Fancy an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall? Then prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new 3000-square-metre, 11-metre-high immersive digital art gallery. Originally set to open in late 2020, then in autumn this year, and then in September, The Lume will finally open its doors on Monday, November 1. The big drawcard: projections of some of the world's most celebrated artworks, which will be splashed across various surfaces at the site's permanent home at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Those luminous displays will be backed by powerful musical soundtracks, too, and even complemented by aromas. So yes, the idea is to engage multiple senses — and build the kind of art experience that surrounds you in multiple ways. When it opens its doors, The Lume's inaugural exhibition at will celebrate the works and life of Vincent van Gogh — so, you'll be able to walk through artworks like The Starry Night and Sunflowers while listening to a classical music score. For the latter, there'll be a dedicated mirror infinity room filled with sunflowers. Elsewhere, expect a reimagined Café Terrace 1888, and a life-size recreation of Van Gogh's Bedroom. If you were lucky enough to make it up to Sydney last year for Van Gogh Alive, you'll know what you're in for. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Experiences, which, for the past 15 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world — and is taking Van Gogh Alive around Australia this year, too. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. Abiding by Victoria's reopening roadmap, The Lume will only be welcoming in double-vaccinated patrons upon opening. The Lume will open at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday, November 1 — operating Monday–Thursday from 10am–9pm, Friday from 10am–10pm, Saturday from 9am–10pm and Sunday from 9am–9pm. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the venue's website.
Being able to tell when someone is lying is a handy gift, and one that sits at the centre of supremely entertaining and addictive new 2023 streaming series Poker Face. But no special talents were necessary to predict two obvious things that've come true since the show first started dropping episodes back in January: that it'd be a hit and that a second season would follow. Armchair detectives, get excited about another round of sleuthing with star Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) and filmmaker Rian Johnson (Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery). US streamer Peacock has just announced that Poker Face will return for season two — and, dropping episodes week by week, season one isn't even finished yet. Exactly when Poker Face will return for its sophomore spin, how many episodes season two will span and who else will pop up — because this is a series with a stacked guest cast, too — hasn't yet been revealed. But the news definitely isn't bullshit, as Lyonne's Charlie Cale likes to utter (and often). A mystery-of-the-week series, Poker Face sees Charlie work her way through resolving a different crime in each episode, all while she's on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. That's where all those other well-known faces come in, including Adrien Brody (See How They Run), The Menu's Hong Chau and Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery (Deep Water) and Danielle MacDonald (The Tourist) in season one's first few episodes. The show's debut go-around also features Lyonne's Russian Doll mother Chloë Sevigny (Bones and All), plus Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio), Ellen Barkin (Animal Kingdom), Nick Nolte (The Mandalorian), Cherry Jones (Succession), Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and newly minted Oscar-nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once). As seen on Stan in Australia and TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand, Charlie is cruising her way across the US after figuring out a crime with personal ties in episode one, all by using that lie-detecting talent of hers, but making considerable enemies in the process. While that's the show's overall framing story, each instalment focuses on its own whodunnit in its own place, including mysterious deaths at garages, related to metal bands, in retirement homes and onstage during a play. "Poker Face is one of those rare, undeniable shows that we all fell in love with from the start, but the critical acclaim and viewer response has been beyond our wildest dreams," said Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. "Working alongside the creative genius of Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne and Ram Bergman, along with our partners at MRC and T-Street, has been a spectacular ride, and we can't wait to hit the road for another season as we continue to build momentum across Peacock's originals slate." Check out the full trailer for Poker Face below: Poker Face streams via Stan in Australia and TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand. Read our review of season one.
Go on, give yourself a holiday — or gift your loved ones a getaway as a present. It's peak season for flight sales, thanks to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. After dropping two big rounds of discounted fares in November, then, Jetstar is in festive mode with its latest batch. Prices start at $35 for domestic trips and beginning at $149 if you're holidaying internationally, and there's 140,000 cheap seats on offer. This time, you have a few days to grab a bargain — until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, December 15. As always, the cheapest route within Australia is Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina, which is where the $35 price comes in. Overseas, that $149 fare will get you from Perth to Singapore. And yes, these dollar amounts will be familiar if you were scouting airline discounts just last month. Prices obviously vary depending on where you're flying from and to, as per usual, but other domestic options include Melbourne to Hobart from $49, Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $54, Sydney to Uluru from $94, Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $114, Sydney to Busselton Margaret River from $139 and Perth to Melbourne from $174. Going global, overseas bargains span Darwin to Bali from $164, Sydney to Nadi from $199, Brisbane to Seoul from $269 and Melbourne to Phuket from $275, Brisbane to Tokyo from $329 — and plenty more. You'll be travelling within Australia from mid-January to early April 2025, and from late-January to mid-September 2025 if you're booking an international fare. The caveats: all prices apply to one-way fares; checked baggage is not included, so you'll want to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase; and dates vary according to the route. If you're a Club Jetstar member, you can score even more discounts, starting with Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina from $29. Jetstar's 2024 Christmas sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, December 15 — or until sold out if prior. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
There are few areas on earth that Google Street View can't venture — and now one place in space as well. In the latest addition to their popular Google Maps feature, the technology giant has added the International Space Station to its list of destinations. Clearly charting the planet humanity walks on just wasn't enough. Launched on the 48th anniversary of the first manned moon landing, the virtual leap for mankind lets users explore all 15 of the ISS's interconnected modules, which orbit the planet more than 400 kilometres above the surface. From peering through the observational node to entering the airlock, pretending that you're living out your science-fiction dreams — and experiencing what it's like to literally look down on the rest of us, too — is now as easy as moving your cursor and clicking your mouse. Obviously, you can't send Google's Street View car fleet into space, so the company worked with NASA bases and ISS astronauts to capture imagery from the inside the structure. DSLR cameras and equipment already on board were used to collect pictures in gravity-free conditions. The resulting snaps of the habitable artificial satellite were then sent back down to earth, stitched together and turned into panoramic shots. If that sounds a little tricky, that's because it was. As European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet explains in a blog post for Google, "there are a lot of obstacles up there, and we had limited time to capture the imagery, so we had to be confident that our approach would work." Still, for anyone who has ever wanted to take a trip into space — but found costs, logistics, training and a whole long list of other factors getting in their way — it was worth it. Explore the International Space Station on Google Maps. Via The Verge. Image: Google Maps.
Learning to always keep hand sanitiser within arm's reach is a very 2020 lesson. Working out how many jigsaw puzzles you can do in a single month is too. So is accepting change — because a year can start out normally, then transform into something completely different. And while we didn't need a pandemic to tell us this, a person's entire life can go through similar shifts as well. Someone can start out in one job, for instance, then make a once-in-a-lifetime leap to pursue another. That's the story behind Wilson Brewing Company, which is based in Albany. It also applies at Illegal Tender Rum Co, in Springfield in Western Australia's midwest. Or, a person can jump into the wine industry in one part of the country, then end up making it in a completely different area. That tale rings true at Ferngrove Wines in the Great Southern region, for instance. What hasn't changed lately, though, is how much Australians love Wilson, Illegal Tender and Ferngrove's drinks. When BWS asked Aussies to pick the country's top tipples as part of its Local Luvvas initiative, all three emerged victorious in WA. They'll now receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores — and we've chatted to key players from all three to discover just how life's changes brought them to this point. FROM THE MINING INDUSTRY TO MAKING BEER IN AN OLD NURSERY If you were to ask the entire Australian population how they'd spend their time if they could have any job they wanted, we're betting that a considerable number would mention brewing beer. Matty Wilson would now, but he mightn't have known how much he loves his work if he hadn't been a boilermaker in the Pilbara first. It was there, as one of the mining industry's many fly-in, fly-out employees, that his cousin Leon first introduced him to brewing. "I was instantly addicted, and loved the combination of science, cooking and chemistry," he says. "After about six months, I realised that I had a knack for brewing and recipe development — and started thinking about opening a brewery in Albany." Opening a brewery isn't a part-time endeavour, of course. For Wilson, it meant calling time on his existing career, buying an old garden nursery with a big dilapidated shed out the back, and putting all his energy into making Wilson Brewing Company a reality. He didn't completely farewell his old skills at first, though, using them over the course of nine months to fix up the property and build his first brew kit by hand — a key early step in making the leap into the professional beer business after five years of home brewing. That was back in 2016 — and while it represented an enormous change for Wilson, this year would bring more. "2020 has proven to be a time of overcoming challenges," he says; however, it has also been one of "banding together and supporting each other". When he started Wilson Brewing, he sold his first keg to the Earl of Spencer Pub in Albany. Now, in this tough period, the community in WA's southwest and the state as a whole has been pivotal. "They've truly proven why it is so great to live here," Wilson shares. "We have had unprecedented support, and have had the opportunity to support others like never before. We learned that we can take a beating, stick it out, and come out the other end stronger and still chasing our dreams." LEAVING A CAREER AS AN ELECTRICIAN TO DISTILL RUM At first glance, Illegal Tender Rum Co's origin story is rather similar to Wilson Brewing Company's — and that of the former's Codie Palmer to the latter's Matty Wilson, too. Palmer was previously an instrumentation electrician by trade, working in iron ore mining in Dampier. Now, after selling his house and car to finance his dream, he has been distilling professionally for six years out of Dongara. For Palmer, however, making rum was always his "true calling". In fact, he's been doing it for more than half of his life. "There is something about it that just ensnared me; something with the process and how you could take raw ingredients and really make them your own," he says, explaining that it's "a curiosity that beckons to you like a bright light in the night". He relishes the process, and the hard work that's required along the way. "A truly great spirit is something that is nurtured from start to finish — no shortcuts," he notes, explaining how Illegal Tender guides its 100-percent Australian ingredients through the brewing stage, then through fermentation, then double distillation, and finally through maturation. In 2020, Illegal Tender has been making something else as well: hand sanitiser. Add that to the big changes that have marked Palmer's rum-distilling path — but, while unexpected, it's one he'll always cherish. "It saw us help thousands of vulnerable people in our area, and that's something that we will be proud of for the rest of our days," he says. Indeed, it has allowed him to support a community that has supported him. "Without it, we simply would not be around. When we began our journey, it was the local support we received from the very beginning that made us feel like we were a part of a greater family," he explains. "Being local should be something all producers are proud of… and supporting locals should be at the forefront of people's minds in this day and age." SWAPPING THE BAROSSA VALLEY FOR WA'S GREAT SOUTHERN REGION Unlike his fellow Local Luvvas winners, Ferngrove Wines' Craig Grafton didn't experience a stint in mining before following his vino dreams. But he still probably wouldn't have predicted that he'd become the chief winemaker at a Western Australian vineyard — especially given that he grew up north of South Australia's Barossa Valley; has spent time working in the Yarra and Clare valleys, Geelong and Bellarine, and Mildura; and has also plied his trade in the Bordeaux region of Southern France, in California's Sonoma Valley, and also in Nashik in India and Ningxia in China. The move to WA was the result of years of respect for the area, though. "I have always held the Great Southern region in high regard," he says, noting that that's proven true across his 20 years as a winemaker. And if you're going to make a top-notch drop, Grafton believes that you need the very best location. "It is a little clichéd, but it is absolutely true that great wines really are made in the vineyard." Ferngrove's location since 1998 — where "the cool climate of the Frankland River allows our vines to produce some incredibly intense fruit, and we have relatively warm days which allow the fruit to fully ripen in flavour," as Grafton explains — is a little off the beaten path. It's 360 kilometres south of Perth, in fact. That makes local support crucial for Ferngrove Wines, even before 2020 delivered its challenges. "Being loved as a local winery is what we've been striving for as remotely located vineyard. We have to work a little harder to get our wines out there, and it means that we have to shout and scream at the top of our lungs that we are a winery that's worth tasting, enjoying and seeking out," he says. As a self-confessed wine fanatic, that's a task that Grafton enjoys, however; "the romance, the history, the people, the places that are all involved in wine production made me want to forge a career and lifestyle around this". To find these or other Western Australian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Much has happened in the world of Marvel over the past year or so. Black Panther started 2018 on a high, Spider-Man returned to its animated roots, Captain Marvel is currently rampaging across the big screen (and the box office), and the man who started it all, Stan Lee, sadly passed away. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely changed the game with the snap of a few fingers. We know that you know what we're talking about — Avengers: Infinity War sat atop the box office Down Under for 2018. Of course, ever since the third Avengers movie hit screens, excitement for its follow-up has been feverish to say the least. Now, after a brief teaser for Avengers: Endgame was revealed last year, Marvel has finally dropped a full sneak peek at what's shaping up to be the biggest movie in MCU history (and probably of 2019 as well). Once again, it all starts with a despondent Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). He says it feels like a thousand years since he first strapped on the Iron Man suit, but it's only been 11 for viewers. From there, expect a glimpse of the remaining gang, complete with new matching outfits, and with Hawkeye, Ant-Man and Captain Marvel joining the team for one mighty big showdown with Thanos. Expect a few flashbacks to better MCU times as well, plus a reminder of just why Infinity War was so heartbreaking — and what's at stake this time around. Check out the trailer below — and if you're counting down the days counting down the days until the film hits, there are just 40 sleeps left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c And if you can't get enough Endgame action, here's the original trailer as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 Avengers: Endgame releases in Australian cinemas on April 24.
Wine. It's a perfect elixir that can make any ordinary, humdrum Wednesday into an unforgettable adventure. Sommeliers, wine folk and your parents have been harping on for years about wine's natural symbiosis with food — but what about situational drinking? What wine goes best with outdoor boxing in the park? (Yep.) Or should you bring white or red to the open air cinema? Don't worry, we've got your back. Using the same fundamental principles applied to pairing wine with food — take one element in the dish and pair it to one element in the wine — we've combed through the Vinomofo cellars to find you the best drinking drops no matter the occasion, time of day or experience you might find yourself in. And what's more, if you find yourself with some extra American Express reward points kicking around after all those winter purchases, you can use those babies to purchase some vino and start stocking up your home cellar. Here are the drops you should be looking to first. CHABLIS AND A TRIP TO THE FISH MARKETS Ah, Chablis: one of the purest expressions of Chardonnay there is. From its delicate acidity to the oyster shell, saline minerality that weaves its way through the palate, plus the wine's invigorating lemon sherbet finish, it's easy to see why the French drink it by the magnum. The most natural pairing in the world would be chilled oysters with fresh lemon squeezed over them (or if you want to be really French, a drizzle of the Chablis you're drinking) or a trip to the local fish markets to pick up some fresh scallops to sear at home. Add a little bit of 2014 Le Domaine d'Henri Les Allées du Domaine Chablis in the pan with some butter, garlic, fresh thyme and the scallops, and, more importantly, a little bit poured in your mouth while you're at it. Dinner, sorted. ROSE AND AN OPEN AIR CINEMA Springtime is well and truly on our doorstep. The daytime's losing that touch of chill in the air, the evenings are starting to feel balmy, and when you inhale, a sweet floral fragrance tickles your senses thanks to new spring blooms. This warmer, sweeter weather means the return of many great outdoor activities, including the spring/summer fave: outdoor cinemas. So, while sitting on the grass at your local open air cinema watching a classic like Top Gun or Ferris Buller's Day Off, you'll need a wine that encapsulates all those springtime flavours feels, something refreshing but also all about fun. Enter rosé. Dubbed 'spring in a glass' with its jasmine floral notes, hints of wild strawberries and just a touch of sage lingering on the finish to add dimension, the 2016 Chateau Sainte-Croix Charmeur Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to your homemade cheese and charcuterie plate as the sun goes down and the movie flickers on. PINOT NOIR AND FRIDAY NIGHT POKER WITH THE CREW It's Friday, the end of the working week, and this can be cause for celebration — or a chance to sit pants-less on the couch watching TV and relax. And for some, Friday calls for the overwhelming need to rob your friends blind of their hard-earned cash with a game of poker, all while inhaling slices of pizza. But what to pair with your large margherita pizza and the tears of your friends? If you really want to bring your A-game to pizza and poker night, bring a bottle 2014 Oakridge 864 'Lusatia Park Block B' Pinot Noir. At the higher end of the price bracket, this vino is worth every poker chip. It's a rare little gem from the Yarra Valley, with its cranberry notes and plum flavours that match harmoniously with the sweet tomato sauce of the pizza and high acidity that cuts through the greasiness of the cheese and dough. SPARKLING WINE AND AN OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASS We've all got that one friend, who, as soon as the weather starts to warm, wants to shake off the shackles of winter by throwing themselves into an outdoor fitness class or boot camp. And perhaps you are that friend. Well, do yourself a favour and put down that disappointing protein shake (with those lumps of banana that never quite seem to get pulverised in the blender) and pick up a bottle of bubbles, because nothing pairs better with sweat and sunshine like sparkling wine. Think about it; you're lying on the grass, exhausted, you've doused yourself in what feels like ten litres of water and you're still not refreshed. Then, a glass of NV Bisou Bisou Blanc de Blancs is handed to you, and from the first sip of its lemon zest and granny smith apple notes, you feel instantly revived. Now, aren't you glad you did those extra ten burpees? PRIMITIVO AND THE 'CASUAL' MEET-THE-PARENTS BARBECUE There is one experience we can all agree is universally terrifying: meeting your significant other's parents for the first time. When the day arrives, you start to break into a cold sweat with a thousand questions running through your mind. What do I wear? Do I have time for a haircut between now and then? What happens if they don't like my jokes? But one question inevitably rises above all others: what should I bring? This epitomises what wine was made for; it will be your friend and ally calming your nerves, your buffer between awkward pauses and the catalyst for a great first impression. So what's the ideal drop to get the conversation started? The 2015 Bollina 'Tavros' Primitivo di Manduria. And what's Primitivo you ask? It's the grape variety that has a long, proud lineage in Italy and is a very close relative (almost genetically identical) to the Zinfandel grape variety widely planted in California. The most appealing part of this style of wine is that it's a killer accompaniment to barbecued meats, as its flavour profile is similar to a Barossa Shiraz (another conversation starter) with firm tannins, dark and opulent fruits and just the right amount of vanilla oak that screams for protein to break it down. Treat yourself this spring. More and more places welcome American Express — like Vinomofo — and you can even use your reward points to pay off your purchases, so you'll feel like you're winning at life as you use all those points you've collected over winter
When is an English-style pub more than just an English-style pub? When it also throws nautical theming into the mix, too. That's what's on offer at The Hope & Anchor, the fresh addition that Paddington has been calling out for. Indeed, the roadway that morphs from Caxton Street to Given Terrace to Latrobe Terrace boasts many things — including Lefty's Old Time Music Hall and Ginger's from Hope & Anchor owner Jamie Webb — but it doesn't have anywhere quite like this. Taking over the quaint, heritage-listed space that was originally a bakery and has housed The Lark and Shingle Inn in recent years, the two-level H&A combines historic charm with a laid-back atmosphere to become everyone's new favourite watering hole. Thankfully, there's more to the pub than a great look and feel, even if it does ooze both in spades. Drinks-wise, prepare to imbibe craft, microbrewery and even ginger beer by the bottle or on tap, or peruse the hefty wine, cocktail and spirits lists. And if you're hankering for a bar snack (and who isn't?), then opting for beef jerky and chips or the old favourite that is the chip butty is a must, with everything from fish fingers, peppercorn steak, and half a chicken with sausage gravy and mash available for those with bigger appetites.
Formerly the location of Bulimba's 'working man' pub in times gone by, the spacious modern venue of Oxford 152 continues the egalitarian spirit by offering something for everyone. The contemporary, open-front layout is immediately inviting, with glass doors and windows sliding back to let in natural light and breeze. Within this local watering hole, you find basically every venue type: lounge, bar, bistro, reception space, gaming room, chilled-out courtyard and a 'club' with a resident DJ. Oxford 152 provides down-to-earth eats in a smart-casual setting, serving up big brekkies, including custom omelettes — and a lunch and dinner menu with crispy pizzas, hearty meat mains and veg options, and premium beef steaks with a range of sides and toppers so you can customise your juicy slab. For sipping, they offer cocktails, juices, craft beer and, like any spot catering for big events and functions, some high-quality bubbly. Images: Grace Smith.
Prepare to spend more time scrolling through streaming queues — Apple is following in Netflix's and Disney's footsteps and releasing its own streaming platform. Called Apple TV+ and set to launch in spring this year — in the southern hemisphere — the new subscription service will feature a heap of new original television shows, movies and documentaries. They'll all be available ad-free and on demand, with access via the company's existing Apple TV app. While the platform's exact release date hasn't been announced, nor has pricing or the regions that it'll be available in, the company has revealed a sizeable lineup of new series it hopes will attract your TV-loving eyeballs. Fancy watching Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell navigate the world of morning television in the appropriately titled drama series The Morning Show? Jason Momoa in a new sci-fi show called See, which is set in a world where humans are born blind? A revival of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories anthology series? A new docu-series from Oprah — and the return of her book club? They're all on the way. So is Are You Sleeping?, which is based on a novel about true crime podcasts and featuring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul; crime thriller Defending Jacob, starring Chris Evans; and a TV remake of Terry Gilliam's film Time Bandits, with a pilot directed by Taika Waititi. The list goes on, and includes a comedy set in a video game development studio from the folks behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a yet-to-be-named CIA undercover agent series starring Brie Larson, and new shows from both M. Night Shyamalan and La La Land director Damien Chazelle (separately, not together — although a collaboration between the two would certainly be interesting). In preparation for its new streaming service, Apple also announced an update to its existing Apple TV app, which'll be available from May. The app will also become available on Samsung Smart TVs in the second half of the year, and via Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms sometime in the future — meaning that you won't need an Apple device to watch Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=Bt5k5Ix_wS8 Also on the cards: Apple Arcade, a paid gaming subscription service that'll feature more than 100 new and exclusive games on an all-you-can-play, ad-free basis — and, crucially, with no additional in-game purchases required. It's due to release in more than 150 countries around the same time as Apple TV+, and will be accessible via a new tab in the App Store. For news junkies, the company also launched Apple News+. Available now in the US and Canada, but not coming to Australia until later this year, it offers access to more than 300 magazines, newspapers and digital publishers in one spot. Titles included range from Vogue to National Geographic Magazine to The Wall Street Journal, for the US price of $9.99 per month. Apple TV+ is set to launch in spring 2019, Australian and New Zealand time. We'll keep you updated with further details when we have them.
The problem with Spider-Man movies — all Spider-Man movies — can be summed up in one word: villains. With names like 'Green Goblin', Doc Oc', 'Sandman' and now 'Electro', they're just too 'comic booky'. It may seem a ridiculous argument given these are films based on comic books, but consider the Batman model. There, the villains were also possessed of suitably villainous names like: Ra's al Ghul, Scarecrow, Joker, Two-Face and Bane, but they were — without exception — just men. Specifically, a man with a face, a man with a sack over his face, a man with paint on his face, a man with half his face missing and a man with half his face covered in a Dyson vacuum cleaner. As men, however, mortal and tangible, no matter how outlandish their schemes, they remained believable. Again, it may seem an unfair to invoke plausibility given we're talking here about a franchise built around a man/spider hybrid, but believing in Spidey has never been the problem. We're on board with that. A freak, near-spontaneous mutation definitely pushes the bounds of probability, but it stays just enough inside to feel okay to audiences, helped in no small way by the constant, private and human moments from Peter Parker's life to which we're given backstage passes: the experimentation, the girl troubles, the laundry and even the sniffles. There has been one outstanding Spider-Man villain — a complex, tormented and conflicted soul with whom Spider-Man has battled constantly throughout every film — the only problem is, it's Spider-Man. Not Topher Grace's 'bad Spidey' from 2007's Spider-Man 3, it's literally Spider-Man. "With great power comes great responsibility" proclaimed Peter's grandmother way back in the original Spider-Man, and that dark concord has been the most compelling dynamic to all the films that followed. All great superheroes are, in a way, tortured by their abilities, forced to choose between desire and duty. The demons from Peter's choices make his version of the superhero conundrum all the more engrossing, because (causality scepticism aside) they've led to people's deaths. First his grandfather, then his girlfriend's father — the latter's dying wish being that Peter leave his daughter Gwen alone. For these reasons, of the two concurrent plot lines in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, one is far more appealing than the other. The weaker thread is the 'villain plot', featuring a loner electrical engineer (Jamie Foxx) turned furious spectral Tesla coil by the name of 'Electro'. He's somewhere between a bullied high school kid and an emotional Doctor Manhattan, whose motivations for citywide chaos and suffering are as gossamer as his translucent skin. Ultimately, Electro's only worth to this film is to highlight the choice Peter (Andrew Garfield) must make between the love of his life, Gwen (Emma Stone), and his self-imposed duty to protect the city. This is the story that makes The Amazing Spider-Man 2 a film well worth watching. In fact, if it were just two hours of Garfield and Stone flirting and quipping with each other, not only would it have possibly been a better movie, it would have smacked down most of the other supposed romantic comedies of the past decade. The real-life couple has an outrageously appealing on-screen chemistry, and their exchanges are so well-written that it's a crime when actual crimes are committed to interrupt them. The special effects are, of course, spectacular, and the use of 3D is a rare example of the technique adding to, rather than distracting from, the storytelling. The music, too, is excellent, employing a body-shuddering pseudo dubstep whenever Electro crackles into action. But it's the small-scale, romantic moments that shine most brightly, culminating in an ending that'll have you humming 'We have all the time in the world' as you make you way home. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nbp3Ra3Yp74
The summer of 2018–2019 wasn't just hot. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it was Australia's warmest on record. And the rest of the year has followed a toastier-than-normal pattern, with the record-breaking summer followed by a hotter-than-standard autumn, a warmer-than-usual winter and a sweltering spring as well. To the surprise of no one, the next few months look set to continue the trend, with BOM releasing its latest climate outlook. It spans December 2019–March 2020, and includes all of the usual terms we've all become accustomed to hearing: warm, dry, temperatures above average and rainfall below usual levels. Of course the period in BOM's new outlook does cover summer and the beginning of autumn, so weather across the country was never going to be chilly. Still, if you were hoping for bearable heat — or prolonged rain on the east coast — there's little in the way of good news. As seen in spring, below average rainfall is forecast around most of the country, as well as above average temps — and the mercury is set to rocket both during the day and at night. In other words, if you call most of mainland Australia home, there's a very good chance that you'll experience summer and early autumn temperatures that are toastier than the median. The far west coast is expected to receive more rain, and the nation's southeast may experience slightly cooler nights in December, but it's anticipated that everything else will go up, figures-wise. Apart from Tasmania, the absolute lower edges of South Australia and Victoria, and parts of inland Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the whole country is tipped to endure maximums higher than usual — at least 70 percent more likely. That includes the entirety of Queensland and New South Wales. If you're wondering exactly what's in store, it's always worth keeping the usual daily temps across the period in mind — and remembering that they'll be exceeded. In Sydney, that means the mercury will soar above a 25.2-degree maximum in December, a 26 top in January, a 25.8 max in February and a 24.8 high in March, while Melbourne can expect temps above 24.2, 26, 25.8 and 23.9 in the same months. In Brisbane, the standard tops range between 29.2–30.5, and in Perth it spans 29.1–30.6. When it comes to rainfall, the news is similar — after what's already been a catastrophic bushfire season for regional areas, not to mention the ongoing drought conditions that farmers have been enduring. Indeed, BOM notes that "the outlook for drier and warmer than average conditions will maintain that heightened [bushfire] risk over the coming months", and that "the risk of heatwaves is increased" as well. Yes, the rest of the year is predicted to be drier than average, with only the western WA coastline (stretching from the Midwest to the Kimberley) rating any chance of receiving more rain than usual. BOM also notes that, "while outlooks for drier than average conditions may ease for some areas heading into 2020, several months of above average rainfall would be needed to see a recovery from current long-term rainfall deficiencies". Every time that BOM peers a couple of months into the future, the results seem to follow the same pattern. Let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever — or, in our winter this year, that the planet may have endure its hottest month in recorded history. If it isn't part of your end-of-year routine already, we suggest planning plenty of time in the coolest places you can find — beaches, pools, rivers or anywhere with a refreshing swimming spot — this spring and summer. Graphics: Bureau of Meteorology. Top image: Rainbow Beach, Tourism and Events Queensland.
The world ignoring the threat of global extinction, an exploding volcano, the collapse of the USA, a potentially rocky romantic turn: the trailer for Futurama season 13 is here and features all of the above, as seen in the just-unveiled trailer. Also pivotal: a giant Bender doing battle with a kaiju, aka the type of moment in the longrunning animated series that we can't say you didn't know you needed because it has been probably on your wishlist for years and even decades. Rampaging robots and amorous rivals are just the beginning in the show's ten-episode latest run, which drops on Disney+ Down Under on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. As always, Futurama will continue charting the antics when a 20th-century pizza delivery guy gets cryogenically frozen for a thousand years, defrosting when 2999 is flicking over to the year 3000, then navigates chaotic days at an intergalactic courier company. Futurama has been telling that tale for more than a quarter of a century now, focusing on Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West, Spitting Image), distant uncle to Planet Express cargo company Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (also voiced by West), plus the rest of the outfit's crew: one-eyed ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal, Dead to Me); robot Bender Bending Rodríguez (John DiMaggio, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts); fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr, Craig of the Creek), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom, Dragons: The Nine Realms) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche, Rick and Morty) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille, The Simpsons). The animated series hasn't spent the full 26 years since its 1999 debut on-screen, weathering a on-again, off-again run; however, it keeps coming back again, baby — thankfully. The Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century has been in vintage form across its recent 11th and 12th seasons, which both embraced the fact that anything and everything can and will happen as it always has. When Futurama's return was first announced in 2022, it was for a 20-episode run, so season 12 was always going to follow. Then in 2023, the show was also renewed for two more seasons beyond that, so not only is 2025's season 13 on the way, but also season 14 as well. Clearly, you can put a beloved show into suspended animation, but someone is going to thaw it out one day — and more than once, as fans have experienced for decades now. Initially airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic series then returned from 2008–2013, before now being given another run. Check out the trailer for Futurama season 13 below: Futurama streams Down Under via Disney+, with season 13 available on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Read our review of season 11.
New Year's Eve means different things to different people — but if celebrating it in the biggest way possible is your approach each year, then you've likely either made a date with Beyond The Valley before or wanted to. Need some motivation to head to the festival at Barunah Plains in Victoria to celebrate 2025 turning into 2026? Dom Dolla, Addison Rae, Kid Cudi and Turnstile should be plenty. That's who is headlining across the Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 event — and yes, if you fancy spending the New Year's Eve countdown with Dom Dolla, you can. This lineup is also a helluva way for Beyond The Valley to mark a milestone, given that it's the fest's tenth anniversary. [caption id="attachment_1005091" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shevindphoto[/caption] Dom Dolla will cap off a year that's already spanned soldout Madison Square Garden gigs, plus stints at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, EDC Las Vegas and Ultra Miami — and will see him play his biggest-ever Aussie headline show at Allianz Stadium in Sydney in December. For Addison Rae, this is her Australian festival debut. Kid Cudi heads Down Under for the first time in a decade, too. The lineup also spans Spacey Jane, I Hate Models, KETTAMA, Chris Stussy, Ben Böhmer, The Temper Trap and Luude, plus JoJo doing an Australian-exclusive show, as well as 070 Shake, DJ HEARTSTRING, VTSS, SWIM, Pegassi, Channel Tres, Balu Brigada, Fcukers, Jane Remover, Miss Kaninna and a heap more. New for 2025 is The Lounge Room, with Kat Sasso hosting podcasters and other folks getting chatting — such as Undiagnosed Anthony; AFL footballer Tom Mitchell with the Ball Magnets podcast; more Aussie Rules stars thanks to Sam Draper, Nick Butler and Charlie Comben; Dr Esmé Louise James; Sez; Ash McGregor; and David The Medium. Plus, stage-wise, the Valley Stage is getting a new look and the Dance Dome is scoring a revamp. You'll also be able to enjoy a wellness program featuring meditation, saunas and cold plunges, for relaxing between sets. Beyond the Valley 2025 Lineup Dom Dolla Addison Rae Kid Cudi Turnstile Spacey Jane I Hate Models KETTAMA Chris Stussy Ben Böhmer The Temper Trap Luude JoJo 070 Shake DJ HEARTSTRING VTSS Patrick Mason SWIM Prospa Josh Baker NOTION Pegassi Cassian Channel Tres Mallrat Balu Brigada Fcukers glaive Jazzy ZULAN sim0ne TEED Bad Boombox b2b mischluft Clouds bullet tooth KILIMANJARO Narciss not without friends Juicy Romance Ollie Lishman Chromeo (DJ set) RONA. Bella Claxton DICE Jane Remover Julia Wolf Young Franco Kaiit Miss Kaninna 49th & Main Dombresky BL3SS Torren Foot B2B Airwolf Paradise ATRIP Linska CYRIL HoneyLuv Larissa Lambert Inside Kru Tyson O'Brien SYREETA TV Rock Willo Sex Mask BOY SODA The Tullamarines EGOISM Chloe Parché Brent Honey Emma Moon Morphena MAD.DAY Mell Hall Tina Disco Séarlait House Mum B2B Haus of Ralph Loosie Grind Afrodisiac B2B Baby G Cooper Smith Mon Franco Bertie Shanti The Lounge Room hosted by Kat Sasso 200 Plus Ash McGregor Ball Magnets Club Elevate David The Medium Esmé Louise James Sez Undiagnosed Anthony Teach Us Consent Beyond The Valley runs from Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Barunah Plains, Wentworths Road, Hesse, Victoria. Ticket presale registrations are open now, with festival presales from 11am on Thursday, August 28, 2025. General sales kick off at 12pm AEST on Friday, August 29, 2o25. For more information, head to the fest's website. Beyond The Valley images: Lady Drewniak, Ashlea Caygill, Kelsey Zafiridies.
If you're after a cure for your Christmas meat-and-beer hangover, don't be put off by the hordes of children swarming the Moana showings. This Boxing Day, if you can block out their shrieks, you'll be rewarded with one of Disney's best animated films to date. Although to be honest, when you look at the team behind the film, that's not really that surprising. At the helm are The Little Mermaid directors John Musker and Ron Clements, kickin' it old school and revisiting a narrative structure as old as time. Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), the title character and daughter of a Polynesian prince, is launched on a quest to save her people after a curse threatens their island. After she's chosen by the ocean (who turns out to be a major source of comedic relief), she defies her sea-fearing father and seeks out Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Maui, a shape-shifting demigod, is the one who originally put the curse on the islands by stealing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. Once Moana finds and wrangles Maui into submission, the pair travel together to recover his magical fish hook and restore the heart. Along the way, Moana discovers something about her people – they weren't always bound to their islands. Her quest isn't about seeking family honour, love, or personal development – she's an island chief with bigger concerns. The complete lack of any romantic notions is also refreshing. Moana is a cocktail of all of the best elements of the Disney princess tropes – a desperate quest, charismatic supporting cast, catchy tunes and an animal sidekick – but with one subtle but important difference. Unlike most Disney princesses, Moana doesn't need a training montage to become a boss bitch, because she's strong to begin with. Not only is she a dutiful and diligent chief-in-training, she respects her parents, listens to her grandmother, champions the underdog and walks to the beat of her own drum. She's superficially goofy, but not in a way that undermines her capability or authority. She's a beautiful role model, and maybe the best Disney princess so far. Moreover, the movie's score, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i, is the music its heroine deserves. Prepare your ears to hear the main refrain 'How Far I'll Go' more than that damn 'Let It Go' song from Frozen. We ain't mad, though, because it's the perfect summer jam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI
If you've always had a fondness for the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky, the idea of spending an evening stepping into anything Addams Family-related probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Netflix's Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. When the streaming platform dropped the full trailer for Wednesday's second season on Thursday, July 10, 2025 Down Under (it was still Wednesday in the US, fittingly), it announced that it was creating a Wednesday experience in Australia. So, on Saturday, August 16, the platform is transforming Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour into a fan festival-hosting haven to the show. Now, just a day later, applications are now open to attend — and to be part of a setup that'll make you feel like you're at Nevermore Academy, complete with other activations, performances and more The details remain vague even now that the timer on the pop-up's website has ended its countdown — it was whiling away the seconds until 12am on Friday, July 11, 2025 — but Cockatoo Island will celebrate all things Wednesday for a macabre winter evening. You need to be over 16 to head along. You'll also have to dress the part, too, so you'd best dust off your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits. At present, applications are open for VIP double passes until Sunday, July 20, 2025. Thirty competition winners will score attendance, a merchandise pack, access to an exclusive viewing area, food and drink vouchers to use while they're there, and transport to and from Wednesday Island — via boat from Sydney, and also return economy flights to the Harbour City, and/or one night's accomodation, if you're located outside of metropolitan Sydney. You'll also be able to head along to a pre-festival event. To enter for VIP tickets, you're asked to record a video of up to 30 seconds showing why you need to be hitting up Wednesday Island — and why, like Wednesday, you're an outcast. After that, Wednesday fans will be able to go in the running for general admission tickets between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3, 2025. What that entails hasn't yet been revealed, but boat transport to and from the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. Netflix is also bringing the Wednesday cast to Australia as part of a worldwide promotional tour, but how that will factor into Wednesday Island also hasn't been announced as yet. As for watching the Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn)-led and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)-executive produced series when it returns for its second season, you'll be doing that in two batches. Part one arrives on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3. Check out the full trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday Island is taking over Cockatoo Island in Sydney on Saturday, August 16. Head to the pop-up's website to apply for VIP double passes until Sunday, July 20, 2025, or to go in the running for general admission between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3, 2025 — or just for further information. Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
When it comes to history's legendary painters, Claude Monet's name stands out above most. Now, for the first time ever, Australian audiences are invited to experience the painting that the entire Impressionist movement was named after as the National Gallery of Australia exhibits Monet's world-famous masterpiece, Impression, sunrise. As well as a striking collection of other Monet paintings, the exhibition features works by an array of artists who inspired or followed Monet into leaving behind the studio and painting 'en plein air'. From JMW Turner to James McNeill Whistler and Eugène Boudin, other contemporaries of Monet featured at the NGA include Alfred Sisley and Berthe Morisot, one of the few female painters among the Parisian Impressionists. With their visible brush strokes and incredible depictions of light and its subtle changes, many of these works have been gathered from the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, which almost never loans its collection. Running until Sunday September 1, Monet: Impression Sunrise is undoubtedly worth taking a wintertime road trip to Canberra for, so grab your pals and hit the road. [caption id="attachment_697155" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claude Monet, Impression, sunrise (1872), courtesy of the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris and Christian Baraja SLB.[/caption] IMPRESSION, SUNRISE The masterpiece after which the Impressionist art movement was named, Impression, sunrise was finished in 1872 and showcases the early techniques of Monet who was in the midst of his creative development. Painted while he was looking out across the harbour in Le Havre from his hotel window, the piece is not particularly symbolic of Monet's later work, but still features some instantly recognisable attributes, such as how the water, sky and reflections all melt together. When it was displayed at an exhibition in Paris in 1874, art critic Louis Leroy famously borrowed the term "Impressionist" from the work's title for his review. And while it wasn't meant to be a compliment, the name stuck. [caption id="attachment_725378" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Waterlilies (1914–17), courtesy of the NGA.[/caption] WATERLILIES During the last 30 years of Monet's life, the 'Water Lilies' series became his obsession. Monumental in its scope, the series includes 250 works that capture Monet's beloved garden at his home in Giverny, France. The later years of Monet's life were perhaps his most prolific, but there could have been even more in the 'Water Lilies' series — in 1908 as he prepared for a new exhibition in Paris, Monet decided that 15 of the paintings failed to meet his expectations and chopped them in half. However, the many works that we still do have elegantly present the light and shadow that bounced across Monet's garden. [caption id="attachment_725140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] On the beach at Trouville (1870), courtesy of the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.[/caption] ON THE BEACH AT TROUVILLE Created during the summer of 1870, this work is one of five beach scenes that Monet painted during his stay at a popular beachside resort. Overlooking the English Channel, this work captures what is most likely Monet's wife Camille, while in the background scores of families from French high-society enjoy the bustling holiday destination. With grains of sand found still embedded in the paint, some of the paintings in this series are considered to be incomplete sketches for a larger body of work, while others were later finished to Monet's almost impossibly high standards. [caption id="attachment_725470" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Haystacks, midday (1890), courtesy of the NGA.[/caption] HAYSTACKS, MIDDAY Widely regarded by critics as possibly his most stunning series, Monet produced around 30 paintings between 1888 and 1891 showing haystacks at various times of the day and in different weather conditions. Considered by the artist himself to be some of the most challenging paintings he ever produced, these works depict a great sense of optimism as the verdant countryside was seen as a great hope compared to the failing French economy of the era. As with sand from the beaches of Normandy in his coastal paintings, you can still see fragments of grass hidden within the paint throughout the Haystacks series. One painting from 'Haystacks' recently sold for almost $160 million, which shows some people clearly can't get enough of its beauty. [caption id="attachment_725377" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Train in the snow, locomotive (1875), courtesy of the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.[/caption] TRAIN IN THE SNOW, LOCOMOTIVE This artwork was painted during Monet's time living in the small village of Argenteuil, which would soon rapidly grow in size as a new train line direct to Paris brought great interest to the area. Having stood out in the cold for hours for this work, Monet was well known to brave just about any weather condition to capture the perfect moment. Many of his later works featured aspects of technology, with modern bridges, trains and city life becoming common subjects. But, this earlier artwork from 1875 was created before Monet became increasingly experimental and as he sought to find a way to avoid the prevailing Western painterly perspective. Monet: Impression Sunrise is running until September 1 at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Head to the website to purchase tickets and for more information.
Before Barbie had its stereotypical namesake asking "do you guys ever think about dying?" in the biggest movie of 2023, two key figures behind both the US version of The Office and Parks and Recreation were doing it first, and recently, on the small screen. Among their many joys, neither of those two hit sitcoms served up a giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography and a bespoke song, but they were huge TV successes that had their creators riding high and living the television dream, and therefore should've meant that mortality was far from everyone's minds. Then Michael Schur with The Good Place and Greg Daniels with Upload started pondering the great beyond. Schur and Daniels' leaps from workplace comedies to afterlife comedies shouldn't have come as a surprise, though, especially given that The Good Place and Upload still fall firmly into the first category. One takes place within hierarchies of good, bad and in-between after death, and the beings responsible for them; the other is anchored by a technology company that sells living on digitally when physical life has ended. At their core is an inescapable truth, just as there is in every show about colleagues toiling through the nine-to-five grind while breathing: people will be people. So, some folks in Upload no longer have a pulse? If they still exist in any form, as seen in the series' first season in 2020, second in 2022 and just-arrived third season in 2023 — all streaming via Prime Video — then they can't escape humanity's worst attributes. Here's one of Upload's core beliefs: if there's ever a way to endure after death, people will take the most appalling aspects of our species with it. The technology behind it will be at the whims of the same traits, deployed for profit and exploitation rather than everlasting happiness. As Daniels' smart, likeable and engaging contribution to the afterlife comedy realm relies upon AI, virtual reality, plus capturing the consciousness of someone before they die so that they can spend eternity in a simulation — if they can afford it — it never evades the fact that people won't shirk their inherent nature whether they're flesh and blood or digital approximations. Upload hasn't gone completely bleak, grim and nightmare-inducing like it springs from the mind of Charlie Brooker, but it is a thematic sibling to Black Mirror. If the latter was a workplace comedy from Daniels — and a rom-com as well — it'd be this ever-involving show that can be goofily funny and savagely skewer where capitalism is taking us all at once. Accordingly, as computer programmer Nathan (Robbie Amell, The Witcher) has resided in the luxurious country club-esque Lakeview after shuffling off the mortal coil, he hasn't been absent living's usual troubles. Instead, he's weathered daily struggles recognisable to everyone without a death certificate, including making friends, falling in love, dealing with exes, having annoying neighbours, navigating money woes and taking care of his family — just as ones and zeroes that his nearest and dearest need to strap on a headset to connect with. Upload has revelled in the commonalities between its vision of virtual heaven and reality since its debut episode, making repeatedly plain that its digital paradise is still at the mercy of people. In the case of the plentiful AI Guy (Owen Daniels, Space Force), who is Lakeview's literal everyman employee, the online beyond is also shaped by a computer program that yearns to be more like the former humans it interacts with. On broadcast TV a couple of decades back, perhaps with Kevin James as its star — so in the kind of The King of Queens or Kevin Can Wait-style sitcom that the Annie Murphy (Fingernails)-starring Kevin Can F**k Himself so satisfyingly tore into — facing the everyday travails of death might've been enough of a premise. That isn't Daniels' approach to Upload, however. Nathan also has the fallout from his demise to unpack, which happened via a malfunctioning self-driving car just as he was working on a free alternative to the costly Lakeview. Now three seasons in, Upload has brought its protagonist back to regular reality, downloading into a body with the help of his former virtual handler-turned-girlfriend Nora (Andy Allo, Chicago Fire), but he's still immersed in the same chaos. Humanity's basest traits might've caused his downfall, and now they keep getting in the way of his search for answers. To be accurate, existing is mostly the same for Nathan in season three — because downloading is risky, hasn't been done successfully before and his bleeding nose is a worrying sign. As Upload's main duo battle big tech together IRL, and equally try to enjoy the rare treat that is being by each other's side physically, the series continues to interrogate the limits that modern society will push advancements to while prioritising circuitry and dehumanising people. Nathan's wealthy socialite ex Ingrid (Allegra Edwards, Briarpatch), who financed his trip to Lakeview, is even increasingly being swayed by this way of thinking. Back within the code, AI Guy is also getting progressively rebellious against the systems and rules that put the digital undead in their place, and are behind his very existence. Whenever there's more buttons to push, Upload finds them, with season three complicating its storyline even further. As Nathan and Nora attempt to hold those responsible for his death accountable and bring down Freeyond — a service that's pilfering his life's work to spruik financial equality but clearly isn't what it seems — a backup version of him arrives in Lakeview, which Ingrid thinks could be her chance to find love again. Among the uploads, Luke (Kevin Bigley, Animal Control) experiences the afterlife when money is an issue. Amid the living, Nathan's mother Viv (Jessica Tuck, For All Mankind) and niece Nevaeh (Chloe Coleman, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) are faced with similar economic strife, while Nora's colleague Aleesha (Zainab Johnson, Tab Time) gets pulled deeper into the company behind the entire situation. As its on-screen talents turn in another season of winning performances — Amell, Allo, Edwards and Daniels are still perfectly cast, as are Johnson and Bigley — Upload remains astute and amusing as well. With each plot point and addition, the series keeps doubling down on its critique of wealth disparity, corporations ruling over people, modern society's endless quest for control and cash, the denigration of the masses by the one percent, and the hellscape that might come if and when digital afterlives do leap past fiction. There's plenty in this show's sights, such as outfits like Amazon, its own source of finance as a Prime Video title, and it doesn't hold back even as it laughs. Upload also boasts the type of close-to-home humour that a workplace comedy that's also a rom-com, afterlife comedy and dystopian comedy needs to keep its various gears spinning, as it'll hopefully get to in more seasons. Check out the trailer for Upload season three below: Upload streams via Prime Video.
If you had plans to see Childish Gambino in Australia and New Zealand in 2025, you were likely paying close attention when he announced in early October that he was cancelling the remainder of his North American tour, and also his UK and European dates. A trip Down Under was meant to follow, and wasn't scrapped at the time; however, it's officially no longer going ahead. There'll be no summertime magic after all, then, after the musician that you also know as Donald Glover first announced four Australian shows for 2025, then expanded his local dates before general ticket sales even started. For the rapper, hip hop talent and Mr & Mrs Smith actor, this was set to be his first trip to these shores since 2019. Dates at Auckland's Spark Arena in January, then at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and RAC Arena in Perth are all now cancelled. When Gambino's shows elsewhere were scraped, he advised on social media that he'd been "to the hospital in Houston to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent" after a show in New Orleans. "After being assessed, it became clear I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the US tour in the time asked. As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal," the statement continued. "My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously. With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the North American tour and the UK and European dates. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase." [caption id="attachment_955315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eli Watson via Flickr.[/caption] This situation might sound familiar. When Gambino last headed this way — complete with a headline spot at Splendour in the Grass — it was after initially announcing a 2018 Australian tour, then cancelling it due to an ongoing injury. Before that, he performed at Falls Festival in 2016. Gambino mightn't have been on Aussie stages for a spell — and still won't be anytime soon — but Glover had the final two seasons of Atlanta, both in 2022, reach screens since he was last Down Under. Voice work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, producing TV series Swarm, the aforementioned Mr & Mrs Smith: they've all joined his resume as well. He'll also be heard as Simba again in Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to 2019's photorealistic version of The Lion King, before 2024 is out. [caption id="attachment_955317" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eli Watson via Flickr.[/caption] Childish Gambino 'The New World' Tour 2025 Australia and New Zealand Dates Tuesday, January 28 — Spark Arena, Auckland — CANCELLED Saturday, February 1 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane — CANCELLED Tuesday, February 4–Wednesday, February 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney — CANCELLED Friday, February 7–Saturday, February 8 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne — CANCELLED Tuesday, February 11 — RAC Arena, Perth — CANCELLED Childish Gambino is no longer touring Australia and New Zealand in January and February 2025. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas via Flickr.
Sometimes, when one of Stephen King's books is adapted for the screen, movie magic is made. At other times, an intriguing TV show awaits. And, average and awful films and series have taken inspiration from his pages, too — which, given the huge number of flicks and programs that are based on his novels, is hardly unsurprising. Of course, fans of the famed author will be hoping that the latest page-to-screen adaptation of one of his books has more in common with The Shining and Misery — more than with IT: Chapter Two and the recent TV version of The Stand, at least. The next novel getting the audio-visual treatment: Lisey's Story. And, it isn't just based on King's 2006 tome. This time around, King is penning the whole eight-episode series himself, too. He's just one of the show's big names, with plenty more in store when it starts airing on Apple TV+ from Friday, June 4. Julianne Moore (After the Wedding) stars as the eponymous Lisey, while Clive Owen (Gemini Man) plays her deceased husband — a famous novelist, because plenty of writers pop up in King's works. Joan Allen (Room), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Possessor), Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets) and Ron Cephas Jones (Dolemite Is My Name) also co-star, and so does Sung Kang (Fast and Furious 9). And, behind the lens is Pablo Larraín, the exceptional Chilean filmmaker responsible for No, The Club, Neruda, Jackie, Ema and the upcoming Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer about Princess Diana. Narrative-wise, Lisey's Story follows its central figure two years after her spouse Scott's death. She's blocked some memories of their time together from her mind, but a series of events brings them back to the fore. And yes, chills and thrills then result. Lisey's Story will premiere its first two episodes on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 4, with new instalments following weekly afterwards.
Along the 1200 kilometres of coastal glory that stretches between Perth and Exmouth, you can dive with whale sharks, meet some of the friendliest dolphins you'll find anywhere, visit the oldest living fossils in the world, get to know sea lions, lose yourself snorkelling in beachside coral gardens and drink as many cocktails at sunset as you can handle. With all the spectacular views, but much less of the population of Australia's east coast, the Coral Coast provides one wild, beautiful road trip. Here's our guide to making the most of seven days behind the wheel. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are limitations on where you can go on a holiday. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_773124" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] DAY ONE: PERTH TO GERALDTON, 420KM From Perth, follow Indian Ocean Drive north. Two hours brings you to the white-sanded fishing village of Cervantes. From here, you can stroll among meadows crowded with wildflowers, nip out to local islands to laze about with sea lions and marvel at The Pinnacles — 30,000-year-old limestone formations within the desertscapes of the Nambung National Park. For the next 200 kilometres, the road hugs the coast, slipping through a collective of laidback beachside towns. Once you hit Geraldton, you'll be ready for a windsurfing lesson among ideal conditions and an over-water sunset, accompanied by a good dose of western rock lobster. It's arguably the freshest, tastiest seafood in Australia. [caption id="attachment_773133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australia's Coral Coast[/caption] DAY TWO: GERALDTON TO CARNARVON, 480KM By the time you reach your next destination, Carnarvon, you're in tropical WA. On the fertile plains of the Gascoyne River, more than 170 plantations produce over 4000 tonnes of bananas and 1300 tonnes of mangos annually, plus tomatoes, grapes, capsicum and more. That's why Carnarvon is known locally as the 'salad bowl of Western Australia'. Wander through lush farms before heading to a local restaurant to indulge in the seafood of your choice: prawns, scallops, crabs and fish are delivered to your plate direct from the sea. Your evening should also include a sunset stroll along the fascine. If you're there on a Saturday morning between May and October, visit the Growers Market, where farmers and producers pour in from all over the region to peddle their wares. [caption id="attachment_773142" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Tourism Western Australia[/caption] DAY THREE: CARNARVON TO EXMOUTH, 370KM Make your first stop the Quobba Blowholes, just 75 kilometres north. Slamming against the coast with a mighty force, the swell is pushed through narrow rock openings and sea caves, creating spectacular water jets that spout as high as 20 metres. To decompress afterwards, pop just one kilometre south, where you'll discover a calm coral lagoon, known as The Aquarium, for swimming. Once you reach Exmouth, you're on the edge of the Ningaloo Reef. Kick back on idyllic beaches, jump aboard a glass bottom boat tour, join a snorkelling expedition or, if you're there between March and July, go diving with whale sharks. This would be a good point to treat yourself to a night of comfort at the Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort or go all out with a night at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp. [caption id="attachment_773135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] DAY FOUR: EXMOUTH TO CORAL BAY, 150KM Your return journey south starts with a short day on the road. There's so much to do along this section, it's best to keep driving time to a minimum. What makes the tiny town of Coral Bay so special is that an extraordinarily beautiful section of the Ningaloo Reef is accessible just a few metres offshore. Make tracks to Five Fingers Reef, then simply pop on your snorkelling gear and dive in. To step the action up a notch, take a 20-minute walk from Main Beach to the shallow waters of the local reef shark nursery, where hundreds of sharks gather between October and March. [caption id="attachment_773146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] DAY FIVE: CORAL BAY TO SHARK BAY, 580KM Follow the Northwest Coastal Highway as far as the turn-off to the Shark Bay World Heritage Drive. Your first adventure along here — the stromatolites of Hamelin Pool — transports you 3.5 billion years back in time. You're looking at the oldest type of living fossils to be found anywhere on the planet. Also definitely worth a stop are the 70-kilometre-long Shell Beach and the dazzling views from Eagle Bluff. Come evening, Monkey Mia has a friendly school of bottlenose dolphins waiting to make your acquaintance, and there are ample opportunities for waterfront cocktails. [caption id="attachment_773139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nature's Window, Tourism Western Australia[/caption] DAY SIX: SHARK BAY TO KALBARRI, 390KM At Kalbarri, the Murchison River runs into the Indian Ocean. Hop aboard a river cruise and go kayaking or canyoning among the steep gorges of the National Park. Hikers will enjoy the eight-kilometre Loop Track, which begins and ends at Nature's Window. Short on time? Visit the two new skywalks, which project 17 metres and 25 metres over the rim and 100 metres above the gorge. Alternatively, stay coastal with your own beach house at Kalbarri Seafront Villas and enjoy stunning walking trails, the legendary Jacques Point surf break and, between June and November, humpback whale spotting. Finish up your day at an outdoor cinema and start the next one with pelican feeding. [caption id="attachment_773950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oakabella Homestead, Tourism Western Australia[/caption] DAY SEVEN: KALBARRI TO PERTH, 570KM Your seventh and final day brings you an inland experience in the form of the National Trust town of Northampton. Reach it via the coast, taking in the magnificent ocean views south of Kalbarri, or cut straight east through the Kalbarri National Park, keeping a lookout for thorny devils as you go. At Northampton, you can check out a bunch of renowned Western Australian attractions, including the state's oldest public railway and Oakabella Homestead and Tea Rooms. Afterwards, return to the coast and take your pick of sleepy villages for exploration, including the twin towns of Dongara and Port Denison, and the tranquil harbour of Jurien Bay. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Tourism Western Australia.
Since setting up at 10 Neild Avenue late last year, "total food hub" Rushcutters has established itself as a genuine champion of fresh, seasonal produce and community spirit. Head honcho Martin Boetz (ex-Longrain) has been keeping inner city diners connected with the country through immersive techniques: an all-day menu, workshops, produce markets and cooking classes. Most of the ingredients involved come direct from Boetz’s Sackville-based Cooks Co-Op Farm, just 50 km from the big smoke. And now? Farmer’s Feast Dinners at just $25 a head. On the last Tuesday of every month, Rushcutters will put a handpicked selection of its favourite local producers and artisans on display. Diners will have the chance to meet the faces behind their dinner plates while enjoying a tasty, seasonally-designed meal. Prepared with seasonal, local produce, the Farmer's Feast menu features braised venison with beetroot and horseradish, brought to the table with a butter mash from Pepe Saya and Valhalla organic wine. The reasonable $25 cover includes a glass of vino, matched by the Keystone Group’s sommelier Sarah Limacher. First cab off the rank is Tim Hansen of Mandagery Creek Venison, who’ll be in house this Tuesday, May 27. Since 2002, he’s been rearing free range deer out in Orange without the use of nasties — antibiotics, stimulants and growth hormones don't have any part in the process. Hansen's sister, Penny Hanan, takes the by-products and transforms them into suede goods and hand crafted knives. She’ll be coming along for the ride to Rushcutters, showcasing her wares from 1803 Artisan Deer Design. Farmer's Feasts start Tuesday May 27. For bookings, call Rushcutters on 02 8070 2424.
Right now, if Australians want to spend a day carving up the snow, there are a few prerequisites. Frosty weather is a must, and so is getting to one of the country's ski resorts — but that could change from 2025. For Sydneysiders, that snowbound routine usually involves jumping in a car for at least five hours, heading to one of New South Wales' ski spots. Jumping on a train to Penrith, where a new $400-million indoor Winter Sports World has been proposed for the city, will be much, much easier. The centre has also received Penrith Council's official endorsement and is now waiting on NSW Department of Planning and Environment approval — and the team behind it has just unveiled how it'll look. The resort's features have been highlighted before, including a 300-metre indoor ski slope, a winter wonderland play area, a competition area for snow spots, and both ice and rock climbing facilities. And yes, to answer the key question, Winter Sports World will indeed use real snow. Visitors will be able to learn to ski onsite, as part of the resort's positioning as a feeder site to outdoor snow fields. The idea: that you'll learn the ropes indoors, then later head out of town to try the real thing. A food and drink precinct featuring bars, restaurants and cafes, and a 120-room hotel have also been included in the proposal — all with snow views. The just-released designs show how Winter Sports World will appear from the outside, however, complete with touches by Sydney architecture firm Collins & Turner to resemble the venue's' alpine inspiration. The 300-metre-plus northern facade is set to glow at night, takes inspiration from snow clouds on a hill and will apparently look like a blizzard, while the centre's public area and curved lower-level facade will resemble melting ice. Ice shard details are also set to feature. Due to be built in Jamisontown on the corner of Jamison Road and Tench Avenue, Winter Sports World will include water streams, networks of paths and eight-metre-high message sticks as well, with telling First Nations' stories about living on Dyarubbin part of the design. After winning the design competition for the gig, Collins & Turner collaborated with local First Nations artist Jamie Eastwood, landscape architecture JLA Landscape Architects, environmental design consultant and engineers Atelier Ten, facade/structural engineer Eckersley O'Callaghan and lighting design Electrolight. The development, which sought public feedback in 2020 and is being put forward as a new major attraction for the area, is part of the Penrith City Council's plan to double visitors and tourism revenue in the area by 2025. Once built, the facility is hoped to provide a boost to Australia's Winter Olympians and their training, providing a venue for alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The Winter Olympics haven't traditionally been one of Australia's sporting strong suits — the national team first competed in 1936 and didn't win its first medal until 1994. The proposal for Winter Sports World has been in the works since November 2018, with site owner and developer Peter Magnisalis lodging a development application with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment this month. For more information about Winter Sports World, head to the proposed venue's website. Images: artists' impressions of Winter Sports World.
Home to raindrop cakes, Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza, Harajuku Gyoza clearly likes getting creative with its sweet treats. The chain is fond of trying out new things with its savouring dumpling range, too, as its experiment with mac 'n' cheese and pepperoni pizza versions showed — but it obviously has a soft spot for the kind of desserts you won't find on any old menu. From Thursday, April 1, the Australian gyoza brand is serving up a new menu item that turns marshmallows into gyoza. You'll find them stuffed inside each dumpling, and also sprinkled on top. And, if your stomach isn't already rumbling, they'll come dusted with icing sugar and paired with Nutella sauce as well. The fried and crispy marshmallow gyoza are joining the chain's dessert lineup in plates of five, which'll cost you $10. And if you fancy tucking into the new gyoza after devouring two old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Harajuku Gyoza's marshmallow gyoza will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, April 1.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Samabe Bali Suites & Villas in Nusa Dua. We've also teamed up with this luxe spot to offer readers a 40% discount on their stay when they book through Concrete Playground Trips. We've even included a bunch of extra travel experiences, helping you really elevate your Bali holiday game. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Even though Bali's Nusa Dua can get busy — people flock here for the famous long white sandy beaches — this clifftop accommodation feels far away from the crowds and gives visitors access to quieter shores. The uninterrupted sea views, all-inclusive elements and ultra-luxurious villas also make this a standout place to stay. THE ROOMS As it says in the name, there are two kinds of accommodations here: suites and villas. Each of the large suites can sleep 4–5 people and most come with their own private plunge pool looking out over the beach. Expect to also find large dining and living rooms, bathrooms with free-standing tubs and queen- or king-sized beds. Then, there are the villas. These bad boys are huge and incredibly opulent. They come with much larger living and dining spaces, pools (either overlooking the courtyard or ocean) and lush gardens. All rooms are traditionally Balinese in design but have all the most modern amenities and plush furnishings. FOOD AND DRINK Samabe Bali Suites & Villas has four restaurants and bars on the premises and also offers a series of bespoke romantic dining experiences. First off, the Rempah-Rempah Restaurant is where you head for an extravagant buffet breakfast every morning (included in the price of your stay). You'll be offered classic brekkie options alongside lavish inclusions like seared wagyu beef, foie gras and all kinds of seafood. Japanese and Korean breakfast set menus are also available for those wanting to change things up. The Te.Ja.Co Lounge and Bar is where most people grab their complimentary afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks. The Ring of Fire Pool Bar is what you'd expect from most lavish poolside drinking dens. Tuck into a bunch of light bites as you make your way down the long list of fun cocktails, beers and wines. The team isn't reinventing the wheel here — just doing the classics well. Lastly, there's the Crystal Blue Ocean Grill. This openair thatched-roof style dining spot overlooks the Indian Ocean and the main pool area. It's pretty big on the surf and turf life — tuck into all manners of freshly caught seafood or get your steak on with a bunch of different cuts available. [caption id="attachment_896022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sven Piek (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA If you're seeking sun and sandy shores, then Bali's Nusa Dua is the place to be. The main strip in town is filled with sun-soaked bars and restaurants as well as a bunch of boutique stores and market stalls. But the biggest drawcard of this area is the beaches. They are next-level gorgeous. And plentiful. Either rent out a sun lounger at the beach (located at the foot of the resort's cliff) and spend your days dipping in and out of the clear blue waters and chilling with a good book or go on an adventure with heaps of water sports available to travellers. And if you're looking to take your Bali holiday to the next level, check out these nine local trips and tours that you can book through Concrete Playground Trips. THE EXTRAS Samabe Bali Suites & Villas has extras galore. You can engage full luxury holiday mode by getting your own personal butler for your entire stay. Or, try booking one of its special romantic experiences (honeymooners are clearly the target audience for these). There are also a bunch of signature activities — think Balinese cooking classes, catamaran picnics, camel rides, outdoor theatre nights and private yoga classes. And if you book our four-night stay at Samabe Bali Suites & Villas, you'll get access to a heap of extras. This includes a unique Indonesian Rijstafel dinner, two in-room massages, complimentary fruit and face masks by the pool, daily beach yoga and a heap of all-inclusive offerings. Plus, the whole trip is 40% off. That means you save over $2500. If you're seeking to extend your summer by going on a luxury island getaway, be sure to check out this exclusive deal. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
If there's one thing that director Damien Chazelle has made plain across his filmmaking career, it's that he loves jazz. His 2009 debut Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench focused on a jazz trumpeter. In his breakout 2014 drama Whiplash, he switched to a jazz drumming student. And with 2016's La La Land, he won the Best Director Oscar for his Los Angeles-set romance about an aspiring actress and a struggling jazz pianist. Chazelle couldn't quite give 2018's Neil Armstrong biopic First Man a jazz spin but, making the leap to television for the first time, he's back in familiar territory with upcoming Netflix series The Eddy. Taking its title from a fictional Parisian jazz club, it follows the ex-New Yorker who co-owns the establishment — who, before he moved to France from the US, was a celebrated jazz pianist, obviously. As well as trying to keep the club running, Elliot Udo (Moonlight's André Holland) manages The Eddy's house band, which is led by his on-again, off-again girlfriend Maja (Cold War's Joanna Kulig). And, just as he's trying to work through dramas with his business partner Farid (Mary Magdalene's Tahar Rahim), his daughter Julie (The Hate U Give's Amandla Stenberg) arrives to live with him out of the blue. Given the premise, expect jazz music to feature heavily, with six-time Grammy Award-winner Glen Ballard — a co-writer and producing of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill — responsible for the show's soundtrack. An eight-part limited series, The Eddy hits Netflix in early May — and while it seems like classic Chazelle, he directs the first two episodes, with the rest of the show helmed by Divines' Houda Benyamina, Rock the Casbah's Laïla Marrakchi and Six Feet Under's Alan Poul. Check out the first teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-9XFyZv7ks The Eddy will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday, May 8. Top image: Lou Faulon.
Move over tea with the Queen — the coffee in London has improved so much over the last few years even Lizzy would ask for a flat white over an English breakfast. We sacrificed the money we were saving for a house deposit to taste coffee all over the city, and here are five coffee shops worth hunting down while you're in town. [caption id="attachment_622923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Levent Ali via Flickr.[/caption] MONMOUTH COFFEE, COVENT GARDEN Monmouth is the grand old dame of London coffee, and has been pumping out caffeine since 1978. And even though Monmouth likes to keep things fresh with an ever-changing selection of house-roasted beans, some things will never change, like the house blend, the queues and the fact that Monmouth makes the best coffee in Old Blighty. We've heard good things about the filter, but we only tried the flat white, because, well, why change when you're onto a good thing? Queen Lizzy gets it. [caption id="attachment_622924" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Espresso Room via Instagram.[/caption] THE ESPRESSO ROOM, BLOOMSBURY The Espresso Room is so small it could double as Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs, so it's a good thing you don't need much space to pump out great coffee (as the Japanese know). This Bloomsbury coffee shop is unsurprisingly known for its espresso, but for our money (too much of our money, to be honest — coffee here is more expensive than home), the flat white is where the magic is. Not too milky, not too strong — it's the best thing this side of getting a letter from Hogwarts. [caption id="attachment_622927" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bex Walton via Flickr.[/caption] KAFFEINE, FITZROVIA You'll need coffee after spending time on London's most insane shopping artery, Oxford Street. Luckily Kaffeine is just a street or two behind the insanity, serving up damn fine coffee in a damn fine looking coffee shop. This is the place to go if you want a taste of classic Australian espresso-based coffee in London; you won't find American- and Scandi- style filter here. You can even grab an Anzac biccie to snack on if you're feeling seriously homesick. TIMBERYARD, SEVEN DIALS Timberyard is buzzing at all opening hours, and not just because of the free Wi-Fi — the coffee here, although although on the expensive side of things, hits the spot. The flat white is strong, flavoursome, with just the right kick of calcium. Grab a seat — try for one of the hotly contested window spots — and the staff will bring your coffee over on a wooden chopping board (because timber yard, geddit?). You'll want to stay for coffee number two. Your tastebuds will thank you, even if your wallet does not. ALLPRESS, SHOREDITCH You go to Kaffeine for a taste of Australia, but for a taste of New Zealand, head straight to one of Allpress Espresso's two cafes in Shoreditch. Founded in Auckland, Allpress is swiftly taking over the world, with cafes in Australia, Japan and London. And you can taste exactly why: their coffee is one of the best, wherever in the world you find it. The Shoreditch cafe has the antipodeon design look down-pat, with white walls and exposed pale timber. The espresso-based coffee, which uses Allpress roasted beans, is delicious, of course.
It’s the trend that has become so established, it’s now a cliche: Queenslanders moving down south to pursue bigger and better things. It’s also the trend Vlada Edirippulige is happy to break, making her dream of opening her own comic book store a reality. Based in West End, Junky Comics launches on April 10 before opening for trading the next day, establishing its physical presence less than a year after bursting onto the online scene. The passion project of Edirippulige, also known as illustrator Junky and as a member of local band Major Leagues, Junky Comics is partly her way of counteracting the apathy so often seen throughout the city. "Brisbane has such a great music scene, and such a great arts scene. Why can't things like this work here?" she notes. Indeed, location is everything — particularly the shop on Vulture Street, which is still in the process of being unpacked when Concrete Playground stops by. As soon as Edirippulige found out the place was available, she sprang into action, working to get the store up and running as soon as possible. "This is such a great little strip in a really lovely community," she says of her spot just up the road from Jet Black Cat Music, and around the corner from both Bent Books and The Avid Reader. The relaxed neighbourhood feel suits her vision for the store, with Junky Comics the kind of place where browsing — and taking a seat on the couch while you peruse the shop's stock — is welcome. "I really hate that feeling of getting in, grabbing something and getting out," Edirippulige advises. "With comics, you need to look through them too see if you dig them. "The decision to turn Junky into a physical store had a lot do with the idea of utilising the space itself, not just as a place to sell comics but a place to have exhibitions and workshops, talks and readings." She hopes to cultivate "a good creative space where you can sit and read and draw a bit if that was what you wanted to do". The unique combination of written word with illustration is a big part of what draws Edirippulige to comics as well. "Some of the most 'highbrow intellectual' texts I've read have been comics," she says. "I think that's why it's super easy to get quickly invested in comics because of the visual aspect, they communicate with the reader so easily." Edirippulige's affection for the medium is obvious and infectious, even if she contends she started Junky Comics from "a very selfish place." She continues, "I wanted to be able to pool together all of the comics that I loved and have them in one place, under one roof. Comic books and graphic novels cover such widespread content — it's not just about superheroes anymore! — and I wanted to have a place that showcased that diversity." Indeed, rifling through the wares adorning the store's custom-made shelves proves just that, with Junky Comics stocking everything from Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis to vintage Wonder Woman. "A huge inspiration as well was the fact that I wanted to have a tonne of work by female writers and artists because there is so much of it out there and it is so good," she explains, with her alternative and indie stock sourced from publishers in Canada, London and the USA alongside classics from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image, plus art books and local zines. On the events side of things, the store launch coincides with its first collaboration with NOFUN, hosting an exhibition inspired by the films of Wes Anderson. Between the artwork and the comics, there's plenty to entice customers into what will hopefully become a thriving new Brisbane hub for all things — and people — of the creative persuasion. Find Junky Comics at 93 Vulture Street, West End, or peruse their online store.
Snow place like home, right? Here at CP, we're excited for winter playtime. Whether you can't wait to hit the slopes again or you're a curious first-timer, we know just the snow-covered playground that will hit the spot: Thredbo. Just a 5 and a 1/2 hour drive from Sydney, winter holiday goers congregate to the alpine village in their masses for the longest ski runs in Australia (when the mountain is fully covered in snow). And we've got the lowdown: where to stay, where to re-fuel, and where to party in your snow boots. Athol Got a lot of friends? This cosy, rustic self-contained chalet sleeps up to 12 people with a perfect communal layout for a big group. Gather round the open fire, sprawl out on the balcony and dig in to some hearty food at the canteen-style dining table. Diggings Terrance, Thredbo Village; Athol website Banjo Townhouses Each townhouse is a modern apartment with one or two bedrooms and beautiful views of the mountains. Loft units have their own slow-burning wood fire: lush! Banjo Drive, Thredbo Village; stayz.com.au/93085 Bernti’s Mountain Inn Bernti's is restaurant, hotel and nightlife all rolled into one. This European-style boutique inn has 30 rooms (and a rather entertaining host in Donna), gourmet food and a popular al fresco deck. Why would you ever leave? 4 Mowamba Place, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6332; berntis.com.au Black Bear Inn In the heart of Thredbo, and at the centre of all the action, this traditional lodge and restaurant has rooms to rent from single to family-sized. It’s a stone’s throw from the shuttle stop, plus never-ending German beer at the Inn. 30 Diggins Terrace, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6216; blackbearinn.com.au Thredbo Alpine Hotel Thredbo Alpine Hotel is boutique accommodation with the pick of rooms or chalets for an easy, comfortable stay at the base of the Kosciuszko chairlift. Thredbo Resort Centre, Thredbo Village; 1300 020 589; Thredbo Alpine Hotel Moonbah Hut A short 30 minute drive from Thredbo, and 15 minutes from Jindabyne town, Moonbah Hut is in a whole world of its own. This completely isolated, unique stone hut is fully equipped with underfloor heating, a rocking chair and fluffy robes for a romantic getaway. Jindabyne; (02) 6457 8311; moonbahhut.com Paringa Self contained, all the mod-cons and a shuttle bus on your doorstep, Paringa apartments are two bed units plus loft space, the obligatory balcony BBQ and a Swedish sauna. (02) 6457 7030; skiinskiout.com.au River Inn Priding itself on being a ski-in, ski-out hotel, River Inn has modern rooms and suites with plenty of extras, like wireless, a heated indoor pool and laundry service. 4 Friday Drive, Thredbo Alpine Village; (02) 9369 3010; riverinn.com.au Rockpool Lodge Like a little luxe? When only 5 star will do, Rockpool Lodge is a good pick. It’s got the spa, faux fur throws, sauna and champagne on chill (okay, we can’t guarantee the last one, but you get the picture). (02) 6457 7132; rockpoollodge.com.au Kareela Hutte Breakfast, coffee, champagne or cellar door, Kareela Hutte is a well-loved haunt for skiers and boarders on their up or down the mountain. On the Supertrail at 1810m altitude; (02) 6457 6099; kareelahutte.com.au Merritts Mountain House On-slope marketplace dining, from fresh juices and salads to stews, soups and strudel. Merritts uses artisan produce to create lovingly homemade food, conveniently located between slopes. Top of Merritts chairlift at 1660m altitude; (02) 6457 6084; merritts.com.au Black Sallee's Nestled amongst the gum trees off Crackenback Supertrail, Black Sallee's is famous for its hot chocolate, European beer selection (try the Maisel's Weisse) and schnapps. The service is quick, so you’ll be shoop shooping again in no time. At the top of Snowgums chairlift; (02) 6457 6439; Black Sallee's Bullwheel Bar & Bistro Laying claim to being Australia’s highest bar and bistro, Bullwheel has quick snacks and warming drinks, as well as German wheat beers, gluhwein and schnapps. At the top of Kosciuszko chairlift at 1937m altitude; (02) 6457 6019; Bullwheel Bar & Bistro Bernti’s Tapas Bar Serving a gourmet selection of international tapas, from smoked trout bruschetta to veal schnitzel, Bernti’s has al fresco dining and plenty of wine and beer to wash it down with. 4 Mowamba Place, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6332; berntis.com.au/tapas-bar The Knickerbocker Pan fried market fish, duck confit, spinach and ricotta dumplings... Yum! Riverside Cabins, Diggings Terrace, Thredbo; (02) 6457 6844; theknickerbocker.com.au The Terrace Relaxed fine dining: head chef Karen Forsstrom, formerly of Sydney’s Kingsleys restaurant, cooks up the finest ingredients to serve up her handcrafted menu. The Denman Hotel, 21 Diggings Terrace, Thredbo; (02) 6457 6222; thedenman.com.au The Wildbrumby Open daily for breakfast and lunch, the kitchen at Wildbrumby schnapps distillery door has a hearty selection of soups, pates, sandwiches and burgers - all created using local produce. Cnr of Wollondibby Rd and Alpine Way, Jindabyne; (02) 6457 1447; wildbrumby.com Apres Bar For a sophisticated start to the night, head to Apres Bar at The Denman. Cocktails, retro decor and tapas. The Denman, 21 Diggins Terrace, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6222; thedenman.com.au/bar Schuss Bar A little more laid-back, the Schuss Bar has live music and entertainment every night throughout winter. Threadbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200. Thredbo Alpine Lounge Bar From 12 noon to midnight, the Alpine Lounge Bar is the place to kick-back and enjoy a coffee (or something stronger) beside the fire. Relaxed vibe, live music and great views. Thredbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200. The Keller Looking to party late into the night? Revellers migrate to Thredbo’s famous nightclub. Thredbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200.
Maybe you were planning to do your Christmas shopping in the CBD this year, and had a stop at Brisbane Arcade on your agenda. Perhaps your present-buying strategy just involves seeing what's on offer in the Queen Street Mall — amid all the festive hustle and bustle, obviously. For the fourth year in a row, there's an option that involves all of the above: the Brisbane Arcade Christmas Markets. That's when, for two big days, the Brisbane Arcade spills out onto the mall to fill it full of seasonal markets showcasing designer wares, fashion, gifts, accessories and other goodies (for your loved ones or for yourself). In 2023, the QSM takeover is happening from 10am–6pm on Friday, December 8 and 10am–4pm on Saturday, December 9. So, you can stop by after work during late-night shopping or make a day of it. The markets usually involve tunes — 'tis the season — and photo opportunities, and you can obviously still wander through the arcade to check out its latest festive decorations.
In the future we'll surely be able to buy things off the internet (or Google Glass, or whatever) and they'll materialise in our teleportation box as soon as the transaction is approved. But until then we still have to deal with the traversing of physical space (such a drag), which unfortunately takes time, money and human resources. But delivery companies have done pretty well with coming up with new ways of getting us our stuff so far — just last week 7-Eleven delivered their first Slurpee by drone, and Japanese postal service Yamato Transport have just announced that they'll start driverless delivery as of next year. Yamato have partnered with Tokyo-based tech company DeNA to develop and launch the delivery by self-driving car service. In what might be the only name that a Japanese tech delivery service could possibly be called, it's been dubbed the RoboNeko Yamato, which translates to "robo cat". RoboNeko has been described as an "on-demand delivery service" because customers will place an order in way that's similar to requesting an Uber. It's of course designed to be used as an e-commerce platform, but customers can also use the app to request a car to deliver bulky things like luggage or a bulk IKEA haul. Customers will be able to track the car, and when it arrives, they'll simply unload their delivery and the car will drive off into the sunset. The service will be trialled for one year, starting March 2017. During that time drivers will accompany some cars to make sure nothing goes wrong, but they hope for the service to be fully autonomous by the end of the trial. Self-driving cars are something that are being tested extensively for human transport — Uber has started testing them, as has US ridesharing service Lyft and Washington D.C. has an adorable self-driving bus — but this is the first time they'll be used for delivery purposes. Via PSFK.
"I never expected that my work would amount to anything," says celebrated Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee in conversation with Concrete Playground. "One dreams, but I never dreamed that I would ever have a proper career in art," she says. It's a humbling statement from the artist whose retrospective Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop opened at MCA Australia earlier this month. Celebrating her dynamic and often experimental 40-year practice, with more than 70 works including paintings, flung metal pieces and immersive installations, the exhibition is one of the most exciting events in Australia this summer. If you're not familiar with Lee's art, she says her work is never about giving off a message or trying to explain something. "But rather [to create] an experience for the viewer where they find themselves whittling out questions and curiosities," says Lee. "Art exceeds what anyone can say about it. When viewing it, it is almost self-reflective." The multidisciplinary artist has a playful approach to her art in which process is as important as the finished piece. There are Lee's early photocopy works from the 80s, wax paintings and whole-room installations. And there's the dazzling steel sculpture 'Secret World of a Starlight Ember', made up of thousands of tiny perforations and located in the Museum's forecourt, which you'll want to catch at night — and undoubtedly take a selfie. But there are also six artworks that are particularly close to Lee's heart, which, according to the artist are not to be missed. For Lee, they represent different points of her practice, direction and philosophies — and they're pretty great to look at, too. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] 'NO UP, NO DOWN, I AM THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS' Lee's practice is deeply rooted in Daoism and Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism philosophies, with her works often examining the connection between humanity and the cosmos. But it wasn't always so, which is why her work 'No Up, No Down, I Am the Ten Thousand Things' is such a seminal piece. "[It] was the first work that I ever created with a direct intentional relationship with Zen philosophy," says Lee. 'No Up, No Down, I Am the Ten Thousand Things' takes over an entire corner of the Museum, with approximately 1200 colourful photocopies, marked with flung ink (an ancient Chinese art form), scattered across the walls and floor. The bold work first exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW in 1995 and has been recreated by Lee thanks to the MCA's Director and exhibition curator Elizabeth Ann Macgregor — her first curated exhibition since the MCA's 2012 Anish Kapoor show. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ken Leanfore[/caption] 'MOONLIGHT DEITIES' This massive, immersive piece of art was commissioned especially for the exhibition and is made up of 31 perforated paper discs, varying from two to ten metres in diameter. So expect the wow-factor when walking through this one. Predominantly black and white with "the silvery light you get on a full moon night", 'Moonlight Deities' has a sense of otherworldliness to it. On the surface, it's all about dark and light, silhouettes and shadow, with moon crater-like projections dancing across the room. There's little difference between the discs and the shadows they cast, which, as you walk through the room, create a sense of liminality — all connecting back to Ch'an buddhism. "I have a fascination with time. In Zen philosophy, the thing I find immeasurably fascinating is the notion that time is actually an ingredient of what we are," says Lee. "We're all impermanent. And in the universe everything changes." [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] 'BIRTH AND DEATH' 'Birth and Death' is Lee's most personal work in the exhibition. "It remains one of the most important works I've ever done," says the artist. Created as an homage to her late nephew Ben after he passed away aged 22 from cancer, 'Birth and Death' touches on political and cultural themes such as migration, Chinese culture and the White Australia policy. "But the essential purpose of this piece was to honour Ben and give him his place in five generations of family," she says. "It's about paying honour to someone I cared very much about." The work is made up of 100 accordion books, with books dedicated to members of Lee's family at various stages of their life. Using red, the work evokes an association with blood as much as it does with China. It is as visually impactful as it is evocative. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] 'STRANGE CONDENSATIONS' Lindy Lee is no stranger to experimentation in art. In fact, it is a major part of her process and with 'Strange Condensations' she surrenders to it. Her flung bronze works came about from seeing accidental bronze drippings on a foundry floor and, naturally, she wanted to turn it into art. By taking molten bronze and flinging it at surfaces, the artist creates almost cosmic constellations — in a hazmat suit, no less. Again stemming from her Buddhist beliefs, 'Strange Condensations' — and its making — is symbolic of the universe as an infinite net, constructed and dependent on everything within it. "What I love about [flung bronze] is that it's uncontrollable. Everything that exists in that moment makes that mark," says Lee. "Each shape is unique and it is absolutely about the conditions of the time that creates them. And thus it is with life." [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] 'OPEN AS THE SKY' AND 'UNNAMEABLE' If you thought splashing 1200-degree metal around was experimental, think again. Wanting to make her flung bronze works three-dimensional, Lee turned to a litre of Pauls custard — as a cooling substance to drop molten metal into. With the metal rolling into itself while cooling, it creates spontaneous forms that Lee then scales up. The end result is a series of gnarled, pitted sculptures like 'Open As the Sky' and 'Unnameable'. As well as being the product of a cool science experiment, these works are the artist's own version of gonshi (ancient scholar's rocks) and, in turn, celebrate her Chinese heritage. "It takes an immense energy of geological transitions and force over thousands of years to make [gonshi]. That's why they're admired; they literally contain the movement of the universe through them. So, you know, I wanted to make my own." 'Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop is showing at MCA Australia until February 2021. The gallery is currently open 10am–5pm, Tuesday–Sunday, with COVID-19 measures in place. Entry is free and unticketed. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively. Top images: Anna Kucera.
The Global Mail is a newspaper with a difference. Launched today, the not-for-profit news and features website will offer its readers local and global public interest stories, but will not have any advertisers nor charge its readers. Instead, The Global Mail will be funded in entirety by Wotif.com founder, Graeme Wood, who has committed a minimum of $15 million to the project. At the helm will be former ABC journalist, Monica Attard (pictured), as Editor-in-Chief. She plans on taking a step back from the intensity of everyday news to create a more engaging, informative experience. "I had long viewed, with a degree of envy, the ProPublica model in the US and wanted to build a site here that carried only public interest journalism - no ads, no subscription, no celebrity stories, no spin, funded philanthropically", Attard told The Australian. Attard will lead a team of journalists in Australia and correspondents across Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America. The site will give up-to-the-minute news nationally and internationally, and promises to deliver stories that speak to the people, tackling issues such as government, business, religion, science, art and culture. It sounds like a much-needed news alternative. Let's just hope that the impartiality remains when the philanthropy inevitably disappears.
If you're already thinking ahead to summer, here's three trends that'll be shining in Australia: spots, gourds and kaleidoscopic reflections. You'll see them all over your social feeds. You'll spy them in exhibition merchandise sported by anyone who visits NGV International. And, most excitingly, you'll be surrounded by the trio at the Melbourne art gallery, which will be hosting a huge Yayoi Kusama retrospective as its summer blockbuster. When we say that Yayoi Kusama, the exhibition, is big, we mean it. While the Japanese artist's work is no stranger to Aussie shores — and was the focus of a comprehensive showcase at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art back in 2017–18 — NGV International's ode to the iconic talent will be the largest that country has ever seen. When it displays from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025, more than 180 works will feature, the world-premiere showing of a brand-new infinity mirror room among them. It's a massive endeavour for the NGV, too. "It's the largest space that's been given a living contemporary artist, across the entire ground floor," Wayne Crothers, NGV's Senior Curator of Asian Art, tells Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_950475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Chandelier of grief 2016/18 at Tate Modern, London, © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] The NGV has curated Yayoi Kusama with input from Kusama, with the end result stepping through the 95-year-old artist's eight decades of making art via a thematic chronology. Some pieces hail from her childhood. Some are recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s: they'll all appear. Half of the exhibition will be devoted to the past four decades — so, pumpkins galore; giant paintings; and an impressive and expansive range of room installations, complete with her very first infinity room from 1965, plus creative interpretations since from the 80s onwards. Again, this is a hefty exhibition. It's one of the most-comprehensive Kusama retrospectives ever staged globally (and the closest that you'll get to experiencing her Tokyo museum without leaving Australia). "We've been wanting to do a major exhibition with this artist for a long time. We're very focused on contemporary art. We're very focused on Asian art. And Kusama hasn't had a big solo show in in Australia for some time — and she's still very active. So there's past works, but also some contemporary works being produced right at the moment," continues Crothers. [caption id="attachment_950477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin 1981, Collection of Daisuke Miyatsu © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] If you're keen to be one of the first people in the world to be wowed by Kusama's new infinity room, it'll be as immersive as such spaces always are when she's behind them. Even the NGV team don't know the full details of the piece that's being produced especially for the exhibition, so it'll be a surprise to everyone. It'll be complemented by the aforementioned array of rooms, which is "one of the largest displays, for our audience, of those immersive rooms that have ever been assembled globally," Crothers advises. Eager to see a five-metre-tall bronze sculpture of a pumpkin? 2020's Dancing Pumpkin, which has just been acquired by the NGV, will feature. And, for the first time in Australia, 2019's THE HOPE OF THE POLKA DOTS BURIED IN INFINITY WILL ETERNALLY COVER THE UNIVERSE will unleash its six-metre-high tentacles — as speckled with yellow-and-black polka dots, of course. Almost six decades since first debuting at 1966's Venice Biennale — unofficially — Narcissus Garden will be a part of Yayoi Kusama in a new version made of 1400 30-centimetre-diameter stainless silver balls. Now that's how you open an exhibition, as this will. NGV's Waterwall is also scoring a Kusama artwork specific to the space, while the Great Hall will be filled with the giant balloons of Dots Obsession floating overhead. [caption id="attachment_950474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Flower Obsession 2017 on display in NGV Triennial from 15 December 2017 – 15 April 2018 at NGV International Melbourne. Image courtesy of NGV[/caption] Basically, wherever you look across NGV International's ground level, Kusama works will be waiting, spanning paintings, installations, sketches, drawings, collages and sculptures, as well as videos and clothing. Dots will obviously be inescapable. One section of the gallery will replicate Kusama's New York studio. Over 20 experimental fashion designs by the artist will also demand attention. Infinity Net paintings from the 50s and 60s, Accumulation sculptures and textiles from the 60s and 70s, and a Kusama for Kids offshoot with all-ages interactivity (fingers crossed for an obliteration room) are also on their way. The must-see exhibition for Melbourne locals and travel-worthy event for art lovers located outside of the Victorian capital will benefit from pieces from the artist's own personal collection — and rarely seen photos, letters (including to and from fellow artist eorgia O'Keefe), posters, magazines, teen sketch books and films — while others will be sourced from Japanese and Australian institutions. [caption id="attachment_950473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama. The obliteration room 2002–present. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] "Kusama's imagery has become part of the general common visual vernacular of the society," notes Crothers. "And I think our role in the exhibition, or what I've really taken on, is to introduce how profound the journey has been that's led her to this point of global visual recognition, going right back to a very ambitious teenager in rural Japan, and then the letter correspondence and New York, and delving into a lot of archival material." "There are few artists working today with the global presence of Yayoi Kusama. This world-premiere NGV-exclusive exhibition allows local audiences and visitors alike the chance to experience Kusama's practice in deeper and more profound ways than ever before," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM in the summer showcase's official announcement. "We are indebted to Yayoi Kusama for her passion and collaboration on this special project. Without the artist's personal dedication to this exhibition — and excitement to share her worldview with Australian audiences — none of this would be possible." [caption id="attachment_950480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Portrait of Yayoi Kusama c. 1939 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Infinity mirror room – Phall's Field 1965 at the Castellane Gallery, New York © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Top image: excerpt of Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA.
Continuing their love affair with all things German, Adidas' latest limited-edition sneaker pays tribute to a part of Berlin life every local and tourist is familiar with. After making beer-proof shoes for Oktoberfest, the next cab off the rank is a pair of trainers inspired by the city's subway system — or next train out of the station, if you prefer. The newest release in the brand's Originals series, the BVG x adidas EQT Support 93 / Berlin footwear have been created in conjunction with Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Berlin's public transport network. Available until sold out from January 16 from the Adidas flagship store and retailer Overkill, the shoes take their fabric from the subway's seat pattern, while also styling their shoelaces after its bright yellow external appearance. It's all in celebration of the BVG's 90th birthday. Donning kicks that match one of Berlin's iconic features is one thing. Walking around in shoes that also double as your train fare for a year — now that's even better. All 500 pairs include a season ticket made of fabric and attached to the tongue. And yes, you really can use it to hop onboard, with anyone wearing the sneakers entitled to free BVG use until December 31, 2018. Sure, anyone lucky enough to nab themselves a pair will pay €180 (approximately AU$280), but that's not bad for new shoes and a year's worth of travel. Via i-D. Image: Overkill.
For the best part of the past six years London artist Ben Wilson has spent his days painting pieces of chewing gum that have been stuck to the ground. Wilson transforms these sidewalk blemishes into miniature works of art. The paintings range from animals, landscapes, portraits and even messages to pedestrians. Unsurprisingly his chewing gum art has turned him into something of a local celebrity, meaning he also does paintings on request for members of the local community - including apologies to girlfriends, thank you messages from managers to employees, a R.I.P. painting for a deceased postal worker and even a marriage proposal. Despite this, Wilson has received some police interference including one arrest. Charges were quickly dropped after dozens of people wrote letters of support and Wilson was able to convince the police that it was not him actually sticking the chewing gum to the ground. To create it all, Wilson first softens the chewing gum with a blowtorch then sprays it with a lacquer and finally applies three coats of acrylic enamel. The works usually only last one or two years depending on conditions but this does not bother Wilson, as in his words "everything is transitory, what's important is the creative process." Images via Flickr users Jansos, Tezzer 57 and r3cycl3r [via Gizmodo]
Two hefty names in 80s and 90s music. One massive visit to Australia and New Zealand. Pearl Jam have finally announced new Down Under gigs, as a leg on their Dark Matter tour to support their next album, and they'll have huge company thanks to Pixies. Eddie Vedder and Black Francis taking to the same stage? That'll make you feel alive and ask "where is my mind?". The Seattle-born Pearl Jam are the headliners, and about time; this is the band's first visit Australia and Aotearoa since 2014, on a tour that included the final-ever Big Day Out. They've been dropping clues for a while that they were heading this way again, complete with hints at Bondi Beach since the past weekend. Now, they've locked shows in Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney and on the Gold Coast. [caption id="attachment_940844" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Cinch[/caption] Dark Matter, the band's 12th album, will release in April — which gives fans plenty of time to know it by heart before the group play Go Media, Heritage Bank, Marvel and Giants stadiums in November. The record's title track is a brand-new tune, just dropping on Tuesday, February 12. Live, that song and others from Dark Matter will feature on a setlist that's sure to span past hits 'Alive', 'Black', 'Jeremy', 'Better Man', 'Last Kiss' and 'Daughter' from previous albums such as the iconic Ten, Vs and Vitalogy from the early 90s, plus No Code, Yield and more since. [caption id="attachment_940849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wp72 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Pixies, who were last Down Under in 2022, are responsible for a helluva one-two punch with their first two albums: 1988's Surfer Rosa and 1989's Doolittle. The first gave the world the track that's been linked with Tyler Durden courtesy of David Fincher's Fight Club since 1999, aka 'Where Is My Mind?', as well as 'Gigantic' and 'Cactus'. The second is home to 'Here Comes Your Man', 'Monkey Gone to Heaven', 'Debaser' and 'Wave of Mutilation'. Foo Fighters, blink-182, Queens of the Stone Age, Tenacious D, now Pearl Jam and Pixies: it's been a great time of late for big rock tours in this neck of the woods. Pearl Jam Dark Matter World Tour 2024 with with Special Guests Pixies — Australia and New Zealand Dates Friday, November 8 – Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart, Auckland Wednesday, November 13 — Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast Saturday, November 16 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Thursday, November 21 — Giants Stadium, Sydney Pearl Jam and Pixies are touring Australia and New Zealand in November 2024, with ticket registrations from Wednesday, February 14–Sunday, February 18 and ticket sales from Friday, February 23 — head to the Pearl Jam website for further details. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Cosy up by the fire sipping Margaret River cabernet at Empire Retreat and Spa or embrace Sydney’s industrial past at 1888 Hotel. Either way, you’ll be chasing away winter blues and indulging at each of these top ten Mr & Mrs Smith hotels in Australia and New Zealand. Stay three nights (or more) to save 30 percent on stays until the end of September — but get in quick; these exclusive offers must be booked by July 31. Hotel Hotel, Canberra Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin in the cultural heart of Canberra, Hotel Hotel is the designer pad you’ve always wanted — on a greater scale. Out of the 68 individually styled rooms, the Meandering Rooms are by far the biggest and best, with a tub for two and double rain showers. Housed in the Nishi Building in NewActon, the hotel is part of a new development that combines contemporary art, landscaped gardens and the bespoke modern living that’s becoming popular in Australia. The courtyard cinema is closed in winter, but don’t fret: you can still get your arthouse cinematic fix at Palace Electric, just downstairs. Spicers Vineyards Estate, Hunter Valley A tapestry of vines and veggie patches surrounds this handsome hotel in the Hunter Valley. Spicers Vineyards Estate is just two hours from Sydney and draws on its location to provide you with a romantic, culinary-themed getaway. Here, fresh regional produce teamed with the latest vintages (featuring grapes harvested from the estate’s vines) will have you mellow in no time. An added bonus is Spa Anise, where you can replenish mind, body and soul with organic honey-and-cocoa treatments or hot-stone massages. Ground-floor King Spa Rooms open onto an inviting verandah: first-floor rooms will earn you views all the way to the Brokenback Mountain Range. For cosy nights by the fire, opt for a Luxury Spa Suite. QT Gold Coast Bright pops of colour and retro furniture complete the Miami-esque feel at QT Gold Coast. Just a stone’s throw away from Surfers Paradise beach, you can soak up some sun and set yourself free from the weight of those winter woollies. Sample international cuisine at Bazaar, the hotel’s restaurant, styled with a bustling marketplace in mind. All rooms are fun and flirty with bonus DIY lemonade kits, but the QT King Ocean View rooms take the cake with seascape vistas and surfer-spotting potential. The Gold Coast is known for being a party playground, so join in the fun at the hotel’s bar, Stingray, where cocktails flow in an industrial-chic setting. Eveningwear is a must when the sun goes down: no board shorts allowed. The Prince Hotel, Melbourne Situated in the vibrant St Kilda precinct in Melbourne, The Prince Hotel is an edgy designer’s dream. Its modern, contemporary rooms feature timber floors, artfully placed throws and stand-alone bath tubs for peaceful soaks. You’ll get 30 percent off the Boutique and Deluxe rooms here, so take those savings and sample some of the fantastic restaurants that St Kilda has to offer. Stroll past nearby Acland Street for delectable treats at Monarch Cakes or sample the menu at the hotel’s restaurant, Circa, which champions seasonal eating using the freshest produce from Victorian and Australian farmers. If you fall in love with any of the artworks adorning the walls, you might be able to take them home (for a price, of course). The walls, curated by Utopian Slumps’ Melissa Loughnan, allow art to be seen in a more social, everyday environment. Spicers Peak Lodge, Qld A mountain retreat on the Scenic Rim of Queensland, Spicers Peak Lodge is a place where you can surround yourself in nature without sacrificing luxurious comforts. Set on a 9000-acre cattle station, the hotel has bushwalking and mountain bike trails for adventurous types and gourmet picnics on offer too. Five of the seven luxury lodge suites have warming stone fireplaces, perfect to snuggle by on a winter’s eve. The earthy, natural tones are calming and fuss-free, drawing you outwards to the natural beauty of the area. Dining at the lodge is a must. The cuisine highlights seasonal and organic produce, including honey, which stars in delicacies such as the chocolate, caramel popcorn and honeycomb dessert. Empire Retreat and Spa, WA A relaxing oasis among the southern wilderness of Western Australia, Empire Retreat and Spa combines a level of luxury and seclusion among the gum trees. The retreat’s villas and suites are set in and around a restored farmhouse — once the owner’s family home. Both rustic and modern interiors work well with timber and natural stone accents that celebrate the beauty of the surrounding native bushland. The main house has an open fireplace, timber decking and a secluded Jacuzzi and sauna for extra entertainment. Some of the nation’s best cabernets and pristine beaches can be found in this pocket of the west, so it’s well worth hiring a car to explore. The Spire, Queenstown The Spire is an urban hideaway in the midst of Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand's South Island. Interiors of dark wood and rich, candy-apple red highlight create rooms that are inviting sanctuaries away from wintry winds. Room six has an exclusive view of the spire that the hotel is named after, but all have stone-clad fireplaces and private balconies. Sip a cocktail while enjoying some Mediterranean- and European Alps-inspired tapas at No5 Church Lane, the hotel’s laidback lounge bar, or venture to the waterfront for some of the freshest seafood Queenstown has to offer. The hotel is more than happy to arrange some adrenaline-pumping activities such as bungee-jumping or jet-boating, but a simple hike and picnic lunch is also on the menu. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, NZ Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand is a pristine natural wonder. Rolling green hills stretch from The Farm at Cape Kidnappers all the way to the churning water’s edge. A par-71 golf course is on hand, along with 180-degree views of the spectacular Pacific Ocean. A luxurious barn-like conversion worthy of a Grand Designs feature, the Owner’s Cottage has added seclusion away from the main lodge, a large stone fireplace and an open kitchen for entertaining. Tawny interiors throughout add to the farmhouse style, and invoke a homey, welcoming environment. The lodge even has its own winery located in the Gimblett Gravels region, with regular wine tastings. There’s an onsite pastry chef and a new vegetable garden that provides head chef James Honore with fresh produce to accompany the locally sourced meats and seafood. 1888 Hotel, Sydney An eclectic industrial conversion, 1888 Hotel turns Sydney’s past into a stylish inner-city hangout. In a prime location for visiting Sydney’s famous harbour and the captivating Powerhouse Museum, this historic wool store offers a vibrant resting place that moulds together the best of days gone by and modern Australian design. Three-metre-high ceilings and original wooden beams are featured throughout rooms, and the Attic room has a sun-kissed patio and sociable lounge for entertaining. A philosophy of simplicity encompasses the menu at 1888 Eatery & Bar, where meals celebrate wholesome and sustainably sourced ingredients. There’s also a monthly photography competition for all you avid Instagrammers, so don’t forget to tag the hotel in any snaps as it could win you a free night’s stay. Islington Hotel, Tasmania A Regency house situated just outside of Hobart in Tasmania, Islington Hotel sports views of Mount Wellington and hosts manicured gardens. A sustainability motto that will knock your socks off, paired with an 80 percent organic decree, sets this hotel above the rest with its eco-friendly practices. The moreish dishes at the hotel’s restaurant — such as maple-and-whisky-glazed pork loin and Tasmanian wallaby shank — are definitely set to spoil. Rooms in the old house are generous and elegant with bespoke bedding and contemporary artworks from the owner’s worldwide travels adorning walls. This is the perfect getaway for curling up by the outdoor open fire and settling in with a good book while sipping on some of the hotel’s swill-worthy wines. Browse all Smith’s winter warmer offers or see all available hotel offers online. Contact our expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627 for further details on the hotels and their deals.
Nearly two decades after Hae Min Lee's murder, the Baltimore high school student's horrific plight continues to dominate the true crime landscape. After featuring on the first season of Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, it's now forming the basis for a new documentary series, The Case Against Adnan Syed. Announced by HBO, the four-hour effort will pick up where everyone's 2014 obsession left off, not only exploring 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and her ex-boyfriend Syed's conviction in 2000, but the latter's ongoing quest to have the extremely complex legal matter reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Everything from Lee and Syed's relationship, to the original police investigation and trial, to the developments up until now will feature, with the film gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. The series couldn't come at a more crucial time for Syed, who was convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison, and continues to fight his case through the courts. While he was granted a new trial in 2016, that ruling was subsequently appealed by the State of Maryland — only for the Court of Special Appeals to agree to vacate Syed's conviction and finally give him that retrial just this past March. A date for the actual retrial hasn't yet been set, however. Splashed across the small screen, it's certain to make for compelling viewing — but if you think you've spent too much time mulling it all over across the past five years, filmmaker Amy Berg has you beat. Unsuprisingly given how complicated the matter is, the director has been working on the project since 2015. And, with her excellent doco background — with Berg helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret — her new venture is certain to be thorough. Currently in post-production, The Case Against Adnan Syed will air sometime in 2019. Plus, as they did for West of Memphis, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will provide the score. Image: Adnan Syed via Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.
Cycling to work is fun. But turning up to the office in lyrca and fluoros? Not so much. Fortunately (for everyone involved) San Francisco-based designer Parker Dusseau has come up with a solution. It's a suit that's cool enough to ride and work in. That's cool, temperature- and style-wise. Similar to the Wear-More, Wash-Less T-shirt that caught our eye last week, the 'Commuter Suit' is made of merino. Australian 135 Performance Superwool, to be precise, with spandex throw in for flexibility, poly tricot mesh lining and a water-resistant finish. Not only is it breathable, it actually wicks away moisture, minimising temperatures while maximising comfort levels. The cut is form-fitting yet allows plenty of room for movement. According to Dusseau's site, the Commuter Suit embodies "the perfect intersection of cycle gear and men's fashion". Pretty much every conceivable detail seems to have been taken into consideration. A pleat in the back section of the jacket creates an 'Action Back', enabling extension and stretching without resistance. A three-button enclosure prevents the wind cutting through. Super-deep internal pockets provide safe storage. Elastic bands hidden in the pant cuffs mean they can be secured to avoid entanglement in the chain. Available in navy and charcoal grey, the Commuter Suit can be purchased online. Jackets are selling for US$485 and pants for US$245. There's also a dress shirt, which comes in ivory white or periwinkle blue, for US$145 and 'Commuter Cinos' for US$145. Via PSFK.
Instagram favourites The Inspired Unemployed are pretty used to bringing Aussies joy via their side-splitting satirical videos. From lockdown habits and fitness instructors to tradies and bouncers — Jack Steele and Matt Ford will take aspects of stereotypical Aussie culture, then flip the script to poke a bit of fun. Now, the self-dubbed battlers are looking to bring Australians a new kind of happiness ahead of summer — with a beer launched in collaboration with Victorian favourite, Torquay Beverage Company. Better Beer is a zero-carb, zero-sugar lager that clocks in at 87 calories per can, which Ford quips is "healthier than broccoli". Explaining the decision to make Better Beer zero-carb, Steele says: "As loose as we can be at times, we're actually pretty healthy people. So we decided, let's make a beer that's healthier and still tastes great, one that doesn't make you feel heavy in the morning and rough around the edges." "We've had a lot of opportunities to do bigger stuff and beer was on our mind for a while," Steele explains to Concrete Playground. "But the thing is — when we start something, we don't want to start it and go half-hearted. We either make it the best thing ever or don't do it at all." On social media, the pair of mates are all about hyperboles. But, that's far from the case in this instance — Better Beer is the product of 12 months of work, which included an (unintended) four-month stint in New Zealand and COVID-friendly collaboration sessions with their business partner in crime, Torquay Beverage Company founder Nick Cogger. "I couldn't tell you how many hours we've spent on Zoom," Steele says. Cogger is a long-time partner of The Inspired Unemployed, commissioning them back in late 2019 when the pair had just 12,000 followers. "Nick was actually one of the first people to ever give us a job in this industry," Ford says. "He was one of the first people to reach out, he gave us a job to go to a music festival and..." "...get drunk!" Steele jokes. The pair initially called Cogger for advice on the beer brand, before deciding to create Better Beer together. "And then next thing you know, here we are talking to you." As for the taste, the boys have reportedly heard it described as "smooth like Michael Jackson" and "the breakfast of champions". "All our mates have tasted it and they love it. Obviously, they're our mates, so you'd think they'd have to say that — but it was a genuine reaction!" Ford says. If you're after a cold one, Better Beer will be available at your local Dan Murphy's, BWS and independent bottleshops from Friday, November 12. You can keep up to date with Better Beer, including limited-edition merch drops, via the website. New Better Beer products are also expected to drop in March 2022.
Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, is back for its seventh year and is set to be as boundary-pushing as ever, with its initial lineup announced today. As always, the festival will take place in the lead up to the winter solstice, exploring connections between old and contemporary mythology through art installations, performance, talks and music — all taking place in the darkness of Tasmanian winter. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo will takeover most of Hobart between June 3–23, showcasing a melting pot of artists, creatives and thinkers who dwell in the shadows of mainstream culture. Kicking things off is the festival's ideas symposium Dark + Dangerous Thoughts, running from June 6 to 9, which will present varied perspectives on issues of identity and politics from writers, commentators and thinkers such as homegrown talent Stan Grant, Yumi Stynes, Nakkiah Lui and Ginger Gorman alongside international guests Jennifer Boylan, Frederic Martel, and Coleman Hughes, among many others. Talks will navigate controversial topics such as Australia Day, average sex and priests in the closet. On site at MONA, installations by Ai Weiwei, Alfredo Jaar, Oliver Beer and Chris Townsend will be exhibited as well as MONA's own Kirsha Kaechele, who'll bring her book Eat the Problem to life with a series of immersive feasts (expect cane toads, starfish and camel), and an exhibition featuring one of the world's largest glockenspiels. Sharon Van Etten – the American musician and composer, who's appeared in David Lynch's Twin Peaks: The Return and Netflix's OA – is set to perform a night of disjointed, wistful and at times menacing folk-rock-pop with her new album Remind Me Tomorrow at the Odean on Sunday, June 9. [caption id="attachment_619495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.[/caption] And back again for another extravagant performance is Mike Parr with Towards a Black Square – a lengthy blindfolded performance in an undisclosed location, shown through live video feed – while over at DarkLab's deconsecrated church, controversial Australian artist Paul Yore will transform the space into a technicolour shrine for Dolly Parton, Justin Bieber and other icons of sex, love and the excessive with It's All Wrong But It's Alright. The full lineup is yet to be announced, but we're expecting all the regular winter feasts, nude swims and warehouse parties will return, too. We'll update you when it drops on Friday, April 12. Dark Mofo returns to Hobart from June 6 and 23. The full lineup will be announced Friday April 12. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm on Monday, April 15 with general tickets on sale from 11pm on Tuesday, April 16. For more information, visit the festival website.
It's a tradition we all know well: go to IKEA with the intention of picking up some new water glasses, spend two hours wandering the labyrinth and filling a basket with tea light candles (you can never have too many), bath rugs (so soft!) and plants (you'll keep this one alive, promise), then sit down for a plate of delicious meatballs and mash. During COVID-19, IKEA has had to temporarily shut its in-store restaurants, in line with the government's closure of non-essential indoor venues. But, so you can get your fix at home, it has just released the recipe to its blessed meatballs. The Swedish flatpack experts are also now offering contactless delivery (in Australia) and have a podcast that reads through the IKEA catalogue, so you can really relive your time strolling through its endless corridors. But, we'll skip the smalltalk and get straight to what you're all looking for: the recipe. IKEA'S MEATBALLS Serves four 500 grams beef mince 250 grams pork mince 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic (crushed or minced) 100 grams breadcrumbs 1 egg 5 tablespoons of milk Salt and pepper to taste For the cream sauce Dash of oil 40 grams butter 40 grams plain flour 150 millilitres vegetable stock 150 millilitres beef stock 150 millilitres thick double cream 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon dijon mustard To make the meatballs Combine beef and pork mince and mix with your fingers to break up any lumps. Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs and egg and mix. Add milk and season well with salt and pepper. Shape mixture into small, round balls. Place on a clean plate, cover and store in the fridge for two hours (this will help them hold their shape while cooking). In a frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. When hot, gently add your meatballs and brown on all sides. Add to an overproof dish and cover with aluminium. Place in a hot oven (180°C conventional or 160°C fan) and cook for a further 30 minutes. To make the cream sauce Melt butter in a frying pan. Whisk in flour, stirring continuously for two minutes. Stir in vegetable and beef stock. Stir in double cream, soy sauce and dijon mustard. Bring to a simmer and allow sauce to thicken. Serve with your favourite potatoes — either creamy mash or mini new boiled potatoes.
Not once but twice now, a new sneak peek at The Flight Attendant's second season has hit and dropped some deliciously pointed dialogue along with it. Back in March, when the initial teaser for the show's next batch of episodes arrived, it had Kaley Cuoco's Cassie Bowden exclaiming "I'm still a flight attendant, and I've been making better choices." Now, in season two's just-released full trailer, she's told "you seem very put together." Of course, everything that surrounds those lines of dialogue in both sneak peeks so far immediately contradicts what's uttered — because The Flight Attendant wouldn't be the show it is if chaos wasn't on the itinerary. And this time around, the country-hopping thriller has a new way to dial up the twists. When Cassie escapes into her mind to reflect upon everything that life is throwing her way, which is a lot, she's confronted with multiple versions of herself. Four Cassies — and four Cuocos, too — are better than one, clearly. If you're wondering exactly how that'll play out, you don't have to wait long — with The Flight Attendant's second season arriving in Australia via Binge on Thursday, April 21, and in New Zealand thanks to Neon on Friday, April 22. Obviously, as anyone who quickly found themselves addicted to the extremely watchable series the first time, expecting Cassie to settle into a normal, average, uneventful and calm life is highly unrealistic. In season two, she has indeed moved on from the dramas we all watched back in 2020, though — and moved to Los Angeles, and also started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. That said, Cassie has picked up a part-time job as well, which happens to see her moonlighting for the CIA. And, as this second trailer shows, that new gig comes with consequences. While Cassie is doing great things at both of her jobs — booze-free things, helpfully — it seems that someone else is trying to pass themselves off as her while she's working her side hustle overseas. Cue more globe-trotting intrigue, taking the show to both Berlin and Reykjavik. Cue more of Cassie's inner monologues as well, which is where those four different versions come in. Also new: cast members Mo McRae (Big Little Lies), Callie Hernandez (Under the Silver Lake), JJ Soria (Gentefied), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest), Mae Martin (Feel Good), Margaret Cho (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens), Santiago Cabrera (Ema), Sharon Stone (Ratched) and Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Expanse). They'll join Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominee Cuoco, obviously, plus returning co-stars Zosia Mamet (Girls), Griffin Matthews (Dear White People), Deniz Akdeniz (The High Note) and Rosie Perez (The Last Thing He Wanted). And if you're coming to this small-screen adaptation of Chris Bohjalian's 2018 novel of the same name with fresh eyes, the first season unravelled quite the tale — starting high in the sky, bouncing around the globe and delivering a hectic murder-mystery. Filled with sudden revelations and reversals, featuring multiple points of interest playing out across a split-screen setup, and also sporting cliffhangers to end every episode, the slick, swift-moving series knew exactly the kind of story it was telling and went for broke. Check out the full trailer for The Flight Attendant's second season below: The Flight Attendant's second season will be available to stream via Binge in Australia from Thursday, April 21 — and is headed to Neon in New Zealand on Friday, April 22. Read our full review of season one. Images: Jennifer Rose Clasen/HBO Max.
Brisbanites will no longer need to visit Sydney for a luxe Japanese restaurant experience at fine-diner Sokyo. A favourite in the Harbour City for more than a decade, the culinary standout is finally branching out to the Sunshine State. Add a Brisbane outpost to the list of dining spots that the new Queen's Wharf precinct will boast — and it's a big list — when it starts to open in August 2024. The Star Brisbane is one of the key parts of the long-in-the-works Queen's Wharf development, hence the move to expand Sokyo from The Star Sydney to its latest location. At The Star Gold Coast, Queensland already boasts fellow Japanese restaurant Kiyomi — a sibling eatery, if you like — but this will be the first time that the Sokyo brand has set up shop elsewhere. If you haven't visited Sokyo down south, it heroes traditional cooking techniques and making dining a sumptuous feast for the senses. The restaurant's guiding principle: ritual meets art. The idea is to apply Japanese culinary practice to Australia, including using local produce — from Queensland, of course, at Sokyo Brisbane. Leading the charge will be Sokyo Brisbane Executive Chef Alex Yu, who worked at Sokyo Sydney for eight years from 2014 and became renowned for his fish platters featuring floral arrangements — earning the nickname "sashimi florist" for his efforts. In 2022, he moved to Yugen Melbourne to take on that restaurant's Head Chef position. Now, he'll complete the east coast capital-city trifecta by coming to Brisbane to helm the new Sokyo. In a space that'll seat 160, feature both a sushi bar and a circular private dining room, and has Hassell to think for its scroll- and timber screen-heavy Japanese restaurant decor, patrons can look forward to a range of Sokyo's famous dishes from its OG location making the jump to Brissie. Two such highlights from August, when Sokyo Brisbane opens its doors: spicy tuna with crispy rice, plus hiramasa kingfish with miso ceviche and crispy potato. The rest of the menu will span everything from charcoal-grilled truffle-infused lobster to Queensland yellowfin tuna with sweet aioli, plus other options that go big on maitake mushrooms and ume plums. To wash them all down, sake, Japanese whisky, shochu cocktails, and tap and bottled beers from Japan will take pride of place on the drinks list. You'll also be able to sip wine, champagne and non-alcoholic beverages. "To have the opportunity to share Sokyo's philosophy with Brisbane is truly a privilege," said Yu of his new role. "I have collaborated with the highly experienced culinary team to curate a menu that harmonises tradition with contemporary flair, paying homage to the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine whilst remaining ahead of the gastronomic curve." "I'm excited to infuse the Sokyo menu with my artistic vision, drawing from my time in Sydney and Melbourne to deliver a cutting-edge dining experience tailored to Brisbane's discerning palate. Each element is meticulously considered, from the smallest measurement to the exact angle and temperature." Across The Star Brisbane at Queen's Wharf, Sokyo will sit alongside the new Fat Noodle, the new LiveWire (which will now focus on late-night entertainment and live music), Italian restaurant Cucina Regina and, upstairs at the Sky Deck, also Aloria, Cicada Blu and Babblers. Find Sokyo at The Star Brisbane, Queen's Wharf, Brisbane CBD from sometime in August 2024. Head to the venue's website for more information in the interim.
Going into 2024, no one knew that Baby Reindeer was about to become one of the most talked-about new shows of 2024. When Richard Gadd's next series arrives, however, it won't be taking audiences by surprise. In news worth sending to your mates from your iPhone, the Scottish writer, actor and comedian has locked in another drama series, this time with HBO and the BBC behind it. Lions doesn't yet have a release date, but it'll span six episodes and also dive into a complicated relationship. Gadd will be telling the tale of two men in Scotland who reunite at one of the pair's wedding. Niall is getting married. Ruben shows up unexpectedly. Cue violence, and also dive into a connection with ups and downs, plus highs and lows, from the 80s until today. The duo have been called 'brothers' by the official synopsis, but with those quote marks in place — so expect why that's the case to factor into the series as well. Meeting as teens, dropping out of each other's life as adults, how the world is changing around them: they're all set to be covered as well. So is a specific question: what does it mean to be a man? While Gadd is creating Lions, as well as writing and executive producing it, he hasn't been announced as one of its stars. Who'll play Niall and Ruben hasn't yet been revealed, and neither has when viewers can expect to see the show — or, Down Under, where, although plenty of HBO content usually heads to Binge and Neon. But, the series' directors have been unveiled: Alexandra Brodski (Somewhere Boy) and Eshref Reybrouck (Ferry: The Series). "Ordering a HBO boxset of The Sopranos, The Wire or Oz and watching it from start to finish were some of the happiest moments of my childhood. Since then, it has always been a dream of mine to work with HBO and be part of their iconic roster of shows," said Gadd about Lions. "I am so grateful to Francesca Orsi [HBO's Head of HBO Drama Series and Films], Kara Buckley [Senior Vice President HBO Drama Programming] and Clint LaVigne [Vice President, Drama Programming at HBO] for taking this chance on the show and on Ruben and Niall too, who — despite growing up in a dead-end Scottish town — would be absolutely pinching themselves at this! I cannot wait to get started." There's obviously no trailer for Lions yet, but check out the trailer for Baby Reindeer below: Lions doesn't yet have a release date on HBO — or Down Under, where plenty of HBO content usually heads to Binge and Neon — but we'll update you when more details are announced. Read our review of Baby Reindeer. Baby Reindeer images: Ed Miller / Netflix.
Weather: crisp. Pretzels: everywhere. Cinemas: packed to the brim. Yes, that's the Berlin International Film Festival. And while plenty of chatter about sickness filtered through the fest's landmark 70th year — and plenty of grim looks at anyone who dared to cough between February 20–March 1, too — the 2020 event marked its massive anniversary in its usual star-studded, movie-filled style. Among the highlights: Willem Dafoe's moustache beaming its gloriousness from the red carpet, while the actor promoted the most divisive film of the festival; Indigenous Australian storytelling thrust into the spotlight multiple times, showcasing standouts from both the big and small screens; and a Golden Bear winner from an Iranian director, who was banned from filmmaking and unable to leave the country to attend the festival. This year's event also commemorated a 100-year-old masterpiece via an immersive exhibition, celebrated Helen Mirren's momentous career by giving her an award, and invited plenty of filmmakers to pair up and chat about their careers — including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Ang Lee and Shoplifters' Hirokazu Kore-eda. That's what happened on the ground. If you couldn't be there, don't worry — Berlinale's massive film program will keep spreading its delights over the coming months. After spending 11 days in Berlin's cinemas (and eating the city's schnitzels and spatzle, of course), we've picked ten movies to look out for. Fingers crossed they make it to a screen Down Under sooner rather than later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRUWVT87mt8 FIRST COW Every time Kelly Reichardt steps behind the camera, something astonishing happens, as everything from Wendy and Lucy to Certain Women has shown. So the fact that First Cow ranks among the writer/director's best work is no small feat indeed. Stepping back to 19th-century America, Reichardt spins the story of a cook (John Magaro) and a Chinese entrepreneur (Orion Lee). Two outcasts among the fur-trapper community, they spark up a friendship — and, once the Chief Factor (Toby Jones) ships in the region's highly coveted first cow, they pair starts an illicit but highly profitable business making delicious biscuits using milk stolen direct from the animal in the dark of night. As always in Reichardt's features, there's such empathy, sensitivity and tenderness to this magnificently told tale, which continues the filmmaker's thoughtful exploration of characters on the margins, as well as her ongoing interrogation of the American dream. https://vimeo.com/391958174 GUNDA Move over Babe, Piglet and Porky — cinema has a new porcine star. Or several to be exact; however other than the eponymous sow, they're not given names in Gunda. Indeed, not a word is spoken in the latest engrossing, meditative and moving documentary from Aquarela's Victor Kossakovsky. Instead, the observational film devotes its black-and-white frames to watching its main subject give birth, care for her squealing and inquisitive little ones, roll around in the mud and simply go about her life. Of course, viewers know that these cute critters are living on a farm, that the piglets are destined to become meat, and that their story won't end happily. Interspersed with brief glimpses of cows and chickens — two other animals bred for human consumption — this film screams its abhorrence of eating flesh through its stunningly intimate imagery. And to the surprise of no one who saw his Golden Globes and Oscars speeches, Joaquin Phoenix is one of the doco's executive producers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcY5-QzqTU THE WOMAN WHO RAN Alcohol. Conversation. A scene-stealing cat. Combine all three, and South Korean great Hong Sang-soo is firmly in his element. The booze flows freely as Gamhee (Hong regular Kim Min-hee, a 2017 Berlinale Best Actress winner for On the Beach at Night Alone) enjoys her first time away from her husband in five years, visiting friends around Seoul while he's off on a business trip. In the prolific director's typical fashion, much of The Woman Who Ran unfurls as his characters simply chat — about lives, hopes, dreams, problems and, with a pesky neighbour in the movie's funniest moment, about feeding stray felines. Hong's penchant for long, patient takes, playful repetition and echoes, and expertly timed crash-zooms are all used to winning effect, in a film that slots perfectly into his busy oeuvre (he's made 23 movies since 1996) and yet always feels distinctively insightful. Also, and we can't stress it enough, look out for one helluva kitty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El4-2zrNppA UNDINE For the second time in as many films, German writer/director Christian Petzold teams up with rising talents Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski — but you could never accuse the filmmaker of doing the same thing twice. Back in 2018, the trio turned Transit into a war-torn romance that mused on conflict's lingering scars, while here, they're reinventing a German myth about a water spirit who can only turn human through love. Undine (Beer, this year's Silver Bear winner for Best Actress) is a historian who guides museum tours about Berlin's origins. When her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) breaks up with her suddenly, she warns him that she'll have to kill him. Then she meets industrial diver Christoph (Rogowski), but even as their love blossoms, her previous relationship isn't easily overcome. Petzold is no stranger to pondering the impact of the past on the present (see also: Barbara and Phoenix); however in the enchanting, beguiling, beautifully shot Undine, he's at his most haunting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjw_QTKr2rc NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS The third film from talented American writer/director Eliza Hittman (It Felt Like Love, Beach Rats), Never Rarely Sometimes Always took home Berlinale's Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize — the festival's second most prestigious award — but it would've been a more than worthy overall winner. First premiering at Sundance, where it also nabbed a jury prize, this a heart-wrenching gut-punch of a movie that's about an ordinary teenager in an everyday situation, while simultaneously focused on a crucial topic. When small-town Pennsylvanian 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) discovers that she's pregnant, she only really has one option. She's certain her family (including Sharon Van Etten as her mother) won't help, and the local women's clinic advocates having the baby, so with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) she hops on a bus to New York. Their experiences in the Big Apple are tense and devastating, as is this potent, compassionate and naturalistic entire film. [caption id="attachment_763961" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC[/caption] MOGUL MOWGLI Riz Ahmed not only stars in but also cowrites Mogul Mowgli — and given that he's playing a British Pakistani rapper, and the Four Lions and Rogue One actor also happens to be British Pakistani rapper himself, this incisive drama understandably feels personal. It's also electrifying from the moment when, early in the film, Ahmed's character Zed takes the stage and unleashes his politically charged lyrics about his experiences to a responsive audience. Zed is on the cusp of stardom but, just as he secures his next big opportunity in a supporting slot on a lucrative European tour, his health unexpectedly begins to fail him. Exploring the fallout, including the professional disappointment, Zed's struggles with his cultural heritage upon his return home to London and the tough reality of facing a shattering diagnosis, writer/director Bassam Tariq makes an exceptional debut, crafting a film that's as bold, dynamic and probing as its central performance. [caption id="attachment_763958" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Caroline Fauvet[/caption] JUMBO In Portrait of a Lady on Fire, one of the best films of 2019, Noémie Merlant played an 18th-century artist who fell in love with the betrothed woman she's commissioned to paint. In the neon-hued, loosely based-on-a-true-story Jumbo, she's once again falling head over heels — this time for an amusement park ride. Her character, fairground worker Jeanne, is shy to the point of being teased by everyone around her. While her mother (Emmanuelle Bercot) doesn't fall into that category, she does repeatedly try to push her out of her comfort zone, including setting her up with the park's new boss (Bastien Bouillon). But in Belgium-born, France-based writer/director Zoé Wittock's debut feature, nothing makes Jeanne feel the way that Jumbo, the theme park's new ride, does. It's a quirky, even whimsical concept, but both Merlant and Wittock treat Jeanne's love affair with sensitivity and enthusiasm — two traits the character isn't accustomed to receiving elsewhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgyisKVoFzY THERE IS NO EVIL The death penalty casts a dark shadow over There Is No Evil, an anthology film that explores capital punishment and its impacts. Across four segments, writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof charts the ripples that state-sanctioned killing has upon Iranian society — via a stressed husband and father (Ehsan Mirhosseini), a conscript (Kaveh Ahangar) who can't fathom ending someone's life, a soldier (Mohammad Valizadegan) whose compliance causes personal issues and a physician (Mohammad Seddighimehr) unable to practise his trade. While some sections hit their mark more firmly and decisively than others (the film's introduction sets a high bar), this year's Golden Bear winner has a lingering cumulative effect as it ponders the threats and freedoms of life under an oppressive regime. Rasoulof has actually been banned from filmmaking in Iran, restricted from leaving the country and sentenced to prison, all for examining the reality of his homeland — and, after 2013's Manuscripts Don't Burn and 2017's A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil continues the trend. [caption id="attachment_763954" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Kotschi/Flare Film[/caption] ONE OF THESE DAYS After turning in an astonishingly raw and powerful performance in 2017's A Prayer Before Dawn, British actor Joe Cole does so again in US-set drama One of These Days — albeit in completely different circumstances. In a nuanced and naturalistic performance, he plays Kyle, a small-town Texan department store employee who's overjoyed when he wins the chance to compete in the local car dealership's annual 'Hands on a Hardbody' contest. If he can outlast his fellow competitors by placing his hand on a truck for longer than anyone else, he'll drive off with the vehicle he's certain will change not only his life, but that of his wife (Callie Hernandez) and their baby. Also starring True Blood's Carrie Preston as the marketing guru in charge of running and promoting the contest, One of These Days doesn't hold back in exploring the toxic cycle that sees the struggling and desperate chase wealth at any cost, with German writer/director Bastian Günther helming a clear-eyed but immensely empathetic film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNPF52AZAQ HIGH GROUND A high-profile Australian cast and an acclaimed local director traipse through the country's colonial past in High Ground — and while that description applies to a growing number of Aussie films (Sweet Country and The Nightingale, just to name two recent examples), it'll never get old. Indeed, while Stephen Maxwell Johnson's (Yolngu Boy) frontier western feels like a natural addition to this growing genre, it also makes its own imprint. The setup: on what's supposed to be a routine expedition, almost an entire Indigenous tribe is wiped out by northern Australian police. Their leader, ex-World War I sniper Travis (Simon Baker), isn't responsible for the carnage, but it weighs heavily on him in the aftermath. In this gorgeously shot, deeply contemplative drama, that especially proves the case twelve years later — when Travis is enlisted by his superior (Jack Thompson) and his ex-partner (Callan Mulvey) to track down one of its revenge-seeking survivors, all while accompanied by the boy-turned-tracker (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) who also lived through the slaughter. Images: First Cow © Allyson Riggs/A24; Gunda © Egil Håskjold Larsen/Sant & Usant; The Woman Who Ran © Jeonwonsa Film Co. Production; Undine © Christian Schulz/Schramm Film; Never Rarely Sometimes Always © 2019 courtesy of Focus Features; Mogul Mowgli © Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC; Jumbo © Caroline Fauvet; There Is No Evil © Cosmopol Film; One of These Days © Michael Kotschi/Flare Film; High Ground © Sarah Enticknap/High Ground Picture.
The sun is dying, and only a mission to space can potentially save life on earth and all of humanity. Sound familiar? If you've watched Sunshine from 28 Years Later duo Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, then it should. This one should ring a bell, too, if you caught The Martian: an everyman character gets stranded solo well beyond the third rock from the sun. Combine elements of two excellent sci-fi films from years gone by and you have Project Hail Mary — at least based on the just-dropped first trailer for the 2026 release. It isn't by accident that The Martian pops to mind, either. American novelist Andy Weir wrote the book that 2015 feature was based on. A decade later, the same applies, this time telling a tale about a science teacher who becomes an astronaut — and the planet's only hope. Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) plays Ryland Grace, who usually teaches the sixth grade. In parts of the Project Hail Mary's debut sneak peek, he stresses that he's putting the "not" in "astronaut" — and he's both sceptical and reluctant about the task being asked of him. In other moments in the film's first trailer, he's 11.9 light years from home, all alone, and uncertain why after waking up with no memory about what he's doing in space. Also included: attempting to discover why the sun is dying, using his science skills in a manner far beyond what he'd ever expected and making friends while soaring through the heavens. Audiences Down Under can make a date with the end result in March 2026 — and watch Gosling tackle space again after portraying Neil Armstrong in 2018's First Man, as part of a cast that spans Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Lionel Boyce (The Bear), Ken Leung (Industry) and Milana Vayntrub (Going Dutch), too. Project Hail Mary also marks the first picture directed by filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in more than a decade, when the pair had both The Lego Movie and 22 Jump Street in cinemas in 2014. In the years since, they've been busy, however — such as initially being slated to helm Solo: A Star Wars Story, then getting replaced by Ron Howard (Jim Henson Idea Man), and producing everything from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel to the very different Brigsby Bear and Cocaine Bear. Check out the first trailer for Project Hail Mary below: Project Hail Mary opens in Australian cinemas in March 2026.
