Pop on your helmet and cycle down to Cinema Nova, the purple home of Melbourne's greenest film festival. Returning for its fifth straight year, the Transitions Film Festival once again boasts a stellar lineup of sustainability-themed documentaries, tackling everything from climate change to activist octogenarians. The festival begins on February 18 with Catching the Sun, a doco about the race to lead the world in renewable energies. Other standout films include Poverty Inc. — about the damaging side effects of the humanitarian aid cycle — and The Price We Pay, about the methods used by big businesses to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Those after something a little more optimistic can check out Two Raging Grannies, about a pair of senior citizens who set out to fix the global economy, or Capital C: The Crowdfunding Revolution, which explores how crowdfunding platforms are empowering an entire generation of artists. As per usual, festival-goers who present their bike helmets at the box office will be entitled to discount tickets. For the full Transitions Film Festival program visit transitionsfilmfestival.com.
The year was 1992. Aladdin, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Batman Returns, Lethal Weapon 3 and A Few Good Men ruled the international box office. Slipping into a habit and sliding in next on the list, becoming the sixth-biggest hit of the year: Sister Act. The film about singing nuns spawned a sequel, with word of a third movie floating around for years since — and, as everything from Mean Girls and Muriel's Wedding to Groundhog Day and Beetlejuice has also done, it inspired a stage musical as well. The theatre take on the Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)-led film franchise debuted in California in 2006, then hit West End in 2009 and Broadway in 2011. Now, from November 2024, it's finally Melbourne's turn. Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy will hit the Regent Theatre from Sunday, November 3. [caption id="attachment_939236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sister Act UK & Ireland Touring Production 2023/24, photography Mark Senior[/caption] The first movie was filled with songs like 'Rescue Me', 'My Guy' and 'I Will Follow Him', making its soundtrack a smash as well, so the film was always primed to tread the boards. The Sister Act musical features original tunes, with Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid) doing the honours. Among the show's rewards so far: five Tony Award nominations and six Olivier Award nominations. Story-wise, the production follows Deloris, who witnesses a murder and has to go into protective custody. Her hideout: a convent. It's there that the nightclub singer finds a struggling choir, which she begins to help. For the Australian run — which is answering prayers in Sydney, too — Casey Donovan (& Juliet) is leading the cast, while Genevieve Lemon (Billy Elliot) co-stars as Mother Superior. Top images: Benny Capp.
Instagram favourites The Inspired Unemployed are pretty used to bringing Aussies joy via their side-splitting satirical videos. From lockdown habits and fitness instructors to tradies and bouncers — Jack Steele and Matt Ford will take aspects of stereotypical Aussie culture, then flip the script to poke a bit of fun. Now, the self-dubbed battlers are looking to bring Australians a new kind of happiness ahead of summer — with a beer launched in collaboration with Victorian favourite, Torquay Beverage Company. Better Beer is a zero-carb, zero-sugar lager that clocks in at 87 calories per can, which Ford quips is "healthier than broccoli". Explaining the decision to make Better Beer zero-carb, Steele says: "As loose as we can be at times, we're actually pretty healthy people. So we decided, let's make a beer that's healthier and still tastes great, one that doesn't make you feel heavy in the morning and rough around the edges." "We've had a lot of opportunities to do bigger stuff and beer was on our mind for a while," Steele explains to Concrete Playground. "But the thing is — when we start something, we don't want to start it and go half-hearted. We either make it the best thing ever or don't do it at all." On social media, the pair of mates are all about hyperboles. But, that's far from the case in this instance — Better Beer is the product of 12 months of work, which included an (unintended) four-month stint in New Zealand and COVID-friendly collaboration sessions with their business partner in crime, Torquay Beverage Company founder Nick Cogger. "I couldn't tell you how many hours we've spent on Zoom," Steele says. Cogger is a long-time partner of The Inspired Unemployed, commissioning them back in late 2019 when the pair had just 12,000 followers. "Nick was actually one of the first people to ever give us a job in this industry," Ford says. "He was one of the first people to reach out, he gave us a job to go to a music festival and..." "...get drunk!" Steele jokes. The pair initially called Cogger for advice on the beer brand, before deciding to create Better Beer together. "And then next thing you know, here we are talking to you." As for the taste, the boys have reportedly heard it described as "smooth like Michael Jackson" and "the breakfast of champions". "All our mates have tasted it and they love it. Obviously, they're our mates, so you'd think they'd have to say that — but it was a genuine reaction!" Ford says. If you're after a cold one, Better Beer will be available at your local Dan Murphy's, BWS and independent bottleshops from Friday, November 12. You can keep up to date with Better Beer, including limited-edition merch drops, via the website. New Better Beer products are also expected to drop in March 2022.
Extended non-stop flights that almost take an entire day. Airlines specifically for arts, snow sports and craft beer. One brand that specifically focuses on millennial passengers. Planes free of single-use plastic. Air travel is an ever-changing realm, but the industry's latest development might just be its most curious — although it relates to a matter that everyone has an opinion on. The subject of countless stand-up routines, a topic of conversation any time flights come up and a part of the journey plenty of folks dread, airline food is hardly anyone's favourite meal. But United Airlines is testing that idea by releasing its own cookbook inspired by the dishes that it serves up in the air. With coconut soup with sambal oelek chicken just one of the 40 meals featured, the carrier hasn't published a collection of recipes dedicated to economy fare. Rather, the United Polaris Cookbook is based on its business and first-class offerings. The cookbook has been created in collaboration with the airline's executive chefs, as well as those from the Trotter Project — a non-profit organisation started by chef Charlie Trotter to provide opportunities to wannabe culinary stars who mightn't have the means to pursue cooking as a career otherwise. For those eager to fly high in the kitchen, the cookbook is on sale now for US$29.99. Whether the end results really do taste like airline food or something much more gourmet, whipping a few dishes up yourself is certainly cheaper than a business-class ticket.
Across a period of ten years from 2008–2018, British filmmaker Steve McQueen made four features — and every single one has proved essential viewing. It started with Hunger, with Michael Fassbender stepping into the shoes of Bobby Sands, the IRA member who famously went on a hunger strike while imprisoned in Northern Ireland. Then came Shame, with Fassbender playing a sex addict and Carey Mulligan co-starring as his sister. Nine-time Oscar nominee 12 Years a Slave followed, featuring powerful performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o (and yes, Fassbender, too). And, last up, the Fassbender-free Widows delivered one of the flat-out best heist movies ever made. Across a five-day period this December, McQueen's next five movies will arrive — and you'll be able to stream them all via Binge. They're part of the Small Axe anthology series, with every feature directed by McQueen and co-written by him as well. The entire quintet also explores the lives of London's West Indian community between the 60s and the 80s, telling tales of race, discrimination and resistance (and beauty, love, friendship, family, music and food), too. First up, dropping on Saturday, December 19, is Mangrove. It opened this year's London Film Festival, focuses on the owner of a Caribbean restaurant of the same name in Notting Hill, and follows his and the surrounding community's response to continued police raids — and stars Lost in Space's Shaun Parkes and Black Panther's Letitia Wright. Then, on Sunday, December 20, you'll be able to watch Lovers Rock — which spins a fictional tale of love at a Blues party in 1980. And, on Monday, December 21, you can check out the John Boyega (Star Wars)-starring Red, White and Blue, about a young forensic scientist who witnesses his father's assault by two policemen, then decides to join the force himself. On Tuesday, December 22, it's time for Alex Wheatle, a biopic about the titular award-winning writer. Then, wrapping it all up on Wednesday, December 23, Education delves into unofficial segregation policies in schools. Check out the Small Axe trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcqItifbNUA&feature=youtu.be Small Axe starts streaming via Binge from Saturday, December 19 — with a new film available each day for five days. Top image: BBC.
In a year already filled with huge tour news Down Under, Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye dropping plans to hit both Australia and New Zealand before 2023 is out is up there with the biggest — and concertgoers clearly agree. The Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star only announced his Aussie and Aotearoa dates on Tuesday, August 22, and general tickets aren't due to go on sale until Friday, September 1, but he's already doubled the number of shows that he'll be playing in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. This arena spectacular will now play two nights apiece in each of the four cities across November and December, with the second dates immediately after the first in every spot. The extra gigs will join a tour that's been notching up soldout shows far and wide. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, he scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. Will his Down Under dates add to his record-breaking run? Australia in particular has been loving the return of huge international tours. See: the Taylor Swift frenzy. And, if more shows are already being added to the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist's visit before the general on-sale date, fans are obviously mighty excited. The reason for the extra Aussie and Aotearoa gigs is the massive demand during the Vodafone pre-sale. And the reason for the whole tour, other than just because, is to celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he'll be playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. In support across The Weeknd's four Down Under shows: Mike Dean and Chxrry22. The tour will help a good cause, too, other than your need to see The Weeknd live. The artist has been contributing funds for his shows to the United Nations World Food Programme's XO Humanitarian Fund, as one of the organisation's Goodwill Ambassador, raising over $1 million from his Europe run alone. THE WEEKND'S 'AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR' 2023: Monday, November 20–Tuesday, November 21 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, November 24–Saturday, November 25 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Friday, December 1–Saturday, December 2 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Thursday, December 7–Friday, December 8 — Eden Park, Auckland The Weeknd is touring Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023. For more information, and for pre-sale tickets for the second shows on Thursday, August 31, then general tickets from Friday, September 1 — all at staggered times depending on the city — head to the tour website.
They're small, they're located off the beaten path and they're nestled among nature — and they're your next reason to make your way to Byron Bay. You probably don't need an excuse to head to the popular New South Wales town now that the country is opening back up, but Unyoked's new tiny cabins in the surrounding hinterland are as good a motivating factor as anything else, especially if you're keen to end 2020 or start 2021 with a stint of seclusion. If your idea of a perfect escape is a remote cabin, surrounded by wilderness with no Wi-Fi, this news may just have you hitting 'book' straight away. The Aussie startup already has a number of compact cabins located around NSW, Victoria and Queensland, but it has just launched its first two in NSW's Northern Rivers region — about an hour out of Byron Bay, at the end of a valley and surrounded by citrus trees (and plenty of quiet, obviously). Like its other properties, newcomers Ashi and Pana have been placed in secret patches of wilderness on private properties, in the middle of nowhere. Ashi is located next to a creek, and both tiny houses boast their own outdoor bath. So, yes, they're perfect for summer stays. [caption id="attachment_794493" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] trentandjessie[/caption] The exact locations are still under wraps as Unyoked aims to make sure your stay is a bit of an adventure, by only revealing the address for your chosen house two days before you're due to set off. It has revealed that it's upping its food game, though — with Unyoked launching packages called 'Food Sorted' to help take care of your sustenance needs while you're switching off. A collaboration with Ragazzi Pasta and Wine and Fabricca, they're available for Sydneysiders to pick up before they head to their chosen cabin, and include Ragazzia pastas, toasted sandwiches, a range of meats and cheeses, and pre-prepared restaurant-style desserts in jars. Everything is designed to be cooked over the fire or in the tiny house, too. [caption id="attachment_794498" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] If you're wondering about Unyoked's story in general, it was founded and is run by twins Cam and Chris Grant, with the company's off-the-grid cabins bring you the convenience and comfort of four solid walls — alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. With the help of Fresh Prince, the brothers have designed and built Unyoked's houses, and they're all sustainable and solar-powered. Bookings for the two new spots are already open, so we suggest you hover over the website if you're keen to book one in. Once you've booked on in, all you need to do is jump in your car, disconnect and recharge. The two new Unyoked cabins are located across in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, and are available to book via unyoked.co. Looking for more off-the-grid escapes? Check out our favourites in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Top images: trentandjessie,
Home to the oldest vines in Australia, the Barossa Valley is renowned worldwide for its bold and beautiful wines. In particular, it's the rich jammy reds with complexity, texture and tannin structure that have contributed heavily to this reputation. It's in this region that Krondorf Wines lives, the estate making shapes to become the next go-to premium wine producer — a fact exemplified deliciously with the release of its 2023 five-bottle collection. The Krondorf story actually begins in 1847. The hamlet was founded by a collection of people from Silesia — what is now Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic — and among them notable wine families that regularly show up on standout wine lists and bottle shop shelves across the world: Henschke, Lehmann and Nitschke. The intrepid group named their newfound home Krondorf, meaning 'crown village' in German. Today the custodians of the Krondorf legacy, under the watchful eye of chief winemaker Nick Badrice, are realising the potential of their vines with consistently award-winning drops. The ripe bottles here showcase the best of the Barossa style, perfectly illustrated in the five-strong 2023 collection. Crafted with the traditional minimalistic approach, the 2023 release includes an ultra-expressive grenache, an intense but structured cab sav and a rich and robust shiraz. The standout of the collection is the winery's newest Icon wine: the aptly named King's Mantle Shiraz. It's described as having a luscious palate, evocative of juicy black forest fruits and plums, with an earthy liquorice undertone and velvety tannins — you're going to pay a pretty penny to taste it at $150 a bottle. If you're in the area, carve out some time to visit the cellar door and wine bar. With pouring beginning in 2021, the spot's housed inside a converted heritage-listed flour mill from the 1800s. You can taste your way through the whole range — including the 2023 collection — with a bespoke wine flight or set tasting that can be happily tailored to personal taste. For those that like nibbles with their tipples, the cellar door slings artisan pizzas as well as cheese and charcuterie boards (with the option to add on Maggie Beer's premium nosh and other local produce, too). Krondorf Winery's 2023 collection is a true celebration of the winery's history and dedication to producing wines that speak to the wonders of the locale. If you're heading to this bucolic South Australian region, the cellar door is a must-visit. But if you can't make it, we suggest you peruse the 2023 collection online, choose your libation and have it sent direct — truly stellar sipping guaranteed. Concrete Playground travelled to the Barossa Valley as a guest of Krondorf Wines. Book your Krondorf cellar door tasting experience here. The cellar door is open Monday – Saturday, 12–7pm and Sunday from 12–5pm.
Quentin Tarantino loves movies. He adores directing them, and has nine impressive flicks to his name spanning three decades to prove it. He's oh-so-fond of dropping references, nods and winks to other films in his films, as anyone who has ever seen even just one already knows. Sometimes, such as in Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he builds the business of making movies or screening them — or both — into his plots as well. He'll chat about them at length, too, and he turned his last flick into a book that spends plenty of time delving into film and TV history. So naturally he's about to do what every film lover seems to do at some point. Yes, he's making a podcast about movies. While sitting the Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight filmmaker behind a microphone and just letting him wax lyrical about cinema would've attracted listeners anyway, Tarantino's new podcast does have a specific angle. Famously, he was once a video store clerk — so he's diving back into those days. That's why you'll be listening to The Video Archives Podcast, which is named after the Californian shop that Tarantino worked at in the 80s. And, staying true to that concept, he'll be discussing films that he watches on the old store's actual VHS tapes. Because Tarantino is Tarantino, he acquired the joint's tapes back in 1995, and also rebuilt the Video Archives store in his home. Now, alongside his co-host Roger Avary — who also used to work at The Video Archives, where the pair met; also then became a director, making Killing Zoe and The Rules of Attraction among other movies; and collaborated on the Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction screenplay — he'll be pulling tapes off his own shelves, watching them and getting nattering. As outlined in the podcast's just-dropped trailer, the pair will chat about movies such as John Carpenter's Dark Star, Bond film Moonraker, Mexican supernatural flick Demonoid: Messenger of Death and horror-comedy Piranha — aka titles they recommended and rented out all those years back. They'll be joined by announcer Gala Avary, Roger's daughter, and also "expose listeners to movies they didn't know they'd love, give awards to their favourites and rate the quality of the video transfer", according to the podcast's announcement. The Video Archives Podcast is set to start dropping episodes on Tuesday, July 19, and will arrive via SiriusXM's Stitcher. And yes, of course Tarantino has something to say about it already. "We never imagined that 30 years after we worked together behind the counter at Video Archives, we would be together again doing the exact same thing we did back then: talking passionately about movies on VHS," Tarantino and Avary advised in a joint statement. "Watching movies was what originally brought us together and made us friends, and it's our love of movies that still brings us together today. So we surrounded ourselves with the original Video Archives collection, where we both worked before we became celebrated filmmakers, and time-traveled ourselves back to the golden age of VHS. We LOVE to discuss movies, and we want to welcome you into The Video Archives Podcast to hang with us and Archives' new employee Gala, and discover the hidden VHS gems on our shelves." For more information about The Video Archives Podcast, which'll start dropping episodes from Tuesday, July 19, head to Stitcher. Top image: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
When the middle of August arrives, the best show on television for the past seven years — other than the one-season return of Twin Peaks — will finish up. That isn't new news, but it's still monumental, especially given that Better Call Saul is the spinoff to an also-phenomenal series. Alas, unlike when Breaking Bad wrapped, there's no future immediately in sight for this excellent franchise. Perhaps that's fitting; everything has to an end, including the canny and resourceful run of an Albuquerque-based lawyer born Jimmy McGill, nicknamed 'Slippin' Jimmy' during his early con-artist days, known as Saul Goodman when he leans into shady criminal law with well-oiled charm, and rebadged Gene Takavic when he flees for a Cinnabon-serving new Nebraskan life. Even before Better Call Saul had a final air date — the last episode streams via Stan in Australia and Neon in New Zealand on Tuesday, August 16 — viewers knew what was coming. The series is TV's great tragedy precisely because we were always well aware what its prequel segments, which comprise the bulk of the show, eventuate in. The audience knows who Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody) is when he's a charismatic but shifty defence attorney aiding Walter White (Bryan Cranston, Your Honor) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Westworld). We know what all his choices then lead to, too. Thanks to Breaking Bad and its gripping New Mexico-set crime-drama antics, we've already seen it. Better Call Saul's sixth season reckons with that knowledge. It interrogates it, toys with it and expands upon it as well. But in the first trailer for the show's swan song, which has been broken into two parts — the first started in April, the second returned in July — fellow Breaking Bad favourite-turned-Better Call Saul key player Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks, The Comey Rule) might've said it best. "Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is," the ex-cop advised. The episode we've all been waiting for did finally arrive, bringing back Walter and Jesse as was announced back in April, and it was a treat. There's always been much more to this spectacular spinoff then waiting for its predecessor's protagonists to show up, joining the obvious dots and revelling in past glories, though. First, the overall setup: since 2015, Better Call Saul has stepped back into its namesake's pre-drug lawyer days, when legitimately embracing the law was his aim. His complex relationship with his successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean, Breeders) guided early seasons, as did his plan to work his way through the firm, the Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian, Gordita Chronicles)-led HHM, that Chuck co-owns. Thanks to those early aspirations, the friendship-turned-romance with fellow legal up-and-comer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep) has been the show's bedrock. Blossoming interactions with Mike, then a parking attendant at the Albuquerque courthouse, also laid the groundwork for the working arrangement already seen in Breaking Bad. So did the the ambitions of budding drug kingpin Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys), as complicated by two Salamanca family figures: smart and savvy footsoldier Nacho Varga (Michael Mando, Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Hector Salamanca's (Mark Margolis, Snowpiercer) alluringly crafty nephew Lalo (Tony Dalton, Hawkeye). Now, the big return: in a Better Call Saul episode fittingly called 'Breaking Bad', aka the sixth season's 11th and antepenultimate instalment, Saul's first meeting with Walter and Jesse is revisited. Observant fans already knew that the names Nacho and Lalo were mentioned in that scene in Breaking Bad itself, in a season two episode fittingly called 'Better Call Saul', despite neither character appearing in that series. Here, in new footage shot with Cranston and Paul, it all takes on greater resonance — but this franchise has never been about mere and easy nostalgia, not for a single second. Better Call Saul brings back the Walter-and-Jesse banter, as they argue in their RV meth lab. It has Jesse call his partner a "dick", but not "bitch". Crucially, it muses on and builds upon what the entire series always has: the decisions that shape, transform and define paths, and reveal the inescapable and inevitable, no matter how much anyone and everyone might want otherwise. Of course, every single moment that's been brought to the screen in sunny colour in Better Call Saul so far — which is how its pre-Breaking Bad sequences appear — desperately makes its audience wish that everything that's destined to occur, and is already known, just won't. Saul Goodman's name has always been ironic, but getting viewers crossing their fingers that things really will prove "s'all good, man" is this show's masterstroke. That said, as the series morphs from a prequel to a sequel in its last episodes, expecting Saul and Kim to live happily ever after feels like a fool's fantasy. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan has many skills, and chronicling life's bleak and heartbreaking realities via meticulous and twisty character studies has always been one of them in these two extraordinary series. Also always high on Gilligan's list: giving everyone involved with both shows the roles of their lifetimes. That's why Cranston and Paul's returns were so eagerly anticipated, and why seeing Odenkirk slip back into Saul's shoes — and Jimmy's first, and Gene's as well in Better Call Saul's black-and-white follow-up scenes — has been so magnificent to watch. Getting caught up in Nacho and Lalo's stories, hoping Mike's path might take an unexpected detour, hanging on every hint of what might come for Kim: that's all as much a stroke of brilliant casting as outstanding writing, too. This series can astonish and delight like little else, including in its tightly plotted and never-predictable narrative, its sublimely cinematic imagery and its many, many marvellous performances alike. TV won't be the same without Saul Goodman, if this is the end of his road. TV has been all the better for Better Call Saul's presence, and it has six outstanding seasons to show for it. The series has always been the perfect capper to Breaking Bad — a devotee's dream in every way, including in its surprises and departures as much as its knowing nods — and, when the still-entertaining El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie arrived in 2019, it's little wonder that it felt somewhat slight and superfluous in comparison. However Better Call Saul ends, likely not as anyone thinks as Mike warned, the series has dived deep into the choices and costs that've pushed and plagued everyone in its frames, and simultaneously surveyed how everyday tragedies do and can play out. Gilligan has cooked that up twice now, and given television an astounding high. (Fingers crossed for a Kim Wexler spinoff, obviously.) Check out the trailer for the second half of Better Call Saul's sixth and final season below: Better Call Saul streams via Stan in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, with the final episode set to air on Tuesday, August 16. Read our review of the first half of Better Call Saul's sixth season. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
When you scroll through Netflix's menu, everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton might catch your eye. Over on Disney+, you could make a beeline to The Mandalorian and WandaVision, while Amazon Prime Video may pique your interest if you're keen on The Boys or Tales From the Loop. But, if you're fond of homegrown films and television programs, you might've noticed that the huge range of streaming platforms on offer Down Under don't typically fund, create and make available all that much new Australian content. The current situation is somewhat better than it was. When Netflix officially launched in Australia back in 2015, its buffet of streaming movies and TV shows noticeably lacked new original local content (indeed, it took more than two years for the popular platform to finally announce that it was making its first Aussie series, Tidelands). It still doesn't overflow with Aussie fare, although it did give Aunty Donna its own delightful comedy. Fellow streamer Stan has been beefing up its catalogue with Aussie movies and shows, though, with the likes of No Activity, Wolf Creek, Bloom, Bump, After the Night, A Sunburnt Christmas, Relic and True History of the Kelly Gang among the local titles joining its ranks. If a group of Australian creatives has anything to do with it, however, there'll be much more local content added to streaming platforms in the future. High Ground's Simon Baker, Hungry Ghosts' Bryan Brown and Justine Clarke, and Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt)'s Marta Dusseldorp are all part of the Make It Australian campaign, which is lobbying the Australian Government to implement quotas. The proposal: that all streaming services operating in Australia that have at least 500,000 subscribers are required to spend 20 percent of their local revenue on new Aussie dramas, documentaries and content for children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVoYKwTc4E If the idea sounds familiar, that's because it has been under consideration before, and for some time — with a green paper on the topic published in late 2020, and a consultation period currently open — but nothing has come to fruition as yet. This time around, the group behind the move put forward their case at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, March 16, particularly noting the importance of Australian audiences being able to watch local stories as streaming platforms grow in popularity. Similar quotas are in place regarding Australian programming on both commercial free-to-air television and pay TV — although requirements were altered in 2020 due to the pandemic. And if you're thinking that the Aussie screen industry seems to be in good shape at the moment considering that a huge number of Hollywood titles are being filmed here at present — including everything from Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder to Nicole Kidman-starring TV series Nine Perfect Strangers, plus new movies directed by Ron Howard and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts soon to shoot — the current situation isn't the norm. Big productions have been coming to our shores during the pandemic given that Australia's COVID-19 case numbers are low, protocols are in place and it's safe to film here as a result, but that isn't guaranteed to continue once life returns to normal in the US. For more information about the Make It Australian campaign, head to its website. For more information about the media reform green paper, head to the Australian Government website.
There are many, many reasons to be excited that summer is just around the corner. Two big ones: beachside hang-outs and pool parties. So, if you've started thinking about swimwear, we have something relevant to your interests — renowned boho label Tigerlily Swimwear is holding a massive four-day warehouse sale, so get ready for some unprecedented bikini bargains. The Aussie brand has been around for just shy of 20 years and is still creating timeless prints and flattering shapes — and getting it 70 percent off makes it even better. This is Tigerlily's biggest ever warehouse sale with prices starting from just $30. Tigerlily collections from previous seasons will be on offer for you and your Vitamin-D-deficient body. And, it isn't just swimwear — playsuits, dresses, shorts, kaftans and other clothing will also be reduced to help you get your summer wardrobe sorted. The Tigerlily warehouse sale will take place at Functions on Chapel from November 1–4, running from 8am–7pm on Thursday and 8am–5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
When Melbourne's latest round of restrictions eased this week, allowing hospitality and retail to reopen, much of the city was focused on finally being able to 'get on the beers'. But it seems a stack of locals had another important task at the top of their post-lockdown to-do lists: a midnight shopping session at Kmart. In fact, both 'get on the beers' and 'Kmart' were trending on Twitter just moments after the announcement. The resulting crowds that swarmed the retail giant's late-night stores for their 11.59pm opening on Tuesday night were so hectic that Kmart has gone and launched a new booking system. Yep — you can now secure a timeslot to go shopping. https://twitter.com/RustyLoL/status/1320590087445385216 Scores of eager punters hit the town late Tuesday night keen to make the most of freshly lifted restrictions by heading for a feed, a drink, or a shop. And Kmart proved an especially popular choice, with Kmart Group Managing Director Ian Bailey telling 3AW that a whopping 10,000 people passed through the chain's five local late-night stores before 6am. Of course, not everyone was enamoured by the shopping frenzy, with Kmart Australia's Facebook page copping plenty of less-than-impressed responses. Some comments labelled the company 'socially irresponsible' for allowing such huge crowds to gather, while others questioned why so many people had been so desperate to go shopping at the crack of midnight. Now, Kmart's hoping to manage the masses of shopping fiends with a new booking system via SocialQ. Rolling out across the group's busiest metropolitan Melbourne stores, the new setup is designed to save customers from lengthy queues, while limiting the number of people in store at any one time. Shoppers can now head to the website, click on their chosen store and book a preferred timeslot to visit. A booking confirmation is sent via SMS, which you'll then have to flash when you arrive in-store. While it's not compulsory, Kmart is recommending people book ahead in order to avoid wait times, improve social distancing and ensure a speedy shopping experience. Kmart's new booking system is now operating for select metro Melbourne stores. Head here to see the list of participating outlets and book a timeslot.
Take the rocky road down to the Yarra Valley and get ready to stuff your face. Yes, the fiends behind last year's month-long sugar extravaganza are taking your tastebuds on a trip all over again, with sweet, nutty, marshmallowy rocky road in the spotlight. By the way, to any dentists who are reading, go ahead and put down a deposit on that beach house you were looking at. We have a feeling your financial situation is going to be juuuuuuuuust fine. The Rocky Road Festival of Flavours will run through the entire month of May. That's 31 days, which means 31 different flavours. And it doesn't just stop at blocks and bars, either, even when a 100-kilogram, eight-metre long rocky road block is part of the fun. There'll also be rocky road hot chocolate, rocky road ice cream and rocky road waffles too. The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery will also be hosting Rock Around the Block tasting sessions three times a day, which can be booked via their website.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas — or, at least, it is inside two particular rooms of the DoubleTree Hilton Melbourne, which have been transformed into twinkling festive wonderlands in honour of the impending Yuletide season. For the second year, a couple of the hotel's Flinders Street Station View Rooms have been decked out in full Christmas regalia, available to book for festive stays right up until Tuesday, January 10. In the White Christmas room, you can escape to the northern hemisphere as you snuggle up with plush sheepskin slippers and throws courtesy of UGG Express. You'll find a frosted Christmas tree dripping with lights, plus candy cane and gingerbread decorations aplenty. An even wilder time awaits guests in the red, green and gold Santa's Workshop room, where the dazzling Christmas lights are out in force. A giant wreath and Christmas tree are brimming with baubles and globes, while the words 'HO HO HO' are splashed in neon across one wall. You'll spy classic decorations and toys all around the space, and you'll have reindeer slippers and sheepskin rugs to keep you cosy on your Christmas adventure. Guests staying in the DoubleTree's Christmas rooms will also enjoy the hotel brand's signature warm cookies on arrival, plus specialty hot chocolate and marshmallows, and complimentary breakfast for two at the onsite restaurant. Find DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne at 270 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Book your stay online, using the promo code "PR40EB", or call the hotel on (03) 9654 6888. The Christmas rooms are available up until Tuesday, January 10.
Here's one for the money: a huge Elvis Presley showcase, filled with around 300 artifacts owned by the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, all on display in Australia. Come autumn 2022, you'll want to step into your blue suede shoes and take a trip to the Bendigo Art Gallery, which'll fill its walls and halls with Elvis' clothes, vehicles and other personal items. All those jumpsuits he was so famous for wearing? A selection will be on display. The only car from his movies that was actually his? That red convertible 1960 MG, from the film Blue Hawaii, is visiting Australia for the first time. The Bendigo Art Gallery will also showing some tender love to Elvis' military uniforms, first job application and wedding tuxedo — plus Priscilla Presley's wedding dress. Plenty of the items heading to regional Victoria rarely travel beyond Graceland — so yes, calling the exhibition is Elvis: Direct from Graceland is apt. It'll serve up this hunk of burning Elvis love between Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17 in an Australian exclusive, as curated in collaboration with the Graceland archives. "It is a great honour to work alongside the creative team at the Bendigo Art Gallery to bring this unprecedented, detailed and comprehensive look into Elvis' life and career to Australia," said Angie Marchese, Vice President Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises. "While Elvis was never able to visit Australia himself, it brings us great pride at Graceland to know that his legacy and music lives on there. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into Elvis' life with the fans in Australia," Marchese continued. [caption id="attachment_829957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate, 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.[/caption] Other featured objects include Elvis' 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, his first grade crayon box from school and other garments from his personal wardrobe — if you're wondering what else will get the exhibition shaking, rattling and rolling. Costumes from his film career, movie scripts, jewellery worn by him and even vintage Elvis-branded merchandise will all be on display as well. Elvis: Direct from Graceland will step through all the key periods in the rock 'n' roll icon's life, from his early Mississippi days through to his Vegas years — and also peer beyond the pompadour and sequins, exploring his interest in books, karate and horses, and all things Graceland. It's Bendigo Art Gallery's latest huge exhibition to focus on style icons, after previously showcasing Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Balenciaga and Mary Quant. When it comes to celebrating high-profile figures, it seems the venue can't help falling in love. Elvis: Direct From Graceland displays at the Bendigo Art Gallery from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17, 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Elvis Presley in the 1968 NBC television special, Singer Presents... Elvis, later known as the 'Comeback Special'. Photograph: Fathom Events/CinEvents. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.
While so many small restaurants and bars are doing it tough these days, plenty of the big restaurant groups are only getting bigger. Lucas Restaurants (Chin Chin, Hawker Hall, Kisumé, Grill Americano, Society, Yakimono, Baby Pizza) is one of these beasts — and it's just announced plans to launch two new venues in the CBD. Set to open at 435 Bourke Street within a new $1 billion commercial office tower by developer Cbus Property, Chris Lucas and his team will not only run the sites but also heavily influence the space's design, which, as a restaurateur, is surely one of the perks of joining a venture while the venue is still under construction. About his new venture, Lucas said: "Melbourne is my home and city that I have dedicated my working life to and is also one of the world's great food cities. "Developments such as 435 Bourke Street give me a rare creative licence and a blank canvas to see how our restaurants can help transform our city and position it as a city of the future for both hospitality and work." At the time of publishing, the only details we have received about these two venues are that one will be a "new-style Chinese" restaurant, and the other a "sophisticated Mediterranean" diner. There's also no clear opening date, but the development in which they sit is slated to open sometime in 2026. [caption id="attachment_921103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yakimono[/caption] The two new Lucas Restaurants venues will be found at 435 Bourke Street, Melbourne, and are slated to open in 2026 . We'll be sure to keep you updated with more details as we find out more.
Clearing out your wardrobe, sifting through your old clothing and making a pile to give to a new home rank among life's necessary but often overlooked tasks. It's also an easy process to get just partway through — pulling unloved shirts off their hangers and bagging up a heap of your old outfits to donate to charity, but then letting said bag sit in your hallway for months and months. Sound familiar? If you have the enthusiasm to gift your pre-loved clothing to a new home, but never quite get around to dropping off your old pieces for whatever reason, then you might be interested in The Iconic's new donation scheme. Called Giving Made Easy, it's an extension of the online retailer's free returns mechanism. Just print out a pre-paid shipping label from the company's website, pop it on a box or satchel filled with clothes that you're never going to wear again, then take it to an Australia Post box or office. Obviously, it still involves you actually moving your pile of unwanted clothes out of your house — but even if you never manage to make it to a Salvation Army or St Vincent's store or bin, you're never too far away from a post box. Once posted, your old threads will be sent to the Salvos to sell in their 330 shops across the country, which raise money to assist folks dealing with homelessness, addiction, domestic violence and emergency situations. To nab a label, you will need to have an active account with The Iconic. Once you've done that and printed out the label, you can stick it on any box or satchel you choose. And if you're a customer with one of the company's delivery satchels in your possession after your last order, you can also use that to send in your pre-loved pieces. The initiative is part of The Iconic's efforts to help reduce textile waste, with around 6000 kilograms of fabric and clothing ending up in Aussie landfill every ten minutes. As always when you're donating pre-worn clothes, pieces will need to be in good condition. If you'd happily give it to a friend as it is, then it's okay to give it to the Salvos. The charity is accepting dresses, tops, t-shirts, singlets, skirts, pants, shorts, jeans, coats, jackets, jumpsuits, playsuits, sweats, hoodies, jumpers, cardigans, suits, blazers, shirts, polos and activewear, as well as footwear and shoes. Used underwear, socks and hosiery won't be taken, nor anything that's damaged. To find out more about The Iconic's Giving Made Easy scheme — or to download a pre-paid shipping label — visit the online retailer's website. Top image: The Iconic.
Kicking off a new side hustle or small biz idea can be a challenging quest, but with the right connections and resources it doesn't have to be. In partnership with Fiverr, we're spotlighting budding entrepreneurs who are getting their businesses off the ground in style. Ask most beer drinkers what they love about their favourite brew, and few would say it's the complex molecular structure that gets them craving a cold one. But Daniel Rojas, Gina Pacheco and Shivam Tandon aren't your run-of-the-mill beer enthusiasts. While the trio of chemical engineers are, like the rest of us, partial to knocking back a few brews at their local, they took things up a notch by making their own tipples. Together, they created The Zythologist, a new, science-based Aussie brewery founded at Monash University, where the three met. "We just love to learn how things work. We also love beer," Rojas told Concrete Playground. "For us, it's about understanding what's happening at a molecular level, [along with] how to bring [out] flavours and unique aromas." So, how do three chemical engineers end up making A-class brews? The three co-founders set out to understand the science of brewing and got hooked on the challenging process of making beer. It began with Rojas and Pacheco, who founded Monash Brewlab, Australia's first student-led nano-brewery, with Tandon joining shortly after. It has since become an educational lab, where students can apply the scientific principles learned in lectures and tutorials to create a product loved by uni students the world over: beer. Riding on the success of the uni-based brewery, the trio launched a commercial spin-off. Initially, they created Scholars Ink (a nod to the mates' tertiary achievements), which produced two debut brews — a mango lassi sour and a sessionable 4.2-percent dark ale. Both sold out in less than two months. Fast-forward to 2021 and they now have The Zythologist — and it's got big plans. [caption id="attachment_818393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] Not prepared to rest on their laurels, Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon brought The Zythologist back to where it all began. Their entrepreneurial idea was validated through the Monash University's central startup hub, The Generator, where they won a $5000 grant from Fiverr to help evolve their unique business proposition. For the uninitiated, Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects small business owners — or anyone with a burgeoning side hustle — with freelancers across a range of disciplines, including social media marketing, SEO services, illustration, and video and animation. Its easy-to-use design and global database of freelance experts makes it simple-as to get started and give your side hustle a leg up. So, what does all this have to do with The Zythologist? Well, first on the three mates' to-do list is to put some of that cash towards rebranding from Scholars Ink to the new-and-improved The Zythologist — with the help of Fiverr freelancers, naturally. "'Zythologist' comes from [the term] 'zythology', which is the study of beer and brewing, Rojas told CP. "We want to create this persona of The Zythologist [as] the connoisseur of everything related to beer." It goes without saying that their plans for The Zythologist don't stop at a new brand identity and shiny website. Rojas says he and his co-founders are keen to leverage their expertise to launch a consultancy and analytics service, while also making new brews and ensuring their product and production processes are kinder to the planet. The ultimate goal? To move the brewing industry in a more sustainable and efficient direction, with better beer across the board as a result. [caption id="attachment_818388" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] If you weren't lucky enough to snap up a six-pack of the trio's maiden brews, don't worry — there are more on the boil (yes, pun intended). First up, The Zythologist is working on a big, dessert-like imperial pastry stout, brewed in collaboration with Burnley Brewing. And, not ones to do things by halves, Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon are also working on a non-alcoholic beer to tap into the growing no- and low- alcohol trend. "The science behind brewing can be quite complex, and every time you add another ingredient or treat it differently, the dimensions increase by an order of magnitude," Rojas told CP. "For non-alcoholic [beer], I think it's even more difficult, because what we want to do is emulate the [same] sensation you would have from a normal beer. Accomplishing that — and having [an ABV of] less than 0.5 percent, which is the threshold for a non-alcoholic beer — is actually quite hard." While Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon will likely dabble in more traditional brews like pale ales and IPAs eventually, it's pretty clear that these three mates are enjoying pushing the boundaries and making unconventional brews. As for the rest of us, there's really no better motivation to crack a cold one — alcoholic or otherwise — than knowing it's for science. Bottoms up. Have your own booming side hustle — or need a hand getting it off the ground? Check out the Fiverr website and connect with freelancers around the world, all just a click away. Lead image: Shivam Tandon, Gina Pacheco and Daniel Rojas. All photography by Melanie Desa.
It's worryingly easy to lapse into the 'same old' routine that you're used to: work, gym, the new season of Orange Is the New Black, bed. It's much harder to find the motivation to go out and actually do something, especially when it's still a bit cold. But, Melbourne's cogs don't stop turning as soon as the sun does its yearly strop off to the other side of the world. In fact, there's much to discover in the city that doesn't involve your comfy status quo of pad thai on the couch. So, along with our mates at Mitsubishi, and in celebration of their new Eclipse Cross, we thought we'd gently remind you of that. Check out our ideas for making some local discoveries every day this week. From getting some science in you to scoffing down a hectic milkshake to seeing some art at the cornucopia that is the NGV, there are plenty of ways you can have a city-themed adventure and still make it back home in time to smash out a Netflix episode before bed. It's the best of both worlds, no? MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3: LIVE PODCASTING Learn about the stuff you should know at this one-off live podcast recording. The guys behind the popular Stuff You Should Know podcast, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, are in town today doing a special one-off live recording. The podcast is a general knowledge affair from the duo who used to work at HowStuffWorks.com, so you can rest assured they really do know stuff about stuff. Having toured around the US, Canada and Europe with the podcast, it's Australia's turn now, with only one show in Melbourne. Expect a none-too-serious night of interesting facts and humour and to leave with a slightly broadened general knowledge about anything from Spam to zoot suits. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4: DRAWING THE HUMAN FORM Test your life drawing skills at an after-work art session. Work-Shop runs myriad classes and short courses, and its life drawing for beginners is a solid option for those who feel they might have an arty bone in their bodies somewhere but have never really found it. At this small group class centred around a live nude model, you'll be given one-on-one guidance on how to draw the human form — and then left alone and given space to spread your arty wings. All materials are included (plus some wine) so all you need to bring is your most creative self. [caption id="attachment_663227" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy.[/caption] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5: A VERY AUSTRALIAN CURRY Prove your love of vegemite by ordering a curry made with the stuff at Sunda. Modern Southeast Asian restaurant/bar Sunda is tucked down the CBD treasure trove of eateries that is Punch Lane and is housed in a former car park, so that's already full marks for discovery vibes here. Combining Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese flavours with modern Australian, and featuring native plants and flora, this fusion approach is perhaps seen to no greater degree than in the fact that there's vegemite on the menu. Mix things up a little for your palate by ordering the roti served with vegemite curry dipping sauce. A slightly different native ingredient than you probably had in mind, it certainly jazzes up your staid vegemite toast cafe order. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6: RETRO BURGERS AND MILKSHAKES Head to Bentleigh's old school milk bar for a burger and a lamington shake. Lactose-intolerant people, look away now — unless you're up for a real challenge (digesting about a pint of Golden Gaytime-flavoured milkshake). The shakes don't muck around at Good Times Milk Bar in Bentleigh, and neither does the rest of the menu. The old school, pastel vibes at Good Times do just what the label says — you won't see a single bad time once you've decided on what you want from the bonanza of burgers and shakes. Discover a belly full of burger and milk, and more importantly, comfort. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: AVANT-GARDE AUSTRALIAN ART Catch the NGV's new parallel retrospective of Baldessin and Whiteley. The NGV is hosting a retrospective of two iconic 20th-century Australian artists: George Baldessin and Brett Whiteley. Combining the work of the two for Baldessin/Whiteley: Parallel Visions, the exhibition will look at the similarities between the men —who both died tragically early. Baldessin and Whiteley created avant-garde works that played with surrealism, incorporating hints of pop culture. Along with some of their most famous works (such as Baldessin's MM of Rue St Denis series and Whiteley's The American Dream), there'll be some pieces on show that have never been seen before, too. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8: A NIGHT OF FOOD AND STARS Spend a night stargazing at Scienceworks' AstroLight Festival. Scienceworks is probably number one on your list if you want to discover things, with it being chockablock full of cool facts and interactive displays about science, technology, health and just general stuff. The museum is also hosting the AstroLight Festival tonight, perfect for the astronomers among us (or just those chillers who like to look at stars). Throughout the evening, scientists, astronomers and artists will present talks, performances and optics activities — and of course, stargazing if the weather is good. A bar, cafe and food trucks will cater your night sky discovery journey, as well. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9: VEGAN HOT SPOTS Go on a vegan walking trail through Fitzroy. Weekend days are often put aside for doing wholesome activities that make your body feel nice after your Friday night hijinks, and with the Cruelty Free Shop's Vegan Day Out happening this weekend, your wholesome plans will be highly achievable. Bargains and discounts abound during this roaming day out, where you'll be guided by a map laying out where exactly the best vegan specials are. Grab a map from your closest Cruelty Free Shop, and go on a stroll to discover meal deals, free tastings, discounted groceries and even wine samplings around town. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here. Top image: Kate Shanasy.
They first toured Australia in 1982. They've returned plenty of times since, including on the Big Day Out and Vivid lineups. When they were last here in 2020, the pandemic got in the way, causing them to cut short their plans — and now New Order have locked in their latest visit Down Under five years later. "It's an honour to be coming back to perform in one of our favourite places. We sadly had to cancel a Melbourne show in March 2020, as a consequence of COVID and are so happy we can come back to play again," said the Manchester-formed band, announcing their next Aussie dates. "We've always loved playing in Australia and are excited to be returning for a run of very special shows in 2025. Good things come to those who wait!" [caption id="attachment_976837" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erin Mc via Flickr[/caption] 'Blue Monday', 'Temptation', 'Bizarre Love Triangle' — more than four decades after forming, the group will play them all on a four-city Australian tour that starts at Perth's RAC Arena, then plays the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and Riverstage in Brisbane, before hitting the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for two nights, all in March 2025. Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner started New Order out of Joy Division, following the tragic death of the latter's lead singer Ian Curtis, and helped pioneer the synth-pop sound that not only helped define the 80s but has been influential ever since. If you've seen the films Control and 24 Hour Party People, you've seen part of New Order's story on-screen. And if you've caught them live before, you'll know that they're always a must-see. In Sydney, the group join Sydney Opera House's March run of forecourt concerts, which also includes Fontaines DC and PJ Harvey. "The incomparable New Order on the forecourt will be one of *those* Opera House moments to remember forever (and my 16 year-old self with his hopelessly worn-out tape of Substance can't quite believe it). Fontaines DC's moment is right now, and it's an honour to host one of the world's most fiercest live bands on the Forecourt for their massive Australian return," said Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall. [caption id="attachment_976838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RL GNZLZ via Flickr[/caption] New Order Australian Tour 2025 Wednesday, March 5 — RAC Arena, Perth Saturday, March 8 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, March 11 — Riverstage, Brisbane Friday, March 14–Saturday, March 15 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney New Order are touring Australia in March 2025, with tickets on sale from 10am local time on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: RL GNZLZ via Flickr.
This year's Night Noodle Markets are getting a shake-up, with the food festival reimagined in a new At Home format that's set to bring all the usual flavour and fun straight to your house. Every night from Tuesday, June 1–Wednesday, June 30, the revamped event will see a lineup of eight Asian-inspired eateries offering their cult dishes — and some new hits — for home delivery. At a pop-up kitchen in the CBD, festival favourites including Puffle, Wonderbao and Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart will be cooking up their finest eats and sending them to your door, so you can recreate the Night Noodle Market magic at home. You'll be able to pick and mix food from multiple menus in the one order, with everything delivered via Doordash. Choose from the likes of Hoy Pinoy's glazed pork belly and chicken skewers, Mi Goreng-crumbed chicken ribs from Indomie and Kariton Sorbetes' boozy trifle. There'll be two weekly rotating banquets, too — a vegetarian feed for two named 'Broc 'n Roll' and the 'I Love You Soy Much' date-night feast. Night Noodle Markets At Home will service a range of inner suburbs — check here to see if yours is one of them. [caption id="attachment_745518" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Puffle is making an appearance as part of the Night Noodle Markets At Home.[/caption]
At Belle's Hot Chicken, Christian Robertson and Morgan McGlone have made a hero of natural wine, just as much as of their beloved spicy fried chook. But that less-is-more, organic-focused philosophy that's so big in the wine world, had yet to sneak its way into the rest of the pair's booze program. That is, until now. Dreamed up on a recent jaunt to Japan, McGlone and Robertson's latest venture is Kyoto Protocol — a pop-up cocktail bar concept named after the city where their idea was hatched. "It's built on the idea that we could have a natural wine approach to a cocktail program," explains Belles Beverage Director Robertson. Debuting at this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the bar puts a fresh spin on the whole cocktail caper, showcasing four of what the boys call "lo-fi" drinks. They're easy to make, easy to enjoy and crafted on organic ingredients, with no unnatural additives and minimal garnishes. Operating out of a repurposed shipping container at MFWF's House of Food and Wine, Kyoto Protocol will be slinging all four concoctions from March 9 to 11. Clocking in at an easy $12 a pop, you'll find creations such as the Basic B, which blends vodka, organic yuzu from NSW, Japanese yuzu soda, cold-pressed watermelon and a cucumber syrup. Another, dubbed the Hentai, mixes peach bitters, Hennessy and a peach iced tea, made to a recipe McGlone picked up over in Nashville. Backing the stronger stuff, there'll be a hefty selection of natural wine, as the boys raid their extensive, long-built cellar collection. Expect a good 100 bottles featured across the weekend, with plenty of hard-to-find options and a solid range on offer by the glass. "They're bottles that people don't get the opportunity to taste very often," hints Robertson. Sticking with the natural approach, the bar will be using only 100 percent wheat straws and biodegradable cups. What's more, all those used cups will be collected and displayed throughout the pop-up, to help keep customers mindful about another important impact of their boozing. The final haul of waste will be recycled and repurposed into something useful — think, a park bench, rail sleepers, or plastic bricks — by the legends at Closed Loop. Kyoto Protocol will be popping up alongside a slew of food stalls and masterclasses from some of Australia's — and the world's — best chefs. You'll be able to down the lo-fi cocktails alongside eats by Belles, Sundae School, Mamasita and more. Day passes to the House of Food and Wine start from $65 and can be purchased here. Find Kyoto Protocol at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's House of Food and Wine at The Coopers Malthouse Theatre, Southbank, from March 9–11, 2019. Images: Parker Blain and Daniel Mahon.
Romance prospects looking a little slim this Valentine's Day? Fear not — your mates at Abbotsford's Moon Dog have the perfect solution, involving some very good boys and plenty of furry (and perhaps a little slobbery) kisses. This February 14, the Abbotsford brewery is serving up a big dose of puppy love with its dog-filled Valentine's Day bash, complete with an adorable doggy kissing booth. It'll be manned by some of Moon Dog's favourite four-legged friends, offering smooches from 4–6pm. Who even needs love when doggy snogs are on the cards? Fittingly, this paw party also coincides with the launch of the latest drop from Moon Dog's Doggo Mates beer series: the big, hazy Leon's New England IPA. Rock up from 4pm and you can be one of the first to sample it fresh from the tap. And, of course, if you've got a pooch of your own, they're welcome to come along and join in the loved-up, Valentine's Day fun. CORRECTION: FEBRUARY 10, 2020 — This article previously stated that Valentine's Day at The Dog would be happening at Moon Dog World in Preston, this is incorrect. The event is happening at Moon Dog's OG Abbotsford Brewery. The article has been updated to correct this. Images: Kate Shanasy
Cairns is a jump-off point for so many of the region's highlights with bustling markets, stunning tropical beaches, a world-heritage listed rainforest and luxury hotels. And now, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef is a competition entry away. Be in with a chance to win a two-night stay for two guests in one of those luxury hotels courtesy of Concrete Playground and Crystalbrook Collection Cairns. The Crystalbrook Collection hotel group has three stunning (and sustainability-minded) hotels and resorts in Cairns, and the lucky winner can choose which of the three they would like to spend their two-night stay with their plus one. Crystalbrook prides itself on its eco-conscious philosophy of "responsible luxury". There are mindful choices throughout the hotels from wooden key cards to locally sourced produce. You'll also find glass water bottles instead of plastic, 100% recycled cardboard hangers in your wardrobe and much more. Not sure which to choose? If you are a social butterfly, Crystalbrook Flynn is your spot. It's mere steps from Cairns Esplanade boardwalk and close to all the main attractions of the city as well as having two onsite restaurants — Flynn's Italian and Boardwalk Social — and a contemporary bar and balcony Whiskey and Wine. For relaxed resort vibes, the five-star Crystalbrook Riley is the perfect place to escape. There's an onsite restaurant Paper Crane, rooftop bar Rocco and a relaxing Eléme Day spa for chilling out at the end of the day. Or tap into your inner artist at Crystalbrook Bailey. A dog-friendly hotel with a rooftop bar, an award-winning restaurant CC's Bar and Grill and a wine bar Arte where you could discover your new favourite biodynamic wine. Not only will the winner enjoy a two-night stay at the hotel, but they and a plus one will also receive welcome drinks on arrival at Whiskey and Wine, daily breakfast for two, wine and dinner for two at the award-winning CC's Bar and Grill and flights for two from Melbourne or Sydney. All you'll have to do is pack. If Cairns has been on your bucket list for a while, it's well past time to scratch it off. Shake off your winter thermals and slip into your swimmers and thongs to enjoy a bevvie by the pool in one of the hotels. Keen to nab this incredible tropical holiday? Simply fill out your details below for your chance to win. [competition]910681[/competition]
Passion. Vulnerability. Determination. This is what Mia Thompson offers when asked what's needed to make a career out of dance. The full-time artist speaks from a position of experience, having had both feet planted in the world of dance since childhood. "I started dancing when I was 4," Thompson shares. "I wouldn't say I was a superstar — just running around in a cute little tutu thinking everything's great. I have six sisters, so I think it was a way to get us into a controlled space together that was also artistic. It's in our family's blood to be artistic." Embarking on any creative journey is difficult — embarking on one as your 9–5 that satisfies your inherent creativity and enables you to share your craft with the world is especially so. With the support of LG SIGNATURE — a proud partner of Sydney Dance Company and supporter of the wider arts community — we had a chat with Thompson, exploring her travels to the world's stages, her current position with Sydney Dance Company and what it takes to be a full-time dancer. [caption id="attachment_866757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pedro Greig[/caption] "I THOUGHT WHAT YOU DID WITH DANCE WAS TEACH" Not fussy on her favourite style, Thompson fell in love with all forms of dance. Ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop — for Thompson, it was a joy to just be moving. In high school, after watching an older sister perform, she realised that the world of dance extended further than the classes she was in. "I thought what you did with dance was teach," she laughs. "I saw the Queensland Ballet do The Sleeping Beauty and I was like, 'They're getting paid to do that?! I want to do that!'" After finishing high school, Thompson joined Queensland Ballet's professional program. "I did one year but the director didn't really like me — he thought I was only doing it 'cos my sister was. I was told it'd be unlikely that I'd get a contract with them, and that I could stay and get my training or find another program with a segue into another company." A heavy blow, but a blessing in the end. Because, what's vital to flourishing in the world of professional movement art? "A school or teacher that supports you as an individual. You can go to the top school in Europe, but it might not be the top school for you. If they don't understand you, they're not going to give you the most that you can get out of yourself as an artist. I was so headstrong on getting a ballet career, so being in a contemporary [dance] company now, maybe Queensland Ballet could see something I couldn't." Following her training in Queensland, Thompson went westwards with a successful audition for WAAPA. Living away from home for the first time, evolving as a dancer and starting friendships, the tingle for travel set in. Thompson secured a spot in the Scottish Ballet where, in 2018, she was promoted to first dancer. [caption id="attachment_865975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rimbaud Patron[/caption] LANDING ON HOME SOIL While at the Scottish Ballet, she met her future fiancé. "He wanted to do contemporary and I told him about Sydney Dance Company. We were just friends at this point, and I was like 'You should go'." He auditioned, got in and the pair got together, giving long-distance love a go for a year. In the audience of a Sydney Dance Company production — and seeing the new-found articulation in her partner's body — Thompson had a revelation: "With ballet, you're striving for perfection. Watching the [Sydney Dance Company] dancers — the way they moved and the understanding they had for their body — there was nothing that I could relate to. I wanted that, I wanted to be able to speak on behalf of myself and my body." Dance is a notoriously cutthroat industry. There's limited spots, stiff competition and a relatively short career span. "You have no idea how many dancers, even in Europe, are just desperate to get into Sydney Dance Company. We are the leading contemporary dance company in Australia, even in the world. Young artists leaving school are just so keen to get in, they want to know everything about you, it's like we're celebrities. It's very easy to forget — I remember myself at that age, dancers would walk past and my jaw would drop. Even before I auditioned, that was me looking at the company." The chance to audition arose and she took it. She got the longed-for call and high-tailed it Down Under, finishing her time with the Scottish Ballet as Cinderella. As Thompson speaks, she radiates an almost palpable enthusiasm for her vocation. Sydney Dance Company's stellar reputation is one that has not only been earned, but continues to be a work in progress. "If we're not performing, a typical day starts at 9.30am and ends at 6pm. You rehearse repertoire or create new work, explore ways of moving. You can have your steps, but every day I see dancers in the mirror or talking to each other trying to find new ways to develop it. It literally never stops growing, which is beautiful in itself." [caption id="attachment_866753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pedro Greig[/caption] "IT'S FLOW STATE" When seated behind a desk, it's difficult to imagine a work life dedicated to exploring and executing movement. Beyond perfecting shape after shape, there's a bottomless list of to-dos. "After a show," Thompson shares, "you'll see most of the dancers in a cubicle, with our feet shoved in an ice bucket to cool." Plus, there's warm-up classes, prehab/rehab (to safeguard those hardworking bodies), rehearsals, feedback sessions and self-review videos, collaboration, hair and makeup, stage direction and spacial notes. The end result? Expertly controlled dancers commanding the stage, allowing audiences to connect and feel something. When asked what it feels like to perform on stage, Thompson's eyes widen and she lifts her chin. "When I dance I feel a great sense of freedom and release," she smiles. "It's like I'm in a trance. There's no better feeling than feeling completely lost on stage, surrounded by your colleagues. Working with them but also feeling completely alone in this world. It's my happiness, it's my sadness, it's my expressive therapy. It's flow state." Defining what it takes to be a full-time dancer is so subjective that it's no simple task. But, when you reflect on Thompson's persistence and determination, her desire to understand her body and to collaborate on stage, and the palpable energy and emotion that buzzes around her when she speaks about dancing, it's clear that it's not just a job. "Some days can feel like work," Mia finishes. "But the minute you step out on stage, you just get lost in it." A supporter of the wider arts community, LG SIGNATURE is a proud partner of Sydney Dance Company. Head to the website to learn more about the partnership. Top image: Pedro Greig
What do Byron Bay, Busselton, Bali and Bangkok all have in common? Alongside everywhere from Launceston, Newcastle, Uluru, Cairns, Darwin, The Whitsundays, and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts through to Singapore and Phuket, you can nab a cheap flight there and back as part of Jetstar's latest sale. This time around, fares start at $33. The one catch: you'll need to be a Club Jetstar member (but you can sign up now to get in on the bargains). There always seems to be an airline sale popping up, but this one has a heap of discounts on a huge number of fares, with 100,000 flights on offer. You do need to get in quick, however, as it's running for just 48 hours. The cheapest domestic price, $33, gets you between Sydney and Ballina/Byron, but Launceston–Melbourne is only $43, Brisbane–Whitsunday Coast and Newcastle–Melbourne are both $49, Gold Coast–Sydney is $50, Sunshine Coast–Sydney starts at $52 and Hobart–Melbourne begins at $58. To get from Brisbane to Cairns, you'll pay $76 — and from Sydney to Uluru is $105, Melbourne–Busselton / Margaret River is $135 and Darwin–Sydney is $156. The list goes on, including for overseas jaunts, where the Perth–Singapore route starts at $139, Melbourne–Singapore begins at $189, Adelaide–Bali is $215, Sydney–Phuket kicks off at $279 and Brisbane–Bangkok starts at $285. If you're keen, the sale runs from 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 19–11.59am ADST on Friday, March 21, 2025 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. And yes, if you're eager for a holiday at reduced prices, you'll want to get in quick. Travel periods vary, but you should find dates betwen late-March 2025–early-February 2026 across the full spread of specials. You'll pay extra for checked baggage if you need it, however, or you'll want to travel super light. Club Jetstar membership costs $65 a year, which you can join online while making a flight booking, and also gives you 20-percent off checked bags and seat selection. [caption id="attachment_976497" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Shaw Photography[/caption] The Club Jetstar March member-only sale runs from 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 19–11.59am ADST on Friday, March 21, 2025 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Maybe you're still planning your winter getaway. Perhaps you're already thinking about spring holidays. Or, you could just be keen to grasp any excuse to take a vacation. Whichever fits, as long as you're eager to spend your next break somewhere in Australia — which still gives you a heap of options — then Jetstar has the sale for you. On offer: domestic fares from $35, which spans trips from Sydney to Byron Bay. The rest of the prices are still cheap, however, and the list of destinations is sizeable. The Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Whitsunday Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston and Uluru are all covered, and all the usual capitals as well, with prices and routes varying depending on the departure point. Dubbed Jetstar's mates' rates sale, this batch of discounted fares includes $62 flights from Sydney to Melbourne, and $110 fares from the Harbour City to Cairns. From Victoria, prices kick off at $39 to Tasmania, and also cover $141 legs to Margaret River. Brisbanites can go to Mackay for $65 and Darwin for $106, too. From Adelaide, deals include $49 to Melbourne and $101 to the Sunshine Coast, while Perth's options start at $149 to Brisbane — and that's just the beginning of the sale's fares. You will need to be happy to head away from July 23–September 20 or October 11–December 12, though. Dates for sale flights also vary depending on the departure and arrival points. There are a few rules, as is always the case. All sale fares are one-way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's mate's rates sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Tuesday, June 20 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. The second important countdown of the month actually goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed 'Heat Waves' by Glass Animals the nation's best track of 2020 — and picked Mashd N Kutcher's Daniel Andrews-inspired 'Get on the Beers' as the 12th most popular song of the past 12 months. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight. And, just like its music counterpart, a worthy victor has come out on top. That'd be Bentspoke Brewing Co, with the Canberra brewery taking out the top spot with its Crankshaft American IPA. In doing so, it bested Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale, the winner of the 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019 polls, which was named this year's second-placed brew — as well as 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, which came in third. Bentspoke had five beers in the top 100 list in total, which is clearly something to toast to — also coming in tenth for its Barley Griffin Australian Pale Ale, 15th for its Sprocket American IPA, 19th for its Cluster 8 Imperial IPA and 32nd for its Red Nut Red IPA. Reacting to the news, head brewer and co-owner Richard Watkins said that everyone at Bentspoke was "blown away that our small independent brewery from Canberra can take Crankshaft to the number one spot in Australia's biggest beer poll. Crankshaft holds a very special place in our hearts as one of our original beers on tap when we first opened in Canberra in 2014. We are thrilled with the support for Crankshaft from Canberra and around Australia." Clearly, plenty of folks sipped more than a few brews throughout 2020. Run by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular' — the countdown is a people's choice poll decided by booze-lovers around the country. Now in its 13th year, almost 40,000 voters took part this time round, a new record. Elsewhere on the list, 15 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, and a whopping 85 percent of the beers on the list are made by independently owned breweries. If you're particularly keen on either, GABS has also released rundowns of the Hottest 100 New Craft Beers and the Hottest 100 Indie Craft Beers (those owned independently) plus the next 100 from the main countdown. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Your Mates, Black Hops, Ballistic, another appearance by Balter, Bridge Road and Young Henry's round out the top ten, while Kaiju!, 4 Pines, Philter, Modus Operandi, Stomping Ground, Heads of Noosa, Gage Roads, Grifter, Hawke's, Mountain Goat and Pirate Life are among the other brands featured. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2021 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2020: 1. Bentspoke 'Crankshaft' (American IPA) ACT 2. Stone & Wood 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 3. Balter 'XPA' (Extra pale ale) QLD 4. Your Mates 'Larry' (Australian pale ale) QLD 5. Black Hops 'G.O.A.T.' (New England IPA) QLD 6. Ballistic 'Hawaiian Haze' (Hazy pale ale) QLD 7. Balter 'Hazy' (Hazy IPA) QLD 8. Bridge Road 'Beechworth Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC 9. Young Henrys 'Newtowner' (Australian pale ale) NSW 10. Bentspoke 'Barley Griffin' (Australian pale ale) ACT 11. Kaiju! 'Krush!' (Extra pale ale) VIC 12. Feral 'Biggie Juice' (New England IPA) WA 13. Capital 'Capital XPA' (Extra pale ale) ACT NEW 14. Capital 'Coast Ale' (California Common) ACT 15. Bentspoke 'Sprocket' (American IPA) ACT 16. Black Hops 'Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) QLD 17. Black Hops 'Hornet' (American IPA) QLD 18. Beerfarm 'Royal Haze' (Hazy IPA) WA 19. Bentspoke 'Cluster 8' (Imperial IPA) ACT 20. 4 Pines 'Pacific Ale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 21. Philter 'XPA' (Australian pale ale) NSW 22. Balter 'IPA' (American IPA) QLD 23. Modus Operandi 'Modus XPA' (Extra pale ale) NSW NEW 24. Balter 'Captain Sensible' (American pale ale) QLD 25. 10 Toes 'Pipeline' (Australian pale ale) QLD 26. Burleigh 'Twisted Palm' (Australian pale ale) QLD 27. Stomping Ground 'Gipps St Pale Ale' (American pale ale) VIC 28. Your Mates 'Sally' (American IPA) QLD 29. Moon Dog 'Old Mate' (American pale ale) VIC 30. 4 Pines 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) NSW 31. Big Shed 'Boozy Fruit' (New England IPA) SA 32. Bentspoke 'Red Nut' (Red IPA) ACT 33. Stone & Wood 'Cloud Catcher' (Australian pale ale) NSW 34. Gage Roads 'Single Fin' (Australian pale ale) WA 35. Modus Operandi 'Modus Pale' (American pale ale) NSW 36. Colonial 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC 37. Heads Of Noosa 'Japanese Lager' (Pale lager) QLD 38. Modus Operandi 'Sonic Prayer' (American IPA) NSW 39. Ballistic 'Oaked XPA' (Extra pale ale) QLD 40. Grifter 'Pale' (Australian pale ale) NSW 41. Hop Nation 'J-Juice' (New England IPA) VIC 42. Black Hops 'Super Hornet' (Imperial IPA) QLD 43. Brick Lane 'One Love' (Australian pale ale) VIC 44. Grifter 'Serpents Kiss' (Fruit beer) NSW 45. Modus Operandi 'Former Tenant' (Red IPA) NSW 46. Capital 'Trail Pale Ale' (American pale ale) ACT 47. Akasha 'Hopsmith' (American IPA) NSW 48. Capital 'Rock Hopper' (American IPA) ACT 49. Black Hops 'Neverland' (Hazy IPA) QLD NEW 50. Black Hops 'Caribbean Haze' (Hazy IPA) QLD 51. Balter 'Dry Haze' (Hazy IPA) QLD NEW 52. Cronulla Beer Co 'Next Level XPA' (Australian pale ale) NSW NEW 53. Brick Lane 'Brick Lane Draught' (Australian pilsner) VIC NEW 54. Dainton 'Blood Orange Neripa' (New England IPA) VIC 55. Ballistic 'Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout' (Sweet stout) QLD 56. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Patio Pale' (American pale ale) NSW 57. Dainton 'Jungle Juice' (Hazy IPA) VIC 58. Black Hops 'Send It' (Blonde ale) QLD 59. Modus Operandi 'Lost In The Fog' (Hazy pale ale) NSW NEW 60. Mountain Goat 'Goat' (Pale lager) VIC 61. Colonial 'South West Sour' (Hoppy sour) WA/VIC 62. Your Mates 'Macca' (Helles lager) QLD 63. Moon Dog 'Splice Of Heaven Pine-Lime' (Milkshake IPA) VIC 64. Brick Lane 'Base Lager' (Helles lager) VIC 65. Ballistic 'Lager' (Classic pilsner) QLD NEW 66. James Squire 'One Fifty Lashes' (Australian pale ale) NSW 67. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Lager' (Australian pilsner) NSW 68. Your Mates 'Donnie' (Dark ale) QLD 69. Little Creatures 'Pale Ale' (American pale ale) WA/VIC 70. Coopers 'XPA' (American pale ale) SA 71. Bridge Road 'Beechy XPA' (Australian pale ale) VIC 72. Capital 'Evil Eye' (Red IPA) ACT 73. Capital 'Hang Loose Juice' (New England IPA) ACT 74. Your Mates 'Eddie' (Session pale ale) QLD NEW 75. Coopers 'Original Pale Ale; (Australian pale ale) SA 76. Burleigh 'Bighead' (Pale lager) QLD 77. Deeds 'Juice Train' (New England IPA) VIC 78. Bridge Road 'Bling' (English IPA) VIC 79. Pirate Life 'South Coast Pale Ale' (American pale ale) SA NEW 80. Colonial 'IPA' (Australian IPA) WA/VIC 81. Dainton 'Supertrooper' (Imperial IPA) VIC 82. Blackman's 'Juicy Banger' (Hoppy lager) VIC 83. Akasha 'Mosaic' (American IPA) NSW 84. Coopers 'Hazy IPA' (Hazy IPA) SA NEW 85. Moon Dog 'Beer Can' (Hoppy lager) VIC 86. Hawkers 'West Coast IPA' (American IPA) VIC 87. Jetty Road 'Pale Ale' (Australian pale ale) VIC 88. 4 Pines 'Amber Ale' (American amber/red) NSW 89. Brick Lane 'Avalanche' (Hazy IPA) VIC NEW 90. 10 Toes 'Culture Kick Sour' (Berliner weisse) QLD NEW 91. Bridge Road 'Little Bling' (Session IPA) VIC 92. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Legend' (Australian IPA) NSW 93. Capital 'Summit Session Ale' (Session pale ale) ACT 94. Hawke's Brewing 'Hawke's Opener' (Australian IPA) NSW NEW 95. Feral 'Hop Hog' (American pale ale) WA 96. Grifter 'Pink Galah' (Kettle sour) NSW 97. Ballistic 'Watermelawn' (Gose) QLD NEW 98. Furphy 'Furphy Refreshing Ale' (Kölsch) VIC 99. Moon Dog 'Lager' (Helles lager) VIC 100. Bad Shepherd 'Peanut Butter Porter' (Porter) VIC For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2020, head to the GABS website.
Tasmania's longstanding farming traditions and wealth of inventive small-batch producers have turned the state into a must-visit culinary destination for food lovers. With the island's cool climate and diverse landscape providing incredible conditions, Tasmania is blessed with some of Australia's top seafood, fresh produce and wineries. If you're looking to fill your next Tassie trip with a plethora of palate pleasers, you've come to the right place. We've teamed up with Tourism Tasmania to help you navigate your way to the finest food festivals and farmers markets. From the rugged northwest coast to the bustling streets of Hobart, here's all you need to discover incredible food and drink on your travels. [caption id="attachment_866907" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Adam Gibson[/caption] GREAT EASTERN WINE WEEK Sample some of the best cool-climate wines in Australia at the lavish 10-day Great Eastern Wine Week festival. Held in September across venues from Bream Creek to St Helens, the festival brings together the coastline's top winemakers, growers and producers to celebrate everything special about the region's viticulture and cuisine. Whether you're a lover of good food or a staunch oenophile, the festival's gourmet events and experiences will accompany your journey with exceptional flavours in tow. Discover what makes this wine region so celebrated as you enjoy coastal oysters and high tea among the vines, sipping on a high-end pinot noir or chardonnay. [caption id="attachment_865311" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Tony Crehan[/caption] WYNYARD TULIP FESTIVAL Tasmania's northwest coast is admired for its craggy landmarks like Cradle Mountain and Gunns Plains Caves. However, you can take the relax-factor up a notch with a visit to Wynyard Tulip Festival. Set in a charming regional hub, the one-day event is held at Gutteridge Gardens, along the banks of the Inglis River, in the picturesque town of Wynyard. The floral festival will take place on Saturday, October 8, with live music, children's entertainment and market stalls spotlighting the craft goods from local makers and producers. While you're in the area, head to nearby Table Cape Tulip Farm to walk through hectares of colourful flower fields while they're in full bloom for the month of October. [caption id="attachment_866908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Jason Charles[/caption] STANLEY & TARKINE FORAGE FESTIVAL Set on the dramatic tip of Tasmania's northwest coast, Stanley is an ideal base to explore the remarkable takayna/Tarkine — the second-largest cool-temperate rainforest in the world. But this spectacular part of the world isn't just home to jagged clifftops and sprawling nature walks. Soon, the inaugural Stanley & Tarkine Forage Festival, showcasing the region's delicious produce, will also be attracting visitors. The 10-day festival will run from Friday, November 11 till Sunday, November 20, at multiple locations throughout the surrounding Circular Head region. Expect a program filled with events aplenty: tastings, live performances, markets and exhibitions that capture the heart and soul of the region. From grass-fed beef to fresh seafood plucked from the nearby coastal waters, the festival will acquaint you with this remote area's burgeoning food scene in no time. [caption id="attachment_866909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liza Jane Sowden[/caption] EFFERVESCENCE TASMANIA Courtesy of a cool climate delivering the high acidity and purity needed to produce a superior product, Tasmanian sparkling wine has quickly achieved a world-class reputation. Now in its ninth year, Effervescence Tasmania invites the island state's top sparkling wine makers to showcase their drops to local and visiting epicurists. From Friday, November 11 till Sunday, November 13, the region's most beloved chefs and food producers will present a refined Tasmanian feast — paired with stand-out bubbles, no less. Through dinners and masterclasses hosted by industry experts, this event will provide all the answers you need as to why Tassie's reputation for sparkling wine is exploding internationally. [caption id="attachment_865149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania[/caption] FARM GATE MARKET A visit to Farm Gate Market is essential for any weekend spent in Hobart. Every Sunday on Bathurst Street, you can purchase locally grown goods and have a chat with the people who grow and make them. With the market held year round, there's likely to be something new to try each time you visit. Alongside farm-fresh fruit and veggies, you'll also find everything from artisanal raw honey to homemade sourdough and more. Plus, there's street performers and live musicians in attendance too — creating a bright, buzzy atmosphere at this quintessential Hobart festivity. Ready to plan a trip for your tastebuds around Tasmania? To discover more, visit the website. Top images: Tourism Tasmania
When Bros turns its attention to Hollywood's past with queer stories, and with gay men on-screen specifically, it doesn't hold back. A film starring and co-written by Billy on the Street, Parks and Recreation and Difficult People's Billy Eichner isn't going to bite its tongue, including about the poor record of LGBTQIA+ inclusion and representation in mainstream cinema. First, Eichner's character Bobby Lieber reflects on being asked to pen exactly the kind of feature that Bros is — a studio-made rom-com with two gay men as its leads, that's honest about queer life and love, and also broad in its appeal — with acerbic and hilarious results. Later, Bros digs into Hollywood's penchant for tragic queer tales, and for Oscar-bait performances by straight actors playing gay. The movie laughs, but it also hits its targets. Blazing a trail, yet being hyperaware that this'd be a better world if it wasn't: that's one aspect of Bros. The first-ever Hollywood rom-com about and starring two openly gay men, it's a film that does what nothing else has before and knows it. That feat is worth celebrating. So is the fact that Bros features an all-LGBTQ chief cast, another mainstream milestone. Just as worthy of praise and affection: that Bros is warmly and candidly entertaining and engaging, while still remaining unflinchingly authentic about the characters and culture it depicts, and clearly knowing that making viewers laugh and cheer is a rom-com's number one aim. It was filmmaker Nicholas Stoller, a veteran of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Five-Year Engagement and the Bad Neighbours franchise, that actually set Bros in motion — and approached Eichner to be involved. The pair had worked together on Bad Neighbours 2 and TV series Friends From College, but Eichner was still skeptical that a movie like this could and would ever happen. Thankfully for audiences, it has. In the process, it also adds a big-screen star turn and a nicely layered performance to Eichner's resume. He doesn't run around the New York City streets yelling about pop culture at people, but he does get opinionated on his character's podcast, and the feature is set in NYC. He does have Debra Messing pop up as well. Plus, Eichner gets to fall for — and also work through a swathe of conflicting feelings about — Luke Macfarlane's Aaron Shepard. The Brothers and Sisters and frequent Hallmark network star is another key part of Bros, and he's no one's mere hunky love interest. This is a pioneering film not just because it's about two gay men and hails from the big end of town in filmmaking circles, but also because it heroes complex gay characters living complicated gay lives. Visiting Down Under for Bros' Australian premiere, Eichner and Macfarlane chatted with Concrete Playground about making gay rom-com dreams come true, never thinking a movie like this could happen, and the rewards of genuinely reflecting their own experiences and community on the silver screen. ON GETTING THE CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY — AND HAVING A STORY TO TELL Billy: "I was shocked that he [Nicholas Stoller, Bros' director and co-writer] wanted to do it with me, and very flattered. And I said yes knowing that it was a huge and very rare opportunity, but also not having any idea if I had the skills to do it, or a story that was worth telling. But as it turned out, once I sat down at my laptop, 20-plus years of being an openly gay man and navigating the world of dating and relationships and all that, I had a lot to say. I didn't even realise it at the time, but I guess I had a lot bottled up that I wanted to get out — and this movie gave me the opportunity to do that in a funny and entertaining way, I hope." Luke: "I was sent a script — and part of the job of being an actor is reading scripts, and sometimes that's a challenge. But reading Bros was a total delight. I really remember laughing out loud, and being a little bit nervous because comedies have not been something I've done a lot of. But also just underneath all the comedy and the jokes, I really understood and responded and connected to this character of Aaron." ON NEVER EVEN THINKING THAT A MOVIE LIKE BROS COULD EXIST Billy: "It wasn't something that I was thinking about. I honestly think I wasn't sure if something like this could happen even. I thought maybe it could happen as an indie film, because historically that's where we were allowed to make movies like this, as independent films. And many of those are great, and we are very lucky to have them — and Bros wouldn't exist without decades of queer indie cinema paving the way for more mainstream queer content. But even so, when Nick [Stoller] and Judd Apatow, who produced it, when they said that they thought that Universal, a major studio, would want to make it, I honestly didn't believe them. I didn't think they were right. I was pleasantly surprised — really shocked — when Universal both wanted to make it and felt strongly that we do it as authentically as possible and with an all-LGBTQ cast. I was really, really surprised by that. And so, it's not really something I thought about because I didn't really think it was possible to produce at this scale." ON SEIZING AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY Luke: "The approach to every job as an actor is that you have to do your absolute best because they will take away the opportunity if you don't. So I can speak simply as an actor, I always try to give the best, but rarely do I connect as deeply with a character." Billy: "I think for all of us, we understood what a rare and unique experience it was, and we all wanted to bring our A game and do the best we can. Nick Stoller, who's directed many movies over the years and has been involved in many TV projects successfully, said he's never been with a cast that showed up to set and was more prepared. You don't sit there and think 'let's shoot a historic scene' or 'oh god, this scene has to be good because, you know, it's the first LGBTQ this or that'. But at the same time, we just all wanted to do a good job because we realised what a rare opportunity it was. And we wanted to give the LGBTQ community a movie that felt authentic to their experience, and give every audience — straight, gay or whatever it was — a movie that would make them laugh out loud a lot, and feel good about life." ON ENSURING THAT BROS IS AUTHENTIC ABOUT GAY LIFE, LOVE AND CULTURE Billy: "It just came down to wanting the movie to be an honest reflection of my life, and the lives of the gay and queer people that I know. Again, we didn't sit down and say 'let's write a historic movie'. You don't even sit down and say 'let's write a gay movie'. We just said 'let's write an honest movie, and a funny movie, and let the chips fall where they may, and hope that regardless of how familiar they might be with the inner workings of gay male dating and relationship culture in 2022, that the honesty would be impactful for all audiences'. And, that you could feel this when you're watching the movie. I think you can tell when a movie is lying to you. And, we wanted to give people something that was uplifting, and feel-good but still grounded and truthful. Honestly, our goal was just to make a laugh-out-loud funny movie. We didn't want to make a gentle dramedy about the gay male experience, and we didn't want it to be sad or tragic. We wanted it to be honest but ultimately a feel-good movie. We wanted it to be laugh-out-loud funny start to finish, and we also wanted to make sure that both of the central characters were multi-dimensional people — that they were both more than meets the eye. When you meet Bobby, when you meet Aaron, you might think they're a certain type of person or a certain type of gay man, but as the movie unfolds you realise there's a lot more for both of them going on underneath the surface — that they both have their moments where they're wrong, they both have moments where they're right, they have moments when they are flawed and hypocritical, they have moments when they are hilarious and triumphant and joyful. I think that reflects real life — that was our goal for the movie, to make sure that it was very rich and complicated and not one-dimensional or two-dimensional. Even if that made it a bit more of a complicated experience for the audience, we weren't just going to give them this kind of easy breezy rom-com that floats by without anything real going on. We wanted to give people a very rich experience." ON THE REWARDS OF MAKING BROS Luke: "You always want to play characters that are complex and multidimensional and have an arc. Just purely from an actor, and being rewarded and challenged by your part, that's exactly what you want — especially when the character is so close to who you are and the life that you live. So, I'm incredibly grateful that this script that was written, that is also very funny, was also very smart and kind of meant for smart audiences." Billy: "There's so much of it that's been so rewarding. We want the movie to be as relatable as possible to all audiences — straight and gay. That said, there hasn't been a tonne of representation in mainstream films for queer characters, for gay men, especially in comedies, and again movies that aren't tragedies, movies that aren't about the suffering of being gay historically, that are about modern gay people and the way we live our lives. And it's been really gratifying to hear and to be getting messages from people, especially queer men, and who in addition to thinking this movie is funny and entertaining, are having a real emotional response to it. It's just very impactful and very moving to see your life, or a version of your life that's at least a little closer than the ones you usually get — and certainly more than a movie about a straight couple might make you feel. As much as we love those movies, there is something unique and powerful about seeing someone from your community, someone that is dealing with the same types of things that you're dealing with on a day-to-day basis, when it comes to love and your own insecurities and vulnerability, seeing that reflected on a big screen especially. I think that's an experience we don't get a lot as gay men, especially in contemporary storytelling. And getting the messages I've received from gay men who've seen it, who've had a really emotional response to it, who said it really moved them in a way that was surprising and they weren't expecting that, has been really gratifying." Bros released in cinemas Down Under on October 27. Read our full review.
Last year, Rooftop at QT received a major revamp, scoring an new fitout, and an updated food and drink lineup. It then got a mini summertime makeover for the Australian Open, setting up its own pickleball court on the terrace. And now, for winter, it's transformed into a snow globe — sort of. The bar isn't exactly encased in a glass dome, and no one is shaking you around, but you will find fake snow falling down on you every hour. The regular snow show runs from 5pm–late every Thursday–Sunday. Visually it's a beaut, but just be sure to guard your drinks from rogue snow flakes. For more theatrics, the QT team has teamed up with Grey Goose to create a new cocktail menu filled with playful flourishes. The Frosted Martini is stirred with liquid nitrogen, so your drink will be surrounded by cascading clouds. And the Flaming Blazer — an intriguing mix of Grey Goose, Dewar's 12-year-old whisky, white peach, rosemary, caramel peach, bitters and nutmeg — is served with a dramatic gust of fire. (Watch the eyebrows.) Executive Chef Nic Wood has created special bites to be paired with these new cocktails, including braised duck croquettes with plum purée; spanner crab tartlets with chives, espellete and lemon aioli; Abrolhos Island half-shell scallops with orange and fermented chilli butter; and a classic Pacific oyster topped with oscietra caviar. Everything is on the luxury end of the rooftop bar spectrum, but what else would you expect from QT Melbourne — there's a reason we've named it one of Melbourne's top hotels, after all. The Snow Globe on Rooftop at QT is running until Sunday, September 2, with the snow shows taking place from Thursday–Sunday. For more information, visit the venue's website.
UPDATE: OCTOBER 29, 2019 — Due to external factors, the opening of Mary's Melbourne has been pushed back to the end of January 2020. The below article has been updated to reflect this. By now, Sydneysiders are more than familiar with the American-style burgers, decadent fried chicken and wild child vibes of Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham's Mary's empire. Having launched their original burger restaurant in Newtown in 2013, the boys now have four Mary's venues under their belts, the latest opening in Sydney's CBD just last month. They've even ventured down south for a couple of brief flirtations, hosting a one-day kitchen takeover at Leonard's House of Love and then a two-month kitchen residency at cocktail bar Fancy Free earlier this year. Now, Melbourne's set to score a proper, permanent taste of the Sydney crowd-pleaser, with news we'll have our own bricks-and-mortar Mary's outpost come summer. Smyth and Graham have nabbed a "cavernous" site on Franklin Street in the CBD, where they're slated to unveil their newest project in late January, 2020. "We're here to do what we do," said Graham in a statement. "To give our punters simple, delicious food, backed up with an experience that's fun as hell." [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's, Sydney.[/caption] They're staying true to their slightly grungy, slightly rock 'n' roll form, so expect an unassuming laneway entrance — marked by only a red light — leading through to a sprawling venue complete with a majestic, custom-made wrought iron chandelier covered in 24,000 hanging dead roses. The flowers are damage stock from Sydney markets, so nothing is going to waste, either. It'll also be the duo's biggest venue yet with 140 seats and, just like the OG Newtown spot, a mezzanine level will overlook the rest of the room. The food offering will showcase tried-and-true Mary's favourites like the Mary's burger, the mushroom burger, fried chicken and gravy-drenched mash, alongside a few Melbourne exclusives. The kitchen will also be dishing up a version of Mary's new vegan menu, which has been going gang-busters since launching at the Circular Quay outpost in May. Mary's fans will know to expect a pretty primo drinks offering to match and, indeed, this one won't disappoint. Award-winning Mary's Group Sommelier and Wine Director Caitlyn Rees has pulled together a lineup of over 100 wines, heroing local Victorian producers. Mary's Melbourne is slated to open at 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne, in late January 2020. You'll be able to book tables for eight or more guests. Top image: Nikki To
Every evening between now and October 2, Alice Springs will be the brightest place in Australia. Lights will illuminate a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the nearby MacDonnell Ranges, and luminous artwork will be projected onto the city's desert sands — and yes, that's just the beginning of the region's glowing wonders. Both form part of Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, which holds the honour of being the nation's first Indigenous festival of its kind. Showcasing contemporary and traditional Indigenous art, culture and stories using light and sound, it's also Australia's biggest-ever light installation. It is created by the Northern Territory Government and local artists in collaboration with AGB Events (aka the folks that light up Sydney each year for Vivid), after all. Visitors won't just celebrate Aboriginal culture by basking in the glory of a glimmering 300-million-year-old land mass — they'll also play a part in choosing just how the Ranges come to glowing life. An interactive component, called Range of Expression, allows festival-goers to pick their favourite colours and then see them projected onto the vast landscape. Looking down rather than up, Grounded immerses attendees in a sequence of artworks symbolising the return of Indigenous art to the country. The festival also features three light-filled caterpillar installations that tell the Yeperenye Dreamtime story, as well as five illuminated '50s-style skirts covered in watercolour landscape paintings by Alice Springs artists, including Albert Namatjira's granddaughter Lenie Namatjira. And while Parrtjima only brightens up the outback for ten nights, it's hoped that it'll become an annual drawcard. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until October 2 in the Alice Springs Desert Park, Norther Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
If you frequent the city centre it's likely that you walked past the boarded up, Bourke Street shopfront of Tim Ho Wan at some point. It's felt like years since the announcement that the lauded dumpling den was coming to Melbourne, and after what turned out to a trying journey to turn a retail space into a hospitality venue, the restaurant has finally pulled down it's cladding. And now that it's open, it's set to be a surefire hit for the Melbourne food scene. From its humble beginnings as a 20-seater outpost in Hong Kong's Mong Kok, the restaurant now has 24 restaurants across South East Asia and Australia (including four in Sydney). Possessing a Michelin star, Tim Ho Wan is one of very few, affordable starred restaurants. And as a result of this badge of honour, the menu presents a few options that aren't the norm in Australia's dim sum circles. Turnip cakes (fish maw — we had to Google it), and steamed egg cakes are some of the not-so often encountered menu items on offer at Tim Ho Wan. Some other interesting dishes included the wasabi salad prawn dumpling ($7.80 for three), the crispy spring rolls filled with egg white ($6 for three) and the spinach dumplings with prawns ($7.80 for three). By the way, the pan-fried turnip cake ($6) left the table divided, but it's worth giving it a go if you're ok with a soggy hash brown texture. On the other hand, the not-quite-savoury, not-quite-sweet steamed egg cake ($5.80) was a definite crowd pleaser. The famous baked barbecue pork buns ($7.80 for three) are a must-have, and are worth waiting for on their own. As everything is made to order, the menu is on the smaller side, but a few more substantial items do feature, including congee and rice dishes. Unfortunately, there's a noticeable lack of vegetarian options. In all though, it's a tailored experience with great service — bells sit on every table to call your waiter when required — and the experience left us with a reinvigorated view of dim sum and what can be done with this most delicious of eating rituals. Tim Ho Wan seems to nail the precise energy that feels very typical of Hong Kong's dim sum haunts. Everything feels well-crafted but delivered without pretension, and the bill at the end of your meal won't deter you from a return visit. It's also one of our favourite places to get dumplings in Melbourne. Unfortunately, this place will have lines snaking around corners for the next few months, but what's an hour when you know it'll be worth it?
If you're guilty of assuming the so-called 'rock star lifestyle' is one of grandeur, dolla dolla bills and Nyan Cat-emblazoned Purraris, or have ever accused a band of 'selling out' for working alongside a commercial brand, you might want to see this. The Truth About Money in Music is a brand new mini-doco featuring the likes of Remi, James from Violent Soho, Hey Geronimo, Millions, KLP, The Cairos and many other Australian artists who are doing tremendous work on minimal budgets. Brisbane-based film director, Dan Graetz, is at the helm of this operation. The idea came to life after Graetz pitched the idea to Jack Daniels, who were looking to support creative music projects. "I pitched this documentary around musicians, brands and honesty," says Graetz. "It was great they liked it and even better that they gave me the freedom to stay true to the concept. This is the result." https://youtube.com/watch?v=XR-RA-vpm8s Graetz knows the musician's financial struggle all too well, not only through working closely with artists on music videos but also through his own creative pursuits. "In creating music videos over the past four years, my team and I have made fireworks, gutted cars, cloned humans and more — usually on a shoestring — to help new talent stand out against cute kittens, dancing babies and big budgets," Graetz says. The film interestingly sees artists like Kate Miller-Heidke talk about her move from a major label and the restrictions that came from it, in comparison to working with brands who facilitate collaboration and creative possibilities. The overarching message seems to be that if a company wants to back you because they like what you're about as you are, then why the hell not let them give you a hand. Obviously, no one was born yesterday and a JD-shaped product is being plugged here, but it's hardly 'selling out' when the bigwigs don't want you to change a thing. This is just the first chapter for the Jack Daniels Future Legends project. Expect to see the likes of Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, Sable, Motorik, The Griswolds, and The Cairos feature in instalments further down the track. JD is encouraging trailblazers and creative to get in touch if they have a bold and independent music idea that needs support. Pitch your project in 300 words or less to jackdaniels.au@gmail.com. For now, watch The Truth About Money in Music right here and hold off on those rants: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MgZJFu3SHVs
When the warmer weather breezes in, do you start having yacht-life dreams? Is yacht rock your summer soundtrack of choice, too? Does hanging not just by but also in and on top of the water sound like your ideal way to laze away your weekends and holidays — while kicking back on daybeds, getting comfy in cabanas, taking a dip in the pool and overlooking a marina? It was back in late 2021 that word of La Luna — aka Australia's first European-inspired floating beach club — initially arrived, and news of its plans to set up shop on the Gold Coast. Earlier in 2022, the Seaworld Drive venue's waterside restaurant opened, but it's taken some time for the whole place to follow suit. Now, that time is upon us. Living the yacht life without actually getting on a yacht: that's just become a reality on the Glitter Strip, whether you're a local looking to break up your routine, a Brisbanite eager for any excuse for a trip down the highway or you're vacationing from further afield. From its white-heavy decor to its overall concept, La Luna gleans its cues from its counterparts on the other side of the world — and from Mykonos and Saint-Tropez in general — with influences taken from the setups in Tulum in Mexico as well. Get ready for luxe poolside stints; yes, you'll find those daybeds right by the water, including king-size versions for getting cosy with up to three people. If you'd prefer a cabana, they're available for four-hour bookings catering for ten (standard), 12 (in a lower-level location) and 15 (in the grand cabanas) guests. Or, you can simply choose a sun lounge for two hours — but whatever you opt for, there's a fee. The cheapest seats require a minimum spend of $150 per person, and the price only goes up from there. Menu-wise, the poolside fare includes plenty of the ocean's finest — oysters, kingfish ceviche, yellowfin tuna tartare, caviar, seafood cocktails, fried crispy baby squid, Moreton Bay bug buns, and lobster and scallop ravioli are all on offer — as well as wagyu beef burgers, fruit platters, sorbet and gelato. As for drinks, patrons can sip cognac mango iced teas, lychee martinis, strawberry and kiwi gin sours, plus all the classic concoctions. Or, pick from a small range of on-tap beers, and sparkling, rose, red and white wines. Feeling flush? A $1454 bottle of champagne is available for waterside splurges. La Luna is the brainchild of the Gennari Group, which is already behind the Gold Coast's Koi Broadbeach, Glass Dining & Lounge Bar, The Loose Moose, Maggie Choo and Roosevelt Lounge. Also up and running: onsite restaurant Mare, with Meyjitte Boughenot overseeing the kitchen team. Cruisy bites to eat, long lunches and drinks on the pontoon are all the focus, with the cuisine heroing Mediterranean dishes. If you like the poolside menu, many of the same options are also available here. Expect a heftier range, however, including char-grilled steaks, four types of pasta, and a 14-page drinks list. Find La Luna Beach Club at Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Gold Coast — open 11am–late Wednesday–Sunday.
A new book by London based journalist and photographer, William Parry, explores the relationship between art and politics in Palestine. A series of poignant photos capture the essence of a quiet, stoic rebellion — the graffiti that adorns Israel's wall. The spirit of resistance portrayed in Parry's book, Against The Wall, is compelling, and haunting in its very existence, exposing an open wound that seems unlikely to heal any time soon. With photographed work by iconic artists including Banksy and Ron English alongside work by Palestinian artists and activists, Against The Wall is an exercise in documenting solidarity and rebellion, acts that have become somewhat of a rarity in the modern day. The artworks adorning the wall highlight the suffering in Palestine; the lives torn apart by relentless fighting, and appeal to a hope for a brighter day, to the end of darkness. Alongside the images of street art are moving portraits and powerful prose that further accentuate the spirit of the people, and their constant struggle against a myriad of injustices. Against The Wall
Cold winter weather demands comfort-inducing food, with soups, pastas and pies making up much of the weekly menu. Yet when you need a sweet treat, few bites go down better than a hot cinnamon doughnut. And with Friday, June 6, welcoming the return of National Donut Day, there's no better time to order up a steamy bunch. Best of all, Donut King isn't taking any half-measures when it comes to celebrating the big day in 2025, with the iconic brand giving away free hot cinnamon doughnuts from dawn to dusk to mark the occasion. "The magic of our hot and fresh cinnamon doughnuts bouncing along the conveyor belt and landing in a delicious carousel of sweet cinnamon is the moment we seek to share with our loyal fans every day," says Raquel Hine, Marketing Manager at Donut King. "It's what makes us famous for being the home of the hot cinnamon doughnut and why we make every National Donut Day a huge celebration for everyone to take part, absolutely free, all day!" All you have to do to score your free hot cinni doughnut is find your nearest participating Donut King store on Friday, June 6. With over 200 locations spread around the country, there's a good chance one is easily within touching distance. Alternatively, just follow that enchanting cinnamon sugar aroma that wafts from every store. On a side note, we meant it when Donut King isn't cutting any corners this National Donut Day. The team recently revealed a seriously sweet escape — the 'Hot Cinni' Hotel' — produced in collaboration with Ovolo Hotels and available for strictly limited bookings. Transforming two suites in the heritage-listed Ovolo Woolloomooloo, expect shimmering pink accents, cinnamon-painted walls, colourful pop art and even exclusive room service dedicated to hot cinnamon doughnut deliveries. Plus, the rest of the hotel features spice-forward cocktails and cinnamon-inspired nibbles. Donut King's free cinnamon doughnuts are available at participating Donut King locations on Friday, June 6 — limited to one free doughnut per customer. Head to the website for more information.
In Dune, Josh Brolin jumped wholeheartedly into one of the best sci-fi subgenres there is: the space opera. When a movie follows a spice-war fought by feuding houses on far-flung planets, no other description fits the bill. And, the 2021 big-screen hit — and 2022 big-time Oscar-nominee — firmly did its slice of science fiction proud. But, as well showing up for next year's sequel Dune: Part Two, Brolin definitely isn't done with sci-fi just yet. Making a rare small-screen appearance — his first ongoing episodic role since 2003, in fact — the Milk Oscar-nominee leads Outer Range, the next trippy streaming series that you'll want to add to your queue. That recommendation is based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer for the eight-part series, which'll hit Prime Video from Friday, April 15, and promises quite the mind-bending supernatural western. The setup: on a ranch in Wyoming, Brolin's Royal Abbott is trying to keep his land, and ensure that his family stays together, after his daughter-in-law Rebecca goes missing. His neighbours, the Tillersons, are after his parcel of turf, and strange things start happening — including an eerie black void in the middle of the Abbotts' west pasture. So far, the show is keeping most of its small town-set storyline close to its sci-fi/western/thriller/mystery chest — but the sneak peek certainly sets an unsettling tone. And yes, it's shaping up to be a big year for unnerving stories set in vast expanses of US land, with Jordan Peele's latest horror epic Nope covering the same terrain. Outer Range will drop two episodes per week, so you'll spend around a month soaking in its mysteries, turf wars and wild revelations. If you've currently got a Yellowjackets shaped hole in your viewing schedule, this might just fill it. On-screen, Brolin is joined by an impressive cast that includes Imogen Poots (The Father), Lili Taylor (Perry Mason), Tamara Podemski (Run), Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) and Noah Reid (Schitt's Creek). Check out the trailer for Outer Range below: Outer Range will start streaming via Prime Video Down Under on Friday, April 15.
Foodie collabs are all the rage around the holidays. So, with Cinco de Mayo right around the corner on Monday, May 5, the mad scientists at Deep End Pizza and Dingo Ate My Taco have once again joined forces to bring back their famous Birria Pizza. Available for a limited time only, this wicked invention sees Deep End's famous Detroit-style pizza base combined with Dingo Ate My Taco's authentic birria – a slow-cooked Mexican stew – to create a crowd-pleasing fusion. Served exclusively at Deep End Pizza Fitzroy from Monday, May 5–Monday, June 30, it's hard to imagine a better, or more indulgent, combination of two cherished cuisines. Plus, pizza and taco lovers who have to stay on top of their gluten consumption will be happy to know this Cinco de Mayo special is available on a gluten-free base. Whipped up for the first time in 2023, it didn't take long for the crew to discover Deep End's Detroit-style crust offered the ideal foundation. "The thick yet light and airy base perfectly absorbs the birria fat while supporting the succulent meat and cheese without collapsing," says Dingo Ate My Taco's Head Chef, Isaac Castellano. "When we tasted how Deep End's crust, baked in our signature chilli fat, amplified the birria flavours, we knew we had created something special. It's truly the perfect match for the depth and heat of our birria spices and consommé." While the duo behind this culinary marriage weren't the first to come up with the idea, they certainly share the pedigree needed to take it to the next level. Opened in 2022, Deep End Pizza quickly established itself as the go-to destination for regional American slices, whether you're a New York, New Haven, Chicago or Detroit-style fan. Guided by American-born chef and veritable pizza nerd Paul Kasten, your slice is in good hands. It's a similar story with Dingo Ate My Taco, with Texas-born owner Paul Walcutt and Kady Simkins, raised between California and Alice Springs, bringing their first-hand experience in the US to Australia when they launched the business as a food truck in 2020. With the taco truck still popping up across town throughout the week, they also operate the Dingo Kitchen in St Kilda, giving fans a permanent spot to get their hands on some top-notch tacos. "While I've seen birria done on NY-style pizzas, the fluffy crust on our squares is ideal for soaking up that rich consommé," says Kasten. "Even we were surprised by how magnificently it all came together once we topped it with their brisket, Oaxacan cheese, and signature toppings. We can't wait for taco and pizza enthusiasts to experience this fusion." The Birria Pizza is available from May 5 until June 30 at Deep End Pizza, 412a Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Head to the website for more information.
Is dessert your love language? Does nothing say romance to you like sharing something sweet with someone that you're sweet on? Do you just like treating your significant other — or yourself — to gelato specials? It's that time again, ice cream fiends: time to kick off 2025 with Messina's first decadent special for the year, and time to start thinking about Valentine's Day as well. The cult-favourite dessert brand is taking care of both with The Love Tub, which comes topped with hearts — and features a red hue prominently — to stress the romantic point. Inside, you'll find a layered creation featuring salted caramel gelato with dark choc chips, plus baked cheesecake chunks and passionfruit curd, and also crème brûlée mousse and caramel swirls as well. This is the latest dessert in Messina's hot-tub range, aka the chain's extra-special, always limited-edition, online-order-only dishes. And no, the word 'hot' doesn't reflect the required temperature; this is firmly a frosty affair. While the dessert is timed for the supposedly most-romantic day of the year, who you share it and your Messina love with is up to you. Grab a spoon with your significant other, go all in for Galentine's Day instead, or treat yo'self to multiple days of red-topped gelato — the choice is obviously yours. Tubs cost $48 each, and you'll need to place your order online on Tuesday, January 28. Because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand usually staggers its on-sale times — which tends to mean different slots depending on whether you're in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia and South Australia, where the brand has shops. Wherever you live, you can then pick up The Love Tub in-store between Thursday, February 13–Saturday, February 15. Gelato Messina's The Love Tub will be available to order from Tuesday, January 28, 2025, with times usually varying per state and store — to pick up between Thursday, February 13–Saturday, February 15, 2025. Head to the Messina website for more information, and to sign up to be notified about on-sale details.
Chances are if you were once a kid (you were) copping an ice cream cake was the pinnacle of birthday success. If you were ever lucky enough to nab one of those messy, creamy treats, time to pay attention. Pidapipo's gelato cakes have been going gangbusters ever since they launched a few years ago, and the chain's founder Lisa Valmorbida has picked out some of the gelateria's most popular flavours to turn into cake form for the newest range. The new range features a Passionfruit Layer Cake, Lamington Cake, Bacio Bombe Alaska and Peanut Butter Layer Cake, which combine beaut flavours with intricate decorations. Just let us talk you through the passionfruit situation: layers of vanilla cake, passionfruit sorbet and fior de latte covered in meringue. Sounds like it'll make even the most nostalgic-for-a-Maccas-cake kid weep. The new range of cakes are also slightly bigger in size than their previous incarnations, most feeding around fifteen people (or one hungry, decadent you). Previously only available to order at the Windsor store, the new cakes will be able at all Pidapipo locations – Carlton and CBD as well as Windsor — for maximum ease of birthday joy. Speaking of maximum ease, perhaps the best news from all this is that you can order both the Lamington and the Peanut Butter cakes on UberEats as well. Images: Jesper Hede, styled by Nat Turnbull
When Colin From Accounts arrived for its first season in 2022 with a nipple flash, a dog and strangers committing to take care of a cute injured animal together after a meet-cute, it also began with a "will they, won't they?" story. Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil) crossed paths in the street in Sydney when she gave him a random peek, then he was distracted behind the wheel. Thanks to the titular pet, the pair were soon intricately involved in each other's lives — and, as they endeavoured to work out what that actually meant, sift through their feelings for one another and navigate the respective chaos that fills everyone's existence anyway, a delightful small-screen Australian rom-com (and one of that year's best new TV shows) was the end result. In season two, which streams weekly on Binge from Thursday, May 30, the series picks up after the duo gave Colin From Accounts to new owners at the end of the show's debut batch of episodes, then immediately regretted the decision. A couple of things are different from the outset: after moving in together, Gordon and Ashley are on a quest to get their pup back and they'll stop at almost nothing for their family to be reunited; also, this award-winning series is now in "should've they or should've they not?" territory about its central romance. (Moving from an all-at-once release to week-by-week instalments is another change for viewers.) Falling in love is easy. Being in the honeymoon period, whether or not you've tied the knot — Colin From Accounts' protagonists haven't — is clearcut, too. Taking a relationship further means peeling away the rosy and glowing surface, however, which is where the series follows its medical student and Inner West microbrewery owner in its second season. A television romantic-comedy with longevity can't be solely fuelled by fluttering hearts and butterflies in stomachs, especially one that's as dedicated to eschewing saccharine cliches as this. Colin From Accounts isn't afraid to be sweet, but a not-insignificant amount of its charm comes from feeling lived in as Ash and Gordon's romance keeps developing. Same show, but with a few new tricks: that's season two, then. Like relationship, like series: when it comes to diving deeper than the first season, that also fits. There has always been a spark between Colin From Accounts' lead characters, or else it wouldn't have made it to air in the first place, but the program's return digs into the reality that taking the next step for any couple is a dance through love's equivalent of dog mess on an otherwise pristine lawn. No matter how well you plot out a clear path, how flexible and adaptable you are to obstacles, and how determined you are to evade the crap, no one can avoid dirty shoes 100-percent of the time. As season two sees Ash and Gordon confronting the everyday details of intertwining their lives, it also has them tackling a range of relatable questions again. This round inspires plenty, in fact. Is there more than just chemistry between them? How much do shared interests count? Does a lack of commonalities cast a shadow, and their age gap as well? Will their routines knit together easily enough? Can they weather setbacks and roadblocks, unpack historical baggage and make space for a new way forward? How will their respective dating histories colour the first real serious relationship that they've each been in? Also, as they continue getting to know each other better — warts and all, and through secrets and surprises — will they still feel the same way? Ash and Gordon have another query to face at the outset of this new set of chapters: without Colin binding them together, who are they are a twosome? The first new instalment starts with a happy park playdate and all seeming being well, until it's revealed that the dog's former guardians are just pestering his new ones (Bump's Sam Cotton and Home and Away's Sophie Bloom), who'd really like them to go bark up another tree. From there, unexpected news, meeting family members, former flames and more await, all with their own tests. Plus, Ash's best friend Megan (Emma Harvie, In Limbo) and Gordon's counterpart Chiara (Genevieve Hegney, In Our Blood) are using the couple's home as a love nest while embarking upon an affair, while brewery employee Brett (Michael Logo, High Country) is being pushed out of home by his parents. Creators, writers and stars Dyer and Brammall keep performing their parts to perfection; given that they're married IRL and no strangers to working side by side (see: the also-excellent No Activity, which ran for two seasons between 2015–18), the charisma between them isn't hard to maintain. Neither is the naturalism in their portrayals, but they're not just playing themselves. As scribes, Dyer and Brammall are also particularly gifted with dialogue, ensuring that everything that the show's characters are saying always feels authentic. Sometimes the banter is amusing, sometimes it's heartfelt, and it can be acerbic and insightful, too — and all of the above combined — but it never sounds like something that works fine on the page yet no one would ever utter aloud. When it initially bolted out of the gate, Colin From Accounts was a fast homegrown hit, then had audiences overseas swooning as well. A series this genuinely funny, heartfelt and honest, and that manages to be light yet weighty and grounded, was always going to earn affection — and the same remains true in season two. Again, Dyer and Brammall have crafted a gem that bounces by with help from its directors (the returning Trent O'Donnell and Madeleine Dyer do the honours once more in season two, plus Summer Love's Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope), and that plays like hanging out with old friends. And yes, in lead, supporting and guest roles alike, casting is another of its treats — including with new additions such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me) and Aunty Donna's Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) this time around. Check out the trailer for Colin From Accounts season two below: Colin From Accounts season two streams via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Images: Lisa Tomasetti / Joel Pratley.
Not once, not twice, but nine times, Australia's most-dazzling Indigenous arts festival has lit up the Northern Territory. 2025 will make ten. Parrtjima — A Festival in Light has so firmly established itself as a highlight of Alice Springs, the Red Centre and Australia's cultural scene that it's hard to imagine a time before it. Expect luminous sights again this year, including the reliable star of the show: getting a 2.5-kilometre stretch of 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges glowing every evening. The MacDonnell Ranges Light Show is one of two favourites returning to Parrtjima in 2025, again pairing its eye-catching display with classical music and Arrernte language. The other: Grounded, asking attendees to look down instead of up. A festival of lights in the NT was always going to incorporate the red earth, too, which is where large-scale projections turn the soil into a canvas. This year's version features six artworks. If Parrtjima only boasted those two pieces across Friday, April 4–Sunday, April 13, it'd still be worth heading to the Red Centre to enjoy — but there's far, far more in store across the event's ten days. Four other installations, all new and focusing on the 2025 festival theme 'timelessness', are among the standouts of a lineup that sports contributions from 20-plus First Nations artists, plus more than 100 performers and special guests. At The Gateway at Parrtjima's entrance, towering poles by artists from Antulye, Irlpme, and Mparntwe groups will greet guests. Also, Balanggarra and Yolŋu artist Molly Hunt's Three Generations of Station Women is making an animated comic strip that honours Aboriginal stockwomen, with actor Mark Coles Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar) on soundtrack duties. Then there's Bobby West Tjupurrula's Hypnotic Reverberations, creating a moving dreamscape out of beams of light, mist and reflections on a shallow pool. From Lyall Giles, Transforming Light & Country isn't just about sand dune patterns — it gets festivalgoers to play with them, using drums to create rings of light. Troy Cassar-Daley is headlining the festival's roster of nightly performances, putting on a free show on opening weekend. On the rest of the bill: the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, in what'll be Parrtjima's first-ever orchestral performance, plus gigs by Bumpy, Dem Mob, and Warren H Williams & Western Wind. This year will also feature the fest's debut comedy night, with Andy Saunders and Sean Choolburra sparking laughs. The Blak Markets are back, again showcasing First Nations paintings, jewellery, prints, baskets, sculptures and more — and Cassar-Daley, filmmaker Rachel Perkins (Jasper Jones), Michael Liddle, Armani Francois and Rudi Bremer are among the guests and speakers at the event's in-conversation sessions. If you're keen to learn by doing, the workshops itinerary spans art centre Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands getting participants doing watercolour paintings in the style of Albert Namatjira, Chef Mark Olive and Kungkas Can Cook's Rayleen Brown exploring bushfoods and traditional recipes, Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts leading a weaving workshop, drumming with Dobby, and using native plants in Aboriginal healing with language holder and ecologist Veronica Perrule Dobson. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will return from Friday, April 4–Sunday, April 13, 2025, at venues around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Before lockdowns became a regular part of our lives, you probably hadn't been giving your library membership much of a workout. Obviously, over the past 18 months, there's been a few compelling reasons to start using it again. Not only do the City of Sydney libraries, City of Melbourne libraries and Brisbane City Council libraries have thousands of ebooks available to download and read for free, but some libraries around Australia also provide access to free online streaming service Kanopy. Specialising in indie and arthouse films and documentaries, the service launched in Australia back in 2018, offering more than 30,000 films and documentaries — which are all available to watch without paying a cent. Aussie public libraries have been jumping on board since, including the aforementioned City of Sydney and City of Melbourne libraries, plus Randwick City Library and Sutherland Shire Council's eight libraries in Sydney, as well as the five located in the Yarra City Council and in the Maribyrnong City Council area in Melbourne, and the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane. If you're a student, it's worth checking if you can access the service through your uni's library. The service was launched in Perth in 2008, before moving to San Francisco and providing its online archive to students at hundreds of universities. Lucky for us, it decided to expand — giving access to public library members across the United States and Australia. Like the plethora of other streaming platforms vying for your eyeballs — such as of Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+ and DocPlay, just to name a few — Kanopy's movie selection is updated regularly; however you'll always find something to watch. Titles can vary per library, too, but you just might find recent standouts Shirley and Proxima, the Daniel Radcliffe-starring Guns Akimbo, documentaries The Leadership and Memory: The Origins of Alien, Bong Joon-ho's fantastic Memories of Murder, and classics such as Talking Heads concert flick Stop Making Sense and basketball doco Hoop Dreams on offer. Other standouts that might be gracing your catalogue include the Joaquin Phoenix-starring You Were Never Really Here, recent Japanese creature feature Shin Godzilla, and international cinema highlights such as Foxtrot, BPM (Beats Per Minute), The Square, High Life and Mustang. The Studio Ghibli co-directed The Red Turtle is also in Kanopy's range, as is the Florence Pugh-starring Lady Macbeth, cult comedy Heathers, vampire drama Only Lovers Left Alive and Aussie romance Ali's Wedding. Nicolas Cage growling his way through Mandy, the time travel trickery of Donnie Darko, the inimitable A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Colossal's take on monsters, and Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy are all included too, and yes, the list still goes on. If you're not already a member of your local library, now might be a good time to sign up. For more information about Kanopy, or to check if your local library is a member, visit the streaming platform's website. This article was originally published in 2018. It has been updated to reflect new information.
It's the Japanese fine dining experience characterised by intricately plated dishes, an intimate setting, and a produce-led menu that celebrates that perfect balance of taste, texture and precision. But we bet you've never experienced the concept of kaiseki quite like you will at Ishizuka, a contemporary 16-seat restaurant from famed chef Tomotaka Ishizuka, which has opened in Melbourne's CBD. The subterranean Bourke Street restaurant is only tiny, but it's promising big things in the flavour department, as Tomotaka delivers an expert interpretation of one of Japan's most respected culinary traditions. As is custom, Ishizuka's food offering will be built on a huge respect for fresh, seasonal produce and served with a healthy side of theatre. There'll be an oft-changing set menu of 11 dishes — maybe an amuse-bouche of spanner crab and sea urchin, followed by delicate sashimi creations, an assembly of soba seeds, truffle and quail egg, and a grilled piece of Mayura wagyu. A course of zensai (or small pretty things) features five petite delicacies, like boiled black tiger prawn with caviar, or cured ocean trout sushi. Of course, this doesn't come cheap — the kaiseki menu will cost $215 per diner, and an additional $110 for drink pairings. And the artful arrangements don't end with the food. Providing a fittingly dramatic backdrop to Ishizuka's culinary offerings is an avant garde space courtesy of acclaimed design practice Russell & George. Custom-made tableware by Kyoto ceramicists Shigeo and Yotaro Takemura help bring Tomotaka's food to life, while a drinks list by award-winning sommelier David Lawler (Spice Temple, Rockpool) will change regularly to complement the culinary delights coming from the kitchen. Find Ishizuka on the basement level of 139 Bourke Street, Melbourne. It's open Tuesday through Sunday. For more info, visit ishizuka.com.au. Images: Eve Wilson and Felix Forest.
