It's true of every great arts festival lineup: pick three highlights from the program at random and a clear snapshot of the event's diverse array of experiences emerges. For a trio of picks from Sydney Festival's just-announced 2025 bill that does exactly that, turning the Harbour City's Town Hall into the wild west, exploring a true-crime case in an IRL courthouse, then getting Avatar, Titanic, The Terminator and Aliens filmmaker James Cameron chatting about shipwrecks all paint a clear picture. As it has done for 49 years now, this fest adores having something for everyone on offer. Just two years after Sydney Town Hall became an indoor beach complete with 26 tonnes of sand for the festival, the venue will transform into a pioneer settlement for Dark Noon, which builds its setting in real time as the audience watches on. A hit at Edinburgh Fringe, playing Australia exclusive to Sydney Festival and heading Down Under after a run in New York, the production from Danish director Tue Biering explores the power dynamics, race relations and colonial impacts inherent in its chosen chapter of history, all by subverting the wild west tropes established by cinema over the years — and with a South African cast. [caption id="attachment_977489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teddy Wolff[/caption] Also a standout on the full program, which'll pack Sydney with more than 130 shows and events from Saturday, January 4–Sunday, January 26, 2025: A Model Murder at the Darlinghurst Courthouse. Playwright Melanie Tait (The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race) and director Sheridan Harbridge (44 Sex Acts in One Week) aren't just recreating model Shirley Beiger's trial for shooting her cheating boyfriend — they're staging it at the same spot where it took place seven decades ago. For something completely different, one of the biggest names in blockbuster cinema is also on the Sydney Festival lineup, with James Cameron's experience in the water — including diving to earth's deepest point — the topic of conversation on the talks section of the bill. Or, still thinking about the sea, a giant whale is popping up in Bondi, courtesy of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. The fest's 23-day run has a date with 43 different locations around town, ensuring that every corner of Sydney gets in on the action. One such location: Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, where The Thirsty Mile is returning as a hub featuring much to see by day and night. Think: free live music across 12 evenings, yoga classes, a heap of productions, public art and, for a beverage, the Moonshine Bar, where artist Telly Tuita is decking out the joint — as he's also doing with the SS John Oxley and via ten-room 'Tongpop' installation Colour Maze. Blak Out joins the favourites making a comeback, this time with Sydney Festival's Creative Artist in Residence Jake Nash curating the program. With Barangaroo Reserve as its base, this pivotal part of the fest includes Belvoir Theatre's Jacky, album launches for DOBBY and Radical Son, a woven canopy that'll host conversations, a celebration of Redfern's 70s-era National Black Theatre and more. [caption id="attachment_977492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tashi Hall[/caption] From there, the world premiere of Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera, Sophocles' Antigone reimagined on the edge of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and a twist on Shakespeare via Cliff Cardinal's As You Like It or The Land Acknowledgement should get your eyes glued to the stage. Also in the same category: Back to Back Theatre's Multiple Bad Things at Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia taking on Cendrillon (Cinderella), Christie Whelan Browne exploring her childhood. First Nations drag performer Miss Ellaneous honouring a simply-the-best icon with Tina — A Tropical Love Story and Greek mythology-inspired dance piece AFTERWORLD. Elsewhere on the bill, Rufus Wainwright is heading to town, William Yang's Milestone marks his 80th birthday, Katie Noonan is paying tribute to Jeff Buckley's Grace for its 30th anniversary, Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden is hosting five gigs, the Future Frequencies bill is all about music up and comers such as Yaya Bey and Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, Sydney Symphony Under the Stars is back and audiences can take part in interactive dance piece Cowboy. [caption id="attachment_977485" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dahlia Katz[/caption] "Sydney Festival has long held summer's cultural pulse and this year is quite the heartbeat. Stories of Oceania, destiny and what we leave behind through to bold explorations of utopia and dystopia, Sydney Festival 2025 promises an exhilarating and thought-provoking journey through the arts with exceptional talent at the reins," said Festival Director Olivia Ansell, announcing her fourth — and final — program. "This January, immerse yourself in a summer of unforgettable performances, groundbreaking new works, and exclusive experiences that reimagine the world around us." There's clearly a wealth of reasons to head along, whether you're a Sydneysider making the most of your own town or you're planning an interstate trip to kick off 2025 — and the fact that the fest is also doing $49 early-bird tickets across the entire program until early December is yet another. [caption id="attachment_977488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Lindberg[/caption] [caption id="attachment_977486" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeff Busby[/caption] [caption id="attachment_977487" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bill Cooper / Royal Opera House / ArenaPAL[/caption] Sydney Festival 2025 runs from Saturday, January 4–Sunday, January 26 at venues across the city. For further details and to buy tickets from 9am AEDT on Wednesday, October 30, visit the Sydney Festival website.
When Fortitude Valley favourite Gerard's Bistro said goodbye to Adam Wolfers in March, with the Executive Chef departing for health reasons, it was just one of the acclaimed restaurant's farewells for 2023. Another adieu is coming, and soon, but thankfully this one is only temporary. After the last dinner service on Saturday, July 1, the James Street eatery will shut up shop for two months for hefty renovations. "The upcoming two months will see us trade our culinary utensils for construction tools, immersing ourselves into this labour of love for a comprehensive makeover. Our team is eager to commence this renovation project, which will culminate in a reimagined exciting dining space," announced the Gerard's Bistro crew via Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gerard's Bistro (@gerardsbistro) Exactly what the new-look Gerard's Bistro will entail hasn't yet been revealed, but diners can clearly expect significant changes at the Gerard's Lane spot, which has ranked among Brisbane's best restaurants since first opening its doors 11 years ago in 2012. For fans of Gerard's Bistro's banquet-style feasts brimming with Maghreb and Middle East flavours — the current menu includes everything from smoked Moreton Bay bugs with baba ghanoush to sujuk-glazed octopus and cardamom ice cream — whether the refurbishment will also come with a revamped menu also hasn't been announced. Although Gerard's Bistro's won't be welcoming in patrons across until September, with an exact reopening date also yet to be unveiled, Gerard's Bar will remain open. Head to 23 James Street from Thursday–Sunday not just for a mezze spread, and meat and cheese options, but for a full menu. Also a highlight: the watering hole's cocktail-heavy Sunday sessions, and the drinks list that features baharat margaritas, mango coolers, palomas and mandarin no-gronis among its standout sips. Find Gerard's Bistro in Gerard's Lane, 14/15 James Street, Fortitude Valley — operating 6pm–late Monday–Thursday, 12–3pm and 6pm–late Fridays, and 5.30pm–late Saturdays until Saturday, July 1, when it closes for two months for renovations. We'll update you with a reopening date when one is announced.
In a characteristically M.I.A. move, the iconoclastic 'Bad Girls' singer has ingeniously tapped Versace knock-offs in Power Up, a new design collaboration with Versace itself, launching online on October 16. It's admirable just how consistent M.I.A.'s self-branding moves are. She's been wearing Versace around for a while now, and after the likes of her 'XXXO' music video, the trashy glitz of the label seems perfectly tailored to her. The 19-piece Versace Versus X MIA collection has all the trappings you'd expect from both M.I.A. and the prestigious design house, with a decidedly ghetto-bling set of gold medallions and classic Medusa heads emblazoning leggings and tops alike. The shapes channel sportswear while the colour palette is dominated by black and white and kooky shades of green, gold and pink. Sanskrit-inspired script mingles with blocky geometrics, lotus blossoms and the trademark angular Greek border, all combining in prints so bold it's pretty much guaranteed that the rest of your outfit will fade into obscurity. But it's the source of the designs — Versace rip-offs touted for cheap on the grimy streets of East London — that take this particular collab to the next level. M.I.A. told WWD: "Versace's designs have always been copied, now it's Versace that copies the copies, so those that copy must copy the copies. So this will continue." Indeed, M.I.A., what a house of mirrors you allow us to inhabit. Any passerby in the know is forced to acknowledge the Power Up wearer's subversive, high-low culture, pro-yet-anti-yet-pro-capitalist fashion statement as he or she steps out in authentic, expensive imitations of imitations. Fully aware of MIA's game, photographer Jaime Martinez shot the collection's campaign on the mean streets and in front of cheapo clothing stalls. The final lookbook is, appropriately a series of souped-up, lo-fi gifs. We doff our hats to the collection. Via PSFK.
The really great thing about summer is that entertaining flies no matter what time of day. Whether a lazy picnic, a barbeque lunch or a knockout dinner party is your fancy, you can do it on the cheap and cheerful if it's summertime. We’ll take you through a day of dining to delight the senses and suit the budget. Day: PICNIC Two words: Potluck Picnic. We love gatherings we don't have to organise ourselves nearly as much as we love impressing each other with our innovative/shameful/purchased dishes. If you want to divvy up the dishes (salad, sweets, nibbles, etc), do that, but it's even better if you can cover the bases yourself and let others fill in the blanks. For food, sort out a frittata, some dips and pull apart bread, and a good old fashioned barbecue chook for plate fillers. Some hearty salads are a must — think rice salad, pasta salad and a simple garden. Pack everything into a cooler and don't forget the bag of ice. Food storage containers are a lifesaver — if the picnic's going as great as you hope it will, you'll be distracted by the fun and games while the ants and insects* are gorging themselves on your camembert. Serve everything buffet style. Picnics are all about the bits and pieces. Some pointers: forget paper plates, paper napkins and plastic cutlery — clunky and causes loads of wastage. A set of linen napkins from a budget store are super cheap and they look fancy. Likewise, platters are good value, last forever, and quick and easy to clean. If you've got plastic KeepCups, use those for drinks. Don't forget the rug and think about music: jazz is great any time of day and a little Bill Evans goes a long way. If you're planning on your humble picnic rolling into the sunset ,just make sure your playlist can go the distance. *be a hero and bring a whopping citronella candle. Afternoon: BURGER BARBEQUE Barbeques are great because they’re all about the BYO. You can use your crockery and cutlery and get the dishwashers happening or a couple of eager beavers on the dishes to minimise cleaning up. For nibbles, forget bags of chips and packets of dips and cheese: it all adds up to dollars and a spoilt appetite. Make a batch of tortilla chips using a bag of flat bread sprinkled with oil and salt and rubbed with garlic. Cut into triangles and pop in the oven. A quick guacamole using full cream yoghurt to mix will help you out, or else one of those inexplicably excellent layered Mexican dips that still make the odd appearance at suburban baby showers. For food, hamburgers all the way — but they don't need to be boring. It's all about what you add to the mince to make it a treat. Chop up a bunch of parsley, sauté some onions, tear up some fresh bread — you want small chunks, not those fine little breadcrumbs — crack a couple of eggs and add some fresh chilli or flakes, salt and pepper. You're good to go. Grab some good buns or a good loaf of crusty bread; forget those trendy mini buns, you want something to sink the teeth into. Grilled onions and tinned beetroot are must-haves, along with chopped tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. Think bacon, cheese and pineapple for extras, or consider a homemade garlic bread. And dessert? Pavlova is super cheap to make: get a good recipe, some seasonal fruit, a nice thick cream whipped with a little caster sugar and vanilla essence, and you're everyone's best friend. Night: MOROCCAN SUMMER PARTY This summer, let's head to Morocco. There are loads of yummy vegetarian dishes which are always cheaper than meat — keeps everyone happy as long as it's delicious. Start with dips. Making your own is way cheaper and a great point of conversation. If you don't have a food processor, borrow one for the occasion. Serve hummus and capsicum dip with sprigs of coriander and fresh, bright vegetables for dipping. For drinks, do a Moroccan-style sangria by adding loads of fresh mint. Serve in whatever you’ve got — plastic coloured cups are just as good as tall glasses. If you're skint, have guests each bring a cheap bottle of red. Then all you're forking out for is a bit of white rum, tea and fruit. Dinner is a Moroccan vegetable tagine — so easy and time effective. It looks like pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini and carrots boiled up and combined with a homemade harissa paste. Make sure you add sauteed onions, garlic and chilli; whack in a few tins of tomatoes and some lemon juice; and then let it all cook up so it forms a nice sauce. Have a bunch of small bowls laid out on the table filled with finely sliced almonds, mint and coriander for sprinkling on top. Serve the tagine on a bed of quinoa (or if the budget is super low, couscous). Dessert is spicy poached pears in red wine. Skin your pears, chop them up into quarters, fill a saucepan up with red wine, chuck in a couple of sticks of cinnamon and some brown sugar and a couple of cloves, and cook for around 40 minutes. Spend what you've saved on economical cooking on a snazzy carton of vanilla ice cream. Presentation-wise keep this one simple; the load of fresh, colourful, tasty food and drink carries the evening alone. If you do want to tizz the place up, it's all about loud, bright accessories — red napkins, a loud tablecloth and bunch of bright flowers in the middle of the table for the win. Picnic image by Lindsay Smith.
It's usually impossible to upstage Tilda Swinton. But in The Souvenir, Honor Swinton Byrne manages that elusive feat. Adding another acting powerhouse to the family, it's a case of like mother, like daughter — although, even when they're sharing the same scene in Joanna Hogg's deeply moving drama, the younger Swinton never feels like she's just following in her famous mum's footsteps. Tilda always seems to calmly float above the rest of us, whether she's playing an ageless nobleman, a vampire or a witchy dance instructor. By contrast, Honor has a weighty, grounded but nervous presence. She's not only firmly of this world; here, as 80s-era film student Julie, she's increasingly bogged down by it. At first, everything seems simple for The Souvenir's polite protagonist. Julie lives in a well-appointed flat in an upscale area of London, comes from a moneyed family and, like all aspiring filmmakers, has an idea for her first big project. Eager to make a movie about a working-class boy and his mother, she's also aware of her favourable station in life — in a general sense. She tells her friends that she's determined to broaden her horizons, but she's always able to rely on her mother (Tilda Swinton) when things threaten to get tough. And, when she falls hopelessly for someone who's not quite who he appears, she's instantly smitten and beguiled, albeit heartbreakingly unprepared for their relationship's darker twists and turns. A girl, a guy, and all the ups and downs that such a pairing inevitably sparks — at the most basic level, that's The Souvenir. But if ever a movie was more than its most simplistic plot description, it's this perceptive affair. Julie's relationship with the arrogantly refined and charismatic Anthony (Tom Burke) feels like a turning point from the moment they meet, as the young woman is obviously intrigued by the older civil servant. As their lives entwine, however, their romance evolves from exciting to shattering as his secrets slowly spill out. Along the way, Hogg takes her main character on an adult coming-of-age journey, all while barely venturing beyond Julie's apartment. The acclaimed British writer/director also takes viewers through her own formative years, with the film inspired by her own memories. Once again, The Souvenir's star isn't merely walking in someone else's shoes by playing Hogg's on-screen avatar. As Julie endures a traumatic but inevitable awakening — the distressing revelation that life always has an inescapable rough side — Swinton Byrne proves the movie's crucial anchor. She's clearly playing a highly personal part, with her role so intricate and specific that it can only be drawn from reality. In a film overtly placed among society's upper rungs, she's also the wide-eyed bridge that opens Julie's particular plight to the rest of the world. Realising that love and ambition can cut both ways is a universal sensation, after all — and, by peering deep into a precisely defined scenario, Hogg always relays this life-changing sentiment. Gazing back at her own experiences, fracturing the rosy facade of hindsight and not only facing the pain, but laying it open for everyone to see — that's a brave task. Even fictionalised, as The Souvenir is, it makes for stunning viewing. As she's done since her 2007 debut Unrelated, Hogg is unafraid to take aim at all that seems safe, easy and cosy. Committed to unpacking the woes of Britain's well-heeled, she's similarly unafraid to show the hurt that's always lingering beneath the surface, too. Here, she unravels the heady swirls of first romance, the hopeful outlook of a young woman finding her place in the world, and middle-class comfort, watching as they all become toxic. That she does so in long, distanced, cool-hued shots that survey Julie's blinkered realm makes The Souvenir all the more powerful, conveying its alluring beauty and its empty flipside in tandem. Insightfully scripted, lensed and performed — not only by Swinton Byrne, her always-exceptional mother and a pitch-perfect Burke, but by Richard Ayoade in a small but pivotal role — The Souvenir ultimately acts as its own memento. Meticulous, intense and devastatingly astute, the film leaves an imprint that lingers long after its frames have stopped flickering. Thankfully, this quiet but powerful tale won't stop for too long. As the movie announces in its closing moments via text on-screen, The Souvenir's story will continue in a second part, due in 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Al2nC0vzY
Mondays tend to be a day of rest for most restaurants in the Los Angeles area. But for friends Aliza Miner, Savita Ostendorf and Marjory Garrison it's the busiest night of the week. A few months ago the three girls combined their skills as a chef, graphic designer and PR activist for non-profits, respectively, to create Closed on Mondays, a business that hosts fundraiser dinners for charity at empty restaurants on Monday nights. They offer a fixed price menu at $35, hire waitstaff from the host restaurant and serve customers on a first come, first serve basis from 5 to 9p.m. The profits go directly to local food initiatives or community projects. They don't force-feed their guests with information about the charities, they just want people to come and eat. Better yet, the dishes offered will leave your taste-buds begging for more, with choices like Yucatan pulled pork, wild Mexican shrimp with pumpkin seed sauce and stuffed poblanos, kabocha squash and chihuahua cheese in romesco (each served with homemade tortillas). Yum. The first three dinners were hosted at L.A's Canele, which raised $7000 for the Micheltorena School Garden community project in Silver Lake. Although the girls realize that they still have a long way to go to build up the non-profit, other chefs in the area have already approached them about bringing Closed on Mondays to their restaurants. Mondays are soon to be the biggest night out of the week for good food and a good cause.
The Australia Day Long Weekend has crept up again, and this year you hardly have to scrape the bottom of the Vegemite jar to find something to fill it with. Whether you’re up for some serious betting on cockroaches, jumping around to the strains of a pink-haired rock star, or would just prefer to sit quietly with a beer and roast chook roll, there’s little Brisbane isn’t offering this weekend. THE BRIGHTSIDE'S AUSTRALIA DAY EVE Brightside proved itself in 2014 to be incapable of doing wrong when it comes to live performance. True testament to this is their Australia Day Eve lineup, which rivals that of any major music festival on our horizon, and at a good price to boot. The party includes sets by dream-spinning, rock demigod Ariel Pink, New Zealand indie-rock pioneers The Clean, our mate American singer/songwriter How to Dress Well and eletro-wizard Dan Deacon. From the local circuit, Tincture, Primitive Motion and Thigh Master will also welcome in the public holiday. Tickets online are $56.10, but a few boutique outlets, such as one on Winn lane that rhymes with ScoutMost, may be selling them a little cheaper. You didn't hear it from us. AUSTRALIA DAY AT SOUTHSIDE TEA ROOM Australia Day isn't just about the beers and beats at Southside Tea Room — though there will be plenty of those. In a huge celebration, kicking off at 10am, they'll be firing up their famous Red Robbin Supper Club food truck and feeding people with some good ol' Aussie grub. In the words of van chef Rory Doyle, "The plan is to fire up the rotisserie and roast some chickens over hot coals, then smash that sweet meat onto white rolls with some rich gravy to complete an Aussie classic, Roast Chicken Roll. You can't have a chicken roll without hot chips and we'll be serving them with our version of "chicken salt"!" Cue uncontrollable salivation. VOTE YES FOR ABORIGINES SCREENING Directed by Frances Peters-Little and produced by Denise Haslem, Vote Yes for Aborigines is an iconic documentary on the 1967 referendum and will be projected for audiences this Australia Day at the Broncos Leagues Club. Interrogating the success of the Referendum and addressing debates about what is meant by Australian citizenship and values, the 52-minute film provides a window into a history we may not all be 100 percent versed on. After the screening, Peters-Little will lead a discussion on the film and the issues that arise in it. THE TRIFFID HOTTEST 100 PARTY Every year, bars, pubs and clubs around Brisbane attempt to host a Hottest 100 Party, assuming their only duty is getting the radio station right. The Triffid are going over and beyond, with a Hottest 100 Party that’ll will have punters up and dancing from lunch time till the early hours of the morn. Brisbane rockers Millions will be performing a live set later in the evening, and beers and burgers will be for sale in the beer garden. Chow down on a tasty dinner and listen out for whether Tay makes it to that number 1 spot (or any spot). GREAT AUSTRALIAN BITES How do some Mooloolaba king prawns with chilli pork floss sound? Or fresh-out-of-the-oven arancini balls? Paired with an Aperol Spritz or Pimms Cup and some sun-struck live music? Sound like your perfect Australia Day? Then why not have a whole weekend of it! River Quay’s finest restaurants – Aquitaine Brasseries, Cove Bar & Dining, Popolo and Jetty — are popping up food stalls in the area across the whole long weekend (Friday to Monday), showing off their finest treats. River Quay is that little, vibrant, riverside hot spot on the Southbank side of the Goodwill Bridge. Check out the line up of music, and prepare your stomach for the best. COCKROACH RACES AT THE STORY BRIDGE HOTEL If you’ve got a taste for creepy, crawly and quirky Australia Day celebrations, then the Story Hotel can cater accordingly. Back for 2015, the 34th annual Cockroach Races are throwing this iconic hotel into a real spin, with live music, DJs, giveaways, delicious Aussie food and ice cold drinks. Entry is a gold coin, and it costs $5 to 'buy' a cockroach, with prizes going to the most original name, best dressed and winners. It might get a little competitive, but if you’ve seen Rocky 2, you’ll be more than prepared for the hysteria that may ensue. THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BACKYARD BARBECUE AT RIVERBAR AND KITCHEN Riverbar and Kitchen is celebrating Australia day in true Aussie style – heavy emphasis on the style. Between the delicious BBQ and the 3pm thong tossing competition, there’s nothing but true-blue class being shown over at this riverside party spot. They’ll be offering up $30 buckets of Pale Ale and Hill Cider, as well an Australian-inspired menu that doesn’t skimp on quality – think grilled haloumi and eggplant salad ($10), lamb skewers ($10), Merguez sausage in a bread roll ($10) and a garlic prawn roll ($12). Pair your bite with one of two refreshing Aussie-inspired drinks — there’s the Brookvale Ginger Beer Slushy for $10, and the Pavlova Martini for $17. THE CITY SOUNDS While Monday might be a public holiday, Queen Street Mall is still expected to be buzzing, not just with time-free shoppers but wonderful music. In a special Australia Day weekend lineup, City Sounds will be dotting some of Brisbane’s favourite performers around the mall. Make sure to stop and have a listen. On the Friday, expect singers Angharad Drake, ukulele blues-fiend Ofa Fanaika and electro-artists Maberley & Petein. On Saturday there's Brisbane singer Black Indie, eclectic tribal performer Matt James, blues band Dezzie D and the Stingrayz; Sunday will show Bree Bullock, Ciderhouse, and The Boxties; and six-piece reggae band Kingfisha will be on show for Monday. HOTTEST 100 CRAFT BEERS AT THE SCRATCH We might as well wrap this up with Brisbane's largest celebration to the opiate of choice for every bearded quaffer — craft beer. And if there's one place that's going to provide appropriate homage to this sweet elixir, it's Milton's The Scratch. For Australia Day, they'll be counting down Triple J's Hottest 100, with the top 100 craft beers of 2014 alongside. They'll also be serving up Australian BLT dawgs — a delicious sausage with bacon, lettuce, tomato, relish and caramelised onion served on a roll. It's a match made in craft-brew heaven.
Last week, Robert Pattinson popped up on our screens in the trailer for upcoming Netflix movie The Devil All the Time. At present, he's also starring in cinemas in Tenet, which is finally earning a release. And, right this instant, he's stepping into a very well-known character's shoes (and cape and mask) — as seen in the just-dropped first trailer for The Batman. Yes, as well as featuring in a Christopher Nolan-helmed movie, Pattinson is playing a character that Nolan helped bring back to cinemas 15 years ago. This time around, Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes filmmaker Matt Reeves is in the director's chair, overseeing a new take on Batman that actually stands completely apart from the most recent Ben Affleck-starring DC Extended Universe version of the character. Basically, what DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures did with Joker in 2019 — serving up a grimmer, grittier iteration of the infamous figure that has absolutely nothing to do with the rightfully hated Jared Leto version — they're doing for Batman now, too. Also following the same playbook: enlisting a top-notch star in the lead role. Remember, it was only earlier this year that Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for playing the clown prince of crime. The Batman isn't slated to hit cinemas until more than 12 months away — at the end of September 2021 in Australia — however, as this first sneak peek shows, it's shaping up to be a suitably dark and brooding affair. And, as well as Pattison as the titular character and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, it stars Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. For those keeping count, Pattinson is the third actor to play the Dark Knight on the big screen in the 21st century, after Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. He also joins a long list of actors who've donned the outfit, including Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney. Check out The Batman trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOp_6uPccQ The Batman is currently due to release in Australian cinemas on September 30, 2021.
The First Time just keeps proving a fitting album title for The Kid LAROI. The just-released record is the Australian singer-songwriter's first studio album. Now, it also lends its name to his first-ever Down Under stadium tour. Big star, big record, big tour news: that's The Kid LAROI story right now. Mere days after The First Time dropped, the tour of the same name has been announced for a six-city Australian and New Zealand run in February 2024. Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard will kick things off at Melbourne's AAMI Park on Friday, February 2, before heading across the ditch to play Auckland's Spark Arena on Monday, February 5. Then it's back to Australia, where Perth's HBF Park awaits on Friday, February 9; Adelaide's Coopers Stadium on Tuesday, February 13; Sydney's Commbank Stadium on Friday, February 16; and finally CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Sunday, February 18. The Kid LAROI's debut studio album might be a brand-new arrival, but he's been releasing music since 2018 — solo, and also teaming up with everyone from Juice WRLD and ONEFOUR to Justin Bieber. Accordingly, fans can look forward to hearing 'Stay', 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', 'Love Again' and more this summer. The stadium tour follows The Kid LAROI's first headline Australian tour back in 2022, which sold out arenas across the country, sparking the addition of more dates. The First Time tour has only announced one show per city so far, but they're all spaced out enough that adding extra gigs due to demand won't come as a surprise if it happens. "I'm so excited to be coming back home in February! I felt so much love from the fans on last year's tour — it's something I'll never forget. I can't wait for you to all see this new show — we've taken things to a whole new level," said The Kid LAROI, announcing the Australian leg of the tour. "I can't wait to play New Zealand in February! I've always wanted to visit and I'm so excited to bring this new show to the NZ fans. I promise it'll be worth the wait! I love you all and I'll see you very soon," he added about his Spark Arena concert. THE KID LAROI THE FIRST TIME TOUR 2024 DATES: Friday, February 2 — AAMI Park, Melbourne Monday, February 5 — Spark Arena, Auckland Friday, February 9 — HBF Park, Perth Tuesday, February 13 — Coopers Stadium, Adelaide Friday, February 16 — Commbank Stadium, Sydney Sunday, February 18 — CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast The Kid LAROI is touring Australia and New Zealand in February 2024, with presales starting from Thursday, November 16 and general sales on Monday, November 20 — head to the Australia and New Zealand ticketing sites for more information. Top image: Adam Kargenian.
Vegetarians craving the bloody mess that is a medium-rare beef burger, you're no longer in danger of caving. Biochemist and Impossible Foods startup founder Patrick Brown is leading the charge for veggie burgers that not only taste like meat, but legitimately simulate the characteristics — let's plainly call it 'meatiness' — of meat. The secret? 'Plant blood'. Making vego-friendly meat isn't a new idea by any means, with epic tofurkeys, fakon (fake bacon) and Suzy Spoon's sausages dotting the plates of yearning vegos for years. But Brown's scientific approach to medium-rareness suffuses the patties with bioengineered substance from a molecule called heme, found in hemoglobin — the thing that makes blood red and makes it taste all metal-like. So the particular type of vegetarian who leaves meat out for ethical reasons but yearns for a medium-rare shindig can have their burger and eat it too. Brown's not doing too shabbily either, a 60-year-old Stanford University professor turned first-time entrepreneur with a cheeky $75 million in venture capital under his belt — including cashola from Bill Gates, who's gotten right into meatless meat of late backing startup Beyond Meat, "the first plant protein that looks, feels, tastes, and acts like meat." Google Ventures are even on board with Impossible, starting production on the $20-a-pop patties now. With Silicon Valley companies seriously getting behind projects like Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and Modern Meadow ($10 million funded, 3D-printed meat), the world's obsession with meat could be one step closer to being sustainable and death-free. "Livestock is an antiquated technology," Brown told the Wall Street Journal. A small win for cowies. Via WSJ, Gigaom and Grub Street.
Maybe werewolves are onto something. Forget their mythical slashing and clawing, and consider their situation in another light: when the moon looms large and bright above, they simply want to head out and have fun. Don't worry, they won't be in attendance at Jade Buddha's Shadow Lounge on June 10 — but the riverside hangout will be following in their footsteps at their Full Moon Party. From 6pm, sitting on the deck and staring at the sky is on the agenda (and eating, drinking and dancing too). You'll have one of the best views in the city, and you'll get a two-hour food and beverage package that comes with canapes, beer, wine, sparkling and Thai bucket cocktails. Tickets cost $35 and cover the revelry until 8pm, with entry free afterwards.
When the middle-of-the-week blues hit, there are two solutions. Hitting a bar for a midweek drink is a tried-and-tested pick-me-up, while listening to someone else sing away their troubles also remains an old favourite. Acoustic Wednesdays, The Triffid's Wednesday night acoustic session, combines both — and, with the venue back in business post COVID-19 lockdowns, the free music series is livening up your hump day until Wednesday, September 2. The music lineup changes weekly, with Joel Myles and Wolfe Petersen hitting the stage on July 22, Tiarne and The Letter Elle doing the same on July 29, OJ Mengel and Willow taking the microphone on August 5, and Ruby Gilbert and Meg Ripps doing the honours on August 12. Or, check out Hugo Stranger and Cryss on August 19, Shallie and Patrick Williams on August 26, and Hello Jane and Nathan Melvin-Tong once the beginning of September rolls around. These talented performers will do their unamplified thing and make your midweek brighter, with the laidback festivities taking over the Newstead hangout at 7pm. The venue's relaxed beer garden proves the perfect place for it, and an ideal spot for grabbing a few beverages — and even a bite to eat. The Triffid's Acoustic Wednesdays run from 7pm each Wednesday until September 2.
Most humans love burgers, however, if you like protein between two pieces of bread but you're not fond of animal products, getting your fix can be tricky. Enter MooFree Burgers, the new Brisbane burger joint and food van from the folks behind Charlie's Raw Squeeze that only serves up meat-less fare. If you've been looking for an alternative to the token mushroom burgs and veggie patties that many greasy spoons offer, albeit with the best of intentions, this is it. Now open at North Lakes, slated to add Maroochydore, Labrador and Redbank Plains stores to the fold, and soon slinging its wares around the rest of the south-east Queensland courtesy of their own meals-on-wheels offshoot, too, MooFree Burgers is all about 100 percent vegan burgers, sliders and chips. Yes, that includes a stacked mushroom burger, as well as the requisite smashed patty of diced and sliced vegetables, but the menu does more than your average vego option. Pulled smoked jackfruit burger, anyone? House-made falafel with grilled eggplant, capsicum and sautéed kale? How about a Mexican concoction oozing salsa and corn chips? Or hashbrowns and beetroot, together at last? MooFree also caters for dairy and gluten intolerances, making it a haven for those with specific dietary requirements. And because no burger place is complete without a stomach-testing option — even one focused on plant-based foods — you can also feast on a massive monster burg that layers three single burgers into one. Find MooFree Burgers at 53 Endeavour Boulevard, North Lakes. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for further details.
Situated smack-bang in the middle of the city, Post Office Square boasts many things, including lunchtime eateries, a patch of grass amidst towering office buildings and a busy thoroughfare to Central Station. And, it now also features Brisbane's newest micro pub: Isles Lane. Slotting into the parkside space at 300 Queen Street, the 400-person venue comes courtesy of Trent Meade and Matt Blyth, the current team behind Fortitude Valley's The Met and GPO Hotel. For their foray into the CBD, they've whipped up a casual watering hole that segues from daytime eating to afternoon drinks every day of the week. Or, as Meade explains it, the venue takes its cues from "classic big city eating houses, from New York to Barcelona", while adding its own modern Australian twist. While the beverage selection is filled with familiar brews and special rotational beers — think Balter, Stone & Wood, Kaiju and more — plus a curated array of cocktails, riesling, rosé, prosecco and Champagne, Isles Lane places a heavy emphasis on the food side of the gastropub equation. With head chef Lucie Woods overseeing the kitchen, diners can tuck into the likes of karaage-topped waffles, lobster rolls, spicy barbecue beer-can chicken, crab omelettes and roasted lamb shoulder, along with sides of haloumi chips and spicy fried school prawns with burnt lemon aioli. Decor-wise, the space takes inspiration from its surroundings, bringing the outside in where it can. There's natural light and greenery aplenty, with a colour palette to match. And, Isles Lane will spread the fun outdoors as well as part of its lineup of yet-to-be-revealed events. Find Isles Lane at shop 10A, 300 Queen Street, Brisbane. Head to the venue's website and Facebook page for further information.
A lot can happen in five years. Two people can meet, fall in love, get married and then see their wedded bliss come to an end. That's the tale of budding writer Jamie and rising actress Cathy in The Last Five Years, which sees him share their story from the beginning, her start at the end and work backwards, and both sing about it. And, their individual accounts only intersect once. Of course, a lot can happen in 21 years as well. That's how long it has been since the show premiered in Chicago, and then made its way to off-Broadway the next year. In 2015, it became a film starring Anna Kendrick. Now, Aussie Danielle Remulta and the UK's Robert Tripolino are stepping onto La Boite's stage and stepping into the narrative. Catch their efforts between Monday, May 30–Saturday, June 18 — and catch a powerful tale about love, life and sharing an existence with someone but still feeling like strangers, too. You'll also be seeing a classic penned by Tony-winning playwright Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Bridges of Madison County), and a show that's kept treading the boards for more than two decades now for a reason. Images: Morgan Roberts.
Everyone loves a boozy brunch. Everyone loves pancakes. That makes combining the two one of the simplest ideas there possibly is. And, you can thank the smart folks at The Wickham for putting the concept on their Saturday menu. The best way to show your gratitude: heading along and getting stuck into a stack, obviously. As part of the Fortitude Valley pub's spring and summer Palm Springs pop-up, it's doing weekly boozy bottomless pancake and drag brunches every Saturday. From midday each week, the pancakes won't stop. And yes, they come with both maple syrup and jam. There's also a two-hour drinks package included in the $59 price, plus entertainment from The Wickham's bevy of drag queens. Bookings are essential, as you can expect that this brunch is going to be popular. Who doesn't want to gorge on pancakes, getting sipping, watch a show, sit in deck chairs and be surrounded by California-style theming?
Australians have an appetite for international cinema, with major cities across the country regularly hosting events like the Japanese Film Festival, which returns to theatres nationwide this October and November. Whether you're a film fest regular, more of a blockbuster-familiar audience member or are simply looking to expand your cultural worldview, you'll be able to catch the best of Japanese film and filmmakers on a big screen near you. "We're excited to bring a program that speaks to the breadth of Japanese cinema today," said Manisay Oudomvilay, Festival Programmer. "From historical sagas to intimate family portraits, contemporary thrillers to beloved manga brought to life, these films capture both the richness of tradition and the restless innovation of Japanese filmmakers." Leading this year's JFF program is Kokuhō, an Academy Awards-submitted title starring three of Japan's best acting talents — Ryо̄ Yoshizawa, Ryūsei Yokohama and Ken Watanabe — in a five-decade story of friendship and rivalry between two boys making a name for themselves in traditional kabuki theatre. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6-ZPGwmKk[/embed] This year's festival also features three titles from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa. There's the sound-centric horror film Chime, an online resale-inspired thriller titled Cloud and a French-language remake of Kurosawa's Serpent's Path. Also featuring on the lineup are literary and pop culture adaptations. There's 6 Lying University Students, a story of a corporate recruitment test-turned psychological thriller, Petals and Memories, which adapts the prize-winning short stories of Minato Shukawa, and 366 Days, adapting the song of the same name by HY about two students trying to make careers in Tokyo's music and translation scenes. There's also the terrorist negotiation thriller Showtime 7, two unlikely allies teaming up to take down swindlers in Angry Squad: The Civil Servant and the Seven Swindlers, the surreal animated flick The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store, a contemporary post-COVID story in Sunset Sunrise, samurai drama Bushido, manga-adapting Cells at Work! and a retrospective series of Japanese films from the 1930s at various venues around the country. [caption id="attachment_1033101" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store[/caption] JFF 2025 is taking place at Palace Barracks, Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA from Thursday, November 6 to Friday, December 19. Get the full program or tickets on the website. Top images: 'Cloud', 'Kokuhō'
Brace yourself Brisbane, the annual Fete de la Musique is back to sprinkle talented musicians throughout our city. If you're out and about this Friday it will be hard to avoid the sound of music wafting through throughout the heart of Brisbane. Hotspots for the Festival include Southbank, the Queen Street Mall, Fortitude Valley and libraries across town. Musicians may even be brightening your commute to work as surprise shows will be held on public transport, stations and stops. Why not make a day of it and follow the trail of music and enjoy our pretty city. The Queensland Saxophone Orchestra will be getting' jazzy on the Kurilpa Bridge, you can find the gorgeous O' Little Sister entertaining crowds with her dreamy folk tunes in the Queen Street Mall and duo G'day China will help you relax with their soulful songs at Little Stanley Street grassy area. Visit the website for more information about the long list of artists and playing times.
Since setting up shop on Brisbane's southside back in 2017, Slipstream Brewing Company has been brewing, pouring and selling craft beers, all thanks to a Yeerongpilly site that doubles as a bar and a cellar door. It's become one of the area's booze-slinging mainstays in the process, but now it's giving locals another reason to stop by, relaunching its Wilkie Street base with a new brewpub. On Friday, February 19, Slipstream will open the doors to a 250-person space that features indoor and outdoor dining — including a big beer garden — plus 20 taps pouring its brews and a Californian-inspired food menu. The brewpub forms part of the company's revamp and expansion, with founders Deale and Elisa Stanley-Hunt ramping things up on both the production and hospitality side of the business after a $1.5 million investment from Mighty Craft. Yes, that means that Slipstream can now make more beer — to serve at the brewpub, obviously, and to meet customer demand in general. At present, it's pumping out a new Celebration Ale, too, with the 8.5-percent double IPA designed to commemorate the occasion. And, onsite, you'll find other exclusive brews on tap, like its Banoffee Pie Pastry Stout which'll instantly make you start craving dessert. Visitors to Yeerongpilly can also expect to tuck into a range of light dishes overseen by chefs Adam Healey (BrewDog DogTap Brisbane) and Karma Garung (The Smoke BBQ), such as fish tacos with battered barramundi, southern-style fried chicken burgers and popcorn cauliflower with ranch dipping sauce. With an Italian pizza oven and a smoker taking pride of place in the kitchen, you can expect plenty of woodfired pizzas and slow-cooked meats as well. Designed by creative studio Charlie & Rose, and featuring neutral tones and splashes of greenery, the brewpub takes inspiration from America's roadside diners — but you'll also see Slipstream's brewing equipment sitting at the back of the venue. Down the track, the brewery plans to open up for tours, and host beer masterclasses, meet-the-brewer sessions, beer-matching dinners and other events. Find Slipstream Brewing Company at t 94 Wilkie Street, Yeerongpilly from 11am–10pm Wednesday—Sunday.
Bundaberg is the gateway city to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, a 4.5-hour drive from Brisbane. The sometimes overlooked region is filled with activities for the adventurous, such as snorkelling with abundant marine life by day, and for the epicurean, with rum tastings by night. As you might be familiar with the area's famed rum distillery and marine creatures, we've teamed up with Bundaberg Tourism to bring you a list of activities you mightn't have expected to find in the region. Read on to discover locally made ciders, lesser-known fairy pools and how to find magnificent public artworks. [caption id="attachment_795654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing Company owner Rick Prosser. Image: Bundaberg Tourism/Paul Beutel[/caption] VISIT THIS LOCAL GIN AND VODKA DISTILLERY The only thing better than a trip to Australia's rum capital is a visit to Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing in Svensson Heights. It was founded in 2017 by former Bundaberg Rum Master Distiller, Rick Prosser, who now creates a range of handcrafted gins, vodkas and liqueurs. The company is proudly family-owned and offers free mini tours with complementary tastings. Kalki Moon also sells its range of barrel-aged gins, which are perfect to take away as a souvenir. You can pick up the Solstice Sherry Barrel Gin for $120 and vodka infused with Bundaberg's finest grown chillies for $90 for a twin pack. [caption id="attachment_795660" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tracy Olive/Bundaberg Tourism[/caption] TAKE A DIP IN ONE OF THE AREA'S FAIRY POOLS The Bundaberg region is known for its marine life, and there are heaps of tours you can take to swim with turtles, manta rays and tropical fish. You may also want to experience a more serene swim in the crystal-clear waters of the fairy pools at Elliott Heads. The coastal town is a 20-minute drive from Bundaberg, and after a plunge in the fairy pool, you can soak in the ambience of the white sandy beaches nearby. Or, head to the coastal fringe reefs to explore with a snorkel before sitting down for a picnic at the park or at one of the public barbecues in the area. [caption id="attachment_795653" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ohana Cider & Tropical Winery owners Zoe and Josh. Image: Bundaberg Tourism/Paul Beutel[/caption] SEEK OUT THIS HAWAIIAN-INSPIRED CELLAR DOOR Hawaii meets Bundaberg at the Ohana Cider House and Tropical Winery, in Bundaberg East. Ohana uses fresh local Queensland produce and specialises in handcrafting award-winning tropical wines and liqueurs. Its team is led by Josh Phillips and Zoe Young, who offer behind-the-scenes cidery tours for $15 per person. It gives visitors a glimpse into the cider-making process, from crushing the apples to bottling. And you can sample a range of liqueurs here, too, such as its cold drip coffee flavour. For the smartest way to try a little bit of everything, pull up a pew at the cellar door and order a tasting paddle to try six of the best for $18. [caption id="attachment_795658" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Three Moon'. Image: Nathan White/Bundaberg Tourism[/caption] TAKE A TOUR OF MONTO'S SILO AND WATER TOWER ART In the rural town of Monto, a 2.5-hour drive inland from Bundaberg, you'll find magnificent public art displays as part of the Australian Silo Art Trail. The initiative started when not-for-profit art and cultural organisation Form painted grain silos in the small town of Northam in Western Australia, now the project has grown to include painted silos and water tanks across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. In Monto, about 400 metres east of Monto Shopping Centre, you'll come across a water tank artwork called 'Three Moon Creek Legend' by artist Karen Gross, which recalls the early exploration of the Monto District. There's a water tower called 'Fun and Freedom' painted by Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson, which shows children playing. And, a newly painted silo called 'Three Moon', also by Joel Fergie and Travis Vinson, depicts a local legend with two possible origin stories. [caption id="attachment_795655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Williams[/caption] ADVENTURE OFF ROAD AT BURRUM COAST NATIONAL PARK Fifty minutes' drive south of Bundaberg is Burrum Coast National Park, covering 26,000 hectares of coastal plains. It is home to abundant wetland areas and eucalypt forests, and it's also ideal for 4WD adventure seekers. If you're in a four-wheel drive, take one of the park's tracks to explore the area at your leisure. You can settle in for the night at camping spots at Burrum Point or behind the dunes at Kinkuna for $6.75 per person per night, or $27 per family per night. Book online here, or call the Bundaberg Information Centre on 1300 722 099. And, if you're eager to stretch your legs, try the Woodgate Beach section of Burrum Coast for walking tracks that range from the tame 5.2-kilometre return Banksia track to the more advanced 12.3-kilometre return Melaleuca track. For more must-do experiences in Bundaberg, visit the Bundaberg Region website. Top image: Burrum Coast National Park via Matt Williams/Bundaberg Tourism
This year, Melbourne and Australia got its first not-for-profit bar Shebeen on Manchester Lane. With every drink sold going towards developing projects in its country of origin, it is changing the way we think about charity and sipping a tipple. We have Simon Griffiths to thank for this. Concrete Playground got hold of Simon to talk about his philanthropic work, Shebeen, toilet paper and his cat. What drove you to philanthropic work? I started working in the corporate world but quickly realised that I wanted to use my skills to solve social problems, not just business problems. After a lot of research I found that the number one problem faced by development aid organisations was a lack of funding, so I decided to create a new channel for funding, moving away from the donation market, and instead creating an avenue for consumer dollars to create social impact. After you came up with the concept for Shebeen with Zanna McComish, what was it that made you think, this really might work? The basic concept was actually 100 percent Zanna's, but it has snowballed into something much larger and more sustainable over the years. When Zanna first mentioned the idea to me, I was so excited that I knew a lot of people would dig it as well ... we just had to figure out how to make the business model work. How was it getting partners and suppliers on board? The really tricky part was raising the capital to get the venue open. We ended up raising social capital, i.e. without any financial return, from 20-25 different investors, then pieced together product partnerships with Brown-Forman, Schweppes and Silver Chef to fill the remaining cash shortage. We did everything on a tiny budget, so had to garner pro bono support from anyone and everyone, including Foolscap Studio (interior architecture), Swear Words (graphic design), Run Forrest (PR and communications), McCorkells Construction (building), Alpha 60 (uniforms), Tin & Ed (murals and uniform graphics), and so on. It has been a long but amazing ride! What is one of the projects you are most excited about contributing to in the developing world? I really get off on KickStart, who we work with in Ethiopia. Around 80 percent of the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa are small-scale farmers who depend on unreliable rain to grow crops. KickStart figured out that irrigation would allow many of them to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, so they developed the MoneyMaker pump to allow farmers to draw water from rivers, ponds and wells to irrigate large areas of land year-round. Basically their pumps create a substantial and sustainable increase in household income — and they're really great at measuring their impact. We know that every $1 we give them turns into $12 of profits and wages for one of their farmers. That's a pretty exciting return-on-investment — or return-on-drinking-an-Ethiopian-beer. For you, how does Shebeen's support to the developing world differ from other charitable organisations? Basically we give consumers an opportunity to put their purchasing power to work. Now that we're open we're 100 percent self sustaining — we're already profitable and will start donating funds in the next four months or so. We'll only seek to raise additional capital to open new venues. What do you want people to take away from Shebeen? We want them to start thinking a little differently about what it means to be a consumer, and where their money ends up. After five years in the making. What does it feel like to walk into the bar and see it as a reality? It's still quite surreal to see people in there! But we've been so busy it's also been difficult to stop and celebrate. I'm taking my first weekend off for the year this weekend — it's going to be great! Where do you see Shebeen in five years? In five years we're hoping to have venues in five or more locations and will hopefully be looking at our own retail range of products as well. What is your favourite drink on the menu? I've really gotten into our cocktails. I really like the Ginger Kaffir Limeade, which is made with Kaffir Lime infused Finlandia vodka, and our warhead-sour lemon frozen margaritas, which we're making with El Jimador tequila. We're just about to start experimenting with cocktails on tap, too. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Usually my alarm, or my cat biting my foot. Occasionally it's a hangover. What's next for Simon Griffiths? Getting Shebeen doing a great takeaway lunchtime trade, opening the second Shebeen venue, and selling more toilet paper — I also run whogivesacrap.org. Images by Clever Deer.
People can be very particular about their Indian food. Once they've found a place they like, they give up the search forever and settle into a lifetime of fidelity to that one Indian restaurant. On occasion they may step out on their main curry squeeze, only to come running right back. Curryville could be that restaurant for you. The very modest looking Morningside establishment has built up a loyal and sizeable following of Southsiders, pleased to find such a consistently high standard of Indian fare available on Wynnum Road. The chicken or vegetable chaat makes for a great entrée – two crisp samosas, smashed and topped with chopped red onion, coriander, home made tamarind sauce, yoghurt sauce, another sauce made of mint and coriander, and a chickpea broth ($12.95) – the zesty flavours whet the appetite for what's to come. Curryville's mains are vibrant in flavour, with no muddy aromas or same-same tasting curries. We recommend the old standard, Chicken Tikka Masala ($23.20 with rice) as Curryville does an excellent version, and even hardened carnivores should enjoy the assorted Vegetable Jalfrezi ($22.95 with rice). As a curry house, they are pretty flexible when it comes to modifications and adjustments to their dishes, but the Goat Karahai ($23.20 with rice) is not available in a mild version. Though the menu warns of its spiciness, the heat certainly doesn't come close to overshadowing the flavour. The restaurant also claims to have the hottest curry in Brisbane, the Chicken Hai Hai. This may be nothing more than marketing puff, but we have not yet dared to try it. For something a bit different, Curryville also offers the 'Chef for your Table' experience. If you book a table for four or more, and request to be the 'Chef for your Table', then on the evening of your visit, you are invited into the kitchen to assist with the preparation of the mains.
There's never a bad time to treat yo'self to high tea, but Easter is one of the best. Plenty of spots around town celebrate the occasion with exactly that kind of spread — and, with its antique stained-glass windows and vintage chandelier, Belle Époque at Emporium is among them. So, what makes this high tea stand out? Firstly, there's the fact that it's available for more than just a few days, hanging around for a month this time around. Tuck in daily from 10.30am–1pm up until Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Then, there's the menu. You have a few choices, starting with the most decadent of Easter eggs to share. For $45 for two people, your handcrafted chocolate orb will melt in front of you, turning into fondue — which you can dip fruit, marshmallows and cookies into. Or, for $80 each, opt for a savoury and sweet array, including sea salt caramel whip bunny cookies, an edible garden with cocoa soil, a red velvet and raspberry cake, scones, quiches, and smoked salmon and beetroot sandwiches. A hefty range of tea and coffee is also part of the package. Plus, if you feel like something boozy, you can add a glass of sparkling ($90) or champagne ($100) on top — or go for bottomless champers ($130).
Chef Brooke Nazzari from Cooking 101 shares a recipe for warm beer and bacon cheese dip, blended with James Squire Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale. This smoky, gently beer flavoured dip is heavenly. Filled with three cheeses, fried free range bacon pieces, zesty mustard, smoky paprika and a decent splash of Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale, it has all the winning ingredients for the perfect warm dip. I serve it with corn chips and veggie sticks, but warm crusty bread would be just as delicious. Ingredients 200gm free range bacon (diced into small pieces) 250g cream cheese ½ cup parmesan ½ cup shredded mozzarella 1tbs wholegrain mustard 1tsp ground dried paprika ½ cup James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale 2 x spring onion (diced finely) Salt and pepper to taste Method 1) Gently fry off the bacon pieces until they are golden brown. Remove from the heat and put it on some paper towel to absorb the fat while it cools. 2) Meanwhile, in a food processor blitz the cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, mustard, paprika and beer until it's all well combined. Stir in the spring onion, ¾ of the bacon, salt and pepper, making sure it's all mixed through well. 3) Spoon the mixture into an oven proof ramekin/dish, top with the remaining bacon and bake for 20-25mins in a moderate oven, until it's warmed through and deliciously gooey. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Oki & Oro is an independently owned Brisbane Optometrist specialising in boutique eyewear (oki) and timepieces (oro). All frames and watches are sourced from local designers, as well as internationally. The team pride themselves on finding and stocking unique designs, and using their expertise to help customers choose frames to suit their personality and style. Having recently celebrated their first birthday, Oki & Oro is committed to helping Brisbanites look and see their best.
Scared of zombies? Think they're just prowling around The Walking Dead on TV and Resident Evil's never-say-die cinema sequels? If that's you, we recommend steering clear of Brisbane Powerhouse between October 18 and 29. On the other hand, if you're eager to face the undead, rush on down — and prepare to run around the historic venue once you're there. At Containment, getting up close and personal with people who used to be alive is the name of the live, interactive game, which thrusts audience members into an apocalyptic scenario and makes them part of the action. Across 90 minutes, the folks at Directors of the Extraordinary will take over all four levels of the New Farm site in their infected, shuffling, brain-munching guise, asking teams of two-to-six members to weather a contagion. Every move you make will have a bearing on the outcome as you try to escape the infected zone. If it sounds like the perfect October activity to you — it is the month of Halloween, after all — then book yourself and your pals in for a session. Tickets cost $65, which is a small price to pay to face zombies and survive. Pretending you're in whichever undead flick happens to be your fave (28 Days Later..., Night of the Living Dead, Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead — take your pick) is an added bonus. Image: Samantha Turk.
Jungle Love Music & Arts Festival isn't taking place in 2023, with the impacts that inflation is having on budgets getting in the way of its plans. Still keen to hang out in Jimna, soak in the event's laidback vibe, kick back in a campground surrounded by luscious greenery, go for a swim in the creek and BYO booze? Enter the Jungle Love Camp Out. Jungle Love's organisers are quick to point out that this isn't a festival. Rather, the team is taking inspiration from community-driven events. So, this entire two-day affair from Friday, September 8–Saturday, September 9 has been designed by attendees. The tunes, activities, games, lessons, workshops, parties and themes — basically, they've all been crowdsourced. The aim: a cracking two days and nights that still goes big on music and arts — and, of course, community. To head along, two-day tickets cost $120, Saturday-only passes are $90 and you'll pay $35 on top to bring your vehicle. Jungle Love Camp Out is being split into themed camps within the main camp, named Jambala, the Wonky Queenslander, Forest Feels and Kinbaku. Each hosts its own activities, whether you're keen on having jam or just chilling out. And, yes, the Jambala stage is back — hosting a set program (including possibly some surprise sets), and also welcoming impromptu performances. Images: Savannah van der Niet, Liav Shalev and Jackson Grice.
With Snapchat, Facebook Live and Instagram Stories, we thought we'd already seen peak selfie. But last week Nokia unveiled its new flagship device, the Nokia 8, which has been built for just that: streaming selfies. The brand new smartphone is primed for personal content sharing, with world-first technology that allows use of its front- and rear-facing cameras simultaneously. Dubbed the 'bothie' by Nokia, this feature uses the phone's dual sight mode to pull footage from both cameras into a split-screen visual, which can be live-streamed in real-time to your social feeds. You can record what's in front of you and your reaction to it for your fans (read: mum) to watch — most probably on Facebook Live or Instagram Stories. It's a cool little spec for sure, but, as the phone's flagship feature, we can't help but feel Nokia is differentiating the 8 through trend rather than technology. After all, the phone's longevity relies on selfies being a thing. But while the popularity of this bothie feature has a limited lifespan, the phone itself might just have enough to keep you hooked, even after you've grown bored of live-streaming your entire existence. For this device, Nokia has worked with ZEISS optics for the first time to ensure both front and back cameras are as slick as can be. The Nokia 8 is also first smartphone to feature Nokia OZO Audio to capture and play audio with 360-degree surround sound — a function that'll really take those 4K videos to the next level. It 64GB storage and also includes unlimited uploads to Google Photos. The device runs smoothly on Android — much like the Google Pixel — and is powered by the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 835 Mobile Platform. A bit longer than in iPhone, it feels nice in the hand and is engineered with a graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe to suck out the heat and keep it running without overheating. The best part about the phone is that is will retail at $899, which is a bit cheaper than many of its competitors — the iPhone 7 128GB and Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB currently retail for round $1200. The Samsung has just announced the Note 8, which is expected to be even more expensive, while Apple will announce the new iPhone 8 early next month. It will be interesting to see how the Nokia 8 compares to the new release of iPhones — but if you're looking for a usable Android phone at a reasonable price, the Nokia 8 is a really solid contender. The Nokia 8 is available now for pre-order from JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman for $899. By Libby Curran and Lauren Vadnjal.
No one could ever accuse Paddington's Cakes & Shit of not knowing how to have a laugh. The Brisbane bakery's wares are whipped up with a sense of humour among the key ingredients, as you'd expect of somewhere making cakes in the shape of penises, butts and boobs, and also 'bag of dicks' cookies. So, of course the Given Terrace spot approaches Valentine's Day in the same irreverent fashion. New in 2024: expanding its February 14 range to include anti-Valentine's goodies for when you just want to tuck into a slice topped with the words "fuck love". "Last year, the message from our anti-lovers was clear: 'what about me, it isn't fair, etc'," said the Cakes & Shit team about the genesis of its new baked treats. As well as the black heart cake with glitter cherries and that aforementioned phrase nixing all things romantic, you can also order a cake that looks like any other white-iced version from the outside, then oozes raspberry coulis when you cut into it — like you're stabbing a heart. The anti-Valentine's black mini heart cake gets straight to the point, adorned simply with "nope". You can opt for a large cookie shaped like a broken heart, too, and personalise your message. Plus, the bakery's curse cookies have gotten the down-with-love treatment, with "happy extortion day" among the most SFW phrases available. Parks and Recreation fans, "Happy Galentine's Day" is another. Can't choose between cake and cookies? There's also a gift pack with both. If you fall in the happily swooning camp this year, the Valentine's Day selection filled with pink-hued bites with sunnier — but still funny — messages are also on offer. Curse cookies, mini candy heart cakes with "sex?" and "eat me" on top, large cookies to personalise with a warmer and saucier statement: they're among your picks. The heart-shaped macarons, cream-cheese filled red velvet crack cookies, truffle boxes and cupcake packs let you pick a card to go with them, to tell your plus one "I just fucking love you", "let's get naked" and "10/10 would bang again", among other choices. And if this seems like a hefty range of options, it's Cakes & Shit's biggest February 14 selection yet. For the first time, the bakery is doing deliveries on the day itself, to Brisbane metro and CBD areas — of the Valentine's Day and anti-Valentine's goodies. Find Cakes & Shit at 233b Given Terrace, Paddington, open 8am–4pm Monday–Thursday and 8am–6pm Friday — or head to the bakery's website.
There really is a festival for everything, as the latest event to take over the Brisbane Powerhouse shows. Presented by the Brisbane Writers Festival, the Inspire Festival carves its own niche by encouraging attendees to ponder weighty subjects and pursue a more meaningful, creative life. Three jam-packed talks comprise the fest's 2016 program — and we mean jam-packed both in terms of the content set to be discussed and the talent set to do the chatting. Inspire TALK sees Stan Grant, Trent Dalton, Robin Bailey and Kelly Higgins-Devine dissect the very art of conversation, while Inspire DEMOCRACY gathers Jan Owen, Eyal Halamish, Mark Bahnsich, Dr Lorann Downer and Erik Jensen to contemplate the very timely topic of voting. And then there's Inspire DRIVE, which examines ambition and motivation with Michael Ross, Orange Sky Laundry's Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, Tim Fairfax and Catherine McGregor — aka all Australian or Queenslander of the Year award-winners. So, that's your Saturday sorted; however the Inspire Festival doesn't just work its magic via panel sessions. In its attempt to evoke inspired thought and positive action, it also brings everyone together for Friday night drinks, though you'll have to buy a festival pass to enjoy that part of the fun.
Maybe Sammy is no stranger to winning an award. It was named in the top 50 bars in the world in 2019, 2020 and 2021 — and named the Best Bar in Australasia at The World's 50 Best Bars in all three years. Back in 2019, it was also named the Best International New Cocktail Bar at the 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans. The Spirited Awards recognises the best cocktail bars from around the world since 2007, and this year Maybe Sammy has one-upped itself taking out two honours at the 2022 ceremony. Firstly, the bar's staff have been crowned Best International Bar Team, while co-founder Martin Hudak has also been awarded Best International Brand Ambassador. Maybe Sammy beat out the Best International Bar Team shortlist which included Columbia's Alquimico, Greece's The Clumsies and Spain's Two Schmucks to be named the cream of the crop in the areas of experience, professionalism, hospitality and consistency of service. While the entire team was recognised, Hudak was singled out and named Best International Brand Ambassador for his work with the beloved local coffee liqueur brand Mr Black. Maybe Sammy was the only Australian bar to be recognised at the ceremony. Elsewhere in the world, London featured heavily in the international categories, with Tayer + Elementary taking out the Best International Cocktail Bar, Sexy Fish being named Best International Restaurant Bar and the confusingly named A Bar with Shapes for a Name winning Best New International Cocktail Bar. Plus, Katana Kitten out of New York was named Best US Cocktail Bar, New Orlean's Jewel of the South took out Best US Restaurant Bar and fresh Albuquerque face Happy Accidents won Best New US Cocktail Bar. [caption id="attachment_794856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] You can find the list of winners for the Tales of the Cocktail 2022 Spirited Awards at the award ceremony's website.
Enjoy being served by a human being at a cafe or restaurant and being able to ask "what are your specials for today?" whilst you can because food delivery techniques are changing fast. Scrap that, they are dropping fast. After flying drones recently emerged to deliver food to patrons at London's renowned YO! Sushi restaurant and beer to festival revellers in South Africa, a group of innovative Melburnians have decided that wasn't cool enough, so they have decided to deliver double the cool. Not only are they serving delicious jaffles in Flinders Lane, they have elected to do it by parachute. That's right, by parachute. Then they gave their service an excellent pun-moniker: Jafflechutes. COOL. Describing themselves as the world's first float-down eatery, Jafflechutes has a process that sounds simple enough. You select your delicious filling (cheese and tomato; cheese, ham and pineapple; or the all-out cheese, roast beef, dill pickles, mushroom and mustard), pay via Paypal, stand on the 'X' at 349 Flinders Lane at your nominated time and catch your snack. Just be aware, if it gets stuck in the tree, then the people at Jafflechutes cannot stress enough to not climb the tree. Wind gods permitting, delicious pockets of cheese filled dough will be raining down on Flinders Lane tonight from between 10pm and midnight, and whilst they have sold out this time around (the Jafflechuters have got 600+ likes on Facebook since starting their page on August 12), they hope to be back in the near future should everything work out fine. What could possibly go wrong? You can follow Jafflechutes on their Facebook and Twitter.
UPDATE, August 5: For the Love Gold Coast has been postponed again due to the recent Queensland COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown. It will now take place on Saturday, February 19, 2022. The below article has been updated to reflect this. Flight Facilities will no longer be headlining. UPDATE, March 15: For the Love Gold Coast has been postponed due to the recent Queensland COVID-19 outbreak. It will now take place on Saturday, August 7. The below article has been updated to reflect this. By this stage, there's every chance you've forgotten what a dance floor even looks like. But the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are here to get you reacquainted. They've just revealed a huge all-Aussie lineup for the 2021–22 edition of their live music series For The Love, which is headed to Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Across three dates, legendary acts including dance floor darlings Cosmo's Midnight and Brisbane alt-pop sensation Mallrat will help you dust off the cobwebs and rediscover that groove. Due to the pandemic, the festival's dates have jumped around more than a little — thanks to outbreaks and lockdowns — however the party is due to hit Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday, February 19, 2022. The waterfront venue is set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations, heaving to live sounds from favourites like singer-songwriter Running Touch and brother-sister duo Lastlings, along with London Topaz, Boo Seeka, George Maple and Elizabeth Cambage. Punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can purchase tickets online for the Gold Coast edition of the festival.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to one the above list of places from 1pm on Saturday, November 16, catch a bus to the other two and back until 7pm, and drink frothy ales at each. Entry is free, more than 30 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food and live music. Plus, obviously, just the general fun of soaking in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Image: Ballistic Beer Co.
After a fairly long stretch of time in which twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian haven't graced our shores, the prolific Glaswegian darlings of indie pop, and facilitators of bedroom dancing everywhere since 1996 are returning to Australia. Even though our arty-side-of-weird inner teenage selves are squeeing with excitement, no one's begrudging them the long absence; frontman Stuart Murdoch has been keeping well busy writing and directing his 2014 movie musical, God Help the Girl. This tour comes in the immediate wake of the release of their ninth studio album in two decades, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. We spoke to Murdoch about stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one's honour, putting politics in pop, and how — once — you may have just been his unwitting muse. You’re heading to Australia very soon, and you’re doing a show at Taronga Zoo — pretty cool. Have you ever played anywhere else kind of unusual? Well, we played at the American ambassador’s house in London last month at a party, because his wife was a big fan. That was interesting. They made a special cocktail in our honour and served them, and people got really drunk. It was pretty red, so I think there was raspberry in it somewhere, but I think that was the only thing that was non-alcoholic. Do you think it summed you up as a band in a cocktail? I didn’t taste it, because I don’t really drink. But it went down pretty sweet, so maybe it did sum us up. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vS1Hf3CVGs[/embed] I was reading this interview you did with Meredith Graves and you're talking about the new record and whether it's a political record or a radical record. Some of the tracks — like 'Allie' and 'The Party Line' — do seem overtly current and like commentary on the state of the world. Were you consciously making something more political with this album? No, not consciously. I think it crept in there. When you say overtly, I think it's probably more covertly. I don't think I could ever put the politics first and foremost. I think if I was in The Clash, or if I was Billy Bragg... They have a flair for that kind of stuff. They're telling it how it is, whereas I don’t feel quite so polarised. I'm not quite sure what I think about certain subjects, so it's nice to have the characters in the songs think about the politics. You see the story of Allie who seems to be pretty messed up with all the pressures on her personally and politically. In 'The Cat with the Cream' it's almost like a similar character who's musing about the disappointments of the politics of the day, wishing she could get behind a true leader. I love the line about her making a list of her heroes and thinking about what they went through and how "it's much darker, much harder than anything that happened to you." I feel like everyone who lives privileged, safe lives must have that thought. I agree with that. I'm always looking back. You can't avoid all that. I watch so many history shows on the BBC. Growing up in the '70s in Scotland, I felt that we were living in the shadow of the Second World War. It wasn't really too much after that. Most of the teachers at our schools fought in the war. You didn't have a choice. You went off and did your bit for your country and you went through all this hardship, and it does put into perspective the troubles in our own lives. What about your song 'Enter Sylvia Plath'? Everyone seems to be saying how big of a change it is for you, that it's super dancey and it doesn’t really sound like the Belle and Sebastian that we're used to. Tell me about making that and what went into it and how it came to be as it is. I'll tell you — that one was super easy. I don't mean to sound like I'm being arrogant. Okay, maybe on the surface there's a little bit of a stylistic change but there's nothing unnatural about it; it was super easy for us to do. I just woke up and I heard that sound in my head, it couldn't sound any other way. Once we got the bass going and we got a few synths on it — that's definitely the way it's supposed to be. I love so much of the music from the early '80s, and I guess I'm channeling some of that into this new record, which is fun to do. But I think the theme of the story, the words, they're consistent with what Belle and Sebastian has written about for years and years. You've talked about muses in the past, and there's a song on the album called 'The Everlasting Muse'. Back around the time of your diary-series-cum-book The Celestial Cafe you said your muse was the Belle and Sebastian fan. You've also talked about Glasgow being your muse before. What about now — do you have a muse or muses? I do change my mind from year to year. You change and you grow up and you think. But that's a life, isn't it? I do remember specifically when I was writing the diary all the time. I was a single guy, I was living on my own, so every night I would be addressing who I thought was the Belle and Sebastian fan, because they were reading the diaries. I knew who I was writing for. But the idea of the muse is almost like a two-way street. Sometimes I can't decide whether you're writing for the muse, or whether the muse is writing for you. In that song on the new record, it's a two-way thing. I'm acknowledging that the muse exists — that somebody is sending me this music, that it's coming from somewhere else. But I'm beseeching her to send me some pop songs because I need to write a whole album. That was the first song that I wrote for this album. I just thought it would be kind of funny, kind of cheeky to actually address the muse directly. I love that line, at the end, what is it? "Be popular, play pop—" "Be popular, play pop, and you will win my love." It's a bit tongue-in-cheek. I like that idea. I like that idea that if we ever somehow cut through to the general public, that at last the muse will return her love. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4-ozvWipFE[/embed] One thing that seems to be carried through all the music you've made with Belle and Sebastian — which spans about two decades now — is that it's full of characters and stories. Not all pop music has that. Why do you think there is that storytelling pattern in your music? I'm not saying that’s an ideal thing, I'm not saying it's better than other music. It's a trick, to an extent. Sometimes the best pop music comes from a person’s experience. But the trouble was I didn't have so much experience, especially when the group started, because I was sort of waylaid with this illness, and it stopped me from doing so many things. I was really stuck inside a room a lot of the time, so I used to dream. I used to fantasise about everyday living. To me, the idea of people going off to their nine-to-five job was tremendously glamorous. The idea that they would be around other people all day, that they would tell jokes at the photocopier... All that stuff seemed glamorous to me. So I ended up writing about characters rather than my own life. Have you got any glamorous plans for while you're here in Australia? Not too much. I just want to feel the sun on my bones. I want to lie out on a park bench and just feel the warmth. See Belle and Sebastian at the Tivoli on January 28, at the Enmore Theatre on January 29, at Twilight at Taronga on January 31, or at the Palais Theatre on February 1. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is out now via Matador.
When BŌS asks you to join its club, here's what it means: picking a dry-aged cut of meat from its cabinet, purchasing and reserving it, then tucking into it via the restaurant's 'Cleaver Club' whenever you're onsite. If that sounds like a swanky experience, it is, and that's what Brisbane's newest dining option has in store all round. You'd expect exactly that from a venue by Good Chef Bad Chef and Richo's Bar Snacks chef Adrian Richardson, plus ex-Cha Cha Char restaurateur Chris Higgins. Now open on Queen Street opposite Customs House, in Otto Ristorante's old Dexus Tower digs, the 120-seater BŌS gives the River City a luxe go-to with river views. Think: green hues and a plush fitout, as well as rounded edges, warm light, plenty of linen, and polished marble and brass, all courtesy of local interior design outfit Alkot Studio. Seating diners at tables and banquettes, or in the restaurant's al fresco seating, BŌS also clearly goes heavy on steak. It takes its name from the Latin word for beef, after all, which is indeed reflective of its menu. Here, you'll also find steak tartare, eight cuts from the grill included a bacon-wrapped fillet mignon, and two giant 1.2–1.5-kilogram options to share all on offer. That said, diners can also choose from oysters three ways, chargrilled Fremantle octopus, house-smoked salmon, sand crab lasagne, crackling-wrapped pork loin and duck breast with black garlic as part of BŌS' embrace of different types of proteins. The culinary theme, other than meat: modern Mediterranean, as also seen in the lineup of handmade small goods like salamis, bresaola and pastrami; the southern rock lobster with hand-cut mafaldine pasta; and the hand-stretched buffalo mozzarella. And, BŌS' sides range covers creamy mashed potatoes, wagyu-fat roasted spuds and a selection of other vegetables, while the dessert options include vanilla bean crème brûlée, Basque cheesecake, strawberries and cream, cheeses, ricotta doughnuts and dark chocolate brownies. As first announced in early November, BŌS sees Richardson and Higgins team up with lawyer Liam McMahon, with Richardson also taking cues from La Luna, his bistro in Carlton in Melbourne since 1998. The drinks list is just as much of a highlight as the meat-centric menu, thanks to restaurant manager and sommelier Romain Maunier (Montrachet, La Cache a Vin). BŌS' vino choices favour drops from high-end producers in Australia, France and Italy. If you prefer cocktails, the espresso martinis and affogatos fall into the 'liquid dessert' category; the full cocktail and spirits offerings fills seven pages; and there's a global gin selection, Bond-style martinis, share jugs of sangria and three kinds of spritzes. Come January 2023, BŌS will also boast a dedicated champagne and cocktail terrace bar — called The Aviary Terrace Bar — for summer sips and taking advantage of Brisbane's usually sultry weather, which'll pair full bottle service with city views.
Clear your diary, grab your sneakers and prepare to get busy, boombastic and nostalgic — another new music festival is coming to southeast Queensland, with Shaggy and Sean Paul topping the bill. After attracting more than 20,000 festival-goers each year for the past decade, New Zealand's huge One Love Festival is making its first-ever trip across the ditch. The reggae-focused fest will debut in Australia on Saturday, February 1, 2020, taking over Southport's Broadwater Parklands for a day of Jamaican-influenced tunes. Yes, the festival is taking place in the summertime — and yes, Shaggy is bound to sing that classic track — however he'll have plenty of company when he hits the waterside stage. As well as Sean Paul, the lineup also includes old-school reggae stars Toots and the Maytals, Polynesia's Fiji and New Zealand's Sons of Zion, as well as 1814, Third World, Lion Rezz, Paua and the One Love DJs. The one-day Gold Coast leg — which will take place a week after the 2020 New Zealand fest — marks the fifth new music festival headed to the region in the next six months. It's clearly a great time for fans of massive outdoor live music gigs, with the XXXX brewery hosting its first music festival in mid-November, Coolangatta welcoming beachside fest Sandtunes at the end of that month, Calvin Harris and Armin van Buuren hitting up Brisbane for Festival X at the same time, and Wildlands arriving in Brissie just before the end of the year. One Love Festival will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at Southport's Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, September 11 at Oneloveaustralia.com.
If you've ever said "XOXO" aloud, you've obviously seen Gossip Girl, the glossy, quickly addictive drama about Manhattan teens, their hectic lives and their glam outfits that initially aired between 2007–2012. It's the show that introduced the world to Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley, and made everyone want to sit on the steps of The Met. It also demonstrated that you can never have too many headbands, and had us all wishing that Kristen Bell could narrate our every move, too. Gossip Girl is getting a follow-up series with a brand new cast that's also heading to Binge, because nothing says goodbye forever these days — and because all that drama was never going to subside for too long. But there's still nothing quite like the original, which starts with the return of Serena van der Woodsen (Lively) to the Upper East Side and the fallout within her inner circle, as constantly chronicled by an all-knowing blogger.
When Ben & Jerry's wanted to call for action on climate change, it stuck to its strengths, releasing a new ice cream flavour to draw attention to the topic. When it wanted to specifically target the Australian Government's support for fossil fuels, it did the same as well. But, in its latest effort to support renewables, the dessert brand has decided to branch out. Its new release won't just satisfy your sweet tooth — it'll also quench your thirst. For a limited time, Ben & Jerry's beloved choc chip cookie dough flavour is no longer just something that you eat. You can now drink it, too, thanks to a collaboration with 4 Pines. The brew tempting your tastebuds: a new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer. And yes, like ice cream, it's best served as cold as possible. When you crack open a can — which can be bought individually, in four-packs and in 24-tin cartons from Monday, May 17 — you'll then sip a lactose-infused brown nitro brew. Expect a decadent and creamy taste, as well as plenty of colour thanks to the nitro infusion. You'll also find the beer on tap at selected venues, and on the menu at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane — and if you start hankering for dessert afterwards, well, that's understandable. When 4 Pines was in the brewing stage, the new beer was made with energy sourced from solar and wind — which powers the brewery's main Brookvale site and headquarters. But that's not the only way that the ice cream-inspired brew is drawing attention to renewable energy. Teaming up with community-owned power company Enova Community Energy, Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines are contributing funds from the beer project to Enova to use to install solar panels for a community group. So, your next brew can help a worthy party do their bit to help the planet. Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines' Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer hits bottle shop shelves on Monday, May 17. You'll also find it on tap at selected venues, and at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Next time you walk up to a truck or van, you might not just be looking for something to eat. The folks behind one of Brisbane's most popular roving restaurants are planning to branch out — and instead of setting up a permanent store like many of their peers, they're switching from food to drinks. Yes, after conquering the latest culinary trend, the proprietors of Juan More Taco have their sights set on creating the city's first mobile Kombi bar. Juanita Margarita is the new venture's rather fitting name. No prizes for guessing their beverage of choice. Once it's up and running, the van will be available to hire for events, functions and fiestas. To get to that point though, they need your help — which is why they've set up a crowdfunding campaign. Donations will help the Juanita Margarita crew restore, convert and fit out their 1976 Kombi camper. If enough cash is raised — their target is $30,000 — a margarita machine, beer tap, themed props and maybe even some AstroTurf will form part of their plans. It's another one of those obvious but ingenious ideas we can't believe no one has thought of before, but are really glad that someone finally did. Every food truck event needs a bar, after all — and in Brisbane, there's certainly plenty of meals-on-wheels gatherings in need of delicious accompanying refreshments. Help support Juanita Margarita by checking out their Pozible campaign. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The Brisbane Comedy Festival is now underway. If you're among those who'd like more of a hand perusing the program, we've compiled a quick list of some of the must-see acts at the festival to save you the unenviable task of having to pick and choose out of all the great talent. Check out the full program on the Powerhouse website. There are heaps of great comedians in town, and we've only skimmed the surface of the very funniest. 1. Stephen K Amos: The Spokesman One of the most charming and entertaining comedians on the bill is putting on this headline show at the Comedy Festival after sell-out tours in Edinburgh and Canada. If you've ever seen Stephen on Australian TV shows like Thank God You're Here, Spicks and Specks, The Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala, Great Debate or Good News Week, then you know that Stephen is a true comedy professional and his show is bound to be exquisitely funny. Tuesday, February 26 to Sunday, March 10. 2. Heath Franklin's Chopper If you've never experienced the outrageous and often borderline inappropriate routine of Heath Franklin as Chopper Reid, you've missed out on one of the most talked about and quoted impersonations of the past decade. Heath and Chopper are back, and this time, they're angry. Be wary, this show will be confrontational, but hilariously honest. We guarantee that it will be one of the most talked about shows of the festival. Friday, March 8. 3. Sarah Millican: Home Bird Sarah Millican is a British comedian and star of her own BBC show, The Sarah Millican Television Programme. Sarah's comedy brings a bit of naughtiness to domesticity, as she explores themes such as parenting, sex, and growing older. Though she may look sweet, Sarah will surely have some spicy topics to get you laughing. Tuesday, March 19, to Sunday, March 24. 4. Super Happy Fun Time Super Happy Fun Time are four young Brisbane comedians who are back for their third Brisbane Comedy Festival. After hit shows like The End Of The World (And Other Things) and Young Blood Comedy All Stars, Super Happy Fun time are here to throw a soiree like no other. We recommend you see these local funnymen before they take their comedy to distant audiences — they are bound to get there soon. Saturday, March 9, to Saturday, March 23. 5. Paul Foot: Kenny Larch is Dead Paul Foot is one of the left-field comedians who will confuse and bewilder yet will have your sides splitting with laughter by the end. We can’t really describe what to expect, as it will not do Paul's show justice, so we have left it up to Paul himself to give it a shot: "Deep within the sinking sands of the perspex jungle of youth, in the forgotten nebula of nothingness, comes an objet d'esire; a trombone fruit. Needless to say, it's another warm year." Thanks, Paul Foot. Can't wait to find out what that's about. Friday, March 22, to Sunday, March 24.
Besides being famous for The Gabba cricket ground, the chic underside of the inner-city suburb of Woolloongabba is well known to southsiders. Tucked away off Logan and Ipswich roads, five great breakfast spots could be argued as some of the best in Brisbane. Before you say otherwise, give them a try yourself. You won't be disappointed. 1. The Crosstown Eating House Paying homage to its antique store origins, The Crosstown Eating House is a contemporary interpretation of a 1920s dining room. Amongst elegant art deco styling with a downtown cool feel, guests at the Crosstown can relive laidback Gatsby vibes with hearty meals such as potato and feta hash cakes with tomato jam, smashed peas, herb sour cream, poached eggs and rocket ($17.50). With decent helpings of simple food that tick all the boxes, try the spicy chorizo bake with kipfler potatoes, winter greens, a fried egg and toast ($17.50), or for something sweet the Canadian-style French toast with bacon and maple syrup or lemongrass poached pear, coconut ricotta and lime goes down a treat (both $16.90). If you can't make breakfast (or are busy dining at Woolloongabba's other fine breakfast establishments) the menu for both lunch and dinner won't disappoint. And the bar is open until late. 23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba 2. Pawpaw Cafe Let's get this straight. Brunch at Pawpaw is not an eggs, baked beans and bacon affair. Its menu takes more adventurous cues, in part from its Balinese and Thai sister restaurant, Green Papaya. If you're lucky, the black pudding, scramble eggs, apple and jalapeno jam ($12.90) will feature on the ever-changing menu or specials board. Or try the baked eggs in a sofrito with chorizo and dukkah sprinkled on top ($14.95), or their legendary corn cakes with chipotle sour cream, avocado, tomato relish ($11.90). Corner of Potts Street and Stanley Street, Woolloongabba 3. Brown Dog Cheap, cheerful and super laidback, Brown Dog has nailed the combination of fantastic coffee, great service and simple yet delicious food. Pocketed away in the industrial sector, Brown Dog is a poorly kept secret with locals, and on most Saturdays cosy indoor seating and sun-soaked outdoor seating are equally popular. The all-day breakfast menu features the signature Dog's Breakfast ($13), including haloumi, grilled tomato, wilted spinach and avocado as well as more adventurous options like the breakfast burrito ($14) complete with house-made beans, wild rocket, avocado and a fried egg. Brown Dog has certainly cemented itself as a favourite among southsiders, with good reason. 54 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba 4. Pearl Cafe It seems Pearl Cafe was onto a good thing with its 'what's old is new again' stance on cuisine. Owned by former Gunshop Cafe manager Daniel Lewis, Pearl is a throwback to days when food was highly valued and eating out was a glamorous excursion. The food at Pearl Cafe is decadent, filling and by no means suitable for those on a diet. With changing seasonal menus, new to breakfast this winter is the braised beef short ribs, rainbow chard, hash cake, and hen's egg, and the homemade lemon verbena crumpets, goat curd, mandarin and cardamom compote. And we hear their Sunday lunch roast is set to rival Grandma's. 28 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba 5. Foxy Bean Once you step through the bright red door, Foxy's decor will convince you to take a seat. You'll need one; there is a lot going on. Taking inspiration from the suburbs' many Queenslander-style homes, the walls are an eclectic mishmash of colourful v-joint pine boards and pressed tin, and that's just the entrance. Further in, the Foxy Drop, a bar with painted murals, a wall of fake hanging vines and taxidermy animals will capture your imagination. Keep going through the rabbit warren (or should we say fox den) to discover an AstroTurfed courtyard with plenty of space. Foxy is known for classic breakfasts with a tasty twist; the eggs Benedict with savoury mince ($16.90) or the haloumi breakfast (large slices of haloumi, thyme-sauteed mushrooms, avocado, lemon, herb-roasted tomato and sourdough, $16.90) are popular hits. We've tested both and give them two thumbs up. 896 Stanley St East, Woolloongabba By the Concrete Playground team.
Finding a designated driver on New Year's Eve is not an easy feat. No one's putting their hand up to find a park near the fireworks, South Bank or anywhere near the city. TransLink understands, easing the pain of commuting on the big night (slightly) by offering public transport for free each year. Yes, that includes 2023 ending and 2024 beginning. On Sunday, December 31, all trains, buses, ferries and CityCats will be free from 8pm through until 5.30am on Monday, January 1. This doesn't apply to the Airtrain or long-distance services, but if you're otherwise travelling within Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, you're in luck. And, on the Goldie, it includes trams, too. [caption id="attachment_630654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Thomas via Flickr[/caption] In Brisbane, as there will be hordes of people flocking to and from the fireworks as usual, there'll also be additional services. The extra buses will hit the road between 8.40–9.50pm and again from 12–1.30am, covering South Brisbane, King George Square, Roma Street, Woolloongabba and Mater Hill stations. Two NightLink routes will also up the number of buses: the N250 to Capalaba will get four services, while the N555 to Loganholme will score three inbound and 11 outbound services. Trains will increase to four trains per line (except Doomben) from 8.45–9.45pm, with one Ipswich service also extending to Rosewood and one Caboolture service doing the same to Nambour. From 12.15–1.30am, the arrangement will be similar — except there'll be two extra trains for the Doomben line, and the Caboolture service will extend to Gympie North. Then, from 1.30am until Monday, January 1's normal first service, there'll be a train per hour on all lines other than Doomben, Rosewood and Sunshine Coast. [caption id="attachment_749921" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] John via Flickr[/caption] Until 1am, CityCats will run around every 15 minutes, while KittyCats and Kangaroo Point Cross River services will run until around 2am. You can check out a comprehensive rundown of New Year's Eve services at the TransLink website. [caption id="attachment_754201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Find more information on free travel periods on New Year's Eve in Brisbane, and on service updates, head to the TransLink website.
After filming two of his last four movies in Australia (Lion and Hotel Mumbai), and also stepping into a Dickens classic set in Victorian England (The Personal History of David Copperfield), Dev Patel is heading somewhere completely different. Jumping back to medieval times, he's delving into the fantasy genre, messing with Arthurian legend, and swinging around a mighty sword and a giant axe, all thanks to the dark and ominous The Green Knight. Based on the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the film casts Patel as Sir Gawain. Nephew to King Arthur (Sean Harris, Mission: Impossible — Fallout), he's a knight of the Round Table and fearsome warrior. The character has popped up in plenty of tales, but here, he's forced to confront the giant green-skinned titular figure in an eerie showdown. As the poem explains, the Green Knight dares any other knight to strike him with an axe, but only if they'll then receive a return blow exactly one year and one day later. Based on the new, just-dropped trailer, this film adaptation looks to be sticking to that story rather closely — and the end result also looks more than a little moody, brooding and creepy. Patel is in great company, too, with The Green Knight also starring Alicia Vikander (Earthquake Bird), Joel Edgerton (Boy Erased) and Barry Keoghan (Calm with Horses). Games of Thrones' Kate Dickie pops up as Guinevere, while her co-star Ralph Ineson — who is also known from the Harry Potter flicks, The Witch and the UK version of The Office — plays the Green Knight. Originally set to release in 2020 until the pandemic hit, The Green Knight is the latest movie by impressive and always eclectic writer/director David Lowery. His filmography spans everything from Ain't Them Bodies Saints and Pete's Dragon to A Ghost Story and The Old Man and the Gun — and, based on both the initial teaser and the new sneak peek, The Green Knight won't be like anything on his resume so far. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS6ksY8xWCY The Green Knight will release in the US on July 30, but it doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when it does.
Short+Sweet: the collection of little acts, with big surprises! The Short+Sweet Festival celebrates the quick thinkers, the big action that comes in small packages, but most of all, the local talents that make it all possible. Featuring over 40 works of theatre and cabaret, Short+Sweet is made up of a series of ten minute acts. See up to ten party-sized plays or six mini cabarets all at once, then vote for the best selection to go through to the finals. Select your date and your dish of choice - theatre or cabaret. There are weekend double passes up for grabs, plus don’t forget to nab your tickets to the finals! The Short+Sweet Festival has everything you could want from a menu of theatre, in bite-sized pieces. Whet your appetite with all of the lip-smacking delights available, and be spoiled for choice but always wanting more.
Building a business is similar to making a sandcastle. Getting started is easy — all you need is a bucket, sand and a big idea. But, if you want to turn that building into an empire, you'll need to get serious. That includes hiring a team, engaging an accountant and maybe moving out of your home office. Basically, it means scaling up. To do that, you'll need cash and some smart strategies. Luckily, you're not the first person to scale up a business — and there are heaps of people that you can go to. So we've teamed up with Westpac to tap into the minds of some entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled up. Here, we've nabbed some golden words of wisdom from four guns that have steadily increased their cashflow and turned their hospitality venues into varied businesses. Read on for four hacks they've used to successfully (and sustainably) grow their businesses. [caption id="attachment_724984" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] STREAMLINE YOUR BUSINESS TECH It's no secret that Luke Powell, renowned head chef and owner of LPs Quality Meats, knows how to grow a business. The mastermind behind his 110-seat Sydney eatery always knew he'd need oversight to keep his business thriving. With the opening of his second venue — Newtown pizzeria Bella Brutta — last year, it was time to invest in tools that would put valuable analytics at his fingertips. "We have used a few different point of sale (POS) systems since we opened," Powell explains. "We now use Kounta for all the venues and find it very insightful and useful with all the information it can provide." Consolidating stats for both of his venues means Powell can make informed business decisions in real time. Not only has this saved him huge chunks of time but also means he's able to explore and invest in new revenue streams — like starting a wholesale smallgoods business on the side. [caption id="attachment_712428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Milton Wine Shop.[/caption] ALWAYS CONSIDER WAYS TO BROADEN YOUR OFFERING Milton Wine Shop's Lyndon Kubis is first and foremost a wine nerd. As wine bar operators, Kubis sees himself and his team as "the DJs of the wine world" — they don't make the wines, but they serve them "with passion". In order for the hits to keep playing, it's important that the point of sale process runs smoothly — Kubis uses Kounta point-of-sale software, which offers great insights for detailed reporting and directly integrates with Presto, Westpac's payment terminal. Kubis says this has helped the business to achieve "super easy end-of-day reconciliations" that feed "directly into [their] accounting software". With the reconciliation process taken care of, Kubis was able to focus on broadening the shop's offering — making it more than just a one-trick pony. The shelves may be donned with bottles of high quality wines from niche producers, but, now, it also now delivers a thoughtful selection of beer and spirits, too. This has diversified the offering and customer base of Milton Wine Shop, making it more broadly accessible and financially sustainable. LET YOUR CUSTOMERS DO THE TALKING If you've never visited a Devon Cafe outpost – in either Sydney or Brisbane — chances are you've seen it on Instagram. With dishes like the truffle sundae and brioche french toast, its menu is made for food blogger flatlays. Owner Derek Puah has always embraced the power of social media to grow his business, and an active online presence enabled him to reach and build a network of loyal customers. "We find a lot of our biggest fans are on Instagram and they love to share photos of their experiences," Puah explains. Re-sharing images not only means that Devon has readymade content (with very little investment) — but it also serves to attract new customers and keep diners coming back for specials. Plus, those searching for a brunch spot can hear first-hand from other customers about what they can expect. [caption id="attachment_734827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] TREAT TIME AS YOUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE William Edwards, founder of Sydney distillery Archie Rose, watches his time. Very seriously. For Edwards, every hour of his day is planned with purpose. "My calendar is my bible — if there's something in there, I'll be there. If there's not, I won't be there," he says. "I schedule when I wake up, when I check email, when I perform certain types of tasks, leave work, get ready for bed, go to sleep, etc. and what days are work vs meeting vs admin days." Sound pretty hardcore? Even Edwards admits it's not going to work for everyone, but, at its core, it's about visualising your day, taking responsibility for your schedule and how much time you allocate to building your business. Now that you have some top tips, it's time to take the first steps towards scaling up your business. And when it comes time to set up your payment technology, look to Westpac's Presto Smart terminal. It's made for speedy payments, busting queues, reducing keying errors and seamlessly connecting to a range of Point of Sales systems, including Kounta, to help you keep track of cashflow. Please note that the above information is intended to be general in nature and should not be relied upon for personal financial use. To request more info and speak to Westpac, head here. Top image: Kitti Gould.
The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, with the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, as well as the biggest touring Lego exhibition, hitting Australia in 2025 (and world-premiering Down Under). Melbourne has locked in the first-ever Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition season. And yes, of course it'll open on Sunday, May 4. Melbourne Museum will be filled with more than eight-million bricks, all making models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. What music goes best with turning all that Lego into a Star Wars fan's dream? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The exhibition is set to take 25,000-plus hours of building, which is occurring at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. Here's a question for attendees, too: which tunes will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? The full list of models that'll feature hasn't been unveiled so far, but one will be life-sized — and that'll be a Lego Star Wars first. A huge 64,759 bricks are being used to craft the three-metre-high X-wing Red-5, taking 382 build hours. Attendees can also expect to see battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're keen to check it out, you'll need to be in the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. As well as the hosting the world-premiere season, which will run until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. While you're there, you won't just be looking at all things Star Wars in Lego — you'll be able to get building yourself. Images: Museums Victoria.
Tim Flach has captured wild animals in a way you may never have seen before. Studio-lit and beautiful, these animals create gorgeous subjects (although we're pretty sure they prefer their natural habitat to a black back drop and spotlight). Having spent years studying our bond with animals, Flach is known for his conceptual portraits of animals and the unique way in which he differs from a classic wildlife photographer. He has been awarded the Professional Photographer of the Year at the International Photography Awards and has published books, including Equus and Dogs Gods. He recently published More Than Human which features these photos and many more. His photographs challenge us to think of these animals and view them in ways in which we haven't before. He uses the defamiliarisation technique by placing familiar things, in this case animals, in an unfamiliar place to provoke questions and curiosity from the viewer. You can visit his website to view the entire More Than Human series.
When it comes to yoga poses, downward-facing dog is yesterday's news. Now, it's all about reclining cats and scampering kitties — and having furry, friendly felines in the room with you. Okay, okay, so we just made up those two positions; however we wouldn't dare joke when it comes to Brisbane's latest exercise trend. And, at Stretch Yoga's next event, working out with a purrfect pal isn't the only thing on the agenda. Should you fall in love with one of the cute critters, you can also take it home with you. That's right, stretching your limbs, potentially adding a cat to your family and helping a creature from Kitt Kat Care go hand in hand at the studio's Kitten Yoga Adoption Day. With all that on offer at 5.30pm and 6.30pm April 27 in the CBD, at 12.30pm and 1.30pm on April 28 at Holland Park, and at the same time and place on May 5 — but this time throwing pilates into the mix — resistance is futile. Just remember to book in for the classes in advance, because this kitty bonanza is certain to be popular. And, if you'd rather do pilates with a pooch, that's on offer too — as part of Stretch Yoga's Stretch for a Stray animal-oriented birthday weekend.
