Going to a gig and getting something greasy go hand in hand. The Triffid knows this, and their beer garden — one of Brisbane's best hangout spots, whether you're seeing a band or just in the area — has the menu to match. With the folks at Howzat Burger no longer working the grills, the Triffid has come up with their own selection of everyone's favourite foods. Everyone should try the Triffid Burger's combination of three cuts of beef, but the haloumi option is hard to pass up. There's also a solution if you really can't decide — grab mini versions of both, plus a crispy chicken offering, in slider form.
Just in case social media didn't already provide us with sufficient scope to project our mood at unwitting strangers, three German artists have provided another, even more public avenue through the 'Public Face'. Their interactive art installation reflects the mood of the city in which it stands with a giant electric emoticon. Hidden cameras at ground level capture the facial expressions of passers-by to measure the general vibe at any given time, and relay it back to the emoticon tower. So long as there are no manic-depressives in the crowd or cause for any emotion beyond happy, sad, or indifferent, the giant smiley will provide an accurate public vibe-o-meter, constantly updating itself to match the collective mood. There are unverified rumours that the Public Face will do the rounds in a variety of cities across the globe in 2012, but this may not be good news for everyone. The smiley's stint atop a lighthouse on Bavaria's Lindau Island last year revealed that the town could do with a little more cheer, where the giant face spent a lot of time being indifferent and was rather reluctant to flash any pearly whites. How to bring the mood of a city down even lower? Show the people how depressed they already are. The Public Face is a quirky piece of interactive art, taking a playful spin on the distillation of emotion that occurs when relationships go digital. [Via Archetizer]
For anyone that grew up in a Nintendo household where the company's consoles reigned supreme, getting your Super Mario fix beyond mashing buttons has long been easy. You've been able hit up Google Maps and mobile phones, if you really can't tear yourself away from the games. Mario Kart made the leap to reality, too. There's also the Super Nintendo theme park in Japan, as well as the upcoming second site in Hollywood — and, since 1993, the live-action Super Mario Bros film. Come March 2023, watching the new animated The Super Mario Bros Movie will join that list, and it'll reach the screen bearing a hefty weight of expectations that don't actually cover whether it's any good or not. Yes, hopefully it's entertaining. But, does it look like a Mario game? Does it sound like one? Does it include tunnels and coin blocks, floating bricks and superpowered stars? Does it do the Mushroom Kingdom justice? These are the questions that every Mario fan has. For a couple of months now, The Super Mario Bros Movie has been dropping teasers and trailers giving viewers a glimpse at what's to come, and all of the above essentials look to be taken care of. Still, if you still have any doubts, the just-dropped latest sneak peek — a scene from the movie, with Mario getting a tour of the Mushroom Kingdom — ticks all of the above boxes and then some. The most recent trailer included a rainbow road, and racing along it Mario Kart-style, too — so the film is nodding to plenty of Mario games. Indeed, haunted houses have also featured in snippets so far; fingers crossed they also come with the appropriate music. The new The Super Mario Bros Movie has enlisted Chris Pratt (The Terminal List) to voice the Italian plumber, sees Bowser (Jack Black, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) proclaim his desire to rule the world and casts Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the Mushroom Kingdom's comedic sidekick. Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu) is determined to take on the challenge, and dispense words of advice in general, while battling Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy) also features. The Super Mario Bros Movie's voice cast also includes Keegan- Michael Key (Wendell & Wild) as Toad, plus Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong. And, it hails from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), is penned by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and is produced by Illumination Entertainment (aka the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions flicks, and the Sing films). Check out the latest sneak peek below: The Super Mario Bros Movie releases in cinemas Down Under on March 30, 2023.
Tent? Check. Essentials packed? Check. Good-value booze from the nearest The Bottle-O? Check. The only thing that's missing is coffee… at least that was the case until we asked you, our dear readers. When tasked with providing your best camping spots and hacks, someone promptly stated, "Wacaco espresso maker. Must have." Genius. Now we're ready to go camping. (And here's that caffeine friend, if you need a new camp-ready gadget.) Without further ado, here is a standout list of knock-out spots to camp all around Australia, submitted by you. [caption id="attachment_892839" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ogdum[/caption] BENDALONG, NEW SOUTH WALES Find your best holiday-self at the edge of the ocean, where a haven of white sandy beaches, consistent surf breaks and towering eucalyptus trees await. Bendalong Holiday Haven is a park with something for everybody — think self-contained cabins, caravan access and plenty of spots to pitch a tent. There's no shortage of activities to enjoy either, say swimming, fishing, surfing, volleyball or checking out the local wildlife on a bush walk. Camping here is nothing if not wholesome, and if you're staying for more than a night or two, do as one of our readers suggests and "take a thick mattress, sleep is so important". Holiday Haven Bendalong, 1 Waratah Street, Bendalong, New South Wales [caption id="attachment_892846" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Leelakajonkij[/caption] PUTTY BEACH, NEW SOUTH WALES Nestled in the lush surroundings of Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast, Putty Beach Campground is a short stroll from the warm sand and calm waters of its namesake shoreline. With a cosy 20 camping sites available for tents (no campervans, FYI), you'll need to book in advance if you want to secure a holiday here. Keep in mind that while there is running water and flushing toilets, you won't be able to have a hot shower here since the campsites aren't powered — it's all part of the authentic camping experience. Putty Beach Campground, Putty Beach Rd, Killcare Heights, New South Wales WYE RIVER, VICTORIA Picture this: the tent gets pitched without a hitch and as the sun is setting your mate hands you a cold one. Breathe in the refreshing sea air of the Wye River beachfront, this is good ol' Aussie camping at its finest. With all the amenities you need to have an epic stay, just pack good booze and good food, as there's a kitted-out camp kitchen and onsite barbecues. And if you're settling in for more than a weekend, consider this tip from one of our readers: "You need two tables: one to relax and eat at and one to store shit on." Sounds smart to us. Wye River Campground, Great Ocean Road, Wye River, Victoria [caption id="attachment_892850" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] On Patrol Photo[/caption] THE GRAMPIANS, VICTORIA With majestic sandstone mountain ranges and world-renowned hiking trails at your fingertips, there's little wonder why one of you shared The Grampians as your fave place to camp. Tents, motorhomes and caravans are all welcome inside the national park, with multiple camping options in the area providing choices aplenty for a convenient home base between your tramping excursions. Or, opt for a more off-grid experience in a forest park spot. Reader's tip? "Grab yourself some Yetis! They keep your drinks cold for hours!" Something you're sure to need as you embark on the many great walks from your campsite. There are several accommodation options in The Grampians region, head to the website for more information. [caption id="attachment_892856" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Stephane Debove[/caption] CHANCE BAY, QUEENSLAND The Whitsundays may be synonymous with Instagram-worthy luxury holidays, but you're as well placed for a fantastically memorable time at the spectacular Chance Bay on Whitsunday Island. The area's only accessible by boat — with anchoring permitted and ideal access during mid or high tide — but undoubtedly worth the mission for the opportunity to immerse yourself in all that the area has to offer (that's turquoise waters, secluded white-sand beaches and a symphony of wildlife, if you didn't know). This particular spot is off the beaten track, so you'll need to bring drinking water along with the usual camping requirements, especially a can of Bushman. Even better, do as one of our readers does: "Bring a hanging mosquito net and throw it over the tent." You can thank us (and them) later. Chance Bay Campground, southeast coast of Whitsunday Island, Queensland GLAMPING AT O'REILLY'S, QUEENSLAND If you're more of a five-star kind of holidaymaker than an under-the-night-sky type, O'Reilly's Campground has the ideal setup for you. Featuring 17 powered safari tents, this is as effortless as camping gets. As one of our readers puts it: "Glamping is easier and you get the camping benefits". Say less. With the breathtaking rainforest of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park on your doorstep, there's an abundance of adventurous attractions for all. Partake in morning yoga before strapping in for the epic flying fox later on, or opt for an e-bike tour first thing and plan for some spectacular stargazing come nightfall. O'Reilly's Campground, 3582 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra, Queensland NINGALOO CORAL BAY CAMP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Go on a secluded snorkelling safari, swim above the coral gardens in a marine sanctuary, hop aboard a humpback whale-watching tour, take a relaxing boat cruise at sunset and dive in for a swim alongside manta rays, reef sharks and turtles on the UNESCO World Heritage Ningaloo Reef. Attention: camping-heaven is a place on earth called Ningaloo Coral Bay, the epic campground just metres away from the beach where you'll unwind from your aquatic adventures each day. Complete with both powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, this seaside paradise has it all — including the practical things like a camp kitchen and barbeques, plus shops and amenities nearby. Ningaloo Coral Bay Camp, 1 Robinson Street, Coral Bay, Western Australia ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Imagine camping under the shade of native trees just a stone's throw from the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. A mere 10-minute stroll from Rottnest Campground, you'll find the stunning vista that is Pinky Beach, one of the island's popular beaches known for its idyllic swimming conditions. Too-cute quokkas and nature-soaked activities, Rottnest Island is a winner by anyone's standards. It's also home to events and pursuits on and offshore, from exhibitions and history tours to wildlife spotting and swell chasing. What will you do first? Rottnest Campground, Strue Road, Rottnest Island, Western Australia [caption id="attachment_688400" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Isaac Forman[/caption] KANGAROO ISLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Camping is all about embracing life in the slow lane. S0 if you're clever, you'll make like this CPer: "Have a camping box ready with all your cutlery, salt and pepper and small gear — then you can just hit the road!" No rushing around before you head, or finding out you've left something necessary behind. What better place to head off for some chill vibes than the pristine landscape of Kangaroo Island? Whether you want to wake up with the waves or stay somewhere secluded, there's seven campgrounds to choose from on the island, so you're sure to find the facilities and features you're looking for. Just a 45-minute ferry or quick 30-minute flight from Adelaide, your unforgettable island camping adventure awaits. There are multiple camping options on Kangaroo Island, for more information visit the website. [caption id="attachment_865212" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Danny Lau[/caption] AYER'S ROCK CAMPGROUND, NORTHERN TERRITORY A guide to camping in Australia wouldn't be complete without a recommendation for visiting Uluru — and Ayer's Rock Resort campground, located just 20km away from the sacred site, came out on top — as suggested by more than one of you. Visit one of Australia's most magnificent — and culturally significant — outback treasures by day and hook up at one of the powered sites or pitch your tent to sleep under the stars by night. There's a host of enlightening cultural experiences and tours to fill your itinerary with, too — the hardest part will be finding the time to fit it all in. Ayer's Rock Resort Campground, 173 Yulara Dr, Yulara, Northern Territory Thanks for your participation, dear readers. Now, happy camping. For good value booze on your camping getaway, head to your closest The Bottle-O. To browse the range or find a store, head to the website. Top image: Charlie Blacker.
Now that Brisbane is finally starting to feel the winter chill, we know the eyes are beginning to wander and the urge to commence the winter season’s dalliance with luscious, bone-warming, indulgent hot chocolate is increasingly difficult to resist. Don’t feel guilty; it’s only natural. We condone this love affair with liquid chocolate goodness, because before we know it, September will be upon us and it’ll be all CrossFit and boot camps. So to make your deliciously dangerous liaison easier, we’ve done the hard work for you and hunted down our top ten picks this season that will be sure to quell your sweet tooth. Bitter Suite Bitter Suite’s peanut butter hot chocolate is definitely a CP staff favourite and is the perfect bevvy to sip and savour huddled up close to one of the flaming gas fire heaters. Literally tasting like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups melted down and mixed with milk, this hot chocolate is faultless. Although be prepared to ask for a top up of dairy; once you hit the peanut butter mound that forms at the bottom of the mug, it's akin to eating it straight out of the jar. But totally worth every calorie. 75 Welsby Street, New Farm Noosa Chocolate Factory The Noosa Chocolate Factory really is your one-stop shop for all your chocolate needs. Blocks and balls with every fruit and nut filling imaginable line the walls in milk, white or dark chocolate. But it's their range of hot chocolates in every possible combination that will keep you coming back this winter. With eight hot chocolates of varying intensity, we suggest their insanely delicious fresh rocky road hot chocolate, super sweet white hot chocolate or, if you're trying to be good, their '73 percent skinny hot chocolate' made with Noosa Chocolate Factory's half-strength dark chocolate and Maleny Dairies' skim milk. 144 Adelaide Street, Brisbane John Mills Himself John Mills Himself is a place that takes their hot chocolate seriously, with skilful baristas that know their stuff when it comes to pouring out a perfect cup, lovingly extending the milk until just the right frothy consistency. Our picks are definItely the 70 percent dark hot chocolate (with a hint of bitterness, it's indulgent but not overly sweet) or the rose hot chocolate, which pretty much tastes like a liquid Cadbury Turkish Delight only a trillion times better. Sprinkled with a thick layer of chocolate shavings on top (practically another shot's worth), these babies will never fail to omit an OMG groan. Access via 55 Elizabeth Street laneway, Brisbane Sisco BCL This is like hitting the motherload of chocolate bounties. Served in what is practically a soup bowl, Sisco's thick, rich and smugly sweet hot chocolate is liquid gold and a chocolate lover's dream. In fact, you could totally eat it with a soupspoon. Maybe even lick the bowl after. We won't judge. Alternatively, they also offer a chilli chocolate chai, which is a sensory overload of spice and chocolate. It's like Christmas in July. 1/500 Boundary Street, Spring Hill Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar The newbie in Brisbane dessert bars has pretty much hit the nail on the head with their Belgian hot chocolates. Made on milk, white or dark, it's like drinking a slightly more viscose chocolate fondue. Plus, Cowch's Deluxe version comes stuffed with mini marshmallows (the ones that bring back wonderful childhood memories) and lashings of whipped cream. Each sip transports you to a state of "I don't care that I have whipped cream on my nose this is so good" chocolate bliss. 2/179 Grey Street, South Bank The Burrow Having just updated their menu, The Burrow now uses the Melbourne brand Mörk Speciality Hot Chocolate, proclaimed to be cacao artisans (and yes we are inclined to agree) using cocoa beans sourced from Sur del Lago in Venezuela, to make their mugs of magic. Our recommendation is to go for the 'even darker' 85 percent cacao. It's one for the real hot chocolate connoisseur; there is only a subtle hint of sweetness, and it is intensely bold, nutty and earthy. 37 Mollison Street, West End Campos Coffee Qld Thank goodness it’s that time of year again where Campos brings out the big guns. Even the most dedicated of coffee drinkers' eyes start to wander from a cup of fragrant Campos coffee to a cup of their Italian-style hot chocolate. We couldn't think of an apt enough describing word for the smell, so to put it in a sentence, it's like when you reach that point in baking preparation when you have to melt the dark chocolate and add butter or cream to make a ganache and your nostrils are filled with an incredible intense chocolaty waft... yeah that smell. And it pretty much tastes that way too. 11 Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley Passiontree Velvet Passiontree Velvet is the new concept chocolatier, patissier and tea room that just opened at Westfield Carindale shopping centre. A more refined sister to Passiontree in the CBD (who also serve an orange hot chocolate that tastes like a molten Jaffa), they make hot chocolates using couverture chocolate (high-quality chocolate that’s rich in cocoa liquor or solids and has a cocoa butter content of at least 32 percent). Our choice is the glossy and seductive 70 percent Real Dark, which is pretty much pure unadulterated chocolate and has the perfect balance of bittersweet earthy notes without sacrificing that intense chocolate hit. Shop K202/1151 Creek Road, Carindale Theobroma Chocolate Lounge We realise this is a franchise store, however, when you get to choose whether your hot chocolate (of which there are seven to choose from and four types of hot chocolate mocha) comes in either a cup or 'mug 'n' warmer' then there's not only taste factor but novelty to consider. Theobroma's chilli hot chocolate is the hands down winner and a perfect winter warmer with that zing of spiciness at the end of each mouthful. Little Stanley Street, South Brisbane Chocolateria San Churro Okay, yes, we know, it's another chain, but seriously, dulce de leche hot caramel? While not technically a hot chocolate, this one deserves a mensh', using San Churro’s own famous dulce de leche caramel and creamy full fat milk. It's sweet, eyes-roll-to-the-back-of-your-head milky goodness and certainly not for the sugar faint-hearted. Shop 2/161 Grey Street, South Bank
Are you the kind of person who just has to read the book before watching a TV show or movie? Perhaps you prefer the opposite, soaking in every minute of the series or film afresh with no knowledge of what's to come, then devouring the source material to spending more time in its world and fill in the details. Whichever best describes your style of page-to-screen fandom, you're welcome at a new Australian event that's all about streaming hits adapted from novels: Prime Book Club LIVE. You might've noticed that plenty of the streaming platform's recent fare began on the page. It's true of The Summer I Turned Pretty, and also of the Culpable trilogy and also We Were Liars, for instance. So, the service is celebrating that fact in Sydney, putting on Prime Book Club LIVE with a number of authors and actors connected to its lineup as guests. The third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, the platform's most-successful original series, is streaming from Wednesday, July 16 and releasing episodes through until Wednesday, September 17. Accordingly, author Jenny Han — who not only penned the books The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer that the show is based on and is the series' showrunner, but also wrote the To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy — is on Prime Book Club LIVE's lineup. So are Lola Tung and Rain Spencer (Test Screening). Ahead of Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault), the third and final Culpable trilogy flick after films Culpa Mia (My Fault) and Culpa Tuya (Your Fault), reaching Prime Video in October, author Mercedes Ron is also getting chatting in the Harbour City. Taking place from 5pm on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Machine Hall in Sydney, Prime Book Club LIVE boasts Lucinda 'Froomes' Price as its host, features a #BookTok panel, and sports an immersive setup spanning interactive experiences, giveaways and more. The event is also set to cover We Were Liars — which has an Australian connection thanks to Invisible Boys talent and future The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping star Joseph Zada — and others that fit the page-to-screen mould, including upcoming book-to-screen titles. Attendance is free, but you'll either need to register for a ticket in advance from 12pm AEST on Monday, July 14 or try your luck for one of the limited seats that'll be available on the day. The Summer I Turned Pretty images: Erika Doss © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC / Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Prime Video.
When November and December hit, one sale tends to follow another. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Boxing Day: bargains usually await for all four. So, after Jetstar discounted a heap of fares for Black Friday, of course the Australian airline is backing it up with Cyber Monday specials, this time with fares from $35 for domestic trips and beginning at $149 if you're holidaying internationally. You only have two days, until 11.59pm AEDT Tuesday, December 3, to get booking — or not even that long if tickets are snapped up earlier. The cheapest route within Australia is Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina, which is where the $35 price comes in. Overseas, that $149 fare will get you from Perth to Singapore. As always, prices obviously vary depending on where you're flying from and to, but other domestic options include Melbourne to Launceston from $40, Sydney to Gold Coast from $50, Brisbane to Melbourne from $75 and Cairns to Brisbane from $84 — plus Adelaide to Gold Coast from $94, Adelaide to the Whitsunday Coast from $114, Darwin to Sydney from $144 and Perth to Adelaide for the same price. With fares to Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Bali, Japan, Hawaii, Thailand and South Korea also covered, overseas bargains include Melbourne to Nadi from $179, Gold Coast to Auckland from $182, Sydney to Port Vila from $199, Perth to Phuket from $205, Adelaide to Bali from $222, Cairns to Osaka from $249, Brisbane to Seoul from $269, Sydney to Honolulu from $282 and Brisbane to Tokyo from $339. You'll be travelling within Australia from mid-January to mid-June 2025, and from late-January to mid-October 2025 if you're going global. The caveats: all prices apply to one-way fares; checked baggage is not included, so you'll want to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase; and dates vary according to the route. If you're a Club Jetstar member, you can score even more discounts, starting with Sydney to Byron Bay and Ballina from $29. Helped by its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Jetstar expects to sell 12-million-plus fares for under $100 and 21-million-plus for less than $200 in 2024. Jetstar's 2024 Cyber Monday 'fare frenzy' sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT Tuesday, December 3 — or until sold out prior. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Airbnb are giving four lucky, brave people the chance to spend a night in luxury amidst the snow-capped crescents of the French Alps. Ascend the mountain on chauffeured snowmobiles, feast on mulled wine and cheese fondue, and be the first to hit the slopes the following morning. There’s just one catch: your four person apartment is actually an alpine cable car, suspended 9000 feet in the air. The precarious lodgings hang atop Sommet de la Saulire — the highest mountain in the Courchevel — approximately 2,700 metres above sea level. Specially modified, the gondola includes two double beds and 360 degree views, but no bathroom — which frankly, when your guests are spending all night in abject terror, seems like the type of amenity that might be worth including. Then again, I can see how plumbing might be somewhat impracticable at that height. I suppose you can always just open the door and relieve yourself over the edge? Obviously, this particular giveaway is not for anyone who struggles with heights. To me, it sounds a lot like the setup of one of those ghost stories, where you inherit a fortune from an eccentric old uncle, but have to spend a night in a haunted house before you can collect. Those of you braver than I can enter the competition by heading on over to the Airbnb website, and letting them know in less than 100 words why you deserve to win — look, you're probably someone who lives in a house like this, right? Entries close on Wednesday February 25 for a stay on the evening of Friday March 6. The prize also includes a return airfare, if you survive. Via Fast Company.
Baz Luhrmann, the internet's current poster boy for excess and anal-retentiveness, thinks so. It came as no surprise to the millions of die-hard Gatsby fans that the bloke who made Moulin Rouge! (and oh did that film earn it's exclamation mark) and this scene was going to make something bordering on the bombastic and the flamboyantly camp. And with the film already finding itself in the firing line for its "flimsy phantasmagoria" and resemblance to a "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as staged by Liberace", it seems fair to say that The Great Gatsbywill fit like a glove within Luhrmann's filmography. Yet for a man that seems to have spent his career baulking at the notion of "subtlety", Luhrmann is capable of some surprising poignancy. Take for instance this little gem taken straight from the horse's mouth, about his decision to employ walking billboard and hip hop demigod Jay-Z as his soundtrack producer: "In our age, the energy of jazz is caught in the energy of hip hop." In vintage Luhrmann style, Baz has taken this assumption to its most extreme realisation, with a soundtrack that includes the likes of Fergie, Andre 3000, Nero and (cue the sounds of a thousand sinking hearts) will.i.am. But is Luhrmann onto something here? Is hip-hop the 21st Century equivalent of jazz music? In a recent Flavorwire article, Tom Hawking answered this question with a resounding 'oh hell yeah'. He argued that regardless of what you may think of the quality of the film's music, the soundtrack manages to encapsulate what an extravagant Gatsby party might actually feel like if it was thrown today — completely overblown, obsessed with its own sense of retro-ness and filled with the sort of mega-sized beats that are sure to get any self-respecting 19-year-old gyrating. There are some other obvious parallels between F. Scott Fitzgerald's jazz age and Luhrmann's hip-hop generation. Most notably, both these musical styles are deeply rooted in black culture and history, originating in the clubs, ghettoes and basements of Harlem and the Bronx. Yet from these humble beginnings, both jazz and hip hop have suffered a similar process of bastardisation, transforming from black cultural icons, into packageable, mass-producible commodities that rich white folk can consume. And it is here that Luhrmann might be right on the money. Not only has Luhrmann's soundtrack got all the hallmarks of a cashed-up, Long Island party but it has all the vapidity and disposability of such a party as well. Take for instance Beyonce and Andre 3000's aping of Amy Winehouse's darkly melancholic 'Back to Black' into an overproduced mess of showy vocals and grizzly bass lines. In this song alone we have both the success and failure of the soundtrack all contained in one. While the song is initially gratifying, it is ultimately empty and insubstantial. And this is exactly what Gatsby taught us about the opulence and decadence of the jazz age. It was beautiful and incredibly intriguing but ultimately fleeting and meaningless. The perfect analogy for what Fitzgerald saw as the great American lie: the American Dream. As such, The Great Gatsby soundtrack is big, it's bold and it's infrequently magnificent (Jack White's cover of U2's 'Love Is Blindness' manages to grip at your nerve ends and give them a toe-curling squeeze) but just as often it is just plain dumb. So in answer to our original question, is hip hop the 21st-century equivalent to jazz music? Yeah, Jay-Z may be the closest thing we have to a modern-day Jay Gatsby, but in a much darker vein perhaps it is the decline of these genres from cultural icons to products of a commercialised and materialistic society that makes them so alike. How very Gatsby that is. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5snA5TEse9w
If Vincent van Gogh can do it, and Claude Monet and his contemporaries like Renoir, Cézanne and Manet as well, then Frida Kahlo can also. We're talking about being the subject of huge, multi-sensory art exhibitions — the kind that takes an artist's work and projects it all around you so you feel like you're walking into their paintings. First came Van Gogh Alive, which has been touring the country for the last few years. On its way next is Monet & Friends Alive, launching at Melbourne's digital-only gallery The Lume at the end of October. And, after that, Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon is heading to Sydney as part of the hefty and just-announced Sydney Festival program for 2023. Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon will make its Australian premiere in the Harbour City — and display only in the Harbour — from Wednesday, January 4, 2023. For two months, it will celebrate the Mexican painter's life and work, taking over the Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve with holography and 360-degree projections. The aim: turning a biographical exhibition about Kahlo into an immersive showcase, and getting attendees to truly understand her art, persistence, rebellion and skills — and why she's an icon. Visitors will wander through seven spaces, and get transported into the artist's work — including via virtual reality. That VR setup will indeed let you step inside Kahlo's pieces as much as VR can, although the entire exhibition is designed to cultivate that sensation anyway, with digital versions of Kahlo's paintings expanding across every surface. The showcase hails from Spanish digital arts company Layers of Reality, alongside the Frida Kahlo Corporation, and will feature historical photographs and original films as well — and live performances of traditional Mexican music. As part of the interactive component, attendees will also be able to make their own flower crowns, and turn their own drawings into Kahlo-style artworks. And, you'll be able to immortalise the experience in souvenir photos, too. For Sydneysiders, Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon is one of the most exciting announcements in Sydney Festival's massive 2023 lineup. For folks residing elsewhere, it's a mighty good reason to make a date with Sydney this summer. The exhibition comes to Australia after touring Europe and the US, and also displaying in Canada, Puerto Rico, Israel and Brazil. Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon will run from Wednesday, January 4–Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, 1 Merriman Street, Barangaroo. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the Sydney Festival website.
Next time that you're looking for a cocktail spot, follow the pins. That's what The Pinnacle Guide, the new bar recognition system that's throwing some love at the top watering holes around the world, gives out. Michelin does stars, this ranking does pins — and on its just-announced first batch of picks, two Australian bars have made the cut. Scoring one pin apiece: El Primo Sanchez and Maybe Sammy, both in Sydney. The duo both hail from the same crew, in fact, and now have bragging rights over Australia's other cocktail havens. In total, 25 bars received one pin and 12 were given two pins. Nowhere has nabbed three pins so far. [caption id="attachment_889906" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Created by three folks behind London Cocktail Week — Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and Dan Dove — The Pinnacle Guide doesn't just make its selections based on beverages and bar service. Also considered: an establishment's approach to sustainability, diversity and philanthropy. The idea is for the guide's pinned watering holes to reflect everything that's required to be a cocktail bar, and that The Pinnacle Guide is the kind of list that heroes versatility as well. Bars submit to be considered, which requires them to provide information on their drinks program, how they manage their staff, and both the venue's aesthetics and its vibes. From there, anonymous reviewers comprised of mixologists, industry experts and bar enthusiasts undertake in-person reviews to decide which places deserve a place in the guide. [caption id="attachment_941736" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] To get a pin, a bar must be considered excellent, outstanding or exceptional both in front of and behind the bar. Securing three pins requires both the written application and the service during the reviewer's visit to be exceptional, and no venue has achieved that so far. Other overall considerations by The Pinnacle Guide include that commitment to sustainability, and ensuring that the drinks list expands beyond booze, with at least two curated non-alcoholic drinks required on the menu (so, thoughtful mocktails, not basic soft drinks). [caption id="attachment_889910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] "We've been overwhelmed by the incredible response to the first round of applications for The Pinnacle Guide. In revealing this first list, we have been able to realise our goal of celebrating the extraordinary range of cocktail bars the world has to offer — from tiny drinking dens to majestic hotel bars," said Dove. "We're proud of our unique submissions process, which has allowed these deserving bars to shine — and we're excited to shed light on many many more in the months and years to come." In the first picks made since The Pinnacle Guide's applications opened in November 2023, entries came from around the globe, including Australia, the UK, the US, Singapore, Spain, Mexico and Dubai. Maybe Sammy's inclusion adds another accolade to its lengthy collection, including being named the number-one bar in the data-driven Top 500 Bars list for 2023 and also coming in 15th on The World's 50 Best Bars list for last year. The Pinnacle Guide's Pinned Bars: Three-pin bars: None Two-pin bars: ATLAS, Singapore Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour, Phoenix, USA Nipperkin, London, UK Origin Bar, Shangri-La Singapore, Singapore Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, UK Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain Pretty Decent, Louisville, USA Selva, Oaxaca, Mexico The American Bar at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, UK The Spy Bar at Raffles London, UK Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, USA True Laurel, San Francisco, USA One-pin bars: Artesian, London, UK Ballroom by Barbary Coast, Singapore Blue Bar at The Berkeley, London, UK Couch, Birmingham, UK Cure, New Orleans, USA El Primo Sanchez, Sydney, Australia Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man, UK KOL Mezcaleria, London, UK Kwant Mayfair, London, UK Little Rituals, Phoenix, USA Magnus on Water, Maine, USA Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia Meteor, Minneapolis, USA Milady's, New York City, USA Nightjar Shoreditch, London, UK Passing Fancies, Birmingham, UK Rattlebag, Belfast, UK Roka Dubai, UAE Sexy Fish, London, UK Sexy Fish, Manchester UK Side Hustle, London, UK Swift Soho, London, UK The Dead Rabbit, New York City, USA The Guards Bar & Lounge at Raffles, London, UK Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese, London, UK For more information about The Pinnacle Guide and its pinned bars, head to its website. Find El Primo Sanchez at 27–33 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney. Find Maybe Sammy at 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Top image: Steven Woodburn.
Look, some things are definitely better fresh. Things like like produce, sashimi and hot chips. But other things get better with age, things like you and, surprisingly, beer. There's an idea floating around that beer only belongs in the former category, but in celebration of Cooper's 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're shedding some light on the beers that age gracefully. If you're intimidated by the idea of a cellar, don't be. Modern cellaring doesn't require you to own a sprawling mansion with a decked-out cellar door. All you need is a dark, cool and consistent space to cellar beer and bring out its mature flavours. A basement or garage will do the trick, as long as the temperature stays between ten to 12 degrees celsius and doesn't fluctuate. Also, keep the space between 50 and 70 percent humidity if you can, but if you can't, an air humidifier will help control any mould issues. The other very important item you'll need is self control — don't go downing your cellared beers just because they're there and you can. Good beers come to those who wait. (And so do some pretty tasty food and beer pairings.) Once you've got the set-up, which beers should you choose? Which actually age well? Well, that's where we come in. Follow our lead, and look to these brews for your home beer cellar. In a year or so, you'll be thanking us. STOUT A good rule of thumb is that heavier beers with a higher alcohol content will cellar the best. Aim for beers that are heavy on malt and have an alcohol content of eight percent for good results. Stout is an excellent beginner's brew for cellaring. The word stout is even a synonym for heavy, determined and forceful, making it an ideal candidate to develop some extra depth. The rich, dark (but never heavy) texture of a stout starts off great, but is made even better with time. The roasted malt component, which is what gives the beer its depth, becomes even more complex. The consensus on how long to cellar a stout for is mixed, but the best approach for a DIY beer-ager is through experimentation. Buy the brew of your choice in bulk (like Cooper's Best Extra Stout) and drink a few fresh, making sure to take notes as you go. Age the rest and every six months, repeat the experiment, each time taking notes. Everyone has different tastes, but when you have your perfectly aged stout, pair it with a slow-cooked pork roast or oysters. DARK ALE Dark ale is one of the lesser known dark beers, but its reputation (or lack thereof) is undeserved; this beer warrants a place in your DIY cellar, especially if you're into chocolaty, coffee flavours. Think of dark ale as a dessert beer — heavy, creamy and rich. This strong flavour profile is what makes the beer excellent for cellaring, as it gets stronger, yet subtler, after a few years in the dark. For your home cellar, look for either barrel-aged or bottle-conditioned beer, like Cooper's Dark Ale. The active yeast contained in the bottle means they were designed to cellar well. Also note, thanks to their high alcohol content, dark ales can withstand a slightly higher temperature — between 12 and 14 degrees celsius — compared to their wheaty brethren, making this one a kinder brew for the home cellar novice. VINTAGE ALE From time to time, brewers will develop and release beers that are designed to age. Cooper's Vintage Ale is the perfect example and a must have for any DIY beer cellar — trust us, you'll be glad you added it in couple years. In its infancy, it has a bitter and punchy flavour with pineapple and pear undertones (unusual flavours for such a heavy beer, but somehow it works). During the production process, the introduction of live yeast as a conditioner gives this brew its longevity. So, if you're patient, you'll notice as the beer ages that the bitterness evolves into a sweet, caramel palette. Keep an eye out for these kinds of limited releases at your local as they're often designed — bottle and all — to be cellared, and may even become collector's items in years to come. SPARKLING ALE Now, we have just said that dark and heavy beers age well, so it may surprise you to see sparkling ale on this list. As a lighter brew, it may not be a go-to for most cellars, but sparkling ales do actually age beautifully and (if you do it right) you'll end up with a rich brew a lot faster than the heavier drops. The cellaring process takes the sparking ale's fruity, floral notes and smooths them out. Any acidity, over-the-top sweetness or rough edges age into honeyed undertones. But make sure you check these beers more regularly than their darker counterparts as they'll mature a little faster. Also, make sure to keep the temperature under control; these brews won't react well to any heat. Once you've nailed your desired aged flavours, pair them with bold tastes. Spicy food will match with the bubbles, and charcoal and rotisserie barbecue flavours will sit well with fruity tones. SOUR BEER If you like your beer a little bit tart, then turn your attention to sour beer. These acidic brews famously cellar well, but be warned, they're an unpredictable beer to begin with. Sour beers have always been brewed differently from other beers. Before modern brewing, beer was intentionally soured by introducing wild yeasts into the fermentation process — a method still used today. And although the modern brewing method is a little more controlled — brewers often use a Belgium yeast called brettanomyces to sour, instead of leaving the beer out to the elements — things can still go wrong. On the plus side, if the initial brew goes well, the beer will taste even better a few years down the track, since brettanomyces take months to develop a full flavour profile. Even if you don't traditionally like sour beer, we recommend you hop on down to your local and try an aged sour — you might be pleasantly surprised. (Beer pun intended.) A limited number of the 2017 Coopers Vintage Ale cartons have been released, so get to stocking your cellar with these brews quickly. Otherwise, you can find the vintage available on tap at a few key venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond. Find your closest pub serving the brew here.
Chef Brooke Nazzari from Cooking 101 shares a recipe for warm beer and bacon cheese dip, blended with James Squire Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale. This smoky, gently beer flavoured dip is heavenly. Filled with three cheeses, fried free range bacon pieces, zesty mustard, smoky paprika and a decent splash of Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale, it has all the winning ingredients for the perfect warm dip. I serve it with corn chips and veggie sticks, but warm crusty bread would be just as delicious. Ingredients 200gm free range bacon (diced into small pieces) 250g cream cheese ½ cup parmesan ½ cup shredded mozzarella 1tbs wholegrain mustard 1tsp ground dried paprika ½ cup James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale 2 x spring onion (diced finely) Salt and pepper to taste Method 1) Gently fry off the bacon pieces until they are golden brown. Remove from the heat and put it on some paper towel to absorb the fat while it cools. 2) Meanwhile, in a food processor blitz the cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, mustard, paprika and beer until it's all well combined. Stir in the spring onion, ¾ of the bacon, salt and pepper, making sure it's all mixed through well. 3) Spoon the mixture into an oven proof ramekin/dish, top with the remaining bacon and bake for 20-25mins in a moderate oven, until it's warmed through and deliciously gooey. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
With Lacoste tennis dresses donned, twee baked goods in hand and Famous Friend bingo card at the ready, we checked into Wes Anderson’s newest and wildly anticipated new pop-up book of a cinematic endeavour, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Murder, art theft, pastry and Adrien Brody's moustache — Anderson serves up his most diabolical, zany undertaking yet, using every trick in his own book. FUTURA IS DEAD Looks like Anderson has relinquished his hold on his longtime minimalist typeface go-to Futura, handing the reins to Lorde and Vampire Weekend and opting for a more weighted, slab serif font called Archer. Often featured in credits sequences of old Italian films, Archer is described by developers Hoefler & Co. as "sweet but not saccharine, earnest but not grave, Archer is designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility, and charm." Film schools worldwide will undoubtedly be mass-installing the new typeface immediately. POLITENESS GETS YOU EVERYWHERE, EVEN OUT OF JAIL Sporadically reciting romantic poetry, giving lectern-delivered philosophical orations to the hotel staff about guest rudeness, serving up mush in prison with five-star finesse, Ralph Fiennes solidifies himself as downright godly in his role as M. Gustave, the flamboyant, charming and silver-tongued concierge of The Royal Budapest Hotel. Winning as many friends as he makes enemies, Fiennes sees Gustave balancing art theft, jailbreaks and cologne appreciation with breezy, theatrical conviction. Goes to show, a little complimentary affection will get you everywhere, darling. CELEBRITY BINGO MEANS A TOPNOTCH CAST A well-known fact, Anderson has accrued quite the crew of illustrious buddies simply by sticking with familiar faces all career long. Zissou-Tenenbaum-Rocket leads Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman have stepped back from the top spots for cheer-inducing pop-ins and supporting roles, making way for the new Wanderson Posse of Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody. Prompting constant outbursts of “Ohhh, it’s that guy!” from cinemagoers, we’ve come to actually wait for Anderson’s flurry of crafty cameos. Once again, Anderson’s cohort of well-liked celebs play dress up and wear All The Moustaches, with every screen guru from Tom Wilkinson to Jude Law and Harvey Keitel making their fleeting moments count. Now with added newbies Lea Seydoux and Saoirse Ronan, being in a Wes Anderson cast is now the hottest bill around. JEFF GOLDBLUM MAKES LEGAL JARGON SOUND UNBELIEVABLY EROTIC Jur-is-diction. Ex-ec-u-tor. If Jeff Goldblum wasn’t mystical and unnervingly alluring enough, he’s gone and landed himself one of his most potentially meme-worthy roles to date, with circular, thick-rimmed spectacles to boot. Using flashcards to describe a murder scene without taking one eye off the camera, dumping his dead Persian in a trashcan and being chased through an art museum by Willem Defoe aren’t nearly as exhilarating moments as Goldblum simply reading the contents of a last will and test-a-ment. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT Meticulously premeditated and artful mise en scene, idiosyncratic scripting, perfectly flawed and outlandishly eccentric characters and a ukulele-fuelled soundtrack have become a formidable formula for Anderson, slowly developing into an extreme form of his own genre. After being royally reprimanded by critics for Moonrise Kingdom being a little too cute for their liking (heartless bums), TRBH sees the Twee King back on form with all the artful weirdness of The Royal Tenenbaums peppered with The Life Aquatic’s epic storybook set detail and The Fantastic Mr. Fox’s jolly good humour. With super zooms, painted landscape backdrops, frontal character portraits, horizontal tracking shots and whole lot of font, Anderson seems more settled in his own style than ever. And that’s quite alright, darling. The Grand Budapest Hotel opens April 10.
As if your boyfriend needed another reason to stay glued to sport. The Allphones Arena and Lingerie Football League, LLC (LFL) have announced a partnership that will bring the 'explosively popular' lingerie football sports league to Australia. Dubbed the “fastest-growing sports league in the US” by BusinessWeek, the sport is played just like it reads. All-female teams don their scanty bra-and-panties sets and get rough out on the football field. It’s no wonder the LFL touts itself as “True Fantasy Football”. The game is played as a modified version of American NFL football, and began as an alternative half-time show for the NFL Superbowl. In 2009, the LFL was created and drew sell-out (surprisingly male-dominated) audiences and millions of primetime TV viewers. The 2012 LFL All-Star Game will be held in Brisbane at the Entertainment Centre on June 2 and at Allphones Arena in Sydney on June 9, and will feature 32 of the best women across the league as the Western and Eastern Conference teams clash. The two cities have been pointed to as potential homes for franchises in 2013. Is the world's single most sexist sport doomed for failure in Australia?
With summer finally approaching, it's time to do some serious defrosting. Although you may not exactly jet off overseas to warm up on some European beach, you can spend a few days soaking up the balmy temperatures and idyllic coastline of Queensland's aptly named Sunshine Coast. Just two and a half hours north of Brisbane, the world-famous destination of Noosa and its surrounds are brimming with gorgeous beach houses and coastal retreats for those seeking sun and surf. Beach sessions, rainforest treks and breezy holiday vibes await. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up a list of the most beautiful coastal stays you can book in Noosa right now. Pick a favourite, pack those bathers and get ready to launch into summer with a blissful beach adventure. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly Stays in Queensland The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Glamping Sites in Queensland The Best Island Stays in Queensland Newly Furnished Apartment, Noosa Heads This breezy light-filled apartment sits just minutes from the heart of Noosa, and features a chic white colour palette and downstairs pool. From $300 a night, sleeps six. Kamala Villa, Noosa Heads Rocking a fresh, playful aesthetic and featuring a spacious entertainer's deck, this modern villa is an ideal setting for your next beachside escape. From $450 a night, sleeps six. Lush Noosa Heads Retreat, Noosa Heads Just a quick stroll off the beach, this luxury resort apartment makes for a chic couples' hideaway. Enjoy sundowners on the patio, overlooking lush rainforest. From $500 a night, sleeps two. Chic Coastal Escape, Noosa Heads A retro-inspired beach escape with loads of natural light and a sun-drenched patio for lounging — all just minutes from Hastings Street. From $250 a night, sleeps four. Fairshore Apartment 38, Noosa Heads Want to stay smack bang on Noosa beach? This freshly renovated apartment boasts close-up ocean views and an incredible beachfront pool. From $668 a night, sleeps two. Spectacular Penthouse, Noosa Heads You'll love this luxury holiday villa's sunny pool and deck area; however, nothing beats the rooftop terrace featuring panoramic ocean views. From $904 a night, sleeps six. Noosa Escape, Noosa Heads Soak up sparkling ocean views from this light-filled Noosa Heads apartment, while enjoying a primo balcony and an enviable location just a short walk from the beach. From $693 a night, sleeps four. Little Cove Family Beach House, Noosa Heads Spacious and stylish, this pet-friendly holiday home backs right onto a lush national park — and it's just a quick hop from Little Cove Beach. From $950 a night, sleeps eight. The Beach House, Noosa Heads Featuring a gorgeous pool, private tennis court and crisp coastal aesthetic, this leafy beach retreat was simply made for vacationing. From $1178 a night, sleeps eight. Little Cove Magic, Noosa Heads This light-flooded holiday apartment overlooks the ocean, while being handily located close to all the action — so you can split your days between beach, balcony and pool. From $788 a night, sleeps four. Acacia Villa, Noosa Heads Located just beyond the buzz of Hastings Street, this breezy townhouse makes for a supreme coastal retreat. Expect chic styling and tranquil leafy surrounds. From $580 a night, sleeps six. Poinciana House, Noosa Heads Between the beautifully appointed interiors, covetable location, and sun-drenched pool and deck, this blissful beach retreat is bound to impress. From $1093 a night, sleeps ten. Images: Courtesy of Airbnb FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Waiting in line at the game for a measly beer has driven many a tormented, forward-shuffling queuer to madness. Sweating brows, heavy tsking and dancing tip toes are the marks of those desperate to balance missing chunks of team victory and avoiding sobriety. But those purveyors of everything fast and novelty, the US, have solved that pesky problem of waiting in line for your frosty beverage. Concessionaire Delaware North and Anheuser-Busch have created Draftserv, a self-serve beer vending machine because BASEBALL. Although regular beer vending machines have been a Thing for some time now, this one's a draft pourer. The slightly gaudy machines appeared at a Minnesota Twins baseball game on the weekend and caused spontaneous jigs and raised eyebrows across the joint. You pay by the ounce (per 28 grams) and the machine cuts you off if it knows you've chugged too much. Bonafide genius. Thirsty beer lovers flash their ID and buy a preloaded $10, $20 or $50 card, then head on over to the Draftserv and scan it for frothy goodness via touchscreen. The machines serve Bud and Bud Light for 38 cents an ounce (about US$4.50), which is almost, almost, almost considered beer but quintessential for sportswatching. Fancy beer drinkers can up it to 40 cents an ounce for Shock Top Lemon Shandy and Goose Island 312 Pale Ale (just under US$5). You can even order half beers. But if you try to pass that 48-ounces-every-15-minutes limit you'll be cut off, because The Machine Knows. "It's a way to engage with the customer and allows the fan to have greater control of what they're drinking," said Jerry Jacobs Jr., principal of Delaware North. "There's obviously some novelty value to this, but it also allows people to pour what they want. If they want half of a cup, that's all they will pay for." Whether or not the machines will make it to Australia remains to be seen, we'll just have to chug a few self-serve beer slushies while we're waiting in line. Via ESPN and Gizmodo.
The premiere Australian festival of journalism and storytelling is back in Sydney, and this year Storyology 2017 expands north to Brisbane, too. Brought to you by The Walkley Foundation, you could win a chance to network and mingle with journalists from Australia and abroad as they address today's big questions about the forever-changing industry. What will newsrooms look like as new technologies arise and develop? How does one go about turning their stories into successful podcasts? How has the 'Trump Effect' impacted media outside of the US? Topics like these and many more will be discussed in conversations lead by Buzzfeed and Google executives, Pulitzer Prize-winning critics and journalists flying in from across the world. The Sydney lineup includes founding editor of The Wire, Siddharth Varadarajan, and Boston Globe art critic, Sebastian Smee, and in Brisbane, we'll hear from 2015 Gold Walkley winner at Four Corners, Caro Meldrum-Hanna, and Kerry O'Brien, one of Australia's most notable journalists. The festival first kicks off in Brisbane on Thursday, August 24 with Storyology After Dark for a 'night of great yarns', then makes its way to Sydney on Wednesday, August 30, where it finishes up with the Storyology Social on Thursday, August 31 — a celebration of all the issues, ideas and stories discussed throughout. We have a full festival pass for two to giveaway in both Sydney and Brisbane. For your chance to win, enter your details below. [competition]630459[/competition]
If you're under the impression that Bundaberg is only good for sugarcane and rum, you're sorely mistaken. While it's true that the Bundaberg region is responsible for much of Australia's agricultural industry, in recent years the area's endless output of fresh produce has also led to a rise in local farm-to-table restaurants, with some of Australia's top cooking talent setting up shop in the area. Meanwhile, thanks to the region's prime position along Queensland's coastline, the area boasts a host of natural landmarks that comfortably go toe-to-toe with Australia's best-known destinations. It's also only a four-hour drive from Brisbane. Read on to find some of our favourite places to eat, drink and play in Bundaberg. [caption id="attachment_749802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pocket Storehouse by Paul Beutel[/caption] EAT Bundaberg might still be a country town at heart, but it's got more than a few awesome dining experiences that give it a cosmopolitan touch. The Windmill Cafe Bargara is a must-visit stop when you're in the mood for some of the region's best coffee, which is made with fresh filtered rainwater. The menu offers all your favourite breakfast and lunch classics, alongside plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Plus, it has an in-house gelateria serving 25 sweet flavours that are best enjoyed on a stroll along the coastline. Back in Bundaberg city is another headline restaurant: Water Street Kitchen. Led by chef Alex Cameron and his partner Jen Cameron, the meals are delicately put together using ingredients produced on a range of local farms. Having initially run a successful catering company, the duo decided it was time to put a face to their creations, opening their cosy restaurant in 2017 and quickly becoming one of the city's most acclaimed fine-dining destinations. [caption id="attachment_752093" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Beutel[/caption] Once you start craving another coffee, Alowishus Delicious is a fine choice, having taken home top honours from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Countrywide Cafe of the Year awards. And when it's finally time to make dinner plans, head down to the H2O Restaurant & Bar. You'll find high-quality modern Australian dishes, with a striking view of the Burnett River to match. [caption id="attachment_749822" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kalki Moon by Paul Beutel[/caption] DRINK Bundaberg's reputation for rum certainly precedes it, but the Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing Company has built its legacy within the world of gin. As the first Queensland distillery to win first prize for its London-style gin at the Australian Distilled Spirits Competition, Kalki Moon has also received a range of commendations from around the globe. Be sure to stop by the distillery's cellar door for a free guided tour and samples of its handcrafted tipples, and to pick up some souvenirs to take back home. Across town at the Ohana Cider House and Tropical Winery you'll discover some delightful drinks that wouldn't be out of place at any big-city bar. Having taken a holiday to Hawaii and fallen in love with the tropical climate, founders Zoe Young and Josh Phillips left behind their desk jobs in Perth to buy a piece of Bundaberg land, where they established their much-loved tropical winery. Since then, they've gone on to release ciders ranging from dry apple to pineapple and strawberry, as well as produce some of the region's top vino. Ohana Cider and Tropical Winery by Paul BeutelIf you can't wait to get your hands on some more Bundaberg-made wine, your next stop has to be the Hill of Promise Winery, located 40-minutes south of Bundaberg in the township of Childers. Here, winemaker Terry Byrne carries on the traditions of his Sicilian family, who moved to the region in the early 1900s, by making fortified reds to sparkling whites and Italian classics like limoncello. For an expertly made cocktail, Bert's is the place to be. Honouring the life of local aviator Bert Hinkler — who achieved a flurry of Australian flying records — the 1920s-themed bar ensures his pioneering spirit lives on. There are pizzas and share plates, plus a lengthy list of cocktails and aperitifs, including specialities like French pear martinis. [caption id="attachment_749819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lady Musgrave Island[/caption] DO The Bundaberg region is alive with natural wonders that draw visitors from all over the world. One of the most unique is the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that'll leave you feeling like David Attenborough in the making. During Bundaberg turtle season, which runs from November to March, you can experience turtle conservation first-hand on the only ranger-guided turtle encounter on the east coast. Between November and January, you can witness mother turtles emerge from the deep blue and make their way up the beach to nest under the moonlight. Later in the season (late-January to late-March), you'll be able to look on as adorable hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and scurry down to the beach. Next, dedicate some time to exploring the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Bundaberg is perfectly positioned at the first and most accessible point of the reef, and coral cays Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island are the best places to experience the pristine waters and diverse marine life that the region is famous for (and, no doubt, why you're there). To explore Lady Musgrave Island and spend a day snorkelling with turtles, manta rays, tropical fish and other sea life, book a day trip with Lady Musgrave Experience. Your day tour includes transportation on a luxury catamaran from the Bundaberg coast, plus morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. [caption id="attachment_749818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lady Musgrave Island by Melissa Findley/Bundaberg Tourism[/caption] Just to the south is the picturesque Lady Elliot Island, which showcases some breathtakingly beautiful lagoons, as well as the last coral cay amid the Southern Great Barrier Reef. You can access the island for a day trip via a scenic flight with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort or, if you want to stay a little longer, book a night's stay in one of its cosy glamping tents. Naturally, it wouldn't be a trip to Bundaberg without a stop in at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. You'll get to roam the sprawling museum and learn the secrets behind what it takes to be a master blender. A visit to The Bundaberg Rum Distillery guides you through a state-of-the-art facility before you take a break at the bar. [caption id="attachment_749815" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bundaberg Rum Distillery[/caption] The Bundaberg Region has activities for outdoorsy types aplenty, there are endless hikes to embark upon within the Cania Gorge National Park and Mount Walsh National Park. For something with a little less action, the white-sand beaches of Elliot Heads are just 20 kilometres from Bundaberg city, making it the perfect spot to catch Queensland's famous sun. [caption id="attachment_749827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kellys Beach Resort[/caption] STAY Situated overlooking the black volcanic beaches of the Queensland coast, C Bargara Resort is a luxe stay for weekenders looking to make the most of their time in Bundaberg. The resort sports a collection of bright apartments and penthouses, plus a sleek swimming pool with a sundeck. For something more back-to-basics, Kellys Beach Resort's charming self-contained eco villas are set against a backdrop of tropical gardens, while there are also tennis courts, a spa and a sauna for maximum relaxation. Bundaberg has plenty of great camping spots, too. The Burrum Coast National Park showcases an oceanfront camping area along Kinkuna Beach, while the Cordalba National Park places you among some of the state's best hiking trails deep within the eucalypt woodland. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Lady Musgrave Island by Darren Jew/Tourism and Events Queensland.
Bangarra Dance Theatre has been creating poignant theatrical performances since 1989, fusing together contemporary dance, music, poetry, art and design to spotlight First Nations culture and stories. The company's latest work is Horizon — a double bill of contemporary dance works that pay homage to the landscapes, skies and spirits that are considered significant by First Peoples across the Oceania region, from Australia to the Torres Strait Islands and Aotearoa. Sani Townson's Kulka opens the show, honouring his grandfather and highlighting his Torres Strait heritage. This is followed by collaborative work The Light Inside by Bangarra alum and Torres Strait choreographer Deborah Brown and Māori Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson. In partnership with Bangarra Dance Theatre, we spoke to Sani Townson — choreographer, Bangarra alum and presently Bangarra's Youth Programs Coordinator — about creating Kulka, what sparked his passion for dance, and why you need to see Horizon. On What You Love Most About Working with Bangarra Dance Theatre The sense of family. I've been on all sides of this company — I was a dancer and am three years back into the fold of Bangarra again, inspiring and nurturing a new generation of young talent in the Youth Programs team. Now I have this opportunity to create with the company. My heart is full. On the Power of Dance When I was younger, traditional dance was the first time I ever fell in love with movement — how song and dance marry together. But with the contemporary art form of dance, I loved how you can make amazing shapes with bodies; how you can manipulate the muscles on your body with the use of light; and how the human body can act as a paintbrush on a blank piece of canvas. On the Inspiration Behind 'Kulka' In my Grandfather's language of Kalaw Kawaw Ya, 'kulka' means 'blood'. This piece pays homage to my grandfather, Sania Guy Townson. This is merely my interpretation, in contemporary dance form, of a story he passed on to me about how my family got our totem and our clan. I've carried his name my whole life as he was an important man to my Saibai Island families. Carrying a name like his has definitely made me work extremely hard to get to where I am today. I have taken his name all over the globe and I will continue to do so where I can. He has seen me perform as a dancer with Bangarra and now his voice will be in the Drama Theatre in the Sydney Opera House. On Spotlighting Your Torres Strait Heritage Through Your Work All my works have always been in the mother tongues of both Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Kalaw Kawaw Ya. Every time I make a work, I really want to make sure that you, as the audience, will leave the theatre with a bit of the Torres Strait with you. On What Makes 'Horizon' So Special This is a cross-collaboration between the First Nations peoples of Australia and Aotearoa and the one thing we share, which is the night sky. My piece starts coming from the stars and ends looking up to the stars. Our cultures differ but share the night sky. In a world premiere, Horizon will run at the Sydney Opera House from Tuesday, June 11–Saturday, July 13, before touring Canberra from Thursday July 18–Saturday, July 20, Brisbane from Wednesday, August 7–Saturday, August 17, and Melbourne from Wednesday, August 28–Saturday, September 7. Book your tickets to Horizon today, and find out more, at the Bangarra Dance Theatre website.
It's the American cable TV network everyone knows by name in Australia, even though it doesn't air here. We all know its famed television static intro clip, too. That'd be HBO, which keeps carving out a place in TV lovers' hearts because it just keeps delivering must-see television programs. The latest example: Scenes From a Marriage. If you know your classic Swedish TV, that name will be familiar. If that doesn't apply to you, this new miniseries is adapted from an iconic work by one of the best Swedish filmmakers ever — the late, great Ingmar Bergman. As its name makes plain, Scenes From a Marriage steps inside a relationship, and finds that it's hardly a picture of domestic bliss. This new version also stars two supremely watchable leads: Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. Isaac was last seen on our screens saving the galaxy and fighting evil in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. Chastain last popped up in IT: Chapter Two and the straight-to-digital Ava. And if pairing them up sounds familiar as well, that's because they've already navigated a complex and fraying marriage in 2014's A Most Violent Year. Given how that turned out — phenomenally, that is — seeing the duo team up again promises to be a treat. HBO is positioning this miniseries as a "re-imagining", which means that it shouldn't fastidiously stick to the original's beats — and it'll jump to contemporary times. It'll still explore love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage and divorce, though. Writer/director Hagai Levi (In Treatment, The Affair) does the honours behind the lens — and, if you're keen for a sneak peek, HBO and Foxtel, which'll both air and stream the series in Australia, have just released a teaser trailer. The full series will drop sometime this September. And yes, thanks to everything from Watchmen, Chernobyl and The Undoing to I Know This Much Is True and Mare of Easttown, HBO has had a particularly great run with its miniseries recently. Obviously, that's yet another reason to be excited about Scenes From a Marriage, too. Check out the trailer below: Scenes From a Marriage is set to air on and stream via Foxtel in Australia sometime this September — we'll update you with the exact date when it is announced.
Can you feel a tingling in your toes as your feet start to defrost? That's the feeling of winter slipping away (or maybe you've been sitting cross-legged for too long) and with its demise comes the return of Australia's beloved Moonlight Cinema. Ahhh balmy nights on the grass, we have missed you. Heralding the coming of the warmer months, Moonlight Cinema is a summertime tradition that is thankfully making a comeback despite everything that 2020 has thrown our way — hitting up screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of snacks from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. The overall season runs from November through to April, although it varies city by city. After announcing vague dates last month, Moonlight has now revealed exactly when it's hitting each part of Australia — and expect to hear about what it'll be showing on Thursday, November 12. And, unsurprisingly, this year's Moonlight will be a socially distanced affair. That includes seating and queuing, plus there'll be hand-sanitiser stations, increased cleaning measures and contactless payment — with online bookings recommended. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2020–21 DATES Sydney: Thursday, November 26–Sunday, April 4 (Centennial Park) Brisbane: Friday, November 27–Sunday, February 21 (Roma Street Parkland) Adelaide: Friday, December 11–Sunday, February 14 (Botanic Park) Perth: Thursday, December 3–Sunday, April 4 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Melbourne: Thursday, January 7–Sunday, April 25 (Royal Botanic Gardens) Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November 2020, running through until April 2021. For more information, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with program details when they're announced later this month.
It seems like only yesterday that we were freaking out over their Indiegogo campaign. Now, Australia's first cat cafe has officially stolen the hearts of the nation, raised sufficient funds, and set up a home on Queen Street, Melbourne ahead of their launch early next month. If a week or two is simply too long to wait, here's a teaser of what's to come. Meet Sherlock, Lotti, Lynx, Lopez, Waldo, and Braveheart — aka your new furry best friends. All adopted from the Geelong Animal Welfare Society, these beautiful bundles of pure happiness are the first cats to call the cafe home. Having only been in the city a mere day or two, Cat Cafe Melbourne have posted a little information about each on Facebook ahead of their upcoming launch. Pictured above is the youngest — and in our opinion, best named — kitten Braveheart. Not only is he the cutest little thing we've ever seen, he's also a bit of a battler. At just five months old, he's already suffered a bad infection that led to his right eye being removed. As the cat cafe owners rightfully point out, at least now "he gives a great wink!" From youngest to eldest, this is Lynx. A sedate seven-year-old, he's the type to snuggle up and relax with after a big ol' lunch. "He won't put up with the young ones," the Cat Cafe claim. "If you pick him up beware! He gives a big hug and smooches your face. You may require help to remove him." Then there's Lotti. Though she looks a whole lot like Braveheart, she's a little older and apparently gets a bit jealous of the attention afforded to others. "She is very demanding for affection ... and has an amazing purr that will melt your heart," the owners say. Of course the best thing about this place is that there's just too many cats to keep track of. Lopez, Waldo and Sherlock are the rest of the bunch that are currently slinking around the unopened space, but you won't know too much about them 'til you meet. Cat Cafe Melbourne doesn't have an official opening date yet, though the owners have stated it will be sometime in early July. The cats will also be separated from the official cafe space due to food safety regulations — no one wants a hairball in their latte, after all. If you want to jump in and have a play after your coffee, it'll cost you $10 for the first hour, then $5 for every additional 30 minutes. Stay tuned for an update on their opening, it's bound to be the purrfect cure to your winter blues. All photos via Cat Cafe Melbourne.
Whether you're avoiding the wet weather across Australia's east coast, still in lockdown in Auckland or in need of a quiet one before the festive season kicks into gear, a stint of couch time may be on your weekend agenda. And while there's never any shortage of things to watch, here's something that might tempt your eyeballs: extremely cheap Disney+ subscriptions, plus a lineup of new movies and TV shows to go with it. This month marks two years since the Mouse House first leapt into the streaming game, so it's celebrating with $1.99 subscriptions. That's the rate for one month, and it's available until 6.59pm AEDT on Monday, November 15 — as long as you're either a new subscriber or a returning subscriber who doesn't current have an active subscription to the service. Disney+ is also fleshing out its catalogue with a number of new big-name additions, effective today, Friday, November 12. So, from tonight, you can watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at home — just two months after it hit cinemas — or get nostalgic and merry with new Home Alone franchise instalment Home Sweet Home Alone. Action-adventure comedy Jungle Cruise is also making the leap to the service as part of regular subscription fees (after simultaneously launching on the big screen and on digital back in July, but for an extra fee for the latter). And, so is new Michael Keaton-starring drama Dopesick, with the TV series exploring prescription drugs, Big Pharma and opioid addiction in America. The Mouse House is also going big on existing fan favourites, thanks to the Frozen-related Olaf Presents, new short The Simpsons in Plusaversary, the first episodes from the second season of The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and Star Wars-centric Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett special. Plus, you can check out two Marvel specials about the making of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings and Hawkeye's best MCU moments — although Hawkeye, the show, doesn't actually premiere until Wednesday, November 24. And, there's also The Making of Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, which follows on from the platform's Billie Eilish concert experience — as well as the Disney+ debut of the 2007 Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey-starring fantasy rom-com Enchanted. Disney+'s $1.99 subscription deal is available until 6.59pm AEDT on Monday, November 15 for new and eligible returning subscribers. For more information, head to the streaming platform's website.
That beloved, giant yellow legend of a floating rubber duck is missing. The 59-foot, one-tonne inflatable sculpture by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman was apparently swept away by furious floodwaters in China's south-west Guizhou Province on Wednesday. The duck's exhibition team saw our giant inflatable hero unleashed from its ten-tonne metal platform on Guiyang's Nanming River, The Wall Street Journal's China Real Time blog has reported. "The duck flopped over and was flushed away really quickly by the torrential flood," said exhibition co-ordinator Yan Jianxin. "It disappeared right in front of me." Touring hasn't been kind to the giant inflatable hero. Popping up everywhere from Sydney to Sao Paulo since 2007, the team of giant ducks have quite the rambunctious tour diary. Just months earlier, one duck exploded in the middle of a port in Taiwan. Collapsing only 11 days after installation at Keelung, the mystery behind the duck's demise was never solved. "Organisers are unsure as to the cause of its demise, but one theory is that it was attacked by eagles," reported the BBC. Another duck then went on to casually deflate in Hong Kong. But now our noble, buoyant adventurer is nowhere to be found. Local radio stations are rallying local citizens to the hunt — "If you live along the river and see an 18-metre tall big yellow duck, please call 5961027." Like looking for a giant yellow duck in a watery haystack, the search could be a tough one. If only the duck was brightly coloured, able to float and unbelievably oversized. Wait. Via BBC, Gawker and WSJ. Images by Trey Ratcliff, Zuma Press, AP Photo, Kin Cheung, Reuters.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who bring Game of Rhones our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, Brisbane wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere's best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Curly Flat, Marlborough's Greywacke, Yabby Lake, Shaw + Smith, Mount Difficulty — and that's just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You'll even be able to vote for your favourite. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. There'll be food from Gerard's Bistro, beer from Sydney's Young Henrys, and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you'll be able to sample some seriously good (and spenny) bottles at cost price. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (as well as their tastebuds) can spot $95 for a VIP pass. For that you'll get pre-event access (two hours before those pesky crowds), a food voucher, a tasting at the Burg Bar and a one-on-one with one of the event's sommeliers, who will personally curate your Pinot experience for you. Pinot Palooza will hit Fortitude Valley's Light Space on Sunday, October 16. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings and a take-home Plumm Vintage glass.
After the last couple of years, many of the metro-bound among us have a case of cabin fever. Now that the holiday season is fast approaching and opportunities for gift-giving are coming thick and fast, this year swap the paper-wrapped presents for the gift of experiences. Around Australia you've got spectacular options. There are luminous art installations at sacred sites, pink-hued salt lakes, transparent bubble tents near jaw-dropping canyons and Scandi-style saunas floating on lakes — and they're all the perfect antidote to the city. In partnership with Tourism Australia, we've put together a list of the most stunning places, activities and tours to provide gifting inspiration for that friend who really deserves an escape. Far more memorable than a pair of socks — and you'll be supporting local tourism while doing so. Result!
Usually when Cirque du Soleil hits cities around the world, it has audiences rolling up to its big top to see stunning acrobatic feats. But with the Montreal-based circus company's latest show, which also marks a pioneering display for the organisation, viewers will be hitting up arenas instead — because CRYSTAL takes place on ice. Cirque du Soleil's first-ever ice show, CRYSTAL still features all the trapeze, juggling, aerial acrobatics and more that fans have seen and loved across the company's past 41 productions — seven traditional circus acts, in fact, including banquine and hand balancing — but then adds a frosty surface rather than its usual stage setup. And, it includes figure skating and extreme skating into the spectacle as well, two disciplines that've never been featured in a Cirque du Soleil production before now. Even better: CRYSTAL will make its debut Down Under in 2023, kicking off in — when else? — winter. The show will start unleashing its frosty wonders in New Zealand, starting in Christchurch and then heading to Auckland, before making its way to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in Australia. This'll mark Cirque du Soleil's first visit since KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities in 2019 and 2020, although that production's run was interrupted by the pandemic. Also part of CRYSTAL, and another Cirque du Soleil first: remastered pop songs, including Beyoncé's 'Halo', U2's 'Beautiful Day', Nina Simone's 'Sinnerman' and Sia's 'Chandelier', in the company's only touring show so far to use such tracks. CRYSTAL has been doing the rounds worldwide since 2017, with more than 1.8-million people in 115 cities in 12 countries checking it out over the past five years. The all-ages show takes its name from the production's protagonist, who acts as the audience's guide as she follows her destiny to become herself. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S CRYSTAL — AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2023: Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18 — Christchurch Arena Tuesday, July 4–Sunday, July 9 — Spark Arena, Auckland Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 6 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, August 17–Sunday, August 20 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, August 31–Sunday, September 3 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Friday, September 15—Sunday, September 17 — RAC Arena, Perth Cirque du Soleil's Crystal will tour New Zealand in June–July 2023, and Australia in July–September 2023. For more information, or to buy tickets from 12pm on Wednesday, November 16 — with various presales beforehand — head to the show's website. Images: Matt Baker / Olivier Brajon.
Toronto welcomed a new and unique edition to its dining scene last month: Canada's first-ever restaurant tailored for the deaf. Signs, already popular with locals and tourists alike, is the brainchild of Anjan Manikumar, a hearing man who was inspired to learn American Sign Language (ASL) after realising first-hand how deaf customers struggled in restaurant situations that are simply taken for granted by others. The bar-restaurant, serving modern Canadian and international fare, employs a team of waiters who are almost entirely deaf. Choosing from over 200 deaf applicants, Manikumar found none had any waiting experience and some had never had a full-time job at all. He hopes the new venture will encourage the creation of other career opportunities for the deaf, while also promoting sign language among the community. For customers unfamiliar to ASL, the menu handily lists the sign equivalent next to each item, and a 'cheat sheet' (pictured below) translates some longer phrases, encouraging customers to engage with staff and fellow diners in this universal language. Via Buzzfeed. Photo credit: Signs.
There's no forgetting the opening moments of Scrublands, Australia's latest rural noir entry. For viewers streaming along via Stan, where the four-part series is available in full, there's no chance of not being instantly hooked, either. After an otherwise ordinary Sunday congregation, as his worshippers disperse slowly from his rural church's car park, Riversend priest Byron Swift (Jay Ryan, Muru) starts shooting with a sniper rifle. Five locals — farmers Alf (Fletcher Humphreys, The Stranger) and Tom Newkirk (Scott Major, Heartbreak High), shop owner Craig Landers (Martin Copping, The Dunes), mechanic Hugh Grosvenor (debutant Ben de Pagter) and accountant Gerry Torlini (Adam Morgan, The Royal Hotel) — are killed, with the man of the cloth not living out the fray himself. After that introduction, the bulk of Scrublands picks up a year later as the small, remote and deeply drought-stricken town is still attempting to live with an event that it'll never get over. In drives journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold, True Colours), who has been dispatched from Sydney to write about the situation 12 months after the unthinkable occurred. Capturing the colour of the situation is his remit, in an article that his Sydney Morning Herald editor wants for weekend supplement reading, and is also meant to be Scarsden's easy way back to the job after a traumatic last assignment. To the shock of no one but the investigative reporter, his welcome is mixed. It also won't astonish viewers that the journo's time interrogating the truth behind the tragedy proves anything but straightforward and uneventful — and neither director Greg McLean (Jungle) nor screenwriters Felicity Packard (Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries), Kelsey Munro (Bump) and Jock Serong (a scripting debutant) expect that basic framework to come as a surprise. Scrublands remains a mystery; however, it's the why that haunts its frames, not the who. That question lingers over the townsfolk that cross Scarsden's path, although there's already been an official tale since the massacre occurred. In the rubber-stamped version doing the rounds and fuelling news headlines, abuse allegations were levelled at Swift just days before the incident. So, in external law enforcement's minds, that's long been the case closed. But Scarsden is increasingly unconvinced. Far from writing the "torture porn" that he's initially accused of, he begins digging deeper, despite as much hostility about him endeavouring to unearth the facts swirling as surrounds to his presence in Riversend at all. Bookstore and cafe proprietor Mandy Bond (Bella Heathcote, C*A*U*G*H*T), a single mum and the first local that Scarsden meets, swings from cordial to frosty and then more open. Police officers Robbie Haus-Jones (Adam Zwar, Squinters) and Monica Piccini (Freya Stafford, New Gold Mountain) vary in their cooperation. Resident chief landowner Harley Reagan (Robert Taylor, The Newsreader) is blunt but reluctant about imparting anything but his family's generational history in these parts. Among those who lost fathers and husbands — such as teenagers Allen Newkirk (Stacy Clausen, True Spirit) and Jamie Landers (Zane Ciarma, Neighbours), and the latter's mother Fran (Victoria Thaine, Nowhere Boys) — the response is equally as complicated. Recurring among most of Riversend's inhabitants: the certainty that the picture painted of the cleric that changed everything isn't what it seems. The list of Australian films and TV shows that involve a big-city outsider galloping in to run through a regional area's problems, struggles and secrets is considerable, including The Dry, Black Snow, Limbo and Deadloch in recent years. Scrublands happily fits the bill. As those past movies and series have shown, and this page-to-screen effort based on Chris Hammer's novel as well, such a setup can provide the basis for weighty and compelling stories when presented with care, thought and style. McLean isn't in Wolf Creek or Wolf Creek 2 territory. While the eye-catching imagery that the filmmaker and his cinematographer Marden Dean (Clickbait) offer up can lean on familiar visual tropes, relying on standard formula isn't the approach overall. Any narrative scenario, no matter how well-used — including to the point where it feels like a national genre — can feel worth diving into when fleshed out with riveting details. Scrublands is a clear case in point. This isn't a story backdropped by parched red earth as far as the eye can see, but by the dry scrubby landscape as the name suggests. Like picture, like themes, then. Emotional complexities between characters intertwine, spread and hook in like undergrowth, in that remote small-town way. In other series such as The Clearing and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart as well, and in The Royal Hotel on the big screen, too, Australia's recent screen output has kept making plain the ties, secrets and lies that can bind when everyone knows everyone, or thereabouts — plus the thorns that lurk for outsiders. A sense of stifling often courses through Australia's rural noir efforts, even when filled with vast expanses. When it seems like all there is is space, often there's nowhere to run to. As Scrublands' take on the interloper mining for answers, Arnold adds an arresting and grounded performance to a resume that flits from The Tunnel, Black Sails, Glitch and Home and Away to playing Michael Hutchence in Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS. This genre needs not only a gripping mystery but an involving protagonist, and TV's new addition ticks both boxes. While Ryan's casting as a charismatic and beloved priest, at least until he started gunning down parishioners, gives away that there's a twist to come involving Swift — and that the man of god won't just be seen in the series' introduction — he's still expertly deployed given the role's charming, empathetic and no-nonsense turns, as seen in flashbacks. And as Bond segues between the past and the present sections, Heathcote wears both hope and grief like a second skin. Hammer, a former journalist himself, penned a rich and atmospheric novel that screamed to reach the screen. As well as the non-fiction The River and The Coast, both of which preceded 2018's Scrublands to bookshelves, he's also given Scarsden two more stints on the page so far: Silver in 2019 and Trust in 2020. Expect them both to appeal to streaming powers that be, giving Australia a new Jack Irish- and Mystery Road-like franchise. If Hammer's Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan novels — 2021's Treasure and Dirt, 2022's The Tilt and 2023's The Seven — also get the same treatment, that wouldn't be a surprise, either. Check out the trailer for Scrublands below: Scrublands streams via Stan.
Surfers Paradise is known for many things — sun, surf, sand, Schoolies and tourists, mainly — but there's one thing that the Gold Coast strip hasn't had for more than 20 years. That's a cinema, after Hoyts shut up shop back in 1995. Local cinephiles and holidaying movie buffs can rejoice, however, with Palace announcing plans to open a 12-screen complex later this year. Coming to the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue as part of the X Galaxy Centre redevelopment, the cinema will feature multiple lounge and bar areas, plus views over the city, all a mere block away from the beach. It'll form part of an extensive retail and dining precinct, and will be serviced by the light rail system. Patrons can expect the usual array of Palace bar offerings when the cinema opens — with an exact date yet to be announced — plus the chain's mix of art house and mainstream titles. Other than the Home of the Arts cinema (formerly known as the Arts Centre Gold Coast), the area is underserved when it comes to anything other than blockbuster and multiplex fare, making Palace a welcome addition. The Surfers site will bring the company's Queensland locations to three, with Palace operating 22 in total across Australia. They're certainly busy — as well as opening a 13-screen, pink-hued cinema in Sydney's Chippendale last year, new sites in Double Bay and Melbourne's Old Pentridge Prison and Moonee Ponds are also in the works.
If mythical creatures, unsolved murders and unease in the Victorian era all sound like your idea of great television, then Amazon Prime Video's new fantasy series might be just up your alley — or row. Starring Cara Delevingne as a faerie and Orlando Bloom has a brooding detective, Carnival Row boasts all of the above, as well as a heavy gothic-meets-steampunk vibe. Story-wise, the drama unpacks the fallout of a turf war, after humanity encroaches upon the homelands of mythological beings. In the aftermath, the latter — including Delevingne's Vignette Stonemoss — attempt to co-exist with non-magical folk. It doesn't go smoothly, with a series of killings under investigation by Bloom's Rycroft Philostrate understandably making matters worse. Releasing on Friday, August 30, Carnival Row appears to follow in the footsteps of plenty of previous tales that've used fantasy, sci-fi and superheroes to explore intolerance, immigration, discrimination and refugees. The twist comes from the period setting and neo-noir atmosphere — so think X-Men meets Penny Dreadful. Created by René Echevarria (The 4400, Teen Wolf) and Travis Beacham (Clash of the Titans, Pacific Rim), Carnival Row is based on the latter's script. Amazon is already confident about the show, renewing it for a second season before the first has even released according to Variety. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369LHB9N-Ro Carnival Row hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday, August 30.
If you've ever listened to a true-crime podcast, decided that you'd make a great Serial host yourself and started wondering how you'd ever follow in Sarah Koenig's footsteps, then you should be watching Only Murders in the Building. The Disney+ series follows three New Yorkers who basically follow that same process. Here, actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) are all obsessed with a podcast hosted by the fictional Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, Girls5eva). They find themselves bonding over it, in fact. And, when someone turns up dead in their building, they decide that they can sleuth their way through the case by getting talking themselves. First hitting streaming last month, and now dropping new episodes week-by-week, the series has been unfurling its first season in a very entertaining fashion. It's exceptionally well-cast, and makes makes the most of its main trio's mismatched vibe. It's filled with hearty affection for everything it jokes about, resulting in an upbeat satire of true-crime obsessions, podcasting's pervasiveness and the intersection of the two. It adores its single-setting Agatha Christie-lite setup, it's always empathetic, and it also loves peppering in highly recognisable co-stars and guest stars such as Fey, Nathan Lane (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), Amy Ryan (Late Night) and even Sting. With the latter, it isn't above making puns about not standing so close to him, or just serving up jokes on that level in general. Yes, it's a delight. And, although it's only five episodes in so far, Only Murders in the Building has just been renewed for a second season. So, if you'd like more of a show that's basically Knives Out, but a sitcom and also a little goofier, you're in luck. Expect another round of murder and podcasting. Expect another suspicious death in the show's Arconia building, too, given the series' title. That's great news for viewers, but probably not for the apartment block's residents — other than Martin, Short and Gomez's characters, that is. Exactly what the next season will cover and when it'll arrive hasn't yet been revealed; however, co-creator and executive producer John Hoffman said that "to carry on our show's wild ride of mystery-comedy-empathy is too exciting for words." Streaming as part of Disney+'s new Star expansion, which launched in Australia back in February this year, Only Murders in the Building enjoyed Star's most-watched premiere among its original series. So, it clearly already (and deservedly) has plenty of fans, all ready not just for the next five episodes of season one, but for another season afterwards. Check out the trailer for Only Murders in the Building below: The first five episodes of Only Murders in the Building's first season are available to stream now via Star on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Read our full review. The show will return for a second season, but exactly when that'll be hasn't yet been announced. Images: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
Back to the Future Part II promised us many things. Hoverboards, video calls, instant pizza, the Chicago Cubs winning the world series, Jaws 19 — the list goes on, but only some of these have actually come true to date. While the rest of us have been wishing we could jump in flying cars, however, one researcher has taken inspiration from Marty McFly's self-lacing shoes. In the spirit of tech-infused wearables, Associate Professor Jayan Thomas from the University of Central Florida has developed solar-powered textiles that can be turned into clothing. "If you can develop self-charging clothes or textiles, you can realize those cinematic fantasies – that's the cool thing," said Thomas. That's not the only impressive part of his research, though. Not only can the copper ribbon filaments at the centre of his breakthrough capable of harvesting and storing energy from the sun, but they might then be able to be used to power other electronic devices, such as mobile phones. Imagine never having to worry about your smartphone's battery levels while you're out of the house, no matter how much time you spend snapping photos and posting them to Instagram. Imagine being able to charge your laptop, tablet or e-reader just by sticking it in your bag. Imagine being free from portable chargers, cables and taunting on-screen power indicators. We're not quite at that stage yet, but that's one of the uses Thomas envisages for his new technology, alongside electric cars. It's enough to make you exclaim "great Scott!" several times over. Via Tech Times.
It's no secret that staying active — and comfortable — while pregnant can be a bit of a struggle. Lifestyle brand Active Truth knows this all too well — it's run by two Brisbane mums, Stevie Angel and Nadia Tucker, after all. They've created award-winning maternity activewear that you can wear all day, every day throughout your pregnancy. Supporting women of all shapes, sizes and pregnancy stages, these leggings come in sizes small through 3XL and can be worn through every trimester, as well as post-natal. The duo created a compression fabric that provides secure support and is especially designed to help ease some of the pains and strains experienced during pregnancy. The tights will stay in place throughout your workout, too, and the compression fit assists in reducing leg swelling and soreness to boot. Available in black, dark navy and leopard print, the leggings range in four lengths, from bike shorts to full leg. Plus Active Truth products even come with pockets, so you can leave the house with nothing but your phone. The waistband can be worn up as high rise or as hip huggers and is flexible to fit all mums. If you're pregnant — or hoping to be in the near future — you can jump online now and grab a pair with the brand currently running a 20 percent discount on all orders (just enter ATMAMA20 at checkout). Active Truth also offers free express shipping worldwide — and uses compostable packaging, no less. Active Truth is currently offering 20 percent off all orders (enter ATMAMA20 at checkout) and free express shipping. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Go dotty about the world, and it'll go dotty about you: that's the Yayoi Kusama story. For seven decades, the Japanese artist has thrust polka dots to the centre of her paintings, collages and installations, making her a contemporary art favourite — and all of those years of circular creativity are now coming to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. From 4 November 2017 to 11 February 2018, GOMA will host Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow, a major showcase of her lengthy and prolific career since the 1950s. Co-curated with the National Gallery Singapore, where the exhibition is currently on display until September, it will boast than 70 of her pieces — featuring 24 works from her recent My Eternal Soul series, which has been ongoing since 2009, and currently comprises 500 canvases in total. Kusama's early painterly experiments, a multi-decade presentation of her 'net' paintings, soft-sculpture and assemblage will also grace the gallery's spaces, as will performance documents and large-scale installations. With the celebrated artist no stranger to the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA, a number of her iconic pieces will be making a return. Two artworks commissioned for the gallery's 2002 Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art will feature, including Narcissus garden in the QAG Watermall. Of course, the beloved interactive experience that is The Obliteration Room will also be brightening up GOMA's Children's Art Centre for the first time since summer 2014-2015. Fans of plastering a white room full of coloured dot-shaped stickers, rejoice. Fans of Kusama's bright riot of dots and hues, rejoice as well. Images: Anwyn Howarth.
He filled our hearts with joy with his gorgeous animated films, then broke them with his well-deserved farewell; however, it seems that Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki isn't done playing with our emotions — or making movies — just yet. One of Asia's biggest news agencies has reported that the master animator has officially stepped out of retirement and is preparing to direct his next feature. The new project was discussed by Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki in a pre-Oscars interview, with the studio's co-production The Red Turtle in the running to take home the trophy for best animated feature. It's not the first we've heard about it, given that Miyazaki's eagerness to return to doing what he does best was first rumoured last year. Now, though, it's official. Best known for directing the iconic likes of Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo and more before he retired after 2014's The Wind Rises — aka, the retirement that actually stuck for a while, after previous plans didn't eventuate — the legendary filmmaker has reportedly been working on turning 12-minute computer-generated short Kemushi no Boro (Boro the Caterpillar) into full-length effort after becoming dissatisfied with the briefer version. Suzuki didn't elaborate as to whether that's the new feature he's talking about, but speculation is rife, of course. That film was expected to be finished in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, so, once again, there are plenty of assumptions that the same will be the case with whatever Miyazaki's current effort turns out to be. To be honest, it's safe to say that Ghibli fans won't mind what he's making, or when it comes out — we're all too busy jumping for joy that we'll be getting to feast our eyes and hearts on one of his inimitable cinematic creations once again. Via Kotaku.
Holy Ghost are back with some ridiculously catchy music, The National have us swimming in a sea of love, and Sam Smith goes acoustic to show us the beauty of strings. Put down the iPod; these five tracks are your playlist for the weekend. 1. 'DUMB DISCO IDEAS' - HOLY GHOST Holy Ghost are back with their impending album Dynamics, and this week they treated us to the first delicious slice of audio pie from the record in 'Dumb Disco Ideas'. It is eight minutes of subtle hooks, groove and simplicity and the accompanying video is equally as fantastic, with a time lapse of the Manhattan skyline punctuated by cleverly synchronised disco lights. 2. 'SEA OF LOVE' - THE NATIONAL The National are experts at making music for all occasions. 'Sea of Love' is another one of those gems that you can listen to whilst jogging, brooding over a break-up or taking a road trip to the greatest festival of your life (at which they are probably playing). The track coasts along nicely until its final third when everything lets loose and the band just take it up a few thousand notches. The National are back to their very best. Also, the kid at the front of the video is incredible. 3. 'LATCH' - SAM SMITH Sam Smith provided the vocals for Disclosure's electro smash 'Latch'. This week he decided to strip that track back, take out all of the technologically created sounds and head in an acoustic direction and we should all be glad he has. Whilst the original is enjoyable in its own right, Sam's haunting voice and strong string accompaniment take it in a direction you never imagined the song could go. This is music as it was meant to be made. 4. 'FALL FOR YOU' - YOUNG GALAXY Canadian indie band Young Galaxy know how to have fun and thankfully they are kind enough to share what their fun creates. 'Fall For You' is from their new album Ultramarine and it creates all kinds of good feelings when you hear it. If you watch the video whilst listening you will never be sad again. 5. 'RUN AWAY' - SUNSTROKE PROJECT It's Eurovision weekend, which means its time to reflect on one of the greatest moments in recent competition history — epic sax man. When Moldova took to the stage in 2010 nobody expected much; how wrong we all were. Not only did we get a spinning violinist but we were also treated to the most epic saxophonist ever. Many have tried to replicate his hips, but none have succeeded and it is doubtful that anybody ever will.
The Office is reopening — in America, and in the same universe as the Steve Carell (Asteroid City)-led series dwelled in from 2005–13. It was back in 2023 that news dropped of a potential US reboot of the beloved sitcom, and now the project has been given the green light; however, the as-yet-untitled show isn't simply walking into Dunder Mifflin with new staff. Instead, US streaming service Peacock is staying in the same world as the Scranton-set show that itself was a remake — of the original UK version that arrived in 2001 — by moving the mockumentary format to a new workplace. This time, the same documentary crew who spent time with Michael Scott and company will focus on a dying newspaper office in America's midwest, where the publisher is trying to keep the business going with help from volunteer reporters. [caption id="attachment_765735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Run, HBO[/caption] Leading the cast: Domhnall Gleeson, who co-starred with Carell on 2022's The Patient, plus Sabrina Impacciatore from The White Lotus season two. Who they're playing hasn't been revealed as yet. There's no character details at all so far, or anything more on the plot or fellow actors, but Greg Daniels — who created the US version of The Office to begin with, and has also been behind Space Force and Upload — is steering the project behind the camera with Nathan for You co-creator Michael Koman. "It's been more than ten years since the final episode of The Office aired on NBC, and the acclaimed comedy series continues to gain popularity and build new generations of fans on Peacock," said NBCUniversal Entertainment President Lisa Katz about the new series. "In partnership with Universal Television and led by the creative team of Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, this new series set in the universe of Dunder Mifflin introduces a new cast of characters in a fresh setting ripe for comedic storytelling: a daily newspaper." [caption id="attachment_870908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The White Lotus, HBO[/caption] For everyone who has ever had a cringeworthy boss, annoying co-worker or soul-crushing office job, a truth remains apparent, then: this situation, which The Office franchise has understood for more than two decades now, shows no signs of fading away. As well as the UK and US versions so far, other international takes on the show have followed, including an in-the-works Australian series that'll mark the 13th iteration beyond Britain to-date. On its first go-around, the American The Office proved one of the rare instances where a TV remake is better than the original. It was also immensely easy to just keep rewatching, as fans have known for over a decade. Of course, that's what you get when you round up Carell, John Krasinski (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan), Jenna Fischer (Splitting Up Together), Rainn Wilson (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), Mindy Kaling (Velma), Ed Helms (Rutherford Falls), Ellie Kemper (Happiness for Beginners), Craig Robinson (Killing It) and more in the same show, and let all of them break out their comedic best. There's no sneak peek at the new The Office spinoff so far — it doesn't start production until July — but, in the interim, you can check out a couple clips from the US version below: The new spinoff of the US version of The Office doesn't have a release date yet — we'll update you with more information when it is announced. The Office Australia will stream via Prime Video sometime in 2024 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced.
Talk about a big hook: while shark movies and serial-killer films comprise their own unnerving genres, each swimming with ample must-see viewing, Dangerous Animals combines the pair into an entertaining thriller mashup. The Gold Coast-made and -set picture boasts marine predators aplenty. The real monster in the hierarchy, however, lives on land and is very much human. Indeed, in a post-Jaws world — June 2025 marks five decades since Steven Spielberg's blockbuster sparked many a permanent case of galeophobia — one of The Loved Ones and The Devil's Candy filmmaker Sean Byrne's aims with his third feature, and first in ten years, is to do justice to rather than villainise the feared toothy fish. His new antagonist: Tucker, Dangerous Animals' shark-obsessed murderer. The victim of an attack in his younger days, he's now in the cage-diving business. As viewers learn early on, tourists frequenting his boat to swim with the ocean's creatures get more than they bargained for. From Jai Courtney (American Primeval) in the part, the movie receives exactly what it needs, though: an unforgettably terrifying performance, bringing to life a figure that's charismatic from the outset, while equally unsettling from the get-go as well. Tucker charms his customers, but there's aways an edge to him. He's menacing and obsessive, and also believable and fleshed out — and a little vulnerable, too. When Dangerous Animals introduces American-in-Australia Zephyr (Hassie Harrison, Yellowstone), everyone watching knows that the dedicated surfer is bound to paddle into Tucker's orbit, even as the solo traveller is making a rare connection with local real-estate agent Moses (Josh Heuston, Heartbreak High). The screenplay by first-timer Nick Lepard obliges — but this isn't the type of film where foreseeing such a turn of events kills the tension and suspense. Although Tucker abducts Zephyr to indulge his sadistic shark-feeding ritual, she knows the true threat and isn't afraid to sink her own teeth into fighting back. An engaging big-screen experience results, as does a movie that earned a rare endorsement on its way to cinemas Down Under. At 2025's Cannes Film Festival, Dangerous Animals became the first shark film to ever grace the event's program. "To be the first shark film to be officially selected for Cannes was kind of mindblowing," Byrne tells Concrete Playground. "And to be in Directors' Fortnight as well, which traditionally is a very film-literate sidebar — but it was a great vote of confidence that, I think, the selection committee saw this as a subversion of the traditional shark film." [caption id="attachment_1009141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Belinda Rolland © 2025.[/caption] "What I loved the most was, the Cannes experience, that was the first time that an audience had seen the finished film," Byrne continues. "So I was terrified. And because it is a very film-literate audience over there, I was thinking 'how are they going to perceive this?'. But they absolutely understood that this is just a fun, unhinged night at the movies, and really responded to that, and laughed and gasped. And we got a ten-minute standing ovation. So, yeah, it was incredibly gratifying. But to begin with I was petrified, because it was the first time that an audience had seen the finished film and on quite a big stage, so the stakes felt high." Playing Tucker, the stakes are raised for Courtney, too. It's a complex role — and one that Byrne has likened to Kathy Bates in Misery, Jack Nicholson in The Shining and Christian Bale in American Psycho. The Australian actor, making his second homegrown flick in succession after the immensely different, family-friendly Runt, hasn't shied away from playing the bad guy across his career so far. Here, the IRL true-crime fan was excited about the many layers to his Dangerous Animals part, as he adds to an on-screen resume that began two decades back in short Boys Grammar — and has spanned the likes of Jack Reacher, A Good Day to Die Hard, Terminator Genisys, the Divergent movies and two Suicide Squad entries in Hollywood. Is a willingness to get dark behind the range of antagonistic parts to Courtney's name? "I think it's just something that's started to happen. You find things that are in your wheelhouse," he advises. "And I'm not afraid of that or necessarily in search of it, either. It's just that, I guess, things that tend to be the stuff that come my way, that meet up with where my interests are, happen to be that way. But the goal for me is just to try and shake it up whenever I can. And fortunately films like Runt come along and I get to play a loving father of two, and completely depart from this world whatsoever. As long as I pepper a few of those in here and there, hopefully I'm not pigeonholed too heavily." A premise like Dangerous Animals' is a rarity, no matter how common both shark and serial-killer fare are separately. Yes, for both Byrne and Courtney, that's a drawcard. Respecting the film's sea-dwelling creatures, complete with using real animal footage as much as possible, was another key element for its director. So was the fact that this is as much a movie about the importance of love, and the power that someone believing in you can give. For its star, Tucker's dance sequence to Steve Wright's 'Evie' wasn't a motivating factor — but it's one of the film's most-memorable moments in a flick filled with them. We also chatted with Byrne and Courtney about the above, unpacking Australian larrikins and ideas around Aussie masculinity, how starring in a shark picture leaves you feeling about them and their career journeys as well, among other subjects. On the First Reaction When a Horror Movie About a Shark-Obsessed Serial Killer Stalking the Gold Coast — and About Man Being the Real Monster, Too — Comes Your Way Jai: "I think I read something that felt really original. It was a great story and had really strong characters at the centre of it, which is a sort of immediate way in — because I think with something like this, you get a loose logline before you're about to crack it open and it's like 'okay, it could go either way'. But Nick Lepard, who wrote our script, had really done a lot of work in giving these characters maybe a bit more depth than you'd come to expect from a film of this nature. And I think that's what made it a bit of a unique experience, and certainly made it appealing to me to want to get involved with. I think Tucker, he's so much more than the shark-obsessed serial killer. And we don't get to explore tons of his backstory, but there is a lot of colour to him, and I think seeing a chance to bring all that to life with this undertone of his morally ambiguous intentions was what really attracted me to it. And then, just speaking to Sean and kind of getting on common ground as far as what we thought was necessary for him. I didn't want this character to feel like a broad-strokes-washed-over-evil-intentions guy. If that was the movie he was trying to make, I don't think I would have been there. But I think we both wanted him to feel like there was a sort of deception there. And it had to feel fun. I wanted it to feel familiar and uniquely Australian, but also the genre speaks to the world, and we play into all the classic tropes that you might expect. It also does a good job of not taking yourself too seriously. There's a few winks to the audience in this film, where I think if you get onboard — it's why it's so important to see it with an audience, too, I really believe, because there's an energy to it that when you're sharing the space with others who are on the same ride, it becomes really palpable." Sean: "I tend to write my own scripts, much to the frustration of my agent and manager. And then this crossed my desk, and immediately I was just struck by the high-concept of serial killer film meets shark film. And I thought 'why hasn't anyone done this?', especially when you had the fact that this is the first shark film where the sharks aren't really the antagonist — man is. So I felt like Nick Lepard had actually kind of cracked the code. Because, Jaws masterpiece though it is, has done such a disservice to the sharks, where the same formula has been followed over and over again to the point that sharks are beginning to become an endangered species — because it was so culturally seismic. And so to get this shark film that was unlike any other shark film, but also had a conservation angle — but on top of that, was just a wild, fun night at the movies — it was just irresistible.' On Exploring Tucker's Layers — Including His Childhood Shark Attack and the Physical Scars It Left, Plus the Trauma, Vulnerability and Emotional Damage — All While He Remains a Shark-Obsessed Serial Killer Jai: "You just have to find the quiet moments and allow them to be there without trying to sell it too hard. The camera is an interesting thing, because it sees things that are saved for the audience for later. It's not like on set — you can't kind of like sell it all for the people that are in the room. And I think Tucker, there's an opportunity with him sometimes — where even just his response to certain comments made by Zephyr, or questions he's asked by Heather [Ella Newton, Girl at the Window] in the start of the film, there's things that can be quite potent. I just wanted to find opportunities with him to reveal a bit of his tenderness. And I think that's the thing that, for me, was like the gateway into figuring out who he was — is like this wound. We don't get to hear a lot about it in the film. There's one moment that sort of touches on it. But there's a bit of arrested development. He's stuck in a place where he was abandoned as a kid, and this somewhat otherworldly encounter touched him, and that's by way of being victim of an attack. But it almost made him feel chosen in a way. And so a lot of that is really just figuring out the path for yourself, where you're going 'alright, here's this bloke who's got this gaping wound in him, this trauma, but feels this immense connection to the animal'. All of that is just sort of say that he's found a crusade for himself that feels real. And it might be misguided, but he has a true belief in it. And so there you have the building blocks of who he might be, and then the fun part is stacking on the colourful bits on top. Even just costume and makeup and finding his look, finding the shape of his body — I mean, that for me, it's all part of building who Tucker is, and I wanted him to feel like a real salty, kind of born-out-of-the-marina, familiar Australian figure." On Courtney's Chance to Turn in a Horror Performance That Aims to Be as Memorable as Kathy Bates in Misery and Jack Nicholson in The Shining Jai: "Oh no, I didn't really approach it with any of that in mind. I just approached it with a goal to just do something that was dynamic and big, and get to explore all the corners of this human, really. And I think Sean and I were onboard with each other, and there was an immediate trust. And I think he let me — I was kind of like 'you help me with the temperature, and the volume of where we're pulling moments up and down and in and out, and I'll take care of sending it as hard as I think it needs to'. I mean, the material is there. But that stuff is a blueprint, it's not prescriptive. Every actor is going to come and do that with their own instincts. I saw a version of it in my head when I first read it, and I felt like that was the version that would work for the film. And fortunately I was given the chance to do it, and I'm proud with what we came up with." Sean: "I think any kind of horror film that stands the test of time, the antagonist haunts the audience's nightmares well after they've left the cinema. But I wanted it to be a great time as well. You think of Hannibal Lecter, and as disturbing as he is, he's fun. And Kathy Bates in particular, that character is just so wonderfully goofy, and she doesn't swear. And there's a certain theatricality to antagonists in commercial horror films, and we really wanted to aim for that and keep it fun. But also, the great thing about Jai is he's such a great character actor. I knew he would bring emotional nuance to the character where it was required — and capture the broken child inside the man, and point to this shark attack that he'd had as a child and capture all that. But also, he was also Captain Boomerang. He's got this wild charisma that reminded me of kind of Eric Bana in Chopper. And that's how the spider catches the fly, with charisma and letting tourists, they let their guard down. And finally, he's physically really intimidating and genuine — he could kill you with one punch. So I just thought combining the charisma with the kind of character actor that he is and the physical intimidation would be a really electric mix, to the point that I thought that this was the role that he was born to play. And so I was so thankful that we got him." On What Goes Into a Good Dance Sequence for Courtney, Given That He's in Quite the Unforgettable One in Dangerous Animals Jai: "God, I couldn't even tell you. I was daunted by that whole thing, because I'm by no means a dancer and it should never be filmed when I'm dancing. But we knew what it wanted to feel like. It's completely unchoreographed and just improvised. Tucker's kind of having this wrap party for his own little film that he's made, and it's a private look at this person in a light that we don't really get to spend a lot of time with them outside of that moment in the film. That needle drop of 'Evie' was written into the script. I know that song very well. I could already see it and hear and feel it. And I didn't plan any of it. I just had to go in, get in that mindset that he's in that night and just go for it. I think we did it in two takes. We did one, and we just ran it again from a different angle, and it was just me and Shelly [Farthing-Dawe, In Vitro], our cinematographer, with a handheld camera in the space. It was kind of like 'what we get is what we get'. And fortunately it turned out to be something really fun." On Unpacking Australian Larrikins and Ideas Around Aussie Masculinity Through Tucker Sean: "I think we've all had that kind of tour-guide experience. It doesn't necessarily need to be a shark-diving boat, but we're always in the hands of the tour guide. So yeah, there was that, but also he's almost an outdated representation of the kind of masculinity or toxic masculinity that I think the film works as a Trojan horse to say that this is something that needs to be kind of defeated. And Moses, in many ways, is the anti-Tucker. But I think it's inherent in the title. It's called Dangerous Animals. He is definitely more dangerous than what's in the water. But ultimately, I think Zephyr is the most-dangerous animal — and the allegory is she needs to defeat this. This is something that needs to be defeated. His philosophy needs to be destroyed." On Whether Being a True-Crime Fan Helps When You're Portraying a Serial Killer Jai: "I think so. I think I leant on my curiosity for people that are capable of things that we can't quite understand. And yeah, I do just have a fascination with it. It's one of those things where I think it's easy to judge that and feel like for some reason you're excusing these behaviours, or we're glorifying it or whatever — but I don't know, I've just always been fascinated by how close we might get to people that are capable of these crazy things without even knowing it. And that's interesting to me. You know, you don't really know who you're sitting next to on the bus or in a pub or whatever, and for some reason that doesn't terrify me — it intrigues me. There's not a story you could tell me that's too dark. I'm kind of here for it in a strange way. So yeah, I guess it led me in a little bit. But even with Tucker, the experience of shooting it, there were moments that hit a limit. There's a night we had where Ella Newton, who plays Heather, is strung up in the harness over the open water in the middle of the night, screaming for her life — and everyone was squirming, honestly, after a few minutes. We were all kind of, the whole crew, myself included, we're just like 'can we make this stop? This is too much'. And it's a testament to her performance and what she was giving it. But yeah, when your disbelief is suspended somewhat, even as a performer, you know you're stepping into wild territory." On the Importance of This Being Not Just a Killer Shark Flick and a Serial-Killer Movie, But Also a Survivalist Thriller, Plus a Film About Love and Finding Someone Who Helps You Believe in Yourself Sean: "Oh absolutely. I'm so glad you said that, because I think that's almost a central theme — that it's about love, or the difference that love can make in a life, and what an absence of love can do to a person as well. And I think it's this collision course between these two broken people that have had to learn to survive on their own, which actually sharks do. They're birthed in the shallows, and then they're left on their own to survive. So in many ways, Zephyr and Tucker know each other better than anyone else on the planet does — in a similar way to De Niro and Pacino doing Heat. Even though they're opposites and they're trying to kill each other, it's like, well, they actually understand each other as well. I think ultimately, Zephyr uses the ocean to ease her loneliness, and she uses it in a way that's about solace — whereas Tucker takes advantage of the ocean, ultimately, and it comes back to bite him." On How Making a Film About Sharks — Even When They're Not the Villain of the Movie — Leaves You Feeling About Them Afterwards Jai: "Sharks are scary. Let's get one thing straight, right: I don't think anyone's not scared of sharks. Maybe there are people out there that have a completely different affinity with them, but I don't need to come closer than anyone should. I would love to cage dive with whites. I've been in a tank, in a cage with some sharks, but they weren't exactly maneaters, so, you know, I wasn't in fear of my life. But there's something so incredible and mythical about giant beasts that could consume humans, that I think it's rare — that's sort of a rare quality on this earth. You think of big cats and maybe bears, and other than that, there's things that will kind of poison you. But sharks are a very unique threat, and they live in a world that we really can't get too close to or understand. So I think there's always going to be this quality to that that keeps people in fear. But they're beautiful. And nature is beautiful. And it's just the nature things. There's a line in the movie about it not being the shark's fault, Tucker references his own, being the victim of his own attack, and yeah, that is the case — it isn't." On How Crucial It Was to Use Real Shark Footage, Including to Dispel the Notion That They're Villainous Creatures Sean: "I feel like shark films recently have become so reliant on CGI, just because you can have lots of them in the shot. And they tend to be super sleek and more like a video game. But since Jaws, there's been so much overfishing of sharks. And they carry scars the same way that we do. And so I wanted to present them in a kind of documentary, real light — because our scars as humans are a big part of our personality. So I wanted to depict that with the sharks and show them as the majestic creatures that they truly are. And the only way to do that is treat them with the respect and show them for real. So 80 percent of the sharks that you see are real. Everything underwater is real. It's all taken from 4K footage that our shark researcher sourced to match storyboards and photographic references. The only CG is the fins above the water, because it's pretty much impossible to cover the intricate shark blocking with real shark fins. And all the shark photography really happens underwater because no one ever captures fins. So that was a necessity. But yeah, it just felt like I hadn't seen that in a shark film for such a long time, just real sharks in their element and appreciating them in all their beauty." [caption id="attachment_804997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Suicide Squad[/caption] On How Courtney's Franchise Experience in Everything From Die Hard and Terminator Flicks to the Divergent Series, Jack Reacher and Suicide Squad Helps on a Film Like Dangerous Animals Jai: "Filmmaking is weirdly all the same. Your experience of it might change because the budget is different, but that's really not — you're just telling different stories. It doesn't really get better or worse. Maybe some people wouldn't like to work on a film of this size and give up a few basic luxuries, but that doesn't really — having more money to spend on screen doesn't make something more fulfilling to make. Sometimes it's just the bare-bones stuff where the story is as good as it gets and the character's really well rounded out and you're working with a phenomenal director, and it can be a really contained drama, but it's just as alive to shoot because of what we do as storytellers, as people that play dress ups. And it's all make believe. It's nice to put a big costume on sometimes and jump around on huge stunt rigs, and get to be involved with epic crash sequences or whatever. It's a lot of fun. But I enjoy the intimate, small stuff just as much. I guess I'm fortunate to be able to shake it up and operate in many different spaces." On What It Means to Courtney to Be Able to Come Home and Make Films That Are as Diverse as Runt and Dangerous Animals Jai: "It's everything. I hope that never ever ends. Australia's such a great place to work. I love the crews there. I've been fortunate to be part of some really special films — and I don't think it'll ever change. As long as we keep telling stories, I'll keep wanting to be involved." On Byrne's Journey From The Loved Ones Through The Devil's Candy to Dangerous Animals Sean: "I think it's probably a perception out there that if you do something that a lot of people end up seeing and gets some kind of cult status, that there's going to be money on tap. And the unfortunate reality is if you write original films about humans hunting other humans, they're not that easy to get off the ground. That's why there's more supernatural films than there are serial-killer films, because it's easier to blame the devil. In fact, I kind of had to do that in The Devil's Candy to get the money. So I've written constantly in the years between The Loved Ones and The Devil's Candy, and The Devil's Candy and Dangerous Animals, and optioned all of my scripts. But then Hollywood is so risk-averse, that that's why they want something that can mitigate the risk and justify their decision. Hence it's got to be either IP-driven or a sequel, or kind of supernatural — and that's why I was so thrilled when this crossed my desk. I had another film that was a lower budget that actually got the money at the same time as Dangerous Animals. So after all that time, it was like an embarrassment of riches. But Dangerous Animals felt the most-commercial choice, just because it's a shark film that has a very loyal following, plus it's a serial- killer film. And I was really happy to have that safety net that I could explore the extreme nature of man, but have the loyal shark fans to hold it up." On How Courtney Sees His Path From His First Screen Acting Role Two Decades Back, Through Huge Hollywood Franchises, Comedies, Local Fare and Much In-Between Jai: "I don't know. I'm still figuring it out, I think. Just trying to stay engaged with the material that I'm choosing nowadays. I'm a big believer in it all being part of the story, and there's some elements of that that you can control and a lot you have none over. So, I don't know, man. It gets tough out there. I'm just really grateful to get to do this for a living. There's nothing else I would be doing or ever will. [caption id="attachment_884171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaleidoscope. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.[/caption] And I really am in touch with that gratitude when I'm working. It's a real pleasure to get to do this. So I'm just trucking along, trying to keep growing as an artist — and try to hopefully do stuff that I'm thrilled to roll out of bed and get to involve myself in." Dangerous Animals opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Music is used in every given scenario: weddings, birthdays, parties. Now, thanks to a pair of intuitive electrical engineering students, the power of bass can be used in a more practical way - dousing flames. Seth Robertson and Viet Tran from George Mason University in Virginia have invented a fire extinguisher that uses low-frequency sound waves to engulf a blaze. Instead of an air tank spewing out foam, water and chemicals, the device uses has a loudspeaker the size of subwoofer to pump out sound waves. It produces a low hum like a regular blast of air, that when pointed in the right direction, will make flames vanish. As well as of being an everyday utility, the extinguisher has the potential to be used in outerspace, where sound waves can be directed without gravity, in comparison to normal extinguishers that would spread chemicals in a disorderly fashion and possibly damage equipment. Despite initial doubt from classmates and professors, the pair now have a preliminary patent application and backing from the university.
Remember those hastily scrawled notes of yesteryear, slipped to your friend just as the teacher's back was turned? The folks at Moleskine do. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the text message, Moleskine has reintroduced the concept of 'shooting' your friend a message with their classic notebooks. Featuring a graduated cover, these Moleskine editions let you measure how far you can catapult a note, using the notebook's band as a makeshift slingshot. Created by Italian designer Pietro Corraini, the SMS (Shooting Method System) tribute packs also include a set of pre-written notes, including a coy 'Call me', to use as ammunition. Think of it as the grown up version of the 'I like you' note you sent your 3rd grade crush. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IxKRpjv51AI
First, the sad news: as HBO fans in Australia and New Zealand already know, viewers Down Under can't watch HBO Max, the prestige US cable network's standalone streaming platform. Now, the great news: AMC, one of the other ace American stations behind plenty of top-notch TV shows in recent years — Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead included — is now available via its own service in our neck of the woods. In Australia, this development might spark a bout of déjà vu, because AMC+ — as AMC's streamer offshoot is called — originally launched here a year back. But it made its debut in 2021 as a streaming bundle, rather than its own service. Instead of initially existing as a separate platform, it was an add-on that you had to access via the Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app and, also through Prime Video channels if you were a Prime member. Now, however, AMC+ is its own platform — with its own app and all — and is also available in New Zealand. And while you might be thinking about the fact that this is yet another subscription to sign up for, it also includes access to horror platform Shudder and the British TV-focused Acorn TV at no extra cost. Top-notch new television shows, horror flicks aplenty and indulging your British obsession? Yes, you can now find them all in the one place. That said, a heap of AMC's best-known past shows actually sit on other platforms due to past rights deals before it made its first foray Down Under. Still, AMC+ will be the future home of The Walking Dead universe in both Australia and Aotearoa, including the upcoming The Walking Dead: Dead City and fellow future spinoffs. Right now, viewers can also catch the new TV version of Interview with the Vampire, which starts a new Anne Rice franchise, with Mayfair Witches set to follow next year. AMC+ also currently includes animated series Pantheon, the clearly crime-focused True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here, and the latest series of doco satire Documentary Now! among its recent releases. Or, there's also a back catalogue that also includes Mad Men, Portlandia, Halt and Catch Fire, TURN: Washington's Spies, Hell on Wheels, Riviera and Aussie outback-set vampire series Firebite. Thanks to IFC Films, the service includes independent movies and documentaries, too. To access AMC+, you'll want to head to the platform's Australian and New Zealand websites, or you can sign up via Apple, Android and Amazon Fire devices in Australia — and Apple and Android devices in NZ. AMC+ costs $8.99 per month in Oz and $9.99 per month in Aotearoa, and new subscriptions come with a seven-day free trial first. For more information about AMC+, or to sign up, head to the platform's Australian and New Zealand websites.
In 2019, the Great Barrier Reef gained a new addition, as well as a new way to enjoy its natural underwater delights. When the Museum of Underwater Art installed its first artworks in December, it became the southern hemisphere's first attraction of its type — and yet another reason for everyone to add visiting Australia's tropics to their travel bucket list. Two artworks were put in place at the time. The first, Ocean Siren, is located 30 metres offshore from The Strand jetty at Townsville and actually towers above the water; however, it interacts with live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. The second Coral Greenhouse, definitely lurks below the sea. And, until now, that meant that visiting it was a bit of a problem. As part of an official launch of the Museum of Underwater Art's first phase, folks can now take a tour of Coral Greenhouse — with recreational divers and snorkelers able to access the work from Saturday, August 1. The tours are being run by Adrenalin Dive Townsville and Pro Dive Magnetic Island, who'll help you see and swim through this striking sculpture. Down the track, SeaLink Queensland, Yongala Dive Burdekin and Orpheus Island Resort will be able to take you for a splash, too. [caption id="attachment_778364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] And it is striking. Coral Greenhouse sits 18 metres below the waterline on the John Brewer Reef off Townsville, measures 12 metres in height and weighs around 58 tonnes. It's made out of stainless steel, neutral marine grade cement and zinc anodes, and it does indeed look like a greenhouse. In fact, it's an underwater building. It's also filled with more than 20 sculptures, many resembling local school children — and has been made to both stand up to wave pressures and cyclones, and remain visible to divers and snorkelers. Most importantly, it isn't just a greenhouse in name, with the piece featuring coral garden beds. With that in mind, Coral Greenhouse is also designed to "offer opportunities for scientists, marine students and tourists to engage in action-based learning and to conduct globally important research on coral reef restoration and new technology," marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor notes. The creator of the Museum of Underwater Art, he sees this particular work as "an interface into our underwater world" and a way "to tell stories of the Great Barrier Reef, and for people to understand what a fragile, beautiful and sacred space it really is". [caption id="attachment_778365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] In total, four pieces are planned for the Museum as part of its aim to highlight reef conservation, restoration and education — with two more sculptures set for Palm Island and Magnetic Island in the future. Palm Island's forthcoming installation will connect the spot's the cultural story to the land and sea, according to the MOUA's website, and is expected to be in place by the July 2021. As for the Magnetic Island artwork, it's working towards a December 2021 unveiling. Of course, while the first tours of the underwater museum have officially kicked off, not everyone can get into Queensland. The Sunshine State has, at writing, closed its borders to all of Victoria and greater Sydney. Find the Museum of Underwater Art off the shore of Townsville, Queensland. For more information, visit the museum's website. To book a tour, head to the Adrenalin Dive or Pro Dive Magnetic websites. Images: Matt Curnock
If bliss to you means peering at infinite reflections in lit-up mirror rooms, wading through brightly coloured ball pits and having pillow fights — plus hanging out in digital forests, watching tales told via shadows and hopping over musical tiles, too — then prepare to beam with joy when Dopamine Land arrives Down Under. The latest multi-sensory experience that's hitting Australia, it's being pitched as an interactive museum. Inside, you'll find themed spaces that you can mosey through, engage with their contents and, ideally, bask in nothing but pure happiness. With a name like Dopamine Land, it's immediately clear that contentment, glee, merriment and exuberance is the aim of the game here. So is evoking those feel-good sensations through nostalgia, because this is another kidulting activity — it's all-ages-friendly as well — and it's making its Aussie debut in Brisbane from Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Brisbanites, and anyone keen for a Sunshine State trip to revel in more than the sun's glow, can look forward to wandering around Dopamine Land at Uptown in the River City's Queen Street Mall. Locals know that the site was previously the Myer Centre — and, decades back, was home to a dragon-themed rollercoaster. So, it's a fitting venue to get everyone channeling their inner child, unleashing their imagination and, yes, hitting each other with cushions. Heading this way direct from London, the experience combines optical illusions, engaging soundscapes and more across its ten themed rooms. The ball pit is self-explanatory, but also takes its cues from Miami in the 80s, complete with a pina colada scent, an electro soundtrack and LED lights that pulse to mirror waves. The pillow-fight space also doesn't need much explaining; however, the decor is inspired by marshmallows and boxes of lollies, Mexican wrestling is also an influence and you can win the pillow-fighting championship. Fancy seeing stories play out via shadows? There's a room for that featuring a big top-style roof. If you try your hand at the musical tiles — well, your feet, to be more accurate — you'll create a melody as you jump around, with the lights changing as you go as well. And if getting as serene as possible is your aim, head to the Keep Calm Forest, which artificially recreates a woodland via LED trees, mirrors and sounds to match. There's even a room dedicated to the autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, which goes big on projections and animations by Australian digital artist Cassie Troughton.
If it involves design and creativity — whether as graphics and illustration, via filmmaking and animation, in photography and visual data, through writing and publishing, in products and advertising, or as part of spatial and motion design — odds are that you'll find it at Semi Permanent. The southern hemisphere's biggest and longest-running festival dedicated to all of the above, it brings together the brightest minds it can find to unpack its chosen topics. And, in 2023, it'll do just that in Sydney again. This fest has spanned more than 50 events in 13 cities with 800-plus speakers and over 300,000 attendees over its past two decades, and it's back this year as part of Vivid Sydney's lineup. Don't just wander around the Harbour City soaking in the lit-up gardens, gigs and Vivid's first-ever food fest come May and June — hit up Semi Permanent to ponder what goes into making Vivid so stunning, as well as the latest trends and themes in design and creativity overall. Taking place at Sydney's Carriageworks for three days between Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2, Semi Permanent 2023 features a stacked lineup of speakers, including Irish writer, academic and disability activist Sinéad Burke, who'll explore accessibility — and filmmaker and architect Liam Young, who focuses on the blurring boundaries between film, fiction, design, and storytelling, especially when it comes to musing on what cities will look like in the future. Plus, journalist, writer, artist and producer Mona Chalabi will dive into how data helps us understand the world, while Iranian American designer FISK founder Bijan Berahim is known for highlighting culture, community and commerce via art and design. Also on the bill: Vogue India's Head of Editorial Content Megha Kapoor, Indigital founder Mikaela Jade, Indigenous artist and poet Jazz Money, and artist, illustrator and animator Chris Yee. Film and TV designer and director Filipe Carvalho joins the international contingent, with the Australian Centre for Moving Image's Seb Chan, Gold Coast artist and screenwriter Samuel Leighton-Dore, motion graphics artist's Mikaela Stafford and photographer and performer Wani Toaishara helping fill out the local crew alongside artist and illustrator Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, designer and artist Evi. O and Semi Permanent 2023's host Namila Benson. That packed roster of talent will examine the theme of 'reformation', a particularly topical subject given the events of the past few years. "We thought the world would seek to build itself back as it was, but it's increasingly clear that our collective future cannot—nor should not—look anything like its past," notes Semi Permanent's Global Creative Director Mitchell Oakley Smith. "We live amidst a once-in-a-generation chance to write past wrongs, reform seemingly immutable practices, and redesign the world in a shape we'd like to see." As always, Semi Permanent will span keynote talks, panels, Q&As and workshops, as well as exhibitions, demonstrations and installations. This year, expect those sessions to touch upon futurism, feminism, First Nations culture and accessibility alongside sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, all while examining Web3's borderless promises, how remote work helps employees claim back their time, and the dismantling of industrial hierarchies and traditions. "In its place, something new is beginning to emerge: new creative languages, new ways to communicate, to create, organise, disrupt, rebuild. New ways to speak, hear, interpret, understand, and connect. Less barriers to entry, and more possibility for brilliance. With all the chips seemingly thrown in the air — which of these do we catch, and which do we let go?," says Oakley Smith. Semi Permanent 2023 will run from Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, Sydney. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Semi Permanent website.
Earlier this morning we reported that the NSW government was set to announce some pretty big reforms to the taxi industry, namely ones that would see Uber legalised throughout the state. Originally reported by The Daily Telegraph late last night, the news that the NSW government was stepping up to meet the ride sharing service halfway so soon after the New South Wales Road and Maritime Services effectively put the company on notice was surprising — and, it seems, not entirely accurate. As brought to our attention by ABC News, NSW Premier Mike Baird was quick to shoot down any claims that a final decision on Uber's legal-ness has been made. Speaking to Sydney radio station 2UE this morning, Baird said that the claims — which were picked up by The Guardian, 9 News and us — jumped the gun a little. "What we've agreed to do is to have this issue looked at, and Gary Sturgess, who's obviously well respected in public policy, has looked at this issue for us and prepared a report and made some recommendations," Baird told 2UE. "That report will be considered as part of the due process of government and it will go to Cabinet in good time, and when that is done we’ll have much more to say about it." Until then, Uber. Via ABC News.
The planned construction of anything 'bold, provocative and edgy' seems innately destined for failure — the aforementioned buzzwords, particularly when used in quick succession, conjure up images of middle-aged, fat-cat executives chain smoking cigars around a boardroom table or, worse still, mid-life crisis Mum trying with thinly veiled desperation to shake it with her 20-something-year-old daughters. In short, not an uplifting portrait. It could be argued that SBS2's recent youth-targeted makeover, which saw the digital channel relaunch on April 1 in a bid to ensnare a specific 16-to-39-year-old demographic, is destined to go the way of other 'cool, hip' initiatives that sadly end up being neither of the two. What Even Is Emerging Culture? By attempting to reach 'young people' as an isolated bracket, SBS2 have been criticised for assuming that age is an effective means by which to categorise and target the behaviours of viewers. Admittedly, if shows like Network Ten's Being Lara Bingle and The Shire are indicative of what Gen-Y supposedly wants, it would appear that young people people are in fact the dullest, worst kind of viewer and, more widely, human. What's different about SBS2's approach is the diversity of their programming — already popular offerings like US comedy series Community and gritty drama Skins feature alongside A-League football coverage, Japanese game shows and documentaries on everything from the truth about smoking marijuana to a history of controversial sex in cinema. The breadth of subject matter covered suggests that SBS2 is not targeted at some imagined, specific breed of young person with a narrow, mundane sphere of interest; it's an attempt to engage a younger but no less intelligent consumer in a meaningful way. Facilitating Your Binge A particularly interesting component of the new SBS2 is the Back 2 Back feature, where after the first episode of a series has screened on free to air, viewers can watch the entire season of some shows via SBS On Demand. A response to what Tony Iffland, SBS's director of TV and online content , calls 'binge watching' the feature allows viewers the kind of total control over their viewing habits that most of us have been enjoying since we learnt how to illegally download content (everybody does it but nobody talks about it). While the idea of huddling around the box once a week for a single episode of one's personal brand of entertainment crack might provide great fodder for water-cooler banter the next day at the office, in today's fast-paced media landscape the notion seems as quaint and outmoded as listening to the wireless, yet most traditional TV networks still privilege this lost model, for lack of another way. News for the Attention-Challenged Another of SBS2's responses to changing media consumption habits is the addition of a 15-minute news bulletin with 30-second headlines, which offers a time-poor alternative to the increasingly archaic traditional news bulletin. Although this opens up a contentious debate about the dangers of pandering to rapidly shrinking attention spans, it seems that regardless of such protestations, behavioural and attitudinal changes are inevitable. If this is the case, fast news is still better than none at all, right? SBS Is Your Friend Where, as a 'young person' your natural reaction might be to boldly and feverishly reject any initiative that attempts to examine, categorise and subsequently cater to your complex needs and desires in a collective way, it's important to remember who the one doing the talking is. SBS isn't he dreaded man — they're an independent, underfunded TV channel, committed to providing high-quality, culturally relevant media to all Australians regardless of geography, background, language skills and, indeed, age. Seven billion stories and counting, only now some of those are digital, on demand and ready for your binging pleasure, 'bold, provocative and edgy', or otherwise.
Craig Robinson slays snakes. If Killing It was initially pitched with those four words and those four words alone, it still would've been easy to greenlight. When the latest comedy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor and executive producer Luke Del Tredici first arrived in 2022, it leaned in, too, with terminating serpents the whole point of the contest at the centre of the comedy's debut season. The place: Florida, home to the python-teeming Everglades. The year: 2016, in the lead up to the US election. The reason for vanquishing vipers: a $20,000 payday, which Craig — also the name of Robinson's character — needed to enact his vision of becoming a saw palmetto farmer. Killing It served up far more than just Robinson, a B99 guest and The Office star, polishing off reptiles — and not simply because Claudia O'Doherty (Our Flag Means Death) joined in as the hammer-swinging Jillian. As a satire of the type of society that has people resorting to seeking a better future by offing animals competitively, this series has always sunk its fangs in. Craig wanted to swap being a Miami bank security guard for capitalising upon a smart idea (the berries he's keen on are coveted in the health market for prostate medicines) to provide for his ex-wife Camille (Stephanie Nogueras, The Good Fight) and daughter Vanessa (Jet Miller, Young Dylan). Aussie expat and Uber driver Jillian wanted a life beyond the gig economy and sleeping in her car. But even in a nation that celebrates the American dream as the pinnacle of existence, a goal that all can chase with hard work and perseverance, and a key factor in US exceptionalism, neither had any other option but to hunt snakes for a big payday. Getting Killing It's characters bludgeoning wildlife was a savvy signifier of a horribly broken system. In season two, which streams in Australia via Stan from Friday, August 18, slaughtering serpents is old news; however, venomous foes definitely aren't. They're the uncaring bureaucracy, the shameless corporations, the shaking-down gangs, the car thieves, the cruel insurance bodies, the nation's entire health scheme, the manipulative bosses, the rude customers and the cash-splashing rich. They're absolutely everyone with a solely in-it-for-themselves perspective, which is almost everyone. They're also unscrupulous entrepreneur Rodney Lamonca (Tim Heidecker, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and his mini-mogul 12-year-old daughter Prada (Anna Mae Quinn, A Carolina Christmas), who aren't done with Craig and Jillian from season one. When Killing It's latest eight-episode go-around begins, its central pair have followed through on the saw palmetto plan — albeit at a cost, with Craig's low-level criminal brother Isaiah (Rell Battle, Superior Donuts) now on the run and posing as a doctor in Phoenix. Their farm is up and running, and perennial-optimist Jillian isn't is the only one who's hopeful. The two business partners even have a buyer for their berries — and, while their margins are thin, they're getting by. Alas, whether they're dealing with a possible giant snail problem, being blackmailed into taking on new colleagues or becoming the subject of a hostile takeover, Craig and Jillian swiftly realise that snakes still lurk everywhere. Taking a cue from slithering critters, in fact, season two of Killing It poses a question: how low can modern-day America go? It's apt that this brutal contemplation of savage inequality and constant grifting returns in the same week that also gives streaming stunning docuseries Telemarketers, which similarly ponders people exploiting anyone that they think is lower than them in the food chain. Killing It is still firmly a comedy, though, and a hilarious one. Indeed, it's the best comedy that too many viewers aren't watching when everyone should be. The show is also so cutting and canny about capitalism's predators, and the prey that the globe's dominant economic setup turns most folks into, that it nearly draws blood as well as inspires laughs. There's another query at Killing It's core, of course: how low will Craig and Jillian sink, too? Season one introduced them as strangers that were each struggling but striving, then hacked into the little they each had, observing how they were forced to cope (including by coming together). Season two finds them seemingly more comfortable and secure, then unpacks what they're willing to do to retain their new status quo. It sees the selfish moves they make, or don't; the loved ones they protect, or can't; the others they sell out, or won't; the morals they compromise, or refuse to; and the dirt they embrace, or wash away. Craig and Jillian have always been an odd-couple pair, with Killing It's new run also exploring how their differences shape their responses to every choice and decision that slides their way. Problems won't stop multiplying for their on-screen alter egos, but Robinson and O'Doherty's casting gleams. He's all charismatic determination, she's perkily indefatigable, and both play keepin' on keepin' on to perfection. Together, they provide two portraits of trying to hurtle forwards however one can — and as the entire state of Florida, country of America and planet that is earth keep pushing their characters down. That said, Killing It's leads aren't the only ones shining. Fleshing out season two's storylines with an array of eclectic folks, Battle, Heidecker, Quinn and the also-returning Scott MacArthur (No Hard Feelings) all steal scenes. So do Dot-Marie Jones (Bros) as a crime-family matriarch with a laundering proposal, Beck Bennett (Nimona) as an overstressed government flunkey, Jackie Earle Haley (Hypnotic) as an insidious debt collector, Kyle Mooney (Saturday Night Live) getting shady and Timothy Simons (Joy Ride) as an FBI agent. Sharks in swimming pools, shonky surrogate arrangements, multiple Pitbull impersonators, the ridiculousness of the influencer industry, loving your first-ever major purchase, those aforementioned oversized snails: Goor, Del Tredici and their writing team also work them in. Even more than in season one, Killing It's new run of episodes delights with its eagerness to get absurd, filling every instalment with surprises. There's another way of looking at that throw-anything-in randomness: this series is hustling, just like Craig, Jillian and company. Again and again, this satire gets sharper. It also gets deeper and funnier. Yes, that name is accurate: this show is killing it as well. Check out the trailer for Killing It season two below: Killing It season two streams via Stan from Friday, August 18.
Google's innovation in geo-location tools and imaging has significantly changed how we view and interact with our world. What with Street Art View, allowing users to tag their favourite street art; People Finders connecting friends and loved ones in times of disaster; and artists capturing incredible images from Google Earth, Google blurs physical existence with digital presence to connect us in amazing ways. Whether you want to check out a destination before hitting the road or travel to the other side of the globe without leaving your seat, Google Street View can take you there. With the launch of an all new look and enhanced interactivity, real-world navigation from your net browser has never been so awesome. When you load up Google Maps, areas outlined in blue highlight where Google Street View is available. Google's loveable stick-figure Pegman will light up yellow too. Drag him onto your desired location to view the 'hood, and click on the arrows on the ground to take a little stroll. Back in 2007 at Street View's inception, only select major cities had the feature. Since then, teams of photographers have worked tirelessly to compile incredible images from around the world. Stitched together, the images form 360 degree panoramas which afford gorgeous glimpses of far away places - so good it feels like you're really there. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MwCrjfmCgO0 [Via Mashable]
