Right now (in case you haven't been hanging on every tweet), the Consumer Technology Association is holding a huge conference in Las Vegas — CES 2017 — and while that might sound kind of abstract, it's an internationally-watched event with reams of huge new product announcements that are relevant to the everyday tech user (that's you!). The Consumer Technology Association (acronymed to CES, not CTA, for unfathomable reasons) is a trade union that promotes and standardises widely used technology, meaning high-end tech gets into your life sooner. This year has already been pretty epic. Here's a breakdown of some of the best tech reveals (so far), coming soon to a smart household near you. A SMART COLLAR FOR YOUR POOCH Now, this is a nifty little device for lucky, lucky pet owners. Whistle 3 is a new pet tracking collar that lets you monitor your puppo's or catto's daily activity levels and track them on your smartphone. It's the third iteration of the product and reports from CES indicate this time they've nailed it. Whistle 3 is compact, waterproof, clips to your pet's collar and syncs to an app on your phone. At the moment, it's only available in the US but we'll keep you updated on developments. In the meantime, remember to get your precious furbabies microchipped. AN AI-FITTED TOYOTA What business Toyota has building an AI, we don't know. But they have. Its name is Yui (pronounced you-ee) and, yes, we expect it will allow us to become best friends with our car like Shia Lebeouf and Bumblebee. No, but really. AI in a car is about risk assessment and will work in tandem with what they called 'human driving'. So it's not exactly automated but it will allow certain elements of automation when it's safe to do so. Yui warns the driver about potential hazards and can automate corrections to prevent them. But most importantly, it's super-duper cute and futuristic. A RELATIVELY FAST SCOOTER THAT CAN CHARGE YOUR DEVICES The URB-E might look a little goofy (like its Segway and Hoverboard brothers) but this compact little electric scooter could be the future of travel. Give up any dreams of your kids buying their first banged up Holden Commodore, the next generation will be driving these 30-pound scooties to school. Three years ago, the URB-E was debuted at CES. This year, they've revealed four new, updated models and a range of accessories. To fill you in, the URB-E is a foldable scooter/bicycle hybrid out of America. The cheapest, the URB-E Sport, retails for US$899 and can reach a top speed of 22 kilometres. A fully-charged URB-E Sport can travel up to 25 kilometres before needing a recharge. And you can charge your phone off it too. Damn. These iterations of the URB-E are more affordable and more powerful than ever, so you might as well embrace these tiny, goofy scooters because they ain't leaving anytime soon. A CASUALLY POWERFUL, 92-MEGAPIXEL, VR-SUPPORTING PHONE While we're not sold on the name ZenFone (imagine the roundtable on that decision), the newest phone out of the Asus camp is exciting for multiple reasons. First, it's built to support virtual and augmented reality technology (the future is here!) which means it's packing a considerable amount of processing power for such a little thing. Its three cameras (the most powerful of which takes 92-megapixel images and 4K videos) enables 3D mapping technology. Yeah. Your selfie game just jumped up a level. It's expected for release midway through this year. UH... A SMART HAIRBRUSH? Yeah, so L'Oreal has designed a smart hairbrush. Rejoice for now every part of your daily routine will be watched over by machines. The Keratase Hair Coach uses sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a microphone to spy on you and determine a) how healthy your hair is b) whether your hair is wet or dry c) whether you're brushing too hard or too much and d) how many Keratase products you need in your life right now. Guive Balooch, the vice president of L'Oreal's Technology Incubator, said to Fortune the brush will also try to smooth your hair. All of this for under $200? Woah. The future really is stupid. Via IB Times, The Verge and Gizmodo.
There will be spice in 2023's sandiest movie, the eagerly anticipated sequel to 2021's Dune. With a war a-brewing on the planet Arrakis, seeing Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All) and the Fremen face off against the folks who destroyed his family, there will be blood as well. And, in the centrepiece to Dune: Part Two's glorious first trailer ahead of its November release in cinemas, there will be sandworms and wormriding — including the internet's boyfriend going for a cruise on one of the sci-fi franchise's mammoth creatures. When its predecessor hit the big screen, it was after a year-long delay due to the pandemic, and as a second movie adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Following in David Lynch's footsteps might seem a foolish move, even when it's making a new version of one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever crafted, but Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) managed what Alejandro Jodorowsky sadly couldn't (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune), and a new science-fiction cinema classic arrived. Villeneuve's picture only told part of Dune's story, though, which is where Dune: Part Two comes in. The first film had Paul head to Arrakis because his dad Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight) had just been given stewardship of the sandy celestial body and its abundance of 'the spice' — aka the most valuable substance in the universe — and then get caught up in a bitter battle with malicious forces over the substance. It also saw Paul meet the population of people known as the Fremen, including Zendaya's (Euphoria) Chani and Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Doctor Sleep) are with when the new flick's trailer begins. Amid that expansive desert landscape, those hulking sandworms, Villeneuve's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) latest likely Oscar-winning score, Paul, Chani, Stilgar and company have vengeance to seek — but Paul also has to choose between love and preventing a dark future. And, he has new players to face, with Austin Butler ditching his Elvis locks as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, the nephew of Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen, plus Florence Pugh (The Wonder) joining the saga as Princess Irulen, daughter of Christopher Walken's (Severance) Emperor Shaddam IV. From the first film, which scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins, Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Knock at the Cabin), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) return, while Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future) also joins the cast. Off-screen, Villeneuve has brought back not just Zimmer, but Oscar-winning Australian director of photography Greig Fraser (The Batman), Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermett (Vice), Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker (The Unforgivable), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (First Man) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (Song to Song). Check out the first Dune: Part Two trailer below: Dune will release in cinemas Down Under on November 2, 2023.
The idea that good things come to those who wait isn't just a piece of advice everyone's mum have given them at least once; over the past couple of years, it's also been the mantra behind Australia's live gig scene. And, yes, now that music festivals, concerts and shows are back in a big way, great things are indeed coming Down Under — including Fisher's rescheduled Aussie tour. The former pro surfer-turned-DJ will be hitting up Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth in November, throwing a huge outdoor dance party in each city. He'll be on the decks, of course, but he'll also have company in the form of Booka Shade, Pnau, Loco Dice and HoneyLuv. Also on the bill: Little Fritter, Richard Penny, Tina Says and Loco Dice. International names, local talents — they're all on this lineup. And if you're wondering how excited that Fisher is to finally bring the tour to fruition, it's all there in the name. Originally his first-ever Aussie national tour was called 'Bigger Than a Beach Party', but now it's the 'Australia, It's Fk'n On' tour. [caption id="attachment_860230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Booka Shade[/caption] A few details have changed, however. Originally, the tour was headed to Wollongong, but Stuart Park can no longer play host to major gigs due to heavy rain earlier this year. So, Fisher will hit up The Domain in Sydney instead — which is obviously ace news for Sydneysiders. It's been a huge few years for the Gold Coast DJ, since the Grammy-nominated 'Losing It' brought him to international fame. He also launched his own boozy seltzer brand FIZZ during the pandemic, which your tastebuds might be aware of. Fisher heads around Australia after headlining the Under Construction festival in the US, and playing shows at Petco Park in Denver. And yes, expect dance floors at Melbourne's Catani Gardens, Brisbane's Riverstage, The Domain in Sydney and Perth's Langley Park to be busy. [caption id="attachment_860229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HoneyLuv[/caption] FISHER'S 2022 'IT'S FK'N ON AUSTRALIA' TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 5 — Catani Gardens, Melbourne Sunday, November 6 — Riverstage, Brisbane Saturday, November 12 — The Domain, Sydney Sunday, November 13 — Langley Park, Perth Fisher's 'It's Fk'n On Australia tour heads Down Under in November 2022. The waitlist for tickets is open now, with tickets pre-sales from 8am local time on Wednesday, July 13 — and general sales from 8am local time on Thursday, July 14.
When news dropped that Adnan Syed's murder conviction had been overturned, an obvious announcement followed: Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, which spent its first season exploring the killing of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee and the extremely complex legal matters surrounding her ex-boyfriend Syed, was returning for a new episode. That new instalment, called 'Adnan Is Out', is available to listen to now — and Serial isn't the only recent Syed-focused hit that's making a comeback as a result. Here's another expected but also welcome development: The Case Against Adnan Syed, HBO's four-part documentary series about the case, is also making a new chapter. The US network revealed that a follow-up episode is in the works, with filmmaker Amy Berg (Phoenix Rising, Dogs, West of Memphis) returning behind the lens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Berg (@amy_berg) "We knew the end of The Case Against Adnan Syed was not the end of this story, and we've been closely following every twist and turn in the case since the series premiered in March 2019," said Berg in a statement. "It's gratifying to see many of the questions and issues probed in the original episodes come to bear on the events of this week," the filmmaker continued. HBO revealed that the new episode will arrive sometime in 2023, but hasn't dropped any further details — including how long it'll run for or the exact release date. Where it'll stream Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. HBO also advised that Berg has been filming the follow-up episode in Maryland since early 2021, and was in the courthouse when Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed's murder conviction. The Case Against Adnan Syed's new episode will not only chart the lead up to that decision, but will also follow Syed after his release. [caption id="attachment_668625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Adnan Syed. Via: Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.[/caption] If you missed the HBO series when it premiered in 2019, it examined 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and Syed's conviction in 2000, as well as the latter's ongoing quest to have his conviction reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Lee and Syed's relationship, tothe original police investigation and trial, the developments up until the show hit the air — they all featured, with the documentary gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. Yes, it made for gripping viewing, with Berg working on the original four episodes since 2015. It was always bound to be compelling and thorough, given her excellent doco background — helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's aforementioned West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret. Check out the trailer for The Case Against Adnan Syed's initial run below: HBO's follow-up episode to The Case Against Adnan Syed doesn't currently have a release date, other than arriving in 2023 — we'll update you when it does. In the interim, the original series is available to stream via Fetch in Australia . Images: SBS / HBO
Candlelight dinners, walks in the park, roses and chocolate. That's the old Valentine's Day. We're in 2023, the age of doing things differently. And what date concept is more unconventionally romantic than an evening of hurling a sharp object into a wooden target? The good folks at MANIAX Axe Throwing are getting in the mood and celebrating the season of love with the offer of Valentine's Day date nights at their nationwide axe throwing venues — and you can win one for free. In addition to pelting a heavy weapon at a wall with your S.O., the prize will include the added benefits of the MANIAX date night package: a 60-minute session with a lesson from an instructor (nobody throws until they're ready), two drinks of your choice and a piping hot pizza to share. MANIAX has locations in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. So, whether you're looking for an unconventional date, have a thing for sharp weapons, or are well-versed in the world of axe throwing and simply want to show off, MANIAX has your Valentine's sorted. To earn your place in this hall of warriors, complete the form below. [competition]886696[/competition]
North Stradbroke Island is a truly magical place. It’s only thirty kilometres from Brisbane, but the boat ride there adds a bit more difficulty into the journey. However, it also keeps it a bit special, a bit different from your average beach location (see: Surfers Paradise, which is anything but). A weekend lounging at Straddie is a truly special pleasure, but a weekend lounging at Straddie and listening to while listening to amazing music and enjoying cultural experiences from all over the world is more than a special pleasure, it is a pleasure with a capital P. This is what the Island Vibe festival offers! Now up to its 6th incarnation, Island Vibe has grown from a great idea to a major event on Stradbroke Island each year. The intimate festival attracts talent from across the globe, as well as featuring fresh locally grown music and culture. The festival tag line of ‘three days of Soul, Reggae, Dub and Island Culture’ sounds like the perfect getaway to me. Headlining this year’s festival is Chali 2Na from J5 and Blue King Brown, as well as a host of other amazing bands, plus exotic dance troupes, saucy cabaret, delicious food, craft markets and workshops so you can’t possibly get bored. The weather’s warming up and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the change in seasons than to soak in some sweet Island Vibes.
Perennial party starters Bluejuice are back in town, which means it's strictly business as usual on their 'Company' tour. The Sydney-based band have been parading the national music scene for years. Triple J loves them, every other band envies them, and the crowds want to be on them. If you haven't seen a Bluejuice show, then you might not know about Jake and Stav's onstage banter and dance moves, which make up a good portion of the entertainment. Suffice to say, they are terrific singers, but also like to get a tad bit naked and sweaty. This tour is off the back of their latest album 'Company', which features radio hit, 'Act Yr Age', and you can be guaranteed the gig will showcase these new songs and their eclectic back catalogue. Make no mistake, Bluejuice are insane, but they are the best in the business at it. They also do a very convincing cover of Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games' that is sure to bring the house down. So if you are looking for a party on Saturday night - Bluejuice more than have it covered.
He took home this year's best director Oscar thanks to his enchanting monster romance, and now he's in the spotlight at the Spanish Film Festival. That'd be The Shape of Water's Guillermo del Toro, with the fest celebrating his 2006 Academy Award-winner Pan's Labyrinth as its closing night selection. Of course, on its stop at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from April 26 to May 13, the country's long-running celebration of Spanish-language filmmaking has plenty of other delights amongst its 25-film program. Marking its 21st year in 2018, that includes opening night's The Tribe, a street-dancing musical comedy inspired by real-life Spain's Got Talent winners, plus No Filter, this year's Spanish box office smash about a woman who can't stop speaking her mind. Other high-profile highlights range from screenings of Pixar's gorgeous Coco — in case you missed it in cinemas late last year — to a who's who of Spanish talent in historical epic Gold; to Loving Pablo, which features Javier Bardem as Pablo Escobar and Penélope Cruz as the journalist who falls for him. Fans of both actors can also catch them in Jamón Jamón — which, released back in 1992, was actually Cruz's first film. It plays as part of a four-feature retrospective dedicated to filmmaker Bigas Luna, alongside his fellow hits Golden Balls and The Tit and The Moon. A documentary compiled from the late director's video diaries, Bigas x Bigas, will enjoy its Australian premiere to round out the program strand. Plus, in the kind of curation that every film festival could benefit from, the Spanish Film Festival will also showcase the work of emerging Spanish female directors. While Summer 1993 actually played at last year's fest as well, the charming delight is getting another spin, with Málaga Film Festival hit Julia Is, Spanish Civil War-focused The Bastard's Fig Tree and the Goya-nominated The Open Door also on the bill. In addition, Melburnians get an extra pick thanks to doco Singled [Out], which was partially shot in Australia by the Melbourne-based Mariona Guiu and Barcelona-based Ariadna Relea.
Does anyone love biscuits as much as dads love biscuits? Probably not. But when Gelato Messina is making bikkies, everyone's tastebuds should be tempted. Each Father's Day for the past few years, the sweet-treat fiends have turned their attention from ice cream to tasty wares that don't require freezing — and 2023's haul is a trio of baked goods. Are mint slice biscuits a staple of your parents' pantry? Do they make you feel nostalgic for that exact reason? Well, now you can get your dad the Messina version again. But that isn't all that's on this year's menu, with the dessert chain also doing salted caramel and rum and raisin biscuits, combining the trio into one pack. The gelato brand does love taking other beloved desserts and giving them its own spin; see also: red velvet cake, honey joys, Bounty and Chokito bars, Iced VoVos, Viennetta and Golden Gaytimes, just to name a few. Messina's choc mint bikkies feature a chocolate base, mint centre and then 65-percent single-origin Messina dark chocolate over the top. The salted caramel goes with a salted caramel filling, of course, then, Messina caramelised white chocolate. And what's inside the rum and raisin biscuits is also obvious, with Messina milk chocolate doing the encasing. All three types are whipped up in-house by the the Messina Chocolatier team, and are being sold together in boxes of 12 — four of each — for $29. You can only purchase them up online from 9am on Monday, August 21. Then, they'll be sent to your door in advance of Father's Day on Sunday, September 3. Gelato Messina's Father's Day biscuit packs are available to order from 9am on Monday, August 21 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Both big air and big bands are on the agenda for Australia's newest festival offering. This August, the global Air + Style Big Air Competition is set to make its southern hemisphere debut, descending on The Domain for three huge days of snow sports, live music, culture and fashion. And it's being headlined by none other than Irish/Scottish alt-rockers Snow Patrol and US artist Flo Rida, each heading to town for their first Aussie shows in over five years. From August 3 to 5, the 34-hectare space on the edge of Sydney's CBD will be sporting a very different look than what locals are used to, featuring a 16-storey snow-covered ramp and multiple music stages. More than 60 of the world's best snowboarders and skiers will land here, to compete as part of the 2018 Air + Style Global Tour. Plus, the event has quite the pedigree — three-time Olympic gold medallist and all-round champion snowboarder Shaun White has been the majority shareholder since 2014. But let's not forget about the equally tempting music component. Previous incarnations of Air + Style in the likes of Beijing, Los Angeles and Austria's Innsbruck have drawn big-name artists such as Flume, Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man and Kendrick Lamar. The Sydney outing promises to follow in their footsteps, with Snow Patrol and Flo Rida just the first of many acts to be announced. Both single day tickets and multi-day passes are available, starting at $150. The Air + Style Big Air Competition comes to The Domain, Sydney from August 3-5. Head to the festival website for tickets and further information.
Checking surf conditions is a thing of the past for Sunshine Coasters, there's a multi-million dollar wave pool on its way. Best part is, you choose the size of the waves and customise how long they roll for. Really. The hugely-anticipated Webber Wave Pool has found a spot to make its own, snapping up a 24 hectare piece of land in Glenview — a colossal corner of fun right near Australia Zoo and the Big Kart Track. Developer Waterplay Pty Ltd is behind it all, the water-happy brains behind Malaysia's Sunway Lagoon and Wadi Adventure Park in the United Arab Emirates. Surrounded by waterslides, a 120-room hotel, canoeing rapids and a holiday village, the epic wave pool is the premier focus of the park. Pumping out consistently perfect and regulated waves, grommets and old hats alike will be able to choose their level of difficulty surfing the waves. Purists might be severely facepalming right now, but honestly, this is some pretty badass technology. Webber's drive system, according to their website, allows control over the hull speed, draft and trim angle of the wave. "These additional controls will transform our ability to change the wave shape during the ride," they say. "As a result, we will be able to make the wave angle and wave size shape change in a similar way as happens in nature." If you're bored of a particular set-up (yeah, if you're bored of your predictable ol' wave), just tweak a few details and you're riding a totally different beast. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZA4PoRBVY-M Webber's shiny new systems also allow the team to create waves of different sizes in the same pool at the same time. The coolest part? Your settings are saved on your wrist. "When linked to the profile of each patron by their RFID wristband, the software driving the new drive system will immediately adjust the ratio of the wave sizes to match with the changes in demand during the day." Rad. The Waterplay team hope to have you carving things up within a few short years, with the wave pool first on the to-do list. "All things going well, our team hopes to begin work next year and have the first Sunshine Park guests splashing, surfing and sliding on what will be Australia's latest waterpark during 2016," Waterplay spokesperson David Baird, told the Courier Mail. Fine, I guess we'll just have to surf in the real beach until then, whatever. Stupid, unruly, natural waves. Via Queensland Blog.
Holy Ghost are back with some ridiculously catchy music, The National have us swimming in a sea of love, and Sam Smith goes acoustic to show us the beauty of strings. Put down the iPod; these five tracks are your playlist for the weekend. 1. 'DUMB DISCO IDEAS' - HOLY GHOST Holy Ghost are back with their impending album Dynamics, and this week they treated us to the first delicious slice of audio pie from the record in 'Dumb Disco Ideas'. It is eight minutes of subtle hooks, groove and simplicity and the accompanying video is equally as fantastic, with a time lapse of the Manhattan skyline punctuated by cleverly synchronised disco lights. 2. 'SEA OF LOVE' - THE NATIONAL The National are experts at making music for all occasions. 'Sea of Love' is another one of those gems that you can listen to whilst jogging, brooding over a break-up or taking a road trip to the greatest festival of your life (at which they are probably playing). The track coasts along nicely until its final third when everything lets loose and the band just take it up a few thousand notches. The National are back to their very best. Also, the kid at the front of the video is incredible. 3. 'LATCH' - SAM SMITH Sam Smith provided the vocals for Disclosure's electro smash 'Latch'. This week he decided to strip that track back, take out all of the technologically created sounds and head in an acoustic direction and we should all be glad he has. Whilst the original is enjoyable in its own right, Sam's haunting voice and strong string accompaniment take it in a direction you never imagined the song could go. This is music as it was meant to be made. 4. 'FALL FOR YOU' - YOUNG GALAXY Canadian indie band Young Galaxy know how to have fun and thankfully they are kind enough to share what their fun creates. 'Fall For You' is from their new album Ultramarine and it creates all kinds of good feelings when you hear it. If you watch the video whilst listening you will never be sad again. 5. 'RUN AWAY' - SUNSTROKE PROJECT It's Eurovision weekend, which means its time to reflect on one of the greatest moments in recent competition history — epic sax man. When Moldova took to the stage in 2010 nobody expected much; how wrong we all were. Not only did we get a spinning violinist but we were also treated to the most epic saxophonist ever. Many have tried to replicate his hips, but none have succeeded and it is doubtful that anybody ever will.
When Meredith celebrates its 31st festival in 2023, it'll do so with a live set more than half a century in the making. Doing the headlining honours: none other than German electro pioneers Kraftwerk, who have not only announced a solo tour of Australia this December, but also locked in a key slot in Meredith's Supernatural Amphitheatre. Aunty Meredith comes bearing two big pieces of news, with Kraftwerk leading the bill — aka the only artist that's been revealed for 2023's fest so far — and the ticket ballot opening. Book that long weekend now, pop your name in the running and cross your fingers that you'll be spending Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10 at The Sup. "Kraftwerk, quite simply, are the reason music sounds like it does today. Progenitors of pop. Of music as we know it," the Meredith team advised, announcing the Düsseldorf-formed group as the event's first big name for 2023. They're not wrong. "Specks of Kraftwerk DNA hurtle through the space-time continuum, embedding themselves into Bowie, Spacemen 3, Afrika Bambaataa, Prince, Daft Punk, New Order, Radiohead, Missy Elliott and every Meredith Music Festival for the last three decades." [caption id="attachment_847588" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Fletcher[/caption] As for who else will join Kraftwerk, watch this space. In 2022, Meredith's first festival since 2019 due to the pandemic, the Caribou-, Yothu Yindi- and Courtney Barnett-led lineup dropped in mid-August. To nab tickets to the beloved three-day BYO camping festival, you've got until 10.31pm AEST on Monday, August 14 to enter the ballot. [caption id="attachment_865642" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chelsea King[/caption] MEREDITH 2023 LINEUP: Kraftwerk and more to come Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10, 2023. To put your name in the ballot to get your hands on tickets, head to the festival's website before 10.31pm AEST on Monday, August 14. Top image: Steve Benn.
Seven W/ Another believes in bringing together like minded people, regardless of their profession. With this in mind, they have gone about executing several successful art exhibitions around Brisbane, uniting creative minds in different creative fields to create something extraordinary. Their latest exhibition, their sixth, pairs 14 different individuals with similarly differing ideas with the aim of creating unique, unexpected and beautiful artwork. The end products are always different, but the result isn’t always the focus, but rather the creative process of discovery and experimentation often is the most fulfilling aspects of projects like this. It is certainly worth investigating.
Each year we vow to be better gift-givers, but when the office secret santa rolls around, and Christmas parties start to ramp up, we're left with limited time to find a truly good present, one that says we genuinely care. Well, not this year; this time we're prepared. In partnership with Square, we've searched through Australia's independent shops to bring you a gift guide to match all the colleagues you might be assigned this present-giving season. If you are a small business owner, Square has the tools you need to take payments and maximise your sales, including an ebook with tips to help you get started this holiday season. FOR THE WORK PARENT Plant and self-watering planter from The Plant Society, $30 Melbourne plant hunters Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith set up The Plant Society in 2016 and now the small business ships its green shoots, ceramics, homewares and planter kits to people across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. When you're looking for a gift that says thank you to the office parent — the one that mops up the spills, has painkillers when you need them and a shoulder to cry on — we suggest giving a little love back. Buy them an indoor plant already potted in a self-watering planter. You can choose the pot colour and plants, which range from tropical philodendron super atoms to the popular monstera deliciosa. FOR THE BIG CHEESE Gift card from Mould Cheese Collective, $25–85 No matter how much you love your boss, when you've drawn the big cheese of your workplace for this year's gift exchange there's a lot of pressure to get it right. Choose a dud: everyone feels awkward. Pick something special: early marks all round. We say, send them a box of cheesy delights from The Mould Cheese Collective, a Victoria-based club for cheese lovers. You can shop for gooey goodness on its website, but for the safest bet, there's a trusty gift voucher of either $25, $50 or $85. The bonus: it's an instant gift, so no need to wait for shipping. The downside: not suitable for lactose intolerant leaders. FOR THE WANNABE DJ Dolly Parton's Blue Smoke from Cottonmouth Records, $55 Sydney's Cottonmouth Records has a loyal local following for its record store and bar in Enmore, but you don't need to live nearby to take advantage of owner Zachery Williams' eclectic vinyl collection. Its online store has black gold in all shades of nostalgia, from Beastie Boys and Mariah Carey to Pearl Jam and The Prodigy. It's not all about the throwbacks — there are plenty of recent releases available on vinyl here — but, when shopping for the coworker who controls the playlist, we think there's a lot of joy in Dolly Parton's back catalogue. We've picked Blue Smoke, but you can also order Jolene for $39, which is an absolute steal. Shipping is $15, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE ETHICAL ONE Face mask from Second Stitch, $18 Melbourne-based not-for-profit Second Stitch is a social enterprise that employs refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. It beat lockdown in Victoria by making cute reusable cloth masks in uplifting patterns and colours. When your kris kringle recipient is that work mate who likes to support charities and ethical businesses, this practical gift will go a long way. Not only are the two-layer cotton masks an environmental solution to an ongoing pandemic, but also your purchase directly provides meaningful employment for some of the most disadvantaged members in the community. Now that's what the spirit of Christmas is all about. FOR THE SALAD-FOR-LUNCH ONE Citrus Trio from Mount Zero Olives, $25 If the only thing you know about Nic from HR is that they like to bring their own meals to work every day, be the teammate who celebrates their forward planning and discipline by getting them something that'll bring them a little joy every lunchtime. This trio of extra virgin olive oils from Mount Zero Olives is better than your supermarket drizzles, as they're pressed with citrus fruits rather than infused with synthetic flavours. The family-owned Victorian company says the lime, mandarin and lemon oils pair well with seafood, egg brekkies and roast veggies, so they're versatile too. Shipping is $12, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE CAFFEINE GEEK How to Buy It, Brew It from Market Lane, $25 If you've got a work buddy who places coffee high on their daily to-do lists, look to Melbourne roaster Market Lane for a gift to match their beverage of choice. Market Lane ships beans, coffee making equipment and literature across Australia. And, for a present that'll last longer than a bag of freshly ground coffee, you should pick the in-depth guide to a good brew How to Buy It, Brew It, written by Market Lane's co-founder Jason Scheltus. You can ask for it to be wrapped in paper designed by artist Julia Stewart for no extra cost and shipping is just $8. FOR THE IT'S-5PM-SOMEWHERE ONE Four-pack of Peach Sauce from Sauce Brewing Co, $20 We've all got a coworker who's a bit of a craft beer nerd. The one who plans their weekends around brewery crawls, goes out of their way to order the most obscure ales on tap, and loves to share their knowledge of local drops. Lean into the passions of this person and get them a four-pack of tart, tangy, crowd-pleasing Peach Sauce. The berliner weisse is one of many creative brews from Sydney microbrewery Sauce. There's also hazy pale ale Caribbean Fog, New England-style IPA Bubble & Squeak and a tropical Frisson Raspberry, ready for the summer of seltzers. FOR THE SNACK QUEEN Bubble O Bill cookies from Dough Re Mi, $18 Wagga-based bakery Dough Re Mi specialises in custom-made cookies designed to brighten someone's day. And we couldn't think of anyone more deserving of a treat than the snack kings and queens of your office. They're always ready with a bag of chippies or choccies when deadlines are tight and everyone needs a mood booster. You could go all out and order ones with a motivational message, but for us the winning choice is Bubble O Bill's face on a butter biscuit, complete with a bubble gum nose. You can order a single cookie for $5.50, or a gift box for $18. And Dough Re Mi ships Australia-wide. FOR THE NEW PERSON Notebook from Studio A, $15 Thrown right in the deep end, just before the festive season, the workplace newbie has to be one of the toughest people to buy for when it comes to secret santa time. However, it couldn't be worse than actually being the newest person to join the team. Think of all the catching up they've got to do — and that's just on the office goss. Pick them something they'll be proud to use every day, like a notebook designed by one of Studio A's talented artists. The Sydney-based studio supports artists with disability, providing a workspace and materials for artists to realise their aspirations. We like these ones by Lisa Scott, left, and Thom Roberts, right. Shipping is an additional $10, so order one for yourself while you're at it. FOR THE FASHION ICON Sturt's Desert Pea Socks from Julie White, $30 Adelaide-based designer Julie White creates bold and colourful designs inspired by Australian flora and fauna. She draws all the designs by hand, including ones of lorikeets, midnight orchids and Sturt's desert peas. Her head and neck scarves are 100-percent silk, and the silky-feel knee-high socks are nylon. If your secret santa budget is $30, order a set of statement socks for the most fashionable person in your workplace. They'll feel seen. And, as a treat for you, shipping is free within Australia for orders over $30. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here. If you are a small business owner, Square has guidance on how best to maximise sales in the run up to the Christmas holiday period in its ebook, found here.
If you've ever picked up a loved one at the airport, sometimes you might get caught up in the sheer beauty of the moment and simply not know what to say. Those in Amsterdam don't have to worry about becoming a stuttering emotional wreck anymore, as the Schiphol Airport Bannerxpress now allows people to print welcome home signs from a vending machine at the airport. The machine has been under development for the past three years, and recently made its debut at Schiphol Airport. Vending machines now house much more than your standard soft drink, as you can customise these signs with different sizes, fonts, artwork and themes. Depending on how fancy you banner is, this will set you back between 4 and 15 Euros. Depending on the popularity of the machine, Bannerxpress co-founder Thibaud Bruna says that there are plans to place the machines at sporting events and concerts. [via Trendhunter]
Ah, gin, how we love thee. Pretty bottles, lesser hangovers and the smell of botanicals in every sip. Bombay Sapphire are giving you the opportunity to embrace gin at its fullest by matching it to food at their annual pop-up event, Project Botanicals, happening September 8-18. There are ten different botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin, much more than just juniper. The dishes to be served at Project Botanicals have been tailored to bring out each of the botanicals – whether it's lemon peel, coriander, orris root or almond. Because Melburnians love their gin, tickets sold out quicker than you could say G&T. But, don't worry — you can still head along to the pop-up bar for your gin fix (no ticket needed) or try making a simplified version of it at home. This here is a simple version of the Orris Spice Trader – a blend of turmeric, lime and ginger beer with gin in a cocktail best paired with a coconut curry. ORRIS SPICE TRADER Botanical: Orris root INGREDIENTS 60ml x Bombay Sapphire gin 1 tsp x caster sugar 20ml x lime juice 120ml x ginger beer ¼ pinch x grated turmeric METHOD 1. Take a highball glass and add 20ml lime juice and 1 teaspoon of caster sugar. 2. Add ¼ pinch of grated turmeric. 3. Pour in 60ml Bombay and 120ml ginger beer and 4. Stir with ice. 5. Step up the botany further with the garnish – fresh mint. Images: Steven Woodburn. Project Botanicals will take place at Taxi Riverside from September 8-18. Unfortunately all tickets have sold out, but you can still drop by the pop-up bar from Thursday to Sunday. Get all the details here.
With its four-word title, Brisbane's latest music festival sends a clear message. After more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions, all of which have impacted the city's live music scene, this new event wants to let gigs go on. It wants to Let the Music Play, to be exact, and it's taking to multiple Fortitude Valley venues on Saturday, September 18 to make that statement — and to show Brisbanites a good time.. Taking place at the Fortitude Music Hall, The Zoo and outside at The Brightside, this fest 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 an impressive lineup that spans The Jungle Giants, Shag Rock, Nerve, Voiid, Concrete Surfers and more. Also appearing: supergroup Expo88, which features members of Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, Good Boy, Sweater Curse and Simi Lacroix. They'll ring in a few special guests, too, and play a selection of Brissie's greatest hits — so expect tunes by Powderfinger, Custard, Veronicas, The Go-Betweens, Violent Soho and Savage Garden, obviously. Top image: Vincent Shaw.
Oh Ye Denver Birds may have been flying around for a little while but they’re really about to spread their wings by releasing their debut album. Before that however they are embarking on a tour of migration around Australia with fellow upstarts megastick fanfare, from the faraway lands of New South Wales. Bad bird puns aside, these bands are not only amazing in general but also put on performances so good it’s mind blowing. Seriously, OYDB have been known to whip out a little Gwen Stefani and make it their own for all the hollaback girls (and boys) out there. Unsurprising really, considering both themselves and megastick fanfare are renowned for their ground-breaking indie pop music. Though they own different vibes, both will make you dance all night and work surprisingly well as tour mates. Before they fly (heh) down south, they’ll be playing Alhambra Lounge this Saturday and so I highly recommend heading along.
Paul Allam and David McGuinness opened Bourke St Bakery in 2004 and worked their way into the heart of inner-Sydney with their quality handmade baked goods. This month they will extend their reach to the city’s outskirts with the launch of The Bread & Butter Project, the 'Makers of Bakers', a social enterprise designed to skill-up the disenfranchised and take the tastes of Bourke St to high-end provedores, restaurants and cafes — it's an old-fashioned everybody wins scheme. The project will be starting up at their Marrickville bakery with six refugees coming on board from greater Sydney for a 12-month paid traineeship in the art of making some of this city's best bread. On graduation the trainees will not only have experience working at a high-standard bakery but be armed with TAFE-accredited credentials for the jobs marketplace. All profits from the enterprise will be reinvested back into the program, which hopes to double its intake of future bakers next year. But it's not just goodwill that will keep the bitter taste in your mouth at bay; the bread range is available on their website, and with offerings like a white chia and goji berry semi-sourdough, this initiative looks set to follow in the success of its older siblings, Bourke St Bakery and Wilbur's Place eatery. Bread & Butter will soon be available at DJs Food Halls in Bondi Junction and the CBD, along with Thomas Dux Crows Nest and from the Sydney Food Connect Organic Fruit and Vegetable Delivery Service. Bread will also be available direct to the public through local markets — The Entertainment Quarter and The Sydney Morning Herald Grower's Market in Pyrmont — and at select restaurants and cafes.
Harvest is back for its second year and the official lineup has now been announced. International favourites on the lineup include Beck, Sigur Ros, Grizzly Bear and Santigold. At Harvest's debut last year, festivalgoers witnessed performances from Portishead, The Flaming Lips, The National and TV On The Radio at what most hoped would be the first of many festivals to come. With rumours about the 2012 installation circulating for weeks, it was hard not to be excited when the full lineup for the November events came through at last. Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, June 28 at 9am from Harvest Festival, Oztix & Ticketek. Harvest Festival 2012 lineup: Beck Sigur Ros Grizzly Bear Mike Patton's Mondo Cane Santigold Beirut Cake The Dandy Warhols The Black Angels Chromatics Ozomatli Liars Ben Folds Five F**K Buttons The War on Drugs Dark Dark Dark Plus many more to be announced... Harvest 2012 dates: Sunday, November 11 at Melbourne's Werribee Park Saturday, November 17 at Sydney's Paramatta Park Sunday, November 18 at Brisbane's Botanic Gardens
It's been almost five years since all things Yayoi Kusama took over Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art and left everyone with colourful, dot-filled and pumpkin-shaped memories. But Brisbanites can actually spy one of her artworks, Eyes are Singing Out, whenever they want to — and by simply going for a walk in the city. If you weren't aware of that handy local tidbit, now you've just learned something. This town of ours boasts more than a few pieces of standout outdoor art, in fact, but it can be easy to mosey past it all and not pay these works enough attention. That's where Museum of Brisbane's new Public Art Walking Tour comes in — and it'll have you seeing and appreciating Brissie in a whole new way. Starting at City Hall at 2.30pm most Fridays and Saturdays, this tour will take you to a range of eye-catching pieces sitting in plain view. Expect to see works from more than a century ago, far more recent installations and everything in-between. Don't just walk around looking at your phone like so many of us usually do, obviously. [caption id="attachment_804862" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
Getting stuck in the Upside Down mustn't be fun. Fighting demogorgons really wouldn't be either. And, neither would being imprisoned in a Russian jail, fighting secret government agents and seeing your home town rocked by a satanic panic-style witch-hunt. They're all among the grim things that Stranger Things has thrown its characters' ways over the years, including in the just-dropped first half of its long-awaited fourth season — and now waiting for the final two episodes in the season isn't that much fun as well. Obviously, spending the entire month of June listening to Kate Bush is on most Netflix viewers' agendas. But if you're after a bit more than that, the streaming platform has just released its first teaser trailer for the second volume of Stranger Things season four. Due to arrive on Friday, July 1, it'll dive back into the current tussle with Vecna — although, as this clip shows, he's decided that no one can stop his chaos now. The new sneak peek is brief, and it won't make any sense if you haven't already seen what the residents of Hawkins, Indiana have been up to lately. It still keeps the hefty slasher and horror vibes going, though, and teases another showdown between Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong) and the series' new big bad. Need a refresher on where things are up to? Season four is set six months after the season three's battle of Starcourt, and sees Eleven living in Lenora Hills, California, with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp, Waiting for Anya), his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The Souvenir Part II) and their mother Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America). But, despite her claims that things are sunny — in letters to her boyfriend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), of course — they really aren't. The same proves true back in Hawkins, too. There, teens are turning up dead, and metal-loving outcast Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn, Small Axe) — who also runs the high school Dungeons & Dragons club — is the prime suspect. Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink, Fear Street) and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy) all know better, though, and enlist help from Steve Harrington (Joe Keery, Free Guy), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke, Fear Street) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer, Things Seen & Heard) to work out what's going on. That's the basic overview — with season four so far also spanning nods to 80s flicks aplenty, a wonderful horror cameo, explorations of Eleven's past and powers, road trips, and Jim Hopper's (David Harbour, Black Widow) whole situation in a Soviet gulag. As for what'll happen next, things look as eerie, tense and chilling as ever. And no, the new trailer isn't set to 'Running Up That Hill'. Check out the first sneak peek at Stranger Things season four volume two below: The first seven episodes of Stranger Things season four are available to stream now via Netflix, with the remaining two set to follow on Friday, July 1. Read our full review of Stranger Things season four volume one.
Any film that critics compare to being "stabbed in the head" would normally be something that people would want to avoid. But when it comes to The Room, the harsher the reviews the better. The 2003 melodrama, about a love triangle between a banker, his best friend and his treacherous fiance, has spawned a massive cult following, with audiences all around the world coming together at late-night screenings to celebrate its cringe-worthy performances, horrendous dialogue and baffling, incomprehensible plot. The mad genius behind The Room is its writer-director-producer-star, the mysterious Tommy Wiseau. Blessed with a confidence that far exceeds his ability, it's Wiseau's virtuosic incompetence that plays a huge part in the movie's appeal. Interviews with Wiseau tend to raise more questions than they answer. A more forthcoming subject is actor Greg Sestero, who co-stars as the best friend, Mark. Sestero recently co-penned a book, titled The Disaster Artist, full of behind-the-scenes stories about the movies' turbulent production. In the lead-up to a promotional visit to Australia, Sestero spoke to Concrete Playground about the book, Wiseau and his dubious double-edged fame. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mQ4KzClb1C4 When you meet Tommy Wiseau "He was the ultimate character," remembers Sestero of his and Wiseau's first meeting, in a Los Angeles acting class back in 1998. "He didn't take no for an answer. As a nineteen-year-old aspiring actor who was doubting myself, he was the perfect person for me to meet at that point in my life." Slowly, the two became friend. Even so, when Wiseau first approached Sestero about making the movie, the actor was reluctant. "I agreed to help him make the film behind the scenes, [but] he really wanted me to be in it," says Sestero. "The night before filming he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I was an unemployed actor working retail, and I didn't think anybody would see it. Fortunately I was wrong." Production proved a disaster, with cast and crew members regularly quitting or being fired over the course of the six month shoot. "You were dealing with somebody who had never made a film," says Sestero. "He wanted to honour his vision, and anybody who got in the way was shown the door. It was a very trying experience for a lot of people … but he had a very unique way of making art, and more power to him. Unique stands out, and here we are eleven years later, still talking about The Room." When you want fame but get notoriety "I always thought the movie was very funny and very campy, but I was shocked when it found an audience," says Sestero. "It developed a small LA fanbase around 2005, 2006, and then there was an article written in Entertainment Weekly that really blew it up. It wasn't until 2010 that I did an appearance at a theatre in New York at which twelve hundred people showed up. I think at that point I realised The Room had arrived." Of his own performance, and the questionable celebrity the film brought him, the actor remains upbeat. "For something that I just phoned in and didn't expect anything from, I can't really complain," says Sestero. "When you put yourself out there and you read bad things about yourself, it stings. But with this project I was kind of in on the joke from the beginning." And frankly, no one would argue that the cast didn't have their work cut out for them. "With the dialogue, even if you did try to act well, you would have been doomed," reflects the actor. "Even Daniel Day-Lewis probably would have had some trouble getting those lines out." When James Franco and Seth Rogen want to act out your memoirs "I think the book has kind of redeemed the whole experience," says Sestero. "Ever since I made this movie, there were so many crazy stories. I thought that if I took them to a publisher, they wouldn't even believe it as fiction. Then as time went on and the cult began to grow, I felt like the story behind it became even more compelling." Now, in a fittingly strange turn of events, James Franco and Seth Rogen have announced that they'll be adapting the memoir into a film. Franco will direct, while his younger brother Dave will play Sestero. "It's still in the early stages, but I think James Franco and Seth Rogen have made so many great films," says Sestero. "They're a great fit for the project." Despite all The Room has done for him, Sestero is looking forward to moving on. "At the end of the day, it's really Tommy's movie," says Sestero. "It's what really defines him. I think we were all just passengers on this ship. The book was a start to doing things that I'm really excited about, and to kind of show that there's more to me than just this bad movie."
Remember March 2020, when lockdowns first hit, panic-buying toilet paper became a thing and everyone watched the same true-crime docoseries? It now seems like an eternity ago, but our memories do still stretch back that far. We'll all always equate the beginning of the pandemic with Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, after all, and do the same when it comes to last year in general and Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin-related news. Netflix isn't done with all you cool cats and kittens just just yet, however. When Tiger King became a huge hit, another season of the docuseries itself was floated — and now the streamer has confirmed that Tiger King 2 will surface before 2021 is over. Exactly what it'll focus on hasn't yet been revealed, but an incarcerated Exotic pops up in the brief snippets seen in the platform's new trailer for its upcoming true-crime slate. Also featured: Baskin, obviously. Last year, when news of more Tiger King first did the rounds, it was expected that the filmmakers behind the popular doco would actually turn their attention to a different big cat-related tale: the 2003 mauling attack at a Siegfried and Roy show. That might still come to fruition; however, for now, all you cool cats and kittens are heading back to familiar territory. And yes, other projects leapt on the Joe Exotic bandwagon over the past 18 months, endeavouring to capitalise upon the worldwide obsession with him, Baskin and the duo's strange intertwined story. So, in the near future, you'll also be watching a dramatised series with Kate McKinnon as Baskin that's been shooting in Australia this year. Sadly, another drama with Nicolas Cage as Exotic that was announced last year has since been scrapped. Back to Netflix, the platform also has four other big true-crime titles in the works. In January 2022, three-part series The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman will hit the service, with the filmmakers behind The Imposter telling a tale that dates back to 2005 but still has new developments today. Then, in February 2022, get ready for The Tinder Swindler, a film that's clearly about another conman — one who posed as a billionaire playboy on Tinder — and the women who decided to bring him down. Also arriving next year sometime is movie Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King, about investors trying to get to the truth behind cryptocurrency multimillionaire Gerry Cotten's suspicious death, and also attempting to find the missing $250 million they think he stole. And then there's Bad Vegan, a series that sees celebrity restaurateur Sarma Melngailis get scammed out of millions after a man convinces her that he can grow her food empire and make her beloved pit bull immortal. Yes, really. Check out the teaser trailer for Netflix's true-crime slate below: Tiger King 2 will hit Netflix sometime before 2021 ends — we'll update you when an exact date is announced. For further information about the streaming platform's upcoming true-crime slate, head to the Netflix website.
It has been sixteen long years since Weezer last toured Australia. The thought of them coming back had long disappeared, but lo and behold, they return with a huge tour this week! The shows will include all of their greatest hits, plus some rare tracks that will surely be a treat for die-hard fans. Weezer dominated the 90’s with massive hits like ‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Say It Ain't So’, ‘Perfect Situation’, ‘Island in the Sun’, on albums like Pinkerton and The Blue Album. These albums have featured heavily in set-lists throughout Weezer’s recent tours, so long time fans and newcomers will not leave disappointed. Weezer will be supported by Cloud Control and Ball Park Music. Get a ticket now to ensure you don’t miss out on a great night of music.
The future is officially here, and the subject of many-a sci-fi novel and the dream of every comic book geek is set to become a mass-produceable reality. Google have been the brains and big bucks behind this astounding innovation, with the company's founder Sergey Brin stating that "you can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this." This story has been doing the rounds on social media in the recent weeks following California governor Jerry Brown's signing of SB1298, a law which makes driverless cars legal in the state of California. While the project is still in the prototype stage, Google's driverless cars have now done more than 300,000 miles of travel without incident, which at this stage makes them statistically safer than normal automobiles. According to Brin, driverless cars will revolutionise the way we travel and commute. Anyone, and they mean anyone, can "drive" Google's driverless cars, with the elderly, the young, the blind and perhaps most significantly the intoxicated all capable of operating the self-driving car. Similarly, traffic could become a thing of the past if we are to believe Brin's analysis. "Why does the congestion happen to begin with? The fact is that on a normally operating highway, cars take up a very small fraction of the space. Mostly it's just air between you the the car in front of you, to the sides of you, and so forth. Self-driving cars can actually 'chain together' and use the highways more efficiently, potentially eradicating congestion" he said. While the image of thousands of cars roaring down the highway "chained together" does really like sound something out of a Ridley Scott film, Google are confident this image could become a reality in the coming years. The big question for most people in the advent of self-driving cars has been one of safety. Can we trust these things or are we looking at some sort of Matrix-style revolution where artificial intelligence takes over the world? In terms of accidents, so far so good. The only significant accident involving a self-driving car occurred when a driver was operating the car in manual mode. Google as well has stated that self-driving cars will never run a red light and so we are close to reaching a point where driverless cars may not only be the most ultra-modern driving experience but also the safest. While there are a long list of "what ifs" Google are still trying to iron out and overcome, if you are hoping to turn your Prius into something worthy of a James Bond film, have a look at this video to see what the ever-closer future will look like.
On its face, Chicken People is about the cheery behind-the-scenes world of poultry competitions. It's a documentary about the people who live, breathe, and show (but generally do not eat) poultry, and is actually fairly educational for those who might not know much about our fair-feathered friends. More so than that though, it's a study of a small group of people who are just really, really passionate about what they do. Director Nicole Lucas Haimes takes viewers through a year in the life of some of the top competitors from the 2014 Ohio National Poultry Show, as they prep their prize birds for the same event 12 months later. There's Brian C, a singer and performer who has recently sacrificed his role in a stage show to devote more time to his obsession. There's Shari, a mum who has beaten alcoholism and now spends hours every week washing and blow-drying her prize silky breed chooks. And there's Brian K, an engineer who obsessively cross-breeds his chickens in the ultimate search for the perfect bird. What makes Chicken People such a charming portrait of something you probably have zero interest in is that it stays well and truly away from wtf territory. It doesn't condescend, patronise or alienate its subjects – it just follows them and provides the audience with handy pop-up facts about what makes the perfect chicken. Who knows when that information will come in handy. A touching aspect of the film is singer Brian C's parents, who have taken up the mantel of caring for his birds while he's away performing. They have no real interest in chickens and aren't particularly fond of the work, but they sure are fond of their son. His dad is a constant presence at the competitions with him, a sweet example of familial love and what you'll do for the ones you care about. Along the way, we also discover Shari's past battles with alcohol and mental health. When the 2015 Ohio competition is cancelled due to an outbreak of avian flu, she finds it hard to follow other competitors heading to a replacement comp in another state – being a greater distance away, she feels anxious being that far from her home. When she finally tells the camera that she's overcome her fears and has decided to head along, we realise just how invested in these chicken-mad folk we've become. If Chicken People has a problem, it's also kind of a strength: its subjects are just so damn lovely. There's no contrived drama, no bitchiness, and no bad words. The competitors all hug each other when the winners are announced, and even when Brian K sees his ex-girlfriend at the show, it results in a happy reunion. Perhaps viewers will yearn for a bit of swearing and stink eye. Then again, maybe we're better off with a nice doco about nice people to counteract all the nastiness in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ZShxa6wJ0
If you've ever played along with McDonald's regular Monopoly promotion, then you'll want to watch McMillion$. The marketing campaign itself is rather simple — handing out Monopoly tokens with burger purchases, which corresponds to the game's squares and lets customers win big. But in the 90s in America, someone worked out how to rig it and handpick the lucky folks taking home $1 million cheques, as well as other prizes. Smartly, McMillion$ plays this 100-percent true tale as a whodunnit. If you don't already know the details, we'd advise you to keep it that way until you watch the docuseries' six very compelling and very bingeable episodes. You might not think that a show that spends so much time talking to FBI agents in nondescript offices would prove quite so gripping, but the case they uncovered is both complex and jaw-dropping. The interviews with the promotion's controversial winners, and with other figures involved with the scam, also have to be seen to be believed.
Riparide is a new online venture which aims to provide surfers from around the globe with an easier means of coordinating holidays and trips. The brainchild of Australians Marion Law and Dane O’Shanassy, Riparide allows surfers to seek accomodation and equipment from locals at their destination. Conversely, surfers who would rather catch waves than go to work can offer their own services in return for cash. O’Shanassy stated that “we’ve gone to places where we know the people with boards and places to stay, but not everyone’s lucky enough to know people in, say, Hawaii.” This is a great service which will only tighten the global surfing community. Staying with other locals will also give you a greater insight into the area and a more authentic experience. Who knows, you might find yourself staying on the couch of the next Kelly Slater. [via PSFK]
A taste of the Mediterranean is coming to Riverbar and Kitchen this summer, with the Eagle Street Pier spot hosting an Italian-themed pop-up right through until the end of February. Every day across the season, you'll sit beneath umbrellas, grab Peronis from the beer cart, kick back amongst the Amalfi-inspired decor and soak in the river view. And, if you're gathering the gang and pretending you're all on vacation, you can all sip your way through a spritzes made with beer, Aperol, orange and lemonade. You can also treat your tastebuds to Italian bites, with the menu changing each month — starting with pancetta croquettes, kingfish crudo and octopus bruschetta in December. Plus, between Sunday, January 16–Sunday, January 30 when the Australian Open hits Melbourne, Riverbar will set up big screens. Cocktails, food, river views, tennis — that's how you level up your next sports-viewing session. And, in February, there'll be live music every weekend, including from Hatchie and DVNA. Entry is free, but booking a table in advance is recommended. [caption id="attachment_835579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption]
It was a sad day when Polaroid announced it was going to stop producing film. The iconic camera was used by artists Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe and nothing quite matches the simplicity and beautiful graininess of Polaroids. But now, you don't have to feel glum whenever you look at your photo wall - it's not all over yet. The clever clogs at Polaroid have found a way to keep the camera alive without using the traditional film. Meet the Polaroid Z340. It is a 14MP camera with a 2.7-inch LCD display and an integrated printer that produces 3x4-inch color prints. The printer uses inkless printing technology from Zink Imaging where special print paper has embedded dye crystals which are activated by heat to form the image. It's not cheap at $299.99, and a pack of 30 photos costs $19.99. But hey, instant gratification is priceless. Fingers crossed that the images will still have that dreamy imperfection that makes them unique.
Change is coming to The Witcher, with Henry Cavill (Zack Snyder's Justice League) set to relinquish Geralt of Rivia's icy locks after Netflix's hit fantasy series' upcoming third season. Before that big switch — which will see The Hunger Games, The Dressmaker and Independence Day: Resurgence's take over the role — fear is coming first, as the just-dropped first trailer for the show's next batch of episodes teases. "Now, for the first time, I understand real fear," growls Geralt to kick off the debut sneak peek at The Witcher season three — complete with his sword at the ready. Elsewhere, Ciri (Freya Allan, The Third Day) has ghost cavalry on her tail, while Yennefer (Anya Chalotra, The ABC Murders) has her own scares to deal with. Need a refresher on the story so far? Haven't watched the first two seasons yet? If The Witcher's name sounds familiar, that's because it's based on the short stories and novels of writer Andrzej Sapkowski — and, as well as being turned into comics, it was adapted the video game series of the same name. A Polish film and TV show also reached screens in the early 2000s, although they were poorly received. In the Netflix series, Cavill plays the witcher of the title. Geralt of Rivia is a monster hunter who prefers to work — aka slay beasts — alone in a realm called The Continent. But life has other plans for the lone wolf, forcing him to cross paths with powerful sorceress Yennefer and young princess Ciri. When it tosses a coin to its witcher again, season three will take its cues from Time of Contempt, the second book in Sapkowski's series. The new batch of episodes will hit streaming queues this winter Down Under, featuring eight instalments split into two parts. Volume 1 arrives on Thursday, June 29, with Volume 2 following on Thursday, July 27. One of Netflix's big successes, The Witcher has been renewed for a fourth season, too, which happened back in 2022 long before its third had a trailer or a release date — something that also occurred with season three before season two dropped as well, and with season two before season one debuted before that. But instead of Cavill as Geralt, Hemsworth will replace him, as also announced in 2022. The Witcher franchise doesn't just include the show itself, but also animated flick The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which hit Netflix in 2021. And, there's 2022 prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin, which takes place 1200 years before Geralt's time, spans four episodes and stars Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Witcher's third season below: The Witcher's third season will hit Netflix in winter 2023 Down Under, releasing in two parts — with Volume 1 arriving on Thursday, June 29 and Volume 2 on Thursday, July 27.
Located within Ovolo The Valley, Za Za Ta Bar & Kitchen already serves up a cruelty-free menu, with the restaurant switching to plant-based dishes back in 2020. For one night during this year's Brisbane Good Food Month, it's also welcoming in one of Australia's best-known names in the vegetarian space for an evening of vegetable-focused Middle Eastern cuisine. Owner of Melbourne's Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli, and also the creative culinary partner at the Victorian capital's new Lona Misa restaurant, Shannon Martinez has built up quite a name for herself — and she's bringing her skills to Brissie for one night on Wednesday, July 28. Alongside Za Za Ta's Israeli-born executive chef Roy Ner, Martinez will be overseeing a plant-based dinner — paired with drinks, naturally — with tickets costing $160 per person. [caption id="attachment_802683" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Shannon Martinez[/caption]
Australian fashion history is on display at the Museum of Brisbane until April 22, 2019. The CBD spot has opened the doors to its Easton Pearson Archive, with The Designers' Guide taking fans of fantastic garments through Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson's unique creations — pieces that are bold, distinctive and couldn't be created by anyone else. For aficionados of the label and newcomers alike, more than 200 items will be on display, showcasing the duo's many sources of inspiration (art, travel, film, literature and music... the list goes on). To explore the thinking behind their work, and behind the fashion house's 28-year run, the exhibition also features sketches, accessories and samples. Want to dive deeper? There's also a wealth of look books, photographs and interviews. It's the first major look at the Easton Pearson Archive, which MoB received last year — all 3300 garments and 5000-plus objects, accessories and the like. If that sounds huge, the total archive is the biggest collection from a single Australian fashion house that's held by a public art gallery or museum. Entry costs $12, or you can nab a season pass for $20 and go back whenever you like. Tours, talks, workshops, stylist speed-dating sessions and a whole weekend dedicated to slow fashion are also on the agenda throughout the showcase's season. Images: David Kelly.
Aaah, the dating game. I have been lucky enough to be out of it for a few years now but sometimes while listening to girlfriends talk about the fluttery, excited butterflies of the first date I long to be back there. Though when I hear about the ‘being stood up’, split bills and STD scenarios, I thank my lucky stars I am out of the whole fraught scene! Whether you are navigating the game, or remember intimately the highs and lows of that time in your life, Often I Find That I Am Naked is sure to appeal. It tells the story of Jezebel, a modern single girl attempting to find love in all the wrong places. This cabaret comedy is sure to draw you in as Jezebel optimistically talks very openly about her experiences. Unfortunately she has not found love yet, but does find herself naked and alone in a stranger’s bed with scary regularity. This play holds no punches in exposing the perils and pitfalls of dating in the 21st century. It’s a little bit Sex and the City, a little bit Bridget Jones, and is sure to have all the single ladies (and the taken ones too) nodding along to Jezebel’s story.
When Brisbane Winter Sessions was born back in 2021 in the thick of the early pandemic, the River City's live music scene needed the kind of love that only people heading out to see gigs can bring. Three years later, stay-at-home orders and venue restrictions may no longer be a daily reality, but the industry is still struggling in the aftermath of COVID-19's impact. Case in point: the heartbreaking closure of Fortitude Valley institution The Zoo, which shut its doors forever in July. Brisbane doesn't lack in reasons to catch live tunes every weekend — and every day of the week as well — but there's nothing like a festival to encourage everyone to spend their nights checking out bands. That was Brisbane Winter Sessions' original aim, too, and it remains now that it's back for its latest run across Monday, August 5–Sunday, August 18, 2024. [caption id="attachment_870969" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] Two weeks, 70-plus acts, 15 venues: that's the maths behind this year's event. Brisbane Winter Sessions is headed not only to The Tivoli, The Triffid, The Princess Theatre, The Brightside and Lefty's Music Hall, but also to Black Bear Lodge, Greaser Bar, La La Land, The Junk Bar and The Bearded Lady — and to California Lane, Can You Keep a Secret, It's Still a Secret, The Cave Inn and Kemp Place Park as well. The lineup includes overseas and local names, with Ride, Fazerdaze, Last Dinosaurs and Mercury Rev leading the bill, plus everyone from Katie Noonan, Tyrone Noonan, Karl S Williams, Bean Magazine and Liminal, Golden Sound, Nikolaine Martin, Jen-E and Kid Kenobi. DJ Katch, Ben Ely's Mungo Fungo Band, tunes courtesy of the Brisbane Underground Jazz Club: the list goes on. [caption id="attachment_871206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vincent Shaw[/caption] "It's fantastic to see the festival return and showcase our city's music scene. Local talent will perform, along with emerging artists and established international acts, so there's something for everyone" said Tyrone Noonan, announcing this year's program. Not only is he on the bill, but the ARIA-winner is the fest's organiser and producer. 2024's Brisbane Winter Sessions spans free sessions aplenty, both indoors and outdoors. Some not only support live music but raise money for a great cause, such as the Raising the Roof fundraiser for Brisbane Youth Service at Black Bear Lodge. Others have a high-school reunion theme, which The Brightside is playing host to on Ekka holiday eve. The return of Planet of the Breaks is on the lineup as well, taking place at La La Land. Then, wrapping up the event is fest-within-the-fest That Sound Over the Fence at The Triffid. [caption id="attachment_711489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Brightside[/caption] [caption id="attachment_870963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Griffin[/caption] Brisbane Winter Sessions 2024 Venues: Black Bear Lodge California Lane Can You Keep a Secret Greaser Bar It's Still a Secret La La Land Lefty's Music Hall The Bearded Lady The Brightside Brisbane The Cave Inn The Junk Bar The Princess Theatre The Tivoli The Triffid Kemp Place Park Brisbane Winter Sessions 2024 Lineup: Ride Mercury Rev Last Dinosaurs Fazerdaze Katie Noonan Karl S Williams Samara Ash McCarthy Clare Cowley L.I.E — Jolie Poetic Chaos DJ El Delpha DJ Bobby Love DJ T-Bone Left Cassette Max Bader & The Upstairs Neighbours Harley Ashtray Avenue Whitt's End Katy L Bedford Sarah Stockholm Tyrone Noonan Trio Liminal Jack Tully & The Seers Belligerent Goat OK-36 Palena News to Me The Rebel's Grace Opaque Space Sabrina Lawie Nikolaine Martin Duo Estampa Bean Magazine Samm Square Rolling Cowgirl Brooke Schubert Trio Max Drag Queen DJ Jesse Boyd Luna Thicc Freya Armani Richie Lestrange Harry K James Mcintyre Trio Golden Sound Brisbane Underground Jazz Club Kid Kenobi Mc Shureshock Vinyl Slingers (live) Jen-E Kenny Beeper DJ Tyrone DJ Ravi DJ Katch DJ Rousey Adjoa Arse Ben Ely's Mungo Fungo Band Chimers Craning Fenrir Fleur Fatale Holding Pattern Hott Sexx Joe Hanmer Keep on Dancin's Locust Revival Lunar Dirt Lurid Orb Sacred Hearts Totally Unicorn Yirinda [caption id="attachment_707293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Black Bear Lodge[/caption] Brisbane Winter Sessions 2024 takes place between Monday, August 5–Sunday, August 18 across venues in inner-city Brisbane. For further details and to grab tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image:.
When it was first published in 2011, A Discovery of Witches swiftly became a bestseller. Thankfully for readers instantly enamoured with Deborah Harkness' supernatural novel, there was more where that came from. The book was just the first instalment in the All Souls trilogy, with its follow-ups arriving in 2012 and 2014 — and, since 2018, fans have been able to watch a TV adaptation starring Australian actor Teresa Palmer as a Yale University historian and witch, as well as Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode as a biochemistry professor and vampire. Palmer plays Diana Bishop, with A Discovery of Witches chronicling her story after she finds a bewitched manuscript and gets reluctantly drawn back into the magical world. Where the show's first season charted her initial efforts to protect the enchanted text, known as Ashmole 782, the currently screening second season kicks off with a jump back to London more than four centuries ago.
Drinking a beverage and watching a band ranks among life's simplest pleasures. Enjoying one of hundreds of craft beers and ciders from around 50 independent brewers and cideries, while being entertained by DMA'S, Something for Kate, Alex the Astronaut, WAAX, West Thebarton and new super group Loser — now that's how you take something great and make it even better. Ensuring a good time is had by all is part of the aim of the Beer InCider Experience, which is returning a little earlier in 2019. It's holding a one-day fest on Saturday, March 9 — but it's a different time, same place, same ace day kind of situation. As always, the event will showcase the best in brews and music, and throw in some delicious food and fun entertainment options. And, like last year, the tasting festival is taking over the Brisbane Showgrounds. Felons, Gage Roads, Green Beacon, Stone and Wood, Young Henrys, Balter, Burleigh Brewing, Brick Lane, Slipstream and Kaiju are among the breweries that'll be quenching your thirst for lagers, ales and more, plus Golden Axe, Batlow, Flying Brick and others on the cider front. Expect collaborative beverages and exclusive brews made just for the day, plus local food-slinging folks helping to line your stomach, and even a bout of ping pong. Yes, this truly is the ultimate in drinks-focused festivals. Tickets start from $45 and are on sale now. Images: Beer InCider. Updated January 7.
It has won 11 Tony Awards. It's one of the Obamas' favourite musicals. A filmed version of its Broadway production was nominated for several Golden Globes. Now Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing musical Hamilton is finally making its way to Australia, with its Sydney Lyric Theatre season kicking off on March 17 — and, if you're as keen to attend as its namesake was about American politics in the 18th century, you just might be able to nab yourself a cheap ticket. As happened with The Book of Mormon before it — and is presently happening with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's current Melbourne season, too — a ticket lottery is being held for Hamilton. And, this one is cheap. Very cheap, in fact. Via Today Tix, you can sign up for your chance to score a ticket for just $10. Yes, that figure is accurate. You won't want to throw away your shot to see the most talked-about musical of the decade for less than the price of a cocktail. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the Today Tix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each Friday for the next week's performances. The lottery will go live at 12.01am every Friday morning, starting from March 5, with winners drawn between 1–6pm on the following Thursday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. If you need a reminder, you can also sign up for lottery alerts via Today Tix, too. [caption id="attachment_731122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joan Marcus[/caption] The critically acclaimed hip hop musical, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book, is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America. As well as its 11 Tony Awards, which include Best Musical, it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. After hitting Broadway in 2015, then West End in 2017, Australians are finally getting their turn. Usually, tickets will set you back $70–250 a pop — so the $10 lottery really is an absolute bargain. There's no word yet on whether Hamilton will head to other Aussie cities later on. It's possible, as other big musicals, such as The Book of Mormons, have. But, if you don't want to risk it, those located interstate should to start planning a trip ASAP — we think it'll be more than worth it. Of course, if you're hoping to make the journey to NSW from elsewhere, you'll want to keep an eye on internal border requirements. This isn't Miranda's first musical to hit Australia, either, with his take on the classic 2000s film Bring It On: The Musical hitting Melbourne in 2018 and quadruple Tony Award-winning In The Heights playing a short season at the Sydney Opera House in 2019. In the meantime, you can watch the filmed version of Hamilton with the original Broadway cast on Disney+ — yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard. Hamilton will make its Australian premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from Wednesday, March 17–Sunday, September 5, 2021. To enter the Today Tix $10 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Hamilton, Broadway. Photos by Joan Marcus.
If you find that your temptation to play World of Warcraft greatly outweighs any need to talk to friends, eat food or breathe fresh air, you may be suffering from an addiction to the internet. And now the detrimental effects of spending hours online may be solidified in the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," a widely-cited guide for medical practitioners and others in the field. There are proposals for internet addiction to be classified as a substance-related disorder in the manual, which is due to be published again in mid-2013. This proposal is hardly surprising, given that a recent survey of 250 people in the journal Psychological Studies found that people had a greater urge to check Facebook than have a cigarette or alcoholic beverage. So how can we do we classify somebody as a certified internet addict? Many of us use the internet for hours on end, either for leisure or employment purposes. Dr. Jerald L. Block stated in the American Journal of Psychiatry that symptoms include "excessive use... withdrawal... and negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue." Oh no. Sounds like me on weekdays. If internet addiction is indeed classified as a mental illness, it will be interesting to see how this affects the community at large. Will more people begin to blame their crimes and failures on the crippling need to get a fix of Facebook? If so, how will the legal system respond to this new-found mental illness? Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how one gets cured of internet addiction. Maybe a healthy dose of television will do the trick.
Remember the animation devices of ancient times, such as the zoetrope, praxinoscope and phenakistoscope? No, of course you don't. Fortunately, we have artist and technician Richard Balzer, who has taken it upon himself to perform the necessary updates. For more than 30 years, he has been dipping into cabinets of curiosity and combing through flea markets in order to find detailed drawings, diagrams and photographs from the old world and breathe new life into them through the popular gif image. From an early fascination with the magic lantern, Balzer has accumulated a comprehensive collection of optic toys and illustrations. These forms of visual entertainment were originally developed as an attempt to better understand the functioning of the eye and the brain. Enthralled by the phenomenon of illusory movement, Balzer has spent the last five years curating a virtual museum, bringing the image-making magic of these devices to the web. Peruse the catalogue and uncover innumerable psychedelic head-spinners, from galloping devils to backflipping knights in armour to monstrous faces swallowing and re-swallowing each other. Balzer's aim is simply to share his passion with as wide an audience as possible, whilst preserving and digitising an art archive on the verge of being forgotten. Via psfk and Colossal.
What's better than eating pizza? Not much, really. But watching master chefs take part in a round of pizza acrobatics sounds like a great way to work up an appetite, doesn't it? [caption id="attachment_1020417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] That's just one of the events on offer at Festitalia, Brisbane's annual celebration of all things Italian. Yes, plenty of other Italian-themed festivities pop up across the year, but this is the only official shindig hosted by the Italian Consulate in Brisbane and the Italian Embassy in Canberra. On September 7, they'll fill Brisbane Showgrounds with artists, entertainers, dancers, singers and performers — and food experiences, of course. Toast to Italy with a cheeky limoncello and eat your way through the country with over 30 stalls dishing out everything from espresso, cannoli and gnocchi to tiramisu, biscotti and gelato. You can catch live cooking demos by Italian chefs, then dig into regional delicacies like spiedini (Italian-style kebab), fritto miso (battered bites) and risotto. It's also the perfect spot to celebrate Father's Day — especially if dad's into fine wine, vintage Italian cars, or just a bit of friendly competition. Festitalia's quirky contests include Best-Dressed Italian Dad, Nonna's Slipper Throw and even Dad with the Biggest Pancia (belly!). Families can also get in on traditional games like tira molla (tug of war) and Italian-style musical statues. When you're not eating or competing, there's plenty more to explore. You can wander through a Roman military camp, try your hand at Prima Spada fencing, enjoy a live opera performance and more. [caption id="attachment_1020418" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Piotr Grzankowski[/caption]
Once upon a time it was only the elite English folks and those with country club memberships that could indulge in the luxuries of high tea. The traditional high tea has a viciously exclusive yet delicious past. Even though it’s far more commonplace now, it’s still hard to find purveyors of cupcakes and cucumber sandwiches that aren’t over run with snooty Grandma’s. Although an unexpected place to look, the Queensland Cricketers' Club hosts high teas how they should be done: Monday to Friday weekly. In an Australian twist on the high tea after sports ritual, cricket has never looked more appealing to those who favour pearls and twinsets. You can eat dainty sandwiches, sip tea and indulge in pretty cakes until your heart's content. And if you were still aiming to maintain some upper class behaviour and associations, rest easy as the tea is served in Sir Donald Bradman’s room at the club. And the cherry on top of the cake? It’s served every day, meaning less crowds to eavesdrop on your scandalous upper class tales. Excuses are for the bourgeoisie; food and drink is a million times better in miniature.
UPDATE: MARCH 17, 2020 — The Queensland Performing Arts Centre has announced that it will close down all theatres from Tuesday, March 17 until at least Thursday, April 30 "following the meeting of the National Cabinet and the Australian Prime Minister's direction". That affects all shows due to be held during that period, including the entire Brisbane season of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Ticket holders will receive a full refund. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Everyone's favourite 'candy man' hit Aussie shores in January, with the smash-hit musical production of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory premiering in Sydney. Soon after, it was revealed that the show would also travel to Melbourne this August. And now, it's Brisbane's turn, with the announcement that the musical will also do a season at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre Lyric Theatre — starting on March 20, 2020. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year and selling out a heap of shows in Sydney. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?=4&v=CAGaVo1z53o Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Brisbane season will kick off on March 20, 2020, with tickets on sale now. Tickets are currently available for dates up to April 5, 2020. Top image: Brian Geach. Updated July 20.
Yoga lovers of Brisbane, it's time to unleash your flexibility in a former prison. It's time to take a spooky tour of the place, too. It's October, which means that it's Halloween time — and while combining bending and stretching with ghost stories mightn't have been on your to-do list before, it should be now. This city is rather fond of creative yoga sessions, of course, spanning everything from mountaintop yoga and yoga on a pier to beer yoga and yoga with llamas. Still, this Boggo Road Gaol class on Saturday, October 31 is something particularly adventurous. Doing downward dog as you're in the middle of quite the historic spot is just the beginning, as afterwards you'll be hearing about and wandering through the site's haunted history. Places are limited, so if you're keen to step inside the jail for this unique session, you'll need to snap up a ticket before Monday, October 19. All of the fun kicks off at 4.30pm, and you're asked to bring your own mat, water, comfortable clothes, enclosed shoes and torch. Also, this is one Halloween event where you can't dress up in horror-themed costumes.
Cross your fingers, dog lovers — here's hoping that your four-legged friend feels like heading to a brewery. From 1–5pm on Saturday, August 27, Ballistic Beer Co will be turning its Salisbury space into a pupper wonderland, all while people knock back a pint or several. On the Dogs Go Ballistic agenda: craft brews (obviously), dog-centric market stalls, canine activities, an obligatory dog show, a chance to raise money for dog rescue organisations, and live music. We can't promise that the latter will feature pooch-related tunes, but perhaps both you and Fido will be wondering who let the dogs out, asking if the dog days are over and crying all the time like a hound dog. Entry is free, and all woofers great and small are welcome at the picnic-style event — although these very good doggos must stay on their leashes. And, your pupper can compete in a few contests like they're in Best in Show, including vying for the best dressed and best trick titles.
It has been almost three months since Queensland closed its borders to Greater Sydney, making the Sunshine State off limits to residents of specific local government areas in the New South Wales capital. Over that period, the status of Queensland's borders has changed multiple times — as it has throughout much of 2020 — including shutting out all of NSW, then reopening to areas down to Byron Bay. But Sydneysiders won't be able to make the trip up north anytime soon. Today, Friday, October 30, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Queensland will remain closed to folks from 32 local government areas in Sydney. On the list: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ku-Ring-Gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, The Hills Shire, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Woollahra and Sydney Harbour (Unincorporated). The Queensland border will also remain shut to people in Victoria, covering the entire state. In good news for NSW residents outside of Sydney, however — and for Queenslanders keen to head to parts of the state without quarantining upon their return — Premier Palaszczuk also revealed that the Sunshine State will open up to the rest of NSW come 1am on Tuesday, November 3. The announcement arrives a day before Queensland's next state election, which takes place on Saturday, October 31. Back in August, Premier Palaszczuk had already noted that the state was unlikely to reopen its borders to Victoria and Sydney until there has been no community transmission in those areas, so today's news wasn't unexpected. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1321968426349256704 Going into detail about the decision, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "it is all about numbers. There are 4.8 million people who live in those 32 LGAs in Sydney. They are the risk, they are the ones moving around". She also noted that there have not been any cases in the past 28 days outside of those 32 LGAs, hence the move to open Queensland up to the rest of NSW. If you're a Queenslander now keen on a southern getaway, you can do so by flying via Sydney airport at Mascot — and that isn't counted as entering one of the 32 LGAs. But you can only travel through the airport, flying in and then flying out to somewhere outside of Greater Sydney. If you go anywhere else in the city, the quarantine rules come into effect upon your return back north. Whichever way you're heading — whether you're a NSW resident from outside of Greater Sydney who is keen to come to Queensland, or a resident of the latter eager to venture beyond the state's borders for a bit and then come home — you will still need a border pass. It isn't required to leave the state, but NSW folks will need one to enter and Queenslanders will need one to come back. To obtain a pass, you'll need to apply online, with each one valid for seven days. Regarding when Queensland might open to Greater Sydney, Dr Young said that she couldn't predict a date. "I genuinely do not know — it depends what happens with the virus. We are learning more and more about it every day. And what we are learning is that it is actually very contagious so we just have to look at the evidence, and I look at the evidence every single day, seven days a week, and work out what is the best advice." For more information about Queensland's border policies, head to the Queensland Government website.
The 79th Annual Wee Waa Show, while 'a highlight of the district calendar', was never destined to be more than a warm up for the big 'eight oh' in 2014. We all knew this. Of course, the 'Wee Waa Has Talent' contest (alongside the showgirl, wood chop and mouse racing competitions) is always a riot. And let's not forget the demolition derby! But the 80th Annual Wee Waa Show was the party on everyone's mind. Then along came two helmeted Frenchmen, whose music has been described as "a dafty punky thrash", with an announcement that would shake Wee Waa (and the entire internet) for weeks to come. Their new record Random Access Memories, out May 21 through Columbia Records, will be launched at the festival on the evening of Friday May 17. The global release party for Daft Punk's first studio album in eight years... in Wee Waa. And, unless you're already locked in as a 'wool steward' or wood chop competitor, chances are you missed out on the 4,000 tickets that were released and exhausted in April. But read on, oh readers, for we may have good news for the desperate Daft-devotees among you. Concrete Playground is giving readers the chance to win ten (!) tickets to the Daft Punk album launch at the Wee Waa Show. That's right, one lucky reader will get to take 9 of their friends along to the most hyped album launch OF ALL TIME. To go in the running, enter your details below. The competition is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Bianca Macliver.
