If you live in Brisbane and like your cinema experiences with a bit more personality, a bit less of a chain-store multiplex vibe, or just flat out refuse to pay $20 for a ticket, then you've probably been to Cineplex Hawthorne or the Eldorado at Indooroopilly. They're the picture palaces every uni student, film buff and cheapskate loves — and they're both getting a revamp. Okay well technically the current Hawthorne venue is staying the same, but it is getting a fancy sibling across the road. Think of it as their luxury offshoot, complete with 64 seats, a high-spec sound system, a kitchen and a bar. If you've seen the cottage surrounded by construction opposite the existing cinema, then you've seen the beginnings of the new movie theatre, which will host special events as well as Cineplex's usual assortment of blockbusters and arthouse fare. At Eldorado, it's out with the old and in with the new. Say goodbye to the current pink, beige and blue building, as it's getting torn down to make way for two gigantic apartment buildings complete with cafes, restaurants, bars, a pub and even a bowling alley and laser skirmish. Thankfully, 10 indoor cinemas will also be part of the mix, retaining the site's almost century-long history of showing movies. An outdoor screen is also in the works, which is welcome news for anyone in the western suburbs who likes watching flicks under the stars. Via Quest News and The Courier-Mail. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
New York's champions of the age-old art of storytelling, The Moth, are headed our way. The podcasters, event organisers and general tale-weavers will appear at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas and the Melbourne Writers Festival and, following on from that, will be bringing regular, more intimate storytelling nights to both cities. In Melbourne, the beloved weekly podcasters are telling onstage tales around the theme of ‘Between Worlds’ at MWF. In Sydney, they'll be joined on stage by some seriously big brains for FODI. Creator of Bad Kid, Moth StorySLAM host and three-time Moth SLAM winner David Crabb will host a panel of mad chats with Korean-American author of the award-winning novel The Interpreter Suki Kim (also appearing at FODI), one half of The Wau Wau Sisters and brains behind international festival smash Asking For It Adrienne Truscott, and Sydney satirist and A Rational Fear nucleus Dan Ilic. But FODI and MWF isn't the last you'll hear from The Moth — the crew have confirmed they'll be creating an ongoing presence in Sydney and Melbourne. Expect monthly StorySLAM events, so you'll have plenty of Moth outside your daily commute. The first StorySLAM in Australia is happening on August 24 at Melbourne’s Howler and then in Sydney on September 1 at Oxford Art Factory. They're looking for storytellers — so you could be telling your tales as one of The Moth team. GET ON IT. “We already have a strong listener following in Australia for our podcast," says The Moth's artistic director Catherine Burns. "Having a permanent home in Australia is a ‘bucket list’ moment for everyone at The Moth, and we look forward to hearing all the true stories, told live from the amazing people in this part of the world.” SO MANY DATES, JUST TELL ME HOW I TRACK DOWN THE MOTH? Alright, let's break this down. The Moth: True Stories Told Live at Melbourne Writers Festival is happening at Athenaeum Theatre on August 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets from MWF. The Razor's Edge: The Moth is happening Sunday, September 6, at 6.30pm at Sydney Opera House. Tickets from FODI. The first StorySLAM is happening on August 24 at Melbourne’s Howler and then in Sydney on September 1 at Oxford Art Factory. Tickets via Eventbrite and Moshtix. Want more FODI and MWF? Get your nose in a few tomes with our reading lists over here and here. Image: David Crabb, by Christian Leonard.
Moving castles have become abandoned mansions, and adventurous kids are now asthmatic outsiders, as you may have noticed if you've been keeping up with Studio Ghibli's recent films. It seems like everyone's favourite Japanese animation house is growing up and getting serious; however, that might not be all that's behind their change in mood. With no new features slated, they might be shutting up their movie-making shop — or so it has been rumoured. Perhaps that's why the studio's output over the last year has felt a little more melancholy and contemplative, and why tissues have become a necessary viewing accessory. The great Hayao Miyazaki's swan song, The Wind Rises, and co-founder Isao Takahata's latest effort, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, already tested tear ducts, and When Marnie Was There does so again. If this is the last Ghibli movie, then the tale of 12-year-old Anna (voiced by Sara Takatsuki) offers a fitting farewell. Above all else, it tells of the importance of friendship, acceptance, understanding and looking to the past to embrace the future, recurring themes in the studio's work. A foster child usually found alone with her sketchbook in hand, Anna is isolated and unhappy. That doesn't change when she is sent to stay by the seaside with her adoptive relatives — but then she spies a house surrounded by marshland, and meets the girl who lives there, Marnie (Kasumi Arimura). When Marnie Was There is based on the 1967 British novel of the same name, and while the film isn't exactly old-fashioned, it is relaxed and reflective, even for an animation house known for making movies unlike any others. The second effort — and the second such book-to-screen adaptation — from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi after 2010's The Secret World of Arrietty, it takes its time not just to get to know Anna and her new pal, but to let the audience into their headspace. It's an approach that's crucial to the feature, with the journey Anna takes in finding her sense of self more important than anywhere she might wander — and the bond she forms with Marnie more engrossing than anything else she might encounter. It also fits in with the mystery surrounding the titular character, who only Anna can seem to see, and only under certain circumstances. As well as building character and intrigue, the slower pace leaves plenty of room for the kind of gorgeous visuals Studio Ghibli is known for, painstakingly hand-drawn and -painted. Indeed, that the film looks a treat can almost go without saying, except that Yonebayashi uses his beautiful images to thrill as much as enchant. There are a few darker turns in this tale, and the filmmaker is just as skilled at conveying pain and sadness as he is at creating magic and wonder. If it sounds like another bewitching gem, that's because it is — but if it sounds like something a little different, that's because it's that, too. When Marnie Was There is compiled from the same parts as other Ghibli fare, but it really does feel like a film studio saying goodbye. Expect sorrow from the sweet and soulful story about finding a place to belong. Expect more from the possibility that this could be the last movie from the beloved studio.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, explore the serenity of Chung Tian Temple, belt out a karaoke ballad at The Brunswick Hotel and practice your mindfulness with a DIY kokedama class. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, dig into the wonder that is haloumi fries, dance it out at a naughties indie party and hunt for treasure in one of our favourite antique stores. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 5, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its fourth year running. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 5 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 5. Check the website for participating cafes near you.
Master of all smooth tunes and poster child of Melbourne's enduring obsession with beards, Chet Faker has just announced a huge national tour for 2015. And we really do mean huge — this local legend is returning from a string of massively successful European and American shows to play Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, Melbourne's Palais and the freakin' Brisbane Convention Centre. His shows are officially pulling the same numbers as the G20. This is no doubt welcome news for those that missed out on his national tour earlier this year. With Hordern Pavilion holding roughly 4,000 more people than the Enmore where he played in June, tickets will be much easier to come by. In Brisbane that difference will be even more pronounced. The Brisbane Convention Centre can host a whopping 8,000 rampant Chet lovers. All this hype comes after a stellar run of critical acclaim for the Melbourne musician. He's been nominated for a spectacular nine ARIA awards this year including Best Male Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist — and he's already won three, including Producer of the Year at the ARIA Artisans. His much-loved debut album Built On Glass is also a hot tip for winner of Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards. However this arena setting is sure to affect the show itself too. Specialising in croony electronic ballads and music that makes you feel all warm and gooey inside, it's hard to see how Chet will translate well to the big stage. How are we supposed to snug up and get a little intimate around the stage where Barack Obama talked just a few months prior? Melbourne, on the other hand, may get treated to a rare glimpse of this intimacy. His show at the Palais — assuming it's still standing by then — will actually be smaller than when he played the Forum earlier in the year. Get ready for some hometown lovin' — after he picks up all of the ARIAs he'll probably be graduating to Rod Laver Arena. Tour dates: Wednesday, February 11 – ANU Bar, Canberra Friday, February 13 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Saturday, February 14 – Convention Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 20 – Chevron Gardens, Perth Festival Saturday, February 21 – Chevron Gardens, Perth Festival Friday, February 27 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne Saturday, February 28 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Tickets go on sale 9am, November 20. To find out more about about Chet Faker and his killer debut album check out our interview from earlier in the year.
If you're a fan of Game of Thrones, The Handmaid's Tale or Big Little Lies, you've probably spent plenty of time in front of your TV screen over the past six months. If you're head-over-heels for Stranger Things, you likely have more couch time planned, too. But 2019's television and streaming viewing isn't just about the shows you already love. If you're eager to add some fresh favourites to your pile, the year so far has well and truly delivered. From existential comedies and anarchic sketch shows to gripping accounts of real-life tragedies and excellent anthology revivals, 2019's batch of new shows has proven a varied bunch — and an excellent one as well. It's enough to make you hole up in your living room and never want to leave. Or, to spend the year's colder months catching up. With the year at its halfway point, here's our picks of 2019's best TV and streaming series that you owe it to yourself to seek out now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHcKoAMGGvY RUSSIAN DOLL Netflix and smart existential laughs continued to go hand-in-hand with Russian Doll, with the streaming platform once again taking one its protagonists with wondering what this whole life business is all about. Here, however, New Yorker Nadia (Natasha Lyonne — who you'll most likely recognise from Orange Is the New Black) is forced to relive her 36th birthday shindig over and over again. And wWhile getting stuck at a celebration in your own honour will sound like a literal party to most folks, that's not Nadia's path. Co-created and co-written by Lyonne, Amy Poehler and filmmaker Leslye Headland (Bachelorette, Sleeping with Other People), this eight-episode show takes its acerbic, misanthropic lead character through all kinds of twists and turns, examining fate, logic, life's loops and wading through limbo in a clever and compelling way. This is a dark, heartfelt, hilarious and inventive series all at once, and, although the do-over premise has become a well-established trope on both the big and small screens, Russian Doll never feels like it's relying on a gimmick. Unsurprisingly, Netflix has renewed it for a second season. The entire first season of Russian Doll is available to stream on Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9APLXM9Ei8 CHERNOBYL When it comes to sheer horror of the bone-chilling kind, not to mention the kind of soul-crushing dismay that can only stem from the bleakest of tales, nothing compares to Chernobyl. The five-part show explores the aftermath of the 1986 nuclear disaster, which saw the reactor inside the Ukrainian facility explode. The fallout, unsurprisingly, was catastrophic, with the incident considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history as well one of the worst man-made events ever. While the dramatisation begins with the fiery explosion, it's what happens next that earns the show's focus — the initial salvage attempts by workers condemned to suffer and die just for doing their jobs; the arrogant cover-ups, including by stubborn plant supervisors who refuse to believe what's happened; the clean-up and rescue missions, sacrificing more lives to the incident; and the inevitable investigation. Every aspect of the series is detailed, thorough, and even more relentless and unnerving than you'd expect given the real-life situation, with creator and writer Craig Mazin drawing upon meticulous research, interviews with nuclear scientists, chats with former Soviet residents and first-person accounts from those who were there. All five episodes of Chernobyl are available to stream on Foxtel Now. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLkEpO3k514 PEN15 Remember those years when you were too cool for childhood, but just finding your feet as a teenager? You've probably blocked it out of your memory. Most of us do — except comedians Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who've based the entirety of their series PEN15 on the time that most of us would rather forget. Across the show's ten-episode first season, the pair play themselves as 13-year-olds starting middle school, reliving the highlights, the horrors, the first sips of beer and the agony of trying to work out what life is all about at any moment. In a series executive produced by Andy Samberg and his fellow Lonely Island pals Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, Erskine and Konkle's on-screen alter-egos are surrounded by real 13-year-olds — and the results are poignant, scarily accurate and all-round hilarious. If you love it, it's been renewed for a second season, so there's more to come. The entire first season of PEN15 is available to stream now on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29_gA_GDGvE THE TWILIGHT ZONE The Twilight Zone is back, and it's in the best possible hands. After wowing horror movie lovers with Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele takes on the task of presenting, narrating and redeveloping the legendary sci-fi anthology show for the 21st century, and it's one he does well. Picking up where Rod Serling's original five-season 50s and 60s show left off (and short-lived revivals in 1985 and 2002, too), the eight-episode first series blends the old with the new — both remaking previous episodes and coming up with fresh, thrilling stories. It's as entertaining as you'd rightfully expect, with more set to come next year. This initial season also comes with a huge cast, including Adam Scott, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracy Morgan, Steven Yeun, Zazie Beetz, Taissa Farmiga, Greg Kinnear, John Cho, Rhea Seehorn, Jessica Williams, Jacob Tremblay, Allison Tolman, Betty Gabriel, Ginnifer Goodwin, Chris O'Dowd and Seth Rogan. Put simply, it's must-see viewing. The entire first season of The Twilight Zone is available to stream on 10 All Access — in both colour and retro black-and-white. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfBbSwX6kEk WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS A bunch of vampires. One share house. Ample undead hijinks. It worked swimmingly in 2005 short film What We Do In the Shadows. Next, it worked hilariously in 2014 mockumentary movie What We Do In the Shadows. And it works mighty fine in TV spinoff that's also called What We Do In the Shadows, too. Adapted for television by original creators and stars Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (with the first episode written by the former and directed by the latter), this Staten Island-set version focuses on a new set of vamps and new supernatural problems, and the laughs keep coming. Unsurprisingly, Matt Berry's English bloodsucker Laszlo is a highlight, but this is a great ensemble effort, complete with ace turns from Kayvan Novak as Ottoman Empire-era soldier Nandor the Relentless, Natasia Demetriou as Romani vamp Nadja, Mark Proksch as 'energy vampire' Colin Robinson and Lady Bird's Beanie Feldstein as a live-action role-play fan who falls in with the undead crowd. Also keep an eye out for some absolutely killer high-profile cameos — and for more episodes next year. The entire first season of What We Do In the Shadows is available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQaTa5eTxnk THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED It has been five years since much of the world first heard the name Adnan Syed, delving into his case in the first season of Serial. And just like the hugely popular true crime podcast, Syed's is a tale that just keeps fascinating audiences. Murder and the possible miscarriage of justice will do that, as will the grim circumstances surrounding the death of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee in 1999. Enter The Case Against Adnan Syed, the four-part documentary TV series that has been in production since 2015 and promises to answer — and pose — more questions. Yes, it delivers. As well as boasting a compelling subject, the series also has an impressive pedigree, with filmmaker Amy Berg adding another top effort to her resume after Oscar-nominated 2006 doco Deliver Us from Evil, 2012's West of Memphis and 2014's An Open Secret. The Case Against Adnan Syed is available to purchase on iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v75RmNuZgTs HANNA Joining the long list of films-turned-TV shows is Hanna — and the long list of spy, assassin and conspiracy -focused series as well. This small-screen adaptation follows the storyline established in the 2011 movie, just with a change of cast (sorry Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett fans). Here, the titular child (Esmé Creed-Miles) has spent her entire life learning survivalist skills under the tutelage of her mercenary father (Joel Kinnaman). Of course, the day comes when she has to put her talents to the test. The original flick plunged viewers into a complex, murky world that it'd be easy to spend more time within, and now this series delivers on that notion. The entire first season Hanna is available to stream on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZkGgoVSFk I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON You don't even need two hours to get through all six episodes of this new sketch comedy show but, once you're done, you'll wish that it went for at least twice as long. Social awkwardness is satirised with absurd precision in I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, and the results are as offbeat and hilarious as a house completely filled with Garfield items and furniture (trust us). If he seems familiar, Robinson was the star of Detroiters and also spent a couple of seasons on Saturday Night Live. He has plenty of recognisable co-stars on his new show, which he also wrote and produced — talents such as Will Forte, Steven Yeun, Tim Heidecker and Vanessa Bayer. And, like fellow ace new 2019 comedy PEN15, the show boasts some big names off-screen too, with The Lonely Island (aka Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) its executive producers. It's also another of this year's big debutants that's coming back for a second season. The entire first season I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCSyXUqPaZM FOSSE/VERDON The director and choreographer behind Cabaret and All That Jazz, Bob Fosse's achievements are many, including winning an Oscar, Emmy and Tony all in the same year. A prolific Broadway performer who earned just as much acclaim — and four Tony awards of her own — Gwen Verdon was his collaborator, muse and wife, although theirs was a tumultuous story. That's the showbiz drama unfurled in Fosse/Verdon, which boasts Sam Rockwell as Fosse, Michelle Williams as Verdon, and even Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda as Roy Scheider. Unsurprisingly, the performance-driven eight-episode series is full of razzle, dazzle, interpersonal drama and excellent portrayals. Also unsurprisingly, it'll add plenty of 70s musicals to your watch list afterwards. The first four episodes of Fosse/Verdon are available to stream on Foxtel Now, with new episodes added weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytB8xNQ18_c MIRACLE WORKERS Yes, existential comedy is having a moment — and add Miracle Workers to the already great pile that includes The Good Place and Russian Doll. Based on the novel What in God's Name and adapted for TV by the book's author Simon Rich, the series asks a very important question: what if God was a slacker played by Steve Buscemi? The amusing questions keep coming. What if heaven was a huge company charged with making Earth run smoothly? What if two employees were responsible for all of the world's miracles? What if said miracle workers made a bet with God, and he's planning to blow up the planet if they lose? It all makes for ace viewing, complete with a stellar cast, including Daniel Radcliffe and Australian actress Geraldine Viswanathan (Emo the Musical, Blockers) as the duo trying to save humanity by performing one heavenly feat: making a shy couple fall in love. The entire first season of Miracle Workers is available to stream now on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYBw1raC2o DEAD TO ME When the trailer for Dead to Me first released, we noted that this blend of drama and comedy gave off A Simple Favour vibes — and we stand by it. The Netflix series isn't as quirky or laugh-out-loud funny as that great flick; however, it similarly nails the complications of female friendship. The incredibly watchable show also delves into the many shades of grief smartly and satisfyingly as well. Story-wise, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini play new pals who meet at a bereavement support group, bonding over their shared mourning for their respective spouses. But there's more to their tale, with the show adhering to one of the streaming platform's favourite techniques and throwing up cliffhangers at the end of every episode. Given the way that the first season comes to a close, you'll definitely be left waiting for the just-announced second series. The entire first season of Dead to Me is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho1YcutJLb8 NOW APOCALYPSE He made his famous Teen Apocalypse Trilogy back in the 90s, courted controversy with the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-starring Mysterious Skin, gave the world a female-fronted stoner comedy with Happy Face and won the first ever Cannes Film Festival Queer Palm with Kaboom. Alas, it's been five years since filmmaker Gregg Araki last made a movie — and while Now Apocalypse is definitely a television show, it's 100 percent driven by the distinctive writer/director. Transferring his talents to the small screen (and his usual themes, standout visual style and love of taking viewers on a head trip), Araki's series is set in Los Angeles, and follows Ulysses (Avan Jogia) and his fellow twenty-something pals. They're are all just trying to chase their dreams, but in Uly's case, that could be a literal quest given that his monstrous nightmares seem to be coming true. The entire first season of Now Apocalypse is available to stream on Stan. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
That’s right, you heard us correctly. Thanks to the FreeWines app, you can now get a top-quality bottle of red or white wine when you dine at certain restaurants. FreeWines is connected with more than 200 venues in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, so wherever you are, download this app stat for some tasty vino. To get the ball rolling, here are just some out the outstanding eateries you can enjoy free wine. NEW SOUTH WALES YORK LANE Tucked away in an inner-city laneway lies York Lane — cafe/espresso bar by day, restaurant/bar by night. Drop on in where the vinyl is spinning and the tapas is rolling out on a regular basis. The key word here is cosy, as it can only fit up to 30 people at a time. Get amongst the repurposed decor and polish off a bottle of award-winning wine with a small group of friends. 56 Clarence Street, Sydney. THE CROW BAR Small, elegant, and stylish all come to mind when it comes to this delightful venue with serious cocktails and a thoughtful wine list. European-influenced share plates are the go here, and their ambient fireplace and black leather sofas make it ideal for a cool-weather hideaway spot, but in truth this venue is a gem all year round. The Crow Bar in Crows Nest is certainly worth ‘raven’ about. 6 Burlington Street, Crows Nest THE HILL EATERY What list of Sydney foodie spots would be complete without a Bondi representative? The Hill Eatery is our destination of choice. With ethically sourced produce, these guys are big on farm-to-table practice and make an effort to venture outside of the city limits to bring only the best to your plate. They’re also expanding over summer with their Florida Keys Garden Bar, so stay tuned for more excellent work from this crew. Shop 5, 39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi. RED LANTERN ON RILEY Vietnamese cuisine is at its best at Red Lantern on Riley, with its excellence continuing across the way at Red Lily Cocktail Bar. Fresh ingredients, sustainable practice and authenticity is at the heart of Luke Nguyen’s venture, with a French Colonial Vietnamese influence on the decor. Red Lantern on Riley is ideal for catching up with friends and family, as their menu is full of shared dishes. You know what else is excellent when shared? A bottle of free wine. 60 Riley Street, Darlinghurst. VICTORIA CRU WINE BAR We love CRU at anytime of day, as they’re open from early-bird brekkie to last drinks most nights of the week. Settle in to their quaint front bar or courtyard when the weather warms up and have a chat with their resident ‘wine guy’ about what is the right drop for you. Their wine list here is plentiful, so after your free wine don’t hesitate to grab another bottle of something equally as delicious. 916 Glenferrie Road, Kew. CHOW CITY Serving up a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian fare, Chow City provides a playful approach to pan-Asian dining. Whether you’re looking for authentic traditional dishes or some street food on the run, your tastebuds will be satisfied here. A nice white wine would go a treat with their spicy seafood, such as the battered king prawns with egg white and chilli sauce. 287 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. EBENEZER COFFEE AND WINE BAR If specialty coffee and boutique wine is your bag, head down to Black Rock and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. The focus here is on taking pride in their produce, so you’re sure to get a great serve for breakfast, lunch of dinner. A glass of wine by the seaside sounds like heaven to us. 615 Balcombe Road, Black Rock. QUEENSLAND CLARET HOUSE This wine bar has a menu designed for sharing, and we would certainly recommend splitting a charcuterie plate or some slow-cooked lamb ribs with chimichurri among friends. Their wine list is extensive and their staff knowledgeable, so if it’s a fine wine you’re after, look no further. Shop 5 London Woolstores, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe. DEER DUCK BISTRO Modern European dining experiences often call for the perfect red wine to match. Rest assured you’ll find one at Deer Duck Bistro. There is a focus on ethical eating at this establishment, where only the freshest in local, sustainable, organic and macrobiotic produce is used where possible. Embrace the old world charm and carefully crafted dishes on your next night out. 396 Milton Road, Auchenflower COVE BAR AND DINING In among South Bank’s River Quay fine dining precinct, you’re sure to stumble across Cove Bar, and when you do, do yourself a favour and stay a while. This casual yet elegant atmosphere is ideal for your next date night, as the riverside views and flawless feasting is sure to impress. Try one of their seasonal oyster creations with Hugh Hamilton 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and thank us later. 4 Sidon Street, South Brisbane.
Think juice is just for cooling your body temperature on those stinking humid days that Queensland prides itself on? Think again. A good blend of citrus and ginger of can be quite useful to shoo away sniffles (yep, you can even get 'em in spring time). Presenting Brisbane's top five delicious, flu-fighting, body-rejuvenating juices, freshly squeezed at market stalls, juice bars and cafes around our health-kickin' city. THIRST BUSTER: QUEEN STREET MARKETS For those that drink with their eyes, feast on this bad boy blend of watermelon, pineapple and orange. But really, can you go past that elaborate display of fruit on top of your drink? We think not. This is an instant teleport to your favourite summer spot. Queen Street Mall, Brisbane (every Wednesday 10am-6pm). THE QUEENSLANDER: RAW JUICERY While the above green juice will help you detox, we're after something a little more adventurous: The Queenslander. For those that 'ick' at the though of beetroot, the pineapple and orange complement it so well, you won't be able to taste it (the bright red colour of the aftermath might be a dead giveaway though!). 4/280 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. THE CLASSIC FRESH OJ: JAMIE'S ESPRESSO If you feel a bit fancypants trying out all these liquid fruit salads, you can't go wrong with a classic OJ. Watching Jamie do his thing with that old school juicer is totally worth the trip out to New Farm. 49 James Street, New Farm. FLU BREAKER: QUENCH JUICE BAR Orange, pineapple and ginger. Goes without saying that this one is great for a sore throat. You can find Quench at the Valley's James Street Markets, the Ferry Road Markets in Southport and Gasworks. James Street Markets, 22 James Street, Fortitude Valley. THE TIGER BALM: FAT CARROT A West End institution. If you feel the flu coming on, give this one a try. Nothing like the pungent ointment you used to smother on toilet seats at school muck-up day, this cold-fighting juice is packed with papaya, orange, lemon, pineapple and mint. Yum! 179 Boundary Street, West End. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Every decade or thereabouts, change comes to Montrachet. Back in 2017, more than ten years into its life, the French fine-diner made a massive move from the Given Terrace location in Paddington that it had always called home over to Bowen Hills' King Street. Now, with the restaurant over 20 years old, it's undergone a new switch. After going into administration in the middle of 2024, Montrachet is back open under a new owner. French chef Clément Chauvin has taken over the acclaimed eatery, which was previously part of chef Shannon Kellam's hospitality empire. Welcoming patrons through the doors since Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the new Montrachet mixes fresh touches with classics on its menu — and in general. Diners can still say bonjour to double-crab soufflé, escargot, bouillabaisse, steak frites and crème brûlée, should you already know your favourite Montrachet dish. Clément's additions, however, include spring lamb two ways, beef wellington with red wine jus, and roasted pumpkin and mushroom pie featuring a sage and brown butter crumble on top. For dessert, there's also now a passionfruit soufflé paired with a chilli explosion and coconut sorbet as the sweet signature option. The menu also spans a range of multi-course feasts for the table, whether you're after two plates, three or a six-round degustation. On Saturdays for lunch, there's also a surprise five-course option created by the restaurant's kitchen team. Among the single dishes, other highlights include steak tartare, dry-aged roasted duck with orange duck jus, upside-down caramelised apple tart and dark chocolate mousse-filled cigars. Chauvin is already behind fellow French restaurant Les Bistronomes in Canberra, running the award-winning eatery as its sole owner and Executive Chef since 2019. Now, the figure that started his career aged 15 — complete with stints at Gordon Ramsay's Claridge's in London, plus Sydney's Restaurant Balzac and Bistro Paris — takes on an adored slice of Brisbane's dining scene. Find Montrachet at 1/30 King Street, Bowen Hills — open for lunch Thursday–Saturday and dinner Tuesday–Saturday. Head to the restaurant's website for more details.
Anzac Day in Australia is a time of tradition, reflection, two-up and copious amounts of Tooheys Old. In 2016, Australia takes Monday off to remember, and the weekend to make the most of the present. Pay your respects to the nation's past and present servicemen and women, then use the time to celebrate Australia's future. Here's ten things we think you should put on your Anzac long weekend schedule.
Getting arty while sipping tipples has fast become everyone's favourite thing to do, and for plenty of good reasons. It's creative, it's fun and it's the equivalent of reliving your primary school art classes as a wine-sipping adult. And, while there's no shortage of places and sessions popping up for the imbibing artists amongst us, Boozy Board Art promises something different on a number of levels. Firstly, as the name suggests, you'll be spilling your crafty talents all over a blank skateboard deck — which you then get to take home with you. Work-Shop will supply the board, alcohol, supplies and a primer on what to do, including sanding, priming and painting, and then let you loose. If that sounds like your regular old drink-fuelled art class, that's understandable; however the team at Decks for Change will put an end to that. Not only will they be on hand to help, but your class fee will go towards building skate parks in underdeveloped countries. Painting, sipping, scoring a skateboard and helping those in need — now you don't do that everyday.
Good ol' V-Day has a bit of a reputation. Some love it, some loathe it, but most do find the notion an intimidating one. How are we meant to impress the one we love without overdosing on the sappy and the sickeningly sweet? Here at Concrete Playground, we've whittled down the embarrassing and the desperate, and what we've come up with is the definite list to suit your own specific Valentine's Day in the city of love: Brisbane. IT'S A FIRST DATE Alright, so the first step here is just to remain calm. This is totally fine. In our fair city of Brisbane, there are a few surefire ways to impress this new bud-but-maybe-more of yours. You don’t want to go too fancy or look like you’re trying too hard, but this night’s gotta be special. It’s Valentine’s Day, and you can nail this. Heading somewhere new like The Charming Squire is a great way to break the ice but not the bank; some share plates of pulled pork sliders, arancini balls, chicken wings and marinated olives will give you time to figure out if your favourite beers or ciders are a romantic match. A casual stroll along South Bank’s river walk is excellent, perhaps a spin on the Wheel of Brisbane, turned Wheel of Love, before stopping off at Nitrogenie for dessert with some science-based wow-factor. There will be fairy lights and night markets and maybe some live music, all by the scenic river littered with opportunities to get better acquainted. YOU'RE SO IN LOVE Oh my gosh you guys. So you’ve been together for a while now, you’re totes smitten and here it is! It’s V-Day. A great place to indulge in your unabashed love is the Riverbar and Kitchen down at the Eagle Street Promenade. If sharing is caring, particularly when it comes to food, then these guys will help you show your beloved how much you really care with their share platter for two plus a two-person dessert for a sweet $50. On the side you can quench your doting thirst with the specialty cocktails formulated for the Riverbar Valentine's Day Cocktail Menu – Cupid’s Kiss and All Night Long come in at $17 a pop. YOU DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY Another Saturday night, another wild adventure for you two love birds. Dinner is probably not too high on the list of the night’s activities, but you might as well take the opportunity to indulge. Alfred & Constance in the Valley have a new menu, boasting some share plates of crispy calamari, haloumi and Persian spiced carrot fritters, served with a classic mojito jug followed by a salted caramel Baked Alaska. This puts you in prime position for the main event: entertainment. You will rejoice at the options for gig-goers this evening. Everyone’s favourite bearded crooner Chet Faker is taking to the stage at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and then there’s the lovely Megan Washington at The Triffid. There are also a slew of theatre options, including the lively works of MELT: A Celebration of Queer Arts and Culture at the Powerhouse and a magical adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream from La Boite. YOU'RE LOOKING TO REKINDLE THE ROMANCE Yeah, yeah. We know. How many Valentine’s Days have you guys seen together now? February 14 is just another date on the calendar these days. But it doesn't have to be. Why not try a few different kinds of eats and add some variety to your lives? Saké are a tried-and-tested favourite of St Valentine’s special day — so much so, they’ve whittled down the menu to the best of the best, a veritable smorgasbord of Japanese delicacies for you to adventure through. $99 per person gets you a glass of house champers on arrival, plus five courses from the shared tasting menu. Try the marble chocolate mousse for dessert, or perhaps the green tea langue de cha. YOU ENJOY THE FINER THINGS Perhaps Valentine’s Day is your night of nights, the perfect excuse to romance the apple of your eye with rose petals and the finest champagne? Join those who love the finer things in life at Customs House for stunning dining with views of the river and the best angle of the city. If you’re after an early mark, their lunch menu includes the choice of two courses for $67 per person, of three courses for $85, with a couple of sitting options available. For the night owls, a four-course dinner menu, served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne will set you back $110 per person. If oysters en masse are more your thing, the Stamford Plaza are having a seafood buffet, packed with romantic riverside ambience, free live music, a glass of Moët on arrival and a single rose for the ladies, for $59 per person for the lunch sitting and $99 for dinner. Afterwards, you can slowly take your full stomachs up to the Superior King River View room, where you’ll find more champagne, rose petals, exotic bath products and a personalised love note for a pretty cute $489 per night. IT'S GIRLS'/GUYS' NIGHT On this day for lovers, why not make a date with your best soul mates? Your romantic love might not be available, or not yet in your life, but that doesn’t mean this perfectly good Saturday night will be wasted, no sir. If you still wanted to brave the coupled-up locales, Cloudland are having a dinner event on the day — for $50 per person, you get a glass of rosé champagne on arrival, plus a goodie bag for the ladies. Score! You could always do things a little differently and wander over to Cowch in South Brisbane. Did you know they do desserts and cocktails? This is a thing, and they’ve got you covered for the ol’ with a round of Milk Choclatinis. It’ll make stepping out without your track pants on so much more worthwhile. For the non-sweet tooths, you can shout your buddy at The Elephant Hotel and enjoy a pizza and a jug of local beer for $25. THE ANTI-VALENTINE'S DAY Yeah, look, Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re a 'we' or still a 'me', it doesn’t mean Hallmark and Cadbury deserve your money. There are ways to get out of the house and enjoy what is sure to be a beautiful day without getting mushy and romantic and, to be honest, a bit sickening. Have some self-respect. See your buddies at The Fox Hotel for the ultimate solo sanctuary, the Rooftop Singles Party. For $39 you get the cocktail package of espresso martinis, mojitos and premium spirits, plus wines, beers and mixes. For those solo riders looking to keep things a bit low-key, check out the Digital Writers' Festival. That night, there are sure to be a bunch of movies on television. Did you know that McDonald’s now deliver?
Whether you're heading to the cinema with friends or curling up on the couch with your significant other, a night watching movies remains a fantastic source of entertainment, enjoyment and escapism. Sitting in the dark, switching your mind away from your regular worries and slipping into another world — if you're catching the right flick, few things can top it. Cinema-wise, 2020 has thrown up plenty of films that tick all of the above boxes. Even with theatres closing for a significant portion of the year so far, that still proves the case. And now that 2020 is just approaching its halfway mark, it's time to look back. Maybe you missed one of this year's great flicks when it was in cinemas. Perhaps it's showing again now that picture palaces are reopening, and you haven't quite made it along yet. Indeed, it could be on your must-see list when you next sit in a darkened theatre. Or, of course, there might be a few gems that have just slipped your attention. Plus, there are always the ace movies you saw, loved and want to see again. Whichever category fits, here are 12 films from 2020 that you you need to catch up on. Head to the cinema and grab a choc top or organise your streaming queue and cook up some popcorn, as we've sorted out your viewing for the near future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE7YVZA5YVc TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG What our critic said: Made for a world where 'such is life' tattoos commit Ned Kelly's purported last words to slabs of Aussie flesh, this gritty, galvanising film sets fire to Australia's national identity and stares at the ashes of the country's troubled history — all by re-interrogating a man inescapably engrained in our iconography over the past century and a half... A visually, emotionally, thematically searing movie that strides across the screen like an outlaw, aptly. True History of the Kelly Gang is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CELbK9q_ZeA A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD What our critic said: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood remembers a man who considered himself ordinary while having an extraordinary effect on others. You could say the same about Tom Hanks, which is what makes his casting as Mr Rogers so sublime. His is a superb, deservedly Oscar-nominated performance that's never an act of simple mimicry, but that he's as revered — and has been a reliable screen presence for decades, too — is never forgotten. A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXmdY4lVR0 A HIDDEN LIFE What our critic said: As a renowned lover of rolling hills, scenic greenery, constantly roving camerawork and breathy voiceover that borders on whispering, Terrence Malick recreates the Second World War with splendour. Although its conflict remains spiritual, philosophical and existential rather than physical, A Hidden Life is as weighty as any blood-soaked account of combat — and as affecting. A Hidden Life is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gOs6gKtrb4 THE LIGHTHOUSE What our critic said: After watching Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson fart, fight, guzzle too much rum, growl at seagulls, masturbate and go steadily mad in one of the titular buildings, you might never look at these oceanside staples in the same way again... The more this powerhouse duo snipe and snarl back and forth, the more they lure viewers into The Lighthouse's fever dream like a glowing beam — or like the tentacles that help make this already out-there movie even more eccentric, outlandish and utterly mesmerising. The Lighthouse is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLmvs9Wrem0 COLOR OUT OF SPACE What our critic said: Whenever Nicolas Cage keeps things quiet and normal, he evokes the unnerving sensation that perhaps everything is too quiet and normal. When he's letting loose, there's really no telling what could happen next. A film about a glowing meteor that crashes on an alpaca farm and not only forever changes a family's existence, but their entire grasp on reality, Lovecraftian horror adaptation Color Out of Space needs both Cage's unsettlingly calm and brain-bogglingly over-the-top sides. More than that, it thrives on them. Color Out of Space is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLAJyugYEiY THE INVISIBLE MAN What our critic said: Great horror movies have always reflected and responded to the times they're made in and, in the same vein as Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us, Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man helps lead the charge as the 21st century reaches its third decade. This is a socially conscious, savagely creepy, supremely clever reinterpretation of a classic scarefest that takes every part of that equation seriously. The Invisible Man is available to stream via Google Play and YouTube — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srPas4PqCkw BEATS What our critic said: Based on the play of the same name, this black-and-white gem is set in the Scottish electronic music scene in the early 90s — just as the UK government was passing legislation to effectively ban raves. Following two teenagers desperate to attend what might be their first and last dance music festival, and featuring a thumping soundtrack of old-school tunes, the result is an insightful exuberant coming-of-age film, as well as a as a thoughtful and reflective social-realist drama. Beats is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hroo3-sKc0w HONEY BOY What our critic said: A Vietnam veteran and ex-rodeo clown who treats his pre-teen son more like a buddy than a child, James Lort is the role that Shia LaBeouf was born to play... Basing Honey Boy on the latter's years as a child actor, and on his father's involvement, the result is an astonishingly personal and revelatory film that continues the American Honey and The Peanut Butter Falcon star's recent stellar streak. Honey Boy is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dii0FMXXVvA&feature=emb_logo HONEYLAND What our critic said: In Honeyland's opening moments, Hatidže Muratova performs feats that wouldn't be out of place in an action blockbuster... In this intimate observational doco, she's worlds away from cinema's big-budget spectacles — but she's still a daring superhero. Dedicated to traditional apiary methods, Hatidže is the last female wild beekeeper in Europe. That mightn't mean much when audiences start watching Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov's debut feature-length film, but it will when the credits roll. Honeyland is available to stream via Movie Night, At Home and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBGi3SzxkKk&feature=share DARK WATERS What our critic said: Dark Waters doesn't shy away from or try to reinvent its genre. Any move in that direction wouldn't do its real-life details justice. But this is definitely a Todd Haynes movie in the way that matters most: its emotional impact... Haynes hasn't just brought an essential story to the screen (and inspired his audience to start questioning all the chemicals in their lives), but crafted the ideal movie for a world where the entire planet is increasingly at the mercy of corporate giants. Dark Waters is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRMPdhQBlWs QUEEN & SLIM What our critic said: The debut feature by music video director Melina Matsoukas — a Grammy-winner for her work on Rihanna's 'We Found Love' and Beyonce's 'Formation' — Queen & Slim wears its nods on its sleeves, and its topicality as well. Combining an all-too-frequent real-life situation with cinema's "lovers on the run" genre, it's a statement piece that not only conveys an attention-grabbing story, but explores the constantly relevant issue of race relations in America. Queen & Slim is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biHUTtV4K40 IN FABRIC What our critic said:Peter Strickland is one of cinema's inimitable auteurs, not only conjuring up narratives that no other filmmaker ever would or could, but bringing them to the screen with a distinctive sense of style and mood. That remains accurate with In Fabric — the lauded writer/director's haunted dress movie. In a London clothing store, bank teller Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) finds the perfect red frock for her first blind date; however, she soon discovers that the fabulous outfit has quite the dark side. Also starring Games of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie, this fashion-focused horror-comedy is lurid and intoxicating. In Fabric is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review.
If you think gin is just for your grandma, think again. Dutch Courage Officers' Mess has united gin lovers all over the city and created a cult-like following for the oft-forgotten spirit. Boasting more than 80 gins among 240 liqueurs behind the bar, signature cocktails and a lively weekend crowd are staples at the Alfred Street address. So do like the officers did, and get wild at the mess for a night. Inspired by British colonial outposts of the late 19th-century, hessian curtains, rattan furniture and wide blade fans set the mood to party like its 1889. Brisbane's balmy (read: hot, humid and sweaty) summer evenings create an authentic atmosphere, so you'll feel like you're chilling out in the jungle for real. Hang up your plinth hat, kick up your heels and focus on the booze, the tunes and the good times at hand. If there's too much going on for your downstairs, make your way to the verandah upstairs, where more intimate seating is available. Be courageous and check out the extensive cocktail menu ($16-18) studded with the likes of the 24 Gun Salute with Beefeater 24, elderflower, egg white and chamomile flowers. If gin ain't your thing, don't worry, there are plenty of other spirits to go around. The bartenders are more than happy to oblige classic and customised creations on request, keeping all thirsts at bay. If you need a feed while sippin' on your gin and juice, the Mess has got you covered. Chow down on the buttermilk fried chicken with sweet mustard dipping sauce ($18), a ploughman's platter ($24) or the jungle burger ($20) to satisfy your gin-soaked stomach. Struggling to make it through the working week? Dutch Courage has your back. Tuesday nights are filled with the greatness of beer and boardgames from 4pm till late. For $7 you can enjoy a handle of craft beer and impress your rivals with with your general knowledge of pop culture in Trivial Pursuit, making lines of the same colour in Connect Four, or whatever else is your bag. Come play.
UPDATE, February 5, 2021: Thor: Ragnarok is available to stream via Disney+, iTunes and Amazon Video. How many clues did you need before you knew that this one was going to be different? The choice of director alone ought to have gotten you most of the way there. New Zealand's Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows) doesn't do conventional. Then there was the trailer: a neon-infused, synth-rock-pumping Flash Gordon throwback that favoured humour over action. As it happens, so does the film – and it's a delight from the first frame to the last. Thor: Ragnarok is the third picture to focus on the eponymous God of Thunder, and the 17th in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe. Led by Australia's Chris Hemsworth, it also stars Cate Blanchett as the Goddess of Death, Tom Hiddleston as the God of Mischief and Jeff Goldblum as the Oh My God He's Just Fabulous. Mark Ruffalo also returns as The Hulk, having not been seen since The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Rounding out the cast are franchise regulars Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins in small but affecting roles. With Waititi at the helm, Ragnarok has a distinctly casual, cheeky and irreverent feel compared to Marvel's previous offerings, as well as a noticeable 80s aesthetic in both its style and soundtrack. It's a genuine breath of fresh air in a franchise within a franchise, and something that the MCU sorely needed. Waititi is obviously known for his sense of humour, yet what truly distinguishes him as a filmmaker is a pronounced absence of cynicism. No matter the theme or story (Wilderpeople dealt with some tragic issues amidst all the chaos), the overwhelming sensation upon leaving a Waititi movie is optimism. For Marvel, whose movies have grown darker as they hurtle towards the up and coming Infinity War, the contrast is as noticeable as it is necessary. Like a Roger Moore Bond film, Ragnarok still has its action and moments of gravity, but above all else it's fun. You can see it in the performances. Hemsworth's obvious comedic abilities – which were also on display in Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot – are given ample room to breathe in Ragnarok right from the opening scene. A significant portion of the film's dialogue was reportedly improvised, resulting in a free-flowing and naturalistic feel that also serves to accentuate the fractious relationships between the various lead characters – most notably Thor, Loki and Hulk. Then there's franchise newcomer Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. Most recently seen in HBO's Westworld, Thompson proves a genuine scene stealer, which is no small accomplishment given hers is an almost exclusively human performance in a movie jam-packed with special effects and CGI-characters. Through Valkyrie we see Marvel's ability to create lethal, confident, independent, wise-cracking female heroes who are every bit as capable (if not more-so) than their male counterparts. There are shortcomings, of course. For all its strengths, Ragnarok is not a perfect film. Blanchett and Elba are both seriously under-utilised, Hopkins comes face to face with some bewilderingly bad special effects, and Karl Urban's character has a clunky pro-gun schtick that feels entirely out of place with the rest of the film. The humour is refreshing, but comedy is not every actor's greatest strength, and at times Ragnarok feels too heavily skewed towards laughs when instead the scene calls for something a little meatier. Still, what Waititi and his team have crafted here is a remarkable reimagining of the MCU, one that is at once respectful of its place in the world, but still self-aware enough to never take itself too seriously. It's a big movie that somehow still feels small and intimate, and a near-perfect example of a blockbuster done right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg
Think rainbows and unicorns are just for kids? Think again. Sure, Dancenorth's addition to this year's Brisbane Festival is an all-ages affair; however more mature festival-goers won't want to miss out on a performance that features 7.6 kilometres of UV rope. Yep, as well as a kick-ass name, Rainbow Vomit boasts enough luminous thread to get you from the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts through the city to West End. It also includes a story about morphing creatures and magical 'fireworks glasses' that refract light into the titular multi-coloured phenomenon. Enough said. Image: Amber Haines.
The folks over at Gelato Messina know how to whip lovers of all things sweet and frozen into a frenzy, and they've done it again, announcing that their Sydney degustation bar will be venturing north to Brisbane. The Messina Creative Department will be setting up shop for the first time at the South Brisbane store for two weeks only, from August 31 until September 9. An offshoot of the famed gelato parlour, the Messina Creative Department offers an epic seven-course degustation, complete with non-alcoholic drink pairing. Since opening next door to their OG Darlinghurst venue last year to rapturous response, the tiny dessert table space has proved to be immensely popular, with places booking out almost as soon as they're released. Their recent sold-out truffle degustations in Sydney and Melbourne have been similarly received. With two to three sittings per night and just 12 seats available per sitting, Brisbanites had best book these $130-per-head spots at the ice cream sorcery table as soon as possible. The menu should have you doing just that. It will be a combo of the best dishes from Sydney and Melbourne (along with a few brand new Brissie creations) — previous dessert dinners have seen the likes of garlic gelato, a sugar egg filled with delights and an amazing matcha and pistachio cake concoction. A recent dish matched a vanilla and black truffle oil with vanilla and parsnip puree, a parsnip crisp and a vanilla 'fern' matched with a chai latte. It's dessert meets art meets one helluva tastebud adventure. The Messina Creative Department will pop-up at the Brisbane store at 109 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane from August 31 till September 9. So get your sticky gelato fingers on a ticket here.
The Australian Bar of the Year isn't in Sydney or Melbourne this year. Culinary heavyweights Victoria and New South Wales clean up year after year at the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, announced last night at Sydney's Carriageworks, but the coveted Bar of the Year gong was instead nabbed by Queensland, hitherto known as the little engine that could. Perhaps not best known for fine dining, Queenslanders do love a good bevvy so shouldn't come as a surprise Brisbane’s crowd favourite The Gresham won bar of the year. Sydney's gained points for friendliness and food this week, as Neil Perry's Sydney restaurant Rockpool has taken out the Restaurant of the Year title, along with many other impressive wins for the Sydney food scene. Rockpool won out in the end with judges citing reasons such as the luxurious fit-out, inventive food and genuine old-school service from the star sommelier (who is, no doubt, about to get quite a raise). Other Sydney award winners include the just-opened Bennelong, which took out the award for best new restaurant of the year; Billy Kwong took out best wine list (we wonder how they’ll be celebrating the win); Raffaele Mastrovincenzo of Kappo won sommelier of the year and Lennox Hastie of Surry Hills' Firedoor was awarded best new talent. Melbourne was Sydney’s main rival in food and wine stakes and won maître d’ of the year (Vanessa Crichton of Rosetta) and Melbourne legend Joost Bakker (owner of zero waste cafe brothl) was recognised for his service and awarded the outstanding contribution to hospitality. Regional New South Wales and Victoria also got in on the action, with Dan Hunter of Brae in Birregurra winning chef of the year and Byron Bay's new chapter of Three Blue Ducks taking out regional restaurant of the year. And the list of three-star winners (the equally mortgage-your-house-to-eat-here contest of culinary fanciness) was crawling with Sydney royalty, including Sepia, Vue de Monde, Quay, Momofuku Seiobo and The Bridge Room alongside Melbourne’s eternal flame, Ben Shewry’s Attica. Image: Gourmet Traveller.
Fancy grabbing a bite to eat at the Brisbane Showgrounds — and not just a strawberry sundae or a showbag filled with Bertie Beetles when the Ekka is in town each August? Well, soon you can. Come July 2017, a new food-centric boutique laneway called Kings Co-op will make that dream a reality. Taking over the space on the northern corner of King Street, Kings Co-op will transform a number of the site's long-standing buildings into a new food, retail and creative community hub, with opening up the facilities all year round and breathing life into historic structures among the project's main aims. With that in mind, prepare to spend a whole heap of time at the Royal Snack Bar. It'll form the centrepiece of the dining precinct, replacing the set-to-be-demolished RNA Snack Bar. Nearby, the Sugar building and Dairy Industry Hall will also be revamped. As well as more restaurants, bars and outdoor eating, the iconic buildings will accommodate studio spaces for the creative industries, as well as proposed health and wellbeing facilities and stores, plus a multi-level carpark. Kings Co-op is just the latest phase in the 15-year, $2.9 billion regeneration project, which has been underway for the past six years. As you've probably noticed, the revitalisation of the Fortitude Valley area has already seen a new hotel, residential complex and commercial development open their doors, and an initial dining precinct pop up. The latter features The George Bar and Bistro, GG Espresso and Fat Dumpling, with Italian restaurant Il Verde set to join them in September. For more information about Kings Co-op, visit livekingstreet.com.au.
It's a sad day for Soulfest ticketholders, this year's festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Due to kick off for Australia/New Zealand dates with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and Miguel on Saturday, October 24, Soulfest 2015 will no longer be hitting Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne, or bringing sideshows to Brisbane, Mebourne and Sydney. Soulfest International posted this statement on their website and Facebook page this morning: "It is with a heavy heart and great regret that Soulfest International advises that it has become necessary to cancel Soulfest and the subsequent sideshows, due to poor ticket sales. Soulfest was scheduled to take place in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, with sideshows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and was due to commence on October 20th. "Soulfest was launched with the intention of promoting genres of music that are often overlooked commercially in this country, specifically Neo-Soul, RnB and Hip-Hop, and Soulfest 2014 successfully delivered some of the most exciting talent within these genres. Despite a stellar line-up of artists and the best promotional endeavours on Soulfest’s behalf, the event has simply not received the support via ticket sales, and the financial loss that would be incurred by the event if it were to go ahead as planned would be devastating. "There have been many people working behind the scenes, including media partners, artists, sponsors, sub-contracted promoters, communication managers, agents and suppliers who live, breathe and support this incredible genre of music and have worked tirelessly to try and make this event a success. The promoter sincerely apologises to all involved who have dedicated 7 months of their lives to work on this festival, and to the supporters of the event who purchased tickets." Soulfest has confirmed tickets will be refunded. For tickets booked online or by phone, credit cards used to book will automatically be refunded. Soulfest have said refunds could take up to 14 days. Bookings made at outlets will also be refunded, with ticketholders told to return to the box office where they bought the tickets with the credit card they used and photo ID. Soulfest's sideshows, sadly, are also cancelled. Via Music Feeds. Image: Soulfest.
Balmy summer nights in Sydney, bring 'em on. Rooftop wines, twilight beach strolls and a plethora of blockbuster exhibitions opening their doors across the city — not to mention the after-hours parties that come with them. Bringing some of the world's most groundbreaking, celebrated and iconic art to the city for your perusing pleasure, the Sydney International Art Series is currently boasting two world-class exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Of course, Sydney galleries don't just shut up shop after you've soaked up The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland and Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career, there's a whole bunch of late-night events to see through the evening. Here's a round-up of the must-do cultural programs to catch over the coming months. UP LATE WITH THE GREATS When the sun goes down every Wednesday, the Art Gallery of NSW decks the halls with jam-packed evenings of talks, guided tours, and live music. A super-charged extension of the Gallery's usual Wednesday night Art After Hours program will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, dubbed Up Late with The Greats. After the Gallery's usual closing time of 5pm, you can take an extended jaunt through The Greats exhibition — featuring the likes of Titian, Botticelli, Gauguin and Degas, all the way from the National Galleries of Scotland — and partake in a ramped up range of activities. On Wednesday nights, celebrated comedian and SERIOUS art nerd Hannah Gadsby will be unveiling her SERIOUS art history chops and treating gallery-goers to a VERY SERIOUS rundown of different eras of Western art history each week. There'll be salon drawing on Thursday nights, and live music by members of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra on Friday nights. On all three nights, Young Henrys will be serving a limited edition masterpiece-inspired brew at the Gallery’s pop-up bar. Up Late With The Greats will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from January 6 – 29. MCA ARTBAR The Museum of Contemporary Art’s monthly ARTBAR has become a firm fixture on Sydney’s after-dark cultural calendar. After knocking off work on Friday, head down to Circular Quay for an extra dose of art, a splash of wine and your choice of fun-filled activities — with the added bonus of panoramic views of the harbour from the Sculpture Terrace. Past curators have included the likes of Pip and Pop, Blak Douglas, Haines and Hinterding, and Rebecca Baumann — each building uniquely flavoured late-night events. Wander in on the last Friday night of the month and you can expect a lively conglomeration of art, music, design and performance. It’s an excuse to let loose alongside some of Sydney’s best artistic talent. The next ARTBAR for 2016 will be curated by the supremely colourful Rosie Deacon. Who knows what’s in store for this one, but knowing Deacon, we will likely see something big, crafty and carnivalesque. MCA ARTBAR curated by Rosie Deacon will take place on Friday, January 29, with the following editions of MCA ARTBAR taking place on February 26, April 1 and April 29. DINE AT CHISWICK AT THE GALLERY It makes perfect sense to conclude an art adventure with a culinary adventure, right? Matt Moran’s Chiswick at the Gallery offers a cool and classy dining experience inside the Art Gallery of NSW. The ethos underpinning this restaurant is all about seasonal produce and inventive creations. Hence this season’s lamb comes from Moran’s family farm in the Central Tablelands, while the locally-grown herbs and vegetables come courtesy of Chiswick’s resident gardener. Head along for a bite to eat during summer and you can take advantage of a special dining package developed to complement The Greats. Take your pick of two mains, two desserts, a glass of Ross Hill Estate wine, plus a ticket to the exhibition for $75 per person — pretty great value. After taking in some old world inspiration, you can retreat to Chiswick for a more contemporary and replenishing experience. It's staying open for dinner on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in January as part of the Up Late with The Greats. For bookings, contact Chiswick at the Gallery on (02) 9225 1819. MCA'S GRAYSON PERRY-INSPIRED GIN GARDEN If you haven’t dabbled in a spot of gin drinking, now is the time. Young Henrys, Archie Rose Distillery and the MCA have joined forces to open a pop-up Gin Garden, coinciding with the blockbuster exhibition Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career. Ushering in some English charm for the summer — with the added perk of Australian sunshine — this quirky watering hole ought to be the perfect accompaniment to arty afternoons at the MCA. Archie Rose has set forth on a mission to revive Sydney’s once-thriving passion for spirits with their dedicated Rosebery distillery. The team will offer expertly crafted cocktails incorporating native Australian ingredients, such as blood lime, Dorrigo pepperleaf, lemon myrtle and river mint. If beer is your beverage of choice, Sydney’s star boutique brewers Young Henrys will be pulling a few pints too. Once you’ve had your fill of Grayson Perry, this is the leafy little pop-up is ideal for a refreshing sip of gin and a conversation (or debate) about contemporary art. The MCA Pop-Up Gin Garden will be open Thursday to Sunday from 4pm till late, until February 14, 2016. MCA LIGHTS ON LATER The MCA's late-night program is your go-to inner-city art adventure in Sydney, with this summer's program brimming with activity after hours. Every Thursday evening until 9pm, enjoy late-night access to Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career and other MCA exhibitions. Discover and design your alter ego in a hands-on workshop, listen to MCA curators and guides, watch one of Grayson Perry’s popular TV documentaries, join a Subversive Tour of the exhibition led by a cast of diverse and eclectic guests. Then wind down over a glass of wine, a bit to eat and live music on the MCA’s Sculpture Terrace. Want to go on multiple Sydney art adventures without going broke? You can buy discounted tickets to the Sydney International Art Series by purchasing an Art Pass. It gives you access to both The Greats and Grayson Perry this summer for a discounted rate. Nab one from artpass.com.au.
Convincing people to eat their daily dose of fruit is about to get a whole lot easier. In the single greatest agricultural triumph since Nick Offerman opened that pizza farm back in July, Australian supermarkets will soon be stocking fairy floss flavoured grapes. And who said you can't improve on nature? Officially trademarked as Cotton Candy Grapes, the variety was developed by Californian grape growers Grapery, who created it accidentally while cross-pollinating different breeds. The result is an extra sweet grape that reportedly tastes uncannily like everyone's favourite school fete treat — although Grapery CEO Jim Beagle assured The Huffington Post that they have "basically the same nutritional content as almost any grapes in the grocery store." Cotton candy grapes please never go away.???? I may or may not buy 2 bags at a time whenever I see them at the store.? #tiumeals #tiuteam #fitforfall #charitychallenge @toneitup #cottoncandygrapes A photo posted by Lyndsay (@lyndsayruns) on Sep 14, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT Unsurprisingly, the grapes have proven a major hit in the United States, blowing up on social media and warranting mentions on both The Today Show and Good Morning America. If that wasn't enough, they've also been given the official Ryan Seacreast seal of approval — a sure-fire sign of quality if ever there was one. Cotton candy flavored grapes exist. There is hope http://t.co/qVUXXy3GjJ — Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) August 9, 2013 Australia, meanwhile, will be getting its first taste of these little miracles come February next year, after Grape Co. Australia secured the license from Grapery to grow and sell the variety down under. Of course, the question on everyone's lips is whether or not you can turn them into fairy floss flavoured goon. Because that would be a gamechanger. Cloudy? Worry not, there's candy cotton grape gelato. I mean, cotton. candy. Grape. Cotton candy grape! (one of those silly saturday today, definitely :D ) A photo posted by Rebecca M (@reblondonfridge) on Sep 12, 2015 at 4:10am PDT Via Good Food and The Huffington Post. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Art has prevailed in the battle to fill a Melbourne rooftop with naked people. Spencer Tunick has staged his latest mass nude photography work on the top of a car park in Melbourne's inner southeast. Seventeen years after assembling 4500 naked volunteers for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival and eight years after he photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras, the polarising artist amassed another contingent of naked (and pretty brave — it was less than ten degrees in Melbourne this morning) folk for a new work titled Return of the Nude. The shoot saw a few hundred Melburnians grace the rooftop covered in nothing by sheer red sheets — from a distance, the participants looked like a little like hooded handmaids. Footage from the shoots shows the subject standing underneath the sheet and lying naked on top of it. This is what it looked like: A post shared by Will Pristel (@wpristel) on Jul 8, 2018 at 3:43pm PDT A post shared by C A R L (@car.carrr) on Jul 8, 2018 at 7:05pm PDT A post shared by Chapel Street (@chapelprecinct) on Jul 8, 2018 at 8:10pm PDT A separate shoot over the weekend saw people painted blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink and purple. Tunick's newest work has had quite the tumultuous journey — first the New York artist was given permission to hold a mass nude photoshoot on top of the Prahran Woolworths car park as part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocaré Festival of the Arts. But then the store said that it wouldn't like to participate. The supermarket then reversed its decision a week later after a petition spearheaded by the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), the festival's host organisation, gained some momentum in the community. The official photographs of the shoot is yet to surface, but are expected to be be released by Tunick soon. Images: Munich by Spencer Tunick; Melbourne by Provocaré Festival.
Wandering around the newly renovated Limes Hotel rooftop bar is kind of like seeing an old friend who has recently opted for a revolutionary haircut. She looked great before, but the new look has done her wonders. Limes Hotel have gone for a greener look with astro-turf and vines hanging from a lattice behind the bar. Two plunge pools have also been installed and add to the party vibe. Easy to move comfy black lounges slot perfectly into the holiday feel and shade covers ensure comfort on sweltering afternoons. The menu has also had a bit of a makeover and you'll find plenty of pleasant surprises at your next Sunday sesh. Forget boring bar nuts, Limes Hotel offer a great range of snacks on their new rooftop BBQ menu. The short but sweet menu includes summer classics such as chicken skewers and hand-cut coleslaw ($9), and prawn, avocado, ice burg lettuce with lime mayo on a soft roll ($15). A definite must-try is the bratwurst sausage with vintage cheddar, caramelised onion and tomato relish on a soft roll ($9). Top-notch cocktails have always been Limes Hotel's area of expertise but they have still managed to up the ante with their new drinks list. A favourite is the mango cooler with vodka, Cointreau, mango and orange, lemon and Demerera sugar ($18). The bartender masterfully blended the flavours of summer into a single cocktail and the result is refreshing, sweet and absolutely delicious. For a masculine drink, try the Spiced Jersey with spiced rum, angostura bitters, topped with cider ($17.50). Limes Hotel's cocktail jugs are a great option for groups. The Gin Berry Smash includes gin, chambord, seasonal berries, lemon, topped with soda ($30). This sweet concoction, with its tasty whole blueberries is quite reasonably priced and has a gorgeous pink hue. Another option is the Flower Fizz consisting of vodka, St Germain Elderflower cordial, lime, mint and soda. The fresh mint puts the cherry on top of this mix and the total combo of flavours combine to make a pleasant drink. Don't waste your next Sunday afternoon, instead grab your togs and head sky high at Limes Hotel. You'll feel like you're on holidays, even if is just for the afternoon.
We thought it was Photoshopped. Twitter thought it was Photoshopped. The whole damn town thought, nay, could this be true? Hath Cadbury gone truly mad? Creating what could potentially be the most horrific melding of worldly flavours imaginable this side of ox tongue gelato (it's a thing)? Alas, it's true. Cadbury Australia have created a Dairy Milk chocolate variation, which adds a little caramel and a whole lot of Vegemite. That's right. Vegemite. BuzzFeed confirmed the terrible union this afternoon after noticing a sneaky snap on a Reddit feed in April. Cadbury itself confirmed the fusion on Twitter with this dramatic video. Behold. The Vegemite chocolate will be unleashed on the Australian public from June 1 (or sooner, as the Cadbury has mysteriously hinted in the video). Expect "Dairy Milk milk chocolate with smooth flowing caramel and VEGEMITE." Why Cadbury? Why? Was Pineapple Snack not enough tomfoolery for an age? Ah. We'll probably try it. Via BuzzFeed. Image: Reddit.
Back in 1982, Melbourne played host to one of China's most important ancient artworks: a collection of statues known as The Terracotta Army. Crafted between 221–206 BCE and first discovered in the Shaanxi province in 1974, it made its international debut at the National Gallery of Victoria — and now, 37 years later, it's returning for the NGV's 2019 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. Dubbed Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality, the five-month exhibition will feature eight warrior figures and two life-size horses from The Terracotta Army, alongside two half-size replica bronze chariots that are each drawn by four horses. They were created during the reign of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang and were buried near his tomb more than 2200 years ago. The pieces coming to Melbourne only represent a fraction of the entire work, which numbers more than 8000 figures in total. If you're wondering how big of a deal the statues are, the answer is very. The Terracotta Army is considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century and has also been described as the 'Eighth' Wonder of the World. Displaying at the NGV from May 24 to October 13, 2019, the selected pieces will be accompanied by more than 150 other ancient Chinese treasures sourced from museums and Shaanxi archaeological sites. Expect to rove your eyes over priceless gold, jade and bronze artefacts that date back more than 3000 years, charting China's artistry across the country's formative period. Looking to the present as well as the past, the NGV's winter season will also celebrate acclaimed Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. His work is no stranger to Australia — in 2014, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art hosted its own showcase — however, his Melbourne exhibition will feature all new pieces. With Cai known for his large-scale installations, The Transient Landscapewill include 10,000 porcelain birds suspended in a spiral formation, in an artwork that links to The Terracotta Army. Specifically, it'll create a 3D version of a calligraphic drawing that depicts Mount Li, which is where Qin Shi Huang and his terracotta warriors were buried. Another of Cai's new works will feature a porcelain sculpture of peonies placed in the middle of a 360-degree gunpowder, with his entire show taking inspiration from Chinese culture and philosophy. The world-renowned talent will also help design Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality, making the two concurrent exhibitions as immersive as possible. 'Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality' and 'Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape' will exhibit as part of the NGV International's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces presentation, running from May 24 to October 13, 2019. For further details or to buy tickets, visit the NGV website. Exhibition images: Sean Fennessy and Tobias Titz photography. Images: The terracotta army, Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE), Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum, Xi'an.
With Groovin the Moo announcing its dates then cancelling, and Splendour in the Grass sadly doing the same, your plans for 2024 might be missing a few music festivals. News for the industry hasn't been great Down Under in recent years, especially in Australia this year. But Listen Out is aiming to buck the trend, locking in its return for spring, as well as its dates and venues — and all of the above for Listen In as well. "It's been a very tough time for the Australian music festival industry and we are thrilled to be back in 2024, welcoming returning and first-time attendees through the gates," said Listen Out's promoters, confirming that the event will get everyone dancing for the third time in the pandemic era after 2022 and 2023 runs. [caption id="attachment_957218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Last years' fest was Listen Out's most successful in terms of ticket sales ever, and the crew behind it are hoping to continue that trajectory. Something that might help: turning the fest into a 16-plus event, age-wise, which is a first for 2024. The festival's focus is staying true to its niche, filling its stages on electronic and hip hop artists — both international and local talents, too. The lineup hasn't been revealed as yet, but watch this space to see who follows in Skrillex, Four Tet, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice and company's footsteps from 2023's bill. [caption id="attachment_957232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] This is Listen Out's 11th year, with four stops on the agenda: Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne, HBF Arena in Perth, RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane and Centennial Park in Sydney. Listen In, the condensed version of the fest with a smaller lineup, is headed to Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland, and also Ellis Park in Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_957226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In 2024 Dates: Friday, September 27 — Listen Out Melbourne, Caribbean Gardens, Wurundjeri Land / Melbourne Saturday, September 28 — Listen Out Perth, HBF Arena, Mooro Country / Joondalup Sunday, September 29 — Listen In Adelaide, Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24), Kaurna Country / Adelaide Friday, October 4 — Listen In Auckland, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland / Te Ipu Kura A Maki Saturday, October 5 — Listen Out Brisbane, Brisbane Showgrounds, Meanjin / Brisbane Sunday, October 6 — Listen Out Sydney, Centennial Park, Gadigal Country [caption id="attachment_957230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samm Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In's 2024 season tours Australia and New Zealand in spring 2024. For more information, head to the festival website — and we'll update you when lineup details are announced. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
There's a good reason that nearly every tour of Europe stops in Dubrovnik — the city is bloody beautiful. Inside the medieval walls of the Old Town, you almost feel as though you're wandering through a movie set (albeit a sweaty one with a lot of stairs). You can (and should) do the main attractions anyone who's been on a eight-day sailing tour of Croatia can tell you to do — walk around the city walls, have a drink on the cliffs outside the city walls at Buza bar I or II, do a Game of Thrones tour — but there's plenty of ways to do Dubrovnik your own way. We've compiled a list of the best ways to spend your time in the seaside Croatian city to make sure your visit is an unforgettable one. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode two: Dubrovnik. DRINK DINGAC AT D'VINO Unlike France or Italy, you never really hear anyone going on about Croatia's wine — but you should. This little country produces some killer drops, most notably on the Pelješac Peninsula, which just about an hour and a half north of Dubrovnik. Ask anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about wine, and they'll tell you to try some Dingač. Repeatedly. Dingač is the wine region, but generally they're talking about the much-lauded red wine variety Plavac Mali. Best place to try some of the stuff is at D'Vino in the Old Town. You can sit on the stairs, order a cheese platter and try the wine with a Dingač tasting paddle. SWIM IN A HUGE CLEAR BLUE LAKE For this one you'll have to take the ferry over to the island of Mjlet, which takes about an hour and a half. We promise it will take to you the most godly, most serene of waters. A huge chunk of Mljet is taken up by a national park, which includes two lakes. Veliko and Malo Jezero (literally meaning Large and Small Lake) both have incredibly clear blue water which you will definitely want to float around in until infinity. To get there, get the ferry to Polače (not Sobra — it's a big island), buy a ticket to enter the national park, grab a map and hike over to the lake. Once you've made it, you'll probably want to jump into the ridiculously blue water ASAP. Then you can wander around the lake, stopping at suitable nooks to rest under shade and take a dip wherever you please. This one is a day trip, as there's only one ferry (the Nona Ana) in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The timetable is here, but you can only buy tickets at the dock, so best to get there at least half an hour before the ferry departs to do so. SHOOT HOOPS WITH A VIEW OF THE OLD CITY Why pay to walk the city walls when you can shoot hoops from practically the same vantage point? Anyone can wander into this rooftop court — although it's oddly shaped and not at all a regulation-sized basketball court, so you won't be able to hold official competitions. There is, however, a sorta hidden entrance to the Gornji Ugao Tower, a restored medieval fort inside the city walls from the 15th century. EAT CROATIAN BARBECUE ON A ROOFTOP TERRACE If this place existed in Australia, it would get mad hype. It's not trendy by any means, but it's got all the makings of an inner city success: a rooftop, a barbecue and wine by the carafe. They cook basically everything on the charcoal grill here, which (happily for your nose) is located on the open air rooftop terrace overlooking the city you will be dining in. You can't go wrong with seafood, but it's worth trying their ćevapi, which is a minced meat morsel not unlike kofta. There's some epic queues at dinnertime, so it's best to get there really early or really late. Also, the best bit: it's called Lady Pi-Pi because there's a sculpture of a boss lady peeing out the front. See above. [caption id="attachment_590356" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Peter Northall.[/caption] LEARN SOME VITAL LOCAL HISTORY AT THE WAR PHOTO MUSUEM Your lack of knowledge about Yugoslav history will probably never be more apparent than when you visit Dubrovnik. The city still lives with a vivid memory of the Yugoslav People's Army's two-month siege on the city — it only happened in 1991. The best place to get a sense of what happened is to visit War Photo Limited. Their permanent collection includes images of Dubrovnik under siege as well as iconic work from photojournalists covering the breakdown of Yugoslavia and the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. EAT A BREAKFAST BUREK ON THE ROCKS Look, not all burek were created equal — but pretty much all were created insanely delicious and that's all we need to know. Basically every second person is walking around Dubrovnik eating a burek out of a paper bag, and you should definitely be one of them. Best is the breakfast burek (which is only differentiated from lunch and dinner burek by time of day, not contents) because you get to eat cheese encased in pastry and it's a legitimate breakfast. Buy one (or two) from literally anywhere and walk it out of Ploče Gate and down some stone stairs to eat it on the rocks as the sun comes up. TAKE A DIP AT DANCE While our idea of a beach is one with sand, Croatians apply the definition to basically any bit of coastline you can hop into the water from. Dubrovnik's 'beaches' therefore aren't necessarily known as being amazing, but when the temperature rises and the Old Town becomes a hot, sweaty mess, you'll definitely want to find one. Avoid Banje Beach (it's overcrowded and run by a beach club meaning you have to pay for a chair), and head out of Pile gate to fine Danče beach. It's quiet, traversed mostly by locals and has rocks and slabs of concrete so you can lie down and soak up the Croatian sun. Visit Europe (including Dubrovnik) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999. Top Image: Juan Carlos De Martin via Flickr.
Staying at home, binge-watching House of Cards and polishing off a few chocolate bunnies solo is one way of spending the Easter long weekend. But when you're trudging back to work on Tuesday, don't you want to feel like you used the time a little more actively? That instead of lounging on the couch you explored sea caves? Instead of going on a YouTube bender you went paddleboarding in crystal-clear water? That you could have finished Fallout 4 but instead you saw the sun set over stunning snowy mountains? Use those glorious four days wisely, you don't get this time off every week. Look, you don't even have to plan anything. These five Instagram-happy globetrotters have put together the perfect itinerary for five different four-day holidays you could taken over the Easter break. Pick your favourite and get going. FIND WATERFALLS, MIDDLE EARTH AND CHEESE FACTORIES IN AUCKLAND by Nicola Easterby @polkadotpassport. Spend a few jam-packed days exploring Auckland and its surrounding countryside, beaches and bubbling restaurant, cafe and bar scene — and make time for an adventure to the stunning Kitekite Falls. Start your trip by enjoying a cup of New Zealand's world-class coffee at Auckland's Fort Lane and a treat from the cafe's European-inspired patisserie cabinet. Head up Mount Eden, the city's highest natural point. Then get ready for a drastic change of pace from the metropolitan buzz as you head out to West Auckland, with rolling green countryside and the boutique wineries of Kumeu, then up to North Auckland with endless stretches of beaches and picturesque regional parks to explore. Make sure you find the Puhoi Cheese Factory. Then head south of Auckland for two hours and you'll end up at the town of Matamata, home to the one and only Lord of the Rings Hobbiton movie set. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. RIDE SCOOTERS AND LEARN TO COOK IN BALI by Laurie Young @theruecollective. Bali is one of those enchanting places that will transport you from ordinary life into a world of spiritual culture, vibrant colours, and beautiful people. Whether you're looking for a calming escape, a new adventure or simply a few blissful days in paradise, Bali has you covered. Watch the Nusa Dua sunrise and spend the afternoon lounging on the beach drinking from fresh coconuts and enjoying a massage in your own beach chair. Hire a scooter and drive to Uluwatu Temple. Climb down into ocean caves and let the waves lap at your feet. Eat dinner at Jimbaran's traditional seafood restaurants lined up along the beach. Find infinity rooftop pools in Seminyak, learn to cook a traditional Indonesian or Pan Asian dish and spend the afternoon on the beach watching the surfers. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. EXPLORE TEMPLES AND SEA CAVES IN PHUKET by Helen Chix @helenchikx. For those who have never been to Phuket and need an itinerary packed with the essentials to get a taste of what this city has to offer, then read on. Be warned though – you may find yourselves booking your return (or perhaps one way?) flights and I take no responsibility for this – or maybe just a little. First-timers should opt for a day tour to check out Phi Phi Island or just arrange transport to be ferried to and from. Visit Monkey Beach, swim at Maya Bay (made famous by the movie The Beach), and explore Phi Phi Island. If you're after a day of pampering, then check out the Darin Massage Spa. Explore the Monkey Cave Temple (Wat Suwannakuha), kayak through the mangroves and sea caves at Talu Island, and visit the Muslim fishing village erected on stilts on Koh Panyee. Head over to Krabi for beachfront restaurants and bars with a view fit to enjoy a sunset dinner. Snorkel just off the beach at Chicken Island – but beware of stepping on sea urchins. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. FIND A FOODIE'S PARADISE IN QUEENSTOWN by Chrizelle Lategan @chrizellelategan. Roam around the little streets of Queenstown over the Easter break — and we mean walking. Visit cute little coffee shops, invest in homemade woollen products, pig out on pork ribs and nibble on delicious seasonal canapés in front of the fire in the beautiful Bordeau Wine Lounge. And that's just the start of your trip. Take a 20-minute scenic drive to gold mining town Arrowtown and visit The Chop Shop, have modern French cuisine in Wanaka, and take the gondola up to Skyline Restaurant. Visit Milford Sound to experience one of the most breathtaking places in the world, wait in line at Ferburger for a feed you won't forget (choose the Codfather if you know what's good for you), and take a stroll alongside the Lake Wakatipu pier. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. FIND SMALL SURF TOWNS ON THE GOLD COAST by Brigette Dyer @BlkWhiteBlog. Start big with wine and theme parks in and around Broadbeach and then take (short) road trip just over the New South Wales border to the one and only Halcyon House located in Cabarita Beach, a small town with a renowned surf break. Once a run-down 1960s' motel, Halcyon House has been beautifully renovated into a European-inspired boutique hotel. Only a short drive from the Gold Coast you have Queensland's capital city, Brisbane (Concrete Playground can help you here). Then, make your way down to Tallebudgera Creek. Find a comfortable spot under the trees, hire a stand-up paddleboard, or join the locals in jumping off the bridge into the crystal clear water below. Only a two-minute drive from Tallebudgera you have Burleigh Heads, where you can visit the Heads' very first rooftop bar — and order the Deep Fried Nutella Ice Cream Sandwich. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. Haven't clicked with one of these adventures? Check out more #4PricelessDays itineraries on MasterCard's website.
We're just days out from one of the Mornington Peninsula's most hotly anticipated launches, with the team behind Pt. Leo Estate announcing the cultural and culinary haven will open to the public on Wednesday, October 25. Gracing 134 hectares at the Peninsula's southern tip, the multifaceted family-owned property will boast a 110-seat restaurant, an enormous cellar door and a sprawling sculpture park, pegged to be the most significant of its kind in the country. With panoramic Western Port Bay views as the backdrop, the sculpture park will debut with over 50 large-scale works from both Australian and international artists and is set to evolve and grow over the years. Meanwhile, the semi-circular cellar door and restaurant is the work of acclaimed Melbourne architects Jolson, taking pride of place at the property's highest point and featuring sweeping views across the vineyard, the sculpture park and the Bay. The eatery's menus, created by Culinary Director Phil Wood (ex-Rockpool and Eleven Bridge) will centre around seasonal, regional produce, kicking off with dishes like a beetroot pancake with salmon roe and lemon curd, and a wallaby pie. Meanwhile, a central woodfired oven will work magic with quality local proteins like duck and beef. The restaurant's pitched as a comfy, casual venue, with a second more intimate dining space slated to open towards the end of the year. Pt. Leo Estate will open at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, from Wednesday, October 25. For more info, visit ptleoestate.com.au. Images: Anson Smart.
Need a bit of a break and love your music? Sure you could leave it all behind and head up to Splendour, if you were lucky enough to get tickets. You didn't? Why not look a little further afield for your music festival fix? Festival season is about to kick into action in the Northern Hemisphere. With a plane ticket in your hand, you need never quit the dancefloor. Take a coffee break and take a scroll through some of the world's most incredible music festivals. We've teamed up with NESCAFÉ to help you take the desk break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. They're events we'd nab an airfare for just for the festival itself — from big name-driven classics like Glastonbury to boutique gatherings in extraordinary settings, like Japan's mountaintop festival The Labyrinth. The lineups are a bonus. [caption id="attachment_569154" align="alignnone" width="1280"] littlebreadtoast.[/caption] PRIMAVERA SOUND, BARCELONA, SPAIN If you were championing Courtney Barnett before anyone else was listening and spend more than your fair share of hours searching YouTube for undiscovered artists, you'll love Primavera Sound. Just a few of the acts to have made their Spanish festival debut here are LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Wilco, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver. Primavera is all about giving stages to indie and alternative music. When the show's over, hang around for a few days at least to explore Barcelona's winding alleyways, sparkling coastline and late, late (lockout free!) nightlife. This year, Primavera's scheduled for June 1-5. [caption id="attachment_569179" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Labyrinth.[/caption] THE LABYRINTH, JAPAN Lovers of mountains and electronica, add this one to your bucket list. Held among the spectacular peaks of Japan's Niigata Prefecture, The Labyrinth is famous for its amazing surroundings, as well as its hours and hours of uninterrupted music. DJ sets run back-to-back, so you'll have to bring a deckchair to catch your breath. Acts to have made previous lineups include Peter van Hoesen, Donato Dozzy, Svreca and Petar Dundov. The only catch is that only 5 percent of tickets are sold outside Japan, so you need to get smart to get hold of one. Labyrinth 2016 is yet to be announced, but you can expect it to happen in September. [caption id="attachment_569170" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Love International.[/caption] LOVE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, CROATIA Started in 2006 as Garden Festival, this event has morphed into the Love International Festival. Lesser known than many listings here, it's a week-long, boutique affair, set in a magical garden in Tisno, Croatia, right on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. In fact, there's even a private beach, so you can cool off after sweating it out on the dancefloor. You have a choice of six stages, including one on the sand, one in an olive grove and two on wooden boats. The program is mainly electronica, with a smattering of live acts. Get to Love International 2016 between June 29 and July 5. [caption id="attachment_569144" align="alignnone" width="1280"] SXSW.[/caption] SXSW (SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST), AUSTIN Back when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister and shoulder pads were boss (we're talking 1986), a bunch of music-loving folks in Austin, Texas, got together to talk about the future. What bothered them most was that so many stupendously talented local musicians were struggling to attract interstate — let alone international — attention. So, they decided that if Austin couldn't get to the world, they'd bring the world to Austin. And in 1987, the first ever South by Southwest Festival was held. 29 years on, the event is one of the planet's most influential tastemaking music happenings, featuring more than 2000 acts, 200+ workshops and over 100 stages. The 30th edition is programmed for 10-19 March, 2017. INTO THE VALLEY, SWEDEN Sweden's Into the Valley might be the only festival in the world held in a limestone quarry, which was formed by a meteorite. Not only does such a setting make for infinite Instagramming opportunities, it's also means cracking acoustics. The organisers get the best out of both, with a solid house and electronic lineup booming through super powerful sound systems, as well as fantastical light shows. Plus, there's a brilliant, turquoise swimming hole. Into the Valley takes place in Rättvik, 280 kilometres north of Stockholm. This year, it'll be on July 29-31. [caption id="attachment_569150" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Douglas Mason/Jazz Fest.[/caption] NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, LOUISIANA Jazz makes up just one chunk of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest). You can also count on blues, soul, R&B, rock, Latin, rap, country and bluegrass. Take 2016's program, for example — it's spearheaded by Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Neil Young and Snoop Dogg. Running for eight days, the extravaganza takes over New Orleans' every nook and cranny. To keep you fuelled up between sets, there are more than 70 food stalls, serving up soulful nosh — from crab po' boys and boiled crawfish to fried green tomatoes and oyster patties. 2016's Jazz Fest is running April 22 - May 1. [caption id="attachment_569167" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Meadows in the Mountains.[/caption] MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS, BULGARIA If smaller crowds are more your thing, book a ticket to Bulgaria's Meadows in the Mountains. Set high in the Rhodopes Mountains, this four-day festival offers a blend of live acts and DJs — and loads of time to settle into a hammock and relax. There's also a dedicated 'healing field', where you can partake in yoga lessons, meditation sessions, tantra workshops, cacao ceremonies, sound baths and wholesome food. Stay in a genuine Bulgarian rustic mountain hut or a teepee or carry your own tent with you. Meadows in the Mountains 2016 is on June 10-13. [caption id="attachment_569168" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Nat Urazmetova.[/caption] GLASTONBURY, UK Should Byron Bay's Bluesfest fail to deliver your annual quota of mud, you can always try again at Glastonbury. Held every June on a farm in Somerset, this legendary event often cops a good ol' British deluge — but that only doubles the fun. What's more, if you've just hit sunny Primavera, it's a refreshing sequel. Glastonbury's lineup is always littered with massive names — this year, Muse, Adele, Coldplay, Disclosure, PJ Harvey make up just a sprinkling of them. Needless to say, the tough bit is getting your mitts on a ticket — they sell out faster than Usain Bolt can smash 100 metres. Glastonbury 2016 is coming up June 22-26. [caption id="attachment_569176" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Matias Garabedian.[/caption] MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, CANADA After Glastonbury and a couple of days at Love International, jump the Atlantic for a change of scene. Like New Orleans Jazz Fest, the Montreal Jazz Festival isn't only about jazz, but also covers its close musical relatives. 2016 headliners include Rufus Wainwright, Ben Harper and Noel Gallagher, alongside jazz stars like Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea and Christian McBride. All in all, you can prepare to see 3000 musicians, representing more than 30 nations, across 650 shows (of which 450 are outdoors and free!). The 35th Montreal Jazz Festival is on June 29 - July 9 2016. [caption id="attachment_568795" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Geoff Stearns.[/caption] BURNING MAN, NEVADA Each year, as the Northern Hemisphere's summer draws to a close, tens and thousands of people gather in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, to take part in Burning Man. It's the only festival on this list to create itself as it happens. In other words, all attendees are participants — rather than followers of a neatly organised, timetabled plan. Over the course of seven days, they build art installations, themed camps, mutant vehicles and performances, thereby creating a temporal and ever-changing metropolis named Black Rock City, which vanishes when the event finishes. If you're travelling solo, you can hook up with others by volunteering. Burning Man 2016 is on August 28 - September 5 (and you'd better go soon before Silicon Valley suits eat it up. Top image: The Labyrinth.
Something remarkable takes place in Captain America: Civil War. Or rather, it doesn't. For this is a superhero movie in which not a single building falls. Not one. No skyscrapers tumble, no factories collapse, not even a tiny workman's shed lists slightly to one side and crushes some petunias. In a cinematic world now so inured to (and bored by) the sight of 9/11-esque dust clouds chasing hapless citizens through crumbling streets, Civil War doesn't just eschew this trend, it centres its entire story on the consequences of those kind of destructive nightmares. That's not to say there isn't any action. Quite the opposite. Civil War features some of the most exhilarating chase sequences and fight scenes in recent memory, choreographed with a balletic-like precision in which the emphasis is on small, considered flourishes rather than sheer brute force. Every punch, block, shot, weave and parry has been painstakingly conceived to reflect the personalities of each character involved. We see Cap (Chris Evans) bouncing his shield off walls like Ronnie O'Sullivan on a 147 break; Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) dispatching villains with scientific swagger; and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) trapping explosions instead of creating them. It's exactly the opposite of the kind of 'mindless violence' of which superhero flicks are so often accused, and it's as refreshing as it is electrifying. The other key feature of Captain America: Civil War is its story, in part because it actually has one. There's no fighting for fighting's sake here. Indeed most of the action is driven by a determination to stop the violence. As with its previous instalment The Winter Soldier, this is a film about oversight and accountability – acknowledging the terrifying (and unchecked) power of the Avengers, then seeking to control, regulate and restrict it by way of a UN accord. The world knows it owes an unpayable debt to these heroes, but collateral damage and civilian casualties can only be excused for so long.Here lies the conflict at the heart of the so-called civil war. Self-determination versus oversight. Freedom versus control. Team Cap versus Team Iron Man. It's a compelling and plausible fissure along which the line in the sand is drawn. And as with any great story, neither side is entirely in the right. Marvel, to its credit, knows its tone better than perhaps any other franchise, and here again we find its signature combination of edge-of-the-seat action and laugh out loud comedy. The performances teem with an emotional complexity rarely found in blockbusters, and the new character additions – whether they be previous Marvel Universe ring-ins like Spidey (Tom Holland) and Ant Man (Paul Rudd), or totally fresh inclusions like the outstanding Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) – ensure that no single actor commands too much screen time. Plot driven, fast-paced and terrifically funny, Captain America: Civil War is an outstanding film and the most fun you'll likely have in the cinema this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKrVegVI0Us
Sometimes, the semblance of reality can be just as powerful as reality itself. Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich has put this idea to the test (in the prettiest way possible). He’s built an underground swimming pool that looks like it’s filled with water. Built in 2004, the pool is a permanent installation at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan — after a stint at MoMA PS1 in New York. Standing above it, watching the sunlight filter through what seems to be shimmering liquid, viewers are pretty much ready to jump in. But, stepping closer, they soon discover that, what looks like a deep pool is a 10cm-high layer of water, encased in glass, and suspended over an empty space. Visitors can actually step into this empty space and look upwards — it’s a photographer’s dream. Consequently images of fully-clothed toddlers and adults in business suits seemingly submerged have flooded the Internet. The 21st Century Museum site reads, “While undermining our everyday assumptions about what we think to be obvious, the work invites our active involvement in its spaces — once we catch on to its deception — and produces a sense of connection between people looking at each other.” Erlich was born in Buenos Aires in 1973 and still lives there. He has exhibited all over the world, from London’s Barbican to New York’s Sean Kelly Gallery. Via Fubiz. Images: Leandro Erlich.
Over the past twelve months, Concrete Playground's film critics have watched a truly obscene number of movies. Blockbusters, indie titles and arthouse flicks from around the globe, if it's been projected onto a screen anywhere in this country we've gobbled it up – along with approximately ten truckloads full of popcorn. And while there are certain films we'd much rather forget (looking at you Fantastic Four), there have also been plenty of great ones. Presented in alphabetical order, here are our ten favourite movies of the year. AMY Amy, by director Asif Kapadia, is an overwhelmingly tragic and absorbing portrait of the life (and death) of famed jazz singer Amy Winehouse; a documentary steeped in disquiet because, just as it was with Kapadia's previous film Senna, you know it ends in a crash. With its remarkable catalogue of personal videos, voicemails and recording sessions, Kapadia has crafted an extraordinarily moving tribute to a prodigious talent whose life seemed somehow unavoidably foredoomed. - Tom Glasson Read our full review. BIRDMAN Filmed like a play but choreographed like a dance, Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman is a cinematic ballet, one where the way the story is presented is just as critical as the story itself. Narratively, its chronicle of redemption is a simple one, but like all good tales the simplicity of plot is offset by characters possessed of deep complexity. This is a film that almost commands repeat viewings, if only to marvel at its mechanics – and yet Birdman offers so much more than form. Darkly comedic, intellectually challenging and emotionally confronting, it’s a tantalisingly original piece of cinema that rightfully garnered multiple Oscars, including the top gong, at this year's Academy Awards. - TG Read our full review. EDEN If you're thinking about French electronic music, then you're probably thinking about Daft Punk. Writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve understands this, and doesn't shy away from their success in her portrait of the scene during the early 1990s. In fact, they're the counterpoint to the struggles endured by Eden's main character, Paul (Félix de Givry), as he chases the same dream over the course of two decades. Suffice it to say, he doesn't quite enjoy the same trajectory as his helmet-wearing friends. The film does, however, offer an astute account of trying and not quite succeeding that's equally hopeful and realistic. - Sarah Ward Read our full review. EX MACHINA Before Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson found themselves on opposite sides of the good-versus-evil divide in Star Wars: Episode VII, they battled over something else in the sci-fi realm. In Ex Machina, artificial intelligence and a humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander) spark a clash between Isaac's tech company CEO and Gleeson's computer programmer, after the former invites the latter to help test his newest creation. One of the best modern appropriations of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein ever made, Alex Garland's directorial debut is precise and probing in its themes, visuals and mood. - SW Read our full review. INSIDE OUT Pixar gets back to the top of their game with this wonderfully inventive tale set inside the human mind. Like all the studio's best movies, Inside Out can be enjoyed by just about anyone, with plenty of cerebral grown-up gags mixed in with the animated slapstick. It also features some of the most gorgeous visuals they've ever put up on the screen. But it's the film's emotional intelligence that earns it a spot in the Pixar pantheon alongside Up and Toy Story 3. Not content simply to make us cry, director Pete Docter instead examines why we cry, delivering a poignant life lesson that applies no matter how old you may be. - Tom Clift Read our full review. LOVE It's two and a half hours long, full of graphic sex and the whole thing is shot in 3D. In case you couldn't guess, Gaspar Noe's Love won't appeal to every taste. But even those who hate it would be hard pressed to deny that it's one of the most daring movies released in quite some time. Say what you will about his apparent predilections, but Noe is clearly a master of his craft. And if nothing else, Love is worth seeing just so you can argue about it. Is it a scathing critique of misogyny and male insecurity, or is it guilty of those very issues itself? Ultimately, you need to see it to decide. - TC Read our full review. MACBETH Few filmmakers can take something as distinctive as Shakespeare and turn it into a creation that feels wholly like their own. Justin Kurzel might follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian Baz Luhrmann in achieving this feat, although his Macbeth has little else in common with everyone's favourite version of Romeo + Juliet. In the Snowtown helmer's hands, the tale of an ambitious soldier willing to do whatever it takes to become king is stripped down to its most bleak and brutal elements. Yes, it rages with sound and fury. Yes, it's moody and brooding, both in emotion and in its aesthetic. Yes, Michael Fassbender steals the show in the title role, though Marion Cotillard threatens to do the same in every scene she's in. - SW Read our full review. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD In an era when most blockbusters follow the same predictable path, Mad Max: Fury Road charts a course in a very different direction. A barebones narrative forms the basis for the film, essentially a two-hour car chase through a bizarre desert wasteland, where warlords rule with an iron fist and flamethrowers double as guitars. Director George Miller makes fantastic use of practical effects, crafting action that is both bombastic and possesses a genuine sense of danger – something that films loaded with CGI often struggle to achieve. And that's to say nothing of the movies' unexpected feminist streak, with Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa stealing the whole film right out from under Max's feet. - TC Read our full review. SICARIO Since the beginning of the Mexican Drug War in 2006, it’s estimated more than 100,000 people have been killed in cartel-related violence. Sicario (Spanish for ‘hitman’) is a gritty, confronting and appropriately brutal examination of the US’s complicated and often deleterious engagement with this conflict. While its doleful theme of ‘this is just how things are’ doesn't deliver anything particularly new on the topic, Sicario showcases two powerhouse performances from its leads — Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro — and delivers a relentlessly tense, immaculately constructed piece of cinema from start to finish. - TG Read our full review. THE LOBSTER If you were going to get turned into an animal, which one would you choose? This line of thought pops up in The Lobster, although it's actually one of the least interesting things about the English-language debut of Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. The writer-director behind Dogtooth and Alps, Lanthimos uses a light sci-fi premise and a high-profile cast to ponder society's obsession with pairing people off, maintaining monogamous relationships and adhering to an amorous status quo. The result is a savagely funny yet heartbreakingly tender film that also features what might be the most memorable use of Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue's 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' we've ever seen. - SW Read our full review. Honourable Mentions: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Magic Mike XXL, Mommy, Tehran Taxi.
Inventive Philadelphia-based company La Colombe Coffee Roasters has developed coffee on tap, pulling cold draught lattes from nitro kegs. They're claiming their new device as the world's first tap coffee, although it goes without saying this isn't your regular, purely extracted, traditional espresso. More "naturally sweet milkshake" than actual latte, La Colombe's draught is apparently like cold-press with frothed cold milk, according to Daily Coffee News. Company founder Todd Carmichael is pretty proud of the new taps, which took six months to invent with his rum distillery engineer buddy in his underground Philly coffee lab. Carmichael assures consumers that this is the first time tap coffee has made its way into your mouth. "The draught latte combines the simplest coffee beverage ingredients and creates a revolutionary drink," he said in a media announcement. "It’s the process we use to pull the drink from the keg that creates a textured milk that doesn’t exist anywhere else.” Wielding his iced invention, seems Carmichael has a pretty hardcore plan to destroy Starbucks, and he's not keeping it to tap coffee. The Philly coffee fiend also just announced the launch of La Colombe's low-calorie canned coffees — a product Starbucks has been doing pretty well with in American supermarkets for some horrific, god-forsaken reason. If you're keen to try draught coffee, you'll have to pop over to the US. La Colombe is planning to roll out the taps to its 12 venues in Philly, NYC, Chicago and Washington D.C. in July. Via Daily Coffee News.
It has been more than three years since Bruce Munro's spectacular Field of Light started illuminating Uluru, with more than 450,000 people flocking to the Red Centre to see its ocean of colour over that time. In fantastic news for anyone who hasn't made the trek yet, or anyone keen to view its beautiful, multi-hued splendour again, the eye-catching installation's stay has been extended — and, while that's happened before, this time the gorgeous piece will keep shining indefinitely. This is actually the third time that Field of Light's run has been lengthened. Initially set to remain in place until March 2017, it was first expanded until March this 2018, then until December 2020. Now, the artwork's 50,000 glass lights will twinkle across an area of 62,500 square metres — the size of nine football fields — without an end date. To keep the installation beaming as brightly as possible, Field of Light has just undergone a $1 million refurbishment, overseen by Munro. As part of the process, each individual stem of light was replaced, as was the entire fibre optic cabling that connects the sea of frosted glass spheres. [caption id="attachment_619578" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall.[/caption] As well as casting Australia's sacred rock in a whole new light, the Uluru display is the largest incarnation of Munro's project, which previously illuminated the grounds at the likes of London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Run on solar power, and named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku — which translates to 'looking at lots of beautiful lights' in local Pitjantjatjara — for its Northern Territory stint, the installation took 40 people six weeks to set up. Between late 2018 and early 2019, the artist also created an ANZAC-inspired version in Western Australia, called Field of Light: Avenue of Honour. The British-born Munro, who first came up with the idea for Field of Light while visiting Uluru back in 1992, said in a statement that he is "truly honoured that the Field of Light will remain at Uluru". He continued, "the ancient landscape of the Red Centre continues to inspire my thoughts, feelings and ideas that shape my life and work." Keen on making the trip? Check out out Weekender's Guide to the Red Centre During Field of Light. Images: Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photos by Mark Pickthall.
We owe more than a tip of our sombreros to the 2 million square kilometres that make up the nation of Mexico. Just try imagining your youth — or your next beachside holiday — without tequila or the mighty margarita. Then there’s the less obvious stuff. Unless you were listening hard during history lessons, it might have slipped under your radar that Mexico's ancient civilisations played a major role in bringing us chewing gum and chocolate. And since then, we’ve been kindly introduced to Frida Kahlo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Guillermo del Toro and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Here are ten excellent things to thank Mexico for. CHOCOLATE From the ancient evidence uncovered so far, cocoa seeds were first turned into drinkable chocolate by people of the Mokaya cultures, who lived in modern-day Mexico between 1900 and 650 BC. In Chiapas, which lies on the Pacific coast, archaeologists have found vessels containing cocoa residue dating back to 1900 BC. What’s more, it appears that cocoa was used not only for its sweet warmth but also for its intoxicating potential. Even back then, the sugars of the seeds were fermented and turned into alcohol. MODERN CHEWING GUM Humans have been chewing bits and pieces of sticky stuff for thousands of years. But gum, as we know it today, was born in the 1860s, when General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a former Mexican President, took a substance named chicle to New York. The Aztecs had used it, for both chewing and pasting, and Santa Anna wanted to show it to his secretary, Thomas Adams. Thomas decided chicle was best cut into strips, packeted and sold as Adams New York Chewing Gum. Later on, he joined forces with William Wrigley Jr. NACHOS Nachos were created by accident in Piedras Negras — right near Mexico’s border with Eagle Pass, Texas. On an unknown date in 1943, a bunch of American ladies popped into an eatery there. Tired after a day of shopping, they were ready for a feast. The chef-owner, Ignacio Anaya, was about to shut up shop, so he put together a quick snack with what he had left, which happened to be tortillas, cheese and jalapenos. When the customers asked for the dish’s name, Mr Anaya answered "Nacho’s especiales", nacho being a shortened version of his first name. COLOUR TELEVISION Like that of film, the evolution of colour television involved a number of crucial steps, which happened neck-and-neck in various parts of the world. Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, a Mexican engineer, was awarded one of the most important relevant patents in 1942 for his invention of the chromoscopic adaptor, which could be attached to a black-and-white television. On August 31, 1946, Camarena facilitated his first colour transmission from his laboratory in Mexico City. CORONA It’s now 90 years since the first bottle of Corona was brewed. Now present in 186 countries, Corona is the number one Mexican beer in the world and still to this day every bottle of Corona is brewed in Mexico. It’s become synonymous with sun, surf and relaxation. Usually enjoyed pulled out of an icy bucket, with a wedge of lime in the top and with good mates in tow, it's your little gustatory holiday to the Mexican coast. CINCO DE MAYO This whizz-bang celebration, which happens mainly in the US and Mexico but has been adopted around the world, is held on May 5 every year. In case you’re wondering, Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for fifth of May. Wherever the party occurs, folk dancing, patriotic songs and feasting take over the streets. For school kids in Mexico, it’s a major score, because all the teachers take a day off. Cinco de Mayo is in honour of Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. It’s not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Since meeting and falling in love at Mexico City’s Casa de Cultura (House of Culture) back in the late ‘80s — when they were just 15 years old — Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have become international guitar legends. They bring classical virtuosity to a bunch of genres, from flamenco to rock to heavy metal. After moving to Dublin in 1999 and busking about the place, in 2004 they released their debut album, Rodrigo y Gabriela, which smashed its way straight to the top of the Irish charts. These days, they’re no longer dating, but their musical partnership remains in fine form. FRIDA KAHLO Fierce feminist painter Frida Kahlo is undoubtedly one of Mexico’s major contributions to 20th century art. Her bright colours and striking imagery combine Mexican and Indigenous traditions with surrealist influences; Andre Breton, the French writer and poet, described her work as “a ribbon around a bomb”. At the age of 18, she was injured in a horrific bus crash, which left her in immense, recurring pain for the rest of her life — a significant influence on her intense art works. GUILLERMO DEL TORO This film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist has brought us a plethora of darkly beautiful movies, including the gothic horror creations The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and unusual blockbusters Hellboy (2004) and Pacific Rim (2013). Del Toro was born into a Catholic family in Guadalajara, Mexico, and his obsession with filmmaking began when he was just eight. One of his earliest shorts featured a serial killer potato that wanted to take over the world. GAEL GARCIA BERNAL Born in 1978 in the same town as Guillermo del Toro — Guadalajara — Gael Garcia Bernal was a bit of a hit on Mexican TV as a teenager. At 19, he made tracks to London, where he became the first Mexican to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Fast forward to 2000 and he (along with Birdman director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu) caught our attention in Amores Perros, followed closely by Alfonso Cuaron's Y Tu Mama Tambien and Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education. Since then, he’s appeared in Babel, The Science of Sleep, Blindness, No and Rosewater, among numerous other films, while taking on a stack of other projects, from directing documentaries for Amnesty International to founding his own film company, Canana Productions.
If you're thinking about the Gold Coast, you're likely thinking about theme parks. Most Brisbanies have been to Dreamworld, Movie World and Sea World, and not just once. Anyone visiting from the rest of the country seems to head straight through one of their gates the moment they get to Queensland. Soon, there could be another ride-filled area luring in locals and holidaymakers alike — and we don't mean Dreamworld offshoot White Water World or the similarly splashtacular, slip 'n' slide-centric Wet'n'Wild. You'll have Chinese conglomerate the Wanda Group to thank for this new source of fun and fried foods, given that they're currently in negotiations with the State Government to add to the tourist strip's attractions. The theme the park might adopt is still anyone's guess, even if The Gold Coast Bulletin has dared to throw the D word — yes, that'd be "Disney" — into the mix. Wanda did buy Australian cinema chain Hoyts earlier this year, and do have an entertainment focus as part of their operations in China. You can never have too many rollercoasters based on movies, of course — and who doesn't want to see two competing parks battling it out to be crowned the real 'Hollywood on the Gold Coast'? Whatever the branding, keen thrillseekers can expect something big if Wanda's existing Chinese spaces are anything to go by, including the Wanda Xishuangbanna International Resort and its five lands, 27 recreational facilities, 45-metre high rollercoaster and 1200-seat theatre. Then there's the Wanda Movie Park, which the company claims is the world's first film-oriented indoor space of its type. It seems when it comes to theme parks, they don't do anything by halves — and nor should anyone. Via The Gold Coast Bulletin. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Variety might be the spice of life, as the saying goes, but we’re pretty certain that it’s a necessary seasoning for comedy, too. Being the diverse bunch that we all are, an eclectic array of things can make each and every one of us dissolve into fits of giggles. Like the range of options showcased at an event dedicated to tickling our funny bones, you’re probably thinking. For Brisbanites, that’d be the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse’s yearly showcase of humour and hilarity. In 2016, they’ve selected the best local and international talent for an amusing onslaught of more than 45 performers over 26 days. If you like those stats, we have one to add: expect the resulting laughter to cause thousands of sore stomachs, or so we're guessing. BCF has also had the smarts to put these ten performances on the bill, aka our picks of the entire fest. Because one good turn deserves another, we think you should return the favour by checking them out.
It's not just a case of the show needing to go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. It must, and it is. 17 years after the big-screen release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine has made its way to the stage in an expectedly spectacular fashion. The lavish adaptation premiered at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre on July 10, with its first season running through until August 19 before an expected Broadway bow afterwards. Moulin Rouge! the Musical follows the tale film fans fell in love with, as well as the music — plus new pop tracks that hit the airwaves in the nearly two decades since the movie's original release. It's directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers — who also has a Golden Globe to his name for co-created TV series Mozart in the Jungle — with music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by his frequent collaborator Justin Levine. Aaron Tveit (TV's Gossip Girl; stage productions of Wicked, Rent and Catch Me If You Can) takes on the role of Christian, as played by Ewan McGregor in the movie, while Tony-winner Karen Olivo (the revival of West Side Story, In the Heights, Hamilton) steps into Nicole Kidman's shoes as Satine. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement when the state adaptation was first announced in 2016. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Continuing the show's list of talent, writing duties fell upon acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes Skyfall, Spectre and Alien: Covenant as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. Image: Moulin Rouge the Musical/Matthew Murphy.
Only a few years ago, virtual reality seemed like a foggy, far distant dream that would probably, like most new technology, take a few decades to become readily accessible and genuinely user-friendly. We've come a long way since the halcyon days of computers the size of a room and, in no time at all, we have the first generation of virtual reality headsets at our fingertips, all vying for our attention. Today, Oculus has officially announced that Rift, arguably the VR headset with the most recognisable name, is available for purchase to anyone with a spare suitcase of cash schmackos lying around — it's retailing for AUD$792.88 plus shipping. It's not cheap as chips, but it's not tens of thousands either. The eager beavers who pre-purchased their headset from the Oculus kickstarter will receive their headsets soon, and the rest are back ordered until July. It's slightly more expensive than the Playstation VR which retails at AUD$549.95 (available in October) but much cheaper than the HTC Vive which will set you back AUD$1226.98 (available in April). As a few savvy bloggers have pointed out, the cost of the Rift itself is a little deceptive as the real VR magic happens in the power PC you'll have to have hooked up to the device to render the graphics. If you already have a high-powered gaming computer with a hefty, dedicated graphics card and a fair whack of RAM, great! You're good to go. If not, a basic make PC is going to set you back another $1000. But we wouldn't be too quick to jump in straight away. Buying first generation technology can be a gamble, as we learned from the great iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate of 2014 and they're definitely still working out the kinks of VR technology (nausea caused by motion sickness is still a biggie). We're still a while away from full immersion but at least it's progressing quickly. Images: Oculus.
Go on, get feasting in one of Sydney's newest tunnels. Nigella Lawson wants you to. Either part of the Vivid Sydney Dinners series setup — the unique location or the famous chef curating the menu — is reason enough to head along. Combine the two and you have one of the key events of Vivid 2025. The setting: Martin Place's Muru Giligu pedestrian tunnel. The spread: whatever takes Lawson's fancy. And to make a great event, or three, even better, a light and sound experience will work its magic on the tunnel while you dine. As announced in 2024, Vivid 2025 runs from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14, celebrating its 15th year with all things dreams its theme. A bucket list-type meal overseen by Lawson? Well that's a dream inclusion. So are Tangerine Dream and Anohni and the Johnsons on the music lineup, an immersive Stranger Things experience at Luna Park, and the fact that the entire Vivid Light Walk is free. In fact, more than 75 percent of the entire program won't cost you a cent to enjoy. On the Vivid Light Walk, that includes installations and 3D projections spanning across new backdrops, such as the Museum of Sydney, The Bond in Barangaroo and Challis House in Martin Place. At those locations and beyond — at the Argyle Cut in The Rocks and the CTA Building in Martin Place, too, to name just a couple of other spots — this lit-up reason for scenic stroll will feature swings, seesaws, animation activated via voice, a tennis match made out of light and 150 pieces a week designed by patrons. Still on the broader Vivid Light strand, Sydney Opera House's sails will boast work by the late David McDiarmid, Vincent Namatjira will take over the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia's facade and House of Romance, hailing from fashion label Romance Was Born, has a date with Customs House. Alongside German electronic-music icons Tangerine Dream at City Recital Hall and Anohni and the Johnsons at the Opera House, the Vivid Music bill includes Sigur Rós performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Portishead's Beth Gibbons , Japanese Breakfast, Marlon Williams, Soccer Mommy, RONA, Ravyn Lenae and Pete & Bas. On the lineup as well: Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon, Prince's former bass player MonoNeon, V-pop via Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Winston Surfshirt, Grammy-winner Dobet Gnahoré, Mall Grab, Ngaiire, Skegss and more. The Upside Down has come to Sydney before, but Stranger Things: The Experience will make its first trip — and add a must-attend event to the Vivid Ideas portion of the program. Get ready to visit 1986, and Hawkins, of course, in what promises to be an immersive and interactive stint of Stranger Things-loving fun. Locations from the show are part of the event, as is a supernatural mystery. Vivid Ideas is also bringing TIME Magazine Creative Director DW Pine this way to deliver the keynote 'Where Do Ideas Come From?', tasking scientist Professor Matthew Walker with diving into why we sleep, amassing First Nations storytellers at Barangaroo Reserve each week and getting Sydney's Legs on the Wall performing new theatre work Endling. And, it's why Haus of Horror screenings of Poltergeist and Edward Scissorhands are on offer, too. At Vivid Food, Vivid Fire Kitchen will be back at The Goods Line; Vivid Chef Series will enlist Jean-Philippe Blondet, James Lowe and Brent Savage teaming up with Sydney eateries; Maryanne Street is becoming the festival's Spice Lounge; and Golden Age Cinema, Hollywood Hotel and The Soda Factory will feature in food and gig trails in the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills. The Carriageworks Night Market returns, and so does eating on the Sydney Harbour Bridge's southeast pylon thanks to Luke Mangan. This year's Vivid is focused on five zones, spanning Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Martin Place and CBD, Darling Harbour, and The Goods Line and the inner city, with each hosting Light, Music, Ideas and Food events. [caption id="attachment_946027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2023, Destination NSW[/caption]
Vivid Sydney is really cranking it up this year. Announcing a kaleidoscopic festival program of light, music and ideas this morning, Vivid's 2016 plans will have you squealing over social and locking in dates — lights are on at 6pm May 27 through to June 18. Vivid Ideas is of course, back for the brainiacs among you — and this year it's bloody huge. Vivid Ideas curator Jess Scully revealed the mega lineup this morning, including House of Cards creator Beau Willimon and legendary US filmmaker Spike Jonze at the top of the bill. They'll be part of the popular 'Gamechangers' series, alongside Orange Is The New Black writer Jenji Kohan and creative wunderkind Margaret Zhang. Vivid LIVE is back again with one humdinger of a lineup, revealed by curator Ben Marshall. Ready? There'll be 15 Sydney-only performances, including legendary outfit New Order, heartbreak king Bon Iver, chameleonic gem Anohni, alongside Ezperanza Spalding, Polica, Max Richter, Haitus Kaiyote with Sampa the Great (!), Tiny Ruins, Deafheaven, Oneohtrix Point Never, Future Classic nights and more to be revealed. Vivid Music will expand again, with curator Stephen Ferris behind the wheel. In one heck of a slam dunk, Carriageworks will see a contemporary program in which none other than Bjork (BJORK!) launches a huge virtual reality project dubbed BJORK DIGITAL — a collaboration with some of the world's best filmmakers and programmers. To celebrate the opening, Bjork herself will travel to Sydney to curate a one-off music event at Carriageworks, where she'll DJ with special guests. Obviously, the lights are the bigwig here, the event millions of visitors descend upon Sydney for. Sydney Opera House will feature Australian Indigenous art with new and iconic contemporary works from Karla Dickens, Djon Mundine, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi, Reko Rennie, Donny Woolagoodja, and the late Gulumbu Yunupingu. The Light Walk will return, with Sydney's building facades lighting up with spectacular artistry. The eastern side of the Harbour Bridge will be lit up for the first time and Taronga Zoo will play host to an illuminated animal trail, celebrating its 100th birthday. The Chatswood precinct will light up with WildLight, inspired by the animals of Gondwana, and Martin Place will see the technical debut from NIDA in Martin Place called Fountain, a giant installation of human birth rate data as 'water jets'. There's plenty more where that came from, check the Vivid Sydney website for more details.
The sun is shining, your out of office is set and you've already spent a good amount of time curled up streaming tv shows. Now's the chance to catch up on your reading — so, find a shady spot on a beach, next to a pool or by a waterfall and start making your way through our favourite ten books of 2018. It's a mixed bag this year, we've been turning the pages of the latest brain-contorting Murakami novel, a chilling — real — look inside American prisons, a witty retelling of the Illiad and a homegrown memoir that's both moving and educational. Some of them are immersive, some of them knotty and uncomfortable, which makes them perfect for mulling over during the holidays, and provide flavourful fodder for otherwise bland Christmas dinner conversations. Take your pick. MILKMAN BY ANNA BURNS In search of a cerebral workout? Anna Burns' Milkman is just the ticket. The novel made her this year's Man Booker Laureate and continues the prize's trend of riving audiences into seemingly irreconcilable factions with its dense prose and no-easy-answers-given plot. There is its 18-year-old female protagonist, its undeclared always opaque setting (Belfast, in the 1970s), and its dearth of habitual interpretative signposts including paragraph breaks, dialogue and punctuation. But such a formalist echoing of the narrative's own syncopated and lacerated content (sexual harassment, the IRA, civil unrest and bombings) is meant to confound our ordinary ways of apprehending narratives, since these mechanisms fail or risk misconstruing tales of trauma. To truly enjoy the book, one must simply give oneself up to its paranoid, relentless cadence; its rules (or lack thereof). As Harriet Baker of the Times' Literary Supplement puts it, "Burns doesn't write about fear so much as create the experience of it." NORMAL PEOPLE BY SALLY ROONEY Sally Rooney's writing will make you feel lots of things. First, it will make you feel under-accomplished — she's just 27 and her new novel Normal People is not only her second, but is also so commended that it's been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Then, it will make you feel uncomfortable, empathetic, frustrated, hopeful and heartbroken. The Irish story follows Marianne and Connell's relationship from high school through to their mid-twenties, and, from each of their perspectives, explores the nuances of the power dynamics between them. From a literary point of view, it's easy to get through, but sometimes hard to digest — its relatability for anyone who's ever tried to navigate love and relationships can be, at times, exposing and confronting. Like her first novel Conversations with Friends, the book hinges on its excellent dialogue, which is fluid and effortless, and includes some of the most real and 'millennial' conversations in contemporary literature. Would recommend if you liked Girls but wished it was elevated to the standards of The New Yorker. KILLING COMMENDATORE BY HARUKI MURAKAMI You know you're reading a Murakami when a seemingly mundane situation — say, a recently divorced man painting a portrait — suddenly isn't so mundane anymore, and now you're asking an invisible man to help you save a young girl, probably a mental manifestation of your dead sister, who's lost in another dimension. And Killing Commendatore is a typical Murakami novel: the unnamed protagonist is a lonely young man and the book is filled with scenes that are both routine and brain contorting. While it can feel like a bit of a slog at 704 pages, there's enough Murakami mind-boggling to keep you interested — and a hilariously bad sex scene (which was shortlisted for a Bad Sex in Fiction Award) thrown in for good measure. And what better time to while a way a day with a lengthy novel than during the summer holidays. EGGSHELL SKULL BY BRI LEE The mark of a good book, in my opinion, is that it makes you either learn or feel something. This does both. Eggshell Skull is a memoir from Bri Lee tracking her year spent as a judges associate in the Queensland District Court, working mostly on sexual assault cases. Lee details the legal process and her experience within it, both professionally and personally, with brutal candour. In 370 pages, expect to feel a wide range of emotions — sadness, confusion, rage, shame — at how bafflingly unjust our legal system can be, particularly for women. ENIGMA VARIATIONS BY ANDRE ACIMAN If, like me, you only discovered André Aciman last year with the release of the film adaptation of his first novel Call Me By Your Name, you too may find yourself itching, or indeed aching, to read more of his work. Though its title appropriates the name of Edward Elgar's famed suite, Aciman's latest effort bears a rather 'enigmatic' relationship to those glorious pieces of music (they are never mentioned in the text, but without saying too much, there are a number of textured thematic coalescences). As was assuredly the case with Call Me By Your Name, the estival settings of a number of Enigma Variations' sections make it the perfect companion for a lazy sun-dappled afternoon beneath a tree, cider or other appropriate beverage in hand. CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN BY SAYAKA MURATA Best-selling Japanese author Sayaka Murata's English-language debut is a quietly brilliant critique of late-capitalist culture and society. In particular, it addresses the conformism that this system often demands and perpetuates. Her novel never moralises nor condemns the choices of those who do conform in order to get by, but it certainly penetrates its subject with fluorescent lighting of a convenience store. Told through the eyes of its 36-year-old protagonist Keiko Furukura who, realising at an early age that society has only disdain for figures of alterity, has pursued anonymity by working at the same convenience store for the last 18 years. And so Convenience Store Woman performs that rare literary art of de-familiarisation: what Keiko finds at the store, appositely named Smile Mart, are purpose and a place of belonging. Her boss furnishes her with a manual (more of a script, in the theatrical sense, actually) and a uniform. Keiko's humble hard-working existence then is neither to be transcended nor deified. Instead, it offers her a vantage point from which to call into question the arbitrary rules of society: she is the social misfit who aspires to, and in her perfection thereof, defamiliarises the coordinates of conformity. This de-familiarisation is also achieved through Murata's fabulous characterisation of Keiko as someone to whom society's mores seem impenetrable and amusing ("Good, I pulled off being a 'person,'" she says). At this time of the year, this novel invites us to recognise the ways in which convenience is almost always a chimera of ease made possible by the invisible labour of others. THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS BY PAT BARKER With a title that speaks volumes, Pat Barker's retelling of the Iliad is the summer must-read book for all of us out there who sat through Classical Studies wondering, and what about the women? (Not just the regal Helens, mind you, the other women). Barker (re)narrates The Trojan Wars from the perspective of a female slave, Briseis. (In Homer's original, Briseis is less a character than a plot point; a princess-turned-trophy). This is of course an 'impossible' history, since such a woman as Barker's protagonist would have been deprived of all means of inscribing her voice into history. She acknowledges this, saying: "We need a new song." In this the novel gets right to the heart of the matter that history's structure and shape often exclude women 'before the fact,' since 'feminine' expression is often understood to be subjective, unreliable, and the like. But why do we deem 'masculine' modes more objective? Barker has to imagine — and does so admirably well — what the idiom of a woman whose body is fought over by two Greek soldiers would have looked like. And so from the beginning of her narration, Briseis deconstructs masculinist history: "Great Achilles [...] Brilliant Achilles, shining Achilles, godlike Achilles…How the epithets pile up. We never called him any of those things; we called him 'the butcher.'" AMERICAN PRISON: A REPORTER'S UNDERCOVER JOURNEY INTO THE BUSINESS OF PUNISHMENT BY SHANE BAUER Like the collocation of the words 'business' and 'punishment' in its title, Shane Bauer's fascinating book-length work of investigative journalism should unsettle you. Yes, it's about American prisons, one if we're to be as objective as possible, but in case you should naively believe that we in Australia live in some antipodean paradise, let us remember that private for-profit prisons exist here too and continue to treat inmates appallingly. Bauer's perspective is all the more fascinating when we turn to his biography: he was imprisoned for two years in Iran, and wrote about this elsewhere (A Sliver of Light, 2014). Now, in American Prison, he writes about his four months tenure as a guard in a private prison (he infiltrated Louisiana's Winn Correctional Center). Understaffed, underpaid, with cut-throat budgets for inmates and prison guards alike, such institutions ensure anyone who wasn't a fully fledged criminal when they went in, will almost certainly be one when, or if, they get out (setting a prisoner is free is almost always detrimental to a prison corporation's bottom line). Bauer notes how insidious the late-capitalist mechanisms that wear down bodies are, writing that "to treat everyone as human takes too much energy. More and more I focus on proving I won't back down." This book will likely leave you feeling enraged — I for one believe that's a good thing. SMALL FRY BY LISA BRENNAN-JOBS Steve Jobs has been firmly deified by society, not least of all by predominantly young male techies. It seems we're always willing to excuse behaviours in a 'genius' that would be immediately recognisable elsewhere as rather sociopathic. Sometimes these behaviours even receive the euphemistic title of 'eccentricities'. In her controversial memoir Small Fry, Lisa Brennan-Jobs supplements the public persona of her father with that of the private one she knew (or hardly knew, he denied he only recognised her as his own daughter when sued by the government for failure to pay child support). It would be too forgiving, though, to say that this somehow humanises the godly Jobs. But nor is Small Fry a tell-all work of scandal or revelation. As one reviewer put its, "Brennan-Jobs's book seems more wounded than triumphant; it can feel like artfully sculpted scar tissue." To say more here would be to spoil this enthralling work of autobiography. NO FRIEND BUT THE MOUNTAINS: WRITING FROM MANUS PRISON BY BEHROUZ BOOCHANI Kurdish journalist Behrouz Boochani has been detained on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, which was, until last year, one of Australia's offshore refugee detention centres — or as Boochani calls it "a prison" — for five years. While he's been there, he's written damning articles for The Saturday Paper and The Guardian, among others, and a book: No Friend But the Mountains. He wrote it, not on paper or a computer, but "thumbed on a phone and smuggled out of Manus Island in the form of thousands of text messages". The book is blistering in its condemnation of Australia's treatment of asylum seekers and, at the same time, poetic. Boochani weaves together, and juxtaposes, lyrical verse describing another time and place with disturbing scenes from the present: attempted suicides, violence, hunger. Boochani gives a voice, and a face, to the refugees that Australia's government tries so hard to silence. Words by Leah Lynch, Lauren Vadnjal, Melanie Colwell and Samantha Teague.
Throw a stone in Brisbane's inner city and it'll likely hit a bar. Try to find somewhere that doesn't just pour wine, but makes it, and it's a completely different story. Until now, that is. Thanks to the opening of Brissie's first urban micro-winery in 2019, stomping, and sipping in the shadow of the CBD now go hand in hand. First announced in late 2018, and now nestled into Campos Coffee's old 500-square-metre warehouse in Fortitude Valley, City Winery Brisbane clearly doesn't boast its own sprawling vineyard on-site. But, after sourcing grapes from around the country, it is now barrelling, bottling and serving vino in Wandoo Street. Locals can even help with all of the steps in the process — and drink it too, obviously, with the winery open daily for tours and tastings. As well as a barrel room and winery that can double as a function space when each year's vintage is complete, and a cellar that can also be used as a 20-person private dining room, the site features a 70-seat restaurant that's open for lunch and dinner. On the menu: a chef's feast where the kitchen takes you on a culinary tour of their favourite dishes; charcuterie boards, twice-cooked potatoes and coal-baked brie among the smaller and share options; and mains that include almond-fed pork belly, roasted glazed duck and woodfired pasta with smoked cream and truffle. A collaboration between winemaker Dave Cush and City Winery Brisbane's managing director Adam Penberthy, the venture was more than two years in the making — largely due to the difficulties of finding the right warehouse-style location. As well as letting Brisbanites visit a winery without leaving the big smoke, this relative newcomer actually nods to the city's winemaking history. "In the 1800s, there were over 350 acres of grape vines planted throughout the city," Cush explains. "The Lamberts had a vineyard along Lambert Road in Indooroopilly, there were substantial vineyards throughout Mitchelton, and of course Carl Gerler who had a 14-acre vineyard along the Brisbane River where Kingsford Smith Drive is today." In honour of the latter, City Winery Brisbane's own wine label is named Gerler. Images: Grace Elizabeth.
The world is still reeling from unexpected the death of the Thin White Duke. Many beers have been raised, many toasts have been spoken and many impromptu karaoke sessions have been belted out in cars, bedrooms and showers around the world all in celebration of The Man Who Fell to Earth and graced us with his magic sance for 69 awesome years. Over the next few weeks, official tribute events are happening around the country in droves. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best. SYDNEY Care?-E?-Okay! Six Decades of Bowie It’s exactly what it… sort of sounds like. A free karaoke event celebrating Bowie’s discography in Newtown, starting at 10pm and running til 6am the next morning. Rock on. Where: Tokyo Sing Song, basement 145 King Street, Newtown. When: Thursday, January 14 Vale to our hero: A tribute to David Bowie A free musical and visual event showcasing Bowie’s life and career in the Gallery Bar, kicking off at 10pm. Where: Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford Street When: Friday, January 15 A Special David Bowie Tribute Event The details of the event are still to be announced but in Bearded Tit tradition the event will be free and feature DJ Sveta and surprise guests. Where: The Bearded Tit, 183 Regent St, Redfern When: Sunday, January 17 MELBOURNE Let’s Dance and celebrate the life of Bowie Blasting Bowie classics from 10pm-1am. Entry is $5 or free if you come in dress-up. Where: Ding Dong Lounge When: Thursday, January 14 The Speed of Life: A night of Bowie at The Curtin An all-Bowie DJ set from 10.30pm til late. Free entry. Where: The Curtin, 29 Lygon Street When: Friday, January 15 David Bowie Tribute Screening A screening of Bowie’s 1986 class Labrinyth. The rooftop session sold out but an extra session has been added so get in quick if the Goblin King is your jam. Where: Lido Cinemas, 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn When: Thursday, January 28 BRISBANE David Bowie Video Tribute Night From 6.30pm, the New Globe Theatre will be screening a recording of Bowie’s final concert as Ziggy Stardust in 1973 followed by a 90-minute compilation of music vids, performance footage and doco bits and pieces. Free entry. Where: New Globe Theatre, 220 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley When: Thursday, January 14 REBEL REBEL David Bowie Celebration An all-vinyl dance party tribute to the “fallen alien rock god with a red mullet haircut”. The event starts at 8pm and features film and music, with all proceeds from the $10 tickets going to charity. Where: Beetle Bar, 350 Upper Roma Street When: Friday, January 15 Ziggy Played Guitar – David Bowie Tribute Night for Cancer Charity The lineup for this gig hasn’t been announced yet but will be a tribute to the life of David Bowie and feature a solid local crew. Tickets are $12 + booking fee or $15 on the door with proceeds donated to cancer charities. Where: The Foundry, 228 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley When: Sunday, February 21
The Victorian government have officially begun their push to become the first state in the country to legalise medicinal marijuana. Delivering on a pledge made during the last election, the Andrews government yesterday tabled a report in parliament by the Victorian Law Reform Commission. Among its recommendations: a licensing scheme allowing for the production of medicinal cannabis, for the purposes of treating serious illnesses including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDs. "During the election we committed to legalising medicinal cannabis for use in exceptional circumstances, and we’re delivering on our promise," said premier Daniel Andrews in a statement that accompanied the announcement. "I’ve seen first-hand how medicinal cannabis can change people’s lives. This landmark reform means Victorian families will no longer have to decide between breaking the law and watching their child suffer." Now before you start celebrating too hard, we should make clear that this isn't the same as legalising pot for everyone. Under the report's recommendations, licensed cultivators will be able to produce legal cannabis products, including oils, sprays and capsules, which will be available at pharmacies to patients who have received authorisation from a specialist doctors. Smokable marijuana will also remain illegal — so keep your homemade bongs in your sock drawers for the time being. Still, progress is progress — and this is especially great news for people suffering from the kinds of chronic pain and illness that marijuana use can help alleviate. Assuming he can get a tick of approval from the federal government, Andrews expects to make medical cannabis available by early 2017, with children suffering from severe epilepsy expected to be the first to benefit. Via The Age. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
