We all know about retail therapy, but now it's time to discover retail theatre at Paddo's Empire Revival. Situated in the heritage-listed former Plaza Theatre, Empire Revival offers a boutique shopping experience with a difference. In the maze of rooms beneath the high blue sky ceilings of this atmospheric theatre, you'll find a treasure trove of upcycled, antique and unique pieces — a refreshing shopping adventure that says goodbye to fast fashion and mass production. Empire Revival's expert merchants specialise in beautiful, curious, collectable items, from artworks and prints to antique furniture, vintage fashion, historic memorabilia and luxury jewellery. Find your perfect feature piece, whether it's an exquisite item of Venetian glassware, Victorian-era lampshades, mid-century Scandinavian furniture or art nouveau silverware. It stocks a selection of new products, too, focusing on durable and stylish pieces, such as handmade leather goods, plush ottomans and sustainable spectacle frames. You could spend hours finding inspiration in its extensive collections or chat to the experts for guidance in this maze of wonders. Go in with an open mind and you'll come out with something surprising. Images: Kiel Wode
The BrisStyle team is a rather busy bunch. A few times a year, it puts on twilight markets in King George Square, but that isn't its only regular event. If you're particularly after a treasure trove of handmade goodies — and who isn't? — it hosts another opportunity to browse and buy that's dedicated to exactly those kinds of objects over at the Queensland Museum. And, because it's that time of year, it's putting on a Christmas version of the latter. Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone's been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there'll be a long list of artisans — normally around 60 locals, actually — selling their wares. And, while you're shopping, you'll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe — and live tunes from local musos usually provide a soundtrack. The BrisStyle Handmade Christmas Markets take place on Saturday, December 2, so that's when you can take care of your gift-buying needs. Head along from 9am–3pm, with it all taking place in the Queensland Museum's whale mall. Image: BrisStyle.
The BrisStyle team is a rather busy bunch, putting on markets around Brisbane with frequency. If you're particularly after a treasure trove of handmade goodies — and who isn't? — then you'll want to hit up its opportunity to browse and buy that's dedicated to exactly those kinds of objects. Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone's been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there'll be more than 50 artisans selling their wares. And, while you're shopping, you'll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe and listen to live tunes from local musos. The Handmade Markets always take place on Saturdays, on the fourth Saturday of each month. So, mark Saturday, September 28 and Saturday, October 26 — and Saturday, November 23 as well — in your calendar now. Head along from 10am–3pm, with it all taking place in the Queensland Museum's whale mall. Images: BrisStyle.
What microwaves did for heating, UK company Enviro-Cool is promising to do for cooling. They've created a drink cooler that takes bottles and cans from room temperature to 5 degrees celsius in just 45 seconds. There's every possibility that the invention, which uses 80 percent less energy than commercial refrigeration, could soon become commonplace in homes, shops and eateries all over the world. Envriro-Cool created the technology, which they've patented 'V-Tex', back in 2007. It's based on a sophisticated application of the 'Rankine Vortex'. A European Commission grant of 930,000 Euros enabled its development into a commercial product. According to the promo video, the EC "recognised that the energy used to constantly chill pre-packed beverages was enormous and an unsustainable strain on our depleting energy resources." Three types of coolers have been developed. There's one suitable to commercial use, powerful enough to replace high-energy use equipment, such as multi-deck open refrigerator, and two domestic-friendly units — one stand-alone and one that can be added to existing refrigerators. It's estimated that, for every fridge replaced, over $1000 in electricity will be saved annually. Trials begin in Holland next month. Via PSFK.
Donning a costume, going door to door and chirping "trick or treat" is a tried-and-tested way to celebrate Halloween. Watching spooky movies is another. Tucking into themed bites to eat while sipping cocktails to match is one more method of getting into the spirit of the occasion. And then there's simply putting pumpkins all over the place. In one manner or another, all of the above are part of Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street, the Halloween event that turns a stretch of South Bank into one of Brisbane's go-to spots to mark October 31. The annual street party first debuted before the start of the pandemic, then took a break, then returned in 2023 — and it's back again in 2024. This year's event runs across Friday, October 25–Saturday, October 26, from 5–9pm on both days, so you can begin your Halloween shenanigans before the eeriest date on the annual calendar. There's a trick-or-treat trail for kids — this is a family-friendly fest — but also plenty for adults, including hitting the precinct's eateries. Little Stanley Street's restaurants and bars will be serving up themed specials. The menu details haven't been revealed as yet, but past years have seen spooky sangria, bloody margaritas and a heap of pumpkin dishes on offer. If Halloween to you means scary movies — or films with horror themes that aren't necessarily fright-inducing — then you'll want to hit up the Little Stanley Street South Lawn during Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street. A big screen will be playing all-ages-appropriate titles such as Scooby-Doo, Monster Family, The Addams Family and Casper. Also part of the festivities: Halloween decorations everywhere, a ghost train, roving entertainment and craft workshops for the little ones. Attendance is free, but registering in advance is recommended if you're keen to head along.
Fining guests for posting bad reviews of your Vanderbilt-built hotel? Might want to think twice on that poorly-formed brainwave and avoid giving internet reviewers a reason to unite. Union Street Guest House in Hudson, New York is doing exactly that. The Rockefeller/Vanderbilt estate hastily took down a controversial rule from its own website yesterday, according to Huffington Post. The super dumb, money-grabbing rule charged wedding guests (primarily the newlyweds themselves) for any bad reviews posted on review websites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. Yep. Apparently, as pointed out by the initial New York Post story on Monday, couples holding their wedding at the USGH would see a sneaky $500 deducted from their security deposit for each thumbs down posted online by their guests. After a few WTF inquiries, the hotel took to Facebook and pulled the ol' 'it was all a joke' card to quash the backlash, but then mysteriously that post went missing too. "The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago," read the Facebook post. "It was meant to be taken down and certainly was never enforced." Although it's no longer (obviously) up on the hotel's website, Business Insider snapped it up before it was lost to the ages. Here's what the rule read, seriously: If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. Although the team attempted to put out the fire, the sparks had already flown. Over 500 angry reviewers threw the hotel major shade with the lowest possible rating, again and again and again. Although sites like Yelp delete reviews who haven't actually stayed in the venue up for review, the slams are still coming for USGH: Now Union Street Guest House's rating looks like this: Yikes. Think before you joke-fine. Via Business Insider, Huffington Post and New York Post.
This one goes out to the multi-taskers among us. Do you find there aren't enough hours in the day? Do you wish you could grab a coffee and tick off your chores at the same time? You're in luck. There are a number of great businesses in Brisbane that offer more than one service, meaning you can kill two birds with one stone. Because everyone is a little time-poor these days, we've rounded up the seven best fusion businesses in Brisbane, where you can cross off two or more points on your to-do list in one hit. FRANCESCA'S FLOWERS There is nothing quainter than a florist/tearoom that lets you drink tea, eat cake and learn the tricks of the trade with floristry workshops. Francesca's Flowers in Paddington fits the bill and is even located in a glorious old Queenslander cottage to make it even more charming. If you don't have the time to stop by the shop to grab a pocket full of posies, you can still send a little lovin' and order flowers over the phone. The team of passionate designers can help put together anything from a simple arrangement to say thanks to opulent wedding and event flowers. 46 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington MALT TRADERS Malt Traders is a one-stop shop for all your fine food and craft beverage needs. The Brisbane-born business is focused on delivering unique and sustainable offerings such as craft beers, biodynamic and organic wines, and single malt whiskey. Pair your aperitifs with a delectable selection of produce and indulge a little the next time you entertain. 10 Market St, Brisbane and Little Stanley Street, South Bank WILD CANARY Wild Canary is best described as a 'botanical bistro' nestled inside Brookfield Garden Centre in Brisbane's west. The cafe is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, and is even licensed. The chefs harvest fragrant herbs, edible flowers and seasonal produce from the onsite kitchen garden so you're guaranteed fresh and flavoursome fare. If you find yourself inspired to grow your own produce, pop in to the garden centre and the friendly staff will assist you in choosing the best vegetable garden supplies. You can even organise landscape and maintenance services to help tame or tidy your garden if your thumb ain't as green as you thought. 2371 Moggill Road, Brookfield NEWMARKET HARDWARE Newmarket True Value Hardware throws a spanner in the works when you step inside and discover Gallery B hidden in its depths. And although the insinuation on their website that only boys enjoy hardware and girls art is a somewhat off-putting, a hardware store/boutique gallery does make for the perfect weekend outing. Whether you make the visit to pick up some paint and power tools for your next DIY project, or to peruse the art, jewellery and fashion finds, be sure to grab a cup of coffee and a piece of quality cake or an exotic delicacy from the cafe. 178 Enoggera Road, Newmarket RIVERBEND BOOKS Good literature and great coffee are a match made in heaven, and the folk at Riverbend Books in Bulimba are happy to oblige with both. The store is warm and friendly, as all good bookstores should be, and the deck out front is a prime position on Oxford street to enjoy a coffee, a light meal or a glass of great Australia wine. Indulge your inner bookworm and join a book chat, book club or simply browse the large inventory of books, magazines and journals. 193 Oxford Street, Bulimba SOURCED GROCER Sourced Grocer is all about celebrating locally sourced food and eating thoughtfully. The cafe-slash-grocer quickly established a cult following in the Brisbane food community, and there is seldom a spare milk crate to perch your drawers on and enjoy the delicious, largely organic menu. Inside the roller doors, you'll find some of Brisbane's finest fresh produce and culinary provisions. 11 Florence Street, Teneriffe CHEVEAUX DESIGN AND ESPRESSO When things get busy, we tend to neglect our tresses, because booking a haircut can be hard. Get yo' hair did, have a cup of Allpress Espresso, and grab a jar of choc peanut butter protein balls for the road all in one visit to Cheveux Design and Espresso in Auchenflower. The sister duo behind the salon-slash-cafe combined their passions and experience to bring a unique, and charming boutique offering to Brisbanites. 37A Bangalla Street, Auchenflower
"For us, it's about trying to take risks," says director Amiel Courtin-Wilson. "Further the process, and see how far you can push things before they break." Certainly, the Melbourne-born filmmaker is not afraid of pushing the envelope. After beginning his career in documentary with films like Chasing Buddha and Bastardy, Courtin-Wilson's first fiction feature was 2012's Hail, a dark, critically divisive love story that blended naturalistic cinematography and dialogue with striking moments of visual experimentation. A similar methodology is at work in his follow-up, Ruin, which he co-directed with Hail producer Michael Cody. Inspired by Cody's time living and working in South-East Asia, the film is a romantic drama about the relationship between a runaway prostitute and a factory worker in Phnom Penh and the desperate lengths they must go to in order to survive. "On average I don't think we did a day shorter than 15 or 16 hours," says Courtin-Wilson of the gruelling, unconventional shoot, which was broken into two separate three-week blocks with a yearlong gap in between. "The last week we were shooting 20, 21 hour days." Now it seems that the hard work has paid off. Since its completion, Ruin has won numerous festival awards, including the Special Jury Prize at Venice, and had its Australian debut in competition at the Sydney Film Festival. In the lead-up to their local premiere, Courtin-Wilson and Cody took the time to talk with Concrete Playground about the experience of putting the film together. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5VEQ2Hvq_Cs No Script, no problem When asked about the project's origins, both directors grin. "We landed in Cambodia without a script, without any finance and without any sense of a story," remembers Courtin-Wilson. "Within about a month we had some finance, we had a cast, we had a crew from Australia, and we had a 15-page outline. So in many ways it was just an experiment in sheer momentum." The Australian crew came together under the banner of Courtin-Wilson's film collective, Flood Projects. Many of them worked for free, even paying for their own plane tickets to Cambodia. "If someone's prepared to do that, they're obviously there for the right reason," says Cody, "and that's very humbling. It means that the process is genuinely very collaborative; everyone's invested in it, and we're super grateful to them for being there." Courtin-Wilson agrees. "I think what happens when you give over to that process without the usual hierarchies, when someone can literally have four or five roles, is that everyone is so invested and so excited," he says. "Someone can be down the street for lunch and find some amazing potential cast member, or find an amazing cafe for a scene … it was the most exhilarating filmmaking experience I've ever had." A road movie with no road map Part of Ruin's naturalistic feel comes from the filmmakers being willing to draw from their environment. "Structurally, working with a road movie paradigm meant that you could expand or contract the film according to who you met along the way," says Courtin-Wilson. "It's episodic in nature … we'd meet an amazing fisherman in a province halfway through shooting and then we'd sit down and write a scene for him, and integrate that into the story. "The idea that filmmaking has to be a one-way street in which you can't fundamentally reinvent the film in the edit..." Courtin-Wilson trails off, shaking his head. "If anything, we were trying to inject more chaos into the process, because that's where the discoveries lie." "I'm pretty sure [the cast] thought we were just mental cases for a lot of the time shooting the film," says Cody, laughing. The guidance of trauma "We had a really fundamental idea of what the theme of the film was, which came from Cody's initial idea of trauma, and how trauma sits in the body," says Courtin-Wilson. "This is a whole country that's been traumatised," adds Cody. "One thing I'm really pleased with is the way the history of the place comes through, but in an oblique way. It's subtle, as it is in everyday life there. You can feel it everywhere, all around you, but it's not discussed. These people have to deal with the reality of that history, in their lives and their relationships. You know, like living down the road from the guy that executed your father, that sort of stuff." "In early screenings of the film we had in Cambodia," says Courtin-Wilson, "the greatest compliment [came from] showing it to a group of Cambodian artists, musicians and filmmakers, and for them to say 'this feels like Cambodia today'. If we even came close to capturing that, that's all I would ever want." Ruin is on at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Wednesday, August 13, and Saturday, August 17. For tickets, see the MIFF website.
"Hear that? That's nothing. Which is what I, as a speaker at today's conference, have for you all." Ah, if only all presenters could be as honest as Will Stephen, CollegeHumor.com staff writer and editor, who presented a pretty spot-on parody of his fellow speakers at a recent TEDxNewYork event. The content is one thing, but it's Stephen's manner — the intonation, the weighty pauses, the glasses adjustment, the 'revealing' question thrown out to the audience — that makes this so great. If you weren't paying attention, you'd swear he'd just imparted a deep and essential truth vital to the global progress of humanity. Via Mashable
A conglomerate of sights, sounds and savouries, the Auckland cityscape of things to do is vast. From Waitemata Harbour in the north, to Manukau Harbour in the south, there's a bounty of things to eat, drink and discover, not to mention see, with stellar views in pretty much any direction you look. But forgoing the tour guide route, how does one navigate their way through the City of Sails? We all know access to a local's knowledge is the best way, so we've partnered with Adina Apartment Hotels to locate some must-dos from Parnell to Britomart, Devonport to Waiheke Island. What's more, Adina Auckland has a new penthouse to book into, so you can up your city exploration with a stay in this three-bedroom apartment featuring Auckland's crème de la crème at its doorstep. So, break out of the tourist bubble, and venture out to take in the city like a local, order that top-notch coffee, soak up the key vistas of our fine city, and indulge in first class dining experiences. Herein lies our local's guide to some of the best hot spots to add to your itinerary. FOR INNOVATIVE, HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS: MEA CULPA Cocktails aren't just a drink at Mea Culpa in Ponsonby, they're an art form. A New York-style hole in the wall, the intimate narrow bar is a local favourite thanks to their innovative, ever-changing cocktail list, rustic interior and an eclectic music selection to boot. It's the kind of place where barman and owner Tim knows most by name and will happily stop for a chat while whipping up some spectacular creations. Here, cocktails are king and creativity, presentation and quality produce reign supreme. Everything is made from scratch and everything is organic, plus the team is passionate about supporting local suppliers and buy small batch made product — nothing is mass produced. This is a true neighbourhood gem you'd be crazy to miss. FOR WEEKEND BREAKFAST: WINONA FOREVER When you're feeling a bit dusty on the weekend, you want a big breakfast, you want it central, you want it tasty, and a bit of atmosphere doesn't hurt either. Introducing Winona Forever, a little Auckland eatery making big waves on the food scene. Competing for your attention, sugar-dusted pastries and flaky filo treats sit pretty in the front cabinet, but the real drawcard, however, is on the main menu. Expect beetroot salmon on kumara sourdough, pistachio almond ricotta doughnuts and breakfast bowls brimming with broccolini, kale, avo and lime. The beauty and flavours of each plate will render you speechless, but don't worry the restaurant comes strapped with an alcohol license to get the conversation flowing again over a sneaky breakfast tipple. FOR COFFEE WITH CHARM: ODETTES If you want to be charmed while you have your morning coffee, look no further than Odettes. Boasting the prettiest botanicals and Scandinavian fit-out in the city, there's no argument that this is an Auckland gem. You'll go for the textures, timelessness and luxury of the venue, but rest assured, you'll stay for their eclectic and extensive coffee and tea offerings. Caffeine and fare alike, everything is sourced from local and artisanal producers. A true pleasure to behold, Odettes should be on everyone's coffee itinerary. Image: Anna Kidman. FOR EXPERIMENTAL ICE CREAM: GIAPO Sweet, salty, spicy, sour — whatever ice cream your heart desires will be found within the emporium that is Giapo. Treating every customer like their first —even though they've been open for nine years — the team goes above and beyond to make your visit memorable no matter how short. With feijoa and chamomile, black Perigord truffle, peach and bush honey yogurt, you'll want to taste the lot before making that important final decision. And with their relocation to Gore Street earlier this year, there are even more unexpected food and ice cream pairings to discover, like ice cream with fries, jacket potatoes, gyoza dumplings or arancini balls. These cone connoisseurs have fine tuned the talent of combining technology, art and science into innovative batches of creamy cold goodness, bringing Auckland the tastiest cones in town. FOR DRINKS WITH A VIEW: DEVON ON THE WHARF The City of Sails offers high-ranking bars aplenty, serving up some killer drinks, but if you really want to impress and be impressed, there's one spot you should set your sights on. Make your way to the little bubble of Devonport, the fairy tale town perched on one of the city's most prized peninsulas, adorned with historical villas. Stepping off the ferry, you need not stray far before meeting your destination, Devon on the Wharf. Along with seaside inspired delicacies, crowd pleasing platters and a full gin and tonic menu, DOTW offers double views, either overlooking the city or the wide ocean expanse. Settle in with your drop of choice, and ready yourself for a lengthy afternoon session you won't want to leave. Image: @nattti / Instagram. FOR A WINE-FILLED DAY TRIP: WAIHEKE ISLAND Touring wineries surrounded by lush rolling hills, wandering from one vineyard to the next via pathways through the vines, indulging in several delicious, local drops — not much else compares to a day spent on Waiheke Island. Is there anything better than an entire island dedicated to wine? Rent a bike and wind your way through the hills dotted with vineyards, or jump on the bus that takes you from the ferry, all the way to Onetangi Beach. Stop off at Stonyridge for a glass of their award-winning Larose (best enjoyed on the deck among the olive grove), then wind your way through the vines to Casita Miro to sample their tapas and Spanish sherries, like their famed Madame Rouge. And if you opt for the car ferry from Auckland's CBD, and have a designated driver, the stunning, coastal Man O' War at the end of the island is certainly worth a trip. FOR VOLCANO VIEWS: MOUNT VICTORIA Marked by rolling hills and surrounded by ocean, Auckland holds some extraordinary views from One Tree Hill to Waiheke, but Devonport's Mount Victoria on the North Shore offers some pretty special sights. Challenge yourself, and take the steep 15-minute walk up to the volcano's summit for sweeping ocean views with the dramatic CBD skyline to contrast. Spanning the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto Island, the city and the rest of the shore, this picture-perfect panorama is well worth that post-climb burn. Image: russellstreet / Flickr. FOR WEEKEND MARKET EATS: LA CIGALE FRENCH MARKET There's no mystery as to why La Cigale French Market has been voted Auckland's best market for eight years running. Held Saturday from 8am to 1.30pm and Sunday from 9am to 1.30pm, the Parnell market has become so popular it's expanded to a new location in Britomart. Here you can expect produce in abundance, fresh breads and pastries hot from the oven, cheeses, cured meats smoked salmon, giant pans of paella, organic salads and French delicacies galore. Teeming with live music, crepes sizzling, coffees brewing and the scent of fresh baked pastries wafting through the air, La Cigale is a sensory explosion just waiting to be explored. FOR A HIDDEN, SUNNY PICNIC SPOT: CORNWALL PARK Undoubtedly, the city's best place to park up and picnic is at Cornwall Park. Escape to the beautiful expanse of rolling green hills, just a 15-minute drive from the city. The parklands feature wildlife, stunning scenery, walks both on and off the beaten track, and to sweeten the deal, an ice creamery. No matter the season, locals flock here to spend their afternoons sharing the park with herds of friendly cows, roaming sheep and, in parts, free-range chickens clucking about. Lay out your rug in your own hidden valley, and embrace the feeling of leaving the city long behind you — despite being right on its doorstep. FOR NEW ZEALAND'S FRESHEST PASTA: AMANO Housed in a building more than a century old, Amano is one of the most beautiful eateries you will lay eyes on in Auckland. Picture bunches of dried wheat and Nelson hydrangeas hanging gracefully from the ceiling, and Mother of Pearl countertops emerging from Terraza marble flooring reminiscent of Saint Peter's Basilica. Amano means both 'made by hand' and 'with love' in Italian, which suits the fare perfectly. Claiming to have the freshest pasta experience in New Zealand, the restaurant dishes out pastas made with flour straight from their on-site mill and free-range eggs from Whangarei. Pair that with only seasonal and local ingredients — see Wairarapa Coast crayfish and Auckland Island scampi — plus big windows overlooking the port, and you're set for a decadent dining experience by the sea. Book yourself in at the Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland and tick all of these hot spots off your list. Words: Izzie Aldridge, Kristy Mayo and Quinn Connors.
She grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lives in New York, and has exhibited everywhere from the Guggenheim Museum to Vienna's Albertina Museum — and now, her work is coming home. After receiving a major gift of her pieces back in 2013, the UQ Art Museum has put together Denise Green: Beyond and Between – A Painter's Journey to showcase the talent of this great Australian-born artist. As the title suggests, expect to feast your eyes on plenty of canvases; however expect to see old efforts as well as recent photo collages too. The collection offers existing fans the chance to reappraise Green's work, while also giving a new generation of Brisbanites the opportunity to discover a local talent. In total, mroe than 100 paintings, drawings and collages produced by the artist will grace the UQ Art Museum's walls, spanning artwork produced between 1972 and 2015. If that sounds impressive, that's because it should — in fact, it's the most comprehensive overview of Green's work ever undertaken in Australia. Image: Denise Green, Woman-Hood, 1977, oil and wax on canvas, 150.5 x 151.0 cm. The Denise Green / Francis X. Claps Collection gifted through The University of Queensland in America, Inc. Foundation. The University of Queensland, 2013. Photo: Carl Warner
If you've ever enjoyed a few drinks and wondered just what impact they've had on your blood alcohol limit, prepare to wonder no longer. Meet Proof, the wearable alcohol sensor that not only tells you how drunk you are — it (somewhat frighteningly) predicts how drunk you'll be later, and when you'll be sober if you stop drinking. Plus, it can also remind you when you're back in the safe realm. This is how it works: the slim band, which looks just like a fitness tracker, reads alcohol molecules through your skin. It then sends those readings to an app on your phone, where you can check whether you're okay to drive, and when you will be. You can also set it up to send vibrations through your wrist and flash an LED light when you reach pre-set blood alcohol levels. The band itself relies upon on disposable cartridges that last for 12 hours, and is powered by a rechargeable battery with a four-day continuous-use lifespan. Proof, which was among the technological advancements featured at CES 2017, has been in development by Milo Sensors for two years, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for 2017 to help it come to fruition. Once it reaches the market, it is expected to sell for US$100 to $150. Milo Sensors CEO and founder Evan Strenk told Mashable that the product aims to "empower people to make educated decision about alcohol," and is on par with consumer breathalysers. The last part is key, and not just in terms of effectiveness. Sure, plenty of blood alcohol testing products already exist; however who wants to blow into a tube when knowing just how those after-work drinks are hitting the spot is as easy as wearing a wristband and checking your phone? Via Mashable.
This quaint establishment is the latest venture from the team behind Alcove Cafe and Esher St Deli, and their experience in hospitality and passion for produce shine through once again. Samson and Sophie opened its doors in March 2014, and after finding their footing along the river, the team is proud to deliver the freshest and finest locally made produce. An eclectic mix of shabby-chic tables and chairs sprawl along the pavement of Macquarie Street. As potted herbs hang from the fence and umbrellas attempt to shield the harsh Brisbane sun, patrons sidle up and settle in for both breakfast and lunch, seven days a week. While the venue is not suited for long and large lunch gatherings, it's a pretty rad spot for a quick catch up. Let the baristas brew you a fresh cup of coffee or a thirst-quenching frappe while you take a long, hard look at the menus. Like any good breakfast menu should, Samson and Sophie's delivers a range of options to suit almost every morning appetite. If you're after something light, the cinnamon fruit toast ($10.90) or hobby mix house muesli ($12.90) have got you covered. For something a little heartier, check out the slow-cooked beans ($16.90), Wrapped Up ($12.90) breakfast wrap, or the roast pumpkin fritters with fresh greens, honey carrots and Bahbah's yoghurt cheese with a poached egg ($18.90). Of course, there is the option to add sides to any of the meals. The fresh flavours from breakfast seemingly roll over to the lunch menu. Delicious options like the Farmers Bowl of hot buttered corn with parmesan, thyme roasted mushroom, rocket, cherry tomato salad and organic sourdough ($14.90) or the Baking Dish, a changing hot lunch creation, should tide you over till tea. Fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps are also available into the afternoon. If you're not in the mood for a meal, grab a coffee, pick up some fresh flowers or treat yourself to a locally made Italian pastry and relish in the cafes relaxed charm.
One of the world's most acclaimed galleries is coming to Australia, and it's bringing more than 70 works that chronicle the past 200 years in art history with it. For a five-month season from mid-June, the UK's Tate will take over Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image with a hefty exhibition that'll span everything from painting, photography and sculpture through to drawing, kinetic art and installations — and, of course, the moving image. Given the time period covered by Light: Works from Tate's Collection, the list of artists that'll be on display is a varied one — as drawn from pieces in the Tate's four separate sites in Britain. Art lovers will be able to see works by famed English romantic painter and watercolourist Joseph Mallord William Turner alongside the light- and space-focused efforts of American artist James Turrell, plus pieces by impressionist Claude Monet and Japanese favourite Yayoi Kusama. Running from Thursday, June 16–Sunday, November 13, the unifying theme is light, as the exhibition's name makes plain — and if you're wondering how this connects to ACMI's remit as a museum for the moving image, light is obviously crucial to all recorded vision. While Light: Works from Tate's Collection will step through art history, ACMI will further put its pieces into broader artistic context by presenting it alongside its permanent The Story of the Moving Image exhibition, which examines the origins and genesis of film and television. From the impressive roster of art and artists, Turner's 1805 painting The Deluge will make its Australian debut, while Kusama's characteristically kaleidoscopic 2005 sculpture The Passing Winter gets viewers peering into a mirrored cube. Turrell's Raemar, Blue, from 1969, is an immersive spatial environment that surrounds visitors in infinite and immersive light. And among the other highlights sits paintings by John Constable, Wassily Kandinsky, Bridget Riley and Joseph Albers; more impressionist pieces from Camille Pissarro and Alfred Sisley; and rotating crystalline sculpture Stardust Particle by Olafur Eliasson. The ticketed exhibition will be accompanied by talks, performances, workshops and late-night events, as well as film screenings. Although the events lineup hasn't yet been revealed, masterclasses with cinematographers, artist discussions, and magic lantern and 16mm presentations will all be on the bill, as will two free exhibits — from Australian artist Mikala Dwyer in ACMI's lightwell and by Lis Rhodes in Gallery 3, with the latter's Light Music also coming from the Tate Collection. [caption id="attachment_858887" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raemar, Blue, 1969, James Turrell. Tate: Presented by the Tate Americas Foundation, partial purchase and partial gift of Doris J. Lockhart 2013. © James Turrell. Photo: Phoebe Powell[/caption] [caption id="attachment_858889" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Passing Winter, 2005, Yayoi Kusama. Tate: Purchased with funds provided by the Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee 2008. ©Yayoi Kusama. Tate. Photo: Phoebe Powell.[/caption] Top images: Installation view, 'Light: Works from Tate's Collection', showing at ACMI, 2022. Photos by Phoebe Powell.
Artist Emma Darrouzet has spent many years honing her artistic skills, culminating in her latest exhibition 'Have you Tried Meditating?' which will be on display at Studio on Brunswick from Friday, February 23, to Wednesday, March 6. Each vibrant piece explores the mind when it gets offered unsolicited advice (relatable), with the intent to satirise but also provoke introspection. As Darrouzet puts it: "Hopefully people will reconsider telling a friend they should try green tea to cure their depression." All pieces are available to purchase and a 20% discount is available on the weekend of Saturday, February 24 to Sunday, February 25. 'Have you Tried Meditating' runs from Friday, February 23 to Wednesday, March 6 at Studio on Brunswick. For more information or to browse artworks visit the website.
Since the Mansfield Tavern closed for renovations at the end of 2024, locals have been hankering to get their hands on a cold pint. Fortunately, the time has arrived for the legendary suburban pub to relaunch, with this new chapter giving the 50-year-old venue more than just a fresh coat of paint. Instead, both long-time barflies and newcomers will discover a revamped feel, primed for family-friendly gatherings and brash nights in front of the big screen. First up, an expansive light-filled bistro has slotted into the transformed space, offering no-fuss pub fare that's bound to hit the spot. Think comfort food staples, fresh flavour-forward options and share plates, like the Mansfield smash burger, a classic chicken parmi, and a 180-gram pasture-fed eye fillet with garden salad and chips. Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass doors, this laidback space flows into a newly landscaped courtyard with a kids' play area. Running adjacent to the bistro, an openair beer garden has also received a significant spruce-up. Here, festoon lighting and relaxed seating combine to make this locale a go-to destination for visitors looking to relish the not-too-distant summer nights. This space leads directly into the new-look sports bar, where a top-to-bottom renovation makes catching your fave events that much more enticing. "The Sports Bar has had a complete refresh, with all the upgrades you can think of, from new furniture, pool tables, and a feature six-metre-wide LED screen wall for the ultimate viewing and more," says venue manager, Claire Maskill. The venue's upbeat entertainment space, The Arena, is also ready for its next era. With a storied history dating back to the 1970s, this space is now more equipped to host new and old live music legends. Over the years, the likes of Midnight Oil, INXS and Violent Soho have graced the stage. Plus, this dynamic space regularly comes to life with live comedians, kid-friendly entertainment and sports like Muay Thai. To help guests get acquainted with the updated Mansfield Tavern, the venue is presenting its Locals Welcome Weekend from Friday, June 27–Sunday, June 29. Along with live entertainment throughout the event, there's also mouthwatering barbecue cuisine, a meat raffle, live sports action and free kids' entertainment, including an animal farm. So, get down to Brisbane's southside to experience this reborn watering hole. The Mansfield Tavern is open daily from 10am–3.30pm at 181 Wecker Road, Mansfield. Head to the website for more information.
When Eagle Street Pier was torn down, making way for a yet-to-be-built new riverfront precinct, Fatcow Steak & Lobster was forced shut up shop. The Tassis Group isn't letting its expertise with beef and the ocean's finest go to waste, however. Next stop: Rich & Rare, which'll open in West End this spring to serve up plenty of high-end steak and seafood. Sprawling both indoors and out, seating 150 people and due to welcome in patrons from September, then new Manhattan-style joint will make West Village its home, joining the array of eateries settling in at the park-filled precinct. Indeed, the hospitality crew behind Rich & Rare know the place well, given that Tassis also runs Yamas Greek + Drink. That eatery launched in 2022, giving the Boundary Street site an excuse to tuck into oysters with ouzo, lamb and chicken souvla, and cotton candy-topped spritzes — plus lobster from the tank. "Having witnessed the way West End has wholeheartedly embraced of Yamas, the opportunity to establish another venue in the illustrious West Village precinct is nothing short of a dream," said restaurateur Michael Tassis, announcing Rich & Rare. Lobster is a highlight at his new venue, too, again from the tank. Also set to grace the seafood menu: oysters that'll be opened 'on order', plus Mooloolaba swordfish steak on the bone, which Rich & Rare hopes will become one of its signature dishes. Beef-wise, prime dry-aged steaks will star across the menu, with cuts hailing from Australian farms. If you only try one, the tomahawk steak looks to be it — it'll be cooked over an open flame, then rested to up its juice game, then carved and served at your table. To wash down your choice of protein, Rich & Rare's bar will go heavy on local and international whisky, wine and spirits, including for after-work tipples, pre-dinner cocktails and late-night digestifs. Tassis has assembled a culinary team led by Cameron Croad, who was most recently General Manager at Spicers Hidden Vale, plus Head Chef Felipe De Souza Oliveira (Urbane, Greca) guiding the kitchen crew. The look and feel: sleek and sophisticated, with both a cylindrical glass walk-in dry-aging room and a temperature-controlled walk-in cellar greeting patrons as they arrive, plus manicured gardens. And yes, it's proving a big time for Tassis, which already boasts not only Yamas but Opa Bar + Mezze and Massimo in its stable. The group's Hamptons-inspired seafood restaurant Fosh is to open at Portside Wharf in August, and overwater restaurant and bar Bombora, plus landing cafe Mulga Bill's will be part of Kangaroo Point's new green bridge in 2024. Find Rich & Rare at West Village, 97 Boundary Street, West End, from sometime in September 2023 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. Images: Allo Creative & Markus Ravik / Clui Design.
Australia Day already has its own menu, with barbecued meats, pies and lamingtons all public holiday staples. It also has its own soundtrack, thanks to triple j's Hottest 100. Trust Brisbane ice cream parlour Mister Fitz to find a way to combine the two. For January 25 and 26 only, the frozen dessert joint is serving up 'The Hilltop Goods', their Aussie-themed special to suit the occasion. Clearly taking its name from the Adelaide hip hop troupe that have charted rather darn well in the country's biggest music poll over their career, it consists of green and gold vanilla-flavoured ice cream between two homemade chocolate coconut cookies. As always, you can make this massive sweet treat even more epic by adding your choice of toppings — think M&Ms, gummy bears, Nutella, marshmallows and Oreos, to name a few. If you're chasing that feeling, 'The Hilltop Goods' will be available at Mister Fitz's three outlets at South Bank, Fortitude Valley and East Brisbane. Check out our guide to everything happening in Brisbane January 26 here.
Carraway Pier, a cult fish and chip favourite. Oh, it had been a while - years in fact. But a trip down memory lane – to QUT Kelvin Grove – called for a stop by Carraway Pier. And it is safe to say (unlike many nostalgic childhood memories I’ve ruined by recreating) it lived up to the good name. Student favourite, the establishment dishes up fresh fish and chips, salads and burgers to the masses. It's student prices for everyone here - a fillet of barramundi is just $9.90, while a cod, three calamari, two prawn cutlets and chips will only set you back $12. Fortunately low prices doesn't equal poor quality or small portions. The decor is simple with cafe tables and blue plastic chairs, but you can eat in and dine on white ceramic plates using real cutlery and service with a smile. We went with the salt and pepper calamari, chips and salad. The calamari was tender and stacked high, the chips were crispy and the salad, fresh. Be sure to order a tub or tartare or aioli to dip. If fish and chips ain’t your gravy, Carraway’s hearty home-style burgers come in at $7.50, and fruit smoothies are just $5.50. The store just celebrated its eighth birthday and we hope the legendary store sticks around for at least another eight. At nearly half the price of my local fish shop and with no compromise on quality, I might have to go back to uni or move to the other side of the city.
It's the island that Brisbanites can drive to — and anyone who grew up in this town of ours has more than a few childhood memories to prove it. We're talking about Bribie Island, of course; however, a trip over the bridge isn't just about taking a swim in Pumicestone Passage. If you'd rather enjoy a few drinks and a meal in a sprawling beer garden, that's now on the menu at Bribie Island Hotel. The waterside pub has just been given a huge makeover, with Australian Venue Co spending $2.2 million to revamp the venue. Relaunching just before Christmas — just in time for summer trips, handily — Bribie Island Hotel is now home to a hefty outdoor space decked out with grass, white picnic tables and shady umbrellas, as well as a a new-look bistro that's serving up pub classics. So, you can grab a beer, tuck into a chicken schnitzel, play lawn games, sit under a brolly and make the most of island life. Also big: the hotel's new capacity, which can cater to 400 people both indoors and outside. If you opt for the latter, you'll also be sitting under fairy lights — so planning an evening visit is recommended. While Executive Chef Dylan Kemp has filled the new menu with trusty favourites such as bruschetta, salt and pepper calamari, steaks, fish and chips, woodfired pizzas, spaghetti bolognese, caesar salad and lasagne, patrons will also find bacon and cheese garlic bread, duck shanks with peking sauce, pork scotch with chorizo butter beans and baked cauliflower salad on offer. Dessert-wise, warm chocolate brownies with honeycomb and fudge sauce sit alongside the old fave that is sticky date pudding (served here with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream), plus doughnut fries that come covered in cinnamon sugar, honey and crushed pistachios. Bribie Island Hotel is also hosting regular events, so you can make the trip to listen to live tunes on Fridays and Saturdays, and to play musical bingo and themed trivia. The venue is the latest Brissie spot to get a makeover by AVC, after The Crown Hotel in Lutwyche also relaunched in 2021 following its own sizeable revamp. Find Bribie Island Hotel at 29 Sylvan Beach Esplanade, Bellara, open daily from 10am–3am. For further information, head to the hotel's website.
When a business celebrates a birthday in a big way, its customers might be lucky enough to receive a present themselves. That's the case with cinema chain Hoyts, which is hitting 115 years old with two days — an entire weekend, in fact — of cheap movie tickets. Book in a big-screen date across Saturday, October 12–Sunday, October 13 to score $8 general-admission tickets. The special is open to everyone and you don't need to sign up for a membership; however, as there always is with these kinds of deals, there are a few caveats. If you reserve your $8 ticket are online, there'll also be a booking fee. And again, the deal applies just to standard sessions, not Hoyts LUX and special events — but you can pay extra to sit in a D-BOX motion recliner, for a lounge or daybed, or to get the Xtremescreen experience. If you want to head to Hoyts LUX, that'll cost you $25. Movie-wise, your viewing options include supervillain sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, more comic book-inspired antics with Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Sebastian Stan (Dumb Money)-starring Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice, gore aplenty thanks to Terrifier 3, and all-ages-friendly animation with The Wild Robot and Transformers One.
One of 2013's best album covers, Pennsylvanian Kurt Vile's LP Waking On a Pretty Daze featured a specially commissioned mural by Steve "ESPO" Powers in Philadelphia. Now the bright, purely inoffensive mural — which controversially features a rampaging dancing snowflake, threateningly adorable postbox and a terribly welcoming couch surround by a love heart and the words "There's a place for all my friends." — has been painted over by local man DJ Lee Mayjahs, according to Philadelphian radio station WXPN. Why? Apparently the mural was "attracting graffiti to the neighbourhood." WARNING: Vile fans, this photo hurts a little. Philadelphia journalist Leah Kaufmann spoke to Mayjahs, turns out he really didn't know what he was doing when he took to the mural with white paint. Mayjahs is apparently horrified by his actions and has offered every sincere apology. "I got home and started doing research on my computer. I can't believe what I had done ad I wrote a letter to Kurt Vile apologising," he said. "I wrote a letter to the artist Espo apologising, telling them that I would pay Espo to come down and repaint it. I also wrote a letter to the mural arts apologising. Apparently it wasn't official. Even though it wasn't official I'm sorry for everything I did. I would do whatever I could do to make it right. I really am sorry. I don't know what I was doing. I literally lost my mind and took it out which was the dumbest thing I've ever done in my entire life." "I live in that neighbourhood. I've lived there for 15 years. I'm always cleaning up the streets and alleyways. I don't know… for some reason I feel like ever since that piece has been there it's attracted more and more graffiti to that neighbourhood, he said. "Every time I paint over illegal graffiti I was blaming it on it (the mural) and I didn't realise the people in the neighbourhood love it, I've never really sat and looked at it. I never did any research on it and then I just snapped." "I didn't think anything through and acted false pretence. I didn't think about the consequences of my actions. I'm sorry about that, I love Philadelphia, I love my neighbourhood and I love the arts. I'm a big supporter of the arts and so for me to do something that offends all of these people is completely out of character for me. Anybody who knows me will tell you the exact same thing. I'm sorry about it." Vile's rep has confirmed to that ESPO will head back to the mural and repaint it. The building's owner and the attached restaurant are apparently fans, seeing no reason to fear a graffiti influx to their Philadelphian streets because of it. Check out the mini-doco about the creation of the mural and just stare forlornly at the Waking On a Pretty Daze album cover for consolation: https://youtube.com/watch?v=I4RlljcBKg0 Via Pitchfork, Metro and WXPN.
Being seen is no longer fashion's biggest priority. Taking you right off the radar, Aussie label The Affair has created a line of 'post-Snowden' threads inspired by George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 — a crowdfunded capsule collection that makes you invisible to Big Brother and lets you reclaim some ownlife using stealth technology. Taking cues right from the pages of Orwell's schoolroom required reading, the 'stealth fashion' capsule collection helps you reclaim privacy. Accordingly, the new line is dedicated to Edward Snowden, your modern Orwellian poster boy. "Edward Snowden proved that Big Brother is no longer fiction," says the team on their Kickstarter page. "The government is watching everyone via our smart phones: telescreens beyond Orwell’s wildest dreams. It's time to fight back and reclaim privacy with clothing that takes you off the surveillance grid and makes you invisible to Big Brother." Combining the colours and workwear styles described by Orwell himself, the garments all come embedded with UnPocket stealth technology. The 11 x 16 cm UnPockets are made from layers of stealth fabric that fit your phone, passport, bank cards — anything you'd like protected against wireless identity theft. Making sure the Thought Police can't get you down at a glance, The Affair's UnPockets are slipped into specially created sections of each garment: The Affair have created four different 'Party' garments (all embedded with the UnPocket) that are 'unhackable' and 'untraceable': Party Workshirt "Inspired by 6079 Smith W himself... Whether you’re rewriting history or creating smut for the proles, the relaxed workwear styling of the Party Workshirt makes this your new wardrobe essential." Party Chinos "Whether you are making love surreptitiously in the forest or being tortured in Room 101, you can be certain these Party Chinos will see you through the day in style." Outer Party Jacket "Created for the workers of Airstrip One, the Outer Party Jacket captures the eternal drive of IngSoc." Inner Party Blazer "O’Brien befriended Winston only to stab him in the back, take everything he loved and reduce him to a broken mess. So if you identity with the iron fist of the 1% then this fully-lined Inner Party Blazer is for you!" Boasting the tagline 'Make Literature Fashionable', The Affair have been using your favourite classic stories as inspiration for seven years, using the last 12 months to perfect the 1984 line. It's not the first time the label has used the celebrated novel for a design; their very very t-shirt was a shoutout to Miniluv. Giving a nod to the Orwellian spirit, the team are jumping on the Damn the Man distribution bandwagon and selling their wares through Kickstarter. Using the classic funded wares as perks set-up, the team have already raised over £2,813 of their £25,000 goal. Check out the entire 1984 collection at The Affair's Kickstarter page and check out the look book below.
That time of year has rolled around again and we're all looking forward to many catch-ups with mates and family over glasses (or bottles) of vino. Not to mention there's the office Secret Santa gifts to be bought and the inevitable conversation with the siblings around who's picking the wine to impress the folks. And what you'll be drinking at Christmas lunch, no less. Thanks to Vivino and its hardworking community of wine lovers who voted in the inaugural Aussie Vivino Community Awards, we've handpicked the best of the best from the winning wines, so you can stock up on these top drops for all the silly season shenanigans you have planned, from a reasonably priced riesling to crack open with the crew to a $141 biodynamic cabernet blend that'll impress even the stubbornest of sippers. 2019 GRANT BURGE BAROSSA INK SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY SA ($17) With almost 1500 ratings, the Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz was rated as the top vino in the Vivino Community Awards' wines under $25 category. Aussie wine lovers must know what they're talking about as this wine is quintessential Barossa — think Christmas cake spices with notes of plum and luscious blueberry. This wine is perfect for those who are always stuck on how to impress dad at family dinner. A crowdsourced success. Purchase Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz via Vivino. 2020 TIM ADAMS RIESLING, CLARE VALLEY SA ($21.99) In the early 2000s, a group of forward-thinking winemakers in South Australia's Clare Valley were frustrated with cork-related faults ruining the vibrancy of their rieslings, so they banded together, bucked conventional norms and bottled their wines under Stelvin closure (screw caps). Twenty years later, screw caps are the norm and the future of Australian rieslings has never looked so bright. To experience the freshness and vibrancy of Clare Valley riesling, look no further than this archetypal example from Tim Adams. Bursting with flavours of freshly cut citrus and hints of white florals, this drop is the perfect accompaniment to a serve of Sydney rock oysters. Hot tip: you can even drizzle a bit of the wine on top of the oyster instead of lemon. Purchase Tim Adams riesling via Vivino. 2019 UNICO ZELO ESOTERICO, RIVERLAND SA ($24.99) Unico Zelo's Esoterico really lives up to its name, having developed a cult-like following over the years. At first you'd be excused for not knowing what to make of it on account of its slightly hazy colour and the kind of pronounced texture you only see in red wines, but then you're hit with pretty and delicate florals from the zibibbo and gewurztraminer grapes. If you've never understood what all the fuss is about with skin-contact wine this is a fantastic entry point, and a perfect one to crack open with a charcuterie board on a sunny afternoon with mates. Purchase Unico Zelo Esoterico via Vivino. 2018 LANGMEIL VALLEY FLOOR SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY SA ($30) Langmeil boasts a 125-year winemaking history with their dry-grown vineyards believed to be the world's oldest surviving shiraz vines. While the wine from that particular vineyard from this prestigious winery will set you back $145, they have released a wine that is a little more approachable for everyday drinking. The Valley Floor shiraz is crafted from fruit grown by over 20 families from across the Barossa's 30 original villages, still being made in the historic Langmeil winery. A piece of South Australian wine history at a fraction of the price, the perfect gift for the old school wine lover in your life. Purchase Langmeil Valley Floor shiraz via Vivino. 2018 SAILOR SEEKS HORSE PINOT NOIR, HUON VALLEY TAS ($67.10) From small vineyard plantings in Tasmania's Huon Valley comes a pinot noir by husband-and-wife winemaking duo Paul and Gilli Lipscombe. Fruit for this exceptionally well-crafted wine comes from the estate vineyard, planted by the duo's own hands in 2005. It's not hard to see why this wine clocked in at 14th place in Aussie wines priced between $25–80. It has blackberry and raspberry notes intermixed with a tension that causes you to reach for the bottle before you've even finished the glass in front of you. This small-batch premium pinot noir has become one of the most sought-after wines on the mainland, fought over by sommeliers and wine lovers alike. Purchase Sailor Seeks Horse pinot noir via Vivino. 2018 CURLY FLAT PINOT NOIR, MACEDON RANGES VIC ($72.60) There's pinot noir, and then there's Macedon Ranges pinot noir, and no one sets the gold standard of this wine varietal from this region better than Curly Flat. This light red is a medley of aromas and flavours, from violets and black cherries on the nose (with just the tiniest hint of dried rose petals) to balsamic strawberries and slight savoury notes of forest floor and slate. Meet duck pancakes' newest accompaniment. Purchase Curly Flat pinot noir via Vivino. 2019 TOLPUDDLE CHARDONNAY, COAL RIVER VALLEY TAS ($95.33) This wine is touted as the benchmark for cool-climate Aussie chardonnay. Using grapes from vineyards planted in Tasmania in 1988, this exceptional chardy is made by celebrated South Australian winemaker Adam Wadewitz (of Shaw and Smith fame). This drop is rarely available for long after its release. But you don't have to take our word for it — it's currently rates 4.4 out of five on Vivino, and it came in second in the Vivino Community Awards' top ten Aussie whites category. If you find some, buy it ASAP and impress the family with it on Christmas Day — and convert the anything-but-chardonnay drinkers in your household. Purchase Tolpuddle chardonnay via Vivino. 2018 CULLEN 'DIANA MADELEINE' CABERNET BLEND, MARGARET RIVER WA ($141) Vanya Cullen, the current winemaker of Cullen Wines in Western Australia (and often dubbed as Australia's High Priestess of Biodynamics) has named her flagship cabernet blend after her mother, Diana. What makes this wine so unique — and absolutely worth the price? The fruit comes off vines dating back to 1971, and the care and great attention it takes to produce this wine are unparalleled. The fruit was picked according to the biodynamic calendar dates, with one of the harvests occurring on a full moon. Due to this vino's structured nature, it'll cellar for up to 50 years (if you have that kind of patience). Purchase Cullen 'Diana Madeleine' cabernet blend via Vivino. Download the Vivino app and start discovering more ideal summer sips to stock up on — then buy them straight from the app. For more wine inspo, check out this year's Vivino Community Awards.
Call it wild, weird and wonderful. Call it surreal and sublime, too. Whichever terms you want to sling Dark Mofo's way, there's no other event quite like it on Tasmania's cultural calendar — or Australia's. 2024 felt the winter arts festival's absence, after it sat out the year to regroup for the future ahead. Get excited about 2025, however, because Dark Mofo has confirmed that it'll be returning in June. "Dark Mofo is back. For our 11th chapter, once more we'll bathe the city in red and deliver two weeks of inspiring art, music and ritual," said Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite, announcing the event's 2025 dates, and advising that limited pre-release tickets for Night Mass, which fills downtown Hobart with art and music, will be on offer from 10am on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. "Night Mass is a beast, and this year it will evolve once more — worming its way through the city with new spaces, performances and experiences to dance, explore or crawl your way through," Twite continued. Not only Night Mass is returning, but so is the full Dark Mofo setup, largely taking place across Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 15, 2025. The one exception: the Nude Solstice Swim, one of the festival events that still went ahead in 2024. Next year, it'll get everyone taking a dip on Saturday, June 21. Winter Feast, which also took place in 2024, will be back in 2025 as well — as will the Ogoh-Ogoh, plus a yet-to-be-announced (but sure to be jam-packed) art and music program that'll be revealed next year. If you spent a few days in 2023 attending a Twin Peaks-inspired ball and seeing a giant teddy bear with laser eyes — watching a stunning new take on Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise, too — then you went to Dark Mofo's most-recent full run. Organised by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, the winter arts festival fills Hobart with all manner of surprises every year, other than its gap year in 2024. When the break was announced, it was done to ensure that event could "move forward in a viable manner", said Twite at the time. "The fallow year will enable us to secure the future of Dark Mofo and its return at full force in 2025" was the promise, and it's being lived up to. The year off came after a hit 2023 run that saw Dark Mofo smash it with attendances and at the box office — notching up record figures, in fact. Despite the event's success, the crew behind it have been working towards "a more sustainable model for a full return in 2025, and set the foundation for the next ten years", taking rising costs and other changing elements into consideration. Dark Mofo returns from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 15, 2025 and for the Nude Solstice Swim on Saturday, June 21. Head to the festival's website for further details. Winter feast images: Jesse Hunniford, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023. Nude Solstice Swim images: Rémi Chauvin, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023.
It's been three years since Brisbane welcomed Wildlands to the city's music festival scene, with the teams behind Melbourne's Beyond The Valley and Perth's Origin Fields fests giving the Sunshine State a big new summer party. Fast-forward to 2022 and the event is returning to see out another hectic 12-month period and welcome in a new one — bringing its 2022–23 tour to Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, January 7, 2023. And, with a focus on dance music, electronic beats and hip hop, Wildlands has quite the lineup onboard to spread its sounds around the inner-city venue, starting with Diplo, Denzel Curry and Dom Dolla. Clearly, alliteration has its fans among the fest's organisers. The Grammy-nominated DJ, American rapper and Australian house music producer will hit all three cities, joined by Yeat, Aitch, Kaytranada, Tkay Maidza, Honey Dijon and BENE. Plus, the bill also includes Yung Lean, Shygirl, Remi Wolf, Kanine and SG Lewis. Wildlands does like going big — its first-ever event back in 2019 featured Tyler, The Creator and Rüfüs Du Sol, after all. In 2021, The Veronicas, Spacey Jane, Cosmo's Midnight and more did the honours. The fest will run over a day per city, hitting up Brisbane after stops in Perth and Adelaide first. And vibe-wise, Wildlands goes with a "vibrant oasis" theme. WILDLANDS 2022–23 LINEUP Aitch BENEE Bicep (live) Charlotte De Witte Cloonee Denzel Curry Diplo Dom Dolla Holy Goof Honey Dijon Jay1 Jesswar JK-47 Jnr Choi JOY Kanine Kaytranada Kee'ahn Kota Banks Mia Rodriguez Memphis LK Ninajirachi Patrick Topping Remi Wolf SG Lewis Shygirl Sofia Kourtesis Tkay Maidza Willo Yeat Yung Lean
Some things change, others stay the same: that's the Yonder Festival story for 2022. This year's event is making a big move, with the three-day music, arts and camping fest relocating from the Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim. The usual jam-packed lineup? That's well and truly accounted for as normal, though — and the Yonder team has just dropped all the details. Get ready to catch everyone from Kenta Hayashi, Haiku Hands and Miles Brown to Yirinda, Girl and Girl and Tjaka between Thursday, November 24–Saturday, November 26, taking over four stages among luscious greenery. "Welcoming eclectic and diverse acts for the fourth Yonder after making it through unique challenges in previous years is a valuable celebration from significant artists coming together in an immersive and surreal environment," said Festival Director Lincoln Savage, announcing the lineup. "Yonder is built on a balance of all art forms and focuses on artists who are starting to break out. We encourage people to attend Yonder not because of the artists they know, but those they don't — we hope Yonder provides an eclectic experience for people to discover their new favourite acts," he continued. Expect a varied roster of acts to hit the Spiegeltent and Hill Stage, including of Full Flower Moon Band, Safety Club, Life on Earth and Accomplice Collective as well. Dance space Yonderland will feature DJs aplenty, such as Bad Taste House Collective, David Versace, Theyphex Twins, Echo and Bounce, and Jen-E — and the ambient stage The Space Between Notes will be dedicated to two-hour-long sets by Mekema, Imitation Therapy, HHAARRPP and more. Roving and onstage performances will come courtesy of The Cassettes Flash Mob, Highline Australia and Manko the Macaw, turning just walking around the fest into a show. Also, artists as Tori-Jay Mordey, Scott Nagy, Krimsone, Aurora Campbell and Gus Eagleton will paint murals throughout the fest, turning every space into a canvas. Fancy putting your own talents to work? There'll be a paper wildflower-making workshop, plus meditation sessions. Keen to browse and buy? There'll be artisan market stalls. Food-wise, expect boutique stalls, with a focus on local businesses. Wunderbar, the fest's licensed bar, will also be pouring homegrown wares — including cocktails and beers supplied by Felons Brewing Co. If you're new to Yonder, it first started in the Mary Valley on the Sunshine Coast, and is known for its laidback atmosphere, hefty lineup of stellar tunes and performances, camping in scenic surrounds, and swims (including water aerobics) — this time in the Albert River. Also a drawcard: being able to BYO alcohol. Those drinks do need to be in plastic containers, and you can also only show up with a reasonable amount of booze. YONDER 2022 LINEUP: MUSIC: Accomplice Collective Bad Taste House Collective Become a Moth Big Dead Blue Screen of Death Boom Boom Bean Selecta Buttercats Chocolate Strings Das Druid David Versace Deceased Estates Deejay Local Support Dentallplan Dorian Echo and Bounce Echowave Eren Fascinator Fatshaudi felix.dance Full Flower Moon Band Girl and Girl Gute Zeit Gal HHAARRPP Haiku Hands Imitation Therapy Jamison Jazz House Jen-E Jungaji Kalopsia Kenta Hayashi Kitch Life on Earth Lithe Lord Fascinator Lucy Francesca Dron Mekema Miles Brown Mumbles Nigel Stephens Phil Smart takeover Platonic Sex Ralfalpha Safety Club SAMMM. Sellma Soul Sleeping SMXG Sonny O'Brien Spirit Lights Stocks Strictly Disco Swiss Mountain Transport Systems Taylah J Theyphex Twins Tjaka The Abstract Human Radio Timothy Fairless Trace Decay TULLIO Update Prayer Yirinda VISUAL ART: Artdosis Aurora Campbell Esquidy Gus Eagleton JB Diz Brown Jordache Kat Han Krimsone Naycha Raw Ink Reuben Zachary Scott Nagy Taneal Theresa Tori-Jay Mordey Trashbinn Art Zaide PERFORMANCE: The Buttery Cowboys UQ Taiko Zen Zen Zo Theatre of Thunder iLiminal Butoh The Cassettes The Feather Collector Highline Australia Manko the Macaw Wild Lotus Project Wild Lotus Project Tez & Tezza VOiiiD Collective Filthy Aliens Yonder Festival runs from Thursday, November 24–Saturday, November 26 in the Scenic Rim, Queensland. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival website. Images: Ned Martin / Mellumae / Cinderpixx / Mika.
If you're a Brisbanite who's fond of cakes, pastries, pies, and other sweet and savoury baked products, then you're also likely fond of Jocelyn's Provisions. And, since the city's floods back in February and March, you've probably been missing its tasty bites, including through Easter. Thankfully, the chain will be back up and running come Thursday, June 16, ready to tempt your tastebuds. The Jocelyn's Provisions facilities suffered extensive damage during the city's last waterlogged stint, including to its production base, headquarters and retail stores. As a result, it has been unable to bake for months now. That's left a big hole in baked goods-loving stomachs — but the brand's chocolate sour cream cakes, passionfruit tarts, lamb and rosemary pies, and sourdough loaves are well and truly worth the wait. The baked goods go-to has built up a well-deserved following over the years, and now sports four stores around the city. So, you have four places to head to again: in James Street, Camp Hill, Albion and Eagle Street in the CBD. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jocelyn's Provisions (@jocelynsprovisions) If that's your snacks sorted for the coming days — and longer — plus your bread and pastry needs, too, you will need to head in-store physically to grab Jocelyn's goodies. The brand's online ordering system won't be back up and running for another couple of weeks, until Friday, July 1. Here's an incentive: for anyone so keen to sink their teeth back into beef and bacon sausage rolls, chocolate and caramel brownies, and more, each Jocelyn's store is doing giveaways for the first 200 people through the door on Thursday, June 16. Find Jocelyn's Provisions in James Street, Camp Hill, Albion and Eagle Street in the CBD, reopening on Thursday, June 16. Head to the Jocelyn's Provisions website and Facebook page and for further details.
If there was ever a time for a beloved underground music celebration to make its return, it's Easter. Yes, there's more than one resurrection worth talking about this year — particularly if you're a fan of garage, punk, rock and metal. Taking over the New Globe Theatre on March 26 and 27, EarCandy #12: Resurrection features 50 bands playing on three stages over two days, in what just might be Brisbane's biggest underground and alternative event ever. Think of it as a demonstration of the city's musical vibrancy, variety and vitality; if you think the Brissie scene is dying, then you obviously haven't discovered these talented folks yet. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
When it comes to The Diary of a Teenage Girl, it appears it's all there in the name. The film does indeed rifle through the innermost thoughts of a youth on the cusp of womanhood. It also charts a coming-of-age journey. Boys are involved, as well as acts of rebellion, plus arguments with those in positions of authority. So far, so standard, but thankfully there's more to this amusing adolescent awakening. Actually, the stirring that is central to the movie happens both on screen and off. In the story, San Francisco-based 15-year-old Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley) follows her urges into an affair with the two-decades-older Monroe (Alexander Skarsgård), who also happens to be the boyfriend of her mother (Kristen Wiig). In charting her escapades, the film offers a frank and funny exploration of the teenage female experience, and clearly enjoys doing so. Life lessons are learned in both situations. It's not that Minnie's issues, as told to a tape recorder that doubles as her audio diary beginning on the day she first has sex, chart drastically new territory. Struggling with lust, love and the onset of maturity has been covered before, just rarely with such a judgment-free embrace of the awkward reality of the age group in focus, or with a no-holds-barred portrayal of teenage girlhood at its centre. The way in which first-time writer/director Marielle Heller presents the tale, adapting Phoebe Gloeckner's semi-autobiographical graphic novel of the same name, and overlaying spirited narration over upbeat antics before letting less glowing aspects of Minnie's life seep into both, certainly gives The Diary of a Teenage Girl a distinctive yet authentic glow. Using a '70s soundtrack to mirror its period setting, as well as working in animated interludes that mimic the lead character's dreams of becoming a cartoonist, similarly assist. Ample credit must also go to the exuberant Powley, who doesn't just make what could've been a conventional role credible, candid and complex — she makes it her own. Her version of Minnie strives and stumbles in a fashion both painfully and poignantly relatable to anyone who has been there and done that (been a teenage girl, that is). Her interpretation of the character ensures the contradictions of youth are completely understandable, be they fearlessness and fragility, optimism and uncertainty, or stubbornness and sincerity. That's she's the film's driving force and shining star is considerable feat, particularly for an actor otherwise only known for stealing the show in British princess-themed comedy A Royal Night Out earlier this year, and more so given the cast she's working with. Wiig playing dramatic and Skarsgård skirting the edge of creepiness are both great, as is Christopher Meloni in a brief appearance as Minnie's former stepfather, but the movie can only belong to one person. Yes, The Diary of a Teenage Girl lives up to its title, and that's something to celebrate.
Most filmmakers are considered prolific if they make a movie every two years. Since leaping onto the scene in 2005, Joe Swanberg has made 18. One of the leading figures of the mumblecore movement (an American indie film subgenre characterised by microscopic budgets and heavily improvised dialogue), Swanberg most recently earned plaudits for his charming romantic dramedy Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick. We now know Drinking Buddies was scarcely in theatres before Swanberg began work on his next project, one that sees him re-team with Kendrick, along with New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham. Shot in Swanberg's cosy Chicago home, Happy Christmas chronicles the rocky yuletide holidays of new parents Jeff and Kelly (Swanberg and Lynskey) after Jeff's irresponsible sister Jenny (Kendrick) comes to stay. As with most of Swanberg's movies, the film had almost no scripted dialogue, and relied instead on the improvisational talents of the cast. We chat to Swanberg about the origins of the story, as well as his decidedly laidback approach to feature filmmaking. Is it true that the original script for Happy Christmas was only 15 pages long? Yeah that's right. It was in paragraph form, sort of a breakdown of what I thought would happen in each scene. What is it about that approach to storytelling that you like? Well there's a couple of things. I really love the fact that as a writer, I'm not putting dialogue into character's mouths, and that I'm having the actors own their characters and bring all these different viewpoints to them. I also like showing up to work each day not sure what's going to happen, and having those scenes be a true collaboration between myself and the actors and my cinematographer and my producers ... having ten smart people solving a problem rather than me sitting at a laptop trying to write a screenplay. So where do your films tend to start, if not a full script? Sometimes it's a theme that I'm interested in, and other times it's a character, but either way I tend to cast pretty early in the process. I want to know who I'm going to be working with, and then that collaboration with the actor is there at the beginning of the process, and I can work with them to flesh out that character. By the time we get there to shoot the movie, I have a pretty good sense of the arc of it, but it's really all the nuances and all the personality that we find on set. If you were ever to look at one of my outlines, it would read like the finished movie, but missing everything that makes the movie good (laughs). https://youtube.com/watch?v=A3OhjYvyC0c And in the case of Happy Christmas, what was your creative inspiration? It was two things, actually, both of them autobiographical. It was my younger brother coming to live with my wife and I soon after my son was born, and the experience of starting my own family and having a sibling in the house, which was wonderful and terrible, depending on the day. So I kind of took that feeling and tried to put it in there. And then there were conversations I was having with my wife about motherhood and about her kind of identity crisis she was having as an artist and an independent person, wrapping her head around the idea of being a stay-at-home mum. Just circumstantially we found ourselves in these very conservative, classic gender roles of the bread winner and the stay-at-home mum, which is not something that we really identified with. So it was a weird period of time for us. And I didn't feel like I had seen that in a movie before. So I took these two life events that in reality happened a year apart from each other, and then just crashed them together into a movie. One of the things I really appreciated about the film, and about a lot of your films, is the attention given to female characters. Is that something you're particularly conscious of? Yeah, it's important for me. Just as a person, I feel like I know what it's like to be a man, whereas I have no idea what it's like to be a woman, so it's subject matter that I'm just drawn to through my own curiosity. And also it's just so underrepresented in the movies. It's sadly pretty rare to have interesting, strong female characters. I've always wanted to make movies in territory that's underexplored, and where there's still room for discovering. So I feel like again and again I keep getting drawn back there because there's so much undiscovered country. And it's a chance to work with great actresses who don't get offered leading roles all that often. Given how much improvisation happens in the your films, how much footage do you usually end up with? There have been movies where I've ended up with mountains of footage, and others where we shot almost everything in the movie. It really depends. With Happy Christmas we shot on 16 millimetre [film], so I budgeted a 4:1 shooting ratio, and I think we stuck pretty close to that. Certain scenes we only shot once or twice, other scenes we shot ten times. It ended up being not that much footage. I think when you shoot film you have to be smart about preplanning in a different kind of way. When I shoot video I'm a little more apt to just shoot a lot on set. On my previous film Drinking Buddies, I probably shot about thirty hours of stuff, and with Happy Christmas I probably shot five or six. It really just depends. And why did you shoot on film? I went to film school and my whole education was on 16mm, so I was excited to try that again in a professional context. And also I'll admit I was a little bit worried that film was going to disappear and that I was never going to shoot a full feature on film. So there was a bit of fear and nostalgia going into that decision. But it felt right for the project, and I think I was just waiting for the kind of movie that felt like it wanted that texture and that kind of visual look, so it all lined up. The Christmas season, and the fact that it focused on a family; I think I wanted that warm, grainy, old home movie look that only film can provide. Are you often surprised by what your cast improvises on set? Definitely. It's one of the fun things about working this way. In almost every scene there's some moment that I feel like I never could have written. It's too human and too spontaneous to have been generated in the screenplay process. That's kind of what keeps me going every day. I show up to set each morning hoping that we get something like that and that I'm surprised by what happens. I want to make sure that the movies are flexible enough that if something really exciting happens that wasn't in the outline, there's room to incorporate that, and that the movie can follow what's actually happening, rather than following some predetermined game plan. And in the case of Happy Christmas, what's one example of that kind of moment, something that got you excited to be there? I had this idea that I wanted the women to write this 50 Shades of Grey-style erotic novel, and so those are scenes in the outline where I didn't write anything other than 'the three women sit in the office and write the book', because I really wanted Anna and Melanie and Lena to improvise that stuff. I wanted to be surprised by the story they came up with, and how crude they got with it. So that stuff was really fun; it was all just totally playing around and letting them run wild. I was also really proud of and excited by this central conversation in the middle of the movie where again the three women are sitting down in the basement drinking beers together and talking about motherhood and responsibility. That was a really important scene for me because thematically it's a big shift moment in terms of the story we're telling, and also it was a big impetus for wanting to make the movie in the first place. I think they did such a great job, and I think those three actresses are so smart, and such great writers. You hope it's going to go that well, but it still feels really good when you finish at the end of the day and you feel like you actually got the thing that you were hoping to get. Happy Christmas is available now on DVD and digital download.
In the ultimate girl-power move, Australia has just scored a new contemporary art gallery dedicated entirely to female and female-identifying artists. The groundbreaking Finkelstein Gallery has made its home in Windsor The brainchild of renowned art consultant and advocate Lisa Fehily, the gallery is set to showcase works from a broad bill of emerging and established artists, including the likes of Cigdem Aydemir, Louise Paramor, Deborah Kelly, Coady, Lisa Roet and Kate Baker. On the international lineup, you'll find names such as South Africa's Kim Lieberman and London-based visual artist Sonal Kantaria. Its creation was spurred by the underrepresentation of women across Australia's art collections. According to recent figures released by The Countess Report, a project and online resource on gender equality in the Australian art sector, show that national commercial galleries show just 40 percent women artists, while state museums are at an even lower 34 percent. It'll debut with all-woman exhibition Finkelstein Gallery presents, running from Thursday, August 29 until Saturday, September 28. "I have selected an exclusive group of talented female artists, whose unique voices combine their incredible insight into contemporary society, life as a female, cultural and historical understanding, together with extraordinary skills with concepts and mediums as artists," explained Fehily in a statement. Finkelstein Gallery is set to deliver a broad range of talent, from an array of disciplines. Catch playful pop culture from emerging artist Coady, some socially and politically engaging performance art pieces from the award-winning Cigdem Aydemir, and Lisa Roet's stunning visual exploration of the relationships between humans and primates, to name just a few. The gallery is only the second of its kind in Australia, and the only existing one, with Canberra's Australian Girls Own Gallery representing exclusively women artists from 1989 until it closed in 1998. Find Finkelstein Gallery at Basement 2, 1 Victoria Street, Windsor. Finkelstein Gallery presents will run from Thursday, August 29–Thursday, September 26.
If you stare at something long enough, you don't just see the obvious. You notice everything, from the details that fail to immediately catch your attention to the way things can change instantly right in front of your eyes. The Killing of Two Lovers is all about this idea, and on two fronts. It puts a fractured marriage before its lens, ensuring its struggles and troubles can't be ignored. It also takes its time to peer at its protagonist, the separated-and-unhappy-about-it David (Clayne Crawford, Rectify), and at all that his new life now entails. In a sparse small town — with the film shot in Kanosh, Utah — its central figure attempts to adjust to living with his ailing widower father (Bruce Graham, Forty Years From Yesterday). His wife Niki (Sepideh Moafi, The L Word: Generation Q) remains in their home with their four children, as they've agreed while they take a break to work through their problems. David isn't coping, though, a fact that's apparent long before his teenage daughter Jess (Avery Pizzuto, We Fall Down) gets angry because she thinks he isn't fighting hard enough to save their family. He's trying, but as Crawford conveys in a brooding but nervy performance — and as writer/director/editor Robert Machoian (When She Runs) and cinematographer Oscar Ignacio Jiménez (Immanence) can't stop looking at in lengthy and patient takes — he can't quite adapt to the idea of losing everything he knows. Not just wed young, but welcoming Jess into their lives when they were basically kids themselves, David and Niki have spent their entire adulthood together so far — and as parents. They've agreed that they can date other people during their time apart, which Niki is doing; however, David just wants what he's always had. Indeed, The Killing of Two Lovers opens with him appearing poised to put that title into effect. He even has a gun, in fact. But nothing is that simple here, or for everyone in the movie's frames, or for anyone. From that very first moment, with the camera lingering on him wrestling with a big decision and radiating pain, anger and uncertainty, this is a feature that's determined to keep staring while its characters grapple with complexities both intimate and commonplace. David can't handle that Niki has started seeing Derek (Chris Coy, The Deuce), who works in the same building. He can't face the fact that she's been promoted at work, which brings more opportunities for her to be independent. And he certainly can't abide by only spending time with his beloved kids — including pre-teen boys Alex, Theo and Bug (Arri, Ezra and Jonah Graham, God Bless the Child) in agreed slots, instead of being there for their every moment. The Killing of Two Lovers watches David rage and fray. It sees him try to be the cool part-time dad, buying his brood toy rockets to send soaring into the sky in the local park, and waking up his sons in the middle of the night to show them he's taken their comedy advice. The film observes as he weathers Jess' anger, fear and disappointment, too, and as he tries to make his date nights with Niki the kind of evening that'll get them back together. It notices his self-centred wish to keep everything frozen in time, his stubbornness to accept any other fate, and his posturing with the unpleasant, jerk-ish Derek. Crucially, though, this is a movie about domestic disharmony that witnesses as much as it can, and lets as broad a spectrum of its protagonist's life as possible tell its tale. The Killing of Two Lovers ensures that Niki's predicament is just as complicated as well. This isn't just a movie that explores what happens when a man could lose everything that's made him who he is; it's also a portrait of a woman torn between a past she knows and a future that's on her own terms. And, it definitely isn't a film that condones David's actions, or offers any neat or predictable answers, explanations or options, but rather it's a snapshot of just how tangled and elaborate life always becomes. There's an element of Scenes From a Marriage at play here, although The Killing of Two Lovers pre-dates the new remake — and so much of the feeling in this gorgeously shot movie comes from its imagery. When it's hard to look away from such rich and enticing visuals, it's impossible not to spot and soak in everything they depict. Each frame is postcard-perfect, not that those pieces of cardboard ever capture such everyday sights, but wide vistas and the snowy mountains hovering in the background are just the beginning. With its long takes, The Killing of Two Lovers forces its audience to glean the naturalistic lighting that never casts David and Niki's hometown in either a warm glow or grim glower. Repeated images of David alone, especially in his car, also leave a firm impression of a man moving and solo. And, presenting most of its frames in the 4:3 aspect ratio, the film also possesses an astonishing and telling sense of space. Nothing is bluntly boxed in here, but everyone is trying to roam within the claustrophobic patch of turf they've scratched out. And, within the feature's square-shaped visuals springs an added fountain of intimacy that cuts to the heart of such close relationships, such as when David and the kids all pile into his truck, or during one of David and Niki's car-bound dates. Of course, without the right actors inhabiting those shots — and the right performances emanating from them — Machoian's stunning sights would ring hollow. Crawford is as soulful as the film's cinematography, and as jumpy as the metallic-sounding audioscape that echoes during its 84-minute running time. He's both masterful and devastating as he, like the overall feature itself, tussles and jostles with David's internal and external chaos. His is a raw and invested portrayal, so it comes as little surprise that he's one of the picture's executive producers. Crawford is aided by spot-on work by his co-stars, though; by smartly penned, stirringly insightful dialogue that most scripts wish they could muster, too; and by a piercing use of silence to let everything sink in. The devil isn't in the detail here — the minutiae is the entire movie, and what an unflinching, evocative and heady vision of yearning and emotionally churning it is.
On a futuristic earth that's been rendered a frozen wasteland, a constantly hurtling train plays host to the world's only remaining people. Instead of banding together — it was humanity's attempts to combat climate change that caused their dire predicament, leaving the speeding locomotive as their only solution — the residents of the Snowpiercer have instead transported society's class structure into the carriages of their new home. That's the story that drives Bong Joon-ho's 2013 film Snowpiercer, which marked the acclaimed South Korean writer/director's first English-language film, and one of the movies that brought him to broader fame before Netflix's Okja and this year's Cannes Palme d'Or winner Parasite. As well as boasting a smart, immersive and all-too-timely concept — and unpacking its underlying idea in a thoroughly thrilling and involving manner — the flick proved a star-studded affair. Among the jam-packed cast: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Ed Harris and Bong's frequent collaborator Song Kang-ho. Given how great its premise is, it's hardly surprising that Snowpiercer has now been turned into a US TV series. First announced back in 2016, it'll finally speed across screens early in 2020. And while it doesn't feature any of the film's high-profile lineup, it does include a few big names of its own, such as Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly and Tony-winner Daveed Diggs. Alongside Frances Ha's Mickey Sumner, Slender Man's Annalise Basso and The Americans' Alison Wright, they inhabit Snowpiercer's new world order — the planet outside the titular train may be a dystopia with a temperature of -119 degrees celsius, but everyone from the wealthy to the poor have been put in their place inside. Of course, that's until matters such as class warfare, social injustice and the politics of trying to survive start to fester almost seven years into the circling vehicle looping journey. Watch the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFMpmwn_hQ Snowpiercer will premiere on US TV network TBS in 2020, with airdates Down Under yet to be announced. We'll update you with further details when they come to hand.
There's never been more reason to dramatically point at a menu and shout "I CHOOSE YOU!" and not find yourself immediately kicked out. In a move that's about 15 years too late, Nintendo will be opening a brand new pop-up eatery in Tokyo entirely themed around that little sparky Pokemon legend, Pikachu. The inventively-named Pikachu Cafe will be open July 19 - August 31 to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Pokemon the Movie XY in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Decked out in Pikachu-inspired decor and serving up some pretty adorable Pikafoods, this new pop-up is so offensively cute we're enlisting known Charizards and Digletts to skip the airfares for us. Here's the Pikachu Curry: Pokeball Rice Thing with gravy: Pikachu Parfait (just terrifying): Pikachu Pancakes (yeah, might have lost some ideas with this one): And here's the Pokemon yoghurt drinks that come with SPECIAL COASTERS. Right? (Yeah, they pretty much just look like regular yoghurt drinks, whaddayagunnado.) If you're keen to get amongst the Pokemonstronsities, head to Roppongi Hills, Tokyo and hit the opening on July 19. This one's going to be the most 'grammable, nostalgic, web-friendly pop-up for miles. Via Eataku.
Do you have eyes? Do you have eyes for what looks good? Are you the kind of person who knows their way around a camera, and how to use it well? Live in Sydney and love it with a passion? Then we might have an opportunity to tweak your interest. Concrete Playground and Olympus have teamed up to offer you the chance to score a particularly excellent PEN E-P1 camera with 17mm kit (valued at $599), and at the very same time land the chance to become a Concrete Playground photographic contributor. Our photographers document Sydney's cultural life minus the boring social snaps - we don't care what you're wearing, only that you're having a good time. Now we have a brand new galleries section, we're looking for someone with an incredible eye to help us share those moments that make this city the ever-changing, never-boring place it is to be. If you think you're the right person for the gig, shoot us an email over to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with a photo you've taken that you think captures something special about Sydney. We'll upload the best snaps to an album on our Facebook page, and invite people to vote for the picture they like best. If your photo gets the most 'likes', the camera and a place in the Concrete Playground family shall be yours. Entries close May 13, 2011 at 5pm.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week announced "Australians have earned an early mark" for the work they'd done containing COVID-19 and the announcement of some eased restrictions would take place on Friday, May 8. That day has come and we now know a little more about what Australia's road to recovery will look like. After a national cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "we're fighting this virus and we're winning", and he then outlined a three-step roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia, with all three steps expected to be rolled out by July, 2020. Step one will "enable greater connection with friends and family", with the following allowed: Up to five visitors in your home, ten in businesses and public places Libraries, community centres, playgrounds and boot camps open Local and regional travel Shops, restaurants and cafes allowed to open, with a maximum of ten people at a time and one person per four square metres Step two, Morrison says, "will allow larger size gatherings up to 20 people, including for venues such as cinemas and galleries", ending with: "you'll be pleased to know, barre classes open once again." Gatherings of up to 20 people Gyms, beauty therapists, cinemas, theatres, amusement parks, galleries and museums open Caravan and camping grounds open Some interstate travel Step three, which will depend on the success of the previous steps, includes: Gatherings up to 100 people Nightclubs, food courts, saunas and bathhouses open All interstate travel Consider cross-Tasman, Pacific Island travel Those dreaming of an overseas jaunt will have noticed the roadmap does not include mention of international travel, except for to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. On travel to other countries, the Prime Minister has said, "there's nothing on our radar which would see us opening up international travel in the foreseeable future." On the other three steps, the Prime Minister said the intention is by July "we will have moved through the three steps", but movement from one step to the next will depend on three criteria: testing, tracing and trapping. If all goes to plan, it's expected the country will move to the next step every three weeks. But, he has also warned that as restrictions are eased, "there will be outbreaks, there will be more cases, there will be set-backs". As has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the roadmap is a guideline and it's now up to the individual states and territory leaders to implement the steps — and amend the state laws — as they see fit. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has already announced that no restrictions will be eased before Mother's Day and Queensland will ease some public gathering restrictions from this Sunday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has said no changes will be made until Monday. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Image: Kimberley Low
How would you like to be in pictures? Screen Australia and YouTube have teamed up to map the Australian summer, and need your films and footage to do it. You can submit footage of your Aussie summer to the YouTube Map My Summer channel but it must have been filmed since December 1 2010. Inspired by Ridley Scott's Life in a Day project, Screen Australia have selected Dr George Miller, of Mad Max, Babe and Happy Feet fame, and short film maker Amy Gebhardt to create a film that captures the essence of Australian summer from all the public submissions. Gebhardt won the right to work alongside Miller thanks to her film Into the Sun, a dreamy, symbolic expression of our relationship with summer. Given the summer Australia has just had, the finished work could end up being anything from a disaster movie to a Jaws remake. Five contributors whose footage is used in the final film will be invited to attend the Sydney Film Festival premiere in June, where the crowd-sourced film will be screened, so get your summery, sub-three-minute video uploaded by the end of March and be a part of it! https://youtube.com/watch?v=QlIfgRqTB7M
Concrete Playground recently caught up with David Stewart, one of England's most respected photographers. He started off capturing punk bands like The Clash and The Ramones, as well as the colourful characters of Morecambe Promenade, from which he developed a distinctive style of portraiture. Often eerie, funny, creepy and touching (sometimes at the same time), his photos incite curiosity at what imagines to be a fascinating back story. He also directed and produced a film in 1995 called 'Cabbage' with a series of surrealist photographic images to accompany in homage to the often misunderstood vegetable. He is currently working on a series called 'Teenage Pre-occupation' about what teenagers go through growing up, and will have some new work on show in Australia as part of an Olympus ad campaign. Fingers crossed an exhibition of his will travel down under soon. How did your time growing up as a child and teenager in Lancaster influence your work? Growing up in the North of England definitely gives you a different view on life and maybe it is this that causes me to see things with the sense of humour. Northern people are very funny and straight to the point. There is an element of telling it how it is. You started photographing famous rock bands, which for some photographers is a topic they stick with for their whole career. What made you decide to stop photographing people in the music industry? The band photography was what got me interested in photography but, when I was at college, I realised I was more interested in constructing images from scratch which gave me the opportunity to put forward a thought or point of view of my own. The band thing was something that could not be controlled and so, after a while, became routine. What does camouflage symbolise to you? Hiding and trying to fit in while there may be a more sinister message. When looking at your photos, I am sometimes torn between laughing and feeling extremely uncomfortable. Why do you use humour in the depiction of very dark scenes? Humour acts as a way of grabbing people's attention and then, in turn, leads them to a thought if they stay with the image long enough. It's like music where you like the tune but you're unaware the lyrics are telling a darker story. Do you think your characters are representative of the real folk of England? Are the characters who seem threatening or malicious actually harmless or are your exposing their true nature? I think the characters do represent real people – everyday people or situations you might be familiar with - but when presented as photography, the character or situation becomes heightened. There is an element of exposing the true nature of people to provoke a thought. Can you tell me about the upcoming series 'Teenage Pre-occupation?' How did you choose your subjects? The series again draws on observations I have made. The changes that the digital age have created, especially with regards to young people, is very relevant at the moment. The subjects in 'Teenage Pre-occupation' are all chosen as they portray something I have noticed about being a teenager in the current cultural climate. Again, this becomes more noticeable when presented as a piece of photography.
With its Cheap Trick-sung opening theme tune, 90s and 00s sitcom favourite That '70s Show described its setup perfectly: hangin' out down the street, the same old thing we did last week. The decade clearly changes in sequel series That '90s Show, and viewers don't yet know if the introductory track does as well, but the same idea will still ring true in the new Netflix sitcom — based on its just-dropped full trailer, at least. Prepare for nostalgia on plenty of levels — including for the OG series itself, and for the 90s era that this follow-up is set in. Helping the former: the fact that the bulk of the initial comedy series' cast is back this time around, although they're not the focus. Instead, teenager Leia Forman (Callie Haverda, The Lost Husband) is. So, while Topher Grace (Home Economics), Laura Prepon (Orange Is the New Black), Mila Kunis (Luckiest Girl Alive), Ashton Kutcher (Vengeance) and Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS) all pop up, returning to the characters of Eric Forman, Donna Forman, Jackie Burkhart, Michael Kelso and Fez — and Debra Jo Rupp (WandaVision) and Kurtwood Smith (The Dropout) are also back as Eric's parents Kitty and Red — a new group of high schoolers will be hanging out both down the street and in the Forman family basement. In his typical cantankerous manner, Red is hardly thrilled about it. Kitty, though, revels having more kids to look after. If you're keen on That '90s Show for the returning old faves, take note: the new crew is firmly in the spotlight in this sneak peek. But all of those aforementioned original characters do indeed make an appearance in the trailer, and make it feel like no time has passed at all. That '90s Show hits Netflix on Thursday, January 19, with the 1995-set series revisiting Point Place, Wisconsin during Leia's summer trip to see her grandparents. Hardly popular at school, she finally feels like she belongs with Kitty and Red's rebellious teen neighbour Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide, Four Kids and It), her brother Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan, Gabby Duran & The Unsittables), his girlfriend Nikki (Sam Morelos, Forgetting Nobody), and their pals Ozzie (Reyn Doi, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) and Jay (Mace Coronel, Colin in Black & White). As well as nostalgia, expect déjà vu to strike amid the familiar sets — clearly by design. Behind the scenes, creators Bonnie and Terry Turner are back, also with their daughter Lindsey Turner. Yes, the multi-generational vibe flows on- and off-screen. In fact, in front of the camera, that even includes Tommy Chong (Color Out of Space) returning as Leo. Check out the trailer for That '90s Show below: That '90s Show will hit Netflix on Thursday, January 19, 2022. Images: Patrick Wymore/Netflix © 2022.
Earlier in 2021, Wildflower Gin grabbed everyone's attention in a very tasty way: by releasing a limited-edition lamington-flavoured tipple. Now, the Gold Coast distillery has launched something else that'll tempt fans of a stiff drink, opening a bar at its Varsity Lakes base. Originally, the Scottsdale Drive spot operated as a cellar door; however, now you can do more than just pick up a bottle. Since Saturday, March 13, it has been pouring cocktails to eager drinkers, who can sip its regular range and try its one-off specials while sitting on antique leather chairs. Heading the menu is Wildflower Gin's lineup of cocktails, including the 'Honeycomb' ($18) and a pink gin sour ($18) — both of which use honey from the distillery's bees. The venue's version of a negroni ($18) uses barrel-aged oaked gin, as well as dehydrated honey-soaked orange, while the lamington espresso martini ($18) heroes the aforementioned lamington vodka, alongside coffee liqueur, fresh coffee and honey. You can also build your own G&T ($10), if that's the type of cocktail you prefer. Just pick from three kinds of gin, four tonics and seven garnishes — and four different types of glass. Decor-wise, vintage collectibles including a piano, typewriters and antique phones are a feature, as is a chandelier made from the old rim of a Ford Model T. The latter has personal significance for Wildflower Gin founder James Greig, as it used to hang in the house he grew up in. Wildflower's gin-making and gin-tasting classes will continue, too. If you're feeling peckish over a drink, though, it's strictly a bring-your-own-food affair — or you can order in while you're there. Booking a table is recommended, and can also bring your pooch in with you.
It doesn't take much for any of Brisbane's riverside bars to throw a party. Take a day of the week, turn it into an occasion just for the sake of it, throw in a theme and yep, you've got a shindig going on. At Blackbird Bar & Grill, its latest weekly reason to hang out by the river feels like it was put together just like that — but when it involves old school R&B and killer views, well, no one is complaining. Meet R&B Sundays. As with many things in life, the name says plenty. Admit it: just from reading that title, you have a hankering to while away an afternoon listening to nostalgic bangers, don't you? [caption id="attachment_759153" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Blackbird Bar and Grill[/caption] To satisfy that craving, drop by the Eagle Street hangout every Sunday, with the fun kicking off at 3pm. Entry is free, but if you want to gather the gang, hang out in a booth and get bottle service, you'll need to book in advance.
In 1993, for the first time ever, Triple J asked Australian music lovers to pick their their favourite songs from the year prior. The ABC radio station had run Hottest 100s before, but focusing on all-time faves. With a small but significant tweak, an annual national icon was born — and it's still going three decades later. Over the last 30 years, Triple J listeners have voted en masse. They've had strong thoughts about which tunes were the best of the best, whether picking their choices via pen and paper back in the poll's early days, or with a few quick clicks today. And, they've chosen thousands of songs as the cream of the crop over that period — and more in the broadcaster's other Hottest 100s, including the Hottest 100 of All Time countdowns, the 2011 Hottest 100 of Australian Albums, the Hottest 100 of the Decade (which focused on the 2010s) and the upcoming Hottest 100 of Like a Version. That's a hefty amount of tracks, and quite the playlist. It's also exactly what'll be pumping 24/7 on Triple J Hottest. The broadcaster is launching another new station to sit alongside Triple J, Double J and Triple J Unearthed, this time only giving tunes that've ranked in a Hottest 100 sometime a spin. Denis Leary's 'Asshole', which came in at number one back in 1993? Yes, that's eligible for the playlist. 2022 winner 'Elephant' by The Wiggles? That is as well. Tracks that catapulted their artists to bigger fame, songs you've completely forgotten existed, all-time classics, novelty tunes: if it ranked in a Hottest 100, as all of the above have, then it'll get a whirl. Just looking at the top tens from the past three decades, there's a wealth of tunes in store. Think: Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name', Silverchair's 'Tomorrow', both '(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River' and 'Greg! The Stop Sign!!' by TISM, Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise' and '! (The Song Formerly Known As)' by Regurgitator, plus Weezer's 'Island in the Sun', Spiderbait's 'Black Betty' cover, so many songs by Powderfinger and Flume, 'Lonely Boy' by The Black Keys, and even 'Chandelier' by Sia. Kendrick Lamar's 'Humble' and 'King Kunta', Childish Gambino's 'Red Bone' and 'This Is America', Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's 'WAP': they're just some of the other songs that've enjoyed some Hottest 100 love, and will now hit Triple J Hottest. Launching at 9.30am AEST on Monday, July 17 — meaning that it can include the picks from the Hottest 100 of Like a Version, which airs on Triple J and Double J from 12pm on Saturday, July 15 — Triple J Hottest will also feature archival interviews with Hottest 100-ranking acts, a heap of Hottest 100 history, and other relevant stories about the poll. It's a digital-only station, so you'll be listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week either via the Js' website, the Triple J app or the ABC listen app. And yes, obviously this station will add 100 new tracks to its rotation every year — another perk for tunes that make each year's Hottest 100. Triple J Hottest launches at 9.30am AEST on Monday, July 17 — head to the Triple J website for further details. Top image: Flume, M Drummond.
Oh god, it's happened. We knew it would. Ever since we first tried to make a 'beer spider' by heaping some vanilla bean into our third or fourth pint, we knew it was a possibility. The method just needed some work. Unsurprisingly, adding dairy to beer was never the answer. Now the Japanese legends at Kirin have perfected the recipe for the ultimate beer slushie, and are selling a home version of the machine that makes it. Here's the kicker: the drink is actually super tasty. The slushie portion of this frozen treat is made with frozen beer instead of ice cream so instead of clogging your brew with curdled milk, it just keeps the whole thing freezing cold. The machine has been floating around as a promo tool in Japan and the USA since 2012, but — because it's basically a pure form of liquid happiness — it's stuck around until now. The machine is currently available for purchase via the Japan Trend Shop online, however it does come with some drawbacks. For instance, although the initial cost of the product is only US$67, you'll have to add another US$47 on for shipping. Also, it only runs off C batteries (for some reason) and all of the instructions are in Japanese. Eek. Of course this won't stop the hardcore enthusiasts, but if you consider yourself a more casual beer slushie drinker, head out to Harajuku Gyoza to try it first. The Japanese gyoza and beer restaurant in Potts Point and Fortitude Valley are currently one of the only (if not the only) place serving it in Australia. Bon appétit! Via Thrillist and Hospitality Magazine. Images via Kirin USA Facebook.
Before Michael Crichton conjured up an island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs as seen in Jurassic Park, he took audiences to a different but just as eerie attraction. The year was 1973. The film was Westworld. And it was not only written by the author, but it was also directed by him as well. That's where HBO's futuristic show of the same name starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Liam Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Aaron Paul first started. Yes, life really does find a way. Series creators Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and Lisa Joy have taken the central idea and expanded it, though, as Westworld's first three gripping TV seasons have shown since 2016. When it comes to tales about a technologically advanced amusement park where people pay to experience Wild West times, and where androids play the park's roles but don't realise that they aren't human, there are oh-so-many stories to tell, after all.
FBi Social, the Sydney radio station's first ever pop-up live music venue, opened its doors last week. Housed on the second level of the refurbished Kings Cross Hotel, in stumbling distance of the Coca Cola sign, FBi is hoping to use the space to further their ever evolving mission of helping emerging local bands break through to larger audiences. With a 200-person capacity and a 24/7 license, and the aim of taking Kings Cross back to it's live music/dive bar roots, it's sure to be a very exciting couple of months. Rarely can you make me go to Kings Cross. The place evokes memories of dangerously high heels, bogan's blaring bad music from their souped up cars and being hit on by drug dealers. But FBi Social will be enough to get me, and many like me, to venture to the end of William Street. And perhaps the biggest perk is that no longer will you have to catch two buses and a train to a shoddy warehouse at the back of Marrickville to see emerging live music. It all kicks off this weekend, with Friday night's Socially Acceptable bringing you FBi's favourite emerging DJ's to assist you in all manner of hand-clapping, toe-tapping and hip-thrusting. The lineup of bands kick off on Saturday night with Dance To The Radio, featuring The Preachers, Underlights and Sister Jane. Gigs over the next two months include Ernest Ellis, Pikelet and Guineafowl, and will sit side by side with nights devoted to genres such as folk, hip hip and experimental music.
The life and times of 20th century music and cultural icon, Bob Marley, are explored through the deeply raw and poignant documentary, Marley. Kevin Macdonald directed the film in an attempt to allow audiences to get to know the man behind the myth a little better. The two and a half hour documentary features never before seen footage and photos from Marley's early life and final years; from his years as a mixed-race farm boy, Marley's time on the streets in Kingston's Trenchtown, his worldwide fame, through to his cancer diagnosis and slow subsequent demise. Marley reinforces the cultural significance of this Jamaican hero, who still resonates in music lovers' hearts all over the world almost 30 years after his death. Commentary is provided by the family members and friends who knew him best, and the film includes concert footage of four previously unseen songs. All of this is woven together in a seamless stream of revelations to sate the appetites of even the most ardent, die-hard Marley fans. Macdonald and Marley's children and grandchildren also wished to preserve Marley's legacy through the documentary and highlight his driven and ambitious work ethic, whilst quelling the notion that his marijuana smoking led him to lead a slow-paced or lazy lifestyle. The film powerfully captures the quirkiness of the Marley clan as well as providing a musical journey that outlines the development of the sub-culture of reggae and the instrumental role Marley had in this. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Marley. To go in the running to win tickets, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The cinnamonny college-tastic whisky known as Fireball is under fire (#sorrynotsorry) this week after some pretty unwanted materials were discovered in a European shipment of the good stuff. According to The Daily Beast, it was revealed that Fireball whisky was being recalled in Finland, Norway and Sweden because the batch contains propylene glycol. Yep, that's a casual compound starring prominently in a little ol' thing called antifreeze. ANTIFREEZE. The chemical that helps protects your car's radiator and de-ices aircraft carriers. You won't be so quick to make a GoPro wedding video downing the spicy stuff now huh? European recipients of the batch in question were understandably unimpressed when the delivery rocked up; apparently the Fireball recipe with high levels of propylene glycol is aiiiight for America though. According to Huffington Post the propylene glycol is used to enhance flavour by absorbing water and is "generally recognized as safe" for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But European (and Australian) regulations for food and drink ingredients are apparently tighter than the US — DB reminded us of the time Subway was all geared up to remove azodicarbonamide from its Australian and European bread (yeah, that's chemical commonly used in yoga mats, no biggie). Not in the States though, thing are more lax in the Yoo Ess of Ay. So, Fireball owners Sazerac are legally allowed to put more propylene glycol in their US/Canada bevvies. But don't grab your torches and pitchforks just yet. Sazerac were quick to make embers of this week's uproar, releasing a statement pointing out that propylene glycol is given the a-OK by the FDA in amounts up to 50 grams per kilogram — apparently that's about eight times the amount Fireball has hidden away in its party-starting belly. "Most people consume PG every day in soft drinks, sweeteners, some foods or alcoholic beverages," said the Fireball team, adding that "all Fireball formulas are absolutely safe to drink." "Unfortunately, Fireball shipped its North American formula to Europe and found that one ingredient is out of compliance with European regulations. Finland, Sweden and Norway have asked to recall those specific batches, which is what the brand is doing." Australian batches seem fine for now. Shots anyone? No? Fireball whiskey has antifreeze chemicals in it? So it tastes great and I won't freeze? Make mine a double! — Maddox (@maddoxrules) October 29, 2014 Via The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
If a pizza delivery guy was to accidentally wander into a cryogenic chamber back in July 2013, get stuck frozen inside for ten years, then wake up in July 2023, plenty that he knows about the world will have changed. But one thing would remain a constant: Futurama. Back then, the Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century was still on-screen — and this winter, it'll finally be defrosted after a decade off the air. Good news, everyone! — it's back, baby, after US streaming platform Hulu first announced plans to go back to the future in 2022. When that welcome revelation hit, Futurama was renewed for a 20-episode run. Now, the platform has revealed that the first ten new instalments will arrive from Monday, July 24 in the US. Down Under, Disney+ will be reteaming with the 20th-century's Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West), distant uncle to Planet Express cargo company Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (also voiced by West), plus the rest of the outfit's crew. Yes, that means more antics with one-eyed ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal); fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille). And, yes, it Bender Bending Rodríguez will be causing chaos, with John DiMaggio also back with the cast. When the revival was first announced, that wasn't the case — but it wouldn't be Futurama without its constantly sauced robot exclaiming "bite my shiny metal ass!". You can put a beloved animated series into stasis, but someone is going to thaw it out one day — and more than once. Initially airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic animated series then returned from 2008–2013, before now being given another run. Hulu is calling this comeback season 11, even though Futurama spans a past seven seasons and four direct-to-DVD movies so far. As for what it'll be about, other than satirising life in the year 3000 and beyond, the streaming service is promising more about Fry and Leela's love story, what's in Nibbler's litter box, evil Robot Santa's secret history, and Kif and Amy's tadpoles. That, and a pandemic, plus gags about the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture and streaming TV. Check out the first teaser trailer below: Futurama's latest season will return on Hulu on Monday, July 24 Down Under — we'll update you with Australian and New Zealand specifics via Disney+ when they're announced.
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.
