Australian fashionistas no longer have to pay a fortune in shipping (or travelling) if they want to get their hands on COS — representatives of the Swedish fashion retailer have confirmed they'll be opening their first store in Australia. The chosen spot? That would be Melbourne, again, with the The Strand on Elizabeth Street the locale du jour. COS is the slightly higher-end arm of the more well-known retailer H&M, but with a simpler, more stripped-back aesthetic. As yet, they haven't announced an opening date for the COS store, but H&M is set to open their flagship Australian store later this year in Melbourne's GPO building, taking over three floors. H&M and COS are joining the Australian high street market at an extremely competitive time. In the past couple of years, a lot of big-name retailers have started to realise that not only do Australians want to buy their clothes but we also came out of the GFC looking pretty good. Sydney currently boasts the recently opened Topshop and Zara, and overseas brands H&M, Uniqlo (Japan), Marks & Spencer (UK) and Forever 21 (US) are all on their merry way over. Via Vogue.
For some people, IKEA is a bit like a nightmare, with the never-ending trek through mountains of flatpack furniture and that ever-elusive exit point. But for others, apparently, it's the stuff of sweet dreams, a haven of relaxation and the ultimate destination for a good night's shut-eye. If you're in the latter camp, you'll be all about the Swedish furniture giant's new Aussie competition, which'll see a handful of (lucky?) IKEA fans each win a sleepover experience at their local store. Yep, they'll get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to snuggle up and spend the night in a huge furniture warehouse (legally). The quirky competition is supposedly being held to highlight the importance of getting a good night's sleep, after IKEA's research showed that as many as one third of Australians struggle regularly with sleep issues. It's also a pretty good plug for IKEA's Complete Sleep Studio, which currently exists at its NSW Tempe store and is being rolled out across others in the coming months. Dubbed Wake Up With IKEA, the event is being hosted across six participating stores, at North Lakes and Logan in Queensland, Rhodes and Tempe in NSW, Canberra and Adelaide, with the sleepover prize going to one couple or family for each venue. Winners will also receive a $2000 Ikea Gift Card (you could buy 167 bags of meatballs with this). Winners will get to spend the night in their own high-tech tailored 'sleep zone'. Think, comfy mattress, your own choice of linen, and a pillow and 'sensory elements' optimised for your best shut-eye yet. To get you in the mood for some serious snoozing, you'll also score a program of pre-sleep activities, including dinner (meatballs, we hope), a movie, massages, tips and techniques from a sleep expert, and some all-important bedtime snacks. Breakfast in bed the next morning rounds out the fun. If you're not creeped out by the idea of all that, you can enter the competition by heading to a participating store — Logan (Qld), North Lakes (Qld), Rhodes (NSW), Tempe (NSW), Canberra (ACT) and Adelaide (SA) — on Saturday, February 23 or Sunday, February 24 and sharing why you fancy a better night's sleep with IKEA, in 25 words or less. You can check out all the terms and conditions here.
We're all going on a summer holiday: as long as you're keen to take your a vacation within Australia, Qantas has cheap flights on offer to help make your next getaway a reality for cheap. For a week, the Australian airline is slinging over one-million discounted fares to locations around the country. Byron Bay, Uluru and Hamilton Island, here you come. Maybe you've changed your computer backdrop to a picture of The Whitsundays. Perhaps you keep perusing snaps from a past Tasmania stay on your phone. Don't just think about your previous jaunts or the ones you want to take, however — here's the motivation that you need to book in your next one. Qantas has dropped the price on flights to over 60 Aussie destinations, with fares starting at $109 and 30-plus routes on sale for under $150 one-way. The cheapest cost will get you from Sydney to either Byron Bay or the Gold Coast. Other options include Melbourne to Launceston from $119 or Adelaide from $159, and Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $129 — and to Hamilton Island from $169. The list of destinations and departure points also spans Cairns, Townsville, Kangaroo Island, Perth, Mackay, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Toowoomba, Albury, Hobart, Port Macquarie, the Fraser Coast, Darwin, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Mildura, Broken Hill, Bundaberg, Whyalla, Longreach, Emerald, Mount Isa, Broome and more. You'll be able to travel between November 2024–June 2025 — so, you can also have an autumn or early-winter holiday — although the specifics vary per destination. If you're keen, you'll need to get in before 11.59pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. And yes, the usual caveat applies: if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. Qantas' Red Tail sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, or until sold out. 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. Top image: hypergurl via iStock.
How many bricks of Lego does it take to build a bar? It probably wasn't the first Lego-related question we were going to ask (or test for ourselves) but The Brick Bar is proof that there are tangible answers to life's most ambitious questions. According to the creators of Australia's first bar made entirely out of Lego, it's a million bricks. And we'll actually be able to visit it when it opens in four cities around Australia — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth — in autumn this year. It's early days so we haven't yet been able to find out where these bars will be located (will the roof be made of Lego?), what drinks they'll serve (surely these won't be Lego?), or who actually counted a million Lego bricks (is this even possible?), but we do know that when it opens there'll be DJs all day and elaborate Lego sculptures placed around the adults-only space. Punters will also be able to make use of a huge pile of surplus bricks to fashion their own Lego creations, in public, with no shame at all. Just watch out for sharp corners. Legobar opens in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth this autumn. Tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis. Register on the The Brick Bar website for further updates. UPDATE FEBRUARY 12, 2018: Due to a trademark infringement, the pop-up bar previously named Legobar is now the Brick Bar.
They headed Down Under to give the town of Yass a makeover. They toured their first-ever standup show our way back in early 2020, too. Now, to make 2022 a whole lot more fabulous, Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness is again venturing to Australia and New Zealand — bringing their latest live show Imaginary Living Room Olympian to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland in September and October. On the agenda: not just tales from the Emmy Award-nominated television personality, hit podcaster and hairstylist to the stars' life, which'll definitely be included, but also gymnastics as well. Their last tour was inspired by a lifelong goal of becoming a figure-skating prodigy in time for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, after all. Clearly, that's not something you shake easily, and Van Ness has a gymnastics routine to show audiences this time around. The overarching theme of the show: that's it's not about the destination, but the journey. That might sound like standard advice, but fans of the rebooted Queer Eye know that no nugget of wisdom sounds average or cliched when delivered by Van Ness. The Imaginary Living Room Olympian tour comes after a big few years for Van Ness, including not only Queer Eye — which has notched up six seasons already — but this year's fellow Netflix series Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, which is based on their podcast of the same name. And, there's Van Ness' publishing career, too, courtesy of 2019's Over The Top: My Story and this year's Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life (plus children's picture book Peanut Goes for the Gold, about a gender non-binary guinea pig). Expect Van Ness' new shows to be popular — their last tour, which played 40 cities worldwide, sold out theatres in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) JONATHAN VAN NESS' IMAGINARY LIVING ROOM OLYMPIAN TOUR 2022 DATES: Friday, September 23 — Riverside Theatre, Perth Sunday, September 25 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide Wednesday, September 28 — Plenary, Melbourne Thursday, September 29 — Aware Super Theatre, ICC Sydney Friday, September 30 — Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Sunday, October 2 — Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland Jonathan Van Ness' Imaginary Living Room Olympian tour heads to Australia and New Zealand September and October 2022. For more information or to buy tickets from 2pm local time on Friday, May 13, head to the tour website.
Disney didn't need to add a new take on Peter Pan to its 2023 slate to tell audiences what we already know: the huge entertainment company doesn't want anyone to grow up. For further evidence, see its long list of live-action remakes of its animated hits, aka the films that filled our childhoods — a trend that will also see The Little Mermaid swim back into cinemas this year. Come May, the Mouse House's latest actor-led remake (see also: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Mulan, Pinocchio) will get Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) slipping into Ariel's scales and tail, and take a dip into the story of a mermaid pining for a different life. And, after dropping two sneak peeks before — one in 2022, one earlier in 2023 — the upcoming flick has finally unveiled its full trailer. Given that viewers already know and adore the original 1989 movie — there's a reason that The Little Mermaid-themed events such as screenings with live orchestral scores and cocktail experiences at aquariums keep proving popular — then we are all well aware how this tale goes. Ariel dreams of being human, and is willing to make a deal with a sea witch to see her wishes come true. That involves a trade, though: giving up her voice to get legs in return, which'll allow her to live above the water. Accordingly, as well as Bailey as Ariel, this new version of The Little Mermaid features Jonah Hauer-King (The Flatshare) as Eric, the human prince that Ariel falls for; Javier Bardem (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) as King Triton, Ariel's protective and unimpressed father; and Melissa McCarthy (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Ursula, said sea witch. Also among the cast, on voice duties: Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) as Sebastian the crab, Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep) as Flounder and Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as Scuttle. Based on all three trailers so far, this take on The Little Mermaid from filmmaker Rob Marshall (Chicago, Nine, Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns) — and not Sofia Coppola — promises vivid underwater realms, glowing light shining down from above, mermaid dances, bright coral, friendly fish and floating jellyfish. Also included: the flick's star singing 'Part of Your World'. As for the tunes, they come courtesy of Alan Menken — returning from the original movie, as do all those old songs — and recent Australia visitor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Check out the full trailer for The Little Mermaid below: The Little Mermaid will release in cinemas Down Under on May 25. Images: Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There is something rather charming about a small bar that rides solo, goes out on its own, takes a risk and has it pay off. We've gathered a list of the top ten bars out in the suburbs, and we're not talking New Farm or Newstead, Caxton Street or West End. We're talking about bars out on their lonesome where others bars dare not to venture. They are the pioneers of cool in their home suburbs, and they are making locals proud to call the area home. Canvas, Woolloongabba Set in Woolloongabba's trendy antique precinct, Canvas's arty appeal suits the neighbourhood perfectly. The heritage building's original boarded ceiling is still in tact, while the walls are covered in murals by local artists and the floors decorated with old fringed lamps. The small bar is filled with shabby chic chairs and Chesterfield lounges, and out the back is a courtyard ready for a small party. It's a place to come for a quiet drink, and believe me the new cocktail menu is worth crossing the river for. 16 Logan Road, Woolloongabba Junk Bar, Ashgrove Much like the name suggests, Junk Bar is filled with a mishmash of prize-worthy junk store finds, including leather and velour couches, old yet loveable lampshades and mounted deer heads. It’s cosy and eclectic with a strong '70s tiki influence. The kind of place where a paisley-shirted gentleman with a Magnum, PI moustache would blend in nicely. Den-style decor aside, Junk Bar’s main focus is on your drink, offering intimate table service and fresh cocktail concoctions. 215 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove The Scratch, Milton The Scratch's motto is "No pretension, no dress code and no pub cover bands". The small bar is a cosy, chilled, shabby-chic addition to Milton's wining 'n' dining Park Road precinct, an area once better known for metre-long pizzas, espressos and relatively diminutive Eiffel towers. However, the self-proclaimed dive bar that is The Scratch has helped bring a younger, no-nonsense crowd back to the strip. It is the antithesis of almost anything else nearby, especially the brewery. The Scratch eschews typical brewery/brand relationships (i.e. the same old bland major-chain beer taps you find in, like, every pub) for a constant rotation of their tap beers every few days — all of them flavoursome craft varieties. It is also BYO food. 8/1 Park Road, Milton Southside Tea Room, Morningside Opened by members of Brisbane band The Grates, this Southside-and-proud watering hole is knowingly kitsch when it comes to decor, with strings of fake flowers, embossed wood-effect wallpaper and mismatched chairs. The bar features occasional live music, as well as games nights and Takeout Thursday (where customers are invited to bring their own takeaway). Snacks are on hand, as are pizzas, and the drinks list includes some interesting beers. 639 Wynnum Road, Brisbane Lucky Duck, Highgate Hill Perched up in Highgate Hill, Lucky Duck have rolled the dice and are going quacky with the theme. Upon first glance, Lucky Duck could be like many other bar/cafes – lots of wood, bench seating, mason jars for light fittings and plants hanging from ceiling – but the closer you look, the more ducks start to appear. From the knick-knacks here, there and everywhere, to the collection of street art lining the walls, Lucky Duck fits the bill. Lucky Duck have The Hills Cider Co on tap along with a range of craft beer. If you pop by during happy hour, pick up a jug for just $12. 15 Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill Toro, Auchenflower Like its sister, Deer Duck Bistro, Toro Bar is an unexpected cell of old-world glamour on Milton Road, Auchenflower. The Prohibition-era speakeasy vibe of this cosy little nook is complemented by live music on a Friday and Saturday nights, a tasty bar menu and a well-stocked bar. Taxidermy, assorted antique furniture, tasseled lampshades and a mirrored ceiling complete the atmosphere. Sundays are the day to visit for amazing drink specials. 416 Milton Road, Auchenflower The Walrus Club, Toowong The Regatta is nothing like we once knew it. Ten dollar jugs and student Wednesdays are but a distant memory, silent discos in The Boat Shed are no more, and now we venue beneath the ground to drink. Go round the back to the servants entrance, down the stairs and below the grand old pub. Here you’ll find the lair/rum den they call The Walrus Club. Think leather chesterfield couches, a raw brick maze of rooms, free spiced popcorn and melting candles everywhere. 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong Brisbane Jazz Club, Kangaroo Point With Coopers on tap, RSL alcohol prices, some of the nation’s best talent passing through and a deck with views of the CBD, the Brisbane Jazz Club is not one to be overlooked. For something a little different, stop by for a gig, a jig and some river views. They do dinner and nibbles too, and it’s only a free CityHopper ride from the city. 1 Annie Street, Kangaroo Point Byblos, Hamilton Set right on the river, Byblos is where the north-easterners flock on a Sunday afternoon. With live music in one corner, drink prices that are easy on the pocket and now Eat Street around the corner open Sundays 11am-7pm, you don’t have to be a northsider to want to join the fun. Byblos also offers a great mediterranean-inspired tapas menu to keep you happy. Portside Wharf, Hamilton Room 60, Kelvin Grove Located in buzzing Kelvin Grove's Queensland University of Technology creative precinct, Room 60 is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of student life. The intimate space emits a cosy and comfortable feeling achieved by the dark hue of the walls and friendly faces behind the bar. Low hanging lights, stacks of vinyl records and mis-matched furniture ooze a vibe of mature coolness, making it a perfect setting for drinks or a light meal. The bar contains a raised stage enabling it to host regular events such as talks, music and public readings. 22 Carraway Street, Kelvin Grove
If the waning summer temperatures have got you feeling frosty about the cooler months to come, here's something that'll warm up your outlook again. Melbourne's major citywide arts festival RISING is back and it promises to be the bright spark in Victoria's winter, unveiling the blockbuster 185-event program it's bringing to town from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18. RISING's 2023 instalment is set to be a monumental affair, assembling more than 400 artists for almost two jam-packed weeks of art, culture, music, performance and culinary goodness. There are 35 works commissioned exclusively for the festival and an impressive 12 world premieres set to hit. Alongside the already-announced Euphoria, which will take over Melbourne Town Hall with an immersive multi-screen film installation starring Cate Blanchett, the program is filled with a hefty and diverse array of happenings. [caption id="attachment_888892" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Euphoria by Katja Illner.[/caption] Large-scale events abound, not least of which is Shadow Spirit — a showcase of First Peoples-led projects across the realms of art, performance, music, food and more. Put together by renowned Yorta Yorta writer and curator Kimberley Moulton, it'll grace the legendary space above Flinders Street Station for eight weeks, displaying major works from artists like Brian Robertson (Maluyligal/Wuthathi), Karla Dickens (Wiradjuri), Vicki Couzens (Keerray Wooroong/Gunditjmara), Paola Balla (Wemba Wemba/Gunditjmara) and more. At Federation Square, a mass participatory work by composer Ciaran Frame will feature 10,000 biodegradable kazoos played simultaneously by eager locals, while Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde's SPARK takes the form of a wondrous floating light show, animating thousands of 'fireflies' crafted from biodegradable materials. Festival hub Night Trade takes over the grounds of St Paul's Cathedral for the duration, coming to life with super-sized surrealist art from Poncili Creción, performances from the likes of Debby Friday and London DJ ESA, hawker-style dining by Free to Feed and even a smattering of drag karaoke. [caption id="attachment_892640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paola Balla[/caption] Head inside the cathedral to experience Anthem — an equally majestic installation of sound and video courtesy of singer Beverly Glenn-Copeland and artist Wu-Tsang, which comes to Melbourne fresh from the Guggenheim. RISING's ice-skating rink will be reborn bigger than ever, this time perched at Birrarung Marr, set beneath an installation of luminous orbs, and complemented by a wintery offering of mulled wine, hot chocolates and popcorn. Music lovers of all persuasions will be kept busy with RISING's sonic lineup, spanning everyone from bass legend Thundercat and Afrofuturist pioneer Flying Lotus to UK punk icons The Damned and hit US singer-songwriter Weyes Blood — and Ruth Radelet from Chromatics, too, performing her first-ever solo show. [caption id="attachment_892641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Rink by Shannyn Higgins.[/caption] Uncle Kutcha Edwards is assembling an all-star lineup of First Nations talent for Waripa, Paul Kelly will take his mix-tape album Drinking live to the stage for two shows at Melbourne Recital Centre, and Japanese composer Cornelius joins Shintaro Sakamoto for a double bill at The Forum. The program is brimming with theatre and dance, too, including two Australian Ballet commissions by Daniel Riley and Alice Topp, Florentina Holzinger's famously unsettling body-horror ballet Tanz — while she's in Australia for Dark Mofo as well — and a deep-dive into the history of alternative Aussie tunes with Robyn Archer: an Australian Songbook. And, it features sound work Consort of the Moon, a communal listening experience by twilight at Fitzroy Gardens — plus Buŋgul, with live Yolŋu dancers and songmen celebrating the inspiration behind Dr G Yunupiŋu's album Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). Meanwhile, catch Hear My Eyes give the Robert Pattinson-starring Good Time the live score treatment, then check out a 20-strong flock of three-metre-tall wallabies in a technicolour work by Archibald Prize finalist Matthew Clarke. You can also see Chapter House transformed into an ever-evolving living museum celebrating Haitian street culture, and take to the high seas with all-ages First Nations comedy Hide the Dog. Plus, you'll soon spot six striking new First Peoples artworks rolling through the city for the latest instalment of Melbourne Art Trams. [caption id="attachment_892650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hide the Dog by Pat Stevenson.[/caption] RISING will descend on venues and spaces across Melbourne from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18. For the full program and to sign up for pre-sale, see the website.
Dream musical double alert: this winter in Australia, you can make a theatre date to see both Hamilton and In the Heights. Sydney is hosting the only Aussie return season for Lin-Manuel Miranda's second big Tony Award-winning show from late July — and now it's also welcoming his debut smash, too. Sydney Opera House will turn into New York City's Washington Heights for a six-week season of In the Heights, also kicking off the same month. Initially staged in 2005, then leaping to off-Broadway in 2007, then playing Broadway from 2008–11 (which is where it nabbed those 13 Tony nominations and four wins), Miranda's first stage sensation spends its time with Usnavi, a bodega owner from the Dominican Republic who dreams of going back — and who also sports a crush on Vanessa, who aspires to move out of the neighbourhood. Miranda himself originated the role of Usnavi, scoring a Tony nomination for his efforts. In Australia this winter, Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) will step into the part. When the show's Sydney Opera House run spans Saturday, July 20–Sunday, August 25, fellow Moulin Rouge! The Musical alum Olivia Vásquez will play Vanessa. Alongside Gonzalez, she'll be joined by Richard Valdez (All Together Now — The 100) as the Piragua Guy — another character that Miranda has brought to life personally, this time in the 2021 film version of In the Heights. On the stage and on-screen, the production not only follows Usnavi and Vanessa's connection, and their respective hopes for the future, but also the residents of Washington Heights, their family ties across multiple generations and their friendships. And the soundtrack — which helped In the Heights win Best Musical and Best Original Score Tonys — as well as the vibe and mood bring together salsa, soul, rap, hip hip, merengue and street dance. "In the Heights is an uplifting musical that celebrates collective joy in a truly genuine and spirited way. Community, culture, connection and colour explode on-stage in a vibrant setting, as we are enveloped into the lives of characters holding fast to their history and creating new traditions," said Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance Ebony Bott, announcing the season. If you're keen to watch the movie — or rewatch — in the interim, it stars Anthony Ramos (Dumb Money) as Usnavi and Melissa Barrera (Abigail) as Vanessa, as well as Leslie Grace (In the Summers), Corey Hawkins (The Color Purple), Jimmy Smits (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Stephanie Beatriz (Twisted Metal) and Olga Merediz (Somebody I Used to Know). Check out the trailer for the film below: In the Heights will play Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre from Saturday, July 20–Sunday, August 25, 2024, with ticket presales from 9am on Tuesday, May 7 and general sales from 9am on Friday, May 10 — head to the venue's website for more details. Images: Daniel Boud.
We've scored giant slip 'n' slides, trampoline gyms and bouncing castle obstacle courses. Now, it's time to get on board the latest kidult craze to hit our shores, as Australia's biggest game of hide and seek takes over a cruise ship on Sydney Harbour next month. That's right: hiding and seeking is no longer just child's play. In fact, Australia's even got its own national hide and seek adults team, the Nascondingos, who took out eighth place at the most recent world championships, which are a thing. And on Sunday, February 18, these guys will be honing their finding skills, playing a team of 'seekers' as locals of all ages hide onboard one of the world's biggest cruise ships, Ovation of The Seas. It's thought to be the largest official game of hide and seek ever played at sea — and, yeah, it probably is. Applications to compete in the game are open to just about everyone, with one game for kids aged 8–14 and another for adults aged over 15. There's a solid prize pool, too, with the last person to be found in the adult's game taking home a cool $10,000 and a cruise. Of course, it's all part of a huge promo for Royal Caribbean, but that shouldn't stop it being a bit of fun. If you fancy yourself a hide and seek pro, don't be shy about it — enter here by February 5.
UPDATE: July 17, 2020: Wild Rose is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Beneath her shock of red hair, Americana-themed clothing and fringed white leather jacket, a string of words adorns Rose-Lynn Harlan's (Jessie Buckley) arm. Her tattoo hails back to her real-life namesake, veteran US songwriter Harlan Howard, who coined an eloquent and evocative phrase to explain country music. "Three chords and the truth" isn't just the definition of a great song in the genre, however. It's the mantra that Rose-Lynn lives by in Wild Rose — and an apt way to describe the film itself. A music-driven movie in the same vein as A Star Is Born, this rousing picture plays plenty of familiar notes. But it also pairs them with such a rich and resonant spring of honesty that the screen lights up like an emotional symphony. Rose-Lynn believes in country music. She listens to it, croons it, loves it and is firmly convinced that it's her gateway to a better future. Feeling as if she was born in the wrong part of the world, the spirited Glaswegian has visions of Nashville in her eyes, as well as a melodic voice that could take her there. Alas, the twenty-something has just been released from a year-long prison sentence, and has two children that she had when she was still a child herself. Her ankle monitor and daily curfew are hardly conducive to chasing star-studded dreams, or for getting her singing job back at Scotland's version of the Grand Ole Oprey. Nor is her concerned mother Marion (Julie Walters), who wants her to do the right thing by her kids, or the daily cleaning gig for the wealthy Susannah (Sophie Okonedo) that Rose-Lynn needs in order to prove that she can be responsible. More than once throughout Wild Rose, its wayward songstress is asked if she writes her own songs — if she's belting out her own truth, or borrowing someone else's. While the script by first-time feature writer Nicole Taylor takes Rose-Lynn down a recognisable path that's part kitchen-sink drama, part stars-in-their-eyes quest for fame, this recurring question is a savvy touch in a film that's all about being true to yourself. That's the reality at the heart of many of the aching ballads that country music is known for; these songs aren't just about love, sorrow, longing, affairs of the heart and everyday problems, but about discovering, understanding and accepting one's place in the world. Indeed, more than simply charting Rose-Lynn's efforts to shake off her troubled life and warble her way to success, Wild Rose follows a lost young soul discovering who she really is one heartfelt tune and performance at a time. With that in mind, perhaps the film could've been called A Person Is Born. Actually it shouldn't because that's an awful title, but the underlying idea remains valid. While director Tom Harper (TV's War & Peace) has the misfortune of unfurling Wild Rose in A Star Is Born's celebrated slipstream, his is a different movie. If the Lady Gaga vehicle was a case of watching both fantasies and tragedies come true, this is a minutiae-filled chronicle of life lived in the shadow of a dream. Narrative details aside, Wild Rose's many differences are evident just from looking at it, with cinematographer George Steel (another War & Peace alumni) giving every frame a quiet, gritty, gloss-free sheen. The movie also boasts moments of expressive, subjective beauty, conveyed in intimate close-ups of Buckley's radiant face, red-lit scenes that channel her inner fire and the striking sight of her taking to the stage — although there's no mistaking that they're the exception, not the rule. No one is being swept off their feet by a rockstar, getting picked up in limousines, playing huge festivals and releasing pop songs about butts here. Of course, were Buckley to croon a peppy tune about attractive derrieres as Lady Gaga did, there's no doubt that she'd similarly do a stellar job. It'd be easy to call the actor a revelation, except that she's been consistently fantastic across her evolving screen career to date, including in TV series War & Peace, Taboo and Chernobyl, as well as the excellent 2018 crime drama Beast. It's fitting, too, that her off-screen story actually began in a not-too-dissimilar fashion to Wild Rose's charismatic, cheeky protagonist. Just over a decade ago, Buckley unleashed her pipes on British competitive TV show I'll Do Anything, singing her way not only to a second-place spot, but into acting studies. The classes paid off, as she demonstrates in a series of disarmingly intimate scenes with both Walters and Okonedo. Her vocal talents pay dividends as well, including in the moving finale. But like the woman she's playing, there's a spark to Buckley that's infectious, inimitable and irrepressible. The title Wild Rose, conjuring up visions of sprawling, messy, rebellious splendour, proves pitch-perfect for a plethora of reasons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke_OYBAc7J4
Memes might not be the first thing that spring to mind when you're thinking of ways to stage a hard-hitting political protest (you know, those times when you do that). But this unassuming cultural phenomenon, initially reserved for LOLcats, has spent over a decade mutating into a medium that netizens now actively use as a form of direct political expression. Straightforward and effective in their output, memes usually consist of a simple (or roughly photoshopped) image accompanied by some witty text using the IMPACT font. Memes are more and more becoming the people's answer to the realm of government-issued propaganda, distilling an issue down to its core message and dispersing it far and wide. Here are five of the best political memes that have recently infected social and mainstream media. CHINA: Free CGC So it would be super-embarrassing if one of the world's largest and most powerful military and security powers let an activist escape house arrest, right? And even more so if he was blind, right? Well this is what happened in April last year, when blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest right under the noses of officials. In an effort to keep word from spreading, search terms including his name, as well as related terms like 'CGC' and 'the blind man' were quickly blocked by Chinese online censors. But many web-savvy internet users and Chen supporters came up with creative ways to spread the message and to show their support. 'Free CGC' became a slogan attached to this appropriated KFC ad, which features Chen in his signature sunglasses, looking like the archetypal Western hero, Colonel Sanders. The meme proved a powerful way of dodging The Great Firewall, as images, unlike words are not easily searchable (for similar reasons, our favourite giant rubber duck became a subversive symbol this year). It soon went viral on Weibo (China's Twitter) and everybody found out about what happened. Here's the punchline: Chen sought protection from the US Embassy in Beijing, who allowed him to then seek asylum in the US. Ironic, as whistleblower Edward Snowden recently travelled to Hong Kong to seek asylum from US prosecution for similar offences. Bonus Snowden Meme: TURKEY: The Standing Man Throughout June, a protest movement formed in opposition to Turkey's ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party), who announced plans to redevelop the secularly symbolic Gezi Park located in Taksim Square with an Ottoman-era barracks and a mosque. The initial small-scale protest snowballed into nation-wide anti-government demonstrations after a heavy-handed police response left many seriously injured. But following a wave of arrests in an effort to clear out Taksim Square, performance artist Erdem Gunduz, now known as 'the Standing Man', staged an eight-hour silent vigil where he stood in Taksim Square facing a portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey. This simple symbolism inspired hundreds to join him, and has generated "the standing man" meme on social media. It's kind of like planking's cool vertical brother. Some of the images that best illustrate the development of this meme are collected in this Atlantic article. https://youtube.com/watch?v=QMjK0nmwzKU EGYPT: Harlem Shake In February, an Australian teen known on YouTube as TheSunnyCoastSkate, uploaded this averagely amusing 'Harlem Shake' video, triggering a mass of imitation uploads. Within two weeks, YouTube reported around 12,000 Harlem Shake videos had been posted, amassing more than 44 million views. Whilst the vast majority of these videos are by bored university students in need of an excuse to get krunk and semi-naked in their bedrooms, the video meme has also served as an avenue for political expression in Egypt. In March, protestors in Cairo staged a 400-strong flash mob-style Harlem Shake in front of the main office of the Islamic Brotherhood in what has been dubbed a "satiric revolutionary struggle", sending a powerful anti-conservative message not just to president Mohammed Morsi but also reinvigorating the country's weary press-corps. #TweetLikeAForeignJournalist Disappointment high among Kenyans as electoral body denies them chance to rig elections. #KOT — Major Mouz (@mosesmuya) March 4, 2013 KENYA: #tweetlikeaforeignjournalist In 2007, foreign journalists were accused of misreporting the Kenyan elections, exaggerating and presenting inaccurate information for the sake of dramatic narrative. So what did those savvy Kenyans do to combat the threat of misrepresentation in this year's March General elections? They used the hashtag #TweetLikeAForeignJournalist on Twitter to generate satirical election news. The meme spread rapidly amongst Kenya's 12 million Twitter users, with the groundswell catching out the global media to force more balanced reporting. #TweetLikeaForeignJournalist: Peace erupts in various parts of Kenya. The government is asking the international community to assist. — Vicarius Filli Dei (@Vicarius) March 7, 2013 #TweetLikeAForeignJournalist several foreign journalists reported dead from boredom across the country. — Miss Kibui (@rouzieroze) March 7, 2013 AUSTRALIA: Kevin Rudd wins at Game of Thrones Everyone's saying it, Australian politics is the new Game of Thrones, which is sad for Julia Gillard because she used to like Game of Thrones. But let's face it, K-Rudd has returned to the throne. And with him has arrived a slew of punchy memes, cutting through the onslaught of media babble surrounding the spill, poking fun at the ridiculous state of Australian politics. What with all the recent frontbench backbench slaying, we're just glad nobody's memed it with Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Yet. We'll leave you with these.
Last chance, Swifties: just days away from Taylor Swift's first Eras gigs in Melbourne, more tickets to the entire Australia leg of the singer's tour are going on sale. If you missed out when her Aussie visit was first announced, then when extra shows were added and also when the first batch of new tickets were released, you'll be wishing on your friendship bracelets that your luck comes through now. The additional ticket drop comes as setting up Swifts shows is underway, meaning that exactly which seats are spare has been worked out. Some have restricted views, and will cost only $65.90. There's tickets available for all shows, going on sale on today, Tuesday, February 13. Folks eager to attend this weekend's shows at the MCG in Melbourne — which take place between Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18 — will want to try to grab tickets at 2pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 13. In Sydney, for dates across Friday, February 23–Monday, February 26 at Accor Stadium, you'll be getting clicking at 4pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 13. [caption id="attachment_940473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paolo Villanueva via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Perhaps it won't be a cruel summer after all for Swift fans who've haven't nabbed tickets so far. When Sydney and Melbourne stops for Swift's career-spanning showcase were announced in June 2023, it sparked a rush for seats. Indeed, before general sales even started, the 'We Are Never Getting Back Together', 'Shake It Off' and 'Bad Blood' musician had announced an extra gig in both cities. And, the Victorian Government even declared her Melbourne stint a major event so that anti-scalping legislation would apply to tickets. It's Swift's world and we're just living in it at the moment. She was a major feature of this year's Super Bowl. Melbourne is getting a pop-up offsite merch store ahead of her MCG concerts. Both Aussie stadiums hosting her tour are doing presales on merchandise in advance. And the Victorian capital is also extending its free tram zone to the MCG to help the 86,000 people expected each night to get to the shows. If you manage to snap up a ticket in the new drop and fill that blank space in your calendar, you'll see Swift working through her entire career so far, playing tracks from each of her studio albums in a three-hour, 44-song, ten-act spectacular. This is Swift's first tour Down Under since 2018, when she brought her Reputation shows to not only Sydney and Melbourne, but Brisbane and Perth, too. And if you're wondering what's in store, then you clearly haven't seen Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour as a movie, aka a concert film of her latest shows that hit cinemas Down Under last October, digital in December and is on its way to Disney+ in March. [caption id="attachment_906254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Australian Dates 2024: Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, February 23–Monday, February 26 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Taylor Swift is bringing The Eras Tour to Australia from Friday, February 16–Monday, February 26. Additional seats will go on sale on Tuesday, February 13 — at 2pm AEDT for Melbourne shows and 4pm AEDT for Sydney shows. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.
Finding an effective way to cope with the ever-growing issue of urban density isn't easy. The more that big cities expand, the more crowded that they become. In a place like Tokyo that crams more than 37 million people into its metro area, it requires savvy thinking — such as a building that's also a vending machine, printing out the homes within its walls onsite and to order, perhaps? Designed by architecture student Haseef Rafiei, the pod vending machine house-dispensing skyscraper dispatches new, customisable, affordable pods that are chosen by its residents. After deciding upon size and inclusions — if you don't want a kitchen, you don't need to get one, for example — each modular dwelling is made there and then, and then added to the building. The printer sits on top, and will get higher it adds more apartments to the structure; aka, it grows as the need for more housing grows. It's just a proposal at this stage, but it sounds impressive. Expanding your home, or using the pods for offices, is also mooted. Basically, Rafiei has taken a busy city, 3D printing and tiny apartments, and thrown them into a futuristic blender to conceive the ultimate mashup. Taking inspiration from the avant-garde capsule structures proposed by Japan's Metabolist Movement in the '60s, his concept earned an honourable mention in architecture and design journal eVolo's 2017 Skyscraper Competition. The innovative skyscraper offers an addition to Tokyo's skyline, provides a potential solution to the city's cramped housing situation and reflects its penchant for robotics and technology; however if you've ever been to the Japanese capital, you'll recognise that it nods to another important facet of everyday living in the bustling locale. That'd be its love of vending machines. Spotting them on every corner, even in residential areas, is just part of walking through the city. Maybe one day, spotting buildings that double as apartment-printing vending machines will be as well. Image: eVolo.
In April this year, we were mightily impressed by one American couple’s scheme to cover every asphalt surface on the planet with solar panels. As they continue to execute their master plan, one car park at a time, a crew on the other side of the Atlantic is preparing to launch the world's first solar-powered cycle way: SolaRoad. Set to open in Amsterdam on Wednesday, November 12, the path will initially serve a 70-metre stretch between the city's northern suburbs of Krommenie and Wormerveer. About 2,000 cyclists use the route each day. Of course, 70 metres doesn’t sound like enough length to power anything much, but it's just a pilot. The development team, which hails from the Netherlands' Research Institute for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), estimates that every 100 metres of SolaRoad will, ultimately, generate sufficient energy for two or three houses. Applied nationwide, it could cover anywhere between 400 and 500 square kilometres. The cycleway is made up of concrete slabs, which are topped up with crystalline silicon solar cells and protected by tempered glass. The cells are connected directly to the grid, and extensive testing has demonstrated that the glass is tough enough to handle being pounded with steel balls. Meanwhile, a special coating ensures that cyclists won't be sent skidding all over the place, even when the weather's giving it its best shot. The only catch is that SolaRoad won’t be the cheapest gift that Amsterdam's getting this festive season. A cheeky $3.75 million went into creating the pilot. That said, the cost is likely to drop once production gets into full swing. Via Gizmag.
Music is used in every given scenario: weddings, birthdays, parties. Now, thanks to a pair of intuitive electrical engineering students, the power of bass can be used in a more practical way - dousing flames. Seth Robertson and Viet Tran from George Mason University in Virginia have invented a fire extinguisher that uses low-frequency sound waves to engulf a blaze. Instead of an air tank spewing out foam, water and chemicals, the device uses has a loudspeaker the size of subwoofer to pump out sound waves. It produces a low hum like a regular blast of air, that when pointed in the right direction, will make flames vanish. As well as of being an everyday utility, the extinguisher has the potential to be used in outerspace, where sound waves can be directed without gravity, in comparison to normal extinguishers that would spread chemicals in a disorderly fashion and possibly damage equipment. Despite initial doubt from classmates and professors, the pair now have a preliminary patent application and backing from the university.
Samsara provides a great counterpoint to the usual summer blockbusters at cinemas. For those who are overfed on the sugar and fat of blockbusters, prepare to cleanse your mind and heart with another kind of richness. This latest film by director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson (previously partnered in 1992's Baraka) is a non-verbal meditation on our planet and the billions who share it with us, and while only 99 minutes long, Samsara stares you in the eye for longer than most find comfortable. Casually moonlighting as the name of an exotic scent or clothing range, samsara is Sanskrit for "the ever-turning wheel of life", and it is this motif that led Fricke and Magidson through a five-year shoot in twenty-five countries on five continents. Samsara is the wheel of life, death and rebirth, but it is also the grinding wheels of commercial labour, of fickle trends, and of the literal vehicles that the production crew commandeered in their often gruelling efforts to obtain 70mm footage for a few seconds of screen time. This herculean dedication to cinematography has certainly returned great wonders. Samsara flows from one luscious image to the next, carried by intuitive editing rather than plot, and is supported by an original score. Concrete Playground has five in-season double passes to give away to Samsara. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. You can read our full review of the film here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qp967YAAdNk
Bel Ami is the adaptation of a nineteenth century French novel by Guy de Maupassant. And before you get all judgey about nineteenth century novels, you should keep in mind that while the Victorians were drinking tea and worrying about exposing their ankles, the French were all about sex, drugs, alcohol and general decadence, in their fiction at least. So you're in for a far more salacious film than you might be expecting. The story follows the rise into high society of George Duroy, aka Bel Ami (Robert Pattinson). Handsome, smart and resourceful he uses his job as a journalist on one of France's premier newspapers to manipulate his was into the very best that Paris has to offer. Surrounded by colleagues, financiers and mistresses with barely a moral to bless themselves with, Bel Ami quickly becomes an adept blackmailer and seducer of just about every woman in town. In some ways your heart does ache for the cast of Twilight: actors who might otherwise have been perfectly respectable will be tainted forever by, well, Twilight. Frankly it's hard to see Robert Pattinson as anything other than a pallid, lovesick vampire who sparkles in sunlight. But he's trying to break the mould, and you have to give him credit for that. Bel Ami sees Pattinson break some new ground in a period drama, and also sees him hook but with not only Christina Ricci, but Kristin Scott Thomas and Uma Thurman as well. Taunting aside, Bel Ami looks set to be a fantastic film, and an old-school French one at that. Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway. To go in the running to win tickets to Bel Ami, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Held back in 1990, Apple’s first ever WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) saw a mere 1300 developers get together to shoot the breeze about System 7. These super brains have kept chatting, tinkering and growing in numbers over the decades and this year 1000 Apple engineers and 5000 developers have converged on San Francisco to talk about two different platforms — iOS and OS X, plus a whole bunch of whiz-bang Apple developments. So what's new? New fonts, schwanky icons and smooth notifications in OS X 10.10 Yosemite First up, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi unveiled the new OS X 10.10, dubbed Yosemite. It’ll be hitting Australia this spring. The operating system's makeover has resulted in a slick new look with a different font, see-through sidebars and redesigned icons, as well as a 'dark mode' option (think a black dock and black toolbars to match). An improved notification centre incorporates iOS 7’s 'Today' view, while Spotlight now features an enlarged toolbar smack bang in the middle of your screen. Oooo. Among the brand spanking new features are iCloud Drive and Mail Drop. The former lets you access all of your iWork documents on all of your devices — including Windows. The latter enables you to store and send large mail attachments via iCloud. But perhaps the most important word of the OS X 10.0 section of the speech was ‘Continuity’. You can now use Airdrop to connect Mac and iOS, meaning that all of your documents and photos will sync without you having to touch a thing. Predictive searching and smoother messaging with iOS 8 Next was the official announcement of iOS 8. When it comes to searching, you’ll find that Spotlight now covers a lot more ground, including contacts, business details, film listings and recommendations for Apple stores (of course). Most other major changes were relevant to messaging and email. You can record video or voice and send it super easily via iMessage. A new predictive text feature called QuickType takes into account the context of your conversations and responds to questions. You also have more power when partaking in threads — give each thread a name, while removing yourself and silencing other participants freely (kind of like Facebook Messenger with a Twitter mute button). In addition, choose your ten favourite chat buddies and pin them to your main screen so you can call your mum in a moment (call your mum in a moment. Do it.). Monitor your heart rate and turn off our house lights with your iPhone Perhaps the freakiest announcements were those dubbed HealthKit and HomeKit. The first can monitor individual health statistics, like heart rate and blood pressure, and collate the data for organisations such as the Mayo Clinic. Yep, your iPhone can track your heartbeat. What. The second allows your iPhone to control, well, your whole house (kind of). You're snuggled into bed, ready for sleep. Instead of lumbering out of those bodywarmed sheets, ask Siri to close and lock the garage. You’ll soon hear the door rolling and all your dimmers down. Kind of Simpsons Ultrahouse-like. But what inspired perhaps the loudest applause of the talk was the announcement of a new programming language, called ‘Swift’. As the crowd screamed and cheered Federighi described it as "Objective C without the baggage" and claimed that it "crushes Python". It's a programmer's world.
Brisbane has a treasure trove of musical talent and sparkling three piece Avaberee are no exception. Aimee, Genevieve and Irena make up this talented trio and are playing at Black Bear Lodge this Sunday night for what is bound to be a goose-bump inducing performance. These skilful songstresses will warm the cockles of your heart as the girls are known for their honeyed harmonies and tender tunes. Influenced by a kaleidoscope of musical genres, the girls shake up folk music for Brisbane's music scene. As the main support for Matt Corby, Avaberee have returned home after playing a run of secret garden shows across the nation and have hit the ground running. Avaberee are no strangers to the stage and have entertained audiences at venues including Woodford Folk Festival, the Brisbane Powerhouse, The Old Museum, The Press Club and Brisbane's beloved Troubadour. Their impressive vocals, charming stage presence and raw lyrics have seen them support a long list of successful artists such as Emma Louise, Ball Park Music and Charlie Mayfair. Why sit at home twiddling your thumbs when you could be squeezing the last bit of fun out the weekend by enjoying Avaberee's heavenly performance?
Located in the middle of the bustling Newmarket shopping complex you will find Vinnie's Deli and Cafe. This delightful hive of activity proves to be the only non-chain cafe in the shopping district and is packed out during peak meal times. The space is large including both outdoor and indoor dining areas. On a recent visit, it seemed that outdoors was the place to be and we were squeezed into one of the few remaining tables, while indoors was not nearly as full. Perhaps the preference for alfresco dining has something to do with the Italian heritage of the owners, which is expressed in their cafe and weaved into its menu. As such, it's not uncommon to hear the melodic sounds of the Italian language being spoken in the cafe by regulars. Although Vinnie's menu is not exactly adventurous, the food is well executed, reasonably priced and the portion sizes are on the money. The eggs benedict is a no-frills version of the classic breakfast choice. Other breakfast options include a variety of omelettes, fruit toast, a big brekky with all of the trimmings (warning: it's huge!), amongst others. For lunch try one of the range of wraps. The vegetarian wrap is packed full of delicious pumpkin, eggplant and a slathering of cream cheese. It is served with delightful salad including olives, feta, lettuce and a drizzling of balsamic vinegar. Its frappes are definitely noteworthy and hit the spot on a hot Brisbane day – try the mixed berry and mint option. Vinnie's has recently extended its hours and are now open for dinner on Friday night, which includes typical Italian meals such as pasta dishes and a wide variety of pizzas. Vinnie's has proved itself amongst the popular chain cafes and eateries that surround it. Thanks to its simple but well done food, great service and no-fuss vibe, it's safe to say that Vinnie's loyal clientele will continue to grow. Next time you're doing your grocery shopping, stop by Vinnie's for a coffee. After seeing the stocked cabinet we guarantee you won't leave without a chicken wrap, or at least a sweet treat.
Based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary follows the wild adventures of journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) as he takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s. Struggling to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there, Kemp forms a passionate yet dangerous attraction to Chenault (Amber Heard), the fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a wealthy entrepreneur. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavoury scheme, the journalist faces a dilemma: to use his words for the corrupt businessman's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. The Rum Diary is a fast-paced filmic cocktail of comedy, adventure, romance and action. The incredible cinematography and choice of soundtrack in Bruce Robinson's film paints the exotic landscape of Puerto Rico with colours and sounds that exemplify Kemp's experience in the foreign land. With a cast of well-known Hollywood talents, lead by the charismatic Johnny Depp, this movie is sure to take you on one hell of a rum-fuelled ride. Read the full review here. To win one of ten double passes to see The Rum Diary, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=0YUx36yLLug
Everyone has walked into a bar and fallen for the place instantly, imagining themselves whiling away future hours over several drinks within its welcoming confines. That same sensation hit Range Brewing's co-founder Matt McIver when he was looking for a new space to expand the Newstead-based beer business' footprint. "When we found that space in Paddington, it was literally love at first sight," he tells Concrete Playground. McIver is chatting about Patio, his latest venture with his Range pal Gerard Martin after the pair started their brewery back in 2018. Since then, they also set up shop Melbourne in 2020, and just gave their OG Brisbane location its own pizzeria and barrel hall — the latter to host functions and weddings. But this team isn't done growing yet. "Patio is going to be a neighbourhood craft beer, wine and cocktail bar. It's something that we've wanted to do for a little while, which is have more of a suburban presence in Brisbane, and really latch onto another community that we think a space like that will work in," McIver explains. "We've always wanted to have something with space outdoors, because of the climate that we have here in Queensland — and who doesn't love sitting outside on a patio or a deck? We'd always wanted a space like that where people could come and enjoy our beers." The spot in question: Baroona Road in Rosalie, the former suburb-turned-Paddington locality, in the space that Moga Izakaya & Sushi previously called home. When it opens its doors towards the end of May or in early June, Patio will turn the brick building into an Aussie pub-influenced watering hole. And yes, to make the most of the weather, the focus is on al fresco experiences — including in a leafy beer garden. "It's got a beautiful pavilion-style patio, then a smaller full-sun patio outside. And then a space inside that's like an old 1900s Queenslander, which has been architecturally redone upstairs and downstairs to to fit a couple of businesses in," McIver continues. "Outside doesn't actually require too much of an upgrade, but inside was fully gutted, so we've rebuilt our own space in there, and have designed it ourselves." [caption id="attachment_901789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moga, Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Thanks to Myers Ellyett Architects, patrons can expect both a layout and fitout that pays tribute to the corner bar and the front bar of old pubs, with Melbourne drinking spots an influence. "We're leaning into 80s Australiana vibes with the colours and the styles we've chosen to go with in there, but we really just want it to be a super-comfortable space for people to feel like they're at home, but be out and relaxing having beers — and enjoying a wine or a cocktail," McIver advises. Inside, the venue will feature the bar, cosy booths and window tables, plus burgundy hues and dark oak amid the rustic brick. The mood: warm, welcoming and relaxed, a feeling that is designed to fill the whole place. Range's brews will be pouring through the ten beer taps, naturally, while two others will be devoted to wines that McIver and the team have made with LATTA Vino. More tipples, including wine, spirits and cocktails, will also be available. And, after launching Jacopo's Pizzeria in Newstead, Patio will sling its Roman-style sourdough slices, snacks and sweets. Down the line, there's plans to broaden the menu, too, with a focus on fresh Italian options. Patio is set to open at 2/146 Baroona Road, Paddington at the end of May or beginning of June — we'll update you with further details when they're announced.
Reunions aren't always joyful occasions. In Another Simple Favour, that looks set to prove true for Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick, Woman of the Hour) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively, It Ends with Us), after the latter surprises the former with an unexpected return, as well as a request. For audiences, however, this sequel to 2018's A Simple Favour can't arrive fast enough and couldn't be more welcome. Until it hits streaming queues on Thursday, May 1, 2025, Prime Video has dropped the film's full trailer to tide viewers over. As well as stars Kendrick and Lively, filmmaker Paul Feig also returns in this long-awaited follow-up to a movie delight, and to a deliciously engaging and entertaining mystery. This time, as both the first teaser and the new sneak peek show, the frenemy antics are heading to Italy for a wedding filled with murder and betrayal. Out of prison and about to get married to a wealthy businessman, Emily crashes Stephanie's book reading to task her with being her maid of honour, but it might just be a revenge plot. Using the Italian island of Capri as a backdrop, Another Simple Favour not only boasts Feig (Jackpot!) back behind the lens, but also Andrew Rannells (Girls5eva), Bashir Salahuddin (How to Die Alone) and Henry Golding (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) returning alongside Kendrick and Lively among the cast. Equally part of this big comeback: more secrets, as little is ever as it seems with Stephanie's glamorous and mysterious friend. While the first film released in cinemas, this seven-years-later sequel is heading to Prime Video, hitting streaming queues on Thursday, May 1, 2025. It did have a date with the silver screen first, but only at this year's SXSW in Austin, where it was the opening-night movie at the event's Film and TV Festival. If you missed the initial picture — which was adapted from Darcey Bell's 2017 novel of the same name — it followed a widowed mum who is also a vlogger and becomes friends with a fashion executive. Then Emily asks Stephanie to do her a simple favour, changing everything. Screenwriter Jessica Sharzer (Nine Perfect Strangers), who penned the first film, is also among Another Simple Favour's returnees — this time penning the follow-up's script with Laeta Kalogridis (Altered Carbon). Check out the full trailer for Another Simple Favour below: Another Simple Favour will stream via Prime Video from Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Are you and your bandmates wanting to crack the big time? Then Little BIGSOUND is a must. This offshoot of BIGSOUND is a one-day forum to give up and comers valuable insight into the wide and super competitive world of music. There will be a series of panel discussions held on the day featuring established young artists eager to share their pearls of wisdom. Lap up insider tips on everything music related such from song writing to management and everything in between. Speakers include oh-so suave Jeremy Neale, extremely talented Darren Percival, marketing guru Lucy Collier, Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack and Double J's music editor Dan Condon, amongst loads more. Featured artists include Sahara Beck, Youth Allowance and The Worriers. Passes must be collected from The Edge from 8am-9am on the day and your pass will include lunch.
The word 'slut' gets thrown around in conversation far too frequently, but it still manages to pack a punch. How many times has a person's appearance led us to assume how they think or what they got up to on Saturday night? This is exactly what SlutWalkers are trying to stamp out. People from all backgrounds are invited to participate in the Brisbane SlutWalk to promote the belief that a woman's appearance and her dress choice should not be an excuse for rape, assault or being branded a 'slut'. The first SlutWalk took place last year in Toronto as a response to the statement, “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised” made by a police representative at a university safety conference. Since then, rallies have taken place in cities across the world to banish slut-shaming. The speakers on the day include Fiona Patten and Rory Killen from The Australian Sex Party and speakers from sex worker's rights organisation Respect and Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivor Centre. There'll be an an after party from 5pm at the Spring Hill Hotel featuring performances from spoken word performance artist Kiera White, Sweetcheeks Burlesque, lingerie fashion parade from Miss Em's boutique and Brisbane feminist girl group, Gunk. Image Credit: Here
For every roamer and traveller hoping to get off the beaten track this summer, travel website Hooroo has uncovered 40 of Australia's best-kept holiday secrets. In a nationwide search for Australia's favourite 'secret spots', the Qantas Group's new online accommodation site has called out to Australians to submit their most beloved clandestine travel destinations. What came back were hundreds of hidden gems and attractions, from spectacular waterfalls, untouched coastlines and unreal rock formations, to hip milk bars, hearty B&Bs and dozens of tucked-away travel lodges. An expert panel of travel and lifestyle writers and presenters cut the list down to the Top 40 secret destinations and now it's up to the public to decide which of these beautiful and jaw-dropping locations is Australia's favourite hidden holiday treasure. Have your say at the Hooroo Facebook page for a chance to share in over $14,500 in prizes. The Top 5 destinations will become an official Hooroo 'Secret Spot'. Voting closes at 5pm on December 17, 2012 so get in quick to have your say.
Been spending every spare moment lately dreaming of summer getaways, and also making travel plans right into 2023? Haven't we all. It's the time of year when holidays are on the brain in multiple ways, all thanks to the festive season and the warmer weather — and if you're happy to jet off sometime next year, then Virgin has quite the array of sale flights to tempt you. More than 800,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the Bring On Wonderful sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international destinations. Yes, that means that you've got options if you're keen to holiday somewhere on home turf, including Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa and Queenstown. One-way domestic fares start at $55, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay (which is always the cheapest route in these kinds of sales). Other discounted flights include Brisbane to either Cairns or Hamilton Island from $95, Melbourne to the Gold Coast from $89, Adelaide to Darwin from $139 and Perth to Launceston from $195. Internationally, return flights are on offer — including Adelaide to Bali from $569, Brisbane to Fiji from $539, Melbourne to Queenstown from $469 and Sydney to Samoa from $579. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates in 2023, all varying depending on the flights and prices. Some legs run right through until next spring, if you really are thinking ahead. As always when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, October 31 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's Bring on Wonderful sale runs from until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, October 31 — or until sold out. 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.
Supermarkets, big name brands and well-known food chains the world over are making moves to ditch the plastic and opt for a more eco-friendly existence. And now the British Parliament is jumping on board as well, announcing it's set out to become the world's first plastic-free parliament. The authorities have revealed plans to trial a 'latte levy' of 25 pence on any takeaway coffee cups, and then to then introduce a total ban on all plastic water bottles. Parliament authorities will kick off the ban next month, and, eventually, it plans to scrap disposable coffee cups completely, purchasing only compostable alternatives. From coffee cups and straws to plastic bags and water bottles - Parliament has announced measures to drastically reduce single-use plastics in @HouseofCommons & @UKHouseofLords. Find out more at: https://t.co/GVasOezu43 pic.twitter.com/kbwZAJKjvz — UK Parliament (@UKParliament) May 15, 2018 It's thought the move could slash the parliament's annual waste by more than 125,000 single-use plastic bottles and countless coffee cups. Plus, shops on the estate will also phase out single-use plastic bags as well as condiment sachets in a effort to "drastically reduce its consumption of single-use plastics by 2019". "We all have a responsibility in this, so it's time to really start to think about the steps everyone can take to reduce their plastic use," The House of Lords' Lord Laming told The Independent. "I hope that the measures parliament will implement over the next 12 months will inspire other organisations and people to make changes in their everyday lives." This moves comes after UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced a 25-year plan to phase out single-use plastics across Britain earlier this year. So far, most states (including Queensland and Victoria) and major Australian supermarkets have committed to ditched plastic bags, and Hobart even plans to ban all plastic containers, but the Federal Government has shot down the likelihood of a national ban. Let's hope this news also inspires some changes in our own parliament.
Thirteen years after Stephen Chbosky wrote his endearing best-seller The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the writer-turned-director has adapted his modern coming-of-age classic for the silver screen, starring Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller. Set in Chbosky's hometown of Pittsburgh in the early '90s, the story follows 15 year-old Charlie (Lerman) as he navigates the social minefield of a new high school. The introvert freshman is used to living life as a wallflower. Taken in by two seniors, the beautiful and enchanting Sam (Watson) and her step brother Patrick (Miller), Charlie finds out what it really means to live, love and to enjoy being a misfit. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower. To be in for a chance to win a double pass, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground's weekly newsletter, then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Eiffel 65's 1998 hit 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' doesn't play over the first trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water, but you're forgiven if you get it stuck in your head anyway. The 97-second clip comes with a sweeping score by composer Simon Franglen (a veteran of the first film) that's designed to set an ethereal and epic mood — but blue really is the colour of all that it wears. If you saw James Cameron's initial entry in this sci-fi franchise back in 2009 — and given that the original Avatar quickly became the highest-grossing film of all time, it's highly likely that you did, because seemingly everyone did — then all those shades of blue won't come as a surprise. They're splashed across the movie's CGI-filled waters, skies and Na'vi people, and across the first look at its long-awaited sequel as well. Yes, 13 years after the first flick became such an enormous hit, there really is evidence that the long-floated follow-up will reach cinemas this year. Avatar: The Way of Water is one of those movies that you might only truly believe exists once you're sat in a theatre watching it, though, because it has been in the works for that long. It's currently set to reach the silver screen Down Under this December, stepping back into the story of the Sully family, aka Jake (Sam Worthington, Fires), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, The Adam Project) and their children, on the habitable moon Pandora. This time around, staying safe and alive remains a focus — and, from the just-dropped trailer, it looks like more battles are a-coming. The initial clip, which started screening in cinemas with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness but has only just made its way online, doesn't spell out much in the way of plot, however. Given that Avatar wowed viewers mainly due to its imagery and special effects (and definitely not its "Dances with Wolves but in space"-style narrative), that too is hardly astonishing. Also set to feature amid all those pixels: Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Stephen Lang (Don't Breathe 2), Cliff Curtis (Reminiscence), Joel David Moore (Bones), CCH Pounder (Godzilla: King of the Monsters), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. And, obviously, James Cameron is back in the director's chair. If the sneak peek has you excited about re-entering Avatar's blue-heavy world, get ready for more where that came from. A third movie is due in 2024, a fourth in 2026 and a fifth in 2028. Also, the original Avatar will return to cinemas in September, in the lead-up to Avatar: The Way of Water. (And no, there's no word yet whether a team-up with The Smurfs, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Blue Man Group might ever be in the works.) Check out the trailer below: Avatar: The Way of Water releases in cinemas Down Under on December 15. Images: Photos courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Located in an ordinary stretch of shops in Jindalee, Piggy Back Cafe mightn't look like it stands out; however its vibrantly coloured menu ensures that's not actually the case. The daytime eatery has fast become the suburb's worst-kept secret thanks to a particular offering that has taken over every Instagram feed in city: rainbow foam-topped coffees. At the first west-side venture from the folks behind Picnic and Pawpaw on the other side of town, there's no such thing as a boring old cuppa; instead, their caffeinated hits will brighten up your cup and your day. That extends to a red velvet variety, though you don't have to be a coffee fiend to jump on that trend. Red velvet shake or red velvet French toast with bacon, anyone? Yep, you'll be too busy taking pics to actually eat and drink anything you order, with Piggy Back's snap-worth selections only continuing. The eggs Benny comes with pulled pork, smashed avo gets the matcha treatment, every acai bowl features an explosion of different tones and textures — and here, breakfast salad is most definitely a thing. Plus, cakes, doughnuts and special dessert nights take care of any cravings for morsels that both look and taste sweet.
Long-running music festivals aren't just events. They become more than just beloved dates on everyone's calendars, too. Attending a fest like Golden Plains is a ritual and a pilgrimage for devotees, and it unfolds in steps. Here's the first for 2025's three-day takeover of the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre: the launch of the Golden Plains ticket ballot. Come Saturday, March 8–Monday, March 10, 2025, it'll be time to dance among the autumn leaves in regional Victoria again, in the same place that Meredith Music Festival also calls home. While the lineup isn't here yet, you can now put your name down for the chance to nab tickets. This round of Golden Plains will mark the fest's 17th year. Your best clue as to what's to come is, as always, the brief description offered by the festival team while announcing the opening of the ballot. "A premium long weekend of music and nature, sense and non-sense, in the supernatural-est habitat on earth," starts the latest word from the Aunty team. "Party largesse at the one and only Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre. Right size, right shape, with no commercial sponsors, free range camping, BYO, the No D---head Policy, and One Stage Fits All," it continues. The online ballot for Golden Plains 2025 remains open until 10.17pm AEDT on Monday, October 14, 2024, which means that clicking ASAP is recommended. Once the ballot is drawn, the lineup will be announced. Catering to 12,000 punters each year across three days and two nights, the fest has long proven a favourite for its one-stage setup, which skips the need for frantic timetabling. And, like Meredith Music Festival, its sibling, Golden Plains is also known for the Aunty crew's star-studded bills. If you're wondering how the roster of talent has shaped up in past years, 2023's fest boasted Bikini Kill, Carly Rae Jepsen, Soul II Soul and Four Tet, while 2024's featured The Streets, Yussef Dayes, King Stingray and Black Country, New Road — and plenty more. Golden Plains will return to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from Saturday, March 8–Monday, March 10, 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot before 10.17pm AEDT on Monday, October 14, 2024. Images: Chip Mooney and Ben Fletcher.
Fancy filling everyone's stockings with locally made art, crafts, homewares, ceramics, stationery or fashion? From 4–9pm on Friday, November 29, the Museum of Brisbane can assist. For one afternoon only in the lead up to Christmas, it's holding an artisan market in the middle of the city. If it's browsing and buying that you're after, BNE Design will feature more than 25 stallholders when it takes over Reddacliff Place— and they all know you're there to do some festive shopping. Expect a curated range of Brisbane artists and designers showcasing their wares, with the market celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of the city's best creative folks. Whether you're after jewellery by Bianca Mavrick, Chloe Waddell and C+K+V; wheel-thrown ceramics from Ever Ceramics; Bee One Third's honeycomb, bee pollen and beeswax; or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pieces from Blaklash, you'll find them here. Live music will help set the mood, and you'll also be able to grab a bite to eat — Christmas shopping is hungry work.
Theatre buffs should not miss this spectacular piece. The Beast is a creation by acclaimed theatre director and actor Stuart Bowden. It tells the tale of a man named Winslow, whose mysteriousness has earned him the name of 'The Beast'. A live musical soundscape accompanies the production and the combination of a ukelele and keyboard make the musical aspect of this performance a delight. This 50 minute long performance is charming and will pull on your heartstrings. Its themes of isolation, loneliness and hope will bring a tear to your eye, yet inspire. There is a quality of rawness in this piece as it features Bowden on stage, sharing the heartbreaking story of a man's plight. The one-man performance is captivating and unique, playing for 4 days only make sure you purchase your tickets from The Brisbane Powerhouse website.
If water pipes make you think of creepy clowns, then the latest tiny apartment design mightn't be for you. In Hong Kong, architect James Law has come up with a compact housing solution made out of old concrete tubing. A proposed solution to the country's affordability issues, they're cheap to construct — and, thanks to their shape, easily stackable too. Don't worry, these pipe-based abodes will be located above ground, so you can wipe your IT fears out of your mind. Called Opod, the proposed system is made from piping up to 2.5 metres in diameter, features between nine and eleven squares of cosy living space capable of housing one or two people, and comes complete with a bench that converts into a bed, a mini fridge, microwave, bathroom with shower and open-shelf storage. Currently on display and open to the Hong Kong public until April 1, it's envisioned that the former stormwater drains could be used in narrow spaces, and even on top of existing buildings, using space that's otherwise going to waste. Or, if you wanted to move, they could also be relocated to other sites or cities. https://www.instagram.com/p/BdNP0t1g4EL/?taken-by=cybertecture The cosy, circular homes are the latest innovative design in what's proving a growing field, with sustainability, affordability, eschewing mass consumerism via downsizing and embracing mobile living all motivators. An Australian start-up lets you stay in a tiny house in the wilderness, while flat-packed tiny homes are also available locally. Tiny mobile homes and Muji flat-pack houses and pre-fab huts can also take care of your compact needs. And, in the short-term accommodation arena, you can stay in New York's first shipping container home, seek out a portable shipping container hotel or head to a tiny house campsite in the US. Via Reuters. Images: James Law Cybertecture.
One of the planet's fastest growing problems is e-waste. In fact, it's piling up at a rate of 40 tonnes per year, which is particularly disturbing because of its potential to leak nasties — like mercury, lead and arsenic — into our environment. The good news is that the folks at Stockholm-based studio People People want to help in any way they can — via your personal sound system. So they're crowdfunding a transparent, wireless speaker that can be totally disassembled and repaired. Instead of throwing the whole thing in the garbage because one tiny part has conked out, you can simply replace it, put the speaker back together and keep the music going. What's more, internal sensors figure out when there's a glitch and promptly let you know — via a notification on your phone. Have a go at solving the problem yourself by pulling the speaker apart or, if you think it's safer to leave it to those genius Swedes, then send it to your nearest manufacturing location. All materials contained in the speaker can be repeatedly recycled to their original quality, creating a 'closed loop' system. "The challenge of our generation will be to stop trashing our planet, and leave it in a good shape for coming generations," the studio said on its Kickstarter page. "Consumer products are too quickly becoming waste and mostly dumped in landfills. In fact, there is a full football field of electronic waste generated every minute. This linear system has to stop." The speaker is available in white or black. And, thanks to its minimalist Scandi aesthetic, you won't have to worry about it throwing off your interior design. There's a knob for volume adjustment, a rocker-style on-off switch and a 3.5-millimetre jack, as well as WiFi and Bluetooth capability. Two 2.5-inch drivers, a passive bass radiator and a built-in amplifier with embedded digital signal processing (DSP) deliver cracking sound. People People are hoping to raise $250,000 to get the project off the ground. With 17 days to go, 319 backers have promised a total of $80,456. Pledges from $2 are welcome and, with $250, you can land yourself your own speaker. The Transparent Speaker is currently being funded on Kickstarter up until January 22. To pledge money or find out more, visit their campaign page.
The films of one of the most influential directors in motion picture history will be the subject of a special retrospective coming to Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra this year. Curated by beloved film critic and former Sydney Film Festival director David Stratton, the Essential Kurosawa lineup will showcase ten iconic films from Japan's legendary Akira Kurosawa, including several efforts that could contest the title of greatest film of all time. The retrospective — which is a collaboration between Sydney Film Festival, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne, and the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra — will span almost the full length of Kurosawa's incredible career, from his groundbreaking Rashomon (1950) to his sweeping feudal war epic Ran (1985). Further highlights include Seven Samurai (1954), The Hidden Fortress (1958), Yojimbo (1961) and Kagemusha (1980). A number of titles will screen on specially imported 35mm film prints courtesy of The Japan Foundation and Toho Co. "The best of Kurosawa's films possess a grandeur combined with a common touch," said Stratton in a statement accompanying the announcement. "No-one filmed action scenes like he did – his use of multiple cameras, long lenses and intricate editing combined to make these sequences unforgettable." The films in Essential Kurosawa will screen at ACMI in Melbourne from May 26 to June 8 (ticket here), Dendy Opera Quays and the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of Sydney Film Festival from June 7–18 (tickets here), and the NSFA in Canberra from June 14-30 (tickets here).
Six Hunter Valley winemakers will take to the road this month for New Generation's Caravan of Courage tour. The whistle stop trip will engage wine lovers in a series of pop-up bars and dinners held all along the east coast of Australia, from Melbourne to Noosa. The events will be hosted by the six winemakers themselves, a rogue crew of thrill-seeking, bus-dwelling winos. There is no doubt that they know their stuff when it comes to wine, though. Hailing from the famed Hunter wine region, each winemaker promises event-goers the very best of their product, straight out of their big green bus accomodations. The Caravan of Courage will be making stops in Sydney on May 11 and Brisbane on May 17, each held at a secret inner-city location. To win tickets for you and a friend, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your city preference to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
QUT and Bodysnatchers Theatre Company have worked together to produce a stunning play, written by Mark Rogers as part of The Brisbane Festival. The 70 minute performance focuses on the human side of natural disasters and war zones. The overarching theme of the piece is the inevitability of change. Soothsayers does not shy away from the horrors of war and natural disaster, rather it shows the incredible capacity of humanity to deal with these major challenges. This provocative piece will ask the audience to contemplate the consequences of fear and human action in these disastrous situations. This year, The Brisbane Festival is showcasing some of our states best theatre productions. As the festival is only held once a year, be sure to catch this compelling and thought-provoking production at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Concession and adult tickets are available starting at $15.
Five decades after it was first released, Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' is still a perfect song. It rarely bodes well when it pops up in movies, TV shows or trailers for either, though. Take the just-dropped first sneak peek at Westworld's fourth season, for instance — where the words "you're going to reap just what you sow" feel especially eerie. Since it first hit HBO back in 2016 — and channels/streaming services such as Foxtel, Binge and Neon Down Under that bring the US network's series our way, too — Westworld has been unnerving from the get-go. It's all there in the concept, which first unfurled on-screen back in 1973 thanks to the Michael Crichton-directed movie of the same name. Here, in the eponymous android amusement park, humans pay to live out their fantasies while surrounded by supremely realistic-looking androids. What could go wrong? Everything, obviously. Across its second season in 2018 and third batch of episodes in 2020, the TV version of Westworld has built upon this premise, twisting in wild, strange, violent and surreal directions. Naturally, with season four set to start arriving from Monday, June 27, that's only going to continue. The first teaser trailer isn't big on plot, but it does set a huge mood — or reinforce the tone that Westworld fans already know and love, to be more precise. While narrative details are scarce, the show is bound to keep wading through the fallout that's been shaping its story from day one, after some of the robot theme park's electronic hosts started to break their programming, make their own decisions and question their creators. What it lacks in plot specifics, Westworld's first look at season four makes up for in atmosphere and recognisable faces, including Evan Rachel Wood (Kajillionaire), Thandiwe Newton (All the Old Knives), Ed Harris (The Lost Daughter), Jeffrey Wright (The Batman), Tessa Thompson (Passing), Luke Hemsworth (Young Rock), Aaron Paul (Truth Be Told) and Angela Sarafyan (Reminiscence). Joining them as a newcomer this season: newly minted West Side Story Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose. If you feel like you've been hanging out for new Westworld for years, that's because the show always seems to bring its android dramas back in two-year intervals. Still, it's worth remembering that the first season of the show arrived 43 years after the Michael Crichton-directed movie that it's based on, and 40 years after the film's sequel Futureworld. If you haven't done so already, both are worth viewing while you're waiting for the TV series to return. Check out the teaser trailer for Westworld's fourth season below: Westworld's fourth season will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Monday, June 27 — and via Neon in New Zealand.
Whatever else the past couple of years have served up, it has been an impressive time for folks who like staring up at the sky. 2016 ended with a huge supermoon that had everyone looking to the heavens, then 2018 began with an extremely rare super blue blood moon (a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse all at once). Next, at the end of July, an epic lunar eclipse will mark the next notable celestial happening. In fact, the Saturday, July 28 event will be longest lunar eclipse of this century — with the penumbral eclipse lasting just shy of four hours (236 minutes, to be exact) and the total lunar eclipse spanning 103 minutes. If you're wondering what the difference is between the two (because we're all more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, aren't we?), a penumbral eclipse is when the earth's outer shadow falls on the moon's surface, while a total lunar eclipse involves the moon passing directly into the earth's actual shadow. During the main event, which is expected to kick off at 5.30am local time, the moon will also turn a blood-red shade thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. So yes, as well as a total lunar eclipse and a full moon, it'll be a blood moon as well. Australians will be able to spy the penumbral eclipse from 3.14am and the partial eclipse from 4.24am, before the full thing at 5.30am, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 6.21am. We won't be able to see the end of it, however, as the moon will be below the horizon when the full, partial and penumbral eclipses end (at 7.13am, 8.19am and 9.28am local time, respectively). While it's a great excuse to go stargazing, the 103-minute total eclipse only just pips the 100-minute event that took place on June 15, 2011 — and falls just short of the 108-minute event on July 16, 2000. Still, when the super blue blood moon did come around earlier in 2018, its full eclipse only lasted 72 minutes. If you miss it, 102-minute total lunar eclipses are expected in 2029, 2047 and 2094 — but nothing this long will occur again this century. Via Space.com and timeanddate.com.
If Audrey Horne, Lula Pace Fortune or Lady Jessica decided to head downtown for some yoga, David Lynch has them covered for threads. In one of the most unexpected endeavours from the director yet, Lynch has designed a brand new sportswear collection for women. Seems the man who recorded tunes with Karen O, opened his own whimsical Parisian nightclub and exhibits photographs of dissected chickens as art (among many other wonderful, weird and WTF Lynchian things), can still surprise us. A paired-down, monochrome collection of threads we'd absolutely prance to the gym in, Lynch's fitness line whips up floral geometric design (a collaboration with New York artist Jason Woodside), grey marle and flattering seams in a truly great assortment of basic gymwear. Lynch's activewear line includes corset and scoop bras, geometric leggings and bike shorts all sporting the special edition Lynch Floral print, going for around $100 — $200 a piece. There's more afoot than mere fashion here; Lynch is working in collaboration with Live the Process, an online hub self-described as "a guide to wellness and holistic health from a curated group of experts in beauty, fitness, meditation, nutrition, energy therapies and quantum physics, as seen through a modernist lens." It's a thing, quantum physics included. But fashion isn't where the collab ends for Lynch, really teaming up with Live the Process for a good cause — with some of the proceeds going to victims of abuse. Teaming up with Live the Process shouldn't come as a surprise for those in the Lynch-know. The Twin Peaks creator is a big meditator, having practiced for over 40 years. His method of choice, transcendental meditation, is his pet awareness project with his namesake charity, The David Lynch Foundation. He even penned a book about it. "I have experienced many benefits: more happiness within, more energy, more love of life, more understanding and more of a flow of ideas and intuition," he says. "I see people as friends not enemies. I feel and understand a bigger and bigger picture forming, and experience life as more of a great game than a great torment. For me, TM serves my work and life. It cleans the machine of garbage and brings in pure gold." Shop the David Lynch collection at Live the Process. Go for a scroll here: Via Dazed.
If you've ever enjoyed a few drinks and wondered just what impact they've had on your blood alcohol limit, prepare to wonder no longer. Meet Proof, the wearable alcohol sensor that not only tells you how drunk you are — it (somewhat frighteningly) predicts how drunk you'll be later, and when you'll be sober if you stop drinking. Plus, it can also remind you when you're back in the safe realm. This is how it works: the slim band, which looks just like a fitness tracker, reads alcohol molecules through your skin. It then sends those readings to an app on your phone, where you can check whether you're okay to drive, and when you will be. You can also set it up to send vibrations through your wrist and flash an LED light when you reach pre-set blood alcohol levels. The band itself relies upon on disposable cartridges that last for 12 hours, and is powered by a rechargeable battery with a four-day continuous-use lifespan. Proof, which was among the technological advancements featured at CES 2017, has been in development by Milo Sensors for two years, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for 2017 to help it come to fruition. Once it reaches the market, it is expected to sell for US$100 to $150. Milo Sensors CEO and founder Evan Strenk told Mashable that the product aims to "empower people to make educated decision about alcohol," and is on par with consumer breathalysers. The last part is key, and not just in terms of effectiveness. Sure, plenty of blood alcohol testing products already exist; however who wants to blow into a tube when knowing just how those after-work drinks are hitting the spot is as easy as wearing a wristband and checking your phone? Via Mashable.
There's no end to innovative musical apps, but one of the most successful we've seen must be John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes, a new iPad app that gorgeously visualises the creative process of a true legend. Made with input from Yoko Ono and with all proceeds going to the Imagine No Hunger campaign, the app is an interactive musical journey resurrecting Lennon’s unreleased demos from his mysterious trip to Bermuda in 1980. Here, he began writing material for the first time in five years and reworking earlier demos, cultivating inspiration from his new surroundings. It is this inspiration that director Michael Epstein has sought to harness, inviting you to steer Lennon’s yacht as he battles thrashing waves solo (in fact, he almost lost his life voyaging through these treacherous waters). Perhaps venture through Bermuda’s gardens and record your own musical fancies, or witness Lennon’s moment of realisation when he recognises Ono’s wailing vocals influencing the music of the B-52’s, pumping through '70s disco speakers. What has been referred to here as 'The Bermuda Tapes' blossomed into John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s final studio album, Double Fantasy. Released in 1980, the album received largely negative reviews for its perceived lapse into sentimentality and familial bliss. However, the shock murder of Lennon three weeks after the album’s release swiftly transformed these criticisms into tributes and reflections on a staggeringly influential career cut short. The fact that the album became coloured by the murder is something Epstein hopes to counter, aiming to reclaim some of the music and spark fresh appreciation untainted by the tragic circumstances. Contemplating what makes a successful album app, Catherine Moore, an associate professor of music business at New York University, told Time magazine.,“My feeling is that unless the app is visually really engaging, really fits with the music, that there’s better ways to spend your creative resources.” It may just be that John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes meets this criteria. It is an impressive feat of digital storytelling, consisting of six chapters driven by interviews with Lennon and Ono, who comment on their being apart and how this impacted their artistic process. It is a searing portrait of the intimacy and dynamism of their relationship. The app errs more on the side of interactive storytelling than gameplay. There is a profound sense of nostalgia imbued in the gentle and harmonious rhythm of images constantly forming and reforming. Epstein has also achieved a skillful balance between narration, music and interaction — there is no one component that feels intrusive or overbearing. It is an appropriately exploratory aesthetic in accommodating these fragments of lost music and commentary. Epstein also insists upon the need to experience music in a new way, telling Fast Co.Create, "I think this is the logical evolution of the digital platform for music." John Lennon: The Bermuda Tapes offers the industry a much-needed injection of warmth and vitality. It is a technological revival and revamping of one of our most beloved artists and musicians — the best of the past and the future moulded into one. See more of Yoko Ono's works at her exhibition War Is Over! (If You Want It) is on at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art Australia until February 23, 2014. Via Fast Co.Create.
Apologies to whatever piece of furniture sits in the centre of your lounge room at present. Once you've seen the Living Table, the place you currently put your warm beverages, remote controls and whatever is in your pockets is going to look pretty average. Turning the everyday item into an accessible and eye-catching indoor garden, it doesn't just brighten up any space — it transforms the humble coffee table into a living work of art. Available in two square sizes and ranging from US$850 to $1600 in price, the Living Table ensures that greenery is front and centre. Now that's something sticking a few pot plants in corners and on shelves definitely doesn't do. It's designed for low-growing ground cover plants that can grow and thrive without touching the table's glass surface, with manufacturers Habit Horticulture suggesting a list of ideal varieties. Don't go putting it in a dark corner, though; in fact, finding a spot that gets bright, indirect natural sunlight is recommended. As well as looking great and sparking many a conversation, the table is designed to copy the way that plants absorb water from the ground courtesy of a passive sub irrigation system. In other words, it layers the necessary materials — bio balls, felt, soil, plants and glass — without needing to include drainage outlets. And, even better than that, it means that the plants inside don't need much H20. If you've ever killed a piece of flora with some over-watering kindness, you'll be thrilled. Via inhabitat.
This New York indie-rock duo are hitting up The Zoo this Thursday to play a set of highly entertaining indie rock. They've brought with them a string of singles from their classic album With Love and Squalor, such as 'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt' and 'It's A Hit', as well as tracks from their new album, TV en Francais. In addition to pumping out perfect indie tunes, these guys have a great sense of humour. Check out their clips for 'Nice Guys' and 'After Hours' for proof. Along with the standard tickets, there is also the option to upgrade to a deluxe ticket. This includes the opportunity to watch their soundcheck, meet the band and get a photo, attend an intimate performance of four songs, receive a limited edition four track CD and get some merch signed. Warming the stage for the duo are local legends, We All Want To and Fox and Fowl.
The incredible Australian photographer, Carol Jerrems captured iconic images during the 1970s. She focused her attention on moments of change and photographed people who were propelled by the desire for a better world. She was behind the camera to capture key moments during women's liberation movement, Indigenous justice and land rights protests and supported the country's many homeless youths. Jerrems was the first Australian female photographer whose work was showcased in numerous museums, including the National Gallery of Australia. Some of her large body of work has made its way to the QUT Art Museum and will be available to view from 5 July – 7 September. The exhibition includes signed prints by the artist and photographs taken between 1968-1978. Wander through the QUT Art Museum and be inspired by Jerrem's attention to detail and ability to tell a story with a single photograph.
In the past 12 months, Cairns-based songstress Emma Louise has gone from strength to strength, experiencing a flurry of success. Her whimsical single, 'Jungle', taken from her debut EP Full Hearts and Empty Rooms, was instantly loved by music buffs worldwide and constantly spun on the radio. Selling out shows internationally, Louise was honoured with Queensland Music Awards for Song Of The Year and the Pop Award. The dreamy darling has just released her new single, 'Boy', and returns to Australia to play a run of intimate shows after recently sharing the stage with accomplished musicians like Bob Evans, Sarah Blasko, Tim Rogers and Boy & Bear. She perfects indie pop with her gorgeous vocals, honest lyrics and stunning melodies. Head along to Black Bear Lodge and enjoy this stunning chanteuse's showcase of heartfelt and masterful songs.
