In a piece of news we're filing under 'how is this just happening now?', New York City is getting ready to host its first ever Donut Fest. Taking over Verboten, a music venue and bar in the heart of Williamsburg, the festival will see the finest bakers in the city gather for a day of deep-fried, sugar-glazed, sprinkle-coated goodness. It's all set to go down on Saturday January 23... giving you just over two weeks to sort out a plane ticket. Vendors in the lineup include The Doughnut Project, whose far out flavours include pineapple with habenero and salted chocolate with buttered pretzel; Erin McKenna's Bakery, whose doughnuts are egg, dairy and gluten free; and Dun-Well Doughnuts, who boast a range of more than 200 flavours including Peach Cobbler, Raspberry Pistachio and Pina Colada. A number of New York's specialty coffee outfits, including Cafe Grumpy and Brooklyn Coffee Roasters, will also be on hand for dunking purposes. Now that's all very well and good, but technically speaking Melbourne actually beat NYC to the punch with Day of the Donut in June last year. Classic New York... always two steps behind. Each vendor at Donut Fest 2016 will submit their favourite creation to compete for the title of New York's Best Donut. All entry fees will be donated to Food Bank for New York City, an organisation that helps combat food poverty in the five boroughs. Via The Gothamist. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Since Tinder took the dating world by storm, its interface has been adopted for increasingly weird and wonderful reasons. If it's fluffy company you're after, Twindog lets you swipe right to find pups – and their owners – in your vicinity. If you're looking for a new job, jump on Switchapp and get chatting with hiring managers in seconds. Meanwhile, Tender has worked out that food is often a way more satisfactory remedy for loneliness than a date. Now the swipe right generation has an app for falling in love with art: wydr. With just a few quick motions and a little bit of disposable income, you can fill your house with paintings. Searches are available according to price categories and, so far, about four hundred artists have signed up. It's also a way for artists to receive community feedback on their work, with users able to submit likes, which are added up to produce a rating of between one and five hearts. The app is the creation of Swedish duo Matthias Dörner and Timo Hahn, and started as an assignment for their MBAs. But things got more serious after they won Startup Weekend in Zurich. "Why does it have to be so difficult to be original and to find affordable but still unique art for our homes?" asks the wydr site. "Most people are tired of generic posters from furniture stores and the intimidating way that you are treated in classic galleries with only little money in your pockets. At the same time artists have problems with getting exposure for their work. The question art lovers and artists are confronted with is why does it need to be so hard to find each other? The answer is wydr – the open art-trading platform, and your easy access to the art world." The app isn't aiming to compete with expensive galleries, but to get more affordable, original art to more people. After all, the average transaction at this point is a (relatively) scant US$430. "Wydr isn't for the art collector, but for the casual art lover," Dörner told artnet. "Art galleries are for the 1%, wydr for the 99%."
Health nuts have long been singing the praises of kombucha, a fermented Chinese tea with a litany of supposed health benefits. But the rest of us may soon be jumping on the bandwagon as well, now that an ambitious home-brewer has gone and made it alcoholic. The founder of Santa Fe’s Honeymoon Brewery, Ayla Bystrom-Williams has apparently found a way to increase the minute amount of alcohol in current kombucha brews (currently around 1 percent) to levels comparable to beer (around 5-6 percent). With patents currently pending, she’s been keeping mum on the exact details of her fermentation process, although she has revealed it was inspired by the openair process used to create Belgian lambics. Really though, what do you care how it’s made? The bottom line is that in the not too distant future you’ll be able to get drunk in a way that’s actually doing you good. Although we should point out that the benefits of drinking kombucha are still very much up in the air, as outlined in this recent article in the Washington Post. Bystrom-Williams is currently engaged in research that she hopes will bring an end to the ongoing debate and vindicate kombucha drinkers once and for all. Still, whether or not the beverage is actually good for you, there’s no denying that it’s been a massive hit. Analysts in the United States recently estimated that the industry could bring in more than half a billion US dollars in 2015, and that was before we heard about the alcoholic variety. Australian producers have tapped into the craze as well, with a number of different outfits competing in the market — one label even opened up their own dedicated Sydney bar. A notice on Honeymoon Brewery’s website currently alludes to an imminent Kickstarter campaign, with an eye to getting the Kombucha beer on shelves towards the end of the year. The bad news is that it looks like it’ll only be available in the United States. Fingers crossed it’s a hit, and that they think about expanding. Via The Guardian. Images: Mgarten Wikimedia Commons, Iris Photos via Flickr, Wild Kombucha.
The team at Doughnut Time have been absolutely killing it. In the year since cutting the ribbon on their first permanent store in Brisbane, the hand-dipped artisan doughnut chain has become one of our favourite spots to indulge our overdeveloped sweet tooth. They've opened a dozen additional locations across Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne, and in the past week alone have launched both a vegan variety and collaborated on a glazed doughnut burger (no, really) with Brisbane burger joint Ze Pickle. But that's nothing compared to their latest announcement. Brace yourself. Doughnut Time now offer home delivery. If you're anything like us, you probably just fell out of your chair, spent the next few minutes twitching and drooling on the ground, before finally regaining enough motor function to type the words "want doughnut time now" into Google. Assuming that's the case, you'll now know that, at the time of this writing, the Doughnut Time online delivery page is currently down due to an excess in demand. Which, let's be honest, isn't really all that surprising. Sorry to get your hopes up. This has been a real roller coaster of doughnut-related emotion, hasn't it? Once they've replenished their stocks, Doughnut Time will offer delivery in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and The Gold Coast via Sherpa Couriers. For more information and to order a batch of your own, head to this link and just keep hitting refresh.
The dulcet, knowledgeable voice embodying the soundtrack to a generation of nature docos is returning to our fair shores, with Sir David Attenborough set to roll through town in February. He'll be taking the stage for Sir David Attenborough – A Quest For Life, a series of live talks hosted by our own Ray Martin. The esteemed writer, filmmaker, producer, and host will give audiences a unique glimpse into his jam-packed, six-decade career. Sir David will give some insight into the changes he's witnessed along the way, as well as delving into some of the world's current environmental challenges — all delivered in that charming, distinguished voice we know and love so well. The tour kicks off in Auckland on February 2, followed by shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH – A QUEST FOR LIFE DATES AUCKLAND 8pm Thursday, February 2 — The Civic BRISBANE 7.30pm Saturday, February 4, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre SYDNEY 7.30pm Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9, State Theatre MELBOURNE 7.30pm Saturday, February 11, and (new date) Monday, February 13, Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ADELAIDE 7.30pm Tuesday February 14, Festival Theatre PERTH 7.30pm Thursday, February 16, Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
For those of you who don’t know/have more important things to worry about, the Pirelli calendar is a yearly project by the Pirelli Tyre company that collates sexualised photos of the world’s 'hottest' models (shot by the world’s 'hottest' — read: mostly male — photographers) into a calendar, so that you can feel strange arousal every time you glance at your schedule for the month. This year however, they’ve taken a different tact and we don’t think it’s too much to burl yasssss queen! from every balcony we can find. The 2016 calendar features figures from the other 99.99% of the population that aren’t supermodels but are damned fine, including Amy Schumer (patron saint of the everywoman), Serena Williams, Patti Smith, Tavi Gevinson and Fran Leibovitz among others — and yes, they could choose to be clothed (what a world we live in). The portraits have been making headlines not just for the obvious departure from Pirelli calendar tradition but because the images themselves, shot by none other than Annie Leibovitz, are powerful and refreshing in a mediascape of so often saturated in airbrushed Kardashians. Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you @annieleibovitz pic.twitter.com/kc0rIDvHVi — Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) November 30, 2015 Amy Schumer is grabbing headlines for her choice to get raw and nekkid. Schumer posted her images to Twitter with the caption “Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman.” The general Internet consensus has been one of frenzied, supportive agreement. Serena Williams also opted to go nude, probably to show off the fact she could break your neck (and heart) with her general power. Other women featured include Yoko Ono, film mogul Kathleen Kennedy, Melody Hobson, Yao Chen, Agnes Gund and Sadie Rain Hope-Gund, artist Shirin Neshat, director Ava DuVernay and Natalia Vodianova. Pirelli has been applauded for celebrating ‘real’ women this year, but corporeal semantics aside, the overwhelming response to the calendar has been positive: a joyful celebration of women of all ages, races, religions and professions and we simply cannot wait to get out hands on one. Via SMH.
Remember last year, when everyone was freaking out over the announcement that Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki wasn't going to be making any more films? Well, it looks like that may have been a little premature. It turns out that the legendary director behind My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises, among numerous other animated masterworks, is currently putting the final touches on his first ever computer-animated short, with plans to unveil the film at Toyko's Ghibli Museum. Information about the film is currently in short supply, although Variety is reporting it stars a hairy caterpillar, runs ten minutes long and took approximately three years to make. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of information for fans is the fact that the film has been animated in the 3D CG format, as opposed to the more traditional 2D format for which Miyazaki is best known. No word yet on when or if the film will play outside of the Ghibli Museum. We'll just leave this link to the Japan Airlines homepage riiiiiight here. In retrospect, Miyazaki's retirement announcement should always have been taken with a grain of salt. The 74-year-old first threatened to give up the game back in the late nineties after completing Princess Mononoke, only to bounce back a few years later with a little film called Spirited Away — perhaps you've heard of it? He told Variety late last year that although he had retired from features, he was not retiring from animation, and intended to keep working "until the day I die." The future of Studio Ghibli, meanwhile, has been the subject of speculation for some time now, with Miyazaki's retirement and rumours of a restructuring leading some to fear that the company, like its founder, was out of the filmmaking business for good. Either way, it's comforting to know that there's going to be at least one more film from Miyazaki out there before too long. Via Variety.
Brisbane is home to some amazingly talented folks. Whether it’s home by adoption or birth, the creatives that make their mark in Brisbane are inevitably drawn to the natural wonders of the south-east corner — the sun, surf and greenery. This week we continue the series on Brisbane weekend fun with Mel Stringer, the artist extraordinaire. You probably know Mel from her prolific art Instagram, her on-point Etsy store Girlie Pains or through her cute and cutting zines. Or maybe you’ve seen her famous pug Grover zipping around a ball pit and being the most fashionable pug to ever live. Mel is a character illustrator, drawing pastel portraits inspired by life and real women. You might have already been papped by Mel and not even know it yet. And though she is originally from the Northern Territory, Mel calls Brissie home for the same reasons many others do. "Sometimes I've felt really isolated living somewhere too large," she says. "I think Brisbane is just right. It's not as intimidating as Sydney or Melbourne, and its subtropical climate appeals to me as well”. Aside from her life as an artist and crafter, Mel has her finger on the pulse and is one to listen to for the best tips on kawaii cafes and unfished vintage havens. It’s all part and parcel of her distinct aesthetic and all inspired by the streets and people of Brisbane. “Everything here inspires my art in one way or another," she says. "Though subtle, the lifestyle and kinds of people inspire me. I can't really pinpoint one specific thing, but I love going to the city, the beach or the countryside — there's always something that sparks inspiration in me”. Here are Mel's five steps to the perfect Brisbane weekend. BREAKFAST AT THE LOW ROAD “Wake up early and drag your best mate to go and chew on a yum breakfast and sip on some coffee from The Low Road in Windsor,” Mel says. “The kitsch paradise has a front garden adorned with hot pink flamingoes and palm trees, so you can't miss it. Their breakfast salad with lemony haloumi has also made many a friend.” The Low Road is worth a visit not only for the sumptuous food and drinks menu but for the quality chalk board messages like “Oh my god Becky, look at their café” and (inexplicably) “Hail Ants”. TREASURE HUNTING AT THE WOOLLOONGABBA ANTIQUE CENTRE “Check out any treasures that may be hidden at Woolloongabba Antique Centre. There are so many dealers here pedalling furniture, crockery and knick-knacks from yesteryear,” Mel says “If you pop in on a Saturday afternoon, you might catch their in-house jazz band.” The Antique Centre also brags of an in-house '50s style cafe that offers a mean milkshake and will transport you back to the American sitcoms we all know and love. OP SHOPPING IN WEST END West End is the hub for all vintage rummaging in Brisbane and has recently been injected with fresh blood in the form of SWOP and the Boundary Street night markets. Mel agrees. “Explore a few op shops in West End,” she says. “There are some good ones on and around Vulture Street. St Veronica on Hardgrave Road is wonderfully cluttered and full of rewards for those prepared to go rummaging.” Image via Swop. HAVE A KADOYA BENTO BOX LUNCH After a strenuous morning of shopping, you’ll need a decent lunch eaten from a beautifully crafted bento box (you’re worth it). “Next up: go and cry over how beautiful a bento box meal at Kadoya in the CBD is, then eat it,” Mel says “Each comes with a vegetable croquette, spring roll, Japanese pickles and rice — sometimes salad and deep-fried tofu too. The casual and pocket-sized restaurant feels like it really could be in Japan.” Image via Forever Craving. SIP A LYCHEE BOBA FROM LITTLE SINGAPORE AND GO FOR A WANDER A boba, for the uninitiated, is another term for a bubble tea — a pastel, picturesque milk tea with tapioca pearls that is almost too cute to drink. Mel recommends the boba from Little Singapore on Charlotte Street in the CBD. “Ask for the watermelon iced drink with lychee boba,” she says. “They offer a pretty extensive menu of bubble teas in plastic-topped takeaway cups. Head home while sipping it, go through all the treasures you found that day and have a nap.”
Facebook and SBS are about to give Netflix, Stan and Presto and run for their money. For the first time ever, an Aussie TV show will premiere exclusively via Mark Zuckerberg’s communications empire — yep, on Facebook. And it’s not just any old show, it’s The Family Law — a six-part series based on Benjamin Law’s smash hit memoir. When the first episode hits screens from 5pm on Friday, January 8, you’ll be watching it on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, rather than your TV. And nowhere else. It’ll be available only on Facebook until midnight, Sunday, January 10, before screening on SBS on Thursday, January 14 at 8.30pm. “Facebook is fast becoming the place where people discover new video content,” says Jason Juma-Ross, Facebook's head of technology, entertainment and communications in Australia. “11 million Australians visit Facebook each day, 91 percent of these via a mobile phone. We are excited to be partnering with SBS on this first look event and to enable The Family Law to be shown on demand to the broad Facebook audience.” Marshall Heald, director of TV and online content at SBS agrees. “As audiences move more freely between platforms and devices, we as a broadcaster have to move with them," he says. "We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to bring SBS content to all Australians, and Facebook offers such a unique one-to-one viewing experience. The Family Law is one of SBS’s most hotly anticipated programs for 2016, and we’re thrilled to be able to surprise our audience by inviting them to meet The Laws early with this Australian-first Facebook premiere.” The Family Law is screening on Facebook from 5pm on Friday, January 8. To let SBS know you’re joining the party, head to The Family Law event page. Image: SBS.
American communications company ViaSat has teamed up with aerospace manufacturer Boeing on a project that will bring high-speed internet to some of the remotest places on earth. The two companies announced plans this week to build a trio of satellites whose capacity will dwarf those of the existing satellite network, and have the potential to help billions of new users get online. The three ViaSat-3 satellites are each expected to have network capacities of 1 terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) per second, more than double that of the world's current 400-strong satellite network combined. The satellites will be capable of delivering service of more than 100 megabits per second to parts of the world too isolated for hardwired internet service, and will also allow for better internet services on airplanes, ships and offshore oil and gas platforms. "The innovations in the ViaSat-3 system do what until now has been impossible in the telecommunications industry – combining enormous network capacity with global coverage, and dynamic flexibility to allocate resources according to geographic demand," read a statement from ViaSat chairman and CEO Mark Dankberg. The first two ViaSat-3 satellites are expected to go into orbit in 2019 and will provide service to the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, respectively. The launch date for the third satellite, which will service Asia, has yet to be announced. Via Fast Company. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
Oh Brisbane, you are truly the land of eternal summer. Although we're well into winter, temperatures are hanging in the 20s and we can still step out to enjoy the crisp, blue days in our beloved T-shirt and thongs. But where will we go? We continue our series of weekend recommendations with local creatives this week with Vlada Edirippulige, the owner and operator of comic book and zine haven Junky Comics. She's also known for her illustration work (under the name 'Junky') and as a member of the band Major Leagues. "The thing that I admire most about Brisbane is that it doesn’t have an ego yet," she says. "Which is great! So great! I mean sure there are 'scenes' and maybe even 'cliques' but there is still so much room for us to grow here. We have one of the best modern galleries in Australia (personally I think it’s the best but, sure, whatever). We have so many wonderful, like-minded, motivated people who are doing really cool stuff." Junky Comics opened earlier this year, and under Vlada’s guidance has become a hub for creatives from many different fields to gather together and collaborate. "It’s hard when you only have the internet through which to showcase your work," she says. "I think people respond so much better to something that’s tangible. I’ve noticed that that in turn instils motivation in others to continue the cycle of making zines and comics." Here are Vlada's five steps to the perfect Brisbane weekend. CATCH THE CITYCAT TO SOURCED GROCER Start your day by catching the ferry! You can catch the CityCat from Mowbray Park in East Brisbane and go down to Teneriffe and then go to Sourced Grocer and eat a delicious breakfast. The focus here is on seasonal produce so you can always get a taste of something different. VISIT THE GOMA AND THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM When you visit GOMA, make sure that you go from the Cultural Centre end, that way you can go through the whale tunnel between the galleries. You should also see all the taxidermy animals and the turtle room (my favourite) at the museum. CHILL OUT AT HIGHGATE HILL PARK Go up to Highgate Hill Park at the top of Dornoch Terrace with some friends and some picnic supplies and just hang out. The park has some pretty amazing views overlooking the city in West End (and in summer it’s breezy). DINNER AT MADTONGSAN II Madtongsan II, located in the city on Elizabeth Street, is amazing. They serve super-cheap and delicious Korean food. I recommend the lemon soju (yes pls) and the potato noodles with seafood (hnnnnngggg). KARAOKE AT THE BRUNNO Karaoke at The Brunswick Hotel on a Saturday night is a classic. There’s a big group of people who frequent the Brunno for karaoke and that sense of community is so much fun (with many renditions of '90s pop classics).
If you're a sucker for punishment, or happen to be one of those undeterrable humans without any mortal fear of heights, you're going to love this. Airbnb have revealed their latest terrifying stay, a penthouse apartment at the end of Norway's famous Holmenkollen ski jump. At the end. Of a ski jump. Yep, seems people aren't content dangling from cable cars overnight, there's apparently a market for taking a nap hanging high over the ski fields. The clincher? Your checkout is by zipline, like a regular James Bond (or you can take the lift if you hate fun/prefer your pants unsoiled). Airbnb is providing one lucky, brave-ass couple the opportunity to spend a night in the admittedly beautiful Holmenkollen penthouse apartment, built where daredevil world champion athletes usually meet to prepare before a bowel-defying jump and will be used by skiers at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, held at Holmenkollen later this month (March, 14-15). The chosen Airbnbers will enjoy two nights in the fully-furnished, panoramic apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows letting you gaze out over Oslo beneath the Northern Lights. This is particularly aimed at the hardcore skiers among you. The world’s first ski museum is right below you on the first floor. You can grab a pair of cross country skis and enjoy 1500 kilometres of fresh powder right outside your door — although only pros are allowed to use the ski jump, so don't think you're going to be pulling any tricks on your toboggan. Feeling peckish? The highest roof terrace in town is right above the apartment, and breakfast is served in the VIP lounge. All you have to do to enter the competition is tell Airbnb by 11.59pm on March 16 why you (and your most courageous friend) would like to spend the night. Best bit? Airbnb will fly the winners in from anywhere in the world outside of Norway. Head here to apply.
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, quit your desk job and do that giant street artwork 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 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. Sydney street artist and skateboarder Sid Tapia is no stranger to the concept of fear and overcoming it. In a career that started at age ten, he's hung out of train doors to tag them, skateboarded at a pro level and even founded his own label, Crown St. But it was in channelling a little 'Sine Metu' that Sid ultimately found his direction. You can read the interview over here. Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Sid's being a total legend and helping us give away a personalised street art piece by Sid himself on a free wall somewhere in Sydney. You'll get a high-res photo taken with the work and we'll frame it and deliver it to your door, so you can see for yourself what happens when bold humans take big creative chances with big payoffs. Enter here to win.
Lost Paradise is back for the fourth year in a row, after selling out its past three incarnations. Returning to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1, the event will host 76 local and international artists, including local electronic goalkickers RÜFÜS, Sweden's Little Dragon, Aussie folk favourites Matt Corby and Meg Mac, Sydney lads DMAs, dynamic Melburnian duo Client Liaison and more. There'll be two new stages this year, My Mum's Disco, where, in between retro beats and '80s kitsch, you'll be playing bingo and banging out karaoke, and K-Sub Beach Club, to be run by Kraken, a collective dedicated to all things Victorian. Main stage Arcadia will host what's been designated as 'indie', while techno and dance will settle into the Lost Disco stage. Meanwhile, the Paradise Club will take care of late night shape-throwers with DJs and surprise guests. If you've blissed your way through previous New Year's Eves at Lost Paradise's Shambala Fields, you'll be glad to know they're making a return, with their cornucopia of yoga classes, dance workshops and meditations. Teachers on the schedule include Ana Forrest, Jose Calarco, Mark Whitwell, Simon Borg Olivier, Nicole Walsh and Mark Breadner. In between dancing and getting mindful, you can fuel up in Lost Village, where a herd of food trucks will be dishing out all sorts of tasty morsels. Look out for Eat Art Truck's hot smoked pulled pork buns, Agape's organic goodies, The Dosa Deli's handmade samosas, Maverick Wings' crispy chicken and kimchi coleslaw, Harvest Life as Tsuru's poke bowls and Cuba Cantina's street food from Havana. Here's what you're in for this year: LOST PARADISE 2017 LINEUP: RÜFÜS Little Dragon Matt Corby Meg Mac DMA's Client Liason Cut Copy San Cisco Tourist Stephen Bodzin Cigarettes After Sex Patrick Topping Jon Hopkins (DJ Set) Jackmaster FKJ Middle Kids Âme (Live) Skeggs Palms Trax Apparat Nadia Rose Sampa The Great Koi Child Mall Grab Dean Lewis B.Traits Roland Tings My Nu Leng Cut Snake Human Movement Billy Davis & The Good Lords CC:Disco GL Tiny Little Houses Alex The Astronaut Nyxen Sloan Peterson Mammals The Ruminators Motorik Vibe Council Robongia Krankbrother Thunderfox Gypsys of Pangea Uncle Ru Ariane Ben Nott Brohn Dibby Dibby Soundsystem DJ Gonz Elijah Something Foreigndub Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Kali and more... Lost Paradise returns to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website. Image: Dave Anderson and Boaz Nothham.
It's a truth universally acknowledged that the perfect counterpoint to modern life (standard stressful job, social media obsession and crippling credit card/HECS debt) is a few days spent reclining on a white, sandy beach. But it's sometimes easy to forget that while fancy resorts may help us get our mojo back, they can also have some devastating environmental impacts. Enter Six Senses wellness resort chain and their soon-to-open Malolo Island destination in Fiji. Within striking distance of some of the best surf breaks in the world (Cloudbreak included), the new Six Senses Fiji stretches over 650 metres of pristine beach and intends to keep it that way. The resort is designed to be sustainable and eco-conscious as well as super pretty; it's 100 percent solar powered and the first microgrid in Fiji to use Tesla batteries. They use a worm-based septic system and water reservoirs for onsite waste management and have developed a reforestation program to offset the wood used in the construction of the resort, so you can relax and know your wellness pilgrimage isn't destroying the earth. Now before you wrinkle your nose at the phrase 'wellness pilgrimage' hear us out. Six Senses isn't a wellness resort in the traditional sense. Wellness here doesn't mean chanting at dawn, it means medically sanctioned wellbeing — and they want to help you bring that holiday zen home. As well as the standard resort activities like beach relaxing and poolside drinking, during your stay at Six Senses Fiji you can undertake an integrated wellness program. A team of professionals (a sleep doctor, a nutritionist and a general physician — hair psychic not included) develop a personalised program to address your needs which could include spa treatments, exercise, yoga, meditation and sleep guidance to help you become the most rested, relaxed you as scientifically possible. Six Senses features 24 villas, 66 residential villas and 650 metres of private beach, so you can recline with fresh views every day. The resort also includes a gym (for looking at, not going in), club house and kids club as well as facilities for boating, sailing, diving, snorkelling and tennis. Gawdd damn. It's time to cash in those flexitime hours and better yourself while drinking a daytime pina colada. Six Senses Fiji is set to open in late 2017. In the meantime, Six Senses Con Dao is open, so we simply had to check it out.
Summer is officially over. We know that not just because Sydney has gone all dark stormy, but because Vivid Sydney has this morning announced their full 2017 program. Get ready to be ensconced in sparkly lights once again — the festival of light, music and ideas will be back for 23 days from May 26 to June 17. The first tidbit from this year's program was handed to us a few weeks ago, with the announcement that indie folk-rock US band Fleet Foxes will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia — and their first here in five years — so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Anyone who sat online to get (or miss out on) tickets to the Opera House's Bon Iver show last year will appreciate this method of allocation. The most overt aspect of the program is the lights, and this year their kaleidoscope is set to extend over to Barangaroo for the first time. A new precinct for 2017, it will extend the reach of the CBD's lights and further light up Darling Harbour with a trail of installations that will wind through the Streets of Barangaroo and along the waterfront. One of the works, A Day in the Light, will be an outdoor theatre of light and sound — getting a seat at one of the area's new restaurants (like 12-Micron or Banksii) will likely be hard to nab. The Sydney Opera House's sails will this year be lit up with imaginary creatures by cinematographer, editor, and graphic designer Ash Bolland. Vivid light hotspots, the Royal Botanic Garden, the MCA, Chatswood, Taronga Zoo and Martin place will all be lit up as well. Vivid Music just seems to get bigger with every passing year — in 2017, there will be over 250 gigs. Joining Fleet Foxes for the Vivid LIVE component of the program at the Opera House will be legendary French electronic duo AIR (for their second Australian shows ever), the ethereal Laura Marling and our own Nick Murphy (Chet Faker's new moniker, ICYMI). The Avalanches will also make an appearance on the Opera House's Northern Broadwalk to perform their seminal album Since I Left You in its entirety for the first time since 2001. The band will be joined by Briggs, Sampa The Great and DJ Shadow. The City Recital Hall has a solid program sorted as well, with Dappled Cities, Dianne Reeves and a party by Paul Mac slated. But not all the gigs will be held at formal venues. The Vivid Music program will this year extend to Carriageworks for an exclusive gig from Goldfrapp and the return of Fuzzy Music's huge party Curve Ball, over to Cake Wines for a rooftop party and Oxford Art Factory for the Women in Electronic Music showcase. Vivid Ideas is, of course, back for the brainiacs among you — and this year it's scored iconic artist Shepard Fairey as its big-ticket speaker. Don't know the name? He's the artist behind Obama's HOPE campaign. As well as an exclusive talk, he'll also create a large-scale public mural somewhere in Sydney's CBD (!!) and exhibit some of his works in an exhibition at Darling Quarter. There's plenty more where that came from, check the Vivid Sydney website for more details.
We've all been there: you're interested in a movie, check Rotten Tomatoes to see what the critics thought, and disagree with the consensus. That's exactly what Suicide Squad fans are going through at the moment. Unhappy at the far-from-positive word the comic book adaptation has been receiving (especially on the popular online review aggregator), these fans don't just want to get on a soapbox — they want to shut down the whole site. In fact, Suicide Squad defender Abdullah Coldwater was so angry that took to Change.org to mobilise his fellow aficionados. Yes, really. At the time of writing, that petition had 17,614 signatures protesting against the site, motivated by the film's paltry 31 percent Tomatometer rating and the large number of negative reviews. Anyone who has caught a glimpse of similar backlash in recent times — take, for example, the huge response when reviewers dared to like the female-focused take on Ghostbusters — won't be surprised, because this type of behaviour is becoming all-too-familiar. A highly anticipated movie comes out, critics reveal their thoughts, and the online masses react. The next big title comes out, and the cycle repeats. But there's excitement about an upcoming movie, and then there's this. We see it all the time. Just read the Facebook comments on Concrete Playground's own take on Suicide Squad — many readers voiced their displeasure at our negative review, which is how it should be. Our critic didn't love, or even like, or find much of merit in the film. Scrolling through the responses provides just a glimpse of the general social media outrage swirling around the David Ayer-directed, Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Jared Leto-starring entry in the DC Comics movie. Sure, this might just be a storm in a teacup. But the worrying part of this move isn't just the instantly-attacking mindset of fans upset that someone — or more than a few someones — doesn't think the flick they've been counting down the days to watch isn't the best film ever made. Agreeing to disagree doesn't always happen on the internet, we know, but there's also the matter of timing. Given that Suicide Squad didn't start releasing around the world until today, most of those in the distressed camp — like Coldwater — haven't seen the film yet. Coldwater has since changed his tune, with the last post on the petition page noting that it was supposed to be "just for fun". After grabbing plenty of headlines with his action — something that he calls a victory in an earlier post — he has now deemed it pointless. "The only thing that it does is spreading a speech of hate and online fighting among the supporters and objectors," he writes. He's right.
Continuing the theme of this year being the absolute worst, the world lost a music legend today when it was announced that Prince had passed away in his home in Minnesota. He was 57 years old. "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning," read a statement from his publicist this morning. Tributes have been flowing in on social media for hours. US President Barack Obama described the singer-songwriter as a "creative icon", while Snapchat has unveiled a Purple Rain filter that lets users add purple raindrops to their photos. Here at home, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tweeted his condolences, and mentioned that the spire at the Melbourne Arts Centre will be lit purple in Prince's honour. Doves are crying in Victoria. RIP Prince. Tonight the Arts Centre's spire will be lit in honour of the purple one. pic.twitter.com/Vd9N1SiAu1 — Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) April 21, 2016 The Arts Centre previously took on a purple hue when Prince performed at the venue in February, as did the sails of the Sydney Opera House during a show there that same month. Many landmarks in the United States have also been lit purple, including Target Field, home to Prince's hometown baseball team the Minnesota Twins. Fitting that it's raining in Minneapolis today. pic.twitter.com/s5KFurDhHi — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 21, 2016 Via Junkee. Image: Kate Ballis and Tom Blachford for Arts Centre Melbourne.
There's so much to see and do in St Kilda. So much, you kind of need to stay in the area for a couple of nights in order to experience it all. There's the beautiful coastline, the palm tree-lined Catani Gardens, running tracks by the water, bars, restaurants and local institutions. We want you to experience St Kilda in all of its glory, so we're giving you some spending money and accommodation for a weekend. We'll put you up in a one-bedroom Adina apartment for two nights (a stay worth $1000). You can use our local's guide to St Kilda to fill in the gaps, but you'll go stand-up paddleboarding at St Kilda Beach with the experts at St Kilda Stand Up Paddle Boarding, indulge in a massage and eat dinner at the luxurious, Italian Cafe Di Stasio on the first night, and Andrew McConnell's Luxembourg Bar and Bistro on the second night. The big kicker is that you'll also be in the area for St Kilda Festival — a highlight on Melbourne's event calendar. There will be food, workshops and activities as well as music from Tiny Little Houses, The Smith Street Band, Archie Roach and Bec Sandridge among many other talented Melbourne locals. Accommodation will be for two nights in a spacious Adina Apartment Hotel on February 11 and 12 (you'll check out on the morning of the February 13). The apartment is on St Kilda's vibrant Fitzroy Street — steps away from some of the area's best cafes as well as the tram to St Kilda Beach and the CBD. If you're able to make your own way to St Kilda, this competition is open to our lovely Brisbane and Sydney audience too. Enter your details below, say yes to the terms and conditions and you're in the running. Entries close on Thursday, February 2. [competition]607306[/competition]
Prepare to say ciao to Italian cinema throughout September and October — and we mean hello, not farewell. Yes, the annual showcase of films from or about the European nation is back for another round. In fact, it's the Lavazza Italian Film Festival's 17th year, and if the program is anything to go by, it's going to be another good one. Not only does the 2016 fest kick off with Italian box office hit Perfect Strangers and close with the digital restoration of the Audrey Hepburn-starring classic Roman Holiday, but it also boasts a world premiere. Local audiences will be the first on the planet to see the first-ever Australian-Italian feature co-production, The Space Between. Charting the intersection of an Italian ex-chef and a spirited Aussie in the scenic Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, it has been described as " a celebration of the Italian spirit of la dolce vita." Elsewhere, the 30-film program keeps highlighting the best Italian filmmaking has to offer, such as Where Am I Going?, the highest-grossing film in Italian cinema history. Strands dedicated to relationships and leading ladies serve up plenty of both, including straight-from Cannes prison drama Fiore and straight-from-Venice romance The Worldly Girl (and yes, we mean straight from this year's Venice Film Festival in September). Plus, with coming-of-age tale Arianna, Gran Turismo racing thriller Italian Race and gritty character study Napoli Jungle also on the bill, IFF does what all good fests should by offering something for everyone. Don't say you don't have something to watch for the next couple of months as the festival tours the country. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival tours the country between September 13 and October 19, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton St, Palace Verona and Chauvel Cinema from September 13 to October 9, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas and The Astor from September 15 to October 9, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks from September 28 to October 19. For the full program, visit the festival website.
As if Melbourne's laneways weren't ace enough already, they're going green — well, four of them are anyway. Meyers Place, Katherine Place, Guildford Lane and Coromandel Place will be transformed into little sustainable metropolitan Gardens of Eden with new designs released by the City of Melbourne as part of their Green Your Laneway initiative last week. The City of Melbourne announced their plans to transform four laneway spots in the CBD back in October of last year, and opened up the nominations to Melburnians to help them choose which ones they would give the green treatment. With more than 200 laneways in the city centre, picking the spots was no easy feat. But after collating over 800 public nominations as well as advice from engineers, landscape architects and sustainability professionals, and taking environmental factors — such as the amount of sunlight the laneways receive and their exposure to wind — into account, the council has settled on the four laneways as the ones that would most benefit from the added greenery. The draft designs show the laneways filled with planter boxes, vertical gardens, climbing plants and trees. Among the proposed additions, there are plans to give Katherine Place a mini tree-lined boulevard and an ivy-covered archway, and Guilford Lane (which is largely residential) could score a community garden. All up, the City of Melbourne is investing $1.3 million in the project. "Melbourne's laneways are internationally renowned for their quirky and eclectic culture and feel," Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. "We can add another layer to their attraction by enhancing the sustainability of our laneways and making them 'green' and therefore more efficient at cooling the city, intercepting and cleaning stormwater and improving air quality and ambience." If you'd like to check out the designs in more detail, they'll be on display in Meyers Place from November 3-14. There's also some pretty detailed info on their website. Plus, to further warm you to the idea, Meyers Place will also host gardening workshops and live music on Saturday, November 12 from 2pm. Green Your Laneway is on trial as one arm of the City's Love Your Laneway program. Meanwhile, the Urban Forest Strategy is striving to address climate change and reduce Melbourne's summer temperatures by four degrees Celsius. Green days ahead. By Lauren Vadnjal and Jasmine Crittenden.
Is there anything better than a spontaneous weekend away? In Melbourne it's almost compulsory to spend your days exploring laneways and cafes, and then dolling up and taking in a show, before settling down for a cosy drink in an award-winning cocktail bar. There is a rich and exciting food, drink, and entertainment culture in Melbourne just begging to be explored. Book yourself a room at Pullman Albert Park (it's right next to a tram stop and just outside of the city) and relax - we've partnered with Pullman Hotels and Resorts and have the next 48 hours all planned out for you. [caption id="attachment_587822" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Higher Ground via Instagram.[/caption] SATURDAY You arrived late last night, checked in and slept like a lamb. Now you're awake, and you're ravenous. Head directly into the city to Higher Ground, a delightfully luxe breakfast/brunch/lunch spot and home to some of the best nosh kicking around Melbourne's CBD right now. Break your fast with glorious twists on old favourites like bircher with quinoa and seed with fresh and dried apple, house made almond yoghurt and rosella hibiscus; or opt for something hearty with roasted and pickled seasonal mushrooms atop of creamy bed of soft polenta served with hazelnut, thyme and sourdough crumble. [caption id="attachment_587815" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Town Mouse. Image: @thetownmouse via Instagram.[/caption] Walk breakfast off with a walk. Stroll past the glorious terraces and beautifully manicured gardens in Carlton, until you reach what is arguably one of the prettiest streets in Melbourne, Drummond Street, where lunch at The Town Mouse awaits. This menu demands sharing, so why not kick off with some creamy oysters and beef tartare before enjoying a spread of confit beef neck with a side of shimeji mushroom and roast cauliflower. [caption id="attachment_587818" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Magic Mountain Saloon. Image: @magicmountainsaloom via Instagram.[/caption] Hop on the tram and scoot back into town, perhaps spending an indulgent few hours boutique-hopping at Emporium. Grab an early dinner at Magic Mountain Saloon where the Thai-American BBQ themed menu dances effortlessly between daring and delicious. They also have the kind of cocktail list where you could order by closing your eyes, jabbing a finger at random and still be assured of a great choice. Savour the cozy vibes of this tri-level venue from a booth before moseying on over to the MCG for a post dinner match. SUNDAY Good morning! What's that you say? You feel like black tea-cured salmon with green tea and edamame puree and pickled red cabbage, all lovingly piled atop a fluffy crumpet for breakfast? Well hop over to Krimper. They've got you covered. Tucked away down Guildford Lane in Melbourne's CBD you'll feel right at home, provided that your home is an inviting and cosy converted warehouse space with exposed brick walls and tasteful decor. Take a relaxed amble around the historic Block Arcade, a 19th century covered shopping arcade, and explore the stores. Why not make some entirely frivolous but entirely justifiable purchases at spice vendors extraordinaire, Gewürtzhaus? You can never have too much vintage merlot salt in your life, amirite? When hunger strikes again (which it invariably will - shopping is a workout) stride on down to Sun Moth Canteen for a refreshing glass of wine and a nibble on some snacks to tide you over until later. For dinner tonight there's really no better option than one of the most formidable cocktail names in the biz, Eau De Vie. Originally a Sydney stalwart, this venue has been pumping out simply gorgeous drinks for a couple of years now, and they only seem to get better and better. Grab a selection of nibbles like their charcuterie meats, including paletilla iberico de bellota and salsichon, and pull up a seat to watch the bartenders do their thing. Pair your snacks with a knockout cocktail like a Zacapa Blazer and let the hours ooze by as you work your way through their impressive back bar. Melbourne has so much to offer that you'll doubtless be planning your next trip before this one is even over. Pullman Hotels and Resorts make a great base to explore Melbourne for a weekend. Top Image: Higher Ground.
Want to see every last term you've ever searched on Google? Yeah, probably not. But just in case you're curious about the twisted inner workings of your browsing mind, Google is now letting you download all the searches you've ever made while you've been logged into your Gmail account. Every search. Tempted? According to The New Daily, Google's had this feature available since January, but they've kept pretty quiet on this one. In fact, no one really flagged it until blogger Alex Chitu was all,' ICYMI Google's got all your secrets so you might as well take a sneaky peek'. Google's even given you a step-by-step guide to airing out your online closet. "You can download all of your saved search history to see a list of the terms you’ve searched for," says this Google support page. "This gives you access to your data when and where you want." Remember (and this isn't really news to anyone), this also means that Google can also see your entire search history when they want. But you knew that, and pressed enter anyway huh? Not even an incognito window in sight. Here's how to look into the terrible recesses of your own shameful mind. And in case you were thinking Google's not on your side entirely here, they do flag the probability of 'sensitive data' within the folder; so you're really making your own bed here. How to download a copy of your past searches (if y'wanna): Visit your Web & App Activity page. In the top right corner of the page, click the Options icon and then click Download. Click Create Archive. When the download is complete, you’ll get an email confirmation with a link to the data. Big ol' heads up. Downloading your past searches does not delete it from your Web & App Activity page. So looking does not equal wiping. Want to learn how to delete your searches and browsing activity? Google's also got a support page for that. So where does your sordid information go once you've peered through your search terms? When you download your past searches, a copy of your history will be saved to your Google Drive as a ZIP archive. Then — if you're one to play with fire — you can download the files to your computer if you want a copy. Here's a pro tip. Don't download them while you're using someone else's computer, say a work laptop or a public computer. Or just don't download them at all. So there's that. Go ahead and peek into Pandora's Box. We're probably going to sit this one out — you can't argue 'in the name of journalism' for every questionable search. Via TDN.
More than 1500 silver bicycle frames have been installed in the foyer of the National Gallery of Victoria, in the lead up to the feverishly anticipated Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei exhibition, which is set to open next week. It's the latest iteration of Ai's Forever Bicycles, an ongoing project that dates back to 2003, and offers a towering visual metaphor for social and political change in the artist's native China. 'Forever' bicycles are a popular brand of mass produced Chinese bicycles that Ai himself desired as a child. Now, he has more than a thousand. Connected together, the frames create a giant, three-dimensional arch more than nine metres high, which the outspoken artist has called "a moving abstract shape that symbolises the way in which the social environment in China is changing." The enormous installation is one of 300 works that will make up the exhibition, which opens to the public on Friday December 11. Among them will be a number of new commissions by Ai, including a work that consists of hundreds of delicate porcelain flowers, as well as a room-scale installation featuring portraits of Australian human rights activists. He will also be creating a large scale work out of Lego, using bricks donated from all around the world after Lego turned down a bulk order by the artist on the grounds that it "cannot approve the use of Legos for political works." Ai is expected to visit Australia this week for the opening of the exhibition. The artist, who has long been critical of the Chinese government, had been barred from travelling abroad since being imprisoned by the authorities in 2011, but had his passport returned to him earlier this year. The Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei exhibition runs from December 11 until April 24. For more information, visit the NGV website.
Common wisdom tells us that, if you really want to innovate, you need to think outside the box. But it turns out thinking inside the box can sometimes be just as effective. Case in point: Freight Farms, a shipping container farm company aiming to revolutionise urban agriculture. It's the brainchild of owners Jon Friedman and Brad McNamara, and the result of some out-of-the-figurative-box, inside-the-literal-box thinking. As the name suggests, the American company specialises in sustainable farm systems built inside portable shipping containers. The so-called Leafy Green Machines (LGMs) are outfitted with LED lighting that replicates sunlight, a drip irrigation system that uses just ten gallons of water a day, and sensors that balance temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. Crops such as lettuce and kale are grown in vertical towers to avoid wasted space and ensure the maximum possible yield. "Freight Farms is just a much more efficient use of land," Friedman told The Huffington Post. "You're talking about growing vertically in a very condensed footprint." Apparently, the farms can yield the equivalent of two acres of conventional farmland. "The cost to get a farm right now is right around $80,000" says McNamara. "But the operating cost is going to be under $20,000 a year. We have farmers who are clearing revenue anywhere from $60,000 a year growing certain crop, all the way to $90,000 and above." And according to the pair, the farms don't require a great deal of expertise or in-depth training to run. "We focused a lot on creating a platform that people can use with only motivation — not requiring advanced degrees or advanced schooling or long training." Anyone up for growing their own kale? Freight Farms Allow You To Grow Food AnywhereThis portable vegetable garden's growing inside a 320-square-foot shipping container that can yield as much as two acres of farmland. Posted by The Huffington Post on Friday, January 8, 2016 Via The Huffington Post.
It's not your imagination — there really has been a heap of stunning new hotels open in Australia this year. Australia's hotel scene is already stacked with some remarkable stays, both in the major cities and in the regional corners of the country. And as our tourism economy has continued to boom, the last six months has seen more boutique and luxury chain hotels open on our shores. From boutique hotels with lush gardens to a wine lovers' dream stays or vibrant 'choose-your-own-adventure' lodgings, there are some seriously impressive (and incredibly designed) new hotels awaiting your arrival — whether on an interstate trip or a sneaky staycation. Read on to find out which 2018 hotel openings to pencil into your travel calendar as soon as possible. [caption id="attachment_671141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] W Brisbane[/caption] W BRISBANE, BRISBANE Brisbanites should be well aware of the CBD's riverside stretch that's synonymous with bland buildings and a hurried expressway. But with the arrival of W Brisbane — marking W Hotels' first foray back into Australia before it opens hotels in Sydney and Melbourne — the northern bank has received a much needed spruce. Offering views across the water to Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and GOMA, the five-star hotel boasts 312 designer rooms equipped with ten-gallon drum baths and in-suite cocktail stations. On the fourth-level, you'll find a pool with some funky geometric décor. There's also a 150-seat restaurant from celebrated restaurateurs Three Blue Ducks. Looking out over Brisbane River, guests can enjoy signature dishes like spanner crab scramble, congee with pulled pork and hay smoked salmon kedgeree. W Brisbane is location at 81 North Quay, Brisbane. Make a reservation here. [caption id="attachment_660519" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sharon Cairns[/caption] PARAMOUNT HOUSE HOTEL, SYDNEY When Paramount House Hotel was first announced back in August of 2017, the hotel promised it wouldn't be your standard luxury hotel, but rather an immersive experience that would embed patrons into the culture of Sydney's inner city suburb of Surry Hills. All we can say is that it's delivered on that guarantee. Set in a 1940s warehouse above Paramount Coffee Project, the 29-room hotel features soaring ceilings with exposed brickwork and rafting and even has a rooftop gym and cafe. And while there's luxury copper finishes, Jardan sofas and premium kilim rugs from Pakistan, the appeal of the place is less tangible in its nature. It's both the vibe and history of the surrounding community that make Paramount House Hotel special. Paramount House Hotel is located at 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. Make a reservation here. UNITED PLACES, MELBOURNE Positioned opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens, United Places' remit was to create a home away from home. And its success is immediately apparent, with the outside greenery extending into the 12 luxury suites, creating a space that you'll never want to leave. Each offers hardwood floors and polished kitchens, while terraces with sweeping city and parkland views round out the cosy living spaces. While you're there, you'll get to have a taste of Melbourne chef Scott Pickett's latest restaurant, Matilda. Pickett's contemporary Australian cuisine is produced entirely over open flames and hot coals — and you won't have to leave your room to enjoy it, with the high-end meals delivered directly to your suite. Dining at the restaurant is an experience in itself though, so we'd recommend heading in one night, too. United Places is located at 157-159 Domain Road, South Yarra. Make a reservation here. THE COLLECTIONIST, SYDNEY From rooms inspired by wine vintages to rooms that a spy might book for the night, Camperdown's The Collectionist is set on offering patrons something different. The place has a rather unique approach, in that it lets you pick which one of its 39 rooms you want to spend the night in when you check in. Billed as a 'choose-your-own-adventure' hotel, it's meant to be a highly individualised experience, with patrons touring the rooms and getting their access code via SMS. The hotel has collaborated with seven designers and 13 artists to create the innovative experience and each space features its own distinctive colours, textures and mood. While there's no restaurant on-site, the lobby hosts daily social drinks from 4–8pm. The Collectionist Hotel is located at 9–13 Marsden Street, Camperdown. Make a reservation here. OVOLO INCHCOLM, BRISBANE If you're the type who appreciates a bit of old-world glamour, then Brisbane's new Ovolo Inchcolm is the hotel for you. A former residence and medical centre, the 1930s building has been returned to its roots — albeit with a distinctly modern twist — presenting a charming art deco fit-out. But the hotel doesn't get lost in the past in every aspect. The addition of Salon de Co, a sprawling bar and restaurant, serves up modern rhubarb martinis or goji berry and vodka combos. Meanwhile, chef Anthony Hales' menu adds a bit of mystique with a sparse list of ingredients to keep diners guessing. The rooms, suites and a split-level loft dial back the theme a touch, but with a free minibar, and bookshelves loaded with timeless novels, you might find yourself dreaming of a simpler time. Ovolo Inchcolm is located at 73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill. Make a reservation here. WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL, SYDNEY Named after Australia's renowned thoroughbred company, William Inglis and Sons, Western Sydney's latest hotel is a sure thing if you're after a mini Sydney staycation. As part of the Sofitel's MGallery collection of boutique hotels, the William Inglis Hotel's centrepiece is its fresh rooftop bar boasting a pool and stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Warwick Farm. Once you've built up an appetite, head downstairs to the Newmarket Room, a paddock-to-plate restaurant led by chef Sercan Kesici. Whisky fans will be at home here, too — the mezzanine's 1867 Lounge serves high-end cocktails and boutique wines. William Inglis Hotel is located at 155 Governor Macquarie Drive, Warwick Farm. Make a reservation here. MITCHELTON HOTEL, NAGAMBIE Set in the scenic Goulburn Valley wine region in Victoria, this recently opened accommodation is as good as the on-site winery. Featuring a palette of moody, rural tones designed by acclaimed architectural practice Hecker Guthrie, the Mitchelton is a wine lover's dream escape. Chef Daniel Hawkins (POW Kitchen, Newmarket Hotel, Stokehouse) helms restaurant The Muse, which serves ethically farmed produce found throughout the Nagambie Lakes district. Boutique chocolate producers The Ministry of Chocolate run the decadent café, while Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art displays works from 15 Indigenous communities from across Australia. If you're lucky enough to stay here, you'll get a full selection of Mitchelton Wines as soon as you step inside the door. Mitchelton Hotel is located at 470 Mitchellstown Road, Nagambie. Make a reservation here. FELIX HOTEL, SYDNEY Airport accommodations are normally pretty drab, but the lively Felix Hotel is bucking this trend with a truly first class stay. Inspired by the 1960s Golden Age of air travel — that is, before budget airlines made you pay for water — the seamless experience starts from the get-go with guests heading straight to the top-level penthouse to check-in. From here, overlooking the runway, guests can enjoy the rooftop cinema, a 24-hour general store and a colourful cocktail bar that'll undoubtedly be a departure from the monotonous airport hotels that you've grown accustomed to. Felix Hotel is located at 121 Baxter Road, Mascot. Make a reservation at here. THE BYRON AT BYRON, BYRON BAY While The Byron at Byron may not exactly be new, this year's massive revamp makes it worthy of a place on this list. Having shut up shop for six weeks to undergo the renovations, renowned interior designer practice Luchetti Krelle — and executive chef Matthew Kemp — led the extensive face-lift of the restaurant, bar and accommodations. Working closely with a range of local artists, the enhancements manifest themselves quickly. There's a fancy copper island bar and a verandah that blends into the lush surrounding forest. Kemp's restaurant serves seasonal cuisine with Asian, modern Australian and European flourishes, while the rooms and suites are warmly furnished making for a homey resort stay. The Byron is located at Byron at 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay. Make a reservation here. WEST HOTEL, SYDNEY It's hard to ignore the West Hotel's 'Chanel handbag' façade, which according to designers Fitzpatrick + partner, was the visual representation of the hotel's entire space and vibe. Set on the Darling Harbour waterfront, the 182 designer rooms feature bold furnishings aimed at judicious travellers who seek out luxury. With botanical motifs abound, there's also an openair atrium serving as an oasis from the busy city streets below. The restaurant, Solander Dining, embraces sustainable seasonal produce from across New South Wales, while the accompanying bar is the perfect spot to enjoy some boutique drops while seated at a mesmerising emerald-green terrazzo marble counter. West Hotel is located at 65 Sussex Street, Sydney. Make a reservation here. And there are more where those came from, too. Melbourne is set to score a new luxury Jackalope Hotel on Flinders Lane, a new Art Series hotel will open at Brisbane's new Howard Smith Wharves precinct, and W Hotels will be opening hotels in both Sydney and Melbourne in 2020.
Easter is one holiday that can lose its sheen pretty quickly. Usually once your parents decree you’re “too old” for Easter egg hunts. But with the four-day break and eating-centred celebrations (because you fasted for the last six weeks for Lent, right?), there’s plenty to get excited for. While some venues shut, others turn on the charm. Only the best have made it into this list, our ultimate Easter Weekend itinerary.
Ah, film and television awards season. For those that like watching screen-based entertainment — aka everyone, admit it — it's the medium's sporting moment. Contenders grace our cinemas and TVs, various organisations nominate various flicks and shows for awards, and audiences watch. And, oh boy do we watch. We watch when Meryl Streep gives a kickass speech calling out fear and intolerance as she's being honoured, and when Kristen Wiig steals the best comic moment, as this year's Golden Globes proved. We watch when Ryan Gosling gives a heartfelt thanks, Jimmy Fallon struggles without the teleprompter, and when Isabelle Huppert leaps to her feet to clap for herself, too. And, whether your top film of the year won all of the shiny ornaments (hello La La Land) or one of your fave new television programs missed out a gong (sorry Stranger Things), we can still watch all of the best and the rest once the ceremonies are over. Indeed, this year's Globes winners have gifted us all with quite the must-watch list of both quality efforts to catch up on, and others coming to screens near us soon. Here's our pick of their picks. Get viewing. BIG SCREEN MUST-SEES MOONLIGHT Where do we start with the second feature from writer/director Barry Jenkins, and the other film that awards groups have been showering with love for months before it took out the Best Picture, Drama category at the Golden Globes? The way that Jenkins layers three chapters of a young man's life — and of his attempts to forge his identity and come to terms with his sexuality as a child, teen and man — is nothing short of remarkable, both in terms of his complex themes and his poetic images. And then there's the disarming performances. Prepare to add Mahershala Ali (who missed out on a Best Supporting Actor award) and Andre Holland, who viewers of House of Cards and The Knick might recognise, to your favourite actors list. GLOBES: Won: Best Picture — Drama Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Mahershala Ali), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Naomie Harris), Best Director of a Motion Picture (Barry Jenkins), Best Original Score (Nicholas Britell), Best Original Screenplay (Barry Jenkins). LA LA LAND If you haven't seen Damian Chazelle's modern-day musical yet, you really should hop — or dance, more appropriately — to it. The visually vibrant, emotionally layered ode to the way life and love don't always go as planned just nabbed all seven Golden Globes it was nominated for, cleaning out the Musical or Comedy movie category (Best Picture, Actress and Actor), and taking home Best Director, Screenplay and Score. It's also likely to do something similar at the Oscars next month, so prepare to keep hearing about this Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling-starring swooning, crooning charmer. GLOBES: Won: Best Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Actress — Musical or Comedy (Emma Stone), Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Ryan Gosling), Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), Best Screenplay (Damien Chazelle) Read our review. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Speaking of actors given a worthy showcase, Casey Affleck, younger brother of Ben, gets his moment to shine in Manchester by the Sea. He plays a Boston janitor who seeks isolation to cope with a past tragedy, but is forced to return to his home town — and leave his lonely comfort zone — to take care of his teenage nephew. With Michelle Williams and Moonrise Kingdom's Lucas Hedges also in stellar form, and You Can Count On Me and Margaret writer/director Kenneth Lonergan in charge, be prepared for one of the affecting, astute and insightful ruminations on grief and pain (and, also intermittently amusing, too), that you're likely to see. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor — Drama (Casey Affleck) Nominated: Best Picture — Drama, Best Supporting Actress — Drama (Michelle Williams), Best Director — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan), Best Screenplay — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan) ELLE One of the most legitimately divisive awards contenders this year boasts two things that make it worth your time: Isabelle Huppert and an intriguing examination of its rape/revenge-focused central premise. To be honest, the exceptional performance by newly minted Best Actress in a Drama winner Huppert is reason enough, and whether you love, hate or fall somewhere in the middle on the film itself, you'll always be intrigued. Movies directed by Total Recall, Showgirls and Starship Troopers' Paul Verhoeven have a knack for doing that — in fact, Elle also won the Globes' Best Foreign Lanuage Film category. GLOBES: Won: Best Actress — Drama (Isabelle Huppert), Best Foreign Language Film Read our review. ZOOTOPIA The importance of embracing difference wasn't just something Meryl Streep talked about. It was also the central message of one of 2016's best animated flicks. From the sci-fi contemplations of Your Name to the origami-oriented efforts of Kubo and the Two Strings, last year was a great year for animated fare — and Zootopia easily belongs in their company. A bunny tries to become a cox, a fox attempts to be seen as something other than sly, and adults and children alike both learn lessons and are entertained. GLOBES: Won: Best Animated Feature Film. Read our review. FUTURE SMALL SCREEN BINGES ATLANTA You've loved him on Community and as Childish Gambino, but you haven't seen fresh Golden Globes winner Donald Glover like this before. Atlanta might've earned him a gleaming statue in the comedy section — and for Best Music or Comedy Series, too — but it's a dramedy filled with thoughtful and comedic moments. And really, when you're taking on the rap scene of titular city, complete with the struggles of class, a balance of harrowing moments and levity is exactly what you'd expect. GLOBES: Won: Best Musical or Comedy TV Series, Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Donald Glover) THE NIGHT MANAGER Turning The Night Manager into a success wasn't difficult — but just because something is easy, doesn't mean that it isn't excellent. All of the winning elements are there: a top notch cast that includes Golden Globe winners Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman (plus Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki), great source material from noted spy-centric author John le Carré;, and an ace director in the form of Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (In A Better World, A Second Chance). Oh, and the kind of thrills that come when an everyman gets thrust into the world of espionage, and forced to cosy up with a philanthropist that's also an arms dealer. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor in a Mini-Series (Tom Hiddleston), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series (Hugh Laurie), Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series (Olivia Colman) Nominated: Best Mini-Series or TV Film THE CROWN Think tabloid magazines love the British royal family? Sure, they do, but not half as much as writer and playwright Peter Morgan. The Crown is his second effort to focus on Queen Elizabeth II, with the 2006 Helen Mirren-starring drama film The Queen proving the first, and now his Netflix series jumping back to the monarch's early years. John Lithgow stars as Winston Churchill, former Doctor Who Matt Smith steps into the young Prince Phillip's shoes, and Golden Globe Best Actress in a TV Drama winner Claire Foy plays Her Royal Highness. GLOBES: Won: Best Drama TV Series, Best Actress in a Drama TV Series (Claire Foy) Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama TV Series (John Lithgow) THE PEOPLE V O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY Speaking of art recreating life, there's no prizes for guessing what the latest season of American Crime Story focused on. However, if you think you know all there is to know about this tale, think again. And, prepare to be surprised not only by how involving this true crime dramatisation is, but at the acting talent on display. Sarah Paulson is everything in this, but expect to be unable to tear your eyes away from Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta and David Schwimmer as well. GLOBES: Won: Best Mini-Series or TV Film, Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sarah Paulson) Nominated: Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Courtney B. Vance), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sterling K. Brown) GOLIATH Remember how great it was to watch Billy Bob Thornton in weekly doses in the first season of the Fargo television series? Remember how, even when he's in a terrible film (we're talking about you, Bad Santa 2), he's usually the best thing in it. All of that should get you excited about Amazon's legal drama Goliath, which just won Thornton Best Actor in a Drama from the Globes TV nods. He plays a washed up lawyer who likes a drink and doesn't love his job, only to find his world turned upside down when he takes on a wrongful death lawsuit. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor in a TV Series — Drama (Billy Bob Thornton)
Swipe right to find your perfect match – and no, we're not talking about the pit of despair and poor decision making that is Tinder (who are we kidding, we're on there too). This is Tender, which as you can tell from the cleverly substituted vowel is a totally different thing. Like its namesake, this newly launched app shows users a photograph and lets them swipe right or left to indicate whether they like what they see. But unlike Tinder, this isn't about looking for a casual hook-up. This is about serious, long-term relationships. With food. Developed by a group of college roommates now working in Boston, Tender is available in both the Apple App Store and on Google Play, and works on the same basic principals as Tinder – only with recipes instead of people. Users can tap on a food pic to get a list of ingredients and a link to the full recipe, which is then saved to the cookbook section of your app if you decide to swipe right. The recipes come from food blogs all over the internet, and you can filter them by different categories, such as vegetarian, vegan, seafood, dessert and so on. They're also planning on adding an allergy filter and an undo button for people who regret swiping left. You've got to hand it to them: in terms of capturing the zeitgeist, this feels pretty on the money. Basically they've combined food porn with snap judging things based purely on their appearance, which, as millennials, are basically our two favourite pastimes. Plus a lot of the recipes actually look really delicious – although if Tinder has taught us anything, it's that what you get in real life rarely lives up to the pics. It seems like Tender won't be entirely free of these kinds of issues either. Suuure you're a barbecue turkey meatloaf. Honestly, who is this pile of capsicums trying to fool? Looks like Tender still has a few bugs to sort out. Still, we're pretty excited to give it a try. At least here we won't have to worry about matching with an awesome looking spicy coconut risotto only for it to turn out to just be a bot spamming your account with links to a website featuring lots of 'sizzling hot Asian dishes'. And unlike real people, chocolate cake will never swipe you left. Top Image via Dollar Photo Club.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced its latest filmmaker retrospective — and in good news for cinephiles living in other cities, it won't just be screening at ACMI or within Melbourne. Setting their sights on the movie classics crafted by Roman Polanski, they've teamed up with Palace Cinemas to take the eleven-film lineup to Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane too, with the program travelling around the country in November and December. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski will feature ten of the Franco-Polish director's features, ranging from his Polish New Wave debut, Knife in the Water, to his 2010 political thriller, The Ghost Writer. In between, the showcase will also give audiences a chance to see masterpieces such as the film noir-infused Chinatown and supernatural horror Rosemary's Baby on the big screen, which is no mean feat. Plus, it'll step through the British-made likes of Repulsion and Cul-de-sac, as well as the European-set The Tenant, Frantic and Bitter Moon — and present his co-starring role, alongside his late second wife Sharon Tate, in undead spoof The Fearless Vampire Killers. As for that eleventh title we mentioned, it comes in the form of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which is clearly the retrospective's way of addressing the director's infamy beyond his helming career. Any celebration of Polanski's work can't ignore his well-publicised flight from the United States in 1978 after being charged with sexually assaulting a minor, aka the main topic of Marina Zenovich's 2008 documentary. Polanski has still worked steadily and even won an Oscar for 2002's The Pianist in the nearly four decades since; however championing his filmmaking prowess is bound to cause some discomfort, even if the touring season does try to put the movies, rather than the man behind them, front and centre. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski screens at ACMI in Melbourne from November 5 to 20, Palace Electric in Canberra from November 24 to 30, the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney from December 1 to 7, and Palace Centro in Brisbane from December 1 to 7. For more information, visit the ACMI and Palace websites.
We thought we'd ceased to be wowed by 3D printing. Then this newbie shows up. A brand new printer introduced at the 2015 TED conference in Vancouver, Carbon3D takes 3D printing to the next level — pulling a brand new object out of a pool of goo. If you're thinking it sounds like something out of Terminator 2, Carbon3D CEO and co-founder Joseph DeSimone and his team were were indeed inspired by the straight-up terrifying T2 T-1000 robot. Oh god. Pulling printed items from photosensitive resin, Carbon3D doesn't use the regular, snail-like layering technique we've seen in 3D printers up until now. Instead, the Carbon3D uses light and oxygen to 'print' from resin. The printer shines a light on the resin, causing it to harden, while oxygen causes the resin to liquefy and become malleable to the printer's design. Apparently the printer makes objects up to 100 times faster than your regular 3D printer, with no frayed edges, no rough surfaces, only smooth 3D printed swag. Watch the video here: Yep, the creepy, creepy '90s-predicted future is nigh. Via Quartz. Image: Carbon3D.
The dynamic duo behind the lava-powered barbecue and 'anatomical whisky tastings' have something new and wonderfully creepy up their sleeve. Masters of blending gastronomy and performance art, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have unveiled their latest project: the pop-up PharmaCafe in Dubai, a cafe which serves bespoke 'cocktails' based on your DNA. Entering Bompas and Parr's futuristic pop-up cafe, set up at the 2015 Museum of Future Government Services exhibition, visitors have their hand scanned for DNA. Then, lab coat-wearing 'bartenders' pair your genetic make-up with just the right medicinally beneficial ingredients; from rosemary and turmeric to chamomile and violet. According to LSN, violet can be used as an antiseptic, and turmeric gives your BDNF hormone a little boost — it's all down to optimising benefits according to your DNA. Whatever you're want for is whacked in a glass and served as a restorative health mocktail — something much more beneficial to your person than those Long Island Iced Teas you've been healthily guzzling. The PharmaCafe is just one of the creepily mindblowing projects happening at the 2015 Museum of Future Government Services show, a project by the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE and directed by Tellart. The exhibition explores the future possibilities of travel, healthcare, education and urban services — featuring real and totally weird prototype services like smart mirrors that assess your appearance. Including the PharmaCafe, the first-of-its-kind exhibition features projects by over 80 designers, technologists and futurists from nearly 20 countries, like Specular, SOFTlab, Future Cities Catapult, Idee und Klang and Octo. Via LSN.
Hey there, lovers of ballet and regular folks who like to feel gloriously inflexible — it's World Ballet Day, a whole day of dedicated to some of the most iconic ballet troupes in history, and it's being streamed live for you to enjoy. Sure, watching the fittest people on earth prance about in achtivewear with the elegance of swans while you're sitting on the couch inhaling Doritos may make you feel slightly inadequate. But where else will you be able to see behind the scenes footage and rehearsals of the Bolshoi Ballet, Australian Ballet, The Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada and the San Francisco ballet streamed over 20 hours? Not every day, that's when. It's a rare treat, take full advantage. Go on. Log on and watch the beautiful people twirl. Image: Kate Longley.
On a constant quest to challenge the norms of beauty, New Zealand-based label Lonely has launched a new lingerie campaign that's nothing short of defiant. Starring 56-year-old model Mercy Brewer, the campaign continues the design house's crusade to reflect authentic beauty and celebrate women in all forms. Former London punk of the '80s and runway star alongside Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, Brewer smoulders as Lonely's AW17 muse, defying the conventions of how lingerie 'should' be modelled. The campaign just goes to show that the boundaries of what or who is beautiful are much more vast than the current standard. Lonely and Brewer embrace feminine beauty and sexuality at all ages. "'Perceptions of beauty have and always will change," the muse offered. "Therefore, I think we can conclude its standard is not set in stone and new beauty is always waiting to be discovered." In feminine lace silhouettes with gracious sensuality, Mercy joins the Lonely Girls tribe, a crew that celebrates all shapes and sizes via a visual journal of women wearing Lonely pieces in their own ways, in their own habitats. Adding another layer of girl power, the campaign was shot by Harry Were at an iconic New Zealand home that was once occupied by women pivotal to gaining the female vote in the country in 1893 — let us remind you, NZ was the very first country in the world to allow women to vote. The historic surrounds further enforce Lonely's position that ageing is beautiful, that it enhances, enriches and brings wisdom. "Personally I have a love/hate relationship with it," Brewer said. "[But] on the upside, it can bring a quiet confidence unknown in youth, and what use is beauty without the confidence to recognise it in yourself?" Lonely delivers the ever-important message to love thy self regardless of size, shape or age — plus, it doesn't hurt that their lingerie is incredibly lovely. The new pieces modelled on Brewer are part of Lonely's autumn winter collection for 2017. You can browse and shop the collection here.
If you think beer is for men only, think again (and FFS welcome to 2015). But the brewing industry itself, that's pretty damn male-dominated. So you should really meet Pink Boots Society. Founded in 2008 by the award-winning craft brewer Teri Fahrendorf, the Portland based not-for-profit supports women in the beer industry through education. Self-proclaimed as the industry's "female movers and shakers", Pink Boots members aren't only brewers but also writers, hospitality staff, designers, and owners of craft beer bars, bottle shops and restaurants. Fahredndorf has 25 years in the industry under her belt and is committed to empowering women who are just starting out in beer world, with donations, sponsorships, fundraisers and seminars. While many of the chapters are based in the States, its 2472 members span the globe, and it's no surprise that the Australian chapter president, Jayne Lewis, is also the co-founder of Australia's first female owned and operated brewery, Two Birds Brewing. Along with business partner Danielle Allen, the duo are paving the way for Australian women in brewing both with their own brewery and with their involvement in Pink Boots Society Australia. TWO BIRDS WALK INTO A BREWERY Allen and Lewis met 16 years ago in Perth. "Jayne's passion for brewing and her excitement around the beers she wants to brew got me onboard, " says Allen. Lewis is an incredibly innovative brewer, with 12 years in the industry and a flare for making creative, accessible brews. The flagship Golden Ale and the Sunset Ale were both gold medal winners at this year's Craft Beer Awards, with the Sunset Ale also winning the title for Best Beer in the 2015 Wetherspoons Real Ale Festival. While Two Birds continues to rake in awards for their core beers, the 'bird' behind the operation know the importance of giving back. In 2015, they brewed a Red Ale for International Women's Day and the Neneh Cherry Saison for SCBW; this beer won Champion French/Belgian Ale at the Craft Beer Awards, and the profits for both beers were used for the Pink Boots scholarship fund which awards a grant for aspiring women in the industry. In November, Two Birds also kicked off a few Sydney events, including donating a keg of their Taco Ale to Lord Raglan and joining the Broads Who Brew night of Dove and Olive's Craft Beer Fight Club. The proceeds for both will also go directly to the Pink Boots' scholarship fund, with more donation events planned for 2016. THESE PINK BOOTS WERE MADE FOR BREWIN' As Allen describes, Pink Boots "is set up to empower women beer workers and their confidence in the beer industry." Lewis and Allen proudly encourage women in brewing, setting their own brewery as an example for other women in the industry. There are quite a few recognisable names in the Australian chapter, including the women involved with the Rocks Brewing and Wayward Brewing Company. The best part? You don't need to be a member to benefit from these scholarships, which include beer-focused courses and workshops. The final scholarship offered for 2015 is the Oregon State University Craft Brewery Start-up Workshop, for women who are planning to open a brewery. Pink Boots has a bucketload of ways for you to get involved, from volunteer work and networking, to sponsorships and scholarships. Check out their website for more information.
Whether you're on a date, catching up with your friends, or just looking for a way to kill a few hours on a Tuesday night, there are few modern indulgences that beat settling into a dark cinema and letting your worries escape you as you slip into another world. Spies, superheroes, lovers, musicians, presidents, dictators, robbers and cops: you'll encounter them all as the lights go down and the projector begins to whir. There's plenty afoot a the pictures this month, so we're here to give you a little bit of help with choosing tonight's movie. See you at the candy bar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 AVENGERS: ENDGAME What our critic said: Where Infinity War wrought intergalactic devastation and destruction, Endgame delivers intimacy and an examination of grief, loss and very private regret. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw LONG SHOT What our critic said: Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen make a relatable pair in this heartfelt and hilarious political rom-com. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38zjD2QVSg GLORIA BELL What our critic said: While the plot is straightforward — a woman and a man meet, connect and try to work out if their messy lives fit together — every character, scene and moment is gloriously layered, ensuring that nothing about the picture is simplistic. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9UYcEwUYA BURNING What our critic said: This South Korean drama is a ruminative mystery, a fine-tuned character study and an intricately observed examination of human relationships all in one. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5LfaKTKoI 1985 What our critic said: 1985's black-and-white visuals overflow not only with visible texture, but with meaning and emotion — as seen in its loaded shadows, inky contrasts and jittery flecks. Read the full review.
Once, Brisbane was just the home of XXXX. Now, this beer-loving town has a brewery on every corner, or so it seems. It's no wonder, then, that Brewsvegas sprung up to celebrate the city's plethora of places for a yeasty pint — and it's back in 2019 for its sixth massive year. From Friday, March 15 through until Sunday, March 24, you'd best prepare to quench your hard earnest thirst with an ice cold brew. Plenty of beverages will be sunk across the ten-day period; however there's more to Brewsvegas than just knocking back beer. Fancy pairing your boozing with doughnuts? A scavenger hunt? A riverside food truck party? A parkside meet-up for doggos and their drink-sipping owners? Several other pooch-friendly events? That's all on the agenda. The list goes on, and includes a heap of beer match-ups — think beer and ice cream floaties, beer with fondue, beer with other types of cheese, beer with coffee, and beer with chilli, for starters. Also on the bill is everything from three-legged races through the Valley, helping design a new brew choose-your-own-adventure style, laneway shindigs and getting crafty, to pinball and 90s tunes, buskers singing their hearts out, trivia and a battle of the bands. And saying 'cheers' a whole heap, obviously. Image: Sea Legs Brewing Co.
From 47 wild, WTF and wonderful finalists, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has announced their 204 Archibald Prize winner. Newcastle artist and former armed robber Nigel Milsom has taken out the coveted trophy (and a cheeky $100,000 prize) for his straight-up Edgar Allan Poe-like portrait of Australian author, barrister, and filmmaker Charles Waterstreet. Awarded the top gong at the Art Gallery of New South Wales's fancy award ceremony this afternoon, Milsom beat out 46 other finalists — including Bruno Jean Grasswill’s Packing Room Prize-winning portrait of Australian actor and The Castle legend Michael Caton. It's not the first time Milsom's cleaned up at a prestigious art competition; he won the 2013 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the 2012 Sulman Prize, and casually, this is his third time in the Archibald. Unlike many subjects for the Archibald, Waterstreet has been in Milsom's life for longer than a portrait sitting. "I’ve known Charlie indirectly and directly since birth," says Milsom. "I was born in Albury around the corner from the Waterstreet Hotel, owned and managed by his parents. On Friday afternoons, my father used to sell them freshly caught Murray cod to earn extra money for materials he needed to complete a boat he was building at home, which later sank to the bottom of the Murray River during its maiden voyage one freezing afternoon. "My relationship with Charlie took on more significance a few years ago when he represented me and in the pursuit of justice stood up to what seemed an unfair, impenetrable brick wall. He put his head on the chopping block and restored my faith in the legal system. "Charlie is a very complex person. He isn’t just a law man. He’s a writer, a social environmentalist and is involved in film, photography and theatre too. Despite personal struggles with his own demons over the years, he has managed to dedicate most of his time to the welfare of others. My portrait is an attempt to depict him as a giant: part-man, part-mythical creature with hands that appear otherworldly, as though the anatomy of his hands has been designed to grasp unnatural disasters, naturally." The Archibald Prize exhibition opens to the public at the AGNSW on Saturday, July 18. To view all the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne finalists, head over here. Images: Archibald Prize, AGNSW.
Warehouse parties are great. Secret Mexican holiday-inspired, neon-drenched, immersive warehouse experiences are even better. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. promises to be one heck of a Burning Man-channeling spectacle you'll want to lock down tickets for — on sale this Saturday, August 15 at 12.30pm. And with the demand already high, this event is expected to sell out within hours, so your crew had better be ready. For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring, in secret locations within each city. Expect interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians — including one big ol' festival favourite headliner. The lineup will be released closer to the day, so stay tuned. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticket holders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at it's best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Get ready to nab a ticket and start preparing your best Dia de los Muertos outfit. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Tickets are $75 and go on sale here on Saturday 15 August at 12.30pm and are expected to sell out super fast. Don't stall on this one, it'll be the death of you.
Italian Street Kitchen has been delighting the people of Sydney with perfectly crispy pizza and delicate antipasto since 2015. Now the Italian maestros have come to Brisbane, bringing their own special blend of relaxed and informal dining to Gasworks Plaza. The restaurant — their first in Brisbane — opened this week. Their Sydney venue is inspired by the romance and theatre of food, and you can expect to be similarly sensorily inundated at the Brisbane joint. The smells of the the food being prepared will be all around you as there will be a huge open kitchen on show while you dine. Brisbane menu items will showcase the best of Italian food, with antipasto including anything from meatballs to baked cheese and roast pumpkin, thyme and provolone arancini. The pizzas are sure to be a reliable go-to and they'll also be bringing their own version of spit-roasted meats, with a lamb shoulder and beef rump cap option enough to send any self-respecting carnivore into a tailspin. We're ready. Italian Street Kitchen is now open at Gasworks Plaza, Skyring Terrace, Newstead. For more info, visit italianstreetkitchen.com.
As if ringing in the new year isn't exciting enough, January, as always, will also bring with it the dazzling, vibrant carnival that is Sydney Festival. Turning the city into a creative playground for a full three weeks, the Festival brings a (very generous) dose of culture to the sizzling days and balmy nights of Sydney summer. The festival has unveiled its 2018 program — and it's an absolute cracker, packed with hundreds of events ranging from mind-boggling circus to cutting-edge theatre and awe-inspiring musical performances. Whatever art experience you're after, you'll find it in Sydney between January 6–28. While this year doesn't have an installation quite as interactive as Snarkitecture's giant ball pit or the House of Mirrors (which is currently on display in Melbourne), Sydney Town Hall will become a shrine to 50,000 of Japan's unwanted plastic toys with Hiroshi Fuji's large-scale work Jurassic Plastic. It looks like a kid's paradise but there will be adults-only nights too. Four Thousand Fish will be an immersive work where participants will help create ice sculptures of fish and then return them to the harbour to commemorate Barangaroo and the Warrane women. On stage, we ecstatic to hear that Tree of Codes will be coming to Sydney after performances at Melbourne Festival; the visually stunning ballet — which we really, really hoped would come to Australia — combines the talents of choreographer Wayne McGregor, visual artist Olafur Eliasson, musician Jamie xx and the Paris Opera Ballet. On the musical side of things, not only are Opera in the Domain and Symphony Under The Stars back for another year of dreamy music performed under the open night skies, there are also a host of gigs, most notably from NZ's Aldous Harding and Argentinian three-piece Fémina plus a tribute to The Go-Betweens' 16 Lovers Lane album and an otherworldly concert performed entirely underwater called Aquasonic. Five iconic Harry Siedler buildings will also host a series of talks and concerts, blending architecture and music on the program. Theatre buffs, meanwhile, should nab tickets for Barber Shop Chronicles. Offering a juicy peek into the vibrant life of barbershops across the world, this delightful show took British audiences by storm. Burlesque aficionado? Don't miss iconic Aussie boylesque troupe — and Syd Fest regulars — Briefs in all its glamorous, saucy glory in sci-fi spectacle Close Encounters. Don't miss My Name Is Jimi, where, Jimi Bani will call up four generations of his family to take you on an evening of music, dance and comedy at Belvoir. Head over to Parramatta's Circus City to catch the always-impressive Circus Oz in top form with Model Citizens, a satire that lampoons the suburban Aussie dream with impressive physicality and a foot-tapping soundtrack. Also in the environs is Highly Sprung, a soaring performance by Legs on the Wall, which tells the story of inner-city residents through the media of trampolines and other physical art forms. Punters will get a chance to have a go on the trampolines and even take part in an aerial workshop in-between shows — all for gratis. You can also sign up for a flying trapeze workshop for $49. In addition to the many ticketed events, there is also a panoply of free offerings, from art exhibitions and thought-provoking talks to interactive installations. As always the Meriton Festival Village will have heaps to offer between shows — dance to your fave song in a transparent, glitter-filled cube, swim in a shipping container pool, go for a spin on a karaoke carousel or join a 10-minute dance party in a shipping container. Whether you're in it for the inspiration, a shock, or just a whole lot of fun, this year's festival is sure to delight. Sydney, you're in for a summer treat. By Yelena Bidé and Lauren Vadnjal. Image: Jamie Williams.
One of the most hyped films of the year, soon-to-be-released action thriller Baby Driver has received outlandishly large attention for its defining soundtrack. Written and directed by Edgar Wright (Ant-Man, Shaun of the Dead), the film follows Baby (Ansel Elgort), a young, best-in-the-business getaway driver who moves in time with his own personal soundtrack. Soon enough, Baby finds himself coerced into working for a kingpin crime boss (Kevin Spacey) and meeting the girl of his dreams (Lily James, Downton Abbey) — two paths that can't exist separately for long. Considered a 'jukebox musical' action film, Wright choreographs action scenes to the film's lauded soundtrack. After premiering at SXSW in Austin, Texas back in March, the film earned the prestigious SXSW Audience Award and a 100 percent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is said to be the breakout lead role for Elgort (Divergent series, The Fault in our Stars), and, apart from Spacey and James, the cast also includes Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx, along with Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, Fury, The Accountant) and Mexican actress Eiza González. [competition]626810[/competition] Images: Wilson Webb. © 2017 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It's only been a couple of months since Doughnut Time brought their hand-dipped delights into our lives — and golly, what a few months it's been. The hole in the wall between Alfredo’s Pizzeria and Kwan Brothers on Alfred Street in Fortitude Valley still attracts lengthy lines in peak times, but as anyone who has devoured one of their artisan creations can attest, they're worth the wait. The days of standing in a queue to get your hands on these tasty morsels might be over though. In a reversal of the trend that is currently sweeping Brisbane and seeing everyone's favourite food trucks and market stalls opening permanent homes, Doughnut Time is going to take their deliciousness on the road. Within two weeks, you'll be able to greet the Doughnut Time Van as it traverses the city's streets in all its green glory. Where it will head is anyone's guess, but expect Brisbane's food truck events to start boasting a whole lot more sweet treats with names like Crème De La Crème, Ya Bacon Me Crazy, The Salty Dog and The Russell Crowe. If you're anything like us, your tummy is probably already rumbling at the thought of more iced, fried, doughy bliss. In the interim, you can keep an eye on the van's progress — and drool over some seriously top notch food porn — via Doughnut Time's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.
Arts festivals courting controversy isn't anything new. Arts festivals weathering a backlash when their shows stir up a range of responses isn't, either. However, Edinburgh Festival's reaction to its planned staging of Così fan tutte might just be a first: they're offering patrons refunds before it even opens. The strange situation, reported by The Guardian, is a result of the fest's organisers programming Christophe Honoré's take on Mozart's and da Ponte's famous opera sight unseen and then checking out its world premiere at France's Aix-en-Provence festival. With the director setting his updated version in east African Eritrea during the 1930s — which was still colonised by Italy at the time — a layer of racial tension was always going to be evident. That it would be labelled a "brutal, shaming experience" with "a volatile, violent racism" by New York Times critic Zachary Woolfe obviously wasn't as expected. Woolfe's comments partially stem from Honoré's decision to use actors wearing blackface makeup to dress up as African mercenaries to try to test their lovers' faithfulness, as well the inclusion of a rape in its opening scene, plus other graphic depictions of violence and abuse. He certainly isn't alone in highlighting the tough nature of the performance — though his and other reviews have found positives as well. Opera Today's critic called it a "witty comedy" while noting that he overheard "offense expressed at the in-your-face exposition of racism". Opera News described it as "a dense exploration of desire and violence" that alerted the audience "to its own uncomfortable prejudices". In fact, Edinburgh's programmers used terms like "provocative", "sexually explicit", "stark" and "challenging" in their own synopsis, but obviously feel that wasn't warning enough. And the tale of Così fan tutte has always been considered a little problematic given its sexual politics. It is about a couple of guys donning disguises and trying to trick their fiancées into cheating on them to win a bet about the nature of women, after all — and its title does translate as "women are like that" as well. Pre-emptively giving customers their money back before they even get a chance to see what all the fuss is about seems a little extreme — then again, so does putting a clearly tricky piece in the festival without really knowing how it is going to turn out. Of course, arts festivals are designed to champion material that tests the limits — but whether Honoré's Così fan tutte is as boundary-pushing as suggested, Edinburgh is certainly charting new territory when it comes to apologising before the curtain has even been raised. Via The Guardian. Image: Aix-en-Provence.
Cat cafes around the world are about to get some prickly competition. Located in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district, a recently opened cafe lets customers get up close and personal with as many as 30 adorable hedgehogs. Named Harry after the Japanese word (harinezumi) for hedgehog, the cafe opened for business in February and has seen customers queuing up for the chance to play with its pint-sized residents. 1000 yen (AU$12) gets you 30 minutes of (extremely delicate) cuddle time, which goes up to 1300 yen on the weekend. The hedgehogs come in four varieties: "pied", "cinnamon", "salt n pepper" and "albino." Visitors who can't stand to be separated from their spiky new friends can even take home a baby hedgehog as a pet, with Harry's website featuring extensive (and adorable) instructions on hedgehog care. "We wanted to show people the charm of hedgehogs, which give the impression of being hard to handle," staff member Mizuki Murata told Reuters. "We wanted to get rid of that image by letting people touch them." Incidentally, when she's not working at the hedgehog cafe, Murata works in a bunny cafe in the same building and must basically be the happiest person on the face of the planet. Now, since you've been good and read this entire story, here's a picture of a tiny hedgehog in an even tinier bowl. You're welcome. Harry is located at Minato-ku, Roppongi 6-7-2 IWAHORI Building 2F Via Reuters/The Guardian.
Get ready for a whole buttload of hard-hitting news blasted directly into your eyeholes. Satirical news organisation The Onion is about to launch EDGE, a brand new web series lampooning the sensationalist style of VICE Media — and if the early teasers are anything to go by, it looks like they've absolutely nailed it. Naturally we're a little hesitant to report on any so-called news stories coming out of The Onion, given that their entire business model is based on elaborate lies. Still, from what we can tell, this time it's actually legit. The series is set to premiere online on Monday, August 3 and will, according to The Hollywood Reporter, consist of short, documentary style videos less than four minutes in length. A twitter account has been set up for the series, promising to "throw acid in the face of ignorance" and asking anyone who has witnessed or participated in global horror worth reporting on to call "the EDGE Atrocity Tip Line." A couple of their correspondents, aka "news warriors", are also on the platform, as you can see below. Let's get fucked on truth. — Nic Moss (@NicMossEDGE) July 28, 2015 Nobody points a camera at dark-skinned people like @EDGEtv. Nobody. — Chase Vaughn (@ChaseVaughnEDGE) July 28, 2015 This teaser video, meanwhile, does a pretty perfect job of capturing the guerrilla aesthetic that has made VICE so popular with the young people, what with their short attention spans and virtual reality headsets and so forth. "VICE is wrought with a distinct self-confidence, which of course gets our writers salivating," Onion VP of Production George Zwierzynski Jr. told THR. "The Onion team is highly competitive when it comes to other companies and publishers, so it's only natural we would take a stab at VICE as a whole." EDGE arrives a little more than a year after The Onion launched ClickHole, an online spoof of BuzzFeed where you can find such thought-provoking articles as 6 Heads You Never Realized Are Also On Mount Rushmore and How Many Of These Creatures From Greek Mythology Do You Believe In? The Onion has also previously produced content for television, albeit with limited success. Onion News Network, a parody of cable new shows, ran on IFC for two seasons, while Onion SportsDome on Comedy Central was cancelled after six months. Hopefully EDGE fares a little better on the web. Via THR. Top image via Dollar Photo Club.
Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei: both superstar artists, both groundbreaking Damn The Man-ers, both crazy cat ladies (really). And now, in one of the best team-ups we've seen in ages, they're both the focus of the National Gallery of Victoria's next epic summer exhibition, Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei. This is going to be quite the retrospective. Two of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, Warhol and Weiwei have left their mark on global modernity, whether flipping the bird to American art or dropping a Han vase on Chinese tradition. The NGV will present over 200 of Warhol's most celebrated works — including the Campbell’s Soup Cans, Three Marilyns, Mao, Elvis, Flowers, Electric Chairs, Skulls and Myths series and sculptures like Brillo Boxes , Heinz Tomato Ketchup Boxes and Silver Clouds. If you've got a spare eight hours, kick back and watch Warhol's wildly influential films Empire, Blow job and Screen Tests and pore over early commercial drawings and '50s advertising illustrations. There's even going to be over 500 Polaroids documenting Warhol’s friends, colleagues, and artistic and social milieux. Now, Weiwei. The famously controversial Chinese artist has had his fair share of Warhol influence, having lived in the US from 1981 to 1993 — and taken a photographic self-portrait in front of Warhol's multiple self-portrait. The first book he bought in NYC? The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B & Back Again). “I believe this is a very interesting and important exhibition and an honour for me to have the opportunity to be exhibited alongside Andy Warhol," said Weiwei. "This is a great privilege for me as an artist.” For the NGV exhibition, Weiwei will premiere new major commissions, including an installation from the Forever Bicycles series and a monumental addition to Chandelier. Of course, glimpses of Weiwei's colossal catalogue will also be on display — from his early 1970s drawings to 1980s readymades, and provocative painting, photography, film and social media of the last four decades. If you're wondering why we called two of the greatest artists in history 'crazy cat ladies', it's because it's true. According to the NGV, Warhol apparently lived with a herd of Siamese cats in the '50s, all of whom, except for one, were named Sam. He photographed and ink blotted them often. Weiwei's studio is home to over 30 cats, who have free reign and constantly pop up in the artist's social media. There's going to be a special part of the exhibition dedicated to this shared feline love, a bit of trivia we won't get over for quite a while. Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei comes to the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne from December 11 to April 24, in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. For info and tickets, head to the NGV website.
In the latest show of the Australian hospitality scene's support for marriage equality, the owners of Brisbane bar The End are ramping up production of their Rainbow Beer through a $100,000AUD Pozible campaign, with 50 percent of all profits supporting initiatives run by Australian Marriage Equality. The campaign will enable large-scale production of the brew, which, at its core, aims to bring the conversation of LGBTQI+ rights to the forefront. "We have lots of friends and family that identify in that community and the marriage debate is just a blatant beacon of unfairness, so if we can do anything to help we feel we have the responsibility to do it," says owner Nick Goding. "We want to encourage as many people to get on board as possible and I'm currently on the campaign trail in Melbourne to get more bars involved." The 'pro-love' beer has been on tap in small batch quantities at their West End bar since 2011, but, along with Goding, owners Timothy Lovett and Ben Johnston have been feeling lately that this quiet contribution isn't enough. Their plan is to make the simple, hand-painted brand louder and stronger by expanding it past their local community. "We were having a general chat about the Cooper's boycott controversy and how terrible the marriage equality debate is, then had a look in front of us at our Rainbow Beer and thought we could make it a larger force for positive change," says Goding. The beer itself is a crisp, easy-drinking German-style pilsner. The gents collaborated on the recipe with a Queensland microbrewery to make it a solid craft brew but also a sessionable one. If successful, the Pozible campaign will allow Rainbow Beer to be offered in cartons and wholesale for bars and consumers around Australia. Pledges range from $15 to $4000, with the latter a pledge to become a 'Rainbow Bar', which includes 12 kegs and the option for an ongoing contract. "We hope that having a bunch of bars with Rainbow cans in their fridge will help keep the conversation going," says Goding. ""As great as it is to be able to make the beer and do the donations, the message of equality is by far the most important part of the campaign." Apart from the donated portion, the pledges will cover beer production and canning as well as packaging and distribution. The Pozible campaign is only running through May 12, though, so the time to check it out is now. The debate around marriage equality has been continuously escalating in recent months, with Airbnb's incomplete rings, Skyy Vodka's Cheers to Equality and Smirnoff's We're Open campaigns also recently launched. According to Galaxy Research polls, 64 percent of Australians support marriage equality, so it's likely more brands will herald their support for the cause.
