Cocktail trends come and go, but one thing is certain: the martini is always in style. A good martini is a matter of technique — it generally only contains two to three ingredients, so the way in which it is mixed is key to their flavour, texture and taste. The martini is simple, but oh so complex. Ratios must be perfect, stirring time must be exact and extra touches are key. At Grey Goose's Boulangerie Bleue waterside mansion party this summer, a classic combination of vodka and vermouth was served — but with a twist of lemon instead of an olive. We asked Grey Goose's lively global ambassador Joe McCanta to show us how to make this variation on the classic — check out his technique below. MARTINI 50ml Grey Goose Vodka 10ml dry vermouth 1 twist of lemon Fill a mixing glass to the brim with ice. Add 50ml of Grey Goose Vodka. Add 10ml of dry vermouth. Stir slowly for 45 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Lightly twist your lemon into your drink, and gently rub the peel up and down the stem of your coupe, and along the brim. Fancy trying another? Grey Goose Vodka's 'discover' function will tell you what cocktail you're perfectly suited for. Dive into the luxury that your city has to offer — check out our Luxe Guide to Sydney and Melbourne. Food, spas, glamorous hotels and extraordinary experiences are waiting. Image: Steven Woodburn.
Missed The Preatures on their huge sold-out 'Cruel' tour this spring? How'd you like to catch them live this summer, for free? The Sydney fivesome are gearing up for another national escapade, this time joining forces with Corona Extra for a huge free November tour. Locked in for 20 locations across the country, Corona Sunsets will see the Sydneysiders play unplugged shows everywhere from Bondi Beach's Bucket List to the Portsea Hotel. Kicking off in Yallingup, Western Australia on November 6, the tour will wind through some of The Preatures' favourite bars in WA, NSW and Queensland before finishing up in Victoria on the last weekend in November. Isabella Manfredi, Gideon Bensen, Jack Moffitt, Thomas Champion and Luke Davison will be careening through their 2014 debut album Blue Planet Eyes, from crowd favourite singles like 'Cruel', 'Somebody's Talking' and 'Is This How You Feel?' to lesser known album gems like 'Ordinary' and 'Whatever You Want'. Fingers crossed for a raucous pub singalong to The Preatures' go-to cover, The Angels' 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again'. All shows are free entry, over-18s only and it's first-in, best-dressed. If Corona Extra's previous free Australian tours, like Cloud Control, are anything to go by, you're going to want to get there pretty damn early. For details head to Corona's website. THE PREATURES' CORONA SUNSETS QLD TOUR DATES: November 20 Beach House Hotel, Scarness, 8pm November 21 Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, 3pm Noosa Heads S.L.S.C, Noosa Heads, 9pm November 22 Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta, 3pm
If you love surrounding yourself completely in Zara, you'll now be able to extend the Zara-love to your bedroom. Zara Home has opened its first Australian store at Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre, with a flagship store set to open in Sydney in just a few months. The home decor arm of the Zara-owning Inditex Group, the Australian stores is home to Zara's gorgeous printed bedding lines, table and bath linens, decorative furniture (we're talking seriously cute lamps and rugs), tablewear worth investing in, cutlery and ornamental items, all based on seasonal fashion trends — so you might be able to match your handbag to your bedspread for an undeniably strong look. The brand new 310-sqm Melbourne store embodies the Zara brand in interior design — think elegant chestnut wood and marble floors, neutral paints and mother-of-pearl details, not to forget that epic gold logo. Coinciding with international Zara Home stores (now operating in 60 countries with 437 stores), the Australian stores will unveil two collections per year, with new items delivered every week. Along with the slick furnishings and oaky utensils you'll be visualising in your rich mahogany-smelling apartments, you can pick up the Zara loungewear/pyjama line and bath and body collection instore. With 13 Zara stores currently operating across Australia, it's safe to say we're pretty dedicated Zarans. The stores mark some of the first international brand openings this year, following hugely hyped openings H&M and Uniqlo last year. Zara Home opens in Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre on February 12, head for 120 - 200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong. Sydney flagship date still to be confirmed.
Calling all mathletes, design nerds and lovers of witty tea towels. New Orleans-based artist Craig Damrauer has teamed up with wholesale art merch crew Third Drawer Down Studio to create the most adorably tongue-in-cheek design collection you'll want to immediately and proudly display on your desk — much to the dismay of your jealous, regular mug-wielding coworkers. Dubbed 'New Math', Damrauer's collection features tea towels, mugs and keychains boasting cheekily simplified equations of real life complexities — an approach that has seen the artist show at institutions like MCA Denver and LA Contemporary Editions. After creating the popular tea towels boasting the equation "Modern Art = I could do that + Yeah, but you didn’t." tea towels a few years ago, Damrauer and TDDS have now created a few more equations like "Chef = Cook + Authority” and “Staring = Looking - Not Looking”. The 'New Math' collection is due for release in May 2015 from TDD, and could be the perfect gift for that life mathemaddict in your crew.
Anyone who has ever held a nine-to-five office job will have at some point wanted nothing more than to crawl under their desk and take a nap. We find it tends to happen at around three in the afternoon — once the rush from our lunchtime coffee has subsided, but quittin' time is still a ways away. Lucky for all of us, there's a new workspace on the market designed to accommodate our every dozy desire. Created by Greek design firm NL Studios, the '1.6 S.M. of Life' (doesn't that just roll off the tongue?) is a desk with its own in built-in sleep pod that seems perfect for a quick on-the-job power nap. Made from solid wood, metal and white leather, the prototype includes a slide-out top and removable side panels, allowing you to easily transform it from desk to bed and back again. According to an interview with A' Design Awards and Competition, designer Athanasia Leivaditou came up with the idea after seeing her graduate school classmates sleeping on chairs during late night study sessions. "The main concept was to comment [on] the fact that our lives are shrinking in order to fit into the confined space of our office," she said. Of course, just because such a product exists doesn't mean your boss will be too keen on you taking an afternoon siesta. On the other hand, studies are increasingly showing that a lack of sleep and energy can lead to major drops in productivity in the workplace — and many companies including Google and Facebook already have sleeping pods where exhausted employees can recharge. Now, if you'll excuse us... Via Refinery29.
Since you can no longer have Margaret and David’s face on your TV screen for an hour a week, why not have them in your house, on cushions, 24 hours a day? What? Why and how are we sitting on Margaret and David? Sydney Film Festival's old marketing banners have been been repurposed into some of the most adorable home decorations we've seen in a while. You've seen the banners, hanging throughout Sydney to herald the coming of the city's biggest annual cinematic event. Each banner features a legendary film character, critic or audience member, stylistically depicted as though they were sitting in a cinema seat. You might have seen them while walking along George Street, oftening catch Princess Leia, Holly Golightly, Dorothy, Toto, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton dotted amongst the crowds hanging over the crowds. But now they're done with their time in the CBD. A creative trio from Sydney known as The Scallywag Society has turned the old banners into a series of oversized cushions, deck chairs, tote bags and tablecloths, which you can now buy. It's a total win all round: the banners have been upcycled rather than chucked out, and you get to give your house a permanent film fest vibe. What's more, a percentage of every purchase will go to SFF 2016. Every single creation in the collection is a one-off — and straight up adorable. You're going to want to pounce on these guys in particular; at $45/50 each they're going to sell out quicksmart. All items are currently on sale online and anything that’s left over by the time the festival opens on June 3 will be available at the Festival Hub. The only exceptions are two banners on which A Clockwork Orange's Alex DeLarge’s psychopathic visage appears. They’ll be given away via competitions, to be launched in June and announced at the festival’s end. The winners will get to decide exactly how they’d like Alex transformed. Doona? Wall hanging? Poncho? You'll decide. Shop The Scallywag Society's Sydney Film Festival collection over here. Want to know which films to see this year? Check out our top ten picks to book tickets to here.
Australians looking to travel to New Zealand must consider the current COVID-19 advice. For information on quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub. When the colder months roll around, it's natural to reach for anything that screams warm and comfort — even when you're on holidays. The trans-Tasman bubble is finally open, so you might be planning a midyear jaunt to New Zealand; however, don't think you have to spend your time away staying cosy inside. There's a time and place for that, of course. But NZ's winter festivals will give you a stack of reasons to get out and enjoy the crisp air. From slopeside music festivals to month-long food celebrations and kaleidoscopic light shows, here are ten festival across New Zealand that you should drop into your winter getaway itinerary. [caption id="attachment_720775" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Audiology.[/caption] MARDI GRAS, OHAKUNE/QUEENSTOWN Mardi Gras is arguably New Zealand's biggest winter party — and this year its spreading the fun over two weekends in two different locations. On Saturday, June 19, Ohakune is the spot to catch a lineup of dance floor favourites. Promoters Audiology have teased six international acts ahead of this year's first lineup announcement, including UK-based electronic producer Dimension, drum and bass DJ Culture Shock, Australian singer-songwriter Nyxen and trap producer Quix. They'll be joined by a monster lineup of local talent. The event in Queenstown on Saturday, June 26 comes with snow-capped peaks and an intimate capacity of only 3000. [caption id="attachment_624534" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Serena Stevenson.[/caption] MATARIKI FESTIVAL, AUCKLAND While we have to wait until next year for the first-ever Matariki public holiday, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the beginning of the Māori new year in 2021. Every year Auckland Council's Matariki Festival consistently delivers a series of delightful events. The exact details are yet to be announced for 2021, but you can expect everything from street food and live performances, right through to light festivals, stargazing, Māori art workshops and film screenings. Matariki is seen as a time to reflect on Māori identity, as well as an opportunity to look to the future. The 2021 festival runs from June 19 to July 11 right across Tāmaki Makaurau. [caption id="attachment_797316" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Wiseman.[/caption] SNOW MACHINE, QUEENSTOWN After making its debut in Japan last year, alpine music festival Snow Machine is hitting the slopes for four snow-filled days of music and adventure. Attendees at the New Zealand edition from September 8–11, 2021 will be treated to action-packed days on the slopes, aprés ski events on both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables and a lineup of international acts against the idyllic backdrop of Queenstown. A who's who of Australian electronic acts will warm up the frosty evenings, including headliners The Avalanches, Flight Facilities, Hayden James and The Presets. Tickets to Snow Machine 2021 are all-in-one, offering a variety of accomodation options and lift passes. VISA WELLINGTON ON A PLATE, WELLINGTON After being forced out of its usual slot in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Visa Wellington On a Plate is set to return for its 13th year from August 1–31, 2021. The huge event typically sees more than 100 flavour-packed events, special dining menus, burgers and craft cocktails take over the capital city. This year's edition will keep the three-tiered format — Dine Wellington, Burger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington — celebrating the immense depth of culinary talent within the region. Sibling events Road to Beervana and (August 6–15) and Beervana (August 13–14) are there, too, giving you plenty of reasons to drop by or hang around the capital. WINTER PRIDE, QUEENSTOWN Combining winter sports with community and inclusion, Winter Pride is all about locals and visitors embracing the cool weather and their diversity. The event is typically packed with dance parties, speed dating, skiing, boarding and all-round good times. There's a number of different packages to choose from between August 27 to September 5, including passes to all events and revolving door access. Stay tuned for the full lineup announcement. SNOWBOXX, QUEENSTOWN Typically held in the heart of the French Alps, Snowboxx is a multi-discipline winter festival that shines a spotlight on electronic music and snowsports. Previously expected to arrive in 2019 — and then 2020 — the event will finally slide Down Under this September for one week of international acts, slope-side parties and off-mountain experiences in the adventure capital. Landing between Treble Cone and Cardrona from September 7–14, Snowboxx will see Shapeshifter, Lee Mvtthews and Concord Dawn hit the stage. Attendees are also invited to enjoy on and off-mountain activities like bottomless disco brunches, igloo parties, sled races, comedy nights, snowball fights and aprés ski experiences throughout the week. [caption id="attachment_636636" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simeon W.[/caption] LOEMIS FESTIVAL, WELLINGTON Lōemis Festival returns for its sixth year with a lineup of events celebrating the winter solstice from June 11–21, 2021. The winter solstice is marked by the shortest day and longest night of the year and has often been associated with regeneration, rebirth and self-reflection. Each year the festival aims to deliver an innovative program with a strong focus on the ritualistic, mystical and fantastical elements of the solstice. Previous ritualistic events have included spiritual dance theatre works, multi-course fish degustations and spooky storytelling cocktail evenings. It comes to an end with the burning of a massive art installation right on the harbour. LUMA SOUTHERN LIGHT PROJECT, QUEENSTOWN After pulling the plug in 2020, Queenstown's kaleidoscopic light festival will return for its fifth outing this Queen's Birthday weekend. Luma Southern Light Project brings together illuminated art, light sculpture, performance and community over four days from June 4–7, 2021. As the sun goes down over the long weekend, the Queenstown Gardens will be transformed into a creative outdoor stage of visual arts, performing arts, music, film and digital media. 500 local artists and contributors have contributed to this year's festival. As well as light installations dotted around Queenstown Gardens and shore of Lake Wakatipu, previous events have featured moving images projected right onto the lake, works created from recycled materials and roaming performers — from hypercolour fairies to acrobatic tree dancers. TAUPO WINTER FESTIVAL, TAUPO The sixth annual Taupō Winter Festival offers an action-packed program over two weeks in 2021. Running from July 9–25, you'll have the choice of hitting a lakeside ice rink, jumping in a giant inflatable snow globe with cold white stuff directly from neighbouring Mount Ruapehu, attending a mountain-themed film festival, catching live circus acts and downing free hot chocolates. What's more, most of the events are free to attend. [caption id="attachment_790171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vanessa Rushton.[/caption] WELLINGTON JAZZ FESTIVAL, WELLINGTON The capital's annual celebration of jazz music is set to return this June 9–13 with more than 100 free and ticketed gigs taking place over just five days. This year's lineup is bursting with fresh new music from around the country, including the likes of Opera House headliners Whirimako Black, The Nathan Haines Octet and Michael Houstoun with the Rodger Fox Big Band. Elsewhere, there'll be big bands, tribute gigs, world premieres and album launches. There really is something for everyone — as long as you can shake your jazz hands at it. Top image: Snow Machine, Zachary Zaza.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. Or you could just go see the new Star Wars movie for the third time. That's also a totally valid option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgO_TyyOoU CALL ME BY YOUR NAME We give it: 5 stars It's easy to fall in love with Call Me By Your Name on sight. Full of the kind of sumptuous visuals that director Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash) is known for, the '80s-set effort proves a gorgeous piece of filmmaking from its opening frames. That said, it's the movie's sun-dappled dalliance that will really make you swoon, as Guadagnino follows the blossoming romance between 17-year-old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer) over the course of a sweltering Italian summer. A seductive and sensual queer romance, and a pitch-perfect account of yearning and desire — one that features an emotionally intricate turn from Chalamet in particular — Call Me By Your Name is the film that stories about first love will be judged against for many years to come. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNCz4mQzfEI COCO We give it: 4 stars It's with vibrant detail that Coco bursts onto cinema screens. A tale of following your heart while honouring your family, Pixar's latest effort is both a colourful sight to behold and an exuberant journey; a film exploding with dazzling visual and emotional fireworks. Within frames heaving with intricacy, there's never a dull moment as the movie sashays from modern-day Mexico to the Land of the Dead during the country's Dîa de los Muertos celebrations. Often it's the little things that stand out, from the grain of the many flowers never far from view, to the weathered skeleton bones that literally dance through the streets, to the melancholy look on an old woman's face. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QKg5SZ_35I JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE We give it: 3.5 stars Updating itself, quite literally, for more modern times, the new Jumanji sees the board game from the original film transform itself into a mid-90s video game cartridge. Fast-forward 20 years and, in a clear nod to The Breakfast Club, the game is discovered in a storeroom by four motley teens during high-school detention, who soon find themselves sucked in to the perilous jungle. But there's a twist: they're now in the bodies of the game character they chose. Each of the main cast members plays impressively against type: Dwyane Johnson as the allergy-afflicted nerd, Kevin Hart as the jock cut down to size, Karen Gillan as the introverted loner and – most amusingly – Jack Black as the vacuous popular girl. The laughs are frequent, coming mostly from the body-swap setup, but also from the tongue-in-cheek references to point and click video games. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN46DCFr2Y0 JUST TO BE SURE We give it: 3 stars As a comedy, Just to Be Sure doesn't always hit the mark. As an insightful look at life, love and family, however, the French film proves both thoughtful and charming. In her third feature, writer-director Carine Tardieu explores the story of widower Erwan (François Damiens) and his pregnant 23-year-old daughter Juliette (Alice de Lencquesaing) — plus the man he has always called dad (Guy Marchand), the man who might be his biological father (André Wilms) and the attractive doctor (Cécile De France) that links them both. With great performances all round, the movie is at its best when it's getting to the heart of the various characters' emotional reactions, rather than trying to find laughs. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_YnYrLfjxA BREATHE We give it: 2.5 stars Based on the exploits of polio sufferer Robin Cavendish, Breathe comes to the screen with the best of intentions. Indeed, Cavendish's son produced the film, showing just how personal this true tale is. Sadly, celebrating his father's fortitude and crafting a rousing movie aren't one and the same, despite the fact that many of the right tools are there. As Cavendish, Andrew Garfield (sporting his natural accent) flits between frustration and determination, while Claire Foy gives a moving performance as the dependable wife by his side. The production also boasts thoroughly handsome cinematography that captures its '50s, '60s and '70s setting. And yet the directorial debut of motion-capture actor Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, War for the Planet of the Apes) ultimately proves heavy on sentiment but light on emotional impact. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCrBICYM0yM DOWNSIZING We give it: 2.5 stars It's a great concept: to help save the planet, humanity gets shrunk down to size. But the unmistakably odd Downsizing isn't just an eco-friendly, statement-making update of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, even if it comes with a few ace sight gags. While director Alexander Payne has long been fascinated with ordinary guys struggling with their lot in life — think Sideways, The Descendants and Nebraska — the theme doesn't quite work in this ambitious but messy sci-fi-esque comedy. The film isn't helped by Matt Damon rolling out his usual everyman routine, though other cast members fare better. Christoph Waltz is considerably more jovial than usual, and Hong Chau turns a thinly written, stereotypical character into something more memorable. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXCTMGYUg9A THE GREATEST SHOWMAN We give it: 2 stars If Hugh Jackman's mega-watt smile and Zac Efron getting musical out of high school can't save The Greatest Showman, then nothing can. Turning the life of 19th-century American circus whiz P.T. Barnum into a family-friendly musical, the film prefers easy sentiment over anything more than the most obvious of themes and the simplest, flimsiest of narratives. The flat, uninvolving pop songs scattered throughout don't help or demonstrate any depth, and neither does their music video-like staging by first-time Australian director Michael Gracey. There might be warm intentions behind this broad, unsubtle underdog story about dreamers and outsiders, but they're lost in a movie that resorts to painting a critic as the villain — as if to pre-emptively scold anyone who isn't enamoured with its empty spectacle. – Sarah Ward
Brisbanites, if your daily routine involves a trip to, from or past King George Square, then life is about to get a whole lot sweeter. And doughier and more delicious — and maybe filled with Nutella, glazed with chocolate, topped with fruit loops and oozing with jam, too. Yes, those tasty pastry dealers known as Doughnut Time have set up shop in the CBD's main commuter hub, much to the delight of, well, everyone. Sure, their new hole-in-the-wall store only serves doughnuts, but we're okay with that. Given how delectable and indulgent their circular orbs are, we can live without the accompanying freakshakes and hot choccies on offer at their other locations. That brings the fast-growing chain's inner-city stores to two — two of a whopping 21 locations Australia-wide, and that's in under two years. Their Topshop hotspot is still going strong and their Brisbane outlets amount to seven alone. This colossal doughnut empire won't let up — but we'll gladly accept more hectic doughnuts into our lives for now. Find Doughnut Time in King George Square, Adelaide Street, Brisbane, or check out their website and Facebook page for more information.
We reckon that you're never too old for Easter. Let's be honest: when an occasion involves copious amounts of chocolate, that's something that you never outgrow (and if you claim you have, we call fibs). Sure, egg hunts and bunny ears seem better suited for kids; however, there's still plenty of tasty concoctions that'll make even the most mature among us start salivating. You just need to know what to look for — from Easter eggs that melt into fondue and chocolate hot cross cruffins through to banoffee cocktails (and more). Easter Eggs That Melt Into Fondue, Bunny Cookies and Bottomless Champagne at Belle Epoque There's never a bad time to treat yo'self to high tea, but Easter is one of the best. Plenty of spots around town celebrate the occasion with exactly that kind of spread — and this list includes more than one. So, what makes Belle Epoque's high tea stand out? Firstly, there's the fact that it's available for more than just a few days, hanging around for a month this time around. Tuck in daily from 10.30am–1pm up until Wednesday, April 30. This feast includes sea salt caramel whip bunny cookies, an edible garden with cocoa soil, a red velvet and raspberry cake, scones, quiches, and smoked salmon and beetroot sandwiches. It also comes just with tea or coffee ($80), or you can add bottomless champagne ($130) on top. Another option: the most decadent of Easter eggs to share. For $45 for two people, your handcrafted chocolate orb will melt in front of you, turning into fondue — which you can dip fruit, marshmallows and cookies into. Fruit Hot Cross Cruffins and Chocolate Hot Cross Cruffins at Lune Croissantrie First, Lune perfected croissants, so much so that the Australian bakery chain is renowned for its flaky pastries all round the world. Then came giving cruffins, aka croissant-muffin hybrids, a spin. For Easter, the obvious next step followed: hot cross cruffins, for when you want a hot cross bun, but you're also hankering for a croissant and a muffin — and you don't want to have to choose. Lune's hot cross cruffins have been popping up annually for years, but 2025's batch is different. This time, they're made using the acclaimed bakery's signature croissant dough. You can also pick between two varieties this year: the OG and chocolate, both for $10.50 each. Can't decide which one, after being unable to select between hot cross buns, croissants and muffins to start with? You can get mixed six-packs featuring the two for for $63. Banoffee Cocktails at The Terrace Stop by the Emporium Hotel in South Bank before the end of April and you'll find multiple ways to celebrate Easter. That not only spans Belle Epoque's options above, but also includes boozy choices upstairs at The Terrace — yes, 21 floors up, and with striking views over Brisbane to prove it. Two seasonal tipples are available for those who like their Easter spirit with some actual spirits. The first is a banoffee cocktail made with spiced rum, caramelised banana, coffee caramel, chocolate and meringue, and will set you back $24. Also available: a $26 drink called the Sunny Side that's made with vanilla vodka and lime zest oleo, and features a mango yolk that looks incredibly realistic. Hot Cross Scones with Martinis at W Brisbane Located within W Brisbane, Living Room Bar is home one of Brisbane's most-reliable events: weekend high teas. In 2025, the bar's Golden Glow High Tea is putting on an Easter edition for three weekends only, too, running Friday–Sunday for sittings between 11am–3pm across Friday, April 11–Sunday, April 27 — and yes, Easter eggs are among them. Those orbs come in a vanilla, cherry and hazelnut combination, and pair well with hot cross scones, the mango and coconut slice, Easter parfait to share, yoghurt and guava profiteroles, green olive crumble bruschetta, tartlets with salmon and avruga caviar, and more. Your price options vary, with $79 covering the high tea, plus bottomless tea and barista coffee; $99 adding a Golden Glow martini; and $109 swapping that cocktail for Veuve Clicquot Champagne NV Brut. You can also just opt for a Golden Glow martini for $26 — it's made with Bacardi Gold rum, peach aperitif, vanilla and clarified oat milk. Yuzu Custard Bunny Teacups and Cherry- and Chilli Chocolate-Infused Umeshu Cocktails at Hotel Indigo's Bar 1603 At Indigo Isuta Soirée: A High Tea Affair, Easter gets a Japanese spin, complete with yuzu custard bunny teacups, green tea yuzu tiramisu and matcha macarons, plus a cherry- and chilli chocolate-infused umeshu cocktail. The high-tea menu also includes green apple mousse flourless tartlets that come flecked with gold flakes, tamago sandos, mini wagyu burgers and, of course, both hot cross buns and Easter eggs. You'll pay $99 per person, with a minimum of two people needed, to get feasting from 11am–3pm daily across the entire month of April — right through till Wednesday, April 30, 2025 — at Bar 1603 inside Hotel Indigo on Turbot Street. That cocktail is extra, however, for an additional $15. Hot Cross Bun Bread and Butter Pudding at One Fish Two Fish If your Easter routine usually involves a seafood feast, then you might want to make a date with a certain Kangaroo Point fish 'n' chippery this year — and for the last time before it closes down. From Friday, April 18–Sunday, April 20, 2025, One Fish Two Fish is serving up plenty of the ocean's finest for the occasion, all as part of a $125 four-course meal that starts with seafood platters and remains just as indulgent from there. Those platters are made to share, and come stacked with pacific oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, cooked Mooloolaba prawns, sand crab toast topped with caviar and green-lip mussels. Next, you'll enjoy apple and blackcurrant granita as a palette cleanser, then grilled goldband snapper with fries and garden salad. We've only listed three rounds so far, with the fourth course getting sweet. To wrap things up, you'll be tucking into hot cross bun bread and butter pudding with vanilla ice cream and baked white chocolate crumble.
There are many great evils in this world, be they buses that drive through big puddles, the industrial war complex or that guy who invented that frog ringtone back in the early '00s. But let's be clear: beer — that beautiful, hoppy liquid of gods — isn't one of them. It's understandable if you're a little bit sceptical though. Recent consumer research has revealed that a whopping 87 percent of Aussies don't actually know what goes into beer, and 73 percent want to know more about what goes into the drink. So what exactly is beer made of? Is it all wheat and sugar? What about preservatives and other ingredients we can't pronounce? There are a lot of persistent (and downright wrong) beer myths floating around giving beer a bad rap, and we're jumping on board to debunk five of the big ones. MYTH #1: BEER IS FULL OF CARBS Let's level the playing field. Beer isn't some sort of carb outlier. To put it in perspective a bottle of Little Creatures Original Pilsner has 8.6 grams of carbs, which isn't huge. The reason for the persistent beer = carbs myth is that beer is brewed with starch (i.e. barley or wheat) and sugar, which are both carbohydrates. But when the brewing process begins, the starch actually breaks down into sugar — and once the yeast is added during fermentation, almost all of that sugar is then converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide, thus getting rid of most of the sugar and turning the liquid into beer. MYTH #2: BEER IS HIGH IN SUGAR We know what you're thinking: if the beer's 'low carb', they must just add in artificial sweeteners to keep that sweet, nommy aftertaste. Well, you'd be wrong on that one (although, you're not alone — 94 percent of Aussies overestimate the amount of sugar in beer). For example, James Boag's Premium and Hahn SuperDry are both on average 99.9 percent sugar free. The sweetness you taste in some beers — those toasty notes of caramel, chocolate and toffee — is not the result of added sugar, but rather the consequence of the natural malts and hops and the way they're broken down. Add to that the occasional inclusion of fruits in the process like banana, apple, pear and — more recently — adventurous options like coconut (and even bacon), and you begin to understand how and why beer can taste sweet without the addition of sugar. [caption id="attachment_579514" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Nick Graham[/caption] MYTH #3: ALL BEERS HAVE ADDED PRESERVATIVES They don't, and for one very simple reason: beer doesn't need them. First of all, two of beer's key components, hops and alcohol, keep beer more fresh longer — meaning they not only contribute to the flavour of the drink, but also help prolong its overall shelf life. Secondly, the hygienic quality assured by modern brewing methods and packaging systems prevents bacterial contamination and mitigates the need for added preservatives. In short: today's beers — including beers as wide-ranging as James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale to XXXX Gold — are made exceptionally well and can comfortably look after themselves on the shelves or in your fridge without any additions. [caption id="attachment_579510" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Paweł Kadysz[/caption] MYTH #4: BEER NEEDS TO BE ICE-COLD Beer doesn't always have to be chilled to taste good. While there's probably nothing better than a cold brew on a stinking hot day, a pilsner actually tastes really good when consumed slightly below room temperature. When it's not 'ice cold' it's more aromatic and you'll be able to taste more flavours. But here's the thing: temperature isn't the drink's number one villain. It's light. Just a few minutes of sunlight can 'skunk' a beer, making its taste go a little off. For that reason, brown bottles are best, as clear or green bottles are less adept at keeping the sun's rays at bay. MYTH #5: DARK BEER HAS MORE CALORIES THAN LIGHT BEER A common misconception in the world of beer drinking is that the darker a beer is, the heavier it is — and the more calories it contains. But that's not necessarily a given. The amount of alcohol content is a better indication on the amount of calories it could have, and has no bearing on the hoppy drink's hue. So if you're tossing up between a pale ale or a dark ale on the basis of energy content, don't — they both contain around the same number of calories. For more details on nutritional information of the beer in the Lion portfolio, watch this video and visit beerthebeautifultruth.com.
If you've ever walked along Ann Street in Fortitude Valley, you've probably walked right past Bakery Lane more than once — and barely glanced in its direction. It used to just be a small space between buildings, barely even half a block down from the Brunswick Street mall near Laruche, the Bowery and Fabrik Hair. Now, it's much, much more than that. After being slated for development in 2012, Bakery Lane has transformed to become a food, retail and residential precinct, as well as the Valley's most hyped-up new hangout spot. The space features boutique design incubator studio apartments, and a mixture of all the things that already make the area so great — we're talking new restaurants, cafes and bars. Lost Boys Organic Cafe moved in late last year, and others are slowly but surely starting to follow suit. Skull It Juice Bar is one of the new residents, alongside, I Heart Brownies' soon-to-open permanent home (from April 11), plus new organic vegetarian tapas place The Tree House. Morphing from an Asian-influenced cafe by day to a bar by night, Kiosk will pop up mid-month, with another new eatery, The Apo, joining them not long after. Fashion-wise, prepare to welcome Stock and Supply. Of course, this list is only the beginning. If you need another excuse to wander by, you can also check out the Bakery Lane Providore Markets on May 2. Not only can you peruse the new additions to the laneway, but you can stock up on local produce while listening to live music. And in even better news, it'll keep happening on the first Saturday of every month afterwards. Find Bakery Lane at 694 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, and keep up to date with their latest news via their Facebook page.
Ever wanted to try your hand at those insane Gelato Messina laboratory cakes but haven't really know where the hell to start? Want to make your own Messina cake right at home, to create your own personal cake filled with the creamy goo of the gods? Well, gird thy loins Messina fans, your favourite iced confection wizards have just released a gelato cake cookbook. Founder Nick Palumbo and head chef Donato Toce have knocked up a sexy little creation named Gelato Messina: The Creative Department which features recipes for a collection of their gelato cakes. Messina have built a reputation for their cakes, not only because they’re crammed full of that quality gelato we know and love, but also because they look incredible and a little unreal. The Dr Evil’s Magic Mushroom cake, Hazelnut Zucotto or the Black Forest are our picks for the ‘Cakes most like to make us cry with delight and not share with anyone’ category. And yes, we know ours will probably end up looking like an inside-out duck when it’s done but heck, we’ve simply got to try it. If you’re looking for the recipe for the standard gelato, you can also check out the 2014 cookbook Gelato Messina: The Recipes which details instructions on how to make those beloved foundation flavours, such as dulce de leche, pear and rhubarb, poached figs in marsala and salted caramel and white chocolate. For your own personal information, we’ll add some advice on how to best consume the resultant gelato: tape a serving spoon to each hand and don’t stop them whirring until you’ve hoovered up all the gelato in range. Grab your copy of Gelato Messina: The Creative Department from today, at all bookstores who know what's what or from the Book Depository.
The four-time number one on the World's Best Restaurants list is headed to Sydney Harbour. Rene Redzepi, owner and head chef at Copenhagen's two Michelin starred eatery Noma, will fly his entire team (including 35 chefs and 30 waitstaff) more than 16,000km around the world for an Australian pop-up from January 26 to April 2 — and now we know how to grab one of the highly prized seats in the room. Bookings for all tables will open simultaneously, on Friday, October 30, at 10am AEDT online at the Noma website. You can book for tables of two, four, six or eight, for either lunch or dinner five days a week (Tuesday – Saturday). Start saving your pennies now — the cost per person is $485, plus 1.65% CC fee, with drinks to be paid for separately on the day. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage pairings will be offered, as well as a short wine list. The menu itself is yet to be finalised, although earlier in the year Redzepi said he'll be leaving his regular ingredients back in Copenhagen, and told Good Food to expect locally inspired dishes made with shellfish, sea succulents and native herbs and spices. The team have already made several research trips to Australia to stoke their creative fires. "They’ve visited as many regions as possible, getting a good perspective on the great and diverse produce that is available in Australia," reads a statement from Noma. "Later on, in December, the entire creative team will move to Sydney to focus their energy on creating a menu that will showcase the best of what we’ve found on these trips." The Noma Australia project was inspired by their five week pop-up in Tokyo earlier this year, which Redzepi called "the greatest learning experience of my life." "Australia has always drawn me in; its great cities, its generous people, and of course its ever-present sun," wrote Redzepi in his online statement. "But what really boggles my mind is the differences you find in its landscapes and ingredients, because honestly I have never seen anything like it." Supported by Tourism Australia and property firm Lendlease, Noma Australia will be located on the ground floor of the Anadara building on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo. The restaurant will serve just 50 people per sitting. Don't expect the cost to deter people. Bookings at the similarly expensive Tokyo pop-up sold out in just hours, with the restaurant eventually racking up a waiting list of over 60,000 people. Demand might shoot up even more vertiginously given that Redzepi has announced Noma in its current incarnation will close altogether at the end of 2016. By Tom Clift with Rima Sabina Aouf.
It's the age-old dilemma: the season of gift giving arrives, accompanied by seemingly constant sales and deals, but every store seems to be selling the same thing. Thankfully, hidden amongst Brisbane's big shopping establishments are a selection of retailers that stand out. Whether it's for their range, for their specific focus or for their eclectic assortment of the expected and not so, these are the stores that offer more than just the usual gift suspects. If they do stock socks, you know they're not just socks. So where should you flock to amid the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle to find the perfect unique present? Here's eight shops with wares a little less ordinary.
A trip to IKEA doesn't just involve wandering the aisles, looking at cheap furniture and homewares, and deciding that everything in your house could use a facelift. Because all that browsing and buying helps work up an appetite, it also includes a date with the chain's famed meatballs. And, since 2015, that's meant vegetarian meatballs as well — but now the Swedish retailer is introducing another plant-based version of its beloved dish. The new veggie balls will be rolled out (heh) in Australian IKEA store restaurants, excluding Victorian stores, from October 6. Obviously, the original meaty meaty meatballs are going anywhere; however these meatless meatballs, or HUVUDROLL plant balls as they're being called, will be made from a plant-based meat substitute comprised of yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion and apple — and they'll both look and taste like meat. Accordingly, if you don't consume animal products but you've always wanted to know why carnivores are so obsessed with IKEA's meatballs — in-store, whipping up frozen versions at home and following the chain's recipe — you'll now be able to tuck into a vegan variety that's as close as possible to the meat-filled version. They'll cost the same price as their counterparts, and they'll also come in frozen packs, too, ready for you to take home. For vegans, it's worth noting that the plant balls don't contain animal-based ingredients — but they are served with mashed potato and lingonberry jam, so if you're tucking in in-store, the entire dish will include dairy products. Still, this is stellar news for IKEA-lovin' veggos — and everyone eager for more sustainable eating options. As for when Victorians will be able to pop a few plant balls on their fork, IKEA will provide more information in the future. IKEA's plant balls will hit Australia on October 6, at all stores except IKEA Richmond and Springvale.
At the end of any day of sightseeing in a foreign city, you know you're going to be hungry. So what better time to sit down to a feast you'll always remember? Kick that diet of Haribo packets and "that restaurant there, that's open, that'll do" to the curb. Here are 12 dishes to add/start off your next legendary itinerary. Just don't forget to book your table before you book your airline ticket. REINDEER MOSS & CEP MUSHROOMS AT NOMA, COPENHAGEN Named no.1 in the world's 50 best restaurants, Noma serves a reinvented version of Nordic cuisine focusing on ingredients foraged from nearby forests and shores. Image: Jose Moran Moya. CHARCOAL-GRILLED KING PRAWN AT EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA, GIRONA, SPAIN The full name of this dish is charcoal-grilled king prawn with king prawn sand, ink rocks, fried legs, head juice and king prawn essence. So, yeah. After relocating in 2007, family business El Celler de Can Roca now boasts the work of head chef Joan Roca; his brother, wine aficionado Josep; and their younger sibling Jordi, a popular local pastry chef. Together they have proved their heavenly status as a culinary holy trinity. Image: Love, August OOPS! I DROPPED THE LEMON TART AT OSTERIA FRANCESCANA, MODENA, ITALY Embracing imperfection, head chef Massimo Bottura has successfully turned a "back-of-house disaster into a front-of-house legend" (as his publishing house Phaidon puts it). Two surprises here: this dish is (a) precisely constructed and (b) surprisingly savoury, with capers, lemongrass and candied bergamot. Image: Paolo Terzi MARGHERITA PIZZA AT L'ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE, NAPLES With two options on the menu, you have the tough choice between margherita and marinara when you make it to this world-famous and always packed Naples pizzeria. Choose the margherita. One member of our team who's been says she's "still thinking about it years later". Image: Mike Valore ICE SHREDS, SCARLET SHRIMP PERFUME AT MUGARITZ, SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN In a bid to explore a fully immersive culinary experience, head chef Andoni Aduriz seeks to create masterpieces that dance with aroma, texture and flavour, while others are designed to be provocative and invoke particular emotions. Image: Foodie Date Night DUCK CARNITAS AT COSME, NEW YORK With this dish taking nearly four days to prepare (at one point it's even doused and cooked in Mexican Coke), the $59 price tag feels like a bargain, especially when split between 2-3 people. It's at Mexi-luxe Cosme, one of the most admired new openings in New York in 2014. CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES ANIMAL STYLE AT IN-N-OUT BURGER, CALIFORNIA Cult burger chain In-N-Out may pop up in Australia from time to time, but it's a well known fact the In-N-Out chain is resistant to expanding beyond the US west coast. Even franchising is a no-no. So if you're craving something 'Animal Style', your only safe bet is that plane ticket. ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER, CARAMELISED MILK, LAMB MARMITE AND BLACK WALNUTS AT RIVERSTEAD, CHILHOWIE, USA Culinary dream turned love story, head chef John Shields and lead pastry chef Karen Urie Shields opened their own restaurant in the sleepy Virginia town of Chilhowie, where the couple are delving into the world of experimental cooking and foraging. ABACAXI COM FORMIGA AMAZONICA AT D.O.M, SAO PAULO With a focus on simplicity, Chef Alex Atala's dishes still manage to burst with ingenuity and flavours. One such example is his signature dessert of just two ingredients: fresh pineapple garnished with a dried ant. Image: This guys food blog REAL PAD TAI AT THIP SAMAI, BANGKOK Thip Samai is Bangkok's most popular destination for what might be the most famous thing to come out of Thailand. Some people claim not to be so impressed at the end of this quest for the pad thai holy grail, but it remains the destination to beat for fried noodle pilgrims everywhere. Image: Delicious Conquests PORK SKIN WITH BLACK SESAME BRIOCHE, SALMON ROE AND CHERRY SAUCE AT DIVERXO, MADRID With their website looking more like an art film than a tool with which to make reservations, DiverXo pushes the limits of what food can be. Three Michelin star chef David Munoz has not only designed his dishes down the most precise speck of 'potato glass', he's designed what implement you should eat it with, from fork to chopsticks to spatula. Image: Spanish Hipster GUINEA FOWL CURRY WITH SHAMPOO GINGER AND HOLY BASIL AT NAHM, BANGKOK Australian-born chef David Thompson has created what's widely regarded as the best restaurant in all of Asia, so it feels only right to visit him at least once. This standout dish is your chance to eat 'shampoo' without gagging. Image: Rock Star Travel.\ Top image: Noma.
Sitting down for our interview with director Eva Orner, it's hard not to think about the grimly fortuitous timing. Less than 24 hours earlier, a young Somali refugee set herself ablaze on Nauru. It's the second case of self-immolation at the centre in less than a week, following the suicide of Omid Masoumali just a few days before. "I think we all need to stand up and say enough is enough," says Orner. "I just read this thing where Malcolm Turnbull said, 'Let's not get misty-eyed about offshore detention.' People are lighting themselves on fire. Children are being sexually abused. People have died." Orner is no stranger to these kinds of human rights abuses. A first generation Australian whose parents fled the Holocaust, she won an Oscar in 2008 for producing Taxi to the Dark Side, Alex Gibney's harrowing documentary about CIA torture. To say that her latest directorial effort, about Australia's hardline immigration policy, is even more confronting, speaks to just how indefensible that policy has become. Combining whistleblower interviews with shocking secret camera footage captured inside Manus Island and Nauru, Chasing Asylum reveals in no uncertain terms the consequences of offshore detention. We spoke with Orner about what motivated her to pick up the camera, and whether she believes films like this can truly make a difference. A CAMPAIGN OF PANIC AND FEAR Perhaps the hardest thing to stomach, when it comes to mandatory detention, is the fact that so many Australians seem willing to accept it — something that Orner attributes to "a campaign of panic and fear and misinformation that's been going for 15 years." "I don't think that people really know what's happening, because of this policy of secrecy that's been in operation since 2001," she says. "That's why I made the film, because I wanted to show people. Vision is so much more powerful than print. There's been some excellent journalism on this, but until you really see women and children in those conditions, it's not quite the same." "I find it particularly extraordinary today when people are self-immolating, and the government doesn't really respond with any sympathy," Orner continues. "The key to me is that we have to keep coming back to the Refugee Convention. Because it came out of the Holocaust, and it was the world's apology to the Jewish people to what happened to them... We really have to look at this policy in terms of what it says about us as a democratic country." WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE The most remarkable thing about Chasing Asylum is Orner's hidden camera footage, which lays bare just how bad the conditions on Nauru and Manus Island really are. Naturally, she's unable to reveal exactly how she acquired the footage, other than to say it was "not easy to get." "If I'd known then what I know now I probably wouldn't have done it," she admits. "I think I was a bit wide-eyed going in. I always said that I was waiting for someone else to make this film, and no one did so I thought I'd better do it. But no wonder no one was making it. It's about places you can't go, people you can't speak to, and if whistleblowers do speak to you then you have to hide their identity. Then the whistleblowing legislation came out in July last year, which says that if you speak out it's a criminal act and you can go to jail." "What's important is that no cameras are allowed in, and why," says Orner. "I think the film answers that question, because it's really grim... I don't think it's a particularly emotional film, in terms of my voice. It's really just the facts and the vision of what's been happening. But what I'm seeing now as we're starting to screen it is that people cry when they see this film. It's very upsetting... I find it very hard to watch the film." CAN A MOVIE ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? "You have to believe that good will triumph," says Orner when asked if she thinks things will ever change. "You have to believe that good will triumph, you have to believe you can change things. You have to do something, because the alternative to that is doing nothing. You just have to stand up and scream and scream and scream." "One of the things we're doing is working with an organisation to get [the film] into the school curriculum, because that's where the power is. Getting the next generation to see the film. If we get this into schools, if we get tonnes of people to see it, if it gets seen on televisions around the world, then that can make a difference." "It's really about trying to educate people. That's what I'm saying. Come see the film, see what we're doing, and then make a decision. And I'm saying the same thing to politicians, because only a handful of politicians have been to Manus or Nauru. They're spending all of our taxpayer dollars on this, they should know what it looks like. Then maybe at night when they're sitting with their families, they can reassess how they really feel." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgNZRIEyyY Chasing Asylum is in cinemas nationally from May 26. Eva Orner's book, Chasing Asylum: A Filmmaker's Story, is available in bookstores and online. For more information visit www.chasingasylum.com.au.
Charismatic foursome All Our Exes Live in Texas are hitting the road for a national tour throughout March and April, celebrating the release of new single 'Sailboat', from their forthcoming debut album. The group represents the bringing together of four of Sydney's foremost singing and songwriting talents: Elana Stone, Kate Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney. Since releasing their debut EP back in late 2013, they've been winning over indie-folk crowds with their lush four-part harmonies, haunting melodies and stories of heartbreak and fresh beginnings. The EP scored quite a few spins on triple j's Roots 'n' All. In the meantime, they've been sharing stages with a bunch of well-known acts, including Megan Washington, Tinpan Orange, Mama Kin and Jordie Lane. The Sailboat National Tour covers several major festivals, including Port Fairy, Blue Mountains, the Tasmania International Arts Festival and the National Folk Festival, as well as appearances at the Melbourne Folk Club on March 25, The Basement on April 18 and Black bear Lodge on April 19.
Well now, if this isn't the sweetest thing we've seen all week. CineFix have transformed Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away into an adorable 8-bit 'video game'. You can't pop a quarter in to play it, but you can see the entire film summarised in five minutes with a delightful video game version of Joe Hisaishi's score. Follow Chihiro, Haku, No-Face and Yubaba through the 'levels' (No-Face's bathhouse fight scene is particularly great) below: Via Geekologie.
Proving that causing the internet to lose its mind by delivering adorable puppies to offices around Australia is simply not enough for them, Uber has moved yet another step closer to total world domination. The ridesharing service will launch UberEATS in Melbourne today, Tuesday, April 19 at 11am. Because who needs multiple apps when you can use one for just about everything? Melbourne is the first city in Australia to be bestowed the food delivery platform, and only the third in the world. It basically allows restaurants to get their food delivered to customers between 11am and 10pm by a wide access of ever-available drivers — much like (and in direct competition to) other food delivery apps like Foodora/Suppertime, Deliveroo and Menulog. The list of Melbourne restaurants exceeds 80, including the likes of Supernormal, Gazi, Pidapipo and Jimmy Grants. Oh, and delivery will be free for the launch. So you only have to pay the cost of your Jimmy Grants feta-covered oregano chips, and not a cent more. UberEATS launched in select US cities last year, allowing users to order lunch or dinner from an ever-shifting menu that includes options from a number of different restaurants. UberX is still technically illegal in Victoria, although that hasn't stopped the service's meteoric success. Assuming UberEATS proves a hit in Melbourne, it's safe to assume it may expand to further cities in the future. You can download the UberEATS app here from 11am. For all the details, visit ubereats.com/melbourne. Updated: April 19, 2016.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun and finally — finally — together as one. Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. Now, they're taking the show on the road and launching in Australia this June. In partnership with Wats On Events, Bongo's Bingo Down Under is throwing a massive bingo rave in Sydney's Paddington Town Hall on June 23, then launching a national tour the following week on June 29 in Melbourne's Collingwood Town Hall. Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. If you're not sure what you're in for, check out this video for a better sense of this crazy night out: The Sydney launch event will be presided over by founder and comic ringleader Jonny Bongo who, as one would expect, is a character in the truest sense of the word and even holds the world record for the biggest ever pub quiz. Australia is the second international location for Bongo's Bingo, which recently launched in Dubai as well and, based on popularity, we imagine the event will continue to expand around the globe. This blowout party will certainly be a different kind of night out and is especially welcomed in Sydney where the lockout law ridden nightlife has taken such a hit in recent years. Venues, guest lineup and DJ hosts will be announced in coming weeks, and tickets will go on sale at 6pm on Wednesday, May 17. Keep an eye on this space for further updates and brush up on those bingo-break down skills in the meantime. Bongo's Bingo will hit Melbourne and Sydney in June. For more information and to buy tickets, visit bongosbingodownunder.com.au. Updated: Monday, May 15, 2017.
You could trawl every art gallery and every private collection on the planet and you'd only find 800 paintings signed by Vincent Van Gogh. That's the sum total of what remains of the Dutch genius's output. So, it's insanely, insanely exciting that 60 of his masterpieces will be travelling to the National Gallery of Victoria in 2017. Set to open on April 28, the blockbuster exhibition will be titled Van Gogh and the Seasons and is expected by NGV to draw one of the gallery's biggest audiences yet. You can expect around 40 painting and 25 drawings, collected from some of the world's top-shelf galleries, including Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum and Otterlo's Kröller-Müller Museum. The curating is being taken care of by Sjraar Van Heugten, author of a genuine bucketload of books about Van Gogh and ex-head of the Van Gogh Museum's collections section. What's more, you'll also get to see a bunch of Van Gogh's letters, as well as some of the artworks he collected during his 37 years on Earth. These will be arranged to give some insight into how various artists have responded to the seasons. "It's a huge coup for the NGV and another reason why Victoria is the creative state," said Martin Foley, Victoria's Minister for Creative Industries, when announcing the exhibition on Friday 16 September. "Van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable and famous names in art history. His incredible work laid the foundation for modern art and influences artists to this day." Van Gogh and The Seasons is the 22nd exhibition in the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, which the former Labor Government set up in 2004, to treat Melburnians to the best art in the world at least once a year. Also in the 2017 series will be the NGV's inaugural Festival of Photography, featuring works from William Eggelston (US) and Melbourne's own Zoë Croggon. Van Gogh and the Seasons opens on April 28 at NGV International. It's part of the gallery's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition for 2017. Image: Vincent van Gogh, Dutch 1853–90, Orchard in Blossom, Bordered by Cypresses (1888), oil on canvas, 64.9 x 81.2 cm, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, © Kröller-Müller Museum.
Tents at the ready: when 2023 ends and 2024 begins, there are few better ways to spend it than dancing and camping at southeast Queensland's Woodford Folk Festival. This isn't just a fest. It's a pop-up Moreton Bay village filled with live music, arts and culture. And it's returning for another year with a heap of well-known Australian — and Brisbane — names. Throwing back to the late 90s and early 00s, Regurgitator, Custard and Resin Dogs will all take to the Woodford stage between Wednesday, December 27, 2023–Monday, January 1, 2024 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. Also hailing from Brissie, along with plenty of the festival's attendees each year: Kate Miller-Heidke. Woodford 2023–24's roster of talent includes Ben Lee, Gretta Ray, Isaiah Firebrace and Kasey Chambers as well, on a list that spans more than 400 acts and 1834 shows. So, across the fest's 27 performance spaces, there'll be no shortage of things for the expected 120,000 people attending to see at Woodfordia's 500-acre parklands space (which now boasts a lake) — whether they're among the 25,000 folks who can stay onsite or just hitting up the event for the day. Accordingly, whoever piques your interest, or even if you're just keen on a Woodford experience — for the first time, tenth or 36th, because that's how many fests the event has notched up now — prepare to catch a heap of bands, wander between arts performances and get a little muddy, all around 90 minutes north of Brisbane. As always, the fest's lineup also features circus, cabaret, yoga, dance, comedy, spoken word, poetry, comedy, films, workshops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Keen to have a chat while your clothes was at The Blak Laundry? Learn to weave baskets with Kris Martin? Get giggling to talents curated by Sandeep Totlani? Hit up the Queer Ball's third year? They're some of the other standouts. Tickets are already on sale, and you can check out the full list of acts and activities on the Woodford website. WOODFORD 2023–24 LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Regurgitator Custard Resin Dogs Ben Lee Kate Miller-Heidke Isaiah Firebrace Kasey Chambers Mo'Ju Gretta Ra Odette Yirrmal A.Girl AFRO DIZZI ACT Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham The East Pointers Haiku Hands Leah Flanagan Borroloola Cultural Songwomen featuring Dr Shellie Morris AO Bumpy FourPlay String Quartet Yirinda Charlie Needs Braces Mitch King DancingWater ALPHAMAMA Jack Davies & the Bush Chooks Charm of Finches Dougie Maclean Assynt Ryan Young Hannah Rarity Dallahan Lisa O'Neill Andy Irvine Making Movies Rizo Božo Vrečo Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
When Bird's Nest Yakitori first opened in 2013, it was the first traditional binchoutan (white charcoal) yakitori restaurant in the country. The owners certainly took a leap of faith in opening the doors, and boy we are glad they did. Brisbane is all the better for having an honestly authentic Japanese diner like this. Those new to the yakitori game can keep it simple by ordering a set. You've got a choice of two prices, each with nine courses including prawn and garlic skewers and slow braised pork skewers. Alongside the skewers, there are a few cold sides such as edamame, or the steamed broccolini with garlic soy dressing and house-made chilli paste. If you sit at the bar, you can watch the chefs working the binchoutan fires. As you munch away on the sides, the skewers start coming off the grill and onto your plate – like a mini degustation or omakase experience. Bird's Nest uses the freshest free range and organic produce it can get its hands on, and all skewers are prepped in-house each day. On the meat side, you can order everything from chicken thighs with shallots to chicken arteries and hearts. As for vegetarian options, the shiitake mushroom skewer with soy and lemon is a must-try. Yakitori translates to 'grilled bird' and, if you didn't notice, you'll find a lot of that here. The restaurant is at the same time vegetarian friendly, and a great place to take a group of people. Oh, and the kitchen pumps out three desserts, including a sensational shiro-goma panna cotta. If you're yet to get your hands on some Japanese beer, (and we're not talking about just Asahi) then you need to catch up. The land of the rising sun is brewing some of the finest around and Bird's Nest Yakitori has a hearty list worth drinking through.
Getting Brisbane slurping for over a decade, Taro's Ramen is the type of chain that could keep its brothy bowl-slinging format intact for years and years and always be one of the River City's go-to eateries. Owner and chef Taro Akimoto isn't throwing away his recipe either in the kitchen or out of it, much to the delight of the brand's long-term devotees — but he has given Taro's Queen Street location a new twist by night, turning it into an izakaya. For lunch seven days a week, hitting up 480 Queen Street still means noodle soups aplenty. Each evening, ramen also remains on the menu. But the new after-dark approach has seen the CBD site get a new name — Izakaya and Ramen Taro's — and turn into a food-focused izakaya once the sun goes down. Here after 5.30pm, you can pair sake and umeshu with special dishes that change daily, such as kingfish sashimi, grouper karaage, tuna katsu skewers and duck ramen. The switch means that no one is missing out on their midday bowls, but heading back after work gives patrons a different experience. Akimoto was inspired to make the shift due to the lack of affordable izakaya options in Brisbane. Indeed, when it comes to ramen, he was sparked to start Taro's back in 2010 for similar reasons. The Queen Street site rebranded in February 2024, with its drinks menu also pouring Asahi and Yoyogi brews, jelly liqueurs and a range of vino. Food-wise, past specials have included sashimi prawns, snapper karaage, grouper usuzukuri, homemade chicken jerky with shichimi mayonnaise, eggplant ratatouille, Hokkaido scallops carpaccio, and potato and egg salad with curry salt. A range of dishes, such as vegan karaage, wagyu garlic steak and, of course, ramen, are fixed on the menu, so you can tuck into them whichever night you drop by. Also, sashimi sets come with a choice of three or four dishes — and chocolate fondue with mochi ice cream is often on offer for dessert. Images: Anwyn Howarth
Melbourne knows how to make use of its space. Cafes are crammed into alleyways, high-end restaurants pop up in basements, and bars float under bridge pylons on the river. With all that, you can't be surprised that a rooftop has been snapped up and repurposed into a (somewhat) camping ground, and that you can go there on a RedBalloon experience. One of Melbourne's most unique accomodation options is glamping at St Jeromes. It's accessed via an alley near Little Lonsdale St, near Melbourne Central. The lobby is on level three. Upon arrival the campsite in the sky delivers one of those "wow" moments we're all chasing — the rooftop is surrounded by some of Melbourne's most iconic buildings, including the Melbourne Central cone tower and the façade of Melbourne Emporium. It's glam without being snooty, and it seems to be designed specifically for the Instagram generation, meaning it photographs extremely well. The whole venue, from the lobby to sauna, is decked out in lush tropical plants. That could be to cover up the functional elements required of a rooftop, but no matter, the aesthetics work with the canvas tents. The main communal area of the hotel is the General Store, which is less a store (although it does have a vending machine stocked full of toiletries and emergencies supplies) and more a bar/cantina. A free cocktail on arrival will no doubt lead to a few more and as well it should – the staff make a mean Long Island iced tea. Inside it, you'll find board games along a communal bench and most likely get distracted by them. The general store is surrounded by oversized bean bags, hammocks and bocce balls and usually inhabited by chill but chatty staff and other guests. There's a distinctly 'hostel' vibe about the way guests interact, which is a big draw card for young folk. That kind of communal vibe is often absent from fancy accommodation. If you can, move past your welcome treats and cocktails into your tepee. The Luxe Plus option is 5 metres across, giving you plenty of room to spread out and roll around on the plush carpet and/or pirouette into the soft queen sized bed. The Luxe option is 4 metres in diameter, a little cosier than its counterpart but both boast downy quilts, soft linens and, more importantly, a welcome esky stock piled with local craft beer and cider. Now that's how you check-in. When you've finished wandering your new digs in awe, you'll have noticed the little luxuries that make your stay at St Jeromes a cut above. You find locally made treats, vouchers and a killer room-service menu that features camping faves done well, like jaffles and hot chocolate. Over time, you'll find yourself not wanting to leave the rooftop as the perks keep coming throughout the day. You can have bespoke Gelato Messina dessert and T2 sleepy time tea delivered to your tent if you request it. Staying with the theme, the dessert is a reimagined s'more – and they are the richest and sweetest ice-cream s'mores you'll ever taste. Don't forget during the food frenzy to take advantage of the built-in extravagances on offer. Book in for a sauna session (remember to do it pre-booze), pop over to Strike Bowling for a free game or stop by the Melbourne Central Lion for a complimentary late night snack. Possibly the biggest game changer (all hotels should take note) is the barista-made coffee that is delivered to your tent in the morning. The smell of coffee, and the crunch of a bacon, egg, tomato and basil jaffle in the morning, combined with the diffused morning light through your tent will reinvigorate you. It's almost better than a proper holiday. Look, there are some aspects of camping that no amount of luxury can smother. You really start to appreciate how deeply privileged we are to have access to running water at all times. And a campsite toilet is a campsite toilet regardless of how lovely it smells. Strangely, waking up on the rooftop brings that same feeling that occurs when you're waking up in a forest. You feel clean, and high up above everyone. It's a confusing, relaxing sense of urban spiritualism. Maybe you're a proper outdoors person, and you can stay that way. But this is camping, with running water and a campsite toilet. You can fall asleep with a full stomach in a warm tent just above the most vibrant city in the world. The hum of traffic in the distance sounds like gentle ocean waves, who says you can't have both? Book your St Jeromes glamping adventure (or gift it to someone else) at RedBalloon. Images: Imogen Baker and RedBalloon.
Nothing warms the cockles of our hearts more than traipsing along to a warm enclosure and getting an educational experience while we fill up on the newest stout or IPA. And it's the perfect timing for such merriments, with Melbourne's Good Beer Week in full swing and the GABS taking over the Exhibition Building this weekend. With an impressive 15 beers being released every week in Australia alone, it can be hard to get a grasp on all the best brews on the block. To help, we tried and tested an innumerable amount on your behalf. You can find most of these ten beauties at your local craft beer bottle shop, or you can take your legs along to one of Melbourne's many beery events this weekend. So grab a glass and hop to it y'all. 10. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS — MOON DOG The experimental Moon Dog crew have created another taste-explosion, and it's the ideal choice for when you can't decide if you need the hair of the dog in beer or tomato format. Moon Dog's answer is to mimic the classic Bloody Mary — but instead of tomato juice, we're talking Red Ale. Three types of chillis have been infused but these aren't added to dominate. Instead, they leave a warm tingle on the tongue. Vonnegut might surely agree that this sort of nonsense is Moon Dog's strength. moondogbrewing.com.au 9. SUMMER ALE — MOUNTAIN GOAT When it comes to a supernatural weekend getaway, cruising the liquor isle in search of non-glass beers is a headache. Thankfully, the Mountain Goat lads are helping us out by packaging a passionfruit style favourite into cans. Not only will your beer be hoppy and aromatic, but it sure does make it easier having a chilly bin filled with tinnies so you don’t have to worry about security stealing your stash. Something to note for next summer. goatbeer.com.au 8. MISS PINKY — BOATROCKER There are not many beers the Germans didn't think of first, and sour beer is one of them. This sour style is called Berliner Weisse and is becoming increasingly popular on Australian palates. So how do you make such a sweet drink turn pink? Well, the Boatrocker Brewers have added 100kgs of sour raspberries to their ale yeast to create a cloudy pink beer. It's a tart, fruity character, yet surprisingly refreshing. Just make sure you get your lips wrapped around this lady at the beginning of the evening. boatrocker.com.au 7. WATTLE PALE ALE — BREWSMITH Using a 110-year-old recipe stolen from the beer gods, BrewSmith give you the chance to create your own batch at home. Their Aussie Wattle Pale Ale kit comes with a mix of wattle seeds, malt extract, hops and specialty grains, all of which you can leave in a dark nook for three weeks. What you're left with is a lighter pale ale (at around 4.4%) — one that will impress any backyard gathering. brewsmith.com.au 6. MOTLEY BREW — CAVALIER Collaboration is a beautiful thing. And so is the Motley Brew: a Summer Wheat IPA rocking those fruity and hoppy characteristics we’ve all come to enjoy. It's the love child of 15 different breweries (possibly the biggest beer collaboration ever achieved), using 5 different hops, which have all been left to ferment into one good taste. Although the Motley was only a limited release, the Brunswick-based brewers will be showcasing another collaborated tasty during Good Beer Week. Make sure you don’t miss their next one. cavalierbeer.com.au 5. GO FIGA — GRAND RIDGE BREWERY By substituting figs instead of sugar, the Grand Ridge Brewery have spiced up the classic ginger ale — and it's one to go wild about. It's long been their ethos not to add any sugars, chemicals or preservatives, so they’re sticking with organic figs. To top it off, there are even subtle hints of coriander, making this complex brew a real infusion of flavours. Their fig and ginger ale has even had a life as a sorbet — but with winter nearly afoot, we recommend lighting your inner fire with a bottle or two of this fresh, yet toasty delight. It will be available for the first time at GABS this weekend. grand-ridge.com.au 4. BLACKMAN'S UNFILTERED LAGER — BLACKMAN'S BREWERY A young couple from Torquay are naming their brews after family members; cousin Arthur might be a smoked porter and uncle Bob the spiced witbier. But it's their Unfiltered Lager that’s making us go all gooey – much like those delicate, honey-like malt flavours you'll find in this brew. Unfiltered lagers can tend to be difficult to make well, but Blackman's are using a mix of German and Czech styles to create one elegant, refined beverage. Notes of citrus hops are present, which is pretty ideal for a brewery based right near the coast. This lager just became your perfect accompaniment to your sunset feast of fish and chips. blackmansbrewery.com.au 3. BOHEMIAN LAGER — BROOKES BEER If you like your coffee Vienna style — you know, with a cheeky dollop of cream to smooth and cool your cup of joe — then you'll be keen on Brookes' Bohemian Lager. Full-on hops, cold coffee and chocolate notes are what you can expect from this copper-coloured beauty. These Bendigo-based brewers have been in the business for a mere 18 months, so you would be forgiven for not having heard of them already. Just make sure you don’'t forget them, as this malty Vienna lager is one to add to the 'session list'. brookesbeer.com.au 2. #003 MILK STOUT — EXIT BREWING Who doesn’t dream of throwing in their mundane day job and making a living from brewing beer? Well, it's the actual fairytale ending — or rather, beginning — for the two gentlemen who quit their IT jobs in the UK to create Melbourne-based Exit Brewing. The Milk Stout may have seemed a risky bet, at only their third release, but it's one stout that's firmly in our hearts. She's dark and nutty, but her velvety creams balance those hints of rum. If you are lactose intolerant, steer clear, as it's the real deal. exitbrewing.com.au 1. RAMJET WHISKY BARREL AGED — BOATROCKER What happens when you put imperial stout in just-emptied whisky barrels? The Ramjet, that's what. And with notes of caramel and toffee, this stout is out of this world. There's a reason this vintage, barrel-aged brew works so well — once the beer is removed from the barrels, they're bottled and left to age for another six months. The end results in roasted chocolate characteristics, followed by subtle hints of oak and whisky. The Ramjet Imperial Stout is our number one. And should be yours too. Roger that? Good. Over and out. boatrocker.com.au Hero image: Dollar Photo Club. Moon Dog image credit: formulatorrah via instagram; Boatrocker Miss Pinky image credit: gerert via Instagram; Grand Ridge image credit: sekainobeer via Instagram; Blackman's Brewery image credit: brewer_ash via Instagram; Brookes Beer image credit: beardface151 via Instagram
If ever there's been a time to put aside the man/woman/child breakdown of gift-giving, it's surely Christmas 2015. After a year spent contemplating gender fluidity, superhero marketing and man buns, it makes sense to celebrate the season by just giving beautiful things to beautiful people and enjoying the resulting beauty explosion. Need some help pulling that off? Try putting a bow on one of our suggestions — they're only the best, most innovative and most lust-worthy products we've seen this year. FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO DO EVERYTHING WITH STYLE The Beach People roundie Oh, you didn't get the memo? Beach towels are round now. Round, oversized, luxurious and very giftable. Freed from being a mere drying implement, the roundie is a picnic rug, beach blanket and ultimate Instagram prop. There's a few of these around but our faves come from Australian company The Beach People, where they retail for $110. O Six Hundred flat pack kayak For the one you truly love, there's this $2200 Australian-designed kayak that you assemble from flat pack, much like your Ikea bookcase. Unlike your Ikea bookcase, it's also tough and light (10kg, so any solo voyager can lift it above their head), perfect for taking out on Sydney Harbour whenever the mood may strike. Get it from Sorry Thanks I Love You. ChaBottle from Life of Cha For your friend who loves to tote their own tea or infused water (love you lemon, cucumber and mint), or who seems like they might want to start, there's the ChaBottle. Its 2-in-1 infuser can be used for tea, coffee and fruit drinks. $50 from Life of Cha. Stonemen briefs When you need a gift that says, "your pants contain the world", there's Stonemen briefs. With graphic prints including mountainscapes, skylines and the universe, they're the most epic smalls around. Also available in women's styles, with prices starting at $40 from Etsy. Forbes & Ike salt basin and pepper mill The kitchen benchtop has rarely known such beauty as this Melbourne-crafted pepper grinder. It's hand-poured concrete, New Zealand beech timber and brass, and it's a flinch-worthy $250 from Sorry Thanks I Love You. Sunnylife watermelon beach ball All anyone will see is your giftee blithely throwing around a half watermelon with apparent superhero strength. Only you will know the inflatable truth. For this privilege, you're looking at just $18.95 from Sunnylife. FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GADGETS WITH ALL THE ZEAL OF A CHILD Chromecast Audio The gadget junkie in your life is likely to be all over Chromecast for TV. But do they have the dongle equivalent for audio? Possibly not. Chromecast Audio was released this October and allows you to stream music over Wi-Fi to any speaker in your house. So nice, and just $49 from Google. BB-8 droid by Sphero Just. Look. At. Him. Who wouldn't want to pull the wrapping off this little face on December 25 (aka eight days after The Force Awakens comes out)? Playable through a variety of apps and programmed to "patrol autonomously" when left on its own, the miniature BB-8 is the fun toy/baby robot/substitute pet perfect for all ages. Look at him in action here and buy for US$150 ($205) from Sphero. The Keyboard Waffle Iron You know life is good when you come down to breakfast and are greeted with this syrupy sight. And, since the Keyboard Waffle Iron includes both keyboard and kitchen gadget elements, the tech lover in your life is sure to appreciate this. US$85 ($116) from thekeyboardwaffleiron.com. Moto 360 smartwatch The smartwatch is the wearable of the moment, and it'll be on a whole lot more wrists after Christmas. Different strokes for different folks, but the Moto 360 is a good option when you weigh up nice styling vs old functionality (telling the time) vs new functionality (notifications, battery life etc). Prices start at US$299 ($408) at Motorola. Flic wireless smart button For the person who has everything, get them one little button that lets them do three things faster. Flic can be programmed to play music, make calls, snooze an alarm, turn on lights, share a location, order pizza and a bunch more stuff, all at a light touch. An addictive bit of life-hacking, it's US$34 ($46) from flic.io. FOR THE CULTURE LOVERS WITH AN IMPRESSIVELY CONSTANT FINGER ON THE PULSE The Gramovox Floating Record Player Marry me, Gramovox floating record player. That's what your giftee will say upon opening this package, containing the turntable that took Kickstarter by storm earlier this year. It's the perfect fusion of state-of-the-art technology and aesthetics, and it's US$400 ($555) in walnut or maple from the Gramovox website. Whimsical Miranda July pillowcases Words and phrases on home decor can be hit and miss, but when those words and phrases are filmmaker/artist/writer/All About Women speaker Miranda July's, they're all hit. These wistful pillowcases make the perfect addition to any literati's bedding. $105 from Third Drawer Down. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari with Eric Klinenberg Odds are at least one of your circle is obsessed with Aziz Ansari's insightful Netflix series, Master of None. What they might not have heard of is Modern Romance, the well-reviewed screed on relationship trends he's whipped up with sociologist Eric Klinenberg. Get it in hardcover for $39.75 from Booktopia. Twilight concert tickets The pretty, pretty sights of Twilight of Taronga and Melbourne Zoo Twilights return in 2016 with the likes of Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes and Jose Gonzalez. Give a loved one the gift of beautiful music, starlit picnics and baby animals. Tickets from $50 at Twilight at Taronga and Melbourne Zoo. FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FOOD ARE THE MEANING OF LIFE A personally tailored spirit by Archie Rose Sydney's distillery bar Archie Rose impressed us a dozen times over this year — and one of those times was with their brilliant idea of a tailored spirits range. That means you can pick up to 3–5 botanicals (think: river mint, dorrigo pepperleaf, blood lime) and the name on the label. Prices are $84 for vodka, $89 for gin or (*gulp*) $2000+ for whisky. So we hope your friend likes white spirits. It's all happening on the Archie Rose website. Bespoke chocolate bar from Chocolab Yet another, perhaps more conventional (but never unwanted) thing to customise. With Chocolab chocolate, you can chuck in confectionary like Nerds, spices like chilli, fruit like freeze-dried acai, biscuits, nuts — almost any foodstuffs your giftee has at some point professed a fondness for. Prices start at $6.75 at ChocoLab. The Great Australian Cookbook Give your friend the gift of cooking you dinner with this epic book compiling recipes and stories from chefs like Neil Perry, Dan Hong, Kylie Kwong and Anna Polyviou. Diverse as it is, the book also includes this country's legendary farmers and producers — as well as Australia’s original cookbook queen, Margaret Fulton. Get it discounted to $42.50 at Booktopia. A subscription to wine-by-the-glass tasting service Secret Bottle By delivering their wines by the glass (in sleek screw-top vials), Secret Bottle lets its subscribers experience a wide range of Australian varietals and get to know what they like. Sign your giftee up as a founding member and they'll get a bunch of bonus gifts along with their subscription, which starts at $24.95/month from Secret Bottle. Sprout coloured pencils Honour your giftee's love of adult colouring in and fresh produce with these pencils that grow into herbs. They just plant them once they've worn down to stubs. €16.95 ($23) from Sprout World. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Anyone can take their significant other, whether current or prospective, out for dinner and a movie. And while there's nothing wrong with that tried-and-tested dating staple — there's a reason it's an oldie but a goodie, after all — sometimes a romantic outing calls for something a little more unusual. No, we don't just mean picking a different flavour of choc top to munch on during the film. Rather, we're talking about heading somewhere new and doing something different. Brisbane is overflowing with not-so-typical activities, as long as you know where to look. So, here's our pick of the ten best unconventional dates that this city has to offer. Level Up with Arcade Games, Dodgems, Bowling and Karaoke If the couple that hits the arcade together stays together, then this town of ours has a few options to help your relationship keep going strong. From the moment you walk into Fortitude Valley's Netherworld, you'll notice a laidback vibe, shelves of board games, rows of games consoles and plenty of craft beers, so you and your date can hit flippers, smash buttons and pass go. It also has a sibling karaoke bar — which is still underworld-themed — called Lost Souls. Nearby, at B. Lucky and Sons, you'll be able to shoot hoops, show off your dance game skills and race through Mario Kart, all while drinking boozy bubble cups. There's also Holey Moley in the vicinity, should you feel like tap, tap, tapping with your other half — plus Victoria Park's mini golf course just over in Herston, and Archie Bros Cirque Electriq in Bowen Hills. Or, at Chermside and Mt Gravatt, give Hijinx Hotel a shot (you'll find Holey Moleys at both locations, too). No, you can't stay there. Rather, you play (and drink) your way through it, taking part in retro games and challenges in a space that looks like The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shining's Overlook Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory all in one. See the City Via Kayak If you'd like to hang out on or around the river, the ocean or another body of water with your date, Brisbane is a town with options. In almost every instance, you can select your favourite watery or water-adjacent pastime and then pick a heap of places to indulge in your chosen activity. Kayaking is no different. Riverlife at Kangaroo Point will let you get paddling through the CBD and seeing the inner city in a completely different way, but that's merely the most central and best-known choice. You can also kayak at Enoggera Reservoir. The list goes on, and spans professional tours and just hiring a kayak, hopping inside and making your own way at your own leisure. Hurl a Few Hatchets, Sling Darts or Break Stuff with a Baseball Bat Most dates don't involve throwing things, or picking up a weapon. So, it might come as a surprise to discover that you can do just that with your special someone — and that Brisbane has multiple options. If hurling hatchets sounds like your kind of fun, you can book a session at several different axe-throwing joints, with Maniax setting up shop in Newstead and the CBD, and West End's Lumber Punks doing its thing in West End. For those who prefer darts, Oche in Fortitude Valley is all about flinging projectiles. It's all about an electronic version of the sport, too, with a heap of different games to play. Or, if you and your other half have always wanted to reenact the Office Space printer smashing scene, Rage Cage in Slacks Creek lets folks work through their stress, manage their anger and even get a workout, all by hitting stuff with a baseball bat. Go for a Soak Bathhouse chain Soak has made its way to Brisbane, complete with relaxing dips, sundeck, stints getting steamy no matter the weather and staring out over the city from a West End rooftop. At this sky-high perch in West Village, you and your special someone can chase your bliss in seven spas and mineral pools, while also hitting up the infrared saunas, steam rooms and relaxation gardens. This can be a social date, too; Soak's pools are meant to be shared, so you can book in for a plunge with your date and mates in the communal facilities. Fancy a luxe pampering session in a national park? A dip with views over South Bank and the CBD? An excuse to hit the Gold Coast for some rest and relaxation? Check out the most-extraordinary day spas around Brisbane as well — which includes two recently opened luxe northside spots in Albion and Lutwyche. Eat Your Way Through a Fish and Chip Crawl Sure, you've been on a pub crawl — but have you and your significant other been on a fish 'n' chip crawl right next to the water? We're guessing that you haven't, but it's one of those simple ideas that's both brilliant and oh-so-easy to execute in Brisbane, because it just involves taking advantage of the abundance of greasy spoons along in the Wynnum–Manly or Sandgate–Shorncliffe areas. We'll give you two options, too: you can either order something from each place you pass as you walk along the relevant seaside region, or you can come back at regular intervals to sample a new eatery. Head north and you'll be hitting up the likes of Flinders Seafood & Bar, Sandgate Fishmonger and Doug's Seafood Cafe, while in the southeast you can enjoy Finn's Fish House, Baywatch Cafe, Manly Fish Co and more. [caption id="attachment_764589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arcadium Adventures[/caption] Try to Escape From a Locked Room (For Fun) By now, we've all heard about escape rooms. They've been one of the big thing in adult puzzles for a few years now, so much so that Brooklyn Nine-Nine even based one of its storylines around the concept. And, they've popped up all around Brisbane, so you can choose between sites in the CBD, West End, Spring Hill and more. The idea is simple: people enter a room, get locked in, and have to work together to find their way out. The solution is often far from straightforward, and usually involves a theme of the crime, mystery or horror variety. But, no matter which kind of room and experience you choose — because picking from all the different themes is part of the fun — trying to find your way out of a confined space is a great bonding activity. Wander Around a Cemetery Blame Buffy for this addition to the list. Whether she was dating humans or members of the undead, the TV vampire slayer was often found stalking around a cemetery with the object of her affection — and, apart from having to deal with pesky bloodsuckers, their evenings always seemed quite sweet. Follow in her footsteps by taking your loved one through Toowong's towering city of the dead, South Brisbane's riverside burial ground, Ipswich's heritage-laden spot or Nundah's small and intimate graveyard. A tour guide will tell you all the secrets of the site, including many a ghost story. Grabbing your date's hand because you're a little scared is perfectly acceptable. See Wildlife After Dark When Brisbane went into lockdown in 2020, staring at cute animals via livestreams became an essential activity. In fact, it was one of the ways that we all added some joy to our days — and there's no reason that you can't apply the same idea to your next date. Everything seems rosier when there's a cuddly creature in the vicinity, after all. That proves true even when things prove pretty peachy anyway, as all the time that you spend with your significant other should. So, make the trip to Lone Pine — including after dark. The Fig Tree Pocket venue now sports a new nocturnal precinct, so you can now see cute critters in their prime time. It's a separate experience to a usual ticket, and heroes Australia's nocturnal wildlife across seven exhibit spaces filled with ten species. Get Your Skates On It can often feel as if time has forgotten the humble skating rink, but you and your favourite person shouldn't. Strapping on some wheels will make you feel like you've gone back to the 80s — and the soundtrack will probably help. Rolling onto the rink, clutching the wall trying not to fall over or imagining that you're in Whip It are all timeless activities, and you can get retro — and turn skating into an exercise session — thanks to Rollerfit in Milton and New Farm. If you'd prefer to bust out your best Blades of Glory impression, you can get icy instead at Iceworld at Acacia Ridge and Boondall. [caption id="attachment_559369" align="alignnone" width="1280"] JAM Project via Flickr[/caption] Scope Out the City's Street Art If movies have taught us one thing about romance, it's the joy of the walking-and-talking date. Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy made the Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight trilogy about it; Chris Rock tried his hand with Top Five, too; and 2023 British effort Rye Lane also enjoyed its wonders. Brisbane boasts plenty of great places for a stroll; however, we're head over heels with the idea of moseying, nattering, and feasting our eyeballs on the thriving street art scene. You'll get to know your city and your walking partner better — and you'll always have something interesting to talk about. The Museum of Brisbane also does guided public art walking tours, if you'd like some expert commentary as you mosey. Top image: Soak Bathhouse.
As many films do, The Space Between begins with a series of influential events that shake up an otherwise stagnant life. When his stint in New York came to an unplanned end through a family tragedy, Marco (Flavio Parenti) returned to his home town of Udine in Northern Italy, gave up on his dream of being a chef and carved out a routine existence — and just as he has somewhat accepted his fate, more hardship strikes. But at the same time, he meets Olivia (Maeve Dermody), an Australian in the country wading through her own family and career matters. A connection forms as the two try to find their path forward. The film's narrative isn't just an interesting story worth spending 98 minutes watching — it's also somewhat based on reality. In fact, The Space Between is partially inspired by the day that Melbourne-based writer-director Ruth Borgobello met her husband Davide Giusto (who also serves as one of movie's producers), and the bond they forged as he coped with his real-life grief. In turning the tale into a film (her first feature, no less), Borgobello has not only transported parts of her life to the big screen, but has also crafted the first-ever Australian-Italian co-production in the process. While the former feat has personal significance, the latter is no lesser of an achievement; indeed, a filmmaking treaty between the two countries was signed back in 1993. Just how did Borgobello draw from such intimate experiences? And how did she manage to make history with her debut feature? With The Space Between currently touring Australia as part of the Italian Film Festival, we chatted with the filmmaker about finding inspiration in Italy, working through trauma and turning an aspect of your life into a feature film. ON LETTING REALITY INSPIRE THE NARRATIVE "I met my husband the day he lost someone very important to him unexpectedly. We'd sort of already had this plan to spend a couple of weeks together, because he's a good friend of my cousin in Italy, and he was planning to come to Australia, and he had his visa ready. And so, in spite of this loss and grief he was going through, we spent a couple of weeks together, and I guess that always stayed with me as a very transformational moment for both of us. We were in our early 20s, so it kind of throws everything into question and makes you think very carefully about the life path that you want to choose when something like that happens. You tend to think you're quite invincible when you're that age, I think. Years later I kind of was developing another project focused more on a migration story of my family and my father, but I guess just spending time in Italy and thinking about that moment, I was sort of quite inspired and pushed to do something a bit more personal as my first film. And talking about contemporary Italy within that as well. So, it was inspired by that moment — but the actual characters and the journey that they go on is very fictional, and very, much more connected to Italy today than back in that time." ON DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCED GRIEF AND TRAUMA "When I set out to write this script, I was sort of basing it on my husband's experience of losing someone close to him — and I had never lost someone, especially not a close friend in the way that he had. So I tried to get inside his head, I guess, and his grieving process. And then also working with my co-writer who had lost his father when he was quite young, so he had gone through that. But then, strangely, in the journey of writing it — and it was something that really kind of terrified me when it happened — my best friend actually was in an accident, a very unexpected accident, and was in a coma for a few weeks hovering between life and death. Luckily now she's fine, she's got through it, but I guess it strangely sort of brought me very close to that experience, which can be quite challenging because when it happens to you — you don't know if you can actually go there to bring it into the script. But, I tried to write during that period just to tune into the emotion of it all. I guess with the grief, I think the lesson that came for us that was very powerful — it was that he left...but then someone else arrived in that moment that would be very important and play a similar role, I guess, in Davide, my husband's, life. Just that sort of interesting thing that someone leaves and someone else arrives, and I guess to trust in life sometimes that it will bring you support in those kind of moments, and then opportunity to maybe grow and evolve." ON MAKING THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN-ITALIAN CO-PRODUCTION "It's just enormous, and I think it's not just sort of all the relationships and paperwork and trying to make the two governments sort of work — or their rules — really work together. Also, then you've got to translate everything and every time it changes you've got to re-translate it. So it is an enormous amount of work. I guess, at the end of the day, it's just kind of willingness and determination to make it work. And we sort of sensed that if we could make it work, then there would be a lot of positivity that would come out of that — obviously for the film, but also creating future possibilities between the two countries. So it's worth it. When you know you're going to make history, it's worth it to persevere. And we had a lot of willingness from Italy and the Italian government too, that really supported us in wanting to make it work, so that helps." ON SETTING HER FILM IN ITALY — AND FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATIONS "We spent years of research looking at locations that are not the typical tourist locations. They're not the places you could open a book and find out where they are — they're all sort of quite hidden and you have to know people who know people. So it took a lot to find those places that would really serve the psychology and the narrative of Marco's journey, and with Olivia. So I spent time myself there in Italy, living for periods of six months or so, just to also really get to know the people and the place. And trying to perceive the current climate of today, and what's going on, and the relationship between the environment and this sort of crisis as well, which I always found quite contradictory because there's so much beauty and inspiration in what's been created in the past, but it feels very stagnant in the present. So it was about sort of being able to marry those two together." ON HER TIES WITH ITALY "I've got two projects that I'm working on, and both are connected with Italy again. One of them is also sort of connected to climate change, and I really want to do a sort of original creative story around that, kind of featuring nature as a main character — and it's positive, not fear-driven. So that's something that I'm heavily researching at the moment. And then another film, perhaps with Italy dealing with refugees and what's happening at the moment in Europe with that crisis, through quite a courageous character who goes out on a limb to help the refugees. So sort of inspired by a true story that we've come across. I think we've learnt so much, so it will make the next one easier. I'm sure it will always be challenging, but it feels like there's a clear path now." The Space Between is currently screening at the Italian Film Festival, which tours Australia until October 19. Check out our top five picks of the festival.
Nine floors above the bustle of Melbourne's Collins Street is Client Liaison HQ — an office filled to the brim with pastel jackets and patterned shirts that have been sourced from vintage stores around the world. The band — Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller — have just rounded off a string of tours across the country, and they're getting ready to release their first full length album, Diplomatic Immunity. The first video sees the boys cruising along Collins Street in the Client Liaison limousine. When you're in Client Liaison, there is no such thing as a half measure. We've partnered with Heineken 3 and spoken to a few of our favourite musicians, chefs and artists, to get their insight on what it takes to create the perfect summer afternoon. For summer fashion advice, there is no one more stylish to ask than Client Liaison. The prestige in their on-stage costumes carries through into their casual wear — so much so that in November, they're due to launch their own fashion line. The boys invited us into their band wardrobe and picked out three options for summer afternoon outfits. Take note — the next time you're with your friends sipping on a Heineken 3, you might need something to wear. A PASTEL SUIT IS PERFECT FOR A SUMMER GATHERING "The boys are running a little bit late. They're in a big white limousine and they're stuck in traffic", says band stylist Kirsty Barros before we meet the boys. Soon enough, they arrive dressed to kill in polished brown shoes and matching summer suits. These were the product of a recent costume sourcing trip to Bali. Client Liaison's signature peach and 'reef' colour variations are a palette developed from the vibrant bubblegum colours of Technicolor film. In the words of Barros, it's a "seamless blend of pop and prestige". Don't be afraid to show your feminine side, she says. "For a more formal summer soiree, pastels are a subtly unconventional way to subvert an 80s power suit." Wear these classic summer colours in cotton or linen — they offer a good alternative to the dull and predictable black suit you might be forced to bring out in summer. A GENTLEMAN SHOULD NEVER WEAR SHORTS, UNLESS IT'S FOR LEISURE OR SAFARI According to Monte, it's as simple as that. "It's still possible to look classy and respectable in the heat of summer, you just have to choose the right fabrics," he says. "You go to India and everyone's wearing long kaftans and light linens. Covering the skin can keep you cool. When people get into stubby shorts and a singlet — for me, that's too far". Barros adds: "We love a sunburnt country and we chose this print for it's fruity Australiana flavour. It's perfect for a summer sunset." Accessorise with a hat, a prawn cocktail, a dirty martini or a Heineken 3. ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS EVERYTHING For Client Liaison, detail is key. "All of our music is under the scrutiny of at least two sets of eyes. Two people have to love it," Monte explains. "For our clothes and costumes, we have three [Kirsty, their stylist]. "Generally, if it's two against one we'll move on, but if we need to explore something further, we will. It sometimes means that things take a bit longer, but generally it's a good way to finesse." For this outfit the details are in the fabric choice. "Linen is the number one fabric for deep heat and breathability," says Kirsty. "For summer colours, we chose the boldest of electric blue to pack a punch and married it back with flirty pastels in textured 80s cotton meshes and a fresh optical white." INTRODUCING: THE CLIENT LIAISON DESIGNER LINE This summer, Harvey, Monte and Kirsty as co-designer launch the Client Liaison Designer Line pop-up in Melbourne and Sydney. While the band have always designed their own merchandise, they felt the time had come to embark on something a bit more ambitious. The range features Client Liaison's signature peach and 'reef' variations, and keeps to a unisex beach theme, manifesting itself as jumpers, beach robes, t shirts, bumbags, visors and budgie smugglers. For Harvey, it's all about slip, slop, slap. "Sun protection is a big one — it's something everyone should remember. We have a rash vest incorporated into the Designer Line." When choosing a summer outfit, the Client Liaison Designer Line is a good place to start. "It's luxury at the beach," says Monte. "You're totally relaxed but retaining a level of class". Harvey adds: "At the beach you'll need a light bag to chuck your beach towel in, somewhere to store your sunglasses at night. Bring a jumper for the icy cold evening. Dressing for the summer is all about being prepared." Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Client Liaison first album Diplomatic Immunity will be out Friday, November 4 via Dot Dash / Remote Control. Images: Chris Middleton.
Already this year, Aussie movie lovers have been able to journey to France from their cinema seats. Hitting up Spain just by heading to your local picture palace has also been on the itinerary. Your next stop: Germany. Kicking off just as the weather gets colder to remind you of frosty European climes, Australia's touring German Film Festival is back for 2022 with a 26-movie program. The fest's destinations: Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Byron Bay, spanning different dates between Tuesday, May 24–Wednesday, June 22. Wherever you reside, you'll be able to see in winter with quite the lineup of new and classic German movies. There's typically a couple of clear recurring themes in this annual cinema showcase, as there tends to be in German films in general. So, the fact that this year's GFF will open with A Stasi Comedy, about life a Stasi agent's double life as both an underground poet and a spy in 80s-era East Berlin, is hardly surprising. Nor are two of the fest's other big-name titles: The Last Execution, starring Babylon Berlin's Lars Eidinger and also set in East Berlin in the 80s; and The Forger, led by Dark's Louis Hofmann, who plays a young Jewish man in Berlin in 1942. They're just some of the 21 movies that'll enjoy their Australian premieres at the event — alongside drama My Son, about a teenager's relationship with his mother; crime comedy The Black Square, starring Toni Erdmann's Sandra Hüller; the post-WWII-set The German Lesson, which leaps from the page to the screen; and political thriller The House, which takes place in the near future. GFF is also showcasing new films from just beyond German's borders in Austria and Switzerland. So, you can check out films such as downhill skiing drama Chasing the Line, an Austrian biopic about Winter Olympian Franz Klammer — and Swiss effort Caged Birds, about a lawyer in the 80s battling the prison system. The festival's final five titles hail from its impressive retrospective for 2022, which takes a look back at German cinema over the past five decades. Cannes Palm d'Or-winner The Tin Drum gets the 70s slot, while the East German-set Sunny Side represents the 80s. Doing the honours for the 90s is the exceptional Run Lola Run, aka one of the best thrillers ever made. The movie that helped push The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Daniel Brühl to stardom, Good Bye Lenin!, has the 00s covered, and kinetic one-take gem Victoria returns to the big screen to showcase cinema from the past decade. GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: May 24–June 19: Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central, Sydney May 25–June 19: Palace Electric, Canberra May 25–June 19: Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre, Melbourne June 1–22: Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane June 2–22:Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide June 2–22: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX, Perth June 3–19: Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The German Film Festival Australia tours the country from May 24–June 22. For more information, visit the festival website.
Heading south of Sydney, it's not until you hit Kiama that you really reach the South Coast. With just 12,000 people and backdropped by green, rolling hills, it's the coast's first seaside town proper (rather than a suburb of Wollongong). The most famous attraction is the Blowhole, a natural rock formation that sends water spouting 20 metres into the air. But, when you're done Instagramming that, there are plenty more adventures to be had — from the 22-kilometre Kiama Coastal Walk to arts trails to markets galore. Plus, a short trip inland will take you to the 19th century buildings and classic country pubs of Jamberoo, while Gerringong village is ten kilometres south. Find all this just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney. Here's your guide to a Kiama weekender. [caption id="attachment_581919" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Berichard.[/caption] DO It's pretty much mandatory to make your first stop the Blowhole. After all, people have been travelling here to see it for more than 100 years. For the most powerful action, swing by when the tide's high and the swell is rolling in. You'll get beautiful coastal views while you're at it and, if you're keen for a dip, there's a rockpool close by. Less known, but also worth checking out, is Little Blowhole, found just south on Marsden Head. Next up, you might want to conquer the Kiama Coast Walk. All in all, it covers 22 sea-hugging kilometres, starting at Minnamurra River mouth and finishing at Gerringong. The way is dotted with beaches, headlands, basalt and patches of rainforest. Plus, there's easy access to four train stations, so you can walk just one section and get back to your car easily. If some scenes are looking a bit familiar, chances are you've seen them in Lloyd Rees's paintings. He owned a house at Werri Beach, where he painted works like Fire Haze Over Gerringong and The Road to Berry, which are now both at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Loads of artists continue to find inspiration in local landscapes and, on the first weekend of every month, some open their studios to the public. You can check out their work, chat about their practice and maybe even sharpen up your skills at a workshop. Another place to get an art fix is the Kiama Makers and Growers Market, held on the fourth Saturday of every month at Black Beach. [caption id="attachment_581923" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Budderoo National Park, Long Road Photography.[/caption] Travel 11 kilometres inland and you'll get to Jamberoo. This 1500-person village is best known for Jamberoo Action Park, where you can ride a bobsled. For more thrills, an up-close look at a forest canopy and cracking district views, visit the Illawarra Fly, home to Australia's highest zip line. Or, for a more sedate outdoors experience, do some exploring in Budderoo National Park. The 4.2-kilometre Falls Walk takes in waterfalls, rainforest and canyon views. [caption id="attachment_581934" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Hungry Monkey.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK The best caffeine hit around isn't in Kiama, but in Gerringong. The Blue Espresso Bar is a tiny cafe, housed in an aquamarine weatherboard cottage at 135 Belinda Street and open 7 days. Every seven days brings a new 'coffee of the week' — from Brazilian Daterra Monte Cristo to Kenyan pea berry. Match yours with a gourmet bakery treat. Just down the road in Gerroa, you'll find The Blue Swimmer. It was bought by Three Blue Ducks operations manager, Paul Dewhurst, earlier this year, and Kiama chef Shaun Smith oversees the kitchen. As you might expect, there's a big emphasis on seafood. So, tuck into steamed mussels with white bone broth, saffron, carrots, cannellini beans and sourdough or chilli-prawn spaghetti. Breakfast is served all day, too. [caption id="attachment_581925" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Milk and Honey.[/caption] Meanwhile, in the Mercure Gerringong's restaurant, Bella Char, another local chef, Jacinda Yates, has put together a seasonally-driven menu inspired by the South Coast. Sink into a red chair in the cosy, leather-and-wood splashed space and take your time over baked Australian scallops with cauliflower puree, salsa verde and toasted garlic crumbs. Back in Kiama, there's some decent casual cafe fare around. Hit Flour Water Salt for baked goodness or try the Hungry Monkey for a superfood-charged breakfast and a wide selection of burgers, like the Po' Boy, which comes with cajun fried chicken, cabbage slaw, jalapenos, parmesan and aioli. Also, right next door to the lighthouse, there's Milk and Honey. Here, the focus is on fresh, straight-forward generous dishes, with house-made ingredients, like brekkie burritos, eggs benedict and muesli. The coffee is Allpress. [caption id="attachment_581929" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Driftwood, Airbnb.[/caption] STAY The Sebel Harbourside is perched, as the name suggests, right on Kiama Harbour. 80 rooms are spread over three levels, with many overlooking the water and, for groups, there are two-bedroom apartments with country-sized kitchens. A warm, yet contemporary, aesthetic runs throughout — think red-toned woods, plantation shutters and bucket loads of natural light. If you don't feel like going anywhere much, settle into the onsite Blue Diamond Bar and Bistro for a harbourside cocktail. To stay on Blowhole Point, book a Kiama Harbour Cabin. Available in one-, tw0- and three-bedroom layouts, these cute hideaways come with water views, private balconies, electric barbecues and spa baths. There's also a tennis court onsite and the Blowhole is just 200 metres away, so you can max your chances of seeing it in action. Meanwhile, on Airbnb you're likely to find a super deal on a beach house. The 170-year-old Driftwood, for example, is a classic South Coast cottage, with high ceilings, a fire place, a big ol' verandah, timber floors and a central outdoor room. Up to nine people can sleep here at once and it's perfectly located for exploring the Blowhole, local beaches and the town centre. A fancier option is Somerville, an epic, just-renovated, four-bedroom house with 270-degree ocean views. There's a big swimming pool, loads of patio space for lounging about outside, gym facilities, two massive TVs with Netflix and even a pizza oven. Nine people can fit in here, too. Top image: The Hungry Monkey.
Brisbane means a lot of things to a lot of different people. More than two million people call this city home — and odds are that if you've been living here for a while, you probably think you know it pretty well. But the reality is, no matter how much time you spend somewhere, you'll find that it's still capable of taking you by surprise. With that in mind, we've turned to some of Brisbane's top creatives to take us on a tour of their favourite bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, galleries and public spaces. Coming at you over the next couple of weeks, their hot tips will have you looking at your city in an entirely different light. First up, it's architect and event organiser Morgan Jenkins (above, left). "I love living in Brisbane because it’s got a sense of humour as a city," he says. "There's a lot of great stuff starting to happen because instead of complaining about things, interesting people are investing their time into doing interesting things." This enterprising spirit is shared by Morgan himself, who created Woolloongabba's The End of the Line Festival. Planning is currently underway for the next edition of the festival, which is scheduled to take place on October 24. But there's plenty of weekend fun to be had between now and then. Here are Morgan's top five tips on what to do over a Brisbane weekend. SURF AT NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND I’d start with a surf at North Stradbroke Island. The ferry is only a 30-minute drive from my house in Woolloongabba. This is one of my favourite spots on the planet. Leaving the mainland, even for a couple of hours, is often much needed after the week of work. BREAKFAST AT PEARL CAFE Pearl Cafe is a pearler of a cafe in Woolloongabba. The little Logan Road cul-de-sac is just a short stroll from where I live and it's my go-to for an easy weekend outing. The food is hearty but contemporary, so you might end up having duck eggs and bacon for breakfast. BEERS AT THE BOWLS CLUB Warm afternoons definitely call for beers and a spot of bowls at Merthyr Bowls Club on the river. This is the perfect place to enjoy living in our city as it's outside in the sun, right on the river and it has an incredible relaxed atmosphere (at 1970s prices). DINNER AT CROSSTOWN EATING HOUSE Do dinner at Crosstown Eating House in Woolloongabba. This place has always been my go-to dinner destination locally. Relaxed dining but really unpretentious, great service and food quality, good tunes and a good atmosphere. SEE A LIVE GIG A weekend isn't complete without live music somewhere: a small gig at The End in West End, something mellow at The Tivoli or The Triffid, or something a bit heavier at The Zoo. These places are all golden venues for live music and a good time. By Imogen Baker and Tom Clift. Top image: Pearl Cafe by night.
If you like your pasta round and made from potatoes, then you're going to like the latest cuisine-specific eatery setting up shop in Brisbane. No, it's not an Italian joint. Not, it isn't dedicated to doughy noodles in all shapes and sizes. Instead, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers is about to become Australia's first dedicated gnoccheria. If that name sounds familiar, that's because you've likely come across Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers' busy stall everywhere from the Jan Powers Farmers Market in the CBD and Eat Street at Hamilton to the brand new Mount Gravatt Marketta or Night Quarter on the Gold Coast. Due to start serving their fresh, house-made potato parcels from Paddington's Given Terrace in late October, they're now making the leap so many market-based Brissie businesses have in recent years by opening their own bricks-and-mortar establishment. What none of their predecessors offer, of course, is an impressive array of gnocchi in varieties such as pumpkin and ricotta, and with sauces including bolognese, wild mushroom and truffle, and cherry tomato and black olive. Everything is made from organic ingredients — and if you want something other than the the Brothers' dish of choice, then you'll also be able to grab an Italian cannoli, tiramisu and panna cotta for dessert. When the store first opens its doors, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers will be a takeaway-only affair; however plans for a small dine-in area are also afoot. And you'll be able to pick up a small range of Italian groceries on site as well. We recommend stopping by on an empty stomach. Find Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers at 210 Given Terrace, Paddington from late October. Check out their Facebook page for more information. Via The Courier-Mail. Image via cyclonebill.
Fancy spending some time in Latin America? Don't we all. It's not quite the same as a holiday but, thanks to the brand new Cine Latino Film Festival, getting immersed in the sights, sounds and stories of everywhere from Mexico to Puerto Rico is as easy as heading to the movies. Throughout August, the latest addition to Palace Cinemas' ever-growing festival calendar brings the best films from the region to Australian screens, celebrating not just excellence but variety. Come for cinematic poetry from master filmmakers and stay for Peruvian horror efforts — they're just a few of our five must-see pics of the festival. Plus, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can go in the draw to win a double pass to see one of them. NERUDA Curbing one's excitement for Pablo Larraín's latest feature is close to impossible. The Chilean filmmaker hasn't even reached the age of 40 yet, and he already has a number of features under his belt that any writer/director would be envious of. After wowing the Aussie festival circuit with his first collaboration with Gael Garcia Bernal in 2012's political drama No, Larraín tasks the charismatic actor with once again exploring the difficulties of restrictive societies — this time through an examination of the life the poet that gives the movie its name. That Neruda has been called gripping won't surprise anyone, in yet another stellar work from a director on the rise. ENDLESS POETRY When it comes to Endless Poetry, knowing that it is directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky should be more than enough motivation to send you rushing towards your nearest Palace Cinema. After breaking a 23-year directing drought with 2013's The Dance of Reality, the 87-year-old filmmaker behind such brazen, mind-bending cult classics as El Topo and The Holy Mountain offers up another cinematic memoir. In the second of a planned five-feature series, he moves from his youth to the formative experiences of his 20s, chronicling his efforts to become a poet against the wishes of his family. THE WOMB If sitting in a darkened room, staring at a big screen and getting scared is your idea of a good time at the movies, then The Womb should be your type of film. If the fact that it is being billed as Peru's first bona fide horror flick doesn't get your pulse racing, then perhaps its unsettling tale of several layers of motherhood struggles will. Sure, you've probably seen plenty of frightening fare about being a parent lately, but there's a reason filmmakers keep returning to this tried and tested topic. HOW TO WIN ENEMIES You can never have too many offbeat comedies, right? Finding amusement in the quirks of everyday life is always going to strike a chord, with How to Win Enemies the latest Argentinian effort to give it a shot. Focusing on a young lawyer with a fondness for detective stories, it's a love story, a family drama and a mystery all in one. Yes, the sleuthing angle has seen Gabriel Lichtmann's film compared to TV's Bored to Death — so if you're a fan of that show, it can only be a good thing. I PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING Combine a skater film, a crime drama and a queer love story all into one, and the result is I Promise You Everything. Weaving through the streets of modern-day Mexico City, the feature tells the tale of Miguel and Johnny, their stumbling upon a get-rich-quick scheme supplying blood to drug traffickers, and the tumultuous results. If it sounds a little like the early work of Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu, that's not a bad thing. One review has even mentioned the film in the same breath as The Godfather — and while they're awfully big shoes to fill, discovering how it tries to achieve that feat should be intriguing at the very least. The Cine Latino Film Festival screens at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Verona from August 9 to 24, Brisbane's Palace Centro and Barracks from August 11 to 24, and Melbourne's Palace Como and Westgarth from August 17 to 31. For more information, visit the festival website. [competition]583085[/competition]
If movies have taught us anything, it's that robots are going to play a big part in the future of humanity. For Taiwanese choreographer and inventor Huang Yi, that future is now. Just ask his robot companion, Kuka. Kuka is the friend Huang Yi longed for as a child — and the feat of technology he has dedicated much of his time to as an adult. Together, they take to the stage in a display of dance and mechanical engineering. Blurring the lines between man and machine isn't their only aspect of their WTF 2016 performance that will take your breath away; knowing that Huang Yi spent ten hours programming for every minute of Kuka's movement is also certain to astonish.
It gets to a certain point in winter when it doesn't matter which Brisbane bar is trendiest or which has the cheapest drinks. There's a far more important question afoot — which has a fireplace? While most Brisbane venues are more interesting in appealing to the summer crowd (we're looking at you and your rooftop pool, Limes) there are some seriously winter-friendly gems with snug interiors and natural, log-fire heating that make leaving the house an easy feat. Here's our top eight bars in Brisbane boasting a solid fireplace — aka places where you can find yourself with a belly full of pale ale and the warmest tootsies in town. AT SIXES AND SEVENS James Street's go-to bar has style, substance and a fireplace to boot. At Sixes and Sevens is housed in a heritage-listed cottage on the corner of James and Arthur Streets, a bustling pub where you can find the likes of James Squire One Fifty Lashes and White Rabbit Dark Ale on tap and snuggle into a leather armchair at the end of the day. While the building interior has received a bit of modern makeover, the homely feel and exposed brick interiors have been well preserved — that includes the fireplace. While they're a little hesitant to stoke it up, Sixes are not ones to say never — we bet by August it'll be burning 24/7. 67 James Street, Fortitude Valley THE GRESHAM There's only one thing better than a fireplace and that's a heritage-listed one. As Brisbane's only heritage-listed bar, The Gresham fireplace is the kind you'd imagine Branson from Downton Abbey stoking while thinking of his late Lady Sybil, his socialist Irish roots and his rumbling feelings of attraction for the local school teacher. Not that we watch that show. Anyhow, if you're stuck in the CBD with ice cold fingers and the hankering for a brewski, the Gresham is your spot. 308 Queen Street, Brisbane THE CHALET BAR The Chalet Bar is reason alone to be optimistic about the cooler months. Brisbane's first après ski bar is prime grounds to kick back and warm up like you've just had a busy day on the ski field. In case you have to engage in some intense ski talk around the fireplace, we recommend watching Vertical Limit or Snow Dogs before coming here. Other than that, expect a roaring fireplace surrounded by candles, chesterfield lounges and antique ski paraphernalia at this snug little bar. 320 Boundary Street, Spring Hill ALFRED AND CONSTANCE A busy, but a good one. If you can find a path through the hoards of Ralph Lauren shirts and venture inside one of Alfred and Constance's many rooms, you'll find a cracking fireplace and some comfy leather seats to match. To improve an already idyllic winter setting, lash out and order a warm, oozy pudding. That'll be pair nicely with a Nine Tails Amber Ale and a fleece blanket. Corner Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley COWCH If you've ever said it's impossible to eat ice cream in winter, then wash your mouth out. South Bank's dessert bar Cowch can satisfy a whole range of cravings, especially one for a warm fireplace. Their super modern, spruced-up fireplace is the kind that would make Grand Designs Kevin McCloud green with envy. Make sure you get in early if you want a seat fireside — Cowch gets busy on the weekends and the easiest way to lose an ice cream appetite is outdoor seating. 2/179 Grey Street, South Brisbane HUNDRED ACRE BAR Hillstone St Lucia's Hundred Acre Bar is as warm and cosy as Piglet's tree cottage. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this bar is perfectly suited to Brisbane's cooler months with it's homestyle cooking, multi-page wine list and huge fireplace that sits elegantly on the dining room wall. Hundred Acre Bar has only just been renovated so this fireplace is a newy — consider this winter a long, long housewarming. Indooroopilly and Carawa Streets, St Lucia TORO BRAVO Fortitude Valley's Toro Bravo specialises in three things: wine, tapas and keeping its patrons nice and warm. With its Old World Spanish wine, beer and Latin cocktails menu, this bar is perfect for everything from a lively night out to a cosy, food-filled one by the fire. There's also plenty of smoking and charring going on here, which is really just a fireplace meets fresh meat. Yeah, we're counting it. 455 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET Okay, so it might be an ornamental fireplace, but sometimes the placebo effect extends to heating. Woolloongabba's Can You Keep A Secret is so warm and jolly that its fireplace doesn't really need to be lit. This vintage store-meets-bar is fitted out like Granny's house with an old piano, humble chandeliers and antique landscape paintings. Grab a warm drink, rub your hands together and play a serious game of pretendsies in front of this antique fireplace. 619 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba
Victoria's newest boutique hotel is set to take a weekend on the Mornington Peninsula to a new level of luxury. Opening to guests on Saturday, April 1, Jackalope Hotel is smack-bang in the middle of the Peninsula's wine region in Merricks North, just next to Red Hill. The hotel is the 'passion project' of 28-year-old entrepreneur Louis Li, who worked with architecture firm Carr Design Group and Fabio Ongarato Design studio to design the hotel, which is his first. From what we've seen, the exterior is quite impressive and maintains a modern austerity while naturally fitting into the rolling landscape. At the entrance to the hotel, guests will be greeted by a seven-metre-tall sculpture of a Jackalope, the mythical horned rabbit of North American folklore the hotel is named after, which does seem overdone — but then, that also seems to be the point of the hotel's 'extravagance to surreal proportions' mindset. The 46 rooms offer terrace or vineyard views, with their double-the-size 'lair' suites offering the best views in the house. Each room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and hand-crafted bespoke furnishings. If you're one for a good bath, the deep-soak, black Japanese tubs and exclusive Hunter Lab bath products will keep you utterly relaxed while you admire your fabulous self in the double vanities. It's a bathroom well deserving of a nice glass (or bottle) of local wine, that's for sure. If your private bath isn't quite enough, the landscaped gardens include a black 30-metre infinity pool with an adjacent pavilion for spa treatments. The hotel also houses an extensive art collection, commissioned and installed specifically for the space for anyone looking to soak up some culture instead of sun. Yes, it's incredibly luxe. And to be certain they are not outdone, Jackalope is also home to not one, but two restaurants, headed by chef Guy Stanaway. The fine dining option, oddly named Doot Doot Doot, centres around a menu of seasonal, local produce, while the cellar door, Rare Hare, is set amongst the hotel's winery and offers the requisite wine and food pairing. If you somehow get bored in this lap of luxury, the Peninsula is already home to over 50 cellar doors and restaurants, not to mention golf courses, natural hot springs, national parks and bay beaches. You can use our weekender's guide to the area to navigate. Of course, all this will cost you a pretty penny — rooms start at around $650 and go up to over $1000 per night. But for those looking to give themselves a little (or a lot) of pampering, Jackalope sounds like it'll be the ideal spot for it. Jackalope Hotel will open on Saturday, April 1 at 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North. For more info or to book a room, visit jackalopehotels.com.
Hanging out at the old Albion flour mill isn't really something anyone in Brisbane does — yet. Fast forward a few years, and heading to the Albion Mill Village for something to eat, a spot of shopping and a game of table tennis might just be a common occurrence. That's the plan anyway, and one that a just-approved $400-million development is keen to put into action. Two new 20-storey buildings will help transform the Hudson Street site into an urban hub, which is exactly the boost the area needs. Those with good memories might recall that the historic mill was demolished in late 2013 after a devastating fire engulfed the landmark. Architects Elenberg Fraser have been entrusted with the design, so if you like what they're doing with Fortitude Valley's Night Edge development, then you're in luck. Plus, if you happen to have the dosh to buy one of the 633 units that'll be part of the new towers, you'll have access to one of the coolest of perks imaginable: an outdoor cinema that can be enjoyed from the splashy confines of one of the complex's infinity pools. If that's not enough motivation to start saving, then we don't know what is. Via Brisbane Times. Image: Kgbo.
The trouble with going to the opera in Sydney is, once you're there, you can no longer see the Sydney Opera House. No stawlwart sails, no gleaming cream tiles, no spiky little silhouette. And what's the fun in that? But for one month of the year Sydney has their theatrical cake and eats it too, when Handa Opera on the Harbour sets up at Mrs Macquarie's Point. The floating outdoor opera comes with an eye-popping view of Sydney's natural and artificial bounties, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge beyond. This year Handa Opera on the Harbour is going Egyptian for Verdi's Aida, a love triangle of epic, war-starting proportions. With Gale Edwards directing, the set by Mark Thompson includes the giant rotating head of Queen Nefertiti, live camels and plenty of fireworks. The 30m x 28m stage, 2.5 times larger than any you'll find indoors in Australia, is partially built at White Bay then trucked to Fleet Steps in the Royal Botanic Gardens, where it's lifted onto pylons and completed. The cranes actually form part of the mise en scene in this instance, with the production set in a period where ancient Egypt is decaying and a new world being built (with some more surreal and Devo-esque touches adding to the spectacle of the thing). The orchestra is housed directly beneath the stage, in an area apparently dubbed 'The Underworld'. Made possible by the continued funding of philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, the previous three years' shows — La Traviata, Carmen and Madama Butterfly — have proved monumentally successful. At a time when opera is struggling to attract audiences, Opera on the Harbour not only sells tickets but lures in thousands of opera newbies. You don't need to understand opera to understand what makes the occasion great. Aida is on from March 27 to April 26 at Mrs Macquarie's Point. For more information and to book, visit the Opera Australia website. Images: Prudence Upton and Hamilton Lund.
Before social media, the local milk bar was usually where youngsters went to socialise. Though there's still a few of them about (including 2223 in Sydney and Rowena Corner Store in Richmond), they're fast becoming a thing of the past. That's why Melbourne-based artist Callum Preston has gone to painstaking lengths to recreate one, detail by detail. You'll find his incredibly realistic, immersive artwork Milk Bar in RVCA Corner Gallery, Collingwood, from Friday 1 December. Walking in, it'll be easy to imagine you're in a bona fide corner shop, as the installation is fully operational. But take a closer peek and you'll notice the chocolate bars, magazines and soft drink cans aren't what they seem. They're pretend versions of themselves that Preston has created by hand. "For most of us, these simpler times might have passed," Preston said. "Sure, the memories may be a little blurry now, but it's my hope that when all the elements are recreated you can be transported right back to 'when going down the shop' was an experience of pure joy." This isn't Preston's first venture into nostalgia. In 2015, he revisited Back to the Future via his artwork Bootleg to the Future, which featured a life-sized replica of a DeLorean. Milk Bar will be at Melbourne's RVCA Corner Gallery, 82 Stanley Street, Collingwood. The exhibition runs from December 1-10.
Not only part of Brisbane's growing craft beer scene since 2013, but one of its pioneers, Green Beacon Brewing Co has long attracted all kinds of beer- and seafood-loving moths to its shiny flame. The Teneriffe warehouse is a bustling hive of truly stoked clientele, enjoying the crisp delicious beers fresh from the brewhouse, seafood straight from the trawler, and salty snacks such as the Queensland-made biltong — plus whatever is being served up by one of the food trucks that are parked outside almost every night. The warehouse has a rustic, food hall feel with a great energy created by the incredibly hospitable staff. All of the produce served at Green Beacon is made and sourced locally — and, among the fresh seafood range, you can expect oysters, prawns and bugs to feature heavily. The ocean's finest is served with plenty of napkins, and there is a basin with soap for you to clean up after your messy but delicious feast. For those wanting to take a roadie, you can also buy growlers and squealers full of Green Beacon's fresh craft beer — keeping the container to go back and top up on their fantastic brews so that you can enjoy at home as well. And, brew fiends will want to drop by regularly, with the booze purveyors frequently launching new tipples.
