If you can picture an indoor rollercoaster fused with a 3D film, that’s 9D Action Cinemas — a mix of an amusement park and a trip to the movies. Intrigued? Now you can try it for yourself in Brisbane, with the brand new 9D Action Cinemas open in Garden City. If you're familiar with both rides and 3D films, you'll know what you’re in for, kind of. The idea is to completely immerse audience in the world of the short film, both visually and physically. So what's showing in 9D? The 'Now Playing' listing above the ticket counter boasts eight different selections all with very, very loose 'storylines'. However, all up there’s around 60 short films on offer, with more added every few months. All tastes are catered for, and all ages, too. Racing rides coast around canyons and glide over snow. More mysterious segments crawl through tombs and fly over lost islands. Horror-themed clips run away from zombies, and speed through haunted houses. So let's get amongst it. You select your film, buy a ticket, enter the six-seat theatre (yep, only six), and put on your 3D glasses. You’re helped into your chair by a staff member, buckle your seat belt, and master a good grip on your arm rests. Now, it's showtime. Once the animated movie begins, electronics beneath your seat start humming. In the action ride simulator, everything is synchronised on-screen and off. Depending on what’s on screen, you might be squirted with air or water, or have bubbles and snow rain down on you from above. You might find yourself amongst fog, smoke or lightning, or feel something nipping at your feet from below. Those weak of stomach or just not feeling so adventurous can watch their friends courtesy of the live camera feed playing in the lobby. Arcade games keep waiting punters occupied. But given that each ride lasts for five to ten minutes, no one is likely to be waiting long. Though Garden City’s new renovations were unveiled late last year, 9D Action Cinemas can be found in the older part of the shopping centre — but that will soon change. In the near future, a new entertainment mall is slated to surround everyone’s new favourite simulation ride with more fun things to do. With bars and restaurants right outside the cinema, this might just be the new suburban place to be. Check out the cheesy, cheesy trailer: Find 9D Action Cinemas at Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre, on the corner of Logan and Kessels roads, Upper Mount Gravatt. Visit the website for more information.
Australian musicians, wish you could play for more people, more often? People with houses — or rooms or sheds or backyards — wish you could see more music, more often, and closer to home? Bingo. A new online start-up platform by the name of Parlour Gigs is making your wishes come true. That’s the both of you. And indie acts like Thelma Plum, Grand Salvo and Caitlin Harnett are already taking advantage of it. Here’s how it works. (Hint, if you use Airbnb already, you’ll have some idea). Musicians, jump on the site, hit the 'I want to play' button and fill out the form. People with houses, jump on the site, hit the 'I want to host' button and fill out a form. If the Parlour folks are happy with your superior form-filling skills (i.e. you sound pretty talented or your place looks music-friendly), they’ll hook the two of you up. Tickets are then sold to the general public via the Parlour website. The man behind the initiative is Matt Walters, a singer-songwriter from Melbourne. "[Parlour's] not dissimilar to the Airbnb model; cutting out the middlemen and allowing people to negotiate and stage gigs where they like,” he told Tone Deaf. "From being signed to a major label, to touring with some incredible international artists, I've certainly experienced all the ups and downs the music business has to offer. "But for some time now, I’ve felt a change coming on. Of course, with the traditional music model well and truly behind us, there is more emphasis than ever on playing live... For most musicians — especially those up and coming — it's hardly worth it. The experience of playing a great show can be a reward unto itself, but at the end of the day artists, like all working people, need to get paid for their work." Get started on Parlour over here. Via Tone Deaf. Images: Parlour.
That Banksy. Who knows what he’s going to do next, or where she’s going to pop up, or how they stay so tricksy? In the latest unofficial edition of 'where in the world is Banksy?', the answer is Gaza. Yes, the art world’s chief enigma has visited the conflict-ravaged strip of coastline — and he’s made a video to prove it. Exit Through the Gift Shop this isn’t, though it does share the same sense of humour. Banksy’s Gaza clip might just be the darkest tourism video you’ve ever seen. With the plight of the 1.8 million Palestinians who call Gaza home clearly on his mind, Banksy walks through the streets — unseen by the camera, of course — to show the daily reality of its miles upon miles of rubble. “Make this the year YOU discover a new destination,” he tells us, before surveying the dismal sights well off the beaten track. Typical advertising catch-phrases — such as “nestled in an exclusive setting” and “plenty of scope for refurbishment” — pop up over footage of crumbling buildings. The sad facts follow, telling in no uncertain terms what life is like for Gaza residents. It’s a bleak picture. The video also features other evidence of his time there, or what may be his gloomiest residency in history. New Banksy artworks litter the bomb-damaged strip, as first seen on his Instagram account two days ago, followed by his website this morning. Yes, he’s been spray-painting up a storm all over the place, making a statement with street art. His murals call attention not only to the situation but to the disinterest displayed by most of the world in response. One, an image of a cute cat, perhaps says it all. Or maybe the accompanying text on his website does: “A local man came up and said 'Please — what does this mean?' I explained I wanted to highlight the destruction in Gaza by posting photos on my website — but on the internet people only look at pictures of kittens.”
No cruise ship festival fun for you, Australia. Sea N Beats, the event set to be Australia’s first ever music festival at sea, was supposed to set sail March 5-8, 2016. But this morning, the crew announced the cancellation of the event, due to "challenges that could not be overcome". Posted on their website and Facebook this morning, the organisers said: "Australia’s first cruise ship Festival, Sea ‘N Beats, announces with regret the cancellation of their March 5-8, 2016 event. Whilst every possibility in the hope of proceeding with Australia’s first cruise ship festival has been looked at, ultimately all parties involved concluded that conducting a music festival at sea comes with challenges that could not be overcome." "The risk factors surrounding the event were ultimately assessed by all parties involved as too great to continue. Whilst every potential avenue to save Sea N Beats was exhausted, ultimately we have been left with no option but to cancel." All ticket buyers have been individually contacted via email and full refunds will be issued. At this stage, Sea N Beats will not be looking at another departure date for the cruise. Set to boast seven stages and a huge pool deck, Sea N Beats was set to be one huge enterprise, with the likes of Alison Wonderland, Peking Duk, Allday, SAFIA, Wave Racer, Cyril Hahn, Tkay Maidza, Hayden James and more on the lineup. Tickets also included entry to an exclusive mystery island festival on an exclusive mystery island, somewhere off the exclusive mystery Queensland coast. Looks like the anchor will stay put on Australia's first answer to S.S. Coachella. By Shannon Connellan and Jessica Surman. Image: Sea N Beats.
The Brisbane International Film Festival has a new home for the next three years, with the Gallery of Modern Art named as the fest's new host. The South Brisbane gallery will present the event from 2018 to 2020 — and the festival will not only move locations, but also move to a new October time slot. It's huge news for the city's cinephiles, pairing the city's major film festival with its major year-round home of curated and retrospective cinema programming. Funded by Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, the state and the country's respective film bodies, the shift also marks the latest development in BIFF's ever-evolving history — which is much, much more convoluted than it really should be. Here's the short version: first run from 1992 to 2013, the festival was initially cancelled in favour of the short-lived Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, which ran from 2014 to 2016. Then BAPFF was axed after a three-year stint, so BIFF was brought back in 2017 via Palace Cinemas, who received funding from SQ to resurrect the fest. That decision received criticism, both for awarding the festival exclusively to one commercial operator, and for doing so without calling for tenders from other interested parties. In December, SQ opened the event to submissions, with GOMA emerging victorious. It's not actually the first time that BIFF will grace GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque. In fact, the festival held parts of its program at the gallery at various points between GOMA's opening in 2006 and the fest's initial scrapping after the 2013 event. It is, however, the first time that the galley has overseen the festival itself, with Amanda Slack-Smith — QAGOMA's acting curatorial manager of the Australian Cinémathèque — named BIFF's 2018 artistic director. Further, while GOMA will be running the show, BIFF won't only screen at the gallery's two-cinema on-site facilities. GOMA intends to work with external cinema partners, though just who they'll be is yet to be revealed. Programming-wise, cinephiles should expect "new release titles and film retrospectives, alongside screenings with live music, conversations, panel discussions, gala events and more," says QAGOMA director Chris Saines. GOMA is also the only facility in Brisbane with the ability to screen rare archival prints — something that often forms part of its regular cinema seasons — so that's an area BIFF will likely benefit from. Alongside the main festival, Screen Queensland will present industry workshops, events and panel discussions focused towards the state's film industry. Exact dates for the 2018 festival are yet to be announced, but its new timeslot brings BIFF back to the latter part of the year — with initial BIFFs mostly running in July and August, the festival moving to November from 2010 to 2013, BAPFF occurring across November and December, and BIFF 2017 taking place in August. For information, visit the GOMA website. Image: Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. Photograph: John Gollings.
When the Queen's Wharf precinct opens in Brisbane's inner city, the Treasury will say farewell, with The Star Brisbane becoming the CBD's new casino. The change will also have an impact on the venue's restaurants and bars. Fat Noodle is moving as well, as is LiveWire, with the latter changing its focus to late-night entertainment and live music. The next place that's announced its new digs: Black Hide by Gambaro, which will become Black Hide Steak and Seafood. It was back in 2018 that Black Hide set up shop at the Treasury, expanding from Caxton Street in Petrie Terrace, where Gambaros has long been synonymous. The upmarket steak brand made the Queen Street side of the casino its home, serving up river views, a bar overlooking Reddacliff Place, and a six-room setup that makes the most of the heritage building's features — including a ten-person private dining space filled with timber, brass and marble. Black Hide Steak and Seafood is shifting by necessity, of course, but it's taking the opportunity to scale up. Cue bigger digs, with the venue able to seat 240 people as part of The Terrace at Queen's Wharf. And yes, there'll be river views — that part of the precinct will sit on the same level as the landing for the new Neville Bonner Bridge, and Black Hide will be its largest restaurant. Diners can look forward to the same team on staff, with new additions given that the eatery will be bigger. The restaurant is also expanding its trading hours and giving its lineup of dishes a tweak. Obviously, as the name makes plain, seafood will be another focus. "We have made significant enhancements to our menu with the addition of a variety of delicious seafood dishes, featuring fresh Queensland catches to perfectly complement our renowned steak offerings, as well introducing a stylish cocktail lounge bar, where guests can indulge in small plates from our menu while enjoying panoramic views of the river," said The Gambaro Group Director John Gambaro. "At the heart of our restaurant will be an open kitchen, inviting guests to witness firsthand the meticulous preparation and cooking of our dishes." "Our innovative cooking systems include wood-fired charcoal burners, which will infuse each dish with delightful flavour and our time-tested montague broiler, which we have been using at our other Black Hide venues for ten years." Exactly when Black Hide Steak and Seafood will open hasn't yet been revealed, but Queen's Wharf is slated to launch from August 2024. At the Treasury, Black Hide by Gambaro will keep trading until then. Across The Star Brisbane, the restaurant will also be joined by the debut Brisbane outpost for Japanese fine-diner Sokyo and Italian restaurant Cucina Regina — and upstairs at the Sky Deck, also Aloria, Cicada Blu and Babblers, all forming part of the new years-in-the-making precinct. Find Black Hide Steak and Seafood at The Star Brisbane, Queen's Wharf, Brisbane CBD sometime from August 2024 onwards. Head to the venue's website for more information in the interim.
With summer glimmering on the horizon — bringing with it the promise of gloriously warm, long nights — it's the perfect time to start thinking about your first dinner party of the season. But if the thought of hosting yet another classic evening meal around your dining table fills you with something close to dread, why not make this summer one of experimentation instead? To help make this social season more exciting, we've collaborated with KitchenAid (to celebrate the launch of the KitchenAid Mini in Australia) and come up with five simple ways to take your next dinner party from conventional to creative. Pick your favourite idea, send out the invitations, and get ready to become your friends' favourite host. TAKE IT OUTSIDE There's something about dining al fresco that always feels so luxurious. So why not take advantage of the warm weather and host your party in the backyard? Decorate a table with a bright cloth, a few fresh flowers, heaps of candles, and artfully mismatched crockery and your guests will feel like they're dining in a romantic European café. For additional charm, hang fairy-lights from the trees and use lanterns to illuminate the walkway between your house and the garden. If you've got a pool, make sure to set your table near it — while it's not exactly oceanfront dining, it comes pretty damn close. You could also switch things up by taking a page out of the pop-up restaurant playbook and having dinner in the front yard – the enhanced opportunity for people-watching is an added bonus. PARTY FOR A GOOD CAUSE Take inspiration from initiatives like the Big Aussie Barbie and turn your dinner party into a mini fundraiser for your favourite charity. Simply ask guests to pay a small entry fee to attend (set up a simple webpage to streamline the process and avoid having to hassle your mates for cash on the day) and then donate the funds to the charity of your choice. Make sure to tell your guests a little bit about the organisation so they understand where their contributions will be going. As for the party itself, your options are endless. You could, for example, host a BBQ, a cocktail party, or a games night. You could also theme your event in a way that aligns with the charity, like having guests dress up in the colour associated with the cause (pink for breast cancer, for example). UP YOUR ALCOHOL GAME Instead of the predictable bottles of wine and beer, treat your guests to an alcoholic summer punch. Serve your concoction in a pretty glass bowl, with a medley of colourful fruits at the bottom, and you've also got yourself a sweet centrepiece. Another idea is to try your hand at homemade frosé—we promise it's easier than it sounds and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. If you're feeling especially creative, why not set up a little cocktail station with a few easy classics? Gin & Tonics, Dark & Stormies, and Caipirinhas are perennial favourites that can all be made with just three ingredients. Pre-garnish the glasses (ant-rimmed Aussie South Side, anyone?) for a lavish finishing touch. HOST A GIG IN YOUR HOUSE So you've hosted a brunch party, are an old-hand at whipping up delicious homemade cocktails, and have mastered the art of al fresco dining? Then it's time to take your party to the next level with Parlour Gigs. This ingenious initiative lets you bring live music into your living room. We know, it sounds almost too good to be true. Hosting a gig is insanely easy: simply sign up on the website, invite a local artist to play, and, once they've accepted, share a private invite with your mates. Then, set up your space with a few comfy chairs, plush pillows, and some mood lighting for a unique evening that is guaranteed to have your friends talking all summer long. BRUNCH PARTY? Yes, we know, "dinner party" connotes an evening meal but why not switch things up and host a brunch party instead? Not only is brunch arguably the best meal of the day, having people over in the late morning or early afternoon let's you make the most of the summer sunshine, while also being cheaper and easier to put together than dinner. What's not to love? To pull off a successful brunch party, make a few easy main dishes with your KitchenAid Mini (meals you can prep in advance, like french toast or quiche, are ideal), pick up some pastries from your favourite bakery (here are our picks), cut up some seasonal fruits, throw everything onto a pretty tablecloth and you're good to go. For an extra touch, set up a simple mimosa bar with a few pitchers of orange or grapefruit juice and a couple of bottles of bubbly.
What's better than a city with one Donut Boyz store? A city with two, obviously. Queensland's very own bakers of glazed and jam-filled goodness clearly think so. Barely more than a month after setting up shop in West End — and inspiring lines snaking down Mollison Street on a daily basis — they've decided to share the donuty love with Paddington residents as well. That means lemon meringue pie, salted caramel popcorn, chocolate and peanut butter, and mocha flavoured treats available for those who don't want to journey over the river, plus another place to get your donut fix if you're out and about in the inner-city suburbs. If "we were just in the neighbourhood" is your go-to pig-out excuse, now you have twice as many opportunities to use it. All the other handmade parcels of delicious pastry the Boyz are known for are also on the menu, including the trusty, ever-tasty cronut. Their latest concoction combines roasted fig-infused cream cheese, dark chocolate and walnuts, in case your taste buds needed any more tempting. The new Latrobe Terrace set-up is actually Donut Boyz's fourth Queensland digs, with the chain getting their start up at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, then branching out to nearby Mooloolaba before heading to Brisbane. Next stop: the rest of the city. With artisan donuts retaining their position as the state's current favourite food trend, you can assume more will be popping up soon. Find Donut Boyz Paddington at 78 Latrobe Terrace, or visit their Facebook page for more information.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, so we've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. And what's better than a barbecue? For advice, we asked the boys from Three Blue Ducks. Mark LaBrooy specifically — he's one of the co-founders of the restaurant-cafe hybrid that was born in Bronte but ended up being so popular it expanded to Byron Bay and, most recently, Rosebery. He and the team at Three Blue Ducks have made working with barbecue flames and smoke a priority at their venues. At their Rosebery location, there's a barbecue, a wood-fired oven and an outdoor charcoal pit. They're experts in barbecue. And more than that, they're experts in taking the standard barbecue fare you usually whip up to the next level, and LaBrooy has shared some tips so you can do the same. He's also given us some recipes, for a burrata salad, a seafood prawns main, and a charred pineapple dessert. "They're all about spring and summer flavours," he says. "Inspired by warm weather and catching up with friends." The burrata salad is a green (but hearty) vegetarian option for your barbecue friends who don't eat meat, while the prawn dish is "light, and great for entertaining because it's not rocket science to prepare". The pineapple recipe is LaBrooy wanting you to try something a little different by charring your fruit. "People should experiment more with fruit on the barbecue, vegetables too," he says. He says the first thing to think about when you're cooking is that produce is key to a good barbecue. He suggests going elsewhere than the supermarket to grab your ingredients. "Go to a real butcher, not a supermarket. Go to the fish markets to get your prawns, and a local organic growers market for your fruits and vegetables." Let the ingredients lead you — if the produce is good, just put it on the barbie and see what happens. "Like a whole bunch of Dutch carrots or something, just give them a wash, put on some good quality olive oil, salt and pepper and char it up. Don't be shy — the hotter the better." "Barbecuing is the cooking technique that fits in best with us," he says. "It's connected to the environment and there's something really intimate about using the fire — it's inconsistent, there's a real element of maintenance and care in the cooking process." When finished, all three dishes will look incredible, but don't get too caught up with perfection when you're hosting a barbecue. Part of the fun is that barbecue-ing isn't always pretty. "It's a bit ugly and charred," he says. "You can get those really aggressive, black tones in the appearance and colouration of your cooking." Follow these three recipes and transform your afternoon barbecue into one that's worthy of being on the menu at Three Blue Ducks. BURRATA WITH CHARRED ZUCCHINI AND SPRING ONIONS Ingredients: 4 pieces of burrata (about 100 grams each) ¼ bunch parsley ¼ bunch basil 1 clove garlic 100ml virgin olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon zest and juice salt and pepper 1 bunch spring onion 3 zucchini cut in ¼ 100g toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped Method: Make a nice coal fire on the grill side of your barbecue. Char off the zucchini and the spring onions after giving them a good season and a splash of olive oil. When the zucchini and spring onions get some good colour, take them off the heat and start plating up. Take a food processor and place the herbs, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, zest and Dijon inside. Give it a good whizz until a bright green paste forms. Season well and set aside. Take a plate or bowl and arrange the zucchini and spring onions around the outside, making a well for your burrata to sit in. Flick in a few teaspoons of the herb puree, place the burrata in the centre and sprinkle over some hazelnuts. Season the burrata and drizzle a bit of olive oil if you feel you need it. Squeeze a bit of extra lemon juice over everything to finish off. CONFIT GARLIC AND CHILLI BBQ PRAWNS WITH BUTTERMILK AVOCADO AND RADICCHIO Ingredients: 1 bulb garlic peeled 3 long red chillies deseeded 1 cup olive oil 16 large king prawns cleaned and butterflied 3 avocados 1 lemon juice and zest 2 tablespoons olive oil 100ml buttermilk 1 large radicchio with the outer leaves pulled off and cut in ¼ Salt and pepper Method: Take the chillies and garlic and place in a small saucepan. Add the cup of olive oil and cover with foil. Bake at 160-degrees for 1-30 mins, then place in a food processor and give it a whizz. Using a pastry brush baste the prawns just before grilling on the barbecue. Take your food processor and add the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice and zest and the buttermilk, give it a whizz and set aside for when your plating up. Grill your prawns and radicchio on super high heat, season well and brush with olive oil. This should only take a few minutes. Give a good whack of buttermilk avo purée. CHARRED PINEAPPLE WITH CASHEWS, THAI BASIL AND LEMONGRASS GRANITA Ingredients: 1 pineapple skinned and cut into quarters 1 tablespoon brown sugar For the granita: 350ml water 180g sugar 3 stalks lemongrass, roughly chopped 2 chillies roughly chopped 80g ginger roughly chopped 100ml lemon juice 100g yogurt 1 vanilla bean scraped and deseeded ¼ bunch Thai basil 80g toasted and salted cashews Method: The granita needs to be made the day before and set in the freezer over night. To serve all you have to do is scrape it with a fork or give it a quick whizz in a food processor. Make sure you put the bowl in the freezer first so you don't melt the granita too much. Take a medium sized pot and add the sugar, lemongrass, chilli, and water. Bring to the boil and then set aside and let it cool down on the bench, then strain and add the lemon juice, and put in the freezer to set overnight. Sprinkle the pineapple with brown sugar and place on the grill on high heat. You're looking to get some good colour and charring on the pineapple, cooking it at the same time. Cut into chunks and set aside. Take a small bowl and add the yogurt and the vanilla give it a good mix. To plate up, arrange the pineapple on the base of the plate and a few dollops of the vanilla yogurt. Take a large spoon of granita and place in the centre, then sprinkle with cashews and Thai basil. Images: Kimberley Low.
Move over whiskey, vodka and gin, because there's a new spirit of choice in town. Lovers of drinks with lemon and salt will be rejoicing as Alquimia Tequila Bar has rolled into Fortitude Vallery. But there's more to this agave-happy newbie than just slamming shots down. More than 80 different types of the titular beverage line the shelves — including 60 from the US alone — because this is for serious, sophisticated drinkers only. While everyone is welcome, Alquimia isn't the kind of place you probably think of when you think of tequila. This isn't a seedy nightclub or a dodgy dive bar, or somewhere that will blare a certain '90s hip hop cover from its speakers. Instead, it's a classy hangout that aims to show the finer side of its favoured clear liquid through a blend of premium offerings and tequila-based cocktails (alquimia means alchemy in Spanish, after all). Here, you can sip handpicked brands or fall in love with drinks with names such as Romero y Julia. A small selection of other alcoholic options — vodka, gin, rum, beer and wine — is also on offer, should you be in need something not made from the blue agave plant. Alquimia is the latest place to take over the space on the corner of Ann and Warner streets, a spot that has seen more than a few businesses pass through in its time. Pairing its hefty drinks offering with DJ sets and other events, here's hoping this one's here to stay. Find Alquimia Tequila Bar at 702 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Visit their website and Facebook page for more information.
Imagine a culinary creation that's part burger, part doughnut. Imagine a juicy, hand-pressed wagyu beef patty sandwiched between two halves of glazed, doughy pastry. Double jack cheese is also part of the equation, as is smoky bacon flavoured with Nutella. Stop salivating and prepare to be in food heaven, because this fantastical concoction is now a reality. It's not hard to guess who's behind such a wondrous treat: the legends at Ze Pickle and Doughnut Time. Not content with crafting their own taste sensations, they're pairing up to serve up something that's a little bit sweet, a little bit savoury, and a whole lot of awesome. The 'Doughnutfukwitdis' might be the first collaboration between the two popular eateries, but neither is making their maiden voyage into such delicious territory. Remember the Elvis Burger, which Doughnut Time cooked up with Chur Burger earlier this year? Or the Cronut Burger, which is still raved about by anyone lucky enough to have had one at Ze Pickle's Burleigh Heads outlet? Think of them as warm-ups for what's likely to prove the burger event of the year. The burger is now available at both their Brisbane and Burleigh Heads store, so you can chow down on this morsel of greasy goodness right away. For more information about this mighty, mighty collaboration, keep an eye on Ze Pickle's Facebook page.
Burger Force sounds like the kind of place you'd find on any corner in Brisbane, slinging everyone's favourite combos of meat and bread. Actually, it's somewhere that could lurk beneath any one of the city's many greasy spoons — or it could in the independent comic written, directed, photographed, and designed by Jackie Ryan. To be specific, Burger Force is the name of a fictional spy squad underneath a fast food restaurant, the comic that tells its tale, and the Brisbane Powerhouse exhibition dedicated to its artwork. Each image features real people and locations that have been 'comified' via a blend of software and hand retouching, with many of the series' stars hailing from theatre, film, circus, dance, and burlesque. In fact, you might recognise some of them. Intrigued? Of course you are. Hungry? That'd be understandable, too. Why not check out the free showcase until December 11, and grab a burger before or after? Who knows, you might just stumble upon a real pop culture detective agency while you're having your meal.
The first thing you notice about the 14-year-old Amy Winehouse is her smile. Captured on her best friend’s home movie, it's enormous, almost all-consuming, a porthole to an as yet undiscovered virtuosity. With jagged and uneven teeth, the smile — like her accent — is imperfect and unrefined, as though everything had been hastily thrown together at the last minute. But it's also unmistakably real and a permanent fixture on the young girl's face. Over the next 90 minutes of Asif Kapadia's remarkable documentary Amy, what most stands out is not the prodigious talent, nor the substance abuse and self-destruction, but simply the steady fade of that perfect imperfect smile. Just like Kapadia’s previous documentary, Senna, Amy is an extraordinarily moving tribute to a prodigious talent whose life seemed somehow unavoidably foredoomed. With its remarkable catalogue of personal videos, voicemails and recording sessions, Kapadia lets Winehouse and her closest friends narrate her own tragic spiral in real time, taking us from the "gobby north London Jewish girl with a lot of attitude" to the death of a full-blown celebrity in 2011. It’s a masterful device, insulating the film from the inevitable accusations of bias and blame apportionment made by the very individuals who constantly comment and appear throughout. To be clear: Amy isn’t a whodunnit. Winehouse drank herself to death despite countless warning from doctors, friends and colleagues. Instead, the film reveals the extent to which almost everybody in her life failed to convert their concern into real action so long as the money continued to flow their way. "They tried to make me go to rehab,” she sang, and it’s true, but they didn’t try nearly hard enough. What’s abundantly clear from the archival footage is how well Winehouse understood her own predicament and disposition. “I’ve depression,” she explains at one point, “but so do a lot of other people. I’m just lucky because not many people can pick up a guitar for an hour or two and make themselves feel better.” True to the adage, Winehouse really was all about the music, and had she been left alone to sing jazz in small clubs, things may have played out very differently. The only person who seemed to fully grasp that was her idol, Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded a duets album shortly before her death. “True jazz performers don’t like crowds of 50,000 in front of them,” he explains, before adding in a heart-wrenching postscript, “If she were still here, I’d say ‘slow down … you’re too important’”. It’s moments like this that make Amy an overwhelmingly tragic and absorbing portrait piece, steeped in disquiet because, just as it was with Senna, you know it ends in a crash. There is, in fact, one last glimpse of a smile, right before the film ends. During her infamous concert disaster in Belgrade just weeks prior to her death, Winehouse sits down on stage, drunk and disoriented, amidst a chorus of boos from the crowd. While the band tries to get her to sing, an almost imperceptible grin flashes across her face, as though she’d suddenly heard the punchline to a joke nobody else could hear.
One of the biggest films of 2015 sees a team of valiant superheroes do battle with a malevolent android named Ultron. A hulking hunk of metal bent on human annihilation, he’s the latest in a long line of movie robots run amuck, one that stretches back all the way to Fritz Lang’s silent Metropolis and encompasses many of the all-time great science-fiction films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator and the criminally underrated masterpiece that is Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. But while Ultron is busy making life difficult for Iron Man and pals, a smaller film is offering a more nuanced take on the dilemmas of artificial intelligence. The directorial debut of writer Alex Garland, Ex Machina is a (relatively) low-budget techno thriller that poses some big, frightening questions about where humankind may be headed. Carried on the shoulders of its three central performances, it’s an intriguing piece of understated science fiction that’ll leave you pondering its content long after it comes to an end. The film follows Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer for a massive internet search engine, who wins a mysterious company-wide lottery. His prize: spend a week with the company’s eccentric founder Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac) in his remote mountainside home and research lab. There, Caleb finds himself introduced to Bateman’s most incredible invention yet: a humanoid robot named Ava (Swedish actress Alicia Vikander). The purpose of Caleb’s visit, Bateman explains, is to spend time speaking with Ava, to determine whether she has truly achieved artificial intelligence. As the week stretches on, however, Caleb begins to sense that something is terribly amiss. Although it’s his first film in the director’s chair, Garland is certainly no stranger to science fiction, having previously written the screenplays for Sunshine, 28 Days Later and Dredd. Still, Ex Machina is certainly his most cerebral work — slow moving, but never dull. As Ava and Caleb grow closer and Caleb begins to question Bateman’s ultimate goals, the film forces us to consider a number of difficult ideas, from what exactly it means to be human to what responsibilities come with playing God. A big part of what keeps the film engaging are the performances of Garland’s three leads. Gleeson’s awkward, good natured Caleb strikes a stark contrast with Isaac’s macho take on Bateman, whose heavy drinking and aggressive alpha male personality adds an uneasy tension to many of their exchanges. So too is it difficult to pin down the dynamic between Caleb and Vikander’s seemingly innocent robot, especially when she begins to show hints of romantic interest in her new companion — feelings that he soon begins to reciprocate. The film is at its best when it's exploring these kinds of emotional, social and technological grey areas. Hidden character motivations leave viewers in the same spot as Caleb, feeling increasingly uneasy, and unsure of exactly where they stand. If you just want explosions, go and see Age of Ultron. But if you’re looking for something a little more intellectually rewarding, Ex Machina is the ticket for you.
Brisbanites, grabbing a beer and feasting on British food just got a whole lot easier. Okay, so with five Pig 'n' Whistle pubs around town, it wasn't too difficult to begin with — but now you can do so south of the river. Yep, the city's favourite UK-themed watering holes have set up shop on the corner of Melbourne and Merivale streets. If you've stopped by one of their other bars (and who hasn't?), then you know what to expect. That'd be a jam-packed range of craft brews and hearty meals, with two 16-tap fonts pumping out tasty ales, and a menu featuring the likes of beef and Guinness pie and wagyu burgers. Plus, the new venue also boasts a barista station for all your Mantle & Moon craft coffee needs — aka the perfect thing to accompany your breakfast, because this pub opens at 7am daily. All that and more will be served up from their prime location opposite the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre; while the Pig's latest venture makes its West End affiliation known in its name, it's actually housed smack bang in the middle of the titular area and South Bank. Such close proximity to the home of Supanova, the Good Food and Wine Show and the Lifeline Bookfest sets it up as the perfect place for afterparties. Thankfully, with 550 seats, the venue can cater for a crowd. Of course, that's not the most exciting part of the Pig 'n' Whistle West End, particularly if you like jumping between drinking venues. Five of the chain's locations — West End, King George Square, Queen Street, Riverside and Fortitude Valley — are now little more than a short stroll or a quick taxi trip away from each other. Yes, that means your Pig-centric pub crawl just got even bigger. Find Pig 'n' Whistle West End on the corner of Melbourne and Merivale streets, South Brisbane. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.
Imagine that you could spend an entire week or so at an overseas film festival. If time and money wasn't a concern, and you could put your everyday life on hold, which movie bonanza would you go to? Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto: they're all good choices. If you're after new indie flicks, you're probably already thinking about packing your bags for Sundance. Of course, Robert Redford's annual Utah event isn't the only early-in-the-year American film festival worth dreaming about. Come March in Texas, there's another fest making movie buffs envious. Since 1987, South by Southwest has proven a launching pad for music and technology — and, from 1994, for indie flicks, too. On the film front, SXSW's 2016 program keeps the good stuff coming with 137 features, including 89 world premieres and 52 efforts by first-time filmmakers. Alas, here at Concrete Playground we're watching from afar between March 11 to 20, rather than hopping on a plane to Austin. To soothe our jealousy, we've put together a list of the ten films from SXSW we're hoping will come to Australia. If we can't go to them, fingers crossed that they can come to us. DON'T THINK TWICE If you saw Sleepwalk With Me back in 2012, you're probably a fan of Mike Birbiglia. The comedian's first directorial effort, based on his one-man off-Broadway show and accompanying book of the same name, offered a breezy but insightful look at the problems of relationships, careers and planning for the future. His next film effort sounds just as subtly charming, with an improv troupe at its centre. Birbiglia stars again, joined by Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs, should you need any more reasons to get excited. COLLECTIVE:UNCONSCIOUS Five filmmakers. Five dreams. Five attempts by the former to make movies out of the latter. Cinema is often called dreamlike, but collective:unconscious takes that description to another level. In stories involving the Grim Reaper hosting a television show and a sports class taking place inside of a volcano, among others, the group of indie directors doesn't just bring their own nocturnal imaginings to their screen. Instead, Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker and Lauren Wolkstein attempt to make movies out of each other's unconscious musings. BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN You might've heard of the Slenderman. The very thin, very tall creature started popping up online in 2009, and was rumoured to stalk, abduct and generally terrorise and terrify people, particularly children. Slenderman was actually the creation of an online forum user, who created the figure as part of a Photoshop contest. That didn't stop two 12-year-old girls from killing their best friend in the hopes of meeting the faceless man, with documentarian Irene Taylor Brodsky dissecting their story, the impact of the darker side of cyber space, and how an internet meme inspired a murder. UNDER THE SHADOW We might've left Under the Shadow off of our Sundance list, but we won't make the same mistake twice. There's a reason that the Farsi-language film from Jordan, Qatar and the United Kingdom is playing a US festival again so soon after its world premiere in January, after all. Compared to The Babadook, Babak Anvari’s feature debut tells of a mother and daughter who begin to suspect that they’ve been targeted by evil spirits. Netflix has the rights to the frightening flick, but this sounds like something that really needs to be seen on the big screen. MY BLIND BROTHER Admit it: even the most serious film fans out there can't resist the lure of an impressive cast. Getting a group of great actors together doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it's magic. Here's hoping that's the end result for My Blind Brother, which stars Adam Scott, Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate. Yes, the fact that they've all either starred or popped up on TV sitcom Parks and Recreation is part of their appeal, but they're not the movie's only drawcards. Director Sophie Goodhart might be a first-time feature filmmaker; however she's adapting her own short film of the same name, which screened in competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. TOWER Sadly, mass shootings in US schools are a much-too-common occurrence — but it wasn't always this way. In 1966, when an ex-Marine sniper turned University of Texas engineering student started gunning down people from a tower looming over the tertiary institution's campus, no one had ever contemplated the possibility of such horrors occurring at a place dedicated to learning and education. Keith Maitland's documentary explores this bleak chapter in American history, albeit in an unusual fashion. Telling the previously untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors, he not only delves into archival footage, but combines it with surreal, animated recreations. THE TRUST Two words: Nicolas Cage. We have more words to share about The Trust than that, of course — but we'd be lying if we didn't confess that the man who can be either the world's best or worst actor, depending on the film, wasn't the main attraction. With Elijah Wood, he plays a cop who stumbles upon a mysterious bank vault. If the combination of Cage and the storyline doesn't pique your curiosity, this might: writer/directors Alex and Ben Brewer are better known for their music video work, including winning an MTV Video Music Award for working with Justin Bieber. Yes, really. KARAOKE CRAZIES Karaoke and cinema go hand in hand. Plenty of movies feature everyone's favourite form of amateur singing; however surprisingly few make it their main focus (and yes, we're ignoring Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Duets for a reason). In Karaoke Crazies, Korean filmmaker Kim Sang-Chan sets his feature in a karaoke bar, lets a serial killer loose, and makes the latter obsessed with the former. If that's not an ingenious idea for a movie, well, we don't know what is. IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE Ti West has played with satanic panic in The House of the Devil, and toyed with found footage and religious fanaticism in The Sacrament. He also charmed Aussie audiences in person when he visited the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2011 to present his haunted hotel effort, The Innkeepers. In his next film, In A Valley of Violence, West swaps scares for revenge and horror for the western genre. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta tag along for the ride, stalking through a small town in the 1890s, and playing a drifter and marshal, respectively. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME Okay, okay, so Richard Linklater's latest film — and his first after the awarded and applauded Boyhood — is one of the titles we know for certain will grace Australian cinema screens. That doesn't make us any less enthused about Everybody Wants Some, which has the honour of opening SXSW's film lineup, and has been called a spiritual sequel to his 1996 effort Dazed and Confused. Don't expect a sleazy Matthew McConaughey trying to hit on high school girls, this time around. Do expect another wild series of events, this time set over a weekend in college in the '80s.
Multisensory cooking, auto suggestion and a robotic desserts trolley: these are just a few of the things diners can expect when famed chef Heston Blumenthal restarts service at his three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck later in the year. After undergoing extensive renovations — during which time Blumenthal popped up in Melbourne's Crown Casino — the original Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England is set to reopen this October. Interviewed by The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Blumenthal dropped a number of tasty tidbits as to what has changed. "The move to Australia was a great opportunity to question what the Fat Duck is," Blumenthal told Rayner. "In the sense that we cook food and it’s served to people, we’re a restaurant. But that’s not much, is it? The fact is the Fat Duck is about storytelling. I wanted to think about the whole approach of what we do in those terms." In addition to consulting with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall on the idea of turning the menu into a story — complete with introduction and chapter headings — one of the most intriguing/terrifying things Blumenthal mentioned in the interview was that he had spoken with mentalist Derren Brown, star of Derren Brown: Mind Control, about ways of extracting information about his customers "without them being too aware", and using auto suggestive techniques in order to convince diners they're getting what they most desire. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sinister at all. The Fat Duck (along with other destination restaurants) has apparently long been in the habit of Googling guests in advance, but such prosaic sleuthing is no longer enough to sate Blumenthal. Other features of the "maturing" Fat Duck include a £150,000 robotic sweetshop shaped like a dollhouse and a new online booking system to help sort through the more than 30,000 table requests per day. You can, naturally, expect the prices to go up too — although considering the tasting menu was £220 a head before the renovations, that might keep you, and your suggestive mind, out of Blumenthal's orbit. Via The Observer..
Fire up the cornballer and bust out your best chicken dance, because it would appear Arrested Development is on the verge of making a return. Almost two years after our last excursion into the lives of the dysfunctional Bluth family, executive producer Bill Glazer has confirmed 17 new episodes of the cult comedy, although he neglected to mention where and when they’ll be released. But they're coming. Glazer made the casual announcement while speaking to Grantland founder Bill Simmons on an episode of the B.S. Report Podcast. “I love Arrested Development, but it was never a huge thing,” said Grazer, referring to the show's less than stellar ratings during its initial three season run between 2003 and 2006. “But people are loyal to it. We're going to do another 17 episodes, so stay tuned.” Rumours of additional episodes are nothing new to Arrested Development fans, who suffered seven years in the wilderness before the show was resurrected by Netflix for 15 episodes in 2013. The streaming service has always maintained that a fifth season was likely, but Glazer’s comments seem to be the most concrete confirmation so far. That said, he did leave out a few important details, most notably an air date. Clearly, he never learnt to always leave a note. Netflix declined to comment on Glazer's announcement, but given the busy schedules of the show’s ensemble cast, it’s safe to assume that a trip back to the Bluth model homestead is still a ways away yet. Until then, take 15 minutes for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcsIMKAvUw Via A.V. Club
Given that it's been in business for well over a decade, the team at Brisbane's Mizu must be doing something right. Mizu is an unassuming restaurant; so much so that you're likely to blink and miss it as you drive down Macquarie Street in Teneriffe. It's a few minutes' walk from the main bar and restaurant hub, which makes it feel a little more out of the way than you'd expect from a Teneriffe address. The understated style of the restaurant's exterior continues inside with minimalistic decor and simple furniture. Mizu really begins to shine when you get to the food. The menu, that's designed for sharing, encompasses sashimi, small snack-style dishes, larger plates and salads as well as some options for kids. Highlights include the agedashi tofu (tofu coated with potato starch and deep-fried), takoyaki (fried octopus balls), wagyu slices with ponzu and yuzu paste, chef's selection of vegetable tempura, and teriyaki salmon with sautéed potato and asian greens. Of course, it would be terribly remiss not to mention everybody's favourite pan-fried pork gyoza. If you need something sweet to finish your evening at Mizu, a handful of desserts are available, including green tea ice cream and balls of vanilla ice wrapped in rice cakes. While some of the pricier dishes will add up, the range of plate sizes and prices means dinner at Mizu won't do too much damage to your wallet – especially when dining in a group. Add to that the fact that you there's BYO wine and you've got a well-priced evening on your hands. The house policy is one bill per table, so remember to take some cash with you or sort out bank deets with mates beforehand.
Because one food-serving, craft beer-peddling ale house is never enough, the fine folks at Yard Bird are adding to their flock. In fact, they’ve already spread their wings, flown to another location, and feathered a second nest. Say hello to Yard Bird Ale House, Paddington. Opening ahead of schedule, the new Given Terrace establishment has served its first tasty meals and fine brews — and the second venue to wear the Yard Bird name comes with a twist. For those who like to start their day with a caffeine kick and a big brekkie — or with waffles done three ways — the new Ale House is open from 7am. Taking over the space that Eurovida Cafe formerly called home, complete with a front-facing courtyard, Yard Bird Paddington also offers the same lunch and dinner meals patrons of the Fortitude Valley hang-out have come to know and love. We’re talking chicken wings, pizzas, burgers and nachos, among other Tex-Mex nibbles, all made to be washed down with one of the eight beer and cider tipples on tap — or thirty or so others in the fridge. Night owls will be able to enjoy a late-night bite and a nightcap, with the Paddington bar trading until midnight seven days a week. Yard Bird’s trademark relaxed vibe also takes flight at a new venue designed to be cool and cosy. Owner Luke Purnell said he wanted “to make sure that there is somewhere for the residents of Paddington to drop in and have a casual drink without feeling the pressure to wear a collared shirt". Launching a second Yard Bird Ale House is just the latest achievement for Purnell, who learned the chef’s life working at Brisbane's Au Cirque, Alibi Room and Rush. He opened Yard Bird’s Fortitude Valley bar in 2011, motivated to create the type of place where anyone was welcome. Now, he brings that friendly atmosphere – as well as scrumptious bar snacks and a range of craft beverages – to the other side of Brisbane’s inner-city suburbs. Yard Bird Ale House is now open at 1/208 Given Terrace, Paddington.
Whether by chance or the greatest promotional tie-in for a movie release in recent history, a glorious full moon shone over the First Man premiere in Sydney. An impressive enough sight going in to the cinema, it held a near-magical allure on the way back out. Even now, some 50 years since the first manned lunar landing and a lifetime of technological advancements beyond, to look up and consider the deed still feels unreal; an impossibility requiring far too much luck, daring and genius for anyone to even consider it. And yet…the Eagle did land. Directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land), First Man is at once the story of mankind's greatest ever technological accomplishment and the enormous sacrifices required to achieve it. Set against the backdrop of extreme US/Soviet tensions, First Man chronicles the NASA side of the infamous space race and highlights the extraordinary challenges precipitated by such a Herculean task. How, for example, do you come up with a list of requirements for something that's never been done before? Who is the right person for the job when your greatest understanding of what that job is is little more than a guess? This was precisely the challenge facing the newly established space agency in 1958 as it set out to find seven willing, qualified and extraordinarily capable candidates to undertake the first ever manned flights into space. One of those individuals was, of course, Neil Armstrong, whose portrayal in First Man by Ryan Gosling conveys an introverted and emotionally repressed family man possessed of unyielding skill and determination. Inevitably, films based on real world events at once benefit from, and are challenged by, an audience's knowledge of what ultimately happens. The inevitability of catastrophe in disaster films, for example, contributes to a powerful and compounding tension that can become almost unbearable. The key to maintaining drama in these films is to focus on the human stories at their core and shine a light on the details lesser known. How, though, do you find an unknown detail in perhaps the best-known story of the last century? That humans landed on the moon is far from a surprise twist, and that the first man to do it was Armstrong is such a given it's used as the title of the film. And so First Man, penned by Josh Singer (Spotlight), spans the eight physically and emotionally gruelling years of Armstrong's life prior to his iconic small step, beginning with an excruciatingly tense and near-fatal solo test flight into the earth's upper atmosphere. Singer's screenplay is tantalisingly layered, offering little by way of dialogue yet enormous scope for nuanced performances in the hands of an accomplished ensemble. Chazelle's direction is likewise sublime, especially during the film's more kinetic scenes where you feel just as drained and challenged as those on screen. The claustrophobia of the tiny capsules, the relentless g-forces of an out-of-control gyroscope, and the deafening silence of space, combine to assault the senses in the best possible way, aided by a level of sound design that will surely prove the frontrunner come awards season. On the performance front, The Crown's Claire Foy grounds the tale (as much literally as symbolically) as Armstrong's wife Janet, reminding us of the significant sacrifices made on all sides of this story. Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll and Ciarán Hinds round out the impressive troupe, with Stoll's performance in particular painting Armstrong's eventual co-pilot Buzz Aldrin in a surprisingly blunt and unlikeable light. Gosling's scenes with Clarke, too, prove some of the film's best; a meaningful friendship borne of fierce competition, and a closeness that permitted acknowledgements of extreme grief, fear and uncertainty without ever giving voice to the words. In the end First Man is, despite its scale and subject matter, an intimate character portrait rather than a history lesson. It eschews the traditional pomp and grandeur of NASA control room scenes for dimly lit kitchens and moonlit walks, yet remains every bit the space odyssey such a tale commands. Filmed for IMAX, it should be seen the same way – an honest, tense and compelling picture that reminds us exactly why we love going to the movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSoRx87OO6k
Located in buzzing Kelvin Grove's Queensland University of Technology creative precinct, Room 60 is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of student life. The intimate space emits a cosy and comfortable feeling achieved by the dark hue of the walls and friendly faces behind the bar. Low hanging lights, stacks of vinyl records and mis-matched furniture ooze a vibe of mature coolness, making it a perfect setting for drinks or a light meal. The bar contains a raised stage enabling it to host regular events such as talks, music and public readings. Room 60's drinks list is not your stock standard selection. Their fridge is full of locally brewed beer and cider and interesting options on the menu display creativity and flair. Elderflower cordial is a common choice of drink in the UK, but more of a rarity amongst Brisbane watering holes, however, Room 60 has made excellent use of this refreshing ingredient. Drinks such as the elderflower apple and lime cider or Wybrowa vodka and elderflower cordial with fresh lemon and soda are both lip-smackingly good. Another exciting quirk on the drinks list is their range of deconstructed cocktails that offer an overall flavour experience. The #2 Sweet and Smooth features Canqueray gin, Japanese lychee marble drink and dark bitter organic chocolate. Each ingredient is presented separately and the flavours beautifully compliment each other to create a special treat for those with a wicked sweet tooth. The #3 Strong and Savoury showcases the delicious Croatian Orahovac liqueur, a delectable dried fig and crisp clean soda. One item on the menu manages to combine the very best things in life – ice cream and alcohol. The adult's only ice-cream defines the word 'delicious' as the combination of coffee and vanilla ice-cream, a sprinkling of raspberries all smothered with Baileys Irish Cream is devilishly delightful. From its interesting décor to inventive drinks list, Room 60 offers an enjoyable and unique experience for its guests. Don't miss their quirky regular events such as the romance novel readings, trash movie nights or literary salon.
In the week leading up to Splendour in the Grass 2016, we dared to dream of blue skies and mild weather. The Bureau of Meteorology warned us the weather in coastal regions can be changeable but in the end we proved that if people want it enough, we can influence the weather with our thoughts alone. In the middle of winter (and after last year's Splendour in the Mud disaster) the last thing we planned for was balmy, 26 degree days and pleasantly crisp nights, but that's what we got (cue frantically buying up sunscreen, bucket hats and water vessels from highway petrol stations). Australia's biggest winter festival (and one of the country's biggest festivals in general) has become a well-oiled machine in recent years (for the most part, but we'll get to that). This year's lineup, from legends The Cure, Sigur Ros and The Avalanches to newcomers Kllo, Sampa the Great and Jess Kent, was more varied than ever — with a strong local flavour and something for every age group. This seemed to solve a lot of the timetabling problems as well as they produced one of the least clashy schedules we've had yet (praise be). But the weekend wasn't without incident. On Friday night, and to a much lesser degree on Saturday and Sunday night, long bus delays and general anarchy at the bus rally points saw off-site punters waiting for hours in the cold to get home and they were not happy about it. After social media erupted on Friday night and Saturday morning, Splendour released a statement the next day saying, "We had a significant change in the number of people getting dropped off and collected ... which threw our traffic plan into disarray." And they did fix it, eventually. Monday morning wasn't much better, thanks to a few bungles on the freeway. Camping punters waited in car lines for up to seven hours trying to get out of the campsite when they would really rather have been in bed. We only hope they sort it out for next year. Luckily, everyone was pretty well-behaved — and the po-po were pleased with our collective behaviour, citing only 323 drug related arrests (less than one percent of attendees) across the entire festival. Snaps all round, everyone. So what of the nosh and mosh scene for this year? We chomped and stomped our way through Splendour 2016, here's a little snippet of the best bits. EATS Like many festivals, the food lineup at Splendour is getting better each year and truly deserves a heading of its very own. Gone are the days spent subsisting on stale chips and soggy hot-dog buns, the SITG food offering is gourmet AF. Sydneysiders were suprised to see a recreation of The Unicorn pub right in the middle of the festival, from the brains behind Mary's, Porteno and Young Henrys. This pop-up pub would mark the entrance to The Very Small Suburb, with fellow locals Gelato Messina, Doughnut Time and Bourke Street Bakery peddling their wares to hungry punters. Single O, coffee roasters from Surry Hills, enjoyed lines around the (makeshift) block because if there's one thing hungover folk need, it's real coffee and lots of it. They were joined by Noosa's ever popular Nimo's Schnitzels, Sydney's Tsuru food truck serving up their fluffy pork belly bao buns, Govindas famous vegetarian fare (kofta balls will bring you back to life after a big one), best-in-show winners Brazza BBQ from the Gold Coast with their Brazillian chow and French fry cones, and everyone's favourite Hungarian festival treat, langos. And for dessert? Australia's insanely popular Doughnut Time even got their holey mitts on a Splendour stand — and it was bloody popular. Or you could have stood in line at the giant pink inflatable poo emoji (hilariously titled Mr Poopie by Cool Shit artists Hungry Castle) and grab a toilet ice cream. You heard me. But the real MVPs? Get Toasted, Byron Bay's OG toasted sandwich food truck, cranking out their insane mac and cheese toasties. The GT team served up their crispy, buttery life-saving sandies with more chirpiness and kind words than anyone has a right to expect at midnight on the third day of a festival. Hot tip for next Splendour, don't waste time with supermarket snacks — save up and ready yourself for a culinary tour of the festival grounds. [caption id="attachment_582301" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dro Carey[/caption] BEATS THE CURE What can be said about the Cure apart from lines of love-heart eye emojis? They're a band almost beyond critique and their tenure as the most relevant, long-serving players in rock is still deserved. Their physical vessels may have aged, but Robert Smith's voice has not and they're still as tight as a drum. They casually slayed a 2.5-hour set, breaking only occasionally and briefly to suck down essence of youth (and water, maybe). Tears flowed freely and 'Friday I'm in Love' was screamed to the stars. THE STROKES The Strokes played their only Australian show at Splendour and rounded out the first day of the festival with the veteran ease you'd expect, mixing fan service with some of their newer cuts and of course, encoring with 'Last Night'. If there is a better way to fall asleep than with Julian Casablancas' voice reverberating around your head, we haven't yet found it. THE AVALANCHES The Avalanches were the legendary wildcard of the lineup — and one of the most anticipated sets of the whole event. They haven't played a festival in over a decade and while the group has rocketed back into prominence recently thanks to their huge comeback album, Wildflower, they're as yet untested in the modern context. The result was little bit thrown together — including, y'know, lyrics read from an iPhone for 'Frankie Sinatra' — and there's something a wee bit unsatisfying about a sample-based show amongst a sea of live music. But we still loved it. Depending on how close you stood to the sound desk could have affected your experience, and we hope more intimate shows are ahead for this iconic crew. SIGUR ROS Icelandic angels Sigur Ros may have been the quiet hero of the whole festival. They didn't perform at the amphitheatre (which is a slight, in our opinion), but the Mix Up tent was more intimate and, thanks to a well-timed clash with Flume, the crowd was slightly older (imagine a lot of actual lighters in the air, coffees clutched to sensible skivvies and wet eyes). They brought their technical prowess to bear alongside their dramatic showmanship (there was a spine tingly-dingly moment when main man Jonsi held a sweet note for an inhumanly long time) and it was spectacular. They played a medley of their well-knowns and not-so-well-knowns to a backdrop of captivating, trippy visuals — quite possibly some of the best visuals of the festival, or were we just exhausted and emotional? We'll never know. JAMES BLAKE James Blake's music was made for festivals, not necessarily for the headbangers or kids who just want to see Flume, but for everyone who was after some texture in the lineup. Blake packed out the amphitheatre and from behind a synth, delivered his brand of crisp, complex, emotional music. His live show was impeccably timed, building in rhythm and intensity before unloading goosebumps on the crowd with feels-heavy hits 'Limit to Your Love' and 'Retrograde'. [caption id="attachment_582304" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kllo at the Tiny Dancer Stage[/caption] UP AND COMERS The SITG lineup always delivers some quality (and we mean quality) local talent. In fact, the pointy end of the lineup, usually housed at the Tiny Dancer stage, proved some of the most enjoyable surprises of the weekend. Melbourne cherubim Kllo destroyed the Tiny Dancer stage with their tight beats and clear vocals (their catchy AF single 'Bollide' sent shivers up collective spines). Brisbane boy and electronic muso Feki delivered a banging, dancey set, very different from his usual chill, and had the TD crowd frenetic at dusk on Sunday (check out his souped-up remix of James Blake's 'Retrograde' here). Melbourne producer Paces was joined by Guy Sebastian (can people stop robbing Shannon Noll of his due already?) to perform their Like A Version cover of LDRU's 'Keeping Score' (check out this vid of LDRU getting into it side of stage). While it's a disappointing to see only one woman and one female guest vocalist (Santigold and Avalanches guest vocalist Eliza Wolfgramm) in the first dozen acts on the lineup, the women who did make it absolutely nailed it. Big, official props to Melbourne's Sui Zhen and Banoffee, the OG babes Tegan and Sara, Courtney Barnett, Sampa the Great, Little May, Brisbane darling Emma Louise, Ngaiire, Kacy Hill, Lucy Cliché, Montaigne, Jess Kent, Wafia and all the other women grinding to make it in the music industry — you were splendid. Images: Luke Dalton.
Life in 2015 might not mean flying cars or anything else movies have promised us, but it does mean that we're all busy people. There's just so much to do and see and look at and choose from. But hardworking folks still like to relax with a drink in their hand, even if they don't have time to visit a bottle-o, and even if they are spoiled for choice. That's where life in 2015 does deliver, several times over: in online shops that offer a stellar range of craft beers, and then bring them to your door. Check out these five servicing Brisbane, and never complain about being too busy to stock the fridge — or not knowing what you want to drink — again. HOPS & CRAFT If you love craft beer, you're going to love Hops & Craft. They describe themselves as a home for craft lovers, and browsing their website, it's hard not to agree. Their online service and deliveries cover over 45 Australian brewers, ensuring that there's always something new and different to choose from, including bottles you won't find in most stores. Those in need of a little more surprise in their lives can sign up for the Love of Craft mystery dozen and reap the unknown rewards, or commit to a monthly subscription to sample the latest and greatest craft finds all year round. BEER BUD Sometimes you're feeling adventurous and want to taste a tipple you've never heard of before. Sometimes you're leaning more in the direction of an old favourite. Living up to the adage that variety is the spice of life, Beer Bud offers both, catering for the exploratory and comfortable palates alike. Their Critics' Choice mixed case is a particularly great starting point for anyone wanting to bridge both worlds, but be warned — once you start diving into their lengthy list of ales — including Feral Brewing Co, Kaiju! and Noisy Minor — you might not want to stop. We won't say we told you so, we promise. BACCHUS BREWING CO Looking for something local? And for something a little bit different? Well, look no further, thanks to Bacchus Brewing Co, a microbrewery operating out of Capalaba. Their physical operation is set up in the middle of a home brew store, as is their online shop, which gives you an indication of the product on offer: experimental, creative beers made with passion and flowing through one of their 27 in-house taps. At the time of writing, that includes such appetising sounding brews such as Sex Drugs & Rocky Road and Snickers Amber Ale, the more festive Pumpkin Pie Porter and Holy Moly Christmas Ale, plus the award-winning White Chocolate & Raspberry Pilsner. Yum. THE WINE EMPORIUM Don't be fooled by the name, as easy as that may prove. The Wine Emporium may shout its specialty in its title, but that doesn't mean it doesn't perform in other areas, too. The range of beer available to order online is nothing to sneeze at, offering more than 100 different options at the click of the button — and not just the usual suspects. The imported range is really something; however, the store's access to the tasty concoctions from local Brisbane microbreweries such as Green Beacon and Newstead is what'll keep you coming back to their website. LIQUORUN Okay, okay, it isn't strictly a shop — but it does allow you to browse from a decent selection of booze, and then delivers it to your door within 30 to 60 minutes. When you're after something in a hurry, Liquorun is a service that can't be beaten, with a lineup comparable to what you'd see at your local store. The trade-off comes in depth of range, courtesy of a focus on the bigger names in the industry; however, that's a price we'll willingly pay for such speedy turnaround times. Where else can you get your favourite brewski promptly transported from the shelf to your hand without leaving home? Now, that's what we call convenience.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, or quit your desk job and start that business you've always wanted to give a red hot go? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of ten bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. No stranger to the idea of taking a massive risk and steering one's life on to a completely new path, founder and co-owner of Sydney's Ramblin' Rascal Tavern Charlie Lehmann had a completely different plan before opening his own bar. From his early days as a bright-eyed bar back to the opening of his first venue, Charlie affords much of his recent success to the talents of those around him. Encouraged to turn away from politics and dive head first into the bartending world, his story shows just what can unfold when you're willing to take a chance. CHOOSE BARTENDING OVER POLITICS — REALLY Like a lot of us, Charlie first found himself behind the bar as a way of putting himself through university. Spending his days at UTS with his head in the books, his nights were filled with the less than glamorous duties of a bar back at the Hilton Hotel's swanky Marble Bar in Sydney. "I was clearing glasses like any great bartender starts off... and at the time I was studying, I thought I was going to go into politics or something like that," says Charlie. After paying his dues here for nearly a year, Charlie landed his first lucky break as a 22-year-old-student. "I got a chance to work up in Zeta Bar [the Hilton's premier cocktail bar] one night when they were down a man, and I watched the sequence of service, the professionalism and standards set by some great bartenders," he explains. But it didn't all go quite as planned. "I was making a whisky sour and completely kooked it — I forgot to put egg white in," he says. After being "taken aside and shown everything that's put into the cocktail and why," a burning curiosity for knowledge was sparked that, to this day, remains very much alive. SEIZE OPPORTUNITY IN UNEXPECTED PLACES "Studying politics, I became very jaded, and watching people who are a part of the political machine... I really didn't like it." Three unhappy months in the big smoke were more than enough to get Charlie searching for greener pastures — working casually for a share trading company didn't help either. Itching for an escape, his nights kicking back with a well-earned drink coincidently happened to offer up the perfect solution. "During that time I had been going to The Baxter Inn heaps and saw a job opportunity going there," says Charlie. Built on the philosophy 'everyone's welcome', owners Anton Forte and Jason Scott (responsible for the Swillhouse locations Shady Pines and Frankie's Pizza) gave Charlie the change he'd been craving for with a full-time post at Baxter's. A far cry from the cutthroat corporate attitudes of his last gig, Baxter's "had this family culture... We look after each other. Every single shift was like having a party, but with the highest of standards of service and interactions with customers," Charlie says. And it didn't take long for his 'rents to jump onside, with the venue placed in the Top 10 of the World's Best Bars for 2015, as voted for in Drinks International. TAKE A BIG OL' CHANCE — LIKE OPENING YOUR OWN BAR Amidst the tower seas of liquor, Charlie pulled long nights at The Baxter Inn for the next two years. "Learning the ins and outs of the bar, that's how you get to that level where my mentors or idols were," he says. Quenching his thirst for knowledge with every cocktail book he could get his hands on, Charlie rose up the ranks to become one of the most senior bartenders of the Swillhouse Group. Surrounded by such a talented crew of bartenders (turned fully-fledged mates) got Charlie considering his next projects. Alongside ex-Swillhouse pals Sebastian Soto and Dardan Shervashidze, years of bartending expertise and a few friendly knock-off sessions inspired the lads to open up a bar of their very own. Spoiler: it's a damn good one too. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Charlie rose to the task of delivering a knock-out proposal to secure a space for what would become the inner-city drinking den Ramblin' Rascal Tavern. "We were one of twelve people to put in our proposal for the site," he says. "I sat for two days busting out this proposal of what we wanted to do. It's pretty much just like selling yourself and your vision for the site." ENJOY THE BIG PAYOFF (AND TAKE A LITTLE ADVICE) Charlie's unwavering gusto worked and saw the birth of Ramblin' Rascal in April 2014, specialising in tongue-in-cheek cocktails, dark spirits and $6 tinnies. Charlie still nods back to the influence of his time working as a bar back and the general sense of camaraderie he felt as crucial to pushing him towards this latest venture. So what nuggets of wisdom does this seasoned bar owner have to offer up? First rule: "You have to do the hard yards." All of us have to start somewhere, as Charlie reveals, "I watched some of the best people in the game... and read a lot." Sure, turning down a stable corporate spot might seem like a step in the wrong direction. But as Charlie shows, taking a bit of a chance, channelling a little 'Sine Metu' and venturing into the unknown can go on to pay off big time in the end. "I have a degree. I finished my degree and really didn't want to use it. I was going out into the world and finally finding this place where I was really comfortable." Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website.
It's the end of a midweek working day, so you're hankering for a spot of internet whimsy. Lucky for you, a group of film-savvy go-getters have created one hell of a cinematic mash-up: The Uncanny X-Men by Patrick Willems. Asking the question we've all wanted to ask, 'What if Wes Anderson Directed X-Men?' this movie-lovin' crew took months and months to create this little smirk-inducing video. Sure, it's not made by the Duke of Twee himself, but it's a nice way to appreciate both your favourite mutant taskforce and your go-to picture book director. This isn't the first time Willems and the crew have dabbled in parody. They also made What if Tommy Wiseau Directed 'Batman'? and What if Sergio Leone Directed 'The Punisher'?. In their latest Wes-capade, Professor X, Jean Grey, Wolverine and the Devo-looking mutant crew get the Tenenbaum treatment, with plenty of adorable references to Rushmore, Bottle Rocket and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. There's even a few cross-section house shots, and that Futura overlay. X-Men needs more slow-mo Wes moments, is all we can say. Via Polygon.
When you've been screening movies under the stars for 25 years, it's worth celebrating that fact. And when you're hosting your newest season of outdoor flicks in a year of significant worldwide change, giving viewers something comfortable and reliable to watch is a mighty sensible approach. Moonlight Cinema is doing both when it returns for the summer of 2020–21, all by packing its program with a heap of film favourites — so get ready to kick back on the grass and watch Moulin Rouge!, Black Panther, When Harry Met Sally, Bohemian Rhapsody and Dirty Dancing. Indeed, there's a definite retro air to Moonlight's lineup this year — which arrives after the outdoor cinema first announced that it was definitely returning in this chaotic period, and then revealed its exact dates. Between Friday, November 27–Sunday, February 21, the event will head to Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland with a heap of old-school flicks. You'll also be able to see some recent releases, in case you haven't had the chance since cinemas started reopening. In the classic camp, a week of Christmas films will help you feel merry, with Die Hard, Love Actually, Elf, Home Alone, The Grinch and The Nightmare Before Christmas on the bill. Or, if you'd like to revisit non-festive faves from the past few years, you can check out The Greatest Showman, Frozen II, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: Civil War. From this year's releases, there's a little bit of everything. Christopher Nolan's Tenet will screen in the evening air, this year's new version of The Secret Garden will play surrounded by plenty of grass, and Australian comedy Rams — about feuding sheep-farmer brothers — will do the same. There's also Russell Crowe getting angry over the phone and in his car in thriller Unhinged, the cringe-worthy teen romance of After We Collided and the delightful Dickens adaptation that is The Personal History of David Copperfield. It's also worth remembering that Moonlight Cinema isn't BYO in Brisbane— but there'll be food trucks, a bar, snacks and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along, too.
First it was cupcakes, then it was brownies, and now it's doughnuts; Brisbane sure loves a sweet treat. It can't have escaped anyone's attention that purveyors of tasty pastries are popping up all over the city, and now two more are about to join the fold. Say hello to The Doughnut Bar and Donut Boyz. It's kind of a second greeting for the Doughnut Bar, given that they've been calling the CBD their temporary home since April — and that's when they're not doing the rounds at markets in their brightly painted van. Their short stays around the city have been so successful that they're now opening a permanent Wintergarden base. Come late June, you'll find their cafe trading all day to service your doughnut needs. Over in West End, Donut Boyz opens its doors on June 12, bringing iced delights to the other side of the river. Anyone in the vicinity of Boundary Street will have a new place to get their sugar fix from. Their full menu is yet to be revealed, but their salted caramel popcorn donuts sound like bliss. It all sounds like dessert heaven, actually, and a good reason to wear stretchy pants more often. More doughnuts — or donuts, if we're being democratic — is never a bad thing, whichever way you prefer to spell it. Find the Doughnut Bar in the Wintergarden, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, from late June, and visit their Facebook page for details of the market stalls. Find Donut Boyz at 93 Boundary Street, West End from June 12, and visit their Facebook page for more information. Image: Donut Boyz.
Next week marks the beginning of Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the biggest art fairs in Asia. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and installation will all be on display, in an event designed to showcase the work of thousands of artists from all around the world. But the work of one man in particular appears to be in particularly good taste (geddit?). Uwe Opocensky, the German chef at the Michelin-starred Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, has put together a menu that blurs the line between food and art. The aptly named Art Menu at the Mandarin Grill + Bar begins with an entree inspired by the most iconic artwork of Englishman Damien Hirst. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living features a 14-foot shark suspended in a tank of formaldehyde. Opocensky's version consists of a mackerel floating in horseradish-flavoured cucumber jelly. The main course is modelled after a box of paints, with different coloured purees including mashed sweet potato, brown truffles, black garlic paste and red peppers, as well as a slice of beef covered in edible flowers. And for dessert, an ice cream filled chocolate mountain on a bed of popping candy, inspired by the mountaineering photography of Chinese artist Xu Zhen. As with many things in the world of high art, Oponcensky's elaborate dinner doesn't come cheap: $HK1888 ($AU320) a head. Pretty pricey, especially when you won't have anything to show for it at the end of the night. "What we make has a very short life span," Opocensky said to Quartz. "It is very exciting though. I cannot draw to save my life, but I can put things on a plate, and I love that we can be associated with art as a movement" Via Quartz.
Each September, as the weather warms up and spring begins to truly blossom, music fiends head to Brisbane and spend some time in, well, dark rooms. Over a few days, the Queensland capital becomes the centre of the Australian music universe, with artists and industry practitioners doing what they do best — rocking out, discovering new talent, partying and discussing the future of Australian music. First appearing in 2002, BIGSOUND is a conference, festival and celebration of Australia's best musical talent. Each year, it takes over the inner city Fortitude Valley area, attracting 1300 delegates and more than 6000 music fans. The festival's previous lineups read like a dream: Flume, Rufus, Courtney Barnett, Megan Washington, The Temper Trap, A.B. Original, REMI and Gang of Youths have all graced its stages, while Nick Cave, Neil Finn, Kim Gordon, Billy Bragg and Amanda Palmer have shared their knowledge, experience and wisdom. The event itself isn't the only source of fun, however. At this time of year, the sun is shining, the vibe is buzzing and Brisbane is truly jumping. In fact, with a vibrant cultural scene and an array of delicious dining options on offer, it's the perfect time to discover just why Australia's third-largest city is one of the country's gems. Some Australian events (like this one) are worthy of a road trip, and aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing BIGSOUND into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you plan your out-of-the-city trips ahead of time, so you can detour from your regular routine and inject a little adventure into your life. Here's how to spend your days before, during and after your trip to Brisbane — where to stay, what to do, and what to eat and drink from September 5 to 8. [caption id="attachment_498758" align="alignnone" width="1127"] Limes Hotel Rooftop.[/caption] STAY Over the past decade, Brisbane has become a boutique hotel wonderland — the Fortitude Valley area in particular. If you have some cash to spare, the Emporium leads the pack with their rock star-like indulgence — think dark interiors, a rooftop pool and a killer view of the Valley. Still staying central, the nearby Limes Hotel remains a favourite for its plush rooms and rooftop bar, as well as its proximity to beloved local haunts like Alfredo's Pizzeria and Alfred and Constance. Looking for something a little bit different (or cheaper)? For the artistically inclined, TRYP Fortitude Valley wears its love of street art on its walls — once a warehouse, it's now an affordable option that's appealing to both the eyes and the wallet. Or, look to resident budget option, the Snooze Inn, to save as many pennies as possible for having fun rather than hitting the hay. It's cosy rather than fancy, and is located literally just down the road from the Valley — meaning you'll remain close to everything BIGSOUND, as well as neighbourhood arcade-game bar, Netherworld. [caption id="attachment_622127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tkay Maizda at BIGSOUND.[/caption] DO This year at BIGSOUND, Aussie icons Archie Roach and Tina Arena will lead the speaker program, as well as Quentin Tarantino's regular music supervisor Mary Ramos, aka the woman responsible for all of those ace tunes on the Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and Kill Bill soundtracks. As far as the band schedule is concerned, prepare to hop around faster than a rabbit on Easter, with every bar, space, nook and cranny around Fortitude Valley boasting a gig or party. The official program will include over 150 acts at more than 15 venues, and the unofficial parties — which have included backyard blowouts and ping pong showdowns in previous years — will likely double that number. When you're not experiencing sonic wonders, you should spend your time wandering around Australia's only designated special entertainment precinct, and venturing further afield. In the Valley, keep indulging your love of music with a record store crawl — starting at Foundry Records and ending at Tym's Guitars, where you can scope out a hefty range of instruments. And while you're strolling and perusing, drop by some of the many galleries in the area — Artisan, the Institute of Modern Art and Heiser Gallery are all worth a visit (keep your eyes peeled for street art as well). [caption id="attachment_622138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Institute of Modern Art.[/caption] If spending time inside during BIGSOUND has you hankering for some fresh air, sneak a trip to New Farm Park. Enjoy a picnic by the river, laze around on the grass, or just go for a walk through one of the city's best nature-filled spots. You could also stop by the neighbouring Brisbane Powerhouse — more often than not, there'll be an event on that's worth checking out. If the itch to keep exploring hits, jump on a CityCat and see the sights from the river. Go one way, and you can continue soaking in parklands at Northshore Riverside Park. Go the other, and you'll cruise right through the city. Disembark for a walk through South Bank, and go for a dip in the free, beach-like pools, before moseying around the Gallery of Modern Art. [caption id="attachment_581014" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gerard's Bistro.[/caption] EAT Spending four days listening to chatter about music is enough to work up an appetite. Thankfully, you're in the right spot. Heading down to Chinatown, which runs adjacent to the Brunswick Street Mall, is the best way to get the classic Fortitude Valley experience. You can easily pick a place at random, or opt for one of the mainstays. For Chinese and yum cha, that's King of Kings, and for Vietnamese, the appropriately-named The Vietnamese Restaurant will treat your tastebuds to an explosion of flavour. Try the salt and pepper quail, and thank us later. In the opposite direction, you'll find a few Brisbane faves. If you like burgers — and this is a burger town, believe us — then Ben's Burgers on Winn Lane will satisfy your cravings with their simple, delicious menu. Or, leap over the road to Bakery Lane, where newcomer Johnny's Pizzeria combines Italian staples with a disco theme, and I Heart Brownies will have you doing just that with their jaffa, salted caramel and cherry-coconut baked goods. Sticking with the area's laneways, wander down to New Farm and off James Street to Gerard's Bistro for a relaxed, award-winning sit-down lunch or dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Expect a blend of modern Australian and Middle Eastern dishes, including the adventurous likes of lamb's tongue toast, the meaty goodness of slow-roasted wagyu brisket for two, and sheep's yoghurt sorbet with honeycomb, milk and orange blossom for dessert. [caption id="attachment_619623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Newstead Brewing Co.[/caption] DRINK Think beer in Queensland, and everyone immediately thinks XXXX. Think breweries, though, and it's a trip to the inner north that's recently started topping booze-loving Brisbane visitors' wish lists. Newstead Brewing have spread their wings and opened a new Milton headquarters, but their original Doggett Street birthplace is always pouring something yeasty from their 12 taps. Green Beacon's multi-award-winning 3 Bolt Pale will ensure you know exactly where you are thanks to notes of fresh mango — and other fruits — in its fresh, golden ale. And a post-gig hang out over a few beverages in The Triffid's beer garden, owned by Powderfinger bassist John Collins, will do you well. Fans of spirits can get their fix at tequila bar Alquimia and whisky haven Nant, and if you like the bubbly stuff, even champagne gets its time to sparkle at Baedeker. As for every other bar in the area, you'll probably end up at most of them anyway, thanks to BIGSOUND's huge gig lineup. BIGSOUND 2017 takes place in various venues across Brisbane and Fortitude Valley from September 5 to 8. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
There's something about food trucks that will never go out of style. It's quality food, but instead of being artfully plated up on ceramics, the chefs lean down and hand you your meal in a paper tray. Sydney-based Eat Art Truck was one of the first to really take off, with its American barbecue street food infused with fine dining and bright, colourful trucks that feature the work of local artists. Specialities on the menu are the eight-hour smoked pulled pork bun, the slow-roasted beef brisket bun and the crispy fried chicken bun. There are nachos, salads, fancier dishes like the kingfish entrée, and desserts like flourless chocolate cake. Once a month an artist will paint a piece on the side of the truck, and at the end of the month the piece is auctioned off for charity — so folks get a serving of culture along with their fries. To celebrate the launch of the KitchenAid Mini in Australia, we created a Mini Dinners video series, asking two of our favourite Australian chefs to throw a dinner party. Brenton Balicki, one of Eat Art Truck's founding chefs, cooked us up a feast. He has a fine dining background, having spent years working at the iconic Japanese restaurant Tetsuya before moving on to Quay. When Eat Art Truck owner Mo Moubayed came to Brenton with the idea for the truck, it sounded like a challenge, so he got on board. He likes the relaxed nature of the truck in contrast to the precision of fine dining. "Fine dining is something you have to put in your calendar," he says. "But at the truck you can get the same quality food and we can share that fine dining experience without needing the fine dining environment." Brenton's professional background instilled in him the importance of good produce, so when he cooks at home he regularly takes trips down to the Sydney Fish Markets, where Australia is lucky enough to have some of the best produce in the world. "It's difficult to come up with the right outcome without the correct equipment — that includes the right produce." For his dinner party, Brenton rode down to the Sydney Fish Markets and picked up some kingfish, fresh vegetables and beef from the nearby Vic's Meat Market. It's a one-stop shop. Playing to his strengths, Brenton decided to cook up some of his specialities. All three of these dishes have appeared in some form on the Eat Art Truck menu. For entrée, beetroot-cured hiramasa kingfish, served on a plate that was given to him by Tetsuya Wakuda for his 19th birthday. It's his favourite thing to cook with. "The name really says it all — it's the best fish you can get. It's farmed in South Australia on a strict diet and grown in cold water, which is what gives it a high fat content." For the main course, a classic Eat Art Truck burger. "Everyone claims their burger recipe is the best. That's because when you make it yourself you can decide exactly what goes in there, you have more control over the flavour that you like." For dessert, he kept it simple with a flourless, sugarless chocolate cake made with almond meal. It's an easy dessert that anyone can whip up. Take a few minutes and watch Brenton plate up his Eat Art Truck food — and get inspired, his recipes are coming soon. Watch our Mini Dinner with Liam O'Driscoll, head chef at Sydney's Big Poppa's. He cooked up three courses of the rustic Italian food his Oxford Street restaurant is famous for. Images: Samantha Hawker.
Melbourne-based artist Adnate was just a kid when his obsession with graffiti took over. "I had my first tag when I was eight years old," he says. "So, it's something I've always been into." Since then, his obsession has grown into a full-time occupation. He spends his days on the road, painting mural after mural around Australia and overseas, and has become famous for his enormous, realistic portraits, which are influenced by the great Renaissance artists, like Caravaggio. Just outside Sydney's Chinese Gardens, on Harbour and Goulburn Streets, you'll find his epic impression of Jenny Munro, who founded Redfern's Aboriginal Tent Embassy. In partnership with Sonos, we visited Adnate's colourful North Melbourne studio to find out a little more about his work. Explore the multi-room space where he finds inspiration and gets in the zone by playing his music loud and clear. GRAFFITI, STREET ART, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? "Once I was a teenager and started visiting friend's houses, I saw the huge amount of amazing work being done on Melbourne's train lines, especially the Hurstbridge line. I discovered people like WCA [Wild Child Artists]," he said. Ten years of feverish graffiti art followed, until Adnate reached a point where "he wasn't feeling stimulated anymore". So, he thought he'd try his hand at portraiture. As it turned out, it wasn't as far removed from graffiti as you might think. "With lettering, you try and put a lot of expression, style and subconscious emotions into what you do. It wasn't too hard to transition to portraiture because, in some ways, it's easier to put expression into a face than into letters." In 2012, he painted his first Indigenous portrait in Fitzroy. And the public reaction was a "big turning point". "I wasn't sure about it, but as soon as I painted it, it created a massive dialogue," Adnate says. "I started seeing it on the Internet, people were coming down and taking photos, and it was creating excitement and pride in Indigenous communities in Victoria. It was then I realised I'd done something really powerful." ON PAINTING INDIGENOUS CULTURE RESPECTFULLY Today, you'll find Adnate's portraits as far afield as the Frog Hollow in the East Kimberley, Singapore and New York City. Among his subjects have been Adam Goodes and the 14th Dalai Lama. "Every year, I have more incredible experiences, make stronger connections and travel to more amazing places. Half the fun of my work is getting to meet the people I paint … It has been a really powerful journey and I feel very much inspired by it." Along the way, Adnate is learning more and more about Indigenous history and culture. "You don't learn much at school, so when I started out, I didn't have much knowledge … I met a cultural advisor in Melbourne, Kimba Thompson, and she quickly and strongly told me what was right and wrong … It's important to be culturally sensitive, follow protocols and be respectful to local communities. Many people think that Indigenous culture is very similar – from Melbourne to the Top End – but it's massively different. We're talking about a distance that's as far as from Spain to Germany." THE MUSIC THAT INSPIRES HIM Right now, Adnate is in Dubbo, working on a 15-metre by 8-metre high mural. Even though he works both outdoors and indoors, he has long favoured painting in the streets, with the sun on his back and music blaring in his ears. "I can't paint without music," he says. "It puts me in the zone — in a meditative state — and helps me block out everything else. My music tastes are very eclectic. I grew up listening to all forms of electronic music and hip hop." At the moment, he's listening to Kiasmos, a minimal, experimental techno duo based in Iceland. When he's at home in his studio, music is even more important. His Sonos speakers tune themselves to the environment of his spacious studio, so whether he's painting in his garage or sitting at his desk doing admin, the sound is loud and clear. He plays his music loudly for inspiration — it's integral to his artistic work. WHEN HE'S OUTSIDE THE STUDIO Adnate's next stop is Townsville and then Tahiti. Even though he occasionally misses having "his own space", having spent just three weeks in Melbourne since June, he is living the dream. He said, "It's always been a great dream of mine, to travel and paint." And for anyone who aspires to the same, here's his advice. "Don't stop. Keep painting. Everything's worth doing – whether you're painting a chicken for a chicken shop or graffiti letters for yourself. Everything teaches you something different. Nothing's not going to benefit you, as long as you have a pencil or paint brush in your hand … Eventually, it all starts making sense, though, at the same time, it doesn't always make sense to me. I'm still learning." Get studio-level sound in your home with multi-room speakers by Sonos. You can walk from one room to another and hear the same song in perfect quality. Powered by wifi, easy to tune, controlled by the Sonos app — in two steps you're ready to go. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier.
Filipinos may drink the most gin in the world, but they're not simply lovers of this botanical libation. While San Miguel makes the region's most popular, easy-drinking beers, Manila's emerging craft beer market has swiftly become the talk of the town. When it comes to craft beer, Manila is way ahead of the pack and on the level of Hong Kong and Japan as a leader of the craft beer revolution in Asia. While the country's capital alone houses over ten microbreweries already, a few smaller breweries are also popping up in the southern islands, including Cebu and Palawan. Filipinos are going for the range, brewing everything from deep stouts and bold IPAs to tropical, fruity beers and highly alcoholic ginger beers. If you're a craft beer fanatic heading to Manila, we've got your back — here's which beers to drink and where to find them. [caption id="attachment_618703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katipunan Craft Ales.[/caption] WHERE TO DRINK You're spoilt for choice with Manila's nightlife, which rivals New York City in its love of late-night partying and all-hours dining. It seems there's always a new joint popping up, and this is especially true of the budding craft bar scene. It's always a party at Big Bad Wolf, with live acts a constant accompaniment to their craft brew offering. Beers to keep an eye out for here are Summer Sessions blonde ale by Craftpoint and 'Signal No.1', a stout made by Katipunan Craft. Both are Manila-based breweries so you know the brews will be fresh as. Another, simply called The Brewery at the Palace, serves up its own brews from gorgeous copper tanks visible from the restaurant floor. The rustic interior well matches the old-world-looking brewing equipment and the beers are as impressive as the place makes them look. They're brewing up some serious beers here, including an alcoholic ginger beer at a surprising seven percent ABV. The Perfect Pint is your go to for an ever-changing, extensive craft beer list and fusion Filipino-Western food that goes all too well. If you're lucky enough to find Pedro's Procrastination pale ale on tap, don't pass it by. These brewers were inspired by the craft beer scene in Hong Kong and turn out some of the most impressive brews in Manila. Out of all of the craft beer joints in the city though, Kabisera is not to be missed. They're serving up authentic Filipino pulutan, or drunk food, and craft beer in a relaxed, well-designed dining room playing some killer tunes. The menu of street food, including fish balls and kwek-kwek (deep fried quail egg) is a great drinking accompaniment, as is the sisig bangus (sizzling fish) and array of noodle dishes. Kabisera houses all of the usual craft beer suspects, along with speciality brews from the southern islands, including Cebu's Cebruery and Palaweño Brewery — Palawan's first and only craft brewery. [caption id="attachment_618701" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nipa Brew.[/caption] WHAT TO DRINK When in Manila, keep an eye out for these locals in the craft brew scene: Pedro Brewcrafters Katipunan Craft Ales Craftpoint Brewing Co. The Brewery at the Palace Baguio Craft Brewery Palaweño Brewery Cebruery Turning Wheels NIPA Brew
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. Or you could just go see the new Star Wars movie for the third time. That's also a totally valid option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMf9m7FXd4 LA LA LAND We give it: 4 stars A surefire contender at this year's Academy Awards, Damien Chazelle's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Whiplash is a bittersweet love letter to music, movies and the old school sense of romance we associate with both. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are at their charming best as a pair of dreamers who fall madly in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles, only for their creative ambitions to get in the way. The film is beautifully shot, and its toe-tapping song and dance numbers will leave you with a gigantic smile on your face. Also: tears. Oh boy, will there be tears. – Tom Clift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI MOANA We give it: 4 stars The latest film from the Disney animation juggernaut, Moana hits all the right marks. Indeed, it's a cocktail of all of the best elements of the Disney princess genre – a desperate quest, a charismatic supporting cast, catchy tunes and an animal sidekick – but with one subtle but important difference. Unlike most Disney princesses, Moana doesn't need a training montage to become a boss bitch, because she already is one. She's a beautiful role model, maybe the best Disney princess ever. And the score, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i, is the music she deserves. Prepare your ears to hear the main refrain 'How Far I'll Go' more than that damn 'Let It Go' song from Frozen. We ain't mad, though, because it's the perfect summer jam. – Imogen Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50 A UNITED KINGDOM We give it: 4 stars As far as rousing romances based on real-life stories go, Amma Asante's A United Kingdom hits the jackpot. Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo star as typist Ruth Williams and future president of Botswana Seretse Khama, whose romance in the years following WWII challenged racial divisions and provoked widespread international attention. The film provides an example of solid emotional storytelling from start to finish. Complications keep forcing the star-crossed lovers in opposite directions, but they never lose sight of what's important. Nor does Asante or writer Guy Hibbert, who are at their best when swapping easy sentiment for quiet fortitude. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl3sTpmEKIs RED DOG: TRUE BLUE We give it: 3.5 stars Five years ago, a little local film with a lot of heart scampered its way into cinemas — and into the country's box office records. Given the tail-wagging success of Red Dog, a follow-up was all but inevitable. Still, while there's much that's familiar about Red Dog: True Blue, it still earns every bit of emotion that oozes from this second trip into family-friendly territory. This time around, the eponymous pooch gets an origin story starting in 1968, and a lonely boy (Pan's Levi Miller) gets a new best friend. For their part of the bargain, viewers get a broad, crowd-pleasing, affectionate effort that's certain to make everyone fall in love with the red-coloured canine all over again. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qksQSt8K830 WHY HIM? We give it: 3 stars "Produced by Ben Stiller. Story by Jonah Hill. Starring James Franco." Put those things together and you already know what you'll get: fart jokes, dick jokes, poo jokes, semon jokes, stoners, swearing and sex. And yet, true to form, you also get laughs. Not as many as you might have hoped for given the involvement of Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally and Keegan-Michael Key, but maybe just enough to keep you entertained. In this modern day riff on Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, Cranston's daughter invites her family out to Silicon Valley to meet her eccentric tech millionaire boyfriend Laird, whereupon daddy decides to go to war with the very idea of their relationship. Too often the film turns to the loud and the wacky for easy laughs, when all the best material comes in the gentler, well-directed barbs at San Fran startup culture. Franco steals the show, forging Laird into a genuinely endearing character whose vulnerabilities lie bare like the tattoos adorning his torso. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlp94-C31cY ALLIED We give it: 3 stars Partially styled after and sharing its initial setting with classic World War II romance Casablanca, Allied poses an age-old question in a specific context: how well does anyone actually know each other, particularly married couples who've started a family together while the planet battles it out around them. Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard mightn't boast overwhelmingly convincing chemistry together, but each turn in fine performances as a Canadian intelligence officer and French resistance fighter, respectively, whose pairing on an undercover mission soon leads to a genuine connection. Obviously pitched at an older crowd, Allied is an elegant affair that seems like a response to the complaint that they just don't make them like they used to. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrWjjOOYxhI SING We give it: 3 stars On paper, animal karaoke caper Sing sounds like reality television turned into a star-studded cartoon – albeit in a form that aims to make viewers feel warm and fuzzy rather than inducing a serious case of cringe. On screen, the latest film from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow director Garth Jennings plays out just as you'd expect, though it thankfully remains fun enough despite its obvious formula. Think bright colours, a bouncy pace, recognisable songs a plenty, Matthew McConaughey voicing a theatre-owning koala, and the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon and Eddie the Eagle's Taron Egerton among the cast. If you're looking for a film to keep youngsters distracted, this animated effort should do nicely. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_3CL12eNaE ROSALIE BUM We give it: 2.5 stars While Rosalie Blum bears the name of Noémie Lvovsky's protagonist— a middle-aged corner store-owner saddened by past pain – the intertwined fates of three individuals sit at the centre of this light and breezy effort. Adapted from a series of graphic novels, the film – a hit at this year's Alliance Francaise French Film Festival – explores the story not just of Rosalie, but also the hairdresser who starts following her every move, and the college student (and Rosalie's niece) who starts shadowing him in turn. Coincidence and contrivance rear their head, though so does a genuine understanding of the interplay between unhappiness and escapism. The result is a well-acted but often a tad too convenient movie about coping with life's ups and downs. – Sarah Ward If you're looking to steer well clear of cinemas on Boxing Day, why not check out one of our favourite films from throughout the year instead. Words by Imogen Baker, Tom Clift, Tom Glasson and Sarah Ward.
Festival-loving Eastsiders, clear your schedules for the second week of November. Not only is the beloved Bulimba Festival returning after funding issues threatened otherwise, but what was a single day of fun has now turned into a whole week of activities. Running from November 9 to 15, the fifth annual Oxford Street-centric party has moved to later in the year — and that's not the end of the good news. After six days of showcasing what makes living in the riverside suburb so great, the festival will come to an end with the mixture of music and markets that is Lunch on the Lawn, headlined by local indie legends The Grates. Given that the Southside Tea Room and Death Valley — the two Morningside establishments owned by the band's vocalist Patience Hodgson and guitarist John Patterson — are only a stone's throw away from Bulimba, they're the ideal to candidates to cap off what promises to be an exciting revamped event. Lunch on the Lawn also boasts all the browsing regulars know and flock to, plus food options, a licensed area and a VIP bar. Those heading along for the tunes will be treated to a lineup of some of Brisbane’s best burgeoning bands — including Cheap Fakes, Halfway, Avaberee, Eden Mulholland and Greg Chaipello — as brought together by The Triffid. The rest of the festival features everything from a tasting day to showcase the area's best eateries to the suburb's first No Lights No Lycra dance party, plus movies in the park on Friday the 13th and a river regatta. Yes, there really is something for everyone. Yes, that really is how you throw a suburb-wide celebration. The 2015 Bulimba Festival runs from November 9 to 15 at various venues across the suburb. For more information, visit the festival website.
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “How old is too old to use a ball pit? Will it be creepy if I dive right in?” Well, wonder no more (although for the record, the answer to both is 'never, if it's art'). NY studio Snarkitecture have created a massive, minimalist ball pit at in the National Building Museum in DC that will transport you to another dimension (one populated with opaque white balls and fulfilled childhood dreams). The project, titled The Beach, utilises 750,000 recyclable (thank god) plastic balls enclosed in the towering, Grecian columns of the National Museum to create a surreal beach scene; a bizarre juxtaposition of old and new. White deck chairs are lined up along the artificial shore and the mirrored wall at the back of the space makes Snarkitecture's beach seem to go on forever and ever. Like most high-fiveable things these days, the project was crowdfunded by the people of Washington DC who said definitively, “Yes, we do want a giant ball pit, kthnxbai,” and raised $12,155 in a month. The funding has gone towards building the beach and stocking it with deck chairs, pool toys and snack vendors to create the perfect beach experience for people who generally hate the outdoors. The interactive exhibit patriotically opened on July 4 and will run until September 7, which is still enough time to buy a plane ticket, escape winter and get away to the beach. Watch a nifty timelapse of the buiding of The Beach here: Via designboom. Images: Noah Kalina and snarkitecture.
While Australia is still a ways off legal weed yet, our friends in California appear to be living in a stoner's paradise. One of the more laissez-faire places when it comes to marijuana – it's legal for medicinal use, while possession will cop you a $100 fine at most – the state already caters to smokers with dispensaries and delivery services. So really, a cannabis social club was the next logical step. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Nexus Social Lounge is an endeavour of Nexus Glass, a company that specialises in pipes and other glassware, and provides a welcoming place for patrons to, uh, medicate. The bar is decked out with a full blown arcade, complete with retro games and pinball machines. Elite Daily went along to the venue earlier this week and caught a performance by Waka Flocka Flame – who also spent some time interacting with patrons from behind the bar. Who want some Flockaveli OG ???? Coming soon to dispensary near you. @wakaflocka A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:48am PST @wakaflocka at the dab bar A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Feb 4, 2016 at 6:34pm PST Recap | 2015 NYE Party A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:23pm PST Recap | NYE Party @808mafiaboss @westcoastcure A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Jan 13, 2016 at 11:05pm PST Tag someone who you'd go head to head with. #highscore #110 #nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Social lounge (@nexussociallounge) on Nov 26, 2015 at 6:26pm PST We offer exclusive parties in collaboration with some of the industries finest to provide a unique experience like no other, our private member-only lounge cannot be matched. #nexussociallounge @nexussociallounge A photo posted by Nexus Glass (@nexusglass710) on Nov 25, 2015 at 2:07pm PST On a semi-related note, Victoria recently became the first state in Australia to take steps towards legalising medicinal marijuana, with the Andrews government tabling a report in parliament by the Victorian Law Reform Commission that recommended legalising the drug for the treatment of serious illnesses. Baby steps, people. Via Elite Daily.
Myer and eBay have joined forces to take online shopping to the next level with their creation of the world's first Virtual Reality Department Store. Available today, their cardboard 'shoptical' device allows users to browse, personalise, and purchase over 12,500 Myer products just with your face. The best part — they're giving out 15,000 of them for free. For our sceptical readers who didn't automatically click away at the word free, here's the deal. The 'shoptical' device seems pretty simple — you download the eBay VR Department Store app on your smart phone and insert the phone into the cardboard shoptical — very, very similar to Google Cardboard's design. You can then browse, research and eventually purchase any item in the catalogue by holding your gaze on a product. The VR store is continually personalised while you use it and will suggest products based on what it knows about you. Creepy? Yes. Convenient? Also yes. While the new VR Store doesn't quite diminish the age old online shopping problem of ordering without trying on, the shopticals do give an unprecedented, up close and personal view of products – think 3D images that take you inside the jumper you're looking at. The product range, pricing and stock information will also be updated in real time, which is a brand new feat for virtual reality experiences. For those looking to try before they buy, you can trial the VR Department Store by booking your place at a special exhibition on Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20 at The Harbourside Room, Level 6, 140 George Street in Sydney. While this device may not be for the old school shoppers out there, it's definitely a huge leap forward for online converts. If you made it this far and still think this sounds bloody brilliant, we just want to repeat that they're really giving out 15,000 for free.
Perler beads aren't just for making and ironing into cat pendants any more. Swedish artist Pappas Parlor has teamed up with duo The Very Best to create an 8-bit video for the duo's newest single 'Let Go'. With all the nostalgic joy of a platform, 8-bit game, the video was actually created using tiny perler beads (yep, those beads you used to make gerberas, cats and unicorns out of as a kid and iron them into permanence). Unsurprisingly, Parlor's video took over a month to create; painstakingly arranging the perler beads as 'pixels' and editing the whole thing as stop motion. The clip follows The Very Best bandmates Johan Hugo and Esau Mwamwaya scurrying through different platform environments in a two-player set-up, and meeting Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio and The Vaccines’ Freddie Cowan along the way. Mwamwaya and Hugo run through their homelands, hotfooting it away from 'enemies' specific to their locations — in Mwamwaya’s southeast African home of Malawi, they run from the local street dogs, in Hugo's Swedish homeland, they run from a fox, polar bears... and the ring-wing political party. "We tried to come up with funny things that could happen in the video as well as address some of our more serious concerns," Johan told Wired. Most importantly, how do they beat the bosses in each level? Dance-offs, naturally. Try that, Mario. The Very Best’s new album Makes a King drops April 7. Check out the video for 'Let Go' here. Via Wired.
Jarryd James has had a bloody big year. The Brisbane-raised, former teaching student dropped his slam dunk of a debut LP Thirty One in September, blitzed the Australian charts and festival circuit. Oh, and casually won his first ARIA for Best Pop Release. Since his single, ‘Do You Remember?’ hit number two on the ARIA charts in February, James has been selling out huge national venues like Sydney’s Metro Theatre and playing to one of Splendour’s biggest crowds. ‘Do You Remember?’ has now racked up more than 2 million YouTube views, and he's in the middle of an east coast tour with fellow Aussie Meg Mac. And that’s all in one year. Everyone needs a little holiday, even if you're road tripping around the country's venues. And touring artists love paying a visit to their hometowns on the way, dropping into all their old haunts and stocking up on solid family and friends time. So after his huge gig at The Tivoli last night, we decided to give James a little challenge: take a holiday in his hometown of Brissy. BLACK BIRD BAR & GRILL "This is one of my favourite restaurants in Brisbane. It sits by the river, with real nice views of the Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point etc. The food is amazing — I pretty much always get the rib eye on the bone, and they have a great bar." 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane THE WYNNUM MANLY LEAGUES BOWLS CLUB "I used to live right around the corner from here, and it is the perfect spot to hang out with friends and play a game that, let's face it, you will all suck at. Cheap beers and it's really peaceful, plus it's right near the waters of Moreton Bay." 92 Wondall Road, Manly West THE OLD CLEVELAND LIGHTHOUSE "This is a really nice spot where you can go if you want to have really good seafood and relax by the ocean. I know I sound like a 70-year-old retiree when I say that, but that's totally fine with me." North Street, Cleveland BEN'S BURGERS "I do realise that most of these are based around food. Ben's Burgers is perfect for anyone who has visited the United States of America, tasted the horribly delicious things, but cannot afford to go back." 5 Winn Street, Fortitude Valley VICTORIA PARK GOLF COMPLEX DRIVING RANGE "A really great place to go if you are too lazy to actually play golf. Which is me. It overlooks the city and it's real nice. There's also food there." Herston Road, Brisbane JARRYD JAMES AND MEG MAC'S EAST COST TOUR DATES: December 4 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney December 10 — The Tivoli, Brisbane December 14 — The Fourm, Melbourne Read our full-length interview with Jarryd James right over here. Images: Blackbird Bar & Grill, Curtis Cronn (Flickr), bertknot (Flickr), Ben's Burgers, Dollar Photo Club. By Shannon Connellan and Jasmine Crittenden.
Not going overseas this winter? Luckily, you'll still have the chance to take a bite out of some Big Apple arts and culture, as Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria plays host to an exclusive exhibition showcasing works from New York's prestigious Museum of Modern Art. Debuting today and set to run until October 7, MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art will feature over 200 modern and contemporary masterpieces, many on their first ever visit to Australia. Taking over the entire ground floor of NGV International, it's certifiably huge. The exhibition will present pieces from all six of MoMA's curatorial departments, meaning the works will span Photography, Film, Architecture and Design, Painting and Sculpture, Drawings and Prints, and Media and Performance Art. You'll catch works from all of the big names of the 19th and 20th century art world, including Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol. Capturing the spirit of more recent times, will be pieces from the likes of Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Olafur Eliasson, Rineke Dijkstra and Camille Henrot. Examining over 130 years of innovation, MoMA at NGV sets out to explore all the major art movements, with the exhibition spread across eight themed sections. Here are a few of the big-name works on display. [caption id="attachment_672010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roy Lichtenstein: Drowning girl (1963)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Warhol: Marilyn Munroe (1967)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672011" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frida Kahlo: Self portrait with cropped hair (1940)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672012" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salvador Dali: The persistence of memory (1931)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672013" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kara Walker: Gone: An historical romance of a civil war as it occurred b'tween the dusky thighs of a one young negress and her heart (1994)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_672014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shigetaka Kurita et al.: Emoji (1998–99)[/caption] Needless to say, the partnership with MoMa is a pretty huge coup for both the NGV and Australian art lovers. "The collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria provides a unique opportunity to see extremely important works from nearly every area of our collection in an exhibition that simultaneously explores The Museum of Modern Art's history as well as the history of modern and contemporary art in general," said MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry. As an added bonus, NGV members who are hitting New York while the exhibition is running will score free admission to MoMA, and vice versa. MoMA at NGV runs from June 9 until October 7, at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Grab tickets here. Images: NGV/Tom Ross.
After taking a big chunk out of the hotel business, Airbnb are finally getting into… the hotel business. The online marketplace has just launched Samara, an urban planning and design studio that recently put the finishing touches on its inaugural design project — a cedar wood guest house soon to open in the small town of Yoshino, Japan. Designed in conjunction with local architect Go Hasegawa, the dwelling features multiple bedrooms, a communal living area and a 16-foot-long dining table. It's currently on display in Tokyo as part of the House Vision exhibition, but will be transported to Yoshino in October, where it will function as a community centre that doubles as visitor accommodation. "Imagine it's lunch time and you're eating and at the end of the table there's a community meeting taking place," Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia told Fast Company Design. "I picture Western guests walking up, stepping inside, and you're interacting with the community from the minute you arrive. If you want to tour the sake factory, or the chopstick factory, or take a hike, the locals are right there." Apparently the whole idea was inspired by an elderly woman in Tsuyama Okayama, who created a mini tourism boom in town after listing her home on Airbnb. The hope is that the Yoshino house generates similar interest. Of course, that's assuming that locals actually want an influx of Western visitors — although the town did donate the land for the project, so presumably they're on board. "If this works, there are a lot of villages in Japan that could benefit," said Gebbia. Indeed, the plan seems to be to expand the project globally, with Gebbia mentioning that the company had received calls from people in places such as the UK, China, Korea, Spain, France, and Italy. Via Fast Company Design.
All you need for a beautiful day on the beach is yourself, some togs and a few hours of unburdened, gloriously free time. But wouldn't it be an even better day if you had these movie-set perfect beach and pool accessories with you? Yes. Yes, it would. Read on and cast your mind forward to a time when your aqueous outing is framed by the style, ingenuity and inflatable Pegasus-ry here collected. THE BEACH MAT: BEACHILL SMART MATTRESS Barely out of development, the Beachill can be a tough product to get your hands on — at the moment, the company's Facebook page asks that you get in touch via email to order. Nevertheless, the bubblegum-bright beach mat is so good that it's already moderately internet-famous. That's because it actually solves three common beach trip dilemmas: how to support your back (i.e. the usual beach mat mandate), how to keep your drink cool and how to charge your dwindling phone battery. It accomplishes the latter by way of a 7 watt solar panel on the back of the cushion. High five, Beachill. Price on enquiry from the Beachill Facebook page. THE BEACH TOWEL: THE BEACH PEOPLE ROUNDIE Throw away your old rectangular towel (read: leave it in the linen cabinet for a bit), because this season everyone's drying off with a whole new shape. That shape? The circle. Luxe and oversize, this new breed of towel is an extravagance, but one you'll be thankful for when you're wrapped in its embrace from head to fringe-tickled toe. Byron Bay company The Beach People do them best, in bold, monotone prints inspired by beach cultures from all over the world. $110 from The Beach People. THE BEACH SUNGLASSES: KREWE DU OPTIC ST LOUIS What's going on on that nose bridge there? Well, that would be a brushed metal architectural detail inspired by New Orleans' French Quarter's iconic 1800s cast iron balconies. Swoon. Krewe Du Optic are a brand you want to get in on — started in 2013, they handcraft all their frames using premium acetate, lenses and hinges. The sunset-hued mirrored pair above is a 'Bengal', but the St Louis style alone comes in 11 different colourways, each more fetching than the last. Just look. US$195–255 ($270–354) from Krewe du Optic. THE BEACH BALL: SUNNYLIFE INFLATABLE WATERMELON BALL If you're anything less than impressed right now, it's only because the full significance of Sunnylife's inflatable watermelon ball is yet to hit you. This ball is not just a toy to be tossed; it is a trompe l'oeil that will turn heads in wonder at your ability to keep a half-watermelon aloft with a few blasé taps. Not only that, but have you played with any beach ball lately? The things run away from you at the slightest suggestion from the wind. Hours of active fun right there. $18.95 from Sunnylife. THE INFLATABLE: FUNBOY PEGASUS POOL FLOAT The game of inflatable animal one-upmanship has gone so far it's crossed into mythical creature territory. Following summer after summer of the swan, the flamingo and the toucan, we now have in our midst the Pegasus, from LA brand Funboy. You know you want it. Though it's definitely not for open ocean beaches, take along Peggy to a pool, harbour beach or lake as desired. US$99 ($137) from Funboy. THE BEACH GAME: MEN'S SOCIETY ALOHA PADDLE BEACH BALL GAME SET What's with all the dude-centric brand names in the beach toy industry? Remedy this, someone. But for now let's plough ahead and appreciate this neat paddle tennis set anyway. It's designy, but not too designy. You could probably leave it unattended while you went for a swim and nobody would steal it. Note the colour palette; it seems to invoke the Pacific islands, the Rene Lacoste days of tennis and your primary school athletics uniform all at once. A real achievement. £29 from Men's Society. THE BEACH BAG: THE SHAKE TOTE The Shake Tote is okay-looking, but where it wows is on its bottom. Open the flap and all the sand that's inevitably made it into your bag during a day at the beach will just fall straight through the mesh lining and out of your life. Whataworld. The Shake range also comes in a small backpack and clutch, in two different colourways. US$80–90 ($111–124) from Amazon. THE BEST SUN PROTECTION: INVISIBLE ZINC 4HR WATER RESISTANT SPF50+ What's this guy doing here? Well, if your best accessory is the skin you're in (and let's say it is), then you're going to want to take care of it. Invisible Zinc makes it into our beach bags year after year because it's super effective at reflecting UVAs and UVBs, low irritant, Australian owned and a real leader in the physical sunscreen game, with a natural Zinc Oxide formula that rubs in nearly as well as chemical sunscreens. The latest addition to their product line is 50+ and 4 hours water resistant. $21.99 from Priceline.
Vivid Sydney is really cranking it up this year. With a kaleidoscopic festival program of light, music and ideas, Vivid's 2016 will be taking over building facades, creative spaces and music venues throughout the city from May 27 through to June 18. Obviously, the lights are the main event here, the drawcard millions of visitors descend upon Sydney for. This year, Sydney Opera House features the absolutely stunning Songlines, with new and iconic contemporary Indigenous works from Karla Dickens, Djon Mundine, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi, Reko Rennie, Donny Woolagoodja, and the late Gulumbu Yunupingu. The Light Walk is back, with Sydney's building facades lighting up with spectacular artistry — including Selena Griffith, Edison Chen, Nila Rezaei, Nathan Adler's I LOVE YOU, a giant heart that changes colour when you scream those exact words at it. Taronga Zoo is playing host to an illuminated animal trail, and The Royal Botanic Gardens is celebrating 200 years with its own highly Instagrammable installations — including Mandylights' Cathedral of Light. The Chatswood precinct lights up with WildLight, inspired by the animals of Gondwana, and Martin Place sees the technical debut from NIDA in Martin Place called Fountain, a giant installation of human birth rate data as 'water jets', and Simon Aitken's unmissable Geometrics. Have a flick through our gorgeous gallery from Concrete Playground's Bodhi Liggett, then rug up and get amongst the lights, music, parties and ideas. Want to have a bite while you're watching the lights? Here's ten spots with panoramic Vivid views.
A new prepaid initiative from Uber looks set to deal yet another blow to the rapidly dying taxi industry. You remember taxis don’t you? They were those cars that used to drive around the city not picking you up, which didn't show up when you called them and whose drivers didn't know how to operate a GPS. They were all the rage back in the day, before people had literally any other option. Rolling out in New York City over the next couple of weeks, UberEVENTS will allow event organisers to arrange prepaid Ubers for their guests. You simply log on to the Uber website and enter your information, including how many guest passes you'd like to prebook. Uber then sends those passes to you so you can forward them on to your guests. When the big day arrives, they enter their passcode into the Uber app, and before they know it they're being whisked away to your very exciting party. If you didn't follow all that, don't worry: this nifty little graphic helps lay it all out. "When planning a company happy hour, client appreciation dinner, or even upcoming nuptials, there is a lot that goes into ensuring that your event goes off without a hitch—including how your guests can safely get to and from without any fuss," wrote Uber Senior Marketing Manager Kimiko Ninomiya in a post on the Uber blog. "We want to make the experience of planning transportation logistics as seamless as ordering a ride at the touch of button [sic]." The service will only be available to select riders and Uber for Business users at first, although assuming it's a success, then presumably it won't be too long before it becomes a standard feature. In the meantime, Uber's legal status in Australia remains a point of contention. A Victorian state Magistrate yesterday rejected the company's attempts to have a legal case against one of its drivers thrown out of court. The taxi industry, for their part, continues to flail around feebly in the face of progress. A strike in Melbourne a couple of weeks back saw about 500 cabs taken off the roads – Uber retaliated by offering people free rides across the city. Yeah, it's pretty clear who's winning this fight. Via Tech Crunch.
Apple's first wearable computer, the Apple Watch, is almost here. After months of furious pub debates, Android-loving naysaying and know-it-all speculation, Apple finally announced the release date for its next 'must-have' device at its 'Spring Forward' event in San Francisco — and the price tag for its sold gold version. Starting at AU$499 and running all the way up to AU$14,000 for their ultra-hard 18-karat gold version, the shrunken, wearable computer fits into a watch body and runs a modified version of iOS — the system running your iPhone and iPad right now. Available in two sizes (38 and 42mm height) the Apple Watch comes in three different 'collections' including the Apple Watch Sport Collection — with 60 percent stronger anodised aluminium case, though not completely waterproof — and the pretty, pretty AppleWatch Edition made from 18-carat yellow or rose gold, sapphire crystal glass (and costing that cheeky $10K). Not as baller as these watches, but a good first model. Preorders for the Apple Watch start April 10, available in the US, UK, China, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Hong Kong. The watch will be available from April 24, but if you wander into a Genius bar you'll be able to try one on from the 10th. Analysts are predicting Apple could up to 60 million shipments within a year of its release — perhaps not if Pebble Time has anything to do with it. So, how does the Apple Watch work? Behold, the 'digital crown' controls all The primary joystick of the whole device, you can go all James Bond by using the rotating dial on the side of the watch to navigate (something many smartwatches leave out for aesthetics). Even so, the display is also used as a touch screen classic smartthing style. For all you constant screencrackers out there, that face is made from a super hard-as-nails single line sapphire material. Your watch can tell you to run faster Using four sapphire lenses on the back of the watch and the mighty, custom-designed S1 chip, the watch can detect your pulse rate (along with an epic amount of other info). Combine this with the accelerometer measuring body movement and the GPS tracking your distance, the watch can figure out how hard you're exercising and suggests fitness goals. What a beneficial jerk. 'Glance' at your most important info The Glances feature is where you make the watch all about you. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and your custom-selected screen of notifications pops up. Weather, dirty messages, calendars of events you're avoiding; it's all on your wrist. You can charge wirelessly No winding here. To charge up, the Apple Watch fuses MagSafe and inductive charging — you just hold the back of the watch near the charging connector and let the magnets pull everything together. Apparently the battery lasts 'all day', which could be anywhere from a probably 18 hours to 72 hours in Power Reserve mode. Siri runs the show Because the Apple Watch is so mini in screen size, Siri comes into play for a significant amount of commands. Yep, you'll feel like a spy. An awesome, awesome spy. You can send doodles to your mates Using the newly revealed app Digital Touch, watch wearers can create little animated drawings and send them to other watcheroos. Cute. App developers will be able to create Apple Watch versions, we're thinking Snapchat is particularly made for this. You need an iPhone for it to work And there's the catch. The Apple Watch needs an iPhone 5 or 6 nearby in order to function, feeding from the web or GPS info to work. Music, photos and contacts come across, sure, but this makes the device one of Apple's most you-need-that-to-get-this products ever, even the iPad stood on its own little stand. The Apple Watch will be available for purchase in Australia from April 24, pre-orders open from April 10. Via Mashable, TIME and PC Advisor.
Want your Uber ride to be even cheaper? Don’t mind sharing a ride with strangers and making awkward small talk? UberPOOL might just be your perfect service. As reported by The Guardian, it’s rolling out in London today and allows Uber users to opt into a carpooling option with a very attractive 25 percent discount on the standard Uber fare. Sharing is caring. It’s not guaranteed there’ll be another user opting into UberPOOL in the vicinity, but if you don’t get matched you still keep that tasty discount. So basically, you get rewarded for being a chill and environmentally conscious Uber user, even if you don’t even right share (it’s the thought that counts). As well as making Uber even cheaper for anyone willing to share, UberPOOL also environmental benefits — more seats on bums and more cars making full use of their capacity means less cars on the road and less pollution. The option has been rolled out in a few cities and even accounts for half of all rides taken in San Francisco (half!), so it’s not exactly a new concept but it’s certainly taking off. We’re still waiting for word of when it will hit our shores but you can guarantee it's likely to. Gizmodo's Luke Hopewell wrote an interesting account of his experience in an UberPOOL and pointed out the one major flaw in the plan: as well as being hella awkward to ride with a complete stranger, if you hop our first, that complete stranger knows where you're going or where you live. The app doesn't give you the name of your riding buddy, but that's no guarantee you won't be Ubering home with a weirdo. While we wait to see how it all plays out, let’s just scroll through #yourtaxis and giggle gleefully over terrible PR ideas. Via The Guardian.
Earlier this year, some of Australia's best bar teams went head-to-head to nab mad bragging rights, an epic photo shoot and a huge trip to Glasgow for Auchentoshan Whisky's national Distilled Different competition. Bar teams across Australia created an Auchentoshan American Oak cocktail for the competition, and twelve were then paired with an up-and-coming Australian photographer who worked with them to create a photographic masterpiece to reflect the team's personality. On Tuesday October 18, the winner of the cocktail competition was crowned. Sydney bar team Eau De Vie won for the originality of their cocktail and portrait, which was snapped by Brendan Fitzpatrick in a fully-styled photo shoot that judges agreed captured the essence of their bar. Eau De Vie and Fitzpatrick were chosen as the winning team by a panel of industry professionals, including our very own managing editor Shannon Connellan. The team from Eau De Vie will be jet-setting off to Glasgow as part of their prize. Glasgow is the home of Auchentoshan — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. Triple distilled, people. The winners will of course get to visit the Auchentoshan distillery while they're there. The team at Ramblin' Rascal Tavern were also chosen on the night as the winners of the People's Choice Award. Take a look at what went down on the night.
Flume is teaming up with LA-based, Australian-born visual artist Jonathan Zawada for a blink and you'll miss it multimedia pop-up in Surry Hills this December. Named after the ARIA chart-topping musician's sophomore album Skin, for which Zawada created the cover art, live graphics, related videos and merchandise, the free exhibition will be open at Special Group Studios on Devonshire Street from Wednesday, December 7 through to Sunday, December 11, and will feature a series of new video works created exclusively for the show. "I've always been a huge fan of Jonathan's work so it's been a privilege to have him involved in the visual aesthetic around Skin, from the album art to the live show and merch," said Flume. "Visually I'm interested in the contrast of organic and synthetic, Jonathan's work so cleverly depicts this so it's been a natural fit for the music. I love the way he embraces technology to twist and contort things from the real world in alien ways." The pop-up will feature eight never-before-seen videos that combine fantastical animation by Zawada with ethereal sound design by Flume. Alongside these will be a series of large scale silk prints that further highlight the pair's unique creative partnership. You can check out Skin from December 7 to 11 at Special Group Studios, 270 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills. Keep your eyes on social media for more information closer to the opening date.
First came Messina. Then came kittens. Now, finally, Uber has rolled the dice on the ultimate delivery treat, and will be bringing babies right to your office. That's right — we're talking UberBUBS. Like some sort of stork in an Audi with a 4.8 star rating, Uber drivers have teamed up with trusting mums and dads all around the country to unlock the clucky in all of us, but be warned: the waiting list is expected to be huge. "If there's one thing you hear time and time again from successful, white collar types in the CBD," explains Uber Australia CEO Pieter Rank, "it's the regret of having put career ahead of family. Today at least, even if only for 15 minutes, we're giving them the chance to have both — no strings attached." Naturally, parents will be present at all times, and if the younglings find themselves overwhelmed, the visit will be cut short and a 50 percent refund offered in return. So how can you grab your chance to experience all the adorableness of kittens with the added benefits of dribble and mumbling? 1. Download the Uber app. 2. Request the 'BUBS' option in the app TODAY between 12pm and 4pm within the Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane CBD and surrounding suburbs. 3. If available, you'll get to enjoy 15 minutes of wide-eyed (or possibly stinky, wailing) cuteness delivered to your office, your home or even your reluctant partner to show them what they're missing. All funds raised will go to local not-for-profit nappiesandinsomnia.org.au to help raise funds for future Uber marketing activations.
