The globe can now melt into a solid savasana, with thousands of International Yoga Day sessions finishing up worldwide today. From New Delhi's 35,000-strong Guinness World Record-breaking session to a bright yellow-themed session beneath the Eiffel Tower and early morning lawn sessions at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, yoga newcomers and hardcore yogis alike found a moment of peace and flexibility this Sunday, June 21 for the official day of yoga. It's a UN-approved international day, introduced by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi last year after he convinced the UN to dedicate a public day to yoga — a move that hasn't come without controversy. But aside from the religious debate, corporate piggybacking and general eye-rolling surrounding the event, International Yoga Day saw hundreds of thousands of yoga enthusiasts taking part in both epic public classes and smaller private sessions, from the record-setting session on Delhi's ceremonial Rajpath boulevard, to a rainy Times Square event to seaside solo ventures. Take a peruse at these early-rising, flexible fiends. DELHI, INDIA TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY Time Square shut down for yoga! So amazing! #SolsticeTSq #yoga #yogaday #Bellavita #centerpfitall #timesquare #NYC #namaste A photo posted by 161 w 22nd street, NYC (@bellavita_wellness) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:21pm PDT Celebrating #internationalyogaday in Times Square which ended with a very satisfying torrential downpour and a free yoga mat ?????????????? #NYC #yoga A photo posted by Anna Jordan (@ajhealth) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:59pm PDT EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS Today, is many things. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s #SummerSolstice. For those in the U.S. and U.K., it’s #FathersDay. And for all those around the world, it just so happens to be #InternationalYogaDay. #Yoga-fans took part globally, with people in more than 192 countries said to have taken to the mat. Click the link in our profile to see more striking images of record setting yoga classes around the world. #Paris #YogaDay (Image: AP Photo, Kamil Zihnioglu) A photo posted by Mashable (@mashable) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT Today was the first #InternationalYogaDay! Hundreds of people practiced #yoga under the #EiffelTower. Wish we could have been there. (Pic: Getty Images) A photo posted by Huffington Post (@huffingtonpost) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:27pm PDT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA And.... it's a wrap! G'day everyone and thank you to all the participants of #YokoOnoPeace this morning! @lululemonausnz #yoga #Sydney A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 9:05pm PDT Namaste, world!! Sydney says good morning to @themuseumofmodernart and all #YokoOnoPeace participants around the world. Kicking off the festivities with Vinyasa #yoga courtesy of @lululemonausnz, facing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 5:03pm PDT UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA VARANASI, INDIA HANOI, VIETNAM TORONTO, CANADA #internationalyogaday #summersolstice #yoga #yogaday #love #loveeverydamnday #namaste #namastebitches #lalala #bums ???? #distillerydistrict #toronto #yyz #together #the6 #6ix #mylife #life #live #livehard #bekind #kindawesome #summer #yogaoutside #everyday #peace #trueloveisbluelove #grateful #balance A photo posted by Ruby Fra (@rubytues101) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT INDIAN NAVY, INS VIRAAT REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA Taken at @redondopier 3rd Saturdays monthly free yoga class yesterday with @theflybuddha benefiting #cscrb #internationalyogaday #yoga #redondopier #visitredondo A photo posted by Redondo Beach Pier (@redondopier) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:06pm PDT GANGTOK, INDIA ??????Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self?????? #yesterday#internationalyogaday#instagram A photo posted by Sangay Diki Bhutia ???? (@_to_the_universe) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:36pm PDT BOARDMAN, OHIO My @puryoga family #summersolstice #108sunsalutations #internationalyogaday A photo posted by Alexa Marie (@howdoyoueatanelephant) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:35pm PDT PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI International Yoga Day celebrated at the Oxygen Health & Fitness Expo at the Karibe Convention Center. #oxygenexpo #Motivation #yoga #internationalyogaday #michellelewin #enjoy #motion #fit #igfit #FitFam #fitspo #fitness #HaitiFIT #haiti #openair #nature #stretch #yogis #international #caribbean A photo posted by FloM???? (@fitness__flo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 10:43am PDT VERACRUZ, MEXICO Grabación del evento por el día internacional del #yoga con @studioyogaenequilibrio e Israel Chiang. ???????? #namaste #veracruz A photo posted by José Alfredo Zayas Rodríguez (@zayas04) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:49pm PDT EDMONTON, CANADA Early morning yoga with this one? Not a bad way to start the day. #sunrisesolsticenamaskar #sunrise #yoga #yegyoga #edmontonyoga Thanks to @sattvamisle for leading the class and to @robindra for the sick beats. A photo posted by deantumibay (@deantumibay) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT MONUMENT CIRCLE, INDIANAPOLIS Today was the first International Day of Yoga, on the Summer Solstice. Indianapolis was one of four cities given a grant to celebrate! Got to practice yoga on Monument Circle downtown. #Indy #Indianapolis #yoga #internationalyogaday #yogi #health #SummerSolstice #namaste #outdooryogis A photo posted by Eric Gettelfinger (@egettelfinger) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT JAMAICA What a dream come true it was tonight to see 580 Jamaicans, from all walks of life, practicing Yoga in honor of the first ever UN designated International Day of Yoga! My heart is full. Changing Jamaica one Breath at a Time! #livefitlivelifelivelove #everythingispossible #internationaldayofyoga #yoga #jamaica A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:54pm PDT One Love. One Yoga. One Jamaica. 580 souls practicing together in honor of International Day of Yoga. So much Love Peace and Understanding tonight. This, more than anything is what Jamaica needs now! #internationaldayofyoga #everythingispossible #yoga #jamaica #livefitlivelifelivelove A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT TWIN FALLS, WASHINGTON Celebrating Summer Solstice with a dip in Twin Falls! ???? Connect to the light within you and around you. Share the joy of this life with each other! #aloha #spirit #dailybliss #yoga #retreat #yogamusewest #muktiyoga #dream #believe #move #unite #strengthen #evolve #manifest #magic #divine #connection #earth #sun #love #light #namaste A photo posted by Heather Archer (@heathernamaste) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:56pm PDT BHARATPUR, INDIA #yoga #day #morning #policeparedground #bharatpur #21june #sunday #people #photography #mobilephotography #htc #health #yogaday #uniformity #instanaturefriends #india #psxxo A photo posted by Glory (@gloryxxo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT MEDAN, INDONESIA #internationaldayofyoga #medan #yogamedan #yoga A photo posted by Kamalini Yoga Studio (@kamaliniyoga) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:55pm PDT AUSTIN, TEXAS #YogaMob #Unify #Yoga #ATX #Austin #Texas #NationalYogaDay A photo posted by Maria Lucente (@mariaisinverted) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:47pm PDT ANAMAYA, COSTA RICA Happy International Yoga Day from all these Beautiful Souls || Surrender to the Love and Happy Summer Solstice?? #AnamayaResort #CostaRica #Montezuma #Yoga #YogaInspiration #YogaEveryDamnDay #YTT #YogaTeacherTraining #Namaste #SummerSolstice #YogaLove #InternationalYogaDay A photo posted by Anamaya (@anamayaresort) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:43pm PDT VALENCIA, SPAIN Otra hermosa toma de este Día Internacional del Yoga. Juntos bajo el samán. Felices y plenos. NAMASTE. #Yoga #Yoga24horas #ViveEnYoga #Valencia #YogaValencia #diainternacionaldelyoga #internationalyogaday #internationalyogaday2015 A photo posted by ? Uma Devi ? (@climbyogagirl) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT
Love it or hate it, catching public transport is part of most Brisbanites' daily routines. And for those who find it a drag — i.e. almost everyone — much of that comes down to waiting for buses and wondering why they never seem to show up on time. You know the feeling. That's now a thing of the past — well, the wondering part, at least. Solving the issue of congested roads is a much, much harder task to tackle, as is fixing the chaos that descends upon the streets during a storm. For now, you'll just have to be content with being able to find out exactly how far away your bus is. As of May 7, TransLink has rolled out real-time tracking for bus and ferry services in Brisbane, which means their website and the MyTransLink mobile app now provide up-to-date data provided by GPS, rather than just spitting out the times listed on the standard timetable. Electronic displays at busway stations will also use the same system. At the moment, trains aren't included, although they're normally a bit more reliable anyway. What eager commuters will need, of course, is enough battery left on your phone so you can check the app while you're waiting at the bus stop. For more information, visit the TransLink website. Via Courier Mail. Image: Visit Brisbane.
When most people think of Father Christmas, a very particular image comes to mind. We're talking about a jolly, roly poly man with a red and white suit and a twinkle in his eye. He's got a whole fleet of reindeer, a workshop full of elves, and brings joy and yuletide spirit to children around the world. He's been described as a lot of things, but chic has never been one of them. That is, until now. Presenting Fashion Santa: Dayummmm. We suddenly know what we want for Christmas. Setting up shop in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Fashion Santa is part of the mall's annual holiday campaign. Decked out in only the finest of menswear, this stylish Saint Nick, played by model Paul Mason, has been hanging at the centre snapping selfies with shoppers, offering beard primping tips and generally looking fabulous. The best thing about Fashion Santa, aside from his steely blue eyes, perfectly manicured whiskers and strong, strong arms... ...sorry, lost our train of thought there for a moment. Let's try that again. The best thing about Fashion Santa is that he's out raising money for sick kids. For every selfie with Fashion Santa posted online using the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the shopping centre will donate $1 to Canada's Sick Kids Foundation. It's a pretty awesome initiative, one that more countries should get on board with. And we're not just saying that because we want to sit on Santa's lap. Via QZ.
When you're spending your spare moments glued to your phone, trying to cram more work into the 9-to-5 or scoffing down a snack as quickly as possible, it's easy to forget what taking a break really means. And, while enjoying a coffee throughout the day is one of life's simple pleasures, that's only the beginning. Sure, your morning, lunch or afternoon break might be brief — and the window of time after work and before you head home, too — but that doesn't mean you can't find something fun to do. Try venturing beyond your closest cafe for these activities. They'll make your day brighter, trust us. Take the rewarding break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. SPLASH ABOUT AT SOUTH BANK The fact that there's a free public pool right in the heart of Brisbane is pretty amazing — and something everyone quite often overlooks. Even if paddling in such a high-use swimming hole doesn't appeal, dipping your toes in just might. Where else can you close your eyes, soak up the relaxing watery vibes and pretend that you're miles away, all during the course of your lunch break? Be warned: it is a rather popular spot, but hey, doesn't that just add to the fun? GET A QUICK ART FIX AT GOMA There's a reason that the Gallery of Modern Art is one of the best places in the city. To put it simply, there's always something to see, regardless of whether the walls are lined with pieces from a high-profile exhibition at any particular moment. And, even when a big showcase does take over the space, you'll still find free sections to scour. Basically, it's the ultimate quick lunchtime culture fix — and given that its array of art is always changing, it's a place you can keep going back to regularly. STOCK UP ON MID-WEEK MARKET GOODIES You've gotta love the Wednesday Jan Power markets at Reddacliff Place at the end of Queen Street. They offer the epitome of lunchtime multitasking, as well as a weekly chance to stock up on farm-fresh groceries. Maybe you just want something new and different to eat? Perhaps you're keen to stock your pantry at home? Or, maybe you're keen to wander and munch on whatever takes your fancy. Yep, you can do all that here, whatever time you take lunch. PEDAL AROUND TOWN You've seen the stations all over the city, and the bright yellow bikes on the road, too. But, have you ever thought about hiring out a CityCycle and peddling around town for 30 minutes? We're suggesting that block of time because the first half an hour of every journey is free, however taking to the road for a longer ride really isn't very expensive. Just remember to BYO helmet, and you can cycle a circuit around the CBD and South Bank in next to no time. [caption id="attachment_583436" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Australian Academy of Tai Chi and Qigong.[/caption] FREE YOUR MIND AND MOVE YOUR BODY It originated as a Chinese martial art, involves focusing the mind and the body, and can be practiced in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at 12.30pm every Tuesday. Yes, we're talking about tai chi, the ultimate lunchtime relaxation activity. Think of it as a moving form of meditation that keeps you active and invigorates your brain at the same time. It's perfect for anyone who wouldn't even know how to enter a gym, it's free and you'll move your limbs while enjoying a view of the nearby duck pond.
Australia has some highly reputable wine regions producing top-notch whites and reds that give their European and American counterparts a run for their money. The Barossa, Hunter Valley, Margaret River — we all know and love these esteemed regions, but what about the lesser-known regions also killing it on the Australian viticulture scene? Unless you're a bona fide wine buff or a local of the region, we're assuming your Australian wine knowledge may not stretch past the ever-popular ones. So, we're here to broaden your knowledge of Australian wine. Here are five alternative wine regions in our fair country — may we suggest you tour them with a juicy red or crisp white (Australian, of course) in hand? 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 some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_735941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Flanagan via VisitCanberra[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE HUNTER VALLEY: DISCOVER THE CANBERRA DISTRICT Instead of heading three-ish hours north of Sydney to the historic Hunter Valley, why not use that time to head southeast to Canberra to discover a well-kept secret of award-winning wineries? Not just a region of politicians and government types, the Canberra District is also home to 140 vineyards, boasting a tight group of 40 wineries all within 35 minutes of the capital city. While in the Hunter you find savoury shiraz and dry semillon, in Canberra, wineries present their own take on shiraz by adding some spice — best represented by Clonakilla's shiraz viognier — and deliver dry whites in the form of touted crisp rieslings, like those from Helm Wines. Plus, these ACT wineries expand their offering to several other delicious cool-climate reds and whites including viognier, pinot noir and chardonnay. In early 2020, Samuel Leyshon from Mallaluka Wines was named in Young Gun of Wine's top 50 winemakers, so be sure to add his family-run boutique winery to your hit-list. [caption id="attachment_706722" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE YARRA VALLEY: DISCOVER THE KING VALLEY The Yarra Valley is known and loved for its cooler-climate wines, celebrated vineyards and attractive sites that lure many visitors to the area. But off the beaten wine trail, northeast of the Yarra and away from the crowds, you'll find the 'Little Italy' of Australian wine production. King Valley is the epicentre of Italian farming and grape growing in Australia, and the resulting wine varieties, along with the surrounding Italian heritage, make the region a top spot to visit. Sangiovese and prosecco are the key players here, thanks to the strong Italian influence. With all this Italian epicurean culture around, it's incredibly easy to find a delicious meal to pair with these local wines. Take a trip down Prosecco Road and discover bubbles (and great eats) from the likes of Chrismont, with its cellar door and restaurant overlooking rolling vineyards, the famed Brown Brothers and its top-rated restaurant Patricia's Table, and Dal Zotto, run by Otto Dal Zotto, who first introduced prosecco to Australia. [caption id="attachment_617800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Delinquente Wines[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE BAROSSA: DISCOVER THE RIVERLAND With the largest collection of old vines in Australia, there's no doubt the prestigious Barossa is up there with the most impressive wine regions. But for those on the hunt for something edgy and truly different, neighbouring Riverland is one to watch. Think of Riverland as the hipster hub of Australian winemaking — it's known for organic drops and challenging those Aussie wine norms. Riverland growers and producers are working to change opinions on the region — it's long been associated with mediocre wines and bulk commercial sales. There's been a shift from your classic cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz and chardonnay to lesser-known varieties, especially those that thrive in Riverland's warmer climate, like Sardinian vermentino, Sicilian nero d'avola and Abruzzan montepulciano. Along with alternative varieties, growers and producers have increased their organic output, quickly transforming the region into the place for organic viticulture. Leading the charge are wineries like small batch, handmade, vegan-friendly Delinquente (whose winemaker Con-Greg Grigoriou also made the Young Gun of Wine 2020 list), Whistling Kite with its award-winning montepulciano and Ricca Terra, which helped establish the Riverland Alternative Wine Group. It's time to jump on the Riverland bandwagon now, so you can say you were drinking its wines before it was cool. [caption id="attachment_617587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Forest Hill Winery via Tourism Western Australia[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE MARGARET RIVER: DISCOVER THE GREAT SOUTHERN Founded in the 70s around the same time as neighbouring Margaret River, the Great Southern region has struggled to gain recognition like that of its celebrated sister region. It doesn't help that the region is pretty remote — and that it's massive — but you'd be a fool not to plan an adventure to the Great Southern, dubbed the most ideal wine-growing region in Western Australia. With many pockets of small, revered wineries producing some of the finest WA wines, not to mention visually stunning surrounds in every direction, the region is worth using up your precious annual leave for a proper visit. The Great Southern is so large that it's divided into sub-regions — Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup — with varied terroir allowing for a spectrum of wines. While its nearby sissy mainly grows bordeaux and chardonnay grapes, the Great Southern's repertoire extends to fantastic shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, riesling and a rare full-bodied sauvignon blanc. There's also a young but rich history in the region with the Great Southern vineyard pioneers still shining bright today, including Plantagenet Wines, Alkoomi, Galafrey and Forest Hill, the winery that planted the very first vineyard in the area. [caption id="attachment_769768" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courabyra Wines via Destination NSW[/caption] IF YOU LIKE TASMANIA: DISCOVER TUMBARUMBA Established only in the early 80s, Tumbarumba's vines are new kids on the block in comparison to Tasmania, a more established and sought-after sparkling wine region. But thanks to its cool climate and pure mountain air, the region produces some standout chardonnays (2016 was a good year) and pinot noirs — the two key grapes for good sparkling wines. Some oenophiles even go as far as drawing comparisons between the NSW region and France's Burgundy and Champagne. So, in case you haven't cottoned on, Tumbarumba is a region for those who love white, and especially those who love bubbles. However, there are still a few reds grabbing some much-deserved attention like Excelsior Peak's pinot noir. And though the fine Tumbarumba grapes are often sold to bigger wineries, there are still some producers keeping things local and opening their own cellar doors at the foot of the Snowy Mountains. Courabyra Wines is a favourite, winning best small cellar door in Gourmet Traveller Wine's 2019 awards. Tumbarumba, with Snowy Mountains peeking in the distance, gurgling streams and picturesque greenery, is a wine lover's fairy tale with crisp days, beautiful sights and remarkable wines. 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: Brown Brothers, King Valley
There are so many cafes, restaurants and bars in Melbourne that it's easy to be overwhelmed with choice. You put yourself under so much pressure to impress your friends, and yourself, by always choosing the best coffee, the best place for drinks, or the most decadent and delicious fancy dinner in the area. We've decided that we're going to make it extremely easy for you to feel like a local, with the first of our neighbourhood guides we're producing with Adina Apartments. Have a read of our picks for St Kilda, and the next time you're staying in the area consult this list for a reliable, local option for a coffee. We promise that none of these options will disappoint. BEST PLACE FOR A COFFEE Hannah Hannah serves Proud Mary Coffee, which is juicy and full of flavour — just as it should be. The cafe prides itself on a well-considered approach to coffee, food and interior design. Vinyl records provide the soundtrack, while ferns pepper the interior. The all day brunch features porridge with date jam and hazelnuts ($11) and coconut pancakes with pink peppered berries and vanilla mascarpone ($16.50), while lunch is a mouth-watering selection including the likes of smoked trout, cavolo nero, witlof, radicchio, poached egg and samphire salsa ($19) and octopus salad with silverbeet, watercress, purple congos, capers and marjoram salmoriglio ($18.50). BEST PLACE TO GRAB BREAKFAST Matcha Mylkbar St Kilda is home to Melbourne's most popular and Instagrammable vegan eatery, which is fuelled by matcha. The plant-based café comes from the same people that brought you (and basically every cafe in Australia) Matcha Maiden. Dubbed Matcha Mylkbar, the cafe serves the regulars like smashed avocado with heirloom tomatoes and corn fritters, but then there's the coconut bacon and the matcha pancakes with dark chocolate sorbet. There are also the famous mushroom lattes, and beetroot lattes. BEST SPOT FOR FISH & CHIPS Paper Fish A kickass fish and chippery is located right off the St Kilda Beach boardwalk. Paper Fish offers sustainable, healthy(ish) eat-in and takeaway options all throughout summer. Open noon until late seven days a week, now until the end of daylight savings, Paper Fish will serve up sustainable seafood and fresh quality produce in environmentally friendly packaging. Menu items include flathead, blue grenadier, salmon or gummy served grilled or tempura fried, as well as fritto misto (small fried bits of seafood), sweet potato cakes and crinkle-cut chips in a cone. BEST PLACE TO GRAB A BEER Freddie Wimpoles Freddie Wimpoles features 13 taps pouring a rotating lineup of local and international craft brews, as well as additional beers by the bottle and can. They also have a number of wines, plus more than 180 premium spirits and a selection of classic cocktails. The food is inspired by corner delis in NYC – think hot dogs, beef jerky, pickled vegetables and slow-cooked meat subs. BEST PLACE FOR A CHEESEBOARD Milk the Cow You don't just go to Milk the Cow for fresh mozzarella and just-made ricotta — you go for the selection of over 150 cheeses. There is cheese that's been imported from France, Ireland and Norway as well as the Yarra Valley; cheese that's been washed in chai, paprika and cognac; aged in caves and sat ripening out the back until just the right time to eat. There's all sorts of soft, hard and in-between cheese — all curated on a rotating basis by head cheesemonger Laura Lown. This, and Milk the Cow's Carlton location, is the best place for cheese in all of Melbourne, not just St Kilda. BEST ROOFTOP BAR Captain Baxter St Kilda Sea Baths may not be Melbourne's Mecca of fine dining, but in a city convinced they are starved of sun, you can rarely beat a seat at a beachfront venue once the weather warms up. The same could be said about Captain Baxter. Nestled in with Republica at the baths, its large upstairs dining room and looming facade is the perfect place for a beer, a cocktail and a bowl of hand-cut fries. BEST WEEKEND FOOD MARKET Hank Marvin Market Over 40 street food vendors set up shop at Hank Marvin Market, a street food market on every Saturday at Alma Park in St Kilda East, transforming it into a hub of fresh produce, food trucks and street food stalls. Old favourites Overdosa, Hammer & Tong, Happy Camper Pizza and the Little Mushroom Co. are generally there, along with artisan doughnuts from Cobb Lane Bakery and traditional wood-fired bagels from Shtetl Bagels. BEST SPOT FOR A FANCY DINNER Cafe Di Stasio The upper echelons of elegance, service and rich Italian food. If we're talking about institutions, Cafe di Stasio is right at the top of the list. After 26 years on Fitzroy Street, the restaurant and bar still exudes elegance, sophisticated service and decadent Italian food. Here the lunches are long, the wine is expensive and the atmosphere is right on point. There's a place for old-school, classy dining and this is it. BEST SPOT TO PACK A PICNIC Catani Gardens For the discerning picnicker with a preference for a cool sea breeze, St Kilda's Catani Gardens is an idyllic fusion between urban and ocean. One of the only places in Melbourne where it is acceptable to find a palm tree lined avenue, six hectares of brilliantly landscaped gardens hugging both the city and the sea is located right on the St Kilda foreshore. While not as secluded as other options, the boardwalk setting provides the perfect vantage point of ample amounts of people watching, as well as immediate access to a host of fancy fish and chips shops. Extra points will be given for those who rollerblade with basket in hand to picnic point of choice. Book yourself in at an Adina Apartment Hotel and have a St Kilda staycation — it's the easiest way to tick all these off.
We get it. Everyone loves an espresso 'tini. We've got a bar that even does them on tap — and Sydney recently got a whole venue dedicated to that God-sent concoction of chilled coffee and vodka. And now — not to be outdone by Sydney — Melbourne is getting the country's very first espresso martini festival. Sleep, who needs it? The festival, to be held on Saturday, November 5, is being gifted to our espresso-loving, cocktail-filled city by the fine boozehounds at Mr Black, a NSW-based cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur. In short, they know how to capitalise on our weaknesses and we're not even mad about it. The affair will involve some of Australia's best coffee suppliers, cafes and bars, and will come together to create a beautiful array of alcoholic caffienated beverages. As with any festival of this kind, there will be an array of food trucks as well as a game or two of coffee pong (whatever that is). The festival is to be held at North Melbourne's Meat Market and tickets will set you back $25 a pop, which includes an espresso martini and a try of Mr Black's coffee liqueur (yum!), free tastings (yay!) and license to drink espresso martinis to your heart's content (yeah!). The Mr Black Espresso Martini Festival will take place on Saturday, November 5 at Meat Market in North Melbourne. For more info and to buy tickets, visit espressomartinifest.com. Image: Alana Dimou.
When it comes to film festivals in Brisbane, things have been a bit chaotic of late. The Brisbane International Film Festival became the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival in 2014, getting bigger in length but smaller in focus. That change left a gap in terms of the type of recent international movies unlikely to show up in a multiplex or even an arthouse establishment. They're the films festivals were made for, but some of them aren't making it to Brisbane. Enter the Queensland Film Festival, the event you'll want to keep July 24–26 clear for. This brand new celebration of cinema aims to champion excellence and variety, showcasing the very best in film from around the world. In its first year, the festival will screen a curated program of a dozen features and supporting shorts across three days. It's a modest beginning, but a promising one. The full lineup won't be revealed until June, however four films have been announced to whet cinephiles' appetites. They include The Duke of Burgundy, the latest erotic effort from Berberian Sound Studio director Peter Strickland, plus the delirious alternative history of early cinema that is Guy Maddin's The Forbidden Room. Jealousy, from French master Philippe Garrel and starring his son Louis Garrel, is also a highlight. Looking closer to home, one-shot wonder Eight marks the claustrophobic debut of Brisbane filmmaker Peter Blackburn. Fittingly, the new festival will take place at Brisbane's newest movie theatre, New Farm Cinemas. It's a match made not only in heaven but in history. The venue actually played host to the Brisbane Film Festival — the precursor to BIFF — from 1966 to 1969, back when it was called the Astor Theatre. QFF already gets five stars from David Stratton, who has come on board as the festival's patron. ABC Radio National's Jason Di Rosso has also been named as a guest, with the event set to include panel discussions and in-foyer chats with local and visiting critics, scholars, and filmmakers. Yes, this is a festival that wants to take the love of film beyond the cinema. The Queensland part of its name gives an indication of co-directors John Edmond and Dr Huw Walmsley-Evans' plans for the future. Touring the program to regional areas is on the horizon for future years, but for now, Brisbane film fans best flock to the festival's first outing to see the kinds of movies they really won't see elsewhere. The Queensland Film Festival runs from July 24 to 26 at New Farm Cinemas. Check out the festival website for more details.
In recent years, we've encountered the likes of the cronut, the cruffin and even the macanut. Now, joining this ever-growing foodie family of hybrid frankenpastries is the baklava muffin, an outrageously logical invention by chef Peter Conistis for Sydney's acclaimed Alpha restaurant. Featuring a honey-spiced batter with roasted walnuts, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon and dark chocolate, the muffin is topped with Alpha's signature chocolate hazelnut baklava, baked in filo pastry and drizzled with spiced honey syrup. What do we call you? A 'bakluffin'? A 'mufflava'? A 'bluffin'? Conistis' creation is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Greek food. "I wanted to create muffins for our Alpha Foodstore that are synonymous with Greek cuisine," he says. "They're an indulgent reflection of the dishes we serve at Alpha." Featuring on Alpha's breakfast menu alongside the already crowd-pleasing spanakopita muffin, the baklava muffin is bound to become a favourite amongst Sydney food lovers, so expect to see it all over your Instagram feed very soon. Find Alpha at 238 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Open Monday to Sunday, 7.30–10.30am for baklava muffins, then 12–3pm, 6–9pm.
A small country pub on the NSW South Coast is ditching pokies in favour of live music. For years the Tathra Hotel has been home to a dozen poker machines, with 50 percent of the venue's total value tied up in the licences required to have them on site. Despite this, when veteran publican Cliff Wallis took over the hotel last year, he decided the machines had to go. "Poker machines have destroyed hotels in many respects," Wallis told the ABC. "Some hotels have become primarily poker machine venues, and they do best in the lowest socio-economic areas." Tathra has a population of just 2000 people, yet had 70 poker machines before Wallis took his stand. The plan is to use the money made from the sale of the gambling licences to revamp the hotel's accommodation. The venue had already begun to host regular live music gigs before renovations began last month. The old pokies room, meanwhile, will make way for a microbrewery. Although the decision to remove the poker machines has alienated some former regulars, it has also attracted other types of clientele. "We have a lot of people coming in who didn't come here before — retired people, professionals, and more women coming in on their own to have a drink and listen to the music," Wallis said. Wallis has spent decades working in the industry, and has owned the Sundeck Hotel in the Perisher Valley for 25 years. Ultimately, he says he wants the Tathra Hotel to be "a place that the community is proud of." Via Music Australia. Image: Wiki.
If you've always dreamed of owning a brewery, you're about to get your big shot. Initially Sydney-based, Hopsters Co-op Brewery is the first Australian brewhouse made by the people, for the people. Craft beer entrepreneur Marco Vargas is the man behind the plan and he's collaborating with mates Ross Hynard and Louie Jahjah to get this big dream off the ground — a cooperative brewery that's funded by membership. "This is our passion project," says Vargas. "We've met a lot of home brewers who are really passionate but don't have the capacity to do it themselves, so we realised that the best way is together." Co-op breweries have seen considerable success in US, with five currently in operation, but Hopsters is the first of its kind in Australia. "I believe it will be a strong business because everyone in the community has a stake in it," says Vargas. The Hopsters motto "drink like you own the place" sums up the concept well. Member benefits will include access to brewing equipment, community collaboration brews, exclusive events and discounts at the brewery's taproom. Anyone from the community can join — from craft beer industry leaders to home brewers and beer geeks. "We plan to hold a monthly social where members can meet and talk beer," says Vargas. The team's goal is to open five breweries with 5000 members Australia-wide, the first of which is set to open in Leichhardt by the end of 2016. They dream big — as in expecting 2000 members by the end of the year big. The building they're currently locked onto is owned by the same landlord as the Wayward Brewing Co., a good sign for the brewing liberties to come. A lifetime membership costs $250 per person, which, all things considered, is quite the bargain. While they aren't taking payments until the brewery is set to go, you can register your interest to get in at ground level. Check out Hopsters' website for more details on how to become a member.
Huge news for Australia's bar and restaurant scene, Keystone Hospitality Group has been place in receivership. The sprawling empire behind Australia's Jamie's Italian restaurants, Sydney's The Winery, Gazebo, Manly Wine, Cargo Bar, Bungalow 8, alongside multi-city venues Kingsley's and Chophouse, will sell their collection of venues after being unable to settle on their financial structure with lenders, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Keystone's venues, including 17 bars, pubs and restaurants across the country and six Jamie's Italian joints, could be sold as a whole package or individually. Cargo Bar, Keystone's very first venue opened in 2000, has been up for sale since March, but now the likes of Kingsley's, Manly Wine, Sugarmill Hotel and Sweethearts Rooftop and The Rook and the rest of the portfolio will go on the market — and SMH puts the value at more than $100 million. Keystone also has over 1000 employees nationally, according to news.com.au, who'll be sitting tight until more details come through. So, what about that elephant in the room? Lockouts. Have NSW's controversial lockout laws had anything to do with this? We don't have solid data on Keystone's venues and their takings pre- and post-lockouts, but many of their venues like Cargo Bar, The Winery, The Sugarmill, Sweethearts Rooftop, Gazebo and Bungalow 8 all sit within the lockout zone in Sydney. And in a statement published on news.com.au, Keystone executive Richard Facioni and managing director John Duncan included the lockout laws in a host of pressures on their businesses. "Two years ago the Keystone Hospitality Group undertook a major expansion program, including acquisitions, to become a significantly larger, national group," they said. "However, the debt raised to undertake its expansion, combined with changes to the local market, including lockout laws, have placed significant financial strain on the business." It'll be business as usual for the Keystone venues until the receivers assess each business's assets, takings and brand for the sale. Receiver Morgan Kelly told SMH they expected selling the portfolio to be easy peasy. "Given the current buoyant hospitality market, we anticipate a lot of interest in the sale of the venues," he said. Via SMH and news.com.au. Image: Cargo Bar/Keystone.
If stepping inside Brisbane's latest hotspot feels like taking a trip to Asia, then the folks behind Uncle Ho Bar & Diner have achieved their aim. Their mission is a simple one: bring the Vietnamese bia hoi (that is, beer cafe) to Australia. European-themed establishments have been all the rage around the country for years, but Uncle Ho owner Anna Demirbek thinks it's time for a Hanoi-style experience. Think Vietnamese street food cooked up by Rick (Tuan) Ngo — a former sous chef at Melbourne's insanely popular Chin Chin — along with a deck lined with lanterns and twinkling lights, the sounds of hip hop filtering through the stereo, and six taps dripping with fresh beer. And all under a heritage-listed jacaranda tree on Ann Street in Fortitude Valley. With the custom-made furniture for the 120-seat venue having pushed back its opening an extra month to Thursday, March 24, you can be certain that it looks the part. And with its menu offering up everything from rice paper rolls to dumplings to pho — and banh mi for lunch as well — it tastes the part, too. We dare you to try to resist their grazing platters. Add a range of classic and jarred cocktails to the mix, and the scene is set for more than a few lazy afternoon hangouts that'll make you feel like you've hopped continents. And if you want a piece of Uncle Ho at home, well, that can be arranged. Yep, this bar and diner doesn't just want to rock your world within its four walls — it wants to cater your parties, too. Uncle Ho Bar & Diner is now open at 826 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. For more info, visit their website. Image: Ricky Kharawala via StockSnap.
Caffeine fiends, the days of drinking your favourite cuppa are over. It seems that, like revenge, coffee is a dish best served cold— and not just cold, but frozen. Of course, long black, cappuccino and mocha-flavoured popsicles are the perfect treat for Brisbane, the city where eating ice cream is a year-round thing. Peter and Penny Wolff of Dandelion and Driftwood certainly think so, which is how Queen of the Pops came to fruition. Not a coffee fan? You can still get your fix of warm drinks turned into frozen treats, with chai latte and hot chocolate flavours also available. And for those who prefer everything in normal ol' liquid form, the usual beverages are on the menu, including on-tap nitro cold brews to keep with the chilly theme. Queen of the Pops' cafe-slash-concept store is little more than a cute, retro-styled hole in the wall, but with cafe food on offer in addition to the icy, buzz-inducing snacks on a stick, it's one that Brisbanites should both rush to and get a rush from. And yes, the popsicles are made with fresh roasted, barista-made coffee, should you need any more convincing. They're also sold in take-home packs, because you won't want to stop at just one. Find Queen of the Pops on the corner of Bayview Terrace and Drane Street, Clayfield, or check out their website and Facebook page. Image: Ariana Gillrie via the Queen of the Pops Facebook page.
The Australian rideshare economy is set to go the way of Asia and Europe, with new company Scooti ready to unleash its fleet of scooter taxis on Melbourne next month. CEO and founder Cameron Nadi boasts the service as a cheaper, faster and more eco-conscious mode of transport. "The main advantage of Scooti is, of course, getting where you want to go sooner," says Nadi. "Two wheels have a distinct advantage in busy traffic. It's [also] more cost-effective than other chauffeur-driven ride sharing options, and creates less emissions than most other public or shared transport options available." It may sound odd, but Scooti is by no means a novel idea. Motorbikes already act as taxis all across Asia, as well as in European cities like Amsterdam and Florence — though this is the first time the concept has been implemented in Australia. The fleet currently consists of around 50 drivers and they're recruiting for more — so if you've got a scooter or motorbike and need some extra cash flow, listen up. As with any rideshare company, drivers can use their own motorbikes as long as they meet Scooti's mechanical, safety, comfort and hygiene standards. Alternatively, drivers will be given the option to invest in one of the company's branded blue electric Fonzarelli scooters. Scooti is also offering up benchmark pay rates and rewards in the transport services/delivery category, which should mean the pay will sit fairly within Australian salary standards. If true-to-word, this could set them apart, as pay continues to be a major issue within the ridesharing and delivering industries. Nadi also claims the company's recruitment standards "go beyond the likes of Uber", assessing for things like scooter skill and an arbitrary marker of "common sense". Riders can request a pickup using the Scooti app, though keep in mind you'll only be able to legally ride solo — so it's a good option when you don't have anyone to split an Uber or Taxify with. The drivers are also required to have an extra helmet for you, with hair nets on hand for those that are skeeved out by the idea of sharing headgear. The company is committed to offering female drivers to women riders upon request too. In addition to more drivers, Scooti is also actively looking for investors to grow the business. If Melbourne proves successful, you'll likely be seeing Scooti up in Sydney and Brisbane in no time, with expansion planned over the next 12 months. In the lead up their launch, you may notice some trial drivers around town. Keep a lookout — some heavily discounted fares will apparently be available for the first riders using the app. Scooti will launch in Melbourne this April, so keep an eye out for blue bikes around town. For more information or to download the app, head to their scooti.com.au.
Global ride sharing service Uber have teamed up with the legends at Gelato Messina for a one day only office ice cream delivery service. This Friday July 24, heroic Uber drivers will be dispatched across Australia with ice cold scoops of fudgy, wafery, milk choc chippy goodness. As if you needed another reason to look forward to Friday. Here's how it all works: Step One – Starting at 11am, Uber users can log into the app and enter the promotional code 'IceCreamOz' along with their location. Step Two – There is no step two. Your tub of ice cream is already on its way. The #UberIceCream promotion is being run in Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Byron Bay, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Bunbury. Existing Uber users will be charged $15 for the transaction, while first time users get their ice cream free of charge. The company has also teased some less conventional delivery methods, including dog sleds and jet skis. This could be very interesting. Messina have even created a new flavour for the occasion, consisting of hazelnut gelato with white chocolate, hazelnut fudge, chocolate chips and cream filled wafers (unfortunately there's no backup option for people with egg or nut allergies.) Uber have actually offered ice cream delivery before, along with a number of other novelty promotions such as gourmet lunches and kittens (the kittens were not for eating, thankfully.) And while their legal status in Australia is still a little murky, as long as they keep pulling clever stunts like this – not to mention just being better than regular cabs in pretty much every way – we get the feeling that they won't be going anywhere.
Whatever your Saturday morning plans are, drop them. Instead, prepare for a feast of free sweet treats. That's the only way to celebrate two of Brisbane's favourite snack spots setting up their new, shared location, after all. Just head to 53 Lytton Road, East Brisbane from 10am until midday today. That's when Doughnut Time and Mister Fitz are throwing open the doors to their latest store and unloading as many delicious dishes as the hungry crowds can handle. Think doughy orbs with names such as Sticky Fingers (made with sticky date glaze, butterscotch and salted caramel crisps) and Pass the Parcel (a pink lemonade glaze topped with a range of Pick 'n' Mix favourites), plus monstrous creations made from ice cream, cookies and whatever sweet and salty toppings you happen to feel like. There'll also be face painting, bubbles and balloons; however the real attraction is whatever epic combo you can come up with when you've got a doughnut in one hand and an ice cream sandwich in the other. We hope you're hungry. Find the new Doughnut Time and Mister Fitz shared store at 53 Lytton Road, East Brisbane. Check out the Doughnut Time and Mister Fitz Facebook pages for further information.
If you ask yourself one question this Australia Day, let it be this: how many cheeseburgers can you eat? Or, to be specific, let Chur Burger pose that query, and your stomach offer up a reply. Yes, the Constance Street burger joint is marking the occasion with a good ol'-fashioned cheeseburger eating competition. Entry costs $20 per person, is limited to ten people, and the hungry festivities kick off at 1pm. Drop by anytime from 8am, however, for a meaty kind of celebration all day long. Chur will be whipping up burgs, setting the radio dial to triple j, and welcoming everyone who wants to eat, listen and hang out.
Getting away from it all — it's the dream, right? Who doesn't want to escape from the daily grind, kick back in a relaxing setting, and dedicate their time to cold beverages and green sights aplenty? Before you go wallowing over the fact that you don't have a holiday on the agenda, we have some great news: you can do all of the above without leaving the city. Because not all bars are created equal, some inner-city watering holes can make you feel like you've been whisked somewhere far, far away just by filling their space with oh-so-soothing flora. In partnership with the Hahn Brewers, here are ten bars around Brisbane where you can find a haven away from the hustle and bustle. THE PINEAPPLE HOTEL Getting a dose of greenery couldn't be more simple at The Pineapple Hotel. The historic Woolloongabba mainstay is in the ideal place for it — that is, right next door to a sprawling, grass and tree-filled park. Unsurprisingly, that makes the pub's seats with an outdoor view highly sought after; however, they're worth hanging around to nab. Many a day could be whiled away just sitting, snacking on Szechuan chicken wings and sipping on beer here. In fact, many have. THE TRIFFID When Newstead scored a new live music venue — owned by former Powderfinger bassist John Collins, no less — gig fans rejoiced. Since it opened its doors in 2014, everyone fond of just sitting around outside with a beer in hand has too. Boasting more than just a couple of token trees and plants, The Triffid's beer garden delivers both key elements, with the drinks flowing and the flora plentiful. Dropping by even if you're not seeing a show isn't just acceptable; it's encouraged. THE BRIGHTSIDE Good ol' Brighty, as we're sure you've called this Warner Street hotspot before, really does offer a space for every occasion. Indoor gigs, carpark parties, eating chicken, chilling near some plants: it has it all. In fact, there's a reason that plenty of the venue's many, many shindigs happen in the beer garden — everyone wants to hang out there. Whatever night of the week you choose, there's probably something happening, too, be it trivia, themed get-togethers or just sitting around with a brew in hand. DARLING & CO You don't always have to venture outside to find yourself a patch of plant life. And, you don't always have to look down to spot some either. Whether you're standing near the bar or sitting near one of the sizeable windows, you'll spy yourself something botanical in this Paddington bar. There's plenty hanging around, literally — which will probably make you want to hang around too. PIG & WHISTLE RIVERSIDE In the CBD, it's easy to feel like you're surrounded by concrete as far as the eye can see. And, often, you are. Indeed, there's plenty in the vicinity of Pig & Whistle Riverside, but the English pub helps liven up all of that grey with some bursts of green in its beer garden. No wonder it's a popular after-work go-to if you're in the area, and has been since it opened in 2002. A word of warning: if there's a sporting event on TV, the crowds will multiply, so consider this a busy and buzzing oasis, rather than the quiet kind. SHADY PALMS Sometimes, the secret to a bar's success really is all there in its name. If Shady Palms didn't have a couple of the trees that inspired its moniker, there'd be trouble. Don't worry, there's more than that. Also on offer in Stones Corner is an array of eating and drinking options for both day and night, whether you're after a lunchtime escape or an evening beverage. Making you feel like you're in someone's backyard is the main aim here, and it's a successful one. CANVAS Size doesn't matter when it comes to finding the perfect green haven. Like The Castle, it's all about the vibe, really. With that in mind, what Canvas lacks in space, it makes up for in atmosphere. Out the front, you'll find plants brightening up the street-side sitting spots, while venturing out the back reveals everyone's favourite kind of botanical sight. Yes, that'd be hanging plants, which can add a splash of nature to any space — and do just that here. THE WICKHAM Fortitude Valley doesn't always feel like the greenest place (wall-to-wall buildings will do that). Consider The Wickham the green oasis you're searching for, thanks to a savvy choice as part of the pub's last revamp: turning an abandoned space into a garden bar and container lounge. In the former, you'll find living, thriving plants adding a splash of colour and vibrancy. In the latter you'll find them coming down from the ceiling. With beers and doughnuts also on offer, what more could you want? HOPE AND ANCHOR English-themed bars aren't unique in Brisbane, and nor are quaint little spaces that show that good things come in small packages. Making its home on Latrobe Terrace, Hope and Anchor ticks both boxes — but, it also offers something different. That'd be a greenhouse, aka a plant-filled respite from the gloriously dark and inviting interior. Yes, that means that you can enjoy the best of both worlds here, hopping from greenery and slivers of sunshine to the dimly lit main room whenever you feel like it. AT SIXES AND SEVENS Giant trees? Check. Shrubbery galore? Check. Astroturf to both walk and sit on? Check again. At Sixes and Sevens offers up both real and fake forms of greenery, and doesn't stop the theme there. Log stools, plant wallpaper and cushions, emerald tiles and tones, green beverages — someone really wants the concept to hit home, and thankfully it does. In fact, you'll forget that you're on James Street pretty quickly. Sign up to Hahn Brewers and head out for a drink this weekend.
Melbourne artist Louise Hearman has won the Archibald Prize for her strike portrait of Australian comedian Barry Humphries. The award was bestowed today by the Art Gallery of New South Wales' board of trustees, with Hearman, a first time finalist, beating out 50 other finalists including Natasha Bieniek, Wendy Whiteley and Carla Fletcher to claim the $10,000 prize. "There was much deliberation and many worthwhile Archibald contenders, but Louise Hearman's portrait took centre-stage in the end," said board of trustees vice-president Mark Nelson. "It stood out as a portrait that truly captured the spirit of the sitter – she has caught Barry's sardonic smile brilliantly." Hearman's portrait, titled simply Barry, marks the sixth time that Humphries has sat for the Archibald – the first was back in 1969, when he was painted by artist John Brack as his iconic character Dame Edna Everage (below). "I'm the happiest girl in the world right now!" said Hearman. "Winning the Archibald is an extraordinary, extraordinary thing for an artist, but the best thing about the Archibald Prize really, is that it gets all artists in the public eye. Today is the one day each year artists eclipse sportsmen in the news!" Also announced were the finalists for the Wynne and Sulman Prizes. The former was awarded to family members Tjungkara Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin and Sandra Ken for their mural Seven Sisters, while the latter went to Esther Stewart for her painting Flatland Dreaming. The results mark the first time that all three awards have been won by female artists, with AGNSW director Michael Brand remarking that "the success of Louise Hearman, the Ken Sisters and Esther Stewart will be celebrated not just at the Art Gallery of New South Wales today but right around the country." All the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman finalists will be on display at AGNSW from July 16 until October 9.
We don't know what you got out of your last road trip, but odds are it wasn't a 432-page cookbook profiling 100 food heroes and shot through with gush-worthy photography. Acclaimed food writers Helen Greenwood and Melissa Leong are different that way. After six months on the road with a production crew, they've emerged with The Great Australian Cookbook, a document that features recipes from leading chefs like Neil Perry, Dan Hong, Kylie Kwong and Anna Polyviou but also from farmers and producers such as Tathra Oysters, Bruny Island Food and the Pyengana Dairy Company — as well as Australia's original cookbook queen, Margaret Fulton. And how do you visually communicate this breadth of Australiana so the book might be judged by its cover? With a specially commissioned illustration from Mambo artist Reg Mombassa, of course. Topping off this love fest, royalties from the book will go to OzHarvest, the Australian charity distributing unwanted food to people in need. It's a pretty special project, one that meant figuring out what constituted Aussie cuisine in the first place — the modern version, not just sausage rolls and prawns on the barbie. For Greenwood and Leong, former collaborators on The Good Food Shopping Guide, it was a natural progression of their work in recent years. After the success of The Great New Zealand Cookbook, the pair were approached to do the same for Australia. They jumped at the chance. "We loved the idea of a cookbook that reaches into many regions of Australia, showcases many different kinds of cooks and presents a snapshot of how Australians eat today," says Helen. It was also an opportunity to present a contemporary and inclusive picture of Australian cuisine. "Australia has a great reputation overseas for its food," she says. "If we have any problem representing Australian cuisine, it’s that we struggle to define it." The pair set out to speak with foodies both familiar and lesser known. Considering the successes of Australia's produce and cooking on the international food scene, whittling down the 100 contributors to include was not easy. "We had to cover a lot of ground [in the road trip] ... and had to ask ourselves a lot of questions," says Helen. "Have we represented the regions and the cities? Have we covered the country and the coast? Do we have classic Aussie dishes? Do we have people who reflect our Indigenous and migrant heritage? Do we have the legends and emerging talents of food? When we’d answered these questions, we’d check and check again, and fine-tune it some more." The end result marries the recipes with personal reflections from each chef and photos taken in their private homes and gardens. While the co-editors are reluctant to name an all-out favourite recipe in the book, their personal highlights include superstar Aussie chefs like David Moyle (Tasmania's Franklin and Peppermint Bay), Nick Holloway (far north Queensland's Nu Nu Restaurant) and Scott Huggins and Emma McCaskill (South Australia's Magill Estate, the home of Penfolds). But Helen is quick to point out The Great Australian Cookbook is not just about chefs. "This book is about Australians who grow, harvest, cook and eat food for a living — chefs, cooks, bakers, fishers, farmers and more," she says. "It’s a snapshot of Australian food culture today." It's also a personal document in some ways, reflecting Helen and Melissa's years of gustatory discovery. "A lot of my first-time experiences as a food writer are in this book. The first time I tasted Jim Mendolia’s sardines and was transported back to a glorious holiday on a beach in Portugal," evokes Helen. "My first visit to Darwin when I ate at Jimmy Shu’s Hanuman restaurant and experienced his fusion Asian cooking ... My experience of being on the receiving end of a fork loaded with great food, and meeting the people who’ve grown or cooked or sold that great food, has shaped The Great Australian Cookbook." The Great Australian Cookbook is published by PQ Blackwell and distributed by The Five Mile Press. It's in bookstores now for RRP$49.95. Get a taste of what's inside by trying out this spring roll recipe from Angie and Dan Hong. ANGIE AND DAN HONG'S VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS Makes: 60 | Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 20–30 mins | Skill Level: 2 (Moderate) FILLING INGREDIENTS 500g minced pork neck 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup of each of the following, all shredded: -wood ear mushrooms -shiitake mushrooms -carrot? -onion -mung bean thread ?(1cm lengths, softened in cold water) METHOD In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients with the seasonings and mix thoroughly. Carefully pour hot water into a shallow, wide dish along with the soy sauce. Stir to combine. Take a rice paper wrapper and quickly immerse it in the hot water, then place on a clean, dry plate. Spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into the centre of the rice paper in a sausage shape. Fold the top and bottom ends in, then roll the rice paper up like a cigar. Set aside and repeat until all of the mixture has been used up. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot until it reaches 180°C. In small batches, fry the spring rolls for 7–10 minutes or until the outside is crisp and golden. Drain onto paper towel and serve hot with your favourite dipping sauce. Images by Lottie Hedley Photography.
Somewhere in Los Angeles right now, there’s a pretty good chance that Johnny Depp is getting fitted for an elephant costume. Proving once again that nothing in Hollywood is sacred, Walt Disney Pictures has recently revealed that they’re working on a live action Dumbo remake, with director Tim Burton at the helm. For those of you who didn’t have a childhood, the original Dumbo tells the story of a young circus elephant whose oversized ears made him the subject of ridicule, until it was revealed that they allowed him to fly. Released in 1941 (really), the film was a major hit for the then-fledgling animation studio, and is regularly listed amongst the greatest animated movies of all time. The Burton version will be the latest in a string of Disney reboots, a trend that, fittingly enough, began when Burton’s own Alice in Wonderland grossed more than US$1 billion at the worldwide box office. Since then, the House of the Mouse has scoured its own back catalogue for properties to exploit, with recent releases like Maleficent and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice paving the way for further films including upcoming remakes of Cinderella, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. While we’re pretty sceptical about the idea of a new Dumbo film, we have to admit that if the movie has to happen, the man who made Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice isn’t necessarily the worst choice. Although his recent track record has been somewhat hit-and-miss, Burton certainly knows how to put an interesting spin on otherwise child-friendly material. And let’s not forget that the original cartoon contains some pretty out there stuff, including this amazing scene when Dumbo gets hammered and hallucinates dancing pink elephants. We're also interested to see what Elfman does with Dumbo's long-recognised and controversial racial stereotyping. No news yet on a release date or casting, although we’re willing to bet money that Danny Elfman will work on the score. Burton's most recent film, Big Eyes, hits theatres on March 19. Via WSJ.
Things got feisty and fearless at the Opera House when the fourth All About Women Festival took over on Sunday, March 6. Leading the prodigious, 30-speaker-strong program? None other than the inimitable Miranda July, Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, and Orange Is the New Black memoir author Piper Kerman — not to mention one of the best Women of Letters events we've ever been to. Sleater Kinney and Portlandia's legendary Brownstein talked about her October-released book Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl — before Sleater Kinney melted faces the same night at the Opera House. And Anne-Marie Slaughter, who worked as the director of policy planning at the US State Department when Hillary Clinton was running the show, argued that we can't have it all — well, at least not all at once, anyway. Emma Jane, Ruby Hamad, Michelle Arrow and Charlotte Wood unpacked 'The Women We Love to Hate', while Masha Gessen, Crystal Lameman, Mallory Ortberg, Ann Sherry, Anne- Marie Slaughter and Jenny Brockie attempted to change the world overnight. Didn't get a chance to head along to All About Women? You're in luck. Sydney Opera House's Ideas at the House team just released a whole bunch of free podcasts from the day via iTunes. We reckon you should start with 'The Boys Club' if you want to hear total boss Van Badham slam the gender dynamic in the Australian theatre industry and contemporary culture. Phwoar. Download Sydney Opera House's All About Women 2016 podcasts on iTunes for free here. Images: Yaya Stempler and Prudence Upton. By Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
You're at a dinner party. Chats are going strong, your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving has been deconstructed, Australia's latest novelty dessert trend raved about. Then someone brings out a new bottle of red. "Pinot noir?" your host casually offers. Sweat beads form, hearts race, eyes shift. Without warning, the pop culture fiends in the room explode. "CAVIAR." "MID-SIZED CAR." "SMOKE A CIGAR." "MYANMAR." The Kimmy Schmidt fans in the house have been unveiled — and if you're one of those, we've got some solid news for you. Ready? Tituss Burgess, well known as Kimmy's roommate Titus Andromedon in the highly popular series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, stole hearts worldwide with his unforgettable masterpiece of an "ode to black penis", 'Peeno Noir'. Now, Burgess is releasing his own pinot noir, an actual wine called Pinot by Tituss. Announced on Instagram this week, Pinot by Tituss will sell for US$24.99 a bottle online. Unfortunately they're only shipping to the US so far, but if you have American mates who could send it over, you can preorder the pinot noir and smoke a cigar right now. The bottles will be shipped after March 14. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt returns on April 15, and if you're drinking anything else, au revoir. Via Refinery29.
How good at Pictionary would Grimes be? Would Mac Demarco's sketches found in an art gallery? How would Future Islands go in a life drawing class? Sydney's FBi Radio intended to find out, by inviting a list of over 30 musicians to try their hand at a handdrawn masterpiece. Bringing back their wildly successful 'Brush With Fame' art auction, FBi asked a serious banquet of bands, rappers, ARIA-nominees, folksters, singers and beatmakers to create drawings on canvas especially for the station, ready for auction from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). All proceeds raise funds for the independent, not-for-profit, top notch station. Kudos to FBi for one of the best group show lineups around, y'ready? You (YOU) can own a handdrawn work by these guys. FULL ARTIST LIST: Alabama Shakes Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes) Alison Wonderland Benjamin Booker Best Coast Cosmo’s Midnight Courtney Barnett DIIV Django Django Dune Rats Elliphant & MØ Future Islands Grimes Hot Chip The Internet Little Simz Mac Demarco Matt Huynh Metz Neneh Cherry Parquet Courts Perfect Pussy Perfume Genius Peter Bibby Purity Ring The Rubens Run The Jewels* Rustie Thundercat Total Giovanni TV On The Radio Tycho Vic Mensa * Two individual canvases by Killer Mike and El-P respectively, sold together All works are on display over here. The auction will run on eBay from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). Each piece comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity from FBi. Here's a couple of our favourites in the bunch, that you'll have to furiously outbid us on.
Australia is well known for having some of the best dining in the world. Melbourne is a city where people happily spend an entire weekend rambling from restaurant to restaurant; from café to cocktail, on the hunt for a new favourite. And in Sydney, whether your tastes run to Frankie's Pizza or are more on the Quay side of things, you'll find bountiful opportunity to explore this foodie mecca. It doesn't matter if you're in a major capital or dining at a hidden local gem, Aussie restaurants and cafes consistently turn out incredibly fresh, vibrant and exciting tucker — inspired by access to some of the finest meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables in the world. We have two restaurants among the Top 100 Restaurants in the world (tip your hats Attica; Brae) and Aussie coffee champ Sasa Sestic scooped the World Barista Championships in 2015. With such a heady mix of talent hailing from Australia, it makes sense that the rest of the world would want a slice of our home-grown cuisine and expertise. We've partnered with Expedia to take a jaunt around the world and explore some Australian-owned restaurants in far-flung locales. Perhaps they'll inspire your next trip — they're definitely worthy of one. HARDWARE SOCIÉTÉ, PARIS The much beloved breakfast and brunch spot of 120 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, opened up shop in Paris recently and has been providing homesick ex-pats and Parisians alike with their petit-déjeuner since late 2016. You can get your 64-degree eggs with delights like ham hock (18€) or über decadent lobster (20€) and enjoy a genuine Melbourne Padre latte to sip as you dine. Aussie visitors to Paris looking for a little taste of home, and Parisians looking for a slice of Melbourne breakfast culture, will both find what they're looking for here. 10 rue Lamarck, 75018, Paris GERALD'S BAR, SAN SEBASTIAN Melbourne's long-beloved Carlton fave for wine lovers and good-time seekers has a new location. And while it's got that same Gerald's charm it's basically on the other side of the world; 17,195km away in San Sebastián, Spain. If it weren't for the fact that we have the original right here in Melbourne (thank the gods), we'd be on a plane right now for some of that exceptional wine and unbeatable Gerald's atmosphere. Eponymous proprietor, Gerald Diffey, took over an existing restaurant space in 2014 and gave it the Gerald's flourish. Now you can dine on mountain cheeses while sipping a curated list of local and international drops. If you're in San Sebastián it's a must-do. Calle del Ángel, 10, 20003 San Sebastián RUBY'S, NEW YORK CITY Visitors to Ruby's in NYC will be greeted by many things – tastes, smells, sights – but the first thing that may greet you on sighting Ruby's is a queue to get in the door. This decidedly bijoux eatery is so damn popular that people have no qualms about lining up just to take a seat inside. Enjoy nostalgic burgers like the Coogee ($12.50) with mushroom, romesco, cress, zucchini and goat's cheese; or tuck into the Whaleys ($13.50) and enjoy a classic Aussie burger complete with beetroot, pineapple and fried egg. Don't fancy a burger? No problem – order off the breakfast menu before 1pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends. The breakfast bowl is particularly good. If you're homesick and abroad or just want to tuck into a seriously good meal in NYC, you'll find it at Ruby's. 219 Mulberry St # A, New York DA MARIA, BALI Undoubtedly set to be one of the hottest places to see and be seen in Bali, Da Maria is the latest venture for Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini. He's behind Sydney classic, Icebergs, and is set to provide Bali dwellers and visitors alike with North Bondi Italian food (the website says they're bringing the Amalfi Coast to Bali) in a luxe Canggu locale. The venue has only just flung open its doors, and the tasteful interior and stunning luxe layout makes for the perfect spot to get a little bit fancy at dinner. Or, dance and drink the night away with DJs every evening from 10pm. If you're hungry at night they've got you covered with their delectable lava-oven baked pizzas available til late. Jalan Petitenget No. 170, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali CHINESE TUXEDO, NEW YORK CITY Aussies Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam set about with a single goal in mind: to modernise Chinese dining in NYC. Their pretty spectacular venue is housed in an ex-Chinese opera house and offers its diners a broad menu which has been carefully designed to tick all the boxes. There are traditional regional Chinese dishes on offer, creatively interspersed with exciting salads and flavoursome noodle dishes. They look set to make their mark on an exciting space, with the hope being that they'll be the go-to for high-end Chinese dining in NYC. Buckingham and Lam say that at Chinese Tuxedo the food speaks for them, so if you're in New York City we recommend you go and listen. 5 Doyers St, New York, NY PARAMOUNT COFFEE PROJECT, LOS ANGELES This industrial-chic Sydney café spread its wings to LA recently, opening up a similarly bright and airy cafe in the style of its Surry Hills sister venue, in late 2015. Los Angeles diners choose from a range of 'things on toast': soft scram ($11), avocado ($12) or local burrata ($14) – to name but a few; or other ubiquitous Aussie breakfast staples. Milkshakes run from the standard (vanilla malt, $7) to the downright awesome/weird (vegemite and butterscotch, $7) and you can rest assured that the hot drinks menu is just as impressive as the food. Discerning coffee drinkers have a veritable slew of Australian brews and other hot and cold options on offer. 456 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles ST ALI, JAKARTA The much-beloved Melbourne coffee spot and all-round brunch star, St Ali, recently exploded into Jakarta and has been making diners happy with their Melbourne-style menu. Feast on the smoked salmon omelette with a cup of their delightful coffee, or tempt yourself with a matcha chai parfait as part of your 'clean eating' kick. It won't last long when there are treats like fried chicken and slaw on offer as well, but you can try. Next time you're in the Indonesian capital be sure to pop by for a coffee at St Ali's new venue – in partnership with Indonesia's Common Grounds Roastery – to get a look in at this stunning spot. RT.6/RW.7, Karet Kuningan, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta THE APOLLO, TOKYO Greek food and Japan aren't usually two things that would spring to your mind at the same time. But then, you were probably thinking of The Apollo — the contemporary Greek restaurant that opened in Ginza in the middle of 2016 — weren't you? The star of Sydney's modern Greek scene, The Apollo, has landed bringing the same beloved, succulent, smoky flavours of Greek cooking to the heart of Tokyo. Choose from lemony pan-fried saganaki, or dine on meltingly tender ten-hour slow-cooked Aussie lamb. Best to book — this is a popular spot with ex-pats and locals alike. Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza FRATELLI PARADISO, TOKYO One of Sydney's most beloved haunts for fine Italian food is getting a new venue mid next year in a very special location: Tokyo. Owner Giovanni Paradiso decided on Japan as the spot for his expansion after exploring the idea of another venue in Sydney or Melbourne and realising that Japan ticked all the boxes. His new 90-seat venue is on track to open its doors in late April 2017. Toshi Nakayasu will helm the kitchen as head chef and will be offering familiar Italian classics as well as special local dishes too. The wine will be sourced from around the world and will be heavily based on natural wines, something that Paradiso is especially excited about. Keep an eye out for this one. HO LEE FOOK, HONG KONG Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong Kong must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). Owned and operated by the team at Black Sheep Restaurants, the name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong Become an Expedia+ member and book your food holiday in the January summer sale— you'll have access to prices that others don't see. By Laura Dawson and Shannon Connellan.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, indulge in pasta from a cheese wheel, have a good chuckle at free Friday comedy and treat yourself to a night out without breaking the bank. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
After years of gigging and tireless campaigning from the likes of FBi Radio, Sydney-based foursome Gang of Youths are nationally-appreciated hot stuff right now. They’ve played sold-out shows alongside Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit and Foster the People, done the Aussie festival circuit, toured the States, and been compared to Arcade Fire and Bruce Springsteen — and that was all before their debut album The Position was released last month. Now they’re setting off on a national tour, and the GOY-hungry public can’t seem to get enough of them; lapping up tickets faster than the band can announce new shows. GOY play rock that’s big on catharsis. Frontman David Leaupepe’s inspiration for the band’s raw, guitar-heavy debut was the emotional rollercoaster of his four-year long-distance relationship with a girl who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. It makes for a sound that seems bound to fill stadiums one day — so consider yourself lucky if you manage to bag a ticket to one of these more intimate gigs.
No matter which city you live in, it's easy to walk around town and barely notice the buildings that you're passing by day in and day out. Whether we're buried in own phones or thoughts, we all do it. Once a year in Brisbane, Open House offers up the antidote: the chance to wander into and snoop your way through some of the spots that make the Queensland capital what it is. It's a dream for architecture fans, nosy parkers and everyone keen to sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at the Queensland capital's spaces alike. 2024's Brisbane Open House will take place across two days in July, with the doors at everywhere from the Merthyr Croquet Club and Centenary Pool to New Farm Cinemas and Newstead House being thrown open across Saturday, July 13–Sunday, July 14. While this is a citywide celebration, this year's program is focusing on inner-city Brissie in particular, with hubs at Brisbane Powerhouse and Queensland Ballet's Thomas Dixon Centre. Brisbane Open House is also showing New Farm some extra love as its chosen village of Brisbane this time around; if you notice a heap of venues on the list from the riverside suburb, that's why. The New Farm and Districts Historical Society has been enlisted to assist, in what doubles as celebration of the organisation's 30th anniversary. For those eager to get peering, heading along is as simple as choosing where you'd like to explore, and reserving your attendance in advance in some cases. A few always-popular spots have already booked out, such as Brisbane Arcade, Miss Midgley's in New Farm, the Spring Hill Windmill Tower and Service Reservoirs, State Library of Queensland and The Moreton Club; however, given that there's 54 locations taking part, there's still plenty of addresses to hit up. Other highlights include the Spring Hill Baths, ABC Brisbane, Anzac Square, Brisbane City Hall (including the Shingle Inn), Museum of Brisbane and BVN — The Annex on Eagle Street. Or, make a date with Parliament House, Old Government House, Roma Street Fire Station and St John's Cathedral. From the Fish Lane Town Square, Merthyr Village, Port Office at the Port of Brisbane and Patrick Brisbane Autostrad terminal through to QPAC, Wolston Farmhouse and the Svitzer Brisbane Tug Base, the list of places to mosey through goes on. Guided tours are also on the program, giving you expert guidance while you poke around. Talks on subjects such as the past, present and future of New Farm, designing for the future and how to celebrate Earth Day all year feature as well. And on the workshop roster, you can choose between sundown meditations on the Thomas Dixon Centre's rooftop terrace, learning more about the in-the-works Kangaroo Point Green Bridge and building a map of New Farm based on the community's favourite spaces. Brisbane Open House 2024 runs across Saturday, July 13–Sunday, July 14 at a variety of places around Brisbane. For the full program, head to the event's website. Images: courtesy of the venues and Brisbane Open House.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being added to the lineup this morning: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. This big ol' announcement comes just a week after Bluesfest added superstar Mary J. Blige to already heaving lineup. THE THIRD 2017 BLUESFEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT: Santana The Doobie Brothers 2017 ARTISTS ALREADY ANNOUNCED: Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Bluesfest returns to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay over the Easter long weekend (April 13-17, 2017). More info on the Bluesfest website. Image: Andy Fraser.
Fans of Roald Dahl who find themselves in London are in for a gloriumptious surprise. To mark the release of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of The BFG, giant six foot dream jars are popping up around the city, filled with the hopes and aspirations of famous human beans. The jars will appear at iconic landmarks around the British capital, from Trafalgar Square to St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tower of London. Inside, you'll find the childhood dreams of prominent artists and celebrities, including director Steven Spielberg, paralympian David Weir, Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and The BFG illustrator Quentin Blake. The jars will be on display from July 8 until August 31, after which time they'll be sold at auction. Proceeds from the sale will go to Save the Children and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, which provides specialist nurses to seriously ill children. "I'm excited to join The BFG Dream Jar Trail so we can all share our dreams together," said Spielberg. "The best part of this project is its support of the valuable work that Save the Children does in giving kids across the world their own chances to dream big." For more information about The BFG Dream Jar Trail, go here. The BFG hits cinemas on June 30. https://youtu.be/VG5MtenlP-A
The film festival Brisbane knew and loved is now dead and gone; however the city's cinephiles have hours of must-see cinema to consume between November 29 and December 14. That's when BAPFF — the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival — makes its maiden outing, celebrating movies made in and about the region. BAPFF may be saddled with a nigh-on unpronounceable acronym, as well as a narrower focus than attendees of Brisbane’s major film festival are used to, but it's the selection of films that really matters. With a program that boasts more than 80 films in 33 languages from over 30 countries, BAPFF is tailor-made for discerning film tastes, while also encouraging cinematic discovery. Indeed, making up your mind about exactly what to see over the festival's 16 days is a tricky task. To help make scheduling easier, we've listed the ten films we can't wait to see, whether for the first time or again — in short, the ten films you really shouldn't miss. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night We couldn't contain our excitement for this film when the full festival program was announced, and to be honest, we still can't. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a Farsi-language neo-noir feminist vampire western — what about that description isn't 100 percent fascinating? Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut has been garnering rave reviews since the Sundance Film Festival premiere, and the film's also been compared to the work of David Lynch. But if ever a film didn't need hype to sell it, it's this one. Tackling Iranian tradition and American suburbia in one stylised swoop, it's set to add a delicious new twist to all things blood-sucking. A Hard Day One of the unexpected hits of the Cannes and Melbourne film festivals, no description can really do A Hard Day justice. It starts out like quite a few other movies have of late, with a man, a car, an accident and a moral dilemma, but A Hard Day isn't like other movies. What seems to be a serious Korean drama soon becomes one of the most absurd black comedies of recent times — and one of the most enjoyable. As a crooked cop tries to cope with an increasingly incredible series of events, suspense boils over as does surprise in an effort that proves anything but formulaic. Cruel Story of Youth You know about the French New Wave or Nouvelle Vague, but what about the Nuberu bagu — the Japanese equivalent? The late Nagisa Oshima was at the movement's forefront, and while the iconic auteur is best known for later work In the Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, his second feature helped shape a burgeoning film movement. In 1960, Oshima was only 28 when he made an adventurous account of the lives and loves of two partners in crime. Fresh from showings in Cannes Classics, the glorious Cruel Story of Youth screens in all its restored and remastered splendour at BAPFF. The Dead Lands Expect to hear a whole lot more about New Zealand box office sensation The Dead Lands as it continues to scale to the heights of film history. Expect the fighting to continue off as well as onscreen too, with BAPFF's first two sessions of this film selling out — and an additional session yet to be announced. There's a reason this is shaping up as one of the most memorable movies from across the ditch, and not just because of its selection as the country's submission for the Academy Awards' best foreign language film category. Starring Boy's James Rolleston all grown up, The Dead Lands is the Maori fantasy-adventure-action epic to end all Maori fantasy-adventure-action epics. From What Is Before We accept that spending six hours in a cinema isn't everyone’s cup of tea, and that anyone attempting such a feat might actually want to bring their own cups of tea to stay alert. It's a big ask, but having the opportunity to become immersed in a meditative Filipino effort that takes up a quarter of your day is what the true festival experience is all about. After last year's Norte, the End of History, long-form master Lav Diaz returns with a nightmarish portrait of martial law. The film won the Golden Leopard at Locarno, and promises to be as emotionally angry as it is visually potent. Hill of Freedom There's something about the features of Korea's Hong Sang-soo, who, with prolific pace, seems to release something new at least once a year. From simple, slight and sweet scenarios, he wrestles astute insights into relationships, rendered with both warmth and witty comedy. His last film, Our Sunhi, furnished a romantic web with talk of filmmaking, beer and chicken in a joyous delight — and all signs point to his latest, Hill of Freedom, offering a repeat. Love letters drive the narrative, but where the work of this filmmaker is involved, rest assured that nothing will be clichéd or traditional. The Iron Ministry Harvard's Sensory Ethnography Lab has done it again. After Sweetgrass' ode to the American west, Leviathan's fishing fury and frenzy, and Manakamana's reflective ride on a Nepalese cable car, the University's cinematic documentation and experimentation now extends to China's sprawling railroads. Shot over three years, The Iron Ministry adheres to the same observational principles as its predecessors: to chronicle all facets of a fundamental aspect of Chinese society. In the space of several train journeys, public transport people watching just got much more interesting — and, given the travelogue sheen of the accompanying panoramic imagery, much more picturesque as well. The Owners From Kazakhstan comes a deadpan slice-of-life drama-comedy hybrid about outsiders trying to fit in. No, this isn't Borat; but it is an offbeat effort unafraid to journey into the unexpected. After the death of their mother, elder sibling John moves his teenage brother, ill little sister and all their meagre belongings to an inherited house in a remote village, complete with a hostile welcome by local squatters and law enforcement. In exploring their fight for acceptance and survival, The Owners offers a strong sense of honour and more than a few strange moments, as well as social commentary, bloody revenge and cathartic dancing. Tokyo Tribe If you love music videos and mobster movies, then you'll want to see Tokyo Tribe. Sion Sono’s follow-up to the gleefully genre-bending Why Don’t You Play In Hell? is a love letter to and playful parody of both, set on the neon-lit streets and to a pulsating rhythm, and creating what might be the world's first hip-hop opera. The story might be slight and silly, not to mention literally punctuated by record scratches to emphasise the point, but the spectacle more than makes up for it. As a Yakuza boss tussles with a few trifling matters, Tokyo's 23 warring tribes sing, dance, shoot and wield weapons in a lurid hip-hop mash-up. Zero Motivation Observational workplace comedies about paper pushing and pranks aren't new, nor are insights into the horrors and hardships of battle. What is new is looking at the day-to-day lives of the women who work in administration at a remote Israeli combat base, with both a comic and contemplative gaze. Zero Motivation goes beyond the bounds of Office Space, The Office and Workaholics and every war movie ever made to peer behind a system of compulsory military service and ponder its influence and issues. The monotony of office routines and the malaise of army inner workings have rarely been as frank, funny or female-oriented, in a lively debut from writer/director Talya Lavie. The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival is on from November 29 - December 14. For the full program, see the festival website.
Just when you thought ordering pizza couldn’t possibly require any less effort, the brilliant bastards at Domino's Pizza have gone and changed the game. Starting May 20, the US pizza chain will roll out a tweet-to-order system, removing the hassle of having to dial a phone or download a mobile app once and for all. No, this isn't a joke. Under the new system, regular customers will be able to tweet Pizza emojis at the @Dominos account, after which they can just sit back, relax and wait for their family-size BBQ meat lovers with extra cheese and hot dog-stuffed crusts to arrive. No word on whether they’ve yet developed a system that prevents you from having to get off the couch to answer the door, but surely that can’t be far away. We’re still waiting on exact details of how this emoji-based ordering system will work, or how Domino’s knows where to actually send it once it’s been made. Giving out your address via Twitter doesn’t seem like the greatest idea; although maybe that’s just the price you pay for not wanting to talk to a fellow human being. Not to mention, y'know, ordering pizza from Domino's in the first place. Domino's haven't announced plans to expand the system beyond the United States, which means for the time being we're stuck using the call function on our telephones like a bunch of neanderthals. Via Gizmodo.
In case you were lacking in things to furiously rant about at the pub later, let's fill you in on the newest, stupidest, frankly concerning health fad skulking into reality. Are you ready? It's called Fat Water. Yep, fat-infused water. Created by founder of Bulletproof Coffee (yep, the coffee that uses butter instead of milk) Dave Asprey, Fat Water isn't just adding a scoop o' lard to your Mount Franklin. According to Grub Street, Asprey is assuring us all that the bottles function instead as an energy booster without a sugar crash, mixing two grams of coconut oil (which is apparently about a tenth of your daily saturated fat) with regular water. So, you guessed it, it's basically oily water. Taste testers likened it to liquid soap. So how the heck is this healthy? Apparently the coconut oil enhances what's known as thermogenesis — a big ol' scientific word for the process of burning fat. The water apparently burns energy and also has an appetite-suppression effect, which quite honestly rings a few warning bells. Sounds like your one-way ticket to intensifying an eating disorder, frankly. Whether or not Fat Water takes off remains to be seen — but with the cheeky $9 million Silicon Valley bandwagon-jumpers poured into Bulletproof Coffee, and the desperate measures people will take to get some form of unattainable 'bikini body', this could be a scarily popular item. Fat Water is now available in the US only, exclusive to Dave Asprey's Bulletproof cafes and a few LA health stores. And stay there. Via Grub Street.
Heads up, Mother's Day is just around the corner. You can frantically message your siblings later, there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' Mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale gelato, Messina have been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired chocolate box of gelato-filled nibbles. These brownie point-winners launched in 2015 and revamped in 2016, and are sure to bring it home again this year. Each box comes with eight handmade, handpainted chocolate and gelato bon bons — best enjoyed with opera blaring in the background, with a strong, black cup of coffee and a shoulder massage. Go on, your mum put up with you through puberty, you owe her one massage. So which crazy tell-your-friends flavours have Messina come up with for their bitty bon bons? There's four in total, each more decadent than the last. Ready? There's fraise des bois sorbet, champagne gel, champagne soaked sponge in a white chocolate shell. Shut up. There's Messina's famous salted caramel gelato, caramel ganache and caramel crunch in a caramel chocolate shell. Yep. There's milk chocolate gelato, passionfruit puree and chocolate sponge all wedged into a tiny milk chocolate shell. Huh? How about pistachio gelato, rose jelly and vanilla sponge encased in a white chocolate shell? NUP. If you can find us something that says 'perfect Mother's Day gift' better than fragrant bloody rose jelly and vanilla sponge cake crammed into a fragile little choc-house, we'll eat this empty bon bon box. The Messina gelato bon bon boxes are going for $45 a box, available to order from May 3. They're available for collection from Tramsheds, Darlinghurst, Rosebery, Miranda and Parramatta in Sydney, Fitzroy and Windsor in Melbourne, and South Brisbane's new store.
Pizza lovers of Brisbane — so, everyone — prepare for your favourite food to get even better. Or, even more readily available, to be exact. That's what will happen when Pizzantica sets up shop in Hawthorne. At the moment, you've probably chased their VW kombi van across town, including regular stopovers at Green Beacon Brewing, Milton Mini Markets, Hawthorne's Love Your Local Markets and Jan Power's Powerhouse Market Saturdays. Soon, you'll be able to head to one spot for your Italian fix if you're not up for so much running around. That's right, Pizzantica is following in the footsteps of brownies, doughnuts, lollies and more, and making the meals-on-wheels to bricks-and-mortar leap. Not content with popping up around Brisbane serving up delicious slabs of dough topped with whatever savoury morsels take their fancy, they want to do it from permanent digs as well. Riding Road will be the place to flock to, from sometime in either late October or early November. Until then, you'll still find their tomato-heavy, mozzarella-topped Napoli-style concoctions — plus their dessert calzones in nutella, strawberries and vanilla icing sugar and condensed milk, banana and cacao flavours — at their usual haunts. To keep up-to-date with Pizzantica, visit their website or Facebook page.
Grief can take any number of forms. Yet the same isn't necessarily true of funerals. While coming together with friends and family is a vital part of celebrating a lost loved one, the trappings that surround this process – the hearse, the funeral home, the traditional overpriced coffin – can often seem a little impersonal. It's for this reason that The House has us so intrigued. Co-founded by Kylee Stevens, Morna Seres and Christian Wills, all of whom share a background in design and the arts, this new Sydney-based funeral service is offering an alternative to the industry standard, allowing for a truly personal celebration of a person's life. "We service memory artistically through curated reflection, music, light, sound, performance, food and ritual held within our exclusive venues," reads a mission statement on the company website. "Whether it is a large affair, or a simple gathering of friends and family, The House provides the opportunity to say goodbye in a compelling, cultural and modern manner." "Our way of working with clients doesn't really exist in the industry," Stevens told Concrete Playground. "I believe there's space for tradition, particularly in a moment of grief...but if someone doesn't want something traditional, what are their options?" While The House has only been operating since the tail end of March, Stevens sees a world of "infinite possibilities." Their first service, for example, was held in a gallery, and featured a room full of suspended images and incorporated poetry written by the deceased. Friends and family were also invited to be involved in the planning and installation stages, which in turn became another way for them to process their grief. "I think each family will be quite different, said Stevens. "Some will want to come forward and work [with us], and some won't. It's our role to navigate that." Despite their ambitious and personalised approach, the cost of a funeral at The House is in line with industry standards. "We talk about substituting costs within the traditional framework," explains Stevens. "You can spend $3500 to $6500 on a coffin. Making a more ecologically friendly, better designed choice, you can go as low as $550. So you can substitute out existing cost structures that a traditional model offers, and replace them with things that are more memorable." For more information about The House, visit their website at www.thehouse.global.
How many movies can you see in 12 days? Or, to put it another way, how many titles from this year's Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival can you fit in between November 23 and December 4? Film fests always offer several challenges: an endurance test for those keen to watch as much as possible, a chance to see just how long you really can sit in a cinema chair, a game of schedule Tetris as you try to come up with the perfect viewing agenda, and an exercise in realising that you just can't see them all (or be in several places at once...well, without a Time-Turner). And that's before you even consider the specific features in this year's BAPFF lineup. Now in its third year, the event that replaced the Brisbane International Film Festival has curated a selection of 82 movies vying for your eyeballs — and they've taken a few cues from their predecessors too. That means you won't just be feasting on the best cinema the Asia-Pacific region has to offer (or an ace retrospective focusing on Japanese actresses) but a few great picks from Europe and the US as well. With 31 Australian and 33 Queensland premieres screening at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro — including 31 of the 39 films competing at this year's Asia Pacific Screen Awards — it's enough to give even the most dedicated cinephile a programming headache. Here's our ten must-sees to help make the job easier. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Ever found yourself arguing over who is the better Affleck sibling? Next time you're sticking up for team Casey — or need convincing not to side with Batman/Bruce Wayne/Ben — Manchester by the Sea might help. The younger Affleck has been receiving significant awards buzz since his latest film premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, thanks to his performance as a man forced to return to his hometown after a family tragedy (and forced to confront some of his past troubles in the process). Plus, he's not the only reason the feature should top your must-see list. The rest of the cast includes Kyle Chandler and Michelle Williams, and the movie happens to be the latest offering from You Can Count On Me and Margaret director Kenneth Lonergan. I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY In China, one of the worst things a woman can be called is Madame Bovary. That doesn't stem from a hatred of Gustave Flaubert's 1856 French novel, or from a dislike for any of the recent film adaptations of the book (including 2015 releases Gemma Bovery and Madame Bovary), but from the adulterous ways of the classic text's protagonist. So, Li Xuelian (Fan Bingbing) isn't too happy when the label comes her way — particularly given her complicated relationship with her husband. In a clever comic farce that rips apart misogynistic apprehensions about and the limited scope afforded determined women, I Am Not Madame Bovary charts this spurned wife's attempts to get justice, complete with a fake divorce, real estate schemes, his infidelity and her real quest to re-marry for revenge. THE BACCHUS LADY Films that thoughtfully explore the reality of getting older are as common as movies that show the personal toll of sex work — that is, not at all, really — making South Korea's The Bacchus Lady a rare effort indeed. Anchored by a nuanced and resonant performance by veteran leading lady Youn Yuh-jung, E J-yong's feature charts an elderly worker trying to both care for her similarly ageing clients and look after a young boy in need. Neither storyline plays out as you might expect, and nor does the resulting emotional impact. ZOOLOGY If there's one thing you need to know about Zoology, it's this: it tells the tale of a zoo administrator who starts to grow, well, a tail. That means there's more than a little absurdity in this Russian-language film, however more than a few on-point insights are bound to follow. Featuring a standout performance from actress Natalia Pavlenkova, Zoology has been likened to both Kafka and Cronenberg, which should excite fans of the bizarre and body horror, as well as those keen for a combination of both in a humorous but perceptive way. HOUNDS OF LOVE In Hounds of Love, Stephen Curry is worlds away from his famous performance in The Castle — but if any of his films deserve to go straight to the pool room, it's this one. Here, he plays a different kind of suburban dweller in a movie set in Perth in 1987, and loosely based on true crime cases. Believe us, there's a reason that this moody thriller was compared to Snowtown when it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival a few months back — and that debut writer-director Ben Young was hailed as the next Aussie director to watch. THE WOMAN WHO LEFT So, you're a-okay with spending a few hours in a cinema. And, you're even happy to keep sitting in your seat for longer than it takes hobbits to trample across New Zealand. Still, Lav Diaz's movie marathons aren't for everyone — which is why you'll probably be happy to hear that his latest clocks in at just under four hours. The Woman Who Left is actually the Filipino filmmaker's second title in this year's BAPFF program after the eight-hour epic A Lullaby for the Sorrowful Mystery, which already screened in the lead-up to the main event. Winning the Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival, it toys with Tolstoy to tell the tale of Horacia, a woman who gains her freedom after spending 30 years in prison for a crime she didn't commit. MA'ROSA He's the second Filipino filmmaker causing a stir on the international circuit, as well as the second that BAPFF clearly has a soft spot for. That'd be Brillante Mendoza, and while his movies are much, much shorter than Lav Diaz's, he's still prolific. With Ma'Rosa, he dives into the plight of a family battling corruption in Manila, including the memorable matriarch that gives the feature its name. In fact, actress Jaclyn Jose caused such a splash at this year's Cannes Film Festival that she took out the best actress award. Mendoza himself is no stranger to statuettes on the Croisette, after winning the fest's best director prize back in 2009 for the thematically similar Kinatay. RAISE YOUR ARMS AND TWIST — DOCUMENTARY OF NMB48 Think you know all there is to know about boy bands, girl groups, and the fame and fandom that goes with them? If you haven't stepped into the world of Japan's massive female-focused acts, then you still have plenty to learn. Based in Osaka, NMB48's name partly stems from Namba, the area of the city they hail from, and partly from the fact that the group has quite a few members (46 at the time of writing, plus 12 trainees, from a total of 117 since they were formed in 2011). They're one of the sister acts to Tokyo's AKB48, and like their Akihabara-dwelling colleagues, they even have their own theatre. Raise Your Arms and Twist peeks behind the scenes of the idol phenomenon that's really unlike anything else, as directed by Atsushi Funahashi, a documentarian better known for exploring the impact of Fukushima (not your usual pop aficionado). YOURSELF AND YOURS The ever-trusty Hong Sang-soo returns with yet another exploration of life, love and alcohol, but be warned: this time, his characters drink beer rather than soju. It's a minor switch, however it is enough to initially throw viewers off balance — and while it's not quite the same as seeing your girlfriend all over town, only for the woman in question to remain adamant that she doesn't know you, it helps get you into that headspace. Yes, even with the change of booze, Yourself and Yours sees the South Korean favourite in his usual offbeat yet observational territory. Once again playing with and finding humour in the intricacies and intimacies of everyday relationships, he follows the brew-loving Minjung (Lee You-young), her insistence that she's not who every guy she meets thinks she is, and the amusement that eventuates. 76 MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS WITH ABBAS KIAROSTAMI AND TAKE ME HOME Full disclosure: watching a personal effort made by one of Abbas Kiarostami's collaborators as an attempt to cope with his grief over the legendary Iranian filmmaker's death is only one of the drawcards of this session. The 76-minute and 15-second documentary filled with footage of the director at work and play screens alongside his last completed film, a short, which really couldn't be more perfect. Take Me Home features little more than a barely-glimpsed boy, an energetically bouncing ball, and all of the gorgeously shot Italian stairs and alleyways you could ever want to see. And, in the process, it turns something oh-so-simple into as illuminating and moving a piece of cinema as Kiarostami has ever crafted. If you still need a few more, check out our thoughts on Personal Shopper from the Sydney Film Festival and Toni Erdmann from the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier in the year. The 2016 Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival runs from November 23 to December 4 at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro. To view the program and buy tickets, visit the BAPFF website.
The thing about Brisbane is that, whether you think of yourself as an indoor person or an outdoor person, you’re inevitably going to spend most of your time outside. As Brisbane is almost constantly blessed with the kind of weather you see on the classic Microsoft screen saver, we’ve naturally become an outdoorsy city. Nearly every café and restaurant has an al fresco area, every house worth its salt has a verandah and everywhere you walk has long green expanses that are perfect for soaking up the sun. It’s no wonder, then, that when we spoke to Last Dinosaur’s bass guitarist, filmmaker and all-round cool guy Michael Sloane (above, right) about his perfect weekend in Brisbane, it was mostly spent outdoors and under the sun. The Last Dinosaurs are just about to release their second studio album, Wellness, and embark on a national tour, so Michael’s wholesome outdoor weekends may be something to do with the hectic schedule of touring band member. "Coming back home to Brisbane after being away is like a moment of decompression, in a good way," he tells us. "It has a feeling of laid-backness." The Last Dinosaurs are a Brisbane born and/or bred cohort and Michael (above, second from right) says for him the culture of comradery between Brissie-based bands is a huge influence on the music scene. "You can't help but be influenced by the place you live and grow up, but I'd say our biggest inspiration from Brisbane is other Brisbane bands,' he says. "It's a cosy enough city to cross paths with other bands of the same mindset and it's always nice to share touring moments or shows with other Brisbane bands, even when we're not in Brisbane." Indeed, much like the bar from Cheers, Brisbane is the kind of intimate city where everybody knows your name – and if you’re in an incredibly successful local band, they might just scream it at you as you walk past. You can grab the Last Dino’s new album, Wellness, on August 28, or catch them on tour from September 25 to October 18. In the meantime, here are Michael’s five steps to the perfect Brisbane weekend. TAKE THE CITYCAT TO SOUTH BANK Brisbane has a good mix of city and bush, so my little tour of Brisbane would have a bit of both. Take a CityCat from wherever you are over to South Brisbane. (Yes, the CityCat is part of the experience if you can be bothered.) Choose your own adventure here.. Either you can wander through South Bank, eventually getting into the cultural precinct to check out GoMA and the museum, or you can venture deeper into West End and find a place for lunch along Boundary Road. TAKE A CITYCYCLE RIDE ALONG THE BRISBANE RIVER From there, get on a CityCycle and ride along the river until you reach a bridge; we have plenty of them to choose from. Ride across the bridge of your choosing and continue around the Riverside of the CBD until you feel like having a look at the city centre itself. STOP IN AT WAGAYA Straight from the city to Fortitude Valley for dinner in Chinatown mall. Wagaya is a favourite. It's a pretty authentic Japanese 'Izakaya', and you get to order off a touch screen. After that, you're in the centre of nightlife for Brisbane and, for good or bad, it's worth experiencing. There's a bar for every type of night you'd like to have. CHECK OUT MOUNT COOT-THA Maybe I'm biased living close, but I'm a big fan of Mt. Coot-tha state forest. The Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens at the base of the mountain are actually Botanic Gardens, unlike the CBD version. That means there's a huge array of environment types and plants. They also have a planetarium and library, if you're into that. From there, Mt Coot-tha has a lot of wood fire stoves dotted around, so cook up some grub on the barbie and get the Aussie out of your system. Slaughter Falls (don't be scared) picnic area has a bush track leading up to the lookout of Mt Coot-tha. It's actually a pretty great view if you don't mind a few tourists taking selfies. Image via Facebook TAKE A DAY TRIP TO NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND Assuming you have a long weekend or can chuck a sickie, try to get the ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke. I'm always surprised when I go to Straddie that I don't go more often. It really does have awesome beaches, with campgrounds right on the edge of the beach.
Turn your Hilver into a Klimpen in just three easy steps. Homeware giant IKEA are officially developing their own ‘hackable’ furniture, monetising a concept their customers have already been embracing for years. Announced at IKEA’s second annual Democratic Design Day at company HQ in Sweden, the official IKEA hack kit will allow shoppers to alter their furniture at will. Customisable items would be marked as such in the store, with ideas for various hacks listed online. From there, customers can purchase a hack kit and voila, your desk chair is suddenly a six-piece outdoor lounge. Well, not quite. But you'll be able to change things up a little. The concept behind IKEA hacking is certainly nothing new. Plenty of customers have tried mashing different IKEA items together over the years, treating the products like the oversized Lego kits that they’ve always vaguely resembled. This Italian company, for example, has come up with some genuinely amazing designs. In the past, IKEA haven’t taken too kindly to people straying from the instructions. They even threatened legal action against the fan-run blog IkeaHackers.net, although they eventually backed down in the wake of widespread public backlash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6XeDShIFbQ&t=0m10s From both a business and public relations perspective, it certainly seems to make a lot more sense for IKEA to embrace this trend. That being said, the fact that these would be official products, complete with instructions, does kind of take away some of the fun. That you’d have to pay for the hack kits doesn’t really help things either. IKEA haven’t actually moved past the initial design phase yet, so no word on when the hack kits will become available — if they become available at all. They’re also considering an official swap program, wherein you can trade in your old IKEA furniture and get credit towards new pieces. And yea, the circle of life continues. Via Gizmodo. Image: Teste Di Legno.
"Franchise" needn't be a dirty word in Hollywood, and the Mission: Impossible movies are shining examples as to why that is. Now in its sixth instalment, this isn't just a franchise done right. It's a franchise that somehow improves with each new chapter – an ongoing escalation of stakes and stunts that never sacrifices the intelligent, honest and light-hearted storytelling that's been so critical to the series' sustained appeal. At the forefront once again is leading man and producer Tom Cruise, whose capacity for performing increasingly complex and outrageously dangerous stunts remains inversely proportionate to his age. In Mission: Impossible – Fallout his IMF agent Ethan Hunt is at it again, weaving cars and motorbikes through the traffic-packed streets of Paris, HALO jumping from 30,000ft and leaping across rickety London rooftops. Cruise even accrued over 2000 hours of helicopter flight time prior to filming, all so that he could personally perform what is arguably the film's most thrilling and death-defying sequence. His love of filmmaking is apparent in every frame he occupies, and its value to the enduring allure of the franchise cannot be overstated. That the Mission Impossible brand could survive beyond Cruise's involvement seems far less assured than, say, James Bond or Batman. Not unlike the two most recent Bond films, Fallout compels its hero to shine a light on his own past deeds, with the movie's title referring not just to the literal threat posed by three nuclear devices but also the consequences of a lifetime spent obediently killing, stealing and undermining at the behest of the US Government. Adding to the emotional stakes, Fallout also repeatedly asks its characters to weigh up the value of a human life, presenting them with multiple scenarios in which they're forced to choose between the one or the many – knowing that either path carries with it irreconcilable guilt and heartache. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie (whose return to the franchise marks the first repeat involvement by a director, with McQuarrie having also written and directed the previous instalment, Rogue Nation), Fallout achieves the rare feat of being an unceasing action movie that always feels more like a drama. There is no superfluity here. Every punch, shot, jump, crash and explosion exists because it must. This is a story-driven international escapade that never stops to sit down and catch its breath. Around Cruise the IMF family assembles once again, with Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson packing equal measures of comedy and conflict into every scene they get. Man of Steel's Henry Cavill also joins the action, with his lumbering, muscular CIA assassin representing an appealing counterpoint to Hunt's penchant for the softer, tradecraft touch. He and Hunt are at once rivals and compatriots – two competing assets unwillingly paired together in pursuit of a common goal. Or so it seems. As always, the Mission: Impossible franchise throws up all manner of red herrings, double-crosses and mask-pulling identity swaps, meaning – just like the characters – you're never quite sure who to trust. If the story borders on confusing at points, it's only because the time-honoured tradition of spy movies commands nothing less. Ever since 1996, this series has unapologetically embraced jargon-heavy dialogue and twists upon twists without ever feeling compelled to play it safe or dumb things down (Mission: Impossible 2 being the regretful exception). If most sequels fail because they're rushed into production purely to capitalise on their predecessor's success, Fallout demonstrates the benefit of having the patience and the discipline to say: we will make this film not when, but if a good enough story comes our way. So it is that McQuarrie, Cruise and company deliver a benchmark setter for action movies – a rollicking, tense and captivating piece of cinema that begs to be enjoyed on the big screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb49-oV0F78
Prepare yourself for a serious case of food envy. After months of hype and speculation surrounding the menu, Noma Australia is officially open for business, and it looks totally out of this world. Popping up for a ten-week residency at Sydney Harbour's new Barangaroo precinct, Noma Australia sees head chef Rene Redzepi and his world-renowned team working exclusively with local ingredients. The menu includes Kakadu plum, pepperberry, wattleseed and kangaroo, along with a vast assortment of Australian seafood. "On my many trips around Australia I’ve seen a larder that is so foreign to me," says Redzepi. "Foraging for abalone, eating fresh muntries, nibbling on pepperberries and cracking open a bunya nut — these experiences are so wild compared to what we're used to in Europe." Redzepi has also been influenced by local cooking techniques. "Spending time with indigenous communities in places like Arnhem Land have left the biggest impact on me and the Noma team," he said. "For instance, seeing the use of fire as the main way of cooking ingredients inspired us. Most of what we’re cooking at Noma Australia will be cooked over fire." Standout dishes on the Noma Australia menu include dried scallop and lantana flower pie, abalone schnitzel with bush condiments, a seafood platter of pippies, sea bounty mussels, strawberry clam, flame cockles, oysters and crocodile fat, and — the icing on the cake — a lamington made with rum, dried milk and tamarind. Oof. [caption id="attachment_557122" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wild seasonal berries flavoured with gubinge[/caption] [caption id="attachment_557123" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Unripe macadamia and spanner crab[/caption] [caption id="attachment_557124" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rum lamington[/caption] Now for the bad news: bookings for Noma Australia have long been snapped up, despite costing a whopping $485 a head. Still, we can dream. Noma Australia will be serving lunch and dinner at the Barangaroo pop-up until April 2. If you're optimistic, you can put your name on the waiting list at noma.dk/australia. Images: Jason Loucas
Think you've tried every kind of ice cream that there is? Think again. Sure, you've eaten it in a cone and a cup, scooped and served soft, covered in chocolate, smashed up with lollies and even served between two cookies — and in every flavour from rainbow to wasabi imaginable, too. But have you had it made fresh to order on specially imported cold plates, from European liquid gelato, and then rolled up? Scrolled ice cream is the latest addition to The Doughnut Bar's menu, as well as an added incentive to visit their brand new permanent store. Come midday on February 25, their fresh Wintergarden digs will be making your frosty dreams come true (as long as those dreams involve a low-fat, low-sugar sweet treat that's crafted before your very eyes — and, be honest, whose doesn't?). At launch, Tiny Timmy Tella (tiny teddies, Tim Tams and Nutella), Vovoreo (raspberry, coconut and oreo) and Snickers (chocolate, smashed nuts and caramel) flavours will be available, with the selection rotating every fortnight. That sound you're hearing? It's the sound of an entire city licking their lips. Don't worry, The Doughnut Bar haven't stopped slinging the doughy orbs of deliciousness they're famous for. In fact, they're now also cooking up brioche doughnuts, alongside their existing jam-packed pastries and cronuts. Grab your handcrafted artisan delights at their new haunt, their existing Edward Street location and from their roving vintage kombi at markets, too — but remember to head to the Wintergarden if you'd like something cool and creamy to go with it. It's not just the only Doughnut Bar site that's selling scrolled ice cream; it's the only place in the entire state of Queensland. The Doughnut Bar's new permanent store opens at midday on February 25 at Shop K3 in the Wintergarden, 185 Queen St, Brisbane. For more information, visit their website and Facebook page.
Lucky Egg and The Brightside once went hand in hand. Hitting up the latter to see live tunes in Fortitude Valley meant tucking into fried chicken, be it as pieces or via three types of burgers, from the former while you were there. It was a perfect pairing, but not all dreams last. Thankfully, this match made in heaven — and on Warner Street — is now recurring. At the end of May 2024, The Brightside celebrated ten years of hosting gigs with a weekend-long party — and it couldn't mark the occasion without welcoming back Lucky Egg. The reunion wasn't just a once-off, however. Brisbanites will now find the chicken joint serving up its burgs and chook four nights a week on a permanent basis. Whether you have a date with a heap of bands on The Brighty's states or you're just dropping by to hang out in the beer garden, you can add Lucky Egg's wares to your visit. You'll just need to be at the venue from Wednesday–Saturday from 6pm. And if you're keen to just nab takeaway, you can do just that within the same window — from the Warner Street window, in fact. As well as slinging juicy poultry at The Brightside, Lucky Egg expanded to the Good Time Bar at Max Watts in West End in 2017, then served up its dishes via Blute's Bar in Fortitude Valley. But since 2021, it's been a quiet few years for the brand. Lucky Egg's return comes at a time when well-loved eateries renowned for their burgers have largely been closing in Brisbane, not opening. Getta Burger said goodbye to Brisbane in 2023, and so did plant-based joint Grassfed. Ze Pickle then shut its Brissie locations in 2024. The River City's burger scene did just welcome the Burleigh-born Two Yolks to South Bank to start June, though, before Lucky Egg confirmed it is back to stay. Find Lucky Egg at The Brightside, 27 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 6pm–late Wednesday–Saturday. For more information, head to the Lucky Egg Facebook page.
With a seafood restaurant, hotel and steakhouse all housed on the same stretch of inner-city roadway, Gambaros has long been synonymous with Caxton Street in Petrie Terrace. The group is breaking that trend with its latest venture, which isn't actually located next door or across the road from its existing establishments. Instead, a second Black Hide is set to open in the Treasury Brisbane in the CBD. Expanding Gambaros' luxe steak brand, Black Hide will nestle into the Queen Street side of the casino, opening its doors on Friday, June 8. Patrons can expect river views, a bar overlooking Reddacliff Place, and a six-room setup that makes the most of the heritage building's features — including a ten-person private dining space filled with timber, brass and marble. Of course, hungry diners can also expect marbling in their steak, with two cuts boasting the highest marbling score given according to Australian industry standards. Wagyu and a pair of dry-aged cuts are also available, with the latter on display in a glass cabinet. Also forming part of the decor: a library-style knife collection featuring 126 pieces of silverware. For those keen on something other than steak, the 154-seat eatery also serves up a hefty range of seafood, including mains of lobster and Moreton Bay bugs, and small plates filled with caviar, smoked salmon, calamari, Hervey Bay scallops and oysters. Drinks-wise, Black Hide's wine list spans more than 20 grape varieties from well-known wine regions around the world — with more than 150 bottles on display. Find Black Hide by Gambaro in the Treasury Brisbane, top of the Queen Street Mall, Level 1, Treasury Casino Building from June 8. The restaurant will be open for lunch from Tuesday to Friday, and for dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. For more information, visit the Treasury website.
Vincent Corneille and Rubin Utama are the excellent gentlemen behind Son Valise, the company that builds the adorable and awesome JukeCase. You might have seen them at various markets, walked past their Collingwood store, or eyed one off with envy at your mate's place, either way, they're everywhere at the moment and not only they look great, but also the sound quality is top-notch. Vincent and Rubin recently launched a Pozible campaign to create a smaller version of the JukeCase, appropriately named the JukeCase Mini. As of Monday they reached their $16,000 goal and the JukeCase Mini is going ahead. (If you're pretty keen on these wonderful musical contraptions you can still pledge up until December 16 and receive a JukeCase Mini for below the RRP.) To celebrate their Pozible win, and the gorgeous summer that awaits us all, we asked Vincent and Rubin to compile some kick-arse playlists that are perfect for warm weather activities. Whether you're heading to the beach, getting out of town for a few days, or throwing a house party of epic proportions, here are a few tunes the Son Valise lads can recommend. Road Trip Songs A road trip playlist needs to cover a lot of ground. For starters, you need enough sing-along songs that your carload of people can scream along to that it keeps morale high. You also need songs that compliment your surroundings. A good way to do this is play artists who come from your destination of choice to get you in the mood. Finally, road trips are excellent introversion time, so if you're travelling solo, sometimes quieter, thinking music is best. Vincent and Rubin have covered all bases here, so grab your bags and let's hit the road. VINCENT Jackson Browne - Running On Empty: In the middle of the desert when you've been on the road for eight hours straight, this song propels you to keep on moving. The Doors - LA Woman: No road trip is complete without The Doors blaring out of the stereo (or JukeCase). This song has great pace and always gets you focused on the drive. Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire: Really chilled out and great for those really late nights in the middle of nowhere. Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon - Empire Ants: An amazing and powerful crescendo. The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar: Seeing the sunrise over the ocean and this playing in the background is a truly wonderful experience. RUBIN Kanye West - POWER: Always a good pump up if driving is getting a little dull. Dr Alban - Sing Hallelujah: '90s sing-along. Cake - The Distance: The title is self-explanatory I think. Time to drive! Todd Terje - Swing Star, Pt.1 & 2: Sometimes when you get in the zone it's good to listen to a bit of "in the zone" music that develops. No lyrics. Just a musical journey. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Don't Make a Fool Out of Me: A good sunny-day, window-down tune to sing along with. House Party Boogie Nights Whether it's a housewarming, Christmas party or NYE festivities, you can bet that there will be some banging house parties over summer. If you're planning to throw your own, make sure you pack your playlist with dancefloor-fillers from the now and yesterday. Old school hip hop and disco are excellent choices and have been favoured by Vincent and Rubin, as well as few saucy ones for a cheeky make-out sesh. You're welcome, future summer lovers. VINCENT Rick James - Give It to Me Baby: I'm a big Rick James fan and this one always sets the scene. Prince - Erotic City: Sleazy funk from the master himself. Talking Heads - Girlfriend Is Better: Unrelenting party jam Hot Chocolate - Heaven Is in the Backseat of My Cadillac: The name says it all really. The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On: Try to not dance. I dare you. RUBIN Oliver Cheatham - Get Down It's Saturday Night - Because that's what you should be doing on a Saturday night. Chic - The Chic Minimix: The best of Chic all mixed into one seven-minute ultimate minimix. Young MC - Bust a Move - Old-school hip hop song/dance-along. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: What's a house party without a little Michael? Thundercat - Oh Sheit It's X!: Upbeat, high energy, ridiculous bass line. Sure to get you moving in ways you never knew you could. Beach Time Chill Out Tunes It's time to kick back and let the hours pass you by with a blissed out soundtrack. Embrace the lazy, hazy days of summer either crashing amongst the waves or swinging in a hammock. Classics like The Beatles and The Beach Boys get a look in from Vincent's list, while Rubin has gone with local legends The Avalanches and the always perfect Will Smith. Surf's up, dude. VINCENT The Beatles - Side Two of Abbey Road LP: It doesn't technically count as one song, but they all intertwine without stopping so I can never bring myself to stop the music. Beach Boys - God Only Knows: Try and hunt down the a cappella, moving stuff. Cornelius - Beep It: One of my favourite artists, and it has such a beautiful melody. Daft Punk - Fresh: It starts with waves gently breaking and builds a chilled out groove. Fleetwood Mac - Albatross: Feels like you're sinking into the sand. RUBIN Will Smith - Miami: Will Smith, that's why. Air - La Femme D'Argent: Think dusk, hanging out in a hammock watching the orange sunset over the rolling sea. Washed Out - Feel It All Around - Poolside, ice cold drink. Maybe a Mojito. With a little umbrella in it. The Coasters - Down in Mexico: Drinking rum at a little bamboo beach shack. If that's not what you're doing then you should be. The Avalanches - Since I Left You: A feelgood song that makes you think of bright flowers and sunny days. Happy times.
The folks over at Gelato Messina know how to whip lovers of all things sweet and frozen into a frenzy, and they've done it again, announcing that their degustation bar will be returning to Brisbane. If you missed its first visit last September, the Messina Creative Department will be setting up shop at the South Brisbane store for three weeks only, from February 7 to 22. An offshoot of the famed gelato parlour, the Messina Creative Department offers an epic seven-course degustation, complete with non-alcoholic drink pairings. Since opening next door to their OG Darlinghurst venue in 2016 to rapturous response, the tiny dessert table space has proved to be immensely popular, with places booking out almost as soon as they're released. In short: if you want a one-of-a-kind frozen feast, you'll want to get in fast. Two to three sittings will be held per night, and just 12 seats are available per sitting, at $130-per-head. Of course, the menu should have you doing just that. This time around, it'll be a seasonal journey with a brand new lineup. They've let slip one dish that diners can look forward to: salted coconut gelato with apricot and elderflower, plus smoked egg yolk jam. As for the rest, it'll be the best kind of surprise when you sit down to eat, but previous dessert dinners have featured the likes of garlic gelato, a sugar egg filled with delights, an amazing matcha and pistachio cake concoction, and a parsnip crisp and a vanilla 'fern' matched with a chai latte. It's dessert meets art meets one helluva tastebud adventure. The Messina Creative Department will pop-up at the Brisbane store at 109 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane from February 7 to 22. So get your sticky gelato fingers on a ticket over at their website.
If there are two things that Brisbanites demand, it's (still) doughnuts and burgers. But with the small possibility that there's a third, Brisbane folks love Asian-style street food. Especially if it dons the word 'hawker-style'. Having already conquered the first couple courtesy of Donut Boyz and Hello Harry, Tony Kelly and Scott Hoskins are tackling the next on the list. Hawker-style eatery Junk is the duo's latest place to make the jump from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. Junk's descent down south was first reported last August, with an October opening date slated, however, all good things take time. Finally, Little Stanley Street's new addition, is due to launch on February 10. You'll find a menu filled with Korean fried chicken wings, crispy Peking duck spring rolls, and four varieties of steamed bao (soft-shell crab, pork, pork gyoza and chicken katsu). Yes, one of those options really does include dumplings on bao. Dumplings. On. Bao. Crispy fried gunpowder chicken ribs and Vietnamese noodle salads will also be cooked up in executive chef Mitch Smith's kitchen, as will Gangnam fries (covered in house-made kimchi, nacho cheese sauce, nori and spring onion, and certain to get a K-pop song stuck in your head). Basically, expect to be spoiled for choice. "Mitch's knowledge and talent in freestyle Asian cooking is unrivalled and evident in every dish, resulting in unique flavour combinations and welcome surprises across the menu," says Hoskins. The South Bank joint will be Junk's third, with Toowoomba already joined by a Sunshine Coast version. And, because great Queensland eateries can't be confined to one huge state, Junk will open up in Melbourne's Punch Lane on February 22. Junk opens on February 10 at Shop 11-12 Little Stanley Street, South Bank. For more information, check out their website.
Your Christmas lunch will soon be soundtracked by Bill Murray. We squealed about it back in October 2014 — Hollywood's quirkiest legend has teamed up with Sofia Coppola for a festive TV special involving him singing a variety of Christmas carols and decking the halls with one heck of a cast. Murray and Coppola's new project will be undoubtedly somewhat different to their last collaboration, Lost in Translation. The synopsis? The trailer came with a little peek: "This winter, Bill Murray brings an extra-special dose of holiday cheer to Netflix with the premiere of an all-star musically-driven holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas. Set inside New York City’s iconic Carlyle hotel, A Very Murray Christmas opens with Murray preparing to host a live, international holiday broadcast. After a blizzard shuts down the production, he makes the best of the situation by singing and celebrating with friends, hotel employees and anyone else who drops by." Dropped this morning, the trailer's a pretty quick look at a pretty damn big cast. Set to Murray's 'Let It Snow' duet with Miley Cyrus, the trailer revealed one heck of a lineup: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, George Clooney, Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman, Maya Rudolph, Chris Rock and Paul Shaffer. Watch it here and try not to squeal: 'A Very Murray Christmas' is coming to Netflix on December 4. By Meg Watson and Shannon Connellan.
