In The Boys, wins and chaos are rarely far away from each other. Something goes right for its characters — its namesake group fighting corrupt caped crusaders, or vice versa — and then something often goes pear-shaped. Fans of the series are in that situation themselves right now, with season four about to start streaming from Thursday, June 13, 2024, but showrunner Eric Kripke freshly revealing that there's only one more season left after this. The Boys was renewed for season five back in May, before season three hits, but now Supernatural alum Kripke has advised that it'll be a last hurrah. "The Boys season four premiere week is a good time to announce: season five will be the final season! Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final okay from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax," he tweeted. #TheBoys Season 4 Premiere Week is a good time to announce: Season 5 will be the Final Season! Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax. Watch Season 4 in 2 DAYS, cause the end has begun! pic.twitter.com/3p7Wt4jGA6 — Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) June 11, 2024 Since first making the jump from the page to the screen from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comics series of the same name in 2019, The Boys has told of a version of earth where caped crusaders are real, as are superpowers, and a group called The Seven are placed above all superheroes. But, digging into the dark side of the scenario, not everyone thinks that should be the status quo. The series has always stood out as an antidote to narratives about powerful folks who are supposedly better than most, by both satirising and questioning that very idea. Here, superheroes work for Vought. They're still the main form of entertainment, but they're real, the most-famous celebrities there are and inescapable in daily life. While The Seven are the absolute top talent, most are hardly role models when the public isn't looking. Yes, that has made quite the change from the usual cinematic universes as the Prime Video show has kept notching up the seasons. The Boys has never been afraid to splash OTT violence — gory carnage, too — across its frames along the way, or to parody reality within its superhero tale. The same proved true in 2020's second season and 2022's third, and also in college-set spinoff Gen V, which arrived in 2023 and has been renewed for a second season as well. In the cast: Karl Urban (Thor: Ragnarok), Jack Quaid (Oppenheimer), Antony Starr (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant), Erin Moriarty (Captain Fantastic), Claudia Doumit (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl), Jessie T Usher (Smile), Laz Alonso (Wrath of Man), Tomer Capone (One on One), Karen Fukuhara (Bullet Train), Colby Minifie (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) and Cameron Crovetti (Boy Kills World) — with Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), Susan Heyward (Hello Tomorrow!) and Valorie Curry (The Lost Symbol) joining for season four. There's obviously no trailer for season five yet, but check out the trailer for The Boys season four below: The fourth season of The Boys starts streaming via Prime Video from Thursday, June 13, 2024. Read our reviews of The Boys season three and Gen V. Season five doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Blue might be the colour of all that the big screen wears at the moment, sloshing across cinemas in Avatar: The Way of Water, but movie theatres will be thoroughly thinking pink when mid-2023 arrives. That's when Barbie will bring its dolls and dream houses — and its toy chest filled with costumes and different characters, too — to picture palaces. Can't wait? Showing in front of The Water of Water IRL and now dropping online, the first teaser trailer for the figurine-to-film adaptation is here to provide a playful and glorious glimpse. Marking Greta Gerwig's third solo stint behind the camera after Lady Bird and Little Women, and scripted by the actor-turned-director with fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach — her helmer on Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise, and real-life partner — Barbie follows in the footsteps of fellow toy-to-movie flicks like the Transformers series, Trolls, The Lego Movie and its sequel, Battleship and the GI Joe films. Playing the central parts: Australia's own Margot Robbie (Amsterdam) as the feature's namesake and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) as Barbie's paramour Ken. But, just like the toys, there's rumoured to be more than one version of each figure. Of course, when it comes to playthings like Barbie dolls, the Mattel toys blazed their own path, as this first look at the film nods to. In an entertaining 2001: A Space Odyssey parody, the trailer notes that most girls' dolls were originally babies. Add an 'r' and you get the adult-bodied line that debuted in 1959 — with a look that Robbie is seen sporting as the kids in the teaser fling around and smash their old infant dolls. The full film hits cinemas on July 20 Down Under, complete with a cast that also includes Will Ferrell (Spirited), Issa Rae (Insecure), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Michael Cera (Arrested Development), America Ferrera (Superstore), Ncuti Gatwa (the incoming Doctor Who), Emerald Fennell (The Crown), Rhea Perlman (Poms), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Emma Mackey (Sex Education) and Jamie Demetriou (Catherine Called Birdy). In the initial trailer, there's zero in the way of story detail provided; however, as well as that 2001 riff, the sneak peek includes dream houses as far as the eye can see, Ken rocking a fringed leather vest and bandana combo, pink outfits aplenty and a shimmering dance number. Life in plastic, it's fantastic here — even without any sign of Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' on the trailer's soundtrack. Check out the first teaser trailer for Barbie below: Barbie releases in cinemas Down Under on July 20, 2023.
SBS2 has poached Vive Cool City from the clutches of its internet following to give them a stab at a late-night TV viewership. The show takes a look at some of humanity's beautiful freaks through the winning presence of judgement-free, committed reporters. If you are suspicious about the 'committed' bit of that sentence, let me refer you to Ryder Susman's brush with a golden shower, and by brush I mean this. "(Our) aim is to embed, to understand, to attempt to get an uncensored take on the story," explains host and former Hungry Beast reporter Kirk Docker. "What we want our audience to do is see the topics we deal with, with new eyes — get them thinking, talking, questioning. What people get up to in real life is so much more compelling than what you can make up." Tonight at 11.30pm, Kirk, along with Ryder Susman, will announce the arrival of Vive Cool City to SBS2 by dropping into the Collingwood housing projects to interview heroin users, taking an in-depth look at a nudist Melbourne gym and introducing us to homemade tunnels, equine psychotherapy and Swedish bridge jumpers. Not to mention the You Report segment, where some UK viewers will show us the intricacies of turning breast milk into ice cream. The show claimed 10 million views on YouTube and has some serious TV pedigree behind it in producer Andy Nehl (Hungry Beast and The Chaser), so Vive Cool City could well be your next 30 (uncomfortable) minutes of choice. Check out some of their online stuff at their website.
To swim at the beach is to enjoy pure, natural beauty, but swimming at the pool allows for something else: the appreciation of nature and the human-made together. Whether driven by landlocked location, the presence of healing hot springs, or just a fear of waves, people have built stunning public swimming pools all over the world. These are ten of the best. Gellert Baths - Budapest, Hungary One hundred and eighteen thermal springs produce 70 million litres of warm water in Budapest every day. It's little wonder that the Hungarian capital is otherwise known as the 'Spa City'. Of the many pools found there, the Gellert Baths are the most visited. Built during the First World War, they are famous for their majestic, art nouveau architecture and the healing powers of their springs, acknowledged since medieval times. Badeschiff - Berlin, Germany As part of a 2004 public art project, Berlin based artist Susanne Lorenz transformed the hull of a 32m-long ship into a swimming pool and set it afloat it on the River Spree. Known as the Badeschiff, meaning 'bathing ship' in English, it is now one of Berlin’s primary summer attractions and includes table tennis tables and DJs for year-round fun. Montjuic Municipal Pool - Barcelona, Spain If you're a Kylie Minogue fan, you might recognise this view. She and a crowd of rather statuesque divers spend her video clip 'Slow' rolling around on beach towels next to the Montjuic Municipal Pool. Located on a hill high above Barcelona, this one offers spectacular scenery and Olympic diving boards. The Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik, Iceland The silica- and sulphur-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon are believed to possess powerful medicinal qualities. Whether or not you're one of the faithful, you're bound to be seduced by the mystical surroundings and the year-round 37-39°C water temperatures, especially if you're visiting during one of Reykjavik's icy winters. Having appeared in The Amazing Race 6, Hostel: Part II, and Britain's Next Top Model, the Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's star tourist attractions. Yrjonkatu Swimming Hall - Helsinki, Finland This one is a must for skinny dipping enthusiasts. Up until 2001, you weren't even allowed in the Yrjonkatu with your clothes on. These days, nudity is still popular, but not obligatory, and men and women must visit at separate times. Established in June 1928, Yrjönkatu is Scandinavia’s oldest indoor public swimming pool. Its stunning classical-style architecture conjures up an atmosphere reminiscent of the ancient Roman baths. Barton Springs Pool - Austin, Texas For thousands of years, the Tonkawa Native American tribe used the springs that feed into Barton Pool during sacred rituals. Acquired by settlers in the 19th century and then by the City of Austin during the 1920s, the springs have been transformed into a public pool, which now lies inside Zilker Metropolitan Park. The water temperature is never much lower than 20°C and rarely exceeds 22°C, so you can take the plunge in comfort at any time of year. Pocas do Gomes - Madeira, Portugal The Pocas do Gomes lie on the idyllic southern edge of Madeira, a Portugese archipelago located 400km north of the Canary Islands. Naturally formed from volcanic rock, these pools enable expansive views over the Atlantic Ocean. A nearby restaurant offers fresh seafood and Portugese-style culinary delights. Piscine Molitor - Paris, France The Piscine Molitor, after which Yann Martel's increasingly famous fictional hero is named, may not be considered one of the world’s most beautiful pools right now. Built in 1929, but having closed in 1989, it became a favourite haunt for hoodlums and graffiti artists throughout the 1990s. However, a 2014 reopening promises the reconstruction of the pool in all its art deco glory. If Ang Lee's imaginative depictions are anything to go by, the Piscine Molitor will soon be vying for top of the list. Krapfenbaldwad - Vienna, Austria Situated just outside of Vienna and surrounded by vineyards, Krapfenbaldwad affords sweeping views. Given that Austria is landlocked, this pool provides some welcome cool relief for both locals and visitors and is often packed during the summer months. The old-fashioned changing rooms add an olde worlde charm to the bathing experience. Bondi Icebergs Baths - Sydney, Australia Finally, we'd be doing ourselves a disservice were we to forget that some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth is on our doorstep. The Waverley Council recognised this back in the 1880s, when they built the Bondi Baths at the southern end of Australia's most popular beach. Since 1929, the Baths have been home to the famous Icebergs, the only licensed Winter Swimming Club in the world. To be a member, you must be willing to swim at least one length of the 50m pool on three Sundays out of every month, all winter long. Any attempts at an excuse will only see your membership relinquished. If that’s not quite your style, take a dip at your leisure for $5.50 (adults) / $3.50 (children/Seniors).
Things just got a whole lot easier for cyclists. At long last, you can now carry your two-wheelers on peak hour trains and long-haul flights without enraging fellow commuters, paying excess baggage fees and (most importantly) compromising on dimensions. A 30-year-old Italian designer by the name of Gianluca Sada has come up with a bicycle that folds down to the size of an umbrella yet boasts full-size 26-inch hubless, spokeless wheels. So, not only does it go faster than your average foldable, it’s also more stable. And it looks significantly sexier. Sada has been cooking up the eponymous bike for six years. He registered the patent on March 5, 2010 and by December 2011 had developed an aluminum alloy prototype with the help of precision engineering company Palmec SNC. Right now, he’s looking for investors. "The project may pave the way for a new system of mobility outside the classical schemes, widely accessible and easily transportable," he says. "Personal style and extreme versatility give dynamism to the traditional bicycle... increasingly required in this environmentally friendly age." Sada studied at the Politecnico di Torino, completing a degree in Automotive Engineering in 2010. His thesis, which focused on the development of the foldable bicycle, was awarded First Prize in IDEA-TO’s “most innovative thesis of 2010”, conducted by the Order of Engineers of Turin. In November 2010, Italian Minister for Youth, Giorgia Meloni, listed Sada among the "200 Top Talents of Italy". Via Gizmag.
Warehouse parties are great. Secret Mexican holiday-inspired, neon-drenched, immersive warehouse experiences are even better. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. promises to be one heck of a Burning Man-channeling spectacle you'll want to lock down tickets for — on sale this Saturday, August 15 at 12.30pm. And with the demand already high, this event is expected to sell out within hours, so your crew had better be ready. For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring, in secret locations within each city. Expect interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians — including one big ol' festival favourite headliner. The lineup will be released closer to the day, so stay tuned. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticket holders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at it's best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Get ready to nab a ticket and start preparing your best Dia de los Muertos outfit. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Tickets are $75 and go on sale here on Saturday 15 August at 12.30pm and are expected to sell out super fast. Don't stall on this one, it'll be the death of you.
Across one big weekend, Werribee Park's Victoria State Rose Garden is set to bloom bright for the annual State Rose & Garden Show. But this is a whole lot more than just a festival of flowers. From Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, the six sprawling acres of rose gardens will come alive with a riot of colour and more than 5000 roses, alongside pop-up nursery stalls selling a wide range of plants, pots and homewares. You can even hone your green thumb with a program of guided tours, expert talks and plant care demonstrations, led by names like Vasili Kanidiadis, Chloe Thomson, Charlotte Harrison, Ivan Blacket and Kat Lavers. Elsewhere, try a free workshop like creating your own insect hotel, making miniature garden ornaments and learning how to make Middle Eastern pickles. In between exploring the blooms, you'll be treated to live tunes, eats and drinks — including sparkling treats from the Prosecco Van. The Country Women's Association will also be on-site, serving their famous scones with jam and cream, rose-flavoured cupcakes, rose-coloured lamingtons and Persian love biscuits made with rose petals. Entry is free to the rose show, though if you'd like to drop a gold coin donation, it'll go to supporting the garden's hard-working volunteers. State Rose & Garden Show is open from 10am–4pm both days.
Whenever we get to thinking a particular technology is obsolete, someone somewhere works out a way to make it trendy. Books, vinyl and phones with cords have all gone through it. Now, it's analogue's turn. There's just something about the sound that digital doesn't do as well. Enter Bacardi. The legendary rum brand is running a bunch of club gigs and DJ sets, bringing analogue back to the decks. And you get to hit every one of them for free. Melbourne's Boney will host two parties over two Fridays in August. The first one on Friday, August 5 will see FunkinEven headline — the Londoner's beats has been described as "raw funk and electro acid", so take that as you will. On August 26, producer Darshan Jesrani of Brooklyn's Metro Area will take the stage, accompanied by Andee Frost, Prequal and Jamie Bennett. Get there by 9pm for kick off and don't leave till 3am. Even though entry is free, you do need to RSVP online. Friday, August 5, 9pm - late FunkinEven (Steven Julien), JNETT B2B Simon Caldwell and CC:Disco! Friday, August 26, 9pm - late Darshan Jesrani (Metro Area), Andee Frost, Prequel and Jamie Bennett
Situated on the banks of the Murray River, Tocumwal is the ideal destination for an outdoorsy getaway. With virtually endless opportunities for fishing, camping and hiking in the surrounding areas, you can spend your days bouncing between the riverside beaches or seeing the fascinating landscape from high above. With the help of Wild Turkey, we've selected a series of activities that'll take your visit to this lush Riverina district to the next level, whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure or a bit of both. [caption id="attachment_843939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] GO BEACH HOPPING The Murray River flows right through the heart of Tocumwal, and 24 riverside beaches within close proximity to town ensure you can make the most of every sunny day. With this stretch of Australia's longest river lined with shady red gums and native bushland, there's a quiet patch of shoreline with your name on it. For instance, Tocumwal Beach, Apex Beach and Finley Beach are all within a quick drive of one another. If you don't mind a quick drive, Bouchiers Beach and Smithers Beach are also top-notch options. No matter which beach you like the look of, the water is perfect for swimming and kayaking. [caption id="attachment_843057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn - Visit Victoria[/caption] SEE THE SIGHTS FROM ABOVE Take flight above the countryside with Sport Aviation, one of the top attractions in Tocumwal. Courageous passengers can experience heart-pumping flights in both gliders and light sports aircraft, whether you're just looking for a thrill or keen to learn the basics of piloting. Leaving from the runway located just outside town, you'll soar high above the rolling hills and sprawling river system with an expert guide. Traversing across the landscape, these nimble aircraft provide a striking bird's-eye view, ensuring you have the best possible vantage point to soak up the scenery. [caption id="attachment_843062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flicker (bkstreets49)[/caption] EXPLORE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION HISTORY It doesn't take long to wander from one end of Tocumwal to the other, but this historic part of the world is overflowing with fascinating history everywhere you look. Once you've touched down after your glider flight, you can head next door to the Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Museum — once home to Australia's largest RAAF base — to learn about the town's wartime legacy. If you prefer trains to planes, the Tocumwal Railway Heritage Museum presents fascinating photos and railway memorabilia dating back to 1908. Meanwhile, Chrysties Classics and Collectibles Museum (pictured above) offers an eclectic mix of classic cars, tractors and vintage machinery that showcases the region's extensive farming legacy. [caption id="attachment_843066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] HIT THE GREENS Handy with a set of clubs? Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club is the ideal place to practise your swing, with not one but two 18-hole courses — and regular tournaments — revealing how you measure up. With the club also boasting a driving range, a chipping green and two putting greens, budding Shooter McGavins will find themselves in heaven. If you're new to golf, head to Finley Golf Club, around 20 kilometres outside of Tocumwal. With no bunkers or hills to worry about on this course, beginners can let loose on the fairways as much as they like. And with daily tee times available for non-members, getting involved couldn't be easier. Nearby Cobram, meanwhile, is home to one of the Murray's premier golf destinations. The Cobram Barooga Golf Club (pictured above) boasts 36 championship-level holes on which to test your skills, as well as lush lawn bowls greens, a full-service clubhouse and even a mini-golf course (that recently hosted the Australian Mini Golf Open) on its expansive grounds dotted with beautiful native flora and fauna. [caption id="attachment_843056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey - Visit Victoria[/caption] GET OUTDOORS Tocumwal is the perfect place from which to set off on an outdoor adventure, with Barmah National Park recognised as particularly special for bushwalking and horse riding. Home to the world's largest river red gum forest, the expansive park also boasts stunning wetlands that provide critical habitat for over 200 bird species. Closer to town, you're welcome to admire the alluring Murray River from the shoreline, but it's even better when you hire a boat and drift along the waterway instead. With the area renowned among anglers in search of cod, perch and trout, it's the ideal way to find a quiet place to drop a line and spend a lazy day enjoying the calm waters of the mighty Murray. Find out more about Wild Turkey's Discovery Series at the website. Top image: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
It's been almost five years since Australian viewers scored a dedicated platform to indulge their love of British television. When Britbox launched towards the end of 2020, back when new streaming services kept popping up every month — or so it seemed — it brought shows new and old from two English networks, the BBC and ITV, Down Under. If that's been your TV-watching niche since, then you'll be interested in its next plans, expanding its range and adding dedicated channels. The idea: to boost the hundreds of hours of British fare that's already available to view, on a service that launched with the likes of Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous, The Office, Blackadder, Pride and Prejudice, Prime Suspect, The Vicar of Dibley, Luther, A Confession, and David Attenborough's Blue Planet and Planet Earth. And, if you're the kind of person that wants the act of choosing taken out of your hands, the blast-from-the-past format that is linear channels will always have something on. Yes, after streaming attracted eyeballs away from traditional TV and changed how everyone watches the small screen, adding non-stop old-school television-style channels to online services has cemented itself as a trend in recent years. Britbox will have three, dedicated to drama, documentaries and general entertainment, respectively. So, expect Agatha Christie murder-mysteries, comedy quiz shows like Would I Lie To You? and Attenborough docos, for starters. On BBC First, then, you'll be checking out Call the Midwife and getting sleuthing with Towards Zero, the latter of which stars Anjelica Huston (The French Dispatch) and Matthew Rhys (Saturday Night). Head to BBC Entertain for Richard Osman's House of Games, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats, among other similar shows. And on BBC Select, fiends for factual viewing will find Life Below Zero, Frozen Planet and Africa on the lineup. "Our customers told us they wanted more — more of the latest series, more quality dramas, comedies and mysteries, as well as more variety across genres. We've expanded the service with the aim of continuing to delight our existing fans and appeal to new customers," said Moira Hogan, Executive Vice President of International Markets and General Manager of BritBox Australia. "Our team has crafted a user experience that combines the best of on-demand viewing with a curated channel experience. So when you're not sure what to watch, you can easily switch to one of our three streaming channels and the choice is instantly made for you." In June, Britbox in general is adding a must see for Cunk on Earth fans to its catalogue, too: Mandy, also starring Diane Morgan. Or, check out docos Blue Planet, The Hunt and The Planets, plus the ninth season of Shetland. The Cleaner, Professor T and Karen Pirie will all be back on the platform this year as well. For more information about Britbox, head to the service's website.
Winter might be all about staying in doors, rugging up and avoiding the frosty weather, but if you want to see a pair of meteor showers at their peak this week, you'll want to head outdoors. Not one but two celestial events will be visible in Australia's skies to end July 2024: the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids. Arriving in the thick of winter, the Southern Delta Aquariids may not be quite as famous or frenetic as other meteor showers, but it's still considered a strong one, with around 15–25 meteors hurtling across the heavens per hour during its peak. In good news for those Down Under, it's also typically best seen in the Southern Hemisphere. [caption id="attachment_727210" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Lewinski via Flickr.[/caption] Caused by the breakup of the Machholz comet, the Southern Delta Aquariids is visible each year from around July 12–August 23 — so now. But the ideal time to catch it is between July 28–July 30, aka until Tuesday this week. And, like many astronomical shows, catching an eyeful around midnight is recommended — when the moon has set and its light will not interfere. Also soaring through the skies at the moment: the Alpha Capricornids, which tends to run from around July 7–August 15. Yes, that means that you can peer up at night and catch a glimpse now, too, but it tends to peak around July 30–31 — so Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This one comes from the comet 169P/NEAT, and was discovered in 1871. It's known for its bright meteors and even fireballs, although they're infrequent, at around two-to-nine per hour. For your best chances of getting a glimpse at both, the usual advice applies. Get as far away from bright lights as possible — this could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. The Delta Aquariids' name comes from Aquarius, the constellation from which they appear to come. Accordingly, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. For the Alpha Capricornids, you're looking for the Capricornus constellation. To locate them all, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky, and is also a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night. The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will peak between Tuesday, July 30–Sunday, July 31, 2024. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
One of Australia's all-time great comedies, an Oscar-winner for Best Costume Design and a film that's made the leap from the screen to the stage as well, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert turns 30 in 2024. But that isn't the only reason to celebrate the movie right now. The Guy Pearce (The Clearing)-, Hugo Weaving (The Royal Hotel)- and Terence Stamp (Last Night in Soho)-starring flick is receiving a follow-up, with writer/director Stephan Elliott announcing a sequel. The filmmaker with Welcome to Woop Woop, A Few Best Men and Swinging Safari similarly on his resume has confirmed that a second Priscilla, Queen of the Desert picture is on the way — with Pearce, Weaving and Stamp all returning. They'll reprise their roles as Adam aka Felicia Jollygoodfellow, Tick aka Mitzi Del Bra and Bernadette Bassenger, respectively, with starting shooting in Australia this year the plan. Elliott, who is writing and directing again, revealed the news to Deadline. "I'm not repeating myself, we'll start the new film in Australia, but by god, we're going on one helluva journey," he advised the publication. "The original cast is on board, I've got a script that everybody likes, we're still working out deals... It's happening," he continued. Alongside stepping back into the lives of the three drag queens who drove a bus across the outback in the 1994 movie, the as-yet-unnamed sequel will introduce new characters. Elliott flagged that Weaving's Tick had a seven-year-old son in the OG film; "he's grown up now," he said. Soundtrack-wise, after the initial flick featured ABBA, Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' and Alicia Bridges' 'I Love the Nightlife', viewers can expect "old disco classics, but we'll be moving into contemporary as well," Elliott also noted. There's no word yet of a release date, or other cast members — or where in Australia the film will take place, after the first movie journeyed from Sydney to Alice Springs via Broken Hill and Coober Pedy. But it's certainly a big time for Aussie cinema greats with links to Broken Hill scoring new instalments right now, given that the Mad Max franchise is about to drop Furiosa. There's obviously no sneak peek at the sequel to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert yet, but check out the trailer for the original movie below: There's no release date yet for sequel to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — we'll update you when more details are announced. Via Deadline.
Years of travelling back and forth between Jakarta and Melbourne cultivated an affinity for Australian culture for Le Bajo founder and owner, Jason Gunawan. After successfully co-running Bali's famous Potato Head Beach Club, he was about to depart on his next venture before the pandemic hit. Labuan Bajo was set to open on Flores, an Indonesian island known for its Komodo dragons, as well as a diverse sea life of manta rays and turtles. But as the project had to be postponed further and further, Gunawan was determined to not let nearly nine months of planning go to waste. He decided to bring part of the concept to North Melbourne instead, in a spacious garage home to a collection of old-school Mercs and Porsches. Seeking the help of hospitality friends and northside neighbours, Gunawan reached out to Kantaro Okada, owner of 279, to open Le Bajo with him. "Forced to stay in Melbourne, I decided to work with Kan, who has been in the industry for a few decades. We swapped ideas and decided that, with a mutual appreciation for Japanese food and culture, we would open a sando bar," says Gunawan. With a concept locked in, the team set to work sourcing old farm and corner store furniture — gathered in the midst of Melbourne's 2020 stage-four lockdown. Wooden countertops, chairs, glass cabinets and cupboards were given a new life. Inspired by the disappearing milkbars of Australia, Gunawan took the opportunity to make Le Bajo a place to reminisce about Australiana. Retro hand-painted signs, lamps and thrifted ornaments fill the cafe, offering it an old-time aesthetic that feels both familiar and quaint. Lush plants also line the space, further transforming this industrial venue into a welcoming abode. "We wanted it to be a friendly place that everyone is welcome — just like a milkbar," says Gunawan. "The vintage furniture gives the space warmth, so it doesn't feel like a cafe that just opened up; we want to feel like we've been here for 30 or 40 years." And while the menu has its nods to Australian classics, such as milkshakes and milk coffees, the food at Le Bajo is otherwise distinctly Japanese. The team roasts its own coffee and bakes its own shokupan bread — a much-loved fluffy milk bread that is cut thick for sandos and toast. "Japanese people are very particular about every single component of their products," Gunawan says. "Every step: the produce used, the precise ingredients and even the packaging. We bake our bread in-house so it has a certain softness and sweetness to it — there's nothing like it." One of the venue's most sought out items, the fruit sando, is a triangle of vibrant fresh fruits and whipped cream wedged between two slices of cloud-like bread. For more savoury options, the spicy tuna sando or the spicy cod roe toast are two house favourites. To drink, Le Bajo has a rotating origin coffee menu, and proudly roasts its own beans for a batch brew. This coffee is light in body and tea-like, but packs a caffeinated punch. There are also Japanese sodas on offer, including the Japanese summer classic, Ramune. "Melbourne is a second home to me, and I want Le Bajo to be a home for everyone — from our North Melbourne locals to travellers that come all the way from Geelong on the weekends to visit us. We are very grateful."
If you've ever fantasised about sleeping over in the hallowed grounds of the MCG, get ready to make those dreams a reality. For one night only — and for just two lucky guests — the iconic sports stadium will moonlight as a unique overnight stay. It's all thanks to booking.com, which is transforming one of the MCG's lofty guest boxes into the Unforgettable Legends Lounge — a special private guest suite for two, which is popping up for just one night to coincide with the final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022. Two guests will get to experience the stay on Sunday, November 13, enjoying a full VIP package with all the trimmings. That includes return flights to Melbourne, an indulgent pre-game massage in the suite, and a top-shelf food and drink offering courtesy of a personal bartender (making cocktails on demand) and personal chef. Guests will also score a gift pack featuring personalised cricket merchandise for the ultimate memento. The suite itself is a little slice of sophistication, overlooking the ground from on high. It's decked out with a large double bed, a kitchen and a living area with sweeping views across the famed turf below. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — but of course, you'll have to put up a fight to make it yours. The exclusive stay will go to the first person to jump online and book with their speedy little fingers from 9am AEST on Friday, October 28. So yes, you'll want to be quick — cue the madness. The Unforgettable Legends Lounge and VIP experience is available to book exclusively for one person and their guest, for $30, with reservations opening at 9am AEST on Friday, October 28 at booking.com. 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.
Everyone has at least one piece of IKEA furniture in their house, and likely more than that. Maybe you also own some of the Swedish retailer's Lego storage boxes, too, or a bucket hat made out of the same material as its iconic blue bags. You could've whipped up outfits for your dog using said shopping carriers, and even cooked up its famed meatballs during lockdown. Something that even the brand's biggest Australian devotees won't own, however, is an IKEA t-shirt, tote or key ring — yet, that is. In 2020, IKEA launched its first-ever merchandise line, kicking off in Japan before releasing in Singapore, Thailand and Korea as well. Now, come Thursday, May 13, it's Australia's turn to get decked out in the brand's clothing and accessories — so get ready to don its hoodies, sip from its water bottles and wipe yourself down with its towels, too. The range is called Efterträda, and it nods to the company's popular products in a variety of ways. You'll find its recognisable blue and yellow logo on everything, for instance, as well as a minimalistic look in general. Oversized barcodes feature as a key design element, mimicking the type seen on its products — and, because they line oh-so-many walls, the Billy bookcase barcode has been given pride of place. Plus, the towels and water bottles come in either yellow or white, while the key rings have a blue option. Prices range from $4 for a key ring up to $49 for a hoodie, with water bottles costing $6, totes coming in at $10, t-shirts priced at $19 and towels costing $22.50. And, to answer the two questions that have probably just popped into your head: no, you don't have to assemble them yourself, or use an Allen key. IKEA's Efterträda collection will be available in Australian stores from Thursday, May 13. For further details, head to the Swedish retailer's website.
When an Australian actor makes it big, it can feel as if there's more than one of them. Joel Edgerton, who has been on local screens for almost three decades and made the leap to Hollywood with the Australian-shot Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones, is such a talent. He's usually everywhere and in almost everything (such as The Stranger, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Thirteen Lives, Master Gardener, I'm a Virgo, The Boys in the Boat and Bluey in just the past two years), and viewers would follow him anywhere. Dark Matter wasn't written to capitalise upon that idea. Rather, it hails from the page of Blake Crouch's 2016 novel, with the author also creating the new nine-part Apple TV+ sci-fi series that it's based on. But, streaming from Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the show's lead casting leans into the notion that you can never have too much Edgerton by multiplying him in the multiverse. For the characters in Dark Matter, however, the fact that there's more than a single Jason Dessen causes considerable issues. The series' protagonist is a former experimental physics genius-turned-professor in Chicago who's teaching disinterested students about Schrödinger's cat. He's married to artist-turned-gallerist Daniela (Jennifer Connelly, Bad Behaviour), a father to teenager Charlie (Oakes Fegley, The Fabelmans) and the best friend of award-winning college pal Ryan Holder (Jimmi Simpson, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). And, he's been happy living the quiet family life, although pangs of envy quietly arise when he's celebrating Ryan's prestigious new accolade. Then, when another Jason pops up to pull off a kidnapping and doppelgänger plot, he's soon navigating a cross between Sliding Doors and Everything Everywhere All At Once. Everything is a multiverse tale of late; a mere few examples span superhero films and television shows Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Spider-Verse movies, Loki and The Flash; TV gems Fringe and Russian Doll; and the interdimensional animated chaos of Rick and Morty. Dark Matter is also a soul-searching "what if?" drama, exploring the human need to wonder what might've been if just one choice — sometimes big, sometimes small — had veered in a different direction. While a box is pivotal mode of transport like this is Doctor Who, as are all manner of worlds to visit, this is high-concept sci-fi at its most grounded. Neither version of Jason wants to hop through parallel worlds in the name of adventure or exploration — they're simply chasing their idea of everyday perfection. The first Jason chose Daniela and Charlie over devoting his existence to his career, round-the-clock work and only seeing the inside of a lab. Drugging and abducting him to reveal what could've eventuated if he didn't chart that path, the second Jason slides into his life to trade places. The everyman Jason unwillingly gets transported to a plane of reality where he's a famous billionaire — as well as the recipient of prizes and kudos, and also the creator of the technology that's allowing tumbling through the multiverse to happen — while the interloper Jason assumes his spot as a husband and dad. Dark Matter ties into the proverb "the grass is always greener", too, as both Jasons face the ups and downs of the road not taken, mostly for worse not better. For Jason One, if only verdant pastures were all that changed as he urgently attempts to return to his Daniela. With Jason Two's psychiatrist partner and colleague Amanda (Alice Braga, A Murder at the End of the World) for company, anything can await behind the infinite expanse of doors in a dimly light corridor that literalises the quantum state of superposition. Again, though, journeying to dystopias and paradises, and through disasters and futuristic havens while they're at it, isn't the point, even if each of the above makes an appearance. If you've ever felt as if you've been wading through copies of the life that you're meant to have, with nothing completely falling into place as it should, that's Jason One's experience as minor details morph from world to world. Edgerton's job, fittingly, contains multitudes. As the initial iteration of Jason, he plays thoughtful, considerate, dedicated to his loved ones and desperate to find his way back to them — all while tussling with the show's high-tech premise, often while stranded within that endless hallway. As Jason Two, he's a calculating imposter endeavouring not to get caught in the dream reality that he's ruthlessly stolen, but also arrogant in his confidence that he's pulled off his existential heist. A click on the soundtrack signals Dark Matter's jump between Jasons, but it needn't: Edgerton conveys their differences alongside their similarities like an artist painting the same portrait in dissimilar styles, and does so in one of the best performances of his career. Grappling with regrets, possibilities, the haunting knowledge that other futures are always possible and the distress of grasping that you mightn't have appreciated what you had until it was gone, Edgerton isn't the only actor excelling at doing double duty. For Connelly, in a show that spirits someone else off on a quest as another of her on-screen alter egos once was nearly four decades back in Labyrinth — a series where frosty climes and trains also play a part, bringing her last small-screen role on Snowpiercer to mind — shifts in body language say everything. And, they aren't the only cast members serving up layered performances. Braga, Fegley and Simpson are no slouches; in smaller but no less pivotal roles, neither are Dayo Okeniyi (Hypnotic) and Amanda Brugel (Parish). With Wayward Pines and Good Behaviour, Crouch's work has ventured from the page to episodes before — and with his involvement. His latest series has echoes within Apple TV+'s slate, too, because the platform's love of science fiction, twists and mysteries just keeps growing, including with Constellation already in 2024, Silo in 2023 and Severance in 2022. There might only be a lone idyllic realm for Jasons in Dark Matter, but that isn't the case for the streaming service's viewers. An absorbing and addictive trip that's also firmly anchored in relatable yearnings and musings, this Edgerton-led series is one to enthusiastically dive into. Check out the trailer for Dark Matter below: Dark Matter streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
"So, how long have you been dead?" If you're a vampire being interviewed, that's the kind of opening question that's bound to come your way. More queries obviously have to follow, but it's a helluva ice-breaker — and, in the new Interview with a Vampire TV series, it's slung Louis de Pointe du Lac's way. Set to arrive in October — in Australia via AMC+ from Sunday, October 2, with New Zealand details still to be announced — this new small-screen adaptation of Anne Rice's 1976 gothic horror novel of the same name sparks plenty of questions itself, too. No, Brad Pitt doesn't play Louis, as he did almost 30 years ago in the 1994 movie. No, Tom Cruise doesn't play fellow vamp Lestat de Lioncourt again either. And you can guess the answers to your next two queries: no, Kirsten Dunst isn't back as Claudia, and neither is Christian Slater as the interviewer. All those characters feature here, though, with the Interview with a Vampire series retelling Louis, Lestat and Claudia's tale. If you remember the flick — the film that helped push Dunst to fame as a child, well before she was an Oscar-nominee for The Power of the Dog — you'll know that it steps through the undead trio's not-quite-lives (being eternally undead might be the better way to describe it). This time, Jacob Anderson — aka Game of Thrones' Grey Worm — is the New Orleans resident who can't resist the offer to live forever. Playing Lestat to his Louis is Australian actor Sam Reid (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson). As for child vampire Claudia, Bailey Bass (Psycho Sweet 16) does the honours, with the always-welcome Eric Bogosian (Succession) as probing interviewer Daniel Molloy. Like plenty of other upcoming movies and TV shows did — such as The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, House of the Dragon, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, John Wick: Chapter 4 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — Interview with the Vampire dropped its first sneak peek at this year's San Diego Comic-Con. With Louis' story starting in the 1900s, it's big on period details and costuming, plus a sweeping mood. And yes, reviving 90s movies as a series is a trend that shows no signs of dying — like interviewed vampires — given that Interview with the Vampire will hit streaming queues less than two months after the new TV version of A League of Their Own does the same. Also, Interview with the Vampire joins the film-to-TV vampire ranks, too, alongside Buffy the Vampire Slayer and What We Do in the Shadows. Check out the Interview with the Vampire trailer below: Interview with the Vampire will start streaming in Australia viaAMC+ from Sunday, October 2. We'll update you with New Zealand details when they become available. Images: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC.
Fresh from scoring plenty of attention in Australia's sporting circles after hosting the AFL's first-ever Gather Round, Adelaide is giving locals and visitors alike another reason to enjoy the City of Churches. Art, music and culture lovers, get ready for the South Australian dream that is Illuminate Adelaide, which debuted in 2021, then backed up its dazzling first year in 2022 — and has just dropped an impressive 2023 lineup, too. Illuminate's third month-long event will run from Wednesday, June 28–Sunday, July 30, putting it in prime winter festival season following Vivid Sydney, RISING Melbourne and Dark Mofo in Tasmania. Spending the country's colder months travelling between all four fests sounds positively heavenly; however, if you can only hit up one, SA's addition to the fold makes a strong case. Topping the music bill are Yothu Yindi, Oneohtrix Point Never and Tourist, giving Illuminate both Australian icons and electronic must-sees from overseas. With the former, the iconic Indigenous rock band play for one night only to celebrate NAIDOC Week. As for the latter, the Brooklyn-based Oneohtrix Point Never (who is responsible for the intoxicating scores to films Good Time and Uncut Gems) and English electronic musician and producer Tourist (aka William Phillip) will also bring their respective tunes to the Hindley Street Music Hall during the fest. After making its Aussie debut at last year's Illuminate, concert series KLASSIK underground will return, once again pairing classical music with live visuals. So too will experimental and electronic music celebration Unsound Adelaide. And, the roster of tunes also spans Murrawarri and Ngemba talent DOBBY, Space Afrika's dub-techno sounds, Sofie Birch and Antonina Nowacka teaming up, rapper bbymutha and Guatemalan experimental cellist Mabe Fratti. [caption id="attachment_897498" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jack Fenby[/caption] That's what festival attendees will be listening to. The arts and light part of the program is just as impressive — and literally vibrant. UK creatives Architects of Air will hit Illuminate with Arborialis luminarium, which will take over East End in Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka with 1000 square metres of inflatable mazes. Even better: running for three weeks, it's basically a labyrinth of colour and light, and you can head along by both day and by night. Mirror Mirror is another standout, harking from multimedia studio Moment Factory and coming to Adelaide fresh from premiering in Montreal. An interactive and immersive experience that'll take over its own purpose-built structure on Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, it gets attendees wandering their way through unique art installations — and yes, a hall of mirrors is included. The same outfit is also behind Resonate, which takes over from 2021 and 2022's Light Cycle in lighting up a 1.7-kilometre trail nightly through the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. [caption id="attachment_897495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Owens[/caption] Keeping with the 2023 festival's radiant side, Illuminate will welcome back some of its past big luminous drawcards for a third time, because they're just that impressive and popular. That includes Light Creatures at the Adelaide Zoo, which means even more glowing animal installations. This year, it'll feature returning panda, skink, underwater and tiger favourites, plus a golden falcon, crabs and a projection that travels through time. Also worth looking out for (not at you can miss it) is the City Lights program, which makes a comeback to again feature more 40 free site-specific works over 17 days. A sculptural floral field, CoolShit getting into stare mode with large-scale art installation The Eyes, a touch-sensitive light and sound piece, an exhibition of works by the multi-talented Poh Ling Yeow, Amanda Parer's towering and inflatable Man: they're all included. So too is Augmented Revolution, which dives into augmented reality featuring works by First Nations artists. Elsewhere, you can make a date with pop-up bar and eatery hub Base Camp in its third year; the also-returning New Light, which commissions new screen works from Aboriginal talents; Make|Shift @ The Mill, aka projection art by six SA multidisciplinary artists; and the world premiere of Restless Dance Theatre's new Shifting Perspectives. Looking for more things to do around South Australia at the time? Concrete Playground Trips has a four-day wellness escape in the Adelaide Hills available to book in July as well. [caption id="attachment_897500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moment Factory[/caption] Illuminate Adelaide 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 28–Sunday, July 30. Check out the festival's website for the full program and to grab tickets. Top images: Sam Wong, Amigo and Amigo, Frankie the Creative, Moment Factory and Rami Saarikorpi. 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.
If your wardrobe is filled with pop culture-themed attire, odds are that you're a fan of Brisbane's BlackMilk Clothing. Star Wars outfits, Harry Potter activewear, Avatar threads, Squid Game tracksuits, The Witcher dresses — the company has released them all. Next on its list: a new range of Stranger Things-inspired pieces. This isn't the first time that BlackMilk has teamed up with Netflix to pay homage to the 80s-set sci-fi hit; however, given that the series finally returned for season four this year — and that Halloween is almost upon us, too — the brand has whipped up another collection. Need something to run up that hill in? Not sure what to wear while battling Vecna? Just keen on a new trick-or-treating outfit? Consider all of those boxes ticked. Whether you've spent the last few years wishing you went to Hawkins High or you just want to wear clothing decked out with demorgogons, there's something here for you, too. The new 17-piece line spans includes Hawkins Demogorgons varsity jackets, Upside Down-themed dresses and leggings that look like Vecna's lair. A hoodie features the gang riding their bikes the right way up and all that evil lurking below, while a few particularly ace-looking items include Stranger Things movie posters. Another standout: a shirt paying tribute to Eddie Munson, name-checking his band Corroded Coffin. And, because the range really is timed for the spookiest period of the year, cartoon pumpkins also feature. The past few months haven't been short on ways to indulge your Stranger Things love, ranging from Spotify playlists to themed burgers — and, of course, that giant rift that arrived temporarily on Bondi Beach. A full preview of BlackMilk's new Stranger Things collection is available on its website — and if you're as keen to pick up a few pieces as Eleven is about Eggos, they go on sale at 7am AEST on Thursday, September 8. Getting in quickly, like a demon is chasing you, is recommended; items are available until sold out, and, yes, that often happens quickly. BlackMilk Clothing's new Stranger Things collection goes on sale at 7am AEST on Thursday, September 8. For more information about, head to the brand's website.
2005 movie Mr & Mrs Smith isn't the first time that title adorned a spy caper about a literally killer couple. That honour goes not to the Brad Pitt (Babylon)- and Angelina Jolie (Eternals)-starring, Brangelina-sparking film, but to a 90s TV series. No one remembers 1996's Mr & Mrs Smith, where Scott Bakula (who was not long off Quantum Leap at the time) and Maria Bello (Beef) took on the eponymous parts. It didn't last, with just nine episodes airing and a further four made but left unseen. But its existence gives 2024's Mr & Mrs Smith a full-circle vibe, with Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine's (PEN15) now both adopting the monikers and ushering the premise back to episodic storytelling. Bakula and Bello's Mr & Mrs Smith didn't inspire Pitt and Jolie's; however, the latter did give rise to Glover and Erskine's. Their version isn't the first time that television has taken the Brangelina picture's lead, either. In 2007, a pilot was made of a spinoff from the then-recent film featuring Martin Henderson (Virgin River) and Jordana Brewster (Fast X), but didn't go any further. Thankfully, as streaming via Prime Video from Friday, February 2, the latest eight-part Mr & Mrs Smith hasn't suffered the same fate. All that history isn't mere trivia. Instead, it speaks to a concept that's so appealing that it keeps being reused, whether coincidentally or knowingly, and to an idea that's now being given its full Mr & Mrs Smith due, in line with True Lies and The Americans: that relationships are mysteries, missions and investigations. The backstory behind Glover and Erskine bringing glorious chemistry to John and Jane Smith doesn't stop there, because Mr & Mrs Smith circa 2024 has been in the works for three years. When announced in February 2021, it was with Atlanta-meets-Fleabag hopes, with Glover co-starring and co-creating with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). Then creative differences with Glover saw Waller-Bridge — who also co-wrote the No Time to Die screenplay and created Killing Eve — leave the project within six months. While it's impossible to know how that iteration of Mr & Mrs Smith would've turned out, whether with more overt comedy, talkier or boasting a darker tone, Glover's interpretation with fellow Atlanta alum Francesca Sloane lives up to the promise of two creatives from one of the 21st century's best dramedies turning their attention to espionage and romance. There's an intimacy, a lived-in feel and hangout charm to this Mr & Mrs Smith, even as it swaps Brangelina's already-wed pair discovering that they're assassin rivals for a duo only tying the knot for the gig. This John and Jane solely make each other's acquaintance via their shadowy new employer, who they exclusively interact with online (they nickname their supervisor "hihi" because that's how every message from them starts). After a vetting process, complete with questions about their individual willingness to leave their loved ones and current existence behind, the new Mr and Mrs Smith are soon inhabiting a just-renovated New York brownstone so lavish that their neighbour (Paul Dano, Dumb Money) is wowed. They're both fresh to the job, leaping into the spy world with their own baggage. They're unsurprisingly also fresh to fake marriages. They now have an array of cases to navigate and, slowly but heatedly, real feelings to grapple with. Alongside the self-contained exploits in each episode, surrounding Mr & Mrs Smith's stars with a feast of other talents is a highlight. The wealth of well-known names includes Ron Perlman (Poker Face), Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool), Sarah Paulson (The Bear), John Turturro (Severance), Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid), Wagner Moura (The Gray Man), Eiza González (Ambulance), Michaela Coel (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters). Fellow Smiths, rich bigwigs, targets, a couples' therapist with no clue what John and Jane do for a paycheque (software engineers is their cover): Glover, Sloane, and their co-scribes Stephen Glover (also Atlanta), Carla Ching (Home Before Dark), Yvonne Hana Yi (Raising Dion), and Adanne Ebo and Schuyler Pappas (both screenwriting first-timers) enlist the supporting cast in all of the above roles, keeping John, Jane and audiences on their toes. No one among the guest performers puts a foot wrong, but this is always the ever-excellent Glover and Erskine's time to shine. There's not just suaveness but also patience and vulnerability in his portrayal, while she goes for hyper-competent and enigmatic with equal skill. This Mr and Mrs Smith always feel like humans rather than character types — messily, engagingly, complicatedly so. With love no longer a given from the outset in this spin on the story, Glover and Erskine's growing rapport also couldn't be more crucial. John is clearly interested in being more than just colleagues early, Jane is more tentative about mixing work and pleasure, and everything about them falling for and bickering with each other plays as authentically as every Atlanta scene between Earn and Van (Zazie Beetz, Black Mirror). The slinky series handles its mix of Mission: Impossible and wedlock comparably: although it's always an espionage effort, it's about John and Jane as people, and as a pair getting amorously entangled, first and foremost. "Spies but relatable" could've been the tagline as the show's protagonists juggle life, love and work. They trot the globe, receive secretive instructions, shoot to kill and make the stylishly crafted action sequences count. They also struggle with disposing of bodies, and are visibly shaken by explosions, deaths and other necessities of their line of work. They argue over doing the dishes, too, then clash over trying to truly get to know each other, tussle with trust and weather the minutiae of living together. That lived-in atmosphere plays two ways, in fact: in the intricacies of John, Jane and their connection; and in the cooped-up, pandemic-appropriate scenario that is thrusting folks together to make the most of it. Behind the camera, Hiro Murai directs the first two episodes after notching up 26 instalments of Atlanta, plus helming the Glover-led Guava Island and several Childish Gambino music videos ('This Is America' being one). She Dies Tomorrow's Amy Seimetz similarly took the reins on Atlanta, while Christian Sprenger was the cinematographer on 34 episodes and Guava Island. Karena Evans has fellow movie-to-TV adaptation Dead Ringers on her resume — and when Glover himself directs Mr & Mrs Smith's finale, which makes stunning use of costuming for both him and Erskine, that he's calling the shots is evident. This is a series to commit to, embrace and relish. All the history that comes with TV's latest mining of cinema's wares (see also: Irma Vep, A League of Their Own, What We Do in the Shadows, Interview with the Vampire and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, to name just a few), Brangelina and all, melts away in this gem. Check out the trailer for Mr & Mrs Smith below: Mr & Mrs Smith streams via Prime Video from Friday, February 2, 2024.
When social distancing became our new way of life, the good folk at Audible released a stack of audiobooks for free, all to help keep everyone entertained while we were spending more time (read: all our time) at home and indoors. Now that things are slowly starting to return to normal, summer is on the horizon and prime road trip season is upon us, the online retailer is doing the same — so you have something ace to listen to while you're heading away for a getaway. The free audiobooks are on offer in collaboration with the tourism-focused initiative Empty Esky, which aims to support small businesses, including those affected by the Australian bushfires. So, the idea is that you'll hop behind the wheel, mosey out beyond the city limits, see the country, and patronise local retailers and hospitality venues — and that you'll listen to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Hess along the way. Almost 60 hours of audiobooks are available for free, and they all tie into seven set itineraries, covering Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and both New South Wales' south coast and northern regions. Follow your chosen route, keep an eye out for Audible posters at participating small businesses, and download a free audiobook at each stop. You'll need to follow the whole process, because you'll have to scan the QR code on the poster at each place to get access to the relevant text. If you knew you wanted to hit the road this summer, but you weren't sure where to venture to, Audible and Empty Esky have basically taken care of that decision for you. The itineraries also include Audible podcasts, if you're in the mood for something other than literature. Among both the books and podcasts, you'll also find JM Barrie's Peter Pan, the Beatrix Potter Collection and Jojo Moyes' Me Before You — as well as Heist with Michael Caine, Australia's Funniest Stand-Up, and Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell's Debutante: Race, Resistance and Girl Power. They'll all stream on your phone, tablet or laptop, although you will need to either sign into your existing Audible account or create a new one to start listening. To check out the Empty Esky itineraries — and the Audible books available — head to the Empty Esky website.
Victoria has fully reopened to the entire country, and Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia have all announced when they'll relax their border rules, too. Now, it's Western Australia's turn. Today, Friday, November 5, WA Premier Mark McGowan revealed that the state will start welcoming back travellers sometime early in 2022, once it hits the 90-percent double-vaccinated mark. That means that there's no exact reopening date right now, but McGowan said he expects it to occur sometime in late January or early February. Once WA hits the 80-percent double-dose threshold, the Premier will announce exactly when folks from other states will be able to head west again at that 90-percent mark. And, people travelling from overseas destinations, too — because the reopening will apply to both WA's domestic and international borders. There'll be different rules in place depending on where you're entering from, and other health measures such as wearing face masks in high-risk settings and requiring proof of vaccination at large events and nightclubs will also be put into effect statewide. Today we can announce Western Australia's Safe Transition Plan to ease our controlled border. It sets out an approach which will allow us to safely ease our border controls with other States and resume international travel - while limiting the impact of COVID when it reaches WA. pic.twitter.com/z8mSPlppsf — Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) November 5, 2021 Now planning a trip to WA from elsewhere in Australia? You'll need to be double-vaccinated to enter, and also to get a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of departing. At first, there'll be tests upon arrival as well, but they will eventually be phased out. For those making the journey from an international location, there'll be no quarantine for double-vaxxed arrivals — and the same testing requirements will be in place for both domestic and overseas travellers. If you haven't had two jabs, you'll still need to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days. "The decision to target a 90-percent vaccination rate is based on extensive modelling which shows us the rates of community infections, hospitalisations and deaths are far lower if we make this change at 90-percent, when compared with an 80-percent target," said the Premier. And, while that 90-percent threshold will apply statewide, "if there are regional areas with low vaccination rates, then pending the health advice at the time, restrictions on travel within WA to protect these specific regions may need to be introduced," McGowan continued. [caption id="attachment_770353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] The just-announced plan will see WA reopen while having no COVID-19 in the state's community, too. "This plan sets out how WA will transition in a safe manner and provides a soft landing, with minimal impact on WA's unique way of life," said the Premier. "Transitioning with zero COVID in the community has never been done before and that's why our transition is unique and will require us to all work together." Western Australia has had a hard border and strict quarantine requirements in place for much of the pandemic, meaning that people who don't normally reside in WA have only been able to visit the state if they're classified as an exempt traveller, apply for a G2G Pass and, if approved, then self-isolate for 14 days. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Western Australia, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
They've taken us through the streets of Japan with Tokyo Tina, sent our tastebuds tripping across Vietnam with their Hanoi Hannah stable and, most recently, immersed us in modern Chinese flavours at their Balaclava diner Moonhouse. Now, the Commune Group is gearing up to hit the next stop on its global food tour, announcing plans for its latest project, Studio Amaro — an Italian bar and eatery to open in Windsor this spring. The team's diving into unchartered territory in more ways than one, with this Chapel Street venue set to be its largest yet. It'll boast a 100-seat dining room at ground level, leading down to a DJ-fuelled, subterranean drinking den with space for an extra 60. Open from lunch through dinner and on into late-night revelry, this big corner site will be celebrating the classic flavours of Italy across an offering that's bright and lively, yet steeped in simplicity. "Studio Amaro is our interpretation of Italian dining done in a very Melbourne way: communal, casual dining," explains the group's Creative Director Simon Blacher. "I can't wait to see tables filled with spilled wine, pasta sauce and lots of laughter." There'll be more to come on the menus soon. Alongside the eats, the venue's set to dish up a considered music offering, with a diverse lineup of artist residencies to grace the downstairs DJ decks and plenty of focus given to the overall sonic experience. Meanwhile, Bergman & Co (La Fantaisie, Poodle, Chancery Lane) are looking after the interiors, delivering a warm, nostalgic setting complete with yellow corduroy banquettes. Find Studio Amaro at 168 Chapel Street, Windsor, launching this spring. It'll open daily from 12pm–late. Images: Julia Sansone
Remember when Pizza Hut announced that monstrosity with whole cheeseburgers baked inside the crust and everyone thought our country was reaching a critical moment in the obesity epidemic? Well, good news! American burger chain Carl's Jr is coming to Australia. Well-known in the US for their total disregard of the health conscious, Carl's Jr is a bastion of oil-soaked gluttony that makes McDonald's look like a salad bar. Many of the burgers on their regular menu contain more than 1000 calories — more than double the content of a Big Mac — and suggestions of their move to Australia were last year met with comments from the Federal Health Department. Though the franchise already has 15 locations across New Zealand, Carl's Jr will be trialling its run across the Tasman with some isolated stores on the central coast of NSW and none in our capital cities. But, much like our well-balanced blood sugar levels, that won't last long. Currently looking for franchisees, Carl's Jr is reportedly aiming to open 300 Australian stores within the next 10-15 years. Of course, there's not much you can do about fast food like this. Even with the mandatory nutritional information printed on the side, if a dude wants to eat a heart attack in a bun, he'll eat one. C'est la vie. It's the corporation's marketing strategy which might cause bigger problems. Since they employed Paris Hilton to ineffectually wash this car in 2005, Carl's Jr's advertising has perpetuated some pretty heinous crimes against feminism. Their ads, which have featured the likes of Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum, all operate on a somewhat basic mathematical level: sauce = jizz, burgers = vajayjay, dumb people's erections = profit. Prior to their launch in NZ, a similarly offensive Carl's Jr ad was actually banned from airing at all. So we're not hugely looking forward to what they come up with in Australia but understand it's a bit of a mixed bag. Carl's Jr Australia: great news for sex pests and very bad news for people with high cholesterol. Via Gizmodo.
With the Australian Centre for the Moving Image's major 2023 winter exhibition Goddess, the Melbourne cultural institution is going big on an essential topic: how women are represented on-screen. For six months from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1, the venue's new world-premiere showcase will pay tribute to formidable ladies in cinema, femininity across screen history, and what female talents have represented — and been forced to deal with — about the society around them. And, thanks to a new one-day conference with Geena Davis as its headline speaker, all that musing on representation, equality and diversity won't just be gracing ACMI's gallery spaces. Announced to celebrate International Women's Day, Being Seen on Screen: The Importance of Representation will run on Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion's opening day. Davis will take to the stage to speak as part of a range of discussions, on behalf of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media — which the Academy Award-winning actor founded in 2004, and has been working to create gender balance in the industry for almost two decades now — and as the exhibition's lead ambassador. [caption id="attachment_891918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] GabboT via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] In addition to the rare opportunity to hear from Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice, The Fly and A League of Their Own star Davis herself live in Australia, the Melbourne conference will also feature Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media President and CEO Madeline Di Nonno and a heap of Aussie talent. The latter includes 52 Tuesdays and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande filmmaker Sophie Hyde, journalist and TV presenter Jan Fran, actor Pallavi Sharda and casting director Anousha Zarkesh, as well as 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt. Goddess itself is quite the drawcard, of course, whether or not you head along on opening day. Both a massive and a landmark exhibition, it's set to display more than 150 original objects, artworks, props and sketches, all championing oh-so-many talented women and their impact upon cinema. [caption id="attachment_882193" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, 2020, Margot Robbie, © Warner Bros. Image courtesy of LANDMARK MEDIA / Alamy Stock Photo.[/caption] That lineup covers costumes that've never been displayed before, various cinematic treasures, large-scale projections and other interactive experiences. Silent-era sirens, classic Hollywood heroines, unforgettable femme fatales and villains, Bollywood stars, women in China and Japan's cinematic histories: they're all being given the spotlight. Goddess will also dive into provocative on-screen moments from Hollywood's silent days through to today that've not only left an imprint, but also played a part in defining (and altering) what's considered the feminine ideal. Think: Marlene Dietrich in 1930's Morocco, Pam Grier's spectacular Blaxploitation career, Tilda Swinton in 1992's Orlando and Margot Robbie via 2020's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Plus, Mae West's sky-high heels from 1934's Belle of the Nineties, costumes worn by Davis and Susan Sarandon in 1991's aforementioned Thelma & Louise and Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will also feature. [caption id="attachment_882194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blonde Venus, 1932, Marlene Dietrich. Image courtesy of PARAMOUNT PICTURES / Ronald Grant Archive / Alamy Stock Photo.[/caption] The list goes on, clearly, spanning Anna May Wong, Marilyn Monroe, Laverne Cox and Zendaya as well. And, expect everything from Glenn Close's Cruella de Vil in 102 Dalmatians to the Carey Mulligan-starring Promising Young Woman to get time to shine. Goddess will pair its wide-ranging display with soundscapes by Melbourne-based composer Chiara Kickdrum, and also feature a sprawling events program complete with late-night parties, performances and talks — and film screenings, of course. ACMI has also just revealed further details about those other activities, including in-depth monthly curator tours of the exhibition, which'll take place after hours and dive deep into the showcase. [caption id="attachment_882188" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Britt Romstad, 2022, photo by Phoebe Powell. Costume: Kitty (Elaine Crombie) costume, Kiki and Kitty, Australia, 2017, designed by Amelia Gebler, courtesy of Jetty Distribution Pty Limited. Backdrop: Marilyn Monroe on the set of Some Like It Hot, photo by Don Ornitz, © Globe Photos / ZUMAPRESS.com. Image courtesy of ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo.[/caption] There's also a music program called Goddess Nights from late May, which'll focus on three femme-centric live music lineups with performances by DJ JNETT, CD, POOKIE and Ayebatonye — and a curated range of food and booze put together just for each evening. For film buffs, movie series Divine Trailblazers will focus on contemporary actors at the height of their powers, while the Goddess Sundays is all about on-screen personas. So, the first includes Angela Bassett's Oscar-nominated performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, fellow Academy Award contenders Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cate Blanchett also earning that description for Tár, Viola Davis in warrior mode in The Woman King, Filipino actor Dolly De Leon stealing every scene she's in in Triangle of Sadness, and Leah Purcell writing, directing, producing and starring in The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. And, the weekly Sunday afternoon lineup includes Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, Pam Grier in Jackie Brown, Daniela Vega in A Fantastic Woman and more. After showing in Melbourne for its premiere season, Goddess will then tour internationally, taking ACMI's celebration of women on-screen to the world. Goddess will display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1, 2023. For more information — including about Being Seen on Screen: The Importance of Representation on Wednesday, April 5 — head to the ACMI website. Top image: Thelma and Louise, 1991, L-R Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, © MGM. Image courtesy of Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo.
Here's one way to add eight movies to your must-see list in 2025: Australia's Alliance Française French Film Festival has not only unveiled its dates for the event's next tour of the country, but has also started dropping a sneak peak of its lineup. As proves the case every year, autumn Down Under will mean venturing to Paris and beyond from your cinema seat. Head along to AFFFF and you'll also be helping the fest to celebrate its 36th year. If you're in Sydney, mark Tuesday, March 4 in your diary. Melbourne's season opens the following day, then Brisbane and Canberra the day after that. Perth's turn arrives the next week, while Adelaide gets into the action the week afterwards. In all locations, the festival runs through until at least early April. Already the largest celebration of French cinema outside of France itself, AFFFF will be even bigger in 2025, hitting up 18 cities — and adding five new locations, in Darwin, Ballina, Ballarat, Warriewood and Warrawong, to its slate. Across its full run, the festival is set to host 5500-plus screenings. If you like Gallic films, that's a whole lot of sessions to say "oui" to. While the complete lineup will arrive in early February 2025, the fest has kicked off its program announcements with the Tahar Rahim (Madame Web)-starring Monsieur Aznavour, about singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour, as its opening-night pick. The movie has been doing big business in France, selling 1.8-million-plus tickets. Now, it's Australia's turn to head along. Also on the bill: the latest version of the The Count of Monte Cristo, which features Pierre Niney (The Book of Solutions) in the lead and takes AFFFF's centrepiece slot; Meet the Leroys, a road-trip dramedy that marks Charlotte Gainsbourg's (Alphonse) latest film; and Prodigies, a tale of sibling rivalry with Emily in Paris' Camille Razat. Beating Hearts, which is helmed by Gilles Lellouche (Sink or Swim) and stars Adèle Exarchopoulos (Inside Out 2) and François Civil (The Three Musketeers), played at Cannes International Film Festival 2024 — as did the music-loving My Brother's Band from The Big Hit writer/director Emmanuel Courcol. Viewers can also look forward to The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, with Sandrine Kiberlain (Meet the Barbarians) as the eponymous actor. And last — for now — but not least is All Stirred Up, a comedy focusing on a customs officer on the border between Quebec and the United States, plus her daughter's attempts to win a cooking contest. Alliance Française French Film Festival 2025 Dates Tuesday, March 4–Wednesday, April 9 — Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Moore Park, Hayden Orpheum Cremorne, Roseville Cinemas, Warriewood, Sydney Wednesday, March 5–Wednesday, April 9 — Palace Cinema Como, The Kino, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Pentridge Cinema,The Astor Theatre, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Regent Ballarat, Melbourne Thursday, March 6–Tuesday, April 8 — Palace Cinema James Street, Palace Cinema Barracks, Brisbane, QLD: Thursday, March 6–Wednesday, April 9 — Palace Electric Cinemas, Canberra Thursday, March 13–Wednesday, April 16 — Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX, Luna Leedeerville, Windsor Cinema, Perth Wednesday, March 19–Wednesday, April 23 — Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Adelaide The Alliance Française French Film Festival will tour Australia in March and April 2025. For more information, visit the AFFFF website. Check back here on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 for the full program.
Australia is certainly not wanting for exceptional food and drink regions — and epic festivals that show them off. But one area that has flown under the radar for much too long is the Sunshine Coast. And it's high time we celebrated all of the culinary goodness that's being served up north. That's exactly what's on the docket when The Curated Plate launches its inaugural season on Thursday, August 8. Across four days, the brand new food and drink festival will see the region's best chefs and producers joined by Australian and international industry legends in a series of long lunches, degustations, food markets, tours and much more. The region's multifaceted ecosystem and rich volcanic soil makes its produce some of the best in the country — and that produce will be on display like never before. Here are our picks for the five happenings that you just cannot miss. [caption id="attachment_712502" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Stone, Oakridge Wines[/caption] AUGUST 9: WILD FORAGE DINING The Sunshine Coast's bountiful native produce is centre stage for Wild Forage Dining — an intimate beachside dinner that will bring together three chefs for an evening of sustainable eating. The four-course feast includes wine pairings and a one-of-a-kind experience to boot. The lavish four-hour dinner is hosted by some seriously heavy-hitting chefs starting with special guest Zaiyu Hasegawa, who runs Toyko's two Michelin-starred restaurant Den (which was awarded the number two spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2018). Cooking alongside Hasegawa is Sydney's hatted Chase Kojima (Sokyo) and Matt Stone, who is currently the executive chef of Yarra Valley's hatted Oakridge Wines. Tapping into a big culinary trend, and showcasing some the region's best wild ingredients, the trio will go foraging, then let the local produce that they gather dictate the menu on the night. Wild Forage Dining will take place at Mooloolaba Beach from 5.30–9.30pm on Friday, August 9. Tickets cost $350 per person and can be purchased here. [caption id="attachment_712503" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Jarrett, Spicers Den[/caption] AUGUST 10: SPICERS DEN If you miss out on the Wild Forage dinner — or just can't get enough of Michelin-star chef Zaiyu Hasegawa's cooking — you have another chance to taste his famed kaiseki-style (multi-course haute cuisine) at Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny. For this dinner, Hasegawa is teaming up with executive chef Daniel Jarrett at the exquisite hinterland restaurant within Spicers Tamarind Retreat. The duo will be joined by Gelato Messina's Donato Toce, and together they'll whip up a five-course degustation. Each dish will be based around 'hyper-local' seasonal fruits and vegetables and paired with a locally produced wine. Spicers Den will take place from 6.30pm–9pm on Saturday, August 10. Tickets cost $290 and can be purchased here. And, if you just can't bear to leave your luxurious surrounds, Spicers is also offering special villa accommodation packages during the festival. [caption id="attachment_712505" align="alignnone" width="4932"] Troy Rhoades-Brown, Muse Dining[/caption] AUGUST 8: SEASONAL STARS Seasonal fare will be on full display at Mooloolaba Beach when one of the world's finest chefs comes to town for Seasonal Stars. Lauded chef Raymond Blanc OBE runs the highly acclaimed Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxford, UK, which has retained its two-Michelin stars for a whopping 34 years. As a result, Blanc is one of the most respected chefs in the UK, having also been appointed an honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE), which recognises his services to the British food industry. Joining this show-stopping chef in the kitchen is some serious Australian talent — namely Sunshine Coast's own Alejandro Cancino (Lola's Pantry, ex-Urbane) and Hunter Valley's Troy Rhoades-Brown (Muse Dining). All three chefs are known for their commitment to regional and seasonal produce, hence the event's name. Together, they will dish up a decadent four-course dinner with an oyster amuse-bouche and matched wines, too. Seasonal Stars will take place on Mooloolaba Beach at 5.30pm on Thursday, August 8. Tickets cost $350 per person and can be purchased here. AUGUST 9–11: THE FOOD FAIR AT BLACK SWAN PARK Maroochydore's Black Swan Park will be taken over by an abundance of culinary delights for three days straight during The Curated Plate festival. The Food Fair will offer up the best local produce in the region, with the Sunshine Coast's makers and producers in tow for a chat, too. Eat your way through pop-up restaurants, tastings and food workshops. There'll also be roving entertainers aplenty expected across the weekend. For more information, keep an eye on this space, as the full lineup will be announced in early May. The Food Fair will run from 4pm–late on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10, and from 12.30–9.30pm on Sunday, August 11. Entry is free as long as you pre-register. Pre-registration will open in May. AUGUST 8–11: THE BEACH CINEMA Moffat Beach's Eleanor Shipley Park will get its own Curated Plate treatment as a beach cinema pops up nightly across the festival period. This al fresco cinema will, of course, be food-themed, with specialty burgers, brews and even Gelato Messina on offer — the gelateria is collaborating with local producers on exclusive sweets for the candy bar. Plus, you'll have the added benefit of enjoying the breathtaking sunset views across the ocean. The film lineup and food menu are due to be announced in May — keep an eye out to be the first to snag seats. The Curated Plate will take place on the Sunshine Coast from Thursday, August 8 to Sunday, August 11. Tickets are on sale now. For the full program and to register, head here. Top Image: Troy Rhoades-Brown, Muse Dining
The lofty space once home to Port Melbourne's courthouse has been given a healthy dose of Italian flavour — and a $1.5 million makeover — as fine diner Ciao Cielo and casual sister bar and eatery Ciao Cucina move in. The modern Italian restaurant, which used to reside down Bay Street in a smaller location, moved into the historic 1860s building in late May. Here, both the warm, contemporary design and the generous menu offer a modern spin on Italian tradition. Atelier Wagner Architects' David Wagner worked closely with Ciao Cielo owner Kate Dickins to take the historic building into its next phase of life, the soaring ceilings and heritage features now offset by New York-style booth seating, striking marble bars and cosy fireplaces. Take the fine dining route and you'll discover a menu of modern classics, like the king prawn risotto with bisque and marjoram gremolata, a Sardinian-style goat leg with polenta, and the Tuscan-inspired, 1kg grass fed 'bistecca a la Fiorentina', made for sharing. They're backed by plenty of old favourites, with the kitchen's flair for house-made pasta shining through in dishes like the squid ink linguini and a bolognese ragu with tagliatelle. Meanwhile, Ciao Cucina is dishing up a more casual affair within a 150-seat Amalfi-inspired marquee covered in fairy lights, which is next to the main dining room. It's your go-to for more handmade pasta, traditional woodfired pizzas and a lineup of signature spritzes. Ciao Cielo and Ciao Cucina are now open at 115 Bay Street, Port Melbourne.
Renowned chef Alejandro Saravia is a longtime champion of the Gippsland region and he's been fiercely celebrating the area's finest produce at his 80 Collins Street restaurant Farmer's Daughters for the past 18 months. Now, he and the team are extending the love further afield, with a new eatery that's set to hero the whole of Victoria and its diverse regions. Dubbed Victoria by Farmer's Daughters, the 250-seat restaurant is gearing up to open on Thursday, July 28, in collaboration with the folks at Fed Square. Set overlooking the Yarra, it's a tasty, multi-faceted homage to the produce, people and places that make up this state we call home. Victoria boasts not only a bar, dining room and open kitchen, but also an all-weather terrace, an interactive 'Ingredients Table' and a Victorian wine library. The space itself celebrates our regional landscapes with an earthy colour palette splashed across interiors designed by Agents of Architecture, and a curation of homewares and art chosen to reflect a strong sense of place. Working alongside Saravia, Head Chef David Boyle will be plating up an ever-evolving food offering set to hop right across the state's regions, offering plenty of road trip inspiration along the way. Along with an a la carte menu, a second provenance menu will operate by rotation, showcasing a different 'region in residence' at any one time, celebrating its produce, winemakers and chefs. Expect plenty of theatrical flair as you watch ingredients being cooked over wood and charcoal, and devour share-friendly plates heroing produce like pasture-raised Summerfield lamb from the Pyrenees and whole rock lobster plucked from the waters of Apollo Bay. The custom-made, hand-carved Ingredients Table takes pride of place in the dining room — a sensory showcase of Victorian produce that'll change with the seasons. Of course, the drinks offering serves up another hearty dose of local love, with an all-Victorian lineup of beer, wine and spirits. But you can prepare to be especially wowed by the 20-seat wine library, which doubles as an education space and houses over 3000 bottles of wine. Masterclasses and tasting events will be regular occurrences here, overlooking the river. Find Victoria on the ground floor of the Yarra Building, Federation Square, Melbourne, from July 28. It'll open 5pm–late Thursday to Saturday, and 11.30am–5pm Sunday.
So, you've seen Nanette, then Douglas, then Body of Work, Hannah Gadsby's three most-recent stand-up shows — all of which hit stages, then Netflix. Next on your list to catch is Woof!, and in-person for now. The just-announced performance will premiere in Australia in autumn, confirming a run of dates in both Sydney and Melbourne, including at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. If you're wondering if Woof! will also get the streaming treatment, it's too early to say, so getting giggling in the New South Wales and Victorian capitals is your best bet if you're keen to check out Gadsby's new routine ASAP. In Sydney, the show will play the Roslyn Packer Theatre from Thursday, March 7–Sunday, March 17. When it makes the move to Arts Centre Melbourne, it'll run from Thursday, March 28–Saturday, April 20. [caption id="attachment_896516" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hannah Gadsby: Something Special. Jess Gleeson/Netflix © 2023[/caption] "Everyone else, sorry," says Gadsby about Woof!'s focus on just two Aussie cities in the social-media video that accompanied the stand-up show's announcement. Fingers crossed that's just the situation for now, and that the tour will also make its way around the country at some point. The comedian has a one-night gig in May in Los Angeles on their agenda after Sydney and Melbourne, with nothing announced after that so far. Woof! comes after Nanette became an international smash, travelling not only throughout Australia but also the UK, and winning awards at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Douglas then took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back", including in Australia, NZ and Europe. And as for Body of Work, it embarked upon an extensive stint around Australia, as well as in Europe again. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Hannah Gadsby (@hannah_gadsby) Hannah Gadsby 'Woof!' Tour Dates: Thursday, March 7–Sunday, March 17 — Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay, Sydney Thursday, March 28–Saturday, April 20 — Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_871296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben King[/caption] Hannah Gadsby's 'Woof!' tour will kick off in Sydney and Melbourne in autumn 2024. For further details — and to buy tickets from 10am on Monday, February 5 — head to the comedian's website.
Two years ago, DinoFest first stomped into Melbourne — and sold out faster than you can say Tyrannosaurus Rex. Now, it's back with more than 30 roaring, walking, life-sized dinosaurs. This is your chance to meet a Stegosaurus up close, and give it a pat or maybe a bite to eat. Other dinos that'll be keeping you company include a Triceratops, Spinosaurus, Pachycephalosaurs, Ankylosaur and the mighty Brachiosaurus. In between encounters, learn about the history of the Tyrannosaurus — spoiler alert: it took 100 million years to evolve from a fairly friendly dino that was about the size of a dog to an extremely terrifying predator. After that, go on a dino dig, feel a real dinosaur bone, and get into some dino-themed art and crafts. DinoFest is happening on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, then daily during the school holidays, which run from Saturday, July 5–Sunday, July 20. Tickets, at $28 for adults and $26 for kids, give you a 90-minute session.
Brash and irreverent rock outfit Future of the Left have announced that they will be playing a string of shows down under in January 2014. Formed following the dissolution of the beloved post-hardcore band Mclusky, Future of the Left is a Welsh quartet that emerged in 2005. They have since gained a sturdy reputation for the sprawling energy and raw power of their live sets. With a knack for fusing together melody and groove, the band will be sweeping up the eastern seaboard, rewarding their loyal Aussie fan base with raucous performances filled with biting wit and musical mayhem. From their wry song titles to lyrics such as, "I have seen into the future/ Everyone is slightly older" and "Civilised people don't fuck bears/ Civilised people don't play fair", Future of the Left showcase an offbeat, slightly cynical sense of humour armed with heavy riffs. Prepare for a meaty slice of rock 'n' roll and a welcome dose of cheeky laughs. Future of the Left’s forthcoming album, How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident, will be released on October 25, 2013. Tickets are available now through the Handsome Tours website. The tour dates are: Thursday, Janaury 2 The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Friday, January 3 The Annandale, Sydney Sunday, January 5 The Zoo, Brisbane
If your dream European holiday includes vineyard picnics, forest hideouts and mountainside stargazing, Tiny Away have got you sorted. The eco-friendly Australian accommodation brand, known for its off-grid stays locally and in Southeast Asia, has unveiled a cluster of tiny houses in France, Spain and Italy — and just in time for Euro summer. Designed for nature lovers, slow travellers and anyone looking for a different kind of escape, these compact retreats are at the meeting point of sustainability and comfort. The new European houses, like their Australian stablemates, are located in picturesque off-grid locations that give you direct access to seriously stunning natural surrounds, perfect if you're looking to switch off. In France, you can check into Loire River Tranquility, a peaceful riverside outpost near the historic city of Orléans, where you can spend your days exploring vineyards, castles and art galleries in the city of Joan of Arc. If enchanted forests are more your thing, La Tiny Alchimiste awaits in the verdant village of Cressanges in central France, where you can soak up views of rolling meadows from your terrace or explore charming nearby towns like Bresnay and Tréban. Spain's tiny homes bring a mix of mountain solitude and Mediterranean sunshine. De la Luz Ecolodge sits 400 metres above sea level in Andalusia, offering solar-powered serenity, pine-covered mountain trails and night skies made for stargazing — and that's in addition to the sweeping views across the region and out to the ocean beyond. Meanwhile, in Girona's Llémena Valley in northern Spain, Caseta Wald offers a minimalist woodland haven just a short drive from Costa Brava's beaches, the volcanic landscapes of La Garrotxa and Girona's famous Arab Baths, built in the year 1194. Over in Italy, Casa della Montagna Sila is providing alpine vibes all year round. Located in Calabria's Sila National Park, near Lake Arvo in the mountain village of Lorica, this cabin offers a year-round base for mountain hikes, lake swims and access to nearby landmarks, like I Giganti della Sila, Monte Botte Donato and the 11th-century Castello di Santa Severina. Plus, the rugged beaches and coastline of Isola Capo Rizzuto are just a short drive away. "With Europe summer getaways on the travel radar for Australians, Tiny Away's five new properties arrive at the perfect time," says Jeff Yeo, co-founder of Tiny Away. "Australian holidaymakers are increasingly seeking eco-friendly stays that allow them to connect with nature and local culture. By expanding our offering in Europe, we're bringing unique and sustainable accommodation options that align with the values of modern travellers — combining comfort, minimal impact, and a deep connection with place." Tiny Away's new European properties are available for booking now. For more information, head to the brand's website. Images: Tiny Away
It has been 13 years since Planet Earth, the 11-part documentary series that combined stunning high-definition images of this place we all call home with David Attenborough's inimitable narration. It has been three years since Planet Earth II, the show's six-part sequel, did the same too. A third program, Planet Earth III, is slated to join them in 2022 — but you don't need to wait that long for your next Attenborough-voiced nature doco fix. Four years in the making, Netflix's Our Planet will help fill the gap. Releasing in April, it isn't related to BBC's Planet shows — which also include The Blue Planet and Frozen Planet — but it does still feature Attenborough's informative tones. Across eight episodes, the iconic broadcaster and natural historian will talk viewers through the planet's remaining wilderness areas and their animal inhabitants. The series is made in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, so expect to see plenty of astonishing and majestic critters. And we do mean plenty. Our Planet was filmed in 50 countries across all the continents of the world, heading everywhere from the remote Arctic wilderness to the South American jungles — and to sprawling African landscapes and the depths of the ocean, as well. In total, it took 600 crew members to shot the series, who helped capture a plethora of never-before-filmed sites over more than 3500 filming days. It's also filmed in ultra high-definition at 4K resolution, so should your TV support it, you'll be in for quite the detailed glimpse at the natural world. Check out the full trailer below: Our Planet starts streaming on Netflix on April 5. Image: (c) Ben Macdonald/Silverback Films.
In huge news for Melbourne's arts and entertainment industry, St Kilda is set to become Victoria's first Live Music Precinct (LMP). It is hoped that the classification and a range of new initiatives will help protect St Kilda's long and vibrant history of live music, allowing the industry to flourish following a disastrous few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The next steps in establishing St Kilda's LMP include Port Phillip Council working in collaboration with the Victorian Government to simplify and streamline the noise complaint process, aiming to reduce the burden on venues and events. Plus, applications for live music permits will be easier for existing venues under the new scheme. Port Phillip Council is also investigating potential changes to planning regulations to help protect St Kilda's existing and future live music venues, including better soundproofing in new residential developments. [caption id="attachment_885345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: St Kilda Fest, 2023 by Nathan Doran[/caption] "St Kilda's status as Victoria's first LMP reflects our famous suburb's past as a much-loved live music hub, its present as a renowned live music destination and its future as a ground-breaking example of how to keep live music alive close to homes and businesses," Port Phillip Council Mayor Heather Cunsolo says. "Making it simpler for residents to raise concerns such as noise complaints, supporting musicians and music events and slashing red tape for venues are all ways our Council can be a live music 'one stop shop'," Cunsolo continued. [caption id="attachment_884063" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: St Kilda Fest market stalls by Jimmy Logan[/caption] A preliminary map of the Live Music Precinct will see parts of Fitzroy, Acland and Barkly Streets classified as 'core live music' areas, where live music venues already exist or where new entertainment venues could be established in the future. Notable areas under this classification include St Kilda Sea Baths, Stokehouse, Prince Hotel, South Beach Reserve, Palais Theatre, Luna Park, Acland Street Plaza, St Kilda Bowling Club and Australia's first Pride Centre. The new legislation in Victoria follows in the footsteps of Queensland and NSW, which have classified areas as Special Entertainment Precincts in Fortitude Valley and Enmore Road respectively. As part of the initiative in Sydney, Enmore Road businesses are encouraged to host live music and entertainment, with a range of special allowances for venues. [caption id="attachment_900849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Palais Opening Night, St Kilda Film Festival, supplied.[/caption] To keep up-to-date with the project head to the Port Phillip Council page. Community consultation will be undertaken throughout the project. Top image: SWAY Digital Agency by Nathan Doran.
Missed Coldplay's sole Down Under stop in 2023, when they played exclusively in Perth? Didn't nab tickets when the British group announced 2024 shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland? Caught the Chris Martin-fronted band's Glastonbury set via the livestream and started wishing you could catch them live next time that you had the chance? Ahead of their upcoming Australian and New Zealand visit, Coldplay have dropped more tickets for their late-October and November concerts. The limited number of additional tickets are on sale now, releasing at 8am AEST and 10am NZST on Tuesday, September 24. There's no extra shows, just extra seats for their four already-announced dates in the Victorian capital, four in the Harbour City and three in Auckland. [caption id="attachment_926978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Lee[/caption] It'll be all yellow at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, October 30–Thursday, October 31 and Saturday, November 2–Sunday, November 3, then at Accor Stadium across Wednesday, November 6—Thursday, November 7 and Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, before heading to Eden Park on Wednesday, November 13 and Friday, November 15–Saturday, November 16. Coldplay's current tour kicked off in March 2022, meaning that the band will have been on the road for almost three years when they make their return to Australia and Aotearoa. Packed stadiums have also been awaiting; when the Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland gigs were initially announced, every show between then and October 2024 had already sold out, with the group hitting up Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Athens, Bucharest, Budapest, Lyon, Rome, Düsseldorf, Helsinki, Munich, Vienna and Dublin before their return trip Down Under. When they take to the stage in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, the British band will play their first shows in each city since 2016. Fans can look forward to a setlist that covers Coldplay's 27-year history, including everything from 'Clocks', 'Fix You' and 'Sparks' to 'A Sky Full of Stars', 'Viva la Vida' and 'The Scientist. On all dates, Ayra Starr, Shone and Emmanuel Kelly are on supporting duties. Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour Australia and New Zealand Dates 2024 Wednesday, October 30–Thursday, October 31 + Saturday, November 2–Sunday, November 3— Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Wednesday, November 6—Thursday, November 7 + Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, November 13 + Friday, November 15–Saturday, November 16 — Eden Park, Auckland Coldplay is touring Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2024, with new tickets available online now. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: Anna Lee.
It has been 12 years since RuPaul's Drag Race first premiered in the US, and its mission to unearth the next drag superstars shows no signs of stopping. Currently, the original series is reaching the pointy end of its thirteenth season, while international versions also exist in the UK — also hosted by RuPaul — plus Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. Next, it's finally making the leap to Australia and New Zealand. RuPaul's Drag Race already airs locally, but now it's being made here as well. The eight-part RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will focus on Aussie and NZ drag queens battling for supremacy, and will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand. That was announced back in January, with the show's debut set for Saturday, May 1. If you've been wondering exactly what's in store, though, you've probably hanging out for a trailer. And, just a couple of weeks out from the show's arrival, a proper sneak peek is finally here — complete with drama and eye-catching outfits, naturally. While not all overseas iterations of Drag Race are hosted by RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under definitely is. RuPaul is also taking on judging duties, alongside show veteran Michelle Visage and Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson. Ten contenders will strut their stuff for drag supremacy, spanning seven Australians and three New Zealanders. So, prepare to see plenty of Art Simone from Geelong, Melbourne's Karen from Finance, and Sydney's Coco Jumbo, Etecetera Etcetera and Maxi Shield. Newcastle's Jojo Zaho and Perth's Scarlet Adams round out the Aussie queens, while Auckland's Kita Mean, Anita Wigl'it and Elektra Shock comprise the NZ contingent. Fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch these Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Check out the RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdcgf5I6Qb8&feature=youtu.be RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will start streaming via Stan and TVNZ from Saturday, May 1, with new episodes airing weekly. Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.
If your well-intentioned New Year's Eve self swore that this would be the year you'd learn new skills, expand your horizons and maybe even listen when your dad explains how to do your taxes, then, boy, do we have the provisions for you to make good on those promises — no matter what month it is. We've rounded up ten of the best short courses in and workshops in Melbourne to help you acquire said skills, from making wine and keeping bees to playing a ukelele and using commas correctly. New life skills don't always come easily, but these courses should make it fun to try. Happy learning. WORK THE WHEEL AT ABBOTSFORD CONVENT'S CONE11 Cone11 at Abbotsford Convent gets props for pottery studio in the loveliest surroundings in Melbourne, and might just win awards for teaching you the art of the throw. Sign up to the eight-week term for beginners and you'll be throwing shapes on the wheel, trimming and glazing in no time. With small class sizes and the ability to take home and eat or drink off the pieces you make, you'll be feeling both very smug and artistic by the time eight weeks is up. When: Dates vary. Where: Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford. Cost: $495 for the eight-week term. STOMP GRAPES AND MAKE YOUR OWN WINE AT NOISY RITUAL Noisy Ritual is a winery smack-bang in the middle of Lygon Street in Brunswick East. They market themselves as a people-powered urban winery, and they're not wrong — as well as a wine bar and a cellar door, they also do live music, food and function as an event space. But the coolest thing over here is their membership program, which is basically a year-long course, workshop and discount bonanza. Membership entitles you to three different winemaking workshops (stomping, pressing and bottling), three barrel tasting sessions and a whole bunch of free and discounted wine. Learning how to make wine stage-by-stage is cool, but getting your feet all grapey and then drinking the finished product are obviously the best parts. When: 2019 memberships are open now. Where: Noisy Ritual, 249 Lygon Street, Brunswick East. Cost: $390 for a yearly membership. START TRAINING FOR THE CIRCUS AT NICA The National Institute of Circus Arts will get your feet firmly off the ground with their aerial short courses, which are designed to improve your strength and flexibility while also making sure you have heaps of fun hanging out in the air. Aerial hoop, tissu, trapeze and rope are all activities you can conquer in the safety of a well-padded studio — it will work your upper body and core strength while also fulfilling your past (or present) dreams of joining the circus. Class sizes are small too, so you can be assured that you're safe in the eyes (and maybe arms) of a pro circus trainer. When: Classes run in terms of ten weeks; dates vary. Where: The National Institute of Circus Arts, 39-59 Green Street, Prahran. Cost: $456.50 for a ten-week term. LEARN TO STRUM A TUNE AT THE MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF UKULELE They say anyone can play the ukulele, and even those with tiny hands or no rhythm would have no trouble, owing to its small stature and four-chord progression tendencies. The Melbourne School of Ukulele runs eight-week group courses for you and your tiny axe, so go pick one in a cool colour, sling it under your arm and off you pop — classes are run in the CBD, Fitzroy, Camberwell and Murrumbeena. And if you don't have your own uke, for $30 extra, the school can provide one for you. It's your time (to learn to play that one Jason Mraz song like you've always wanted). When: Dates vary — and class times vary with studio location. Where: The Melbourne School of Ukulele have studios in Murrumbeena, Camberwell, CBD and Fitzroy. Cost: $250 BYO ukulele, $280 for one thrown in. MAKE A TERRARIUM AT WORK-SHOP Make entire green worlds on a miniature scale with Amy Wong from Petite Green at Work-Shop in Fitzroy. Amy runs workshops devoted to making mini-landscapes out of ferns and indoor plants, moss, soil and rocks. All you need to do is bring a glass vessel big enough to fiddle around inside, then you can make your world, pop a couple of figurines inside to make it looked lived in, and voila — you've got a unique little ecosystem to talk to when you get lonely. Amy will also share her knowledge of soil composition and terrarium care as well as the best plant selection for both open and closed terrariums, so your little terrariums can carry on nourishing themselves inside their glass walls all year-long. Booking is essential as workshops tend to sell out. When: Dates vary, but workshops are held every few weeks. Where: Work-Shop Melbourne, 195 Argyle Street, Fitzroy 3065. Cost: $90. LEARN WHEN TO USE A SEMICOLON AT STOP. GRAMMAR TIME. The Good Copy in Collingwood is fighting the good fight against bad grammar by running classes on the ins and outs of punctuation and grammar (and the inarguably inherent importance of their, there and they're). Their monthly two-day intensives will teach you the art of clauses, commas and copy — and coffee, as they keep you hopped up on cups of joe for sharp minds. Book in if you've always wondered what exactly a colon is and whether you have a semicolon somewhere inside of you or not (hint: you don't). When: Courses run monthly. Where: The Good Copy, 19-21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Cost: $350. BECOME A BACKYARD BEEKEEPING PRO AT CERES Bees are fascinating creatures with much more going on than just honey and humans getting them confused with their meaner cousins, wasps. At CERES in Brunswick East you can learn about colonies and their survival techniques in the three-day complete backyard beekeeping course with beekeeper Benedict Hughes. You'll learn how to get started as a beekeeper, gain knowledge about diseases and pests of bees (and lots of bee facts), and obtain the general courage needed to start keeping the tiny tuckers in the first place. You'll meet some cool people and some cool bees. When: Dates vary. Where: CERES Community Environment Park, corner Roberts and Stewart Streets, Brunswick East. Cost: $390 full ticket, $350 if you bring a friend. MAKE YOUR OWN SPOONS AT HANDSOME AND CO. The rule of thumb is that every kitchen has far too many spoons for normal use, but never the right sized one you're after. Add to this chaos with Handsome and Co.'s one-day organic carving course. The Richmond school of fine woodworking and design run frequent carving and spoon-making courses on weekends for those wishing to create a handmade soup or cereal vessel. Bring nothing but your hands and your spoon vision, and you'll be instructed on the art of carving, shaping, sharpening and finishing. When: Dates vary. Where: Handsome and Co, 19 Lincoln Street, Richmond. Cost: $340 general admission, $306 for students. MAKE YOUR OWN SAUSAGES AT THE MEAT ROOM If squeezing large amounts of meat into thin casings and texting your mates that you'll be having a barbecue this weekend is on the horizon for you, The Meat Room can sort you out. Check out their sausage making workshop, a sell-out hit which teaches you the fine art of sausaging over the course of a day, and also throws in morning tea and a woodfired pizza lunch. As if life skills and tasty pizza weren't adequate bang for your buck, perhaps the kicker is that you get to take home four kilograms of pork sausages you've made. Seriously, you'll need to have a barbecue. When: Dates vary. Where: The Meat Room, 26 O'Gradys Road, Kilmore East. Cost: $200 (including morning tea and lunch). BECOME THE FRED ASTAIRE OF YOUR GENERATION AT DANCE FACTORY Tap dancing is a great excuse to make heaps of noise in a musical, art-approved way — it's also stacks of fun and very skilful when it comes down to it (although it's an activity that ticks the harder than it looks box). East Richmond's Dance Factory offers a short course of ten weeks for tap beginners, working on technique and musicality and making satisfying amounts of foot noise. Also, you'll have a beaut party trick if you've got your shoes on, you old Fred Astaire. When: Wednesdays, 6-7pm. Where: Dance Factory, 4-10 Yorkshire Street, East Richmond. Cost: $170 for the ten-week term.
When a music festival takes place in a winery, it already has two of the three fest essentials taken care of before it even announces its lineup: an ace location and booze. But, that doesn't mean that Grapevine Gathering slouches on talent. The acts hitting its stages around the country are always chosen to impress, and the just-dropped 2023 roster of folks is no different. Leading the charge: Spacey Jane, King Stingray and Vanessa Amorosi, with the latter meaning that 'Absolutely Everybody' will be stuck in your head for weeks afterwards. The Wombats and Hayden James are also on the bill, both doing Australian-exclusive shows at the wine-fuelled festival. [caption id="attachment_905845" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Hendel[/caption] Rounding out the list: Cannons, The Rions, Teenage Joans and Bella Amor, plus podcast duo Lucy and Nikki on hosting duties. Grapevine Gathering's lineup announcement comes after the fest locked in its 2023 dates and venues earlier in June, with a five-state tour with stops in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales on the way this October. Its destinations: Sirromet Wines at Mount Cotton, Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale, Sandalford Wines in Swan Valley, Rochford Estate in the Yarra Valley and Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley, respectively. Victoria will play host to the first gig of the tour on Saturday, October 7, with Grapevine Gathering then pinballing up to Queensland on Sunday, October 8. The next weekend, it heads west on Saturday, October 14, then does NSW on Saturday, October 21 and SA on Sunday, October 22. Naturally, sipping wine is a huge part of the attraction. As always, attendees will have access to a heap of vino given the fest's locations, as well as an array of food options. GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2023 DATES: Saturday, October 7 — Rochford Estate, Victoria Sunday, October 8 — Sirromet Wines, Queensland Saturday, October 14 — Sandalford Wines, Western Australia Saturday, October 21 — Hope Estate, New South Wales Sunday, October 22 — Serafino Wines, South Australia GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2023 LINEUP: Spacey Jane The Wombats Hayden James King Stingray Vanessa Amorosi Cannons The Rions Teenage Joans Bella Amor Hosted by Lucy and Nikki Grapevine Gathering will tour Australia in October 2023. Pre-sale registrations are open now via the festival's website, for tickets from 6pm AEST on Wednesday, June 21 — and all remaining tickets will go on sale at 6pm on Thursday, June 22. Top images: Jordan Munns / Jess Gleeson.
If you live in Australia and you love French cinema, then you already have a hefty chunk of autumn blocked out in your 2023 diary. To help cap off 2022, the annual Alliance Française French Film Festival locked in its dates for the year ahead, when it'll take its movie-adoring show on the road throughout March and April. What's even better? Unveiling the initial 15 titles that'll be gracing its big screens in Aussie capitals, and also a heap of regional locations. Among the first titles revealed, both variety and high-profile names feature heavily. Among the latter, there's a big focus on France's leading ladies, such as Juliette Binoche (The Staircase), Marion Cotillard (Annette), Virginie Efira (Benedetta), Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future), Laure Calamy (Call My Agent!), Noémie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) and Isabelle Adjani (The World Is Yours). And, AFFFF already boasts its usual smattering of homegrown box-office sensations and up-and-comers, aka already-proven hits and the talents who'll be making them in years to come. Get ready for zombies, comedies, Cannes titles, acclaimed filmmakers, Oscar contenders and more. One big highlight: Final Cut, a French remake of Japanese cult hit One Cut of the Dead from The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius, starring Bejo and Romain Duris (Eiffel), and a movie that is playful with that whole setup. If you missed the original, it follows a film crew making a zombie special that's being broadcast live — but then things get real. Selected as France's submission to this year's Oscars, in the Best International Feature category — and already named on the Academy's shortlist — Alice Diop's Saint Omer is another absolute must-see. The documentarian draws from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history. Acting icon Adjani is part of the cast for Masquerade, which has the honour of opening this year's AFFFF. Directed by La Belle Époque's Nicolas Bedos, and playing at last year's Cannes Film Festival, it tells of glitz, glamour and a far-less-glossy underbelly in the Côte d'Azur, as led by Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent). Or, film fans can also look forward to One Fine Morning, the latest film by Bergman Island's Mia Hansen-Løve, this time a family drama starring Seydoux; The Innocent, as written and directed by, and starring, Louis Garrel (A Faithful Man), based on his own experiences and featuring Merlant; and Other People's Children, an Efira-led effort about being a stepmother that's also inspired by director Rebecca Zlotowski's (Planetarium) own life. And, Efira pops up again in Paris Memories, which is set in the aftermath of Paris' November 2015 terrorist attacks, and is helmed by Proxima director and Mustang screenwriter Alice Winocour. Binoche features in Winter Boy, the new film from Sorry Angel's Christophe Honoré, an autobiographical drama focusing on 17-year-old Lucas (newcomer Paul Kircher). As for Cotillard, she's part of the cast of Brother and Sister, playing a stage actor and sibling to Melvil Poupaud (Summer of 85). And, after proving so astounding in 2022's Full Time, Calamy appears in two of AFFFF's 2023 titles: Two Tickets to Greece, a comedy about estranged childhood friends heading off the eponymous country, as hailing from fellow Call My Agent! alum Marc Fitoussi and also starring Kristin Scott Thomas (Slow Horses); and the 1974-set Annie's Fire, which follows a working-class mother of two who unexpectedly falls pregnant at a time when abortion isn't legally accessible. Rounding out this first drop of titles: November, one of the biggest French box-office hits of 2022, with Jean Dujardin (Deerskin) playing the lead anti-terrorist squad investigator into the Paris 2015 attacks; Notre-Dame on Fire, about the 2019 blaze; Everybody Loves Jeanne, a comedy about self-doubt; and Lie with Me, as based on Philippe Besson's award-winning autobiographical novel. Notching up its whopping 34th year, AFFFF will play Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart — plus Byron Bay, Parramatta, Victor Harbour, Bendigo, the Gold Coast and Margaret River. ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: March 7–April 5: Sydney, NSW March 8–April 5: Melbourne, VIC March 8–April 5: Perth, WA March 9–19: Hobart, TAS March 9–April 5: Canberra, ACT March 15–April 12: Brisbane, QLD March 16–April 5: Byron Bay, NSW March 23–April 19: Adelaide, SA March 29–April 2: Parramatta, NSW March 29–April 16: Gold Coast, QLD March 31–April 2: Margaret River, WA April 3 and 10: Victor Harbour, SA April 21–23: Bendigo, VIC + encore dates in some cities The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from Tuesday, March 7–Tuesday, April 25, 2023. For more information, visit the AFFFF website. Check back here on Wednesday, February 1 for the full program.
Melburnians, if you're already wondering how you're possibly going to make it through the next two freezing bloody cold months, here's some news to warm your cockles. The Queen Victoria Market has just announced it's Night Market Cinema will be making a return to this year's Winter Night Market — and it's free. Every Wednesday in July, between 5pm and 10pm, you'll be able to cosy up in a deck chair, armed with wine, cheese and sweet treats, and kick back to a bunch of short films. And while we're not 100 percent sure how this will work in the depths of Melbourne's winter, we're hoping the market has plans to keep us from freezing our butts off. Either way, blankets are definitely recommended. Kicking things off on July 6 will be VICE, who will take care of programming, presenting a combo of docos, investigative journalism and general wickedness. On July 13, the Victorian College of the Arts' Film and Television School will give you an insight into the future of Australian filmmaking, showing a handpicked selection of quality graduate works. On July 20, you'll be treated to a series of live 16mm film projections presented by Artist Film Workshop and, on July 27, RRR FM will hit the cinema, with a bunch of live-to-air performances by Aussie artists. In between screenings, you'll be able to take a wander through the market, stocking up on winter goodies and tucking into everything from Ethiopian stews to spaghetti from a parmesan wheel to those goddamn potato sticks that make an appearance every year.
The Autark Home redefines waterfront living. Passivhaus, an independent research institute, has built an eco-friendly floating houseboat. The houseboat is highly energy-efficient, runs completely on solar power and is ten times more energy efficient than the average house. The Autark Home is currently flaoting in Maastricht, Netherlands. Designed by Pieter Kromwijk, the prototype has gained popularity because of its ultra-low energy consumption. There are plans to produce more Autark Homes to meet the demand of willing buyers.
Some bands are so influential, so pioneering and so ahead of their time that they change the course of music history. Electro trailblazers Kraftwerk are one such group. Forming in Düsseldorf in 1970, they quickly segued from krautrock to diving into the electronic scene — and imagining the future, including experimenting with robotics, in the process. The song 'Computer Love'? Back in the 80s, it foresaw internet dating. Unsurprisingly, Kraftwerk have left their mark on everything from their chosen genre and techno to synth pop and hip hop since. Also, more than five decades later, the German outfit is still touring. Kraftwerk's live shows are an experience, combining the band's electronic music computer animations and performance art. Take note, audiences Down Under, because the group is heading to Australia and New Zealand in November and December. The multi-media project founded by Ralf Huetter and Florian Schneider, and that aims to create "gesamtkunstwerk — a total work of art" — in each gig, will play seven shows in total across both countries. The 2023 tour starts in Wellington on Wednesday, November 29. From there, Kraftwerk will take to the stage in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, then end their trip in Perth on Friday, December 15. Expect synthetic voices and computerised rhythms aplenty — it is what Kraftwerk's music is known for, and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for — plus a visual show that ponders man and machine to match. Kraftwerk's latest visit Down Under comes after the band played Vivid in 2015, as part of 3D Kraftwerk — The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, which saw them perform eight albums from 1974's Autobahn through to 2003's Tour de France over four nights at the Sydney Opera House. Since starting their retrospective gigs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2012, they've hit up everywhere from London's Tate Modern and Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum to Tokyo's Akasaka Blitz and Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall. KRAFTWERK AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2023 TOUR: Wednesday, November 29 — TSB Arena, Wellington Friday, December 1 — Spark Arena, Auckland Monday, December 4 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Wednesday, December 6 — Aware Super Theatre, Sydney Friday, December 8 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Tuesday, December 12 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide Friday, December 15 — Riverside Theatre, PCEC, Perth Kraftwerk tours Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023, with pre-sale tickets available from 11am local time on Monday, July 17 and general sales from 10am local time on Wednesday, July 19. Head to the tour website for tickets and further details.
We can't hate on your everyday supermarket hot cross bun, but if you're looking for something a little fancy this Easter, Morning Market has got a timely surprise. For the first time, the team behind Andrew McConnell's European-style pantry and provisions outfit are making their own spiced creation for your festive pleasure. With an elevated take on the classic recipe, these hot cross buns are produced with anise-flavoured pastis, brandy, cardamon and allspice, while top-quality dried prunes and apricots are added to the mix. With cool autumn mornings primed for this limited-time treat, starting your day with a sweet, fragrant bite puts you in good stead for what lies ahead. So, when can you get them? Morning Market's hot cross buns are available for pre-order and purchase from Friday, February 28 to Saturday, April 19, ensuring you have more than enough time to find out what makes them special. Priced at $4.50 each or $26 for a pack of six, these buns are the ideal way to complement your Easter festivities. With stores in Fitzroy and Prahran, Morning Market is no stranger to special-edition creations and hard-to-find gourmet goods. With both outposts stocked with the same tight curation of culinary goodies, it's become a go-to spot for browsing everything from gold-standard Comté cheese to bluefin tuna roe and best-selling sourdough from cult-followed Baker Bleu. Meanwhile, McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Builders Arms Hotel, Cutler & Co) has also been hard at work organising a refined selection of food-related gifts and homewares. Whether your foodie friend has a birthday coming up or you're keen to add some tasteful items to your collection, sophisticated cookbooks, vases, pepper mills and candles make shopping hassle-free. If you decide to pop in, both Fitzroy and Prahran have street-side seating where you can rest after your shop. Order up a coffee with a breakfast bap, the sandwich special of the week or – if you get down during this Easter celebration – a freshly baked hot cross bun that will open your mind to the possibilities of the enduring autumn tradition. [caption id="attachment_809358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jo McGann[/caption] Morning Market is found at 59 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, and 579 High Street, Prahran. Head to the website for more information. Images: Parker Blain.
Sydney has just joined the likes of Bangkok, Hainan, Hanoi, Shanghai and Singapore as a home to the luxury hotel group Capella. The award-winning accommodation provider officially opened Capella Sydney today, Wednesday, March 15, bringing 192 luxury rooms to a historic inner-city building. Housed within the sandstone Department of Education Building on the corner of Bridge Street and Loftus Street just across from Macquarie Place Park, the expansive hotel adds another dose of lavish luxury to Sydney's hotel scene. The restoration and reimagination of the century-old building took seven years in the hands of the Pontiac Land Group. The nine-storey building has been transformed with a glamourous interior brought together by muted tones of white and brown giving the hotel both a vintage and timeless quality. "Pontiac Land has always been passionate about creating meaningful developments that contribute and help shape their communities. Capella Sydney was an ideal opportunity for us to sensitively repurpose this culturally significant landmark in the heart of downtown Sydney and transform it into a more public offering as a leading luxury hotel for everyone to be able to experience," says Pontiac Land Group Chief Executive Officer David Tsang. Guests are greeted with a flurry of acquired and commissioned art within the lobby including works from the likes of Judy Watson and Otis Hope Carey, as well as a robotic light installation titled Meadow from Dutch art duo DRIFT. Once you've navigated the lobby, you'll find elegant guestrooms fitted with Italian Frette linen, a standalone bathtub and sustainable vegan amenities created in partnership with Haeckels. And, there's plenty to love outside your room as well. There are two shared spaces for guests to unwind in, a spa offering relaxing rejuvenation treatments, a fitness centre, a heated 20-metre indoor pool and two dining areas. The first is the more laidback McRae Bar. While this hotel bar is still overflowing with luxury, boasting gold trimmings and a hefty cocktail menu, it's hard to compete with the sheer exuberance of Brasserie 1930. This European-influenced dining room comes from the acclaimed hospitality crew behind Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole, Yellow and Cirrus, offering the likes of oysters, brown-butter scallops, beef tartare, Eastern rock lobster, whole roasted duck and three different steak options ramping up to the $110 Coppertree Farm rib eye. To mark the opening, Capella is kicking things off with a special Capella History Journey package. The $1500 experience for two includes a night's stay in a deluxe guestroom, breakfast at Brasserie 1920, a bespoke welcome amenity, a Capella Culturist experience that will take you on a curated journey through the history of the building and Sydney's Sandstone Precinct, 24-hour access to the fitness centre and valet parking. The package is bookable until Friday, June 30. Capella Sydney is now open at 35–29 Bridge Street, Sydney. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
There are many ways that you can show love for your pet pooch, especially in these extremely dog-friendly times. Want to take Fido to a music festival? Head to a pub with Coco? Let Rex loose at a Halloween party for canines? Yes, you can do just that — and have your four-legged bestie's cute face plastered across your swimmers, too, because the list really does go on. Only one adorable pupper can get immortalised in Lego, however. We're not talking about just sticking a few bricks together at home, either. Inspired by International Dog Day, Melbourne's Legoland Discovery Centre will build a life-size replica of one lucky doggo. The celebratory date was actually this past Monday, but the competition runs until 11.59pm on Friday, September 2o. If you're already clearing a spot for your new Lego addition to the family — and wondering how your fluffball will react to their own likeness — you'll need to submit a photo of your pooch on the Legoland Discovery Centre's Facebook page, specifically to its competition post. You'll also need to explain why your dachshund or dalmatian should get the Lego treatment, which shouldn't be hard. Serve up the best answer, and a master builder (yes, that's a real thing) will recreate your dog with in tiny plastic bricks. While the contest terms and conditions don't require entrants to live in Melbourne, the winner will be unveiled there in November — and you'll need to head by in person to pick up your prize. You'll also need to like the Legoland Discovery Centre's Facebook page to enter, and include your pet's name, age, breed and one crazy fact about them with your submission. If your canine can walk on its hind legs or bark to a tune, don't keep that detail to yourself. To enter the Lego Dog Competition, visit the Legoland Discovery Centre Facebook page before 11.59pm on Friday, September 2o.
In an effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has this morning, Wednesday, March 18, announced that non-essential indoor events of more than 100 people will be banned — effective immediately. This announcement follows last week's ban on mass gatherings of over 500 people, which is still in place for outdoor events. Airports, public transport, age care, correctional facilities, law courts, parliaments, food markets, supermarkets, office buildings, factories, mining sites, hotels, motels, schools, universities and transit spots — such as Bourke Street Mall, Martin Place — are not be impacted by the ban, but the Prime Minister has said that the "advice to all Australians is do not travel abroad". State and territory leaders have the power to add to this list of essential gatherings, too. The Prime Minister also said that social distancing should be observed by all, which includes regularly sanitising your hands, using 'tap and pay', avoiding crowds and commuting at quiet times when possible, and maintaining a distance of 1.5m apart wherever it is practical to do so. You can read the Department of Health's social distancing guidelines over here. [caption id="attachment_758772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The NGV has already temporarily closed.[/caption] While the PM hasn't stipulated what exactly a non-essential indoor event is, we can expect large art galleries — that haven't already temporarily closed — cinemas and big restaurants, bars and pubs to close in wake of this announcement. Many hospitality venues have already upped their takeaway offering in response to a downturn in customers during the COVID-19, but it's likely more will offer takeout-only options. During morning's announcement, the PM also said that the hoarding of supplies was "un-Australian" and it should be stopped, and that the above measures were likely to be in place for "six months" so they needed to be "sustainable" and "achievable" for all Australians. For now, the above bans on non-essential gatherings are in place indefinitely. The Australia-wide ban on non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people is effective immediately. The ban on non-essential outdoor events of more than 500 people is still in place.
There's still a good few months before the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) wraps up construction and unveils its multimillion-dollar makeover. But we've already been given a sneak peek of the new-look centre, thanks to a virtual fly-through video. We've also been told one of its star attractions will be a permanent ode to Mad Max. Once the revamp is completed in mid-2020, ACMI will boast a roomier, light-filled interior, with schmancy technology used to create a "globally connected museum of the future". Its design comes courtesy of Melbourne firm BKK Architects, while construction company Built is heading up the build. ACMI's also set to score a new edition of its ever-popular, permanent moving image exhibition, the result of a collaboration with experiential design studio Second Story. The free exhibition will dive deep into the history of the moving image with the help of cutting-edge technology and a range of immersive experiences. And one of the standout installations is a car that's half Mad Max Interceptor, half Bush Mechanics creation. One side nods to the contribution Mad Max director George Miller has made to Aussie film, featuring a futuristic machine crafted by Fury Road car designer Cameron Manewell. The other was created by Melbourne production house Rebel Films and painted in the Northern Territory by Yuendumu artists Thomas Jangala Rice and Francis Jupurrula Kelly, paying homage to the 2001 reality TV series. [caption id="attachment_751351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Constellation[/caption] A world-first piece of technology dubbed The Lens will also make its debut here. It's a portable device that's used to collect information while moving through the exhibition, as well as offering access to a large-scale digital activation titled The Constellation. Elsewhere, you'll find spaces like the Media Preservation Lab, which gives a glimpse into ACMI's film and digital media preservation process; the Foley Room, where visitors can have a crack at creating their own soundtrack and sound effects; and the Gandel Digital Future Labs, offering a series of hands-on digital learning experiences. While ACMI is undergoing renovations, its shows, films and exhibitions have taken up residence at the Treasury Theatre and the recently reopened Capitol Theatre. To check out its programming at the Treasure and Capitol theatres, head to the ACMI website. ACMI is set to reopen in mid-2020.
