Grab your wetsuit and hightail it to California, the not-so-secret home to Kelly Slater's game-changing wave pool. Surf fans have been scrambling to uncover the location of the facility since Saturday, when Kelly posted a video on Facebook (below) that showed him surfing what he called "the first truly world class, high performance, human-made waves." The world champion surfer was coy about the pool's precise coordinates, even as the video racked up more than four million views. In the end, it was Sydney-based surf writer Craig Brokensha who channelled his inner Miss Marple and cracked the case. Brokensha, who writes for Swellnet, began his investigation on Reddit, where numerous other amateur detectives had already begun cobbling together clues. Cross-referencing photos from Google with telltale landmarks visible in Kelly's video, Brokensha soon narrowed the location down to an old water ski lake near Leemore, around 50 kilometres south of Fresno. "With all the tools freely available to us in this day and age (Google, Google Earth, Google Streetview) it only took an hour or so to confirm the likely location of the test facility," wrote Brokensha. Well isn't someone a bit of a clever pants? Assuming the new technology is everything Slater claims it to be, its impact on the surf world could be enormous. There have been other attempts to create consistent, cost-effective waves in the past, but success has to this point proved elusive. Slater has promised to reveal more information in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the World Surf League have released a statement declaring that "the ramifications of this reveal are immeasurable at this point, but certainly will change the face of surfing as we know it." Here's hoping Slater opens the pool up to the public... although that's probably still a ways off yet. Now that the world title has been decided and events for the year have finished, I’m excited to show you what I’ve been... Posted by Kelly Slater on Friday, 18 December 2015 Via SMH.
As of today, you can put Jay-Z in charge of your music. That’s right, TIDAL, the streaming service that the rapper bought from Scandinavian platform Aspiro in February, has been relaunched in 31 countries, Australia included. Oodles of artists are pretty thrilled about it, having replaced their Twitter profile shots with turquoise squares and splashed #TIDALforALL all over the place. On Sunday night, Jay-Z went so far as to co-opt one of Bob Dylan’s most famous lyrics: Not quite, perhaps, what the singer-songwriter had in mind when he was asking ‘senators’ and ‘congressman’ to ‘heed the call’, but anyway. With the likes of Coldplay, Madonna, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Daft Punk and Alicia Keys championing the service with the vehemence and coordination redolent of a charity campaign, we’re taking a good look into what’s causing all the excitement. What exactly is TIDAL promising, when compared with its chief rival, Spotify? HIGHER QUALITY SOUND (AND A HIGHER PRICE TAG) The biggest drawcard for TIDAL is sound quality. By subscribing to TIDAL’s premium service, at US$19.99 a month, you get to access 'lossless high fidelity' sound, which none of its competitors offer. What this means is that, instead of being compressed into MP3 or WAV formats (often referred to as 'lossy'), the music is streamed to you almost exactly as it was recorded. For audiophiles, this is a massive win, even it does mean a higher price tag. If 'lossless' means nothing to you, think of it like choosing between standard and high definition Netflix. Still not convinced? Trial TIDAL premium free for thirty days and see how your ears go. For those uninterested in lossless, high def sound, TIDAL does offer a standard tier at US$9.99 month. However, unlike Spotify, there’s no free option. For people who’ve become accustomed to accessing music gratis, this might seem pretty unattractive. But for a start, it keeps TIDAL ad-free. MORE DOSH FOR MUSICIANS And how about giving a thought to songwriters? For 43 million spins on Pandora last year, Pharrell made only $2700. Sure, in Pharrell’s case, that might not matter too much — he’s obviously rolling in it and can charge mountains for appearing live — but for unknown, indie artists or dedicated songwriters who don't perform, it’s nothing short of exploitation. That’s why Mark Holden’s talking to Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull about it. We're still waiting for the exact numbers Jay-Z's going to pop in artist wallets, but with only paid membership available it's bound to be decent. TAY TAY Low artist royalties is one of the reasons why Taylor Swift pulled her songs from Spotify and why her label Universal has been pressuring the streaming service to abolish free music, which leads to another point — if Tay has been missing from your stream, you can now Shake It Off, because she’s making her music available on TIDAL. There's no skirting the truth, higher fees for users mean better royalties for songwriters. EXTRA CONTENT Finally, TIDAL will be alluring subscribers with a whole bunch of exclusive material, including studio sessions and demo tracks. Spotify’s been doing this, too, but given Tidal's vocal artist support base, we can bank on expecting the unexpected.
Oi, don't be an inner-city brat. If it's been a while since you left the lights of Brissie, it's time to go out and discover the great outdoors outside of your usual metropolitan orbit. Check out your own backyard. Get the fresh air inya. Make John Williamson proud, see it for yourself — and so on and so forth. Queensland is home to some of Australia's most beautiful country towns, brimming with A+ parmigianas, out-of-this-world views and even the trendy café or two. Australia wouldn't survive without these little plots, so go out, say thanks and learn for yourself that this state extends beyond Queen Street Mall. Here are six country towns perfect for a day trip from Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_575404" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bluebird Kitchen.[/caption] WARWICK Something exciting is going on in this little rural pocket, and if you've got a stomach (and the appetite) for brisket, you'll want to take the trek southwest for a bite. We wouldn't go as far as to call Warwick culinary crux of regional Australia, but hoo boy is it showing off some strong game. Bluebird Kitchen is the newest edition to an already solid cafe scene in Warwick, and they're going above and beyond to produce food worth making a day trip for. Potato hash and brisket, homemade bagels, brioche French toast, pasture eggs and beans — their menu compares to (and beats) some of Brisbane's best. They're combining local produce with American-style cooking to produce plates that'll have you checking out the local rental scene. Road trip time: two hours. [caption id="attachment_574381" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Queens Park. Image credit: Tatters via Flickr[/caption] TOOWOOMBA Quite honestly, Toowoomba has spent a good deal of time on Queensland's grubbiest list (I can say it, I grew up here), but in the last decade or so Toowoomba has done a 360. It's embraced the fact it's a) beautiful, b) a viable tourist hotspot, and c) homes some of the richest people in Queensland who don't mind putting a bit of coin back into the town. Toowoomba is known for its gardens and flowers, so be sure to check out all the parks in the area; Laurel Bank, Queens Park and Picnic Point are the top three. Ground Up Espresso is king of the café scene, showing off an insane eggs Benedict and Toby's Estate coffee. The Spotted Cow is the top pick for a craft beer or Saturday night gig. Road trip time: one and a half hours. [caption id="attachment_575412" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Apple pie at Sutton's Farm. Image credit: fujitake95 via Instagram.[/caption] STANTHORPE Stanthorpe is a like the Wholefoods version of a small town. The main street — and even the highway leading in to town — is littered with delis, fresh fruit barns and coffee shops. There's a vineyard on pretty much every corner and apple trees seem to grow on the street. Go to a café and you'll be spending over $15 for a bowl of muesli, but it will be the damn freshest muesli you've ever tasted as everything is sourced from within a five-kilometre radius. Sutton's Farm boasts the best apple pie around — and when we say 'around', we mean on a national scale. The property is accessed by a slightly hidden turnoff from the New England Highway, and you'll have to venture into the creepy looking shed to find their café. They make their own apple juice and cider, so just order anything and everything with apple in it. Road trip time: two and a half hours. [caption id="attachment_575413" align="alignnone" width="1280"] bertknot via Flickr.[/caption] KILCOY Besides a lake filled with really friendly turtles, this 1700-person town doesn't offer much else... except the best bakery in Queensland! We're not talking artisan sourdoughs, cronuts or macarons here. Coff & Co is a real bakery that is known for (and gets away with) boasting the best pies in Queensland — and offers up a pretty mean lamington to boot. You won't always have to wait in a line, but be prepared to join the queue because this is a popular little spot. And tomato sauce doesn't cost extra, so how's that for real Aussie service? Kilcoy also claims to home a Yowie. Read up on it here. Road trip time: one and a half hours. [caption id="attachment_574376" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mary's Commercial Hotel. Photo credit: Matt via Flickr.[/caption] DALBY Once upon a time Dalby used to be the town you wouldn't even thing to stop at, locking your doors and looking straight ahead as you drove through. But now it has all the trappings of a bustling country town — a Stella Ross, a Coffee Club and three Indian restaurants — and holds its own on the Queensland tourism map. Check out Dalby for it's pub scene (there's close to a dozen of them), as well as Katty Cakes, which is home to some of the best cupcakes in the Western Downs. Maybe have a feed in Dalby, then check out some of the cute, little towns that surround it — Warra, Jandowae and Brigalow all home at least one heritage-listed something. And if none of that wows you, just go for the wild parakeets, cockatiels and cockatoos. Road trip time: three and a half hours. [caption id="attachment_574375" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Crows Nest Falls. Image credit: Tatters via Flickr.[/caption] CROWS NEST This is one you may not have heard of. It's an offshoot of Toowoomba of sorts, but homes some of the most majestic forestry and water habitats in Queensland. Lake Cressbrook offers fishing, canoeing, sailing and swimming for anyone who is game. Most spectacular of all though is Crows Nest Falls. It's a tucked away secret that's frequented mostly by locals on the weekend, rather than the usual hoards of tourists. It's beautiful. Let's just say, it's the kind of untouched, rarely populated scenery that would have Baz Luhrmann in a frenzy. Road trip time: two hours. Top image: bertknot via Flickr.
Anyone who has ever watched a horror movie before knows that you should never, ever go into the woods. Yet that's exactly what the people behind Australia's coolest new immersive cinema experience are asking you to do. Horror Movie Campout is a blood-soaked overnight camping trip held in a secret Blair Witch-style forest an hour from the city. Just please, leave the machete at home. Coming to Melbourne in December and Sydney next year, this uniquely scary take on outdoor movie-going will treat campers to two classic horror films, along with a number of gory shorts. The first is 1973's head-spinner The Exorcist – enjoy the serenity of fear while roasting marshmallows and munching on popcorn (or spilling it) into the early hours of the morning. The second popular horror feature will be voted for by HMC campers via Facebook. But it's not just the movies. Beyond the comfort of your cosy cinema spot, surprises lurk in the forest. Is someone following you? Is that a person’s shadow, or just your imagination playing tricks? Horror Movie Campout promises to put your heart – and your bladder – to the test. Each $180 ticket includes a tent to sleep three mates. Glamping options are also available for $240, offering luxury horror-goers VIP perks such as express entry and primo spots in front of the screen. Just don't think you're exempt from the special horror surprises. Melbourne’s Horror Movie Campout is being held at Point Cook Homestead on December 4 and 5, while the Sydney event will be held in early 2016. It should also probably go without saying that this is strictly an R18+ event. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
Our love for wine bars in Brisbane is strong and enduring. You could even say we're a bit obsessed. And with grape-based tipples undergoing a bit of a revolution — shifting away from the world of wanky wine-speak, and moving into creating a more accessible wine experience for everyone — it's well-justified. While you can still find plenty of expense and intimidation in the wine world, you can also find helpful sommeliers and staff keen to impart their knowledge and love of vino, including at the places on this list. From reds to whites and everything in between, we bring to you the best wine bars in Brisbane. Some are old classics, others are fresh, but they all have stellar selections with stunning surrounds for drinking in. Recommended reads: The Best Waterside Restaurants and Bars in Brisbane The Best Beer Gardens in Brisbane The Best Rooftop Bars in Brisbane The Best Bars for After-Work Drinks in Brisbane
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and dedicate yourself to the hobby or interest you've always wanted to turn into a career? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Every kid fills their schoolbooks with sketches, but few actually consider turning their doodling into a career. In fact, Sydney-based illustrator Barry Patenaude certainly didn't think that his squiggles and scribbles could take him into the hectic freelance world of illustrating for big brands — even Concrete Playground (thanks Barry) — let alone illustrating his highly popular series Beers in the Sun. Instead, he followed the same path most of us do, progressing from high school to university, studying architecture and drafting, and then getting an office job. But sometimes, our true passions just can't be ignored; in fact, that's what embracing the 'Sine Metu' mindset is all about. WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TOILETS TO DRAW, DRAW THEM WELL There's a reason most job choices — the ones that stem from a couple of years at uni, then lead to the 9-to-5 grind — are considered sensible choices. They're the kind of careers that provide security, as well as a clear plan for the future. If you'd met Barry when he was a child, he wouldn't have mentioned being an illustrator. "I did draw a lot," he says. "I did art at school, but I never really thought illustration could be a career path." There's such a thing as being too sensible, however — and if you ever find yourself using your artistic talents to sketch toilets, you might just come to this realisation. After pursuing all the practical options, Barry worked in an architecture office, designing buildings and delving into the ever-fascinating task of drawing toilets. That he found it a bit monotonous is stating the obvious. But, breaking away from the path you're already on is easier said than done, of course. And sometimes you need to experience all the boring stuff to shatter that mindset and discover what you really want to do. As Barry explains, "I finished school and was like, 'So the path is: you study, you get a job and then you work.' That's the mindset I had for ages, but over time it just didn't appeal to me. I didn't want to be an office jockey." SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO SKIP TOWN FOR AN INTERNSHIP Like many big life decisions, it was a change of scene — and a change of city — that helped alter Barry's perceptions about just what his chosen profession should be. He had spent a few years travelling overseas and enjoying working holidays, but it was the move from Brisbane to Sydney that proved the true catalyst, or at least got the ball rolling. Not that that's actually what he was thinking about when he headed interstate with his girlfriend so that she could secure an internship. Sometimes, though, you just have to go where the moment takes you. As Barry started calling New South Wales home, "that's when I started drawing a lot more in my spare time," he advises, "and it was something I didn't realise that I had missed until I started doing it again". Illustrating became the thing he did on the side for a few years, leading to an art show in 2011, as well as paid freelance opportunities. Then, three years ago, his regular job switched from full to part time. It's the kind of news most employees dread, but he took it as an opportunity and royally bit the bullet. "I wouldn't have thought that I'd be in this position six years ago when I moved here, but it has worked out for the best I think," he says. "Like a lot of people, I was questioning what I was doing with my life. Now, I do have a path and I like where it is going, and it is definitely better than drawing toilets." ILLUSTRATE, INSTAGRAM, THEN LET THE BUSINESS COME TO YOU Today, Barry's decision to give illustrating a proper go might seem-like a no-brainer, but trying to make a living doing what you love is tricky, particularly when that involves a creative field, cultivating a gig-based resume, and never knowing what's going to come next. While his artwork is now featured on everything from bar walls to websites, getting to this stage wasn't an easy — or quick — process. Starting with a safety net — his part-time drafting job — certainly helped. So did just going for it; as Barry puts it, "you don't really have anything to lose. I mean, apart from your finances." He doesn't shy away from just how tough making his mark has been, but he also recognises the importance of self-belief and perseverance. "The first year was super hard. I was so poor. I just kept at it, and that's what I'm doing now — keeping at it. But it's definitely an evolution and a slow process. You've just got to have patience, and believe in your work, and let people realise that it's good." Take the project he has probably become best known for, Beers in the Sun. It actually started as a hobby and a way to unwind — and the fact that it combined two of his biggest passions certainly made it plenty of fun. It seems that people quite like pictures of their favourite beverages, with a flock of Instagram followers leading to media attention, more interest in his illustrations, gigs with booze brands, and yes, a few free brews to drink as well. When it comes to what will help kick your career into gear, "you just never know," says Barry. Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website. Images: Andy Fraser.
Suffice it to say, it's been an exciting few days in the world of Australian politics. And by exciting, we mean depressingly familiar. Although the recent Liberal Party leadership spill did manage to spark some truly excellent memes, its primary function seems to have been to drive home just how shambolic things in Canberra have become. It's also a flat-out terrible turn of events for the federal Opposition, who you have to imagine will have a harder time taking back the leadership from a prime minster whose foot isn't permanently lodged in his own mouth. The good news is that Labor does appear to have finally cottoned on to the fact that in order win to the vote, you do need to occasionally take a position. As such, opposition MP and Shadow Minister for the Arts Mark Dreyfus has publicly pledged that, if elected, Labor will reverse the current government's $105 million worth of cuts to the Australia Council for the Arts. Speaking to The Australian last week, Dreyfus said that the raid on the Australia Council's funding, overseen by Federal Arts Minister George Brandis, was "a disaster for the arts" — an opinion that he shares with large swathes of the nation's artistic community, who have been protesting the cuts since they were announced back in May. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance today released a statement describing Labor's decision as "good news" and have promised to continue their campaigning in the lead-up to the next election. That being said, Brandis may have more pressing concerns than a potential Labor challenge in 2016. According to The Daily Review, a number of artists and arts groups are planning to gather outside Malcolm Turnbull's Sydney electorate office at 2pm today, where they will petition the shiny new PM to sack his much-maligned Arts Minister and take over the portfolio himself. "We think Malcolm Turnbull would make a terrific arts minister," executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts Tamara Winikoff told TDR. "If the PM actually took on the arts portfolio, in one fell swoop this action could profoundly change the way Australians value the arts and culture." If nothing else, it really can't feel good to be George Brandis right now. It's almost enough to make you feel sorry for him. Almost.
“Will you be ready for THE CATCH?" This is the intriguing question posed by Heineken just one week out from the release of the 24th James Bond film SPECTRE, and it’s referring to something pretty darn special. To celebrate Heineken's 18-year partnership with the iconic 007 franchise, they're offering a select group of lucky fans a chance to experience the intriguing and prestigious world of James Bond. Sure, that could technically mean you have to infiltrate villain lairs and have various tuxedo scuba suits on hand for 24 hours, but we’re pretty confident it’s referring to the fun stuff: parties filled with glamour, prestige, special guests and VIP performances. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens. You won’t know where. You won’t know when. Will you be ready? To be in the running, fans need to sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Helipads and jet skis aren’t essential, but they’ll certainly come in handy...
Nightcrawler glides through the streets of Los Angeles, following the efforts of a young man doing whatever he can to make a living. Trying to survive and thrive, Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) warms to a career as a freelance cameraman. He stalks the Los Angeles streets by night to find and film humanity at its worst, all for television news consumption — and maybe gets a little too good at his new profession. Nightcrawler also brings two familiar creative forces together, but in a new fashion. For writer/director Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler marks his first helming effort after more than two decades writing screenplays for the likes of The Bourne Legacy, Two for the Money, The Fall, and Real Steel, among others. For star Jake Gyllenhaal, his leading man looks are whittled down to a lean, mean figure of determination and desperation. Their combination results in what's widely regarded as one of the best films of the year — and certain highlights of both of their careers. We chat to Gilroy about collaborating with Gyllenhaal, creating such a distinctive character, and telling this dark, cynical and twisted tale of modern life. How did Jake Gyllenhaal come to be involved in the film as an actor and a producer? Jake's agent read the script. Jake responded to the script. I flew to Atlanta when he was doing Prisoners. We had a four-hour dinner, and we had just an instant creative spark. If I was going to distil it down, Jake very much wanted to rehearse and be a collaborator, and I very much wanted to collaborate with Jake. He never changed a word of the script, but what we did do is, we rehearsed for months before we started to shoot. We would discuss the script, the scenes, the character. We would then start to rehearse the scenes themselves, trying them different ways — "what if the character was this? What if the character was that?" And was Jake's physical transformation part of that? During the process, Jake came up with a number of very crucial components. One was that it was his idea to lose the weight. He was thinking about a coyote, which you see at night in Los Angeles. They're very hungry and lean looking creatures, and Jake used that as a sort of symbol animal for himself. So it was Jake's idea to lose like 26, 27 pounds, and it utterly transformed him. It was a very bold decision. Very difficult to keep that weight off, and it changed him physically, but it also gave him a tremendous odd energy in the film. I feel like he just wants to consume everything around him — and it's not just food. I feel like he wants to consume ideas and people and anything he can get his hands on. It is a very scary energy that it adds to the character, and to the movie. It was Jake's idea to put his hair up in a bun any time he does something larcenous. These are the small things. Jake and I worked as creative collaborators on this film in every way. Let's talk about Lou Bloom. He's such a distinctive character. Where did Lou Bloom as a creation come from? I have tremendous empathy for tens of millions of young people around the world who are looking for work, and being offered internships and wages that you can't sustain yourself on. So I was very interested in a younger man who was desperate for work. That was the doorway that I came through for the character, which is why at the beginning of the film, he is truly desperate for work. I took that desperation and started to play around with it, and use it as an inner force that has driven this character over the bend in terms of what he was willing to do and not to. And that was pathway to lead me into the character. Looking at the film more broadly, what inspired the story? There's many components — the media, at face value, as well as questions of ethics and the complicit nature of the audience in consuming news stories, and also the current state of the American economy, trying to chase the American dream... Well, the story on its largest level, I wanted to do an entertaining, engaging story, so obviously there's suspense and there's uncertainty and there's drama. So all those things I knew were going to be the things that were at the top of my list when crafting the story. As I started getting into the story, it started to become personal on the level that you just talked about. Which is, I feel that the world I am seeing right now, that I am living in right now in Los Angeles, and I guess the United States, and probably globally in some degree, is one where everything has been reduced to transactions. It seems like the bottom line is driving everything, that capitalism — and I'm not advocating any other system other than capitalism, because I don't know if there is anything better — but capitalism seems to be becoming hyper-capitalism, and it is forcing people to do things in the workplace that I don't think is healthy and I don't think they would normally be inclined to do if they weren't being forced to do it. I saw in Jake's character the opportunity to create an employer who has started a business and very much embodies that principle — that because of the landscape and the lack of work for people, he can pretty much get people to do whatever he wants to each other. The film is set in Los Angeles, showing a side of LA we don't often see. How did the location shape the film? Could it have been set and made anywhere else? Well, the location shaped the film in the sense that Robert Elswit, the cinematographer and I, were trying to show the Los Angeles you don't normally see. Los Angeles is usually a very urban environment with cement and buildings. Los Angeles for me is a place with much more of a wild, untamed energy. It is place of mountains, ocean and desert. So we were looking for locations where civilisations met a national park, as in literally. Or we were up on top of a hill looking down, on top of almost a mountain, looking down where you could see forever. We were trying to show a large, sprawling landscape that was physically beautiful — that really was as untouched by man as it tamed by man. And that the character of Lou is like a coyote moving through this nighttime environment of this wilderness. The sense of tension is unrelenting — not just in the action scenes, with cars racing along the street, but in all of Lou's conversations. How did you maintain that sense of pressure throughout? The pressure, in many ways, came from the script. The script is designed that way. He is an unsettling character. He is a character who has all these touchstone qualities of humanity — he wants a job, he wants a relationship. He is earnest, he is polite, he is respectful. But at the same time, he is utterly unhinged, and because we shot so close to him, and we would always keep him in frame, and because the score was always going counterpoint, I think the tension is an inner tension of "why am I so emotionally involved in this character?" Or "why are they making me pay attention for this guy? Why am I rooting for him at times when I know I shouldn't be rooting for him?" And I think there's a subconscious energy that starts to build up, a disquieting energy of tension. Questions of "where is it going?" and "why do I like him?", which was as much a design of the script as anything. Given that Nightcrawler falls into a number of genres, were there films that inspired you in writing and making it? The films that inspired me more weren't so much journalism films, but films where the hero was also the antihero. Where you could take a character who was your hero and your villain at the same time. One of them was Scorsese's The King of Comedy. And another one is actually Nicole Kidman in To Die For. I loved that film, and I thought she did a great job. I love the idea that she is so perky and personable, and she is a complete murderer. But at the same time, she is your hero — she is your hero and your villain. That was very illuminating when I saw that film. That film was in my mind. Nightcrawler opened in cinemas on November 27. Read our full review.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and make that film you've always wanted to? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of some bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Sydney's Jason Perini knows all about the anti-comfort zone. He's a man standing on the precipice of an opportunity so monumental it's overwhelming — a fully loaded-career with seriously big names already sitting in his credit roll. Alright, so it's not quite as dramatic as all that but he has recently found himself hurtling from struggling up-and-comer to directing Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal in a film he wrote himself in the space of a few short weeks. One of three winners of Jameson's 2016 First Shot competition, an international short film comp giving aspiring writers and directors their 'first shot' in the film industry, Jason's channelling 'Sine Metu' all the way to Hollywood with his film The New Empress. But how the heck did he get there? GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS/AWESOME WIFE Jason started his directing career, as all great directors do, on the other side of the camera. Graduating from the Actors Centre Australia in 2009, he starred in a few short films, episodes of Underbelly, and a few plays for the likes of Belvoir, RockSurfers and NIDA. Highly sought after as a voice over artist, he churned out ads for KFC, Sony and Samsung before taking a little more creative control over his film career. He wrote and starred in multiple award-winning short films including 2012 Tropfest finalist and Best Comedy winner at NYC's BrownFish International Film Festival Kitchen Sink Drama, and the Cannes-screened short A Little Bit Behind. Being a director, writer and actor was paying off. In his new arrangement though, the scales are loaded. On one side is his family (wildly supportive wife Susan, three young kids and preschool fees stacking up), fear and niggling self-doubt. On the other side is the pure joy of making films and a fair dollop of entrepreneurial spirit. In the end, they balance each other out — but it doesn't come easy. "My wife reassures me to keep moving in this direction and making short films because… I think she just sees the joy it brings me," he says. "And that it brings me a level of satisfaction." Perini doesn't fit into any preconceived notions you might have about actors and directors. He could be your brother, your mate, your neighbour, your uncle — there's not a skerrick of Tinseltown pretentiousness in him and he seems acutely aware of that. What he lacks in old Hollywood gravitas he more than makes up for in relatability. He's not a polished protagonist and seems to have no faith in things working out for him. For some, that fear might be calcifying, but for Perini, it makes him cautious, calculated and hardworking. His approach isn't razzle-dazzle, it's a hard slog, and maybe that insight is why Trigger Street Productions president Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey and Maggie Gyllenhaal, chose his script out of hundreds to win First Shot. FYI, this is the straight-up baller way Jameson, Trigger Street and Spacey told the three First Shot winners they'd won (get the tissues ready): EAT HUMBLE PIE FOR EVERY MEAL There's nothing glamorous about clawing your way up the film industry ladder. Like most of the creative professions, there's a dearth of funding and a saturation of hungry mouths to feed. Putting a dollar value on creative ideas can be challenging but not as difficult as going hand-to-mouth to potential investors and supporters. But that's the reality for most filmmakers. There's no fat stack of Hollywood money, no personal assistants and no safety net. Making it work means calling in a lot of favours. "Constantly having to approach people I don't know and say, 'I don't have much money, my idea is probably not very good but would you be willing to come along and help out with this thing,' you think, 'I don't want to do this, it's out of my comfort zone.' But in five years, if I hadn't given it a shot, I would kick myself. "I'm not getting any younger. I get nervous calling anyone on the phone, I can't stand it. I get weirded out by emailing people [the same as] approaching people cold. But the more you do it, you still don't like it but you know that's what you have to do." Herein this simple admission lies the crux of Perini's appeal – he's you. He's all of us, unpolished and goofy and cringing about having to pick up the phone and ask a favour. He's a man with the same hang-ups, the same road blocks we all have (age, time, money, warring responsibilities), who's managed to somehow close his eyes, steel himself and awkwardly run screaming into the fray 'without fear'. FAKE IT TILL THE HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS NOTICE YOU Perini quickly discovered that for him, being an actor was far easier than being an everything else (don't throw anything at us, actors). As director, producer and writer, he finds himself holding a lot of threads which threaten to unravel at any moment and ruin everything. "What's nice about it is that you get more of a vision but then if it comes crashing down, it sucks," he says. "If I was acting it I'd just go, 'Oh they cut it badly, the director was a jerk.' But there's nowhere to hide once you start producing, directing and writing." His approach to his craft is one of self-assured humility; an oxymoron that blends equal parts ability and uncertainty. When asked if he thinks he's a good filmmaker, he's characteristically self-deprecating. "No I don't," he says quickly. "I think I'm a baby in it. Now that I've made two films completely on my own, in the sense that I produced them and wrote them, I think I learned the hard way really quickly. I look back at both those films and would do them completely differently. But I've learnt so much… that's kind of helpful." Trigger Street and Maggie Gyllenhaal evidently disagree. Perini's script, which he nearly didn't submit, was chosen out of hundreds as a co-winner of First Shot. The prize is a filmmakers' dream Your script is brought to life with you as the director, Kevin Spacey as creative director, Trigger Street as producers and Maggie Gyllenhaal in front of the camera. As you may guess, Perini is dealing with it in a characteristically low-key way. "They're gonna have a rude shock when I turn up and don't know what I'm doing... I'm just thankful and I want to learn from them as much as I can. I want to be as ignorant as I can and soak it all up." Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website. Images: Michael Ciccone, Jameson, Trigger Productions.
If you're a fan of Better Call Saul, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dead to Me or The Good Place, you've probably spent plenty of time in front of your TV screen over the past six months. But, even when we're all staying inside revisiting our favourite shows, 2020's television and streaming viewing isn't just about the programs you already love. If you're always eager to add some fresh favourites to your pile, the year so far has well and truly delivered. They're the new series that, in years to come, will sit atop your rewatch list. From ominous and ambitious science-fiction thrillers and contemplative slow-TV documentaries to comic takes on history and bold reworkings of literary classics, 2020's batch of new shows has proven a varied bunch — and an excellent one as well. It's enough to make you hole up in your living room and never want to leave. Or, to spend the year's colder months catching up. With the year at its halfway point, here are our picks of 2020's best TV and streaming series that you owe it to yourself to seek out now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODYjA9H4qcw NORMAL PEOPLE When Sally Rooney's Normal People first hit bookshelves in 2018, it thrust readers into a disarmingly relatable love story, following the amorous ups and downs of an on-again, off-again couple from Sligo, Ireland. Teenagers Marianne and Connell have known each other for years, as tends to happen in small towns. And although she's aloof, intense and considered an acerbic loner, while he's outgoing and popular, a torrid and tumultuous secret romance blooms. That's just the beginning of the Irish author's novel, and of the both tender and perceptive TV series that brings the book to the screen. As it dives deep into a complex chronicle of first love, it not only charts Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Cold Feet) and Connell's (newcomer Paul Mescal) feelings for each other, but details the recognisable and realistic minutiae of being a high schooler and then a uni student. This is first and foremost a romance, and a passionate and intimate one at that; however the series can't tell this complicated couple's story without touching upon everything else that pops up along the way. Normal People is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htuNZp82Ck&feature=youtu.be TALES FROM THE LOOP If Black Mirror set all of its bleak futuristic tales in one small town, followed interconnected characters and sported a low-fi, retro sheen, the result would be Tales From the Loop. This patient, beautiful, poignant and incredibly moving sci-fi series is actually based on a series of paintings by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag — and even if you didn't already know that fact while you were watching, you'd notice the show's distinctive aesthetic. The title refers to a mysterious underground machine, called The Loop, that's designed to explore and unravel the mysteries of the universe. For the folks living above it, their lives soon take strange turns. Anchoring jumps and pauses in time, body swaps, giant robots and more in everyday situations and emotions (such as being envious of a friend, falling in love, betraying your nearest and dearest, and trying to connect with your parents), Tales From the Loop is as perceptive as it is immersive and engaging. And, its eight episodes are helmed by an exceptional array of fantastic filmmakers, including Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek, WALL-E's Andrew Stanton, The House of the Devil's Ti West and actor-turned-director Jodie Foster. Tales From the Loop is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8klax373ds DEVS Radiating unease from its very first moments, yet sporting both a mood and a futuristic look that prove simultaneously unsettlingly and alluring, Devs is unmistakably the work of author-turned-filmmaker Alex Garland. His first jump to the small screen, it instantly slots in nicely beside Ex Machina and Annihilation on his resume — and it's just as intriguing and involving as each of those excellent movies. The setting: Amaya, a US technology company that's massive in size yet secretive in its focus. When Sergei (Karl Glusman) is promoted to its coveted, extra clandestine Devs division, his girlfriend and fellow Amaya employee Lily (Sonoya Mizuno is thrilled for him. But when Sergei doesn't come home from his first day, Lily starts looking for answers — including from the company's guru-like leader Forest (a long-haired, very un-Ron Swanson-like Nick Offerman). Devs is available to stream via Foxtel Now and Binge. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5vLgpdXz0g THE GREAT It takes its title from its central figure, Russian empress Catherine the Great. It's filled with lavish period-appropriate costumes, wigs, sets and decor. And, it explores an immensely famous time during the 18th century that had a significant impact upon the world. Normally, that'd all smack of a certain kind of drama; however The Great is firmly a comedy as well. As starring Elle Fanning as the eponymous ruler, Nicholas Hoult as her husband Peter III and Bohemian Rhapsody's Gwilym Lee as a fellow member of the royal court, that means witty, laugh-out-loud lines, an irreverent and often cheeky mood, and having ample fun with real-life details — much in the way that Oscar-winner The Favourite did with British royalty on the big screen. Of course, the comparison couldn't be more fitting, with that film's BAFTA-winning screenwriter, Australian Tony McNamara, using his savagely hilarious satirical skills to pen The Great as well. The Great is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMIcuVH83M&feature=emb_logo THE BEACH Whenever Warwick Thornton makes a new project, it demands attention — and the Indigenous Australian filmmaker has never made anything quite like The Beach. The director of Samson & Delilah and Sweet Country turns the camera on himself, chronicling his quest to escape his busy life for an extended soul-searching getaway. With only chickens and wildlife for company, Thornton bunkers down in an electricity-free tin shed in Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest coast of Western Australia. He fishes, cooks, chats to the chooks, wanders along the shoreline and reflects upon everything that's led him to this point, with this six-part documentary series capturing the ups, downs, sublime sights and epiphany-inspiring moments. Unfurling quietly and patiently in the slow-TV tradition, Thornton's internal journey of discovery makes for both moving and absorbing viewing. Indeed, combined with stunning cinematography (as shot by Thornton's son and Robbie Hood director Dylan River), it just might be the best piece of Australian television you see this year. The Beach is available to stream via SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TA3B8Z5lcQ DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE It has been a few years since Jason Segel was seen on-screen with any frequency; however the Freaks and Geeks, How I Met Your Mother and The Muppets star returns in a big way with Dispatches from Elsewhere. As well as leading the cast, he created, co-wrote and co-directed the intriguing and enigmatic puzzle-like drama series, which is based on the documentary The Institute and tracks a group of strangers who find themselves drawn to a strange, game-like mystery. IT worker Peter (Segel), the lively Simone (Eve Lindley), the overly cautious and paranoid Fredwynn (Andre Benjamin), and the upbeat Janice (Sally Field) all don't know what they're getting themselves in for when they start spotting flyers around town about offbeat topics (communicating with dolphins and trialling human force fields, for example), then each individually call the number printed on them. And, for maximum immersion and enjoyment — and to go on the ten-part show's weird and wonderful ride with its characters — audiences should approach it with as little prior knowledge of any details other than the above as well. Dispatches from Elsewhere is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDKYJwih5-Q BREEDERS Catastrophe, that great, smart, acerbically funny British comedy about a couple's experiences with parenthood, attempts to navigate life's all-round chaos and just general effort to try to stay together, sadly finished up its four-season run last year. Let worthy successor Breeders fill the gap — with Martin Freeman starring as exasperated dad Paul, Daisy Haggard (Back to Life) playing his partner Ally, and The Thick of It's Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell on directing and writing duties. Basically, if the aforementioned political satire featured parents swearing profusely at their kids instead of government staffers unleashing at their colleagues, this is how it would turn out. The show is partially based on Freeman's own experiences, too, and stems from the Sherlock, The Office and The Hobbit actor's idea. Breeders is available to stream via Foxtel Now and Binge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw UNORTHODOX Deborah Feldman's best-selling 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots makes the leap to Netflix as a four-part mini-series. And, as the book's title makes plain, both explore her decision to leave her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York, flee her arranged marriage and everyone she's ever known, and escape to Berlin to start a brand new life. Names and details have been changed, as tends to be the case with dramas based on real-life stories; however Unorthodox still follows the same overall path. In a tense but instantly commanding opening to the show's first episode, 19-year-old Esther 'Esty' Shapiro (Shira Haas) slips out of the apartment she shares with her husband Yanky (Amit Rahav), picks up a passport from her piano teacher and nervously heads to the airport. The end result proves a unique and intriguing coming-of-age tale, a thoughtful thriller, and an eye-opening but always careful and respectful look at a culture that's rarely depicted on-screen in such depth. Israeli actress Haas (The Zookeeper's Wife, Foxtrot, Mary Magdalene) turns in a nuanced, weighty and gripping performance as Esty, too — which is absolutely pivotal in making Unorthodox so compelling to watch. Unorthodox is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyxdf2TvcJE STATELESS A flight attendant (Yvonne Strahovski) unhappy with her life, trying to find solace in a cult-like dance school run by a creepy duo (Cate Blanchett and Dominic West), and eventually making a drastic decision. An Afghan refugee Ameer (Fayssal Bazzi) attempting to escape to Australia with his wife and daughters in search of a better life. A struggling father (Jai Courtney) in a remote town who takes a job at the local detention facility because it pays well. A bureaucrat (Asher Keddie) brought in to manage said location when it attracts negative media attention. They're the four characters at the heart of six-part Australian mini-series Stateless — a show that doesn't just feel as if it is ripped from the headlines but, in one specific instance, is 100-percent drawn from real-life events. This is bold, topical television filled with fantastic performances, although that's to be expected given the cast. Stateless is available to stream via ABC iView. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMUPp_hNMlM THE EDDY A fantastic cast, a Parisian setting and oh-so-much jazz. As executive produced and partly directed by Whiplash and La La Land filmmaker Damien Chazelle, that's what's on offer in eight-part drama The Eddy. The title refers to the French club run by former pianist Elliot (Andre Holland) and his business partner Farid (Tahar Rahim), with every episode following the daily life of a different person — including Elliot's rebellious teenage daughter Julie (Amandla Stenberg), as well as Maja (Joanna Kulig), the lead singer of the venue's resident jazz band. Like almost everything that Chazelle touches, other than First Man, jazz features heavily. That's really just a given with his work by now. But whether you're as fond of the style of music as he clearly is, you could take or leave it, or you're just keen on virtually visiting Europe, The Eddy unfurls a moody and engrossing tale that benefits from its excellent on-screen talent. The Eddy is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMaPCYRPhY0 MYTHIC QUEST: RAVEN'S BANQUET For the past 15 years, Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton have co-written and co-starred in one of the best shows on TV: the so-ridiculous-its-hilarious It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Hopefully, that'll never change — Sunny just aired its 14th season last year — but McElhenney and Day have also just launched a new sitcom. Trading a sleazy Philly bar for a video game development studio, Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet sees McElhenney play a gaming visionary who's having trouble with the latest expansion pack of his big online role-playing hit. Big troubles, actually. A workplace comedy, Mythic Quest takes some time to find its feet, but it's worth sticking with. It also stars Community's Danny Pudi, Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham and Australian Content actress (and #Flipgirl) Charlotte Nicdao. And if you're a fan, you'll be pleased to know that Apple renewed it for a second season before the first even premiered. Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is available to stream via Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVQ9-XH3hc8 DRACULA After giving Sherlock Holmes plenty of twists in Sherlock, writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have decided that another famous character could use a once-over — and not just any old figure, either. Bram Stoker's Dracula has been adapted for the screen so many times, the bloodsucker actually holds the record, but this version isn't like any other. Starring The Square's Claes Bang as the undead count, the BBC and Netflix three-part series has plenty of tricks up its sleeves. So many, in fact, that we won't say too much in order to preserve the mystery. In a smart, lush, gleefully theatrical and cleverly scripted affair that blends gothic horror with sly amusement, the basic framework of the 123-year-old story remains — spanning both Romania and Britain, and following his altercations with lawyer Jonathan Harker, his lust for Lucy Westenra and his run-ins with Van Helsing — but not as you'd ever expect. Bang is fantastic, but keep a particular eye out for Dolly Wells (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) as a pivotal nun. Dracula is available to stream via Netflix. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
Stars and stripes waving proudly over the Mary Street entrance of Buffalo Bar salute the vast American delights waiting within. In the wood-panelled front bar of this heritage building, tiles of red, white and blue make the bar counters pop with patriotism, and the motif continues with a buffalo mural trampling across the outer courtyard wall. The beer-garden is crisscrossed by hanging lights, with an outdoor bar and big-screen TVs for sports, Stateside or otherwise. Beverage-wise, Buffalo Bar has brews, cocktails and wine, and the front bar offers American whiskey and Scotch whisky selections. It leans into the Americana with diner-inspired food and full-throttle flavours. Burgers, ribs, Philly cheesesteaks and chicken wings — individual or sharing platter, choose your spice level. It wouldn't be American without a food challenge, and Buffalo Bar offers the USA burger with special sauce, cos lettuce, tomato, red onion and American cheese as a worthy challenger. Pair it with a side of hot wings and you've got yourself a fight at Brisbane's Buffalo Bar. There is regular trivia and a strong focus on sports, so head on down to catch the next game of whatever it is you're into. Top images: Grace Smith.
People are always finding new and exciting ways to advance technology — and when their aim isn’t creating phone apps or more realistic pornography, it’s often about helping others. The Chilean team behind the SULI project fall into the second category of helpers. Their solar-powered SULI lamp is designed to bring a quick, easy, renewable light source to people without access to electricity. SULI estimates 1.5 billion people worldwide are without access to lighting, and use alternatives (such as kerosene lamps, candles, etc.) that are expensive and dangerous. And while solar-powered lights aren’t exactly new technology, an easy, cheap and versatile application for solar lighting is. With 3D-printed accessories, the SULI lamp has applications in both the developed and developing word. It can be used as a flashlight, a bicycle light, a garden light, a reading lamp or (this is the best one) screwed onto a water bottle and transformed into a device that throws light up to five metres. The light takes up to 12 hours to charge and the charge lasts for around 50 hours. For those of you trying to cut down your electricity bills, this may be the gadget for you. With two years of development and several grants behind them, the SULI team has finally brought the project to us via Indiegogo. For US$52 plus shipping you can send yourself one lamp, but for $85 you can add a second that gets sent to Haiti, where 3500 people are still living without electricity or access to water since the devastating 2010 earthquake. SULI have already raised US$22,000 but they still need to sell a few hundred more lamps in order to keep production costs low and their altruism train rolling. So get on board with this clever idea, fill your house with SULIs and know that while your household enjoys light after dark, so does a household in Haiti. Via PSFK. Image via Suli Lab.
Goodbye Hollywood, hello Hallyuwood. No, that's not a typo. Instead, it's the thriving Korean film industry, which has become a major player in the global cinema realm in more ways than one. First, there's the spate of high-profile Korean directors making the jump to English-language movies, such as Okja's Bong Joon-ho and Stoker's Park Chan-wook. Next, there's the growing list of Korean flicks that have earned American remakes, like Oldboy and The Lake House. And finally, there's the all-round ace movies that Korean's finest cinema talents keep pumping out. It's the latter that's in the spotlight at the annual Korean Film Festival in Australia, which marks its eighth year in 2017. From high-octane crime efforts to different takes on familiar genres to thoughtful dramas, this year's lineup is filled with highlights — including these five must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoc0KZQnoKA THE VILLAINESS It's a great time for kickass women in cinema, finally. Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde have company, however, and her name is The Villainess. This killing machine-focused thriller ramps up the action and body count as a trained assassin seeks bloody vengeance after her husband is murdered on their wedding day. Spies, secrets, Kill Bill-like mayhem, and La Femme Nikita-esque trickery and duplicity — they're all on the bill, as is a memorable display from star Kim Ok-bin (perhaps best known for Park Chan-wook's Thirst) as the formidable Sook-hee. THE DAY AFTER Another Australian film festival, another Hong Sang-soo film. It's becoming a habit, but the Korean writer/director is nothing if not prolific, having made four flicks in the past year alone. Hong's latest boasts his usual trademarks — booze and interpersonal battles — in a tale about a publisher's affair with his assistant, his wife's expectedly unhappy reaction, and his new helper caught in the middle. Fans will know that misunderstandings and written missives feature as frequently in his movies as free-flowing soju, and that's the case here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7STTUWI0as SEOUL STATION One of 2016's unexpected highlights gets an animated prequel — and yes, that's a rather rare development. Train to Busan was exactly what a zombies-on-a-train flick should be, and while Seoul Station isn't that movie, it is intriguing in its own right. Flesh munching and mindless shuffling takes over the titular railway stop, as brought to light in grittily drawn frames that somehow make the ravenous masses of undead even more frightening. You might think you've seen every take on zombie movies ever made, but we're betting that you haven't seen this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvqaLwfh0C0 THE WORLD OF US Winner of best youth feature at the 2016 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, The World of Us uses the friendship between two ten-year-old girls to explore the social reality facing kids in modern-day South Korea, and dissect the situation given to them by their adult counterparts. In doing so, the small in feel, sizeable in impact effort relays a relatable story audiences all around the world have been through. There are few things tougher in childhood than realising the inequities and differences that are used to separate the population, particularly when they don't go in your favour, something that director Yoon Ga-eun clearly understands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jhPgL0_3ac BECAUSE I LOVE YOU Even given their fantastic premise, a good body swap film can not only entertain and amuse, but can also offer ample insights about walking in someone else's shoes. Because I Love You is the latest to attempt that feat, though it's not just content with making songwriter Lee-hyung inhabit one other person. No, a sole soul switch clearly isn't enough. Instead, after an accident renders him hospitalised, he hops from body to body trying to solve their romantic problems, all while his own potential fiance waits for him to wake up. Need a couple more suggestions? Here's two others. We recommended The Bacchus Lady highly back when it played at the 2016 Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, while Karaoke Crazies caught our interest from the 2016 SXSW lineup. The Korean Film Festival in Australia tours the country from August 17 to September 23, screening at Sydney's Dendy Opera Quays from August 17 to 26, Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image from September 7 to 14, and Brisbane's Event Cinemas Myer Centre from September 8 to 10. For further details, check out the festival website.
Art has prevailed in the battle to fill a Melbourne rooftop with naked people. In the latest development surrounding Spencer Tunick's newest work, the New York artist has been given permission to hold a nude photoshoot on top of the Prahran Woolworths car park — just over a week after the store said no. It was announced in May that Tunick would be returning to Australia in July to stage another of his famed mass nude photos, all as part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocaré Festival of the Arts. Seventeen years after assembling 4500 naked volunteers for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival, the polarising artist plans to amass another contingent of naked (and pretty brave) folk for a work titled Return of the Nude While Tunick has photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras, snapped the public painted red and gold outside Munich's Bavarian State Opera, covered in veils in the Nevada desert and covered in blue in Hull in the UK, his initial attempt to craft his latest piece against a Melbourne skyline backdrop was knocked back by Woolworths. A petition spearheaded by the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), the festival's host organisation, in response —and due to community pressure, the store has decided to let the shoot go ahead. A spokesperson for the supermarket giant advised, "in further discussions with the festival organisers they indicated a willingness to be flexible with dates and times to ensure the shoot could happen without inconveniencing our customers during busy weekend trading. As a result, we're now able to accommodate the request to temporarily clear the rooftop for Spencer Tunick's group shot on a Monday morning during a traditionally slow trading period." The shoot will take place on Monday, July 9, with Tunick given an hour to complete his vision. And if you'd like to participate — anyone over the age of 18 can git their kit off and get involved — there's still time to register. Participants each get a print of the photograph and, we're sure, a big boost of body confidence. Provocaré will take place across the Chapel Street Precinct from July 5–15, with Return of the Nude being shot over one hour on July 9.
If you head to Mr Chester Wine Bar & Bistro's website, you'll be greeted with a simple, bold statement — "What a wine bar should be!". And we have to admit, whoever wrote that is bang on. Everything to love about wine bars, be it the ambient lighting, simple European fare, unpretentious staff and soft background jazz, they've got it. Oh, and the wine. They've got that too, thankfully, in barrel-loads. The focus here is on Aussie and New Zealand winemakers, while a few from beyond our shores also make the list. It doesn't matter if it's a young gun trying to reinvent chardonnay (again!) or a seasoned winemaker who remembers the days when you couldn't get wine by the glass in Australia; if you're good enough, you'll make it on the list. Like all good wine bars, the list is constantly evolving at Mr Chester Wine Bar & Bistro. Still, as we write this, some of the highlights of the whites include a Skipjack sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, a Mandi 2021 pinot grigio from the Murray Darling and a gorgeous grenache-blanc from Terra Alta, Italy. If you're keen on rosés, try its chilled blend of saparavi, sangiovese, verdelho and semillon. If red is more your vibe, look towards the Unico Zelo grenache blend for something medium-light, while a big hearty Barossa shiraz makes the list from Torzi Matthews. And like all good wine bars in Brisbane, the food here is also next-level. And the options here are primarily classic Mediterranean dishes and share plates — think arancini with bacon and semi-dried tomato or the baked camembert with pistachio crumb and truffle honey for something small. There is also a range of pizzas, with the diavola on point — featuring tomato, fior di latte and soppressata. Pasta dishes include a gorgeous squid ink linguine, while there's just one dessert — a white chocolate cheesecake that is worth the visit alone. You can easily pop by Mr Chester Wine Bar & Bistro to simply have some dessert and a nightcap.
Road trips are an idealised summertime activity, but when the heats eases in Autumn there's really no better time to be in the car for extended periods of time. If you do it right, you come away with good friends and esoteric stories which will never be understood properly by people who weren't there. But it's equally possible for road trips to turn hellish and monotonous. That's not what you want - that's not what anybody wants. So we have compiled a list of tips to help you on your way and make sure you have the kind of road trip which will remind you of the wind and sunshine in your hair, shared memories and in-jokes. WHEELS So this seems a superfluous point, but if you're going to go on a road trip you need a car, and if you don't have one then you've got yourself a problem. Once you've got the car, make sure it's one that everybody knows how to drive. Nobody likes being the only manual driver in a car full of stricken automatic-only drivers. You should also do all the practical things like get the oil, tyres and water checked before you leave, and make sure you've got back-ups in case of emergency, especially if you're trying to look like you know your stuff about cars. Bigger cars are better for road trips, especially if you've got friends with ample hips or ridiculously long legs. And for the love of God, make sure the car has air con. A GREAT DESTINATION Jumping in a car and heading nowhere might sound very Kerouac-esque for an hour or so, but in the end you're going to want to be heading somewhere. Holiday houses and camping grounds are all good, although there's a high likelihood a music festival might be your destination this autumn. If that's the case, be patient and anticipate that you will have to wait in a queue for six hours on a backed up country road and be forced to pee in the bushes in direct view of many headlights. MAPS Getting lost is not half the fun. The person who says it is needs to be ejected immediately from the vehicle. You probably have a GPS, but bear in mind that the GPS is not infallible. You need a map. A map in this instance is defined as a proper map you purchase from anywhere good maps are sold, not scrawled notes copied from Google Maps your barely literate friend drew on the back of a phone bill. CREW Be wise and consider precisely which of your friends and loved ones you're going to enjoy being in a cramped, confined space with for potentially several days. It's also a good idea to make sure there's not going to be anybody overly-familiar with their sense of personal space, particularly if they have personal hygiene issues. There's nothing more awkward than finding yourself on a road trip with a couple who have recently broken up and still have unresolved issues. CONVERSATION Once you've exhausted your witty high school stories, politics, childhood traumas and the ever-fascinating subject of who's having sex with whom, complex philosophical questions are always a good bet. Questions such as 'which of your legs could you do without' and 'would you rather punch Kyle Sandilands or Miranda Devine in the face' are good starting points. MONEY Money is a general necessity in all areas of life, but when we say 'money' here we mean the multi-coloured pieces of paper marked with numbers the ATM is wont to dispense. This is crucial because ATMs can be scarce in the bush, and on a road trip sharing is of the utmost importance. SNACKS It's a given that everyone is obliged to bring a lot of sugar on a road trip. Minties, Snakes and all things that once delighted you in children's birthday party bags are right and necessary when on the road. Hot chips with tomato sauce sold by old ladies with facial hair in country towns are also awesome. It's uncanny how the shops saying 'Best Pies in Grafton' actually do sell the best pies in Grafton. MUSIC If you've got one of those whatsits that plug your iPod into the car's stereo system, you're sweet. If you don't have one of those, however, you're going to want a couple of good mixtapes, or, more accurately, mix CDs. '60s pop songs, '80s power ballads and '90s rap should all be considered in the choice of music. You want to have songs that are going to remind you of the trip for years to come, an underlying theme for your future reminiscing, if you will. RIDICULOUS APPAREL Questionable fashion choices are a mandatory on the road. Nothing makes you feel more alive than climbing out of the car at a truckstop wearing something outrageously fluoro and swaggering inside to get yourself a rainbow Paddlepop. Furthermore, there is no more appropriate occasion for a man to sport short shorts. Stupid sunglasses and hats are fun, but bear in mind they might enrage Mick Taylor-types on the roads. SUNSCREEN Often overlooked in the relative shelter of a moving car, sunscreen is necessary for anybody with an arm in close proximity to a window. You don't want to get sunburnt, and unevenly sunburnt at that, while sitting in the car. More to the point, nothing will ruin your holiday more than being so sunburnt you have to wear shapeless kaftans with long sleeves and not being able to sleep at night because it hurts so bad.
Each of Australia's capital cities has a different shtick. Melbourne's just happens to be a 24-hour culture — or, at least, the closest Australia has to it. It's got all-night public transport on weekends, late-night opening hours for the National Gallery of Victoria's new Triennial and the city's White Night festival will return for its annual all-nighter in 2018. If you haven't been down to White Night before, here's how it works. From 7pm, much of Melbourne's CBD is closed to cars. From then on, the streets give way to pedestrians, who are free to wander between temporary installations, live music and on-street projections — as well as in and out of galleries and cultural institutions — up until the sun comes up at 7am the next day. It's the Australian version of Nuit Blanche, which was founded in France in the 80s. Next year's festival — which will shut down the city for 12 hours on the evening of Saturday, February 17 — features work from a tonne of both local and international artists. Expect to see neon pups, two Burning Man installations and one laneway covered in snow. There are far too many works to list, but here are a few highlights you'll want to look out for. A giant shimming silver net that will hover above Federation Square for White Night (and two weeks afterwards). Drag queens singing from balconies above Collins Street. A laneway filled with virtual neon 'dogs' and another filled with falling 'snow'. A tree that lets you write temporary messages on it with the light from your phone Two installations straight from Burning Man: a fire-breathing serpent outside Melbourne Museum and a giant mechanical insect that doubles at a DJ booth. Mini gigs performed from multiple balconies above Swanston Street. A 360-degree dome in Alexandra Gardens that will feature mesmerising projections. Stories from Australian detention centres projected onto the NGV's façade. White Night will also head out to Victoria's regional centres. It will return to Ballarat on March 17 for a second year, and will take to the streets of Bendigo and Geelong for the first time later in 2018.
“Have you skied before?” This is the question I am asked — repeatedly — on the way to Thredbo: at reception when checking in at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, at a five-course champagne brunch in an inflatable igloo on the ski slopes (a combination of words I never thought I'd say), while dancing and chatting to strangers during a poolside party started by French phenomenon La Folie Douce and, of course, when collecting gear and being assigned to a ski lesson on the final day of this weekend celebrating the Thredbo Top2Bottom race. The answer is sort of, once, when I was in high school and spent a day tumbling down Friday Flats. But if you think Thredbo isn’t for you, it’s time to think again. There’s a lot more than just skiing on offer in this alpine village getaway. ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL; DON'T LEAVE THE HOTEL From outside, the Thredbo Alpine Hotel (Friday Drive, Thredbo Village Resort, +61 2 6459 4200) looks austere — with a grey timber exterior capped by an aggressively sloping roof. But inside, it’s warm and wood-panelled, the staff are chilled out and friendly and there is a roaring log fire in the middle of the lobby lounge. The setting is pretty spectacular too. From the hotel room window, I can see a snow-covered mountain that reflects the pink morning light, and a pristine landscape of sky and trees. The rooms are small and haven’t been refurbished since the ‘80s, but this adds a rustic charm and comfort. The hotel breakfast is deliciously comprehensive, and the restaurant windows look out onto the slopes. Whether you’re into the bircher muesli or hash browns (or both), you can sit in your warm smugness and watch early morning skiers tear down the Supertrail at their own peril. The hotel also has an outdoor spa, an in-house massage therapist and sauna. So you basically have no reason to leave. OPEN CHAMPAGNE THE RIGHT WAY: WITH A SWORD On the first morning, I am whisked away to Crackenback Drive and treated by Mumm Champagne to a five-course champagne degustation with chef ambassador Josh Lopez (from Brisbane’s GOMA restaurant). The pop up restaurant is set on the snow in an inflatable igloo by the ski slopes. Mumm ambassador Chris Sheehy introduces the champagne at the beginning of each course, followed by Josh Lopez, who explains his approach to each dish. I learn how to open a bottle of champagne with a saber (the essential trick is to chill the neck of the bottle for a couple of hours to get a clean break), eat black rose caviar off the back of my hand and appreciate how truffle coated in 24 carat gold goes marvellously with a cordon rouge (that’s a type of champagne). The dessert is the highlight (or perhaps my head is rather light by this point), an architectural feat with macadamia, berries, vanilla and rose petals, matched with a light rosé. An evening champagne and caviar masterclass with Sheehy and Lopez was also available to Thredbo visitors at the Segreto Restaurant back at the Alpine Lodge Hotel. PARTY LIKE IT'S -5ºC (IT IS) Thredbo Alpine Hotel is known for its afternoon après-ski parties, and from 3-6pm international party-starters La Folie Douce took to the poolside stage, pumped up the beats and got the crowd going. It’s hard to explain the magic of La Folie Douce and exactly what happens up there on stage, but they charmed us with what essentially is a glorified karaoke-cross-Rihanna-inspired dance routine, hollering and grinding to a set of pumping music, encouraging the audience to follow suit. And before long, half the audience was up on stage, a squish-friendly party of ski jackets and champagne-fuelled shenanigans. And amazingly, it was finished in time for dinner. CELEBRATE OTHER PEOPLE'S ATHLETIC VICTORIES Upon assignment to this story I had a momentary freak-out where I thought I might have to actually ski in the 25th Anniversary Top2Bottom race — a kind of City2Surf for the slopes. Each year, a slew of skiers, snowboarders and even a select few fatbike racers (literally people riding fat bicycles down the slope) compete on Australia’s longest run (3.2km) for a $1200 prize pack. Luckily, all I had to do was hang out at the finish line by the Mumm Champagne pop-up bar and cheer them on. There were dramatic crashes, narrow finishes and plenty of champagne-popping to start the day. ATTEMPT TO SKI, DECIDE TO INVEST IN A TOBOGGAN The opportunity to ski came on the last morning of the trip. I quickly realised that the preparation for this sport takes more energy than the sport itself. I wore way too many layers of clothing, struggled to get my ski boots on and then walk in them (skis in tow) to the shuttle bus. But once on the magic carpet at the bottom of Friday Flats, under the friendly guidance of Albert our ski instructor, the snowplough position came rushing back to me and I went rushing down Friday Flats. It was exhilarating! But next time I think I'll invest in a toboggan. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Thredbo is open 365 days a year, though the ski season runs from the June long weekend to the October long weekend. By air: Qantas and Virgin Australia service Canberra Airport from major Australian cities. Canberra Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Thredbo and shuttle transfers to and from the airport can be arranged. Several major car hire companies also hire from Canberra. By bus: Greyhound Australia run daily services from Canberra and Sydney, Murrays run daily services from Canberra during July and August and other service operators also offer transport and packages. By car: Thredbo is approximately 500km, or 6 hours' drive, from both Sydney and Melbourne. If you’re cruising to the mountains from Sydney, once you’re on the Eastern Distributor there are only a few sets of traffic lights to Thredbo. From Melbourne, the fully sealed Kosciuszko Alpine Way is your scenic window as you wind through the spectacular Kosciuszko National Park. The National Parks and Wildlife Service collect park use fees upon entry to the park. You can purchase your pass from the Entrance Station 13km before you get to Thredbo, the Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne, the National Parks Visitors Centre in Khancoban, or the Thredbo Information Centre. Check out some tips for safe snow driving before you leave home. Roslyn travelled to Thredbo as a guest of Mumm champagne.
Hair: we all have it, we all need to cut it. But for women in particular, it can also be a considerable drain on the bank balance, even if all you want is a simple trim. In Brisbane, that age-old problem is no more. A new addition to Bulimba, tucked behind Oxford Street’s bustling shopping and restaurant strip, Barber Girl offers women the solution they’ve been waiting for. As the name suggests, it’s a ladies-only cutting salon. Getting a haircut no longer cost a fortune or takes up an entire afternoon. No, you’re not dreaming. Barber Girl is the brainchild of owner Rachelle Pelecas, a veteran of the hairstyling trade at The Men’s Lounge Barber in Paddington. In her seven years running the Latrobe Terrace shop with her husband Steve, she routinely saw women seeking a cheaper, quicker alternative to the usual salon treatment. “We kept getting asked on a daily basis,” Pelecas advises. “I think women were getting a little disgruntled that there wasn’t something for them.” From that experience, an idea was born, and in January, it became a reality. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, Barber Girl offers a cut, dry and style package for all ages and styles, with no appointments necessary. “Do you accept walk-ins?” a customer asks while Concrete Playground is in the store. “We only accept walk-ins,” Pelecas answers with a smile. That policy sees cider-sipping patrons typically in and out of the shop with freshly dressed tresses in around half an hour, depending on how busy it is. Everything on the menu costs less than $50, regardless of how long your locks are, with a split enz menz, side shave or a blowdry even cheaper still. Amazingly, it’s the first place of its type in Australia — and, as Pelecas’s research has shown — possibly the world. “I haven’t seen anything like this anywhere else,” she explains, expanding that once she realised the demand was there, it was something she had to pursue. “It is something unique, something creative and something different,” she continues, and Barber Girl certainly looks the part. Everything in the store is custom-made, with much of it — the pipefittings under each sink, the wall shelving and the artwork, too – crafted by Pelecas herself. Other items, including the four pink barber’s chairs that draw the eye to the centre of the room, were modified specifically for the shop. As well as applying her talents to the interior design choices and putting her studies in fine arts to use, Pelecas was particular about the Bulimba location. An east-side local, she lives close by, worked on Oxford Street while she was at university and her brother-in-law owns George’s Barbershop around the corner. “Bulimba has such a community feel,” Pelecas notes. “This area is different in that there is more of a young presence.” Their clientele reflects the diversity of the suburb, catering for all demographics. “We’ve had a 75-year-old in here getting her first haircut for 25 years, then someone young and hip, then two-year-olds getting their first haircuts. In less than two months of trading, business has been booming, with word spreading around the city. “I’ve been quite surprised at how far some people are travelling to get here,” Pelecas advises. Those wanting a fast, affordable and flattering new hairstyle — i.e. everyone — best get in quick and join them. You'll be uploading pics of your new 'do to Instagram in no time. Find Barber Girl at Shop 9 Princess Street, Bulimba.
Practitioners and supporters of the arts danced in protest in capital cities all over Australia today, in response to cuts to the Australia Council, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body. During the 2015-16 budget announcement, made on May 12, the Government revealed that $104.7 million will taken away from the Council and sent to a new ‘National Programme for Excellence in the Arts’, to be directed by George Brandis and the Ministry for the Arts. Last night, the Australia Council revealed how it will cope with this financial decimation. And the arts community is reeling. For a start, the June grant round isn’t going ahead. So if you’ve been working on an application, you can stick it in a drawer and keep your fingers crossed for September. Second up, the six-year funding program, which supports medium-sized organisations with continuous funding at the rate of $75,000+ per year, is suspended. It was a brilliant initiative, developed in conversation with the arts sector, which simplified the grant application process by removing piles of red tape. And if you’re an emerging, independent or community-minded artist, your opportunities are now much narrower. Three of the Australia Council’s most important programs in these areas – ArtStart, Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative and Artists in Residence – are all kaput. At the Sydney Writers' Festival today, author Tegan Bennett Daylight encouraged audiences to “think about” this reduction in “arm’s length” funding. On introducing Helen Garner, Daylight read a dedication in Garner’s 1992 novel Cosmo Cosmolino, which thanks the Australia Council for providing her with the funding and time to think and write. More than 7,000 individuals have signed a petition, indicating their opposition to "the dramatic funding cuts to the arts announced in the recent federal budget, including shifting more than $100 million away from The Australia Council", as well as their opinion that "individual arts ministers should not be the exclusive arbiter of artistic expression". Signees include Thomas Keneally, Christos Tsiolkas and J.M. Coetzee. Meanwhile, Circus Oz has expressed its concern in a media statement. As a member of the Major Performing Arts Group, made up of 28 companies, Circus Oz is not in line to lose funding. However, the statement communicated the group's solidarity with, and dependence on, those that will suffer. “Circuz Oz is an active member of the vibrant, yet delicate arts ecosystem. Changes to any part of this ecology can have dramatic affects on all artists creating work for the audiences of Australia. We know, for example, that the success of Circus Oz is built on the incredibly vibrant work of all the individual artists, independent, small and medium companies that are eligible for the funding that has been moved.” Concerned? Sign the Australians for Artistic Freedom petition. Vaguely related art image from the wonderful Underbelly Arts.
One of the first recorded reports of the Negroni came from Orson Welles in 1947. While working in Rome, he wrote, "The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other." Sixty years later, bartenders and home cocktail enthusiasts are still perfecting the Negroni. And after so long, people get confident. And creative. And they make ridiculous things that we want to inhale with vacuum force. Here are five awesome takes on the Negroni, most of which aren't actually Negronis but have all the right ingredients — gin, Campari and vermouth. Bottoms up. THE GRUMPY NEGRONI Sydney's Grumpy Donuts are getting in on the Negroni Week action, with a special edition doughnut version. 'The Grumpy Negroni' is covered in a freshly squeezed orange and gin glaze, and filled with a Campari spiked creme patissiere. This doughnut creation will be available via the Hey You app on Wednesday, June 8. Orders will open at 10am. The doughnuts will be available in boxes of four, for $20 including delivery within the CBD only — World Square to Circular Quay, including Barangaroo, while stocks last. Grumpy Donuts will be donating $2 per doughnut (or $8 per box) to the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, the only not-for-profit pound in Sydney. Legends. NEGRONI BREWNUT Sydney's Brewtown Newtown is getting in the spirit of Negroni Week this year with their own Negroni Brewnut. This croissant-doughnut hybrid comes coated in a blood orange sugar, topped with a lightly bitter Negroni cream, and finished with blood orange meringue, Campari gelée (gel) and dehydrated citrus. It'll be available to smoosh into your face for $6 for the length of Negroni Week exclusively at Brewtown. [caption id="attachment_573609" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Butter & Scotch.[/caption] NEGRONI PIE You can have your Negroni and eat it too with this adorable dessert version of the cocktail. Brooklyn bakery Butter & Scotch has created the ultimate boozy after-dinner adventure. According to B&S, the pie has "bittersweet custard infused with orange zest and a hefty pour of botanical gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari liqueur, all cradled inside a flaky all-butter crust. Top with a dollop of whipped cream for an unusual, delicious, and boozy treat!" [caption id="attachment_573607" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pear & Ash.[/caption] NEGRONI ICE CREAM SANDWICH New York City's Pearl & Ash has taken our cocktail hero next-level. Chef Richard Kuo is the brains behind this Negroni-inspired ice cream sandwich, a boozy confection involving Campari-infused ice cream, gin and semi-sweet vermouth rosso, smooshed between thin pieces of orange-vanilla cake. [caption id="attachment_572288" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hawthorn Lounge.[/caption] CHOCOLATE NEGRONI Wellington's Hawthorn Lounge shakes things up, Negroni-wise. Snuggle into a Chesterfield lounge by the fireplace at this cosy little '30s-style speakeasy, and roll the dice on a special edition experiment. Bar wizard Jamie has created a fresh and chocolatey take on the Negroni, with Aperol and Ramazotti taking the place of Campari. It'll set you back $18 and a cheeky airfare. [caption id="attachment_573613" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Craftsman and Wolves.[/caption] NEGRONI MARSHMELLOWS Another way to eat your Negroni! Weeeee! San Fransisco's Craftsman and Wolves is a contemporary patisserie making 'seasonal marshmellows' — and they've done a Negroni version for past Negroni Weeks. Adorable little striped layers of fluffy, sugary handmade glory. Not easily shared. [caption id="attachment_573616" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Humphry Slocombe.[/caption] NEGRONI ICE BLOCKS Freezing your favourite cocktail is the best way to turn your regular dessert cocktail into an actual dessert, which you can pair with an actual cocktail. San Francisco ice cream parlour Humphry Slocombe made these awesome little Negroni Ice Pops for Negroni Week last year. Consider these perpetually in our freezer next summer. Want an actual Negroni? Negroni Week 2016 runs from June 6 – 12. Check out our list of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's best.
The Chaser gang are getting back to their roots, with plans to publish a brand spanking new print magazine. The team behind The Hamster Wheel, Yes We Canberra, Sydney's Giant Dwarf theatre and the Make a Realistic Wish Foundation have recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the satirical publication off the ground, with the aim of releasing their first edition in the next couple of months. According to the group's Pozible page, The Chaser Quarterly will be a 96-page colour magazine that will address "the key problem of our time: namely — there is not enough content in the world." They're hoping to raise $50,000, money they say will be use to establish a "'tax effective' offshore corporate structure" so as to ensure the project isn't stymied "by the onerous burden of paying tax to fund Australia's hospitals, schools and roads". Truly this campaign video says it all. Right now, a $25 pledge will get you a copy of the magazine, while $50 will see it signed by the entire Chaser team. More extravagant rewards include the chance to pitch your own article for $500 (although there's no guarantee it will be published), or the opportunity to run your own full page ad for $1500 (on the condition that it "fundamentally undermine the product it is seeking to sell".) Although best known for their highbrow political satire on television, The Chaser team actually started out publishing a fortnightly newspaper that ran for six years between 1999 and 2005. Among their memorable stunts from this period was the time they published Prime Minister John Howard's home phone number on their front page. Assuming they reach their Pozible target, the first edition of The Chaser Quarterly will be published in spring 2015 and feature articles by many familiar Chaser contributors, including Andrew Hansen, Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel. In order to keep up the appearance of a successful company, head team members will be payed in Beluga Caviar, while the rest of the creatives, including writers, cartoonists, illustrators and graphic designers, will divvy up $300 between them. Pledge via Pozible and keep an eye on the Chaser Quarterly website for updates.
Sometimes, you need to take a break from your city, to get out and soak up the sun somewhere new. The sun-plenty city of Sydney is the perfect destination, it's bursting with beaches, pools and swimming holes, where you can enjoy the water, catch some rays and let your worries dissipate. But you don't want to get stuck visiting the same old tourist traps, beaches with screaming kids, expensive eats and way too many people. To help you out, we've partnered with Qantas and created the big summer bucket list of Sydney. We've pulled together our favourite spots for cannonballing, diving and lapping. Jump straight to Sydney's best swimming holes, secluded beaches, harbour beaches, outdoor pools, ocean pools, night swimming spots or surfing beaches. Pick one. Any one, and do as the locals do. BONDI ICEBERGS Members of Sydney's toughest swimming club, The Icebergs, have been proving their mettle here since 1929. To stay in the gang, they must meet every Sunday throughout winter and swim at least one lap of the pool, regardless of icy temperatures or inclement weather. If that sounds too traumatic for you, stick to a weekend visit. One of the best-equipped pools on the list, the Icebergs comes with a sauna, gym, masseuse, yoga lessons and cafe. Entry is $6.50. Once you've worked up an appetite, head to renowned Sydney restaurant Icebergs for a post-swim tipple and enjoy exceptional panoramic views. [caption id="attachment_549078" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Warringah Council.[/caption] NORTH CURL CURL ROCKPOOL Curl Curl's exposed, east-southeast position makes it one of Sydney's most exciting but dangerous beaches. The southerly swell surges in, driving waves to heights of 1.5 metres or more and powering hazardous rips. Lap up all the action from the safety of the North Curl Curl Rock Pool. Carved out in the mid-1930s, it has a natural floor and rocky platforms for sunbaking (slip, slop, slap, please). At high tide, access is only available via a coastal walkway. Pack a picnic for an authentic Sydney-style lunch. BRONTE BATHS Opened in 1887, Bronte Baths is one of Sydney's oldest and most photographed pools. Its best-known regular was Evelyn Whillier, who at 18 competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and at 20 won gold in the 1938 British Empire Games. In the 1990s — in her late 70s — she'd head to Bronte at 5am every day to squeeze in a few kilometres. You'll meet all kinds of swimmers here — from similarly serious lappers to kids in floaties. There's ample room on the surrounding rocks for lazing about. Consider a night swim on balmy evenings. While in the area, check out iconic Bronte eatery Three Blue Ducks and enjoy one of its famed straw-stuffed coconut concoctions. MAHON POOL, MAROUBRA Mahon's intertidal position makes it subject to fierce doses of Pacific swell. Drop by when the water's high and the wind's a-blowing for the biggest waves and most adrenaline-fuelled fun. The pool lies at the northern end of Maroubra Beach. It's hard to spot from above, but make your way down the staircase from Marine Parade car park, and you'll soon spy it among exposed rocky outcrops. Once you've dried off, head to The Bay Hotel and Diner in Maroubra to tuck into a big burger like a legit Sydneysider. WYLIE'S BATHS, COOGEE Found just south of McIver's Baths, Wylie's welcomes people of all genders. The 50-metre pool offers 180-degree panoramas of the ocean, including views of Wedding Cake Island (inspiration for Midnight Oil's instrumental rock hit of the same name). Like Bondi's Icebergs, Wylie's has all the facilities — from yoga lessons to massage sessions. Entry is five bucks. It's a great spot for a cool-off along the Bondi to Maroubra walk. MILK BEACH Located at the base of Hermit Bay within the Sydney Harbour National Park, Milk Beach is ideal for everything from sunbaking to snorkelling to fishing. It's a small, insulated beach surrounded by the Heritage-listed Strickland House and offers magnificent views of Sydney. Whether it's a picnic or a walk along the Hermitage Foreshore, Milk Beach is one of Sydney's best-kept secrets. It can be accessed via public transport or boat, and limited off-street parking is available. [caption id="attachment_549504" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Brett Pearson.[/caption] MCIVER'S BATHS, COOGEE Boys, butt out. McIver's is the only coastal pool in Australia for ladies only. It's been that way since 1922, when the Randwick and Coogee Ladies Swimming Club took over the lease from the McIver family. In 93 years, nothing much has changed. The ocean views are still extraordinary and the entry fee is still 20 cents — tossed in a bucket at the entrance. However, in 2010, a visit from a man undergoing a sex change raised some modern questions. Once you've grown tired of swimming, make tracks to Coogee Pavillion for a Pavilion Pina Colada ($18) with your girls. PRINCE ALFRED PARK POOL If you're staying in the inner city, head to Prince Alfred Park Pool also known as 'Redfern Beach' by the locals. It's the buttercup yellow sun umbrellas that bring the riviera vibe, as well as lawns strewn with sun bakers and cute cafe Meadow cheerily aiding post-swim recoveries. The shiny-new facilities nabbed two National Architecture Awards in 2014, and the 50-metre pool is always at that jump-right-in temperature. Ah, that Sydney weather. NORTH SYDNEY POOL Nothing says "you're in Sydney" so much as the Harbour Bridge, and nothing says "I'm swimming in Sydney" quite so well as backstroking right underneath it. North Sydney Pool is the only place which allows you to do just this, in a spectacular location overlooking Sydney Harbour and Luna Park. To make the most out of it, head down there at night, and go for a swim watched over by the lights of the city. The pool also features a gym, a cafe and a restaurant, so you can feasibly spend a whole night there gazing rapturously at the city. [caption id="attachment_598333" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Eddy Milfort[/caption] NIELSEN PARK Sydney beaches need not be compared with their foreign counterparts because it's only a slight exaggeration to say we have the best in the world. However, I can't help thinking that Nielsen Park reminds me of the Mediterranean coast. Maybe it's the amazing aqua colour of the water or the stained glass windows of the restaurant. It can get a little noisy with all the kids that are usually there but there is a large, leafy park surrounding the beach which you can escape into to eat your ice cream in peace. [caption id="attachment_605401" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rob Wood.[/caption] MALABAR OCEAN POOL For smaller crowds and a laidback, local feel, head to Malabar Ocean Pool. Created in the 1890s, it was closed down by the 1970s (as was surrounding Long Bay) due to pollution. But, in 1997, NSW Premier Bob Carr and the local MP pooled funds for a clean-up and revamp. These days, the water is crystal clear and the views dreamy, especially at dawn and dusk. [caption id="attachment_538469" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Brian Yap[/caption] CURRAWONG BEACH If you've made the trip to Sydney, it's worth that little bit of extra effort to get to Currawong beach. It can only be accessed by boat, so jump on the ferry at Palm Beach ('Summer Bay' for you Home and Away fans) and prepare for a phone and internet-free 48 hours. There are no shops so bring food and water with you and stay at one of the cottages for a full-blown Sydney experience. You'll be able to deal with the worst Bondi Road traffic jam with a blissful smile on your return. [caption id="attachment_605406" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dushan Hanuska.[/caption] LAKE PARRAMATTA Back in the 1930s, Lake Parramatta was one of Sydney's go-to water holes. But, decades ago, thanks to rising pollution levels, swimming and boating were banned. "You could see oil and chemicals on top of the water, let alone what was underneath," one-time local Angus Campbell recalled. Major clean-up programs have, however, restored the lake to its former pristine glory, and, as of January 2015, it's open for bathing, complete with lifeguards. Visit the leafy, sandstone-enclosed freshwater spot two kilometres north of Parramatta CBD. Just keep your eye out for wrestling red-bellied black snakes. LADY MARTIN'S BEACH At this little gem you're in good company. Sydney's small harbourside suburb of Point Piper is one of the country's most exclusive and home to one of the most gorgeous, chilled-out beaches in town. Named after Lady Mary Martin, wife of chief justice and politician Sir James Martin, it's a tiny treasure flanked in billion-dollar mansions, but the view is free. Entry is via a narrow lane off Wolseley Road that passes by the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. Spend some time post swim picking out your dream house, if you win the lotto and decide to relocate to Sydney you'll be prepared. [caption id="attachment_592521" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ian Sanderson[/caption] MANLY DAM There's more than one sweet little beach ripe for the picnicking at Manly Dam. The amenities are pretty good and there's heaps of unrestricted parking, but get your coin purse out for entry on weekends. There are heaps of lush walking tracks, so consider swapping sandshoes for flip-flops. Vehicle access is through the King Street entrance (off Condamine Street, Manly Vale) and a footpath at this entrance allows for pedestrian and disabled access into the park without having to go on the road. The best access points for the bike track is Gibbs Street, Manly Vale or Kirkwood Street at Bantry Reserve, Seaforth. GORDON'S BAY Offering Sydney's only underwater nature trail, Gordon's Bay is nestled in between the deeply incised gully and sheer sandstone headlands of South Clovelly and North Coogee. It's the eastern suburbs at their stunning best, and the calm waters make it a great spot for snorkelling. The small beach is dotted with local fishing boats, abundant with wildflowers and offers access to some of the most satisfying and aesthetically stunning walking trails on the coast. Access via the coastal walk. [caption id="attachment_605403" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] REDLEAF POOL Technically, Redleaf is a fenced off section of the harbourside Seven Shillings Beach, adjacent to Blackburn Gardens. Mid-week, it can be a little piece of inner-east paradise, hidden from the road and only accessible by foot, down the stairs behind the Woolahra Council Offices on New South Head Road. It can get pretty busy on weekends during summer, though. A boardwalk runs around the top of the shark net, and there are two floating pontoons for those who enjoy attracting attention to themselves. [caption id="attachment_598328" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Christian Reusch[/caption] CAMP COVE The parking at the easternmost edge of the Eastern Suburbs can be a bit of a drag on a hot day, but if you pray to your parking angel you'll find somewhere eventually. It's worth the frustration, as this laid-back beach is big enough to have a social vibe (there always seems to be a lot of good-looking people here) and the lack of waves means you can bob in the water and still chat to a friend. There's a little kiosk selling snacks and sorbet in coconut shells, too. If you're brave (and skilled) you can do the big jump off the rock on the right like a bona fide Sydneysider. [caption id="attachment_598329" align="alignnone" width="1280"] David McKelvey[/caption] LITTLE CONGWONG BEACH If you want to beach like a real local, head to this pretty place in Botany Bay for a spot of 'clothing-optional' sunbaking. It's usually pretty quiet so you can avoid any potentially awkward encounters. If the thought of getting your togs off makes you blanch, just next door is Congwong Beach, where you won't be the odd one out if you're a strictly clothes-on type of person. BUNGAN BEACH, BARRENJOEY PENINSULA Bungan is one of Sydney's most undeveloped beaches and has a wild and unspoiled character. The rugged beauty of the cliffs give it a private feel and bushwalkers will love the vivid scenery. It's 600 metres long, running in a south-east direction between Bungan Headland to the north and Mona Vale Headland to the south. There are reasonable breaks for surfers and it's a relief from the crowded waves at more popular beaches. Access by a laneway along Barrenjoey Road — it's the headland just before the descent to Newport. It's a patrolled beached but stay between the flags at this one because there are often rips. [caption id="attachment_592520" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ernest McGray, Jr.[/caption] OBELISK BEACH Obelisk Beach has killer views — and not only because it's one of few legal nudist beaches in Sydney. We mean nude. Despite its cult status, it's usually quiet and tranquil, and has great views over Sydney Harbour. It's well secluded as you need to have a certain tenacity to clamber down a rocky track and set of steps to gain access, although there's a large public car park on the Middle Head Road side of Chowder Bay Road. The place is also of historic significance: prior to European settlement in 1788, the area the beach is in was inhabited by Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal sites are found in the bushland all around Georges Head. [caption id="attachment_592519" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Nigel Howe[/caption] WARRIEWOOD BEACH Warriewood Beach is backed by 30-40 metre high vegetated bluffs and the reserve occupying Turrimetta Head offers excellent beach and ocean views. The 500 kilometre stretch of beach is sheltered, you never have to fight for a spot on the sand and the facilities are good. Surfing is great up the north end. [caption id="attachment_592516" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Grace Kat.[/caption] WATTAMOLLA Cabbage palm trees, cute little swimming inlets and wide open beach make Wattamolla the perfect place for a weekend escape. Wattamolla (an Aboriginal name meaning 'place near running water') had its name originally recorded as Watta-Mowlee by Matthew Flinders, when Flinders, George Bass and a boy, William Martin, stopped there in their boat, the Tom Thumb II, in 1796. It's a beautiful combination of beach and freshwater lagoon, separated by a sandbar, within the Royal National Park. There's a five-minute walk down a narrow path to the beach (not great for prams), but once on the beach, there's loads of shade from the trees, small inlets for swimming as well as open beach. Wattamolla is a great starting point for 100 kilometres of walking tracks spanning the National Park, including the popular coastal walk from Bundeena to Otford. Access is via a 20-minute car ride from either the Loftus or Waterfall entrance. [caption id="attachment_592518" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Alex Proimos[/caption] CHINAMANS BEACH Bring your beach brolly to Chinamans Beach, unless you're keen on sticking to the reserve. Bring ample snacks and drinks too, and don't plan on fish 'n' chips — it's properly secluded. The beach is unpatrolled, and usually peaceful and quiet. Lay back, forget your worries back at home, and enjoy the peace and quite. Ah, how's the serenity? [caption id="attachment_549497" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] BILGOLA ROCKPOOL Bilgola Beach forms the floor of a steep coastal valley. It's one of the Northern Beaches' most secluded spots. For an adventurous walk in, take the South Bilgola Headland Walk, which starts at Newport Beach, winding its way through tea trees, bottlebrushes, paperbarks, casuarinas and cabbage tree palms. Alternatively, park just off The Serpentine. You'll find the eight-lane, 50-metre rockpool at the beach's southern end, affording spectacular views of the 60-metre-high Bilgola North Headland. [caption id="attachment_549502" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] FAIRY BOWER POOL, MANLY The enchanting, triangular Fairy Bower Pool was built by locals, for locals, in 1929. It's located alongside Marine Parade, between Manly and Fairy Bower. Adding to the magic are sculptor Helen Leete's Oceanides (also known as the 'Manly Sea Nymphs'), two curving creatures on the pool's edge. When the surf's up, they look a bit like dancing aquatic spirits. Try taking a dip at sunrise, sunset or even after-dark. Be sure to drop into the following beloved Sydney institutions: Daniel San, Manly Wharf Hotel and Hemmingways. [caption id="attachment_549057" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sutherland Shire Council.[/caption] CRONULLA ROCK POOL Cronulla's main ocean pool lies in the 300 metres of rocky platforms dividing South Cronulla Beach from North Cronulla. Opened in 1932, the pool first served as a training facility for local lifeguards. These days, it's still an optimum spot for lapping and/or casual dipping, offering vast, uninterrupted vistas over Bate Bay. The Council will be making some upgrades in April 2016, adding handrails and stairs and non-slip surfaces. FYI locals call this place 'The Shire'. [caption id="attachment_508394" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Robyn Lawrence.[/caption] ANDREW (BOY) CHARLTON POOL Hidden away within the green expanses of The Domain, the Boy Charlton pool feels a world away from the city while still being in the heart of the CBD. If you're staying in the city this is a great, super convenient, option. The saltwater pool is perched on the edge of the Harbour, with spectacular views over the city and the Botanic Gardens. Lunch times can be crowded with stressy professional jogger types, and weekends can bring out the designer eyewear crowd, but every other time is lovely. Hang out on the wooden terrace or grab a drink upstairs in the open-air poolside cafe which, incidentally, also sells Pat and Stick's ice cream sandwiches, which are awesome. [caption id="attachment_598331" align="alignnone" width="1280"] jbreiti[/caption] BALMORAL BEACH You've probably heard of Manly, given the chance any Sydneysider will proudly talk about the beach. You may not have heard of Manly's little sister, Balmoral. Smaller and more romantic, it has a lovely sleepy vibe despite it's popularity. Have a long lunch at the famed Sydney institution Public Dining Room and float it off in the cooler hours of the afternoon. [caption id="attachment_598357" align="alignnone" width="1280"] dfinnecy[/caption] STORE BEACH If your keen for an outdoor adventure on your mini-holiday, hire a kayak from Manly Kayaks and paddle around to this little beach (it can only be reached by water) for a picnic. Then enjoy this little slice of paradise. If you're lucky, you'll see some fairy penguins. [caption id="attachment_570643" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Danny Butler[/caption] LITTLE SIRIUS COVE A small stretch of sand surrounded by bushland, this beach has a unique feature — dogs are allowed. So if you're missing your pupper from back home, head down (after grabbing a coffee at Bacino Bar) and spend the day among some new four-legged friends. Pack some snags to cook on the BBQs provided and bask in Sydney's unparalleled beachside beauty. [caption id="attachment_508398" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Warringah Council.[/caption] DEE WHY ROCKPOOLS Dee Why Rockpools are easily reached by the promenade along the beach, and formed out of concrete walls as well as the natural sandstone wall to the side. While the surfers head down to the beach, the slower-paced head to the rockpools. On weekends there are a lot of mums with little kids, so for a day filled with less high pitched squeals and splishy-splashing, weekdays or late afternoons will allow you to get the most out of the place. [caption id="attachment_508404" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mhsb.[/caption] FRESHWATER BATHS Located at the northern end of the beach, Freshwater Baths was the first rockpool to be opened on the northern beaches, and still maintains its vintage charms. Once a haven for women in the 1920s and '30s who weren't allowed to swim at the male-oriented surf clubs, it now cheerfully welcomes everyone and offers a respite when the waves get rough. The pool is uniformly shallow, at just over a metre, so unless you're really short or unfortunately inebriated there's little chance of anything going awry. [caption id="attachment_508405" align="alignnone" width="1280"] North Sydney Council.[/caption] MACCALLUM POOL If you appreciate a little early-20th century charm, the harbourside MacCallum Pool will delight you with its unique heritage feel and might inspire you to Charleston along the boardwalk. Like all good things north of the Bridge, it's terribly civilised, so if you turn up and the pool's a little full you can still sun yourself on the grassy knolls and look out across the Harbour. And another exciting aspect about MacCallum is that it's free, which means you have more money to spend on ice cream and dancing shoes. [caption id="attachment_551100" align="alignnone" width="1280"] KSpilling.[/caption] PALM BEACH When the swell is powering in from the south, grab your boardies and hotfoot it to Palm Beach. The sheltered southern corner is a beginner's Nirvana. You can count on mercifully consistently waves, giving you ample time to conquer the whitewash and, when you're ready, take off across smooth, green faces. Need some tips? Cast an eye around for the Manly Surf School van. For après-surf leisure, there's the Barranjoey Lighthouse Walk or a dip in the ocean pool. [caption id="attachment_605404" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gerry Ligon.[/caption] COLLAROY BEACH Like Palm Beach, Collaroy is shielded at its southern end. Long Reef Point (a splendid spot for snorkelling, by the way) juts into the Pacific, separating the beach from neighbouring Dee Why. So, it's also at its best in south swells. Once you've racked up some experience, have a crack at the gloriously long point break. One word of warning: this one is better avoided when seas are rough or north winds are raging, when the shore break can turn into a dumping ground. [caption id="attachment_551241" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Terovian.[/caption] LONG REEF BEACH On the city side of Collaroy Beach lies the northern end of Dee Why Beach, formally known as Long Reef Beach (the two beaches are separated by the mouth of Dee Why Lagoon). Here, Long Reef Point also does its protective duty. It, in combination with some solid sand banks, keeps the waves smooth and regular. For practising in whitewater, head down at low tide; if you're ready to tackle faces, high tide is more promising. When winds are strong, you'll find milder conditions in Dee Why's southern corner. [caption id="attachment_551235" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Warringah Council.[/caption] FRESHWATER BEACH Freshwater Beach is the birthplace of Australian surfing. Exactly 100 years ago, residents got a shock when they saw a Hawaiian by the name of Duke Kahanamoku carve a board out of local timber, jump into the sea and ride the waves, on his feet. Soon enough, everyone was giving it a go. For lessons, get in touch with Surf Skool. Once you're done, the nearby Harbord Beach Hotel (aka the Harbord Hilton) will vanquish your post-surf appetite with some fresh tucker and cocktails. MANLY BEACH Get started along Manly's southern stretch and you'll land yourself in esteemed company. Midget Farrelly, Pam Burridge and Layne Beachley are just a few of the surfing legends to have had their early rides here. Like those at Palm Beach and Collaroy, the waves are best when the south winds are a-blowing. Chaos reigns when a north swell is coming in. Options for surfboard hire and lessons are plentiful. Try Manly Surf School or Manly Surf Hire. We recommend hitting up established Manly brewery 4 Pines for a post-swim brew. GREENHILLS BEACH Backed by grassy sand dunes, Greenhills is the northern end of Cronulla Beach. It tends to be less busy than South Cronulla — and many of Sydney's other beaches for that matter — which is a bonus for learner surfers. There's no need to worry about driving your out-of-control board into an unsuspecting swimmer. Go here during north-east winds. If you're in need of a teacher, try Cronulla Surf School or Cronulla Surfing Academy. [caption id="attachment_257244" align="alignnone" width="1981"] Adam J.W.C.[/caption] AVALON Beautiful and quiet, Avalon is the last of the more accessible beaches as you head north, shared by surfers and families alike. Plus Baywatch wanted to relocate their filming to Avalon during the '90s. Make of that what you will. Before you leave, grab drinks and dinner at Different Drummer or Little Av, both just a short walk from the beach. GLEDHILL FALLS For a long time, the Gledhills were like ghosts. A few people said they'd seen them, but finding proof was difficult. These days, there's more information floating about, but the forest-encircled falls — and the 10 metre wide pool into which they tumble — are still tricky to find. First, pack your rock climbing shoes. Then, drive your car from Mona Vale Road, onto McCarrs Creek Road, until, after about 4.5 kilometres, you reach the teeny-tiny, easy-to-miss bridge that crosses McCarrs Creek. Initially, the track is clear, but, nearing the water, prepare to scramble. ELVINA TRACK POOL Not only does this one occupy a rare position above a waterfall, it also affords stunning views of Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. And it's hemmed in by rainforest. The pool isn't huge, but it's definitely big enough to submerge yourself in. You'll find it along the 7 kilometre-long Elvina Track, which also takes in Elvina and Lovett Bays. The starting point is just off West Head Road, 1.3 kilometres from the Coal and Candle Drive junction. Being a service trail for most of the way, the walk makes for easy Sunday strolling. RESOLUTE BEACH Despite its 4 million strong population, Sydney is home to a number of secluded beaches. But Resolute Beach takes isolation and wildness to the next level. That's because the only way to reach it is by taking on the eight kilometre Resolute Loop Track, which turns off many a lazy beach-goer. Those with the stamina to handle it are, however, amply rewarded, with an unspoiled, empty stretch of sand, surrounded by Ku-Ring-Gai National Park and affording uninterrupted views over Pittwater. The hike, which begins at Resolute Picnic Ground, takes in a couple of other remote beaches, as well as the Red Hands Cave, home to some impressive Aboriginal rock art. LADY BAY BEACH Thanks to Lady Bay's existence, you can spend all day exploring and be utterly naked amid all kinds of wildness by 5.30pm. Tucked into a calm cove near Watsons Bay, this beach is one of Australia's oldest nudist beaches and first went legal in 1976, thanks to Neville Wran's blessing. Keep your eyes on the skyline — the city views are excellent. BENTS BASIN Pack your lilo; Bents Basin has rapids. Spend your day throwing yourself down them, just the right amount out of control. Or keep to the still water — it's one of the deepest swimming holes in New South Wales. A dramatic, wooded escarpment provides the backdrop, which means there's ample views for picnickers. Bents Basin is part of a Nepean River gorge and lies between Penrith and Camden, about 50 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. Camp in the State Conservation Area if you want to stay overnight. REEF BEACH Best to make your way to Reef Beach after the tide has gone out. That's when Aboriginal carvings becomes visible in the rocks. In addition, it's an incredibly tranquil spot in Middle Harbour, offering excellent views of Manly and Sydney Harbour's northern section. Stop there while walking the Manly Scenic Walkway or drive to Beatty Street — Reef Beach is a short walk from the car park. [caption id="attachment_252497" align="alignnone" width="1280"] NSW National Parks.[/caption] WHALE BEACH Relaxed and beautiful, Whale Beach feels like you've left the city completely. It's a long drive from the city, but it's worth it, for one of the most beautiful spots on the Northern Beaches. Whale Beach can be a bit of a journey, so we'd recommend making a day of it and taking a dinner picnic or even staying overnight at Jonah's. [caption id="attachment_252500" align="alignnone" width="1280"] J Bar.[/caption] SHELLY BEACH You can get to this secluded cove by walking south along Manly's main street. The perfect spot to take a picnic, surrounded by bush, filled with exotic fish and convenient enough to get to by ferry. This is the kind of beach you can imagine your grandparents going to when they were courting. Surf at Fairy Bower, one of the Sydney's best surf breaks on its day, or swim the Cole Classic, Australia's largest ocean swim. PALM BEACH Get there early and Palm Beach is one of the most beautiful places Sydney has to offer. The friendly old-fashioned kiosk was shut down a few years ago and replaced by fancy restaurants to suit the billionaire locals who have their summer houses here, so make sure to bring your own sandwiches. Alternatively, splash out and have breakfast at the Boathouse on Pittwater before you head down to that sweet, sweet Home and Away-starring water. Ready to get away and experience Sydney? Book with Qantas for great fares to Sydney and NSW until 24 September. Terms and conditions apply.
Another day, another new food truck tempting our tastebuds, wallets and waistlines. This time, it's The Doughnut Bar, the latest venture from the folks behind the Chocolate Komberry Co. No longer are those dessert wizards content with just serving up a storm of their signature Cookie Monster ice cream and Snickers cruffins (yes, that's a cross between a croissant and a muffin). Now, they're also turning their talents to all things round, doughy and delicious. And we really do mean delicious, to judge an artisanal doughnut by its photo. When there are gourmet flavours such as white chocolate and Oreo and Pop-Tart on offer, we think that's a safe call. Their hand-dipped, naturally-flavoured offerings are made from a recipe that took 12 months to perfect, if you need any further evidence. The Doughnut Bar makes its debut on Brisbane's market circuit this weekend, but its first official stop is actually right in the heart of the city. The soon to be famous red and white kombi van will be popping up in the Wintergarden food court from midday on Wednesday to give everyone their first taste of their sweet creations. If you had plans for lunchtime, well, you might want to make room for pastry. Keep up to date on The Doughnut Bar's whereabouts via their Facebook page.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, and we've partnered with Heineken 3 so you can get the most out of them. We've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. Having colourful paper backyard decorations may not be essential, but it's sure to take your casual backyard gathering to the next level. We asked the incredible paper engineer Benja Harney to help us out with some tutorials for easy backyard decorations. The first is a burger piñata, the second is a lantern covered in colourful streamers, the third is a string of sandwich bag bunting. Harney has done some incredible work in the past, so these simple projects are maybe a bit of an insult to his skills. He's worked on window installations for Hermès, he's made paper versions of Adidas shoes, and makes paper vegetables, grass and furniture for clients on the regular. His studio space is Surry Hills is filled to the brim with coloured paper and intricate paper sculptures. Not only is he good at his job, he's also really good at teaching. Follow the instructions below and make your backyard a little more fancy (and fun) the next time you have people over for a Heineken 3. BURGER PINATA When was the last time you whacked a piñata? It's fun, and even more fun when your piñata is shaped like a novelty version of your favourite food. This one is a little more tricky, so Benja has kindly drawn up some templates of the shapes you'll need to cut out to make your burger ingredients out of coloured cardboard. Print off the PDF in A3 and trace. Easy. You'll need: Thin cardboard (in the colours of your burger ingredients, and A3 size), thin corrugated cardboard, tape, scissors, glue, lollies, string. Method: Cut out your coloured cardboard into the shape of lettuce, tomato, burger bun and any other ingredients you want to pop in your burger. Use four strips of corrugated cardboard (about 15cm wide) and tape to make a square frame. Place a large piece of corrugated cardboard over the top, so it resembles a shallow open box. Glue your pieces of coloured cardboard to the box — it should now look like a burger. Flip the box over and fill it with lollies. Then, cover the box with a piece of thinner cardboard and tape it together. If you want to make it a little easier on your guests, you could glue this piece down instead of taping it, so it comes apart easier when you start to smash. Pop a piece of string onto the top and hang. SANDWICH BAG BUNTING This brown paper bag bunting is the easiest backyard decoration you'll ever make. Who knew that some scissors and string could turn the humble sandwich bag into a classy decoration for your backyard? You'll need: PVA glue, scissors, string, brown paper sandwich bags. Method: Grab yourself some brown paper sandwich bags from your local supermarket (they'll set you back a maximum of $2 — cheapest project you'll ever do). Cut each bag into a triangle shape like the one above, making sure that the 'seam' of the bag isn't at the triangle's point. Place a long piece of string inside the fold and glue it there. Repeat, repeat and repeat until your bunting has reached the length you want it to be. A LANTERN OF STREAMERS This is a simple way to spice up those cheap paper lanterns most people have in their backyards. It's colourful, looks like a jellyfish and blows in the wind. Make multiples and hang them in a row for maximum effect. You'll need: A cheap lantern from a discount store, string to hang it up, glue, scissors, three colours of streamers. Method: Cut the three colours of your streamers into pieces, all different lengths. Glue the top of each piece of streamer around the lantern in layers, starting from the bottom and repeating until the whole lantern is covered. Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Images: Kimberley Low.
Whether you watch television programs on your laptop, phone or TV set (or a combination of the above, depending on your mood and situation), the small screens in your house got quite the workout in 2020. That's a definite side effect of this strange year, with everyone spending more time on the couch than normal. You don't need us to tell us that, of course — but, thankfully, there was no shortage of things to watch. Checking out the latest seasons of your favourite shows probably helped while away some of the hours. More than a few, we're guessing. Restreaming classics likely did the same as well, because everyone likes some comfort viewing in tough times. But if you were looking for something new and exciting to fill your time in 2020, the various networks and streaming platforms all did their part. Stunning new dramas, savage historical comedies, engaging miniseries — they all made their debut over the past 12 months, and we've picked the ten best of the year that you should check out if you haven't already. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTjlurdbNnw I MAY DESTROY YOU Newly returned from a working trip to Italy, struggling to write her second novel after her first struck a sizeable chord and pushing up against a draft deadline just hours away, Arabella (Michaela Coel) takes some time out from an all-nighter to procrastinate with friends over a few drinks in a couple of London bars. The next morning, the Twitter-famous scribe is shaky, hazy and feels far from her normal self — and across the next 11 episodes of this instantly blistering 12-part series, I May Destroy You delves into the aftermath, as Arabella realises that she was raped that evening. Not only created and written by the unflinching and captivating Coel, but inspired by her own real-life experience with sexual assault, the result is as bold, raw and frank as it is sensitive and affecting. It also feels personal at every single moment. An immensely powerful series that intimately interrogates power on multiple levels and features an unsurprisingly potent performance by Coel, I May Destroy You is easily this year's number-one must-see show — and its absolute best. I May Destroy You is available to stream via Binge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODYjA9H4qcw NORMAL PEOPLE When Sally Rooney's Normal People first hit bookshelves in 2018, it thrust readers into a disarmingly relatable love story, following the amorous ups and downs of an on-again, off-again couple from Sligo, Ireland. Teenagers Marianne and Connell have known each other for years, as tends to happen in small towns. And although she's aloof, intense and considered an acerbic loner, while he's outgoing and popular, a torrid and tumultuous secret romance blooms. That's just the beginning of the Irish author's novel, and of the both tender and perceptive TV series that brings the book to the screen. As it dives deep into a complex chronicle of first love, it not only charts Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Cold Feet) and Connell's (newcomer Paul Mescal) feelings for each other, but details the recognisable and realistic minutiae of being a high schooler and then a uni student. This is first and foremost a romance, and a passionate and intimate one at that; however, the series can't tell this complicated couple's story without touching upon everything else that pops up along the way. Normal People is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI0q-jFWx-s LOVECRAFT COUNTRY Viewing US race relations and the nation's treatment of its black residents through a horror lens has long been Jordan Peele's jam, dating back to his Key & Peele days. Anyone who has seen Get Out and Us, the two films he has directed thus far, also knows this — and it is evident in Hunters, the TV series he executive produced earlier this year, as well. So Lovecraft Country, HBO's new horror drama based on the 2016 of the same name, was always going to be in Peele's wheelhouse. He's an executive producer again, and he's firmly in his element. Set in the 50s in America's south, this extremely well-executed series follows returned soldier Tic Freeman (Da 5 Bloods' Jonathan Majors), his uncle George (Project Power's Courtney B Vance) and his friend Leti Lewis (Birds of Prey's Jurnee Smollett) as they set off on a road trip to both find Tic's missing dad and locate African American-friendly places for George's Green Book-style guide. Their journey takes them to a part of the country where famed real-life sci-fi and horror writer HP Lovecraft found inspiration for his tales, too — and the results are smart and unnerving on multiple levels. Lovecraft Country is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htuNZp82Ck&feature=youtu.be TALES FROM THE LOOP If Black Mirror set all of its bleak futuristic tales in one small town, followed interconnected characters and sported a low-fi, retro sheen, the result would be Tales From the Loop. This patient, beautiful, poignant and incredibly moving sci-fi series is actually based on a series of paintings by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag — and even if you didn't already know that fact while you were watching, you'd notice the show's distinctive aesthetic. The title refers to a mysterious underground machine, called The Loop, that's designed to explore and unravel the mysteries of the universe. For the folks living above it, their lives soon take strange turns. Anchoring jumps and pauses in time, body swaps, giant robots and more in everyday situations and emotions (such as being envious of a friend, falling in love, betraying your nearest and dearest, and trying to connect with your parents), Tales From the Loop is as perceptive as it is immersive and engaging. And, its eight episodes are helmed by an exceptional array of fantastic filmmakers, including Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek, WALL-E's Andrew Stanton, The House of the Devil's Ti West and actor-turned-director Jodie Foster. Tales From the Loop is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8klax373ds DEVS Radiating unease from its very first moments, yet sporting both a mood and a futuristic look that prove simultaneously unsettlingly and alluring, Devs is unmistakably the work of author-turned-filmmaker Alex Garland. His first jump to the small screen, it instantly slots in nicely beside Ex Machina and Annihilation on his resume — and it's just as intriguing and involving as each of those excellent movies. The setting: Amaya, a US technology company that's massive in size yet secretive in its focus. When Sergei (Karl Glusman) is promoted to its coveted, extra clandestine Devs division, his girlfriend and fellow Amaya employee Lily (Sonoya Mizuno) is thrilled for him. But when Sergei doesn't come home from his first day, Lily starts looking for answers — including from the company's guru-like leader Forest (a long-haired, very un-Ron Swanson-like Nick Offerman). Devs is the kind of series with twists and turns that are best discovered by watching; however, as each second passes by, the stranger and more sinister it all appears. Expect conspiracies, tech thrills and big questions, in a series that does what all the very best sci-fi stories do: tackle big existential queries and intimate everyday emotions in tandem, all while asking 'what if?'. Devs is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVoYKwTc4E AUNTY DONNA'S BIG OL' HOUSE OF FUN 2019's I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson was the best sketch comedy of that year. In 2020, the equivalent title goes to Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun. If you're familiar with Australian comedy troupe Aunty Donna, then you'll know what to expect. Writers and performers Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane, director and writer Sam Lingham, filmmaker Max Miller and composer Tom Armstrong have been treating audiences to absurdist gags, satire, wordplay and songs since forming in 2011 — but now the group has channelled all of its silliness and surreal gags, and its astute ability to make fun of daily life in a smart yet ridiculous way, into a six-part Netflix series. Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane star as themselves, and housemates. Each episode revolves around a theme, starting with the search for a fourth member of their household when they decide to turf their annoying talking dishwasher (voiced by Flight of the Conchords' Kristen Schaal). There's nothing too over-the-top for Aunty Donna, or too trivial, including treasure hunts, an out-there recreation of Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, a pitch-perfect takedown of trendy barber shops to a parody of male posturing when the guys turn their house into a bar. And there's little on offer in the extremely binge-able show that doesn't deliver just the dose of side-splitting absurdity that this hectic year needs. Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5vLgpdXz0g THE GREAT It takes its title from its central figure, Russian empress Catherine the Great. It's filled with lavish period-appropriate costumes, wigs, sets and decor. And, it explores an immensely famous time during the 18th century that had a significant impact upon the world. Normally, that'd all smack of a certain kind of drama; however The Great is firmly a comedy as well. As starring Elle Fanning as the eponymous ruler, Nicholas Hoult as her husband Peter III and Bohemian Rhapsody's Gwilym Lee as a fellow member of the royal court, that means witty, laugh-out-loud lines, an irreverent and often cheeky mood, and having ample fun with real-life details — much in the way that Oscar-winner The Favourite did with British royalty on the big screen. Of course, the comparison couldn't be more fitting, with that film's BAFTA-winning screenwriter, Australian Tony McNamara, using his savagely hilarious satirical skills to pen The Great as well. The Great is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMIcuVH83M&feature=emb_logo THE BEACH Whenever Warwick Thornton makes a new project, it demands attention — and the Indigenous Australian filmmaker has never made anything quite like The Beach. The director of Samson & Delilah and Sweet Country turns the camera on himself, chronicling his quest to escape his busy life for an extended soul-searching getaway. With only chickens and wildlife for company, Thornton bunkers down in an electricity-free tin shed in Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest coast of Western Australia. He fishes, cooks, chats to the chooks, wanders along the shoreline and reflects upon everything that's led him to this point, with this six-part documentary series capturing the ups, downs, sublime sights and epiphany-inspiring moments. Unfurling quietly and patiently in the slow-TV tradition, Thornton's internal journey of discovery makes for both moving and absorbing viewing. Indeed, combined with stunning cinematography (as shot by Thornton's son and Robbie Hood director Dylan River), it just might be the best piece of Australian television you see this year. The Beach is available to stream via SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw UNORTHODOX Deborah Feldman's best-selling 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots makes the leap to Netflix as a four-part mini-series. And, as the book's title makes plain, both explore her decision to leave her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York, flee her arranged marriage and everyone she's ever known, and escape to Berlin to start a brand new life. Names and details have been changed, as tends to be the case with dramas based on real-life stories; however Unorthodox still follows the same overall path. In a tense but instantly commanding opening to the show's first episode, 19-year-old Esther 'Esty' Shapiro (Shira Haas) slips out of the apartment she shares with her husband Yanky (Amit Rahav), picks up a passport from her piano teacher and nervously heads to the airport. The end result proves a unique and intriguing coming-of-age tale, a thoughtful thriller, and an eye-opening but always careful and respectful look at a culture that's rarely depicted on-screen in such depth. Israeli actress Haas (The Zookeeper's Wife, Foxtrot, Mary Magdalene) turns in a nuanced, weighty and gripping performance as Esty, too — which is absolutely pivotal in making Unorthodox so compelling to watch. Unorthodox is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv-Mb4vTxj0 WE ARE WHO WE ARE Two on-screen tales about American teenagers in Italy. Two floppy-haired male leads oozing with uncertainty and yearning. One filmmaker. After Call Me By Your Name, Luca Guadagnino returns to familiar territory with HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are — and if its star Jack Dylan Grazer reminds you of the now ultra-famous Timothée Chalamet, that's completely unsurprising; in 2018's Beautiful Boy (not directed by Guadagnino), the former even played a younger version of the latter's character. But don't go mistaking Guadagnino's eight-part TV show for a mere or lazy rehash of the director's past work. Following two neighbouring 14-year-olds who live on a US army base with their enlisted parents, including Grazer's newly arrived loner, We Are Who We Are once again taps into universal themes about finding one's own identity and place in the world, and navigating affairs of the heart as well, but it definitely has its own story to tell. Also starring first-timer Jordan Kristine Seamón, plus Chloë Sevigny (Queen & Slim), Alice Braga (The New Mutants), Scott Mescudi (aka Bill & Ted Face the Music's Kid Cudi), Francesca Scorsese (daughter of iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese) and Tom Mercier (Synonyms), this patient yet involving series once again boasts Guadagnino's eye for gorgeous and revealing imagery, though, with every intoxicating shot (and every camera angle and placement used for each shot) luring viewers in. We Are Who We Are is available to stream via SBS On Demand. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly. We also picked 12 standout new 2020 series in the middle of the year, too.
If you like reading, writing, talking or slinging about language in some other form, then you probably already have the 2016 Brisbane Writers Festival scheduled in your diary. Prepare for words, glorious words from September 7 to 11. When it comes to events celebrating the written craft in Brissie, only the annual Lifeline Bookfest comes close to this feast of everything from prose to poetry to penning tell-all novels. Here, the pen is definitely mightier than the sword — and much more interesting too, given the array of topics touched upon at BWF 2016. And given that choosing between dissecting crime fiction, exploring the art of reading, learning how to write your own cookbook and diving into supernatural stories can be difficult, here's our five top picks from the hefty letter-focused fest program.
First it was dog poo. Then it was glitter. Now a new website has once again raised the bar of ridiculous things you can anonymously send your enemies in the mail. Dicks by Mail is the company’s name, and their business model is simple: money comes in and penis-shaped gummy lollies go out. If you can think of a better, more tastily vindictive way to spend $15, then frankly we don’t want to hear it. According to their website, Dicks by Mail is a service for anyone wanting to inspire feelings of "sadness, disappointment and betrayal" in their enemies. Their helpful FAQ suggests a number of possible targets, including co-workers, ex-boyfriends, estranged parents and the Westboro Baptist Church. But really, the possibilities are endless. Each bag of 5oz dicks is accompanied by a note that reads "eat a bag of dicks," just in case the message wasn't already clear. They also recommend sending the dicks to a person's place of work, for maximum embarrassment. "You will remain anonymous and silently chuckle to yourself for years to come as you picture them slowly degrading into a shell of the person they once were," reads a maniacal declaration on Dicks by Mail’s homepage. "Their slow decent into madness will be much tastier than the bag of candy dicks you sent to them." What’s really amazing is that this isn’t even the first dick-sending service on the internet. Ship a Dick has been mailing out giant cardboard cocks for over a year now, although we probably wouldn’t recommend eating them. Now for the bad news: Dicks by Mail is currently only shipping to America and Canada. Still, if the website proves popular (and we have a sneaking suspicion it will) then hopefully they’ll think about expanding. Whether this website is a legitimate enterprise or turns out to be a slapdash moneymaking scheme like ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com remains to be seen. After being in business for about 24 hours, glitter-brain Mathew Carpenter website had made a cheeky five figures in less than a day, had a cheeky one million visits, 270,000 social media shares and sold over six figures in glitter within an hour. Then he sold it for US$85,000. Crafty bastard. Via Elite Daily.
Sydney’s Sepia has won prime position on the Australian Financial Review’s inaugural
MPavilion, the annual architectural commission and design event that sees a new temporary structure erected in Melbourne's lush Queen Victoria Gardens each spring, has unveiled its next iteration: an inside-outside contemporary take on the ancient amphitheatre. It will open to the public between October 2017 and February 2018. The work of two Netherlands-based architects from internationally renowned practice OMA, Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, this year's pavilion plays on the form of the ancient amphitheatre. With flexible design configurations, the structure will create a forward-thinking space for MPavilion's annual program of workshops, public debate, and music and arts events. According to MPavilion founder Naomi Milgrom, 2017's project is an exciting, multi-faceted work that "reflects the way architecture is going in the future". OMA's design centres around two tiered grandstands — one fixed, and the other rotatable, allowing for various interactions with the surrounding landscape and those impressive city skyline views. They'll be circled by a bank of native plants and crowned with a floating grid canopy that will house all that lighting and technical gear, while the translucent roof above is designed to capture the sunlight like an urban beacon. The build of MPavilion is slated to kick off in this August, with the design duo hoping their structure will be seen, "not just as an architectural object, but as something that injects intensity into a city and contributes to an ever-evolving culture". OMA's 2017 MPavilion will be open to the public between October 3, 2017, and February 4, 2018 inside Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens. For more info, visit mpavilion.org.
How Kevin Hart's never made it to Australia for a stand-up tour before is beyond us (apart from a one-off set at Sydney's Comedy Store), but the celebrated US comedian is about to rectify that. Off the back of an epic US arena tour, Hart will bring his What Now? tour to Australia this February. Hitting Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from Wednesday February 3, Hart will take over some of our biggest venues for a four-date run of shows. Both a stand-up veteran and a comedy film actor you might have seen Hart in Get Hard opposite Will Farrell, Little Fockers, Death at a Funeral, Fool’s Gold, Soul Plane, the Chris Rock-directed Top Five, or getting coffee in a car with Jerry Seinfeld. He's also starring in Ride Along 2, but Australia hasn't seen that sequel just yet. But Hart's going back to his roots with this tour. The 36-year-old really got his start while sizing men and women for footwear, when he performed at an amateur night in Philadelphia, subsequently quitting his job and ending up as a regular at lauded joints like The Boston Club, Caroline’s, The Laugh Factory, and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His 2011 Laugh at My Pain tour hit it out of the ballpark — in February 2011 he sold out LA's hallowed Nokia Theater for two nights in a row, breaking the record previously set by the great Eddie Murphy. KEVIN HART WHAT NOW? AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Wednesday, February 3 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, February 5 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Staurday, February 6 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Sunday, February 7 — Allphones Arena, Sydney Tickets on sale 10am Friday, September 4. My Live Nation and ticket agent presale starts 2pm September 2 until 5pm September 3. For more info, head over here. "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" Kevin Hart from Peter Holmes on Vimeo.
A preservative-laden candy made with rubbish meat and flavours that read like weather reports. That was the old style of jerky, and Darrell Beveridge, father of the Darling Jerky Co, says it's met its end. He's one of the new breed of dried meat revolutionaries, wrenching jerky away from its image as a cheap convenience store snack. “The old world of jerky doesn't understand," he says. "For them it was something eaten by real rough truck drivers from the service station.” Another comrade-in-arms, Brent Griffin of Griffin Jerky, has a nostalgic connection to jerky from his youth. "It was something we'd all do and feel bad about it,” he says. "I started making my own because a lot of that stuff is garbage.” He tells me this while we gnaw away on a stick of his own product, which I've just bought from behind the bar of Sydney's Arcadia Liquors, the kind of bar that's the 'service station' of new-wave, natural, handcrafted and excitingly flavoured jerky. Both Darrell and Brent want to bring their meat to Sydney's jerky virgins. One part of that is making a product that doesn’t ‘feel’ like jerky, the other part is simply making a bloody good product. DARRELL BEVERIDGE'S GUIDE TO RECOGNISING BLOODY GOOD JERKY First rule: “It has to be pasture-raised, roaming free range cattle”. Second rule: "Contemporary flavours and quality ingredients." Here's how to judge. Appearance: Every piece should look different he says, “If something looks like a Roll-Up, it's probably processed. It should look like a piece of meat shrunken down.” Texture: "You want it to almost chew like a steak. You want it to bend but not break.” It shouldn’t tear like crepe paper, having to fight a little to tear it apart is normal. If you need to gnaw for several minutes just to get a bite sized chunk, it’s too dry or too old. Taste: A good stick of jerky should have three stages of flavour. There’s the initial flavour Darrell calls the seasoning or bite that should come without any chewing. Next is the follow-through, a juicy release of flavour as the jerky softens. Last is the aftertaste. "It’s not like a chip," Darrell says; you should be able to savour it. A NEW WORLD OF FLAVOUR Darrell said when he first started making jerky at home five years ago, all the old companies were selling the same thing. “Flavour wise there was really a lot of boring flavours. It was really just original and hot," he says. "Pepper was the big spice. There was a lot of room to try different types.” Now Darrell’s making a 'pickleburger' flavour, which is as complex and layered as it is accurately burgery. He’s also experimenting with flavours like mee goreng, tobacco and ghost chilli. Brent’s main line includes chipotle adobo and a rich 'Srirachuan' (sriracha + Szechuan) flavour. In October he did a collaboration with Young Henrys where he made a real ale and toasted coriander seed batch. Another collaboration with Kakawa ended up with chocolate coated jerky. “The idea is grosser than what it’s like," he says. "It sold out really quick.” Now he’s working on a vegetarian variety. I asked him about it but it’s top secret until he nuts it out. BAKKWA, MOO DAD DEAW AND OTHER KINDS OF JERKY TO TRY Currently they’re both exclusively using pasture-raised grass fed beef but having tried and enjoyed jerkies from Thailand, China and South Africa, I asked Brent and Darrell whether they have any plans to make other varieties of jerky with different meat. Brent told me he’s experimented with pork and lamb, but nothing’s been put into production. Darrell, on the other hand, is too focused on perfection for any diversification. I decided to explore Sydney to see what else I could find. That’s how I met Jack Zhang. Jack’s the everything behind Singapore Famous BBQ Pork, a time-displaced storefront in Sydney's Chinatown. It would be barely noticeable besides the fact that it hasn’t changed in over 25 years. Jack started there as a jerky apprentice some two decades ago. Now the master makes fresh bakkwa and Singaporean-style jerky. Bakkwa is a sweeter and softer variety of preserved meat that’s air dried and then grilled over a charcoals. Jack dries and grills his bakkwa daily, but that's pretty much all he would tell me about what goes into the process (he thinks others might copy his business model). Then there's moo dad deaw, a Thai-style sun-dried pork. Chinatown's Do Dee Paidang make it in house along with a similar beef style. Unfortunately they’re not allowed to sun-dry it traditionally because some bureaucratic food prudes might complain, but that doesn’t stop it from having a delicious smack of spice. Often confused for jerky is biltong, which Stanley Street Butchery has been making since 1974. Biltong, unlike Jerky is cured in vinegar for several hours before being dried. Stanley Street serve theirs traditionally — fresher, fattier and thicker, all the better. Meanwhile, in good news for pescetarians, new Enmore bar The Gretz is doing a rotating menu of house-made jerky, starting with salmon. In Brisbane, your jerky go-to is Gypsies Wagon, who are known for their legendary Argentinian gaucho jerky. In Melbourne, head up to the bar at fancy Vue de Monde for ocean trout jerky (dine in the restaurant and you'll be treated to emu). For more down-to-earth jerky, there's the Meatball and Wine Bar's $9.50 Wagyu beef servings, which come in flavours such as Samboy (salt and vinegar) and Ninja (teriyaki). BACK TO THE REVOLUTION Despite eating enough jerky to devolve my throat into a desiccated husk, I found myself thinking back to Darrell and Brent’s revolution. How strange the two of them started at almost the same time with such similar ideas. "It's funny that we wound up both doing the same thing," Darrell says. "I mentioned it to a friend and she called it the great jerk off of 2014." You'd think they'd be fierce competitors, but they're not; they both just love jerky too much. "The longer both of us exist the better."
If you want to see glamping taken to a whole new level, get thyself to Uluru right now. As if sleeping under the stars while taking in views of an ancient sacred site wasn't enough, you can do it in a luxury desert camp named Longitude 131°. What's more, all 15 of its tents have been made even fancier (and altogether less tent-like), thanks to the addition of some extraordinary Ayers Rock-facing balconies. The brainchild of designer Max Pritchard, these dreamy verandas come with lush day beds, armchairs and EcoSmart fireplaces, made of stone and rosewood. So, you can loll around and toast marshmallows, while keeping an eye on Uluru all night long. If you're travelling with your bestie, you'll be snuggling in front of the fire in a bespoke swag. Handmade by South Australia's Country Sew 'n' Sew, it's an all-Aussie creation, made of a cotton underlay, wool and a canvas exterior. As you might've guessed, it's based on an old-school Aussie drover's bedroll, but is built for two and, needless to say, is way, way comfier than what swaggies were lugging around in Henry Lawson's days. Plus, while you're kicking back, you'll be invited to order port, Cognac and other digestifs of your choosing. The balconies are just one of many extras brought to Longitude 131° since Baillie Lodges took over in late 2013. Since then, the tents have also scored a mega, multi-billion buck revamp, which brought new fabrics, designer furnishings, ceramics, Indigenous artworks and signature 'Baillie Beds'. "Our aim is to take the property to new levels of luxury, while at the same time enhancing its connection with Uluru and the desert environment," says managing director James Baillie. "The new balconies and luxury swags create a whole new level of intimacy, completely removing any barrier between the visitor and the landscape at Australia's spiritual heart." Prices start from a cool $1350 per person per night. We're sure you'd forget about the cash once you're snuggled up in that swag under the stars though.
UPDATE, January 22, 2021: Get Out is available to stream via Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When a movie starts with a character walking nervously along a dark street, we all know what's going to happen next. Decades of horror films have taught us that nothing good can occur here. And, in Get Out, the situation plays out exactly as we've been conditioned to expect. The scared person is abducted by a masked attacker and dragged into a car. Crucially though, the victim isn't an attractive young woman, but rather a black man (Lakeith Stanfield) getting snatched up in the kind of picket-fenced suburbia most white folks could stroll through without fear. If you've ever seen his work with Keegan-Michael Key across the five seasons of their sketch comedy show Key and Peele, writer-director Jordan Peele's fondness for dissecting matters of race won't come as much of a surprise. While his first stint as a filmmaker doesn't feature white zombies refusing to eat people of colour, the underlying idea that African Americans are treated differently still sticks. Here, as in his comedy, he presents a scenario that quickly goes from amusing to uncomfortable to downright unnerving. Following Get Out's sinister opening scene, the film's focus switches to Brooklyn photographer Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), who's about to head to his girlfriend Rose's (Allison Williams) family home in the country. He's meeting her parents for the first time, and he's understandably anxious. When he asks "do they know I'm black?", she assures him that it doesn't matter because her dad would've voted for Obama a third time if he could've. Chris has clearly heard similar sentiments before, and knows it's going to be awkward anyway. "I don't wanna get chased off the lawn with a shotgun," he jokes. After they arrive, Rose's father (Bradley Whitford) keeps dropping "my man" into daggy attempts at conversation. Her mother (Catherine Keener) is polite to Chris, but noticeably stern with their black servants (Betty Gabriel and Marcus Henderson). Then there's Rose's younger brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones) who makes uncomfortable comments about Chris' physique. To say that things don't feel quite right is a horror movie understatement right up there with Rosemary finding her new neighbours a bit odd in Rosemary's Baby. But again, Chris has seen this type of behaviour before. He's not thrilled, but he's not astonished either. Like all sinister storylines, the events that unfold are best discovered with as little prior knowledge as possible. It's not hard to pick up on the cleverly deployed horror tropes as they appear: the isolated location, hitting a deer on the way there, and the vocal warnings from Chris' pal Rod (LilRel Howery) back home. Likewise, you won't be able to miss the way that race keeps seeping into every conversation, shaping the way the movie unfolds. Peele's mastery of his spook-inducing genre is evident from the outset, but it's how he uses his classic setup to subvert the expected cliches and unleash a barrage of scathing social commentary that proves downright genius. What's so great about Get Out is how it defies easy categorisation. It's smart and oh-so-timely in the way that it highlights what it's like to be black in "post-racial" America. It's also genuinely unsettling and tense in an edge-of-your-seat manner, and never stops making viewers question what it is they're seeing. Last but not least, it's frequently hilarious, which given the director's background shouldn't come as a surprise. Add all of that together, and you're gifted one of the most assured, astute, entertaining and intelligent horror movies to creep out cinemas in years.
A nirvana of live music and creative thinking nestled smack bang in the middle of one of America’s most conservative states, Austin, Texas is amongst the most hypeworthy cities in the world. Never is this truer than during South by Southwest, a ten day festival of hugely talked-about movies, must-hear new music and groundbreaking, interactive tech. From flying cars to talks by Edward Snowden, this year’s event has once again got us turning green with envy. To help us cope with hardcore FOMO, we’ve come up with seven things happening at SXSW 2015 we wish we were bragging about experiencing firsthand. MEERKAT IS TAKING OVER With a tech-head on every corner, SXSW has become a premiere destination for developers looking to launch their latest app. Twitter and Foursquare both got their start in Austin, but this year the buzz has coalesced around Meerkat, an app that lets you live stream video from your phone to Twitter. Interesting idea, although whether it has staying power remains to be seen. VIRTUAL REALITY IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AT SNL40 Right now it feels like we’re right on the cusp of virtual reality actually being a thing. The team at Saturday Night Live certainly think so, teaming up with Sony to capture the filming of their recent 40th anniversary show. Just think: now you’ll be able to experience Eddie Murphy’s awkward guest spot like you were squirming in the audience firsthand. THERE'S A KWIK-E-MART FOOD TRUCK HANDING OUT FREE SQUISHEES Celebrating 25 years since the Kwik-E-Mart first opened its sliding doors on The Simpsons, Fox have created a food truck for SXSW that's serving up free squishees to lucky, lucky jerks for the duration of the festival. The flavours? 'Not So Very Cherry' and 'Give 'em the Razz'. The whole thing's a publicity stunt of course, and coincides with the announcement of the first ever 1100-piece Lego Kwik-E-Mart set. JIMMY KIMMEL TAPED A COMMERCIAL FOR A LOCAL AUSTIN VIDEO STORE For the second year in a row, late night host Jimmy Kimmel made the trip to Texas for a week’s worth of shows, with guests including Bill Murray, Willie Nelson and Kanye West. But the highlight might be the trio of TV ads he recorded for Austin’s Vulcan Video, where he and a self-effacing Matthew McConaughey pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy and extol the virtue of VHS. Alright, alright... alright? THERE'S BEEN SWORD FIGHTING AT SXSWESTEROS Well of course there was a Game of Thrones thing. HBO’s SXSW installation, teasing the launch of the show’s fifth season, has been one of the biggest drawcards of the festival, with lines stretching around the block. Fans got the chance to practice their swordsmanship, snap a pic in the Iron Throne and get a taste of the show’s latest branded beer, Three-Eyed Raven Ale. As of yet, no one appears to have been betrayed and brutally murdered, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. TINDER'S BEING USED IN A CREEPY BUT MOVING MARKETING CAMPAIGN Okay, so we’re not exactly sure we’d actually want to experience this one. Like any popular social networking app, Tinder has got its fair share of bots, but none of them are quite like Ava. While she appears to be a pretty 25-year-old, she’s actually part of a viral marketing campaign for sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, which premiered at the festival over the weekend. It’s a clever stunt, although we can’t help but feel a little bad for the guys who swiped right. PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTARILY STAYING AT BATES MOTEL We all go a little crazy sometimes. Some of us are even crazy enough to want to stay in a pop-up Bates Motel, publicising the A&E thriller television show with a terrifying stay. An exact replica built with the help of the show's set designers for the third season of Bates Motel, the pop-up fully functioning hotel accommodates guests in three rooms from March 13-21. You're only able to check-in by winning a daily sweepstakes in the motel office. Lucky winners have found a fake blood spatter in the shower in their room, along with poor ol' Norma's bathrobe on the bed. Freaky. PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY RALLYING AGAINST ROBOTS Perhaps a few of Ava’s disgruntled victims were amongst the protestors at the Rally Against Robots, a protest march attempting to warn festivalgoers about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Or at least, that’s what it looked like. Turns out this was actually another marketing stunt, for a dating app called Quiver. That said, we’ve seen The Terminator enough times to think they might actually be on to something. PUNTERS ARE TAKING INTERSTELLAR VR TOURS Speaking of virtual reality, a VR tie-in with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar put attendees 'inside' the film’s Endurance space craft — letting them explore the ship in zero gravity and get a glimpse of a time-warping black hole. No word on whether this experience actually helps you understand the plot of the movie, but either way it sounds pretty cool.
The advertising will tell you that Brisbane's BIGSOUND is all about a whole lot of music, played by whole lot of bands, at a whole lot of venues over a whole lot of nights. And it is. But there is a deeper subtext to the festival — it's a deliberate symposium of an important cross-section of 'the music industry'. Music label representatives, radio producers, agents, artists, producers and even lawyers descend upon the Valley in an expedition to unearth and support Australian talent. BIGSOUND 2017 had an especially broad and eclectic showcase this year, guaranteeing no two punters had the exact same experience. But, in an attempt to compress four nights worth of amazing performances into a list, here's the ten most kickass, going places artists we came across. [caption id="attachment_636231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BOAT SHOW Boat Show might be one of the most important bands that played BIGSOUND this year. They've opened for San Cisco and Pond, yet still haven't reached the acclaim one would expect for possibly the best punk band in Australia at the moment. Punk — not post-punk. Boat Show don't just play sharp and sweet compressed guitar lines with nonsense lyrics about petty modern gripes. Boat Show are angry, and their tracks are poignant, feminist anthems about the many patriarchal constructs in society that need to change — and the energy Boat Show brought to Heya Bar made the entire audience embrace the notion that it can be achieved. Lead singer Ali Flintoff jumped from amp to amp, got amongst the crowd, and demanded to be heard. She even approached the lanyard-wearing audience members and made a public, ironic, and hilarious attempt to 'network'. Boat Show has big things ahead of them. [caption id="attachment_636279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] OH MERCY Oh Mercy aren't exactly undiscovered as such — they've been around since 2008, have four studio albums under their belt and an ARIA. But the aesthetic of Oh Mercy, canvassing both the ensemble and the sound of the band, is perpetual, and the band we saw at BIGSOUND 2017 seemed to resemble a contemporary take on Brit-Pop, with some remnant of resemblance to the Hoodoo Gurus. The founding member Alexander Gow took to the Woolly Mammoth stage looking like a dashing Garth Marenghi with his leather jacket, and sung of love and heartbreak in that way only an acoustic guitar-playing front man can. His backing ensemble was tight and rich, and it was evident Gow had complete faith in his band, and this afforded him the complete freedom to engage with the audience in an authentic way. [caption id="attachment_636239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DONNY BENET There's nothing about Donny Benet and his big band that doesn't scream '80s, with his killer saxophone solos, rippling, almost ironic synth tones and endless hip movement. Benet himself might have been one of the most personable performers at BIGSOUND. At both his shows he danced with the crowd and was seen around the Valley inviting people to rub his bald head. A man you could call the king of anachronistic fashion (a heavily contested title amongst the BIGSOUND crowd), he was a favourite for photo opportunities, and embraced the role with relish. His songs are sensual synth-pop anthems detailing sexual ballads, all homages to the age of shoulder pads and powersuits. As a musician, Benet is doing something no-one else is in Australia is — and as a live-act he's wickedly fun. [caption id="attachment_636252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] SLOW DANCER Slow Dancer (Simon Okely), along with Didirri and Stella Donnelly, completed the trio of the most beautiful, simplistic artists at BIGSOUND 2017. His whispered anthems and minimal instrumentation made for one of the most heartwarming sets of the festival. His music is deeply thought-provoking — best listened to with closed eyes, prompting reflection on childhood memories and lost loves. His set at the Blackbear Lodge was one of the last acts of night one of the festival, and the crowd sat absorbed in an appreciative silence. [caption id="attachment_636230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BIG WHITE Big White is Australia's answer to Pavement, almost two decades later. Their distinct jangle rock filled The Zoo on the second day of BIGSOUND to a solid crowd. The five-piece seem to be an ensemble in the truest meaning of the word, a single pulsing organism working as one to produce technically fanciful yet fun music. Their almost ineffable stage demeanour is that of a band of brothers (and sister), and is one expressed well by their music. While they haven't made the festival headlines yet, if their insanely dedicated fanbase keeps growing as they are, it won't be long before Big White are an established name in the national scene. [caption id="attachment_636255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BRIGHTNESS There is a certain kind of band where someone can listen to the lead singer and think "gosh, I hope he's okay". Such are the lyrics of Brightness. Lead singer Alex Knight conducts his backing ensemble as an iconoclastic figurehead. His sound is an angry indie-rock but the resounding authenticity of the sound lies in Knight's acoustic guitar and gripping vocals. One only needs to listen to their hit single 'Oblivion' to perfectly understand the allure of Brightness. Simple lead guitar and bass lines (usually played on one string) create a musical vacuum in which Knight's art is free to grow and dominate the stage. [caption id="attachment_636258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DIDIRRI Like Slow Dancer, Didirri was one of the more acoustic, meditative sets of BIGSOUND. Comparable to Slow Dancer's beautiful lyrics and stage presence, and Stella Donnelly's endearing modesty, Didirri is a natural performer. Even when only using a nylon-string guitar, Didirri, in his recordings and in his live performances, fills all spaces in an uncanny way. Didirri might actually be magical — or a great vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and gripping storyteller, at the least. [caption id="attachment_636248" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] MADDY JANE Maddy Jane's entry on the Spotify BIGSOUND playlist was 'No Other Way', a dole-wave, blues pop hit that's fiercely catchy and reminiscent of Courtney Barnett. With interesting guitar lines and endearingly peculiar lyrics, one might have expected her BIGSOUND sets (of which she played an above-average, three) to mimic Barnett. But her sets were far beyond this scope. Maddy Jane's musical prowess, lyricism, and engaging stage presence is amazing for someone of only 22 years old. Both Jane and her band seem to truly enjoy performing, and the audience of 256 Wickham couldn't help but get on board with this compelling energy. [caption id="attachment_636225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BAKER BOY A lot is said about Australia's hip hop and rap scene, and most of what is said is generally valid criticism. Which is why talented Australian rappers are such diamonds in the rough and usually cause a good deal of excitement. Based on Baker Boy's set at Oh Hello! on the second day of BIGSOUND, he's an Australian rapper to get very, very excited about. This 20-year-old artist is from remote Northern Territory and he is doing everything right — poignant lyrics (some of which he sings in the language of his people, the Yolgnu), a bit of didgeridoo, and the best dance moves of BIGSOUND. Baker Boy told the crowd we could expect new music from him shortly — so look out for that. [caption id="attachment_636263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] STELLA DONNELLY Stella Donnelly was one of the last acts of BIGSOUND. This may have been a deliberate choice as her performance was nothing short of emotionally draining (in the best conceivable way). She is an endearingly human performer and engages her audience in frank conversation. She committed herself fully to her performance at the Heya Bar, from crossing her eyes when she hit her high notes, to throwing her body into each and every rhythmic beat. With only an electric guitar and a microphone as her instruments, every member of the crowd was moved by Donnelly's performance, laughing and even crying together as a single presence. In the course of half an hour she sung little comedic ditties, and deeply heartbreaking ballads — an especially impressive juxtaposition to her equally striking work as the rhythm guitarist for Boatshow. Go listen to her stuff.
The world now has unprecedented access to Australia's most recognisable landmark, after the launch of a new partnership between the Sydney Opera House and the Google Cultural Institute. More than 1000 historical items, including photographs and architectural drawings, have been made available online as part of the new digital collection, along with a virtual reality tour featuring some of Australia's leading classical musicians. Developed over more than six months, the online exhibition can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection, providing them with a behind the scenes look at one of the most iconic performance in the world. Archival footage, interviews, photographs and other documents take visitors through the history of the building's design and construction, but perhaps the most exciting element of the collection is the 360-degree tour for Google Cardboard, complete with performances by young Australian soprano Nicole Car, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal on the Concert Hall stage. "The Sydney Opera House is the symbol of modern Australia, its premier cultural venue, number one tourist destination and a World Heritage-listed masterpiece of human creativity," said NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant. "The launch of this incredible collection will mean more people can explore the Opera House's rich history and the diverse artistic and cultural experiences it offers, wherever they are." "We're delighted to have worked with the Sydney Opera House to bring this cultural icon online and make it available for all the world to experience," added Google Cultural Institute Director Amit Sood. You can access the Sydney Opera House on the Google Cultural Institute via desktop, tablet or mobile. Just visit the Google Cultural Institute's Sydney Opera House page or download the Google Arts & Culture app from the App Store or Google Play.
Two years after it was first announced, Brisbane's inner east is set to welcome its new movie haven. If you live near Coorparoo and love great films, then you might want to mark November 30 in your diary. That's when you can head to the flicks at Dendy's brand new cinema on the corner of Old Cleveland and Cavendish roads. Boasting a three-level entrance as part of the new Coorparoo Square development, the ten-screen site marks the first new Dendy to open in Brisbane since Portside launched in 2006. As well as featuring twice as many cinemas as its sibling across town, it will also play host to the city's first Dendy Premium Lounge — this will be the chain's Gold Class meets arthouse offering, complete with reclining seats and during-movie dining treats. To celebrate its first month of operation, Dendy Coorparoo will also be putting on quite the series of events, including afternoon wine tastings over the weekend of December 1 to 3, and a Star Wars double of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi as December 13 ticks over to December 14. Premiere and previews screenings of the likes of The Florida Project and Pitch Perfect 3 are also on the agenda, plus a sneak peek session of Breathe with high tea. If you're feeling a bit of déjà vu, that's because the Dendy previously had a second location on George Street in the CBD, back before it became the now-dormant Tribal Theatre. The new opening gives Brisbane its second new cinema in two months, coming hot on the heels of The Elizabeth Picture Theatre's launch in October. As for the Coorparoo location, as well as providing that patch of the city's east with its own cinema, it's also part of a development that has been a rather long time coming. More than a decade ago, the spot on the corner of Old Cleveland and Cavendish roads was Myer — in fact, it was the site of Queensland's first Myer store — but other than some short-lived indoor markets, it mostly collected cobwebs until construction started on Coorparoo Square. Three residential towers, a food hall and a retail complex are also part of the precinct. Find Dendy Coorparoo at Coorparoo Square, corner of Old Cleveland and Cavendish roads, Coorparoo, from November 30. Head to the website for further details.
The NGV has hosted some pretty epic exhibitions over the last few years — Ai Weiei and Andy Warhol, Hokusai and Van Gogh are just a few— but this might be its most ambitious exhibition yet. Descending on the gallery from today — Friday, December 15 — and then every three years after that, the NGV Triennial presents a smorgasbord of art and design, plucked from all corners of the globe and representing established artists, emerging talent, and plenty else in between. And the first one is nothing short of grand. The free exhibition will take over all four levels of the gallery until April 2018 and host a slew of newly commissioned works by over 60 artists and designers. But where it's really upping the ante is in the audience experience, with visitors invited to present their own ideas through cross-platform content, and the exhibition's participatory works designed to engage like never before. Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, best known for her obsessive patterning and vibrant representations of the infinite, will invite glimpses into the artist's mind with a work titled Flower obsession. Created especially for the NGV Triennial, the interactive exhibition will have visitors unleashing some creativity of their own, as they help plaster a furnished space with an array of colourful flower stickers and three-dimensional blooms. Another highlight is an epic display of 100 oversized human skulls created by Australian artist Ron Mueck, and you'll want to step inside teamLab's immersive mirrored room that reacts to visitors' movements. Kusuma joins other international names like Germany's Timo Nasseri and Canada's Sascha Braunig, alongside an Aussie billing that includes the likes of Ben Quilty, Louisa Bufardeci, and Tom Crago. There'll be an installation from Chinese haute couture fashion guru Guo Pei, designer of Rihanna's canary-yellow Met Ball gown, and chemist and odour theorist Sissel Tolaas will create the 'scent of Melbourne' exclusively for the Triennial. And Alexandra Kehayoglou will be creating one of her monumentally-sized, lushly illustrated carpets, spanning over eight metres long. The NGV Triennial will be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria from December 15, 2017 till April 15, 2018. For more info, visit ngv.com.au.
At long last SPECTRE — the 24th film in the iconic James Bond franchise — has made its way to screens around the country, and to mark the occasion, Heineken is giving fans a bunch of prizes to make them sharper than Bond himself. To help celebrate its long-standing partnership with Bond, Heineken has teamed up with the boutique experience cultivators over at Mr Aristotle for a brand new project, The Catch. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens — like this one, where you and your mates head off on an exclusive personal tailoring adventure through some of Brisbane's premier male fashion outlets and stores. Winners secure the expert advice of a top-tier fashion consultant to accompany you around town for a full three hours. You'll have what every indecisive shopper dreams of: your very own personal stylist advising on your needs, style and personality. They won't tell you how to dress — they'll tell you how to dress perfectly for you. No time-wasting, no queues and, most importantly, no buyer's remorse. It doesn't matter if you're keen for a complete overhaul or the simple addition of a few key pieces, your consultant will be there to offer their years of experience and VIP access to some of Brisbane's fashion meccas. You'll finish up at celebrated men's clothing establishment Calibre — fitting name. To be in the running for prizes like this, sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Then dive into your wardrobe and get cracking on that long overdue stocktake review — because if you win, you'll need to make some space.
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has established a studio on the Greek Island of Lesbos, where he and his students will create works relating to the ongoing European refugee crisis. Ai made the announcement while visiting the island, which has become one of the main entry points into Europe for hundreds of thousands of refugees, many of whom are fleeing the conflict in Syria. "As an artist, I have to relate to humanity’s struggles...I never separate these situations from my art," Ai told reporters. "I think that good art only comes out from when we have strong beliefs in aesthetics and human dignity. This can never be separated." The 58-year-old hopes to return to the island several times this year. He also plans to create a memorial on the island for refugees who lost their lives at sea. Ai, whose art frequently deals with human rights issues, has only recently begun travelling internationally again, having had his passport confiscated by Chinese authorities in 2011 when he was imprisoned for 81 days. Since its return he has visited London, where he snapped a selfie with Julian Assange, and Melbourne, where he attended the opening of the Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. He has chronicled his experiences in Lesbos via social media, posting images of himself with refugees and volunteers. Happy new year #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 8:56am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 30, 2015 at 11:42am PST Engines of refugees boats #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 1:57am PST In related news, volunteers for Greenpeace and Medecins San Frontieres recently created an enormous peace sign in Lesbos using discarded refugee life jackets, in an attempt to bring more attention to the crisis. More than half a million migrants have passed through the Greek Islands in the past 12 months alone. Via The Guardian.
It's time to dig the gumboots out of the back of your closet — Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year. In 2023, Splendour celebrates its 21st year. Maybe your 21st birthday was the best night of your life. Or, perhaps you're still planning for the 21st to end all 21sts. Either way, Splendour's big two-one is serving up a massive lineup to celebrate. Lizzo, Flume, Mumford & Sons and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead the 2023 edition — the latter of which were slated to headline 2022's Splendour in the Grass lineup, but cancelled in the leadup. Flume's set is an Australian exclusive, celebrating ten years since his self-titled album and coming after his recent Australian tour in late 2022. Mumford & Sons are also doing an Aussie-exclusive gig, after last heading our way in 2019. Music lovers hitting Byron Bay can look forward to Hilltop Hoods, Sam Fender, J Balvin, Slowthai, Little Simz, Idles and Tove Lo as well, plus Arlo Parks, Ball Park Music, 100 Gecs doing another Aussie exclusive, Pnau and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — and more. Plus, there's been some late additions to the lineup. Powerhouse Russian punk group Pussy Riot recently joined both the music and Forum programs. Danny Brown, Ocean Alley and Thelma Plum were all added, too, to replace Lewis Capaldi, Slowthai and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Single-day, multi-day and camping tickets are all still available if you want to plan a last-minute trip up to Byron Bay. [caption id="attachment_891057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudia Ciapocha[/caption] SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023 LINEUP Lizzo Flume (Australian exclusive: ten years of Flume) Mumford & Sons (Australian exclusive) Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hilltop Hoods J Balvin Danny Brown (Australian Exclusive) Sam Fender Idles Little Simz Tove Lo 100 Gecs (Australian exclusive) Arlo Parks Ocean Alley Ball Park Music Iann Dior King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 070 Shake Thelma Plum Pussy Riot Pnau Ruel Loyle Carner Benee Marlon Williams Hooligan Hefs Peach PRC Palace Dune Rats Tkay Maidza Noah Cyrus Skegss Sudan Archives Cub Sport Meg Mac X Club. Claire Rosinkranz Jack River The Smith Street Band Lastlings Jeremy Zucker Young Franco Sly Withers MAY-A The Vanns Telenova Vallis Alps Jamesjamesjames Kaycyy RVG Teenage Dads Balming Tiger Automatic Harvey Sutherland Gali Del Water Gap Royel Otis Shag Rock Big Wett Mia Wray Memphis LK Gold Fang Milku Sumner Forest Claudette Full Flower Moon Band William Crighton Hellcat Speedracer Triple J Unearthed Winners Mix Up DJs: Tseba Crybaby Latifa Tee Foura Caucasianopportunities Luen Mowgli DJ Macaroni Crescendoll Top image: Stephen Booth.
Woken up in a self-induced, whiskey-fuelled, stomach-grating, cold-sweating Sunday Hades too many times? You’re about to feel real guilty. London’s wholesome beige cashmere cardigan of a suburb, Notting Hill, is about to open the unthinkable: an alcohol-free cocktail bar called Redemption. We like to call this a ‘juice bar’. But apparently there's more to it than that. Redemption is London’s first alcohol-free bar, the city’s only ‘cocktail spot’ with a mocktail and food menu designed by nutritional therapists. Created by Catherine Salway, ex Virgin Group Brand Director, executive chef and raw, vegan specialist Andrea Waters, the bar sports the tagline, “Spoil yourself without spoiling yourself.” It’s the latest in a ‘healthvolution’ (yep) of dry bars happening across England, tackling the country’s huge social drinking focus by simply replacing the booze with Healthy Things. It's like almost like nicotine patch for being around bars. “These days it’s hard to get away from booze – you can’t even go to the cinema without being offered a glass of wine,” says Salway and Waters. “With Redemption, we are creating a space away from temptation that still feels like a treat. We’re challenging the convention that we need alcohol to lubricate every social occasion.” Anyone who just did Dry July (right here), would probably be down with this. But let’s be honest, this isn’t a ‘cocktail bar’. Basically it’s a wholesome, vegan cafe open late and using a buzzword to generate articles like the one you’re reading now. Consider us suckers. Redemption’s less about getting smashed on Negronis and more about filling your weekends with less sugar and alcohol. Think 'beet-o-tinis', 'apple mockjitos', and the mildly terrifying-sounding ‘lettuce spray’. For those who don’t drink at all, or those looking to detox the Captain Morgan from their pores, this is a great, appealing initiative from a country whose deep-set drinking problems mirror our own. Perhaps it’s time for a Redemption of our own? *rolls over, orders pizza online, burps Chardonnay* Redemption Bar opens on August 10 at 6 Chepstow Road, London. Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 11pm. Sunday 10am – 5pm. Via VICE and Sharking for Chips and Drinks. Images: Redemption and Sharking for Chips and Drinks.
Over the weekend, Brendan Cato of The Farmed Table and Matt Branagan of Work-Shop came together to teach a bunch of our readers how to cook up an outstanding barbecue. In partnership with Heineken 3, we showed you how to create the ultimate last-minute barbecue spread in under an hour. Then we decided that we wanted to take it to the next level, and teach you how to do it IRL. On a beautiful sunny day in Sydney's Prince Alfred Park, steak, vegetables and mussels were all cooked up and eaten, served alongside some cold Heineken 3s. Don't let the sporadic showers fool you — summer is most definitely on its way. It's time to pull your beachwear out from the depths of your cupboard, dust off your tatty straw hat and prepare for three months of good food, good music and stunning sunshine. Take a look at the photos from the day, and get inspired for your next summer afternoon barbecue — you'll be able to implement everything you've learned. Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Launching something new takes a lot of gumption — not to mention legwork. Everyone's got ideas — you've probably got a few scribbled down on a napkin somewhere. But it takes a particular kind of drive and perseverance (and a bunch of cash) to turn lofty concepts into an actual, physical Thing. For this year's REMIX Sydney conference (June 2-3), Concrete Playground will be digging into the idea of launching something new, focusing on the businesses we couldn't write fast enough about — with a special curated session on 'How Long Does It Take to Become an Overnight Success?' We'll be digging into Australian success stories, brave folks who started something new. What's it like to open a soda factory in Sydney? How do you launch a brand new wine festival — on an island? We took five with three leading Sydney innovators, who'll be sitting on our REMIX panel: Kristen Francis, festival founder and director of the insanely popular Wine Island (winner of CP's Best New Event of 2015), Michael Chiem, co-founder of Sydney soda company PS Soda and its just-opened CBD factory/bar PS40 (Sydney's first of its kind), and Georgia van Tiel and Carla McMillan, co-founders of citywide gym class pass Bodypass (winner of CP's Best New Product of 2015). How did they come up with something new in this day and age? How did they get it off the ground? Take notes. [caption id="attachment_572830" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wine Island.[/caption] Why/how did you come up with the idea for your business? Kristen: I'd been producing events for about ten years for clients, as well as my own music festival Legs 11, but as I get older I want to concentrate more on my own productions and not die wondering. The concept for Wine Island simply came about during my morning walks around Rushcutters Bay. I always noticed the pretty little island of Clark and wondered why nothing ever happened there so I started my research and two years later, it became a reality. Logistically, it's the worst idea ever, but being a bit of a dreamer… It's the best. Michael: The idea for our business actually stemmed from past experiences Thor (my business partner) had experienced in New York. He had consulted for a soda brand to be launched in Europe developing flavours and had such good feedback he decided to further expand the concept and move to Sydney to launch it here, as Sydney has such amazingly diverse produce and native ingredients. We both met in Sydney at Bulletin Place and worked so well together the relationship grew organically from there, Thor wanted to make a soda factory, I wanted to open a bar and forming them together would allow us to work sustainably reducing waste by working nose to tail across bar and soda and maximising productivity and exposure. Georgia: I was living in NYC at the time (18 months ago) and Carla reached out to me to tell me about a genius idea she had. Carla has always been a yogi and didn't really find that she liked spending all her time in one studio. Carla was often at three to four different studios in a week and often spending hundreds of dollars each week. I also, as an avid fitness fan, felt like I was one of those people that loved trying out different studios and different classes. We both love the idea of people having more fun and variety in they workouts and making sure they keep the boredom at bay (the number one killer of all fitness regimes!). At the time, there were about ten different models, similar to Bodypass, setting up in the US and I thought it would be a good idea for Carla to head over to NYC, do some research with me and see if there was a market for this sort of thing in Australia. After about two months, we thought there was a space and we felt like we had a model that would work really well in Australia. I headed back from NYC in November 2014 and we literally have not stopped since. I think we just surpassed our 2000th class! [caption id="attachment_572854" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The PS Crew (Michael's on the left).[/caption] What made your idea different from everything else out there? How did you make it stand out? Michael: The concept of a tradesman making his own tools is no new concept. For many years baristas have been roasting coffee, sommeliers making wine and beer guys making beer. It's all been done before, except for bartenders making soda (well at least to the extent we are making it). The idea stands out more as the soda factory side of our business is integrated into our little cocktail bar and we are very transparent about it all. We also take a culinary approach, not using any essences or artificial flavours. Everything is done in house, by hand, using natural and local produce. Georgia: We are not a studio, we are not instructors, we are a membership that gives ultimate flexibility, huge amounts of variety and a great opportunity to meet new people and socialise. Having a workout buddy really helps to keep your fitness goals in check and keep you going back for more, even when the sun isn't up yet or the rain is pelting down. One of our other big standouts, I believe, is that we have given Bodypass a personality. Carla and I are both fit gals but at the same time we love to enjoy life and all it has to offer. We both believe in balance and doing something because it's fun, not because you have to or you should. Bodypass is a lifestyle that Carla and I are all about and we wanted to share that with other people. Kristen: Firstly, it hadn't been done before (I guess no one else wanted to give themselves a heart attack) and secondly, we treat our festival like a mini-holiday on your doorstep with very limited numbers per session — which everyone appreciated. It's like you're experiencing the full holiday package which includes transport and welcome drinks, then a relaxing and luxurious island escape full of wine and food. We know there are quite a few wine festivals around Sydney nowadays so we also wanted to promote unique wines in a unique setting. [caption id="attachment_572881" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodypass (Carla on the left, Georgia on the right).[/caption] What problems did you run into while planning/building, if any? How'd you manage them? Georgia: Growing. Like any startup, funding played a huge role. Our business is a tech business and building anything like this was always going to cost a lot of money. Starting Bodypass was a balancing act between meeting new studios and signing them up and trying to get Bodypass in front of possible investors. Carla and I had a good partnership as she was more client/studio facing and I was able to work on the business set-up. This enabled us to grow and also catch the eye of Fairfax Media. Michael: So many! We should write a book on all our mistakes as a guide on what not to do when opening a business haha! Always staying positive even at the hardest moments is necessary. You can't let it get you down for too long. We were lucky enough to have a really good team behind us who were very supportive, from our designer, Thor's wife Livia from Ultra Violet, to our planner, certifier, handyman Seamus from Sea Studios, who built all the furniture. It was difficult but the end result we are thrilled by. Kristen: Well firstly, it was no, no, no from the National Parks. However, I've never been so persistent with an idea so I kept on calling until I finally got through to the person who said yes, yes, yes — it paid! Producing an event on an island is a logistical and eye-wateringly expensive exercise, so it was extremely important to be organised and try not to leave much room for error. But you know, Mother Nature has her own plans, and whilst the first festival session on Friday morning was a sparkling paradise of an image, the evening session was anything but. We pulled all the bars in so people could get under the huts and others were tucked away in caves sipping their Savs. Luckily everyone got into the spirit and there were a lot of dancing ponchos making the most of it. [caption id="attachment_572833" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wine Island.[/caption] What was opening day/launch day like and how did you celebrate? Kristen: As mentioned above, the first day was both sides of the coin. As the second session of the first day was so wet, we sat on the ferry soaking, exhausted and celebration was a hot shower. Boring, but true. Georgia: Carla bought an amazing bottle of champagne around February, when Fairfax starting talking to us and it finally looked like we would have some financial investment. We planned on drinking that when we signed with Farifax but when you have sometimes four classes a day, having a hangover was not an option. We did however have a lot of fun when we launched to the public in June 2015. Let's just say a few classes were cancelled the following day. Michael: Opening day was a small mole hill (goal). Opening the door is great but it only begins our long journey of constantly trying to provide the best drinks we possibly can, whilst having shit tonnes of fun. We have so many goals now to tick off including bottling our final product and future collaborations and events to focus on — we're always looking forward. You can catch Kristen Francis, Michael Chiem, Georgia van Tiel and Carla McMillan speaking at REMIX Sydney from June 2-3 at Sydney Town Hall, at Concrete Playground's special curated session on 'How Long Does It Take to Become an Overnight Success?'. More info right here.
Plan those half-hearted New Years Resolutions, the 2015 Falls Music and Arts Festival lineup is here, announced by triple j this morning. Returning to Lorne, Marion Bay and Byron for another bout of end-of-year scullduggery, Falls is back with the likes of Foals and Disclosure at the top of the bill (both with shiny new albums to boot). Expect those beloved Brits Bloc Party on the bill as well, alongside a killer collection of international gems — we're talking Gary Clark Jr, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile and The Violaters, Toro Y Moi, Django Django, Young Fathers and The Maccabees to start with. Even Weird Al' Yankovic will headline the opening Boogie Nights party. Random. Australia's contingent deserves two thumbs way up, from international goakicker Courtney Barnett to dancefloor dominators RUFUS and the likes of the legendary Paul Kelly (with his Merri Soul Sessions), Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Gang of Youths, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little May, Alpine, Birds of Tokyo, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Seth Sentry, Halsey, BØRNS and more. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after: FALLS FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP: Alpine The Avener Birds of Tokyo Bloc Party BØRNS Courtney Barnett Disclosure Django Django Foals Gang of Youths Gary Clark Jr Halsey Hiatus Kaiyote Hilltop Hoods King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Kurt Vile & The Violators Little May The Maccabees Mac DeMarco Meg Mac Oh Wonder Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions feat. Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, Vika & Linda Bull RÜFÜS Seth Sentry Toro Y Moi Young Fathers and more BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP Art vs Science El Vez Fleetmac Wood 'Weird Al' Yankovic and more Lorne, Victoria (18+) December 28, 2015 – January 1, 2016 Marion Bay, Tasmania (all ages) December 29, 2015 – January 1, 2016 Byron Bay, New South Wales December 31, 2015 – January 3, 2016 Via triple j. Image: Falls Festival.
Nakkiah Lui's new comedy could be a riff on Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer and going places, fast. Her parents are stoked, but they don't know that Charlotte's also procured herself a fiancée. He's white and unemployed, a composer. His upper-middle-class parents are at the stuffier end of conservative and they're headed over for Christmas dinner. But Lui says the idea came from somewhere else entirely. "I just wanted to write something for Aboriginal actors that didn't have death in it. I wanted to write something that didn't come from a place of sorrow… This was actually something that had hope, that had happiness in it." Director Paige Rattray has the helm for this one with a cast that includes Shari Sebbens, Luke Carroll and Geoff Morrell. After proving a hit in Sydney last year, Black is the New White comes to Queensland Theatre from February 1 to 17.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being the latest additions to the lineup: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. They join legend Patti Smith and superstar Mary J. Blige on the heaving heaving lineup. BLUESFEST 2017 LINEUP Santana The Doobie Brothers Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Image: Andy Fraser.
