It has been a busy two years for Timothée Chalamet, aka the internet's current boyfriend. Not too long ago, he was best known for a bit part in Interstellar, and now he's one of cinema's biggest talents. Chalamet swooned over first love in the gorgeous Call Me By Your Name, and was nominated for an Oscar for his impeccable performance. He played one of the titular character's first loves in Lady Bird, a film that nabbed Oscar nominations for almost everyone else involved. In his latest movie, Beautiful Boy, he's grappling with addiction — and he'll likely receive plenty of awards love again. This true life drama stands out from Chalamet's recent hits, however, and not in a positive way. His work is exceptional once more, inhabiting rather than performing his troubled character, but the film doesn't do its star justice. Or, to be more accurate, it doesn't do its stars justice. Beautiful Boy is a father-and-son drama as much as it is a deep dive into the trauma wrought by drugs, with Steve Carell as journalist David Sheff and Chalamet as his bright, thoughtful, college-bound son Nic. David can only watch on as Nic escalates from casual marijuana use to an insatiable crystal meth habit, and the respective tolls of bearing witness to, and spiralling through, the depths of addiction are written across Carell and Chalamet's faces. Each actor plays their character like a man possessed, one by trying to understand what drove his boy down this path, the other by an urge that he can't and won't stop indulging. Or perhaps it's that they both seem like they're haunted — by dreams, wants, needs and choices, and by a life that's not what either originally planned. Based on separate memoirs by the actual David and Nic, Beautiful Boy's details are familiar. Viewers first meet David when he's asking an expert exactly what all of these illicit substances are doing to Nic, before the movie jumps back to show the progression to that point and beyond. The Sheff household is happy, with David remarried to painter Karen (Maura Tierney), and Nic getting along with both his stepmother and much-younger half-siblings. But then, suddenly nothing is happy. All that's changed is Nic, and his newfound penchant for getting high rather than burying his head in a book. Soon he's withdrawn and sullen, out late and disappearing for periods of time, and hiding his soulful gaze further and further behind his dark, wavy locks. Every moment that Chalamet and Carell are on screen, either individually or together, it's easy to believe the Sheffs' plight. Beautiful Boy can't answer why Nic dissolves into his addiction, other than the fact he enjoys taking drugs. It can't explain why this thoroughly middle-class family is put through such an ordeal, other than the fact that the unexpected happens. With images that feel both dreamy and gritty simultaneously, what it can do instead is depict the torturous aftermath. The results are authentic and heartfelt, thanks to the film's basis in reality, its brilliant leads, and the stellar support offered by Tierney and Amy Ryan (as David's first wife and Nic's mother). And yet, while the actors make the most intimate, internalised and difficult of emotions ring true, conveying the pain and suffering that clearly changed the Sheffs' lives, the movie itself couldn't be more heavy-handed. Even if it actually happened, having one character read "I just love drugs" in another's diary, or words to that effect, isn't the most subtle of moves. The same applies to Beautiful Boy's use of Nirvana, Neil Young, John Lennon and more on its soundtrack — songs which may stem from the Sheff's real-life music choices, yet are always deployed to obvious effect. While nuance wasn't in director Felix Van Groeningen's wheelhouse when he helmed the heartstring-tugging Broken Circle Breakdown in 2012, he's made a much less effective melodrama this time around. Beautiful Boy is still a moving, affecting picture — with its two main stars putting in some of their best work, how could it not be? — but it never trusts that viewers will respond accordingly. Chalamet and Carell show the audience what the Sheffs went through, however the film itself doesn't just want to tell their story. Rather, it wants to scream it, and to push every sentimental, blunt and cliched button. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaOhgZez1Nk
Fans of the ocean's finest will soon have a new waterside Brisbane spot to head to, with the restaurateur behind Opa Bar + Mezze, Massimo Restaurant, Yamas Greek + Drink and George's Paragon announcing plans to open a seafood venue at Portside Wharf. At Fosh, staring at the river while tucking into fish, lobster, mud crabs and oysters will be on the menu, with the restaurant due to open in March 2023. Fosh hails from Michael Tassis, who was also behind Eagle Street's Fatcow Steak & Lobster and Rico Bar + Dining — both of which are moving to different sites now that the CBD precinct has closed to make way for a hefty makeover. Amid those relocations, Tassis' new 700-square-metre joint will settle into Portside as it too is undergoing a revamp, although Fosh will open in Hamilton before the larger renovations are set to be complete next December. Diners can clearly expect seafood aplenty, including a focus on sustainable, high-quality catches that are served to guests within 24 hours of being caught. Given Fosh's size, it'll also have space for a "casual yet upmarket fish and chip offering, ideal for families and friends looking for a relaxed, tasty and fresh meal to go," explains Tassis. Whether you're eating in or dropping by to grab some takeaways, you'll notice the luxe yet naturalistic and relaxed decor, which'll be inspired by The Hamptons. As part of a $3-million fitout, Fosh will boast both indoor and outdoor dining areas, too — with boosting the latter year-round one of the big aims of Portside's facelift. "The fitout will include a glamorous island bar, fireplace and generously sized indoor area suitable for entertaining large groups, which will flow effortlessly to the outside alfresco area, where guests can enjoy a meal and uninterrupted views of the river," says Tassis. "We hope this exceptional dining experience will spark — or reignite — people's love for the cuisine, and I can't think of a better location to do so than directly by the water." Launching a dedicated seafood restaurant at Portside, and one run by Tassis, seems like an obvious step for a number of reasons. The location screams for it, and Tassis' father George founded George's Paragon Seafood Restaurant in Sanctuary Cove more than three decades ago. "It's very much in my roots," Tassis notes. Find Fosh at Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, from March 2023 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when one is announced.
Netflix's hefty stable of original programming spans every genre imaginable, from nostalgic sci-fi thrillers such as Stranger Things and smart existential comedies like Russian Doll to crime procedurals such as Mindhunter and period dramas like The Crown. But as fans of Making a Murderer, Tiger King and Unbelievable all know, the streaming platform has also been leaning rather heavily upon true tales in recent years — both via docuseries and dramatised versions. Add Unorthodox to the latter pile, with the new four-part miniseries based on Deborah Feldman's best-selling 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. As the book's title makes plain, the memoir and the TV adaptation each explore her decision to leave her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York, flee her arranged marriage and everyone she's ever known, and escape to Berlin to start a brand new life. Names and details have been changed, as tends to be the case with dramas based on real-life stories; however Unorthodox still follows the same overall path. In a tense but instantly commanding opening to the show's first episode, 19-year-old Esther 'Esty' Shapiro (Shira Haas) slips out of the apartment she shares with her husband Yanky (Amit Rahav), picks up a passport from her piano teacher and nervously heads to the airport. Once she arrives in Berlin, she's just as anxious and uncertain — whether she's thinking about contacting her estranged mother (Alex Reid), who lives in the German capital; trying to work out where she'll sleep, given that she knows no one and brought nothing with her; or befriending a group of music students, cherishing making new connections and hoping she can join them at city's conservatory. Netflix's first original series primarily in Yiddish, Unorthodox then jumps between multiple narrative strands — chronicling Esty's sudden awakening into a secular existence far removed from her previous life; charting Yanky's desperate efforts to track her down under orders of their rabbi, with his cousin Moische (Jeff Wilbusch) on hand to help; and flashing back to Esty's childhood, her time with her beloved grandmother (Dina Doron), the lead up to her marriage and the wedding itself. Directed by German actress-turned-filmmaker Maria Schrader (Deutschland 83 and Deutschland 86), the end result proves a unique and intriguing coming-of-age tale, a thoughtful thriller, and an eye-opening but always careful and respectful look at a culture that's rarely depicted on-screen in such depth. Israeli actress Haas (The Zookeeper's Wife, Foxtrot, Mary Magdalene) turns in a nuanced, weighty and gripping performance as Esty, too — which is absolutely pivotal in making Unorthodox so compelling to watch. And, for viewers stuck at home and eager for a window into the wider world, the series makes great use of its Berlin setting — viewing the busy city with the same wide-eyed wonder as its protagonist. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw Unorthodox is currently streaming on Netflix. Images: Anika Molnar/Netflix.
Most of us know that bananas are chock-full of goodness, from loads of potassium to energy-boosting carbs primed for when we're getting active. But these yellow wonders can do more than just keep your hunger at bay, as this new nationwide event reveals. This month, Australian Bananas is teaming up with four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ariarne Titmus to launch the Banana Swim Pass — your free ticket to 70 participating pools around the country for one day only on Wednesday, January 21. Following October's Banana Gym Pass, this summer-inspired alternative is perfect for those keen to power through a few laps or enjoy a laidback splash about. To score your free dip, simply buy a banana from any local grocer and bring it along to your nearest participating swim centre — head to the website to find yours. "The Banana Swim Pass initiative is a fun way to encourage Australians of all ages to jump in and enjoy the benefits of getting active in the water," says Titmus. "I love that everyone can rock up with a banana and get in for free. Grab a banana, hit the pool, and make your body swim!"
Geelong may not strike you as an obvious destination for a weekend away. The small port city is currently straddling that awkward growth stage between small town and bustling metropolis. As such, it manages to feel like both. Although Geelong wears the vestments of a big place, it still treats you like a small town would. You don't feel anonymous (an odd feeling for veteran city dwellers) and people look you in the eye while genuinely questioning how you are and what you're doing in town. Nowhere is this more pronounced than the food and art scene, hidden away on the quiet side streets of the small city. The cheap and abundant studio space makes it a paradise for creatives, weirdos and anyone who errs on the side of the non-commercial — this relatively small pond attracts some remarkably big fish. Some of Melbourne's best foodies, chefs, entrepreneurs and taste-makers have forsaken the big city in favour of a smaller scene where gimmicks are left at the train station and what shines through is something surprisingly authentic. Leave all that big city pessimism at home and let V/Line (or your car down the M1) carry you to the unexpected cultural oasis of Geelong. Whether you devote your whole weekend to Victoria's second largest city or a few hours on your way down the Great Ocean Road, here's what to do when you get there. [caption id="attachment_569243" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Craft Space[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Before heading down to Geelong, you may want to fast for a few days — there is some serious eating to be done here. Your first port of call should be Craft Space on Little Malop Street. Craft Space is, as the name suggests, a cafe-craft hybrid. You'll find tubs of markers and zines strewn across the mismatched (but colour-coordinated) furniture, a mint green La Marzocco espresso machine filling the back corner and sweet ornaments lining every nook. There's no stone left uncrafted — even the pot plants have been knitted. It's a haven for people who like to occupy their hands while catching up over organic, small batch tea and boutique cakes by Melbourne's Little Bertha. It's a warm little nook and the owners operators Cathy Slarks and Loretta Davis are the kindling in the hearth. The welcoming pair also run craft workshops most weekends and make a mean, towering chocolate milkshake. [caption id="attachment_573393" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hot Chicken Project[/caption] Once night falls it's just a hop, skip and a jump over the way to the Hot Chicken Project for dinner and a bit of atmosphere. Hot tip: undo your pants as you walk through the door (no one will judge). You may feel a sense of déjà vu as you glance the menu as HCP is owned by Aaron Turner, who previously engineered Belle's Hot Chicken on Gertrude Street. The menu is conceptually similar – a hero serve of southern fried chicken (as spicy as you can handle) and a down-home side (think turnips, greens and coleslaw) for $16. The simplicity of the menu works in its favour as the entire wine list is paired for salt, crunch and spice. It's dominated by light, fruity wines from some of Australian's most innovative winemakers — and if you're not literate in wine speak, your best bet is to ask a staff member to choose a wine for you. They know their stuff. We highly, highly recommend indulging in a side of the crispy chicken skin (drizzled in honey, hot sauce and thyme) because you will see God. The place is usually buzzing on the weekend, and with plans to expand into the next shop front, HCP can only get better with time. If you're hankering for a cold one after that, drop into the Little Creatures Geelong Brewery for one straight from the source. [caption id="attachment_569247" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Freckleduck[/caption] The final must-eat destination on your Geelong tour is Freckleduck. The sweet corner café is light, airy and — dare we say it — produces the best coffee in Geelong. The pumpkin smash, served with tortillas, roasted pepitas, fresh asparagus, onion jam and prosciutto ($17) is a salty, sweet and crunchy affair and absolute heaven on a plate. They've just announced plans for a brother venue in Belmont, so we're clearly not the only ones feeling it. [caption id="attachment_569246" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lola's Kitchen at Boom Gallery[/caption] SEE AND DO Geelong's art scene is intimate. There aren't new openings every night of the week with free flowing Champagne and lines around the block full of hungry young social climbers desperate to be seen; instead, it's more of a community of makers, painters and creatives who quietly and rigorously curate thoughtful and provocative shows. That's what first strikes you as you enter a Geelong gallery — the exhibitions have been created by locals, for locals. And secondly, you might be a little surprised at how many of them there are. There's a lot more art galleries nestled in Geelong than meets the eye — you'll find them hidden in quiet corners, behind demure shopfronts and residing in rustic warehouses. Boom Gallery should be your first stop. From the centre of town, grab an Uber (yes, Geelong has Uber) out to the Rutland Street address and make your way down the row of warehouses to the end. The gallery itself is curated by Ren Inei, whose name you may recognise from some of the works on the walls. They just wrapped up a phenomenal show about local legend William Buckley (of the saying 'Buckley's chance') and one called PLAY, a unique exhibition by Melbourne furniture designers Dowel Jones that encourages attendees to play with their creations. Inei may be a curator, but his attitude is more docent — turn up on any day of the week and you'll likely find him getting amongst it, hanging out with exhibiting artists in the café, chatting with visitors and giving personal insights on the show. Boom also has a small, chic café attached the gallery space named Lola's Kitchen which serves up bite-sized tacos and smooth coffee. For details on current and upcoming exhibitions, go here. [caption id="attachment_573394" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Boom Gallery[/caption] The National Wool Gallery in the centre of town is another must-do. While the museum is housed in the former Dennys Lascelles wool store and chronicles the history of Australian wool in more detail than strictly necessary, the space also hosts some amazing (and random) exhibitions, including the current Wildlife of Gondwana. While you're in the city centre, make sure you stop in at the Geelong Gallery too, a stately old building which has enough clout to host the bigwigs of Australian and international fame. The current exhibition — Land of the Golden Fleece, running until June 13 — is a retrospective of one of the big names in Australian landscape impressionism, Arthur Streeton. The exhibition is beautifully curated and as much about Streeton's life as it is about his works. If you don't want to leave without a souvenir, make your way our to the Mill Markets. They're a little way out of town, but if you've got a car (or just a strong will for vintage shopping) it's well worth trekking to. It's a two-storey veritable paradise of vintage clothes, books, antiques and weird shit, and your bound to find something to at least consider buying. But if you're worn out with food, art and busyness, a picnic basket and veg out session in the lush Johnstone Park is the perfect way to round out your stay. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Geelong is about one hour from Melbourne. You can drive (the M1 makes it a cinch) or take a V/Line train from Southern Cross to Geelong Station. The city isn't bursting with hotels, but the Mercure Geelong is situated in the centre of town and Airbnb is (as always) your friend. Imogen Baker travelled as a guest of Tourism Greater Geelong & the Bellarine. Top image: Little Creatures Geelong Brewery.
As a kid, your idea of the perfect getaway probably would have included only a few simple things, like proximity to the closest milk bar and easy access to the nearest beach or lake. But as you've matured, so have your tastes and expectations. Now you want only the best, don't you? Luckily, Australia has no shortage of lavish retreats to discover in every corner of the country. From safari-style glamping along Western Australia's vibrant Ningaloo Reef to a rugged private island off the Tasmanian coast, there are ways you can seriously treat yourself — and see some of Australia's most stunning scenes at the same time. With that in mind, we've hunted down seven luxury locations that will have you refreshed and rejuvenated. Everyone deserves a little five-star escape every now and then. [caption id="attachment_720489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] SAL SALIS NINGALOO REEF SAFARI CAMP, WA Hidden between sand dunes in the Cape Range National Park, Sal Salis is a beachside eco safari camp like no other. The 15 luxury wilderness tents take glamping to a whole new level, with breezy openair bathrooms, handmade timber beds and absolutely unbeatable views of the Indian Ocean, which is conveniently located only a few steps away from your sleeping quarters. There are outdoor activities aplenty, though swimming with whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins would certainly be at the top of our list. The main lodge also offers the perfect place to unwind with fantastic regional wines, WA seafood, and a rustic wooden outdoor deck that offers the ultimate vantage point to see the Milky Way in all its glory. Ningaloo Reef is one of our top places to visit in Australia in 2023, and Sal Salis would have to be the greatest place to stay in the region. THE CAPE AT WATEGOS, BYRON BAY If you're after a laidback luxury stay with uninterrupted sea views, then these Byron Bay lodges should more than do the trick. The Cape at Wategos sits above the area's much-loved Wategos Beach (backed by a national park) and is super close to a bunch of great restaurants and bars. It has the ideal blend of feeling totally remote but still close to Byron Bay's fun stuff. Choose from one of the two-bedroom suites — each with massive private decks overlooking the beach — or go for the large Residence that sleeps up to six guests. Expect stark white interiors, Hampton-style furnishings, spacious kitchens and living areas, an infinity swimming pool and comfy king-sized beds. Either spend all your days up at the lodges or take a short walk down for afternoons of swimming and surfing with mates. LONGITUDE 131, YULARA, NT No matter where you're standing, the mammoth form of Uluru is always an incredible sight to behold. But some vantage points are better than others — and if we had to pick, we'd say Longitude 131 has the best. Luxury tents (if you can even call them that) sprawl across the red desert in the shadow of the ancient Kata Tjuṯa. Every one comes with indulgent elements like floor-to-ceiling windows, a soft daybed, a rain shower and a coffee machine — not to mention the free-standing tub in the sprawling Dune Pavilion that we would definitely try to take home with us if it was remotely possible. The best part? There are no televisions and no radios, so you'll be in complete quiet and solitude. It is clear to see why it's one of the best glamping spots in all of Australia. [caption id="attachment_557208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elise Hassey[/caption] SATELLITE ISLAND, TASMANIA If you've ever read Journey to the End of the Earth and thought 'that sounds like fun' then you're going to love Satellite Island. Lined with rugged cliffs that dip into clear blue waters and teeming with native wildlife, the 34-hectare landmass is located along the southeastern coast of Tasmania in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and is only accessible by private boat. Whether you're catching your own fish off of the island's single jetty, foraging for ingredients in the veggie patch or learning how to shuck your own oysters, you'll probably try to set up a makeshift cabin so you never have to leave this tranquil paradise. PS EMMYLOU, MURRAY RIVER According to the PS Emmylou team, this is the world's only accommodated woodfire paddle steamer. You'll slowly float along the Murray River in this newly kitted-out boat, stopping off at small towns and natural sites to do some light exploring. Grab one of the eight luxe cabins, dine on the back of the boat (with food and drinks included in the ticket price) and take part in a series of tours around the Murray River region. This will include leisurely hikes, winery tours and special dinners on the banks of the river. But the best thing to do is simply grab a seat on your balcony — if you get the luxury suite — and spend the day reading and drinking in the sunshine. It has to be the best way to see this marvellous part of Australia. JACKALOPE, MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VICTORIA Situated in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula wine region, Jackalope Hotel has raised the bar for luxury retreats in the area. The first thing that greets you on arrival is a grandiose seven-metre-tall sculpture of a jackalope — the mythical horned rabbit after which the surrealist hotel is named — and things only get more extravagant from there. From the 30-metre-long infinity pool with lush vineyard views to the hotel's extensive art collection, opulent spa and two top-quality restaurants, you won't have to leave the grounds if you don't want to. [caption id="attachment_720481" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Aitchison and Baille Lodge via Destination NSW[/caption] CAPELLA LODGE, LORD HOWE ISLAND Operating for over a decade now, Capella Lodge is one of Australia's most well-known hotels — and, thanks to a cheeky $4 million makeover a few years ago, it's also one of the country's most lavish. Visitors are treated to inspiring views of the island's twin peaks, Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, as well as the world's southernmost coral reef in the Pacific Ocean. The beach is only a stone's throw away when you feel like a swim, though the plunge pool is just as refreshing. Plus, you can do this epic hike and then head straight to the spa for a hot stone massage that'll have you feeling stress-free for weeks. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Longitude 131.
So you've just finished a big day on the slopes and you're looking for a way to warm up. Luckily there's a bevvy of bars and pubs at your fingertips. In Queenstown at the bottom of New Zealand's South Island, the practice of après-ski ('after-ski') is as important as the time spent skiing or snowboarding — or spectating, if that's more your vibe. Perhaps you're after a quiet cocktail while enjoying mountain views, or maybe you're with a large crew and want to sink some cold brews by the fire — there will be something in this stunning alpine region that takes your fancy. But with over 150 bars and pubs to choose from, you need to make sure you're heading to a spot suited to your exact needs. We've put together some of our favourite spots for après-ski in Queenstown (and Arrowtown) so you're set to order the first all-important beverage of the evening — as well as the last one of the night. CARGO AT GANTLEY, ARTHUR'S POINT Built in 1865, this stone pub once catered to miners during the gold rush — now it caters to the many winter holidaymakers in the region. Head straight off the mountain and through the door of this cosy fireside spot, which is one minute from the base of Coronet Peak. That makes it an essential place to start your après-ski experience and suck down an extremely hard-earned beer — we're not here to waste any precious minutes. Don't just take our word for it — this historic spot pot also just won the Supreme Award at the Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence. So yeah, you might say it's pretty high on the list. Find it: 172 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown LODGE BAR, LAKEFRONT This might be a controversial inclusion due to its position alongside a Rodd & Gunn store, but we maintain Lodge Bar to be one of the best bars in Queenstown thanks to its warm wood ambience and picturesque views. You'll feel like you've stepped into an alpine retreat thanks to the strong supply of blankets, furs and rugs to wrap up in while you order a few apéritifs and catch up with a friend or loved one. On holiday in Queenstown alone? No problem. Park up in one of the single seats by the window and people-watch to your heart's content while watching an incredible sunset. Find it: 2 Rees Street, Queenstown RED'S BAR, QT HOTEL It's not often a hotel bar is the place to be, but when it comes to Queenstown's excellent QT hotel, it's no surprise this bar is a cut above the rest. You won't just find miscellaneous hotel patrons in this chic and colourful spot: Reds caters to tourists and locals alike, thanks to its cool decor and excellent service. The highlight has to be the jaw-dropping views. One long wall of floor-to-ceiling windows allows you to take in the mountains and Lake Wakatipu, which would probably heighten the taste of any drink — but these bevvies barely need it. If you like your spicy margaritas extremely spicy, get the crew to whip one up for you — it's exactly what you need to warm up from the inside out. Find it: 30 Brunswick Street, Queenstown LITTLE BLACKWOOD, STEAMER WHARF With a prime location on Steamer Wharf, this bar recently won Best Bar at the Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence and we can see why. Fuel up after a big day on the slopes by making your own custom cheese and charcuterie boards — that means all the meats and cheese you love, and none you don't. This spot also has one of the best cocktail menus in the area, including a list of five (we say again, FIVE) different types of espresso martini — perfect if you need a pick-me-up. Get decision-making anxiety? Play 'Trust the Bartender' — the talented team behind the bar will do the hard yards for you. Chic and industrial cool, this cosy bar often plays host to some of the country's best live musicians, making the vibes 10/10. Find it: 88 Beach Street, Queenstown View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Fork and Tap Arrowtown (@theforkandtaparrowtown) THE FORK AND TAP, ARROWTOWN If you're more on the Arrowtown side of the region, head to this pub which gives all the wholesome winter vibes thanks to its open fire and historic stone building. It's one of those spots where everyone seems to know each other and the daily specials are chalked up on the blackboard, so nab a table near the fire and enjoy the great energy. If you're looking for the perfect winter warmer, opt for the mulled wine which comes in a cinnamon-sugar-crusted glass. It's like a hug in a mug. Find it: 51 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown SUNDECK, CENTRAL QUEENSTOWN Cocktails? Check. Open fire? Check. DJ spinning club bangers at 5pm? Check. A rooftop bar boasting epic views, you have to get in early to nab a table at this popular spot. Sure, you have to head up three flights of stairs to find it, but don't let that put you off. It's an absolute go-to if you feel you've gone a little bit too hard too early, and need somewhere to burn off the post-ski beers. With about five people behind the bar at any one time and constant hordes of patrons reaching for spare seats, it's chaos in the best way — but the staff won't baulk at making you a margarita or martini even when the line is six-deep and we love them for that. Find it: Top floor, 4 The Mal, Queenstown LITTLE AOSTA, ARROWTOWN From notable chef and restauranter Ben Bayly, this rustic Italian spot is serving up all the Euro-inspired cocktails, pizza and pasta to soothe the wounds of not being overseas for Euro summer with your friends. Order a Negroni Sbagliato ("Negroni by mistake") and cosy up by the open fire outside from 3pm — and no, no actual skiing experience required. Our tip? Stay for dinner, and warm up with an Italian feast, served family-style. Find it: 18 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown Top image: Steamer Wharf, Little Blackwood
When Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike's Last Dance) and David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) work together, someone on-screen is watching on, listening in or both. With the former helming and the latter penning the screenplays, the veteran filmmakers have joined forces on three features so far: 2022's Kimi, as well as the 2025 duo of Presence and Black Bag. Surveillance plays a pivotal part in each. The first of their collaborations focused on an always-eavesdropping smart speaker, plus the company employee who hears something sinister in its audio streams. The third of their shared projects is a spy thriller that hits cinemas in March 2025. Then there's the duo's ghost story, about a family who moves into a home with an otherworldly existing resident. In Presence, the titular entity is indeed peering on and pricking up its ears. How does this ever-prolific pair, whose careers both date back to separate debut movies that screened at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival — Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape and the Koepp-scripted Apartment Zero — not only take on the horror-genre staple that is haunted houses, but give it a new perspective? The answer is that very perspective. Presence adopts the viewpoint of the body doing the spooking, which means that the picture's sound and vision presents what its ghost sees and hears. For viewers, there's no question whether there's a spirit lingering about; that's clear immediately. The film's four key humans — matriarch Rebekah (Lucy Liu, Red One), her husband Chris (Chris Sullivan, a veteran of Soderbergh's excellent TV series The Knick), and their teenage children Chloe (Callina Liang, Foundation) and Tyler (debutant Eddy Maday) — aren't as clued in as the audience when Presence begins. They've simply relocated to a new house in the suburbs and are endeavouring to go about their daily lives. The ghost is there before them. It watches on as they navigate dinners, fights, secrets, romances and everything in-between. It spots how Rebekah favours Tyler, and only Chris treats Chloe with kindness. And soon, it starts to make its presence known. Soderbergh came to Koepp about Presence with the basics: "a handful of pages and a strong aesthetic concept," Koepp tells Concrete Playground. From there, for a director who also lensed and edited the film himself — and therefore, as the cinematographer, basically plays the ghost himself — the screenwriter fleshed out a narrative that's as much as family drama as a haunted-house flick. He's working with elements that he loves, and it both shows and pays off, as does the immersive, patient, long-take ghost's-eye camerawork. Koepp has both Stir of Echoes and Ghost Town on his resume, two other tales of haunting entities that he directed. He's no stranger to one-location setups, either, writing David Fincher's Panic Room. Real life was partly an inspiration for Presence, after strange things started happening in Soderbergh's own Los Angeles home, where he knew that someone had died before he moved in. Koepp has had his own encounter with odd occurrences that could possibly be chalked up to the supernatural — but he also knows the thrill that can and does spring from choosing to believe that something ghostly has happened. Building that feeling in, and also the 'has it/hasn't it?' sensation that everyone has had at least when a door swings open or an item has moved unexpectedly, is also one of his Presence feats. Koepp might find excitement and even a dash of optimism in Presence's concept, but that isn't the case with his other surveillance-heavy films with Soderbergh. "I think with a ghost story, yes," he advises. "But I don't find the idea that someone's watching or listening to be hopeful. I find it to be creepy." He continues: "And it's that sense of paranoia is what we're very consciously playing on. Certainly in Kimi. We're right. We've given permission to these devices to just listen to everything we say and do. Everybody's had the feeling of 'hey, I was just talking about Philadelphia, and now my phone is suggesting hotels in Philadelphia'. Well, there's a reason for that. You're not crazy." "And in this, those same feelings of unease — maybe even in this case dread — were things we wanted to play with." Two movies hitting cinemas within two months would be huge for most screenwriters. Koepp also has a third film on its way to picture palaces mid-2025: Jurassic World Rebirth, which sees him return to the franchise after co-penning the OG Jurassic Park script and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, both for Steven Spielberg. His resume highlights go on; Carlito's Way, the first Mission: Impossible, 2002's Spider-Man and Spielberg's War of the Worlds are all on Koepp's filmography, too, and represent just a selection of his wide-ranging array of projects. We also chatted with the Presence scribe about the intimacy of ghost stories, wanting to believe, working with a director who shoots and edits his pictures himself, the variety of films across his busy career and more. On the Intimacy of Ghost Stories — Including When a Haunted-House Film Is a Family Drama Shot From the Ghost's Perspective "Yes, as you point out, ghost stories are really intimate. I've done other ghost stories. I've done one that's meant to be scary, a comedy and this, and I often notice that in most stories, the person who is able to perceive the ghost is usually in some kind of difficult situation in their home life. And that's probably just because that's what makes for drama. You don't want to pick somebody who has everything going well. But I had this theory that perhaps that's also because having experienced a trauma opens you up to be more sensitive to things you couldn't perceive before. I know that there have been periods in my own life when I've gone through things I'd describe now as traumatic, and I felt much more in tune with the emotions of the people around me, because you're just opened up to the world in that way. And I thought 'if you're opened up to the world, why not the other world?'." On Using Real Life as a Starting Point — and Toying with the Excitement of Wanting to Believe "I think that with all of us personally — I can't speak to Steven's experience, but I know in my own, it's something that may or may not have happened, but I really wanted it to have happened. Because who doesn't want to believe these things? And because the very notion of believing in a ghost is optimistic, in that you believe there's something after we die. Who doesn't want to believe that? In Chloe's case, it quickly becomes pretty inarguable. The books were on the bed. The books are now not on the bed. And I guess she can question herself a little bit, but she's not an older person who can say 'oh, I forgot' — she is 16 years old. She knows very well where she left the books. But I do think that most of us who think something like that happened, it's terribly exciting and interesting. Why wouldn't we want it to have happened? And Chloe even says it to her brother later, she says 'can't part of you admit that this is the most-interesting thing that's ever happened in your life? Are you that scared of it that you can't admit that?'." On Writing for a Ghost — and, for a Ghost Basically Played by Steven Soderbergh as Presence's Cameraman "When I first said 'okay, let's do this' and I laid out the story, and then when I started writing it, at first I thought 'oh, this is going to be terribly limiting' — because I'm writing a four-character piece, but I can't ever cut. I can't, if I need a close-up of something, I can't. If I need a reverse, I can't. If I want to suddenly see another character's face for impact, I can't. I can't intercut between locations for suspense. All these tools that are usually available in writing for cinema were now off limits, and I thought 'how limiting'. Then I realised just a few pages into the writing 'no, no, no, you're not writing a four-character piece — you're writing a five-character piece. The fifth character is the presence, and it's played by the camera'. So when I embraced the presence as a character, it could then have feelings and that dictated what happened. It's anxious. It's restless. We know it's kind of fearful because it retreats into the closet frequently. So that made everything much easier, because now I'm writing for a character and I know how to do that." On Penning a Screenplay for a Film That Audiences Will See Differently the Second Time Around "I know everything before I go in, because I've outlined and I've written a summary of it, so I have a good idea who it is and what they're doing. So I'm dropping clues throughout — and there are a number of clues in the body of the film. From a character standpoint, knowing who the presence is and knowing some specifics about them tells me how they would behave. So I think I'm gratified by how many people fully understood it the first time. And I think it does reward a second viewing in that you see all the signposts that were there for you along the way." On the Importance of Presence Being a Film About a Family Struggling as Much as It Is a Haunted-House Film "That was what made it fun. When Steven told me the idea, he said it all needs to be in one house — I mean the aesthetic idea — he said it all needs to be in one house, and I'd like it to be a family. And it hit three of my top boxes for things that I'm interested in writing. It had a strong concept behind it that limited us in some way, and therefore freed us up or forced us into creative solutions. It was all set in a house. I like stories like that. I've done a few of them. Panic Room some years ago, all in one house. And it was a family drama. And one of the things that I like about the big resurgence in horror films in the last ten or 15 or 20 years, I don't know how long it's been now, is that you can you can smuggle in other kinds of stories in the box of a spooky movie. And so I love writing families. I have four kids, I've known a lot of families. We all have our birth families, and if we're lucky enough to have kids, we know that family — and they're very dynamic groups. And it was great fun to be able to write a family drama." On What Keeps Drawing Koepp to Two of Presence's Key Elements: Ghost Stories and One-Location Films "I don't know psychologically, but I do know practically. I call them bottles, in that there's a container for your wine — and much like the Hays Code of the Hollywood in the 30s, 40s and 50s had very strict rules about what you could do and what you couldn't do in terms of sex and innuendo, so the filmmakers were left to think of ways around it and clever ways to insinuate. And I think when you say 'okay, we can't leave the house', then you're compelled to think of creative solutions to your problems. And 'how do I make this interesting even though I'm stuck in this house for the whole movie?'. And 'how do I make that an advantage instead of a disadvantage?'. For me, when you sit down to write something, there's a sense that the world is too big. If you can go anywhere and have them do anything and have absolutely anyone be in it, where do you even begin? It just makes me want to take a nap. But when I'm limited in terms of who can be in it and where they can be, now suddenly I feel like I'm starting to have ideas. I think da Vinci — I don't want to be too highfalutin, but I think Leonardo da Vinci said that all great art is born out of limitation. I'm not saying we're great art, but I think he's right about that." On the Collaborative Process When Working with a Filmmaker Who Directs, Shoots and Edits — as Soderbergh Does on Kimi and Presence "Well, it's particular to the person. All the great directors I've worked with are very hands-on. They don't all do as many jobs as Steven does, shooting it and editing it. Confident people are easier to work with than people who lack confidence. And Steven is extremely confident and extremely decisive. And therefore, he lets other people do their jobs. I know he can do my job. He's an accomplished writer. So I assume if he wanted to, he'd be doing it. He would write it himself — the way he wants to shoot and he wants to edit, so he takes those jobs himself. So I think I appreciate that he guides me, but doesn't try to do it for me." On Jumping Between Indie Films and Blockbusters, Movies and TV, and Screenwriting and Directing Across Koepp's Career "It's what keeps it interesting. I continue to like all kinds of movies. I'll see pretty much anything in the cinema. So I like to try my hand at writing them. And I have this theory that it's like lifting weights. You're supposed to exercise your muscles to the point of failure. I feel like I've tried to exercise my creative muscles across genres to the point of failure — and I have failed. So you find 'oh, I wish I could do that particular type of movie' — turns out I'm not that great at it. But that's what keeps it interesting. You have to continually try different things. And you have to stay in service to the idea. If you have an idea, you can't try to bend it into the kind of film you're comfortable with. You need to become comfortable with the kind of film that the idea demands." Presence opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Home to everything from breweries and restaurants to scenic patches of grass, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct has completely revamped Fortitude Valley's riverside stretch beneath the Story Bridge. Indeed, since launching in late 2018, the lively and popular inner-city spot has given Brisbanites plenty of reasons to stop by — and, by the end of the year, that list will grow to include trips to Moreton Bay. Unsurprisingly given its location, a new CityCat terminal has long been part of the HSW plan, with construction slated to start late in 2020. Now, the Queensland Government has advised that the site will also become home to three pontoons for tourism purposes. Yes, that means you'll be able to hop on a boat in the CBD, cruise up the river and make your way to North Stradbroke Island. The first pontoon will open before 2020 is out, falling under the Queensland Government's $5.5 million project to promote Brisbane's links with Moreton Bay. A new terminal is also part of the plan and, once the entire facility is up and running, is expected to service up to 6000 passengers a day. While Brisbanites can already catch a ferry to North Straddie from Cleveland, getting to the latter is still a trek in itself if you live on the other side of the city. The new HSW terminal and ferry services are designed to cut out that leg of the trip, including shortening the overall journey. In a statement on Saturday, September 5 announcing the pontoons, Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation Kate Jones advised that folks will be able to "have a drink or something to eat at a restaurant [at HWS], jump on a boat and be relaxing on an island within 40 minutes". Specifics, including who'll be operating the ferries, are yet to be revealed — but Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace noted that "commercial tourist operators have already expressed great interest to access this popular new facility". Howard Smith Wharves' new river terminal is expected to start hosting ferries by the end of 2020. For further details, check out the State Government's full statement. Top image: Tanya Dedyukhina via Wikimedia Commons.
When Fortitude Valley's newest watering hole launches on the corner of Ann and Constance streets, it will be stepping into the future while nodding to the past. The site most recently known as Fringe Bar and Kerbside is set to become The Osbourne Hotel, a name that dates back 153 years. In fact, that's what the pub was called right up until 1992, when it became The Dead Rat Hotel, and then the Rat & Parrot. Back in 1864, The Osbourne was the second hotel to open in the Valley, a fact that's certain to have made it popular. With a visible, multi-million dollar makeover both outside and in to restore the building to its original colourings, fittings and layout, the revamped spot will be hoping that history repeats itself when it welcomes patrons through the door from October 6. Well, not the more colourful parts — a man was famously shot dead there in 1974, women on roller-skates served drinks in the '80s, and a fire swept through in 1984. That was then, this is now — and Fringe and Kerbside regulars, you'd best prepare for a vastly different space. The Osbourne features 94 taps throughout the now 800-person venue, as well as a 400-seat glass-ceiling bistro and beer garden. For those after more than a casual drink and a meal, the old boarding rooms on the first floor have been transformed into function and meeting rooms, as well as a private dining area for hire. With two bespoke copper bulkheads boasting 31 taps each — and proving the only two of their kind in the country — thirsty visitors can expect a beer-heavy drinks menu focusing on craft, local and international brews. Also a highlight is a cocktail list providing new takes on old favourites, such as The Osbourne G&T, watermelon margaritas, barrel-aged old fashioneds and pineapple basil cucumber pisco sours also on offer. In a kitchen overseen by ex-The Alliance Hotel and The Walnut Restaurant chef Jamie MacKinney, dishes include all-day pizzas, char-grilled meat and oyster plates (aka the kind of pub fare they probably cooked up last time The Osbourne existed), as well as Peking duck spring rolls, karaage chicken, sweet potato and cashew empanadas, and cheese kranskies with onion jam. A special daytime menu serves up lunch for under $20, while evening specials range from burgers to steak to wings. Find The Osbourne Hotel on the corner of Ann and Constance streets, Fortitude Valley, from October 6. Head to the pub's website for further details. UPDATE SEPTEMBER 28: The Osbourne Hotel will now open on October 6, with an official launch party held on October 11.
For many, it's not really Easter unless you've scoffed your bodyweight in hot cross buns in the lead-up. And, thankfully, you don't have to forego that tradition this year, either. A stack of local Brisbane bakeries are here to fix your cravings, self-isolation or otherwise, launching handy hot cross bun home-delivery services all across town. Jump on the phone or the web to make an order and within hours you'll be tucking into some handcrafted Easter buns, plump with fruit, loaded with spices and slathered with lashings of butter. From the traditional glazed version, to some crafty new-world remixes, here's our pick of hot cross buns you can now get delivered straight to your door. If you are going out to pick up takeaway, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. CHOCOLATE HOT CROSS BUNS FROM JOCELYN'S PROVISIONS For years, cult-favourite bakery and dessert shop Jocelyn's Provisions has been answering those Easter cravings in style, with handcrafted hot cross buns that pretty much fly out the door. This year, it's whipping up two different varieties of the seasonal staple — a traditional glazed version packed with dried fruit and a blend of spices, and a decadent riff boasting plenty of melty choc chips infused through the dough. Both buns are an easy $12.50 for a six-pack. They're available for delivery to a range of Brisbane suburbs, with a $5 flat-rate fee and a $20 order minimum. How? Order online for pick up or call (07) 3852 3799 for delivery. HOT CROSS BROWNIES FROM DELLO MANO It might be best known for its indulgent chocolate brownies, but this year Dello Mano is having a crack at some hot cross buns as well. These newly debuted treats are the kind that stick with tradition, featuring spiced dough studded with loads of fruit. Or, if you fancy something a little more inventive, there's the long-time seasonal favourite 'Hot Cross Brownies' — rich brownies hand-dipped in Belgian chocolate and finished with a white chocolate cross. Both are available for delivery across Brisbane and you can even score same-day drop-off for orders placed before 11am. How? Order delivery via the Dello Mano website. GLUTEN FREE HOT CROSS BUNS FROM NODO The masters of natural, gluten-free treats at Nodo have created the dietary-friendly Easter bun you've been dreaming of. These glazed hot cross buns feature an assortment of warm spices, dried blueberries and currants, clocking in at $24 for a six-pack. Or for something a little different, try Nodo's 'Hot Cross Donut', infused with dates and Easter spices, and covered in couverture chocolate ($6 each). A contactless delivery service is now available from Nodo's Newstead and Camp Hill stores, with a $50 minimum order and a $5 flat-rate delivery fee. Just give them at least 24 hour's notice and you should score your buns between 9am and 1pm the following day. How? Nodo's hot cross buns can pre-ordered online and delivered within 24 hours. ORGANIC VINE FRUIT HOT CROSS BUNS FROM PHILLIPPA'S Long-running bakery Phillippa's is here to ensure all your hot cross bun cravings are fulfilled this Easter, even if you're stuck at home. Its chewy glazed buns are a perennial favourite, crafted with slow-fermented dough, house-made candied peel and loads of organic vine fruit. A box of six will set you back $18, with Australia-wide shipping available for a flat-rate of $9.95. And, if isolation's left you feeling a little creative, jump over to the website to find a couple of crafty recipes to put any extra buns to good use. Toasted hot cross bun ice cream might just be the Easter treat you've been waiting for. How? Phillippa's hot cross buns can be ordered online and delivered. CLASSIC HOT CROSS BUN FROM CRUST & CO A traditional artisan bakery with both French and Italian roots, Newmarket's Crust & Co has your classic hot cross bun fix sorted. Its signature Easter buns are an annual hit, made on buttery brioche and crammed full of spices, dried fruit and ginger. And this year, it's even easier to get your hands on a serve, with a new $3 home delivery service available to nearby suburbs, Thursday–Sunday. A half dozen buns clocks in at $10 — grab two packs and you've made the $20 minimum order cut-off. Shoot Crust & Co an email with your details and order before 3pm, and you should have it in your hands the next morning. How? Check out the full menu here Email orders@crustandco.com.au for delivery. Top image: Nodo Hot Cross Donuts
Several hundred works from a semester of student’s, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and photography will be on show at Parade. The vibrant celebration will be opened by councillor David McLachlan on Friday December 7th, allowing an expected crowd of over five hundred people to view hundreds of artworks produced by students this year at the Brisbane Institute of Art. Prizes will be awarded for the most outstanding work, so come along and see some of the institutes most wonderful and creative art.
This weekend the 11th annual Music By The Sea festival presents three days of comedy, folk, jazz, classical and world music. With a great line-up bringing fine artists of diverse genres to the beautiful Sandgate Town Hall, festival goers can expect to see acts from near and far like jazz trio Trichotomy, Melbourne indie/roots band Tinpan Orange, organist Gregory Hartay Szabo and Canadian folk trio Vishten. Friday’s third act The Birdmann has toured in over fifteen countries, wowing audiences in his tight black suit by juggling plastic bags, drinking tea through his nostril and delivering genre defying jazz comedy. Legendary crooner Gregory Page has shared stages with the likes of Bob Dylan and Jason Mraz, and released twenty albums. Brisbane’s Kingfisha (pictured) have been described as “so smooth and understated it verges on soulful”, and have been laying down their reggae/dub sound for five years. With fifteen acts over three days, and a short film competition to boot, the Music By The Sea Festival has something for everyone.
Relaxing usually means avoiding difficult decisions. Before you chase bliss at The Bathhouse Albion, however, you do need to make some choices. Will a soak help ease your stresses? Would a cold plunge revitalise your senses? Maybe you'd prefer to float away your troubles? Is getting steamy — in a steam room, that is — your path to unwinding? Would you prefer a sauna instead? These are the best types of verdicts to make, of course, because you're plotting out how to level up your self-care. Making them at this relaxation spot in Brisbane's inner north means that you're on your way to forgetting your worries. A European-inspired wellness haven, The Bathhouse Albion is located in Nariel Street as part the Albion Fine Trades precinct. The vibe here is indulgent, opulent and luxurious — all in an architecturally designed space that boasts Hogg & Lamb's fingerprints. Travertine stone is a key element, giving the venue not just a Euro look and feel, but an old-school one as well. Moody lighting and high ceilings also feature. Within the atmospheric bathhouse, patrons can take a dip in both hot and cold pools (the latter gets down to 12 degrees), then get sweaty in traditional and infrared saunas — and in a Finnish sauna with a fireplace. The six-degree ice bath will cool you down. The tiered steam room will heat you back up. If you just want to drift, there's the float room. And, in-between treatments, the relaxation lounge awaits. Turning chasing bliss into a multi-sensory experience, The Bathhouse Albion also features calming fragrances and sounds — and there's no phones allowed, and no alcohol as well. It also has a cap on guest numbers for each session, so you won't have too much company. And yes, there's tea — that bathhouse staple — for sipping, plus cotton towels aplenty. Casual sessions start from $59. At the other end of the pricing scale, those feeling flush, not to mention willing commit a hefty chunk of cash to their relaxation, can opt for the $833-a-month unlimited membership. It gets you unlimited access and priority bathhouse sessions, as well as two monthly guest passes and two float passes.
UPDATE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19: Live at the Bowl's extended lineup has been announced. On top of all the acts below, you can now catch the like of Ball Park Music and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard performing as part of the Summer Sounds series alongside Piknic Electronik, The Cat Empire, The Avalanches and many more. Check out the full event schedule via Live at the Bowl. When the warm weather rolls around each year, Melburnians usually have multiple reasons to head to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For those feeling festive, it's where Carols by Candlelight is held. And for anyone keen on catching orchestral shows under the evening sky, it's where the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has held its free summer series for decades. Come 2021, the iconic venue will also play host to a new event: Live at the Bowl. It's a response to this past chaotic year, with holding a COVID-safe summer festival its number-one aim. Well, that and giving the city's residents something fun to add to their calendars after 2020's struggles. Live at the Bowl will run from Friday, January 8–Friday, April 23 and will feature more than 40 performances. The eclectic lineup is stacked with local talent from different eras and genres including Missy Higgins, Lime Cordiale, Daryl Braithwaite, Sampa the Great and Birds of Tokyo performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. If you're looking to laugh, Emmy Award-winner Hannah Gadsby is also heading up a night of comedy alongside Zoë Coombs Marr. It'll be a socially distanced affair, obviously, which the renders of the event illustrate — including separate platforms that split the audience up into groups, as festivals overseas have already been using. Tickets are on sale Wednesday, December 16 via Ticketek. Check out the full program below and find out more via Live at the Bowl. LIVE AT THE BOWL LINEUP Spinifex Gum — Friday, January 8 Human Nature — Saturday, January 9 Piknic Électronik — Sunday, January 10 A Symphonic Celebration — Thursday, January 14 Soju Gang presents SorBaes — Friday, January 15 Mo'Ju with Orchestra Victoria — Saturday, January 16 Teeny Tiny Stevies — Sunday, January 17 Ocean Alley — Thursday, January 21 Birds of Tokyo with the MSO — Friday, January 22 Share the Spirit 2021 — Tuesday, January 26 Missy Higgins — Wednesday, January 27 2021 Sidney Myer Free Concerts — Friday, January 29, Saturday, February 6 and Wednesday, February 10 Sun Cycle — Saturday, January 30 Lime Cordiale — Thursday, February 4 Running Touch — Friday, February 5 Rock the Bowl with Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaite and The Black Sorrows — Friday, February 12 Chinese New Year — Saturday, February 13 Vika & Linda — Sunday, February 14 Hannah Gadsby — Wednesday, February 17 Sampa the Great — Saturday, March 13 No Friend But the Mountains — Sunday, March 21 Top Image: Piknic Électronik by Wade Malligan
A Royal Tenenbaums rollercoaster? A Life Aquatic submarine ride? A Grand Budapest Hotel cable car? Your wildest, most whimsical dreams are about to come to fruition; Wes Anderson has announced his plans to team up with Devo-co-founder and longtime Anderson collaborative composer Mark Mothersbaugh on their very own theme park. If you've watched a few Wes Anderson films, you would have heard Mothersbaugh's iconic scores — the man's worked on Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou to name a few. But the Devo legend is also an applauded artist who's releasing his own visual art book: Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia. When Anderson's book foreword was revealed, so were the pair's theme park plans. "I hope to soon secure the means to commission the construction of an important and sizeable theme park to be conceived and designed entirely by Mark Mothersbaugh," Anderson wrote in the foreword . "For 40 years he has set about creating a body of work which amounts to his own Magic Kingdom, where the visitor is amused and frightened, often simultaneously." We're waiting for the finer details with baited breath, perhaps a ride on the Darjeeling Limited or a wild ride through the tunnels of the Fantastic Mr Fox? If Mothersbaugh's art is anything to go by, things are going to be a little weirder than we're used to with twee king Anderson. Here's one of Mothersbaugh's best Anderson score moments, just to get you squealing a little higher. https://youtube.com/watch?v=214w5Bh9mp4 Via Flavorwire.
Get excited, festivalgoers: Pitch Music & Arts is returning to Grampian Plains in 2025, complete with a jam-packed roster of talent. Joy Orbison, Honey Dijon, Funk Tribu, 2manydjs: they're all on the just-announced bill. So are Daria Kolosova, SPFDJ, 999999999, Shanti Celeste, FJAAK, Lady Shaka and Job Jobse, with the list going on from there. When Victoria's March long weekend arrives each year, music lovers have two reasons to head out of town — or head to the state from interstate — for a few days of tunes. Both are beloved parts of the cultural calendar. Both are such a hit that you need to enter a ballot to get tickets. And just as Golden Plains has already done, Pitch Music & Arts is locking in its 2025 details. Everyone should make the trip to the Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of the much-loved camping festival, which will host its eighth edition, taking over Moyston again. Next years' festivities are happening from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, as always, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, no matter who makes it onto the bill, attendees are in for a very big, very busy four days. Joy Orbison's 'flight fm' and 'better' were used in teaser videos for 2025's fest, which was indeed a huge advance lineup hint. You can also look forward to catching Gabber Eleganza, BASHKKA, Funk Assault, Baraka, ISAbella, Ogazón, southstar, Midland, Dax J, Anetha and plenty more, including Osmosis Jones, Moopie, DJ PGZ, Stev Zar, Jennifer Loveless and Mabel. The ticket ballot is currently open until 9am AEDT on Monday, November 25 — and is a necessity after the last three festivals all sold out — and you can get also excited about a bigger Pitch One stage, Pitch Black getting a revamp and the Resident Advisor stage's red orb being part of the fun again. Pitch Music & Arts has revealed its arts lineup as well, unveiling it alongside the music lineup for the first time, and it's also stacked. Think: Adnate, Anatolik Belikov, Ash Keating, Builders Club, Clayton Blake, EJ Son, ENOKi, Georgia Treloar, Henry Howson & Ambrose Zacharakis, Jaqui Munoz, Joan Sandoval, Lukas Rafik Mayer, ØFFËRÎNGŠ (aka Melissa Gilbert), Petra Péterffy, Rachel Lyn & Cameron Trafford, Raquel Villa, Reelize Studio, Sam Hayes, TERRAIN, Tetrik and UnitePlayPerform. In between all of the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers will again be able to make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. The local-focused Club Serra will be new in 2025, championing homegrown talent. Pitch Music & Arts 2025 Lineup 2 LUBLY 2manydjs (DJ set) 6 SENSE 999999999 Anetha Audrey Danza BADSISTA Baraka (LIVE) BASHKKA D. Tiffany Daria Kolosova b2b SPFDJ Dax J Diffrent DJ Fuckoff DJ Gigola DJ Paulette DJ PGZ b2b Moopie Ed Kent Ela Minus Elli Acula Fadi Mohem FJAAK (LIVE) Funk Assault Funk Tribu Gabber Eleganza presents the Hakke Show GiGi FM Guy Contact Honey Dijon ISAbella Jennifer Loveless Job Jobse Joy Orbison Kasper Marott Kia Kuzco (LIVE) Lacchesi Lady Shaka Leo Pol Maara Mabel Maruwa Mia Koden Midland Mikalah Watego Miley Serious Naycab Ned Bennett Objekt Ogazón Ollie Lishman Osmosis Jones Pablo Bozzi Pegassi Shanti Celeste southstar Stev Zar Sugar Free Surf 2 Glory Taylah Elaine The Illustrious Blacks Trym VOLVOX Y U QT Pitch Music & Arts returns to Moyston from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot before 9am AEDT on Monday, November 25, 2024. Tickets in the first ballot tier will go on sale at 6pm AEDT on Monday 25th November, with tickets in the second on sale at 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 26 — and any remaining tickets at 6pm on Tuesday, November 26. Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates, Max Roux and Ashlea Caygill.
The streaming television market is a helluva place to be in 2023. So many platforms are competing for our attention, time and money to deliver content to our eyeballs. It has its perks, though. Never before has there been so many great choices available. If the competition is too much for you, and you can't remember which service costs $14 a month and which costs $10, there is a free solution on hand. Enter SBS On Demand. The Australian channel doesn't just broadcast — it streams as well. But what you might not know about its on-demand service is that it's completely free, and comes with a perfect blend of homegrown Aussie and internationally sourced content. If the costs of streaming are getting you down, maybe it's time to trim your subscriptions and take a tour of the SBS On Demand catalogue. Let's start with drama — here are eight shows to watch. EROTIC STORIES: EIGHT STORIES OF LOVE AND INTIMACY IN MODERN AUSTRALIA Brand-new in 2023, Erotic Stories joins the ever-growing SBS On Demand catalogue as a fresh, original title. Told in an anthology form, this series shines a light on the intricacies of modern relationships: from middle-aged mates experimenting with remotely controlled sex toys to breaking a sexual drought by trying out dating apps. The series doesn't shy away from getting spicy, wondering how spicy each episode is? Read our ranking. Erotic Stories has a star-studded cast that any Australian drama fan will recognise: talents like Frances O'Connor (The End), Kate Box (Deadloch), Rärriwuy Hick (Wentworth), Zahra Newman (Thirteen Lives), Catherine McClements (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) and Danielle Cormack (Rake) and Alex Fitzalan (The Twelve). FARGO: THE CRIME CAPER RETURNS FOR SEASON FIVE No, this isn't the legendary 1996 film directed by the Coen brothers. If this is your first time hearing about the small-screen adaptation, you've been missing out. Since its premiere in 2014, Fargo has returned four more times with twisted tales of murder in the American midwest. In the latest instalment, an unexpected series of events lands a seemingly innocent housewife in hot water and under potentially lethal scrutiny. Fargo season five stars Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) as Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon, Jon Hamm (Good Omens) as Roy Tillman, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters) as Lorraine Lyon, Joe Keery (Stranger Things) as Gator Tillman, David Rysdahl (Oppenheimer) as Wayne Lyon, Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever) as Minnesota deputy Indira Olmstead and Lamorne Morris (New Girl) as North Dakota trooper Witt Farr. THE DOLL FACTORY: A PERIOD DRAMA ABOUT LOVE, ARTISTRY AND OBSESSION Coming to Australia through SBS On Demand, The Doll Factory is a six-part historical thriller that adapts the bestselling novel by Elizabeth Macneal. Take a trip to London in 1850, where protagonist Iris paints dolls for a living and dreams of a career as an artist when she meets a taxidermist and a painter, who will take her down a path of dark obsession that she might not return from. The Doll Factory stars Esme Creed-Miles (Hanna) as Iris, Éanna Hardwicke (Smother) as Silas, Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Rose, George Webster (Wedding Season) as Louis and Sharlene Whyte (Sanditon) as Madame. SAFE HOME: A BOLD STORY TACKLING AUSTRALIA'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC The gripping limited series Safe Home from SBS On Demand is only four episodes in length, but wastes no time and pulls no punches in telling a series of captivating and nerve-wracking stories centred around a family violence legal centre. Protagonist Phoebe has just moved into a new communications role at the centre after leaving a major law firm, but the situations in which she finds herself in this tense new environment are as confronting as they can be. Safe Home stars Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) as Phoebe Rook, Mabel Li (Erotic Stories) as Jenny Lee, Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) as Julian MacDonald, Antonio Prebble (Double Parked) as Grace MacDonald and Chenoa Deemal (Troppo) as Layla Morris. ROGUE HEROES: THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE INFAMOUS BRITISH SAS Based on the bestselling book by Ben Macintyre, Rogue Heroes tells a World War II tale of how three young and daring British officers created the original unit of the British SAS. The modern elite special forces team had to start somewhere, and its beginnings involved a small team of cheeky soldiers disobeying orders, parachuting behind enemy lines and quickly becoming the worst nightmare of Axis forces in 1940s North Africa. Rogue Heroes stars Connor Swindells (Sex Education) as David Stirling, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) as Jock Lewes, Jack O'Connell (Lady Chatterley's Lover) as Paddy Mayne, Sofia Boutella (Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) as Eve Mansour and Jacob Ifan (A Discovery of Witches) as Pat Riley. WHY WOMEN KILL: A DARK DRAMEDY OF FASHION, LEADING LADIES AND MURDER Hailing from creator Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), this comedic drama features two seasons that stand apart. Season one stars Lucy Liu (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) as Simone Grove, Ginnifer Goodwin (Zootopia) as Beth Ann Stanton and Kirby (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) as Taylor Harding. The season follows three women from different decades who are connected by living in the same Californian mansion, all experiencing infidelity in their marriages and dealing with it with a touch of violence. Season two delivers a new story and cast with the same glamour, humour and even more murder. This time the focus is what it means to be beautiful, and also what it means to hide one's true face from the world — with Allison Tolman (Fargo), Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time), Nick Frost (The Nevers), BK Cannon (Switched at Birth), Jordane Christie (The Haunting of Hill House), Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters) and Veronica Falcón (Queen of the South) starring. DARK WINDS: NAVAJO TRIBAL POLICE INVESTIGATE A SERIES OF STRANGE MURDERS Based on the Leaphorn and Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds combines elements of a psychological thriller, cultural history piece and compelling crime drama. Set in the Navajo Nation in 1971, the series follows tribal police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and his deputy Jim Chee as they investigate a series of unusual murders that tell a much darker tale than either of them can imagine. Dark Winds stars Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs) as Joe Leaphorn, Kiowa Gordon (Roswell, New Mexico) as Jim Chee, Jessica Matten (Tribal) as Bernadette Manuelito, Elva Guerra (Reservation Dogs) as Sally Growing Thunder and Noah Emmerich (Space Force) as Leland Whitover. VIGIL: A DETECTIVE WORKS A MURDER CASE ONBOARD A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE In its first season, Vigil has all the trimmings of your favourite UK police thrillers: a skilled detective, a mysterious death, and a clash between politics and justice. What makes Vigil unique? The death is onboard a nuclear submarine, and the Scottish police Detective Chief Inspector looking into the case must remain there as the vessel patrols the Atlantic while she investigates. Vigil stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) as Amy Silva, Rose Leslie (The Time Traveller's Wife) as Kirsten Longacre, Shaun Evans (Endeavour) as Glover, Paterson Joseph (Boat Story) as Newsome, Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project) as Tiffany Docherty and Connor Swindells (Rogue Heroes) as Hadlow. All of these titles and more are streaming for free on SBS On Demand. To find more information or other great shows, visit the website.
When Michael Crichton put pen to paper and conjured up a modern-day dinosaur-filled amusement park, he couldn't have known exactly what he'd done. The author easily imagined the story making its way to the big screen, because the Jurassic Park novel started out as a screenplay. He could've also perceived that a whole film franchise could follow, and that folks would be quoting the movies for decades. And yet, we're guessing that he didn't predict the latest development: a recreation of Jurassic World, the fourth movie in the series, out of Lego. Australians will soon be able to wander through and peer at more than 50 dinosaurs, props and scenes from the 2015 movie that have all been recreated with the popular plastic bricks. They'll be on display at Jurassic World by Brickman, an exhibition that'll hit the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, April 1–Monday, May 31, then tour the rest of the country. Exactly which other cities Jurassic World by Brickman will head to, and when, hasn't been revealed as yet — but there is plenty for Melburnians and Aussies elsewhere to look forward to. More than six million Lego blocks have been used in the exhibition, to create the four-metre-tall park gates, the lab where the dinosaurs are genetically engineered, those instantly recognisable jeeps, a petting zoo, a heap of creatures and more. Lego dinosaurs are obviously the main attraction, and this event is going big. There'll be a life-sized brachiosaurus that weighs more than two tonnes, a huge tyrannosaurus rex, two life-sized velociraptors (Blue and Delta), and everything from a stegosaurus to a triceratops, too. You'll see some in a baby dinosaur enclosure, encounter some on the loose, and learn how to track them over the exhibition's recreation of Isla Nublar (while using your imagination a whole heap, obviously). If it all sounds rather sizeable, Jurassic World by Brickman will be the largest Lego experience in Australia. And if getting a closer look at Jurassic World sounds a little familiar, you might remember the non-Lego exhibition that hit Melbourne back in 2016. Lego aficionados will also be able to get building while they're there, with 2.5 million bricks to play with. Obviously, this'll be a family-friendly affair, so expect to have plenty of small dinosaur fans for socially distanced company. Jurassic World by Brickman makes its world premiere in Melbourne and, after hitting up the rest of Australia, will also tour globally. And if you're wondering when you'll next see a Jurassic World flick on the big screen, Jurassic World: Dominion — the followup to 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom — is due to release in June 2022. Jurassic World by Brickman will display at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, April 1–Monday, May 31, before touring the rest of the country — with other stops around Australia yet to be announced. Tickets for the Melbourne run go on sale at 10am AEDT on Thursday, March 11.
Update Wednesday, July 12: Bookings are now open for the W Hotel's huge Darling Harbour development. You can lock in a stay for dates from Wednesday, November 1. Five years in the making, W Hotel's luxury Darling Harbour development will finally bring the global hotel chain back to Sydney in October this year. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the unmistakable harbourfront hotel has faced several delays and setbacks, but has now revealed key details in the lead-up to its official opening in seven months' time. Located within The Ribbon, the sleek multimillion-dollar development is designed by HASSEL architects and sits on the former IMAX theatre site — which is scheduled to also reopen this year. W Sydney is promising not just a hotel, but a luxury hideaway with this inner-city accommodation. As with every W Hotel, you can expect impeccably-designed futuristic spaces, eateries overseen by expert chefs, cocktails created by top-notch bartenders and collaborations with local artists, musicians and designers. Partnering with HASSEL is Bowler James Brindley who is handling the interior design of the luxury building. "The freedom to create an entirely new cultural space for Sydney was incredibly exciting, and we were inspired by the idea of 'the larrikin' the non-conformist spirit of the city that makes it irresistible," a Bowler James Brindley spokesperson said. "We love to design spaces that embrace the individuality and even eccentricity of their locations, and to create interiors that engage their buildings and neighbourhoods in conversations, rather than treating spaces as blank canvases." One of W Sydney's drawcards — apart from its 585 next-level rooms and suites — is the exuberant shared spaces throughout the hotel including a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the water, a two-storey rooftop bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a luxury spa and a gym. The meticulously designed restaurant on level three can be seen from the adjacent highway, acting as a living, breathing billboard for the hotel. Inside, the diner boasts urban design hallmarks that celebrate its place in the heart of the city, as well as concrete columns and unique ceiling lighting that combine to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Other notable touches include jellyfish mosaic artwork that you can discover at the bottom of the impressive 30-metre pool, silicone petals resembling those of the waratah decorating the entrance sign, a future noir-themed lobby inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis and graphic designs from renowned multidisciplinary artist Bradley Eastman (aka Beastman) throughout the hotel's spa. W Sydney will open its doors in October 2023 at 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour. You can find out more about it on the Darling Harbour website.
Ever since Messina has been scooping out gelato, the dessert chain has also been turning beloved sweet treats into ice cream. Sometimes, it creates wonderful new flavours inspired by lamingtons and the like. Sometimes, it gives iconic biscuits the gelato treatment. And sometimes, it whips up its own version of classic dishes — such as the vanilla- and chocolate-layered ice cream cake that everyone considered the height of extravagance as a child, aka the Viennetta. The Messinetta, as Messina calls its Viennetta, debuted in 2020, then returned in 2021. That same year, it also got a Golden Gaytime twist, which is exactly what it sounds like. That Frankenstein's monster of a dessert — but in the best possible way — also made a comeback, reappearing in 2022. Now, it's time to unleash the Neapolitan Messinetta. Again, this limited-edition dish is extremely self-explanatory. And yes, that name alone points to it being supremely tasty. Once more, Messina is combining two things that everyone tucked into a whole heap when they were kids — Viennetta and the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream that is Neapolitan — into one delicious package. What's in a Neapolitan Messinetta? That iconic trio of flavours is all accounted for, as are the slices of chocolate. Think: vanilla sponge layered with chocolate gelato, vanilla gelato and strawberry gel, plus those with chocolate shards, then piped with vanilla chantilly cream. It serves up to 14 people, but that obviously depends on portion sizes — and how willing you are to share. The Neapolitan Messinetta earned Messina a return spot on MasterChef on Tuesday, May 30, with Messina co-owner and head chef Donato Toce challenging contestants to make their own. If you felt your stomach grumbling and tastebuds tingling while you were watching, you can now get ordering — from 8.40pm on Tuesday, May 30. A Neapolitan Messinetta will set you back $120, and you'll collect it in-store between Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18. Gelato Messina's Neapolitan Messinetta is be available to order from 8.40pm on Tuesday, May 30, for pick up between Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Cashed-up visitors to the Gold Coast will soon have a new upmarket place to stay, and the southeast Queensland getaway destination will score some more bragging rights in the process. In 2027, the Glitter Strip is already set to welcome the first Aussie outpost from luxury brand St Regis. Now, in the same year, it'll become home to Marriott International's debut Luxury Collection resort on the country's mainland as well. The Marriott International hotel chain is behind St Regis, too, plus The Ritz-Carlton, which will open its third Aussie location on the Gold Coast in 2026. Accordingly, it's set to be a huge few years for the brand Down Under, adding the Marina Mirage Gold Coast to its existing JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast in the city. If your bank balance allows, your future holiday plans will also benefit. Boasting 110 spots to slumber around the globe, The Luxury Collection made its local premiere with The Tasman in Hobart back in 2021, and also spans everywhere from the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the Prince de Galles in Paris to the Suiran in Kyoto. The Gold Coast's addition to the list will feature 122 rooms as part of the new precinct planned for the site of the existing Marina Mirage on The Spit, transforming Seaworld Drive. As part of their stay, guests can get excited about hanging out at the rooftop bar and pool, eating a meal at the signature restaurant and chasing bliss at the day spa. There'll also be a jacuzzi, wellness and beauty centre, garden, and function and event spaces. Exactly what each will entail — menu items, cuisine styles, relaxing treatments and the like — hasn't yet been revealed. Marriott International Inc is working with Makris Group on the Marina Mirage Gold Coast, with the family-owned company owning the site since 2013. The full resort-style overhaul of the Marina Mirage will also include a new marina, restaurants and shops, and both villas and residences. "The reimagination of the iconic Marina Mirage precinct presents an inspiring opportunity to expand our luxury footprint on the Gold Coast — a market we know very well, after more than 35 years' experience operating the city's two leading resorts under our JW Marriott and Sheraton brands," said Richard Crawford, Vice President of Hotel Development for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific at Marriott International. "The destination's resilience during and post-pandemic has been remarkable, and we are very confident that proven demand for high-quality hotel experiences will be a strong foundation for the success of our first Luxury Collection property on mainland Australia." Find the Marina Mirage Gold Coast on Seaworld Drive, Main Beach from sometime in 2027 — keep an eye on the Marriott International website for further details in the interim.
Australia's hospitality scene has endured a tough couple of years, cycling through lockdowns, restrictions and stints where almost everyone in town seemed to be in isolation. But for diners keen for restaurant dishes without heading out, Providoor arrived with some sweet relief: an innovative new meal delivery platform that hit Sydney and Melbourne in 2020, and Brisbane earlier in 2022. Even now that being mandated to stay at home is a thing of the past, the service can still give you an eating-out level meal without leaving the house — and, as of Monday, October 17, on the same day that you order. Don't like planning too far ahead? As long as you place an order by 1pm daily, you'll be tucking into restaurant dishes in your own dining room that very evening. You do need to live within 15–20 kilometres of the city centre; however, if that's you, you can now enjoy a same-day feast from spots such as Manta, Gourmet Life and Lotus in Sydney; The Everleigh, Lona Misa and Maha in Melbourne; and Phoenix, Naim and Siffredi's in Brisbane. Providoor works with some of each city's best dining institutions, stepping up the takeout game by dropping high-end dishes to customers' doorsteps. The brainchild of Maha Chef-Owner Shane Delia, it drops off its chef-prepared meals via cold-freight within its service area. Then, once the dish is in your kitchen, you'll follow the supplied instructions to add the finishing touches: heating up a red pepper sauce, perhaps, popping some brisket in the oven for its final minutes of cooking or getting crafty with the plating up process. After that, voila! — the end result is a pretty close replica of what might arrive at your restaurant table, hot off the pass. No soggy dumplings or lukewarm potato in sight. "We are delighted to be able to expand the remit of Providoor's mission by offering same-day delivery to our customers. Our aim has always been to help the hospitality industry by opening new avenues of sales, and same-day delivery does just that by increasing consumer convenience," said Delia. "With this update, diners can take meal planning out of consideration, and simply decide what they feel like on the day, straight from the menus of their favourite restaurants." The lineup of venues taking part is impressive — and broader delivery areas include Sydney Metro, regional New South Wales including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Wollongong, and Byron Bay and Tweed Heads in NSW; Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula, Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and greater Geelong in Victoria; and Brisbane Metro, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba in Queensland. Providoor has also updated its website so that you can only see restaurants relevant to where you are, and also filter dishes according to dietary requirements, allergens and preparation time. For more information about Providoor, or to order via the service, head to its website.
The best culinary experiences are only partly determined by what's on your plate — the ambience and aesthetic of a dining space can have a major influence on the overall success of a meal. In recognition of this important facet of dining out, the annual Eat Drink Design Awards celebrates the most beautiful and innovative interiors of recently opened hospitality and accommodation venues across Australia, with this year's clutch of winners showcasing a range of concepts from the rustic and culturally rich to the modern and minimalist. Bar Besuto, which opened in Sydney's CBD in January 2024, took home the Best Bar Design Award. Designer Tom Mark Henry's approach to this hidden drinking den and omakase restaurant draws on the history of Japanese Noh Theatre with a space featuring bespoke tapestries, a textural mix of metallic and ceramic finishes and a palette that skews dark yet sophisticated. [caption id="attachment_978241" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Besuto, Damian Bennett[/caption] The judging panel praised Besuto for its strength of purpose. "This venue sets itself apart through its courageous and unconventional approach, presenting an environment that is unpredictable and refreshingly different." The Best Restaurant Design gong went to Fortitude Valley's Gerard's Bistro, a stalwart of Brisbane's dining scene that underwent a major renovation in 2023, reopening to the public last November. Created by J.AR Office, the new-look Gerard's is a symphony of earth tones, summoning an otherworldly energy rooted in the counterpoint of different textures, such as the contrast between the rough, stone-clad walls and the polished, metallic surfaces of the open-plan kitchen areas. [caption id="attachment_978242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gerard's Bistro, David Chatfield[/caption] "This design captivates with its three-dimensional and experimental qualities," the judging panel said of J.AR Office's design, adding, "the restaurant excels in creating diverse spatial experiences within a traditionally flat and uniform floor plan. Its distinct character is not reliant on the existing building but is instead defined by its own remarkable elements". Melbourne claimed the Best Cafe Design Award, which went to Top Tea's Clayton outpost, designed by Wall Architects. With a space partly inspired by the retro arcade game Tetris, this futuristic, angular, brutalist yet playful concept pairs crisp white surrounds with hefty metallic elements. [caption id="attachment_978244" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top Tea, Tom Blatchford[/caption] "The design's boldness is exemplified by its striking material palette and the unconventional placement of stainless steel tactile studs on the wall, adding a touch of whimsy and surprise," the judging panel noted of Top Tea's design. Despite its name, it's not only hospitality venues that are honoured by the Eat Drink Design Awards. Victoria continued its winning streak, taking out both the Best Hotel Design Award and the Best Identity Design Award. Melbourne's five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel, designed by BAR Studio, was praised for decor that "steers clear of cliches while balancing high-end luxury with everyday comfort, offering a space that is as inviting as it is elegant". [caption id="attachment_978245" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Peter Bennetts[/caption] The Best Identity Design Award was won by the new branding behind Michelin-starred chefs HyoJu Park and Rong Yao Soh's French-Korean fusion patisserie, Madeleine de Proust. The judging panel recognised the branding's "strikingly simple yet powerful" use of colour and text. Branding agency Principle Design was praised for developing a concept that was bold yet remarkably successful in its minimalism. "The choice to forego excessive touchpoints and focus on a strong, cohesive presentation through packaging and signage underscores the brand's confidence," the jury citation added. The Best Retail Design Award was scooped (pun intended) by Chicho Gelateria & Production Lab in Perth. The vibrant and playful space, conceived by design firm Bosske, stood out "for its engaging personality, blending approachability with a refined elegance" and "a functional layout, combined with modern elements and nostalgic accents infused with a sense of humour", according to the judging panel. [caption id="attachment_978248" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chicho Gelateria & Production Lab, Duncan Wright[/caption] This year's Hall of Fame inductee hails from a remote suburb in Greater Sydney's far north, an hour's drive from the CBD. The Berowra Waters Inn, designed by Glenn Murcutt more than four decades ago, has timeless, crisp-white walls that gleam with the dappled light reflecting off the Berowra Creek. A glazed wall along one side of the slender building frames a picture-postcard view of the waters gently flowing by. Reflecting on the simplicity of his design, Glenn said, "It was very much a riverside building, and I did not want to change that character." [caption id="attachment_978255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chicho Gelateria & Production Lab, Duncan Wright[/caption] [caption id="attachment_978256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Besuto, Damian Bennett[/caption] The Eat Drink Design Awards has been heroing the interiors of Australian hospitality and accommodation venues for twelve years. For the full list of this year's shortlisted venues, please visit the Eat Drink Design Awards website. Top image: David Chatfield
Imagine hopping on the train each morning, fitting your workout in while you travel, and then watching the latest news on a big-screen TV. Then, imagine jumping in the carriage on the way home, grabbing a beer on board and blissing out in a noise-cancelling armchair. They're some of the ideas included in Germany's new 'train of the future', a concept that's being explored by state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahn. Their Ideas Train also features a dedicated gaming zone filled with consoles, documentary and live sports screenings, a vending machine dispensing baked goods, brews on tap, a coffee cube serving up speciality sips, and digital fitness coaches to keep your exercise as on track as the train. Dedicated spaces for families and groups travelling together, dine-and-work benches with integrated tablet shelves, laptop pods and a kids' play area ensure every type of commuter is catered for. It's all part of DB Regio's attempt to adapt to the new transport landscape, given that autonomous cars are zooming towards becoming a reality. Indeed, from Elon Musk's rockets, moving hotels and hyperloop system, to self-driving buses, flying cars and solar-powered trains, getting from A to B is set to look quite different in the coming years. Here's hoping that getting to work like this is included. Images: Deutsche Bahn.
It was true 20 years ago and it's still true today: if you're going to take a bright, bold and utterly outlandish trip into a futuristic vision of space, you really want to take it with Luc Besson. Two decades after the French filmmaker rode a multi-pass to sci-fi space opera infamy with The Fifth Element, he's back doing what he does best. And while Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets can't quite match its cult classic predecessor, it has a vivid, energetic and involving time trying to do so. This isn't just a case of same director, same tricks, however. While there's much that looks and feels familiar about this account of intergalactic cops on an interstellar adventure, Besson is adapting one of his strongest sources of inspiration rather than simply reliving past glories. That'd be '60s French-Belgian comic Valérian et Laureline, which the writer-director first discovered as a kid, and which clearly left an imprint on his aesthetic. It also reportedly influenced the original Star Wars, though George Lucas' flicks didn't feature Rihanna as an enslaved blue blob who shape-shifts while singing and pole-dancing. More's the pity. As great as a film about the scene-stealing pop star would be, she's not the main point of focus. Instead, the decidedly human Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner-in-crime Laureline (Cara Delevingne) take centre stage. He's laid-back (but still law-abiding), while she's a feistily determined risk-taker. It's the 28th century, and they're enjoying a simulated stint at the beach while they hurtle towards their next mission. But Valerian's virtual sun and sand is interrupted by a vision of a similarly scenic planet in peril. When the duo is charged with recovering a highly coveted converter that can replicate any substance en masse, they discover the link between Valerian's dream, the task at hand, and the fact that colossal space station Alpha — a meeting place for all of the galaxy's inhabitants — is under threat from unknown enemies. With Clive Owen's megalomaniacal military chief, Ethan Hawke's slimy pimp, and a vast array of extra-terrestrial lifeforms all part of the action — to say nothing of inter-dimensional shopping, psychic jellyfish, genocide, government conspiracies and repeated marriage proposals — any description of Valerian's plot is going to sound over-the-top. And for the most part, that's how it plays out on screen. That said, just as this is a story about breaking the rules in the name of peace, love and understanding, Besson shows that he too is willing to break with convention behind the camera. "Style over substance" is the usual cry when a film pairs eye-popping visuals with a scant or silly plot. But Besson wears the label like a badge of honour, gleefully demonstrating that a barely convincing narrative and nearly two hours of sci-fi spectacle can still entertain. Of course, that's often the space opera's lot. Dune, John Carter, Jupiter Ascending — they've all been there and done that in engaging (albeit divisive) fashion. It's also a genre of film that's often more concerned with appearance and atmosphere than performance, though DeHaan does a great early '90s Keanu impression (whether knowingly or not), and Delevingne proves a beguiling presence, constantly rolling her eyes. Ultimately, they're like the people you meet on holiday. You won't mind spending time with them, but you're more interested in just taking in the sights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wbN9fPU_u0
What's better: free KFC, or bites to eat other than chicken being double-breaded and fried just like the Colonel's finest? The answer: a place that does both. Australia is getting one, albeit temporarily and only in Sydney. But hit up The Original Crispery, as the two-day-only world-first pop-up is called, and you'll nab a burger without spending a cent — and also get the chance to enjoy an entire menu that's been given the KFC treatment. Have you always thought that vegetables such as broccolini and asparagus would taste better if they were coated and fried just like KFC chicken? Cheesecake, too? Peanut butter and jam sandwiches? They're some of the items on the menu at The Original Crispery — and, like the burgs, they're also free. The place: 118 Crown Street, Darlinghurst. The dates and times: 10am–7pm on Friday, May 17 and 10am–5pm on Saturday, May 18. Everyone who drops by will get one free original crispy burger and one other free item from the menu, as suitably "crispified" as the fast-food chain is calling it. Why? Whenever a pop-up like this happens, it's always to promote something. This time, the brand is spreading the word about its permanent new original crispy burger series being added to the menu at KFCs Australia-wide, where every burger fillet is double-breaded. It hits outlets on Tuesday, May 14. As for what else is on offer at The Original Crispery, you'll have to show up to find out. Until then, dreaming up a list of other foodstuffs that KFC can crisp up will pass the time and make you hungry. And yes, this is the latest pop-up from a brand that's done 11-course fine-dining degustations, Peking Duk-led festivals, a nightclub, weddings, cocktails, ugly Christmas sweaters for humans and pets alike, free international trips, and a soothing playlist of chicken frying and gravy simmering — which is genuinely relaxing. KFC's Original Crispery will pop up from 10am–7pm on Friday, May 17 and 10am–5pm on Saturday, May 18 at 118 Crown Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Head to the brand's website and Facebook page for more details.
If you’re looking for the next new thing in craft beer, don’t read on, because sour beer is not it. It’s old hat, by now. Hundreds of years old. Thousands, even. We just never knew about it until now. I met with Joel Connelly, director of Sydney Craft Beer Week, to talk about beers, what makes them turn sour and why we’re likely to see an imminent emergence of this strange brew. “Australians are still really into ‘hoppy beer’," says Connelly, "but the thing in the US that’s been massive is sour.” Given that our fledgling craft beer scene takes hints from everything American, it seems safe to assume we'll be seeing more and more of this 'new' style. “Sour’s coming back now, but it’s old. It’s super old,” he says. So what exactly is this traditional method of brewing that brings to mind a hops-driven IPA mixed with a bagful of sour worms? And, more importantly, why should I want to drink such an odd concoction? After chatting with such a beer guru, and giving the tart elixir a go myself, I think I know. Historically, all beers used to be sour Sour beer, also known as 'wild beer', has been around since time immemorial, and has a longer history than the crisp lagers we’re so used to in our pubs. “Sour’s an old tradition. All beers used to be sour, before people figured out how to cultivate yeast,” Connelly says. They're commonplace in Europe, from Belgian lambics to Berliner Weisse beers. It’s not just a traditional style; it’s the only way you used to be able to get beer. The sour flavour is achieved through the use of wild bacteria during the fermentation process. Instead of cooking up an ale in a sterile steel vat, sour beer is allowed to ferment naturally through the use of bacteria like Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces — bacteria avoided like the plague by regular brewers. These yeasts bring with them a whole new subset of flavours that aren’t present in most beers you can find on tap. The bacteria are brought into production in a variety ways. The traditional Belgian method is to ferment in wooden barrels that will encourage the yeast to enter the brew. Open air fermentation is becoming more popular, too, and uses the wild bacteria present in the environment to alter the beer. Different still is the method of simply adding more fruit to kick a secondary fermentation into action. Each method brings with it a strange new taste that is beginning to change the way beer drinkers in this country are viewing their brews. It’s not an easy process, though. “A beer, from start to finish, you can have packaged and ready to go in two to three weeks, but souring beer takes a long time, it’s months of investment,” says Connelly. There's more to the flavour profile than the name suggests Once you can get it out of your head that your beer tastes so different to any other you’ve had before, it’s incredibly easy to appreciate the fact that it doesn’t. Take, for example, the Doctor’s Orders Electrolyte Forte, a zesty Imperial Gose. It hits your lips and you can taste a slightly more savoury note. As it rolls over your tongue, however, the flavour is all bright fruits paired with a hint of coriander, and it isn’t until you swallow that the tart, sour end of the spectrum is felt. At that time, however, it’s the perfect flavour to have — savoury, then sweet, and then all topped off with a sour sucker punch to the face. It’s intricate and delicate, and unbelievably refreshing. It’s not all about the sour, though. “It doesn’t have to be a full-on sour experience, you can just have a beer that’s slightly tart,” says Connelly. Not all beers are fermented for the same period of time, or with the same fruits, so every single batch is different. A beer might be soured with only a few added extras, and not for as long, so won’t taste like a Warhead. Instead, it might tread that border between crisp and tart, and simply make you think about what you’re drinking. In this way, sour beer is a lot more like wine. Because the process can’t be controlled to the same extent as mass-produced lagers, each batch is like a wine vintage — the same flavour combos, but with different aromas, bodies and intricacies. Like any refreshing beer, it’s meant to be consumed anywhere, anytime. Where to pucker up in Australia Most sour beers you’ll find at the moment are imports from America, given that the sour scene is so new to Australia. However, more and more local sours are popping up all the time. The Royal Albert Hotel in Surry Hills stocks a slew of Australian sours on a regular rotation, while Melbourne’s Slowbeer in Richmond is kicking around some killers. Aussie craft brewers are dipping their toes in sour, too. Western Australia’s Feral Brewing is pumping out the Watermelon Warhead annually, and Bright Brewery in Victoria is leading the sour charge with their Pink Framboise. There are still plenty more to come, with some brewers bringing out beers that tread the fine line between hoppy and sour, like Modus Operandi’s savoury MOFOS (Modus Operandi Funky Orange Saison). Sour is coming for you Although we’re a country that loves clean, crisp lagers and hops-driven ales, there is definitely room for beer’s sour ancestor in the craft beer market. According to Connelly, “People are starting to expect different beer, starting to expect more from it, and the more people’s palates expect from beer, the more open they’ll be to sour.” With events like Sydney Craft Beer Week's Into the Wild, local beer drinkers have more and more opportunity to taste without committing to a six-pack. The open minds of beer nerds, newcomers and everyone in between are being exposed to new varieties of beer every day, and, given this, we’re likely to see an increase of consumption of the oldest variety there is. Sour beer is not something to be feared; it’s something to be revered, like an eccentric grandfather teaching about the good old days. It’s refreshing, it’s delicious, and there’s more coming soon. So pucker up. Top image: Morgan Walker.
This enduring Brissie barbecue hotspot is a firm fave among locals and visitors alike, thanks to its rose gardens and prime river frontage. Take advantage of the beautiful Brisbane weather with a meandering bike ride from the city to New Farm Park via the river walk, before cooking up a storm at one of the barbecues. Invite your mates, pack an esky (yep, you can BYO drinks here), bring the Frisbee and settle in for the afternoon before the mozzies get the better of you at dusk. Image: Emily Davies
Every city has at least one: a place everyone has been more times than they can count, walks past more often than they realise, and always thought would be there forever. In Brisbane, Jo-Jo's well and truly meets that criteria. Indeed, the Queen Street Mall restaurant has been serving up food and drinks for 37 years. It even pre-dates the mall itself. Come March 5, however, change is a-coming to Stefan Ackerie's eatery — yes, the rainbow logo that Jo-Jo's sports provides a reminder of its ties to the hairdressing chain head and former Skyneedle owner. It's goodbye level one berth near the Albert Street section of the mall, and hello West End premises that the original Jo-Jo's called home in the late '70s. The latter part, incorporating the food court-like establishment into Stefan's towering headquarters, won't happen until May 31. While it has probably been quite some time since you've chosen from the restaurant's array of eating options, it's still an end-of-an-era moment for anyone who was repeatedly taken there by their parents when they were a kid (aka all of us). Of course, anyone feeling nostalgic has a couple of weeks to drop by the current digs for a trip down memory lane. And for those wondering what the new place has in store, Stefan told Brisbane Times that the site on Melbourne Street "will be a game changer" — although, that could just be another way of saying "same place, different location". Via Brisbane Times.
Dessert fiends love Christmas. If you have a sweet tooth, December 25 is just as exciting for the treats as for the presents. And since 2017, celebrating the occasion with something sugary and edible has also included Gelato Messina. That's when it launched its own version of a certain quintessential Australian dish: the trifle. In 2023, The Christmas Coma will return again — and this one is a blast from the past. Messina is throwing it back to its first-ever version of the dessert by bringing it back this year. Trifles are already about layers, but this one just earned a few more that aren't in the bowl. So, 2023's Christmas Coma will once again feature level upon level of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass container. What's in it? Well, Messina is going with strawberry and marsala jelly, vanilla chantilly cream and raspberry swiss rolls, as well as vanilla custard gelato, blood peach sorbet and passionfruit gel. There's also raspberry meringue, plus chocolate versions of cherries on top that come stuffed with amarena cherry ganache. The trifle will come with some Messina brandy custard, too, to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit). All of the above is available in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which can be pre-ordered from Wednesday, November 1 — with times varying depending on your state, as the gelato chain has does with its specials now. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT, then Victorians at 9.15am, with New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (from 9.30–10am). You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Thursday, December 21–Sunday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour. In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out ridiculously fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. Gelato Messina's 2023 Christmas Coma will be available to order from Wednesday, November 1. Head to the Messina website for further details.
Among the many things that cinema's various bleak visions of the future have taught us, the need for sturdy footwear is right up there. Who wants to be caught wandering through Mad Max: Fury Road's apocalyptic wasteland with flimsy shoes? And, although Blade Runner's 2019 setting has been and gone, who wants to be bathed in its neon lights or Blade Runner 2049's orange haze without their toes covered? Consider Dr Martens' new Warner Bros-inspired range the perfect kicks if dystopian times come, then. Some are best worn if you're feeling shiny and chrome, others will suit you if you wonder whether androids dream of electric sheep. The iconic footwear label has teamed up with the movie studio to celebrate the latter's 100th anniversary, paying tribute to Mad Max: Fury Road and the OG Blade Runner specifically across four pairs of docs. There's two types of shoes for each, with both films scoring their own riff on Dr Martens' 1460 boot and Jadon boot. Here's one way to choose which kind you want: via the thickness of the soles, with the Jadon's platform base adding to your height. For Mad Max: Fury Road devotees hanging out for prequel Furiosa, the 1460 version comes with "what a lovely day" printed on the back of old harness leather, and also features a harness over the shoes, plus laces with a spearhead charm printed with Immortan Joe emblem. If you opt for the Jadon boots, you'll get chrome-plated shoes that feature the skull emblem stamped on a metal plate, a zipper to match, red rubber and a chain threaded around the back, gear-inspired eyelets and a skeleton arm pointing towards the toe. The Blade Runner kicks both feature four unforgettable words: "like tears in rain". With the 1460 boot, the phrase repeats along the welt. With the Jadon, it's printed on the backstrap. The 1460 also includes a grid print, a strip of reflective tape on the backtrap, a Tyrell Corporation stamp and lace charm to match, as well as a dog tag. With the Jadon, it boasts red stitching, multiple Tyrell Corp nods — including via embossing — and an origami unicorn charm. When you're getting decked out to worship your favourite sci-fi classic, there's also Blade Runner-inspired bag if you're a matchy-matchy sort. Dr Martens new Warner Bros anniversary range is available from Thursday, November 16 online and in stores — head to the brand's website for further details.
If 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater wants to catch a wave, but doesn't feel like going to the beach, he can hop on a board at his inland surf ranch in Lemoore, California. Next time the surfing champ is in Australia, he'll be able to hang ten at a second facility on the Sunshine Coast. While no dates have been announced, the second surf ranch is set to open in Coolum, a 90-minute drive from Brisbane. It'll sprawl over a 510-hectare site, with 75 percent of the space dedicated to wetlands, public areas and lakes — although the surf ranch is clearly the main attraction. Like the Californian spot, the Sunny Coast's surf ranch will use the Kelly Slater Wave System — which, after taking ten years to develop, is crucial to the whole concept. It creates "repeatable man-made waves that convincingly deliver the power and shape of ocean waves most sought after by accomplished surfers, including a hollow barrel allowing for long tube rides". It was the impressiveness of these man-made waves that convinced surfing's governing body World Surf League (WSL) to acquire a majority stake in the Kelly Slater Wave Company (which created the wave technology and owns the Lemoore ranch) back in 2016. Opening more surf ranches was always part of WSL's plans — and, thankfully for us, it's launching the next one in Australia. [caption id="attachment_747864" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kelly Slater surfing at World Surf League's surf ranch in Lemoore, California.[/caption] As well as serving up all of the waves and none of the rips, unpredictable conditions and not-so-friendly sea creatures, the $1.1 billion development surrounding WSL's first Aussie ranch will also feature an eco-resort, a hotel, shops, a 'farm to plate' restaurant, serviced apartments, a sports centre, a school and houses. That means that you can head by for a surfing vacation or, if you're super-dedicated and have always wanted an excuse to pretend that you're in Point Break, you can move into the residential area. Like the Lemoore facility, the surf resort will be used for both competitions and coaching purposes. And if you're wondering why WSL has Queensland on its radar, the reasons are twofold. Firstly, surfing is set to become an Olympic sport at the Tokyo games next year. Secondly, the Sunshine State is contemplating putting in a bid for the 2032 Olympics. Australia already has a few man-made surfing spots for the public in the works, with Urbnsurf Melbourne launching this summer, and a Sydney location due to open next year. An outfit called Surf Lakes has also built a prototype spot at Yeppoon in regional Queensland, but it's only for testing — although the ultimate hope is that commercial versions will follow. WSL Surf Ranch is set to open in Coolum, Sunshine Coast. We'll let you know when exact dates are announced. Images: WSL Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California.
Riding bulls in Broome, empty pie shops, Western Sydney's total boss suit-wearing sapeur trend straight from the Democratic Republic of Congo — Australian life is pretty hard to pin down. Legendary Sydney artist Ken Done, The Messenger Group owner and creative director Lisa Messenger and award-winning Sydney photographer Stephen Dupont have come close to it, painstakingly trawled through a record 1250 entries in the City of Sydney’s 2014 Australian Life competition. Part of this year's Art & About program, the exhibition formerly known as Sydney Life has been expanded to include the whole country this time around — as well as Instagram. Unsurprisingly attracting a record wave of Australian photographers — both established and upcoming — Australian Life now has its 22 finalists, all of whom sought to capture their own little corner of Australia as intimately or vastly as possible. The resulting shortlist (notably mostly made up of NSW photographers) is a significantly diverse patchwork of Australian daily life in its weirdest, funniest and saddest moments. "We opened this iconic competition to all Australians for the first time and we are delighted with the result," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "We’ve received record numbers of entries providing unique glimpses into the lives of people from right across our country." The Australian Life competition is no small fry; the winner takes home a cheeky $10,000 prize. The top shot is set to be announced at Art & About Sydney’s free public launch party in Martin Place on Friday, September 19, after which you'll be able to stroll through Hyde Park's St James walkway and take in all 22 finalists in large-scale reproductions until October 12. Casual snappers, you've still got a shot at glory and fame. If you think you've nailed a moment of pure Australianness with one of your Instagrams, make sure you hashtag it #australianlife and enter the official Instagram part of the competition. Entries are open until September 18 and will be announced October 3. Australian Life 2014 finalists: Georgina Pope (Goulburn, NSW) — A great day for drying Berylouise Mitchell (Ashfield, NSW) — Anzac Day Tribute Godelieve Mols (Dee Why, NSW) — AFL Match in Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, NT Rodney Campbell (Lane Cove North, NSW) — Boarding Glenn Campbell (Darwin, NT) — Brothers in Boob Tubes Natalie Grono (Lennox Head, NSW) — Children of the tribe Rob Annesley (Lugarno, NSW) — ColourMeRad 5K Ivana Jovanovic (Botany, NSW) — Dinner Jon Lewis (Wombeyan Caves, NSW) — Farewelling Martin Sharp Desmond Kok Hui Ong (Redfern, NSW) — For Sale Paul Blackmore (Tamarama, NSW) — Icebergs Matthew Newton (Hobart, TAS) — I’m a fire starter Jewels Lynch (Tweed Heaqds, NSW) — Mutitjulu Dreaming Richard Payne (Manly, NSW) — PIES Brent Winstone (Bondi Beach, NSW) — Pondering in the tent of wonder Lisa Maree Williams (Bondi Junction, NSW) — Rio Station Warwick Kent (Crows Nest, NSW) — Rush Hour Tamara Voninski (Alexandria, NSW) — Saltwater Cowboys Louise Whelan (Avalon, NSW) — Sydney Sapeurs Dianne English (Round Corner, NSW) — The Doll House Andre Martin (Artarmon, NSW) — tin city John Goodridge (Newington, NSW) — Windbreak For more details and full stories behind the finalists visit Art & About.
During the catastrophic bushfire season over the summer of 2019–20, flames encroached on Bundanon and Riversdale, the 1100-hectare properties that were gifted to the Australian public by by artist Arthur Boyd and his wife Yvonne Boyd back in 1993. Located in the Shoalhaven region on the New South Wales south coast, the heritage-listed sites were thankfully saved, as was the art collection within them — and now they're all part of Australia's sprawling new bushland gallery. The Bundanon Art Museum was first announced back in 2018, with construction starting in early 2020. Come Saturday, January 29, it'll finally opening its doors to the public. The purpose-built, 500-square-metre structure will showcase contemporary and First Nations art year-round, starting with opening exhibition From impulse to action, which is all about the creative energy of experimentation. And yes, works by Boyd are part of the program. The venue will host three seasons each year, drawing from its $46.5 million onsite collection of around 4000 items, plus new commissions. When they're not on display, the museum's pieces are housed in a safe storage facility, which is part of its 'environmentally prepared gallery-of-the-future' design by Kerstin Thompson Architects, and takes all of the challenges posed by its location and the changing climate into consideration. Also a highlight: The Bridge, the 160-metre-long by nine-metres-wide structure that doubles as a learning centre, and spans over the existing gully on the property's sloping hillside. As well as teaching and break-out spaces, it features accommodation for up to 64 guests, plus cafe and dining facilities. And views, too, taking in the Shoalhaven River — because seeing the scenery is as much an aim here as checking out art. That eatery, Ramox Cafe, will serve up seasonal menus that hero paddock-to-plate ingredients and source produce from the Shoalhaven region. Drinks-wise, expect sips from local wineries and breweries, continuing the local mindset. Built near the site's existing nineteenth century buildings, the new art museum and bridge also share a public plaza as part of the $34 million project. Windows that frame the artwork with glimpses of the natural splendour outside are also a big feature — and, as well as responding to its surroundings, including by making The Bridge a piece of flood infrastructure that'll still allow water to flow naturally across the property, it's all solar-powered. As for that hefty art collection, if spans around more than 1300 works by Arthur Boyd himself, as well as pieces by Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya and Brett Whiteley. When the Boyds gave the rural site to the Australian public back more than a quarter-century ago, Bundanon and Riversdale became a haven for creativity, arts and education, and remained a working farm. That's all staying the same now that Bundanon Art Museum is opening — just with the new addition built into the hillside. Bundanon Art Museum opens on Saturday, January 29 at 170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo, New South Wales. For further information, visit the venue's website. Images: Zan Wimberley.
Talk about making up for lost time: after finally heading north to Queensland, opening its first Sunshine State store in Newstead in Brisbane in mid-July, Sydney salad chain Fishbowl will launch its next outpost in August. This time, it's setting up shop in Burleigh Heads, and giving Gold Coast residents a taste of its Japanese-inspired bowls. Fishbowl originally started serving up healthy vegetable-filled bowls in New South Wales six years ago, in 2016, back when founders Nathan Dalah, Nic Pestalozzi and Casper Ettelson were all uni students. Since, then, in just NSW and Victoria alone, it has expanded to operate 22 stores in Sydney and five in Melbourne. Launching on Saturday, August 6, the Burleigh Heads spot will be the chain's Gold Coast flagship joint, and will continue to serve up the dishes that've made the brand such a hit. The company sells more than 10,000 bowls of its most popular dish — The OG, that salmon sashimi bowl with kale, savoy, beets, shallots, edamame, red onion, roasted sesame dressing, seaweed salad, tobiko and crispy shallots — every week. For newcomers to Fishbowl, the chain's bowls revolve around its range of house favourites. So, you can enjoy its original salmon sashimi number, its coconut chicken bowl and a warm 12-hour braised brisket option — among other varieties — but personalise it by choosing from brown rice, sushi rice, glass noodles, mixed cabbage, mixed leaves and soba noodles as bases. As it did in Brisbane, the brand is making its GC debut in the most enticing way any new eatery can: with freebies. For Gold Coast folks keen to give Fishbowl a try — or Brisbanites in the neighbourhood on Saturday, August 6 — there'll be free bowls for the Burleigh Heads store's first 100 customers on opening day. It's also slinging $10 bowls afterwards until close, and there'll be free seltzers, live tunes and other giveaways. Find Fishbowl at 2 James Street, Burleigh Heads from Saturday, August 6. Images: Nikki To.
Four years after opening its doors, The Calile Hotel keeps attracting holidaymakers to Fortitude Valley, including Brisbanites for staycations and out-of-towners for resort-style getaways — all right in the middle of the city. Come 2026, fans of the venue's sub-tropical look and feel will ideally have a second site to visit, this time in Noosa. Calile Malouf Investments CMI), the group behind The Calile, has announced plans for a second site on the Sunshine Coast. In fact, the company has just lodged development plans for a 2.4-hectare site at 3–7 Serenity Close in Noosa Heads, which'll feature 178 rooms, 12 suites and 15 villas. Yes, it's going to be a sprawling venue, which'll apply within the broader location and in the rooms themselves. That's one of the key points of focus for CMI's plans, alongside soaking in that sub-tropical vibe — complete with gardens, which have helped make The Calile in Fortitude Valley what it is. "The point of difference for the new resort will be the luxury of space. Embedded in a bushland setting, the large site allows for generously proportioned facilities, including multiple swimming pools, [a] tennis court, comprehensive wellness facilities, [a] cinema and function spaces," said CMI Director Michael Malouf. "All hotel rooms will be generously sized with the standard room being 45 square metres, and a range of larger suites. In addition, the three-bedroom villas (complete with private pool) will cater to families or groups of friends looking for a shared hotel experience." Accordingly, your future trip to Noosa should see you roaming around a coastal resort surrounded by lush bushland, taking a dip in several pools, picking up a racquet, chasing your bliss and watching movies — and then relaxing in sizeable rooms, suites and villas. CMI also hopes that guests will be able to get to Hastings Street easily as part of their stays. "We have commenced discussions with Noosa Council to enable hotel guests to be ferried to Hastings Street via a solar powered electric ferry. Not only will this strategy allow visitors to experience the tranquil beauty of the Noosa River, but this also successfully removes the transport burden from the road network," advised Malouf. Sustainability is another core focus, setting a carbon-neutral target for the Noosa hotel's operations and having large-scale worm farms for composting onsite. A benefit of the latter: feeding the soil nutrient rich worm-cast by-product for the rooftop culinary garden. CMI is aiming to commence work on the project in early 2024. Landscape architect Marc Conlon of Conlon Group will be looking after the planting, while the hotel itself will be designed by Richards and Spence, as Brisbane's is. Calile Malouf Investments' new Noosa resort is set to open in 2026 at 3–7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads. In the interim, find Brisbane's The Calile Hotel at 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley. The Calile Fortitude Valley images: Sean Fennessy. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
In gleaming news for streaming viewers, Mick Herron's Slough House novel series boasts 12 entries so far. In another ace development, several more of the British author's books have links to the world of veteran espionage agent Jackson Lamb. If you're already a fan of Slow Horses, you'll be thrilled. For newcomers, you'll feel the same after diving into this small-screen spy delight and binging your way through it as quickly as possible. Thankfully, all those tales on the page mean that the episodic thriller based on Herron's work has plenty more stories to draw upon in its future. Now up to its third brilliant season as a television series, long may its forward path continue. Apple TV+ has clearly felt the same way since the program debuted in April 2022. In June the same year, the platform renewed Slow Horses for a third and fourth run before its second had even aired. That next chapter arrived that December and didn't disappoint. Neither does the latest and 2023's only batch of six episodes, this time taking its cues from Herron's Real Tigers — after season one used the novel Slow Horses as its basis, and season two did the same with Dead Lions — in charting the ins and outs of MI5's least-favourite department. Slough House is where the service rejects who can't be fired but aren't trusted to be proper operatives are sent to dwell in record-keeping drudgery, with Lamb (Gary Oldman, Oppenheimer) its happily cantankerous, seedy and shambolic head honcho. Each season, Lamb and his team of losers, misfits and boozers — Mick Jagger's slinky earworm of a theme tune's words — find themselves immersed in another chaotic case that everyone above them wishes that they weren't. That said, Slow Horses isn't a formulaic procedural. Sharply written, directed and acted, and also immensely wryly funny, it's instead one of the best spy series to grace television. Each repeat go-around might feature Lamb's band of disgraced agents demonstrating that they're not the write-offs that the rest of the espionage field thinks — and often wants — them to be, but every season-long predicament is meticulously detailed, as are the series' characters. It's easy to see why all things Slough House have gone the television route, rather than following Bond, Bourne and Mission: Impossible into cinema: these are people and scenarios that benefit from spending as much time with as possible. Slow Horses' astuteness, excellent cast and knack for comedy are all present in season three, which starts with two British intelligence officers in Istanbul. Sean Donovan (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Gangs of London) and Alison Dunn (Katherine Waterston, Babylon) share a bed as well as the same outpost, but there's a shadow over their bliss: he's been tasked with investigating whether she's leaking classified information. The Bourne movies come to mind in early chases, but Lamb and his spooks are still the show's focus. Accordingly, when the fallout from the opening events touches Slough House, River Cartwright (Jack Lowden, The Gold), Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves, Creation Stories), Louisa Guy (Rosalind Eleazar, Class of '09), Marcus Longridge (Kadiff Kirwan, This Way Up), Shirley Dander (Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Dreamland), Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung, Gods of Their Own Religion) and their boss — plus his boss Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas, Rebecca) — are thrust into a game of cat-and-mouse that revolves around secret documents. In London, the situation hits home when one of the Slow Horses' own, the forever-loyal Standish, is abducted. The talented Cartwright again endeavours to illustrate why being banished to Slough House for a training mistake was MI5's error — and why caring about his team has always been one of his finest and most-reliable traits. This'd be a lesser show if Cartwright was simply a gleaming hero forced down the ladder for one false move and always excelling, however, and if Lamb's relentless cynicism about his team's highest flyer was just the bitterness of an old hand about an up-and-comer. Slow Horses doesn't ever throw around the terms in its opening song 'Strange Game' as insults, instead understanding that none of the agents on a slippery slope are perfect because no one is. Indeed, Cartwright and company don't keep chasing a ghost of a chance to get out of spy purgatory solely out of pride, but also due to skill, tenacity and resilience. Lamb's team isn't kept in their place merely because of vendettas or politics — although both factor into the ongoing storyline — but also via struggles, troubles and flaws that are hardly uncommon. All of MI5's inflated egos, uncooperative attitudes, bad tempers, problem gamblers, substance abusers and recovering alcoholics haven't been banished to Slough House, either. While there's a sense of romance to every underdog tale about ragtag outsiders finding somewhere to fit in, Slow Horses is clear-eyed about an unassailable fact: often, all that separates the Lambs and Cartwrights from the Taverners and Spiders (aka The Great's Freddie Fox as James Webb, who has long loved lording his status over his former training rival) is however the cookie happens to crumble. Season three adds extra emphasis to this truth by digging into Taverner's icy turf war with her superior Ingrid Tearney (Sophie Okonedo, The Wheel of Time); the squabbling between MI5's top two women might be more refined than among the Slow Horses, but there's still no one faultless here. As it flits between the service's upper echelons and its lowest ranks, this season also continues to hone its piercing mistrust of everything, especially bureaucratic power. John le Carré (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager, A Most Wanted Man, Our Kind of Traitor) meets Armando Iannucci (The Thick of It, In the Loop, Veep), then, and it's as glorious as that sounds. Tense, taut, riveting, rollicking, witty: throw in impeccably penned, staged, shot and acted, and that's the Slow Horses package. Giving both Scott Thomas and Okonedo more screen time gifts the series some new standout scenes, too, although there's not a moment wasted or a sequence that proves superfluous in this tight and gripping show. Of course, no one will ever best Oldman for Slow Horses' top performance — his blend of slovenly but savagely smart as Lamb is an art in everything from his can't-give-a-fuck gaze to his slicing line readings. And if Lowden pairs this stint of cloak-and-dagger antics with gadgets and martinis as 007, as keeps being rumoured, it'd be well-deserved based on his layered portrayal as Cartwright. It'd be right on theme as well, just as Oldman's jump from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Slow Horses was; being at the summit or the foot of the spy game, and life, can just be a matter of circumstance. Check out the trailer for Slow Horses season three below: Slow Horses streams via Apple TV+.
It arrives in the dead of winter. It fills Hobart with festivalgoers in the dark of night. It gets the brave donning nothing but their birthday suits to take a dip for the winter solstice. For ten fests now, with Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art at the helm, Dark Mofo has unleashed its wildest and weirdest delights upon the Apple Isle — its most sinister, surprising, challenging and stunning as well — and tempted arts lovers Australia-wide and beyond to the nation's southernmost state. Don't just think of Dark Mofo as the twisted sibling to Tasmania's other big annual festival, summer's Mona Foma, though. Running from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in 2023, this event adores the space where opposites clash: dark and light, birth and death, all things wholesome and hedonistic included. That's what makes it the kind of Tassie getaway where you can slumber while listening to an eight-and-a-half-hour lullaby, see garbage turned into musical instruments, then wander into a theatre-meets-rave performance and witness Dante's journey through hell, purgatory and paradise come to life. Keen on the sunnier, sweeter side of this year's lineup? Prefer letting loose and making "when at Dark Mofo" your mantra? There's an event on the 2023 program for you either way, and no matter what level of chaos you're after — and after asking the Dark Mofo team for their tips on both sides of the spectrum, we've put together this handy guide. Concrete Playground Trips' Dark Mofo accommodation package might come in helpful, too. And, while some of these events are sold out at the time of writing, keep a keen eye on the fest's resales for more tickets. WHOLESOME: [caption id="attachment_899216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Luke Currie-Richardson. Courtesy of BARKAA and Dark Mofo, Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] THE GATHERING There's no doubting that Dark Mofo knows how to throw a party. That's the entire festival from start to finish, as well as many of its events from its first moments each year to its last. But there's nothing like a massive opening-night celebration — especially when that shindig showcases and celebrates First Nations culture and talent, as The Gathering does. On 2023's bill: Palawa and mainland Indigenous artists, all taking over In The Hanging Garden from 6.30pm–12am on Thursday, June 8. When you're not listing to BARKAA's energetic tunes and Tasman Keith's synth-scored raps, you'll be enjoying dameeeela's mixes, DENNI's vocals, and MARLON X RULLA's R&B and hip hop. Kartanya + KARAI are joining forces for a performance that blends poetry and music, Rob Braslin will do a stand-up set and Lutruwita / Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Uncle Dougie Mansell will play music inspired by the state. And, in a partnership with Melbourne's YIRRAMBOI, Kin heroes cross-cultural connections between Victoria's Koorie and Tasmania's Palawa peoples. [caption id="attachment_803281" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Max Richter — SLEEP, Kraftwerk Berlin 2016. Photo: Stefan Hoederath.[/caption] MAX RICHTER'S SLEEP For some party people at Dark Mofo — many, even — spending all night at the festival doesn't involve getting any shuteye. But hitting the hay is definitely a part of this year's fest. Actually, Dark Mofo wants you to wear your pyjamas and sleep over. The slumber party comes courtesy of Max Richter's SLEEP, which returns to Australia for an eight-and-a-half-hour overnight stint on Wednesday, June 14 (and heads to Tasmania as an Aussie exclusive). You'll close your eyes, drift off to the land of nod and Richter's compositions will play as you snooze. The forty-winks part will happen on beds provided by Dark Mofo, while the latter is based on the neuroscience of having a kip. If you've seen the documentary about it, you'll already be excited — and you'll have your PJs ready. [caption id="attachment_899213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] ZINDZI & THE ZILLIONAIRES There's a bear on Dark Mofo's 2023 program. There's also an actor and musician that usually appears on-screen to entertain the festival's youngest attendees after a song about chairs, games and stories gets a spin. That'd be Zindzi, one of Play School's beloved hosts, who joins the fest lineup with The Zillionaires, her fluffy sidekicks. This concert is firmly for kids — and the adults taking them along, with children under two admitted free. If you're making the visit to Tassie with your family, Zindzi's two daytime sets on Sunday, June 11 (at 12pm and 2.30pm) are prime all-ages fun. And yes, you'll also know Zindzi as Okenyo, and for popping up as an actor in The Code, Sisters, Wakefield and Totally Completely Fine. [caption id="attachment_899214" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Zizuke. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] FULU MIZIKI Venturing to Dark Mofo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Fulu Miziki won't just entertain you with their Afro-futurist-punk sounds. That's a given; however, they'll also make you think twice about what you discard. As you watch them play, they'll be making music with garbage — which they've turned into musical instruments. There are two parts to Fulu Miziki's Dark Mofo stint. The experimental workshop on Sunday, June 11 will teach a few lucky folks how to follow in the collective's footsteps with their own refuse and reclaimed materials, complete with a concert afterwards. And, the day prior on Saturday, June 10, Fulu Miziki will also be taking to the Odeon Theatre stage. This isn't just a family-friendly part of Dark Mofo — it's eco-friendly as well. [caption id="attachment_899210" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Nipaluna/Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] WITHOUT US YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER LEARNT ABOUT LOVE When we said before that there's a bear in Dark Mofo's 2023 program, we were referring to Giant Teddy, a towering Korean pop culture-inspired teddy bear that has lasers for eyes, plus a camera that'll show its live surveillance elsewhere in Hobart. But you can also expect to see stuffed toys at Without Us You Would Have Never Learnt About Love — because it makes an operatic tragedy with repurposed playthings. Artist Jason Phu is behind this creative use of jailbroken toys, and will have them performing inside a taoist robotic shrine. If it sounds like the kind of thing that you don't see every day, it truly is. Checking it out is free, and as simple as heading to the Baha'i Centre from 4–10pm between Thursday, June 8–Monday, June 12 and Wednesday, June 14–Sunday, June 18. HEDONISTIC: [caption id="attachment_898571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo Credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Dark Mofo 2018.[/caption] WINTER FEAST Winter Feast is all about tucking into local produce by the fire while listening to tunes and just generally enjoying an evening of revelry. One of Dark Mofo's annual highlights, it returns for 2023 across eight nights — running from Thursday, June 8–Sunday, June 11, then again from Thursday, June 15–Sunday, June 18, at Salamanca Lawns and Princes Wharf Shed 1 — with 90 stallholders setting up by the feast's blazes. Headlining the 2023 event is an acclaimed culinary name: Ana Roš, who you might know from Netflix documentary Chef's Table. She's the owner of Slovenia's two Michelin-starred restaurant Hiša Franko in Kobarid, and was named the world's best female chef by The World's 50 Best Restaurants academy in 2017. The World Tourism Organisation have also given her the title Ambassador of Gastronomic Tourism. At Dark Mofo, Roš will get cooking in a newly built 50-seat structure just for cooking and dining, and she'll have company: Stephen Peak and Rodney Dunn, both from New Norfolk's The Agrarian Kitchen. Their spread is set to span four courses, taking its cues from the dishes that that Roš and Peak whip up in their own kitchens. So, expect Slovenian-inspired fare, but made with Tasmania's top seasonal produce. [caption id="attachment_897774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Camille Blake. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] TRANCE Slipping into a different mindset is just part of being at Dark Mofo. At TRANCE, you're openly invited to slide into a reverie in the process. Hailing from Berlin-based Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen, this three-day performance from Thursday, June 8–Saturday, June 10 isn't just something that you watch — it's a true festival experience. You'll need to purchase a 'trance pass' to head along, which gives you access to the whole show across its run. Then, you can wander in and out as you like, seeing each day's 12-hour ritual — which is batched up in six two-hour chapters — in what's basically a physical theatre-meets-rave show. Along the way, you'll notice nods to religious iconography and pop culture alike — and Butoh choreography as well — as things get psychedelic and transcendental. You'll also spot Tinazhuo's cast of characters go all-in on testing the body's corporeal limits. [caption id="attachment_886260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Marianna Wytyczak[/caption] A DIVINE COMEDY A wild dance theatre performance inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy? Yes, that sounds completely in Dark Mofo's wheelhouse. That production is A Divine Comedy, hailing from Austrian choreographer and performance artist Florentina Holzinger, and hitting the festival from Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18 as both an Australian premiere and an Aussie exclusive. Holzinger is known for making challenging and provocative theatre, and for exploring gender relations — including how women's bodies are represented in art and media. For A Divine Comedy, she's staging the whole dive into the hell, purgatory and paradise as a giant autopsy room, all to explore how humans negotiate life and death. From an all-female-identifying cast spanning all ages, as well as a variety of physical, musical and athletic disciplines, expect to see nude performers, slapstick acts, bodily substances and references to slasher movies as well — plus a jam-packed selection of nods to art and dance's respective histories. [caption id="attachment_899218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image courtesy of DarkLab.[/caption] THE BLUE ROSE BALL Get ready for a ball both wonderful and strange: Dark Mofo's hedonistic masquerade, which this year is called The Blue Rose Ball. David Lynch fans, this sounds like absolute heaven — and it is indeed inspired by the inimitable filmmaker behind Twin Peaks. The event takes its name from a secret task force in that very show, in fact, which you'll already know if you agree that it's the best show ever made (as you should). On Wednesday, June 7, a mystery venue will play host to cocktails, wines, aperitifs and epicurean provisions. Exactly what will happen from there is set to be revealed on the night — having your expectations challenged Lynch-style is part of the fun, of course — but if your costume includes red and white zigzags, you've obviously nailed it. Fancy getting a Lynch-meets-Dark Mofo fix throughout the rest of fest? From Thursday, June 8–Monday, June 12 and Wednesday, June 14–Sunday, June 18, Dark Park will also play host to a Blue Velvet Lounge, and with live tunes and performances all on theme. [caption id="attachment_899219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Rosie Hastie, 2022. Image courtesy of Dark Mofo 2022.[/caption] NIGHT MASS If you love wild affairs that run late into the evening, it's time to lose yourself to Night Mass. Anything and everything can and does happen at this after-dark affair, which is sprawling wider in 2023 than usual — taking over three city blocks, and naming the space District X. Within the precinct's confines, there'll be 13 stages hosting a hefty list of acts, all in an area with a capacity of 4500 — with Night Mass taking place over five nights across two weekends. Those dates: Friday, June 9–Sunday, June 11, and then Friday, June 16–Saturday, June 17. On offer: everything from music and cocktail lounges through to punk theatre and junkyard raves. Attendees can also expect art, performances, cinema cabarets, games arcades, tarot readings, plenty of places to eat and drink, and fire beacons lighting the way. And, on the bill, folks such as Desire Marea, dameeeela, Amnesia Scanner, Violent Magic Orchestra and Mahne Frame, as well as Ms Boogie, Prison Religion, Pelada, Marie Davidson and Moktar. Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania, with tickets on sale now. Top image: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2018. Image of Société Anonyme Costume Ball Hadley's Orient Hotel. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world — including our Dark Mofo tickets and accommodation package.
Winter is coming, and so is the comfiest, cosiest season. Even if you hate frosty weather — or, in southeast Queensland, weather that's only really slightly frostier than usual — everyone loves rugging up and hanging out indoors, especially in a rustic cabin, cottage and chalet. And, just a short drive from the big smoke, Brisbanites will find plenty fitting spots to hole up in. You'll find quite a few less than a 250-kilometre trip from the city, in fact, which suits Queensland's next stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions nicely. The state's residents aren't expected to be able to venture that far away from home, or stay overnight anywhere, until June 12; however we've jumped the gun and put together a list of eight spots that fit the bill. If you want to start booking now — and dreaming of a relaxing getaway filled with wood fires, warm beverages and scenic surroundings — we completely understand. [caption id="attachment_771754" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Witches Falls Cottages[/caption] WITCHES FALLS COTTAGES, TAMBOURINE MOUNTAIN Tambourine Mountain's Witches Falls Cottages have long been a favourite destination for Brisbanites, or anyone else looking for a place to stay in the Gold Coast hinterland. The name, the location, the national park directly opposite — that's a winning combination. Also getting folks excited is the fireplace, spa and private courtyard garden that's part of each cottage, all must-haves at any great mountain getaway. And, you can wander to the Irish pub nearby or stay in and give the DVD player a whirl, should you feel like doing something other than relaxing in nature. [caption id="attachment_771750" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Granite Belt Retreat and Brewery[/caption] GRANITE BELT RETREAT AND BREWERY, STANTHORPE Located on 30 acres of bushland, Stanthorpe's Granite Belt Retreat boasts 20 cedar cabins, making it a must-stay site if you're heading west rather than north or south from Brisbane. It also features another huge drawcard: a brewery. Yes, that means you can sit by your own log fire and sip brews and ciders made onsite, including seasonal tipples such as Granite Belt's summer ginger, merlot sour and chocolate plum porter. In another huge bonus, you can opt for a pet-friendly cabin, too, because your doggo also needs to get out of the house for a holiday. Who wants to leave their cute pooch at home? [caption id="attachment_771748" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cave Rock Cottages[/caption] CAVE ROCK COTTAGES, LAMINGTON First, the bad news: Cave Rock Cottages only features three self-contained cabins. Now, the excellent news: it's located right next to the Lamington and Border Ranges national parks — with a kilometre of the 100-acre property running along Christmas Creek — and it's as serene and gorgeous as it sounds. If you're looking to switch off, the fact that there's no mobile reception and no TVs in the cottages is another plus. If you still need to stay somewhat connected, there is free wifi on offer, though. But who needs that when you can swim, picnic, birdwatch, bushwalk and stargaze? [caption id="attachment_771753" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Mouses House[/caption] THE MOUSES HOUSE, SPRINGBROOK Social distancing and staying at The Mouses House go hand-in-hand, with each onsite chalet located at least 20 metres away from the next. Instead of people, you'll have trees, bushland and other greenery aplenty for neighbours, all within Springbrook's rainforest. Named after fairytale characters, no one chalet is the same as the next, so you're guaranteed a different type of experience from everyone else. Hardwood furniture and fixtures feature heavily, but some have spas, others are near mountain streams and some include sky lofts. Pick whichever suits you best, then soak in the secluded splendour. [caption id="attachment_717415" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] THE BOWER, SUNSHINE COAST HINTERLAND It might not get all that cold in Queensland, but this little wood-panelled cabin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland — and the just as cosy pavilions that have popped up around it — will have you hoping for chilly days and nights. That's because The Bower, which is located near Maleny, has lots of wintry amenities that you'll most definitely want to make the most of. Like the antique claw food bath, the fireplace, and the fairy light-lit deck that's prime for stargazing with a glass of wine and a blanket. It's secluded and surrounded by trees — in other words, it's the perfect Queensland winter escape. [caption id="attachment_771749" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Glass on Glasshouse[/caption] GLASS ON GLASSHOUSE, GLASS HOUSE MOUNTAINS It's easy to take the Glass House Mountains for granted. So close to Brisbane, they're the kind of place that you always think you'll visit one day. We recommend making the trip sooner than later, because this 13-hill cluster is quite a sight to behold, whether you want to bushwalk below them, try to climb them or simply stand at the bottom of one — Mount Beerwah, Mount Ngungun or Mount Tibrogargan, for example — and look straight up. You can also book in a cottage stay at Glass on Glasshouse, and enjoy one helluva view from there. Also on offer: wildlife galore, your own deck and a barbecue. [caption id="attachment_771747" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages[/caption] BARNEY CREEK VINEYARD COTTAGES, SCENIC RIM What's better than holing up in a Scenic Rim cottage? Doing just that while staying on a vineyard. You won't need to go far to find something to do at Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages, with picnicking among the grapes, spotting platypus in the creek and fishing all on your doorstep — and watching the sun set over Mount Barney, too. As for the accommodation, the Lakeside Bungalow is designed for two (sunken spa and all), while the similarly romantic Florries Cottage boasts a hefty verandah. And, you can get home-cooked meals brought to your cottage, which already comes stocked with wine. [caption id="attachment_771751" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kondalilla Eco Resort[/caption] KONDALILLA ECO RESORT, MONTVILLE Formerly known as Treehouses of Montville, Kondalilla Eco Resort sprawls across 20 acres, with 21 different places to sleep spread across its leafy Sunshine Coast hinterland expanse. Fancy sitting in your own hot tub and stoking the fire in a treehouse (which is surrounded by trees, rather than perched high in them)? Prefer a two-storey chalet, an open-plan villa or a quaint little log cabin? They're all available here. There's also a restaurant and a spa onsite, but the biggest attraction is the site's natural surroundings. Sit on the deck and you'll completely forget there's anyone else around. Top image: Kondalilla Eco Resort.
Huge news: Darlinghurst is set to become home to Soho House Sydney, Australia's first outpost for the ultra-exclusive membership club. The much-hyped global brand already has locations across the world from Berlin to Miami, and is now in the process of transforming a building on the corner of Crown and Foley Street above Shady Pines Saloon, with ambitious plans in the works to completely reshape the space. The five-storey development is currently subject to City of Sydney approval, but is set to feature a variety of spaces both indoor and outdoor that are designed to facilitate social gatherings, including multiple restaurants and bars across the various levels. Plans submitted to the city council also show a proposed gym, cabaret facilities, and a rooftop terrace and pool. The plans also reveal anticipated changes to the facade, replacing the building's fairly rundown exterior with a simple, sleek and modern cream and brown design in line with other Soho Houses around the world. Soho House is working with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (The Old Clare Hotel, Bondi Pavilion) in creating the proposed design. "It's possibly one of the worst-kept secrets, but we're so excited to confirm that we will be opening a Soho House in Sydney in the future," says Soho House Membership Director Dominique Bellas. [caption id="attachment_900975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects[/caption] "While we don't have more details to share at this time, we continue to grow our Cities Without Houses community in Australia and are looking forward to bringing our members a week-long Soho House experience for Sydney's first South by Southwest." As Bellas stated, the Soho House Sydney announcement comes as the internationally renowned brand hits Australia for SXSW Sydney — taking over The Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale. The dreamy accommodation, pub and rooftop bar is being treated to a Soho House transformation for the eight-day festival. Soho House and Cities Without Houses members — whether they be travelling Down Under for the festival, or local jetsetters and creatives — will be treated to daily programming and events designed to be reminiscent of what you'd experience at Soho Houses around the world. Included in the events will be a performance curated by Secret Sounds, a one-night-only dinner from British chef Darren Robertson (Three Blue Ducks, Rocker), an art installation from Paul Davies and an industry event with the not-for-profit Women In Music Australia. If you want to join the Soho House community in preparation for the inaugural Australian outpost to open, you can apply for a Cities Without Houses membership, which will grant you access to the brand's SXSW Sydney takeover of The Old Clare. [caption id="attachment_706208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Old Clare Rooftop[/caption] Australia's first-ever Soho House was originally set to open on Domain Road in Melbourne's South Yarra, but developers were forced to ditch plans at the direction of VCAT after strong opposition from local councils and a residents' group. The Darlinghurst building earmarked for Soho House Sydney has a storied history, taking many forms over the years including Bolot's Embassy Dancing Academy between 1924–30, the Playbox Theatre and Stanley Twig's auction house in the 1930s and, most recently, housing several retail tenants throughout the 2000s including an espresso bar, convenience store and a nail salon. Now boasting over 40 houses across the globe, Soho House first opened in London in 1995 as a private members club for clientele in the creative sphere. It has since spread throughout Europe and North America, opening restaurants, cinemas, workspaces, spas and bedrooms alongside the traditional clubs. From New York to Istanbul, exclusivity is a common global denominator. [caption id="attachment_613704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Robertson and Cameron Northway[/caption] Soho House Sydney is set to open at 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst — we'll update you with an opening date when one is announced. Top image: Soho House Sydney render by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
Visiting a zoo, checking out all creatures great and small, then going home to slumber in your own bed: that's one way to get an animal fix. But menageries around the country have started offering more than just a day trip — with Taronga Zoo home to a wildlife retreat, as well as its own glamping experience; Melbourne Zoo letting folks stay overnight in its elephant exhibit; and Queensland's Australia Zoo now launching its own cabins. If this news sounds familiar, that's because the move was first announced back in 2019, with an opening date of 2020 originally planned. Obviously, we all know what's been holding life in general up over the past few years. So if you're keen for a sleepover among the animals at the Irwin family's Beerwah zoo, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge is now up and running. Guests can choose from eight rustic cabins, complete with roomy decks that peer out over the site's bushland surroundings — and at the wildlife within it. Indeed, the zoo is calling the whole Crocodile Hunter Lodge setup a "multi-species habitat". As well as the cabins' various human visitors, red kangaroos, emus, echidnas and koalas that were affected by the 2019–2020 summer bushfire season also call the venue home. Fancy keeping an eye out for animals while taking a dip? The Billabong, the Crocodile Hunter Lodge's 25-metre infinity pool, also looks out over the native wildlife. Unlimited Australia Zoo entry — where more than 1200 animals await — and a peek inside the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital comes with every stay as well, for every guest. Back in the cabins, which are made out of timbers recycled from the zoo's famous crocodile viewing grandstands — which Steve Irwin built himself — you'll find a queen bed and two singles; a kitchen equipped with a fridge, microwave, cooktop and dishwasher; and a lounge with a TV. There's a dining space on the verandah as well and, to munch on while taking in the breeze, each booking comes with a breakfast pack, too. And, you'll also score a welcome gift. A stay doesn't come cheap, though, with prices starting at around $949 for an overnight visit for two adults. If you're keen on a restaurant feed, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge opened alongside the zoo's new Warrior Restaurant & Bar — and it's welcoming in lodge guests and general punters for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and also for group bookings in its private dining room. The focus inside its charred timber-clad walls: Aussie cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, and paying homage to Indigenous Australians and the plants that have long been part of First Nations diets. Breakfast options include haloumi and corn fritters with poached eggs, corn and tomato salsa, avocado, fresh herbs and tahini yoghurt — plus cranberry and pecan granola, with Maleny cane sugar yoghurt, bee pollen and berry compote. The lunch lineup features duck liver parfait with kumquat chilli marmalade and toasted brioche; salmon rillettes with toasted sourdough, capers, cucumber and, pickled shallots; and a selection of sandwiches. And, for dinner, there's pan-fried snapper, blue pumpkin and rosemary risotto with wattleseed crumb, and river mint-crusted Tasmanian lamb loin — among other dishes. At the bar, a small snacks offering helps line the stomach — think plates with cheese, ham and quandong chutney — while the wine menu spans three pages. Opening The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, Terri Irwin said that "Steve always had a dream that one day, people would not just visit Australia Zoo, but stay overnight, and have the immersive experience of listening to and being around wildlife after dark." She continued: "it was so important for us to make his dream come true through the opening of The Crocodile Hunter Lodge. This stunning luxury accommodation is surrounded by our conservation work, providing a home to endemic wildlife species while further continuing Steve's important legacy." Sustainability and conservation is a big focus of Australia Zoo's new addition, with the grounds featuring more than 3000 native trees and shrubs, including greenery that provides food for species such as the endangered glossy black cockatoo. "By building this luxury accommodation with lush bushland around for our animals, we are achieving Dad's vision of a world where humans and wildlife can peacefully coexist, making this planet a better and more harmonious place for future generations," said Robert Irwin. Find The Crocodile Hunter Lodge and Warrior Restaurant & Bar at 88 Irwin Road, Beerwah, Queensland. For further information, visit the venue's website.
Looking for a place to eat, drink or slumber, and eager to do so in eye-popping surroundings? Australia's annual hospitality design accolades have you covered. Each year, the Eat Drink Design Awards shine a spotlight on restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels that go above and beyond in the style stakes — where stunning decor is as essential as top chefs, signature dishes, creative cocktails, stellar coffee and comfortable beds. In 2019, the awards have cast their eyes far and wide. Melburnians have more than a few standout spots to add to their must-visit list, with the city leading the charge just as it did last year; however some of this year's winners hail from much further afield. In fact, if you want to visit the country's best-designed bar, you'll need to head to the lakeside New South Wales country town of Mulwala, a near seven-hour drive from Sydney. And if you want to bunker down at one of the nation's best hotels, Brisbane is calling. In the bar category, Blacksmith Lake Mulwala emerged victorious, all thanks to its well-balanced indoor/outdoor space, elegant colour palette, consideration for the town's pre-existing mid-century buildings and willingness to get whimsical — as seen in its vintage-style pink patio umbrellas, which have a 1970s California feel. And in the hotel field, Fortitude Valley's gorgeous The Calile shared top spot, with the resort-style inner-city establishment listed alongside Drifthouse in Port Fairy. One creates an oasis in the middle of Brisbane's hustle and bustle, complete with an oh-so-inviting pool, while the other combines a double-storey Victorian bluestone house, a single-storey Edwardian home and a new garden pavilion into a quaint and intimate boutique hotel. [caption id="attachment_694718" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Calile by Sean-Fennessy[/caption] Of course, you can still turn 2019's Melbourne winners into a very impressive all-day itinerary — whether you're a local looking for a new reason to go exploring, or you're in town from interstate for a few days. Start with Best Cafe recipient Via Porta in Mont Albert, which got the nod for its bold, warm and inviting design that heroes earthy tones and textures in a striking fashion. Then, check out Lagotto, the Best Identity Design winner, with the all-day Italian spot awarded for its dog mascot and associated marketing materials. Best Restaurant pick Di Stasio Citta is obviously worth a visit, especially if you like eating in a space that could double as an art installation. As for gelato go-to Piccolina Collingwood, it earned plaudits for its retail design — and Flinders Lane favourite Cumulus Inc nabbed this year's Hall of Fame gong. [caption id="attachment_715148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Di Stasio Citta by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Judged by New York Times restaurant critic Besha Rodell, The Mulberry Group CEO and founder Nathan Toleman, Studio-Gram architect and co-founder Graham Charbonneau, architect Phillip Schemnitz and Artichoke editor Cassie Hansen, the Eat Drink Design Awards also named commendations in various categories. Spreading the love around, St Kilda's Prince Dining Room, The Rocks' Tayim Restaurant + Bar, the Gold Coast's Burleigh Pavilion and Byron Bay's Locura rank among those recognised. 2019 EAT DRINK DESIGN AWARD WINNERS Best Restaurant Design: Di Stasio Citta by Hassell (Melbourne, VIC) Best Cafe Design: Via Porta by Studio Esteta (Mont Albert, VIC) Best Bar Design: Blacksmith Lake Mulwala by The Stella Collective (Mulwala, NSW) Best Hotel Design: Drifthouse by Multiplicity (Port Fairy, VIC) and The Calile Hotel by Richards and Spence (Fortitude Valley, QLD) Best Installation Design: The Magic Box by Liminal Objects with Van Tuil (fabricated in Hobart, TAS) Best Retail Design: Piccolina Collingwood by Hecker Guthrie (Collingwood, VIC) Best Identity Design: Lagotto by Studio Hi Ho (Fitzroy North, VIC) Hall of Fame: Cumulus Inc by Pascale Gomes-McNabb (Melbourne, VIC) For the full list of winners and commendations, head to the Eat Drink Design website. Top images: The Calile Hotel by Sean Fennessy and Blacksmith Lake Mulwala by Lillie Thompson.
Tucked behind Gerard's Bistro is its super sleek and charismatic little brother, Gerard's Bar. The newly opened bar adds another feather to the cap for the Moubment Group as their collection of restaurants and bars — including Hatch & Co, Laruche and Lychee Lounge — grows. It's an interesting addition to the James Street precinct, managing to add something a little different to the existing bustling bar scene. Open seven nights a week, Gerard's Bar is a great little spot to wet your whistle no matter what day (or time) of the week. They boast an impressive drinks list featuring a range of wine, beer, spirits, sherry and, of course, cocktails. The Arakan, a blend of strawberry, mint, soda and Arak went down a treat. The obviously experienced staff gladly offered their two cents when it came to choosing a drink. What makes Gerard's Bar hold its own in the competitive area is its range of food. In the front is a charcuterie cabinet bursting with quality meats just waiting to be devoured. Their array of artisan meats such as prosciutto, house-made salami and pancetta go beautifully with a late-night drink. However, the team have been careful not to exclude their veggo customers and offer their own twist on bar snacks, including house-pickled vegetables. A standout were the sliders — the cheeseburger slider with beef, relish, tasty melted cheese, bacon and pickles was a definite pleaser. The bar itself has been well thought-out. Its outdoor dining area is protected by a magnificent poinciana tree and little pockets of seating areas. Inside, a long bar runs through the space and connects the bar to the kitchen, where staff could be seen preparing delicious treats. The contemporary finishes of polished concrete and modern stools all add to its overall ultra cool atmosphere.
If you stream it, they will come: so discovered the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2020, when its biggest commitment to putting its lineup online resulted in the event's larget audience ever at the time. Now that the early days of the pandemic are over, the fest has been back in cinemas for a few years, and gloriously so. But for those located elsewhere around Australia, or folks who can't fit in as many IRL trips to the flicks as they'd like, or Melburnians who want to deploy every way there is to see as many movies possible during the festival, MIFF is still embracing its digital component. MIFF Online kicks off after the IRL event and runs past its in-person counterpart's end, too. To stare at the big screen, you'll be heading along between Thursday, August 7–Sunday, August 24. To play along from your small screen of choice, the dates are Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 31. While the range of films available to view on your couch via ACMI's Cinema 3 is smaller, there's still plenty to see — including both features and shorts. A post-apocalyptic musical starring Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door), Michael Shannon (The Bikeriders), George MacKay (The Beast) and Moses Ingram (Lady in the Lake), The End hails from The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence's Joshua Oppenheimer — and it's one of the highlights on 2025's MIFF Online program. Fittingly, so is Videoheaven, with Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) paying tribute to the video-store era via a Maya Hawke (Inside Out 2)-narrated film essay solely comprised from movie and TV clips. Or, you can visit Inner Mongolia's plains courtesy of To Kill a Mongolian Horse, catch coming-of-age tale Little Trouble Girls, explore a sunny sailing voyage with Kyuka Before Summer's End and join John Magaro (Materialists) for a road trip from Utah to Nebraska in Omaha. Tomorrow We Move from MIFF's 2025 Chantal Akerman retrospective is also available for viewing online, as is the new stop-motion animation Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass from the Brothers Quay (The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes) — plus SXSW-winning documentary Ghost Boy from Rodney Ascher (Room 237, The Nightmare, A Glitch in the Matrix), about a man with locked-in syndrome. 2025's MIFF spans Footy Shorts, a partnership with the AFL that's resulted in five short flicks focusing on the sport — and they're on the MIFF Online lineup as well. For more filmmaking in brief, the Australian shorts package is also making the leap to digital.
In the coming years, the Gold Coast is set to welcome a new man-made surf wave pool, as well as a hotel and resort at Dreamworld. Later in 2021, it'll also boast a cabana-filled oceanside precinct on a rooftop. But before all of that comes to fruition, the popular southeast Queensland tourist destination is set to score another new attraction — with its new $60.5 million, six-level art gallery opening its doors on Saturday, May 8. First announced back in 2018, and given a launch date earlier this year, the new addition is part of HOTA, Home of the Arts in Surfers Paradise. Simply called the HOTA Gallery, it has been built at the top of the site's concert lawn, overlooking HOTA's outdoor stage. It's now the country's largest art gallery outside of a capital city and, obviously, it's giving art lovers both locally and Australia-wide plenty to get excited about. Designed by Melbourne-based architects ARM, the multi-floor gallery spans more than 2000 square metres of exhibition space. That includes a main area for touring exhibitions, a permanent collection space across three levels and a children's gallery. There's also an area for storing works that aren't on display, which is pivotal given that the site houses the Gold Coast's $32 million, 4400-piece City Collection. [caption id="attachment_811097" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Back wall: Nicola Moss Local Air 2021; Kirsty Bruce Wonderwall 2021; Aaron Chapman The Towers Project 2021; Back right: Michael Candy, Steal the Sunshine 2021; Front: Ali Bezer I Can Hear Water 2021; SOLID GOLD: Artists from Paradise, HOTA Gallery. Photo by Paul Harris Photography.[/caption] View-wise, there's much to look at already if you're keen on gazing at creative pieces. Running until July 4, Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise, showcases new works by Gold Coast artists, while Lyrical Landscapes: The Art of William Robinson pays tribute to one of Australia's greatest landscape painters until October 3. There's also Contemporary Masters from New York: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, which makes its world premiere until February 27 – and features 70 works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Richard Prince and Jeff Koons. In the children's gallery, World Upside Down runs until October 10, and is designed to be interactive for audiences of all ages. Visitors can also peer at more than just the art gracing the walls. The building's windows offer a stellar view of Surfers Paradise — and, outside, sculptural installations await. Queensland Waanyi artist Judy Watson's addition to the site heroes Indigenous native plants, and includes a pathway that forms a topographical map of Nerang prior to European settlement. It also spans Piccabeen basket and dilly bag sculptures designed with Quandamooka artists Libby Harward and Elisa Jane Carmichael, and features a two-metre-tall feather canopy and snippets of local language sandblasted onto the bleachers. And Sri-Lankan born, Sydney based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran has crafted a six-metre-high, double-sided sculpture made out of bronze, concrete, neon and fibreglass that's designed to reflect the vibrancy of the new building. [caption id="attachment_811082" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brett Boardman[/caption] Back inside the building, a rooftop bar and restaurant is also opening its doors. Called The Exhibitionist Bar, it takes over 233 square metres, and pairs panoramic views with tapas, share plates, cocktails, wine, beer and house-made sodas. Both indoor and outdoor terrace seating are a feature, and you'll get a vantage that sprawls over the Goldie's waterways, Surfers' Paradise skyline and the hinterland. Plus, in terms of decor, the venue takes its cues from rainforests — as does the immensely colourful building itself, which is inspired by William Robinson's 'The Rainforest'. HOTA Gallery and The Exhibitionist Bar will both open at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Saturday, May 8. For more information, visit the HOTA website. Top images: Brett Boardman
Sydney and Melbourne may grab the headlines thanks to their larger populations, but there are plenty of reasons to love Brisbane. The home of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games offers urban exploration, waterside luxury, natural beauty and, in some cases, all of the above at the same time. We've teamed up with Samsung to pick out the best places to visit in the Queensland capital if you want to pimp your Insta feed. Not only that, but we've separated them out into day and night. Why? Well, thanks to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Series' Nightography feature, you don't have to worry about your phone not being able to cope in low-light conditions, meaning you can enjoy each of these locations at the times when they're at their very best. [caption id="attachment_694714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] DAY The Calile Pool Yes, admittedly, it is just a hotel pool on paper, but somehow, every picture you see of the pool at The Calile looks like it's been handpicked to promote a film where the characters live a life of opulent, worry-free luxury. Maybe it's the semi-circular raised section in the middle of the pool where you can bask in the sun, maybe it's the gold lettering on the tiles on the bottom of the pool or maybe it's the way the pastels of the poolside furniture seamlessly blend with the surroundings to give an air of elegance. Either way, prepare your camera for a dreamy snap. Roma Street Parkland Noted as the world's largest subtropical garden located in a city centre, Roma Street Parkland's incandescent displays are spread over several hectares, providing a riot of colour whichever way you turn. If you want to curate your pics even further, volunteers offer a range of free guided tours, so you can learn about the history of the park, local bush tucker, the rainforest experience and more. Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Tropical Dome Want to see as much of Brissie as you can in one go? Head on up Mount Coot-tha and make your way to the lookout. From Brisbane's highest point, you get spectacular views of the city, Moreton Bay and beyond. Up here, you'll also find the Tropical Dome: a climate-controlled haven for tropical plants which gives them the precise conditions they require to thrive. You'll think you're on an island paradise instead of just a 20-minute drive out of the centre of the River City. South Bank Beach and Grand Arbour Put aside any preconceptions you may have about a man-made beach right a proverbial stone's throw from the city centre, and soon you'll be wondering why more places don't follow suit. At South Bank, you can experience golden sands and crystal waters, with the stunning backdrop of the imposing CBD just on the other side of the river. Located right nearby is the Grand Arbour – ostensibly a pedestrian walkway but in practice, a kilometre-long pergola where a vibrant bougainvillea canopy provides a beautiful covering for your leisurely stroll. Emporium Hotel rooftop pool There are few phrases in the English language quite as decadent as "rooftop infinity pool". Twenty-three metres long and 21 storeys up, the Emporium Hotel's pool offers incredible views over South Bank Parklands, the Brisbane River and even further afield. This kind of position gives the kind of view you'd more likely associate with a gleaming metropolis such as Dubai or Singapore, but Brisbane gleams as brightly as any of them. Kangaroo Point Cliffs Easily accessible and just over the river from the CBD, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs are a spectacular heritage-listed natural formation. People visit to picnic, climb or abseil and, at the base of the cliff, there's a small park with facilities and artworks. In terms of views, though, beyond the majesty of the cliffs themselves, you can see the Captain Cook Bridge, the CBD, Story Bridge, the botanic gardens and hordes of mangroves, all from the one vantage point. Fortitude Valley laneways You think laneways and you probably think Melbourne, but Brisbane can certainly give the Victorian capital a run for its money. Street art, hip coffee joints and al fresco eateries sit side by side in a series of alleyways that will inspire your creativity. You'll stumble upon hidden gems everywhere you look – perfect fodder for a series of high-quality snaps documenting your exploration. NIGHT The Calile Exterior/James Street We've already covered how The Calile's swimming pool is one of the best places to kick back but by night, head on outside and check out what the hotel's exterior and surrounds have to offer. The hotel's quietly brutalist style belies the sandy colours and resort feel you get in one of Brisbane's most bustling precincts. And just beyond the front door, the tree-lined James Street positively glows in the evening under soft street lamps and fairy lights. Fairy light trees at QUT The clue's in the name with this one. Go to QUT and look for the trees with fairy lights in them. While there are multiple public sites in Brisbane where fairy lights illuminate the night sky, the QUT side of the Goodwill Bridge is the biggest and, in our opinion, the best. Pro tip: try to arrive around dusk so you get the opportunity to see the lights turn on for the night. Clem Jones Promenade Science probably can't explain it, but it's surely beyond dispute that a leisurely stroll is always improved when it's adjacent to a waterway. And the Clem Jones Promenade is a fantastic way to see Brisbane in all her glory – it's a wide, well-kept walkway in South Bank that gives you fantastic views of the city across the river while also providing a picturesque canvas for your best social media shots. Wilson Outlook Reserve Is this little stretch of grass Brisbane's best-kept secret? Wilson Outlook Reserve is a small park in New Farm that if you know, you know — but if you don't, it's the ideal vantage point for a view over the spectacular city skyline. And it's even better at night, as the lights from the skyscrapers, bridges and residential towers combine to make a glittering urban artwork. Fish Lane Strings of lights, cute restaurants, hip bars – a trip to Fish Lane at night is like wandering into a painfully chic European quarter. A dazzling array of artworks, galleries, sculptures, murals and performance spaces all coexist side by side with the food and drink options, meaning it's impossible not to find something you love every time you visit. Captain Burke Park Most parks are generally daytime places and, to be fair, Captain Burke Park more than holds its own in the sunlight. But it's after sunset that this park at the northern tip of Kangaroo Point really reveals its treasures. It's well lit, meaning you never have to worry about navigating your way around, but it also provides an unspoilt view across the river to Brisbane's cityscape. See the multi-coloured lights of the CBD reflect in the river back at you and marvel. Make nights epic with Samsung Galaxy S22. For more info, head to the website. Top image: Jamie McGlinchey (Unsplash)
Boasting first-class wineries, coastline, bushland and surf beaches, Margaret River has more than earned its reputation as one of Australia's most beautiful places to explore. It's a region where you can go mountain biking along twisty old logging tracks, seek out Australia's megafauna fossils at Mammoth Cave and visit Busselton's eight-metre-deep Underwater Observatory — all in one action-packed day, should you choose. If it gets too much or you're due a little 'me time', Margaret River has just as much to offer those who want to wind down and experience some of the finer things in life. From sampling wines at one of the oldest wineries in the area to sitting in natural spas or simply watching a beautiful sunset over the ocean, the region has no shortage of bounties in the self-care department. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_720253" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] WATCH THE SUNSET AT SURFERS POINT A ten-minute drive from the main town of Margaret River, Surfers Point in Prevelly is one of the best surf beaches in Australia. But it's not only the waves that draw people to its white shores; well equipped with viewing platforms and benches, Surfers Point is also one of the best spots around for admiring the stunning pinks, oranges and reds of a sunset over the ocean. For those who want next-level sensory delights, pack a picnic basket with local wine and cheese to enjoy while you take in the views. Trust us, you won't regret it. [caption id="attachment_720296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarrad Seng[/caption] VISIT THE INJIDUP NATURAL SPA Nothing says serenity more than a secret natural spa. Found at the end of an unmarked gravel path, near the car park at the end of Wyadup Road in Yallingup, Injidup (or Wyadup) Spa is a natural rock pool with amazingly clear water that bubbles up like a jacuzzi as waves from the ocean are pushed through the crevasse. Now that the word is out, it's not quite the secluded spot it used to be, but if laying your tired body against warm rocks while water foams and flows around you is appealing, it's worth a visit. TREAT YOURSELF TO A MASSAGE AT BODHI J Nestled in the cliffs above Injidup Beach and offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean is Bodhi J at Injidup Spa Retreat. Treatments range from body wraps to mineral facials and spa baths, but the Li'Tya Marta Kodo rock massage is a signature. Inspired by Aboriginal Australian techniques for realigning energy flow, the massage includes applying hot stones to your body's pressure points in a rhythmic massage that'll have you feeling so boneless you'll be floating on air long after it's over. STAY IN A LUXURY VILLA WITH YOUR OWN PRIVATE SPA AT THE LOSARI RETREAT Fancy being surrounded by 100-year-old peppermint trees while you sip champagne in a hot tub overlooking a pristine lake? Then the Losari Retreat is the place for you. Set on 26 hectares of lush greenery, the boutique hotel is only an eight-minute drive from the Margaret River town centre but makes you feel transported to a secret country escape much farther away. The four limestone villas each have their own private outdoor spaces with spa baths, as well as cosy lounge areas and fireplaces that are perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler. And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also in-villa spa treatments and massages for when you really need pampering. HIKE A PORTION OF THE FAMOUS CAPE TO CAPE TRACK White sand beaches, clear blue waters, rugged cliffs — Margaret River is filled with show-stopping scenery, and there's no better way to enjoy it than by hiking a portion of the famous Cape to Cape Track on one of Walk into Luxury's guided tours. Along the way, you'll explore the likes of surfer favourite Redgate Beach, bash through Boranup Karri Forest bush and witness spectacular ocean views at Canal Rocks. Once you've satisfied your sense of adventure, it's time to do the same for your appetite, via gourmet platters, lunch hampers and a particularly indulgent midday meal at Vasse Felix, Margaret River's first vineyard and winery. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Injidup Spa Retreat.
The Summer Olympic Games is a prime opportunity for the world's best architects to showcase their creativity and ingenuity by designing some of the most iconic and celebrated buildings and stadiums in the world. With almost every eye in the world stopping to admire the intense competition between elite athletes from all over the globe, host cities compete to see who can construct the most awe-inspiring sporting amphitheatres. Here is Concrete Playground's selection of the most beautifully designed venues in modern Olympic Games history. London 2012 Shooting Venue Designed by German innovators Magma Architecture, the 2012 Olympic Shooting Venue consists of three demountable pavilions with massive coloured bullet holes. Appropriately, for a shooting event, this unique venue is located at London's Royal Artillery Barracks and will be disassembled following the games and taken to Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. An estimated 104,000 spectators will cheer on their nations' finest marksmen in these giant tents. London 2012 Aquatics Centre The ultra-modern indoor facility for the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events at this year's Olympics is a chic construction designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The unique 6-board diving platform used a massive 462 tonnes of concrete during construction, and the three pools in the complex hold around 10 millions litres of water. Beijing 2008 National Stadium Affectionately known as the 'Bird's Nest', Beijing's Olympic cathedral cost a whopping $423 million to build. The breathtaking design by Swiss Architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron was inspired by a study of Chinese ceramics and consists of an enormous concrete bowl surrounded by crisscrossing steel beams that give the stadium its distinctive appearance. 17,000 workers were employed to build the stadium with The Times reporting in January 2008 that ten workers died during its construction, a claim that was vehemently denied by the Chinese Government. Beijing 2008 Aquatics Centre Known colloquially as the water cube (despite it actually being a cuboid), the Beijing Aquatic centre was an absolute marvel at the 2008 Olympic Games. Many believe that the greater depth of the pools and their perforated gutters help make the pool the fastest in the world, which is backed up by the fact that 25 world records were broken within its bubbly and vibrant walls in 2008. Athens 2004 Olympic Sports Complex Originally built in 1982, the Athens Olympic Sports Complex had itself a massive revamp in preparation for the 2004 games. This refurbishment, led by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, transformed the once functional centre into a majestic international facility, with the addition of the awe-inspiring arch seen above and an enormous retractable roof across the Olympic Stadium. Montreal 1976 Olympic Stadium The elaborate, multi-purpose facility of the Montreal Olympic Stadium was designed by Roger Taillibert and used as a venue for a number of events during the games, such as the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, football and equestrian. The Montreal Tower is the tallest inclined structure in the world at 175m and helps open the retractable roof of the stadium. Munich 1972 Olympiastadion Günther Behnisch and Frei Otto's 80,000 capacity stadium was considered revolutionary at the time of its construction in 1968 due to the giant sweeping canopies of acrylic glass, which were intended to be imitations of the Alps and representative of the new, democratic Germany. The construction of the stadium was made significantly easier due to the large pits that were made by bombings in Munich during World War II. Tokyo 1964 Yoyogi National Stadium The suspension roof of the Yoyogi National Stadium helped make Tokyo's Olympic design by Kenzo Tange both an architectural icon and an Olympic favourite. Tange managed to seamlessly intertwine both modern Western style and traditional Japanese culture to create the fluid, draping roofs of this dynamic structure. Athens 1896 Panathinaiko Stadium Unlike the ultra-modern stadiums of today in which the boundaries of gravity and taste are continually pushed, the first stadium of the modern Olympic Games was designed as a monument to the magnificence of the Ancient Greeks and the Olympics of yesteryear. Reconstructed from the remains of an ancient stadium estimated to be over 2500 years old, the Panathinaiko Stadium is the only major sports venue made entirely of white marble. In classical times the stadium was built and used in honour of the Greek Goddess Athena, while today it is primarily used for commemorative events and special musical performances by the likes of Bob Dylan and Tina Turner.
