The Brisbane Powerhouse.
Brisbane is filled with must-try places for a bite, but there's still nothing like a home-cooked meal. Alison Roman understands this. The Brooklyn-based food writer and chef may live in New York and have access to its thriving dining scene, but she's a big fan of eating in — and she has viral recipes such as #TheCookies, #ThePasta, #TheStew and #TheDip to prove it. Roman also has two cookbooks currently in bookshops, and possibly on your own shelves: Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes and Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over. Come April in Australia, Sweet Enough: Desserts for People Who Don't Do Dessert will join them. To launch the latter, and to make her first trip ever Down Under, Roman is hitting our shores to get chatting about home cooking, those internet-famous dishes and why she adores her own kitchen. [caption id="attachment_752523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott, courtesy of Hardie Grant Books.[/caption] The viral recipe queen and New York Times-bestselling scribe will head to Brisbane Powerhouse on Sunday, May 7. In the River City, she'll be talking with Belinda Sweeney, and expect her food newsletter A Newsletter and YouTube series Home Movies to get a mention. She'll also discuss her career and her journey to the dessert-focused Sweet Enough, plus everything from having her own CNN cooking show to releasing her first baking book.
Autumn means falling leaves, slightly cooler weather and the feeling that, if you're eager to venture outside in Brisbane, you won't be sweating and sweltering for a change. So with the season now in full swing, it's the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon and evening eating, drinking and listening to live music in a northside park. Running from 3–8pm on Saturday, March 20, Park Vibes combines all of the above. Yes, bringing your picnic blanket and getting comfortable is recommended. Food-wise, three 'flavour zones' will showcase different cuisines, so you can choose between Asian, European and American bites to eat from an array of food trucks — while a pop-up bar will be serving wine, craft beers and spirits. Live performances will be running all arvo, ending in fireworks — and for both big and little kids, there'll be rides as well. Entry is free, but registering for a ticket online in advance is recommended, with the event taking place at Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine. If you're driving, parking will cost you $5.
There are few food pairings so delightfully well matched as citrus and seafood. Throw in endless summer sunshine and the ambience of a Mediterranean garden and you've got the makings of a heavenly afternoon. If these vibes sound like just what you're looking for, there's no need to start rummaging through your bag for loose change and saving for a flight to Europe. Instead, pop down to Paddington's Darling & Co, which has gone all out on the dream Euro-chic summer aesthetic, complete with citrus trees, vibrant floral arrangements and a new citrus and seafood lunch special. For just $40, you'll get Moreton Bay bug rolls for two, a huge serving of bottomless fries and a cheeky citrus-infused spritz for each of you. Wanting to level-up your day out? You can keep your glasses topped up for two hours at an additional cost of $20 per person. This deal is available seven days a week for a limited time, so book here to make sure you don't miss out.
There are under two months left in the year (???) and before we finally leave 2020 behind us, we've still got the holiday season to look forward to. You might be starting to stress about what to get your relatives, friends or partner this holiday season, but stress no more. Marimekko has organised all of its best homewares, furnishings and clothes into a handy gift guide designed to make purchasing your holiday gifts as easy as possible. The gift guide is organised into six simple categories: under $50, under $150, under $300, clothing, home and bags and accessories. For under $50, you can pick up a variety of mugs, bowls, tea towels and other kitchenware. For under $150, you'll be able to gift a sleek serving plate featuring a leather handle or some of Marimekko's distinct glassware, and, if you're looking to splurge on someone special, the under $300 category features a range of designer clothes including a couple of immensely stylish yet comfortable bathrobes. One highlight of the online gift guide (and Marimekko's new 2020 home collection) is Swedish designer Carina Seth Andersson's new mouth-blown glass candleholders and beloved minimalist vases. The new line of candleholders come in subtle tones of powder pink, green and warm amber. While you're perusing the gift guide, you might find a self-gift and something to spruce up your own household before the end of the year. To check out Marimekko's gift guide and its new 2020 home collection, head to the website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
For those of you who secretly pat yourself on the back with every Facebook notification and retweet, meet your self-esteem boosting sidekicks: Molly and Olly. In case you needed reminding of just how popular you are, these mini robotic siblings are here to stroke your ego by releasing a sweet scent or treat upon every post, mention or retweet received. Created by software developing agency MintDigital, Molly and Olly bring social media interaction to another level. Once plugged into your computer, adorable Olly may be synced with any online network. When you receive a comment or a post, Olly will release a scent into the room; the more online notifications, the more aromatic your room. Molly, the slightly larger of the two, may similarly be synced to any network of your choosing. Instead of dispensing scents to congratulate you on a notification, however, this robot will give you your sugar fix by dispensing an edible treat. Social networking success never tasted (or smelled) so sweet. [via That's Like, Whoa!]
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so this is going to be a short article. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, an actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. It's wittily edited, warm and makes some rather uncanny use of Super 8. The result is probably the most enthralling and entertaining family memoir around. Stories We Tell is in cinemas on September 26. Thanks to Palace Films, we have ten double advance screening passes to give away, valid from September 13-22. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
First came 2018's The Haunting of Hill House. Then, in 2020, The Haunting of Bly Manor arrived. 2021 had Midnight Mass and 2022 dropped The Midnight Club. Spring scares just as Halloween approaches and new Mike Flanagan-created Netflix series just keep going hand in hand, it seems. The Fall of the House of Usher is set to keep the trend going — and serve up another unsettling streaming show from the filmmaker also behind Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep. This time, Flanagan is taking inspiration from none other than iconic horror author Edgar Allan Poe, with The Fall of the House of Usher sharing its name with one of the writer's short stories from back in 1840. On the page, the tale steps into the lives of the Usher family — and on the screen, that's Flanagan's approach as well. He's drawing upon Poe's works more broadly, however, while sticking with the killer The Fall of the House of Usher moniker. As the just-released first trailer for the series makes plain — with the sneak peek dropping ahead of the eight-episode show's Thursday, October 12 arrival — there's a touch of Succession to The Fall of the House of Usher as a miniseries as well. The Ushers are wealthy and powerful. Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood, The Resident) has children who think they should go next at running the family business. Of course, Succession didn't then start offing said heirs in creepy, eerie and downright gory ways, as happens here. What's the CEO of pharmaceutical company, and a shady one at that, to do when a strange woman starts getting murderous with his own flesh and blood? That's this series — which, based on the trailer, isn't afraid to get unhinged. As well as horror in general and his recent spate of spooky Netflix efforts, Flanagan is known for bringing back his go-to actors again and again. Greenwood was in both Gerald's Game and The Haunting of Hill House, while Carla Gugino (Gerald's Game, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass), Henry Thomas (Ouija: Origin of Evil, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club), Carl Lumbly (Doctor Sleep), T'Nia Miller (The Haunting of Bly Manor), Rahul Kohli (The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club) and Samantha Sloyan (Hush, The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Madness) are among the talents that've all stepped in front of the filmmaker's camera before. The Fall of the House of Usher also stars Star Wars legend Mark Hamill — and also Mary McDonnell (Veronica Mars) as Madeline Usher, Roderick's twin sister. Check out the trailer for The Fall of the House of Usher below: The Fall of the House of Usher streams via Netflix from Thursday, October 12. Images: Eike Schroter / Netflix.
FOMO — Australia's clash-free, one-day summer festival — is back for a fifth year. This year, it's making its return to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and it has just dropped its full lineup. Texas-via-California rap collective Brockhampton is the first of multiple international acts to be announced for the event, which has previously hosted the likes of Nicki Minaj, Post Malone and Kali Uchis. Led by Kevin Abstract, and formed through an online forum, Brockhampton is a modern day boyband made up of rappers, directors, photographers, engineers, producers, graphic designers and DJs. The group last performed here in 2018, touring the country with Listen Out festival. [caption id="attachment_724680" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brockhampton[/caption] Joining Brockhampton will be Canadian producer Kaytranada, who's set to drop a new album before heading down under, and US rapper Lizzo, who'll be bringing her catchy hits 'Juice' and 'Truth Hurts' — as well as other bangers off her just-released album Cuz I Love You — to Aus for the first time ever in January. Other big names on the lineup include French singer Madeon, UK rapper Octavian and, from the local contingent, hip-hop artist Chillinit and Sydney producer Ninajirachi. While we've just hit winter here in Aus, we've also just hit festival announcement season, so expect a heap more summer music events to drop their lineups in the upcoming weeks — Spilt Milk and Grapevine Gathering have already dropped theirs, too. FOMO 2020 LINEUP Brockhampton Kaytranada Lizzo Madeon Jax Jones Octavian Rico Nasty Meduza Chillinit Whipped Cream Dombresky Ninajirachi Plus triple j Unearthed and local artists TBA FOMO 2020 DATES Saturday, January 4 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Sunday, January 5 — Elder Park, Adelaide Saturday, January 11 — Parramatta Park, Sydney Sunday, January 12 — Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne FOMO will take place in January 2020. Pre-sale tickets are available from 9am on Wednesday, July 3 — you can sign-up for those here. GA Tickets will drop at 9am on Monday, July 8. Top images: Jordan Munns. Updated July 1.
As the slow TV trend has already taught us, staring at one gradually moving sight for an extended period can be extremely relaxing. As anyone who has ever visited an aquarium or had their own fish tank knows, watching sea creatures swim around also fits that description. Combine the two, and you have Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium's pandemic-era online resources: a series of calming videos designed to help Melburnians — and everyone, really — cope with everything that the past 14 months or so has thrown at us. Whether you're a Victorian back in lockdown, or you're located elsewhere throughout the country, we're certain that your day — and your daily routine — could use the kind of splash that only ocean critters can provide. On offer as part of 'Marine Mindfulness' are a range videos split across two sections, spanning guided meditation and slow TV. With the guided meditation clips, you have two choices: peer at luminous jellyfish for ten minutes, or spend six minutes with the creatures in Melbourne Aquarium's 2.2-million-litre oceanarium. Whichever you opt for, you'll also listen to soothing narration which tells you more about the marine life you're looking at. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FBVO7zrVZg&feature=emb_logo Prefer just watching and soaking in some peaceful music? The slow TV lineup has you covered. Spend 20 minutes watching the inhabitants of the aquarium's coral atoll, or 13 minutes peering at penguins, lizards, sharks, rays, fish and eels — and a pumpkin treat — last Halloween. There's also a 20-minute look at life in the oceanarium, as well as a 17-minute clownfish video. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium's 'Marine Mindfulness' videos are available to view online. This article was first published on April 22, 2020, and was updated on May 29, 2021 with the most up-to-date information.
Sometimes ice cream speaks louder than words. And on the topic of marriage equality, where words of support from 72 percent of Australians hasn't made much of an impact on policy makers, making a statement with frozen dessert is worth a shot. That's what Ben & Jerry's are doing with their latest push in the campaign for Australian marriage equality. They've partnered with The Equality Campaign (formerly Australian Marriage Equality) to ban punters ordering two scoops of the same flavour in their Australian stores until marriage equality is achieved. That's right: no more double scoops of New York Super Fudge Chunk. Using its scoops as a symbol, the ice cream giant is also offering an in-store postal service across their 26 stores nationwide, allowing patrons to write a message in support of marriage equality to their MP — these will then be hand-delivered by the Ben & Jerry's team. The in-store service will only be available from May 22 through June 9, but you can also have your message faxed to your local MP through The Equality Campaign website, which directs you to your specific MP by area code. This small, yet timely move is made in advance of the next parliamentary sitting on June 13 and is meant to keep marriage equality at the forefront of parliamentary debate and make it easier for Aussies to communicate their support of LGBTQI+ rights to the government. The Ben & Jerry's brand has a history of commitment to social justice and has been particularly focused on marriage equality in recent years, notably with their 2013 launch of the I Dough, I Dough ice cream flavour and campaign. The flavour will be back in stores this month to further hit the message home — but only one scoop at a time. The debate around marriage equality has continues to garner support from big brands, with Airbnb's 'incomplete' rings, Skyy Vodka's Cheers to Equality campaign and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce confirming the airline's support of the issue. And, on the opposite side of the equation, let's not forget the consumer boycott against Coopers after The Bible Society released a tone-deaf video trivialising marriage equality. Maybe losing the freedom to choose our own ice cream flavours will force some policy makers to spring into action. The Ben & Jerry's same-flavour ban will be instated across their 26 Australian stores. You can drop off a letter to your local MP at your nearest store until June 9 or send it over via The Equality Campaign website.
'May you live in interesting times.' Ancient Chinese curse Interesting times indeed. As the world collectively bites its nails while watching the US government sink, literally by the second, further and further into unfathomable debt, Apple is doing OK. Really OK, in fact. Latest figures show that while the US government has an operating cash balance of US$73.7 billion dollars (they are currently spending 200 billion dollars more a month than they are collecting), Apple has US$76.4 billion in its piggy bank. That's right — Apple officially has more money than the US government. Apple's success is mostly due to their recent iPhone sales, with an estimated 20 million units shipped in the last quarter. As the US government is estimated to finish the year with a US$15 trillion debt, Apple predicts to be bringing in about 25 billion dollars. So while there may be no government money to pay for pensions, schools and hospital, you can rest assured that we will still be able to text. And if you want to get your head around just how much a 15 trillion dollars is but find the endless zeros confusing, these visuals should help. We'll never think about the Statue of Liberty in quite the same way again.
Steaming pumpkin soup with cracked pepper and a side of fresh bread. A roaring fireplace with friends bundled up in front toasting marshmallows. Drinking a freshly brewed batch of tea whilst discussing the merits of HBO’s programming with female relatives. Winter is truly here and as such, it is time to start reaping the benefits of this short by fabulous Brisbane season. Although tea drinking is obviously so wonderful and therapeutic it’s a year round activity, there’s something to be said for enjoying toasted sandwiches and a pot of tea, especially when the pot is wearing a jumper as snuggly as yours. Someone who definitely agrees with this idea is Loani Prior, renowned author and connoisseur of all things tea cosy related. Celebrating the publication of her new book How Tea Cosies Changed the World, she will be hosting an afternoon tea at Riverbend Books to discuss all things quaint and knitted. Now we all know that mid afternoon meals are the best time to brew some English Breakfast or Earl Grey and converse with friends, so don’t hesitate to make a reservation to this fantastic event.
If you're planning on spending a Saturday with a beer in your hand, then one Fortitude Valley establishment has you covered. Admittedly, serving up pints is what Bloodhound Bar does every day of the week; however in honour of Brewsvegas, it's bringing back its beloved beer fest on Saturday, March 21, adding it to the city-wide celebration and making an extra special occasion of it. At the sixth Hopfields, Bloodhound Bar is also making an occasion out of showcasing hops, without which we wouldn't have the brews we know and love. With that in mind, expect all the tasty IPAs from around the world that you could dream of — and plenty you've likely never heard of, too — including limited releases, launches of new beers and one-offs brewed especially for the event, plus a slew of classics. In previous years, names like Sparkle Muffin, Alligator Tugboat, Unicorn Tears and 'Morning Blend' Coffee Milkshake IPA have been on the menu — and if this year can match it, you're going to want to try them all. Save some room for the creative concoctions though, with the humble hop flower given its moment to shine in all its forms. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Ridley Scott directs an all-star cast in The Counselor, the first original screenplay from Cormac McCarthy. Fans of the gritty, unflinching writing behind The Road will definitely want to check out this soon-to-be released drama-thriller. It stars man of the moment Michael Fassbender (currently generating praise for his turn in 12 Years a Slave) as a hotshot lawyer who gets involved in the dangerous world of drug trafficking and, quelle surprise, throws his near-perfect life (good job, beautiful fiance) into chaos. It's worth seeing for Javier Bardem alone, who demonstrates yet again just how well he can play the bad guy and rock an unsettling hairstyle. Although his 'do this time round doesn't quite live up to his No Country for Old Men coiffure in the creep-o-metre stakes. There are also performances from Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz in a surprisingly hard-edged role that looks set to showcase her dramatic range outside of comedy. The Counsellor is in cinemas on November 7, and thanks to Twentieth Century Fox, we have ten double in-season passes per state 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. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
For two days, one particular patch of Brisbane has all of your Christmas needs covered, including one that you mightn't have given as much thought to as you'd like. If you're eager to give your loved ones gifts that were created by hand, and ethically, then that's what the Brisbane Fair Trade Christmas Market is all about. It's also a chance to pick up homewares, clothing and more from other cultures, with pieces made by artisan communities in Africa, Asia, South America and other areas around the globe. No, your dad isn't getting boring old socks. And no, you're not just buying your mum flowers. The market runs from 8am–8pm on Saturday, November 26 and from 8am–3pm on Sunday, November 27 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. An added bonus: you'll be perusing for presents in air-conditioning. Already know that all that shopping will make you hungry? There's also a cafe onsite.
Jamie Mumford and Amanda Wolf are the two exhibiting artists who are showcasing their amazing work at The Hold Artspace this week. Coming together to display their work, both artists have a unique worldview that influences their work, yet both are extremely dynamic in their techniques and artistic styles. Disco Dilettante is the exhibition by Jamie Mumford; an in-depth look at the nature of glitz and glamour and the superficiality of the bright lights, big city façade of the 1970s disco period. Jamie Mumford examines how illusory aspects of the fantastical belie the skin-deep nature of a scene. Amanda Wolf is showcasing Peepshow/Creepshow; an exhibition that plunges elbow deep into the murky well of eroticism. Fantasy, voyeurism and intimacy are all examined as each idea is plucked from the minds of the perverse. The need to masquerade behind façades and devices in order to pursue sexual desire anonymously is also examined through sculpture and video installations. This exhibition is on for a limited time only, so if you are into some new age visuals be sure to check this out.
In a genre often constructed around male anxieties and fantasies, Carrie is perhaps the ultimate girl-horror film. All the things that have at some point terrified us — pregnancy, periods, prom — are there, as is the ultimate fantasy: a secret power that gives you real, total control over the world. So it was pretty exciting to hear that the Stephen King novel and iconic 1976 Brian De Palma film were to be remade, with three very kick-arse women at the helm — Chloe Grace Moretz as Carrie, Julianne Moore as her scary fanatical mother and Boys Don't Cry's Kimberly Pierce directing. Unfortunately, the completed film not only doesn't add anything particularly new to the mix, it fails to stand on its own feet and cohere its somewhat disparate components. The splatterfest comes late in any version of Carrie; for the most part the story is a different kind of unsettling. Having grown up in the hermitic and abusive care of her mother, a religious zealot, Carrie is a true misfit at school. Excruciatingly, it means she has no way of knowing, when she begins bleeding in the locker room showers, what menstruation is. Her classmates' shock and disbelief turns them into an animalistic pack, who descend upon her jeering, pelting her with tampons and, of course, recording the whole ordeal on their smartphones. It's a gut-turning scene — if only it set the mood for the whole movie. The episode affects the students involved in different ways. That's one of the most effective parts of Carrie; its nuanced depiction of schoolyard morality brings a lot of humanity to the usual portrayal of bullies versus victims, cool kids versus losers and even good teachers versus naughty kids. So a remorseless Chris (Portia Doubleday) refuses to cop the punishment from tough-but-fair gym teacher Miss Desjardin (Judy Greer) and gets suspended. Prom-Queen-in-waiting Sue (Gabriella Wilde), meanwhile, will not only run Miss Desjardin's mandated 'suicides', she'll convince her egotistic but basically nice boyfriend, Billy (Alex Russell), to take Carrie to prom instead of her, determined to give the besieged kid a nice experience of high school and assuage her guilt. Unbeknown to anyone, Carrie is starting to realise she has telekinetic powers and is giving them a work out. She has no reason to think she'll need them at prom, but at the same time, she's a little bomb waiting to go off — and brutal Chris will be providing the trigger, with a bloody prank she's masterminded to crown the evening. It's here, in Carrie's climactic revenge rampage, that the film comes most unstuck. It goes really schlock, which degrades the more earnest and intense mood of so much of the lead-up. It's also not the finest schlock available, as Carrie racks up deaths that are unoriginal (or were original, 40 years ago) and comical. Laughter is not the best release valve to have pulled at this point in the film. While Moretz is good as Carrie (there's just enough alien about her that she can pull off the outsider role), she adopts a mentally vacant robot face for this portion of the proceedings that jars. Moore is exceptional as the true villain of the piece, ultimately vulnerable but probably irredeemable. The whole thing is watchable, but for a story that actually contains multitudes of messages about girlhood, bullying and adolescent violence all while combining revenge fantasy and tragedy, it doesn't rise to the occasion. Sadly, Carrie is set to go down as another example of a film whose ingenious viral marketing stunt will outshine its cinematic impact. https://youtube.com/watch?v=j-VcPDkTySQ
Earlier this week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continued its court battle versus Apple; the controversy has been waging since the March release of Apple's latest iPad. Despite product advertising that markets the new iPad as equipped with "Wi-Fi + 4G", it has proven incompatible with Australia's 4G network. As such, the ACCC has asserted that Apple is currently engaging in false marketing and should change the title of the iPad (formally known as the iPad/4G) when it is sold locally. According to the SMH, Apple and the ACCC met on April 16 in Sydney at a mediation session which resulted in "no resolution". The pair were set to meet later that day in Melbourne for a directions hearing to determine the course of action going forward. As of right now, Apple has agreed to refund Australian customers who bought the new iPad under the illusion that they could utilise its 4G network. The company has also posted signage is stores where the device is sold to warn customers of its lack of 4G. The ACCC, however, is still pushing for an official device name change. This case could prove monumental to Apple, the technology company giant which has established a remarkably reputable name for itself. Not only will a court case loss force Apple to admit the shortcomings of one of its most-prized products, but it may set a precedent for how Apple markets is products in different parts of the globe. Already, in the UK, the advertising standards group ASA has begun exploring similar consumer complaints regarding the iPad's 4G capabilities. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BqbRxoF-Oc4
Where: Numerous venues around Sydney When: January 8-30, 2012 (tickets on sale November 9) Web: www.sydneyfestival.org.au The reinvigorated Sydney Festival has completely transformed our city in summer (note the flagpoles which every year proclaim just that) and it’s made Sydney a truly amazing place to be in January. The whole city is turned into a summer wonderland, there’s something amazing to do every single night, and people flood The Domain to see sophisticated performances while merrily sipping beer, cider, goon or all three. But mostly what the Sydney Festival does is bring us some truly spectacular performers – Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Emmylou Harris, Camera Obscura and this year's headliner, PJ Harvey – whose artistic merit is second only to their ability to entertain. The Sydney Festival now has a total audience of about 1 million, making it the most attended cultural event in Australia. Every year the festival grows and improves, and with the state government recently giving the Festival a heap of cash to extend their program, it makes the prospects for this summer’s partying very exciting indeed. Concrete Playground has compiled a short list of musical, theatrical and artistic must-sees and -dos during Sydney Festival 2012. Click on the images below to read on...
Exercise comes easy in the Harry Potter world. Between playing quidditch, evading dementors, waving wands about, bounding after Hagrid and hunting down horcruxes, Harry, Ron, Hermione and company have plenty of opportunities to get active — even when they're not hopping on a broom or apparating between places. And while the rest of us can't join them, we can imagine otherwise while wearing enchanting activewear. In their latest pop culture-themed range, Brisbane's BlackMilk Clothing is releasing a treasure trove of Harry Potter items for wizarding fans to spend their galleons on. It's the real, official deal, and it's their second HP-centric line this year. But, where their Hogwarts collection included Great Hall and Marauder's Map skater dressers, Daily Prophet leggings and house-themed high-waisted leggings, this time you can get kitted out in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin tanks, tights and tunics, and pretend you're training for the Triwizard Tournament. A full preview of the 16-piece range is available on the BlackMilk website, with the magical selection going on sale on December 19. If it's a Harry Potter Christmas you're after, it'd make the perfect gift — or something to wear when you're doing Harry Potter yoga, watching the films with a live orchestra, watching The Cursed Child or waiting for the Pokemon Go-like Harry Potter game to come out. For more information about BlackMilk Clothing's Harry Potter activewear range, head to their website.
Finally we have proof that Hogwarts exists, and it is in the shape of 400,000 Lego blocks. Alice Finch, a mother of two from Seattle who became a Lego aficionado after building blocks with her son, has unveiled her completed scale rendition of Hogwarts, and it is arguably the largest Lego structure built by a single person, measuring 4m in length. This is impressive enough, but when you look inside and uncover the magic of intricately detailed rooms and scenes from the world of Harry Potter, you can see that no block has been left untouched. Finch’s masterpiece took a painstaking 12 months of building, but that time let her perfect her Hogwarts by allowing her to research the books, films, and sets of the magical series to record the finest detail, from moving staircases right down to the old-fashioned slide projector in Lupin's Defence Against the Dark Arts class. This effort has not gone unrecognised either, with Finch taking home both the People's Choice and Best in Show Awards at Brick-Con 2012 — two awards much deserved for continuing the magic that J.K. Rowling first started more than 15 years ago. And why did she do it? "I wanted my kids to be able to play in all the spaces where the story takes place," she told Brick Brothers. You may not be able to play with your own giant Hogwarts, but you can visit Alice's by looking through the Mirror of Erised (your computer screen) at her photoset here. We've picked out a few of the best pictures below. Hogwarts exterior Feasting in the Great Hall. Durmstrang students enter Hogwarts Potions class Gryffindor noticeboard Gryffindor common room The greenhouses Astronomy towers and Ravenclaw
Victorians, South Australians, Tasmanians and Australian Capital Territory residents will all soon be able to holiday in New Zealand again, with the trans-Tasman bubble set to reopen on a restricted basis. Quarantine-free travel between Australia and NZ was put on pause on Saturday, June 26 due to rising COVID-19 cases in the former, with the NZ Government pledging to review the situation within 72 hours — which it has now done. From 11.59pm NZT/9.59pm AEST on Sunday, July 4, folks who live in the three aforementioned Aussie states and one territory will be permitted into NZ without quarantining — so if you're a Melburnian in need of a holiday after the city's lockdown earlier this month, that's great news. The trans-Tasman bubble will still remain suspended with all other Aussie states and territories, so with New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Those four regions all currently have some form of lockdown either in place or coming into effect — until Friday, July 9 in Greater Sydney and till Friday, July 2 in plenty of Queensland, for instance — so residents there can't travel far anyway. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1409703615296532483 In a statement today, Tuesday, June 29, NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins did note that the plan to resume the bubble could with selected Aussie regions could still change, depending on what the next few days hold. "The health advice today is that at this point, the spread of COVID-19 in those parts of Australia appears to have been contained. There is robust surveillance, testing and contact tracing to detect and manage cases, and adequate border controls are in place to prevent the spread of new cases," the Minister said. "Officials will continue to review the situation between now and Sunday." Victorians, South Australians, Tasmanians and ACT residents keen to head to NZ when the bubble kicks back in will need to provide evidence of a negative pre-departure test before they're able to fly. Also, you can't have been in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia on or after 10.30pm NZT/8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 26 — or in NSW after 11.59pm NZT/9.59pm AEST on Tuesday, June 22. Regarding the other states, "the pause with Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland will remain in place so that outstanding test results can be returned and to give New Zealand time to assess next steps. This will be reviewed again on Tuesday 6 July," said the Minister. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
With the Taronga Conservation Society recording 26 Australian shark attacks in 2016 alone, we don't blame you if you're starting to feel a little bit wary about jumping in the ocean. There have been countless attempts to keep surfers safe, from nets and drumlines to shark-deterrent wetsuits and, unfortunately, culling. But thanks to some innovative new shark-detection technology from the minds at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and The Little Ripper Group (the guys behind Westpac's Little Ripper rescue drones), beaches might be a tiny bit safer this summer. The SharkSpotter system — which has been years in the making and is ready to be implemented in the coming weeks — uses artificial intelligence to detect sharks in live video feed and images collected by Little Ripper's battery-operated drones. Working off UTS' algorithm and some state-of-the-art sensors, the unmanned aircraft can even tell the difference between sharks and other sea animals, boasting a 90 percent accuracy rate. Once a shark's been spotted, they'll be able to warn swimmers of the potential threat using an on-board megaphone and alert surf lifesavers and emergency services. According to Chief Executive Officer of Westpac Little Ripper Lifesaver, Eddie Bennet, the shark-friendly system is a total game-changer. "This smart algorithm gives us yet another capability in patrolling beaches which we have been doing regularly for almost a year," he said, calling the technology "a major milestone in addressing shark attacks with very real ability to save a life". The SharkSpotter will be used to patrol beaches across Queensland and New South Wales from the start of the surf life saving season next month. Exactly where the drones will be deployed will change each week, with locations only confirmed on the Friday before the weekend. However, it's likely they'll be places around Byron and the north coast of NSW, and around the Sunshine and Gold Coasts in Queensland. Via news.com.au.
All the young'uns know by now that the smiley-dreadlocks-guy in Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' music video has a long and venerable history of bringing feelgood vibes to the discotheque. That's because he's Nile Rodgers of Chic, legendary hitmaker, and he'll be headlining the 23rd Meredith Music Festival. Chic was formed in 1976 and at 60, Rodgers is still at the centre of the music biz. After recently rocking Glastonbury with Daft Punk and moving Golden Plains Sixxx to the core last year (prompting Nile to say, "Every show we've had a special connection to the crowd but oh tonight was spiritual"), Chic will get the crowd grooving at the Meredith Supernatural Theatre with their epoch-defining tunes, as well as classics produced by Nile for other colossal artists. 'Le Freak', Good Times, 'Everybody Dance', 'Let's Dance', Like A Virgin, 'Original Sin': are you sensing a theme here? A theme of awesome? Two hours of mirrorball-spinning sounds will ensue. If you can't make it to Meredith, fear not — Chic is touring Australia and will perform at the Sydney Opera House on December 7, sure to be a sultry Saturday night, as part of the Music at the House program. Meredith Music Festival runs over three days from December 13–15. To go in the ballot for tickets, visit the festival website and subscribe before 11.23pm on August 12.
Getting into festive mood because it's the middle of the year and why not? Prefer to do your shopping for the big day months in advance? Hate leaving your Christmas preparations until the last minute (or anywhere near then)? Then pencil one of the year's must-attend Christmas in July markets into your calendar, because the Milton Markets are getting merry in the middle of the year. This seasonal shindig takes place from 4–9pm on Saturday, July 31. And sure, you've been to markets before — but this is the first time that Milton Markets have celebrated Christmas in July. If its regular end-of-year festive event is any guide, there's plenty to get excited about. Here, you'll eat and shop, and lap up music and entertainment while you're there. You can also enjoy everything from gourmet food to artisan wares, with more than 150 stalls on offer. Tuck into bites right there, or take them home for later. Enjoy the lighting and decorations, because it wouldn't be this midyear occasion without them. Plus, there'll be a pop-up bar onsite in case you need a break from the browsing and buying — or an extra excuse to feel merry. Entry costs $2 at the gate.
If you've ever looked askance at your cookbook collection and thought "this does not speak to me on an emotional level," you're not alone. New York-based artist Automne Zingg feels ya — so much so that the artist, musician, and illustrator has recently published two cookbooks inspired by the thick, syrupy sadness of Morrissey and Nick Cave. 'Defensive Eating with Morrissey' and 'Comfort Eating with Nick Cave' are full of gems like "Boy with the corn in his side" and "Peas let me get what I want". Which, yes, are two great recipes for corn and peas. Oh, and if you hadn't guessed, the cookbooks are vegan. Zingg has provided the illustrations of sad Morrissey and Cave eating food, with Joshua Ploeg, of The Touring Vegan Chef, responsible for the recipes. But it's not all corn and peas, thankfully. Ploeg has unveiled some pretty sick vegan treat recipes like ice cream, cookies and cheesecake. Morrissey and Nick Cave were both almost involved, but in the end declined for different reasons. Of course, don't let that stop you from enjoying the below kind of sexy picture of Morrissey eating corn. We said kind of, remember.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning, more than 120 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From 6am–12pm in warmer months and 7am–1pm when it's colder, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather. So, on Sunday, March 21, it's doing so with its latest Autumn Seasonal Flavours event. This time around, though, it's also dedicating the day to eco-friendly wares from local producers and makers. If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If vegan eats do as well, you're in luck again. There'll be meat-free burgers, vegan sweet treats and falafels to munch on, plus plastic-free reusable products, sustainable jewellery and cruelty-free skin care to take home. As always, live entertainment and demonstrations are also on the agenda.
With its four-word title, Brisbane music festival Let the Music Play sends a clear message. After a couple of years of lockdowns and restrictions, all of which have impacted the city's live music scene, this event wants to let gigs go on. That was the case in 2021, too, when it first popped up and took over multiple Fortitude Valley venues. Being told to stay home may currently be a thing of the past, but the fest is back for another huge day in 2022 anyway — complete with an impressive lineup. Taking place at the Fortitude Music Hall, The Zoo and outside at The Brightside again on Saturday, August 13, Let the Music Play celebrates everything we know and love about heading to a gig — including being able to hop onto the dance floor. So, you'll be able to do just that as you mosey between venues and check up a roster of talent that spans Northeast Party House, Thundamentals, Wafia, Jesswar, Mash'd N Kutcher, Bullhorn and more. The fest is being called "the largest ticketed single-day festival in Fortitude Valley history", if you need an idea of just how big it'll be — and it'll pop up in a fourth venue as well. For the day, Warner Street will be shut down and turned into an outdoor precinct dubbed 'Unicorn Alley'. Brisbane's own Fluffy will be behind it, hosting a huge and characteristically opulent disco-themed street party. Also on the agenda: hopping between the Valley's usual bars between gigs, aka a regular part of a night out in Brisbane. Or, an afternoon, given that Let the Music Play will kick off at 3pm, then run through until 11.30pm. LET THE MUSIC PLAY 2022 LINEUP: Northeast Party House Thundamentals Wafia Jesswar Mash'd N Kutcher Bullhorn Cloe Terare Collar Dancing Water Great Sage Kinder Joy Pink Matter Saftey Club Tseba Wiigz Warner Street 'Unicorn Alley' takeover with Harry K (Fluffy) Let the Music Play will take over The Fortitude Music Hall, The Zoo, Brightside Outdoors and Warner Street from 3–11.30pm on Saturday, August 13. Pre-sale tickets are on sale from 11am on Wednesday, June 8 via Ticketmaster, with general sales kicking off at 9am on Friday, June 10. Top image: Vincent Shaw.
Initially, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 was the most-anticipated new Australian movie of 2023. Now, it's taking that label for 2024 instead. After being postponed from its planned August 2023 release amid the current SAG-AFTRA strike, the Aussie film will hit cinemas in February 2024. Fans of Aussie mysteries, page-to-screen crime tales, Eric Bana (Dirty John) getting sleuthing and all things Aaron Falk, take note. The follow-up to 2021's The Dry, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is now slated to reach the big screen Down Under on Thursday, February 8, 2024. If you're keen to see the film as soon as possible, you'll have the chance a few days earlier, with advance screenings also locked in from Friday, February 2–Sunday, February 4. When Bana stepped into Falk's shoes in The Dry, more movies were always bound to follow. On the screen, the film became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021 thanks to its twisty mystery, determined detective, stunning scenery and spectacular cast. It was capitalising, of course, on the story's proven success on the page. And, to the delight of movie producers and audiences, the beloved novel by author Jane Harper was just Falk's first appearance. Accordingly, throw that formula together again and you now have Force of Nature: The Dry 2. This second effort sees the core duo of Bana and writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) return, with the latter again investigating a case. This time, as both the movie's initial teaser and full trailer explore, Falk is looking into the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. Fans of Harper's work also have The Survivors to look forward to, but on the small screen. It's heading to Netflix from the pages of the author's text of the same name, and isn't linked to The Dry or Force of Nature. Here, the Tasmanian-set story follows families still coping with the loss caused by a massive storm in their seaside town 15 years earlier, then faced with a new murder. Check out the full trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2 below: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, February 8, 2024, with advance screenings from Friday, February 2–Sunday, February 4. Read our full review of The Dry. Images: Narelle Portanier.
Normally, you mightn't be a fan of American football. You may not care for it at all, in fact, or know anything about it beyond Friday Night Lights. So when the Super Bowl rolls around each year, you might only pay attention for the half-time show and the movie trailers. But if you've been enjoying HBO's video game-to-TV series The Last of Us — if you've been hanging out for new episodes each week, too — then you're now a massive supporter of the biggest US football match of the year. You still don't have to watch the Super Bowl if you don't want to. But HBO thinks that plenty of people will be in America, so it's moving the episode of The Last of Us that's slated to air on Super Bowl day — on Monday, February 13 Down Under, and the show's fifth instalment — to an earlier date. That shift has a ripple effect here in Australia, with streaming service Binge doing the same. Accordingly, mark 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 in your diary. This is a one-off move, with The Last of Us returning to Monday releases in Australia for its remaining four episodes of season one from Monday, February 20. Still, for one week — this week — you'll get two instalments in the space of five days instead of seven. In similarly welcome news that was announced earlier in February, The Last of Us is locked in for a second season as well. That development was hardly surprising given the 2013 game that the show is based on also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel — and also because HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies — but it was still obviously hugely welcome. If you haven't yet caught up with the thoughtful dystopian series, which is character-focused, supremely well-cast and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged world but why life is worth fighting for, it's already one of 2023's big TV highlights. Set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes, it follows Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Bella Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version made by Chernobyl's Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog (who also penned and directed The Last of Us games), if that was an easy task. And, there wouldn't be much of either if the Joel and Ellie didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. Check out the trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and will drop its fifth episode via Binge at 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 — before reverting to releasing new episodes each Monday from Monday, February 20. Read our review of The Last of Us' first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
New York did it. Melbourne did too. And now Brisbane might be joining the fold. We're talking about taking the wasted space above ugly train lines and turning it into something much more exciting — a brand new entertainment precinct, for instance. If developers AEG Ogden get their Brisbane Live project off the ground, that's exactly what will happen to the high-use transport corridor adjacent to Roma Street Station and the Roma Street Parklands. And, that outcome is now one step closer to becoming a reality, with the Queensland Government announcing that its has committed $5 million towards a business case for the proposed complex. First announced in 2016 and forming part of the plans for the long-mooted Cross River Rail project — aka the new 10.2-kilometre rail line proposed to run from Dutton Park and Bowen Hills, complete with a 5.9-kilometre tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD — Brisbane Live is the city's answer to Madison Square Garden and Federation Square. Or, if you like, our version of Los Angeles' LA Live precinct, which the government has also compared it to. If it goes ahead, the site will feature a 17,000-seat live performance arena, plus new hotels, apartment towers and cultural facilities. The existing train station will be torn down and replaced, and the current parklands will gain an extra 12 hectares of public space, including a water-based section. It's the addition of a huge music inner-city venue — that could be used for concerts as well as sporting events — that's particularly exciting, as well as a much-needed addition to Brisbane. The new venue would put an end to the annoying trek out to Boondall to see high-profile gigs. Plus, it'll also boast a 4000-capacity club, multiplex cinemas, restaurants and bars, as well as a giant screen and amphitheatre catering for around 15,000 people. And don't forget, convenient public transport options are all part of the package. That's the great thing about building this kind of development on top of a bus and railway station: part of the infrastructure already exists. So if all goes to plan, we could be saying goodbye to the current unattractive eyesore most Brisbanites avoid if they can help it, and be welcoming the kind of place you just might spend a whole lot of time at in the future. Well, that's if the business case, which is expected to take six months to complete, determines that Brisbane Live should go ahead. The plans are currently under development, but you can get a sneak peak of just what could be in store courtesy of online flyovers available on the project website.
Dozens of independent arts organisations are looking down the barrel of extinction, after being ditched in the latest round of Australia Council funding. The news makes for depressingly familiar headlines, and marks the latest in a series of significant blows to the country's artistic community since the Federal Government cut the independent funding body's budget to the tune of $60 million over four years. Among the 62 previously funded organisations to miss out are the National Association for the Visual Arts, Melbourne's Red Stitch Actor's Theatre and youth-focused Express Media, and Sydney's Force Majeure dance company and PACT Centre for Contemporary Artists. Organisations lucky enough to receive funding, meanwhile, include Queensland's Metro Arts, Multicultural Arts Victoria, and Carriageworks in Sydney. In total $112 million will be invested between 2017 and 2020. The full list of recipients can be found via the Arts Council website. "In a country with an ever growing population we should be receiving ever greater cultural investment and government support," said Arts Party leader PJ Collins. "Instead we have constant and major cuts to our communities and opportunity in developing and recognising our native talent." A number of the affected organisations also spoke out against the cuts. "This is devastating news not just for Next Wave but for all artists and the Australian community," read a statement from the organisers of Melbourne's Next Wave festival (which is on right now). They also pointed out that the decision to drop funding comes even as the festival is being met "with critical and audience acclaim, and record-breaking box office numbers." Likewise, Kath Melbourne of Sydney theatre company Legs on the Wall told ArtsHub that they and many other organisations were the victims of "political decisions [made] behind closed doors." Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski tried to put a positive spin on the announcement, stating that "while celebrating the success of the companies forming the new cohort, the Council acknowledges that the outcomes of this highly competitive process will be difficult for some companies and is committed to supporting the sector through this period of change. This support will take various forms, responding to the different needs of both individual organisations and practice areas." Via ArtsHub. Image: Next Wave.
