As summer draws nearer we all feel that urge to GTFO of the city, and when the weather heats up sometimes all we want to do is eat oysters on the Great Ocean Road or blast out summery tunes on the way to a three-day music festival. The list of cool, boutique festivals seems to get longer and more varied, so we've picked out seven regional festivals that we think are worth the drive not only for the main event, but also for the cute country towns and rolling vineyards they inhabit — from grape harvests in the Granite Belt of Queensland to family-friendly music festivals in country New South Wales. Before you head out on a long drive, make sure you're doing it in comfort. MG's new limited-edition MG3S hatchback has ample luggage space (perfect for three-day camping festivals), rear camera and parking sensors (to help you nab that last parking spot) and an AppleCarPlay system (for that podcast binge). Start planning your journey to these seven events below.
Located on Paddington's Given Terrace is Anouk Cafe, a small Brisbane cafe bubbling with charm. Anouk is one of the stand-out brunch spots along this busy strip and for very good reason. On the weekend, this hotspot is brimming with diners eager to start their day in culinary style. There is a seating area outside for when the sun is shining with plenty of space inside as well. The interior provides a lovely backdrop to a lazy weekend brunch, as it is decked out with lots of lush plants and stylish pendant lights. One side of the cafe is lined with large mirrors, opening up the space, while the other is lined with blackboards filled with delicious meal options. While the space feels right at home in trendy Paddington, it also manages to feel cosy and approachable with its wooden floors and furniture. Along with a knockout breakfast and excellent coffee, a trip to Anouk cafe is made extra special by the staff. Expect good vibes and genuine smiles all round anytime of day — even when it gets a little hectic on weekends.
Across the 92-year history of the Oscars, only five women have ever been nominated for the Best Director award. Only one has won, too, with Kathryn Bigelow emerging victorious in 2009 for The Hurt Locker. Indeed, if anyone needs a reminder that gender inequality is still a big issue in the film industry, the situation at the Academy Awards paints a strong picture. When it comes to what viewers watch, one new streaming service is attempting to push more female filmmakers to the fore — and more movies and shows both starring and about women, too. Called Femflix, it has just launched in Australia and New Zealand with a growing catalogue of titles, all of which feature a female-identifying creative as its director, producer, writer, cinematographer or lead protagonist. The aim, obviously, is to support and champion stories about women and made by women — with Femflix developed to promote gender balance, tear down stereotypes and showcase a wide variety of female characters on-screen. And if you think that the timing is perfect for a women-focused streaming platform following the emergence of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, that's exactly what helped inspired the service. Among its launch catalogue, audiences Down Under can watch local films such as 52 Tuesdays, Strangerland, Tracks, Strange Colours and Waru, international flicks including Julieta, The Third Wife and Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, plus star-studded cinema releases from the past few years like Suffragette, Madame Bovary and Testament of Youth. Or, you check out thrillers such as Compliance, sci-fi films like Before We Vanish and documentaries including I Am No Bird, Janis: Little Girl Blue and The Song Keepers. Offering free 3o-day trials, and costing $8.99 per month afterwards, Femflix can be streamed online, including via Chromecast and Airplay, with video apps for smart TVs under development. The new service arrives at a busy time for new streaming and online viewing services, with 2020 not only seeing everyone spend more time watching things at home, but giving viewers more to watch — including the launch of horror streamer Shudder Down Under, the global launch of short-form platform Quibi, the debut of architecture and design-focused platform Shelter, and cinemas including Palace in Australia and Roxy in New Zealand releasing their own pay-per-view options. For more information about Femflix — and to sign up — visit the streaming platform's website.
Cast Kate Winslet and Idris Elba in a survivalist drama, and you'd expect tension, thrills and impressive performances to follow. Cast them in a romance, and you'd expect hearts to melt like snow. Unfortunately, if you throw the pair into a combination of the two, the results are as mixed as the blend of genres. The actors are great in The Mountain Between Us, of course, but there's no mistaking the feeling that they're stuck in a marginally classier Nicholas Sparks-style flick. While Charles Martin actually wrote the book that this survivalist romance is based on, all of Sparks' basic elements are present. The diversity that Elba's involvement represents isn't something the author behind The Notebook is known for, but characters meeting in unlikely circumstances, struggling through tough times, and finding love while overcoming obstacles are Sparks' bread and butter. With The Mountain Between Us sticking closely to that formula, you know where the movie is going from the moment you sit down in the cinema. As such, only one question remains: can Winslet and Elba make it all worth it? The duo play Alex, a photojournalist heading from an assignment to her own wedding, and Ben, a neurosurgeon due to usher a sick boy into his operating theatre the next day. When bad weather strands them in Idaho at the last minute, Alex introduces herself and her plan to Ben. They'll charter a plane, beat the oncoming storm and get to their Denver destination in no time — and that might've worked out just fine if their pilot (Beau Bridges) hadn't had a stroke over Utah's white-topped mountains, causing them to crash. Soon, they're in the icy middle of nowhere with no phone reception, little food and an unnamed dog as their only other company. Prior to shooting, The Mountain Between Us went through a number of casting changes, from Michael Fassbender and Charlie Hunnam to Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike. Given the end product, you can't help but feel that they all dodged a bullet. That Winslet and Elba are the best things about the movie is evident from the outset. Screenwriters Chris Weitz and J. Mills Goodloe don't do nearly enough to make Alex and Ben seem like well-rounded characters, while director Hany Abu-Assad does little more than make them look attractive. Even so, the pair manage to bring some much-needed nuance to their paper-thin parts. Bland dialogue, routine backstories and cliched plot developments can't frost over their natural charms or rapport entirely. As much as the actors do with the material, however, they can't quite lift the film beyond standard sappy romance territory. That's primarily because the movie isn't trying to be anything different — although it's not eager to be seen as disposable fluff, either. Accordingly, Abu-Assad is saddled with a juggling act that he just can't manage to master, asked to both show the stressful, solemn side of his characters' plight, while offering up warmth and hope as his protagonists slowly discover their affection for each other. Ultimately, he doesn't come close to succeeding. Still, at least the scenery looks great, as shot by Australian cinematographer Mandy Walker of Lantana, Tracks and Hidden Figures fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jyzGKXBOxA
With summer finally approaching, it's time to do some serious defrosting. Although you may not exactly jet off overseas to warm up on some European beach, you can spend a few days soaking up the balmy temperatures and idyllic coastline of Queensland's aptly named Sunshine Coast. Just two and a half hours north of Brisbane, the world-famous destination of Noosa and its surrounds are brimming with gorgeous beach houses and coastal retreats for those seeking sun and surf. Beach sessions, rainforest treks and breezy holiday vibes await. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up a list of the most beautiful coastal stays you can book in Noosa right now. Pick a favourite, pack those bathers and get ready to launch into summer with a blissful beach adventure. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly Stays in Queensland The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Glamping Sites in Queensland The Best Island Stays in Queensland Newly Furnished Apartment, Noosa Heads This breezy light-filled apartment sits just minutes from the heart of Noosa, and features a chic white colour palette and downstairs pool. From $300 a night, sleeps six. Kamala Villa, Noosa Heads Rocking a fresh, playful aesthetic and featuring a spacious entertainer's deck, this modern villa is an ideal setting for your next beachside escape. From $450 a night, sleeps six. Lush Noosa Heads Retreat, Noosa Heads Just a quick stroll off the beach, this luxury resort apartment makes for a chic couples' hideaway. Enjoy sundowners on the patio, overlooking lush rainforest. From $500 a night, sleeps two. Chic Coastal Escape, Noosa Heads A retro-inspired beach escape with loads of natural light and a sun-drenched patio for lounging — all just minutes from Hastings Street. From $250 a night, sleeps four. Fairshore Apartment 38, Noosa Heads Want to stay smack bang on Noosa beach? This freshly renovated apartment boasts close-up ocean views and an incredible beachfront pool. From $668 a night, sleeps two. Spectacular Penthouse, Noosa Heads You'll love this luxury holiday villa's sunny pool and deck area; however, nothing beats the rooftop terrace featuring panoramic ocean views. From $904 a night, sleeps six. Noosa Escape, Noosa Heads Soak up sparkling ocean views from this light-filled Noosa Heads apartment, while enjoying a primo balcony and an enviable location just a short walk from the beach. From $693 a night, sleeps four. Little Cove Family Beach House, Noosa Heads Spacious and stylish, this pet-friendly holiday home backs right onto a lush national park — and it's just a quick hop from Little Cove Beach. From $950 a night, sleeps eight. The Beach House, Noosa Heads Featuring a gorgeous pool, private tennis court and crisp coastal aesthetic, this leafy beach retreat was simply made for vacationing. From $1178 a night, sleeps eight. Little Cove Magic, Noosa Heads This light-flooded holiday apartment overlooks the ocean, while being handily located close to all the action — so you can split your days between beach, balcony and pool. From $788 a night, sleeps four. Acacia Villa, Noosa Heads Located just beyond the buzz of Hastings Street, this breezy townhouse makes for a supreme coastal retreat. Expect chic styling and tranquil leafy surrounds. From $580 a night, sleeps six. Poinciana House, Noosa Heads Between the beautifully appointed interiors, covetable location, and sun-drenched pool and deck, this blissful beach retreat is bound to impress. From $1093 a night, sleeps ten. Images: Courtesy of Airbnb FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It added booze to bowling, turned mini-golf courses into bars, and gave mashing buttons and hitting the arcade an alcohol-fuelled makeover as well. That'd be Funlab — and, if you like indulging your inner kidult over a few drinks, odds are that you've hit up its venues such as Strike, Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons over the past few years. That's the company's remit, after all: taking the kinds of activities that you enjoyed back when you weren't old enough to knock back cocktails, then adding the hard stuff. And, that's exactly what it's doing at Hijinx Hotel, its next venture. No, you can't stay there — but the world-first concept will see you hanging out in a space that's been decked out like a hotel, and then solving mental and physical puzzles as you wander through it. Funlab has dubbed Hijinx Hotel a 'challenge room hotel'. So, each of its 15 rooms will be filled with challenges for you to work through — with points awarded for how well you do within four minutes. Some rooms will see you play Twister or The Floor is Lava. Others will be decked out like the Titanic. There's one called the cereal ball pool room as well, which sounds chaotic. Basically, if you're a bit of a sleuth or you're never known to turn down a dare, you'll be in luck. Set to open in Alexandria in Sydney on June 3, Hijinx Hotel aims to riff on the escape room concept — but serve up fun that's far less stressful. Design-wise, it will look still like a hotel, even if you can't slumber there. There'll be a faux hotel reception and all, and the venue will take its aesthetic cues from the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Based on the renders so far, there's also a bit of an Overlook Hotel vibe — but sorry, The Shining fans, this new hangout isn't meant to be sinister. And yes, obviously there's a bar. Actually, there'll be three. Exactly what'll be on the menu hasn't yet been revealed, but expect booze and bites to eat. Whether you're a Sydneysider now planning your next stint of kidulting or you live elsewhere and you're making plans for a trip to the Harbour City, Hijinx Hotel visitors will find the venue alongside a huge new Holey Moley that'll feature 27 holes — including some that are ten times the size of those at other spots. And if you're wondering exactly where both newcomers will sit, they're joining the location that currently boasts Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Usually, Funlab launches its new concepts in one city, then shares the love across other east coast capitals. So Melburnians and Brisbanites, cross your fingers that Hijinx Hotel will eventually pop up closer to home. Find Hijinx Hotel at 75 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria, Sydney, from June 3 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. For further information about Funlab, head to the company's website.
Inimitable frozen dessert guru Nick Palumbo is responsible for making gelato the hottest thing in Sydney served below 0°C. His revered Gelato Messina sets the benchmark for gelato in Australia, taking a traditional Sicilian craft (everything is made from scratch using raw, natural ingredients) and carefully folding in an avant-garde approach towards flavours (there are six to seven specials released each week, with even the most deceptively unassuming beige ones accumulating Facebook likes in the hundreds). Now he's been tasked with the duty of finding one Australian craftsman blending tradition with inspiration. Ketel One has snagged Nick to sit on the judging panel of their Modern Craft Project, which you might remember us talking about here and which you should probably enter if you have a traditional craft, an entrepreneurial spirit and a partiality towards $100,000 cash prizes. Before the competition kicks off we stole a few minutes out of Nick's busy schedule to get the scoop on his idiosyncratic approach to artisan gelati. Concrete Playground (CP): Why gelato? Nick Palumbo (NP): In Messina, Sicily (where we are from) there is a huge culture of gelato and I wanted to create a brand that used traditional craftsmanship but was flexible in the sense that there is no limit to how creative you want to be. CP: What flavours did you launch Gelato Messina with back in 2002? NP: We only had 20 basic flavours back then but there was always a focus on quality. The innovation started to come in about two years later once we gained the trust of our customers. Coconut lychee, which sounds boring now, was our first "experimental flavour" back then. CP: Why did you decide to do the Gelato Messina Lab? NP: Because in the gelateria, we thought we had taken the quality side of things to quite a high level and all we had now was innovation of flavours. We wanted to push the boundaries a bit and marry in the world of high end patisserie with gelato, and saw it as a huge challenge and something that, to our knowledge, no one had done before. CP: The cakes are incredibly intricate — which one is the most satisfying to assemble? NP: The Black Forest, there are lots of components and the end result looks amazing. CP: They also incorporate many ingredients that aren't normally found in frozen desserts. Which ingredient poses the most problems? NP: All the jellies, they are hard to make soft at -18°C! CP: How do you come up with new flavours? NP: Basically we look for inspiration everywhere, especially from the world of patisserie, but it's also about continually finding flavours that work together. CP: What flavour has been the biggest surprise for you in terms of popularity? NP: Salted Caramel and White Choc Chip. It's now our best seller yet but when it first came out I actually heard a few people saying they didn't like it. Now those same people love it. CP: Obviously coming up with flavours must involve a lot of trial and error. What have been some of the errors? NP: Tomato sorbet. CP: I read a story about the frontman of Amy Meredith turning to his Facebook fans to demand the return of this favourite flavour (Elvis the Fat Years, which was then reborn as Christian Skinny Jeans). Is there anyone else you would like to reincarnate as gelato? NP: My three-month-old boy! The Milky Bar Kid. CP: Why did you want to become involved with the Ketel One Modern Craft Project? NP: Because Ketel One is an amazing brand full of history, which is my dream for Messina, and because there is not much in the way of support in this country for young people with a passion to do good things so anything that will help support artisans is something I'd like to be a part of. CP: What is next for Gelato Messina? NP: We open in Bondi in the middle of next year and we open in China (Hangzhou) in April next year. CP: And finally, cup or cone? NP: Silly question, CONE!
In case you missed the news, southeast Queensland is now home to its first TGI Fridays, with the American eatery setting up shop in Robina late last year. The chain's mozzarella sticks and potato twisters have probably just rocketed to the top of your must-eat list, which is understandable — but until Friday, March 29, it's the $5 margaritas that'll likely tempt you to make a trip to the Gold Coast. No matter what time of day you drop by, you'll only have to hand over a prawn — and you'll nab a cocktail in your choice of four flavours in return. Classic margs are available, of course; however your tastebuds can also sip down mango, blood orange, and strawberry and coconut varieties. You will need to sign up to TGI Friday's rewards program to score the super-cheap price, which you can do by downloading the app. Otherwise, those vivid-hued margaritas will set you back $10.
We've all been told not to sweat the small stuff, but sometimes, something great happens when you focus on the little things. Looking closer and peering deeper can reveal bigger thoughts, feelings, reflections and insights. When you name your exhibition mote, that might be what you want audiences to discover. mote is a collaboration between Queensland College of Art alumnus Ally McKay, Tess Mehonoshen and Naomi O'Reilly, as well as the first exhibition of the year to grace QCA's galleries. The three will display work that contemplates just what the title suggests: "a tiny piece of a substance; a speck: the tiniest mote of dust", as they put it. Catch the end result between January 11 and 28, or stop by on two separate dates for a more extensive viewing experience. Join in the opening night festivities on January 13, or drop by on January 21 for tea, talk and poetry, with the artists in attendance. Image: Ally McKay, mote 2016, Watercolour on paper, 21 x 14.85cm.
There's nothing like getting out into the sunshine with your mates, a jug of beer and a few hours on the green to make for an awesome arvo. Since 1930, Coorparoo Bowls Club has been a go-to bowlo for locals to play, drink, dance and eat. The heritage-listed building is a much-loved hangout for the community, regardless of whether you're a newbie bowler or an old hat. Live music is thrown into the mix here every weekend with local soloists and bands playing to Sunday sessions from 2–6pm. The club also hosts weekly trivia on Thursday nights and glow-in-the-dark bowls after dark. Images: Kiel Wode
Many of us head to Adelaide for its world-class wineries. While its vineyards are a true highlight of South Australia, you also can't miss the vibrant city centre. With chic wine bars and award-winning restaurants, Adelaide's CBD makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Situated in the middle of the city's block (that's surrounded by lush parkland), you'll find Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. The boutique accommodation is inspired by the city's festival influence, with colourful wall art and posters as interior decorations. Locally influenced decor is celebrated in the tessellated tile patterns and copper fixtures, which pay homage to the state's rich copper mining history. Filled with nods to the neighbourhood, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets is a central base to everything you could need to make the most of the city. Here's how to spend a weekend eating and drinking your way through Adelaide's CBD. [caption id="attachment_934956" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Adelaide Central Market[/caption] To Market, To Market The Adelaide Central Market is a gem of the city. Established in 1869, it's a hub of food and culture (and one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the southern hemisphere) where you can lose hours wandering the stalls and chatting with local producers. Don't miss Lucia's, the authentic Italian deli that has been a part of the market since 1957. [caption id="attachment_915248" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Osteria Oggi[/caption] Foodie's Paradise Don't think you have to be in the vineyards to experience Adelaide's food scene. Just a stone's throw from Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, you'll find several restaurants that rival the larger cities. Osteria Oggi on Pirie Street serves fresh, handmade pasta daily and offers a modern twist on the Italian you love. Long, communal tables are encouraged, and plates can be shared easily for an Italian-style feast. Right next door to Osteria Oggi is Soi 38. In 2014, the restaurant began serving street food snacks and dishes not found on other Adelaide Thai menus. Now, Soi 38 is an unrivalled dining experience that's serving regional dishes in the heart of the city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soi.38 Adelaide (@soi.38) Nearby, restaurant and bar Fino Vino offers a curated menu inspired by regional South Australia. Named a top ten restaurant in 2024 by Gourmet Traveller, Fino Vino is one to add to your must-try list when visiting the neighbourhood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@finovino_adelaide) Soak In the Neighbourhood Famous for its vino, sitting and sipping in the city's wine bars is a necessity when in town. When staying in the CBD, take a trip to Leigh Street. Located in the heart of the city, the cobbled street is full of character and heritage buildings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leigh Street Wine Room (@leighstreetwineroom) There are a number of small bars dotted down the street, but be sure to drop by Leigh Street Wine Room. The cosy bar serves over 400 drops and dishes up small plates to snack on while wine-tasting. On the same character-filled street, you'll find cocktail bar, Leigh Street Luggage, while award-winning cocktail bar, Maybe Mae, is located one street over. Really, you could spend all weekend flitting between Leigh Street haunts. Get Some Air After exploring the side streets of the city centre, find your bearings on its rooftop bars. Merrymaker is situated at the top of Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. Located 16 floors above the city streets, Merrymaker is Adelaide's tallest rooftop bar and serves a select menu of cocktails, aperitifs, and snacks. With a limited selection of seating available, it's recommended that you book a table at the award-winning Merrymaker in advance (even as a hotel guest) to avoid missing out on the breathtaking city views. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Merrymaker Rooftop Bar Adelaide (@merrymaker_rooftopbar) 2KW Bar and Restaurant is another rooftop bar in Adelaide with spectacular views of the Adelaide Oval, Festival Theatre and Government House. On the weekends, you'll find DJs spinning tunes as the sun sets over Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_1038261" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets[/caption] Rest Up in Style With its stylish streets and reputation as a foodie hub, Adelaide's CBD is a vibrant neighbourhood that inspires. At the Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, you can continue the energy of the city in its colourful boutique rooms. On the ground floor, you'll find modern Italian restaurant and bar, Market & Meander, as well as its famous pink booths. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Market & Meander was recently named a top ten hotel breakfast in Australia. You can also rest and recover in the hotel's luxe pool and gym. Situated in the heart of the action, the boutique accommodation makes for the perfect base to continue to explore South Australia's capital. Want to stay in the thick of it? Find out more about Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets here. Lead image: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets
There are plenty of reasons to look forward to a new month, but Lune Croissanterie's changing specials menu just might be the tastiest. Each time the calendar flips over, the cult-favourite bakery whips up a new batch of treats — such as lamington cruffins, one of its January specials; and bolognese and bechamel-filled lasagne pastries, a highlight from its June range. When July ticks over, the croissant haven's range is set to be just as tasty — especially if you like beloved desserts that have been turned into other sweet treats. Call them mashups, call them hybrids, call them the Frankenstein's monsters of baked goods: they all fit. On the July menu: Iced Vovo cruffins and tiramisu pastries. The words you're looking for? Yum and yum. They're both exactly what they sound like, with the first stuffing a cruffin with coconut custard and raspberry jam, dipping it in raspberry glaze, sprinkling coconut on top and adding another button of jam as well — and the second turning the pudding into a pastry with coffee soaked house-made savoiardi and coffee caramel, plus a ruffle of mascarpone cream and a dusting of Mork chocolate powder. Both of those dishes are available at Lune's Fitzroy store in Melbourne, as well as at its South Brisbane digs in Brisbane — and you can order them online in Brissie, too. The Sunshine State capital gets another mashup gem as well: apple crumble danishes, which are filled with jazz apple jam and whiskey crème, then finished with brown butter crumble and toffee apple glaze. The July specials list also boasts a twice-baked marble pain au chocolat, which returns after proving a hit in Melbourne last year. It'll be on offer at Fitzroy, Melbourne CBD, South Brisbane and online in Brisbane only. And, there's a vegetarian version of Lune's pepperoni pizza escargot, again in all venues. Brissie also scores Lune's carrot cake, if you're somehow still hungry. Lune's July specials menu runs from Friday, July 1–Sunday, July 31, with different specials on offer at Fitzroy and the CBD in Melbourne, and South Brisbane in Brisbane. In Brisbane only, you can also order them online.
Let's be honest, interstate trips are the perfect budget-friendly breather. You get all your well-deserved downtime, without the fuss of long-distance flying and complicated international travel requirements. These Airbnbs are perfect for just that — with breathtaking views of cities across Australia for the perfect getaway. If you're eagerly planning day trips, weekend getaways and luscious week-long vacations, check out some of the best Airbnbs for the perfect vacation — or staycation — across Australia. Tamarama Panorama, Sydney In keeping with the beachside neighbourhood's "glamarama" reputation, the views from this home's floor-to-ceiling windows are dazzling. You can walk down your outdoor staircase to the beach, or just lay out on the balcony chairs and enjoy the ocean views from up above. From $700 a night, sleeps six. Harbour Hideaway, Sydney The views from this beachfront apartment and its gorgeous porch are hard to beat. If viewing the golden sand and blue water from above wasn't quite enough, the pad also has beach access. From $500 a night, sleeps two. Opera House Views, Sydney Whether you've lived in Sydney your whole life or you're just popping in for the weekend, this condo's jaw-dropping outlook over the city skyline will make you feel like you're seeing it for the first time. From $258 a night, sleeps four. Bondi Beach Ocean View, Sydney Only steps away from Sydney's most famous beach, this condo is close to not only Bondi Beach but also many nearby restaurants, bars and cafes. But its views will probably have you wanting to stay in. From $400 a night, sleeps two. Single-Bedroom Luxury Apartment, Melbourne Perfectly positioned near The Crown in the heart of Melbourne, you can take in pretty much all of the CBD from the floor-to-ceiling windows in this high-rise apartment. From $160 a night, sleeps two. Melbourne Spaceship Penthouse, Melbourne With windows on the walls and ceilings resembling a spaceship cockpit, enjoy an unmatched 270-degree view of Melbourne. From $258 a night, sleeps two. Breathtaking CBD Views, Melbourne Also conveniently located in Melbourne's CBD, the views from this apartment's bedroom are absolutely breathtaking. From $143 a night, sleeps four. Stylish Waterfront Apartment, Melbourne With utilities such as a gym, swimming pool and BBQ area all available, this property is a peaceful waterfront oasis — and only a free tram ride from Melbourne's bustling city centre. From $150 a night, sleeps two. Million Dollar Views, Brisbane Surprisingly, the real selling point of this high-rise apartment isn't its central location or its nice interior finishings, but the view from the apartment complex's rooftop pool. From $221 a night, sleeps four. Stylish One Bedroom, Brisbane Centrally-located and modern, the skyline views from this apartment and its roof will make even Brisbane locals feel like they're on a luxury vacation. From $189 a night, sleeps two. Riverview 29th Floor Apt, Brisbane Located in the heart of South Brisbane, treat yourself to stunning city views from the apartment, balcony, or rooftop infinity pool. From $205 a night, sleeps three. City View, Perth Slide open the glass doors after a long day exploring the city and enjoy the sunset over Perth from your living room. From $200 a night, sleeps two. Cottesloe Beach View, Perch Just steps from one of the most popular beaches in Western Australia, the ocean views are the star of this apartment. From $410 a night, sleeps four. French Farmhouse, Perth Craving a nature immersion? This pad is for the traveller whose ideal vacation involves forgetting about the outside world altogether. With a foliage-covered courtyard outside its windows, this rustic townhouse will help you forget about the existence of the city centre a mere five minutes away. From $200 a night, sleeps four. Glenelg Beachfront Apartment, Adelaide With arguably the best waterfront views on this list, this apartment gets up-close and personal with Glenelg Beach. But, just in case you get tired of the unrestricted views, there is plenty to do nearby in Adelaide's CBD. From $405 a night, sleeps four. Pearl, Adelaide A cosy and bright beachfront cottage, this recently renovated designer property boasts a sea view that can be enjoyed from the open lounge and kitchen or stone patio that leads directly onto the dunes. From $336 a night, sleeps four. Asri Garden Studio, Adelaide For secluded garden views, check out this tranquil studio inspired by Japanese and Balinese design. It's all about nature: nestled into a secluded garden and designed to incorporate natural materials and natural light. From $200 a night, sleeps two. View Studio, Hobart The best way to end an action-packed day in Hobart? Taking in the epic views of the city's lights from the bath in this Airbnb's master suite. From $235 a night, sleeps two. Tiny House Tasmania, Hobart For those looking to experience the tiny home craze, a trip to Hobart may be the perfect opportunity. This home overlooks the Derwent River and notably features an outdoor bathtub perfect for a relaxing evening after a day spent exploring. From $195 a night, sleeps two. Mountain View Retreat, Hobart If you prefer to get your outdoor fix in the mountains, this cosy mountainside retreat is only minutes away from Hobart — but has stunning views. From $140 a night, sleeps two. Marina Views, Darwin Enjoy this property's stellar view of the marina from its all-day shaded balcony, to keep you out of Darwin's heat. From $180 a night, sleeps four. Harbourfront Escape, Darwin This apartment right on Darwin's harbour will give visitors the perfect taste of Darwin's coastal life: explore during the day — or night — and then returning to the complex's outdoor pool and sunset views. From $189 a night, sleeps two. Opulent Ocean View Townhouse, Darwin Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac, this townhouse boasts waterfront views in a prime location in Darwin's Stuart Park. Suitable for families or for a private getaway, you can switch off in this spacious stay and soak in the gorgeous sunrises — or sunsets — by the pool. From $481 a night, sleeps eight. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: courtesy of Airbnb
Himalayan Cafe in New Farm is the place to go when you want to escape Brisbane (and Australia) for the night. Its transportive powers are unlike any other local dining experience, which could be why it's booked solid just about every night of trading. The ambient lighting and generally jovial atmosphere make Himalayan Cafe the perfect spot for a hot date or dinner with friends, with richly coloured carpets, cushions and wall hangings creating a feeling of warmth and intimacy. The BYO alcohol policy guarantees a very healthy buzz of conversation along with the strains of meditation chants coming over the speakers. The food is fantastic. For starter, the Himalayan breads with dipping sauce are an absolute must-have. Light with an almost cake-like sweetness, the bread sets the tone for the night's meal. The mains are delicious and crowd favourites include the Sherpa Chicken and Pesto Chicken. There is a huge variety of options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike, with the quality unwaveringly excellent. This place is unbelievably popular, so make a booking if you want to get a seat. It will be worth your while. Images: Hennessytrill
If bliss to you means peering at infinite reflections in lit-up mirror rooms, wading through brightly coloured ball pits and having pillow fights — plus hanging out in digital forests, watching tales told via shadows and hopping over musical tiles, too — then prepare to beam with joy when Dopamine Land arrives Down Under. The latest multi-sensory experience that's hitting Australia, it's being pitched as an interactive museum. Inside, you'll find themed spaces that you can mosey through, engage with their contents and, ideally, bask in nothing but pure happiness. With a name like Dopamine Land, it's immediately clear that contentment, glee, merriment and exuberance is the aim of the game here. So is evoking those feel-good sensations through nostalgia, because this is another kidulting activity — it's all-ages-friendly as well — and it's making its Aussie debut in Brisbane from Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Brisbanites, and anyone keen for a Sunshine State trip to revel in more than the sun's glow, can look forward to wandering around Dopamine Land at Uptown in the River City's Queen Street Mall. Locals know that the site was previously the Myer Centre — and, decades back, was home to a dragon-themed rollercoaster. So, it's a fitting venue to get everyone channeling their inner child, unleashing their imagination and, yes, hitting each other with cushions. Heading this way direct from London, the experience combines optical illusions, engaging soundscapes and more across its ten themed rooms. The ball pit is self-explanatory, but also takes its cues from Miami in the 80s, complete with a pina colada scent, an electro soundtrack and LED lights that pulse to mirror waves. The pillow-fight space also doesn't need much explaining; however, the decor is inspired by marshmallows and boxes of lollies, Mexican wrestling is also an influence and you can win the pillow-fighting championship. Fancy seeing stories play out via shadows? There's a room for that featuring a big top-style roof. If you try your hand at the musical tiles — well, your feet, to be more accurate — you'll create a melody as you jump around, with the lights changing as you go as well. And if getting as serene as possible is your aim, head to the Keep Calm Forest, which artificially recreates a woodland via LED trees, mirrors and sounds to match. There's even a room dedicated to the autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, which goes big on projections and animations by Australian digital artist Cassie Troughton.
UPDATE, January 25, 2021: The Australian Dream is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. When the crowd roars, cheers or applauds at an AFL game, the sound can be deafening. Caught in the moment, thousands of people watch the sport they love and vocalise their immediate feelings, with the resulting racket echoing through football stadiums around the country. For much of his Aussie Rules career, Adam Goodes experienced that joyous onslaught of noise — as he played 372 matches for the Sydney Swans, became the all-time Indigenous games record-holder until just this past month, kicked 464 goals, won two premierships, earned the code's highest individual honour not once but twice, and was even anointed Australian of the Year. But, as the champion's on-field days came to an end, he also became the target of merciless booing. Reverberating across multiple seasons, those jeers were thunderous, too. Anyone who heard them won't easily forget them, nor should they. It's hardly surprising that Goodes decided to take a break from playing when the taunting wouldn't stop, then retired not long afterwards. The ins and outs of the behaviour directed towards him were discussed at length at the time, as were the supposed reasons for the booing, but the basics really couldn't be more simple. One of this country's greatest Indigenous athletes was shunned for embracing his culture, speaking out against racism and calling out specific attacks against him — and, instead of hearing his eloquently stated position, empathising with his suffering, and affording him the respect and decency that everyone deserves, AFL crowds voiced their displeasure in a primal and abusive way. Even when Goodes explained that he found the ordeal deeply hurtful, as anyone would, it didn't stop. Rather, he was bluntly told to toughen up. It's a bleak chapter in Australia's history — even more so because it happened so recently, between 2013–15. It's also a damning indictment of our society, indicative of defensiveness rather than a willingness to evolve, and illustrating that racial prejudice remains part of our everyday lives. From the moment that Goodes enraged some portions of the population by drawing attention to vilification hurled at him by a young Collingwood supporter, his loud-mouthed detractors have tried to rationalise their position. Contending that they oppose his supposed 'bullying' (by asking that the young girl who insulted him be removed from the match), and decrying his playing abilities and sportsmanship, their excuses have always fallen flat. But if any further evidence of their futility was needed, The Australian Dream lays bare the situation. An emotional account of Goodes' AFL career directed by experienced British sports documentarian Daniel Gordon and written by Australian journalist Stan Grant, the film offers both an intimate and an overarching view of the footballer's experiences. As well as chronicling his rise from quiet kid, to reluctant superstar, to determined anti-racism activist, it places Goodes' plight in historical and social context. Walkley Award-winner Grant also provides the movie's narration, title and thesis, and inspires its shape and structure. "The Australian Dream is rooted in racism. It is the very foundation of the dream," he announced during a rousing address back in 2015. "It is there at the birth of the nation. It is there in terra nullius," he continued, with his speech quickly going viral. It's this sentiment that the documentary unpacks. To explore Goodes' story, why the tide of public opinion turned on him in some quarters and why he still sparks heated debate, is to explore Australia's treatment of its first peoples for more than two centuries. The parallels aren't hard to spot. Indeed, in making this point, The Australian Dream isn't a subtle film. It doesn't wait for the audience to join the dots, but instead shouts its message at every turn. It tells the bulk of the nation what we already know, especially arriving so soon after fellow Goodes-focused doco The Final Quarter (which relived his final three years in the AFL solely through media footage from the time). But a subject as important as racial discrimination — including casual racism, aka comments with a racist impact even if they're not intended that way — warrants force. A documentary so thoughtfully stitched-together also justifies such bluntness, with The Australian Dream taking a broad and detailed look at its topic. Childhood photos, family recollections and archival clips combine with face-to-face chats with Goodes today, evocatively shot sequences of him traversing the country's sprawling landscape, and glimpses of the champ and his ex-Swans teammate Michael O'Loughlin attending Australia Day gatherings. When needed, historical primers fill in the gaps. So does a hefty roster of talking heads that features Goodes' loved ones, former footballers Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam, and past and present Swans coaches Paul Roos and John Longmire. Polarising figures such as Eddie McGuire and Andrew Bolt, both of whom have made unacceptable comments about Goodes in the past, are also interviewed — and if giving them screen-time seems strange, it demonstrates The Australian Dream's wholistic approach. It also exemplifies Gordon and Grant's aim to weave the spirit of reconciliation into every aspect of their film. Of course, while McGuire is in somewhat apologetic mode, his appearance — alongside the typically inflammatory Bolt — provides a strong reminder. The attitudes that The Australian Dream examines, and the racist treatment of Indigenous Australians that's been part of the nation since its formation, haven't disappeared since Goodes stepped off the field. In fact, the existence of two movies about the footballer in such short succession has made this plain. The Final Quarter received a standing ovation at its Sydney Film Festival world premiere, and finally inspired the AFL to apologise to Goodes for its lack of action. And yet, when the doco aired on TV, it was followed by a national news poll once again questioning whether the booing of Goodes was racially motivated. The Australian Dream earned widespread acclaim when it opened this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, and will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival as well. And still, when Goodes revealed that he has no desire to return to the game after his traumatic experiences — speaking in a rare interview just this past weekend, to support the picture's local theatrical release — the online trolls came out in force. That's the reality that these films belong to, as The Australian Dream confronts head-on. It's also a situation that Aussies need to keep seeing and interrogating, including in this powerful and essential documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRJkLgl56jk
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.
April is here, which means that it's almost that time of year: the time when you're either at Coachella or curing your FOMO by watching it at home. 2024's lineup dropped in January, featuring Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat and the reunited No Doubt as headliners. Now comes news just as big: if you're dancing along in your living room over two weekends this month and you've got a set clash, you'll be able to livestream multiple stages at once. How many? Four in total, all thanks to YouTube's annual coverage of the event. Each year, Coachella and the online video platform join forces to beam the massive music fest around the world. Of course, that's no longer such a novelty in these pandemic-era times — but being able to fill your screen with a quartet of Coachella sets at the same time definitely is. YouTube's multiview concert experience will enjoy its debut in the music space, and globally, at Coachella. This year, the service will be capturing six different stages, as it did in 2023 for the first time ever — with Sonora on the list for the first weekend and Yuma on the second. That said, while you can feast your eyes on four stages simultaneously, you'll only be able to hear one, so you will still need to pick a favourite in any given timeslot. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21, which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under. For those lucky enough to be getting the IRL experience, the fest takes place at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The full bill is a jaw-dropper, as usual, featuring a stacked array of acts that also spans everyone from Blur, Ice Spice, J Balvin and Peso Pluma to Sabrina Carpenter, Grimes, Lil Yachty and Flight Facilities. [caption id="attachment_936351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casey via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21 — which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under — at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and livestreams via YouTube across the same dates. Top image: Roger Ho.
It's only been three short years since the world first discovered Paul Mescal courtesy of early-pandemic obsession Normal People, and what a three years they've been. Focusing solely on the Irish actor's on-screen work and related achievements, he's also popped up in The Lost Daughter, been nominated for an Oscar for Aftersun and famously spent time making a movie in Australia — and that flick, Carmen, has just dropped its first trailer. Remember all those Mescal sightings Down Under in early 2021? The whole the country does, and this film is why they happened. The movie turns the classic opera of the same name into a screen musical, and features the internet's boyfriend as Aidan, a marine with PTSD, opposite In the Heights and Scream star Melissa Barrera in the titular role. This clearly isn't a standard adaptation of the opera by Georges Bizet that first hit stages back in 1875, as based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée that's also called Carmen. Here, in what's been dubbed "a gritty modern-day tale", Carmen flees her home in the Mexican desert after her mother is murdered, then makes an illegal border crossing into America. Once in the US, she's troubled by more killings courtesy of a ruthless border guard — which doesn't go down well with his patrol partner, the aforementioned Aiden. So starts Carmen and Aiden's journey together, also escaping to look for her mother's best friend (iconic Spanish actor Rossy De Palma, Parallel Mothers). This take on Carmen also features standoffs, a nightclub as a sanctuary, a police hunt and finding solace in romance, with Benjamin Millepied making his directorial debut behind the lens. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, he was behind the ballet scenes in Black Swan — and also popped up on-screen as David. Millepied's first stint as a helmer will hit US cinemas in April, with a release date in Australia and New Zealand yet to be revealed. Seeing it turn up on the midyear film festival circuit, hitting the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival, wouldn't be surprising. Adding to the project's big names is Nicholas Britell, who is responsible for Carmen's original score and songs, after also composing Succession's earworm of a theme. Check out the trailer for Carmen below: Carmen doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Next time that you're looking for a cocktail spot, follow the pins. That's what The Pinnacle Guide, the new bar recognition system that's throwing some love at the top watering holes around the world, gives out. Michelin does stars, this ranking does pins — and on its just-announced first batch of picks, two Australian bars have made the cut. Scoring one pin apiece: El Primo Sanchez and Maybe Sammy, both in Sydney. The duo both hail from the same crew, in fact, and now have bragging rights over Australia's other cocktail havens. In total, 25 bars received one pin and 12 were given two pins. Nowhere has nabbed three pins so far. [caption id="attachment_889906" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Created by three folks behind London Cocktail Week — Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and Dan Dove — The Pinnacle Guide doesn't just make its selections based on beverages and bar service. Also considered: an establishment's approach to sustainability, diversity and philanthropy. The idea is for the guide's pinned watering holes to reflect everything that's required to be a cocktail bar, and that The Pinnacle Guide is the kind of list that heroes versatility as well. Bars submit to be considered, which requires them to provide information on their drinks program, how they manage their staff, and both the venue's aesthetics and its vibes. From there, anonymous reviewers comprised of mixologists, industry experts and bar enthusiasts undertake in-person reviews to decide which places deserve a place in the guide. [caption id="attachment_941736" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] To get a pin, a bar must be considered excellent, outstanding or exceptional both in front of and behind the bar. Securing three pins requires both the written application and the service during the reviewer's visit to be exceptional, and no venue has achieved that so far. Other overall considerations by The Pinnacle Guide include that commitment to sustainability, and ensuring that the drinks list expands beyond booze, with at least two curated non-alcoholic drinks required on the menu (so, thoughtful mocktails, not basic soft drinks). [caption id="attachment_889910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] "We've been overwhelmed by the incredible response to the first round of applications for The Pinnacle Guide. In revealing this first list, we have been able to realise our goal of celebrating the extraordinary range of cocktail bars the world has to offer — from tiny drinking dens to majestic hotel bars," said Dove. "We're proud of our unique submissions process, which has allowed these deserving bars to shine — and we're excited to shed light on many many more in the months and years to come." In the first picks made since The Pinnacle Guide's applications opened in November 2023, entries came from around the globe, including Australia, the UK, the US, Singapore, Spain, Mexico and Dubai. Maybe Sammy's inclusion adds another accolade to its lengthy collection, including being named the number-one bar in the data-driven Top 500 Bars list for 2023 and also coming in 15th on The World's 50 Best Bars list for last year. The Pinnacle Guide's Pinned Bars: Three-pin bars: None Two-pin bars: ATLAS, Singapore Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour, Phoenix, USA Nipperkin, London, UK Origin Bar, Shangri-La Singapore, Singapore Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, UK Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain Pretty Decent, Louisville, USA Selva, Oaxaca, Mexico The American Bar at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, UK The Spy Bar at Raffles London, UK Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, USA True Laurel, San Francisco, USA One-pin bars: Artesian, London, UK Ballroom by Barbary Coast, Singapore Blue Bar at The Berkeley, London, UK Couch, Birmingham, UK Cure, New Orleans, USA El Primo Sanchez, Sydney, Australia Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man, UK KOL Mezcaleria, London, UK Kwant Mayfair, London, UK Little Rituals, Phoenix, USA Magnus on Water, Maine, USA Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia Meteor, Minneapolis, USA Milady's, New York City, USA Nightjar Shoreditch, London, UK Passing Fancies, Birmingham, UK Rattlebag, Belfast, UK Roka Dubai, UAE Sexy Fish, London, UK Sexy Fish, Manchester UK Side Hustle, London, UK Swift Soho, London, UK The Dead Rabbit, New York City, USA The Guards Bar & Lounge at Raffles, London, UK Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese, London, UK For more information about The Pinnacle Guide and its pinned bars, head to its website. Find El Primo Sanchez at 27–33 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney. Find Maybe Sammy at 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Top image: Steven Woodburn.
Talk about a show that delivered on its promise the first time around: when a fresh-from-Russian Doll Natasha Lyonne teamed up with Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery filmmaker Rian Johnson on a whodunnit-of-the-week TV series, Poker Face did indeed prove a delight. A second season was quickly greenlit, in fact, and now it's on its way to your streaming queue. The sleuthing gem has also just dropped its full season two trailer. While the combination of Lyonne (Fantasmas) and Johnson was always set to be an ace, Poker Face gave the detective setup a particular spin. Protagonist Charlie Cale has a handy gift: being able to tell when someone is lying. In each weekly episode, she then worked her way through resolving a different crime, all while on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. Then and soon, when season two kicks off on Thursday, May 8, 2025 Down Under — where it streams via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand — Lyonne also has a heap of other well-known faces for company. Where season one boasted The Brutalist Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, to name just one high-profile figure, season two will feature fellow 2025 nominee Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) in multiple roles. If you're a fan of John Mulaney's wonderful Everybody's Live talk show, rejoice: not only Mulaney but also Richard Kind (Mid-Century Modern) are guest starring in Poker Face season two. From there, this season's roster also includes John Cho (AfrAId), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Katie Holmes (Rare Objects), Awkwafina (Black Mirror) and Giancarlo Esposito (The Residence), as well as Alia Shawkat (Severance), BJ Novak (Lessons in Chemistry), Carol Kane (Between the Temples), Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson), Saturday Night Live pair Ego Nwodim (Mr Throwback) and Ben Marshall (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Sam Richardson (It's Florida, Man) and Margo Martindale (The Sticky). Then there's Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (Power Book II: Ghost), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Justin Theroux (Running Point), Kathrine Narducci (The Alto Knights), Kevin Corrigan (Deli Boys), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building), Patti Harrison (The Electric State), Sherry Cola (Nobody Wants This), Gaby Hoffmann (Zero Day), Simon Rex (Red Rocket) and more. As well as the stellar lead turn from Lyonne and the show's smart writing, part of the fun of Poker Face stems from seeing how the series weaves in such a dream supporting lineup. The above list follow in the footsteps of The Menu's Hong Chau and Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery (Deep Water), Danielle MacDonald (The Last Anniversary), Chloë Sevigny (Bones and All), Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio), Ellen Barkin (Animal Kingdom), Nick Nolte (The Mandalorian), Cherry Jones (Succession), Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once) in season one. And yes, you'll have two chances to get a mystery fix from Johnson in 2025, given that Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out movie, is also on its way this year. It too boasts another stacked cast, this time surrounding Daniel Craig (Queer) with Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Glenn Close (Back in Action), Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Mila Kunis (Goodrich), Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown), Kerry Washington (The Six Triple Eight), Andrew Scott (Ripley), Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) and Thomas Haden Church (Twisted Metal). Check out the full trailer for Poker Face season two below: Poker Face season two streams from Thursday, May 8, 2025 via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Images: Sarah Shatz/PEACOCK.
With headliners like Addison Rae, Dom Dolla and Kid Cudi, Beyond the Valley's tenth birthday lineup has been a hit so far — tickets sold out in under an hour. Now, the camping festival has announced a run club with Salomon — and a chance to win a pair of much-coveted tickets and return flights to Melbourne. There will be two rounds of run clubs — one at Albert Park on 6 and 13 December, and one at Beyond the Valley's Barunah Plains site during the festival, which runs from 28–31 December. In the lead up to the festival, Solomon is hosting two special runs at Albert Park. Participants will set off at Albert Park, accompanied by tunes from one of BTV's resident DJs, snacks and bevvies. Runners will get the chance to try out shoes from the Gravel running line — but they're limited, so first in best dressed. For the first time in BTV history, Salomon will also host a daily run club during the festival at Barunah Plains. If you need a wholesome way to shake the night before the music starts again, gather at 9.30am in The Lounge Room for an early jog. To celebrate the partnership, Salomon is giving away an all-inclusive pair of four-day BTV entries with every full price purchase from the store. The tickets comes with premium camping passes, vehicle passes and return flights to Melbourne. They've also thrown in four pairs of Salomon shoes to keep you moving on the dance floor. For more information, visit Salomon's official website.
UPDATE, October 2, 2020: Official Secrets is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. When Keira Knightley came to fame kicking a soccer ball in Bend It Like Beckham, her steely determination played a considerable part. The English actor does purposeful and plucky with aplomb — earning Oscar nominations in Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game — and they're traits that keep serving her well nearly two decades after her big break. In fact, they're perfect for her latest role. Stepping into Katharine Gun's shoes in Official Secrets, Knightley is the epitome of dedicated and purposeful, as a British security services agent-turned-whistleblower needs to be. That focus keeps shining, too, as her version of Gun weathers the personal, professional and legal repercussions for her actions in trying to thwart the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including breaching the United Kingdom's Official Secrets Act. Yes, there's no doubting where Official Secrets found its title. Even if you weren't across this fairly recent incident, there's no guessing where the film is headed, either. But, working in the same tense mode as he did with 2015's Eye in the Sky, director/co-writer Gavin Hood still treats Gun's rousing true tale like a thriller with good reason — the ins and outs are stirring and gripping. His clear-eyed procedural also proves riveting because it remains immensely relevant, as do the reasons behind Gun's leak of classified documents to start with. While it was once rightfully considered scandalous, politicians, governments and leaders routinely lying to the public has become a regular part of life today; but daring to speak truth to power — and to force those in power to speak the truth — is still rare. It's an ordinary day for Gun when, during her usual translation and analysis duties for British intelligence, she receives an extraordinary email. Sent from a National Security Agency chief, the communication requests help gathering information about United Nations diplomats, in the hope of convincing the seven non-permanent members of the UN Security Council to vote for military action. Her superiors say that nothing is amiss, but using blackmail to send the world to war doesn't sit well with Gun. Once she sends the document to a friend, who then passes it on to a journalist, it doesn't sit well with Observer reporter Martin Bright (Matt Smith) either. After his front-page story hits newsstands, global outrage naturally follows. So does a spiteful investigation by Britain's powers-that-be, who'd rather attack Gun than admit any wrongdoing. As pieced together with workmanlike precision by Hood, who clearly understands the significance of the story, Gun's plight has many moving parts. Her Turkish husband Yasar (Adam Bakri) is seeking asylum in England, something that's unsurprisingly used against her. After she enlists a veteran human rights lawyer (Ralph Fiennes), she's told that she's not allowed to discuss her work with anyone, including legal counsel, or she'll face further charges. When Bright convinces his pro-war Observer editors to run with the story, an innocent internal error gets conspiracy theorists on the attack as well. Gun is an average Brit calling out wrongdoing in her workplace — wrongdoing with worldwide consequences — and she faces her government's wrath for doing so, but she's steadfast in standing by her actions. Gun is tenacious, courageous and committed — and yet, crucially, she's just a regular person. That's another reason that Official Secrets resonates so strongly. The film's subject is employed by British security services to gather intelligence, so on paper she's a spy, but she's really just someone sitting behind a computer, doing her job, and daring to challenge the status quo when it conflicts with her sense of right and wrong. Indeed, for all of Knightley's skill at playing insistent, dogged and earnest, she also captures this truth, as does Hood's polished yet never slick direction (a Bourne or Bond-style flick, this isn't). Official Secrets lurks in nondescript offices and watches everyday folks go about their work, while managing a delicate balancing act in the process, ensuring that Gun is a flesh-and-blood figure rather than a simplified martyr. This is also a movie with a clear outcome in mind and an overt emotional path, although that comes both with the territory and with telling this tale today. Many of the film's supporting players are tasked with underscoring the story's importance — Smith, Fiennes, Matthew Goodes and Rhys Ifans as other journalists, and Jeremy Northam as the public prosecutor eager to put Gun in her place — however Knightley utters the line that couldn't sum up Official Secrets better. Her character is yelling at the TV while watching the news and, yes, it feels relatable as it sounds. "Just because you're the Prime Minister, it doesn't mean you get to make up your own facts," she notes as Tony Blair talks about Iraq. Try not to injure yourself nodding forcefully in agreement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IVuxnXFrl8
Heisenberg Haus is a family owned German-style restaurant set Set in Ipswich's Top of Town precinct. Pull up a seat at one of the communal tables, order a beer and a pretzel, and later on maybe grab a serving of käsespätzle, which, if you haven't had it before, is a big ol' gooey serving of wheat dumpling noodles, fried onion and cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. This dish is a long-cherished chalet staple — and while it's not Arctic weather, the chill of a Queensland winter is reason enough to indulge, don't you think?
How do you make the news of a new Brisbane bar even more exciting? Keep the address under wraps until moments before throwing open the doors. That's Tomcat's strategy, anyway — they'll only reveal the bar's exact Fortitude Valley location right before the launch. Here's what we do know so far. In its main space, Tomcat will attempt to fuse a house party and dive bar into one hangout space, and give it an '80s-like atmosphere. Decor-wise, think street graffiti on the walls and dim red lighting setting a mysterious mood. The kitchen will crank out New York-style pizzas for patrons keen on both eating in and taking away, and the drinks range will include two cocktails on tap, as well as bottle service that extends to gin, rum, scotch and more. And that's just the first part — Tomcat has another secret up its sleeves. Within the main bar they'll have another bar called The Boiler Room. Setting up a high-end spirit and cocktail establishment with an industrial, substation-esque vibe is the name of the game, with low lighting, jazz trip-hop tunes, leather lounges and daily changing charcuterie boards providing the finishing touches. And if you opt for bottle service here, your preferred Remy Martin beverage will be kept in a locked cabinet with your name literally on it. The dual-concept venue hails from a bunch of folks with plenty of experience, with owners Chris Denman and Stevie Waite veterans of Fourth Wall and The Manhattan Line, venue manager Kal Moore hailing from The Gresham and assistant venue manager Scott Griffin boasting X&Y on his resume. And while Tomcat's specific site won't be officially revealed until opening night, if you're savvy with your online searching you might be able to piece a few clues together. We could tell you right here, right now — but where's the fun in that? Tomcat will open in Fortitude Valley from late September until early October. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information as they release it. Image: star5112 via Flickr.
In the humble espresso martini, caffeine and booze combine in glorious style. But why just drink regular ol' coffee-flavoured cocktails in elongated glasses when you can try inventive types? There's a time and a place for traditional concoctions, of course. There's also a time and a place to sip salted caramel espresso martinis, Nutella espresso martinis and jaffa versions as well. Throw in coconut tipples, honeycomb varieties, a fruit-and-nut combo and something called an 'outback espresso' (featuring Australian white spiced rum with spices and bitters), and that's the full eight-cocktail menu for Riverland's riverside Espresso Martini Fest. If you don't like your beverages with a considerable buzz, then this isn't the event for you. Drop by from 11am on Friday, July 26, with the festivities in full swing all day — and with the site's range of street kitchens cooking up food to match until 9pm. Live music will also be on the menu from 5pm, followed by DJs, because all that caffeine will give you plenty of energy to expend.
Wearing a pair of R.M. Williams says 'I'm ready for anything'. You could be going to the pub, walking into a work meeting or heading out to the farm to milk the cows. Sparkly footwear doesn't quite conjure up the same feelings of practicality. Well, until R.M. Williams released a special run of boots in gold metallic. For the past two years, the Aussie bootmaker has released a limited run of metallic gold boots to much fanfare — the shoes sold out quicker than most of us could transfer all our money into one bank account to pay for them. So we're sure more than a few people will be happy to hear that R.M.s will release a new limited edition metallic boot, this time in silver. This time it's the women's Millicent boot that has received the sparkly treatment. As with each R.M. boot, these have been crafted out of a single piece of leather and feature the same slim shape, elegant stitching and tapered heel cuban heel of the regular Millicent range. Each pair will be made to order, so expect a two-week delivery timeframe. R.M.s are arguably Australia's most iconic shoe. From a modest start in the Adelaide outback servicing the stockmen and women of the heartland, 85 years later, a diverse range of people still wear the boots — from farmers in the outback, to corporate businessmen, to the style set at fashion week. Australian designer Dion Lee has used R.M.s regularly in campaign shoots and runway shows, even creating his own for New York Fashion Week in 2014. Continuing to embrace contemporary styles and adapting to modern fashion without sacrificing their DNA has surely guaranteed the longevity of this historic label. This latest addition to the women's range is only available online. At $545 a pair, they're not exactly cheap — but if you're looking for an investment piece, a pair of R.M.s is the very definition of the phrase. If you ask nicely, maybe someone will chip in for them for Christmas. R.M. Williams' silver Millicent boots are available to order now at rmwilliams.com.au.
Things are getting a little scary at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. Spooky, even. Haunted as well. For two and a half months between Friday, September 10–Sunday, November 28, the venue's Australian Cinematheque is dedicating its big screen to movies of the ghostly variety. If it's about spirits, spectres, apparitions, poltergeists, haunted houses and the like, it'll be playing here — and for free. Playing on Wednesday and Friday nights, as well as on Saturday and Sunday during the day, the Ghost Stories: Spirits, Hauntings and Worlds Beyond lineup is filled with plenty of all-time greats that you'd expect to see in such a program. Yes, all work and no play will make Jack Nicholson grab an axe in The Shining. Yes, you might want to avoid saying either Beetlejuice or Candyman too many times. And yes, you'll also get Spirited Away, descend into The Fog, take a trip to Lake Mungo and get acquainted with The Others. Also on the bill: J-horror standouts Ring and Pulse, the inimitable thrills of 1977 Japanese cult classic House, the sublime Kristen Stewart-starring Personal Shopper, and the excellent beDevil, the first Australian feature film to be directed by an Aboriginal woman. Or, from the eclectic selection, you can also get immersed in Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Cemetery of Splendour, enjoy a dark fairy tale inspired by Mexico's drug wars via Tigers Are Not Afraid, and watch an archival print of Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone. If you haven't seen the weird and wild The Boxer's Omen, you owe yourself to. If you need something fluffier, The Muppet Christmas Carol also features. And if you're looking for something new, The Scary of Sixty-First screens direct from picking up the Best First Feature Award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
If your resolutions for any new year involve being your best self in the kitchen, here's one way to help achieve it in 2024: with the one and only Nigella Lawson enjoying her latest visit Down Under to hit up three cities that she didn't make it to when she last was here in May 2023. Dubbed An Evening with Nigella Lawson, this three-stop second leg of the tour will see the television and cookbook favourite spend three nights chatting through her culinary secrets — and food in general, her life and career, and more. "Food, for me, is a constant pleasure. I like to think greedily about it, reflect deeply on it, learn from it; it provides comfort, inspiration, meaning and beauty... food is the story of my life," Lawson said about the tour, in a glimpse of where the conversation might head. If you're the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last, or loves eating more than anything else, Lawson's visit will help get right to the guts of your food obsession. And, the three events — one each in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane — will also feature a Q&A component so that you can ask Lawson whatever you've always wanted to yourself. Even when she isn't answering audience questions, Lawson will have plenty to cover — she has a hefty pile of cookbooks to her name, starting with 1998's How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and including 2020's Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat. When she hasn't been filling our bookshelves with recipes, she's been whipping through them on TV, too, on everything from Nigella Bites, Nigella Feasts, Nigella Kitchen and Nigellissima through to Simply Nigella and Nigella: At My Table. And, she's been popping up on Top Chef, MasterChef Australia and My Kitchen Rules as well. AN EVENING WITH NIGELLA LAWSON 2024: Monday, March 11 — Perth Concert Hall, Perth Thursday, March 14 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Tuesday, March 19 — Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide Catch An Evening with Nigella Lawson in March 2024, with tickets on sale from 9am Friday, October 13 via the tour website.
Now that Brisbane is finally starting to feel the winter chill, we know the eyes are beginning to wander and the urge to commence the winter season’s dalliance with luscious, bone-warming, indulgent hot chocolate is increasingly difficult to resist. Don’t feel guilty; it’s only natural. We condone this love affair with liquid chocolate goodness, because before we know it, September will be upon us and it’ll be all CrossFit and boot camps. So to make your deliciously dangerous liaison easier, we’ve done the hard work for you and hunted down our top ten picks this season that will be sure to quell your sweet tooth. Bitter Suite Bitter Suite’s peanut butter hot chocolate is definitely a CP staff favourite and is the perfect bevvy to sip and savour huddled up close to one of the flaming gas fire heaters. Literally tasting like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups melted down and mixed with milk, this hot chocolate is faultless. Although be prepared to ask for a top up of dairy; once you hit the peanut butter mound that forms at the bottom of the mug, it's akin to eating it straight out of the jar. But totally worth every calorie. 75 Welsby Street, New Farm Noosa Chocolate Factory The Noosa Chocolate Factory really is your one-stop shop for all your chocolate needs. Blocks and balls with every fruit and nut filling imaginable line the walls in milk, white or dark chocolate. But it's their range of hot chocolates in every possible combination that will keep you coming back this winter. With eight hot chocolates of varying intensity, we suggest their insanely delicious fresh rocky road hot chocolate, super sweet white hot chocolate or, if you're trying to be good, their '73 percent skinny hot chocolate' made with Noosa Chocolate Factory's half-strength dark chocolate and Maleny Dairies' skim milk. 144 Adelaide Street, Brisbane John Mills Himself John Mills Himself is a place that takes their hot chocolate seriously, with skilful baristas that know their stuff when it comes to pouring out a perfect cup, lovingly extending the milk until just the right frothy consistency. Our picks are definItely the 70 percent dark hot chocolate (with a hint of bitterness, it's indulgent but not overly sweet) or the rose hot chocolate, which pretty much tastes like a liquid Cadbury Turkish Delight only a trillion times better. Sprinkled with a thick layer of chocolate shavings on top (practically another shot's worth), these babies will never fail to omit an OMG groan. Access via 55 Elizabeth Street laneway, Brisbane Sisco BCL This is like hitting the motherload of chocolate bounties. Served in what is practically a soup bowl, Sisco's thick, rich and smugly sweet hot chocolate is liquid gold and a chocolate lover's dream. In fact, you could totally eat it with a soupspoon. Maybe even lick the bowl after. We won't judge. Alternatively, they also offer a chilli chocolate chai, which is a sensory overload of spice and chocolate. It's like Christmas in July. 1/500 Boundary Street, Spring Hill Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar The newbie in Brisbane dessert bars has pretty much hit the nail on the head with their Belgian hot chocolates. Made on milk, white or dark, it's like drinking a slightly more viscose chocolate fondue. Plus, Cowch's Deluxe version comes stuffed with mini marshmallows (the ones that bring back wonderful childhood memories) and lashings of whipped cream. Each sip transports you to a state of "I don't care that I have whipped cream on my nose this is so good" chocolate bliss. 2/179 Grey Street, South Bank The Burrow Having just updated their menu, The Burrow now uses the Melbourne brand Mörk Speciality Hot Chocolate, proclaimed to be cacao artisans (and yes we are inclined to agree) using cocoa beans sourced from Sur del Lago in Venezuela, to make their mugs of magic. Our recommendation is to go for the 'even darker' 85 percent cacao. It's one for the real hot chocolate connoisseur; there is only a subtle hint of sweetness, and it is intensely bold, nutty and earthy. 37 Mollison Street, West End Campos Coffee Qld Thank goodness it’s that time of year again where Campos brings out the big guns. Even the most dedicated of coffee drinkers' eyes start to wander from a cup of fragrant Campos coffee to a cup of their Italian-style hot chocolate. We couldn't think of an apt enough describing word for the smell, so to put it in a sentence, it's like when you reach that point in baking preparation when you have to melt the dark chocolate and add butter or cream to make a ganache and your nostrils are filled with an incredible intense chocolaty waft... yeah that smell. And it pretty much tastes that way too. 11 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley Passiontree Velvet Passiontree Velvet is the new concept chocolatier, patissier and tea room that just opened at Westfield Carindale shopping centre. A more refined sister to Passiontree in the CBD (who also serve an orange hot chocolate that tastes like a molten Jaffa), they make hot chocolates using couverture chocolate (high-quality chocolate that’s rich in cocoa liquor or solids and has a cocoa butter content of at least 32 percent). Our choice is the glossy and seductive 70 percent Real Dark, which is pretty much pure unadulterated chocolate and has the perfect balance of bittersweet earthy notes without sacrificing that intense chocolate hit. Shop K202/1151 Creek Road, Carindale Theobroma Chocolate Lounge We realise this is a franchise store, however, when you get to choose whether your hot chocolate (of which there are seven to choose from and four types of hot chocolate mocha) comes in either a cup or 'mug 'n' warmer' then there's not only taste factor but novelty to consider. Theobroma's chilli hot chocolate is the hands down winner and a perfect winter warmer with that zing of spiciness at the end of each mouthful. Little Stanley Street, South Brisbane Chocolateria San Churro Okay, yes, we know, it's another chain, but seriously, dulce de leche hot caramel? While not technically a hot chocolate, this one deserves a mensh', using San Churro’s own famous dulce de leche caramel and creamy full fat milk. It's sweet, eyes-roll-to-the-back-of-your-head milky goodness and certainly not for the sugar faint-hearted. Shop 2/161 Grey Street, South Bank
Missing the Ekka, Brisbanites? That's the feeling this week, especially since our beloved midweek public holiday has been moved to a yet-to-be-announced later date. We haven't all scored a day off, but we can still convince our tastebuds that it's business as usual — thanks to strawberry sundae deliveries, a drive-thru slinging dagwood dogs and Bertie Beetle showbags, and Emporium Hotel South Bank's new Ekka-inspired menu. If the latter particularly tempts your tastebuds, be prepared for dishes that level up the usual Ekka experience. All of the hotel's eateries and bars are in on the special, which runs until Sunday, August 15. So, if you wanted to make your way through the building and try everything, that's a possibility. At Signature Restaurant, you can tuck into smoked hay parfait, which riffs on those popular strawberry sundaes via smoked hay ice cream, a waffle and strawberry gum. At Belle Epoque, it's time to celebrate French patisserie-style — so with the lolly-inspired Candyman Cake that features coconut rough dacquoise, freckles crunch, musk marshmallow and strawberry sundae mousse. Or, up at The Terrace, soak in the 21-storeys-up view while sipping a strawberry and raspberry granita cocktail, which features clarified strawberry milk and white chocolate among its ingredients. The Piano Bar is getting boozy too, this time with a nod to the hay bale race via a cocktail called the Hay Bae.
Since opening in 2006, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge has been known as Brisbane's 'green bridge'. That moniker has nothing to do with its colour. Instead, it reflects the fact that, spanning the river to connect Dutton Park and St Lucia's University of Queensland, the roadway is only open to buses, bicycles and pedestrians — but, soon, it won't be the only bridge worthy of the nickname. First announced earlier this year, and now moving to the community consultation stage, Brisbane City Council is planning to build five new green bridges. They don't have exciting names just yet, but their locations have been revealed. One will connect Kangaroo Point to the CBD, while West End will be home to two, linking to Toowong from Orleigh Park and to St Lucia from the end of Boundary Street. Yet another will span Albion and Newstead at Breakfast Creek, and, well downriver, the last will reach from Bellbowrie to Wacol. The proposed bridges won't use exactly the same model as Eleanor Schonell Bridge, however. Running from Scott Street over to Alice Street in the city, the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge will be for cyclists and folks walking on two feet only, as will the bridge over Breakfast Creek at the Kingsford Smith Drive Riverwalk. The remaining three bridges all will cater for walkers, bikes and public transport. [caption id="attachment_750033" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council[/caption] A preliminary business case has also been put together for the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge, forecasting that the structure could carry up to 5300 trips per weekday — and reduce bus trips by 300, as well as car journeys by 230, each day. While just when you'll be able to start strolling across it, or the other bridges, hasn't been revealed, you can have your say on the proposed structures. Either head online before Friday, December 6, or attend a community information session between Thursday, November 14 and Tuesday, December 3. And yes, Brissie already has a few other bridges that are solely dedicated to bikes and pedestrians, including the Goodwill Bridge and the Kurilpa Bridge in the CBD. We sure do love our bridges. The new Neville Bonner Bridge is also currently in the works, connecting South Bank with the Queen's Wharf development, while Indooroopilly has the Jack Pesch Bridge (which runs parallel to the famed Walter Taylor Bridge, aka the bridge with apartments built into it). For more information about Brisbane City Council's five new proposed green bridges, or to provide your feedback, visit the BCC website. Top image: A render of the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge.
It's true every time that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announces its annual program: whether you're keen on the parade action, browsing stalls, partying in pools, hitting the dance floor, catching drag performances or plenty more, there's no shortage of options at the Harbour City's celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and culture. For 2025, the just-revealed lineup spans the return of Fair Day, the festival's usual beloved splash-filled soirees, Honey Dijon and Romy from The xx headlining the Mardi Gras Party, plus Trixie Mattel — and that's just the beginning. In total, more than 80 LBGTQIA+ events will take over the Harbour City between Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. One highlight was first a Sydney WorldPride hit in 2023: the Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert at City Recital Hall. The overarching theme in Mardi Gras' 47th year: "free to be", which nods to the fight for equality, while also championing individuality and the strength of community. "Each year, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras brings people from all corners of the globe together for a celebration of community, visibility and progress. The 2025 festival embodies this spirit, reflecting the resilience, creativity and unity of our LGBTQIA+ communities," explains the event's CEO Gil Beckwith. "We are thrilled to welcome everyone to this year's festivities and look forward to continuing to champion the values of inclusivity and equality." Fair Day's comeback follows its cancellation in 2024 due to asbestos being found in Victoria Park's mulch. In 2025, it'll be at the same site with 200-plus stalls. The pool action comes courtesy of the Kaftana Pool Party and Paradiso Pool Party, which are just two more of Mardi Gras' signature events that are on the 2025 bill. Also in the same category: the parade and the Mardi Gras Party, of course, alongside the Sissy Ball and Laneway shindig. 2024's Ultra Violet is also back, again celebrating LGBTQIA+ women — as is trans and gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer, which'll take over a floating venue, as well as opening ceremony First Nations First Light: A Festival Welcome at Bondi Beach. Among the new additions for 2025, Mardi Gras is teaming up with Qtopia Sydney on a suite of shows and exhibitions, such as the drag king-focused They Will Be Kings and the millennial pop culture-loving I Want It That Gay. Over at Sydney Opera House, Samuel Barnett's one-man show Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen is another highlight. From there, The Kaye Hole, family-friendly Disco on the Green, Kate Bush tribute An Evening Without Kate Bush and a Pride in Sport Festival featuring everything from self-defence workshops to volleyball tournaments are fellow standouts. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025 will run from Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Jordan Munns, Joseph Mayers, Ann-Marie Calilhanna, Vic Lentaigne, Ken Leanfore, Lexi Laphor, Jess Gleeson.
When Frozen the Musical opened in Sydney in December 2020, it was a very big deal. Sydney was not only the first stop on the stage production's international tour, but it was one of the only places in the world where people could see a Broadway show — and it still is today. So, if you've got your hands on one of those hot tickets, you should make the most of it. Luckily, a bunch of local venues have jumped on the bandwagon to celebrate this cultural phenomenon coming to town. If you've found yourself swept up in the magical story of Princesses Anna and Elsa — and you just can't get 'Let It Go' out of your head — make it last with these Frozen-themed treats. TREAT YOURSELF TO A WHIMSICAL BRUNCH Darling Square's Auvers Cafe has pulled out all the stops with its themed menu to celebrate Frozen the Musical. The menu is available throughout the production's Sydney run, giving you the perfect excuse to indulge in a decadent brunch before or after you see the show. For drinks, there's the Ice Palace Mocktail, the Warm Hug white hot chocolate and the Snow Queen cocktail. Sweet tooths can pair their drink with The Coronation Croissant (stuffed with creamy spirulina and blue caracao sugar flakes) or the North Mountain Pancake Stack (vibrant blue spirulina pancakes topped with lychee marscapone, vanilla ice cream and berries). After something savoury? Opt for the Arendelle Fjord (blue-eye cod with risotto, tempura oyster, spirulina fish broth and edamame) instead. [caption id="attachment_803745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] GET A BRAIN FREEZE FROM THIS ICY BLUE DESSERT All Frozen fans know ice plays a crucial role in the story, so it should be a big part of your experience seeing the musical, too. Darling Square's Dopa Don and Milk Bar has just the thing. The Frozen Storm is Dopa's spin on kakigōri, a Japanese-style shaved ice dessert. Kakigōri is traditionally sweetened with condensed milk, but this limited-edition version incorporates blue pea flower, blue spirulina syrup and coconut and banana cream. And as you dig into the delightful domed dessert you'll come across purple potato, sago, coconut jelly and another surprise ingredient. ORDER THIS OTT CAKE MADE BY DESSERT ROYALTY When Elsa accidentally sets off an eternal winter in the Kingdom of Arendelle, it's, well, pretty bad. But Masterchef Australia alum Reynold Poernomo has once again proven his dessert king title with this Eternal Winter cake. Available through his popular dessert bar KOI, Eternal Winter features raspberry, vanilla, mint, chocolate brownie and strawberry marshmallow. Given how intricately decorated it is, this cake is only available for click-and-collect, which you can do here. KOI has also just announced a special Frozen-inspired Snowflake Egg, with white chocolate, vanilla and citrus, which will be available for click-and-collect from its Chippendale and Ryde stores between March 18 and April 1. SIP THIS COOL BLUE COSMO Whether you're a Sydney local or you've travelled from afar to see the award-winning show, one way to break the enchanting spell after the show is heading straight home. Instead, book a night at Novotel Sydney Darling Square, which is just around the corner from the Capitol Theatre, and take advantage of its proximity to some of Sydney's best restaurants and bars. One such spot, which is conveniently connected to the hotel, is Pumphouse. The heritage-listed bar is serving this brilliantly blue Frozen Cosmo, garnished with blueberries and mint, for $20 while the show is running. Keen to pair your cocktail with a feed? Pumphouse also runs a pre- and post-theatre dining special. All you have to do is flash your theatre ticket to score a main meal and drink for $25 per person. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively. Top image: 'Frozen the Musical', Lisa Tomasetti
In a normal year, the Sydney Film Festival doesn't just host the huge city-wide event that it's best known for, but also takes a touring program around the country via its Travelling Film Festival. We all know that there's little that's normal about 2020, of course, so the fest has been adapting accordingly — firstly, by going virtual for its big attraction; and now, by launching a new film event designed to encourage movie buffs to head back to the nation's independent cinemas. Running across November and December, My Cinema My Film Festival is a collaboration between SFF's Travelling Film Festival and Independent Cinemas Australia — and it's hitting up 19 picture palaces across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT. Crucially, the event is heading to both cities and regional locations, with different programs and timeframes for each. So, whether you're a cinephile in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Bunbury or Mt Gambier, you'll be able to head to the flicks and check out new indie and arthouse movies. When the mini film fest arrives in regional and rural cinemas from November 19–30, and then metropolitan cinemas from November 27–December 10, viewers will be able to check out Adam, a moving Casablanca-set drama about a pregnant woman and the single mother who helps her; documentary The Painter and the Thief, which picked up a prize at Sundance; and Descent, a doco about free diver Kiki Bosch. Max Richter's Sleep peeks behind the scenes of Richter's eight-hour Sleep performance, while drama Charlatan steps inside the Nazi Occupation of Czechoslovakia — and, in regional areas only, powerful Aussie western High Ground is also on the bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yJ4r7ON974 Across both legs of the event, 12 features will screen in total, as will five Australian short films. Announcing My Cinema My Film Festival, SFF CEO Leigh Small noted that "Australian cinemas everywhere have been struggling under the weight of COVID-19 factors such as lockdowns, reduced audience capacities, or access to films due to delayed and limited theatrical film releases globally". She continued, "this is one step we can take together to help bring audiences back to the cinemas responsibly, with outstanding films they are unlikely to see anywhere on streaming platforms". MY CINEMA MY FILM FESTIVAL LOCATIONS: New South Wales: Dendy Newtown, Forum Cinema Wagga, Scotty's Cinema Raymond Terrace, Picture Showman Merimbula, Forum 6 Cinema Tamworth, Odeon 5 Cinema Orange, Gala Cinema Warrawong Queensland: Dendy Coorparoo, Dendy Portside, Big Screen Cinemas Hervey Bay, Gympie Cinema, Gladstone Cinema Western Australia: Bunbury Grand Cinemas, Grand Cinemas Armadale, Grand Cinemas Joondalup South Australia: Oatmill Cinema Mt Gambier, Wallis Mt Barker, Wallis Mitcham ACT: Dendy Canberra My Cinema My Film Festival screens in regional and rural cinemas from November 19–30, and in metropolitan cinemas from November 27–December 10. Head to the festival website for further details, session times and to buy tickets.
When you wish upon a star, do you wish for all things Disney to be worked into your daily life? If so, then you'll be familiar with Sydney fine-dining institution NEL and its Once Upon a Time degustations. Since 2019, the Harbour City restaurant has been regularly plating up 11-course meals featuring dishes inspired by the Mouse House and its movies. In fact, it's done so four times so far. 2024's run will mark the enchanting dining experience's fifth chapter, then — and NEL's Executive Chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has new film-themed culinary creations in store. From Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, fans of top-notch meals and Disney alike can flutter into the Surry Hills eatery to enjoy courses that take their cues from Frozen, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book and more. Both savoury and sweet dishes are on offer, with or without beverages — including cocktails — that also help tell a magical tale. For those who'll never be able to let their Mouse House obsession go, cured ocean trout Nordic-style — complete with a pickled onion snowflake, snow made out of cream cheese, and dustings of lemon and dill done at your table — is on the menu. Of course the Cruella de Vil-themed plate goes with a black-and-white colour scheme, featuring ricotta gnocchi, pan-seared mushroom and a celeriac velouté. And there'll be far more than the bare necessities tempting your tastebuds with the banana-shaped cream paired with roasted white chocolate and peanut butter brittle. Other courses include a nod to Peter Pan via a golden sweet pastry crumble, aka the Once Upon a Time degustation's version of pixie dust; saying "hi ho, hi ho" to a Snow White-inspired dish; and also paying edible tribute to Mulan, The Lion King, Bambi and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There's even NEL's version of a wand, aka a chicken and eggplant pastry that comes in a crisp tulle. "I am taking our diners on a journey of nostalgia. It is so much fun creating this menu. The films continue to inspire me. With the team at NEL, we have crafted the menu to ensure a moment of joy and wonder in every single dish," says Robinson about his fifth Once Upon a Time menu. NEL is known for its themed degustations, also spanning KFC-inspired dinners, Moulin Rouge!-themed and Christmas degustations, and heroing native Australian ingredients in the past. Unsurprisingly, the Once Upon a Time spread is especially popular — and because it serves up new and fresh dishes riffing on the Mouse House's favourites each time, it's always a different experience each year for locals and Disney-adoring visitors to Sydney. Price-wise, this childhood-inspired feast will require an adult salary, costing $185 per person, with beverages matched for an extra $165. Reserving a spot ASAP for dinner Tuesday–Saturday from 5.15pm, and for lunch from 12pm on Saturdays as well, is recommended — this always books out. NEL's Once Upon A Time (Chapter Five) degustation is on offer from Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the NEL website.
Since winding up the breakfast show at Triple J last year, comedian Tom Ballard has not slowed down in the slightest. Sure, he might not have to get up so early every weekday morning, but in between nationally touring his stand-up comedy shows, writing op-eds and returning to radio for a six-week Chatback stint, Ballard is one busy lad. Now he's set to launch and host his own show on ABC TV called Reality Check, which will look exclusively at the bizarre world of reality TV. Before that all happens, we were lucky enough to pull him over for a quick chat about his stand-up comedy career, Dry July, Thorpie and RuPaul's Drag Race. Congrats on the new show. What made you want to explore the world of reality TV? Ahhh, the money? Since I left Triple J breakfast I'm destitute and living on the street, so having a regular paycheck is pretty good! But it's also a bonus that it's a really fascinating topic that we don't talk about enough, and I get to do it with CJZ [the merger of Cordell Jigsaw Productions and Zapruder's Other Films, independently responsible for shows such as The Gruen Transfer and Go Back to Where You Came From] and ABC who make pretty awesome TV together. There is a wealth of material that hasn't been mined yet, there's a shitload of really important, moving stuff, but there's obviously a ton of jokes as well. It's the perfect sweet spot for me. You'll be joined by previous reality TV 'stars' — I use that term very loosely! Who are you most excited to have on the panel? (Slyly giggles to himself) Well, I have to be a bit boring and tell you we're keeping that one close to our chest at the moment. We've had a bunch of producers whose names you may not know, but they're actually responsible for huge reality TV hits, as well as previous judges and contestants. We've spoken to some people who have been the voice of Big Brother, some people who have won a major series, and people who have worked in the UK and America who have batshit crazy shows so it's really fascinating talking to them. Every week there will be names who are very familiar to reality TV addicts but also people who only follow it on the periphery. We worked really hard on getting some good names who can give us a lot of insight on the shows and the issues we want to talk about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RmfHMNkhtn8 What reality TV shows did you watch growing up? Or are there still some that you watch now? Australian Idol was huge for me. I watched the first series. I was a big MasterChef head as well. I love RuPaul's Drag Race as well, and that is a really funny show. Come Dine With Me, and just stupid shit like the Kardashians. For this show we've watched a shit-ton of stuff and looking at the crazy moments that have happened in other countries like Nigeria's Got Talent and China's Got Talent, Big Brother Houses in other countries, one which was full of short-statured people. There's a UK show called Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You, which was basically a talent search for young people with Tourettes, just insane shit like that. I'm really excited about bringing that to the fore and laughing and celebrating all that stuff we get to see. You have just wound up your return to Triple J with Chatback: What was it like being back? It was great. It was really lovely, I was starting to miss everyone quite a lot so I got to go in on Thursdays and say hello to everyone. It reminded me how much I love radio and all the cool and crazy stuff that station does. There were also a few of your famous friends calling in under aliases, did any of them give you a heads up about their characters, or did they just let you have it? Yeah, we workshopped them all, a lot of that stuff was pre-recorded. We went back and forth with a few ideas, and then characters that people really liked, like Rebecca or Dr Jangles, came back in later weeks. It was really fun to have a character on twice because people were really keen to hear more from them and find out how their lives are going. I just think radio like this is underutilised. At the BBC in the UK the amount of comedy radio out there is amazing and I'd love to see more of that in Australia, because there's just so much fun you can have on a very low budget. It's just messing with peoples minds. That's what Chatback was — it was funny how worked up people got who thought they were real people. You also wrote a great op-ed recently about Thorpie coming out and why that was so important. It's no secret you're an opinionated young man, but what has to happen for you to decide, right, I'm going to write an op-ed about this? Well, to be honest a friend of mine who works at Fairfax called me and they wanted a young gay person's perspective on the issue. But honestly I did think about it, because there were a million think pieces and even for the next two days everyone and his dog had an opinion on the whole situation. I felt like I had something to say that I hadn't seen in many other media outlets so I thought that was a good chance. I want to be a comedian, that's what I want people to think of me as so I don't want to get on my high horse too often, but it is something that's really important to me. I'm really passionate about the mental health of young queer kids, and I wanted to remind people that when someone comes out, we should be happy. Yes we can have our criticisms about it, but ultimately it's a good news story. Have you enjoyed having more time to focus on your stand-up comedy this year? Although to be fair, it looks like you've had a million other side projects going. The first six months of the year had a lot of touring, so I wasn't being very visible on other media. It was all about getting out there and doing a whole bunch of stand up which was really fun. The truth of the matter is if you want to make a living from being a stand-up comic in this country you do need to push your media profile to make sure people are aware of you from other areas. It's kind of a balancing act. I am really excited about this show, I think it's going to be super fun, but I'm also excited about the fact that hopefully more people will come see me live and laugh at my jokes in front of me. Finally, how did your Dry July go? [Tom was on a team called 'Alco-Hellllll No!' with Megan Washington, and Triple J staff including Zan Rowe and Kyran Wheatly] Hahaha! Ummm…. Bad? I've raised money and it's been great not drinking, I feel a bit healthier and it's for an awesome cause, but it's much tougher than I thought it would be! Reality Check premieres on ABC TV on Wednesday, August 13, at 9pm.
In winter 2024, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them. Lifeline Bookfest is coming back for another round of vintage bargains between Saturday, June 29–Sunday, July 7. It's where you'll find everything from Australian Women's Weekly cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica, as well as games, DVDs and puzzles. If you've been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. In fact, over this four-day run, more than one million items will be up for grabs. As debuted last year, this round will also feature more than 10,000 comics, manga and graphic novels. Prices range from $2.50 to the big bucks, and you'll have plenty to choose from. Whenever Bookfest hits Brisbane, it always brings hundreds of crates of reading materials with it. You'll still want to bring a trolley and your glasses, obviously, and to clear some space on your shelves at home. And, you'll want to bring your cards, because this Bookfest is cashless. Also, you'll need your own bags, as books won't be wrapped for you this time around. Images: Bookfest.
While it seems the large majority of Australian expats have decided to put down roots in London or New York, Hong Kong has one heck of an Australian population — especially in the culinary scene. From Melbourne-style coffee bars and roasteries to underground contemporary Chinese fusion restaurants and Western Australian iron ore mine-themed cocktail bars (really), Honkers is brimming with little pieces from home for Australian travellers. Embracing the traditional cooking styles of HK with a little contemporary twist, these Aussie expat hubs aren't just for travellers, seeing locals queue up as much as visitors every day and night of the week. If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong, pop by and see how Aussies are representing. THE IRON FAIRIES One of the most talked about cocktail bars in Hong Kong is themed around nothing less niche than a Western Australian iron ore mine. Think Flintstones-like private cave nooks, gritty mining tools lining the back bar, live jazz, and a casual 10,000 dead butterflies suspended from the ceiling. Prolific Australian designer Ashley Sutton simply ran with what he knows — he really is a former miner from Western Australia. Sutton makes his own gin, Iron Balls, which features in a few of the highly decadent cocktails (a craft beer or wine-focused bar this ain't). Try the 'Underground Martini'. Pull up a leather Chesterfield armchair around what looks like a macabre bonfire of bodies but is actually a pile of iron fairies (hence the bar's name). Each fairy has its own name and personality — word is that each is named for Sutton's ex-girlfriends. Don't steal them like a jerk, instead you can buy a fairy and have it packaged up with magic dust and wishes. But what's this tunnel, and where does it lead... LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central. J.BOROSKI Followed the tunnel? You've emerged into one of the city's newest, most unique and most visually jaw-dropping cocktail bars. Also designed by Ashley Sutton and run by owner/mixologist Joseph Boroski, this bar is a syndication of its sister bar in Bangkok and apparently operates on an invitation-only basis. Horned beetles tile every inch of a curved tunnel ceiling, while framed giant spiders line hidden alcoves made for intimate conversations. There's no cocktail menu at J.Boroski, only particularly intuitive bartenders who'll quiz you on your preferences before producing your perfect elixir. "Have we shown you the sex room?" asks the manager. We can't tell you about the sex room, but we can tell you it exists and involves 1950s porn. You'll just have to find it for yourself. Your only clue? Follow the spiders. Secret location. To request an invitation call +852 2603 6020 or email hk@jboroski.com. HO LEE FOOK Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong King must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). The name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong PEEL STREET ESPRESSO If you're looking for a little piece of Australian cafe life in Hong Kong, head for Central and seek out Peel Street Espresso, the brainchild of Scottie Callaghan from local wholesale roasting company Redback Specialty Coffee (co-owned by Keith Regan and Craig Jackson). Opened in February 2016, this modernist, cement corridor space looks straight out of Melbourne or Sydney, and plays host to locals and visitors to the city alike, with the Ho Lee Fook team regular coffee fiends. Perch up at the window bar with a black, white or filter coffee ($3.30 each), a freshly baked and schmeared bagel ($5-11) or the quintessentially Australian avo toast ($14) before a big day of exploring. If you pop back after closing time, the coffee beans are whisked away and the space transforms into a wine bar. 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.redbackcoffee.com.hk [caption id="attachment_600511" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Maison Libanaise[/caption] MAISON LIBANAISE Fancy a spot of Lebanese in the middle of Hong Kong? Head for SoHo's Maison Libanaise, a three-storey, canteen-style restaurant inspired by 1960s Beirut, the 'Paris of the Middle East' with its French-inspired architecture and contemporary food scene. On the ground floor you'll find takeaway nosh from Le Comptoir, on the first floor lives Le Salon, a seated, sharing-focused restaurant doing Lebanese mezze, and on the rooftop you can sip on a wine or two at La Buvette, overlooking SoHo's streets. Head chef James Harrison hails from Melbourne and trained under Greg Malouf at MoMo. He's dishing up honey-glazed haloumi, eggplant fattoush and hearth baked pita bread daily. 10 Shelley Street, SoHo [caption id="attachment_600509" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ophelia[/caption] OPHELIA Yeah, yeah this one's another Ashley Sutton, but look at it. An epic peacock-themed cocktail bar inspired by 19th century opium dens and located in the nightlife-happy area of Wan Chai, Ophelia polarises bar fans in the city (like any venue boasting a penchant for blatant voyeurism, decorated female performers and onstage debauchery). Chef Angus Harrison, who's previously worked with Martin Boetz and Luke Mangan, does tapas here, perfectly paired with the bar's Asian herb-heavy cocktail menu. Shop 39A-41A,1/F, The Avenue, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai. OTHER AUSTRALIAN-HELMED RECOMMENDATIONS Belon Carbone Le Garcon Saigon Images: Shannon Connellan unless otherwise specified. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Now in its twentieth year, the Brisbane Running Festival is no longer a teenager – it’s a bona fide adult in marathon circles. It’s no wonder the annual event has stood the test of time – there seems to be no suburb in Brisbane that doesn’t have its stock of runners that seem to go hard at any and all hours of the day, either in packs or as a lone soldier, sweating it out solo. The Brisbane Running Festival takes all those religious runners and all those other not-so-religious runners (i.e. me) and takes them to Riverstage. Then, they run! The length of which you run is totally up to you – if you’re a marathon noob, you’re probably best going for the two-kilometre beginner run. Then there’s the ten kilometre run for the slightly more agile, the half marathon for the serious, and finally – the 42.190km epic looping around the river and ending up in Milton. Do it for yourself or do it for the prizes involved – whatever the reason, the Brisbane Running Festival is an exciting event for all who participate.
It's the excuse you need to stop for a drink on the way home from work, or to even hit quittin' time a little early. On Thursdays, Cielo Rooftop is serving up $1 oysters from 4pm — letting you slurp down some super-affordable saltwater bivalve molluscs, soak in the Fortitude Valley bar's scenic city views and liven up your pre-weekend routine. On the menu: natural oysters for $1 a pop, or you can pay a bit more for raspberry mignonette oysters ($3 each) or truffle oysters ($5 each). This celebration of freshly shucked oysters does come with a caveat, though: to access the cheap seafood, you will need to buy a beverage. You can also only purchase 24 oysters per person — if you're thinking about making the absolute most of the once-a-week deal. You'll find the venue's usual array of drinks waiting to wet your whistle; however, Cielo Rooftop is going hard on its $45 cocktail trees, which include three signature tipples.
Good things come in small packages at Simply Shorts — and, as the name suggests, short ones as well. Both a screening session of bite-sized filmmaking and a networking get-together for those who make and watch them, the event showers the love on cinematic storytelling of the briefer kind. At their latest evening on July 12, all things science fiction will be zooming across the screen, spanning from monsters to mutants to plenty of other genre staples. Will giant lizard-like creatures amble across the frame? Extra-terrestrials looking for home? Time-travelling teens? You just know that the film selection will include plenty of nods to sci-fi gems gone by, because that's what science fiction typically does — it takes inspiration from the past and present, and blends them into a new vision of the future. Expect all of that over three hours of filmic wonders, plus drinks and chatter afterwards. Expect music videos and movie trailers too, with all sorts of shorter bits and pieces in the spotlight.
A big windy river that stretches the length of the city. A coastline that, while it isn't located among all the hustle and bustle, is still a definite part of this town of ours. When it comes to hanging out in, on top of or near the water in Brissie, they're the main choices — and whether you opt for a leg of the Brisbane River, or make the trip to either north or east to various foreshore spots, there's plenty to keep you occupied while you're there. Perhaps you're a wanderer who enjoys meandering at your own pace with a scenic view. Maybe you're certain that any beverage or bite to eat goes down better when you can feel the river or sea breeze against your skin. Or, you could like getting active on the water itself, but in a creative fashion. Whichever category you fall into, we've picked the best ways to make the most of your chosen body of H20 in Brisbane. Head to a Waterside (or Overwater) Cafe, Restaurant, Bar or Brewery Just a few short years ago, Brisbane didn't have any bars perched over the water. That's no longer the case thanks to Mr Percival's. The River City only had two big central waterside precincts where you could eat, drink and hang out, too, and now — with Howard Smith Wharves and Queen's Wharf joining South Bank and Eagle Street — it has four. Brissie didn't boast a riverside brewery to its name either, but Felons Brewing Co and BrewDog both have that covered. You can spot the trend here, of course, because this town isn't short on places to satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst by the water. And while riverside haunts have been popping up with frequency of late, the idea is hardly new. Newstead, Hamilton and Kangaroo Point have been home to waterside cafes, restaurants and bars for decades as well, for instance. Back at HSW, there's a new wave of must-visit joints near the water: upstairs hangouts at Stanley and Yoko Dining, aka Stan's and B-SIDE, with one taking inspiration from Hong Kong and the other from Tokyo. [caption id="attachment_807855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms[/caption] Here a Picnic Boat for You, Your Date, Mates and Dog Picnicking by the water in Brisbane is a tried-and-tested way to spend an afternoon — and it's featured on this list a bit further down. But you can also picnic on top of the water, all thanks to Denmark-born company GoBoat, which is sailing its 18-feet-long, dog-friendly vessels from Breakfast Creek. The company is all about making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, and its Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence — making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. Each GoBoat boasts a central picnic table with room for eight people (and all the necessary snacks and booze). And they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will start at around $10 per person, per hour. [caption id="attachment_711839" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Paul Giggle/Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Pair a Stroll or Cycle with a Watery View Some folks prefer putting one foot in front of the other and seeing just where that takes them. Others like to sit on top of two wheels and start pedalling. Whichever one suits you best, if you live in Brisbane, you aren't lacking in options — but we all know that the riverside and oceanside options sit at the top of the list. For walkers, you can pick between the Brisbane Riverwalk from New Farm to the city, South Bank's path between its pools and the Old Brown Snake down to Kangaroo Point, heading up and over the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (aka the Gateway Motorway), or picking either the Wynnum–Manly or Sandgate–Shorncliffe regions. If you're a cyclist, you can also choose all of the above — you'll just speed along them more quickly. Eat Seafood by the Sea Sure, you've been on a pub crawl — but have you been on a fish 'n' chip crawl right next to the water? We're guessing that you haven't, but it's one of those simple ideas that's both brilliant and oh-so-easy to execute, because it just involves taking advantage of the abundance of greasy spoons along in the Wynnum–Manly or Sandgate–Shorncliffe areas. We'll give you two options, too: you can either order something from each place you pass as you walk along the relevant seaside region, or you can come back at regular intervals to sample a new eatery. Head north and you'll be hitting up the likes of Fish on Flinders, Sandgate Fishmonger and Doug's Seafood Cafe, while in the southeast you can expect to Finn's Fish House, Baywatch Cafe and Sea Vibes Manly. Take a Kayak Tour By now, you've definitely realised that Brisbane is a town with options. In almost every instance, you can select your favourite watery or water-adjacent pastime and then pick a heap of places to indulge in your chosen activity. Kayaking is no different. Riverlife at Kangaroo Point will let you get paddling through the CBD and seeing the inner city in a completely different way, but that's merely the most central and best-known choice. You can also kayak at Enoggera Reservoir and, although the hire hut is currently temporarily closed, go across to Bribie Island as well. The list goes on, and spans professional tours and just hiring a kayak, hopping inside and making your own way at your own leisure. Picnic in a Waterside Park The weather is glorious. Your basket is packed with homemade salads, a big stack of cheese or the finest sandwiches your local deli can make. The lawn games are at the ready. A relaxing picnic is just moments away — and yes, because this is Brisbane, it's easy to add a glistening view to your outdoor meal. Brissie is home to quite the array of places that fit the bill. Whether you're keen to recline by the snaking Brisbane River or eager to sit seaside, there's somewhere to go. You can try all the usual picnic spots, including the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, New Farm Park, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank. Or, if you've whiled away more than one afternoon at all of the obvious locations, you can also make a beeline to other great waterside picnic places that you might not have visited. [caption id="attachment_703976" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Throw a Line Over a Pier Never thought of yourself as the fishing type? Hear us out. It's a peaceful and relaxing excuse to stare at the water, and to think about absolutely nothing other than whether you might've felt some tension on your line, the crispness of the sea air and just how gorgeous the ocean looks. In other words, it's a mindfulness bonanza — and there's no better place in Brisbane to get casting than one of the city's piers and jetties. The big places to head, aka Shorncliffe Pier and Wynnum Jetty, are popular spots for very good reasons. But if you'd rather stick closer to the city, you'll also find a small platform jutting off of the Colmslie Recreation Reserve in Morningside, too (which isn't too far from Brissie's secret beach, actually). [caption id="attachment_754201" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Cruise Along — Via CityCat or While Eating and Drinking If you were visiting Brisbane and you wanted to see the sights, you'd probably opt for one of the most obvious choices there is. Getting on a CityCat might seem oh-so straightforward, but it really does offer you quite the impressive and extensive glimpse of the city, especially if you make the full journey from Northshore Hamilton to St Lucia. You can even take your pooch with you. Also, your trip will only cost you 50 cents. If you're enthusiastic about the cruising idea but you'd like to up the ante, you have options as well. There's River City Cruises, which runs multiple tours daily — plus party boat Yot Club, although you'll need to keep an eye on its seasons, because it's Brissie dates tend to change. Learn How to Sail or Windsurf Hopping on a seafaring vessel and letting someone else do all the hard work for you is one option for cruising along the water in and around Brisbane. If you're quite fond of jumping on a boat — or a yacht for that matter — you can always learn a new skill and take sailing lessons, too. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron puts on a heap of classes to show you the ropes (and to make sure you know how to use any ropes necessary while you're sailing, of course). This one is a bit of an investment in terms of time and cash; however, that's not the only way you can expand your horizon at the Manly-based organisation. It'll also teach you how to windsurf, should regular ol' standing on a board and pretending you're Keanu Reeves in Point Break just not be enough. [caption id="attachment_643649" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Splash Around in a Man-Made Waterside Pool Brisbane isn't a beach city, but venture out of the CBD, away from the shadows of tall buildings and past the suburban sprawl, and you can find the holy grail of outdoor pools. Yes, if you head east until you can't go any further, you'll find a fine example of a man-made area filled from the sea and replenished by the tide. Built during the 1930s depression as part of the Unemployment Relief System, the Wynnum Wading Pool is the ideal place to enjoy the warm weather with an ocean view. Of course, if you're happy splashing around by the river instead, there's always Streets Beach at South Bank Parklands as well. And, also on our pools list: Settlement Cove Lagoon at Redcliffe, which overlooks Moreton Bay. Top image: Riverlife.
The petite but mighty Red Hook has been flipping burgers and trucking duck tacos from its kitchen into our hearts since August last year. Located down Gresham Lane, the hole-in-the-wall drinking spot and takeaway joint is the casual place to refuel at lunch or catch up for after-work drinks. Ticking every box, this on-trend laneway bar serves equally on-trend craft beer and American cuisine with a twist. A short but sharp menu of New York street eats tempts the tastebuds, and with sides such as deep-fried pickles, salt and vinegar shoestring fries and popcorn chicken, there is no excuse not to pair a snack with your beer. If something more substantial is needed to fill the belly, the aforementioned duck tacos ($16) are a Brisbane bucket list must-eat item. Two delicious tacos (often served in a truck-shaped taco holder) are filled with purple slaw, fresh coriander and tasty tasty duck pieces in an east-meets-west fusion. Otherwise the Brooklyn cheeseburger, wagyu beef burrito or Bubba's shrimp roll should satisfy your appetite. Overall the venue only seats about 20-30 people across chairs and benches within Gresham Lane. The bar itself is made up of lacquered chipboard, an unusual but aesthetically appealing difference, with copper piping features and a backlit noticeboard used to display witty messages. Owners Bonnie Shearston and Tom Sanceau, the same duo behind Public on George Street, know what makes a venue work, and while Red Hook couldn't be any more different from Public, they understand city folk want an easy and unpretentious place to kick back and enjoy quick, easy food. Red Hook ticks that box too.
With Mystery Road, True Colours and now High Country, Australia's screen industry has been increasing its Indigenous detective tales of late. It's a welcome shift, and one that Leah Purcell chalks up to the strength of the genre. "I think a cop show is a great drama. You've got everything in it, and we do cop shows very well in this country," she tells Concrete Playground about her stint as Andie Whitford, the character that was written for her — in the series that was also penned for her — by Wentworth duo Marcia Gardner and John Ridley. "Then when you've got a mystery-thriller, it's an opportunity to get audiences together, sitting on the lounge at home with their family — and actually, it brings about discussion," Purcell continues. "That's when you know that you've got a good show. We did a screening, and people got around and were wanting to work out who'd done it, and they saw that opportunity with only one episode," Purcell continues. Debuting its eight-episode first season in March — which is now available to watch in full via Binge — High Country gives viewers much to talk about and sleuth along with. In the Mystery Road and The Dry mould, it's about a city detective digging into a rural case and cracking the secrets of close-knit communities. It's also about the landscapes that shape not only small towns but also the people in them, and reflect their strengths and struggles in the terrain. And, High Country follows a personal journey. Andie didn't grow up in the town of Broken Ridge, only to return now, as the protagonists of Mystery Road and The Dry did with their respective settings; however, she's trying to embrace the place as home after making a tree change with her artist partner Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman, Under the Vines) and high-schooler daughter Kirra (Pez Warner, making her TV debut). The setup: Andie and her family move to Victoria at its most mountainous (where Force of Nature: The Dry 2 also traversed earlier in 2024) just as a spate of missing-person cases pile up. Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney, The Boys in the Boat), the retiring police chief that she's replacing, has an older disappearance that he's determined to solve — a missing boy that he's insistent that former teacher Damien Stark (Henry Nixon, The PM's Daughter) abducted — but also notes that deaths and vanishings aren't uncommon in the region. He's still a helpful mentor, though, as Andie endeavours to stop people going AWOL or worse from being a local fact of the life. But even before she begins asking questions, the rest of the town isn't always as accommodating, nor are all of her new colleagues. [caption id="attachment_953804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Narelle Portainer[/caption] Purcell's acting career spans three decades now, and everything from 90s dramas such as GP and Police Rescue, then Lantana and The Proposition on the big screen, through to the likes of Redfern Now, Black Comedy, Wentworth, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Shayda recently. It wasn't just the whodunnit Aussie-noir angle that appealed to her about High Country, but also Andie's complexity, the challenge of being first on the call sheet on a major series and co-stars that also include a first-time dramatic collaboration with Aaron Pedersen (High Ground). As she did with The Drover's Wife — which she made as a play, a book and then a movie — showcasing a part of the country that she fell in love with while filming Somersault and Jindabyne in the 2000s was a big factor. That passion on Purcell's part is evident in every scene that she's in throughout High Country, as it always has been whenever she's in front of the camera — or, with The Drover's Wife, also behind it. What gets her excited about a role, the series and the part of Andie being specifically penned for her, championing more than just the stereotypical vision of Australia's landscape, digging into Andie's backstory and the response to her arrival beyond the dialogue, working with the rest of the show's cast: we chatted with Purcell about all of the above. [caption id="attachment_953802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On Both High Country and the Part of Andie Being Written for Purcell "The project was written for me, so that was pretty awesome and humbling. Marcia Gardner and John Ridley, who were the creators behind Wentworth — when we were wrapping up that series, Marcia said 'we'd love to work with you again, Leah. And guess what? I've written something for you and a show around you'. And she said 'would you be interested in being in it?'. And I said 'mate, if you get it up, give me a call'. So six months later, she rings me and says 'I've got it up'. But what was also appealing is the beautiful high country. I'd just finished, a couple of years before, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, my first feature — that was done in the high country, the Snowy Mountains on New South Wales side. So to come across to Victoria to film in that location was amazing. The stories were really interesting. Who doesn't love a good cop show and a mystery-thriller whodunnit? To be a part of it and being in the rural area — I'm a country girl from country Queensland in Murgon, so to go back and portray that sort of setting on our TV was important to me as well." On Championing More Than Just the Stereotypical Vision of Australia's Landscape "Normally it's the reds and the brown and the heat. I fell in love with the high country when I did Jindabyne and Somersault in that area. And I just went 'gee, we don't utilise this landscape enough'. Then when I got the idea to pursue The Drover's Wife, I said 'we've got to do it in the high country and have that beautiful big sky, and the blues and the greens that we don't see'. Even when I was selling the project overseas, people said 'what, there's snow and green in Australia?'. And I thought 'yes, there is'. [caption id="attachment_815948" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson[/caption] As I said, it was one of the drawcards to High Country for me. And also because that landscape is so alive, it is a character within this show as well. It's also important to Andie on a couple of levels. One, yes, as the detective, the sergeant trying to solve the mysteries — because is it just that these people took a wrong step on a trail in the bush? Or is there more behind it? And also for her and her journey, the land really speaks to her and makes her look at herself. You want a character with many story threads to it, so you've got depth to play in emotionally. So that was another drawcard. But the location, your eyes will be stimulated — the beauty in the landscape is just phenomenal." On Purcell's First Read on Andie — and What She Knew That She Could Bring to the Part "She's a fearless woman, but also there's a vulnerability to her, which is nice. She's a great detective — and it was something that I had done before, but the challenge was to find what I could bring to her that was new to me as a performer. It was different from the other roles that I had done, so that's where the challenge was for me. And what I liked is that she's quieter, she's an observer. And I guess that's what makes her a great cop. She observes things, takes things in — and a deep, a deep thinker. But I really wanted to show her vulnerability as well as the brilliance in her detective work — and that she's a strong, strong woman in the face of what she has to do for her job." On Conveying the Tough Journey That Andie Has Had in an Unspoken Way "We're women. We've lived it. It wasn't anything too difficult. We've all had those sort things thrown at us — and it was just great to have an opportunity to play with that on-screen. And then Andie finding the power, and showing that she's worthy of the position that she's in, and that she's good at what she does, and the respect comes. But it's a great place to start in a series, so you've got a place to go — and she works hard to do it, but she does it." [caption id="attachment_910859" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shayda[/caption] On What Gets Purcell Excited About a Role Three Decades Into Her Acting Career "Getting a lead role is something that's important to having a look, because you want the challenge. And I think that I've earned my stripes. So that was appealing, of course. And I just want to be able to connect. To be challenged, I think, is important, so that you stay engaged and you want to be there, and work hard." [caption id="attachment_953803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On What Purcell Learns From a Part Like Andie and a Show Such as High Country "Be careful what you ask for in being number one on the call sheet. There's a lot of hard work, that's what I've learned. But I love that. Thirty-three years [in], I want to be engaged. I want to be challenged. That's what was appealing that for me in taking on the role of Andie." On Working with the Rest of High Country's Impressive Cast "Believe it or not, this is the first time that Aaron [Pedersen] and I have actually shared work together in a drama. It was awesome. Our chemistry is really, really great. And he was a pleasure to work with. Then you've got Ian McElhinney from Belfast in Ireland. Mate, what a legend — just what he brought. We all challenge one another. There's some really awesome people that are doing awesome acting, and it's a challenge in a friendly way. But it's like 'ohh, so you're going to do that — right, can I top you on this?'. So that made the project fun, and it was a joy to go to work every day. We had an awesome cast that worked so hard and tirelessly. That was pretty demanding. There were really cold days and rain, and there was snow, and there was minus-zero days where I had to stand there with no jumper on, and I had too many clothes on to put the thermals underneath. But it was just a pleasure to be on, and I'm so excited and I just want our Australian audiences to really support Australian stories — to tune in, and hopefully the ratings will be there and we'll be able to go again on a second season." High Country streams via Binge. Read our review. High Country images: Sarah Enticknap / Narelle Portanier.
Ever had that feeling of rustling around in a cupboard on the hunt for a beach towel, only to uncover something that looks suspiciously like a bath mat? Or maybe you're flush with beach towels but just feel like a fancy new one this summer. Whether you're in need of a new towel, are looking to buy one as a Christmas gift or have seen lots of snazzy ones at the beach and simply want to see what's out there, our list will help you out. From geometric shapes, to luxurious linen, towel with hoods and those roundies everyone seems to have nowadays, here's our favourite Australian and New Zealand-made towels and where to get 'em. CLASSIC TOWEL, VERTTY Nope, that's not an artfully folded stack of towels. That's Vertty's reinvention of the humble beach towel into a geometric design object. Not only does their unique design show that you can think outside the box (or, er, rectangle) for even the most everyday beach object, they've incorporated other handy design features like a waterproof pocket, and quick-drying, lighter weight fabric. Plus, it comes in a range of eye-popping colours to make sure summer is just the way you like it. Check out their matching geometric swimwear, too. $79. THE AZTEC ROUNDIE, THE BEACH PEOPLE Round towels. They're a thing. According to The Beach People, they dreamt-up "the original roundie" in the lush Northern Rivers region of NSW. That was back in 2013, and their first collection sold out in weeks. Current towels on offer include this hand-drawn black and white design, as well as other spiffy prints like The Paradis. Others have jumped on the round towel bandwagon — including Basil Bangs, whose round 'Love Rugs' also feature a waterproof pocket and fold down into a carry case with built-in shoulder strap. $110. LUXE TOWEL WATEGOS, SUNNY LIFE It's no secret, we love Sunny Life's beach towels just as much as we love their umbrellas. And for tropical colours that pop on an unmissable beach towel, it's hard to go past this velour-finished number. You'll never lose sight of your spot on a packed summer beach again. Pair it with one of their beach pillows and we reckon you're onto a winning combination. Or, if you're looking for something floating to stretch out on, these guys also do some pretty mean inflatables. Luxe lie-on floating cactus, anyone? $69.95. STONE PRINT TOWEL, MÖVE Here's an unusual one for you. Möve's towels feature lifelike digital prints, like this stone design. They also have one with a print of weathered wooden boards, rippled water, and even landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Brandenburg Gate. Those ones are a bit cheesy, but the pebble print is mint. Although it might look like you're lying on stones, you'll be a lot comfier — the 100 percent cotton velour towel has a snuggly weight and is soft and absorbent. Their bath towels are worth checking out while you're there, too – they even have a line of towels inspired by architecture, namely the drawings of renaissance master builder Andrea Palladio. Möve ships their towels worldwide. EUR €39.90. LINEN LAGUNA, COAST NEW ZEALAND Step aside, Turkish towels, because we just discovered linen towels — and can't get enough of them. Well, maybe we won't do away with them entirely, but linen is pretty great. Incredibly fast drying, versatile and lightweight in your beach bag, we reckon they might be the next big thing. This towel from Coast New Zealand is available in a range of fetching stripes, and comes all the way from an 100-year-old family mill in Lithuania. There are also these guys in the US who make a plainer linen towel which comes with a compression strap, or the House of Baltic Linen closer to home. NZD $149. THE ECLIPSE LINEN THROW, KATE & KATE This is one hella pretty linen towel. Yes, we're still on about how great linen towels are — and, yep, this throw counts as a towel. Its name is a nod to this multi-functional rectangle's nature. When you're not using it on the sand, it's equally as useful as a lightweight blanket, picnic rug, shawl, tablecloth, throw for your sun-drenched daybed… you get the drift. Designed to fade, they come in a stack of designs including a couple with some pretty nice bronze and metallic details. $159. MARINE TIGER HIDE BEACH TOWEL, MASLIN & CO Well, this was the first time we've come across a beach towel that folds out into the shape of a tiger hide (don't worry, it's 100 percent cotton). Manufactured by Maslin & Co, who take their name from Australia's first nude beach, these guys say they're inspired by nature, the surreal, and beach vagabond culture. You can choose which one's your jam from their collection of different-coloured animal-shaped towels. Plus, they come with either a classic leather short or longer cross-body strap holder, so it's easy to carry your new towel with you wherever you wander. $195-250. EXTRA LARGE RAINBOW POM POM TURKISH TOWEL, I LOVE LINEN Somewhere along the line we're sure our grandmas had a towel like this, brought out for summer beach picnics or to dry off after running through the sprinklers on the lawn. Now our retro towel memories have come back to life (albeit with a little upgrade) thanks to the clever people at I Love Linen. Designed in Melbourne, their towels are hand-woven in Turkey's central region, famous for the quality of its textiles. Retro pom poms, 100 percent cotton, and that distinctive Turkish towel edging. It's comfy, super-absorbent and big enough to be a picnic rug as well as a beach towel. $89.95. SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TOWEL FOR TWO, PENDLETON A towel wide enough for two — now that's the recipe for a comfy beach session. Whether you've got a beach buddy or just want the extra room to stretch out yourself, this luxurious 100 percent combed cotton number from Pendleton has you sorted. Based in the States' beautiful Pacific Northwest, as well as making a range of other spa and beach towels (and their iconic woollen blankets) the sixth-generation family-owned business has a focus on social responsibility — community, country and planet. USD $79.50. HOODED TOWEL, TURKISH MURKISH A towel and hooded wrap? Why didn't we think of that before? This handy number brings the best of Turkish towels and beachwear together in a classic striped print. Each batch of towels are dyed and loomed by artisans in Turkey. The end product? A modern shape you can wear as well as lie on, served up in a fast-drying blend of bamboo and Buldan cotton from the inner Aegean region of southwest Turkey. $99.95. Top image: The Beach People.
Motherland is the tale of three women. Each of them are victims of exile yet each are intrinsically linked by common heritage, familiar struggles and determination. Encompassing historical eras including World War 2 and the Russian Revolution, Motherland explores the journey of these women on an international scale and on a local scale, with Brisbane itself also playing as a significant backdrop to the story. Written by Katherine Lyall-Watson and directed by Caroline Dunphy, Motherland has already been nominated for awards and has earned critical praise for its portrayal of its three main characters and their experiences with displacement and their subsequent identity. This production will run until November 16 at Metro Arts. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or by phone on (07) 3002 7100. Don’t miss this piece of historical fiction, a tale of exile, reunion and returning home.
With so many beauty products floating around, it's hard to know if your current ten- (or one-) step skincare routine is making any kind of difference. It might seem obvious, but Carla Oates, founder of The Beauty Chef, recommends starting with what's on the inside — with products that work on improving your gut and skin microbiome. The Beauty Chef first saw success with its GLOW®️ Inner Beauty Essential: a probiotic supernutrient powder that features powerhouse ingredients such as vitamin C, biotin, niacinamide, prebiotics and zinc to give your skin a serious glow-up, while supporting healthy hair, nails, digestion and energy. The entrepreneur has since spent the past 15 years creating a line of innovative inner beauty products for skin, gut and whole-body wellness that are now sold at David Jones, MECCA and Sephora — as well as beloved by people across the globe. In partnership with Klaviyo, we caught up with Oates to uncover her path into the industry, her advice for fellow entrepreneurs and the importance of listening to your gut. How did The Beauty Chef come about? As a child, I suffered from eczema and allergies. My mum took me to see a naturopath who dramatically changed what I ate, removing processed foods and allergens like gluten and dairy. My allergies and eczema subsided, so I experienced firsthand that what we eat can affect our skin and health. My daughter also experiences eczema and allergies. With the assistance of health professionals, we removed specific trigger foods from her diet, and I began researching the link between gut and skin health. As I explored this link more closely, I decided to put my family on a gut-healing protocol, which included eliminating certain foods and introducing lots of lacto-fermented whole foods with beneficial bacteria into our diet. Friends and family took notice and I realised I was onto something. Why focus specifically on inner beauty? Inner beauty is so important. When people start to delve deeper into understanding what makes skin healthy, it's not so much about what they're putting on their skin but how they're nourishing it from within. I focus on inner beauty because so many benefit from it. I've spoken to people who have tried all sorts of concoctions to remedy their skin on the outside, but it's only once they look to support their skin and health from the inside that results become abundantly clear. Can you break down the gut-skin connection for us in simple terms? The simplest way is to use the analogy of our gut as a garden. If the soil in the garden isn't healthy, balanced and thriving with a good array of nutrients and bacteria, then the plants that grow within its soil will struggle to blossom. The gut is where 70 percent of our immune system lies. It's where we make nutrients, regulate hormones, detoxify enzymes, neutralise pathogens and make neurotransmitters, so it's super important to get your digestive health in check. For someone just discovering The Beauty Chef, where should they start? GLOW®️ Inner Beauty Essential or GLOW AGELESS™ Inner Beauty Essential are five-star probiotic supernutrient formulas that promote healthy glowing skin, hair and nails, energy and gut health. From there, you can target any other specific skin, gut health or wellbeing concerns with products from the rest of our range — all our products are designed to work together for enhanced results. What challenges did you have to overcome as a woman establishing her own business? When I launched in 2009, ingestible beauty was a foreign concept. Pioneering the category wasn't easy because retailers didn't have a category for it. One of the hardest things was convincing manufacturers to support our low volumes. I had to find my CEO voice and seriously hustle to help them see my vision and understand the product. In the beginning, I was wearing every single hat, from product development to marketing and even HR. Now, we have 30 full-time staff at our head office. A key learning for me has been understanding and accepting that I can't be and do everything all the time. And, as the business expands, it's imperative to support that growth with leaders who are specialists in what they do. Networking with other female founders is also very important for me, both professionally and personally. No matter how different our businesses may be, we face similar challenges. When you connect, you can relate to each other and share learnings. How has Klaviyo helped your business? Klaviyo email and SMS have helped The Beauty Chef streamline our communications with our customers. We now have one central platform for key communications to our customers and can effectively personalise and segment to ensure long-term retention. Do you have any advice for other budding entrepreneurs? Do what you love because success requires hard work, so you might as well spend the hard work doing something you wholeheartedly enjoy. Plus, you are bound to be more successful doing something you have fire, passion and drive for. Try not to get caught up in trends and make sure you're creating products that serve a purpose and provide a solution that is unique. And be gutsy and follow your gut instinct. Discover The Beauty Chef's full range of products at the website, and find out more at the Klaviyo website.
That title caught your attention, didn’t it? Of course it did — it is designed to. There’s more to Imprint Theatricals' staging of this off-Broadway smash than the name, however. The set-up of 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche earns a chuckle by itself: the charming widows of the Susan B Anthony Society for the Sisters Of Gertrude Stein gather for their annual Quiche Breakfast, circa 1956, as the Cold War is in full swing. This is 75 minutes spent watching what just might be the most outrageous community meeting you’ve ever seen. 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche is one of our top six picks of MELT Festival. See the other five here.
After seven years of bringing food to Australians' doors — and alcohol, kitchen and household products, and pop culture-themed board games in some places, too — Deliveroo has delivered a significant piece of news: it now no longer operates in the country. Via a series of messages to customers, on social media and on its local website on Wednesday, November 16, the company announced that it was shutting its Aussie service effective immediately. "Deliveroo no longer operates in Australia," the organisation's website now reads. "Deliveroo has taken the difficult decision to leave Australia. We have been proud to bring so many people amazing meals from Australia's great restaurants over the years," it continues. The company is now in administration, with KordaMentha appointed to oversee the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deliveroo (@deliveroo_au) In its statements on social media, Deliveroo called the news a "sad announcement" and reiterated that it "has been a very difficult decision to make". It also called out Australia's "amazing food" and "thousands of brilliant restaurants and riders". Obviously, the sudden shuttering will impact both considerably. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deliveroo staff will receive compensation, and drivers who made a delivery in the past three months. As a result of the closure, Deliveroo's app is now no longer accepting orders, leaving customers to use competing food-delivery services such as UberEats, Menulog and DoorDash. Since opening in Australia in 2015, in efforts to stand out in a crowded market, Deliveroo has done everything from giving away burgers and Tim Tams, offering free delivery during lockdowns and slinging free fries based on vaccination levels through to even dropping off free Gelato Messina choc tops by boat. For more information about Deliveroo ceasing operations in Australia, head to the service's website.
