Good news, Brisbane: we’ve got a new piece of infrastructure on the build, and for once it’s not a bridge. New music venue The Triffid is set to open its doors at the end of October and promises to be the go-to music spot this summer. Located in one of Newstead’s historic WWII hangers, The Triffid is the brainchild of leading music industry figures Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou (Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival), hospitality identity Brett McCall (Green and Gold Events, Urban Purveyor Group) and most former Powderfinger bassist John Collins. “I spent 25 years touring with Powderfinger, playing all manner of venues, so it was really important to me to build a venue that was not only somewhere that punters looked forward to going to but a space that bands enjoy playing at as well," said Collins. "I know the importance of having a room that sounds good, and that has been a major focus.” There’s nothing rash about its development, with these key figures clashing heads over 18 months to ensure The Triffid is nothing short of musical excellence — and we’re quite confident it will be. It's not built like some Valley-esque stage-and-seating set-up; the venue is set to have an 800-person capacity with an outdoor beer garden and imposing arched roofline to match. To baptise the stage, The Triffid has lined up some pretty impressive acts to show off their space. From October 30, they'll be hosting Triffid Seeds, a three-night showcase of Brisbane’s best emerging acts. On the first night you can catch Hello Hokkaido, Outliers, Avaberee, The Royales, Tundra and Salvadarlings, and it won't cost you a cent. On November 8, The Triffid will officially kick into action with a launch party featuring electrifying Melbourne nine-piece Saskwatch, Brisbane indie favourites The Creases and Byron Bay locals MT Warning. Kicking off on November 9, Triffid Roots will take over the beer garden each Sunday, curated and hosted by triple j’s Sarah Howells. The first edition of Triffid Roots will feature Pat Tierney and Liam Gerner. It’s fair to be a tad concerned about the longevity of a new music venue, especially in Brisbane. This year already we’ve seen Tempo and The Joynt close their doors, and let us never forget the Cloudland Dancehall atrocity of 1982. Our history isn’t great as far as venues go, but with the some solid names behind The Triffid and a booming music scene at its side, it wouldn’t be rash to buckle up your dancing shoes and prepare yourself for a hot spot with some staying power.
Music panel shows weren't invented when Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz started airing in Australia back in 2005, but the two series became Aussie icons quickly. Seemingly everyone watched one, the other or both, with the pair earning a devoted following by realising a pivotal fact: as well as seeing musicians live, audiences also love watching them banter, bust out their smarts and just generally connecting over music. Also taking that idea and running with it is Georgia Mooney's Supergroup, which originally debuted in Sydney in 2019 and is now taking its live variety show on the road. It's inspired by Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz, obviously; focuses on stellar songwriters; and also includes live music and interviews as well. If that sounds like your kind of night out, music fans in Sydney will get to rediscover Supergroup's wonders at the Factory Theatre from Saturday, August 13–Sunday, August 14, with an impressive lineup that includes Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy from Middle Kids and Ziggy Ramo on the first night, then Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow on the second. But before that — and for the first time ever — Supergroup will also head to Brisbane and Melbourne for two shows in each city. In Queensland, from Wednesday, July 27—Thursday, July 28 at The Triffid, Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack will do the honours with Elizabeth and Seja, as will Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie from Butterfingers. In Victoria, Brunswick Ballroom will play host to Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE on Thursday, August 4, and then to Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey on Friday, August 5. Here's how it works: on each evening, the guests come together to form a band, with support from the Supergroup House Band. They'll only play together for that one night, with each high-profile songwriter taking turns to perform songs while their colleagues join in. And it's all spontaneous — with no rehearsals and absolutely zero prior planning. That means that guests get an experience that's never been seen or heard before, and won't ever happen again with the same songwriters and tunes, either. "There is something quite magical about it," says All Our Exes Live in Texas' Mooney. "It is communal and whimsical and musical in the purest sense. I have a feeling this tour will take that to a new level. It's going to feel incredibly poignant to connect again in this way, after the two years we've all had." SUPERGROUP 2022 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, July 27: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), Elizabeth and Seja Thursday, July 28: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie (Butterfingers) Thursday, August 4: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE Friday, August 5: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey Saturday, August 13: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy (Middle Kids) and Ziggy Ramo Sunday, August 14: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow Georgia Mooney's Supergroup tours Australia in July and August — head to Georgia Mooney's website for further information and to buy tickets.
Three Blue Ducks is expanding its collection of ever-popular farm-to-table eateries with a new road trip-worthy regional restaurant. Following the opening of a Snowy Mountains outpost in 2020 (and closures of its Brisbane restaurant and original Bronte cafe), the hospitality group has now turned its attention to the New South Wales mid-north coast to showcase the area's renowned produce at a venue in Bellingen. Opening on Thursday, July 13, this new addition to the Three Blue Ducks family will be located at scenic Bellingen hotel The Lodge, expanding the group's current slate of locations to five alongside Rosebery, Byron Bay, Melbourne and Nimbo. Located on the hotel's 16-acre gardens, the restaurant will offer all of the hallmarks of Three Blue Ducks with a menu that favours bold, spice-packed dishes. "We've always loved working with spice, lemongrass, ginger, chilli, makrut, et cetera, and after working closely with the local producers and farmers, we've created a menu for the restaurant that showcases these flavours," says Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson. "The menu draws from some of the favourite dishes we've cooked during our travels and at our other locations over the years, combined with new dishes to keep it fresh and exciting for us, our staff and people that drop in." The Three Blue Ducks crew has been working with a range of local suppliers including Levenvale Farms, The Patch Organics, Nautical Wholesale Seafood, Coffs Coast Mushrooms and Promised Land Organics to pull together a menu that places the spotlight on the best beef, seafood, chicken and vegetables that the region has to offer. The all-day restaurant will kick things off early on Saturdays and Sundays with Single O coffee and brekky favourites like the restaurant group's beloved granola, bacon and egg rolls, avocado and roasted mushroom toast, and cocktails like Bloody Marys and cherry blossom spritzes. From there, Bellingen locals, hotel guests and tourists alike can settle in for a flavour-packed lunch or dinner, with a hefty a la carte selection available alongside a series of set menus. There's a prominent Asian influence throughout the menu, with dumplings and bao on offer as starters, salt and Szechuan pepper squid and prawn toast available on the smaller plates, cauliflower curry on the mains and a chocolate yuzu eclair ready to round out your meal. Other highlights diners can expect at Three Blue Ducks Bellingen include beef tartare with fragrant chilli oil and togarashi; lemon, lime and south plum duck; fried chicken sandwiches; ponzu-topped oysters; flat-iron steak with citrus butter and curry leaf; and miso caramel cheesecake. There will also be a separate functions menu, with the Three Blue Ducks team working with The Lodge to offer private events and catering for weddings. The Lodge boasts 30 individual rooms, luxury glamping options, a pool with day beds and a bar, and five alpacas that wander the gardens. Reservations for the restaurant are open now. [caption id="attachment_834387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery[/caption] Three Blue Ducks Bellingen will open on Thursday, July 13 at The Lodge, 1381 Waterfall Way, Bellingen. It'll be open for dinner Monday–Sunday, lunch Friday–Sunday and breakfast Saturday–Sunday.
When you hear about a company called Briefs, many connotations and guesses about what it could possibly be about spring to mind. For example: maybe it’s an underwear company, or perhaps they write official documents that ‘brief’ their superiors. One guess that I certainly didn’t have is that they are a male troupe of performers that put on a half circus, half burlesque show. However here we are, and that is what Briefs is. Touring Brisbane again after both an overseas jaunt in the United Kingdom and an award winning turn at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, the boys have whipped up a new show, Circus, that comes with plenty of festive cheer. Renown for their cheeky performances that include both the aforementioned circus and burlesque, they are also fused with plenty of crass humour and a lot of bared flesh. Their shenanigans are so naughty in fact that they even recommend the audience be 18 years and over, making this a circus that I would like to see more and more. Included in their troupe is the Las Vegas 2011 King of Burlesque, Mark Winmill so you can be guaranteed that the show will include all the dancing and stripping talent you desire. However be warned, the last two seasons of Briefs sold out in Brisbane, so if what you’re craving is an adults-only show of contorted (but sexy) man flesh then you should act fast.
Given its name, BrewDog was always going to be a canine-friendly brewery — including at DogTap Brisbane, its Australian base. The Murarrie venue serves up craft beer for puppers as well as people, because doggos like to sip brews too. And, it's now turning your next visit with your four-legged friend into a celebratory shindig. Each Thursday from September 10, Brisbanites of both the human and barking variety can head on down to the riverside spot for a 'dog pawty' — aka an excuse to sink a few drinks while your pooch does the same. You'll need to reserve a pawty space first, although that's a reality we're all getting used to in general. Then, once you're there, both you and Fido can sit, stay and start drinking. For dogs, you'll pay $10 each, which nabs them a pup-safe Subwoofer IPA and a pupcake. For humans, you'll buy your beverages as you go along — while saying cheers to your canine companion plenty of times, obviously. BrewDog's dog pawties take place every Thursday at BrewDog DogTap.
Along with Glastonbury, Coachella is one of the biggest, most famous and highly coveted music festivals in the world — the type of fest that everyone wishes they could nab a ticket to at least once. While this year's festival has been postponed — from April till October — come next week, you'll be able to relive highlights from its 20 year history. Hitting YouTube at 5am AEST on Saturday, April 11 (12pm PT Friday, April 10 — when the 2020 festival was scheduled to start), Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert will feature behind-the-scenes stories, never-before-seen footage, interviews and performances from some of the world's most famous musicians. While Coachella hasn't announced exactly what performances will make it into the doco, its website does tease some highlights from every year. Jane's Addiction 2001 reunion show, MIA asking fans to storm the stage; Daft Punk debuting their pyramid stage; Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg performing with a hologram of 2Pac; Beyoncé famous 2018 show; and Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z , Björk, Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar and so many more big-names hitting the stage. With music festivals across the world — and Australia — cancelled and postponed, and people self-isolating and social-distancing, the doco will be a great way to escape — virtually. And, if you've ever wanted to head to the Cali festival, but haven't been able to snag tickets or afford to go, it's free way to experience it. While you wait for Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert to drop, you can watch Netflix's Homecoming — a doco about that Beyoncé set — and eyeball the trailer below: https://youtu.be/pflR5xxx0bQ Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert hits YouTube at 5am on Saturday, April 11 AEST.
Whether you're trying to find your way around your a far-flung holiday destination, a part of your own city you're not so familiar with or your own neighbourhood, Google Maps has probably helped you out of a bind more than once. Over the years, you've been able to play everything from Pac-Man and Mario Kart to Where's Waldo and Snake via the online service, too — so using it for a global Easter egg hunt really isn't too far out of the ordinary. Because it's almost that time of year, and because Cadbury wants to remind us all to eat chocolate, the brand has teamed up with Google Maps for the second year in a row to create a virtual way for you to hide and search for Easter eggs. It's all digital, though, so it does mean that you won't actually be eating any choccies. If you want to dive into your own stash while you're clicking and scrolling away, though, absolutely no one is going to stop you. Here's how it works: you head to the worldwide Easter egg hunt website, sign up and then get hiding. Once you've picked your spot — somewhere of significance to you and the person you're hiding it for — you'll write a clue, which'll then get sent to your chosen person. For those on the receiving end, it's up to you to decipher the details and find the virtual egg. If it's too hard, that's all down to whoever enlisted you in the hunt — so, if you can't find your digital egg, you might want to ask them for more hints. You can only hide one egg at a time, and only send the corresponding clue to one person. But, you can repeat the process as many times as you like. While there is a physical component, it sadly doesn't involve racing around the world, the city or even the house actually trying to get your hands on chocolate. Instead, you can arrange to send one of seven Cadbury products to someone in Australia, including tins and hampers. Staying virtual doesn't cost a thing, however, if that better suits your budget. To take part in the worldwide Easter egg hunt, head to the Cadbury website.
Some stories are so ubiquitous in popular culture that we all know what they're about, even if we haven't read them, seen the movie or experienced every adaptation that's ever been made. Herman Melville's Moby Dick is one such tale, but that doesn't mean that it can't be given a new twist. Indeed, seeing what talented folks do with them next is part of the fun of these enduring narratives. Dead Puppet Society have big plans for Melville's whale tale. Don't expect the usual story to play out in Ishmael, however. Instead, this Brisbane Festival show reimagines its inspiration as a space saga, subbing in earth's oceans for everything that sprawls on forever above our heads — with puppets, naturally. Taking over QPAC's Cremorne Theatre from Friday, September 3–Saturday, September 18, the result combines onstage puppetry and miniature sets with live filmmaking, plus music by Bec Sandridge, Xavier Dunn and Dave Jenkins Jnr. And, if you love it, we have the perfect quote for you: "ye've shipped, have ye?" Giulia McGauran Top image: Dean Hanson.
Brisbane’s art scene is one which has found itself reinvigorated and energised in recent times, one with much to say, with many voices joining the ever-growing, ever complex conversation. New World City is the exhibition to showcase some of those voices, to give a taste of the many facets of the Brisbane creative community, and the art that lends itself to the growing reputation of Brisbane as a hub for the arts. Recent graduates from creative institutions will lend their talents to the exhibition, with the (soon-to-be great) names including Chenaya Bancroft-Davis, Aaron Butt, Daniel Cabrera, Amy Commins, Katherine Clayton, Romii Fulton-Smith, Claudia Greathead, Hillary Green, Jenna Green, Loki Groves, Alex McGovern, Sophie Richards, Jarrod Van Der Ryken and Madeleine Stack, among many others. Head along to The Hold Artspace for the official celebrations on Friday February 21 from 6-9pm. Be sure to catch the works, on display until March 1.
This one goes out to the multi-taskers among us. Do you find there aren't enough hours in the day? Do you wish you could grab a coffee and tick off your chores at the same time? You're in luck. There are a number of great businesses in Brisbane that offer more than one service, meaning you can kill two birds with one stone. Because everyone is a little time-poor these days, we've rounded up the seven best fusion businesses in Brisbane, where you can cross off two or more points on your to-do list in one hit. FRANCESCA'S FLOWERS There is nothing quainter than a florist/tearoom that lets you drink tea, eat cake and learn the tricks of the trade with floristry workshops. Francesca's Flowers in Paddington fits the bill and is even located in a glorious old Queenslander cottage to make it even more charming. If you don't have the time to stop by the shop to grab a pocket full of posies, you can still send a little lovin' and order flowers over the phone. The team of passionate designers can help put together anything from a simple arrangement to say thanks to opulent wedding and event flowers. 46 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington MALT TRADERS Malt Traders is a one-stop shop for all your fine food and craft beverage needs. The Brisbane-born business is focused on delivering unique and sustainable offerings such as craft beers, biodynamic and organic wines, and single malt whiskey. Pair your aperitifs with a delectable selection of produce and indulge a little the next time you entertain. 10 Market St, Brisbane and Little Stanley Street, South Bank WILD CANARY Wild Canary is best described as a 'botanical bistro' nestled inside Brookfield Garden Centre in Brisbane's west. The cafe is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, and is even licensed. The chefs harvest fragrant herbs, edible flowers and seasonal produce from the onsite kitchen garden so you're guaranteed fresh and flavoursome fare. If you find yourself inspired to grow your own produce, pop in to the garden centre and the friendly staff will assist you in choosing the best vegetable garden supplies. You can even organise landscape and maintenance services to help tame or tidy your garden if your thumb ain't as green as you thought. 2371 Moggill Road, Brookfield NEWMARKET HARDWARE Newmarket True Value Hardware throws a spanner in the works when you step inside and discover Gallery B hidden in its depths. And although the insinuation on their website that only boys enjoy hardware and girls art is a somewhat off-putting, a hardware store/boutique gallery does make for the perfect weekend outing. Whether you make the visit to pick up some paint and power tools for your next DIY project, or to peruse the art, jewellery and fashion finds, be sure to grab a cup of coffee and a piece of quality cake or an exotic delicacy from the cafe. 178 Enoggera Road, Newmarket RIVERBEND BOOKS Good literature and great coffee are a match made in heaven, and the folk at Riverbend Books in Bulimba are happy to oblige with both. The store is warm and friendly, as all good bookstores should be, and the deck out front is a prime position on Oxford street to enjoy a coffee, a light meal or a glass of great Australia wine. Indulge your inner bookworm and join a book chat, book club or simply browse the large inventory of books, magazines and journals. 193 Oxford Street, Bulimba SOURCED GROCER Sourced Grocer is all about celebrating locally sourced food and eating thoughtfully. The cafe-slash-grocer quickly established a cult following in the Brisbane food community, and there is seldom a spare milk crate to perch your drawers on and enjoy the delicious, largely organic menu. Inside the roller doors, you'll find some of Brisbane's finest fresh produce and culinary provisions. 11 Florence Street, Teneriffe CHEVEAUX DESIGN AND ESPRESSO When things get busy, we tend to neglect our tresses, because booking a haircut can be hard. Get yo' hair did, have a cup of Allpress Espresso, and grab a jar of choc peanut butter protein balls for the road all in one visit to Cheveux Design and Espresso in Auchenflower. The sister duo behind the salon-slash-cafe combined their passions and experience to bring a unique, and charming boutique offering to Brisbanites. 37A Bangalla Street, Auchenflower
Get your lederhosen cleaned, your stein arm warmed up and your belly prepped for endless pork knuckles and oversized pretzels. Willkommen to Oktoberfest! This inaugural celebration of all things German starts over October 10-12 then is back for round zwei on October 17-19. Brisbane is fortunate to be the home to Australia’s largest event of this kind, so you know the beer will be flowing and the snacks piling up in greater fashion than anywhere in this hemisphere. Not only is this the only way to get your German fix (short of catching a plane), the entertainment is non-stop — yodelling, dancing, singing and cow bell ringing will bring out the giddy in young and old. Strongmen may compete in the jam doughnut eating competition or out-beard their neighbour, while the ladies are for some reason kept away from the doughnuts and funnelled towards Miss Oktoberfest Brisbane.
Queensland residents will all soon be able to holiday in New Zealand again, in the latest change to the trans-Tasman bubble. Quarantine-free travel between Australia and NZ was put on pause back in June due to rising COVID-19 cases in the former, and was then reinstated with some Australian states at the beginning of July — and now it's returning in Queensland as well. From 11.59pm NZT/9.59pm AEST today, Monday, July 12, folks who live in the the Sunshine State will be permitted into NZ without quarantining — so if you're a Brisbanite in need of a holiday after the city's lockdown earlier this month, that's great news. The trans-Tasman bubble will now only sill remain suspended with New South Wales, which is unsurprising given Sydney's current lockdown. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1414406542367940615 In a statement today, Tuesday, June 29, on Twitter, the NZ Government advised that "a public health risk assessment for Queensland has been carried out by the Ministry of Health, and they have assessed travel with the state as presenting a low public health risk." It continued: "The last community case was 7 July 2021. The last time a case was infectious in the community was on 4 July 2021. There have been no unexpected wastewater detections and community testing rates have been good. Queensland is also easing restrictions within the state." Queenslanders keen to head to NZ when the bubble kicks back in will need to provide evidence of a negative pre-departure test before they're able to fly. Also, you can't have been in New South Wales on or after 10.30pm NZT/8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 26. No word was given regarding a timeframe for reinstating the quarantine-free travel between NZ and NSW, but again that isn't a surprise. The latter reported 112 new locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours, and isn't expected to get out of lockdown this week — even though a target date of July 16 was set a week ago. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Everyone loves a good modern art installation so they can both look snobby and knowledgeable, especially when its content is a controversial and historical hot topic. The 1986 Chernobyl crisis certainly fulfils both those criteria so it’s convenient that Los Angeles-based artist Diana Thater is famed for her video installations and has an interest in the disaster. It’s also convenient that for the next few months Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art will be playing host to the aforementioned piece of work. In her signature style, numerous video projections will be organised so as to create a 360-degree experience that brings viewers into the world of Chernobyl. The Chernobyl crisis occurred in 1986 when the local nuclear plant exploded, killing more people than the Hiroshima bomb explosion and injuring many more. Accordingly the surrounding area has been shut off and devoid of humans since, creating a zombie-like atmosphere. Ms Thater however literally risked her life for art’s sake by sneaking into the off limit zone to capture the exhibition’s footage. This particular exhibition has been shown all over the world and has received acclaim in all its residencies. Brisbane is lucky enough to be able to show such glorious art installations and considering a life was risked to make it, you have to trek to see it.
It was only a decade ago that fledgeling market startup Finders Keepers launched with 20 stalls and a handful of eager design enthusiasts looking to score an artsy deal. Now the event finds itself sitting as Australia's longest-running art and design market — and this season is going to be huge with an extra evening, longer hours and a bigger spot to hold this bustling artsy medina. Celebrating ten years of giving the city's artisan producers that much-needed exposure, the event will host over 200 stalls for the multitude of market-goers after a bargain, amid a backdrop of live music, bars, coffee carts, food trucks, workshops and a dessert bar. With a friendly entrance fee of just $2 (kids enter free), you'll find everything from hand-crafted furniture, scarves and sarongs, crockery, clutches and many other products from a huge number of local artists and designers. Keep an eye out for Doops Design's bold and bright cushions, J.F.A. Hynd's botanical illustrations and textiles and Brisbane local favourites photographer Kara Rosenlund, fashion designer Alice Nightingale and homewares label Kirralee & Co. Indigenous social enterprise Magpie Goose will also bring fashion items produced in remote NT communities. Finders Keepers runs from November 10–12, 5–10pm on Friday and 9am–4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Images: Samee Lapham
When and where domestic border rules and COVID-19 restrictions have permitted, travelling throughout Australia has been on the agenda across the past year. With the country set to remain closed to international jaunts until at least mid-June, that isn't changing yet — but you can still hop on a plane and head over the ocean thanks to Qantas' just-announced new flights to Norfolk Island. Of course, travelling south to Tasmania remains a trusty option if you're eager to get off the mainland. Everywhere from Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island to Fraser Island and Daydream Island also fit the bill. But a trip to Norfolk Island means you'll be venturing more than 1400 kilometres east from the Aussie coastline, and to an external territory of Australia that sits between New Zealand and New Caledonia. Yes, you'll only be spotting water below you while you stare out of the plane windows. Qantas' flights will kick off on Friday, March 19, and head to the Pacific Ocean spot six times a week — three from Sydney and three from Brisbane. Prices start at $412 one-way from New South Wales and $390 one-way from Queensland, with the routes using Boeing 737 aircraft, which means there'll be 2000 seats available each week. Obviously, if you live somewhere other than Sydney or Brisbane, you'll just need to get to either of them first. For now, the two routes are set to run for three months, as part of a contract that the Federal Government has awarded to Qantas. There is a possibility that it'll be extended, and that the routes will stick around for the longer term. If you're keen to spend some time soaring over the sea, then kicking back on a South Pacific getaway, you'll be departing from Sydney and Brisbane's international terminal — so you really will feel as if you're jetting abroad. There's no need to prepare yourself for a lengthy flight, though, with the trip taking around two-and-a-half hours from Sydney and two hours from Brisbane. For Sydneysiders and Brisbanites who'd rather jet off to colder climes, Qantas has also this month announced new routes from the two cities to the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps. There, you're clearly definitely staying on home turf — but when it comes to making holiday plans for the next few months, before a potential travel bubble with Singapore could possibly come into effect, you definitely have options. Qantas' new flights to Norfolk Island from Sydney and Brisbane will start flying from Friday, March 19. For more information, or to book, head to the airline's website. Top image: Roderick Eime via Flickr.
If you haven’t awoken to the whole concept of zines, what they are and how you can get your hands on them, never fear; your education is coming and it shall be swift. Simply put, zines are self-published, handmade, price-efficient, totally unique books, booklets, or just a bunch of paper with a couple of staples. Check out our pick of Brisbane best ones here. The best part about zines is that their content is pretty much fluff free – between art, short stories, poetry or whatever a certain zine specializes in – you’re not going to come across an article on ’10 Ways to Drive your Man Crazy’ or any Murdoch-muddling. Hooray for zines! Now that you’ve had your brief education on zines your next lesson should come as no surprise: there’s only one thing better than a home made zine, and that’s a home made sandwich. ZICS – king pins of Brisbane’s zine-scene - are holding a Zine and Comics Picnic for all the like-minded creatives out there who want to swap, sell and share in some food, comics and zines. Don’t be the jerk who says they didn’t bring a plate because they’re not hungry, then eats everything. And DEFINITELY don’t be the jerk who doesn’t bring any zines because they’re ‘creatively full’, then reads everyone else’s. That’s not okay. The picnic will be held at New Farm Park 12pm, this Sunday. Don’t forget your plate, but definitely don’t forget an armful of your favourite prints.
Australia's theatre scene didn't have much to smile about in 2020; however, now that 2021 has rolled around, some venues around the country are kicking back into gear with a little help from their friends. Well, with Friends! The Musical Parody to be specific — with the comedic, song-filled satire of everyone's favourite 90s sitcom touring the country. Initially, the show was due to hit local theatres in August and September last year. Then, when the pandemic struck, the musical rescheduled to November and December instead. But it seems that 2020 wasn't anyone's year — and it didn't include anyone's favourite day, week or month, for that matter — so the production has now shifted its entire run to 2021. Scheduled to hit Brisbane from Wednesday, August 18–Saturday, August 28 before also being there for audiences in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, Friends! The Musical Parody will spend time with Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe, of course. Here, they're hanging out at their beloved Central Perk — and sitting on an orange couch, no doubt — when a runaway bride shakes up their day. Call it 'The One with the Loving, Laugh-Filled Lampoon', or 'The One That Both Makes Good-Natured Fun of and Celebrates an Iconic Sitcom'. Yes, no one told you that being obsessed with the Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer-starring show about six New Yorkers would turn out this way — with on-stage skits and gags, recreations of some of the series' best-known moments, and songs with titles such as 'How you Doin?' and 'We'll Always Be There For You'. That said, no one told us that being a Friends aficionado would continue to serve up so many chances to indulge our fandom 16 years after it finished airing, including via the upcoming reunion special that's gathering the TV series' main cast back together. Updated August 16.
Normally, you mightn't be a fan of American football. You may not care for it at all, in fact, or know anything about it beyond Friday Night Lights. So when the Super Bowl rolls around each year, you might only pay attention for the half-time show and the movie trailers. But if you've been enjoying HBO's video game-to-TV series The Last of Us — if you've been hanging out for new episodes each week, too — then you're now a massive supporter of the biggest US football match of the year. You still don't have to watch the Super Bowl if you don't want to. But HBO thinks that plenty of people will be in America, so it's moving the episode of The Last of Us that's slated to air on Super Bowl day — on Monday, February 13 Down Under, and the show's fifth instalment — to an earlier date. That shift has a ripple effect here in Australia, with streaming service Binge doing the same. Accordingly, mark 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 in your diary. This is a one-off move, with The Last of Us returning to Monday releases in Australia for its remaining four episodes of season one from Monday, February 20. Still, for one week — this week — you'll get two instalments in the space of five days instead of seven. In similarly welcome news that was announced earlier in February, The Last of Us is locked in for a second season as well. That development was hardly surprising given the 2013 game that the show is based on also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel — and also because HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies — but it was still obviously hugely welcome. If you haven't yet caught up with the thoughtful dystopian series, which is character-focused, supremely well-cast and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged world but why life is worth fighting for, it's already one of 2023's big TV highlights. Set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes, it follows Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Bella Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version made by Chernobyl's Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog (who also penned and directed The Last of Us games), if that was an easy task. And, there wouldn't be much of either if the Joel and Ellie didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. Check out the trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and will drop its fifth episode via Binge at 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 — before reverting to releasing new episodes each Monday from Monday, February 20. Read our review of The Last of Us' first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival is back this year with mountains of mouth-watering seafood, divine wine and plenty of entertainment. Sample fine seafood from over 20 food outlets such as seafood platters; seared Tasmanian salmon, sand crab, New Zealand whitebait fritters, spicy chilli prawn pizza, Thai caramelised prawns, whole lobsters, oysters and much more. Is your tummy rumbling yet? You'll be able to wash down these delicious seafood treats with a selection of wines from Sirromet Wines, who will be showcasing their gorgeous Love series. This year the festival boasts its biggest and best collection of musicians including rock royalty Mental As Anything and The Choirboys. Other acts include Chance Waters, Yung Warriors, Tyler Touche and Dan England. An eclectic mix of rap, rock and chilled out acoustic will keep you entertained as you treat yourself to the never-ending food and wine. Eat, drink and be merry at one of Brisbane's most celebrated food festivals.
Everybody loves treehouses. Don't let anyone tell you that timber structures in branches are just for kids — living in your own sky-high hideaway amongst the greenery is an urge that you never grow out of. Thankfully, from plane-shaped buildings to entire apartment blocks to Australia's finest treetop spaces, there's no shortage of spots to climb up to. And while they all come with great views, Italy's latest addition to the fold is taking the concept up a few notches. Located in the Dolomites, the two Pigna treehouses overlook the alpine range from their lofty spot — and look like they've always been there. Suspended ten metres above the ground, and measuring eight-and-a-half metres in height and six in width, the cosy, three-level holiday homes are built to resemble pinecones, using larch shingles made from wood from Central Europe's Alpe-Adria region. Inside, those spending the night will find 360-degree vantages over the gorgeous scenery, a living area with a kitchenette, and a top-floor bedroom complete with a skylight. Nestled into fir trees, the treehouses are accessible by individual bridges, with every aspect designed to provide "a journey to discover the sounds, smells and scenery of nature." The project, which was finished this year, was originally conceived by architect Luca Beltrame as part of the ArchTriump competition in 2014. Via Dezeen. Images: DomusGaia / Malga Priu Ugovizza / Luca Beltrame + Laura Tessaro.
Tequila: 1. You: 0. That's right, champ, you're hungover. And when your head is throbbing and your stomach is promising to reject your carb-loaded breakfast, it is near impossible to resist the urge to crawl right back into bed, and stay there. All day. This plan of action isn't always the practical choice, however. Especially if you are in, say, Las Vegas. There's more booze to be drunk, more shenanigans to get into. Lucky for you, there's a solution. And no, it isn't ibuprofen and a Vitamin Water. Enter the fleet of magical buses, Hangover Heaven. The brainchild of Dr. Jason Burke, Hangover Heaven buses are available for walk-in visits, or to drop by the hotel rooms of those in need. The 45-minute IV treatment rehydrates you, all the while pumping you full of hangover-busting vitamins. The treatment is FDA-approved, and available for a charge of US$150. Get in. Get out. Go rage. [via Gawker]
John 'JC' Collins, bassist from the legendary but now defunct Powderfinger, is set to open his own midsize music venue in Brisbane. It’s expected that the venue will be open by November this year and goes by the name Triffid. We’re not sure if that’s a homage to the alternative rock group from Perth or if Collins has a penchant for terrifying albeit fictitious plants, but whatever the case Brisbane is about to receive a much needed venue and that's good enough for us. The 800-capacity venue will be located in Newstead, housed in one of the iconic World War II hangars in the area. Although live music is high on the agenda, Collins told The Music the space will have secondary purposes. "We want to make it Newstead’s backyard," he said. "Somewhere to come and hang out after work, hear some music, have a drink and grab some food." Collins is conscious of the constant battle many live music venues have with their residential neighbours, and he's making every effort to construct the venue to make sure this is not a problem. "We have been talking to acoustic engineers to make sure it isn’t pumping out volume to the neighbours, because inside we are going to have the best, professional gear and a big enough stage for decent-sized acts," says Collins. Collins is working with Graham Ashton, founder of Footstomp Music and executive programmer of BIGSOUND, to help book acts for the venue. "We are hoping to have a really local flavour, so it would be great to have a good local act in there on the first night,” says Collins. Ashton also signed Powderfinger to Polydor in the early '90s, so you could say he knows what's up. Local flavour hey? Any chance of getting The Finger back together for an opening night gig? Sadly, we don’t recommend you put your money on it as Collins confirms, "I would love to say Powderfinger will open the place, but that’s not going to happen." Via The Music.
Boasting arguably the best views of Brisbane and Story Bridge, Jellyfish is a must-visit for locals and visitors searching for a fishy feast. As the moniker suggests, seafood is the name of the game at Jellyfish. Each day, the kitchen cures, crumbs, steams or roasts between eight and 14 different species of fish. Other delights from the big blue include Moreton Bay bugs with kombu and wasabi butter, seared scallops served with pork cheek and sweet corn and spanner crab. Sides are kept simple — the fat chips with malt vinegar nailing those nostalgic paper-wrapped fish 'n' chip vibes – while the wine list is hefty and made up of mostly Australian and New Zealand labels.
Summer lovin', the summer fling, fun in the sun and oh, those summer nights. The summer romance is a concept that evokes freedom, passion and impulsiveness, so you can understand why we want to read books, listen to songs and watch movies all about it. Well, good news lovebirds, spontaneity isn't solely reserved for fiction. You too can sweep your main squeeze off their feet with a surprise date this summer. To make sure your meet-cute is suitably special, we've partnered with Henkell, purveyors of quality bubbles, and pulled together five spontaneous date ideas that are sure to put a sparkle in your partner's eye. [caption id="attachment_593141" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Emily Davies.[/caption] CROSSWORDS AND LIVE MUSIC BY THE WATER AND IN THE SUN On a lazy, balmy Sunday, grab the paper, a bottle of Henkell Trocken and a blanket and make your way to Southbank's River Quay Green. This grassy knoll, licensed from 10am to 8pm, is just the spot to relax for the arvo with your summer crush. Do the crossword together (two brains are better than one) while listening to live music courtesy of the Sunday Social on the Green lineup. [caption id="attachment_683462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council.[/caption] REWARDING TREK THROUGH NATURE Strap on the joggers, because nothing says romance like a healthy dose of endorphins and sweat, right? Okay, so maybe a few other things could be more romantic, but science says that as you sweat you also release those natural pheromones to help attract your sweetie even more. Make your way along the river, or for a shadier, less busy option, take one of the trails through Mount Coot-tha National Park. Whether your pace is more leisurely stroll or pounding the gravel together, make sure to celebrate your running success — perhaps over some mimosas and a big brekkie? [caption id="attachment_640283" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bert Knottenbeld.[/caption] SUMMER FEAST BY THE SEA End the perfect summer day with a fish and chip feast by the sea — just you, your person, a chilled bottle of bubbly and maybe a seagull or two. Sandgate is Brisbane seaside at its best, and the iconic Sandgate Fishmonger is its king. Located just over the road from the water, it offers BYO, and we've heard the calamari has been voted some of the best in the land. After you've licked the last bit of salt from your fingers, walk off your dinner, hand-in-hand along the beach as the sun goes down — textbook romance. ONE DESSERT, TWO SPOONS If food be the language of love, then dessert speaks the loudest. So, you've taken your date out for dinner — a classic, but still well-played move (especially if it's at one of Brisbane's best new restaurants). Naturally, your next stop should be to share something sweet on the way home. Pony's offers some pretty decadent options in the form of the bittersweet chocolate with mango sorbet, milk chocolate parfait, passionfruit and hazelnut praline or a honey parfait with burnt vanilla cream, mead jelly, toasted hay and milk sorbet and chamomile. If you're more keen to grab and go, head to Messina to take away a carton filled with the week's specials, grab a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs and cosy up on the couch for some literal Netflix and chill. TRIP TO VENICE Okay, so we don't mean actual Venice. But these gondola rides along the Brisbane River are the next best thing. Plus, you can BYO a bottle of Henkell Trocken to make your cruise around extra special. Who hasn't dreamed about spending a gorgeous day gliding around in a gondola? Yes, this particular romantic ride may be called a 'cuddle cruise' but don't let that deter you from enjoying a lovely drift down the river with your person. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion.
Since time immemorial, poets and bards have compared rolling hills to the fecund curves of the human body: "To whit, yon vale dost suggest to mine eye the breathing bosom of my lady fair." Or some such wankery. Now photographer Carl Warner makes the literary literal, in a series of 'landscapes' composed entirely of naked men and women. Using studio lighting and Photoshop compositional trickery, individual bodies becomes duplicates, limbs are seen from multiple angles, and skin becomes desert rock hewn by the wind of millennia. With titles like 'The Cave of Abdo-Men', 'Desert of Backs' and 'Shin Knee Valley' (a personal favourite), it's easy to see both the human and geological aspects of each picture, while imagining that they're images from a real world. Channelling the idea that a body that's lived in by an individual can be conceived as a larger place to live, Warner's pictures are sensual and intriguing, inviting you to take time identifying what body parts you're actually looking at. You can scope out the full series on Warner's website. A seasoned 'Otherscaper', for decades he's been crafting his trademark artificial landscapes out of food, office supplies, tools and all manner of products — and attracting many advertising clients in the process. His most famous body of work is his Foodscapes, entirely different in colour spectrum and emotional tenor but just as impressive as these mountains and valleys of luscious skin. The Desert of Sleeping Men Shin Knee Valley Shoulder Hill Valley Desert of Backs
Through multimedia, creation and the physical theatre uniquely defined by Zen Zen Zo, Medea: The River Runs Backwards brings a powerful story of betrayal, passion and loss to the stage. This classic tragedy has received a revamp by Resident Director Drew der Kinderden and been perfectly marriaged with a theatre troupe of astounding talent. The plot follows the blurred life Medea – one of the great Greek sorceresses of the ancient world. Pulling tales from the past and present, she lingers on the years passed and the guilt that rode them before she dies. Time and space shatter as the echoes of Medea’s deeds ripple through her life. This unique and strikingly beautiful interpretation has already captured the attention of audiences with most shows already sold out, and two more announced by popular demand – don’t miss out.
Dwayne Johnson (aka 'The Rock') is an absolute Hollywood powerhouse. Just physically the guy's so strong he looks like he could bench press someone while they were bench-pressing. Yet there's so much more than brute force to this wrestler-turned-box office behemoth. In recent times he's had years (such as 2013) where his films have grossed more than US $1 billion combined. With more instalments of the unstoppable Fast and Furious franchise on the horizon, he's fast becoming the most bankable man in the business. No wonder, then, he's recently been hailed as the official heir-apparent to the king of action – Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then there's Kevin Hart, fast-becoming a movie-making powerhouse in his own right. Since just 2014 he's already churned out thirteen films, prompting Chris Rock to joke at the Oscars that not even porn stars make them as quickly as he does. Hart is increasingly being likened to Eddie Murphy for his style of comedy, his likability and his growing credentials as an action-comedy star. With all that said, the only thing surprising about Central Intelligence is how long it took to actually put Hart and Johnson together. And if you're wondering, yes, the film immediately went to no.1 on the US Box Office. Plot wise, there's very little to speak of. Johnson plays Bob Stone, an unflappable CIA operative who may or may not have gone rogue from the Agency, and who twenty years prior was the enormously fat kid subjected to relentless bullying by just about everyone other than Hart in his high school. On the eve of their school reunion, Stone reaches out to Hart's character, Calvin Joyner – the former class president and guy voted 'most likely to succeed'. Joyner is now a mid-level accountant in the throws of a mid-life crisis. Together, the pair quickly find themselves pursued by the CIA as they chase down some secret classified information. It's a classic odd-couple, buddy action comedy in the vein of the Schwarzenegger/DeVito movie Twins, only with far less class and only the most threadbare of storylines. Both Hart and Johnson throw themselves completely into their roles, without which the film would be a proper stinker. They're both terrifically funny actors, and Johnson's deadpan delivery of ridiculous lines is when the movie is at its strongest. It's just frustrating to see the current kings of action and comedy let down by a movie in which the action is entirely dull and derivative, and the comedy is so absent that the only real laughs come from the outtakes playing over the final credits. It all has a feeling of 'she'll be right, mate', relying far too heavily on the celebrity and charisma of its leading men instead of giving them a clever, considered script through which to showcase all that they're capable of. The film does also boast a handful of 'surprise cameos' that briefly recapture your attention, but they're not enough to cover up the gaping holes in plot or direction. Full of potential yet thin on substance, Central Intelligence is best seen as a challenge to the next writer-director to put this pair together. Imagine how brightly these two stars could shine if only they had a decent script. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxEw3elSJ8M
If you live in Brisbane and you're into theatre, you've probably heard about the city's venue problem. During busy times when all the usual locations are already booked, some shows can't tread our boards because there's nowhere for them to perform. That's where Anywhere Theatre Festival comes in, transforming unlikely places into lively performance spaces since 2011. If any event proves that anywhere and everywhere can host theatre, comedy, dance, music, magic and poetry, it's this. In 2016, 63 productions and 420 performances will grace gaols, reservoirs, rural railway stations, old skate rinks, pubs, people's homes and more — including these ten shows, our pick of the bunch.
After a few months of constant changes when it comes to COVID-19 rules, requirements and restrictions, folks in southeast Queensland won't need to adjust their behaviour again until at least 4pm on Friday, September 24. When Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last announced amendments to Queensland's restrictions towards the end of August, she noted that the new requirements would be effective for at least two weeks, and that they'd be assessed fortnightly moving forward. Today, Friday, September 10, marks that first review point — and, as the Queensland Government has just revealed, everything that's currently in place is staying that way for another fortnight. Since July, southeast Queensland has weathered quite the rollercoaster ride. The area has been through two separate lockdowns, and seen strict rules put in place after each stay-at-home stint, with requirements tightening and easing multiple times. Over the past two weeks, though, the region has been enjoying some of the most relaxed rules it's had for a while — and that'll remain the case now for the next two weeks as well. You always know things are getting loose when dancing is allowed (goodbye, Footloose) — as it is under current rules. As you've no doubt enjoyed over the past fortnight, there's also no longer be any limits on how many people can gather outdoors in public spaces. And, at home, the 100-person cap is in place. [caption id="attachment_680578" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Retro's[/caption] For indoor premises — including hospitality businesses such as clubs, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as galleries, museums, convention centres and places of worship — the one person per two-square-metres density limit is in effect. Where these types of venues are ticketed and have allocated seating, they can fill those areas to 100 percent, too, as can cinemas, theatres and live music venues. Also, eating and drinking standing is allowed — hello, vertical consumption — so there's something else to say cheers to. Stadiums are back to 100-percent capacity for ticketed events with allocated seating (yes, it's football finals season). Indoor events can also either fill to 100-percent if seated and ticketed, or stick to the one person per two-square-metres rule if not. 📢 Mask wearing requirements will remain in place for South East Queensland until 4pm 24 September. For more information about what restrictions are in place, visit https://t.co/P0YcPprxOb pic.twitter.com/FPvOuAKKcf — Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) September 10, 2021 Masks are still staying for now, however. Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there — and, for another fortnight at least, they're mandatory on public transport, in ride shares and while waiting for both; in all indoor spaces other than your own home, including hospitality businesses, unless you're eating and/or drinking; in schools; and outdoors if you can't remain 1.5 metres away from people who aren't part of your household. Also, you will still need to always carry a mask with you. In general, Queenslanders are asked to keep social distancing, maintaining the hygiene practices that have been in place since March 2020, and checking the state's list of exposure sites — and to get tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms. And yes, these restrictions will be keep being reviewed again fortnightly from this point onwards, if you're wondering when the rules could relax again. Southeast Queensland's current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place until at least 4pm on Friday, September 24. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
If you've ever watched a U.S.-made Christmas movie (or several), you've probably come to a surprising realisation. While Christmas Day is the main festive event in Australia, our American friends are much more focused on the evening prior. That's when families come together and share a meal, and that's exactly when The Stamford Plaza encourages you to do the same. Of course, their night-before food fun features not only roasts and dessert selections aplenty, but a seafood buffet as well — because some Aussie traditions just can't be beaten. They're also serving up another feast on December 25, in case you just can't bring yourself to break with convention.
In conjunction with Semi-Permanent, Blake House Gallery are hosting an exhibition of Australian artists who have created works of differing styles that revolve around a common theme; that being the distinct lack of colour. No doubt colour is an important part of most art forms, it adds vibrancy and flair that can be eye catching, yet the absence of colour makes for an interesting study in itself. The exhibition, Achromatism (definition: the visual property of being without chromatic colour), is a collection of work that show the impactful nature of achromatic art and how it can be just as enthralling as the most vibrant, coloured work. The lineup for this group show includes: - CJ Hendry - Mark Drew - Jesse Olsen - Ray Coffey - Keiron McMaster - Cezary Stulgis - Duncan Mattocks - Magnus McTavish Achromatism will open Wednesday, October 30, at 6pm. This will serve as the opening event for Semi-Permanent Brisbane 2013 and is open to everybody. Come on down.
If you're a Queenslander with a trip to Melbourne in your future — or vice versa — the pandemic has just interrupted your plans. With the Victorian capital currently in day one of a snap five-day lockdown in attempt to contain the Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, the Sunshine State has declared the area a coronavirus hotspot. And, as a result, Queensland has closed its borders to the city. The change was announced yesterday, Friday, February 12, and came into effect at 1am today, Saturday February 13. It specifically applies to Greater Melbourne, with 36 Local Government Areas in the region all now considered hotspots by the Queensland government. Accordingly, folks who've been in Greater Melbourne are no longer be permitted to enter Queensland, unless they receive an exemption and then go into government quarantine for 14 days. The border will be closed for at least the next fortnight, and affects anyone who has been to Greater Melbourne in the past 14 days or since Tuesday, February 9 — whichever is shorter. Noting that some folks from Melbourne will already be in Queensland — and some Queenslanders who've visited the city and then returned home recently, too — the state government is also asking anyone who has been to Greater Melbourne since Friday, February 5 to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive their results. And, if you've been to a venue named by the Victorian government as an exposure site, you're asked to get tested and then go into self-isolation for 14 days, regardless of whether you're showing any symptoms. Queensland has brought back its Border Declaration Pass for anyone who has been in Victoria in the past fortnight, too, as announced earlier in the week. That also came back into effect at 1am today, Saturday, February 13. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1359674995878727681 Queensland joins the rest of the country's states and territories in introducing new requirements for Greater Melbourne residents and, in some cases, folks from all of Victoria as well. New South Wales has placed everyone returning from Victoria from Saturday, February 13 into the same five-day lockdown; Western Australia completely closed its border to anyone who has been in Victoria, effective 6pm on Friday, February 12; and South Australia also did the latter from 12.01am on Saturday, February 13. Tasmania has similarly shut its border to Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory requires non-residents to obtain an exemption and go into lockdown and the Northern Territory has brought back 14 days of quarantine for Victorian arrivals. For more information about southeast Queensland's COVID-19 border restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. For more information about COVID-19 in Victoria and the state's current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
If you've ever walked down Edward Street from the Queen Street Mall to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, or vice versa, then you've walked past the site of the River City's next exciting opening. But, no matter how many times you've passed by, we're guessing that you wouldn't have ever picked that you'd be able to tuck into a modern-Asian meal where Longwang is setting up shop, let alone hit up a rooftop bar or cocktail lounge there. No one tends to look at a void between two commercial towers and think "great place for an eatery", but Michael Tassis from hospitality company Tassis Group did. So, what was once a gap beside 144 Edward Street is about to become home to his Brisbane newcomer, effective Friday, April 26. While it only measures three metres wide, the two-and-a-half-storey spot stretches back 30 metres and can welcome in up to 175 guests for functions. How does a restaurant, even one as slender as this, take over a former alleyway? Thanks to custom-built digs, with Clui Design helping out. While there's a formal dining room, as well as the sky-high bar and venue for cocktails, being flexible is key — including in its function spaces. The idea is that patrons will have a different experience onsite each time that they stop by. One constant is the culinary guidance of Executive Chef and partner Jason Margaritis (ex- sAme sAme and Donna Chang in Brisbane, and Spice Temple Melbourne and Sydney). His contemporary take on Asian cuisine, inspired by more than 15 years working with the style, heroes seafood, plus a mix of traditional flavours with modern techniques. Think: a live seafood tank with local mud crabs and Tasmanian rock lobsters, whole fried baby barramundi paired with dry red curry snake beans and bug tail kung pao. Dishes that don't involve the ocean's finest will include braised lamb shoulder Massaman curry, as well as pork belly wok-tossed with sichuan pepper, black bean and chilli. Or, opt for a half chicken from the charcoal grill, as coated in tamarind-heavy satay sauce. "The opportunity to develop a menu from the ground up was an exciting feat. I've drawn from my love of Chinese and east Asian cuisines to create a temple of tastiness that encapsulates the best elements of Asian-style banquet dining," said Margaritis. Taking care of the wine list to match is Tassis Group Beverage Director and sommelier Ron Almera, who is curating a mix of old- and new-world wines — all specifically to go perfectly with Asian flavours. And as for the cocktails, you'll be able to ask for them to be mixed up to suit your tastebuds whether you're hitting the rooftop or the lounge. While the "long" part of the restaurant's moniker might sound apt given the site's narrow dimensions, the name actually hails from Chinese mythology. Also known as the Dragon King or Dragon God, Longwang commands the seas, so the title reflects the menu's focus. The venue joins the Tassis portfolio alongside Yamas Greek + Drink and Rich & Rare in West End, Opa Bar + Mezze and Massimo Restaurant on Eagle Street in the CBD, and Fosh Bar & Restaurant at Portside Wharf in Hamilton. Fatcow is on its way to James Street in Fortitude Valley this year, too, while Kangaroo Point's new green bridge will welcome Tassis' Stilts and Mulga Bill's. Longwang opens at 144 Edward Street, Brisbane on Friday, April 26, operating from 11am–late daily. Head to the restaurant's website for further details. Images: Markus Ravik.
The comfortable seats. The always-enticing smell of popcorn. The latest dose of movie magic flickering across the silver screen. They're all part of the cinema-going experience. In fact, throw in a choc top and put that glass of wine in your cupholder, and that's what keeps us all heading back again and again. All of the above is on offer at Palace Barracks, the Brisbane picture palace that screens both art house flicks and new blockbusters right on the edge of the CBD. Did we mention the movie house now has $12 tickets, too? Well, now you know — and you can book them here. And, while you're lounging around on the lobby couches, having that pre-movie splash of vino from the fully licensed bar, it serves up quite the view of the inner city, too. While the cheap tickets are undeniably great, we're all in need of a little cheering up right now. That's why we're letting you treat your date (or mate) to a night at the flicks on us. Yep, we're giving away five double passes to Palace Barracks and, should you win, you'll receive two tickets to the movie of your choice, valid until January 1, 2021, as well as a glass of wine and a box of award-winning olive oil popcorn (Healthy Choice Award). Plus, if you're keen to drive there, you can nab three hours of free parking underneath the Barracks complex. And, if you didn't know already, you can become a Palace Movie Club member to score a bunch of discounts and deals. To enter, see details below. [competition]765192[/competition]
My ode to Scout shall be swift and sweet like the café itself. Its food is fun, its drinks are molten magic and the venue itself is as cosy as Yogi. It wreaks simplicity in perfection, yet the dozens of special touches apparent from entrance to exit makes Scout one of the most creative and cherished coffee spaces in little old Brisbane. It has my tick of approval, but more impressively it has my parents' – here's why. The one thing that tends to grind my parents' gears are limited selection menus. Boutique cafes that stingingly offer a house muesli, a cryptically labeled bacon and eggs and a drink selection of lattes, Darjeeling and aqua. It's frustrating for a an excited stomach and boring for those who crave options, only to be greeted with a few passages of text on a white space dominated menu. Scout's menu is anything but stingy, though it's margins and font size suggest otherwise. Combining cabinet specials, with a sweet selection drinks, and offering five to six fat and fabulous mains, Scout understands the balance of keeping options open, without being a whore. Its salted caramel milkshake founded the flavour craze that's been sweeping the Brisbane boutique café scene, and their strawberries and cream and chocolate ganache options are nostalgically dazzling. Their organic lemonade contains evident traces of really lemon, and their coffee is a-grade in taste and execution. What makes Scout though is the bagels. They hold the throne as having Brisbane's best bagels, according to us, and we've never wavered in throwing this title to anyone but these craft masters. Meatloaf Monday could turn any vegetarian meat lover – well in my case it certainly did, and every other flavour combination is executed with perfect filling ratio, with the highest sourced ingredients. From truffle sopressa to white bait, with generous dashing's of aioli and relish, Scouts holds a cabinet of well sourced fillings and stuffs them in bagels with the most genius of expertise and generosity. Scout, their shakes, and of course their bagels induce that type of food coma your mind assumes and prays can only be treated with more food. It can get dangerous, but when visiting Scout be anything but careful.
Enter the words 'true crime' or 'serial killer' into Netflix and something thoroughly unsurprising results: a hefty list of shows and movies to watch, dramas and documentaries alike, because the streaming platform sure does love this niche. In the future, those searches will throw up two more results, with 2022 newcomer Monster set to return for another couple of seasons. Monster's debut run came with the unwieldy full title DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. While exactly what season two and three will be called hasn't yet been revealed, they will need to switch that moniker up. For the show's return, it'll turn into an anthology series, creating "two more instalments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society", the service announced on social media. Following the record-breaking success of DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan will create two more installments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society. A second season of The Watcher has also been greenlit! pic.twitter.com/NmFdj6soJj — Netflix (@netflix) November 7, 2022 Who'll those monstrous figures will be also hasn't yet been unveiled, but Netflix is expanding its true-crime remit either way — and creator and prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy is adding another anthology series to his resume after American Horror Story and American Crime Story. In its ten-part first season, which dropped in September, Monster starred WandaVision, Mare of Easttown and American Horror Story actor Evan Peters as the titular IRL murderer. Dahmer's story is particularly gruesome, as the series conveyed; between 1978–1991, he murdered and dismembered 17 boys and men — and there's more to his crimes, including cannibalism. Yes, getting well-known faces to play horrific killers is also part of Netflix's true-crime trend so far — which, if you watched Zac Efron play Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile a few years back, you'll already know. Netflix might've stopped adding new Mindhunter episodes to our streaming queues, sadly, but the platform has served up everything from The Serpent and the Conversations with a Killer series to The Stranger and The Good Nurse since. Also included: fellow recent series The Watcher, also produced by Murphy, which is now getting a second season as well. Check out the trailer for DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story below: DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to stream via Netflix. We'll update you with release date's for Monster's second and third seasons when they're announced.
Whenever you're in a traditional art gallery, reaching for your camera can result in serious pangs of guilt. You know it's wrong, but you just want to take a little memento home with you. Next thing you know, the security guard is hauling you out the door by the collar and your photograph appears in the gallery blacklist. Well, it's not always that bad. But Canadian artists Brad Blucher and Kyle Clements aren't fans of the taboo against taking photos of artworks. Their project Take a Picture seeks to change the way audiences interact with art. Blank canvases on the surface, the artworks use a series of LED lights to create simple images invisible to the human eye. The paintings can only be unlocked for the viewer when photographed by a digital camera device. The artists explain that the series "explores the relationship between the ubiquity of digital cameras and social media, which encourages all aspects of daily life to be documented and shared, and the culture of art museums and galleries, which strictly prohibits photographing works of art." https://youtube.com/watch?v=810DLIu0uBg [Via PSFK]
Thursday nights at Alhambra AKA Lambda are famous for many things, some good and some bad. Despite cheap drinks and regrettable hook ups, it's undeniable that the club night’s crowning glory is their ability to give local Brisbane bands the opportunity to perform in front of a rapt (albeit drunk) audience. This week Epithets will be the star of Lambda as they officially release their first single taken from a new album due later this year. Titled ‘Blacklisted’ it is already available for download at their Band Camp, and download I did. There is something very comforting and familiar about the song that I’m sure will prove only to be better live. I would guess that it’s their inclusion of a glockenspiel in the lineup but that might just be personal bias. This is the band’s first show in awhile, however I imagine that once ‘Blacklisted’ takes off and their album is released they will be a very busy group. So come and see them perform as they take baby steps back into the performing world.
So, you want to save some money. Perhaps you're looking to finally put a deposit down on your first home. Or maybe your ol' clunker of a car is on its last kilometres. Or do you simply want to treat yourself to that pair of Gucci sunnies you know you don't actually need but you can't stop thinking about? Often, while we're in savings mode, we switch to totally denying ourselves the things we love, making ourselves miserable in the process. But the good news is you don't have to give up everything. Save smarter, not harder. And have fun doing it. To help get you started, we've partnered with Great Southern Bank to come up with some easy ways to save without having to live a totally joyless existence. From chopping your weekly food bill to a banking hack that'll have you adding to your savings without even noticing, these tips will keep you on track. BECOME YOUR OWN BARISTA We know, we know. You need your caffeine fix. We're not saying to cut that double-shot oat milk latte altogether, but buying one or two a day adds up really quickly. Keen to crunch some numbers? Let's say your average coffee costs $4 and you buy two every day — that's $2920 spent on java every year. Add that up over five years and it's a whopping $14,600. Instead, invest in a bit of kit to get your coffee hit at home. Proper espresso machines are great, but also pricey. Keep an eye out for a secondhand one and you might be able to score a bargain. Alternatively, get a good percolator and some quality beans. You can score a percolator for as little as $12 (that's three coffees) that'll last for years to come. For beans, you can get your fix from top Aussie coffee roasters. While price varies due to blends, beans and all sorts of things, beans from local roasters will usually cost somewhere between $15–23 for 250 grams (about 35 cups worth). You might even want to throw a milk frother into the mix, then you'll be whipping up deluxe coffee at home in no time. Best of all, you can do it all in your dressing gown. Then, once a week or so, treat yourself to the real deal at that local cafe with the cute barista. You're only human, after all. DITCH THE CROWDED COMMUTE This one is kind of a no-brainer for inner-city dwellers. Why go through the hassle of being packed onto hot and crowded public transport, especially in the age of social distancing? The same goes for driving — nobody wants to waste time (and petrol) sitting in traffic. Even if it means starting half an hour sooner than you would normally, walking to your destination means you're getting exercise and saving money. For longer trips look into getting a bike, scooter or skateboard (again, secondhand bargains are everywhere). If you have to travel quite the distance, electronic bikes are a godsend. Whether you're already in the office or are going back when restrictions further ease, ditching the public transport life even once or twice a week is better for the bank, the environment and your physical and emotional wellbeing. MEAL PREP LIKE A PRO Meal prepping: it sounds tedious at first, but once you get into the swing of it, it's really not that much of a hassle. And, spoiler alert, it can actually be fun — or, at least, it'll give you a sense of achievement on an otherwise unproductive Sunday. If you're a novice, start simple: try roasting a whole chook with veggies. You'll easily get a couple of dinners out of it, and the leftover meat can be used for sandwiches, salads and burrito bowls. Oh, and don't bin the carcass — it'll make a great homemade stock that you can portion out and freeze for later. Don't eat meat? Dust of that slow cooker and make a huge dhal for an easy-yet-nourishing feed. The more prep you do, the better and more inventive you'll get with it. Soon your homemade lunches will easily surpass that underwhelming $18 toastie you ordered on Uber Eats. FOLLOW THE SEASONS Now that you're on the way to becoming a whiz in the kitchen, you'll want to know how to cut down that grocery bill. It's just simple supply and demand, really. Shopping seasonally means that if you're buying something that's readily available the price is lower as there are fewer costs going into acquiring it. We're incredibly fortunate in Australia to have amazing fruit and veg available all year round, but certain things grow in abundance in summer rather than winter and vice versa. So, embrace shopping and cooking seasonally. You'll eat well and expand your repertoire while saving so that it feels almost natural. [caption id="attachment_737580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SWOP Clothing Exchange, Trent van der Jagt[/caption] GET THRIFTY Thrift shops, Salvos, Vinnies, Depop, Facebook Marketplace — there's no end to the bargains and unique pieces you can find without the hectic price tags. More often than not, op shops are located near other op shops so you can make a day of traversing a few and seeing what you can find. Pro tip: go to affluent suburbs, where you're more likely to uncover some rare gems in top condition. And while you're mindlessly doomscrolling on your phone at night, try browsing on Depop. You'll be surprised and delighted by the great designer pieces you can find from the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Acne Studios, Zimmermann and more. EMBRACE THE GREAT OUTDOORS Spring is here, so it's time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. And it'll be lighter on the wallet than a night on the town. Pack a picnic and head to the park for a long-awaited catch-up with your mates. If you're lucky, you'll be able to snag a public barbecue to have a cook-up and embrace the simple pleasures of a DIY outdoor feast. Toss a frisbee or a football, challenge your buds to a game of Finska, and stuff sausages into your pockets so all the dogs come to play with you. Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. BANK BETTER Knowing where your money is and why you're choosing to put it there is important in terms of goals and improving your overall financial literacy. If you're clamouring to get your first home, choose a bank that maximises your saving potential, such as Great Southern Bank. Great Southern Bank is empowering young Aussies with their banking to get them to their savings goals faster. Whether you're saving for a house deposit or just want to develop better banking habits, Great Southern Bank has a number of smart tools and features to get you there. One is The Boost, where you can set a predetermined amount (between $0.01 and $5) from your everyday transaction account to be automatically transferred to your savings account every time you make a purchase. That means every sambo, short black and schooner is subtly boosting your savings. Once you've got that all set up, you'll want to keep your savings fund from shrinking. For instance, if you get a bit tap happy when you're out having a good time (who doesn't), your bank balance can take quite the hit. This is where having a spending cap on your account can come in handy. Be realistic about how much you'll need depending on the activity. And, here's the tricky part: don't transfer more. You'll thank yourself later. Great Southern Bank is empowering Aussies to get clever with their banking. Whether you want to stick to your savings goals with The Boost or hide your house deposit fund from yourself with The Vault, Great Southern Bank helps you get there. For more information on savings tools and home loan options, head to the Great Southern Bank website. Top image: SWOP Clothing Exchange, Trent van der Jagt
Eating gelato is great, but what if you learnt how to make your own? Every Monday night from 5.30-7pm the new La Macelleria Gelateria in Newstead hosts workshops in the Art of Gelato with a Bolognese man. The two owners, both named Matteo, both from Bologna, have the gelato magic inside them that will transport you to the Italian summer of '12. Roll up your sleeves, listen in and become your own gelato-maestro. Best of all, you get to take home the fruits of your labour — gelato for the week!
If you're a sucker for an Instagrammable waterfall, then you will be spoiled for choice in Tropical North Queensland. While every local will cheerfully pledge loyalty to a certain spot, there are particular waterfalls that are certified crowd-pleasers. [caption id="attachment_830048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] Josephine Falls is just a one-hour drive south of Cairns, with a short track providing access from the carpark. Along the way, there are three viewing platforms to admire the sparkling multi-level waterfall. If you are after even more adventure, Clamshell Falls at Behana Gorge might be more your speed. The three-kilometre hike from the carpark will lead you to a deep granite gorge filled with incredible tumbling waterfalls. Or, if you want to appreciate the falls without getting wet, soak in the sights from the viewing platforms at the immense Barron Falls, Tully Falls or Devil's Pool. If you do venture into the water, make sure you swim within designated swimming holes only to stay safe. Top image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Both big air and big bands are on the agenda for Australia's newest festival offering. This August, the global Air + Style Big Air Competition is set to make its southern hemisphere debut, descending on The Domain for three huge days of snow sports, live music, culture and fashion. And it's being headlined by none other than Irish/Scottish alt-rockers Snow Patrol and US artist Flo Rida, each heading to town for their first Aussie shows in over five years. From August 3 to 5, the 34-hectare space on the edge of Sydney's CBD will be sporting a very different look than what locals are used to, featuring a 16-storey snow-covered ramp and multiple music stages. More than 60 of the world's best snowboarders and skiers will land here, to compete as part of the 2018 Air + Style Global Tour. Plus, the event has quite the pedigree — three-time Olympic gold medallist and all-round champion snowboarder Shaun White has been the majority shareholder since 2014. But let's not forget about the equally tempting music component. Previous incarnations of Air + Style in the likes of Beijing, Los Angeles and Austria's Innsbruck have drawn big-name artists such as Flume, Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man and Kendrick Lamar. The Sydney outing promises to follow in their footsteps, with Snow Patrol and Flo Rida just the first of many acts to be announced. Both single day tickets and multi-day passes are available, starting at $150. The Air + Style Big Air Competition comes to The Domain, Sydney from August 3-5. Head to the festival website for tickets and further information.
Cast your eyes on the YouTube diary of Canada Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield and you will never be impressed by the notion of man placing a flag on the moon again. Canada's first commander of the International Space Station has been furiously tweeting and video blogging live from Expedition 35 for the past five months, creating the closest thing the world has seen to the Big Brother diary room in outer space in the process. While the CSA website lists the mission's objectives as "to carry out scientific experiments" and "perform robotic tasks", Renaissance man Hadfield has also managed to produce the astronaut's answer to Cindy Crawford's Buns of Steel and show his tender side in an attempt to find out what happens to tears in space (hint: not the same as what happens in heaven). Most recently, Hadfield has been busy staging a music video of 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie. Turns out Bowie's understanding of outer space is pretty bang on — the clouds look very different up there, Hadfield floats in a most peculiar way and while planet Earth is blue, there's nothing left to do, hence the Soyuz capsule is set to touch down to Earth tomorrow. Via Slate.
ANZAC Day commemorations are set to take shape a little differently this year, thanks to those now very familiar restrictions in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19. With group gatherings off-limits, tradition is taking a bit of a backseat, and the usual parades and dawn services honouring our soldiers have had to be cancelled. But there are still plenty of ways you can show your support for the ANZACs, while sticking to social-distancing directives. From driveway memorials, to ANZAC bickie baking sessions, here are some top ideas for getting involved with ANZAC Day 2020, virtually. [caption id="attachment_665411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance via Flickr[/caption] PAY YOUR RESPECTS WITH A LIVE-STREAMED DAWN SERVICE While ANZAC Day services across the country usually involve hundreds of punters gathered at dawn to pay their respects, social-distancing measures mean things will be drastically downsized this year. But even without the crowds, you'll still be able to tap into that sense of solidarity, as many of Australia's landmark sites take their regular ANZAC commemorative services online. Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance is set to live-stream its Dawn Service for all to watch on Facebook, kicking off at 6am on Saturday, April 25. Meanwhile, the ABC will have all the proceedings from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra streamed live from 5am, across its radio, TV and online channels. Expect to hear The Last Post played at around 6am. If you can't make it to a screen for one of these dawn sessions, RSL NSW is also streaming a closed service at 10am, hosted in Sydney and available to watch live via its Facebook page. And RSL Queensland has created a short ANZAC service of its own — download the audio from the website and tune in whenever suits. The organisers of the annual Coloured Diggers March, Babana Aboriginal Mens Group will also be hosting Zoom gathering at 11am to remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who served. 'LIGHT UP THE DAWN' FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY Social gatherings are currently a no-go, but on April 25, Aussies across the country will be bringing the ANZAC spirit to the end of their driveways — or balconies, front porches or living rooms — instead. RSL clubs nationwide are encouraging locals to mark the occasion with an at-home show of respect, inviting us all to 'light up the dawn' from 6am on ANZAC Day. You can pledge your support to the initiative online, then honour the ANZACs from wherever you call home, taking a moment to remember those who've served our country, perhaps while streaming a live service on your device. Many folks will light candles, others will have shrines and wreaths on display, and there's sure to be plenty of red poppies around, all in tribute to our armed services personnel. Share your personal ANZAC service with the tags #StandTo #ANZACspirit and #lightupthedawn [caption id="attachment_768400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian War Memorial via Travis/Flickr[/caption] CREATE YOUR OWN ONLINE TRIBUTE The Australian War Memorial is drumming up some virtual support for our ANZACs by inviting Aussies to create their own online tribute, as part of its new #ForTheFallen initiative. To get involved, simply record a video of yourself reciting the 'Ode if Remembrance', or document your own ANZAC project, then pop it on social media tagged with #ForTheFallen. If you need a little memory boost, the lines to the section of Laurence Binyon's classic poem For the Fallen go like this: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." DONATE TO THE ANZAC APPEAL The RSL's long-running ANZAC Appeal will still go ahead this year, though it's had to face a few logistical changes given the current pandemic situation. There won't be any of the usual streetside collections — instead, most of the fundraising efforts will take place online, inviting financial donations to be used to support veterans and their families. You can help provide servicemen past and present with much-needed things like crisis accommodation, emergency financial help, and physical and mental health support, by donating via the website. This year's appeal is running right through the month, up until April 30. GET INVOLVED IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MEAT TRAY RAFFLE This ANZAC Day, you can give back to Aussie veterans, support a bunch of local businesses and be in with a shot at winning the ultimate meat tray prize — all at the same time. Kicking off this week across Australia, the inaugural World's Biggest Meat Raffle is out to beat the Guinness World Record for the greatest amount of meat-trays ever won in a single competition. This meaty movement's being headlined, of course, by legendary 'lambassador' Sam Kekovich, and will raise much-needed funds for Swiss 8: a veteran-founded non-profit focused on mental health support. The charity's work is especially important during these uncertain times we're all facing. Organiser The Village Co has joined forces with local butchers all over the country to create the mega prize haul of 10,000 meat trays, which equates to a whopping 2000 kilograms of snags, steaks, burgers and more. The major winner will score a whole year's worth of weekly meat trays, both for themselves and eight lucky mates. Grab your tickets here. JOIN AN ONLINE ANZAC BISCUIT BAKING SESSION There's no doubt the tastiest part of any ANZAC Day commemoration is the bickies. And those oat biscuits are set to get just as big a workout this year as ever before, thanks to all the new-found kitchen skills that have been honed in isolation. If you're keen to spread the ANZAC message via a few homemade baked goods, you can even join others from across Australia and New Zealand for a huge online ANZAC biscuit bake-off. Hitting Zoom at 2pm AEST on April 23, you'll find the Bake Together: ANZAC Biscuits Live baking session hosted by culinary historian and cookbook author Allison Reynolds. You can follow along with Reynolds as she guides you through her method, or simply tune in while using your own go-to recipe. And you'd better have the kettle on standby as there'll be plenty of time for questions and conversation. [caption id="attachment_683489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cybele Malinowski[/caption] TUNE INTO AN ANZAC DAY CONCERT WITH SOME AUSSIE MUSIC LEGENDS Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem and The Wiggles are just some of the artists coming together (virtually) for this year's ANZAC Day concert Music from the Home Front. Screening on channel Nine from 7.30pm, the concert will see 16 music legends from Australia and New Zealand come together to celebrate the two countries, pay respects to those who've served and also thank front-line workers during COVID-19. Also on the lineup: Courtney Barnett, Marlon Williams, Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, Missy Higgins, The Rubens and Vance Joy. Top image: Dee Why RSL
After the turbulent year that has been, summer is finally here and it's time to celebrate. One of the easiest ways to do that is with an epic (socially responsible) house party. House parties are the places where friendships are forged, dancefloors are formed and memories are made, and summer is the primo time to make use of your own house and host your friends for a knees-up. With fun in mind, we've joined forces with Hennessy for this foolproof guide to making sure your party has all the elements needed for success. Stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney's northern beaches and current restrictions at NSW Health. FIRST, ORDER THIS HOUSE PARTY PACK No one likes to socialise when they're hangry, so sorting out food should be your first port of call. That's why Hennessy has partnered with three different restaurants to create a series of collaborative feasts. Each comes with a limited edition bottle of Hennessy, ginger ale and a fun snack pack. In Sydney, fried chicken purveyors Butter will supply you and three friends with chicken wings, corn on the cob, mash and ramen-broth gravy, slaw and rolls for $180. In Melbourne, Japanese hot spot Mr Miyagi will sort you and three mates out with pork belly bao, peking duck nori tacos, fried chicken and spiced tuna tartare crackers for $250. And in Brisbane, party people can get around a feast for ten of spring rolls, chicken karaage bao and spiced chicken wings with gochujang aioli from Mr Mista for $230. Each pack also includes party cups, balloons, a deck of cards and a disposable camera to capture all the good times you'll be having. MAKE SUPER-SIMPLE COCKTAILS FOR WELCOME DRINKS Some of the best cocktails are ones you don't even need a recipe for, and the ginger mule is exactly that. Simply pour 40ml of Hennessy into a highball glass and fill the glass with ice. Top up with around 100ml of ginger ale and garnish with a lime wedge or slices of fresh ginger. Voila! Drinks are sorted. You could also consider batching these cocktails in larger quantities for easy serving. Find this recipe and more on Hennessy's website. [embed]https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CzIHMGk079iUL3947oYnr[/embed] OPT FOR A READYMADE PLAYLIST Instead of fussing about with aux cords or searching for artists, leave the party soundtrack responsibilities to Hennessy. Yep, the cognac brand also has a surprisingly good selection of packed-out playlists for four different moods. Head to the aptly titled House Party curated by music maestros Cool Accidents. It's filled with party-starting anthems from Hello, DMX, Missy Elliott and N.W.A. Or, try out the Beach Club, Sunset Sessions and Pre-Party Mix playlists, which will have you sorted with progressive mixes of slinky house, hip hop and R&B. [caption id="attachment_786101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cottonbro[/caption] SET UP SOME PARTY-STARTING GAMES AND ICEBREAKERS Now you've got food, tunes and drinks sorted, it's time to set up some party-starting games and social icebreakers. Putting a little bit of thought into some easy-to-execute games can result in some serious fun. Whip out old-school Twister from the cupboard or try a few rounds of celebrity heads (which you can do with just pieces of paper and pens). Outdoor games are also simple to set-up — borrow a Finska set from a friend or set up some classic backyard cricket. CONSIDER HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE Now you've got all the essentials sorted, it's time to think through the flow of the space and decorations. You don't have to go all-out, but considering how people will move and groove through your house is a worthwhile exercise. Set up a designated dancefloor (the playlist will help out with this) and hire some disco lights or smoke machines. Make sure there's seating areas, too, and not placed in thoroughfares. Your guests will pick up what you're putting down and they'll move about the space as you've intended. Hennessy's House Party Packs are available takeaway now till stocks last. To order from Butter in Sydney, head here. To order from Mr Miyagi, head here. And to order from Mr Mista, head here. Top image: Inga Seliverstova
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. TOP GUN: MAVERICK As dripping with jingoism, machismo, militarism and sweat as cinema gets — and there really was oh-so-much sweat — 1986's Top Gun was a dream of a recruitment ad. The US Navy's aviation program couldn't have whipped up a stronger enlistment campaign in its wildest fantasies. Even if it had, getting Hollywood's gloss, a star who'd still be box-office catnip four decades later and Kenny Loggins' second-best movie tune (slipping in behind Footloose, of course) probably would've felt like a one-in-a-billion longshot. But all of the above, plus a lurid sheen and homoerotic gaze, didn't make Top Gun a good film. Loggins' 'Danger Zone' remains an earworm of a delight, but the feature it's synonymous with took a highway to the cheesy, cringey, puffed up, perpetually moist and aggressively toxic zone. The one exception: whenever Tony Scott's camera was focused on all that flying, rather than a smirking, reckless and arrogant Tom Cruise as a portrait of 80s bluster and vanity. Gliding into cinemas 36 years after its predecessor, Top Gun: Maverick is still at its best when its jets are soaring. The initial flick had the perfect song to describe exactly what these phenomenally well-executed and -choreographed action scenes feel like to view; yes, they'll take your breath away. Peppered throughout the movie, actually shot in real US Navy aircraft without a trace of digital effects, and as tense and spectacular as filmmaking can be in the feature's climactic sequences, they truly do make it seem as if you're watchin' in slow motion. Thankfully, this time that adrenaline kick is accompanied by a smarter and far more self-aware film, as directed by TRON: Legacy and Oblivion's Joseph Kosinski. Top Gun in the 80s was exactly what Top Gun in the 80s was always going to be — but Top Gun in the 2020s doesn't dare believe that nothing has changed, that Cruise's still-smug Maverick can't evolve, and that the world the movie releases into hasn't either. Early in the film — after Harold Faltermeyer's famous Top Gun anthem plays, text on-screen explains what the titular elite pilot training program is all about, a montage of fighter planes kicks in and then 'Danger Zone' sets an upbeat tone; that is, after the flick begins exactly as the first did — Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell (Cruise, Mission: Impossible — Fallout) is given a dressing-down. Still as rebellious as his call sign makes plain, he's just wantonly disobeyed orders, flown a ridiculously expensive hypersonic test plane when he's not supposed to and caused quite the fallout. "The future is coming and you're not in it," he's told, and Top Gun: Maverick doesn't shy away from that notion. As its opening moments show, along with a touch too many other nostalgia-steeped touches elsewhere this sequel hasn't wholly flown on from the past; however, it actively reckons with it as well. Still hardly the navy's favourite despite his swagger, megawatt smile, gleaming aviators and unfailing self-confidence — well, really despite his need for speed and exceptional dogfighting skills in the air — Maverick is given one last assignment. His destination: Fightertown USA, the California-based Top Gun program he strutted his way through all those years ago. There's an enemy nation with a secret weapons base that needs destroying, and his talents are crucial. But, to his dismay, Maverick is only asked to teach. Given a squad lorded over by the brash Hangman (Glen Powell, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood), and also including Coyote (Greg Tarzan Davis, Grey's Anatomy), Payback (Jay Ellis, Insecure), Fanboy (Danny Ramirez, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Phoenix (Monica Barbaro, Stumptown), Bob (Lewis Pullman, Outer Range) and the frosty Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw (Miles Teller, The Offer), he's tasked with training them to fly like he does, navigate a Star Wars-style impossible path that zips speedily at perilously low altitudes and, ideally, still survive the supremely dangerous mission. Read our full review. THE BOB'S BURGERS MOVIE Across its 12-season order to-date, the best episodes of Bob's Burgers have always resembled exactly what they should: a delicious serving of the meat-and-bread combination that shares the hit sitcom's name. There's a knack to a great burg — to a tastebud-thrilling, so-appetising-I-need-more-now example of this extremely accessible culinary art — and it's all about perfecting the absolute basics. No matter what else gets slotted in (and plenty of other ingredients can), every burger's staples should be the stars of the show. Indeed, a top-notch burg needn't be flashy. It definitely mustn't be overcomplicated, either. And, crucially, it should taste as comforting as wrapping your hands around its buns feels. On the small screen since 2011, Bob's Burgers has kept its version of that very recipe close to its animated, irreverent, gleefully offbeat heart. Unsurprisingly, the show's creators whip up the same kind of dish for The Bob's Burgers Movie, too. It's a winning formula, and creator Loren Bouchard knows not to mess with it while taking his beloved characters to the big screen. Co-helming with the series' frequent supervising director Bernard Derriman, and co-writing with long-running producer Nora Smith, he experiments here and there — in filmic form, Bob's Burgers is a tad darker, for instance — but he also knows what keeps his customers a-coming. That'd be the goofy but extremely relatable Belcher clan, their everyday joys and struggles, and the cosy little world that sprawls around their yellow-hued Ocean Avenue burger joint up the road from seaside fairground Wonder Wharf. Bouchard also knows that if you make something well enough time after time — be it a burger or a TV show that's spawned a movie; both fit — it'll be warmly, reliably and welcomingly familiar rather than just another helping of the same old nosh. As always, the action centres on the film's namesake — the diner where patriarch Bob (H Jon Benjamin, Archer) sizzles up punningly named burgs to both make a living and live out his dream. And, as the show has covered frequently, financial woes mean that Bob and his wife Linda (John Roberts, Gravity Falls) have more to worry about than cooking, serving customers, and their kids Tina (Dan Mintz, Veep), Gene (Eugene Mirman, Flight of the Conchords) and Louise (Kristen Schaal, What We Do in the Shadows). Their solution: a burger, of course. But their bank manager isn't munching when they try to use food to grease their pleas for an extension on their loan. That mortgage also involves their restaurant equipment, leaving them out of business if they can't pay up. As their seven-day time limit to stump up the cash ticks by, Bob sweats over the grill and Linda oozes her usual optimism — only for a sinkhole to form literally at their door. As trusty as Bob's Burgers gets, and still refreshingly committed to depicting the daily reality of its working-class characters, that above setup is the movie's buns. Layered inside are tomato, lettuce, cheese, pickle and beetroot, aka the narrative's well-balanced fillings. First comes a murder-mystery ensnaring the Belchers' eccentric landlord Calvin Fischoeder (Kevin Kline, Beauty and the Beast) and his brother Felix (Zach Galifianakis, Ron's Gone Wrong). Springing from there is Louise's determination to solve the crime to save the diner and prove she isn't a baby just because she wears a pink rabbit-eared hat. Then there's Tina's quest to make her crush Jimmy Jr (also voiced by Benjamin) her summer boyfriend; Gene's need to get The Itty Bitty Ditty Committee, the family band, a gig at Wonder Wharf's Octa-Wharfiversary celebrations; and Bob and Linda's attempt to sell burgs at the amusement park using a barbecue on wheels MacGyvered up by number-one customer Teddy (Larry Murphy, The Venture Bros). Read our full review. ABLAZE A documentary that's deeply personal for one of its directors, intensely powerful in surveying Australia's treatment of its First Peoples and crucial in celebrating perhaps the country's first-ever Aboriginal filmmaker, Ablaze makes for astonishing viewing. But while watching, two ideas jostle for attention. Both remain unspoken, yet each is unshakeable. Firstly, if the history of Australia had been different, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta man William 'Bill' Onus would be a household name. If that was the case, not only his work behind the camera, but his activism for Indigenous Aussies at a time when voting and even being included in the census wasn't permitted — plus his devotion to ensuring that white Australians were aware of the nation's colonial violence — would be as well-known as Captain Cook. That said, if history had been better still, Bill wouldn't have needed to fight so vehemently, or at all. Alas, neither of those possibilities came to a fruition. Ablaze can't change the past, but it can and does document it with a hope to influencing how the world sees and appreciates Bill's part in it. Indeed, shining the spotlight on its subject, everything his life stood for, and all that he battled for and against is firmly and proudly the feature's aim. First-time filmmaker Tiriki Onus looks back on his own grandfather, narrating his story as well — and, as aided by co-helmer Alec Morgan (Hunt Angels, Lousy Little Sixpence), the result is a movie brimming with feeling, meaning and importance. While Aussie cinema keeps reckoning with the nation's history regarding race relations, as it should and absolutely must, Ablaze is as potent and essential as everything from Sweet Country, The Nightingale and The Australian Dream to The Furnace, High Ground and The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. As the last filmic ode to a key Indigenous figure within cinema also did, aka My Name Is Gulpilil, Ablaze has a clear source of inspiration beyond the person at its centre. Appearing on-screen, Tiriki begins with two discoveries that put him on the path to making the movie: finding a suitcase filled with Bill's belongings, which included photographs of Indigenous boys in traditional paint peering at a film camera; and learning that the National Film & Sound Archive was in possession of footage of unknown origin that it believed to be linked to Bill. Accordingly, Ablaze is as much a detective story as it is a tribute, with Tiriki puzzling together the pieces of his grandfather's tale. Structuring the film in such a way is a savvy decision; even viewers coming to Bill with zero prior knowledge will want to sleuth along to solve the feature's multiple mysteries. Connecting the dots starts easily, after Tiriki spies the boys in Bill's photos in the NFSA's nine-minute reel — footage from which it's an enormous treat to see in Ablaze. From there, though, the what and why behind the material takes longer to tease out. So too does exactly why Reg Saunders and Doug Nicholls — the first Aboriginal officer in the Australian Army and the famed Aussie rules footballer-turned-pastor, respectively — appear in Bill's silent footage. Also an opera singer, Tiriki guides Ablaze's viewers through the answers, while delivering a biographical documentary-style exploration of Bill's existence along the way — from being born in 1906 at the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, on the Murray River in New South Wales, through to his passing in 1968 following the successful 1967 referendum on counting Indigenous Australians as part of the population, for which he spearheaded the campaign. Read our full review. HATCHING If you had only ever watched five horror movies in your life, odds are that one would've covered being careful what you wish for, and another would've focused on not messing with nature. It's equally likely that growing up being hell, motherhood being even more nightmarish and grappling with the terrors of the human body would've popped up as well. These all rank among the genre's favourite concepts, alongside haunted houses, murderous forces, demonic influences and the undead — and, making her feature filmmaking debut with the savvily sinister-meets-satirical blend that is Hatching, Finnish writer/director Hanna Bergholm knows this. She's also innately aware that something unique, distinctive and unnerving can still spring from stitching together well-used notions and now-familiar parts, which, on- and off-screen, is her bold and memorable body-horror, twisted fairy tale and dark coming-of-age thriller in an eggshell. Hatching begins by unpacking a fallacy as fractured as Humpty Dumpty after the nursery-rhyme character's fall — and that still keeps being lapped up anyway. In suburban Finland, among homes so identical that the song 'Little Boxes' instantly pops into your head, 12-year-old gymnast Tinja (debutant Siiri Solalinna), her younger brother Matias (fellow first-timer Oiva Ollila), and their mother (Sophia Heikkilä, Dual) and father Jani Volanen, Dogs Don't Wear Pants) are living their best lives. More than that, as the soft lensing and music that helps open the movie establishes, they're also beaming that picture of pink, white and pastel-hued domestic perfection to the world. Tinja's unnamed mum is a vlogger, and these scenes are being captured for her cloyingly named blog Lovely Everyday Life. Naturally, showing that this family of four's daily existence is anything but enchanting is one of Bergholm's first aims. The initial crack comes from outside, crashing through the window to ruin a posed shot alight with fake smiles and, of course, being filmed with a selfie stick. Soon, broken glass, vases and lamps are strewn throughout a lounge room so immaculately arranged that it looks straight out of a supermarket-shelf home-and-garden magazine — and the crowning glory, the chandelier, has descended from a luminous pièce de résistance to a shattered mess. A garden-variety crow is the culprit, which Tinja carefully captures. She hands it to her mother, thinking that they'll then release it outside. But her mum, placid but seething that anything could disrupt her manufactured picture of bliss, ignores that idea with a cruel snap and instructions to dispose of the animal in the organic waste. Watching the source of her own life snuff out a bird's because it temporarily disturbed the faux, performative idyll is understandably a formative moment for Tinja, and one of several early splinters. The girl is clearly nowhere near as enthused about gymnastics as her mum is about having a star gymnast for a daughter, even before Tinja is forced to train until her palms are torn and bloody. She's also unsettled when she sees her mother kissing handyman Tero (Reino Nordin, Deadwind), then justifies having a "special friend" because he satisfies her in ways Tinja's dutiful dad doesn't. So when Tinja finds the crow's egg in a nest outside, she's quick to take it into her care — both because of and despite her mum. She nurtures it tenderly, placing it inside a teddy bear for safe keeping. She gains her own little universe to dote over. Then the egg keeps growing, and a human-sized chick emerges. Read our full review. INTERCEPTOR Four decades back, Interceptor would've happily sat on a crowded video-store shelf alongside a wealth of other mindless, machismo-fuelled action thrillers. It would've been the epitome of one of the genre's straight-to-VHS flicks, in fact. Don't just call it a throwback, though; instead of testosterone oozing from every actor within sight, except perhaps a token wife worrying at home, this nuclear attack movie from Australian author Matthew Reilly focuses on a woman making waves in a male-dominated world. That's firmly a 2022 move, reflecting today's gender politics. So too is the fact that said protagonist, US Army Captain JJ Collins (Elsa Pataky, Tidelands), has just been reassigned after putting in a sexual harassment complaint against one of her past superiors. Don't go thinking that Interceptor doesn't tick every other box its 80s counterparts did, however. It couldn't lean harder on all of the cliches that've ever been involved with world-in-peril, military-driven movies, and with action fare at its most inane in general. A global success for his airport novels, writer Reilly doesn't just turn screenwriter here — with assistance from Collateral, Tomorrow, When the War Began and Obi-Wan Kenobi's Stuart Beattie — but also jumps behind the lens for the first time. Alas, his directorial instincts prove as flat and by-the-numbers as Interceptor's wanly boilerplate plot, as well as its clunky-as-clunky dialogue. And, that storyline really couldn't be more formulaic. In her new post on a remote platform in the Pacific Ocean, Collins soon finds herself under attack by terrorists led by the grating Alexander Kessel (Luke Bracey, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan). Her sea-surrounded station is one of two sites, alongside Alaska's Fort Greely, that can intercept a nuclear warhead launch on the US. Naturally, Kessel and his men have already taken out the other one, and have also pilfered nukes from the Russians in their possession. Cue a run-of-the-mill single-setting good-versus-evil face-off — at best — that sees the cartoonishly sinister Kessel try to shoot, blast and fight his way into the platform's control room, while the devoted and dutiful Collins does everything she can to keep him out. Cue monotonous standoffs, frays and arguments that aren't enlivened for a second by the routine cinematography, and certainly not by Interceptor's oh-so-serious tone. It's only when Chris Hemsworth (Men in Black: International) shows up in an extended cameo that's given far too much attention that the film shows even the faintest traces of a sense of humour. That said, winking at and nudging the audience about Pataky's real-life husband is as far as any comedy or self-awareness goes; no, Interceptor isn't so bad and cheesy that it's entertaining, either. At the beginning of her English-language career, before her appearances in four Fast and Furious franchise flicks from Fast & Furious 5 onwards, Pataky featured in Snakes on a Plane. Terrorists on an Army Sea Platform isn't as catchy a title, and aping his star's earlier comedy definitely isn't the vibe that Reilly is going for — but when you're making something this derivative, that level of silliness would've been a better option. No one adds a highlight to their resumes with this bland affair, although Pataky shows that she deserves a better star vehicle. Around her, the Australian-shot film fills out its supporting cast with mostly local faces, including Aaron Glenane (Home and Away), Zoe Carides (Pieces of Her), Colin Friels (Total Control) and Rhys Muldoon (New Gold Mountain), none of whom manage to stand out for the right reasons. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on February 3, February 10, February 17 and February 24; and March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24 and March 31; April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12 and May 19. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Belfast, Here Out West, Jackass Forever, Benedetta, Drive My Car, Death on the Nile, C'mon C'mon, Flee, Uncharted, Quo Vadis, Aida?, Cyrano, Hive, Studio 666, The Batman, Blind Ambition, Bergman Island, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, The Souvenir: Part II, Dog, Anonymous Club, X, River, Nowhere Special, RRR, Morbius, The Duke, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True and The Innocents.
