Games of Thrones is the world’s most pirated TV show, The Avengers made more than $1.5 billion at the box office and even the President of the United States once collected Spider Man comics. In other words, it’s pretty cool to be a nerd these days. Just ask avid Dungeons and Dragons player Vin Diesel. The ultimate celebration of everything geeky, the Supanova Pop Culture Expo hits the Brisbane Convention Centre from November 28-30. From cosplay comps to comic book signings and photo opportunities with sci-fi and fantasy icons, it’s a three-day mecca of uninhibited, unironic nerdiness that attracts thousands of eager pilgrims every year. Of course such an event can seem overwhelming, especially to the uninitiated. So, whether you’ll be attending in your fully functioning Iron Man costume, or experiencing the convention for the very first time, here are our recommendations for getting the best out of Supanova 2014. Shop around for the zombie apocalypse A huge part of any convention experience is simply walking the floor and perusing the vendor booths. Browse through rare and classic comic books, hunt down elusive collectables, or arm yourself for the impending zombie apocalypse with custom designed swords and machetes. Just be sure to give the expo's weapons policy a read first. That’s right, there’s a weapons policy. Show your competitive side While it’s easy to stereotype con-goers as a mostly sedentary group of people, it turns out Supanova offers plenty of opportunity for rigorous physical exercise. Join an epic game of laser tag in a special inflatable arena, or get a crash-course in Harry Potter’s favourite pastime courtesy of the athletes at the Australian Quidditch Association. A pinball tournament probably doesn’t offer quite the same workout, admittedly, but an iPad to the winner is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Unleash some feels on King Joffrey Meet the men and women behind some of the biggest characters in geekdom. Faces on this year’s guest list include Game of Thrones' Jack Gleeson, Doctor Who companion Freema Agyeman, Whedonverse alum Ron Glass and Tom Lenk, plus authors, voice actors and comic book artists aplenty. Just be aware, when it comes to a lot of the bigger names, autographs and photos don’t always come free. For a full list of guests and their signing fees, go here. Learn the creative side of things Although we all know names like Gandalf and Dumbledore, the true wizards of science fiction and fantasy are the unsung visual effects artists. The Imagineer’s Playground will be present to give fans a close up look at the craft of costuming, special effects makeup, video game design and more. You can even get some 'how-to' tips and compete in the Supanova Fan Art Competition. Come in character (if you've got the guts) At the end of the day, it’s easy to separate the hardcore fans from the nerd-curious newbies by a quick glance at what they’re wearing. Anyone sporting Jedi robes, a Super Saiyan hair cut or any kind of jetpack has probably done this before. Whether you’re game enough to dress up yourself, there are sure to be plenty of elaborate costumes on display, with the very best on the catwalk for the Madman National Cosplay Championships. For more information on the Brisbane Supanova Pop Culture Expo, visit www.supanova.com.au. Image credits: David Chau, Ruben Schade and Jessica Truscott via Creative Commons.
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-M4qEmF268 FREAKY Blumhouse Productions has already turned Groundhog Day into a horror flick via Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U. It gave 70s TV series Fantasy Island an unsettling makeover, too, with downright awful results. Now, it's Freaky Friday's turn. Body-swap movies span far beyond films starring Jodie Foster (in 1976) and Lindsay Lohan (in 2003), but given that Freaky sets the bulk of its action on a Friday, it's clearly nodding in the obvious direction. The movie begins with a prelude on Wednesday the 11th (yes, not only will most of the chaos go down on a Friday, but it'll happen on Friday the 13th). In the opening scene, four small-town high schoolers do what teens do in the first moments of slasher flicks: talk, party and make out in an empty old mansion, then get killed by a mask-wearing psychopath. Before the quartet meets that fate, its members explain who is responsible. The Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) is known to have terrorised the area but, due to a lack of recent murders, the serial killer has mostly become an urban legend of late. Not only is the Butcher real, as writer/director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day and its sequel) and his co-scribe Michael Kennedy (Bordertown) quickly show, but he steals a cursed Aztec dagger that lets him swap bodies with his next victim. So, when shy teen Millie (Kathryn Newton, Big Little Lies) crosses his path, she wakes up in his very tall and male guise the next morning — and vice versa. That's great news for the Butcher, who can now blend in with the adolescents that he likes to murder. It's a troubling predicament for the bullied high schooler that suddenly looks like him, though. Given that Freaky sports a big twist right there in its premise, no one should expect a surprise-laden narrative here. It does add some depth to its high-concept horror-comedy idea, including calling out society's accepted notions of male power and making it plain that women are never seen in the same fashion, but the movie proves a patchwork affair overall. In other words, sometimes things fall into place entertainingly, and sometimes they don't. The slick, fast-paced flick is particularly engaging when it ramps up either the gore-splattered horror or the over-the-top comedy, though, and it sports top-notch lead casting choices. Indeed, without either Vaughn or Newton, it might've resembled The Hot Chick meets the worst Nightmare on Elm Street sequels rather than Freaky Friday meets Friday the 13th. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW_3aaoSOYg HILLBILLY ELEGY Adapted from the 2016 memoir that shares its name, Hillbilly Elegy is filled with Acting and a Message. Yes, those words should be capitalised. It's an awards-seeking showcase for its two big-name stars, Amy Adams and Glenn Close — neither of whom have an Oscar on their mantles despite 13 nominations between them (six for Adams, seven for Close). It's also a sombre-toned, melodramatic attempt to explain, presumably to the so-called 'coastal elites' that are often characterised as the enemy of ordinary Americans by certain sections of the country's media, that folks crudely nicknamed 'hillbillies' or 'rednecks' are people, too. And, although Ron Howard sits in the director's chair and screenwriter Vanessa Taylor also co-wrote The Shape of Water, Hillbilly Elegy is about as subtle as an Appalachian-born grandmother yelling at teenagers to get off her porch or she'll shoot them. That's something that happens in the film. There's a difference between unpacking stereotypes and propagating them and, despite its obvious intentions, Hillbilly Elegy falls firmly in the second category. A deglamourised Adams plays drug-addicted ex-nurse and single mother Bev. With just as much frizzy hair, Close steps into the shoes of Bev's mother, Mamaw, who gave birth to her when she was 13. Their lives haven't been easy, although they've each constantly strived to do what's best for their poverty-stricken family. Adams and Close give big, overt performances that make their character's struggles known in every fierce glare and public meltdown, but even their visible efforts — and the work they're putting in is always forcefully apparent — can't lift this simultaneously earnest and bland affair. The true tale is all actually seen through the eyes and memories of Bev's son and hardworking Yale law student JD (Gabriel Basso, The Big C). When his mum overdoses while he's trying to secure a summer internship with a prestigious firm in DC, he heads back home, looking back on his childhood (where the character is played by Paterson's Owen Asztalos) across both the hill country of Jackson, Kentucky and also the downtrodden Middletown, Ohio in the process. The real-life JD literally wrote the book, but all those words inspire here is formulaic, mawkish, over-the-top and often fittingly beige-hued awards-bait that noticeably says little about the world that it so superficially feigns to explore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYUO1xmwxTQ THE COMEBACK TRAIL It's never a great idea to fill a screenplay with verbal references to cinematic masterpieces gone by. If your movie doesn't come anywhere near close to matching Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho or Orson Welles' Touch of Evil, for instance, you've already inspired an unflattering comparison. Those classic titles are mentioned early in The Comeback Trail, and it's well and truly evident by then that this comedy will never sit in their company. Its predecessor certainly doesn't, with this Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones and Zach Braff-starring, 1970s-set film based on a 1982 movie of the same name. Here, De Niro and Braff play an uncle-nephew pair of movie producers, Max Barber and Walter Creason, who are known for making average-at-best flicks and even inspiring protests at their premieres — and it doesn't take long for viewers to wonder if the inescapably cheap-looking The Comeback Trail is indicative of the terrible and unsuccessful features pumped out by its central pair. After the aforementioned picketing of their latest release, the duo owe $350,000 to gangster Reggie Fontaine (Freeman). Max could sell a beloved script to a rival producer (Emile Hirsch) to rustle up the funds; however, he stumbles upon another plan instead. Soon, he's in even more debt to Reggie, but with a scam in mind — setting up a suicidal old western star, Duke Montana (Jones), for a big accident so that he can claim an insurance payout. Naturally, nothing pans out as it's supposed to, in a film filled from start to finish with laugh-free moments. Max and Walter try to explain to their female director (Kate Katzman) that she's a bad fit because they're making a manly film, which was never going to be funny. Max gets kicked by the horse he's trying to use to injure Duke, and that inspires zero hilarity, too. Contrived, predictable, strained and grating, The Comeback Trail squanders the three acting veterans among its cast. In fact, it makes you wish they'd be more selective with their on-screen choices. De Niro has worked with filmmaker George Gallo before, with the latter writing 1988 comedy Midnight Run, but their reunion couldn't be more painful — and De Niro couldn't be further away from his excellent efforts in The Irishman just last year. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables, The New Mutants, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Translators, An American Pickle, The High Note, On the Rocks, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Antebellum, Miss Juneteenth, Savage, I Am Greta, Rebecca, Kajillionaire, Baby Done, Corpus Christi, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive and Brazen Hussies. Top image: Hillbilly Elegy via Lacey Terrell/Netflix.
You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day and maybe a tad finer at night, but it's at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop when you're shopping the evening away — especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane's best designers and makers. The regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls — usually more than 60, in fact — all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. Returning for 2023, the event will host an eclectic selection of items, so prepare to browse and buy. You'll be perusing everything from handmade clothing, accessories and leather goods to paper goods, homewares, art and ceramics (and more). [caption id="attachment_666947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BrisStyle[/caption] This market is all about sound, smell and sales — so live music will provide a soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there's a soap stall around. Food stalls are also on the agenda, with 2023's slate of Friday-night markets held on September 22, October 27, November 10 and December 15. Each event runs from 4–9pm, so take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty. Top image: Brisbane City Council.
It's the excuse you need to stop for a drink on the way home from work — or even hit quittin' time a little early. Once Thursday and Friday roll around, Bar e'cco serves up $1.50 oysters from 4–6pm. The happy hour special is also available on Saturdays, too, if you're keen on slurping down some saltwater bivalve molluscs on the weekend as well. Happening across each of the three days every week until the end of 2019, this celebration of freshly shucked Tasmanian Pacific oysters also comes with a heftier option. Fancy tucking into half a dozen and pairing them with a glass of French rose? That's on the menu for $18. You'll also find Bar e'cco's usual array of eats and drinks on offer, including cocktails and charcuterie, should you feel like turning your visit into a long, lazy afternoon. Bar e'cco's $1.50 Oyster Happy Hour is available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4–6pm.
There's no such thing as too many parties — although if there was one venue that almost puts that idea to the test, it's The Brightside. In fact, their lineup is so jam-packed with get-togethers that they've combined two into one for their annual Ekka eve celebration. If you're a Blink 182 fan, then prepare to feast your ears on everything that has made the Californian pop-punksters the mainstays that they are, with Granola Boy playing a best-of Blink set. And if you're single and looking to mingle, the evening doubles as the latest Brighty traffic light party. Just make sure the colour of your outfit reflects your relationship status.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to one the above list of places from 1pm on Saturday, November 16, catch a bus to the other two and back until 7pm, and drink frothy ales at each. Entry is free, more than 30 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food and live music. Plus, obviously, just the general fun of soaking in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Image: Ballistic Beer Co.
Welcome to the Awesome Ocean Party, aka the party you never knew you always wanted to go to. Your host believes that she's half human and half octopus, and she'll be telling you a tale of romance, tragedy and yearning — plus more than a few legends from her amphibious family history — at her birthday celebration. At this surreal and silly shindig — which first premiered in Brisbane a few years back — you'll see Giema Contini in action. When it initially hit the stage, this was her first solo work, branching out after spending time with La Boite Theatre Company, Motherboard Productions and Dead Puppet Society. So exactly what does an Awesome Ocean Party entail? Songs, stories, plenty of talk about the sea and a whole lot of quirkiness. Running from Thursday, November 21–Sunday, November 24, it's part of this year's Wonderland festival at Brisbane Powerhouse, so expect it to be characteristically weird and wonderful.
Elton John summed it up perfectly: when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, her candle burned out long before her legend ever would. Six decades since her passing, the actor remains a Hollywood icon. Like Elvis, she may as well be mononymic. Her face is instantly recognisable, and still everywhere. Ana de Armas just received an Oscar nomination for playing her, after Michelle Williams earned one back in 2012 for also stepping into her shoes. And, the Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire star is also the subject of a sizeable exhibition heading to Australia for the first time: Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon. This Marilyn celebration will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney Town Hall, in the Lower Town Hall, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24. On display: more than 200 artefacts spanning Monroe's life, including handwritten notes, personal letters and other possessions. [caption id="attachment_905883" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New York Sunday News via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This is the largest Marilyn collection of its kind. Indeed, the objects set to grace the showcase stem from Ted Stampfer, owner the world's largest range of Marilyn items. With Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon, he's aiming to share insights into Monroe as a person, not just a celebrity — spanning her time in the spotlight, of course, but also back when she was Norma Jeane Mortenson. Stampfer will be on hand on opening day providing a curator's tour, as part of an events program accompanying the three-month memorabilia exhibition. Friday-night sessions will feature music and entertainment, and film screenings will also be part of the lineup, letting attendees experience Marilyn's movie magic for themselves. [caption id="attachment_905881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Jasgur, Ted Stampfer[/caption] As it celebrates the woman who scaled the heights of fame, became a household name, but received horrific scrutiny for her sex-symbol status and her love life — focusing on her hard work, not the stories spun about her — this'll be the only time that Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will open to the public in this form. "With rare insights and exclusive access to Marilyn's personal belongings, this exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the private world of this cultural icon," said Stampfer. "From humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, Marilyn Monroe remains an enduring cultural icon, whose life continues to fascinate and intrigue us to this day." [caption id="attachment_905878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ted Stampfer[/caption] Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will display at Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24 — head to the exhibition website for further details.
2019 is shaping up to be a mighty big year for Elton John. Biopic Rocketman launches into cinemas in May, starring Kingsman's Taron Egerton as the singer and covering his wild 70s antics. The live-action version of The Lion King hits screens come July, featuring the musician's iconic tunes from the original, as well as new songs. And to cap it all off, the star himself is headed our way for a huge farewell tour. Bringing his 300-stop Farewell Yellow Brick Road shows to Australia and New Zealand between November 2019 and February 2020, John will be doing over 40 concerts across more than two months — including gigs in capital cities, a number of regional dates, and shows at A Day on the Green. There are still a limited number of tickets available for his three shows at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. He kicked off the extensive tour last September, embarking on a three-year global goodbye trip. When it comes to an end, he'll retire from touring after five decades on the road. If that all sounds rather massive, that's John's career in a nutshell. He's played more than 4000 shows across his career, has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time thanks to the 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtVBCG6ThDk Fans can expect to feel the love through all of his hits, including 'Rocket Man', 'Tiny Dancer' 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting' — especially the latter, you'd expect, on his six Saturday shows. The concerts will also feature never-before-seen images and videos show from John's 50-year career, which'll be displayed throughout the show, as well as a new tour wardrobe designed by Gucci. Image: Ben Gibson.
Whenever cold weather hits, spotting Uniqlo fans isn't hard. The brand's puffy jackets and vests are a winter favourite all around the globe, after all. Indeed, the chain has put a lot of fabric and oh-so-much down out into the world, as seen on rugged-up torsos everywhere. But, as part of a new sustainability drive, the company is looking to cut down its environmental impact. If you have a Uniqlo down-filled coat or vest rolled up in its handy bag and sitting on your shelf, but you know you're not going to wear it again, the company now wants you to bring your unwanted pieces of clothing back to one of its stores. Australians can head in, return their worn down jackets and vests, and receive a $10 voucher for their efforts, with the clothing then being recycled via the chain's new Re.Uniqlo program. The $10 voucher offer is only available until June this year, you can only use them in-store (not online) and you'll have to use it on replacing your old down products with something new. But the down recycling project is here to stay, in an attempt to stop the jackets and vests ending up in landfill. As part of its efforts to make sustainable apparel, Uniqlo will expand the scheme to other clothing items down the line, too. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNIQLO AUSTRALIA (@uniqloau) If you're wondering how those returned items will be reused, Uniqlo is also launching a range of recycled down jackets in early April. They're made from 620,000 coats that were already collected in Japan since last September, and use the down and feathers previously in that big batch of jackets. For more information about Uniqlo's down recycling project and other recycling plans, head to the brand's website.
Nineties kids, Disney fans and everyone who's ever cried over a lion cub that just couldn't wait to be king, it's time to climb onto a rock and yell your lungs out. The circle of life has struck again, and The Lion King is back. It's in live-action form this time around, and the second teaser trailer for the new movie has just dropped. You can watch it here courtesy of Beyoncé. Yes, Beyoncé is in the new Lion King. Releasing in mid-2019, the film will once again tell the tale of Simba, who's set to take over the pride from his father Mufasa, only for his malicious uncle Scar to get in the way. You know where it goes from there — and you'll be hearing the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as his childhood pal Nala, and James Earl Jones as his dad. Yes, the latter is reprising his role from the original film. Other big names attached include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. Elton John is back working on the soundtrack with Tim Rice, as they both did on the first film. They'll reportedly have some help from Beyoncé, naturally, while The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau is in the director's chair for the entire production. If you're anxious about how it might turn out, it's worth taking Timon and Pumbaa's advice at this early stage — although this initial look should help get rid of your worries for the rest of your days. The Lion King hits Australian cinemas on July 18, 2019. We'll share the full-length trailer when it hits the internet.
Brisbanites, next time you head out for a bite to eat, to have drinks, see a movie or watch a footy match, you won't need to keep your mask on while you're seated. Today, Friday, September 24, marks a fortnight since Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last announced a change to Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions, and also confirmed that the rules around masks were remaining in place in many situations. These requirements are reviewed every two weeks, so they've just been assessed again — and the rules around masks have been given a slight tweak. At the state's daily COVID-19 press conference, Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles advised that "while we will be extending the restrictions related to masks, the Chief Health Officer has recommended some small changes. What that means is that once you are seated, you will be able to remove your mask. You don't need to wait until you're eating or drinking." The Deputy Premier continued: "that means when you go to the stadium and you are making your way through, you will need a mask through the gates, all the way through the concourse until you're seated. But once you're seated, you can remove the mask even if you're not eating and drinking." Miles also explained that the change will apply in all setting, including schools, hospitality and other venues. "When you go to a cafe, restaurant or licensed club, you won't have to wait until you have a drink at the table to remove your mask, you can take it off as soon as you are seated," the Deputy Premier said. You can now remove your mask while seated at work or school, or in venues such as theatres and cinemas. Teachers can also remove masks while teaching when socially distanced. — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 24, 2021 If you live in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim Local Government Areas, it has been some time since you've been able to flash your smile at people outside of your own home. Since the end of June, in an effort to stop the region's recent COVID-19 cases from spreading, wearing masks has been compulsory across the region, although that mandate relaxed slightly in mid-August. The rules that've been in place since then aren't going anywhere for now, though, other than this slight amendment to the requirements when you're sitting down — and that'll be the case for the next fortnight. Need a refresher on the rules? Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there — and, for the next two weeks, they'll remain mandatory in plenty of other spots. That includes on public transport, in ride shares and while waiting for both; in all indoor spaces other than your own home, including hospitality businesses, unless you're sitting down; in schools; and outdoors if you can't remain 1.5 metres away from people who aren't part of your household. Also, you will still need to always carry a mask with you. 📢 Mask wearing will be extended to Fri 8 Oct in SEQ. 😷 You must wear a face mask at all times in indoor spaces when standing and outdoors when you can't social distance. Masks can be removed while seated at work or school, and in venues. Full details: https://t.co/Zzv9jf6Pi5 pic.twitter.com/ONDrCXUID2 — Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) September 24, 2021 Queensland currently has 20 active COVID-19 cases, with zero new locally acquired case reported in the past 24 hours. And, as always, the usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms also still apply — as they have since March last year. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
Welcome to the Awesome Ocean Party, aka the party you never knew you always wanted to go to. Your host is half human and half octopus, and she'll be telling you a tale of love, loss, longing and legends of amphibious family histories at her birthday celebration. At this surreal and silly shindig, you'll share a drink, eat some cake and perhaps make a new friend or two. You'll also enjoy the public premiere of Giema Contini’s first solo work, with one of Brisbane's most celebrated performers branching out after her time working with La Boite Theatre Company, Motherboard Productions and Dead Puppet Society. May 14-16 and 21-23, 7.30pm. This is one of our top five picks of the Anywhere Festival. Check out the rest.
What starts with an anthology drama that tells eight tales by Western Sydney writers, then ends with Wes Anderson's latest? That'd be the 2021 Sydney Film Festival. Finally set to return to the city's big screens for a full festival run, the annual cinema showcase will unleash a lineup of 233 titles between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14 — beginning with Aussie effort Here Out West and ending with The French Dispatch. They're SFF's bookends for the year; however, with a full program that hefty — with 111 feature films, 50 documentaries and 72 short films, in fact — there's obviously much, much more where they came from. And, yes, the fest will be returning the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne and Ritz Cinema Randwick quite a bit later than usual. The 2021 event will be making its debut at Palace Central Broadway, Palace Chauvel Cinema Paddington and Palace Norton Street Leichhardt a few months after it originally planned, too, after this year's event initially shifted from its usual June dates to the end of August, then moved again to November due to Sydney's lengthy lockdown. And, while the 2020 festival completely moved online, the 2021 event is actually going hybrid. So, Sydneysiders can get their movie fix in-person for 12 days, complete with those quick jogs down George Street to dash between sessions, before checking out SFF On Demand from Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 21. Thanks to the latter, 56 feature-length films and 13 shorts will be available to watch digitally — not just locally, but nationally as well. During the fest's physical run, program highlights include the Timothée Chalamet-starring new version of Dune, 2021 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or winner Titane, Pedro Almodóvar and Penelope Cruz's latest collaboration Parallel Mothers, Broadway-to-cinema adaptation Dear Evan Hansen and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's latest A Hero. Still among the big-name titles, Aussie drama The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson sits among SFF's competition lineup, as does Memoria, the Tilda Swinton-starring English-language debut of Cemetery of Splendour filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul; and Petite Maman, the latest film by Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma. Or, there's Jane Campion's new film The Power of the Dog, which stars Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch; televangelist biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye with Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield; the Will Smith-led King Richard, about Venus and Serena' Williams' father; and Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish in The Card Counter. Two Berlinale Golden Bear winners are on the bill as well, thanks to 2020's There Is No Evil and 2021's Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn. And, SFF has kept a heap of its initially announced titles — from way back in June — such as Undine, Christian Petzold's Berlin-set, fable-inspired romance; and New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Old). There's also 2020 Sundance hit Zola, which is based on a lengthy 148-tweet Twitter thread; The Kids, which sees Australian filmmaker Eddie Martin (All This Mayhem) explore Larry Clark's 1995 film Kids; and three-time Sundance 2021 winner Hive, the first film to ever win the fest's Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Directing Award. Obviously, the list of standouts just keeps on keeping on. Wash My Soul in the River's Flow hones its focus on Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, following the couple as they prepare for 2004's Kura Tungar — Songs from the River — a collaboration between the First Nation artists, Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra; River is the latest musing on the planet we all call home by Sherpa director Jennifer Peedom; Cow sees American Honey director Andrea Arnold explore the existence of a dairy cow, and Bergman Island is the Tim Roth and Mia Wasikowska-starring new drama from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come). Also, Fist of Fury Noongar Daa dubs the Bruce Lee-starring Fist of Fury in an Aboriginal Australian language, and becomes the first feature to ever do so; SBS documentary Strong Female Lead, about media coverage of Julia Gillard's stint as Prime Minister, gets a big-screen berth; and SFF's usual lineups of family-friendly fare, wild and wonderful genre flicks, Aussie documentaries and features from talented female European filmmakers all return. Whether you're attending SFF in-person or watching along via SFF On Demand — or both — you'll clearly have plenty to watch in November. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival will now take place between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14. For further information, head to the festival website.
Just a few short weeks ago, when we were craving comedies to watch, we noted an important fact: that Parks and Recreation's Leslie Knope knows how to handle herself in a pandemic. She's already done so once, in a fifth-season episode of the beloved sitcom — and, while the show came to an end in 2015, viewers are about to see how the Pawnee, Indiana resident copes with the coronavirus. In a one-off special to raise money for US charity Feeding America, the cast of Parks and Recreation are reuniting to tackle COVID-19. And, more importantly, they'll be showing the world how their adored characters are managing at the moment. Adding another scripted instalment to the series, the show's stars will be resuming their on-screen alter egos, courtesy of a brand new episode that follows Leslie's (Amy Poehler) efforts to keep in touch with her friends while everyone is social distancing. The whole gang will be back, including not only Poehler as Leslie and her Making It co-host Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, but Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate-Dwyer, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Jim O'Heir as Jerry/Garry/Larry/Terry Gergich and Retta as Donna Meagle. Although Rashida Jones' Ann Perkins and Rob Lowe's Chris Traeger left the series halfway through its sixth season, they'll be back as well, Variety reports — and you can also expect a few other yet-to-be-revealed guest stars from the show's original run, too. https://twitter.com/parksandrecnbc/status/1253461556102197251 As Poehler reveals in the above video announcing the news, it was all filmed individually from each cast member's home. That means that when this Parks and Rec special hits US screens on Thursday, April 30 (with an airdate Down Under yet to be announced), it'll look a little different to the show's usual episodes. Of course, no Parks fan will mind. Indeed, if you fall into that category, a new episode is literally the best news you could receive right now — so start making waffles, gather all the bacon and eggs you have, and make sure you've got plenty of whisky on hand. A Parks and Recreation Special airs on Thursday, April 30 in the US. There's no word yet about screening details Down Under, but we'll update you when they come to hand. Via Variety.
Making a cup of tea can be simple. Grab a teabag, pour in some boiling water, let it steep and voila, you've got yourself one of the world's favourite hot beverages. Enjoying a cuppa can be much more creative, too — whether you're keen on pure green tea leaves, some chai or matcha, high tea, a sip of kombucha, frosty iced tea, bubble teas or a tea latte. Expect tea in a variety of different forms at Brisbane's 2024 BrisAsia ParTEA, which takes over the Chinatown Mall from 3–6pm on Saturday, February 10 as part of 2024's BrisAsia Festival. Someone will be putting the kettle on for an afternoon of tea tastings, tea classes and just tea in general. Whatever kind of tea you fancy, you'll likely find it here — or discover yourself a new favourite. There'll also be a tea market, as well as live tunes, all to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. While general entry is free, bring your wallet for all those cuppas you'll be sipping.
Game of Thrones might be coming to an end, but HBO isn't done with secrets, scheming, lies, bickering, battles and betrayal just yet. After all things Westeros wraps up later this month, the network is returning to Monterey, California — with Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz and Meryl Streep. Put any one of those actors on screen and viewers will follow. Stick them all in the same TV program, and it's set to become one of the biggest shows of the year. Yes, Big Little Lies is back for a second season, and it's added three-time Oscar winner Streep to its latest dose of murky mysteries, tested friendships and life-altering events. And more lies, obviously. If you missed the huge Emmy and Golden Globe-winning first series back in 2017, it follows a group of women whose children all go to the same school. Oh, and who all got caught up in a murder tale, naturally. Based on the book by Australian author Liane Moriarty, it originally aired as a one-season once-off, but its enormous popularity (and a hefty swag of awards) has helped bring the drama back for another series. While an initial teaser dropped in April, HBO has just released the first proper look at the new season. Unsurprisingly, the drama has been ratcheted up a few levels, with the arrival of Streep's new character hardly helping matters. Witherspoon, Kidman, Dern, Woodley and Kravitz were all among the cast the initial time around, but Streep joins the fold as Mary Louise, the visiting mother-in-law to Kidman's Celeste. And, like everyone else, she doesn't quite expect she'll hear the truth when she starts asking questions about the previous season's developments. Also hopping on board is director Andrea Arnold, of Fish Tank, Wuthering Heights and American Honey fame, who is helming all seven episodes in the season season. She takes over from C.R.A.Z.Y., Dallas Buyers Club and Wild filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, who did the same for the first season. Check out the new full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCWevZV945M Big Little Lies airs on Foxtel Showcase weekly from Monday, June 10. Image: Jennifer Clasen/HBO.
You have to hand it to Wandering Cooks. Every day of the year, there's something tasty on offer at their South Bank base — and on many of them, a fun food, drink or creative-related event as well. They could've easily taken New Year's Eve off, and no one would've blamed them. That's clearly not their style, however. Instead, they're giving 2017 a sweet, sweet finish. And, they're giving Brisbanites a choose-your-sweet-adventure kind of experience. Entry is free all day and night, as always, so you can simply drop by and see what Rani's Cuisine and East to Middle East are cooking up. Or, you can head on over at 10pm when Indietreats, 31 Degrees, Little Birdy Cakes and Chokolaj will be serving up two types of indulgence: sweet treats to send the year with for $53, or a boozy version (with sparkling) for $84.
Six seasons and a movie. That's how long everyone who loved sitcom Community — its cast and crew included — hoped that the community college-set comedy would run. Alas, when the show wrapped up after 110 episodes in 2015, it only achieved the first part of that goal. And while a film doesn't appear to be in the works in the immediate future, the Greendale gang are all reuniting for a virtual table read. After Parks and Recreation banded its cast together for a new one-off special episode to raise money for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Community is following in its footsteps — although its cast and crew won't be performing fresh material. Instead, they'll be reading through the season five episode 'Cooperative Polygraphy', Variety reports. Cast members will join forces via an online video call, stepping back into their old roles. That means that Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong will all be present. Fresh from hosting the Tiger King post-series special via video chats, Joel McHale will be involved as well. And, in news that'll have all Community fans singing "Troy and Abed in the morning", Donald Glover will be, too. Glover left the series partway through the fifth season. They'll be joined by Community creator (and Rick and Morty co-creator) Dan Harmon, as well as a special guest: Game of Thrones and Narcos actor Pedro Pascal. The latter will read the part originally played by Walton Goggins when the episode aired. Screening in full via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US), the reunion will also feature a Q&A with the cast — and fans will be asked to donate to José Andrés' World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods. If you're now in the mood to binge your way through Greendale antics in the lead up, all six seasons of the series is now streaming on Netflix, too — and on Stan in Australia. Check out the Community season one trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4W4L9TLJa8 The Community virtual table read will air via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US). Via Variety. Image: Netflix.
The Kite String Tangle is the project of Brisbane-bred alternative electronic artist and producer Danny Harley. After being unearthed by Triple J last year and generating some serious buzz at Falls Festival, he is continuing strong into 2014 with a national tour scheduled for February. Inspired by the dreamy and atmospheric soundscapes of artists like Active Child, The Kite String Tangle offers a combination of ethereal pop and ambient electronica. The harmonic and hand-crafted textures of tunes such as 'Given the Chance' are rallying public and critical attention, having just made it into the Triple J Hottest 100 at No.19. Before heading to the states in March to play several showcases for SXSW, Harley's national run-around is already sporting some sold-out labels. However, additional shows have been added in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. You won't want to miss this upcoming Australian producer weaving his musical magic. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6qBwQtTHu4g
For the first time, Darling Harbour's Tumbalong Park is getting in on the Vivid Sydney action with the introduction of Tumbalong Nights. From Wednesday to Saturday throughout the festival, you can enjoy performances from the very heart of the Light Walk. From rising Aussie starlets like Stevan and Elsy Wameyo to established acts like Haiku Hands and Donny Benét — and long-time festival favourites like Hot Potato Band — there's a diverse array of musical talent at Tumbalong Nights in 2022, plus short film screenings on offer too. What's more, every single one of these events is completely free. Music will start at 8pm on Wednesdays and at 7pm from Thursday to Saturday. Plus, head down with your minis a bit earlier on Saturdays for some of Australia's best acts for children as part of Vivid Kids at Tumbalong from 5pm.
From the city's big stars to its everyday faces, everyone earns at place at the Brisbane Portrait Prize. A new initiative kicking off in 2019, it showcases the folks that make this town of ours great — and the talented Brisbane artists who've committed their likeness to canvas. Indeed, subject-wise, the 100 inaugural finalists read like a who's who of Brissie. Fashion icons like Pamela Easton sit alongside comedians such as Matt Okine — plus footballers Kevin Walters and Ally Anderson, and musicians such as David McCormack, Warren Ellis and Tyrone Noonan. Agro pops up, as does Toowong resident Ziggy. The list goes on, spanning names you'll recognise and people you won't. While the winner won't be announced until Thursday, October 10, the entire gallery of contenders is on display at Brisbane Powerhouse for a whole month. Drop by to check out the free exhibition between Monday, September 30 and Thursday, October 31. Image: Amy Sheppard - Ascension by Beth Mitchell. Photographic print on metallic pearl paper and acrylic. 100cm x 150cm.
If you haven't heard the news, South by South West is officially coming to Sydney for its first festival outside of Texas later this year, and details of its massive gaming-focused arm of the conference, officially titled the SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival, have now been revealed. Running for the length of the festival, the gaming program will feature a Sydney edition of a global esports tournament, an indie game showcase, a tabletop game expo, hands-on demonstrations for AR and VR creations, panels, performances, a social hub and an investment summit for pitch sessions and general industry hobnobbing. The headline event will be the Intel Extreme Masters, which will arrive at the Aware Super Theatre from Friday, October 20-Sunday, October 22 following massive iterations in Katowice, Rio de Janeiro, Dallas, and Sydney back in 2019 when the event sold out Qudos Bank Arena. The longest-running pro gaming tour in the world, Intel Extreme Masters is the gaming world's equivalent of the World Cup or the Olympics and will bring some of the world's leading esports pros to Australia. The Indie Games Showcase will place the spotlight on 150 independent games from Australia, New Zealand and the globe, with sessions diving into the world of the indie open to both industry and general audiences. You can catch sneak peeks of a new animated word game called Gubbins, a highly stylised adventure puzzle game called Birth and a restaurant-set time management game called The Chef's Shift among the 150 titles. If you prefer your games more tangible, there will be a dedicated tabletop festival within the conference with exhibitors, demos, seminars, stage sessions and a freeplay area all dedicated to IRL card, roleplay and board games. [caption id="attachment_906082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gubbins[/caption] This is just the start of the gaming section of the SXSW Sydney program with more to be announced closer to the date. Beyond gaming, the world-renowned fest is bringing together innovators and venue-fillers from across a heap of industries between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. There's been an initial announcement of keynote speakers and musicians, plus a heap of local artists and a pair of parties so far, with more to come. On the previously announced section of the program, you'll find speakers like Chris Lee (also known as Lee Sung-Su), the Chief A&R Officer and former CEO of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment; The Genesis Machine author and Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb; and Saudi women's rights activist Manal al-Sharif — plus a heap of musicians like Redveil, Connie Constance, Otoboke Beaver, Wallice, Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie, Teenage Joans, Phoebe Go, MALI JO$E, Ashli. [caption id="attachment_906083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Birth[/caption] The festival will take place within a walkable precinct within the Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Ultimo, Chippendale and more. Think of the fest's footprint as a huge hub, with festivals within the bigger fest, exhibitions, talks, networking opportunities and streetside activations popping up everywhere. So far, venues named include Powerhouse Museum, ICC Sydney, UTS, Central Park Mall, the Goods Line Walk, The Abercrombie and Lansdowne Hotel. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues — head to the festival's website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
A film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year is a film festival to cherish. Also ace: a film fest that features a solely digital lineup of flicks and TV shows from Japan that you can check out from your couch. So, while it isn't time for the IRL Japanese Film Festival for 2024 yet — it last hit locations around the country across September–November 2023 — the Japanese Film Festival Online will keep you entertained this winter. Both fests serve up a handy way to view the latest and greatest Japanese fare without hopping on a plane, but only the online version lets you do so from home. Running from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3, 2024's version will feature 23 films and two TV dramas, the latter serving up 20 episodes. And, you'll be able to check out for four Japanese horror shorts, too, all of which initially debuted in 2023 at the first-ever Horror Film Competition in Japan. The other big drawcard: Japanese Film Festival Online screens its program for free. Accordingly, this lineup won't test your budget, whether you're keen on I Am What I Am, which stars Drive My Car's Toko Miura; Anime Supremacy!, about a new director and a hotshot facing off while making their own competing anime; Single8, a Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)-influenced picture about Star Wars-loving teens making their own movie; or classic anime Kimba the White Lion from 1966. Film lovers will be catching the movies on the program between Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, June 19. Fellow feature options include Father of the Milky Way Railroad, a biopic about poet and novelist Kenji Miyazawa; magazine drama Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction; Baby Assassins, where teen assassins are forced to give up the murderous life; and The Handsome Suit, about a magical outfit. TV fans will be tuning in from Wednesday, June 19–Wednesday, July 3, with 2017's Rikuoh starring Kôji Yakusho (Perfect Days), and stepping inside a traditional Japanese sock company — and 2015's Downtown Rocket based on Shitamachi Rocket novels about an ex-aerospace researcher who leads a factor that he inherited. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website. Won't be in Australia at the time? The fest is available in 27 countries.
Since first opening its doors back in 2013, Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar has proven a home for interesting and eclectic movies, screening new independent and arthouse fare alongside offbeat retro favourites. It's the kind of venue that shows flicks you won't see in multiplexes, all in boutique surroundings. And if you like its taste in films — or you're Melbourne or Brisbane-based cinephile who regularly wishes they could experience Golden Age's program, too — then you'll definitely like their latest venture as well. As plenty of other companies and cinemas have been doing during the COVID-19, Golden Age is getting into the streaming game. Now available online, Movie Night by Golden Age Cinema showcases movies that've graced the venue's screens over the years, as well as others chosen by the cinema's programmers. That includes a curated selection of recent and new releases, with extra films added to its lineup every week. At the time of launch, the service's range features The Trip to Greece, which was supposed to release in cinemas but has been fast-tracked to streaming instead; 2019 favourites Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Parasite; and thoughtful documentary For Sama, which hit the big screen earlier in 2020. Viewers can also revisit Bong Joon-ho's excellent monster movie The Host, see Nicolas Cage milk an alpaca in Color Out of Space, and enjoy Robert Pattinson's recent stellar work in High Life and Good Time. Spanning award-winners, cult favourites, fashion docos and collections of Asian, Aussie and European cinema, Movie Night's highlights also include 2018 Cannes Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters, adorable cat documentary Kedi and masterful German comedy Toni Erdmann — as well as Sydney Film Festival prize-winner Aquarius, Australian drama Judy & Punch, and docos about Yayoi Kusama, Roy Halston Frowick and Alexander McQueen. https://www.facebook.com/OurGoldenAge/photos/a.472586509492206/2993131060771059/?type=3&theater Films are available to watch on a pay-per-view basis, with prices varying per movie — from $4.99 for an older title to $19.99 to something brand new (such as The Trip to Greece). And, for Sydneysiders eager to physically return to Golden Age, it's also opening its doors for private screenings of up to ten people from June 1 — so you and your mates can pick a film to watch on the big screen, then get the whole place to yourselves for three hours. For more information about Movie Night by Golden Age Cinema — or to watch a movie — visit the streaming service's website. Top image: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Madman.
UPDATE, October 20, 2022: Due to wet weather, the October markets will now go ahead on Saturday, October 29 (not Saturday, October 22). Heading to a waterside dining and entertainment precinct and only buying vegan goods mightn't always go hand in hand, but they do now at Portside Wharf. 2022 marks the first time that the Hamilton venue is playing host to the Queensland Vegan Markets. Heading to its new location from 9am–2pm on Saturday, June 11, Saturday, August 20 and Saturday, October 29, this event will let you browse more than 30 stalls, all selling cruelty-free, animal-friendly wares. The plant-based spread will include everything from burgers, bao and katsu to custard-filled croissants, cupcakes and other sweet treats. Yes, you know the motto here: all of the taste, absolutely none of the animal products. You'll have plenty of option, food-wise, as well as other cruelty-free wares to scope out. Also, the markets are pet-friendly, so you can bring your pooch along. Entry is free, and so is the live music that'll soundtrack your vegan shopping. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons. Updated October 20.
Prosecco, you've probably been drinking a lot of it in your Aperol cocktails this summer — we don't blame you, it's delicious — but there's so much more to the bubbly Italian wine than being a splash in a spritz. Indeed, prosecco is a tasty tipple in its own right. But, to fully experience its nuanced beauty, you must go directly to the source. That's where the King Valley comes in. Located in northeast Victoria, the region is known for its irrefutably fresh produce and first-rate vino — there's even a place called Prosecco Road that's packed with neat rows of prosecco vines and rivals Northern Italy when it comes to beauty. So, to help you plan your extra bubbly getaway, we've partnered with the purveyors of fizz at Dal Zotto Wines to bring you some top prosecco-filled experiences to have in the King Valley. Get ready for one helluva bubbly weekend. EAT AND DRINK First things first, you'll need to get your prosecco fix, so head to Dal Zotto Wines. Nestled among soaring gums and rolling hills, the charming cellar door is a real family affair. Patriarch Otto Dal Zotto planted the first prosecco grapes on the property back in the 90s (which just so happen to be the very first prosecco vines in Australia) and released Australia's first prosecco in 2004. Now his sons, Christian and Michael, continue to craft quality vino, while matriarch Nonna Elena maintains the on-site kitchen garden that provides seasonal produce for the trattoria. It's all about la famiglia here, and you can taste it in every bite and drop. Work your way through the five different styles of prosecco, before tucking into homemade pizza, antipasto and charcuterie. All the produce you'll taste is grown and handpicked from the garden and — alongside the knock-out prosecco — is the real hero here. Don't forget to grab a couple bottles of your favourite bubbly to-go; you'll need it over the weekend. Trust us. If you're after something a little more substantial — and we mean substantial — head to Gamze Restaurant and Smokehouse Door in Milawa. Occupying a converted 150-year-old tractor garage, the smokehouse slings all kinds of mouth-watering meat and deliciously stodgy food, as well as local wines and craft beer. Go straight for Felix the Dog, a footlong grilled kransky with fried onion, sauerkraut and barbecue mayo, which is sure to satiate even the hungriest of travellers. While there's no prosecco here, there is a juicy 2016 Dal Zotto Cuore Del Re available by the glass and bottle. Finally, be sure to stop by Milawa Cheese Factory for a cheese and wine flight. Located in the town's historic butter factory, Milawa Cheese Company has been slinging wedges of the good stuff since 1988 and only uses artisanal cheesemaking methods. Every wheel is made by hand and preservative free, so you can only imagine the incredible flavour. In addition to the comprehensive cheese offering, there's also an on-site restaurant Milawa Kitchen and the Walnut Tree Collection gift shop. But, really, who needs gifts when you can take away cheese? SEE AND DO While it may be tempting to spend the whole weekend wining and dining, there are also heaps of fun outdoor adventures to embark on in the King Valley. Not only will you be exposed to the idyllic countryside, but sweating it out will make you feel as though you've earned the prosecco to come. Plus, those feelgood exercise-induced endorphins never go astray. Start with a trip to Paradise Falls. True to its name, it's an idyl buried deep in the Alpine National park, just outside of Cheshunt. Misty falls, mighty rocks and Australian natives to boot, this peaceful oasis is the perfect place to while away a day. And, since there are picnic facilities, you can pack a bottle of Dal Zotto prosecco and some gooey cheese and have yourself a fancy little lunch. The best part? It's only a 20-minute return bushwalk to the falls and back. If you'd prefer to check out the sites on two wheels, take the Milawa Gourmet Bike Ride. The ten-kilometre 'Pedal to Produce' route will take you past some of the region's famed gourmet food stores and give you the opportunity to procure some local treats while, of course, sampling the goods at renowned local eateries along the way. The journey will take around an hour, depending on how leisurely you pedal, and can be tackled by people of all fitness levels. Next, stop by the King River for a spot of fishing. Now, we're not suggesting you go full Rex Hunt, but casting a line can be super relaxing. There's a top-notch fishing spot at Upper King River Road, where the river meets Lake William Hovell. While you're awaiting your perfect catch — a rainbow trout or redfin, perhaps — you can take in the lush forest surrounds. How's the serenity? Finish up with a picnic by the river's edge, featuring the gourmet goods from your bike ride, a bottle of bubbles and, who knows, maybe a fish? (BYO barbecue or sashimi knives.) STAY After all that eating, drinking and sightseeing, you'll need a place to rest your weary head. Luckily, there are plenty of twee country cottages to stay in around the King Valley — one of the cutest being Cortes Cottage. Set on one of Australia's oldest operating walnut farms Valley Nut Groves, this secluded weatherboard home exudes relaxed rural vibes and is a lovely place to unwind. Comprised of two bedrooms — one with a queen-sized bed, the other with two singles — the cottage has all the creature comforts, including a clawfoot bath, record player, fully equipped kitchen and that all-important rainfall shower. It's a house built for chilling — but if you're itching for an adventure, take a short 15-minute stroll through the paddock till you reach Ovens River. Go for a swim, skip rocks, cast a line — the choice is yours. To finish the weekend on a high, we suggest popping a bottle of prosecco and watching the sunset by the river Start planning your trip to King Valley, first stop: Dal Zotto for a glass of bubbly perfection. And once you're there, share your first Dal Zotto drink experience to Instagram and hashtag #FirstDZ to go in the running to win a year's worth of Dal Zotto prosecco and many more weekly prizes.
Just like their killer villains, some horror franchises never seem to die. In 2021, two big recent sagas have released their latest instalments, with Spiral: From the Book of Saw and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It keeping their respective spook-filled realms going. Alas, neither movie was anywhere near either series' best, but the fact that both Saw and Conjuring flicks are still reaching screens is a great testament to James Wan. The Australian filmmaker has been a key figure behind both franchises, directing their early instalments and still earning executive producer credits now — as he's followed the tried-and-tested path from horror movies to Hollywood blockbusters. Wan mightn't have been behind the lens of Spiral and The Devil Made Me Do It, but he is returning to his favourite genre this year — after detouring into action with Fast & Furious 7, Aquaman and the upcoming Aquaman 2. His latest flick Malignant will hit cinemas in September, marking his first horror film that isn't attached to an existing franchise since the initial Conjuring movie released back in 2013. This time around, he's playing with nightmares — but of the daylight variety. Malignant's protagonist Madison (Annabelle Wallis, Boss Level) keeps having visions of disturbing murders, only to find out that they aren't just figments of her imagination. Also complicating matters, as seen in the just-dropped trailer: the fact that, as a kid, she told people that she was speaking to the devil. The suitably moody and dark-hued trailer teases out this exact scenario, throws in a few bumps and jumps, but obviously leaves the key details for horror fans to discover when the film hits the big screen. Wan co-wrote the story behind the movie, with screenwriter Akela Cooper (upcoming Conjuring Universe sequel The Nun 2) penning the script. And, cast-wise, Maddie Hasson (Mr Mercedes), George Young (Containment), Michole Briana White (Songbird), Jacqueline McKenzie (Palm Beach), Jake Abel (Son of the South) and Ingrid Bisu (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) all co-star. Check out the trailer for Malignant below: Malignant opens in Australian cinemas on September 7.
If you live with your significant other, it's likely you've already reached the stage where you dine together in PJs with unwashed locks and something distracting playing in the background. And while there's no shame in being comfortable, perhaps you'd like to bring a sense of occasion back to your date nights? And, if you're visiting your date for dinner, maybe you'd like to take the pressure off your partner by ordering takeaway for one night during lockdown. While ordering-in share dishes like tacos, curries and decadent desserts will bring you both back to the dining table for some all-important eye contact time and fresh conversation (we bet your chat game is starting to dry up), you might want to spice things up a little more. If you usually reach for a white wine to pair with your takeaway pizza, or a beer to wash down those dumplings, we've got some more unexpected drinks to match with your meals. We've teamed up with Pernod Ricard to bring you four at-home dining suggestions that you can order (booze included) to your door, so you can pop that well-worn cookbook back on the shelf and try your hand at boozy iced tea or whisky highballs next time date night rolls around. [caption id="attachment_744418" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Baja[/caption] SHARE CITRUSY-SWEET TACOS AND BOOZY ICED TEA You may not be able to plan a casual weeknight date at one of your favourite Mexican restaurants right now, but you can recreate the experience at home. Instead of cracking into a tropical lager to knock back with your fiesta-worthy feast, try making a jug of spiked iced tea that you can share along with a selection of meaty or vegetarian tacos. Include a squeeze of lime or a side like pineapple salsa, as the citrus pairs particularly well with the zesty fruit flavours of a single malt whisky in that iced tea. What to order: In Melbourne, you can get Mamasita's DIY taco packs via Mr Yum with prawn, jackfruit and barbacoa beef options, or El Sabor's nachos and burritos via Deliveroo. In Sydney, order the chargrilled chicken or beef brisket tacos from Mejico via Deliveroo, or takeaway vegan and gluten free cauliflower or stir fried oyster mushroom corn tortillas from Bad Hombres. Brisbane's The Burrito Bar has pulled pork, steak and crispy fish tacos, which you can order in from Deliveroo, or swing by Baja, which has takeaway set up for its Mexican-inspired menu. Pair with: The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve and T2 Iced Tea. Order a packet of Packs a Peach loose leaves as it creates a fruity cocktail that's naturally sweet, so there's no need to add sugar. [caption id="attachment_745926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's Burgers by Nikki To[/caption] PAIR A JUICY BURGER WITH WHISKEY DRY AND LIME Just because it's date night, doesn't mean you have to use cutlery. If you're feeling the call of comfort food, and want to move onto that episode of Unorthodox without having to stack the dishwasher, make your date night feed a handheld treat. Order a couple of new-to-you burgers and go splitsies, that way you can taste-test beyond your go-to patty and (as no one else is around to judge you) go large on the sides. A simple whiskey cocktail, such as a classic ginger and lime mixer, helps cut through the fat with a refreshing aftertaste. What to order: In Brisbane, you can order a wagyu or soft shell crab burger from Yuzu Burger and Co in Milton, or a vegan and gluten free Biggie from Lord of the Fries, both on Deliveroo. In Melbourne, you can get Huxtaburger's Andrew (grilled or fried chicken, bacon, cheese, jalapeños) for $14, or Royal Stacks has its Prince Harry, Queen Bey or Regina George patties — both available on Deliveroo. In Sydney, Ume Burger is slinging its karaage, fish katsu and cheeseburgers to your door, as is Mary's with its signature beef patties, plus mushroom and chicken options. Pair with: a highball glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey, dry ginger ale and a wedge of lime. [caption id="attachment_728897" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colonel Tso's cauliflower at Daughter in Law by Peter Tarasiuk[/caption] COSY UP WITH CABERNET SAUVIGNON AND A CURRY Feeling that wintery chill? Warm yourself from the inside out with an elegant Indian takeaway. Though a cold beer or creamy lassi is a more traditional pairing for a spicy subcontinental feed, you might want to try matching a fruity, full-bodied red wine with a mild lamb-based curry, such as rogan josh. The backbone of tannins and subtle oakiness makes for a wine you can take from the dining table to the couch after your belly-warming banquet. What to order: In Sydney, Indu delivers a Kashmiri-style lamb shoulder curry, and Darlinghurst's Malabar has lamb shank rogan josh as well as a creamy lamb khurumah made with cashew nuts and a touch of mint. In Brisbane, Halims Indian Taj Restaurant has madras, vindaloo, nariyal and korma, which can all be made with lamb as the hero ingredient. All three of which can be ordered to you door via Deliveroo. And, in Melbourne, you can get Daughter in Law's Kashmiri-style lamb rogan josh (or its famed Colonel Tso's cauliflower dish, pictured), or lamb biryani from Mukka in Fitzroy. Pair with: a bottle of St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon — expect mint and blackcurrant aromas with a silky mouthfeel. [caption id="attachment_716965" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lukumades[/caption] INDULGE IN PLAYFUL CHOCOLATE DESSERTS AND GROWN-UP HIGHBALLS If you're snatching meals between Zoom calls, or bickering over whose turn it is to do the supermarket run, it's possible that you've lost some childlike joy in your day-to-day life with your partner. We get it — there's a lot to juggle right now. To bring back some of that fun and frivolity, make your date night especially decadent with a chocolatey dessert (or, forget the mains altogether). If a boozy nightcap is in order, match your malty or dark, bitter chocolate snacks — such as a warm chocolate brownie — with a whisky highball. The spirit's nutty and vanilla flavours are a grown-up complementary tipple to your otherwise nostalgic sugary snack. What to order: In Melbourne, go all out with handmade Greek doughnuts from Lukumades, including oreo, twix and tella classics. In Brisbane, Cakes & Sh!t has oreo cheesecake and double choc brownies with toasted marshmallows. Sydneysiders and Melburnians can stock up on Koko Black choccies, and diners in every city can have Gelato Messina's tiramisu tarts delivered to your door. Pair with: a classic highball made with Chivas Regal Extra, which has a toffee and milk chocolate flavour. Right now, Pernod Ricard is offering a $10 Deliveroo voucher for every $50 spent on a select range of its wine and spirits — bought online or in-store at its partner liquor stores. Find out more, here. Top image: Bad Hombres.
It's been more than a month since Brisbane's last lockdown ended, but keeping an eye on COVID-19 exposure sites definitely isn't a thing of the past. On Thursday, September 9, Queensland Health issued a new public health alert that named the city's latest venues that've been visited by someone who since tested positive — and, as has happened a few times now during the pandemic, Garden City shopping centre in Upper Mount Gravatt is the big, well-known and busy spot on the list. You know the drill from here, because naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is a key element of Queensland's containment strategy, and has been since last year. Also a core part of the plan: requiring people who've attended the same sites at the same time to take action, including self-isolating and getting tested. So, if you went to Garden City, the biggest shopping centre in Brisbane's south, on Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6, you may need to get tested for COVID-19 and then self-isolate. Four sites within the centre have been named as close contact venues, which requires immediately quarantining at home, getting tested as soon as you can, completing the online contact tracing form and continuing to quarantine for 14 days even if you get a negative result. That applies to you if you were at Grill'd in the Garden City town centre on the Sunday from 8–9.30pm or on the Monday from 5.35–6.05pm, at Momo Chicken and Beer on level two near Timezone on the Monday between 5.05–5.30pm, in the male toilet on level two near the food court between 5.20–5.40pm the same day, and at Cinnabon from 5.20–5.45pm on the Monday. The Garden City town centre has also been listed as a casual exposure site from 8–9.30pm on the Sunday and between 5–6.05pm on the Monday, while the level two food court has been put in the same category from 5–6.05pm on the Monday as well. If you were at any of these spots at those times, you need to isolate ASAP, get tested, then keep self-isolating until you get a negative result. And, the whole Westfield Garden City shopping centre has been added to the list as a low-risk site from 5–6.05pm on the Monday, too. That requires getting tested ASAP, then monitoring for symptoms. ⚠️ Public Health Alert ⚠️ Queensland Health is issuing new contact tracing locations for: 📍 Archerfield 📍 Upper Mount Gravatt Full details can be found at: https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4 pic.twitter.com/xPZv2ohJCa — Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) September 9, 2021 Other places that've joined the exposure sites list recently include the BP service station on the corner of Randolph Street and Boundary Road in Archerfield on both the Sunday and the Monday — for the full list, head to the Queensland Health website. As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020. As last reported on Thursday, September 9, Queensland currently has 21 active cases. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Google Maps.
Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, Pompidou Cafe is yet another popular cafe and bistro in the 4171 postcode. With its sunlit interior and well shaded back deck, breakfast is Pompidou’s busiest time. Like so many establishments in the area, it tends to be packed on weekend mornings with those after a reliably good cup of coffee. As one would expect from the name, Pompidou Cafe has a decidedly French feel – a Henri Cartier-Bresson print hangs on the wall, as does a Gainsbourg movie poster. The lunch menu continues the theme with croque monsieur, steak frites with béarnaise sauce, and duck confit with lyonnaise potatoes. The breakfast menu is a bit more diverse – home style beans with chorizo sausage and warm flour tortillas, and chickpea and carrot pancakes with hummus and labna feature alongside the obligatory croissants and house made sweets. Francophiles may also be interested to know that one evening a month the restaurant hosts a three course French dinner (this month it’s Valentine’s Day).
How does a stage production recreate Charles Darwin's famous voyage on the HMS Beagle, and do justice not only to the real-life tale of discovery, but the creatures the scientist came across? Dead Puppet Society's involvement in The Wider Earth might just give away the answer to that question. And we're not just talking about using shadows and felt to recreate everyday animals, either. From Saturday, February 5–Saturday, February 19 at The Princess Theatre, expect the delicate flutters of longhorn beetles and the slow lumbering of ancient tortoises to come alive on stage — and the naturalist's journey from the Andes through the Amazon to the Galapagos Islands as well. On the human side of things, expect a cast led by Tom Conroy as Charles Darwin to bring a piece of history back to life in a lively coming-of-age narrative. Plus, not only does The Wider Earth let a real-life quest play out with 30 custom-created puppets and eight actors — it also boasts a collaboration between two of Australia's leading musical creators, too. Singer-songwriter Lior and producer Tony Buchen have joined forces to ensure that the sounds of this adventure are as magical as the underlying story. And, this is the first time that The Wider Earth has played Brisbane since its world-premiere season back in 2016. Images: Guy Bell / Prudence Upton.
Global ice cream company Ben & Jerry's is best-known for its chunk-filled scoops and bizarre flavour titles like Schweddy Balls and Dave Matthews Band. After releasing an over-the-top creation for both ice cream and burger lovers earlier in the year, the brand has now unveiled its latest frankencreation in its Fast Food Series. The Dough-licious Pizza is the ice cream-pizza hybrid that no-one asked for. Available by both the slice and as a whole pizza, the creation features a baked base made from Ben & Jerry's cookie dough and comes filled with a layer of the brand's chocolate chip cookie dough or chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. From there, you get the choice of two toppings — from chunky cookie dough pieces to brownie chunks, crunchy nuts and chocolate-dipped pretzels — plus a drizzle of either hot fudge or caramel sauce. Of course, hardcore ice cream lovers can push the boat out and select all of the above. The pizza is the second in a series of crossbreed creations from Ben & Jerry's inspired by Australia's favourite fast foods. The Impossible To Eat Burger was described as "the messiest ice cream ever". The 'Dough-licious Pizza' is available for a limited time at Ben & Jerry's shops and Scoop Stores across the ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic and WA. It's also available to order on Uber Eats.
When a musical becomes a Broadway sensation, FOMO tends to sink in for theatre fans Down Under. Rave reviews might start pouring in, and awards as well, but seeing whichever production has New York talking usually requires a Big Apple trip — an expensive endeavour even for the biggest stage aficionado. The other option: waiting patiently for NYC's brightest shows to head Down Under. It happened with Hamilton, finally, and now it's happening with Dear Evan Hansen. A six-time Tony Award-winner, Dear Evan Hansen premiered in the US in 2016, then made the leap to the big screen in 2021. The next stop, back in stage form, is Sydney, with Sydney Theatre Company putting on the musical's Australian debut as part of its just-announced 2024 season. Michael Cassel Group is also behind the Aussie premiere, which will play at the Roslyn Packer Theatre from Saturday, October 12–Sunday, November 17, 2024. The two organisations are already teaming up on The Picture of Dorian Gray's upcoming run in West End in London next year — starring none other than Succession's Sarah Snook, too — following joining forces to take the STC show to Melbourne in 2022. With Dear Evan Hansen, STC and Michael Cassel Group will follow the titular anxious teen. He's advised by his therapist to pen letters to himself to highlight the good aspects of his day; however, when one of his notes ends up in a similarly lonely classmate's hands, it sparks a complex chain reaction. Created for the stage by songwriting and composing duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — who nabbed an Oscar for La La Land's 'City of Stars' — with playwright Steven Levenson (Fosse/Verdon), the musical spins a coming-of-age story about a plethora of high school struggles. "This will be the first new, original production since the show's phenomenal Broadway debut. This is a real coup for Sydney, and we couldn't be in better hands than with the brilliant Dean Bryant at the helm — one of the best musical theatre directors in the country, and loved by STC audiences after his superb work recently on Hubris and Humiliation and Fun Home," said Sydney Theatre Company's Artistic Director Kip Williams. "Words fail to truly capture the profound impact Dear Evan Hansen has had on audiences and I am thrilled to be partnering with Sydney Theatre Company to create an entirely new version of the show for Australia," added Michael Cassel. "There are no other contemporary musicals that capture the challenges of being a teenager in such a distinguished way with such a phenomenal score." There's no word yet as to whether the STC production of Dear Evan Hansen will tour to other Australian cities — so start crossing your fingers. Check out the trailer for the Dear Evan Hansen film below: Sydney Theatre Company's production of Dear Evan Hansen will play the Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay in Sydney, from Saturday, October 12–Sunday, November 17, 2024 — with tickets available in stages via Sydney Theatre Company from Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Images: Universal.
Natalie Portman doesn’t. Neither does Pamela Anderson, Bill Clinton or Ellen Degeneres. That’s right, none of these people eat animals. We’re always hearing about how going vegetarian or vegan can have health benefits, but what will it do to your social life? We’ve pulled together five of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants and cafes in Brisbane to negate that last fear. Vege Rama For a CBD lunch option that’s 100% free of animal products, you can’t go past Vegerama. There’s a range of hot foods including soups, curries, enchiladas and lasagna; a salad cabinet brimming with fresh veggie combinations; and even some raw desserts, so you’re covered no matter what you’re craving. Don’t ask us how they do it, but nothing served at this place is short of absolutely delicious. Shop 30 Post Office Square 270-280 Queen Street, Brisbane City; Level E Myer Centre 91 Queen Street, Brisbane City Botanica Botanica has been making friends with salad since early 2013. Stepping slightly away from the CBD, Botanica flies the vegetarian flag for Red Hill. Appearing on ‘best of’ lists all over the place and famed for its flavour-packed salads, the menu is also vegan-friendly and offers a range of mouthwatering, gluten free desserts. Shop 9 1 Enoggera Terrace, Red Hill Banana Lounge Having only opened this year, The Banana Lounge has hooked its fair share of animal-free fans. Proving that vegan food is most certainly not boring food, you can expect colourful fare such as quinoa muesli trifle, raw pasta dishes (with pasta made from zucchini), generously piled burgers, raw cheesecakes and tropical breakfast pancakes. 1 170 Boundary Street, West End Fundies Among the trendy cafes of Paddington, it’s easy to discount this little green shop on Given Terrace. However, they do one of the best tofu scrambles in town, so make sure you drop in next time you’re in the area. Fundies is also a health store stocking all of your vegan and vegetarian essentials, from groceries to hair products. 219 Given Terrace Paddington 4064 Kuan Yin Teahouse Everything at Kuan Yin Teahouse is vegan, but you’d never know. This popular postage stamp-sized eatery in Fortitude Valley serves imitation meat dishes such as Peking duck rolls and Taiwanese fried chicken, but you can be assured that there are no animal products to be found in anything on the menu. The meals are cheap (it’s not hard to stuff yourself silly on less than $15) and the décor is no-nonsense. There are no EFTPOS facilities, so take some cashola. 198 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
You’ve seen him on Would I Lie To You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Experience, and now you can see him in person. Paul Foot is so left field, he’s unlike any other comedian to grace the Brisbane Comedy Festival stage — and yes, that’s a good thing. If the unusual title of his show doesn’t let you know that you’re in for something special, perhaps his many awards — including Best International Act at both the Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals in 2014 — will. And if you’re not familiar with his stream-of-consciousness collection of random thoughts, that might even be for the best. You can only discover him for the first time once, after all.
Malaysian hawker chain Pappa Rich is spreading the love for its eighth birthday, with two weeks of banger deals across all five of its Queensland stores. You'll be able to try your Pappa Rich favourites, or taste something completely new, all for just $8. Dip roti canai in vegetarian curry, try stir-fried noodle dish char koay teow and tuck into a toasted hainan sandwich. Or go classic with chicken rice and steamed chicken. There'll be a different dish for $8 each day from March 16–29, including blended ice drinks, teh tarik and puddings. You can check out each day's deal below. Since 2012, Pappa Rich has opened 28 stores around Australia. The chain has developed a reputation for serving up a fusion of flavours from Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, as well as creating next-level limited edition bites, like this nasi lemak burger and a collaborative chicken sandwich with Belles Hot Chicken. PAPPA RICH $8 MEALS March 16 — three roti canai March 17 — nasi lemak curry (chicken, vego or mutton) March 18 — chicken curry laksa March 19 — two ice blended or two nasi lemak bungkus March 20 — six chicken wings and a drink March 21 — toasted hainan sandwich and two half-boiled eggs March 22 — deep-fried chicken skin and a drink March 23 — char koay teow March 24 — roti canai curry (chicken, vego or mutton) March 25 — nasi lemak fried rice (chicken, vego or mutton) March 26 — two drinks (lemon iced tea or teh tarik) March 27 — two puddings or three curry puffs March 28 — chips and nuggets or salt and pepper chicken wings with rice March 29 — chicken rice and steamed chicken Pappa Rich's $8 meals are available from March 16–29 at all five of its Queensland stores.
Somewhere in the dark recesses of a record company, a phone rings in the jazz music copyright department. Five minutes later, an email begins to circulate around Hollywood: "URGENT: 1920s costumes required. Wooden tennis racquets also welcome. Destination not yet known, but assume Manhattan or France". Finally, casting agents receive a visit from a mysterious stranger with a very specific request: "I need a girl. Young. Sexy but approachable. Almost too young, without being obvious, if you follow?" He winks and disappears into the smog. The clues are unmistakeable. The conclusion, unavoidable. Woody Allen is making a movie. His 47th, in fact, and his most handsome in quite some time. Yet the eyes can deceive, and just as his characters learn throughout Magic in the Moonlight, beauty all too often masks a shallowness that will always, eventually, out. It is, to put it simply, very light fare across the board. Amusing more than hilarious, sweet yet far from moving, Magic in the Moonlight is as fun to watch as it is easy to forget. Set (once again) in the 1920s, the entire film is built around a simple, singular premise: esteemed magician Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth) is brought to the French Riviera to debunk the charming young American clairvoyant Sophie (Emma Stone). Her bewildering talents, however, quickly defy his every attempt to expose her, deftly penetrating every layer of his stoic scepticism. Faced with the possibility that real magic might exist, the insufferably rational and pragmatic Stanley finds himself questioning everything, from the meaning of life to the love of his soon-to-be wife. It's a romantic comedy of sorts, but the pairing of Stone and Firth fails to spark any real on-screen connection despite both actors ticking all the boxes individually. It's worth remembering there's almost 30 years between the two, an age gap (or chasm, rather) that Stanley acknowledges early on as 'preposterous'. It's perhaps less a joke than a symptom of the film's ultimate inability to resonate. Either way, you don't really care whether they get together or not, just as it matters little whether Sophie's talents are legitimate. The stakes are low, and for a film all about magic, the only genuine mesmerising comes from the scenery. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nzcPdGxuewU
Yeerongpilly's Plant Empire sells greenery every day of the week, helping folks with green thumbs — and those who wish they had them, too — fill their homes with leafy babies. But on Sunday, December 4, just before the merriest day of the year, it's doing something more than that. You can still peruse the store's shelves for plants, of course; however you can also head round back to check out the pop-up Christmas market. As well as plants, you'll be able to scope out a range of pots. If you're going to buy one of your loved ones some greenery, you'll want something to put it in, obviously. Also on offer: ceramics, jewellery and other handmade crafts. And if you happen to arrive hungry — Sunday mornings can do that to even the most satisfied stomach — there'll be food and coffee available as well. Folk 'n' Broken Hearted will be providing a soundtrack, too, adding some tunes to your browsing and buying. Just drop by the Station Road spot between 9am–1pm, when the morning-long market and its 70-plus stalls will be in full swing. The usual advice applies here, as it does to all plant markets: yes, more greenery is always a good thing. Images: Plant Empire.
Protestors are taking to Brisbane's streets this morning, marching in the city to advocate for action on climate change. The latest rally organised by Extinction Rebellion Australia (ERA), it started outside Parliament House at 7am and is expected to congregate at 1 William Street between 8am–2pm. While those two sites are virtually next to each other, it's anticipated that the event will have a considerable flow-on effect throughout the CBD and across to South Brisbane. As all Brisbanites know, if you block any part of the inner-city's roads, traffic tends to bank up throughout town. At Parliament House, the protestors will present their demands. When the group moves to William Street, setting up outside the towering skyscraper that's home to many government departments, it'll settle in for a day of speeches, music and food. Since grabbing news headlines when a number of activists glued themselves to a crossing in the middle of Queen Street back in June to oppose the approval of Queensland's controversial Adani coal mine, ERA has been frequently staging events and roadblocks like these around the city. Traffic-wise, both Queensland Police and Translink are advising anyone travelling into the CBD to expect disruptions and delays. At the time of writing, William Street is closed between Margaret Street and Alice Street, and only local traffic has been impacted so far. With its ongoing, non-violent climate protests, ERA is aiming to draw attention to the rapidly changing state of the planet's environment. "We accept that this disruption will affect peoples [sic] day to day lives as our Rebellion must happen to disrupt [...] a system that is accelerating the existential threat to all of earths species, including humans," the group advises in the Facebook post for today's event. For public transport and traffic updates throughout the day, keep an eye Qld Traffic Metro and Translink's twitter feeds, as well as Brisbane City Council's Facebook page. Images: Extinction Rebellion SEQ
When Kirra Beach Hotel reopened in November 2023, a Gold Coast favourite made a comeback in a brand-new guise. With the similarly named Kirra Beach House, Coolangatta's Kirra Point Precinct now welcomes a fresh spot to enjoy a bite and sip. Both are about dining and drinking beachside with ocean views and cruisy vibes; however, only one will let you and 19 mates hang out in a cabana on its northward terrace. Kirra Beach House is perched on the precinct's second level. Here, patrons can find a 1200-square-metre venue by SITE Hospitality's Dave Galvin (Kōst, Mozza Mozza) — and a spot that boasts a number of spaces within its one big space. There's a wine bar, two cocktail bars (one, Preston's, is for intimate soirées), indoor spots to drink, outdoor places to settle in, a seafood barbecue area, and room for events such as weddings and shindigs. The views at Kirra Beach House naturally feature the sea and sky — so, plenty of blue — from almost everywhere within its walls. Obviously, when you're out on the terrace cocktail bar, seeing the beach is a given (also expect to spy Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise's skylines). While you're soaking in the vistas, you can listen to DJs and acoustic tunes, and get comfortable in those three 20-person cabanas. Head around to the western terrace and a kitchen, bar and asado barbecue await, as well as foliage as a backdrop. "The southern Gold Coast has been crying out for a venue like this but it was important for us to ensure it embodied the Kirra lifestyle. We have created something elevated yet approachable and effortless, that evokes the idyllic feeling of being on one endless, glorious summer holiday," said Galvin. The Mediterranean-skewing food menu by Kōst Executive Chef Sebbie Kenyon includes seafood platters both raw and cooked, plus steaks, burgers, flatbreads and pizzas. Patrons can enjoy kingfish ceviche in a citrus dressing, smoked ham hock croquettes, fried fish burgs with pickled zucchini, and burrata featuring yellow peach, aged balsamic and smoked salt. The tempura bug roll comes on a milk bun and is paired with smoked cocktail sauce — and those platters feature everything from the kingfish ceviche, bug tails and rock oysters to spanner crab remoulade and king prawns. As for the cocktails, they fittingly take their cues from holidays, with a Bahamas champagne piña colada and a Cancun spicy watermelon margarita among the options. Also on offer: house-made spritzes and Aussie wines. Kirra Beach Hotel and Kirra Beach House form part of Kirra Point Precinct's first stage. When stage two arrives, it'll add to the places to stay, shop, and eat and drink. On the cards: a boutique hotel, laneway retailers, a village square, a fresh food marketplace, another residential apartment tower, a gelateria and more. Find Kirra Beach House at Kirra Point, 2 Marine Parade, Coolangatta — open 11am–late Sunday–Thursday and 11–1am Friday–Saturday.
Whether a robot can pass for human has been the subject of many a science-fiction film, from Blade Runner to Ex Machina. Whether a robot can still elicit sympathetic feelings if it doesn't actually look anything like a human — well, that's a different question entirely. It's one that plenty of movies have covered as well, if you're instantly thinking about cute Star Wars droids like R2-D2 and BB-8. But finding CGI pieces of metal adorable and interacting with real machinery are two completely different experiences. At QUT Art Museum's latest installation, you can witness the experiment in action. The result of Katrin Hochschuh and Adam Donovan's European research project, Empathy Swarm ponders how people and robots co-exist — and, specifically, if non-anthropomorphic robots can connect with humans, and demonstrate compassionate responses in response to their presence. A group of 50 droids will try to do just that, so you might just leave with 50 new robotic friends. The immersive exhibition involves entering a dark room, where the swarm of glowing robots all await. They're able to adapt their behaviour to your emotions, so no one will have the same experience twice. Free to attend, Empathy Swarm is on display Tuesday–Friday between 10am–5pm and Saturday–Sunday from 12–4pm.
Weary of Westeros? Want a new formula to Breaking Bad? Zoned out of Walking Dead? Okay, perhaps not yet, but soon these shows will be over for the season (or *gulp* for good), and we'll be in the mood for something new. To pre-empt this moment, we've found five shows that might even top the hits we worship now. Here are the soon-to-air, highly anticipated television shows that are a must-see (and that we hope are fast-tracked on some Australasian network soon, but don't hold your breath). 1. American Gods Airing: late 2013/early 2014 Length: Six seasons of 10-12 episodes Based on Neil Gaiman's award-winning novel American Gods, the upcoming HBO series of the same name is expected to grab the attention of TV lovers worldwide. The series, written by Gaiman and produced by Playtone productions, is based on the idea that the gods of ancient mythology do exist in modern America and are kept alive by the people that believe in them. The main character, Shadow Moon, is an ex-convict recently released from prison. Unimaginable events begin to unfold in Shadow's life and he begins to question his perceived conceptions of the modern world. Producers have confirmed that the show will air for six seasons, so get ready to lose days to any binge watching you choose to get into. 2. Under The Dome Airing: June 24, 2013 Length: 13 episodes A television series brought to you by Steven Spielberg and Stephen King? That already sounds like a huge success. Under the Dome, a CBS series due to air June 24, has a star-studded cast and producing team, including actors Mike Vogel, Rachelle Lefevre and Colin Ford and comics king Brian K. Vaughan. Based on the novel of the same name by King, who is also executive producer of the show, Under the Dome follows what happens to a town when they are cut off completely from the rest of the world. In Chester's Mill, Maine no one can come in and no one can go out. With 2000 people trapped under an invisible barrier, things are bound to get scary fast. 3. Family Tree Airing: May 12, 2013 Length: Eight episodes HBO, in collaboration with BBC2, just released its first teaser for the coming series Family Tree. The show, which stars the beloved Bridesmaids and IT Crowd actor Chris O'Dowd, is a single-camera, improvisational, documentary-style comedy series that follows the life of 30-year-old Tom Chadwick (O'Dowd) as he investigates his strange family lineage, travelling from the UK to Los Angeles. The series was created by Christopher Guest, one of the original mockumentarians who brought us This Is Spinal Tap, and frequent collaborator Jim Piddock and could well revive a flagging genre. 4. Masters of Sex Airing: September 29, 2013 Length: 12 episodes in season one confirmed so far Based on Thomas Maier's 2009 biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, Masters of Sex is a drama series set to premiere on September 29 on the always-impressive Showtime network. Starring Michael Sheen as William Masters and Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson, the show follows the bizarre lives and romance of the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality and leaders of the sexual revolution, Dr William Masters and Virginia Johnson. While not much else has been released about the series, this tidbit is enough to grab our attention. 5. True Detective Airing: Soon? Length: Eight episodes in season one With a superb, show-stopping cast, the new HBO series True Detective is without a doubt a show to look out for in the coming months. The series recently went into production and hopes to bring the contemporary crime underworld back to HBO. Starring talented doppelgangers Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the eight-episode drama series has been in production since late 2012 but still no official word on when it will premiere. The series will follow an anthology vein comparable to the hit series American Horror Story, meaning the next seasons (if the first season is successful) will feature a whole new cast and a different storyline.
Every film festival has its traditions. At the Sydney Film Festival, adding to its program just days before the curtain lifts is a tried-and-tested part of its annual cycle. First, the Harbour City's major cinema showcase reveals a few titles in April to start getting movie lovers excited. Then, it advises who'll be the focus of its big retrospective. Next, it drops its complete lineup in May, but it isn't actually quite complete. This year, closing night's film was unveiled after that. And, once the Cannes Film Festival takes place, SFF also throws in a few more picks from France's prestigious event. SFF 2023 starts on Wednesday, June 8, running until Sunday, June 19 — and the day before the fest kicks off, it has boosted its bill with nine more features. The huge drawcard: Anatomy of a Fall, a drama about an author (Sandra Hüller, Toni Erdmann) accused of her husband's murder, which just won French director Justine Triet (Sibyl) the Palme d'Or. She became just the third female filmmaker to earn the coveted prize after Jane Campion — the subject of this year's SFF retrospective — for The Piano in 1993 and Julia Ducournau for Titane in 2021. Also hitting Sydney after competing for Cannes' major prize are Club Zero and May December. Helmed by Little Joe's Jessica Hausner, the former stars Mia Wasikowska (Blueback) as a boarding-school teacher spearheading a conscious-eating movement. The latter hails from Carol director Todd Haynes, is led by Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Julianne Moore (Sharper), and dives into a scandal. SFF has also added body-horror film Tiger Stripes, which is set in the Malaysian jungle and won the 2023 Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize — and Inshallah a Boy, about a woman in Jordan who fakes a pregnancy because it's the only way she can secure her inheritance. Plus, from Cannes Directors' Fortnight comes Georgian feature Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, about an autumn romance. Also from the Croisette: Anselm, Wim Wenders' (Submergence) portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer; and Four Daughters, which won Cannes' top documentary prize for its tale about a Tunisian mother and her missing children. And, while it screened at Sundance instead, The Persian Version — an Audience Award-winner at the Utah fest, focusing on Iranian American filmmaker Leila (Layla Mohammadi, The Sex Lives of College Girls), her romantic life and her mother Shireen's (Niousha Noor, Kaleidoscope) story before her — rounds out the new additions. SFF attendees, you'll now need to rejig your schedule. That's one of this film festival's annual traditions, too. Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets.
A westside staple, Rocklea's Brisbane Markets have long been the place to head for a spot of browsing and buying, especially if you're looking for fresh foods on a Saturday morning and a little bit of everything on a Sunday. You'll now have another reason to stop by, with the Sherwood Road spot adding a Friday night market to its lineup from February 15. It's another all-in-one affair. Think street food to keep your stomach satisfied, beer and wine for that after-work tipple, a main stage graced by musical acts, roving performers livening up the space, and both arcades and stalls selling artisanal wares. You'll be able to tuck into a burger and brew, snack on a churro for dessert, and pick up some clothes, jewellery, candles and homewares to take home with you, all between 4–10pm. Even better — like the other weekend shopping extravaganzas at the site, this one is a weekly event. Entry costs $2.50 per person, and there's a whole heap of free parking available. Given how busy the Saturday and Sunday markets get, arriving early is recommended. Image: Brisbane Markets.
UPDATE, March 28, 2023: Nope is available to stream via Netflix, Binge, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Kudos to Jordan Peele for giving his third feature as a writer/director a haters-gonna-hate-hate-hate name: for anyone unimpressed with Nope, the response is right there. Kudos, too, to the Get Out and Us filmmaker for making his third bold, intelligent and supremely entertaining horror movie in a row — a reach-for-the-skies masterpiece that's ambitious and eerie, imaginative and expertly crafted, as savvy about cinema as it is about spectacle, and inspires the exact opposite term to its moniker. Reteaming with Peele after nabbing an Oscar nomination for Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya utters the titular word more than once in Nope. Exclaiming "yep" in your head each time he does is an instant reaction. Everything about the film evokes that same thrilled endorsement, but it comes particularly easily whenever Kaluuya's character surveys the wild and weird events around him. We say yay to his nays because we know we'd respond the same way if confronted by even half the chaos that Peele whooshes through the movie. As played with near-silent weariness by the always-excellent Judas and the Black Messiah Oscar-winner, Haywood's Hollywood Horses trainer OJ doesn't just dismiss the strange thing in the heavens, though. He can't, even if he doesn't realise the full extent of what's happening when his father (Keith David, Love Life) suddenly slumps on his steed on an otherwise ordinary day. Six months later, OJ and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer, Lightyear) are trying to keep the family business running; he does the wrangling, she does the on-set safety spiels, which double as a primer on the Haywoods' lengthy links to the movie industry. The first moving images ever presented, by Eadweard Muybridge of a galloping horse in the 1800s, featured their great-great-great grandfather as the jockey, Emerald explains. His image was immortalised, but not his name — and, although she doesn't say it directly, that's a fate she isn't eager to share. In fact, Emerald ends her patter by proclaiming that she's available for almost any Hollywood job that might come up. Unsurprisingly, OJ is horrified about the hustle. Her big chance is indeed tied to their ranch, but not in the way that Emerald initially realises either — because who'd predict that something would be lurking above the Haywoods' Agua Dulce property? Just as Get Out saw Peele reinterrogate the possession movie and Us did the same with doppelgängers, Nope goes all in on flying saucers. So, Emerald wants the kind of proof that only video footage can offer. She wants her "Oprah shot", as well as a hefty payday. Soon, the brother-sister duo are buying new surveillance equipment — which piques the interest of UFO-obsessed electronics salesman Angel Torres (Brandon Perea, The OA) — and also enlisting renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott, Veni Vidi Vici) to capture the lucrative image. Cue plenty of faces staring up in shock and wonder, as Steven Spielberg has made a mainstay of his films — and cue a movie that nods to Jaws as much as Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Peele makes smartly and playfully cineliterate flicks, which aren't content to merely wink and nudge, but instead say "yep" themselves: yep to all the tropes and symbols that the comedian-turned-filmmaker can filter through his own lens, and his determination to unearth the reality of living in America today, just as he did when he was making some of this century's best skits on Key & Peele. Indeed, Nope is keenly aware of the lure and power of spectacle, especially the on-screen kind, which also echoes through in the picture's other pivotal character. Ricky 'Jupe' Park (Steven Yeun, Minari) isn't involved in the Haywoods' attempts to snap upwards, but the former child star runs a neighbouring theme park called Jupiter's Claim, which cashes in on his big hit role in a movie called Kid Sheriff. He's known for short-lived 90s sitcom Gordy's Home, too, starring opposite a chimpanzee, and moments of the show also pop up in Peele's film. A creepy glimpse at Gordy's Home actually opens Nope, starting the feature with a cryptic teaser that couldn't be more potent. Menace hovering above, sprawling vistas and the clouds that pepper them, galloping horses, rampaging apes, waving skydancers, cheesy Wild West shows, predators versus prey, the quest for fame and its self-destructive toll, cashing in: that all earns Peele's attention, weaved together in one jaw-droppingly impressive and unnerving package. This is the filmmaker's clever and compelling stab at a monster movie as well, which applies in a variety of manners. Here's one that doesn't give too much away: the way that animals have been exploited for entertainment, coupled with humanity's pursuit of bigger and better spectacles no matter the consequences, has long proven an act of monstrousness to be battled. Here's another: chasing visual thrills isn't innocent, a truth that resounds unshakeably in today's always-filming times. Nope is a pics-or-it-didn't-happen flick, too, and explores the price that people are willing to pay to keep getting those images. Perfect shots and the industry that relies upon them aren't without their cost, Peele posits — while also filling his frames with a sublimely surreal sci-fi-western vision lensed with rich detail by Hoyte Van Hoytema, Christopher Nolan's recent cinematographer (see: Tenet, Dunkirk and Interstellar). A movie can call attention to cinema's usually ignored ills and equally demand the utmost attention to its stunning array of sights, of course, and Nope is one such feature. Its sound design and score, courtesy of Johnnie Burn (Ammonite) and Michael Abels (Us, Get Out) respectively, are also both staggering and loaded, finding the ideal balance between haunting quiet and symphonic screaming. Nope is many things. It's a reminder that Hollywood's historical approach to race — its blatant lack of diversity, and its willingness to erase the contributions of people of colour, to be accurate — has proven a monstrosity as well. It's an examination of the power of images, for better and for worse. It sees the dark side of courting celebrity as a supposed way of improving our lots in life. Nope takes Peele's The Twilight Zone fascination, after reviving and hosting the 2019–20 version, to its next level. It's also a cowboys-and-aliens flick, and it's as dazzling as a blockbuster that blends science fiction, western, comedy and horror can be. Nope is frequently a daylight nightmare, boasts this year's second-best use of the wide blue yonder after Top Gun: Maverick, and is so terrifying in one barn-set scene that chills follow. Throw in that exceptional cast, including the pitch-perfect chalk-and-cheese double act that springs from Kaluuya's subtlety and Palmer's energy, and it's a downright marvel, as well as another Peele winner. The yeps keep coming — and yep, you'll never look at the clouds the same way afterwards.
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled due to permit restrictions. Since it opened back in 2001, you've probably done a lot of things on the Goodwill Bridge. Chances are you've walked, jogged or cycled over it, looked out over South Bank, enjoyed the sunset from its vantage point — the list goes on. And yes, you've probably devoured a coffee or eaten a snack, too. But we're guessing you haven't had a full three-course evening meal on it. For $155 per person, Dinner on the Bridge offers up just that, including three courses of gourmet fare with matched wines and twilight views as far as the eye can see. It's the kind of event that could only be a collaboration, with Stokehouse Q joining forces with Cafe on the Bridge as part of Good Food Month for a night — and plenty of food — to remember.
A giant gumball machine that you can climb inside. An adult-sized ballpit in bubblegum-pink hues. A dedicated fairy floss room with its own swing. Throw in ice cream, sweet and snack tastings, plus the ability to jump out of a giant birthday cake — and Brisbane's new pop-up dessert museum sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own. Called Sugar Republic, it's actually a short-term exhibition at Valley Metro on Brunswick Street. Originally running from September 23 until October 21 — but adding an extra weekend of sweetness across October 26, 27 and 28 — the pop-up brings sugary delights to folks with a sweet tooth, boasting an array of spaces filled with all things chocolate, confectionery and dessert-oriented. When you're not making yourself a soft serve and showering it in sprinkles, you'll be spinning a wheel o' treats. Other highlights include a sherbet-filled rainbow bridge, a 'press for confetti' button, an interactive sprinkles wall, a neon art wall and other dessert-centric art. And it wouldn't be a celebration of all things sweet without a huge lolly store, of course. Basically, if you missed out on visiting New York's Museum of Ice Cream back in 2016, this is Australia's equivalent. Typically these kind of places are designed to be as photogenic as possible, so expect plenty of pics to clog your Instagram feed. If you're keen to take some of your own, tickets cost $35 for adults, which includes tastings over your 60-minute stay. The exhibition is open from 10am every day. Last entry is at 4pm all days except Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when it's 8pm. Updated October 20.
If you didn't check out Gelato Messina's Creative Department last time it made it to Brisbane, then this August is the perfect time to do so — because the gelato fiends are adding truffles to all their dishes. In conjunction with Parksbourne Produce and Oakfield Truffles, Messina's Creative Department is crafting a special seven-course gelato-meets-gourmet mushrooms degustation for just two weeks. So what kind of truffle-gelato goodness have the masterminds come up with this time around? There's a whole new menu, and it's filled with the ingredient in question. Expect truffle oil with grapefruit and ginger granita; truffles with oysters and Kiki kosho sorbet; truffle mousse with eucalyptus jelly and strawberry, hibiscus and berry pepper sorbet; and smoked and cured duck egg yolk gelato with shiitake, celeriac and truffle foam. You'll also be trying the black truffle gelato with potato and parmesan risotto, which comes with truffle oil-infused oolong tea — plus the caramelised oak gelato with truffle and passionfruit souffle. Tickets are $160 per person and, based off how quick these things sell out around the country, you'll want to grab your tickets ASAP.
If you're a fan of Gelato Messina and its frosty sweet treats, 2020 is the year that just keeps on giving. That saying doesn't apply to much over the past 12 months, but it definitely fits in this situation. The dessert chain has released all manner of one-off specials, launched a new range of chocolate-covered ice cream bars in supermarkets, dropped a new merchandise line and brought back its Christmas trifle, for starters — and now it's aiming to take care of your summer drinks list. Teaming up with Cocktail Porter, Messina is now serving up DIY kits that'll let you make your own boozy beverages — either using Messina's gelato or its just-as-beloved toppings. Basically, it's the answer to a familiar dilemma, especially when the weather is warm. No one likes choosing between tucking into a chilled, creamy dessert or having another boozy beverage, after all. The Messina dessert cocktail packs come in two flavours: dulce de leche espresso martinis, and gin-fuelled coconut and lychee piña coladas. In the former, you'll get Ciroc vodka, coffee liqueur, premium cold-drip coffee and Messina's dulce de leche topping, plus Messina's chocolate hazelnut spread and shaved coconut to go on top. In the latter — which are being called 'giña coladas' — you'll receive Tanqueray gin, coconut water, pineapple juice, verjuice, and vouchers to go pick up a tub of Messina coconut and lychee gelato. As well as choosing with variety you'd prefer — caffeinated and zesty or fruit and refreshing, basically — you can pick between two different-sized packs. A mini espresso martini kit costs $85, while a mini giña colada kit costs $89, and both serve up six drinks. Or, you can opt for the large ($149/159), which makes 18 dessert cocktails. Cocktail Porter delivers Australia-wide, if that's your summer drinking plans sorted. To order Cocktail Porter's Gelato Messina cocktail kits, head to the Cocktail Porter website.
