Ensure this weekend's lockdown dinner is a ducking good one, with a little help from Firebird. On Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24, the flame-fuelled Vietnamese restaurant is bringing back its much-loved Mighty Ducks dinner packs for a special cameo appearance. But there's only 50 up for grabs, so you'll need to get in quick to nab one. Celebrating a Viet-style spin on French duck a l'orange, each meal box comes ready to heat and eat, kitted out with a whole roast duck, dressed egg noodles, gai lan, pickled ginger and grilled orange. There's also a serve of Firebird's signature 'excellent sauce' to tie it all together. Each standard pack feeds two to four people for an easy $70. Though you can also add on extra sides and various bottles of wine from Firebird's online store. Order in advance for pick up from the restaurant between 5.30–7pm either day, otherwise delivery is available for addresses within 10 kilometres. [caption id="attachment_764369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Firebird, by Jana Langhorst[/caption] Top Images: Jake Ellis
If it's a feast of weird, wild and wonderful movies that you're after, then one Australian film festival has been delivering for 16 years now: the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Dedicated to strange and surreal cinema, it screens the kinds of flicks that don't usually turn up at your local multiplex — although, this year, the event itself is making the move to one such venue. 2022 marks a huge milestone for SUFF in two ways. Firstly, it's the fest's return to a physical event for the first time since 2019, thanks to a couple of pandemic-affected years. Secondly, SUFF is shifting to a new location. Accordingly, come Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, Sydneysiders will want to flock to Event Cinemas George Street to watch everything from hilarious Pete Davidson-featuring horror satires through to the latest and greatest genre shorts. And if you're not in Sydney, the fest's online program will return from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25 as well. For those keen on an in-person experience, I Love My Dad will open the fest, telling a tale about an estranged father (played by Patton Oswalt, Gaslit) who catfishes his own son in an effort to reconnect. From there, highlights include new releases by a few mighty impressive filmmakers: closing night's Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, the latest from A Girl Walks Home at Night's Ana Lily Amirpour, and Something in the Dirt, by The Endless and Synchronic's Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. And, of course, there's the aforementioned Bodies Bodies Bodies — which not only features The King of Staten Island's Davidson, but also Dear Evan Hansen's Amandla Stenberg and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova. They star in a film that turns a party game into a slasher onslaught, and tears into not only its characters, but Gen Z and today's always-online world. Also on the in-cinema bill: Dual, the Aaron Paul (Westworld) and Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame)-starring new deadpan comedy by The Art of Self-Defense's Riley Stearns; On the Count of Three, Jerrod Carmichael's (Rothaniel) feature film debut as a director; and documentary I Get Knocked Down, about Chumbawamba singer Dunstan Bruce. Or, you can see the world premiere of horror flick Pig Killer, which is inspired by a true story; catch Norway's Sick of Myself, which also screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival; and check out a charity screening of Rhino by Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. For those watching at home around the country, SUFF's online program includes queer Canadian drama Compulsus, horror/sci-fi film LandLocked, and an impressive range of documentaries — such as F@k This Job, about Russian TV channel Dozhd and its founder Natasha Sindeeva; Girl Gang, which follows a 14-year-old London influencer; the self-explanatory Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC; Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, about the Hellboy creator; and Circus of the Scars, about sideshow performers. Plus, SUFF's dedication to the most out-there shorts the fest can compile will also hit screens in-person at Event Cinemas George Street and via the virtual lineup. Sydney Underground Film Festival will screen at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney, from Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 11, then head online from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to SUFF's website.
Shane Barrett adores wine. After shopping at specialty supermarket Terra Madre on Northcote's High Street one evening, the co-owner of Melbourne CBD Spanish tapas restaurant and rooftop bar Bomba, was on the hunt for a bottle — but was alarmed when he found no liquor stores in the vicinity. So, he sought to solve the problem himself with longtime Bomba business partners Jesse Gerner, Andrew Fisk and Kelly O'Loghlan. The four have opened a brand new bottle shop which focuses on boutique producers who practice sustainable, organic and biodynamic principals, alongside handpicked international wines. And they've named it for a fellow wine lover, Samuel Pepys. "Samuel Pepys was a naval administrator in London in the 1600s," says Barrett. "He was a diarist who loved good wine and food. If you read any of his entries they're quite entertaining — he was an old day foodie for lack of better words." The interiors (which the boys conceived themselves) are homely, welcoming shoppers with a cluster of suspended plants that overlook wire racks caressing bottles. Various wines are also available to taste, you'll find the daily offerings written on the chalkboard by the counter. "We want people to feel comfortable coming here and spend a bit of town browsing, we have products the general public won't be familiar with," says Barrett. "We all travel to Europe about two times a year and import a lot of wines ourselves," he adds, referring to their distribution company, Armada Imports. The store hosts about 400 wines, a 200 strong spirit list, a full Riedel glassware range and a selection of cigars (la-di-da). Local wines from Patrick Sullivan are available, as are bottles from the Mornington Peninsula's Polperro Estate.
For those of you who want to transform your morning walk into a catwalk, the lovechild of activewear brand Jaggad and high fashion mogul J'Aton Couture has just the outfit for you with their new collaboration. Launching November 10, the team-up's new activewear line is touted as 'haute couture meets high-performance wearability', and features an undeniably striking line of leggings, crop tops and muscle tanks. Described as a "capsule collection of activewear for the everyday consumer", with prices ranging from $79.95 for rose gold running shorts to $159.95 for the Baroque Contour 7/8 leggings, the line certainly isn't for the shallow-pocketed. For the Melbourne couture house with only 100–150 dresses being produced each year for high profile women around the world including Nicole Kidman, Poppy Delevingne, Ellie Goulding and Margot Robbie, J'Aton claims the collaboration is an opportunity to reach a wider audience. Whether or not this audience will necessarily be able to splurge for a $160 'panelled–bodice' running jacket is another question, but there would certainly be few who would turn down the opportunity to look this flashy in the weights section. J'Aton have also been the recipients of many prestigious awards, including the 2009 Prix de Marie Claire Awards for Best Eveningwear Designers. It remains to be seen if this line could score the 2016 'Best Leggings to Squat In' Award. The capsule collection is available online and in-store at Jaggad stores and extended local retailer boutiques from November 10, 2016.
London has one, currently letting locals and visitors fly across the city. Sydney is getting one as well, stretching between two skyscrapers 75 metres above Circular Quay. Melbourne flirted with the concept, but it was ultimately too structurally difficult and costly to implement. Yes, ziplines are popping up and topping tourist attraction wishlists everywhere — including the new desert wire that's set to become the world's longest. Although the exact length of the new zipline coming to the United Arab Emirates won't be revealed until it opens in December, it's reported to be longer than 28 soccer fields. That will make it at least 2800 metres in total, zooming past The Monster in Puerto Rico, all from Jebel Jais, the UAE's highest peak. Indeed, the numbers keep coming for the mammoth line, with its mountain base located 1934 metres high above sea level, and riders expected to reach speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour. Plus, the site will boast two wires for double the fun, allowing high-flyers to glide side by side. Throw in the fact that anyone eager to zip along will do so face down — getting a stellar view of the scenic sights, and living out their superhero fantasies — and the scene is set for quite the thrilling experience. The project is designed to be eco-friendly, using LED lighting and photovoltaic fabric materials, and also features a welcome centre, complete with a viewing lounge and restaurant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wo0A2Wgl90&feature=youtu.be Via Whats On UAE. Images:Mathew.k.scaria / Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
Having recently spent a crazy couple of months living in Berlin, the news of East Berlin club Salon Zur Wilden Renate installing a real life maze in the two-storey abandoned building comes as no surprise. With the intention of creating an other-worldly, ethereal experience, the Peristal Singum labyrinth uses confined spaces to confuse your sensory perceptions, where one visitor at a time is forced to crawl, duck, and slide to their salvation. Prepare for a lucid mind where your whole metaphysical being is questioned while disproportionately-sized objects create the illusion of fantasy characters that roam rooms that seem smaller than they actually are. There is no marked pathway, so drinking too much prior to entering may not be the wisest of ideas. Peristal Singum
We all love a good pictorial menu to help make those dish selections easier, but how about a menu that that lets you have a sneaky taste of everything before you order — including drinks? That's what the innovative minds at renowned Singaporean bar and restaurant, The Tippling Club, have created for their latest cocktail program, 'Dreams and Desires'. No, you won't sip each beverage before you make your pick. Rather, you'll eat them. The world's first edible cocktail menu, it's the brainchild of head bartender Joe Schofield and chef-owner Ryan Clift, realised with help from American company International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. Instead of a regular old written cocktail list to peruse, guests get one of those classic striped candy bags, filled with 12 different flavoured gummy bears. Each of these speaks to a specific dream or desire, flavoured to represent one of the bar's new signature cocktails. You might find yourself seduced by Lust's heady blend of Champagne, peach, tonka bean and vanilla; or loading up on good vibes with the honey, citrus and tequila creation called Happiness. There's a concoction dubbed Revenge, featuring a moody mix of vodka and umami bitters, and even one called Baby, which is served in a kid's bottle. Choose a favourite based on which flavours take your fancy, and you should end up with your ideal cocktail. The Tippling Club, which recently took out 31st position at the World's 50 Best Bars awards, is no stranger to thinking outside the box when it comes to drinks lists. Launched late last year, its experimental Sensorium cocktail menu used various scents to trigger memories of yesteryear. And, while enjoying their new tipples — and the tasty selection process — will usually require a trip to Singapore, Brisbanites are in for a special sneak peek on December 1 and 2. That's when The Tippling Club bartender Jonathan Lee will be stopping by Gerard's Bar for a two-day Tippling Club takeover in celebration of the new menu. Fancy an overseas cocktail adventure? Find The Tippling Club at 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore.
Beach season might be done and dusted, but you've just scored a whole bunch of new reasons to keep the Mornington Peninsula on your radar this winter. And they're all sitting under the one roof, within the newly revamped Continental Sorrento. The hotly anticipated redevelopment is finally complete, with the doors now open to its suite of food and drink venues helmed by Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda) and Craig Shearer (The Terminus Fitzroy North, Brisbane's The Plough). And in its latest incarnation, the 150-year-old limestone pub truly has something for every palate. First up, there's luxe speakeasy Barlow, with its dapper old-world interiors, wide-ranging entertainment program and drinks offering led by the Speakeasy Group (Eau de Vie, Nick & Nora's, Mjolner). It's serving masterful cocktails alongside Pickett's menu of New York-style pizzas and elegant late-night snacks. [caption id="attachment_848433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Barlow, by Gareth Sobey[/caption] Taking a more casual bent are the terrazzo-floored public bar and lofty, glass-ceilinged beer garden, with its abundance of greenery. A large open kitchen services both, plating up a menu of contemporary seaside pub grub alongside a selection of modern Asian dishes you'll recognise from Pickett's Melbourne restaurant Longrain. Snacks here might include the likes of spanner crab and prawn spring rolls, a heart of palms taco, or beef skewers with ume furikake and sesame miso; while a seafood platter stars goodies like scallop ceviche and Moreton Bay bug. Elsewhere, there's a range of meaty things cooked on the Josper grill, a lineup of burgers and pizzas, a lively salmon salad featuring ruby grapefruit, a wagyu bolognese rigatoni and an ode to the classic parma. And in the Longrain corner, expect plates like the lamb Penang curry, a punchy green papaya salad and a pad Thai loaded with tiger prawns. You'll be washing it down with a solid range of craft brews, a slew of signature cocktails and a Victorian-focused wine offering. [caption id="attachment_852415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The public bar, by Greg Elms Photography[/caption] Meanwhile, the Atrium is your light-filled destination for chic all-day wining and dining, complete with its own caviar service. Breeze in for freshly shucked oysters, a club sandwich, spanner crab farfalle or the aforementioned seafood platter. And if you're aiming even higher, look no further than resident fine diner, Audrey's, which takes its name from Pickett's own grandmother and cooking muse. It's an elegant set menu affair, with a $150 per person offering that heroes plenty of fresh seafood to complement the sweeping bay views. Here, you're in for plates like barbecued abalone, local squid done with shiitake XO and roquette flowers, and King George whiting paired with yellow beans and roast onion. Rounding out the fun is a series of stunning function spaces, as well as cocktail bar Coppin's Lounge, which is slated to open soon. Find The Continental Sorrento at 1-21 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. For opening hours of each of the venues, see the website. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen and Greg Elms Photography
When you think of Phillip Island, you probably think of penguins (not that we blame you — they're adorable). But this remarkable setting offers so much more than just our furry friends. Whether it's the outstanding dining possibilities — think fresh seafood, seasonal produce, top-notch wines and killer views — or the coastline that features some fascinating rock formations and the opportunity to spot some migrating sea life, at less than two hours' drive from Melbourne's CBD, Phillip Island is an awesome place to spend a cooler weather getaway. We've found the best spots to eat, play and stay on a weekend away if you want to escape our big island to find a smaller, cosier one. [caption id="attachment_724044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phillip Island Winery, Jackson Grant[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Although surrounded by water, Phillip Island isn't a tropical isle where you sip on coconuts. It's wild, rugged and full of cosy eateries and bars to stop at and escape the cold. And, just because you're leaving behind Melbourne for the weekend doesn't mean you have to give up the coffee that you know and love. Start your Phillip Island getaway at The Store, which is where you'll find the best cup of java to kickstart your trip. There's also a selection of flaky pies and steaming hot toasties that'll help rid you of the daybreak chills. Now that you've had your morning pick-me-up, what better way to dive into the pleasures of Phillip Island than by taking a quick drive south through the picturesque plains to the Phillip Island Winery? From here, you'll experience stellar panoramic views from the winery's vantage point — make the most of them by sitting outside next to the roaring fire pit and sipping a shiraz alongside a cheese platter. Once you've sampled enough of the island's top wines, you'd be remiss if you didn't give the beer the same opportunity. Fortunately, Ocean Reach Brewing's mellow brewpub is only ten minutes away. Start with a tasting paddle, which will give you four flavourful offerings from the core range. [caption id="attachment_722687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Cape Kitchen[/caption] By now, the morning is probably done and dusted and it's time to figure out your lunchtime plans. Serving up everything from breakfast bagels to birria queso tacos, Kelp is a popular pit stop for lunch a brunch seekers on Phillip Island. Located right by the bridge connecting Newhaven and San Remo, the charming venue features an interior inspired by the surrounding seaside with a rustic fit out. Another option is Saltwater, a laidback eatery situated on the most eastern tip of the island. Here, you'll be tucking into woodfired pizzas, charcuterie and, unsurprisingly, plenty of seafood while overlooking the wild sea. When the sun goes down, we recommend getting cosy with another glass of red at Grenache Wine Bar. Alongside an extensive wine list, featuring both local and international drops, it also has a great reputation for beautiful meals that wouldn't be out of place at a trendy inner city spot. The relaxed, intimate atmosphere pairs perfectly with a belly-warming feast that could entail grilled chorizo oysters with balsamic glaze or snapper with pepperberry hollandaise. These options not enough for you? Check out our food and drink guide to Phillip Island to find more local wineries, breweries, cafes, bars and restaurants. [caption id="attachment_704319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] DO Phillip Island undoubtedly offers some incredible gastronomic options, but the scenery is just as good. From striking clifftop hikes to astounding whale watching spots, there are plenty of things to see and do to keep your weekend away lively. One of the island's most popular adventures is the Cape Woolamai Circuit. Starting from the island's southern point and travelling up to its highest peak, this trek combines three separate walks that range in length from four to almost seven kilometres long. Each section is a rather easygoing walk with no prior hiking experience required. You'll probably want to rug up — you'll be battling the elements, after all. But you'll be rewarded with moody ocean vistas and stunning rock formations, including the Pinnacles Lookout and the Old Granite Quarry, which highlights a bit of local history — much of Melbourne's building materials came from here in the late 19th century. [caption id="attachment_724590" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Any weekend escape to Phillip Island needs to include a visit to Kitty Miller Bay — the 500-metre long stretch of sandy dunes is one of the prettiest in the region. There's also the remains of the SS Speke, which ran aground in 1906, and is now a popular spot for surfers and snorkellers in warmer months. In cooler months, stay dry (and warm) while whale watching. If you head to Pyramid Rock, you'll find yourself at one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the humpback whales and orcas that cruise by heading to warmer waters. Take a stroll down the boardwalk and experience the rugged coastline from the excellent viewing platform. [caption id="attachment_724589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] To up your chances of seeing whales, the self-guided Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail is your insiders' map on where you need to go and it advises you on the bays, headlands and beaches you have to hit. Even if you don't witness the majestic creatures this time around, these incredible sights are still worth a visit. If you'd prefer someone to lead the way for you, Wildlife Coast Cruises offers a variety of tours. Consider the Winter Whale Cruise, which takes a tour of four whale watching hotspots or go in search of the island's resident fur seals with this two-hour cruise. For more exciting things to do on Phillip Island, read our full outdoor adventure guide or hit up Concrete Playground Trips — where you can book two-day cruises, day trips from Melbourne and tours to the penguin parade. [caption id="attachment_724571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Cabin, Hilary Walker[/caption] STAY After a day of exploring this charming island in all its windswept glory, you're going to want somewhere cosy to retreat to and thaw out — preferably in front of a fireplace with a glass of red. We do have a specific guide to the best places to stay on. Philip Island but here are some of our faves. Our first pick is Cape Cabin, a mud-brick and timber home that boasts direct beach access and sweeping views across Bass Strait and Cape Woolamai. Hidden among native plant life, it's ideal for big groups as it sleeps up to nine guests across five large bedrooms. There's loads of space to spread out, with fully equipped indoor and outdoor kitchens, plus massive entertainment and living areas. [caption id="attachment_723598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Five Acres[/caption] For those looking for a more rural retreat, the Five Acres farm stay offers just that, while remaining easily within reach of Cowes. From here, your deck showcases sprawling views across Western Port Bay, while a fireplace makes for snug evening warming back up. Or, you could opt for an even more rustic approach with a stay in one of The Sheltered Glamping Co's luxury glamping tents. The largest, Emperor Safari, even comes with an outdoor tub to soak in. Meanwhile, if style is the name of the game, then the Anglers Shack likely wins. Owned and decorated by prominent stylist Simone Haag, this chic beach cabin on Sunderland Bay shows off some of her best work. Enjoy the ocean views and the skate ramp — if that's your kind of thing. Down the road in the lush community of Smiths Beach, the five-bedroom Beachwood Luxury Villa will have you within close proximity to a wealth of restaurants and parks. The balcony is great for celebrating, plus you can get a glimpse of Pyramid Rock and the nearby beach, all from the comfort of your weekend home. But if you travelling on a budget, think about some laidback holiday parks by the beach. There's Comfort Resort Kaloha and NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park just outside of Cowes, Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island in the countryside and BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park by Newhaven. 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.
"Honey, we're home." Those words are uttered in the first sneak peek at Netflix's Heartbreak High revival and, especially if you were a 90s kid, they're filled with emotion. Screening for seven seasons and 210 episodes between 1994–99, the OG Heartbreak High wasn't just a high school-set Aussie show — it was the high school-set Aussie show of the era. The original series was filled with now-familiar faces, too, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid. Back in 2020, Netflix announced that it was bringing Heartbreak High back — and now that revival is almost here. The series itself will join your streaming queue on Wednesday, September 14, and the platform has dropped the first trailer in the interim. Yes, it definitely looks like a 2020s take on the Aussie classic. While the initial teaser sets the vibe rather than spells out the story, the show obviously returns to Hartley High — the fictional school that everyone watching was obsessed with way back when. This time around, a revelation turns Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect) into a pariah, and also sparks a rift with her best pal Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman). Attempting to repair her reputation, and just navigate the usual teen chaos, she calls on help from her new friends Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud) and Darren (first-timer James Majoos). If you're keen for a bit more background on the new show's characters, back when it announced the cast, Netflix described Amerie as a smart, big-hearted but loud working-class girl, and Harper as the person at Hartley that everyone is a little afraid of, including teachers. Quinni, who has autism, is "a brain trying to connect to a body and a heart", while Darren is "the warmest snarky shit-stirrer you're ever likely to meet". Other characters include Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, All My Friends Are Racist), a Bundjalung boy and basketballer who is new at Hartley High; Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), an insecure bass player in an indie rock band; Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC), who has been badged "the coolest, sexiest, and chiccest lesbian at the school"; and Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), a mullet-wearing drug dealer, food delivery driver and pet duck owner. Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Baby Done) plays Hartley High's principal, too — and yes, Netflix is still streaming the original series, should you feel like a double dose of nostalgia. Check out the first trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, September 14.
The road back to music festivals in a post-COVID world has been long and bumpy. Many festivals attempted to be among the first to return, announcing dates and lineups before being forced to postpone. One event that has managed to succeed, despite restrictions on mass gatherings, is the new Summer Sounds Festival. Back in November, it was revealed that Splendour in the Grass organisers Secret Sounds — with the help of the Australian government — were working on a new music festival. An announcement for the Adelaide edition of Summer Sounds Festival followed shortly, with the SA leg of the fest taking place across January with a lineup full of local Australian talent, including Ball Park Music, Bernard Fanning, Mallrat and Ruel. Now, as the debut edition of the festival wraps up this weekend, Summer Sounds has announced that it's coming to Melbourne. It'll set up shop in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of the summer-long Live at the Bowl event series. Taking place over four nights, the Melbourne lineup features Ball Park Music, Bernard Fanning, Something for Kate and Spacey Jane — all returning after sets at the Adelaide edition. They'll be joined by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Thelma Plum, Tropical F Storm and Rat!hammock. The current lineup of gigs runs from Thursday, February 24–Thursday March 4, with more shows to be announced. In order to comply with COVID-safe protocols, attendees can book tickets at the private decks, stall tables and balcony seats for groups of two, four or six. This means you're saved the pain of rubbing up against sweaty strangers in the crowd, plus you'll be able to have a dance with your closest friends. Image: Bernard Fanning by Saige Prime SUMMER SOUNDS FESTIVAL, MELBOURNE Thursday, February 25 — Ball Park Music and Thelma Plum Friday, February 26 — King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Tropical F Storm Saturday, February 27 — Bernard Fanning and Something for Kate Thursday, March 4 — Spacey Jane and Rat!hammock Summer Sounds Festival Melbourne will take place at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of Live at the Bowl from Thursday, February 25–Thursday, March 5. Registration for the presale is now open, with presale tickets available from 12pm AEDT on Friday, January 29 — and general ticket sales opening at 9am AEDT on Monday, March 1. Top image: Summer Sounds Festival Adelaide by Morgan Sette
Since March 2020, Australians haven't been able to take an overseas getaway, with the country's borders closed and international travel banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In just a few weeks, however, that'll change — with the long-discussed trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand launching at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18. Today, Tuesday, April 6, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country has agreed upon conditions for opening up quarantine-free travel with Australia. Yes, that means that Aussies will soon be able to venture further than our own shores. Yes, that word you're looking for is 'finally'. And yes, the quarantine-free travel applies to New Zealanders returning from Australia, too. If this idea sounds familiar, that's because a one-way arrangement has actually been in effect since mid-October 2020, with New Zealanders currently able to visit some Australian states. While the bubble has been paused a few times due to COVID-19 case numbers in NZ, it has remained broadly in place for the past six months. But, despite a reciprocal plan being floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year, Aussies haven't been able to head to NZ in return so far. In mid-March, Prime Minister Ardern advised that the NZ Government was progressing towards a decision on the trans-Tasman bubble. After that revelation, a date of Tuesday, April 6 was given for the official announcement. So now, after all that talk and planning, Aussies now know that they can start genuinely planning NZ getaways — and when they're able to head off — while New Zealanders know when they can take an Aussie holiday, then return without quarantining. Announcing the news, Prime Minister Ardern said that the trans-Tasman bubble is "an important step forward" in the country's COVID response "and represents an arrangement I do not believe we have seen in any other part of the world". Heading to NZ won't quite be the same as it was pre-COVID-19, though, as Prime Minister Ardern also outlined today. "While we absolutely wish to encourage family and friends to reunite and visitors to come and enjoy the hospitality New Zealand is ready and waiting to offer, those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of 'flyer beware'," Prime Minister Ardern said. "People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak," she continued. If you're wondering what that could mean, the NZ Government is implementing a framework for responding to outbreaks in Australia. It will treat Australia as its own region when making decisions on restrictions, "albeit one with the complication of multiple internal borders" Prime Minister Ardern said. So, if an outbreak arises in an Aussie state, there'll be three options. Firstly, if the case is clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, travel will likely continue. If a case isn't linked to the border and the relevant state went into lockdown, NZ would probably pause flights from that state. And, if there are multiple cases of unknown origin in a state, NZ will likely suspend flights for a set period of time. With those three possibilities in mind, travellers from Australia have been told to expect two things. You'll need to follow NZ's guidelines on the ground while you're in the country — and, if an outbreak arises in Australia before you depart, you might have to monitor for symptoms, take a test before departing or isolate upon arrival. Going into managed isolation for up to 14 days might be required "possibly, in some situations," Prime Minister Ardern said. Folks heading from Australia to NZ will be travelling on 'green zone flights', which will only carry passengers who have been in Australia for the last 14 days. The crew on those flights won't have flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time, too. Among the other requirements, passengers won't be able to travel if they have cold or flu symptoms, will have to wear a mask on the flight and will be asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app while in NZ. You'll also need to provide NZ authorities with comprehensive information on how you can be contacted while in the country — and there'll be random temperature checks upon arrival. Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel, although a similar travel bubble with Singapore is currently under discussion for a potential July start. If you're keen to start planning your NZ jaunt, we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ over here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Our favourite thought-provokers over at The School of Life are gifting us with a two-week community festival of philosophy, culture and ideas. Set to take over Melbourne's western suburbs this November, the Think West program will be all about expanding your mind and stimulating your thinking, delivered in the organisation's trademark open-minded style. With over 40 workshops, classes, tours and events on offer across the inaugural festival, the School of Life team has rounded up a host of interesting westside partners. They've got an impressive list of venues too, with the likes of Yarraville's iconic Sun Theatre, the Planetarium at Scienceworks, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Two Birds Brewing and co-working space The Dream Factory in Footscray hosting events. The full Think West program is set to drop on October 5, but you can expect highlights to include a night of stargazing and perspective-shifting at Melbourne Planetarium, a talk on the art of resilience by Meshel Laurie, and, of course, a memorable and engaging launch party, during which you'll learn how to up your conversation game and become a boss communicator. And if you simply can't wait to get those mind cogs working and want a hands-on sneak peek of the festival action, there's also a Think West 'taster program', running from October 6-16. In a purpose-built creative space at Highpoint Shopping Centre (one of the presenting partners), you'll be able to get a preview of what's to come, with one-hour sample classes covering topics like How To Be Resilient, How To Find A Job You Love, and How To Have Better Conversations. Think West will run from November 6-20 at various venues in Melbourne's inner west. The full program will be announced on Wednesday, October 5. For the more details, visit thinkwest.com.au.
Prepare to step inside the mind of a cinematic genius. In most cases, that'd be a big call, but when it comes to David Lynch it's undeniably true. No one has ever made movies or TV shows quite like the man who brought us Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and a little series called Twin Peaks, and we mean no one — and anyone that's come even somewhat close over the past five decades has clearly been influenced by the visionary filmmaker. Don't just take our word for it, or the mourning world's following the icon's heartbreaking death in January 2025. Experience his movie marvels for yourself as part of the ACMI's month-long Focus on David Lynch tribute. The Federation Square venue is diving deep into his distinctive audiovisual catalogue, screening every fictional feature that he has ever made between Thursday, February 6–Saturday, March 1. Yes, it'll be both wonderful and strange. While most movies are showing across multiple sessions, the season is debuting each title in chronological order — so you can indeed start with the stunning, mindblowing debut that is Eraserhead and end with Inland Empire, aka the picture that the director famously wanted Laura Dern to win an Oscar for so badly that he campaigned on Hollywood Boulevard with a live cow. Also on the eclectic lineup: the moving and thoughtful The Elephant Man, Lynch's take on Dune long before Timothée Chalamet became Paul Atreides in two 2020s flicks, his Nicolas Cage-starring Palme d'Or winner Wild at Heart, his old-man-on-a-lawnmower tale The Straight Story and the twisty thrills (and ace 90s soundtrack) of Lost Highway. Then there's the thing that we've all been waiting for: no, not Twin Peaks the series, but the show's exceptional horror sequel/prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me on the big screen. BYO damn fine cup of coffee. As well as individual tickets ($14 for members, $16 for concessions and $20 otherwise), you can pick up three- ($39/42/48) and six-film ($72/78/90) program passes if you'd like to see quite a bit of not just Lynch's work, but Laura Dern (Lonely Planet) and Kyle MacLachlan (Blink Twice) in front of his lens.
Taking quality of beard and beardiness of lyrics as the two main factors, South Australian folk rock foursome The Beards are definitely at least one of the beardiest bands in music today. But they’re not the only band with facial hair that says a lot about their music. In anticipation of The Beards The First World Tour, which is currently making its way around the US before wrapping up on our eastern states in June, learn to know your EDM from your alt country by facial hair alone with this list of eight genre-defining beards. 1. THE INDIE FOLK BEARD Like the warm sounds of a guitar and a country-tinged melody, the indie folk beard is rural, familiar and comforting. It is comprised of a mid-density beard with rugged chops and a clearly defined moustache section. Often those two parts will merge slightly, but if so there will normally be some form of styling gel involved so the moustache retains definition. See Justin Vernon and Iron & Wine’s Samuel Beam, and closer to home, Angus Stone’s is a bristly contender. 2. THE CLASSIC ROCK BEARD In the same family is the classic rock beard, a more rugged and manly development that suggests life on the road and an inoffensively boisterous attitude. It can be seen on the faces of Clutch’s Neil Fallon, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and most bands signed to Sub Pop in Seattle. The main feature of the rock beard is its thickness, while length can vary. It is also, despite its bushiness and proximity to the mouth, not a very dirty beard. 3. THE RAP BEARD Rappers don’t get the ladies because of their smooth rhymes, they get them because of their smooth mutton chops and well-groomed chin curtains. See: Ice Cube, 50 Cent, Flo Rida and P. Diddy. 4. THE METAL BEARD A fun thing to do is imagine the guys from metal bands plaiting their beards and fastening them with those little beads. They do this frequently, and it is maybe one of the reasons so many metal bands originate from Scandinavia, where hair is usually long and silky and lends itself well to styling. 5. COUNTRY Pioneering this style were Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson in the Highwaymen era. After a brief fling with the pornstache, country beards seem to be reverting back to that unkempt style, which is increasingly evident in light of the popularity of modern and alternative country. Zac Brown and Alabama Shakes’ Zac Cockrell in particular suggest both genre and beard and only betting bigger from here. 6. THE MOTLEY COLLECTION A discrepancy between styles of facial hair often goes hand in hand with a discrepancy between styles of music. This is particularly true concerning two of the worst reasons to have been born in the late ‘80s: System of a Down and Linkin Park. Part Swedish hardcore and part magician rock with a weak attempt at 'urban' thrown in, it’s just a recipe for confusion. 7. THE ELECTROBEARD Have you ever noticed that electronic artists appear to have good levels of personal hygiene? This is seems to be echoed in their facial hair, which is normally non-existent or well groomed and not excessive in length. Al Doyle of Hot Chip and our own Oliver Tank both have excellent beards, and it’s pretty much impossible to imagine Flume with a wild face mane. 8. THE GANDALF Some older rock bands make attempts to stay relevant, while others give youth the proverbial finger by growing massively daggy beards. The most famous example of this would be ZZ Top, made up of two fiercely bearded Texans and one beardless (and unfittingly named) Frank Beard. See also Benny and the Jets, a Detroit rock band formed several years before Elton John’s hit of the same name.
Some of Southeast Asia's most acclaimed performance artists will be the subject of a new exhibition at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Running from February 11 through to May 21 as part of the inaugural Asia TOPA , Political Acts: Pioneers of Performance Art in Southeast Asia will showcase the work of preeminent artists from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and beyond. Featuring a mix of photographs, installations and films, the art in Political Acts acknowledges the cultural tradition of performance within the region. It also explores a wide range of social, political and environmental issues facing both Southeast Asia and the world at-large, from ethnic identity to state-sponsored violence. The free exhibition can be found in Gallery One at the Arts Centre and is open daily. Image: Moe Satt, F'n'F (Face and Fingers), 2008-09, digital print, courtesy the artist.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, ginger beer gelato, Weet-Bix and fairy bread varieties, hot cross bun gelato and even gelato for dogs. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from other sweet treats — in case you can't choose between tucking into a frosted cinnamon scroll or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream. Yes, that very combination is now on the menu, all as part of Gelatissimo's deluxe range. Just launching this week, its frosted cinnamon scrolls flavour is made from cinnamon, vanilla and cream cheese gelato. It's then filled with chunks of soft cinnamon scrolls and topped with cream cheese icing, with the scrolls and icing made by Sonoma Baking Company. Gelatissimo has also added a fudgy choc chunks and raspberries flavour as well, which is exactly what it sounds like. You'll bite into chocolate and raspberry gelato, then find whole chocolate fudge chunks made by Yarra Valley's Fudge by Rich inside. It also comes with a thick chocolate sauce made from cocoa butter, as well as a raspberry sauce. The two newcomers join a lineup that already includes double choc brownie, cookie dough, choc-dipped strawberries and New York cheesecake, should your dessert-loving tastebuds need a few more mashup options. Gelatissimo's deluxe range focuses on chunky gelato made with locally sourced ingredients — and while the two new flavours are now available nationwide, they're only on offer for a limited time, although the chain hasn't specified an exact period. Gelatissimo's frosted cinnamon scrolls and fudgy choc chunks and raspberries gelato flavours are available from all stores nationwide for a limited time.
Now in their fourth decade, Novocastrian stalwarts The Screaming Jets, also widely-known as 'the last great Aussie Pub Rock band', is bringing their much-loved brand of hard rock back to the masses. Led, as they have been since the band's formation in 1989, by frontman Dave 'Gleeso' Gleeson, the group spent their time in lockdown reworking and rerecording five of their most iconic tracks, including 'Shivers' and 'Helping Hand', and releasing the new versions as a new EP entitled Bitter Pill. You can head to either a homecoming show at The Camberidge Hotel, lovingly known as The Cambo, on Friday, November 27, or a beachside performance in Towradgi on Saturday, November 28. Or, if you're a real Jets tragic, why not both? For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively.
Fans of Liverpool Street's SPQR now have another way to get their hands on its signature woodfired sourdough pizzas, with a second outpost opening within Docklands precinct The District. While SPQR's latest is fuelled by the same pizza obsession as its sibling, you'll spy a few tweaks to both the experience and the food offering. As always, the heroes are the bases, slow-fermented for 48 hours, decked out in primo ingredients and finished in a custom-built woodfired oven. But here, thanks to a nifty new 'dough lab', you'll also have the chance to watch the chefs hand-shaping the dough balls throughout each day. SPQR The District is whipping up a simple menu of four white- and four red-based pizzas, running from classics like a capricciosa ($17 for seven inch, $26 for 12) and pepperoni ($15/$24), to the Jim's Pie — an assembly of 'nduja, portobello mushroom, pecorino, stracciatella and oregano ($17/$26). Opt for a standard 12-inch pizza, or have any variety served as a one-person seven-inch pizzette. Vegan cheese and gluten-free bases are available, too, as is garlic bread ($5), party packs and classic desserts like tiramisu ($10/$18) and Nutella-topped pizza ($10/$16). Street art graces the walls, while the drinks lineup champions smashable tinnies, Curatif cocktail cans and a tight selection of cider and wine. Takeaway is available through your mates at Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Menulog. Images: Annika Kafcaloudis and Paul R.Kolarik
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. YOU WON'T BE ALONE What's more terrifying: knowing that death is inevitable, because our fragile flesh will fail us all eventually and inescapably, or accepting that little we ever sense can truly be trusted given that everything in life changes and evolves? In horror movies, both notions stalk through the genre like whichever slasher/killer/malevolent force any filmmaker feels like conjuring up in any particular flick — and in You Won't Be Alone, the two ideas shudder through one helluva feature debut by Macedonian Australian writer/director Goran Stolevski. An expiration date isn't just a certainty within this film's frames. It's part of a non-stop cycle that sees transformation as just as much of a constant. You Won't Be Alone is a poetically shot, persistently potent picture about witches but, as the best unsettling movies are, it's also about so much that thrums through the existence we all know. Viewers mightn't be living two centuries back and dancing with a sorceress, but they should still feel the film's truths in their bones. First, however, a comparison. Sometimes a resemblance is so obvious that it simply has to be uttered and acknowledged, and that's the case here. Stolevski's film, the first of two by him in 2022 — MIFF's opening-night pick Of an Age is the other — boasts lyrical visuals, especially of nature, that instantly bring the famously rhapsodic aesthetics favoured by Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life, A Hidden Life) to mind. Its musings on the nature of life, and human nature as well, easily do the same. Set long ago, lingering in villages wracked by superstition and exploring a myth about a witch, You Won't Be Alone conjures up thoughts of Robert Eggers' The Witch, too. Indeed, if Malick had directed that recent favourite, the end product might've come close to this entrancing effort. Consider Stolevski's feature the result of dreams conjured up with those two touchstones in his head, though, rather than an imitator. The place: Macedonia. The time: the 19th century. The focus: a baby chosen by the Wolf-Eateress (Anamaria Marinca, The Old Guard) to be her offsider. Actually, that's not the real beginning of anyone's tale here in the broader scheme of things — and this is a movie that understands that all of life feeds into an ongoing bigger picture, as it always has and always will — but the infant's plight is as good an entry point as any. The child's distraught mother Yoana (Kamka Tocinovski, Angels Fallen) pleads for any other result than losing her newborn. You Won't Be Alone's feared figure has the ability to select one protege, then to bestow them with her otherworldly skills, and she's determined to secure her pick. That said, she does agree to a bargain. She'll let the little one reach the age of 16 first, but Old Maid Maria, as the Wolf-Eateress is also known, won't forget to claim her prize when the years pass. Nevena (Sara Klimoska, Black Sun) lives out that formative period in a cave, in her mum's attempt to stave off her fate — and with all that resides beyond her hiding spot's walls glimpsed only through a hole up high. Then the Wolf-Eateress comes calling, as she promised she would. From there, Nevena's initiation into the world — of humans, and of her physically and emotionally scarred mentor — is unsurprisingly jarring. Her transition from the care and protection of her "whisper-mama" to the kill-to-survive ruthlessness of her new "witch-mama" disappoints the latter, soon leaving the girl on her own. Still, the need to hunt, devour and mutate has already taken hold, even if Nevena is left fending for herself as she shapeshifts between animals and other humans. With Noomi Rapace (Lamb), Alice Englert (The Power of the Dog) and Carloto Cotta (The Tsugua Diaries) also among the cast, You Won't Be Alone turns Nevena's curiosity-driven experiences of life, love, loss, identity, desire, pain, envy and power into an unforgettable, mesmerising and thoughtful gothic horror fable — charting switches and the stories that come with them with each metamorphosis. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; and September 1, September 8 and September 15. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise and Clean.
Emotional-support water bottle lovers, prepare for the sale of your dreams. Frank Green is opening its warehouse doors for four days this week with one mission in mind: to clear a whole lot of stock at bargain basement prices. On the shelves, you'll find a bunch of limited edition prints, sample stock and retired colourways. And they're all going out the door for less than $40 a piece. If you're lucky, you might walk away with a free drinking vessel. All you have to do is find your name or initials on any item and prove it — then it's all yours. So, be sure to take your ID with you. The sale is happening at Frank Green's operations headquarters at 34-36 Commercial Drive, Dandenong South. It'll be open on Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27, from 8am-4pm, and on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, from 9am-4pm.
For plenty of Australians, a piece of toast isn't complete unless it's slathered with Vegemite. For others, musk sticks are a go-to sweet treat and always have been. Of course, what one person eats for breakfast or dessert, another considers gross, with both Aussie favourites earning a place in Sweden's new Disgusting Food Museum. Now open in Malmö, the museum does indeed feature Vegemite and musk sticks, as well as a third Australian item: witchetty grubs. Beyond much-loved but highly polarising Australian spreads and sweets, everything within the site's walls is considered food somewhere. Think Sweden's own surstömming, aka fermented herring; cuy, the Peruvian roasted guinea pigs; casu marzu, a maggot-infested cheese from Sardinia; hákarl, the Icelandic dish comprised of well-aged shark; and Thailand's notoriously pungent durian. In total, 80 foods from around the world are on display until January 27, with liquorice, jell-o salad, fruit bat and bull's penis among the other exhibits. For an entry fee of 185 Swedish krona (approximately AU$29), visitors can also smell and taste selected items. Plus, the museum holds 'taste one for the team' sessions for groups of six or more, where you can challenge your friends to the kinds of tastings that you don't get every day. If you're currently asking yourself the obvious question — not 'what's wrong with Vegemite?', but rather 'what would inspire someone to open this kind of place?' — the Disgusting Food Museum is all about challenging accepted ideas of what's edible and tasty. It recognises that what one person finds delicious, another might find revolting and vice-versa. Speaking to Vox, curator and 'chief disgustologist' Samuel West specifically uses Vegemite as an example, explaining that it initially tastes awful, but you can learn to like it. Find the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö, Sweden from October 29. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the museum's website or Facebook page. Via ABC.
Now in its third year, Harvest Festival has already established a name for itself in Australia's absurdly crowded festival market, pitching itself as 'a civilised gathering' for those disinclined to battle the marauding hordes at some of the larger summer festivals. But Harvest has also established itself as a destination for "serious" music fans, its first two lineups a compelling combination of household names (The Flaming Lips, The Family Stone, Beck and Grizzly Bear, to name but a few) and slightly more niche bands with small but fervent fan bases (Cake, The Walkmen, Los Campesinos! and Mike Patton's Mondo Cane prime examples). And this year's lineup continues the tradition, with superstars again rubbing shoulders with exciting up-and-comers, reunited indie heroes and longtime favourites. It remains to be seen how the vibe of the Sydney show will change as it shifts from the bushland sprawl of Parramatta Park to The Domain, but judging by the lineup no one is going to be complaining about the music! Here's the lineup for 2013, with more bands to come as we get closer to the date: Massive Attack Franz Ferdinand Primus! Goldfrapp Neutral Milk Hotel Desaparecidos (one of Conor Oberst's bands, he of Bright Eyes fame) Eels CSS The Drones Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Mutemath M Ward Superchunk The Wallflowers Walk Off The Earth Sunday, November 10 -Werribee Park, Melbourne Saturday, November 16 – The Domain, Sydney Sunday, November 17 – Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
Rounding out a couple of huge weeks for Melbourne transport proposals in the lead up November's state election, the Victorian Government has now dropped a detailed design for its monster road project, the proposed $15.8 billion North East Link. The plans, which now have the support of both major political parties, would created a more seamless traffic light-free link between the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Road and the M80 Ring Road where it connects with the Greensborough Bypass. The proposal would see the existing Eastern Freeway junction at Doncaster Road widened to around 94 metres, making way for 14 regular lanes, four emergency lanes, two bus lanes and on- and off-ramps. This could see the existing Eastern Freeway beefed up to incorporate as many as 20 lanes at one point — that's enough to rival some of the widest thoroughfares in the world. The North East Link would also feature five kilometres of six-lane tunnels, including a large section running from Lower Plenty Road in Rosanna, linking to the Eastern at Bulleen Road. This is meant to separate local and freeway traffic and cause minimal disturbance to homes and parks in the area. All up, the road's expected to be used by around 130,000 vehicles daily and give good access to Rosanna, Bulleen and surrounding suburbs. The Andrews Labor Government has also highlighted the plans' wealth of open space and 'green bridges', and 25 kilometres of new or upgraded cycling and walking paths that will run parallel with the Eastern Freeway. The North East Link will no doubt be welcomed by those who find themselves sitting in traffic on Rosanna, Greensborough and Lower Plenty roads on a regular basis, but some Victorians have expressed frustration that there is still no viable option to link the Eastern Freeway with CityLink and the Westgate Freeway. The Liberal Party's controversial East West Link plan was shot down in 2014, but it's apparent that Opposition Leader Matthew Guy plans to propose a new East West Link to be built at the same time as the North East Link. But, if it is Labor that gets re-elected in November, it has promised the project would go out to tender within 100 days, with construction starting in 2020 and scheduled for completion some time in 2027.
Before there was The Undoing, there was Big Little Lies — the other HBO series starring Nicole Kidman and written by David E Kelley. They have quite the company, too, both on-screen and off-. The stacked cast also features Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård and Meryl Streep. Plus, Wild filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée directed its first season and American Honey's Andrea Arnold helmed its second. Based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, Big Little Lies follows a scandalous murder at a public school in Monterey, California — where the characters played by all of the above cast members each have children or grandchildren in attendance. Its twists and turns are obviously best discovered by watching, but it'll keep you guessing across both seasons to-date. And, the show will have you marvelling at its performances and slick cinematography in the process as well.
The two-kilometre coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama is always a stunning Sydney sight no matter when you mosey along it, but it's especially impressive during Sculpture by the Sea. Once a year since 1997 — except during the pandemic's early days — the outdoor art event displays large-scale pieces with the ocean as a backdrop. Understandably, it isn't just one of the annual highlights of Sydney's cultural calendar, but of Australia's. That excuse to soak up the great outdoors in the Harbour City returns again in 2023, from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. On the agenda once more: 100-plus artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along a two-kilometre walk. But this is the 25th Sculpture by the Sea, so it's celebrating notching up that milestone with pieces by artists who displayed at the event back at its beginning. Paul Bacon, Stephen King, Michael Le Grand, John Petrie, James Rogers and Margarita Sampson earn those honours, bookending a quarter-century run. Sculpture by the Sea 2023 will also feature works by Philip Spelman and Ron Gomboc, who reach double decades displaying at the event; Lucy Barker and Ayako Saito, who hit a decade; and Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Discovering exactly who'll be showing what and where is part of the fun of taking the spring stroll, but this year's event won't be short on talent. As always, the exhibition is set to draw a crowd. Each year, Sculpture by the Sea attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over 18 days, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. The past few years have been particularly eventful for the exhibition, which had to sit out 2020 like oh-so-many festivities around the world, then tried to make a comeback in October 2021 but also had to scrap those plans due to the pandemic. It did successfully stage a CBD spinoff, Sculpture Rocks, in autumn 2021, however. Even before the current global health situation interrupted its annual plans, organisers were also at loggerheads with the Council over the construction of a new path back in mid-2019, and were scoping out alternative locations for the long-running art exhibition. In fact, it was only early in 2021 that the parties came to an agreement to remain in Bondi until 2030, with the organisers and Council agreeing to a ten-year deal. Amid all of the above, the Sculpture by the Sea team also branched in 2022, opening the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. It's a permanent 100-kilometre collection of outdoor art along the Snowy Valleys Way, passing through the towns of Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba, the hamlet of Tooma, plus the Tumbarumba wine region's cellar doors. Sculpture by the Sea will return to the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk for 2023 from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. For more information, head to sculpturebythesea.com. Images: Charlotte Curd, Reni Indrawan, Clyde Yee, Jack Bett, Jarrad Seng, W Patino, G Carr and Samantha Burns.
Can logic and science co-exist with the metaphysical and supernatural? "I think that's what I'm exploring in all of my work," says Robert Eggers. A decade on from making his first feature, and marking himself as one of horror's spectacular new voices at the time, the acclaimed writer/director has the filmography — The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman and now Nosferatu — to prove it, of course. "And I think that the difficulty with this stuff is if you believe it, it's true. So I think that's why I explore it in the safety of cinema rather than diving into the deep end and ending up in the madhouse." Whenever Nosferatu sinks its teeth into the silver screen, be it in FW Murnau's 1922 original, or when the inimitable Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) followed in his compatriot's footsteps with 1979's Nosferatu the Vampyre, or now that Eggers has crafted his own take, it unfurls a tale of gothic obsession. Fixation and passion also sits at the heart of how this icon of horror cinema keeps flickering through picture palaces. It all started with an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is why the narrative is so similar but the names have been changed. When Herzog gave it a spin, it was because he considered the first movie to be "the greatest German film". Eggers himself has been drawn to Nosferatu since childhood, even directing an iteration of it as a play in high school. (He also appreciates that for the generation that grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants, so kids from 1999 onwards, that might now be commonplace given that discovering Nosferatu can spring via the animated show.) As Dracula clearly is as well, Nosferatu is easy to be passionate about. The OG film is a masterpiece — of silent cinema, of German Expressionism, of horror and just in general. Count Orlok, as initially played by Max Schreck, is a hauntingly unforgettable screen presence. There's no missing the fervour that Eggers has for all things Nosferatu in his movie, or how lovingly that he regards the original. But while there's a packed coffin full of nods backwards in his feature, an Eggers film always feels distinctively like an Eggers film. He's been embracing period-set horror from the get-go anyway, and he repeatedly demonstrates again and again that he's only ever interested in realising his own meticulous — and stunning — celluloid visions. Willem Dafoe (Saturday Night), a veteran of The Lighthouse and The Northman before becoming Nosferatu's Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, knows all about Eggers' way of working. Asked to describe the director's work, the actor who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for portraying Schreck in 2000's Shadow of the Vampire — a riff on the making of Murnau's Nosferatu — notes that the filmmakers' oeuvre is "contact with stories from another time that have a relevance to now. Beautiful shots. Very detailed, not-conventional cutting. Great art direction. Great shooting. Hopefully good actors. That's kind of the checklist." Dafoe continues: "obviously I've worked with Robert three times and I want to work with him some more. I enjoy it so much, because for an actor it's a dream. He gives you fun things to do, and you're sent to a world that is so rich that it's far easier to pretend and entertain a new set of conditions, thoughts, feelings. And for me, as an actor that's always what I'm interested in — to make contact with stuff that's beyond my experience." There's absolutely no 'hopefully' about Nosferatu's excellent cast. After playing Pennywise in IT and IT: Chapter Two, Bill Skarsgård (Boy Kills World) is Eggers' Orlok — and he's a force to behold. The object of his obsession: Lily-Rose Depp (The Idol ) in a physically committed and entrancing performance as Ellen Hutter, who is newly married to real-estate agent Thomas (Nicholas Hoult, Renfield). The latter is dispatched from the couple's home in Wisborg to Transylvania to assist Orlok with purchasing a property. As Ellen remains in Germany — and as her connection to Orlok begins to fester and torment — she stays with Thomas' old pal Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, The Fall Guy), his pregnant wife Anna (Emma Corrin, A Murder at the End of the World) and their children. Taylor-Johnson couldn't have been more eager to be involved. "Sometimes I feel like when you get a filmmaker like Robert — firstly I admired his work and was like 'I'll do anything to be a Robert Eggers movie'. And then all of a sudden, you get this this invitation, this letter and a call saying he's doing something and would like you to be a part of it. You can't quite believe that's happening. You can go 'great, I don't even need to read a script — whatever you want me to do'," he advises. Corrin shares enthusiasm for the experience, and for jumping into horror. "I guess it's fun because it's a unique set of challenges. I've certainly found it interesting, how you craft a scene — I think it's a very specific way that you obviously approach shooting scenes to make them have that suspense, and especially if there's a jump-scare onboard." For them specifically, however, a particular gauntlet awaited: rats. "I remember reading that in the script early on, and texting Rob and being like 'hey, man, wondering if the rats are going to be CGI or are they going to be real? Just curious'. He was like 'definitely real, no CGI'. And yeah, it was intense. I had about 20–30 rats on me. I was also topless, which was interesting. It was bleak, if I'm honest. I tried to be quite brave about it." Why Nosferatu fascinates Eggers, what excited Dafoe about collaborating with the filmmaker, digging into tested beliefs and internal conflict, acting opposite Depp's can't-look-away portrayal: all of that also spanned Concrete Playground's chat with Eggers, Dafoe, Corrin and Taylor-Johnson. So did Count Orlok's look, Dafoe's own history with Nosferatu, Eggers' exacting way of working, giving a century-old film a modern lens and more. On Why Nosferatu Has Fascinated Eggers Since Childhood, Including Turning It Into a Play When He Was a Teenager Robert: "It's very hard to say. I think certainly the Murnau film had a major impact on me, and initially it was Max Schreck's performance and just the power of the simple fairy-tale adaptation that Murnau made of the Dracula story. But as I have grown older and learn more about the occult, and vampire folklore from Eastern Europe — and hysteria and 19th-century medicine — the more that I found that it was a story that I was able to really embrace and put many of my interests in, and to use the framework to explore the things that were exciting to me creatively." On What Excites Dafoe About Working with Eggers After Collaborating on The Lighthouse, The Northman and Now Nosferatu Willem: "Just the personal nature of what he does. The detailed nature of what he does. The kind of investment. It's not work, you know. He's playing to his pleasure and his interests. And then I just like being around him. He inspires me, gives fun things to do. I get a little self-conscious — he's sitting right here. Number one, obviously I'm all in. But check the boxes. He's everywhere on the set. The thing that's really impressive, and I know other people that do this, but it's really impressive that on the set there's such detail, that nothing is there for decoration. It's all function. It's all functional. It has a place. It has a history. And when you can feel the origins of things and where they're placed in the world, that really gives you a reality that's easy to enter. It's a reality that you're not covering anything — you're living in it. And it's very easy with a little willfulness to say that our world drops away and you're in that world. It's an exercise in pretending, and he makes it very simple by giving you a very rich world to exist in." On What Corrin Was Keen to Dig Into in the Film, Including Tested Beliefs and Internal Conflict Emma: "I think Anna has an interesting journey, because she is constantly fighting between her love of Ellen and her own beliefs. And there's a lot of conflict between those two things, because she's very devoutly religious and doesn't believe in a spiritual world — especially a spiritual world based on the occult and folklore — and obviously all of everything Ellen's experiencing points to the existence of that world, which would remove the very foundation of her worldview, everything about how she's been raised, and all of her beliefs. And yet she really loves her friend and wants to be there for her. So I think that experience of Anna, of being with Ellen in such close proximity and witnessing this, it gets to the point where she can't — I think for both Anna Friedrich, actually, they can't not see it anymore. It becomes so obvious what's happening, and then it's so confronting. And you see all of their own beliefs and whatever sort of falling away before their eyes, which is a very scary and vulnerable place for them to be in, especially with kids. I think that I, as an actor, I guess I enjoy complexity and internal conflict in a person. It's very interesting to portray." On How You React When Such a Physical Performance, as Lily-Rose Depp Turns in as Ellen, Sits at the Heart of a Film Emma: "You can't help have a really quite visceral reaction to watching someone who, as you say, who's doing such a committed physical piece of acting. It constantly, I think, blew our minds how she was contorting her body, and the choreography and the stamina that she needed to have as a performer to do that take after take after take — and offer so much. It was incredible. It was a real gift to act opposite because we didn't have to — there no acting required. It was very easy to imagine what these two people, how they would react to what they were seeing." Aaron: "It's definitely extraordinary. I feel very privileged to have been in the room witnessing a performance like that, that felt very raw and with no vanity, and it just felt it was disturbing in real life — and I knew it was going to be shocking on film." On Finding the Right Aesthetic for Bill Skarsgård as Nosferatu's Count Orlok Robert: "Bill is playing a folk vampire. He's an animated corpse, and not Frank Langella in a tuxedo. And that was very enjoyable to create. The look of a dead Transylvanian nobleman, we have certain nods, certain details that remind the audience of Max Schreck, because we have to also be respectful of that. But it was really nice. And while the look was completed by myself and David White [who also worked on The Northman], the prosthetics designer, we also had a Transylvanian folklore expert, Florin Lazarescu [Aferim!], who reminded me 'you know, Robert, a lot of times they talk about the strigoi being a red face'. And so if you'll notice, there are moments when you can see blood pooling under the skin after he's been feeding and stuff like that, which are some fun details." On Returning to the World of Nosferatu After Being Nominated for an Oscar for Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire Willem: "They're so different, the films, the intentions, what kinds of films they are. That was very important to me. First of all, I love the Murnau film. I had known it before working on Shadow of the Vampire. Shadow of the Vampire was basically a comic performance. And it leaned heavily on the Murnau because, basically, to find the character I copied a lot of what I saw in the Murnau. That was the starting point. So it was a great lesson in working with a mask, because I had extreme makeup, and that's the first time that it really — maybe not the first time, but it reminded me that if you look different, you move different, you start to feel different and you really have a possibility that becomes a trigger for pretending that's very potent. And you can even do things that you couldn't imagine before because you're drawing on something that's intuitive. It's not shaped, it's not indicated, it's not something you control, it's in your imagination. So that was very important. So then when Rob talks about doing Nosferatu, of course he's not talking to me about playing Nosferatu, but he tells me about this fantastic character that I always felt like is the role he would play if he were in the cast of this movie. So I've been working with him before, knowing his interests and having him give me all this rich material to research, to prepare for the role, that was the connection. It all connected to that other experience, but at the same time, you can't force a relationship between those two films because they're so different and when you finish one, you make room for the next." On the Meticulous Detail and Structure — and No Room for Improvisation — That Comes with Working with Eggers Emma: "I think we were lucky because our characters aren't explored very much in the original. But Rob definitely brought them to life in a certain way — in a very particular way — that was important for this film, because they represent this beacon of light against this darkness that envelops everyone. And in that way, we had a bit of carte blanche, I suppose. But then Rob is so specific in the way he creates characters and the backstory — he's very meticulously thought-out back story for everyone, which I think I find really helpful. I don't know if I'm a big fan of freedom. I think I like specific notes and specific ideas." Aaron: "Structure." Emma: "Yeah, structure." Aaron: "Honestly, I agree. He was so thought-out on everything. I mean, the only thing I probably could have brought was that I was allowed to like [ask] 'can I have mutton chops and some a great big moustache'. And I think that was it. That was allowed." Emma: "Was that you?" Aaron: "Well I wanted some kind of facial hair. I think he wanted something distinctive because they'd already started working with Nic, and he wanted me to have a big twizzly moustache, so that grew and grew. I think there's a little bit of conversation about that. I wanted to improv and he was like 'absolutely not'. So I was like 'okay, well I'll just do what you say'." On How Eggers' Nosferatu Brings a Modern Lens to a Century-Old Classic Aaron: "This story is 100 years old, but yet it's still very relevant today. And I think originally that movie came out, came off the back of the Spanish flu, and it became this metaphorical piece of art reflecting, mirroring reality. And being that we've just come through a global pandemic and we've all been through this feeling of this wave of fear that comes through a city and disrupts everybody in such a panic and a way, it felt very much — I remember reading it and being 'whoa, this seems like, it feels like this'. And then Robert goes 'well, that's originally what it was for 1921'. But then at the fundamental core of it, there's a theme throughout that's about love and battling with your demons, and having shame with this deepest, deepest darkest secret that you've carried from a childhood into your adult life — and how it's going to affect your relationship, and all this sort of stuff. So it's very powerful. I think for our characters, when you're saying this modern element, it's like it was the missing piece to the puzzle. So the original one, our characters aren't involved in that, and so Robert created this next three-dimensional world — this family that lives in Wisborg, and Ellen is staying in this household that is very much this beacon of light, and they're a loving family. They've got children. They've got everything that Nicholas' character aspires to be. And so it's just Robert building upon that world and making it more contemporary, and making it more relatable. They're a very grounded family and arguably they are far more loving than you probably would find in that kind of period. They're very passionate. There's a lot of eroticism throughout the movie, and Emma's character is pregnant with their third child. It's interesting." On the Allure of Period-Set Horror for Eggers Robert: "I just enjoy learning about the past. That's how I like to understand who we are and where we're going — by where we came from. It's what has always excited me, even as a kid. And if I wasn't a filmmaker, maybe I would be an archaeologist. This is just what I enjoy, but also, for making these genre films, I think it's easier to tell — like if you're talking about witches and vampires and things like that, it's easier to make them scary if you are in a period where everybody believed in them, more or less. And obviously in this film, in Wisborg, that's not quite the case, but you get my point." On Dafoe's Experience Working with the Rest of the Cast Willem: "I enjoyed it so much because they're so turned on. Sometimes with older actors, they're comparing their experience that they're having to something in the past. While I find younger actors — now, keep in mind someone like Nic and Aaron, actually many of the actors, are very experienced, so let's not get crazy here; they aren't so young and inexperienced, to tell you the truth — but there's just an excitement. There was an excitement that you could feel for them working with Rob. You're just there. You don't make those distinctions. You're playing characters. You're all on the same footing. You're all trying to fold into the story and help each other, and disappear into the story. So I was looking today, we were shooting pictures, and it's a very special group to a person. Really, there's not a stinker in the group. So the simple answer is: I was very happy to work with this cast, because seldom do you have a cast that's so uniformly strong, not only in performing, but also I remember we took portraits in the costumes and everybody had a look that was very believable and very credible. There was no flourish. The look was very rooted. Robert cast them very well, not only for their look, but also for their talent." Nosferatu releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Images: © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.
Australia's most prestigious portrait award is just around the corner, and its finalists have been announced today. Every year crowds speculate who will be awarded the coveted prize and, more often than not, the Archibald winner causes much-heated debate. From last year's five-time Archibald finalist Yvette Coppersmith's first win — for her vibrant, almost Cézanne-inspired Self portrait, after George Lambert — to Craig Ruddy's 2004 win with his sketch of Indigenous actor David Gulpilil, it's hard win to pick. All that's really assured is that it'll be a portrait of person by an Australian. Held at the Art Gallery of NSW every year, the Archibald runs in conjunction with the Wynne and Sulman Prizes — recognising the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. This year, running from May to September, the Archibald is sure to attract a massive crowd, with some exceptional artworks to feast your eyes upon. Vietnamese-Australian artist, actor and writer Anh Do has made the cut, as have Melbourne-based stencil artist Kirpy with his portrait of Paralympic champion Dylan Alcott, Carla Fletcher's cosmic work of Del Kathryn Baron and a hyperreal self-portrait of a pregnant Katherine Edney. Tessa MacKay has also taken out the coveted 2019 Archibald Packing Room Prize, chosen by the packing room tea, for her hyperreal portrait of actor David Wenham, called Through the Looking Glass (above). As there are so many outstanding portraits this year (as there are every year), it's impossible to know which of the 51 is going to take home the $100,000 prize. Regardless, here are some of our favourites — and some we think may have a good chance of winning. [caption id="attachment_719640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Cornish, Cato, Callie and Comet. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] LUKE CORNISH — CATO, CALLIE AND COMET Prolific Australian street artist Luke Cornish has subdued his edge a bit for his portrait of Sue Cato — a media commentator and businesswoman as well as a board member of Carriageworks and a member of Sydney Contemporary's advisory council. Cornish initially wanted to paint her two dogs, Callie and Comet, but as per the Archibald rule, Cato was included and is the subject of Cato, Callie and Comet. In 2012, Cornish was the first street artist to ever be an Archibald finalist and he's back again with this accurate, and slightly moody, depiction of a powerful woman in the intimacy of her own living room. [caption id="attachment_719642" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laura Jones, Nakkiah in her dressing room. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] LAURA JONES — NAKKIAH IN HER DRESSING ROOM Sydney-based artist Laura Jones has made quite the name for herself in recent years, having exhibited in some of Sydney's top contemporary galleries as well as a past finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award, the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. Now, she is a finalist in Australia's biggest art award for the first time. Nakkiah in her dressing room is an intimate work of Nakkiah Lui, an Australian actress of Gamillaroi/Torres Strait Island background. The portrait depicts Lui's wit, strength and warmth and is a highly expressive piece for an Archibald first-timer. [caption id="attachment_719644" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blak Douglas, White shells, black heart. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] BLAK DOUGLAS —WHITE SHELLS, BLACK HEART Blak Douglas is no stranger to the Archibald, having been a finalist in 2015 and 2018, and also a finalist in this year's Wynne Prize for a collaborative work. So, the man means business, even though his works may seem somewhat simple at first glance. His portrait is of Esme Timbery (or as he refers to her, Aunty Esme) — one of the longest-practising Aboriginal artists. The two worked together back in 2000 for Eorascapes — an exhibition in the Sydney Opera House foyer for the Olympics. The colourful multimedia work is both venerate and familial, a testament to Blak Douglas and his personal-yet-political artistic practice. [caption id="attachment_719646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anh Do, Art and war.[/caption] ANH DO — ART AND WAR You may know Do for any number of reasons. The actor, writer, comedian and artist is an Australian household name and is no Archibald newbie. Having won the 2017 People's Choice award for his portrait of actor Jack Charles and a finalist back in 2014 for a portrait of his father, Do has now painted a fellow artist — George Gittoes. Gittoes has witnessed adversities in Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Afghanistan and is known for his raw, brusque depictions of human suffering (with glimmers of hope and resilience). Emanating Gittoes' grit, Art and War is a close-up portrait looking straight down the barrel into the eyes of someone who's seen much of the world. [caption id="attachment_719647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shane Bowden, Self-portrait sitting in a red chair, Avalon. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] SHANE BOWDEN — SELF-PORTRAIT SITTING IN A RED CHAIR Shane Bowden's work may not look the most technically impressive but he sure doesn't hold back. His self-portrait errs on the grotesque, with demented lines, a disproportionate use of scale and muddled colours — it has an overall first-day-of-kindergarten appeal. Upon first glance that is. Having undergone heart surgery last year, Bowden has channelled this personal catastrophe into Self-portrait sitting in a red chair, Avalon. The neo-expressionist work represents the artist as both child and adult, distilling "all the emotion and confusion of the last 40 years as I tried to find my true self," as put by Bowden himself in his official Archibald statement. A finalist in the 2010 Archibald Prize with a collaborative work as well as a finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2010 and 2011, Shane Bowden is not one to overlook. All of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize finalists will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW from May 11–September 8. The Archibald finalists well then head to various galleries across regional NSW and Victoria. Top image: Tessa Mackay, Through the looking glass. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.
"He came to Italy, moved into Dickie's house. He just wouldn't go away." That's what Patricia Highsmith's 1955 book The Talented Mr Ripley charted when it introduced fictional con artist Tom Ripley. It's also the plot of 1960 crime-thriller Purple Noon starring French acting icon Alain Delon, then of 1999's Matt Damon (Oppenheimer)-led The Talented Mr Ripley as well. And, it's part of Netflix's new Ripley, too. Move over Damon, Delon, the great Dennis Hopper, Lawmen: Bass Reeves star Barry Pepper and John Malkovich: there's a new Ripley in town. Actually, Malkovich hasn't gone far. Netflix's upcoming limited series stars All of Us Strangers and Fleabag favourite Andrew Scott as its namesake, but he's joined by an actor who has also played the Highsmith-penned part. That was unveiled in the show's initial teaser; now, Ripley has just dropped a moody full trailer. An eight-part effort arriving on Thursday, April 4, Ripley isn't short on drawcards, then — Scott chief among them. He's stepped into classic characters' shoes before, and suave yet scheming folks that can't be trusted, thanks to his stint as Moriarty in Sherlock. So one of the internet's boyfriends taking on Tom Ripley feels like a stellar and natural next step. Where The Talented Mr Ripley also featured Gwyneth Paltrow (The Politician) as Marge Sherwood and Jude Law (Peter Pan & Wendy) as Dickie Greenleaf, Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer 3) and Johnny Flynn (One Life) are doing the honours this time. As seen in the initial sneak peek at Ripley, Malkovich (Billions) also pops up in the series, which follows its eponymous figure to Italy. Tom's gig: being paid by a rich man to persuade his son to come home. Steven Zaillian, who has excellent fellow miniseries The Night Of on his resume alongside screenplays for Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York and The Irishman, plus an Oscar for Schindler's List, scripted and directed all eight episodes. He takes his cues from the novelist who also gave the world Strangers on a Train and The Price of Salt — with the first brought to cinemas by Alfred Hitchcock and the second adapted as Carol. And if you're wondering about Malkovich's time as Tom Ripley, he played the character in 2002's Ripley's Game, the second adaptation of Highsmith's third Ripley novel of the same name after 1977's The American Friend with Hopper. The author also wrote Ripley Under Ground, which was turned into a 2005 Pepper-led film, plus The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water. Check out the full trailer for Ripley below: Ripley streams via Netflix from Thursday, April 4, 2024. Images: Lorenzo Sisti / Stefano Cristiano Montesi, Netflix.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from May's haul. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL NOW THE GREAT Television perfection is watching Elle Fanning (The Girl From Plainville) and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield) trying to run 18th-century Russia while scheming, fighting and heatedly reuniting in ahistorical period comedy The Great. Since 2020, they've each been in career-best form — her as the series' ambitious namesake, him as the emperor who loses his throne to his wife — while turning in two of the best performances on streaming in one of the medium's most hilarious shows. Both former child actors now enjoying excellent careers as adults, they make such a marvellous pair that it's easy to imagine this series being built around them. It wasn't and, now three seasons, The Great has never thrived on their casting alone. Still, shouting "huzzah!" at the duo's bickering, burning passion and bloodshed-sparking feuding flows as freely as all the vodka downed in the Emmy-winner's frames under Australian creator Tony McNamara's watch (and after he initially unleashed its winning havoc upon Sydney Theatre Company in 2008, then adapted it for television following a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination for co-penning The Favourite). In this latest batch of instalments, all either written or co-written by McNamara, Catherine (Fanning) and Peter (Hoult) begin the third season sure about their love for each other, but just as flummoxed as ever about making their nuptials work. She's attempting to reform the nation, he's the primary caregiver to their infant son Paul, her efforts are meeting resistance, he's doting but also bored playing stay-out-of-politics dad, and couples counselling is called for. There's also the matter of the royal court's most prominent members, many of whom were rounded up and arrested under Catherine's orders at the end of season two. From Sweden, exiled King Hugo (Freddie Fox, House of the Dragon) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony, Mary, Queen of Scots) are hanging around after being run out of their own country due to democracy's arrival. And, Peter's lookalike Pugachev (also Hoult) is agitating for a serf-powered revolution. The Great streams via Stan. Read our full review. PREHISTORIC PLANET When it initially arrived in 2022, becoming one of the year's best new shows and giving nature doco fans the five-episode series they didn't know they'd always wanted — and simultaneously couldn't believe hadn't been made until now — Prehistoric Planet followed the David Attenborough nature documentary formula perfectly. And it is a formula. In a genre that's frequently spying the wealth of patterns at the heart of the animal realm, docos such as The Living Planet, State of the Planet, Frozen Planet, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet, Green Planet and the like all build from the same basic elements. Jumping back 66 million years, capitalising upon advancements in special effects but committing to making a program just like anything that peers at the earth today was never going to feel like the easy product of a template, though. Indeed, Prehistoric Planet's first season was stunning, and its second is just as staggering. The catch, in both season one and this return trip backwards: while breathtaking landscape footage brings the planet's terrain to the Prehistoric Planet series, the critters stalking, swimming, flying and tumbling across it are purely pixels. Filmmaker Jon Favreau remains among the show's executive producers, and the technology that brought his photorealistic versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King to cinemas couldn't be more pivotal. Seeing needs to be believing while watching, because the big-screen gloss of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas, the puppets of 90s sitcom Dinosaurs, and the animatronics of Walking with Dinosaurs — or anything in-between — were never going to suit a program with Attenborough as a guide. Accordingly, to sit down to Prehistoric Planet is to experience cognitive dissonance: viewers are well-aware that what they're spying isn't real because the animals seen no longer exist, but it truly looks that authentic. Prehistoric Planet season streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON Eat-the-rich stories are delicious, and also everywhere; however, Succession, Triangle of Sadness and the like aren't the only on-screen sources of terrible but terribly entertaining people. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has been filling streaming queues with assholes since 2019, as usually played by the eponymous Detroiters star, and long may it continue. In season three, the show takes its premise literally in the most ridiculous and unexpected way, so much so that no one could ever dream of predicting what happens. That's still the sketch comedy's not-so-secret power. Each of its skits is about someone being the worst in some way, doubling down on being the worst and refusing to admit that they're the worst (or that they're wrong) — and while everyone around them might wish they'd leave, they're never going to, and nothing ever ends smoothly. In a show that's previously worked in hot dog costumes and reality TV series about bodies dropping out of coffins to hilarious effect, anything can genuinely happen to its gallery of the insufferable. In fact, the more absurd and chaotic I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson gets, the better. No description can do I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's sketches justice, and almost every one is a comedic marvel, as again delivered in six 15-minute episodes in the series' third run. The usual complaint applies: for a show about people overstaying their welcome, the program itself flies by too quickly, always leaving viewers wanting more. Everything from dog doors and designated drivers to HR training and street parking is in Robinson's sights this time, and people who won't stop talking about their kids, wedding photos and group-think party behaviour as well. Game shows get parodied again and again, an I Think You Should Leave staple, and gloriously. More often than in past seasons, Robinson lets his guest stars play the asshole, too, including the returning Will Forte (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), regular Sam Richardson (The Afterparty), and perennial pop-ups Fred Armisen (Barry) and Tim Meadows (Poker Face). And when Jason Schwartzman (I Love That for You) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) drop in, they're also on the pitch-perfect wavelength. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson streams via Netflix. Read our full review. IN LIMBO Not to be confused with the just-released Australian film Limbo, new six-part Aussie dramedy In Limbo not only takes its title to heart, but also uses the idea as fuel for a supernatural buddy comedy. Indeed, before the first episode is out, Nate (Bob Morley, Love Me) is palling around with his lifelong best friend Charlie (Ryan Corr, House of the Dragon) from the afterlife. The former doesn't know why he's still a presence. The latter is understandably reeling from the tragedy, and initially thinks that spying Nate is just a drunken hallucination. No one else, not Nate's wife Freya (Emma Harvie, Colin From Accounts), eight-year-old daughter Annabel (Kamillia Rihani, The Twelve), supremely very Catholic mother Maria (Lena Cruz, Wellmania) and affable father Frank (Russell Dykstra, Irreverent), can see their dearly-departed loved one as a ghost. It's Christmas, too, in this Brisbane-shot and -set series, and facing the festivities after such a shock is far from easy. While heartily deploying Brisbane Powerhouse and New Farm Park as settings, that's a lot for one show to delve into — and delve it thoughtfully does. Tackling grief, mental health and suicide is never simple, even in a show about someone haunting their best mate, and including when such topics have been increasingly popping up in Australian fare of late (see also: Totally Completely Fine). In Limbo is clearly made with care, empathy and understanding — and, crucially, doesn't attempt to offer any firm answers, instead acting as a conversation starter. At its core, the always-excellent Corr plays a complicated role with charm. That's no surprise given his resume, and he couldn't be better cast. Corr's likeable performance always dives deep into the about-to-get-divorced Charlie's struggle without Nate physically by his side, with Nate now his ghostly offsider and with his own problems, and never brushes past the character's flaws. And, just as importantly as the show's focus on 21st-century masculinity and friendship, Corr makes such a great double act with Morley that filmmakers should be clamouring to pair them up again ASAP. In Limbo streams via ABC iView. CONFESS, FLETCH Since Mad Men had Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke to end its seven-season run back in 2015, comedy has been Jon Hamm's friend. He's the ultimate TV guest star, building upon stints in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation while Mad Men was still airing with Toast of London, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on a resume that also includes The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Childrens Hospital, Medical Police, Angie Tribeca, The Last Man on Earth and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as well. So, casting him as the new Irwin Maurice 'Fletch' Fletcher couldn't be an easier move. Having fellow Mad Men standout John Slattery (The Good Fight) also appear in the latest flick about the investigative reporter, and the first since the Chevy Chase-led movies in the 80s, is another winning touch. Even if that reunion wasn't part of the film, Hamm is so entertaining that he makes a killer case for a whole new Fletch franchise — on whatever screen the powers-that-be like — with him at its centre. Hamm clearly understands how well he suits this type of character, and the genre; he's a comic delight, and he's also one of Confess, Fletch's producers. Superbad and Adventureland's Greg Mottola directs and co-writes, scripting with Outer Range's Zev Borow — and ensuring that Hamm and Slattery aren't the only acting highlights. Working through a plot that sees Fletch chasing a stolen artwork, discovering a dead body, and both looking into the crime and considered a suspect himself, the film also features engaging turns by always-welcome Twin Peaks great Kyle MacLachlan and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar gem Annie Mumolo. There have been several attempts to revive Fletch over the past three decades, including separate projects with Ted Lasso duo Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis — on the page, the character spans nine novels — but viewers should be thankful that this is the action-comedy that came to fruition, even if it skipped cinemas everywhere but the US. Confess, Fletch streams via Paramount+ and Binge. BUPKIS In its opening moments, Bupkis unloads — twice, in completely different ways, while ensuring there's zero doubt that this is a series about Pete Davidson starring Pete Davidson as Pete Davidson. First, the former Saturday Night Live comedian gets Googling while alone in the basement of the Staten Island home he shares with his mother Amy (Edie Falco, Avatar: The Way of Water). The results about Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale and Kim Kardashian's ex aren't positive; so, to shake off the unpleasantness of reading '12 Things Horribly Wrong with Pete Davidson', he switches from "scumbro" with "butthole eyes" comments to porn. He's wearing a VR headset, and he's soon deep in self-love. Then his mum walks in. Bupkis clearly isn't wary about getting crude. It isn't concerned about satirising its central figure, either. Instead, this semi-autobiographical dramedy relishes the parody. At the age of 29, Davidson has reached the "you may as well laugh" point in his career, which is hardly surprising given he's spent the past decade swinging his big chaotic energy around. Partway through the eight-episode series, while keen to claim some perks for being Davidson's mother — other than doting on her son, that is — Amy shouts at wait staff that "Marisa Tomei played me!". Add that to Bupkis' gleeful, playful nods to reality. An opening statement before each instalment stresses the difference between fact and fiction, and why the show has the moniker it has, but art keeps imitating life everywhere. There's no switching names, however. Davidson is indeed Davidson, his IRL mum is called Amy and his sister is Casey (Oona Roche, The Morning Show). As in The King of Staten Island, they've been a trio since 9/11, and dealing with losing his New York City firefighter dad still isn't easy. Off-screen, however, Davidson must be a fan of My Cousin Vinny, plus the gangster genre. Hailing from the former as Tomei does, and famed for his performances in the latter like The Sopranos star Falco, Goodfellas, Casino and The Irishman alum Joe Pesci is a pivotal part of Bupkis as Davidson's grandfather Joe — a hilarious and delightful part, unsurprisingly. Bupkis streams via Binge. Read our full review. VENGEANCE When Vengeance begins with a New Yorker journalist who's desperate to start his own podcast, Soho House hangouts and relationship advice from John Mayer as himself, it begins with rich and savvy character details. Writing, starring and making his feature directorial debut after helming episodes of The Office and The Mindy Project, BJ Novak instantly establishes the kind of person that Ben Manalowitz is. He shows the East Coast world that his protagonist inhabits, too — and, by focusing on the only guy in NYC without their own audio outlet, or so it seems, plus that romantic guidance, it splashes around its sense of humour. This is a sharply amusing mystery-comedy, and a highlight on Novak's resume in all three of his guises. It's also about subverting expectations, and lampooning the first impressions and broad stereotypes that are too often — and too easily — clung to. Indeed, Vengeance bakes in that idea as many ways as it can as Ben (Novak) does the most obvious thing he can to convince his producer (Issa Rae, Insecure) that his voice is worth hearing: bursts his Big Apple bubble. The Mayer bit isn't just a gag; it helps set up Ben as the kind of person who is dating so many women that he doesn't know which one has died after he gets a bereaved phone call from Texas in the middle of the night. On the other end is Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook, The Sandman), brother to Abilene (Lio Tipton, Why Women Kill), who insists that Ben head southwest immediately to attend her funeral — she claimed that they were serious enough that she's his girlfriend, after all. Upon arrival, the out-of-towner initially regards his hosts as jokes, and their lives and Abilene's death as content. Ty thinks she was murdered, and Ben couldn't be giddier about getting it all on tape and calling the series Dead White Girl. The journo's self-interest is up there with his obliviousness about anything that doesn't fit into his NYC orbit; however, this isn't a culture-clash comedy — thankfully — but a clever, self-aware and ambitious satire. It's also strikingly shot and features a standout performance by Ashton Kutcher (That '90s Show) as a suave record producer. Vengeance streams via Netflix and Binge. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK SILO Rebecca Ferguson will never be mistaken for Daveed Diggs, but the Dune, Mission: Impossible franchise and Doctor Sleep star now follows in the Hamilton Tony-winner's footsteps. While he has spent multiple seasons navigating dystopian class clashes on a globe-circling train in the TV version of Snowpiercer, battling his way up and down the titular locomotive, she just started ascending and descending the stairs in the underground chamber that gives Silo its moniker. Ferguson's character is also among humanity's last remnants. Attempting to endure in post-apocalyptic times, she hails from her abode's lowliest depths as well. And, when there's a murder in this instantly engrossing new ten-part series — which leaps to the screen from Hugh Howey's novels, and shares a few basic parts with Metropolis, Blade Runner and The Platform, as well as corrupt world orders at the core of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner flicks — she's soon playing detective. Silo captivates from the outset, when its focus is the structure's sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo, See How They Run) and his wife Allison (Rashida Jones, On the Rocks). Both know the cardinal rule of the buried tower, as does deputy Marnes (Will Patton, Outer Range), mayor Ruth (Geraldine James, Benediction), security head Sims (Common, The Hate U Give), IT top brass Bernard (Tim Robbins, Dark Waters) and the other 10,000 souls they live with: if you make the request to go outside, it's irrevocable and you'll be sent there as punishment. No matter who you are, and from which level, anyone posing such a plea becomes a public spectacle. Their ask is framed as "cleaning", referring to wiping down the camera that beams the desolate planet around them onto window-sized screens in their cafeterias. No one has ever come back, or survived for more than minutes. Why? Add that to the questions piling up not just for Silo's viewers, but for the silo's residents. For more than 140 years, the latter have dwelled across their 144 floors in safety from the bleak wasteland that earth has become — but what caused that destruction and who built their cavernous home are among the other queries. Silo streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. THE OTHER TWO Swapping Saturday Night Live for an entertainment-parodying sitcom worked swimmingly for Tina Fey. Since 2019, it's also been going hilariously for Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Not just former SNL writers but the veteran sketch comedy's ex-head writers, Kelly and Schneider have been giving the world their own 30 Rock with the sharp, smart and sidesplitting The Other Two. Their angle: focusing on the adult siblings of a Justin Bieber-style teen popstar who've always had their own showbiz aspirations — he's an actor, she was a ballerina — who then find themselves the overlooked children of a momager-turned-daytime television host as well. Cary (Drew Tarver, History of the World: Part II) and Brooke (Heléne York, Katy Keene) Dubek are happy for Chase (Case Walker, Monster High: The Movie). And when their mother Pat (Molly Shannon, I Love That for You) gets her own time in the spotlight, becoming Oprah-level famous, they're equally thrilled for her. But ChaseDreams, their little brother's stage name, has always been a constant reminder that their own ambitions keep being outshone. In a first season that proved one of the best new shows of 2019, a second season in 2021 that was just as much of a delight and now a stellar third go-around, Cary and Brooke have never been above getting petty and messy about being the titular pair. In season three, however, they aren't just hanging around with stars in their eyes and resentment in their hearts. How do they cope? They've spent the past few years constantly comparing themselves to Chase, then to Pat, but now they're successful on their own — and still chaotic, and completely unable to change their engrained thinking. Forget the whole "the grass is always greener" adage. No matter if they're faking it or making it, nothing is ever perfectly verdant for this pair or anyone in their orbit. Still, as Brooke wonders whether her dream manager gig is trivial after living through a pandemic, she starts contemplating if she should be doing more meaningful work like her fashion designer-turned-nurse boyfriend Lance (Josh Segarra, The Big Door Prize). And with Cary's big breaks never quite panning out as planned, he gets envious of his fellow-actor BFF Curtis (Brandon Scott Jones, Ghosts). The Other Two streams via Binge. Read our full review. PLATONIC Sometime in the near future, Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen and filmmaker Nicholas Stoller could easily join forces on a new rom-com. In fact, they should. Until then, buddy comedy Platonic makes a hilarious, engagingly written and directed, and perfectly cast addition to each's respective resumes. Reuniting the trio after 2014's Bad Neighbours and its 2016 sequel Bad Neighbours 2, this new series pairs Australia's comedy queen and America's go-to stoner as longterm pals who are never anything but mates — and haven't been in touch at all for years — but navigate a friendship that's as chaotic and complicated as any movie romance. That's an easy setup; however, watching the show's stars bicker, banter and face the fact that life doesn't always turn out as planned together proves as charming as it was always going to. Also, Platonic smartly doesn't try to be a romantic comedy, or to follow in When Harry Met Sally's footsteps. Instead, Platonic explores what happens when two former besties have gone their own ways, then come back together. The show knows that reconnecting with old pals is always tinged with nostalgia for the person you were when they were initially in your life. And, it's well-aware that reckoning with where you've ended up since is an immediate side effect. Enter Sylvia (Byrne, Seriously Red), who reaches out to Will (Rogen, The Super Mario Bros Movie) after hearing that he's no longer with the wife (Alisha Wainwright, Raising Dion) she didn't like. She's also a suburban-dwelling former lawyer who put work on hold to become a mother of three, and can't help feeling envious of her husband Charlie's (Luke Macfarlane, Bros) flourishing legal career. Her old BFF co-owns and runs an LA brewpub, is obsessive about his beer and hipster/slacker image, and hasn't been taking his breakup well. They couldn't be in more different places in their lives. When they meet up again, they couldn't appear more dissimilar, too. "You look like you live at Ann Taylor Loft," is Will's assessment. Sylvia calls him "a '90s grunge clown." Neither is wrong. Platonic streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. THE CLEARING They're called The Kindred, not The Family. Adrienne Beaufort is their leader, not Anne Hamilton-Byrne. But there's no mistaking the inspiration for JP Pomare's book In the Clearing and its new eight-part adaptation The Clearing. Exploring the inner workings of an Australian cult based in rural Victoria, spouting New Age sentiments mixed with doomsday thinking, fixated upon blonde-haired children and led by a charismatic woman — a rare female cult leader — this tale fictionalises the real-life details documented in countless newspaper headlines since the 80s, and also in Rosie Jones' 2016 documentary The Family and 2019 series The Cult of the Family. Amid their so-wild-they-can-only-be-true stories, both of those projects showed viewers the eerie image of children with platinum locks in severe bobs and dressed in matching blue attire. That distinctive look is similarly at the heart of Disney+'s first original scripted Aussie drama. In the earlier of its two timelines, Amy (Julia Savage, Blaze) dons the tresses and uniform as one of the older children at Adrienne's (Miranda Otto, Wellmania) Blackmarsh bush compound — one being prepared to be her heir, and made an accomplice in the group's quest to add more kids to its ranks. Initially dutiful, the teenager is soon questioning the only existence she's ever known, with its harsh rules, strict aunties keeping everyone in line between Adrienne's sporadic visits, weekend services attended by well-to-do acolytes and, sharing the show's title, its LSD-fuelled confessional sessions. When The Clearing dwells in the now, still in Victoria at its leafiest, the smear of heartbreak and damage is ever-present. Indeed, when single mother Freya Heywood (Teresa Palmer, Ride Like a Girl) hears about a girl being abducted, she can't shake the feeling that history is repeating. She dotes over her primary school-aged son Billy (debutant Flynn Wandin), but she's also visibly nervous and anxious. When she keeps spotting a white van, she's a portrait of panic. The Clearing streams via Disney+. Read our full review. HIGH DESERT In High Desert, the always-excellent Patricia Arquette (Severance) leads a private investigator comedy that dapples its jam-packed chaos under California's golden sun, against the parched Yucca Valley landscape and with an anything-goes philosophy — not to mention a more-mayhem-the-merrier tone. She plays Peggy Newman, who isn't letting her age get in the way of perennially struggling to pull her life together. That said, when the eight-part series begins, it's Thanksgiving 2013 and she's living an upscale existence in Palm Springs, with gleaming surfaces abounding in her expansive (and visibly expensive) home. Then, as her husband Denny (Matt Dillon, Proxima) jokes around with her mother Roslyn (Bernadette Peters, Mozart in the Jungle), and her younger siblings Dianne (Christine Taylor, Search Party) and Stewart (Keir O'Donnell, The Dry) lap up the lavish festivities, DEA agents swarm outside. Cue weed, hash and cash stashes being flushed and trashed, but not quickly enough to avoid splashing around serious repercussions. A decade later, High Desert's protagonist has been sharing Roslyn's house and trying to kick her addictions while working at Pioneertown, a historical attraction that gives tourists a dusty, gun-toting taste of frontier life. Peggy would love to step back in time herself when she's not pretending to be a saloon barmaid — to when her recently deceased mother was still alive, however, rather than to her glitzy post-arrest shindigs. Still angry about being caught up in a drug bust, Dianne and Stewart have zero time for her nostalgia and a lack of patience left for her troubles. Their plan: to sell Roslyn's abode with no worries about where Peggy might end up. Her counter: doing everything she can to stop that from happening. High Desert doesn't just embrace the fact that living and breathing is merely weathering whatever weird, wild and sometimes-wonderful shambles fate throws your way; in a show created and written by Nurse Jackie and Damages alumni Jennifer Hoppe and Nancy Fichman, plus Miss Congeniality and Desperate Housewives' Katie Ford, that idea dictates the busy plot, too. High Desert streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March and April this year. You can also check out our list of standout must-stream 2022 shows as well — and our best 15 new shows of last year, top 15 returning shows over the same period, 15 shows you might've missed and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies of 2022.
You'll know it best as a place to wind down after a long work day, but for three weeks this spring, Garden State Hotel will also be helping to kick-start your morning. It's teaming up with Melbourne coffee royalty St Ali and NSW kombucha masters Bucha of Byron, to host a daytime pop-up that's sure to put a little extra pep in your step. From October 8 to 26, the pub's Flinders Lane-facing section will transform into a cafe-style operation, opening at 8am each weekday. Drop in early for a St Ali caffeine fix — they'll swing you a discount if you bring a reusable cup — along with virtuous grab-and-go breakfast treats, like gluten-free spiced banana bread and granola-topped yoghurt pots. Head in on your lunch break and you'll find a slew of fresh wraps, sandwiches and bowls — think, roast chicken breast teamed with black rice, tahini and tomatoes. For something sweet, you'll be able to grab gluten-free carrot cake, too. Take yours to-go, or take a load off and enjoy it in the pub's famed beer garden. To drink, there'll be seasonal fresh pressed juices, smoothies and Bucha of Byron kombucha, both on tap and by the bottle — and, of course, St Ali coffee.
The Albion Hotel is what you'd call a true 'risen from the ashes' story. Two years ago, the historic South Melbourne pub took quite the beating, burning to the ground just ten days before it was due to reopen. Now, its team of owners — which includes ex-Collingwood AFL player Dane Swan and former rugby league players Danny Williams and Robbie Kearns — have brought the venue back to life, as it returns to its original name of The Albion. The mammoth three-level space is crowned with one of Melbourne's biggest rooftop bars. Up here, find yourself quaffing gin cocktails and tap beers, matched to sweeping views of the city skyline. One floor below lies a plush lounge bar, decked out with leather booths and brass accents, while a modern front bar takes over the ground level. It's an all-encompassing venue that's been designed to cruise easily from daytime to the after-dark hours, with a state-of-the-art sound system and a nifty 5am weekend licence pegging it as a favourite for late-night dancefloor sessions. Meanwhile, the brand new kitchen is plating up a menu that celebrates both local produce and global flavours, featuring the likes of soft shell crab bao, cider-braised pork belly and a seared nori tuna.
If there is ever a time to heed the advice of a seasoned crocodile handler, dive instructor and underwater photographer, it is on your trip to tropical north Queensland. Having literally grown up on the Great Barrier Reef (her family owns and runs a crocodile park there), Jemma Craig, now 25 and Instagramming as @islandjems, knows the ins and outs of the region, famous for its rainforests, relaxed style and that sweeping, threatened stretch of coral reef. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In north Queensland, we've called in Jemma, whose favourite things to do in her extended backyard range from cruising in Australia's most awarded dive liveaboard catamaran to self-guided exploration of underground caves. A stay in one of Pullman's four five-star properties in north Queensland — whether Port Douglas, Palm Cove or Cairns — will not only let you bliss out in their pools, spas and sunloungers, it will put you in the thick of all this action. Read on for Jemma's favourite things to do on land and sea in north Queensland in her own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. CORAL SEA SAFARI — MIKE BALL EXPEDITIONS One trip on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' luxury liveaboard Catamaran, the MV Spoilsport, and you'll see why they're on the top of my list. Spoilsport is Australia's most awarded dive liveaboard, custom built for diving and with a twin-hull design that maximises space, stability and comfort. Their trips take you far from home into the rarely visited Coral Sea and all the incredible deep reefs it has to offer, to the remote Lizard Island and back down the spectacular Ribbon Reefs to Cairns. If you don't dive, these trips alone are a reason to start. MARINELAND CROCODILE PARK Where else in the world can you come face to face with a living dinosaur while relaxing on a tropical island on the Great Barrier Reef? Green Island's Marineland Crocodile Park is the home of Cassius, the Guinness World Record-holding Australian crocodile, and this is your opportunity to get close to a 5.5m croc, along with many other reptiles and sea life. My family founded this park in 1972 and I was lucky enough to grow up here — I love that it is hidden away from the tourists and that the island also boasts diving, water sports and arguably the best snorkelling in the area. [caption id="attachment_643370" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Zang Fan[/caption] TURTLE SPECTACULAR — MIKE BALL DIVE EXPEDITIONS Mike Ball's Turtle Spectacular Expedition is perfect for the summer months — green turtle nesting season on Raine Island, a remote national park at the very tip of Australia that is home to 70 percent of the world's nesting green turtles and can only be visited by a lucky few guests each year. The trip takes you to the Coral Sea, the remote Lizard Island, and then into the wild northern Great Barrier Reef and Raine Island. Dive on the most pristine coral reef flat I've ever laid my eyes on, and be surrounded by the largest turtles you've ever seen in your life. PORT DOUGLAS, CAPE TRIBULATION AND THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST Port Douglas is a town on the Coral Sea in tropical far north of Queensland. It's known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. In town, Macrossan Street is lined with boutique shops and quaint restaurants. The white sands of Four Mile Beach stretch off into the horizon, and you can visit the incredible Opal Reef for a snorkel. Further north you can visit Cape Tribulation, which offers walking routes and boardwalks through the jungle and mangroves, and a historical ridge trail on Mount Sorrow. UNDARA LAVA TUBES Set in the Gulf Savannah country in tropical north Queensland, Undara National Park is a bit of a drive from Cairns inland into the outback but is worth it for the unique opportunity it offers. Its main attraction are the lava tubes, which were formed by volcanic activity approximately 189,000 years ago. They are among the largest and longest of this type of lava cave on the planet, and the guided tours really make you appreciate this fascinating geological formation. There's also the option to stay here overnight — in an antique railway carriage, no less. FITZROY ISLAND Fitzroy Island is a gem, close to the coast and only a short ferry ride from Cairns. It's an unspoiled tropical paradise of rainforest and beaches within the calm sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Discover spectacular walking trails in the national park with abundant marine life and local wildlife. Visit the pristine Nudey beach or take a romantic walk to the hidden waterfall. Fitzroy has campgrounds and a boutique resort so stay a night or two and explore everything it has to offer. TJAPUKAI ABORIGINAL CULTURAL PARK If you've only ever had limited interaction with Indigenous Australian culture, Tjapukai is a must. You can visit day or night to taste native foods and be led in activities such as boomerang throwing. Performances are a key part of the experience, as the park was built around theatre and dance shows devised with the local Djabugay people. The park lies claim to being the largest Indigenous employer of any tourism enterprise in Australia, with more than two-thirds of the team coming from Aboriginal backgrounds. THE CRYSTAL CAVES Located a short drive out of Cairns up into the Atherton tablelands, the Crystal Caves offer guests an interactive tour of a truly unique underground cave system. Visitors are able to explore at their leisure — seeing and touching the ancient treasures of the earth. You are given a miner's helmet, a light and a comprehensive map with printed guide before you set off on your self-guided tour. This is a truly special experience that only a few places in the world offer. KURANDA VILLAGE A short distance from Cairns is the mountain village of Kuranda. It's known for the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which winds along forested hillside tracks carved out by early settlers. Kuranda offers a vibrant arts and crafts culture, with quaint little stalls and a colourful market running through the rainforest. Enjoy some homemade ice cream or candy and visit one of the many Wildlife Habitats Kuranda has to offer. Travel via shuttle bus, car, Skyrail or Kuranda's Scenic Train. SKYRAIL RAINFOREST CABLEWAY You're in the tropics now, so how fitting to go hang out in the jungle for a little while. The Kuranda Skyrail offers you the opportunity to glide above the treetops in a secured windowed gondola running along an 8km cableway through the Barron Gorge and the Kuranda Range Rainforest. Glass-floored and open-air gondolas are also on offer. The Skyrail has won a number of tourism and sustainability awards, and provides a unique link between the bustle of Cairns City and the beautiful jungle village of Kuranda. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Move over The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros Movie — when it comes to turning video games into TV shows and films, there's another must-see dropping our way in 2023. This one focuses on a button-mashing favourite that also drips with tension and boasts a ridiculously catchy theme tune. That title? The one and only Tetris. The king of all puzzle games, the best way to spend your time obsessing over tumbling blocks and an addiction for many, Tetris first arrived in 1984 courtesy of Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov. How did it become the global phenomenon it is and always will be? That's the tale that the movie also called Tetris will tell when its line itself up on your streaming queue via Apple TV+ on Friday, March 31. This film knows the truth about Tetris, too: that once you play it even for a few minutes, it haunts your brain and never departs. Early in the just-released trailer for the flick, star Taron Egerton (Black Bird) gives voice to something what every Tetris player has experienced. "I still see falling blocks in my dreams," he says as Henk Rogers, the man who secured the rights to the title for distribution on video game consoles like Nintendo's Game Boy. The path from Pajitnov (played by Six Empty Seats' Nikita Efremov) creating the puzzle favourite and everyone everywhere playing it isn't straightforward or smooth. In fact, Tetris, the movie, looks set to unfurl as a wild Cold War-era thriller. When Rogers discovers the game, he makes the trip to the Soviet Union to meet Pajitnov — but the story from there involves far more than just four-piece blocks raining down on a screen. Filmmaker Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) directs, working with a script by Genius' Noah Pink, while Toby Jones (The English) also features among the cast. To answer three crucial questions about the film flick from its trailer: yes, it features the requisite music; yes, it'll get that tune stuck in your head; and yes, you'll want to play Tetris ASAP. Check out the trailer for Tetris below: Tetris will be available to stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, March 31.
Each year, come August, there's one thing that Melburnians can't complain about. Say all you like about the frosty weather, the inevitable rain and the feeling that winter will never end, but don't even pretend that there's nothing to watch. The eighth month on the calendar and the Melbourne International Film Festival have long gone hand-in-hand, delivering a feast of flicks to entice you into warm, darkened rooms. In fact, this year's MIFF boasts a huge 375 titles on its jam-packed lineup. The just-announced full program spans many a highlight, including one of the year's most anticipated movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. If you fancy seeing Quentin Tarantino's latest before it reaches regular cinemas — and Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie on 35mm film, too — then MIFF has you covered. If you're eager to view much, much more between Thursday, August 1 and Sunday, August 18, the debut bill from first-year Artistic Director Al Cossar won't let you down there either. While opening night documentary The Australian Dream, centrepiece gala pick Little Monsters and family gala selection H Is For Happiness have all already been announced, MIFF will fill out its last high-profile slot with closing night's The Farewell — a hit at this year's Sundance, it stars Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina as a Chinese American woman visiting her family to say goodbye to her dying grandmother. Other standouts throughout the fest include a slew of movies from top directors arriving straight from Cannes, such as Xavier Dolan's Matthias & Maxime, Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne's Young Ahmed, and Diao Yi'nan's The Wild Goose Lake, with the latter marking the newest release from the acclaimed Black Coal, Thin Ice filmmaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RofpAjqwMa8 Also worth keeping an eye out for (and then roving your eyes over) are Harmony Korine's The Beach Bum, which sees the Spring Breakers auteur keep the party going with Matthew McConaughey; Chris Morris' The Day Shall Come, his long-awaited next political satire after Four Lions; much-talked-about Chinese epic Long Days Journey Into Night, complete with its 55-minute single take in 3D; and Hong Sang-soo's regular MIFF appearance, thanks to Hotel by the River. Elsewhere, Isabelle Huppert plays a famous actress in Frankie, Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots get caught in a labyrinth in sci-fi thriller Vivarium, Son of Saul's László Nemes unravels an allegorical European mystery in Sunset, Goodnight Mommy's Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala get dark and twisted again with The Lodge, and Japanese eye-opener Violence Voyager combines children's book-style paper puppetry with an over-the-top, midnight movie onslaught. On the documentary front, Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men reunites all nine living members of the band to talk about their ups and downs, Memory: The Origins of Alien ponders the basis of one of the best science-fiction films of all time, and Seahorse explores a trans man's complicated pregnancy. And from the local selection, Ryan Corr and Anthony LaPaglia team up for black comedy Below, Hugo Weaving goes Shakespearean in Measure for Measure, and No Time for Quiet heads to a Melbourne band camp for girls with Courtney Barnett and Cable Ties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKQfEX1Xy4 Acclaimed Aussie flicks The Nightingale, Hearts and Bones, Animals, Dark Place, Emu Runner, Judy & Punch and In My Blood It Runs, which all premiered elsewhere, will also finally make their way to Melbourne. Indeed, if you felt more than a little envy when Sydney Film Festival rolled around back in June, you'll be able to see many of that fest's top picks — including must-sees like Les Miserables, In Fabric, Scheme Birds and Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, as well as favourites such as Pain and Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Ray & Liz, Bacurau, Come to Daddy, Dirty God and The Dead Don't Die. Need more? How about an all-night Jeff Goldblum movie marathon, complete with The Fly, Independence Day, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Thor: Ragnarok. Retrospective strands focusing on filmmakers Penelope Spheeris, Agnieszka Holland and Peter Strickland help round out the lineup, as does the usual selection of fulldome shorts at the Melbourne Planetarium. Because MIFF has been dropping parts of its 2019 selection for the past few months, all of the above titles join the fest's initial batch of flicks — plus its live movie-and-music performance by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and a screening of fantastic French drama Girlhood with an all-new live score. The 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 18 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
You might associate Newcastle with surf, sand and summer, but the coastal location also makes this a perfect winter short break. There's no more invigorating way to start a frosty morning than with a brisk beachside walk. What's more, winter equals whale-watching season, and for spotting humpbacks, Newie's towering headlands are spectacular. When you're ready to head back indoors, you'll find the city packed with excellent chefs, baristas, artists, designers and makers. Many of them have escaped the big smoke to set up digs here, where they get to be beside the sea without paying torturously high rents. With that in mind, set up home base at one of the AccorHotels in the city and follow our guide to a warming, delicious winter weekender, just a two hours' drive north of Sydney. EAT AND DRINK Good cafes aren't hard to find in Newcastle; it's choosing one that's the tough bit. For a cheery beginning, settle among the bright tiles, artworks and plants of Ground Up Espresso in Carrington, a waterfront suburb on Newcastle Harbour's north shore. The most decadent, comforting brekkie on the menu has to be the crepes with smoked salmon and creme fraiche. Afterwards, cross the water to Maryville to warm your mitts on bakery treats at Uprising. Alternatively, if you want to stick to the CBD, then One Penny Black serves a bunch of single origins and blends, as well as winter-inspired dishes including coconut and cinnamon porridge. For tea drinkers, The Tea Collective in inner-city Cooks Hill is something of a mecca. Here, leaf obsessive Becci Fowler serves premium-quality, perfectly brewed cuppas. On a frosty morning, the gingerbread chai is hard to beat. Downstairs are The Autumn Rooms, a sun- and greenery-splashed space, offering buttermilk waffles with chai-infused mascarpone, pistachio crust, mixed berries and dark chocolate ganache, among other delights. At a nearby bowling club is Bistro Lowlands, home to some of Newie's tastiest burgers, including the Firebird 2.0 (buttermilk fried chicken, double cheese, sriracha slaw and jalapeno mustard). If it's Italian you're hankering for, head to the CBD's Napoli Centrale, where Naples-trained chef Alfonso Muras whips up traditional pizzas and a mean black truffle gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. Mediterranean eatery Rustica offers both stunning views overlooking Newcastle Beach and a hearty share-style menu. Start with tapas and small plates, think Turkish-style carrot labne, before graduating to roast pork belly and Moroccan vegetable tagine. Meanwhile, for indulgent dining, book a table at hatted restaurant Subo. You'll be treating yourself to a set five-course menu, designed especially for winter. Dishes include carpaccio of Hervey Bay scallops with jamon, nori and XO sauce, as well as Cape Grim short rib cooked overnight in Guinness and red wine with bagna cauda (an Italian dipping sauce), turnip and fried herbs. Pre- and/or post-dinner drinks? There's The Grain Store for an epic craft beer collection, Reserve for hundreds (really, hundreds) of wines and The Koutetsu for cocktails among antique lampshades, dark timber and secretive nooks. DO Winter might not be the most appealing time for a swim at Newcastle's pretty, blissfully uncrowded beaches, but it's a whale watcher's dream. Get an eyeful on foot at either Nobbys Headland or Shepherds Hill Lookout, or take to the sea aboard the trusty vessel Coast XP. Another way to embrace the salty air is with a hike. The Bathers Way coastal walk stretches from Nobbys to Merewether Beach, with views of Newcastle from every which angle and a chance to learn about the city's history at Fort Scratchley, where guns were fired in 1942 during shelling by a Japanese submarine. Another key point along the walk is the Anzac Memorial Bridge, an icon of Newcastle that offers a 450-metre clifftop walkway. Not enough outdoorsiness for you? Hit the dunes of Stockton Beach on a quad bike (hire from Sand Dune Adventures, Quad Bike King or Port Stephens 4WD), take to the skies at TreeTops adventure park, or get some wind in your hair on one of Newie's many cycle paths. The 15-kilometre Fernleigh Track takes in peaceful bushland and wetlands. Meanwhile, you can get your art dose at the Olive Tree Art and Design Market, where local creatives gather on the first Saturday of every month, or anytime among the indie shops and galleries of the Darby Street Precinct in Newcastle's urban heart. Also worth checking out is the Newcastle Art Gallery — which hosts talks, tours and concerts throughout winter — and the Newcastle Jazz Festival that comes to town in August. SLEEP If there's one element that's vital to a winter weekender, it's a warm, tranquil hideaway for the evenings. If you're keen to snuggle up with the beach at your doorstep, book at the Novotel Newcastle Beach. Rooms — which range from Standard to Superior Balcony — come with king-sized beds, bucketloads of winter sunshine, loads of space and uplifting splashes of orange and blue. There's also a spa, sauna, gym, on-site restaurant and 24-hour room service. For a real indulgence, head to the on-site restaurant, Bistro Dalby, for high tea. Mini pressed Cuban sandwiches and prawn brioche sliders feature among the savouries, with salted raw caramel slice and chocolate eclairs in the sweet selection. A more affordable, yet still cosy, hotel option is the Ibis Newcastle, located near the city's Honeysuckle Precinct, a harbour-front area where former shipping wharves have been transformed into eateries and apartments. Some rooms offer water views, while all give you a super-comfy bed, flat-screen TV, free wifi and 24-hour room service. Alternatively, if you're on a brief visit, then the Mercure Newcastle Airport could be the way to go. It lets you easily explore nearby areas, such as Port Stephens, and all rooms have a sleek, minimalist design and photos of iconic landmarks taken by local Owen Signs. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in Newcastle, and to discover more of regional NSW, swing by Visit NSW.
Going back to study part-time can be a daunting process. Learning how to balance work and social obligations can be hard enough without adding in the massive third edge that is a uni course. Studying online with leading Australian universities via Open Universities Australia (OUA) can certainly combat some of the hurdles of juggling work and study — like needing to be in two places at once. However, it's still kind of scary to consider adding more to your already hectic schedule. But you don't need to jump in headfirst without any help. To give you a deeper insight into how to make your part-time study work for you, we spoke with Sydney career expert and psychologist Suzie Plush. Plush chatted to us about the challenges, hacks and keys to success when considering taking on part-time study. Here's what we found out. [caption id="attachment_732003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzie Plush[/caption] LEARN THE ART OF THE PIVOT In a perfect world, your work-life-study priorities would be completely balanced — but we all know that life doesn't work like that. So, to achieve somewhat of a balance, Plush suggests you learn the 'art of the pivot'. "The concept of the pivot is more around leaning into what the priority is each week. If you're studying part-time and you're working part-time, you might have one week that's really crazy at work — that just means you pivot to focus on work, and then the next week you'll pivot back and do more studying." The goal here is not to achieve a perfectly balanced schedule all the time. Instead, you 'pivot' toward which is more important. Studying through OUA gives you the flexibility to scale up or down the number of subjects you're taking over the year. So, if you've got a huge project at work, a holiday planned or something else unexpectedly pops up in your life, you decrease your study load during one period and catch up later once things settle down. According to Plush, this can take a lot of the pressure off, because you're "purposely neglecting something rather than feeling like you're dropping the ball altogether." PACE YOURSELF AND DEVELOP A GAME PLAN Taking on too much at once will only lead to burnout. Instead, Plush suggests you pace yourself and focus on chipping away at your studies, rather than take on big chunks of work at once. A successful way to go about this is to develop a game plan early on. "Instead of procrastinating when you study, it's important to get organised. If you don't feel like studying, get all the dates in your calendar, download all your files and make sure you have a system at home for where you put your notes. So, when you do have that time to study, you don't have to waste it getting organised." Another study hack Plush recommends is to always take the time to listen to your lectures, as going over those audio files will save a lot of time when you sit down to study later. Having a study system in place is especially key for online work, as you really need to be a self-starter to ensure you don't fall behind. UTILISE THE SUPPORT THAT'S AVAILABLE When undertaking online study, it is all too easy to feel disconnected and isolated. But those support systems are there — you just need to know how to tap into them. It's so important to take advantage of every avenue of support that is available to you, whether that be chat rooms, forums, study groups or one-on-one teacher assistance. "You really want to try and build connections with people that are doing the same course as you and are in the same mode. Reach out to teachers as well — if you're doing online study, you may not be super clear on what an assessment is, so asking makes sure you're answering things appropriately. Be assertive and get that clarification and support you need." To aid with this, OUA gives you free access to a platform called Smarthinking — a tool that offers 24-hour access to qualified tutors. These tutors can help you plan assignments and work through them, too. Plus, Smarthinking tutors can also read through assessments and give constructive feedback before you formally submit them. Plush says it's also necessary to let your family and close friends know what your needs are and ask them to pick up some slack for you where possible. Managing your expectations and those of the people close to you helps minimise stress in your already busy life. [caption id="attachment_732002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzie Plush[/caption] PLAY TO YOUR NATURAL RHYTHMS Whether you're a night owl or an early bird, it's important to notice when are you most productive and play to those strengths. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to balance, work, study and personal commitments. By paying attention to those natural rhythms, you will become your most productive self. It will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, too. "Really leverage your natural state. Are you better studying at night or waking up early? Play to those natural preferences rather than copying what other people do." Other daily hacks Plush mentioned include trying to incorporate some of your studying into your everyday routine, like listening to lectures on your commute. It helps you make studying part of your day-to-day and avoid procrastination. TAKE TIME TO RECHARGE With so much on your plate, it can be easy to lose sight of why you went back to study in the first place. "When it gets hard, always come back to the 'why' of it. It can get you the extra push of motivation and remind you why you're studying in the first place." But burnouts can still happen, and it is important for you to take time to recharge. Plush recommends spending ten minutes per day on mindfulness exercises — apps like Smiling Mind and Head Space can help you through your meditation. She also insists on staying active. "I talk a lot to clients about the art of recharging. Even for athletes, it's important to rest. You need to have those two modes and have strategic times of rest so that, when you're going back to studying, you're fresh." Plush suggests getting outside, into nature and away from screens. Moving your body and raising your dopamine levels gives you a fresh perspective, too. Often we think we're too busy to stop, but that's the most important facet in maintaining a healthy balance. Decided to take on part-time study, but haven't found the right course for you? Explore hundreds of degrees from leading Australian universities — offered online through Open Universities Australia. Hop to it.
After heading to Australia earlier this year for a one-night-only show at the Sydney Opera House, Margaret Atwood is heading Down Under once again in early 2020. This time, though, she'll be hitting up six Aussie cities (Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and Perth) as well as Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. The Canadian writer also has some very exciting new material to discuss — her long-awaited sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale', called 'The Testaments'. Released 34 years after the original, the novel is set 15 years after Offred's final scene and is narrated by three female characters. Since it's release in September, 'The Testaments' has already garnered one of the world's biggest literary awards, the Booker Prize, which it won jointly with Bernardine Evaristo's 'Girl, Woman, Other'. As well as discussing her award-winning new novel, the seminal 1985 book and the captivating TV drama it inspired, Atwood will chat about her life and career, and the rest of her very extensive body of works. While it seems this talk won't be quite as political as her SOH conversation, it's likely Atwood will dip into topics such as extremist politics, feminism and climate change — they are themes that are brought up time and time again in her fictional works, after all. It'll be an interesting, if not eyebrow-raising, talk — as well as being an obvious advocate for women's rights, Atwood has came under fire for her controversial take on the #MeToo movement and her reluctance to call The Handmaid's Tale feminist. It's said the talks will also have a Q&A segment, so putt on your thinking hats and get some questions ready. [caption id="attachment_751168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Margaret Atwood via Wiki Commons, Image credit: Mauro Rico/Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación[/caption] IN CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET ATWOOD 2020 DATES February 10 — Wellington, Michael Fowler Centre February 11 — Auckland, The Civic February 12 — Christchurch, Christchurch Town Hall February 16–17 — Sydney, ICC February 19 — Canberra, Canberra Theatre Centre February 22 — Brisbane, QPAC Concert Hall February 23 — Melbourne, Arts Centre Melbourne February 24 — Hobart, Wrest Point March 1 — Perth, Riverside Theatre Tickets for In Conversation with Margaret Atwood go on sale Monday, November 25. Image: Jean Malek
When Baz Luhrmann decided to bring The Great Gatsby to the screen, he enlisted 2010s Sydney to double for 1920s Long Island and New York. Now, a decade after the Australian director's Oscar-winning movie hit cinemas, Sydney Opera House is following in the filmmaker's footsteps, turning itself into a The Great Gatsby-themed pop-up club while hosting a The Great Gatsby-inspired cabaret variety show. From Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, February 25, 2024, GATSBY at The Green Light will take over the Sydney Opera House's Studio with an array of excuses to pretend that it's a century ago — and that you're on the other side of the globe. The GATSBY part of the big summer event's moniker refers to the entertainment, while The Green Light is the temporarily rebadged venue where what's being dubbed a "theatrical experience" will take place. First, the show: taking its cues from F Scott Fitzgerald's text, which will also date back a century when 2025 hits, GATSBY gives the classic text the aerial, burlesque, dance and circus treatment. As performers show off their skills, live vocals will accompany their efforts, all on a glittering stage. Then, the club: The Green Light will also owe a debt to prohibition-era speakeasies, and will feature cabaret tables for attendees to sit at while watching the performances. Canapé and cocktail packages will be on offer, with themed drinks including the Green Light gimlet, the Blind Tiger martini and the Reggio manhattan. GATSBY at The Green Light hails from director Craig Ilott, who adds the event to his resume alongside Smoke & Mirrors, La Clique Royale at Edinburgh Festival's The Famous Spiegeltent, and also American Idiot, Amadeus and Velvet Rewired at Sydney Opera House. With GATSBY co-producer Stuart Couzens, he was also involved in L'Hôtel, the dinner theatre experience which turned the exact same space into a French hotel with cabaret, circus and burlesque. "Our treatment of GATSBY has been akin to that of a concept album; riffing on the essence of a familiar text through a new form to create an evocative experience," said Ilott, announcing GATSBY at The Green Light. "We've taken elements entrenched in the 1920s — the vaudeville, the fashion, the hospitality — and remixed them with a bold 2020s beat, with the aim of creating an evening that feels both contemporary and captivating." [caption id="attachment_681696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] [caption id="attachment_857577" align="alignnone" width="1920"] L'Hotel, Claudio Raschella[/caption] [caption id="attachment_857579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] L'Hotel, Claudio Raschella[/caption] GATSBY at The Green Light will take over the Sydney Opera House's Studio from Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, February 25, 2024, with ticket pre sales from 8am on Wednesday, August 30 and general sales from 9am on Friday, September 1. Head to the Sydney Opera House website for more information. Top image: Tom Oldham.
Iggy Pop has been hitting the stage — mostly topless — for nigh on 50 years, both as the frontman of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Stooges and as a solo artist. Now, the 'Godfather of Punk' is heading back to Australia in April, 2019. As well as his debut performance at the Sydney Opera House, Iggy Pop will be performing at Melbourne's Festival Hall and at Byron Bay's Bluesfest — where he'll take to the stage alongside the likes of Paul Kelly, Hozier, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals. Iggy Pop may be almost 72 (his birthday on the night of the Melbourne show), but his shows aren't getting any less raucous. And the legendary singer only two years ago released his 17th solo album, Post Pop Depression. If you are, in any way, doubting his virility, please watch this video of Iggy performing 'The Passenger' at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2016. Yep, still shirtless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9srgtTTVwk IGGY POP 2019 DATES Sydney — Sydney Opera House, April 15 and 17 Byron Bay — Bluesfest, April 19 Melbourne — Festival Hall, April 21 Bluesfest tickets are on sale now. Melbourne and Sydney pre-sale tickets will be released at 12pm on Wednesday, December 12, with general sale following at 12pm on Friday, December 14. Sydney Opera House shows can be purchased here and Melbourne shows through the Bluesfest Touring website. Image: Ross Halfin.
Over the last few years, Brisbane has quietly become one of the best spots for a weekend escape. It's got the climate of a tropical holiday, the creativity of a capital city and a local food and drink scene that punches well above its weight. Across the city, there's art, architecture and plenty of green space, but also incredible spots to dine and unwind that are world-class without trying too hard. Whether you're looking for a few days of luxury, a culture-filled weekend or just a change of scenery (and weather), Brissy makes it easy. Here, we break down where to stay, what to eat and how to spend your time while you're there. Where to Stay The Calile Hotel If you're a person who wants the relaxation to start the second you check in, The Calile will be right up your alley. This pastel-drenched, luxury hotel is the kind of place you'll struggle to leave (and honestly, you don't need to). The rooms are built for relaxation with cool stone, brass accents and breezy balconies, while the pool area is more like a scene from a Slim Aarons photograph than your standard hotel setup. It's also in the thick of James Street, Brisbane's designer shopping and dining precinct, so everything you need is within walking distance. Beyond the rooms, there's a full day's worth of indulgence on-site, including a library stocked with art books and journals, a gym with personal training available, and Kailo Wellness Medispa for top-tier facials, massages and LED sessions. When hunger strikes, you can walk straight from the pool into Hellenika restaurant, or grab an afternoon spritz in the Lobby Bar. Whether you're swimming, shopping or slipping into a deep-tissue massage, The Calile makes you feel like you're on holiday, even if you're only up for the weekend. Book your stay here. Where to Eat SK Steak & Oyster Opened in 2019 by the St Albans restaurant group, SK Steak & Oyster has slowly but surely become a James Street institution. Conveniently located within The Calile Hotel, the restaurant has a light and bright, mid-century aesthetic and the kind of polished yet unpretentious service that makes you feel at ease from the moment you walk in. The menu leans classic in the best possible way. The team of chefs delivers expertly grilled steaks, market-fresh oysters with caviar and showstopper seafood dishes like the Moreton Bay bugs and spanner crab pasta. Alongside these big hitters, diners also have an impressive choice of pastas, soups, salads and sides. Oh, did we mention there's an entire 10-option menu dedicated to potatoes? Yep. It's a cheeky flex that fans of the restaurant have come to love. But beyond the delicious food, the high standard service and attention to detail is what makes SK Steak & Oyster an exceptional experience. This isn't just one of the best steakhouses in Brisbane, it's one of the best restaurants, full stop. There's a reason locals book this place for special occasions, and why visitors should make it one. Book a table here. Joy Hidden down a laneway in Fortitude Valley, Joy is a tiny restaurant with a big reputation. The space seats just ten, with chef Sarah Baldwin and her small team running the entire show – from the kitchen to the floor – which makes every service feel extremely personal. But it's not just the size that sets Joy apart. There's no printed menu and no choices to be made. You're served what Sarah is cooking that day, which is always a seasonal and multi-course tasting menu that's part fine-dining, part performance art. While you'll never know exactly what's on offer before sitting down, you can expect delicate, clever dishes with creative and unexpected flavour combinations. Choose the matching drinks options, and you'll enjoy sake or natural wine pairings that are carefully chosen to complement each dish. When you dine here, it's as much about the moment as it is about the food. The intimate setting, minimalist aesthetic and one-chef kitchen all create a unique tension that heightens the experience. Getting a seat takes some planning, but don't let that deter you, it's a meal you'll remember long after you leave Brisbane. Book a table here Gerard's Bistro Gerard's is one of those restaurants that's been around long enough to be considered a classic, but continues to evolve and surprise. Positioned just off James Street, the bistro has long been known for its contemporary Middle Eastern menu and cool, textural fit out featuring warm clay tones, timber and rammed-earth walls inspired by Lebanon's ancient Temple of Baalbek. The vibe here is lively in all the right ways, with an open kitchen, a buzz of conversation and a menu designed for sharing. The best time to go is for a late lunch on Friday and Saturday, or an early dinner, when the light softens and the wine starts flowing. Yes, the space is beautiful, but what you're really coming for is the food. The menu draws on Levantine, North African and Mediterranean flavours, giving traditional dishes a modern twist. Housemade breads, charcoal-grilled meat and fresh produce lead the charge, and regulars rave about the lamb shoulder with parsley tahini, woodfired octopus from Western Australia and chickpea hummus with black barley. If you have any space left for dessert, the Turkish coffee pastry cream with meringue is a must-try. It's generous food made to be eaten with friends. Book a table here. Supernormal Andrew McConnell's Melbourne institution, Supernormal, finally landed in Brisbane in 2024, and the team hasn't missed a beat. Located on Queen Street, both Supernormal and its sister terrace spot, Bar Miette, look out over the CBD skyline, making them the perfect duo for a sunset dinner and drinks. Inside, the restaurant mirrors the minimal, high-functioning design of the Melbourne location. There's an open bar feature, spacious layout and timber tones throughout. But this isn't a carbon copy – the Brisbane team, led by Executive Chef Jason Barratt, has added just enough local energy to make it feel grounded in its new home. The menu is built around bold Asian flavours and textural contrast. Must-tries include the prawn and chicken dumplings, five spice half chicken, a rich pork tomahawk with fermented chilli, and of course, the signature lobster roll. The drinks are just as enticing, with Supernormal's take on a Margarita Koshó with yuzu and fermented green chili a crowd favourite. Book a table here. Hellenika If you're staying at The Calile, you have to try Hellenika. You'll spot the green and white striped umbrellas from across the pool, but this restaurant is very much a destination in its own right. It's the kind of place you come to for lunch and find yourself still at the table by sunset, bringing a slice of Mediterranean life to inner Brisbane. The space is open, breezy and built for long, lazy meals with plenty of natural light by day and a romantic glow by night. You don't need to be staying at the hotel to dine here, but if you are, it's a convenient (and frankly irresistible) option for an afternoon of indulgence. The menu is Greek-influenced and the service is impeccable. Highlights include the spanakopita, saganaki, grilled octopus and the signature whole baked fish. Pair it all with a bottle of Greek white or a spicy margarita and you've got yourself a very good time. Book a table here What to Do Kailo Wellness Medispa If you're going to book one thing while you're here, make it a treatment at Kailo. This is Brisbane's premier medispa and regularly ranked among the best in the country, offering everything from LED facials and lymphatic drainage massages to more advanced therapies like injectables and vitamin therapy (yes, that's a thing). Located conveniently inside The Calile, it's the kind of place you can weave into your day around lunch or shopping without needing to go out of your way. The space itself is serene and architecturally designed, with treatment rooms that feel both luxurious and calming. The spa is run by a team who know what they're doing, with service that's thoughtful and discreet, and an extensive menu of clinical-grade treatments. Whether you're popping in for a pick-me-up or carving out a few hours for total relaxation, you'll be sure to walk out glowing. Book a treatment here Albion Bathhouse Australia's bathhouse scene is having a moment and Albion Bathhouse is one of the standouts. Housed in a converted warehouse with huge ceilings and atmospheric lighting, it's easily one of the most stunning spaces in the city. In fact, walking inside feels like you've entered a whole different world. Every detail here is considered, from the curve of the archways to the texture of the towels, and the experience is elevated further by a truly premium offering. You'll find not only the usual suspects (steam room, magnesium plunge pool, cold dip) but also infrared saunas and bespoke wellness experiences that you can book alongside your soak. Perfect for a solo recharge or an afternoon with friends, Albion Bathhouse is equal parts stunning and soothing, and well worth carving out an afternoon for while you visit Brisbane. Don't forget to book ahead – it's popular for a reason. Book a session here Brisbane Powerhouse Housed in an old power station on the Brisbane River, the Powerhouse has long been a cultural hub for the city. And it's only getting better. The calendar is packed year-round with performances ranging from experimental theatre and indie music to comedy, contemporary dance and festivals. Coming up this winter, you can book tickets to see comedians Wil Anderson, Anisa Nandaula and Will Gibb. Plus, there's the World Press Photography Exhibition and performances by the Brisbane Ballet to look forward to. No matter what you see, the venue itself is worth a visit: a towering structure with exposed brick walls and years of history. Plus, the outdoor bar with food vendors and sunset views is a great place to kill time before a performance. Whether you plan your trip around a specific show or just pop in to see what's on, this place is always checking out. Book your tickets here. Whether you're up for a long weekend or just a couple of days to recharge, Brisbane is ready when you are. And with The Calile Hotel as your base, you won't need to go far to find the city's best bites, sips and spa sessions. Discover accommodation, spa and dining options at The Calile Hotel website.
Whether you're a green thumb or a total gardening novice, you'll score great tips and tricks for growing your own food when FareShare opens its Abbotsford kitchen garden to the public on Saturday, October 14. The food charity cooks as many as 5000 free meals across Australia each day using rescued surplus food, in addition to produce harvested from its own collection of urban kitchen gardens. That includes this lush, 70-bed veggie patch by Victoria Park railway station, a one-time dumping ground that's been given new life thanks to a tribe of volunteers and support from the RACV, Gandel Philanthropy and urban food-growing initiative 3000 Acres. The Open Garden day invites locals along to have a sticky-beak and discover how FareShare is transforming disused urban plots like these into vibrant, veggie-growing wonderlands. There'll be guided tours of the gardens as well as a program of guest speakers covering topics from bee keeping and composting, through to urban agriculture. And if it all leaves you inspired to do some gardening of your own, a range of seedlings will be available to purchase for a gold coin donation. FareShare's kitchen garden Open Garden runs from 10am till 1pm on Saturday, October 14. Find the garden at Lulie Street, Abbotsford. For more info, visit fareshare.net.au.
What does a gin made on a farm in far north Queensland have in common with beer brewed in the middle of Adelaide? Or with a nice vino from a winery located outside Geelong, a premix sangria from New South Wales, a rum hailing from a Western Australian property and a cider from southern Tasmania? As well as offering a top-notch choice for your next beverage, they've all been named among Australia's favourite local drops as part of BWS' Local Luvvas initiative. In an effort to not only gauge which smaller and independent homegrown tipples Aussies love, but also to give the country's breweries, winemakers and distilleries some extra support, BWS asked the nation to name their go-to local beverages. From all of those votes, the bottle shop retailer has now announced the top picks, spanning drinks in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. It's a sizeable list — and, as part of the campaign's overall aim, it isn't just filled with names you'll already know. You might be a Brisbanite who's been singing your local brewery's praises; however, you may not have heard about a stellar outfit pumping out great beers down south. Or, even if you consider yourself very well-acquainted with Aussie wines, it's likely that there's still some labels you haven't come across. In their respective states, 18 winners will be given an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores. And if you're currently wondering which tipples you should be looking out for — whether it's for a cold one after a busy day, a glass of nice wine with lunch or dinner, or a cocktail just because — we've run through the entire list of fan favourites state by state. [caption id="attachment_787625" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] NEW SOUTH WALES From New South Wales' variety-filled lineup of local drinks producers, four brands emerged victorious. That's more than other states, because wine lovers gave themselves two choices — this is a state that's clearly serious about its vino. For a straight drop, NSW residents selected Audrey Wilkinson from the Hunter Valley. For something a little different, Local Luvvas voters also highlighted Nueva Sangria, which serves up an Aussie twist on the Spanish drink. In the beer category, Sydneysiders made their preference known, picking craft brew outfit Akasha out of Five Dock in the city's inner west. And just like in the wine field, premixes obviously have a hefty amount of fans among spirits drinkers, too, with Lust Liquor's low-calorie range getting the nod. VICTORIA When you're Melbourne's oldest independent brewery and boast a 17-year history, you've had plenty of time to rustle up hordes of beer-loving aficionados. So it should surprise absolutely no one that Thornbury's 3 Ravens has been named Victoria's favourite local brew. Victorians also showered some affection on another brewery, Billson's, but for the Beechworth-based company's spirits range — which includes bottles of gin and vodka, as well as vodka premixes. And, as picked from all the local wineries that the state has to offer, 6Ft6 has been dubbed Victoria's most-loved. Based in the Moorabool Valley in Geelong, it focuses on seven specific varieties spanning both white and red drops. QUEENSLAND Queensland's far north isn't just home to tropical greenery, picturesque beaches, and a climate that's even warmer and sunnier year-round than Brisbane. It's also home to Mt Uncle Distillery in the Atherton Tablelands. That's where the state's favourite spirit springs from, in the form of its Botanic Australis gin. When it comes to the Sunshine State's preferred beer, a Brisbane local has won out — and it's one with a considerable following around the city. That'd be Aether Brewing, the family-owned brewery that started in the city's west, is now based in Brissie's north and has been doing its beer-making thing since 2016. WESTERN AUSTRALIA Just shy of 400 kilometres south of Perth sits the vineyard responsible for Western Australia's favourite vino, Ferngrove Wines, which has been making top-notch drops since 1998. Keep heading down and, once you hit Albany, you'll find WA's best-loved beer as well. Wilson Brewing Company has seven different brews among its range, including lighter session and blonde ales, plus heavier dark and brown ales. Wondering which type of spirits WA residents like best? That'd be Illegal Tender Co's rum. Fans can also be forgiven for dreaming about following in the brand's footsteps — it's a labour of love from an electrician who decided to leave his career behind and follow his passion instead. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Even if you've never been to South Australia, or to its famed wine regions, every Australian knows that McLaren Vale and vino go hand in hand. It's also where Never Never Distilling Co is based, and where the company whips up beverages made from juniper instead of grapes. Obviously, we're talking about gin. For SA's favourite wine, you'll actually want to sip a drop from the Adelaide Hills, and from the tiny 343-person township of Paracombe specifically. There's no prizes for guessing where Paracombe Wines gets its name from, of course. And, in the beer category, Adelaide's Little Bang Brewing Company topped the poll thanks to its yeasty brews made in its inner-city base in Stepney. TASMANIA Tasmania's well-known nickname has clearly struck a chord with fans of a nice crisp drink. In the brewery category, the state's residents have chosen Plenty Cider as their pick. It's made from 100-percent local apples on the Apple Isle, which is patently a winning combination. In the vino field, Pepik Wines nabbed top spot, hailing from Josef Chromy Wines and its 61-hectare vineyard at Relbia, just south of Launceston. For Tassie's preferred spirits, your tastebuds are heading to Marion Bay. Hellfire Bluff Distillery launched in 2017 out of a potato farm, and it now not only makes vodka but also gin, coffee liqueur and limoncello as well. For more information about BWS' local range — and to pick up one of the above beers, wines and spirits — head to the retailer's stores in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
If you fancy channeling a blissed-out European summer, without spending a cent on airfares, you're in luck. From its primo spot overlooking the Yarra, mod-Italian haunt Fatto Bar and Cantina is embracing those sunny season feels with a series of bottomless rosé lunches, happening every Sunday throughout October. Fatto's riverside terrace will play host to these chic Italian feasts, running across two sessions each week (12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm) for groups of four or more, and starring a three-course sharing menu by Head Chef James Kummrow. You'll get your Sunday kicks enjoying DJ tunes along with a parade of spring-appropriate dishes, including a luxe antipasti platter — with prosciutto, zucchini flowers and caviar tartlets — Italian baked fish, a citrus salad and shoestring fries. The meal will be rounded out with an appropriately pink strawberry sorbet, too. Clocking in at $75 per person, each Sunday lunch also features two hours of unlimited rosé. Choose from the Arfion made in the Yarra Valley or opt for an overseas jaunt, with the Les Gres rosé from Provence, France. Bottomless rosé lunches run from 12–2pm or 2.30–4.30pm. Images: Simon Shiff
Large swathes of cinemas have been temporarily shuttered in China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Italy and France; theme parks have been closed in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo; and Texan music and film festival South by Southwest has been cancelled for the first time in 34 years. Music tours have been cancelled throughout Asia, too, and plenty of questions hang over forthcoming events elsewhere in the world — such as Coachella in April and the Cannes Film Festival in May. Now, Australia's arts scene is feeling the impacts of the mounting concerns about COVID-19, with Tasmania's Dark Mofo announcing it will not go ahead in 2020. In the same week that Miley Cyrus cancelled her trip to Australia and charity concert in Melbourne, the announcement was made on Facebook this morning by David Walsh, owner of Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), which runs the annual festival. In the statement, Walsh says: "We're killing Dark Mofo for the year. I know that will murder an already massacred tourism environment, but I feel like I have no choice." The art gallery and festival founder says the decision was made off the back of other locally run events not selling well and the prediction that Dark Mofo could also be a flop. "If we ran Dark and nobody came, I'd lose $5 million or more," Walsh said. If this happened, he says it could jeopardise the future of Dark Mofo. https://www.facebook.com/darkmofofestival/posts/2559026007553763?__tn__=K-R Take placing across Hobart during the winter solstice every year, Dark Mofo combines winter feasts, boundary-pushing art, nude swims, warehouse parties, talks and lots of live music. Last year's lineup saw the likes of artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, American musician Sharon Van Etten and one of the world's largest glockenspiels descend on the Tasmanian city. While the lineup for this year had not yet been announced, the 2020 festival was scheduled to take place from June 10–22. For now, MONA will remain open as usual and Dark Mofo is set to go ahead in 2021. Dark Mofo 2020 has been cancelled. You can read David Walsh's full statement over here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Rémi Chauvin
Calling all lovers of vino: the new app FreeWines offers up a free bottle of award-winning wine when you dine at participating restaurants across Australia. Currently, FreeWines is working with 200 restaurants to reward you with quality tipple and the list of participating restaurants grows weekly, with the aim of reaching 500. This is no attempt for restaurateurs to get rid of their less-than-desirable drops, either. All wines featured have either won international wine awards or have scored highly with James Halliday — think Hugh Hamilton 'The Rascal' Shiraz, Elephant Hill Syrah and First Creek Verdelho. The restaurants already involved are a mix of hatted venues, local favourites and popular spots, including The Hill Eatery, Boscage and Red Lantern on Riley in New South Wales; Chow City, Ebenezer and Romulus & Remus in Victoria; and Cove Bar and Dining, Deer Duck Bistro and Mecca Bah in Queensland. So if free, delicious wine sounds like something you can get down with (so, that’s most of us?) the first step is to download their app (also free and available on iOS and Android devices). Once you have found a participating restaurant, mention that you are a FreeWines member on arrival and when you order. Then select your desired bottle via the app, and Bob’s your uncle, free wine for you. The wine is compliments of both the vineyard and the restaurant to say thanks for dining, although to be honest, we feel that we should be thanking them at this point. Like most great clubs, membership is limited for this app, so make sure you get on board sooner rather than later. For more information head to their website and download the app. Here’s to top-quality wine and fantastic food.
Floor-to-ceiling views of one of the world's most infamous barriers, sleeping in sight of an Israeli watchtower and bunking down on abandoned army supplies aren't usually listed among a hotel's features. Nor is a rooftop that no one can set foot upon without prior permission from the Israeli military, everything getting locked down at 11pm each night or buying graffiti supplies to make your mark on an adjacent structure — but, of course, The Walled Off Hotel (not to be confused with the Waldorf Hotel) isn't any ordinary accommodation establishment. Set up in secret over the last 14 months and set to open on March 11, the Bethlehem guesthouse is the latest project from Banksy. "Enough said," you might be thinking — and yes, in keeping with the artist's usual modus operandi, the hotel is designed to attract attention. You don't just unveil a new place to stay not only in the West Bank, but with a clear vantage of the barrier that separates Palestine and Israel, without making a statement. The site follows in the footsteps of his Gaza tourism ad and theme park Dismaland in giving a dark, topical twist to the holiday trappings most of us take for granted. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRMFoDzDbGl/?taken-by=thewalledoffhotelbethlehem Once inside The Walled Off Hotel, visitors can expect to be greeted by "the worst view of any hotel in the world", as Banksy explained in a statement reported by The Guardian. "Walls are hot right now, but I was into them long before [Donald] Trump made it cool," he continued. Converted from a pottery workshop, the venue's ten rooms will definitely feel the impact of their close proximity to so many vertical slabs of concrete, with none receiving more than 25 minutes of direct sunlight each day. Anyone keen to book a stay — and given Banksy's involvement, expect there to be plenty — can choose between four levels of accommodation. Perhaps you'd like to kip in one of the rooms customised by different artists, including Banksy, Sami Musa and Dominique Petrin, or scenic lodgings with those not-quite-million-dollar views? Money conscious travellers can opt for budget digs that come with a locker, personal safe, shared bathroom and complimentary earplugs, while the palatial presidential suite will suit those with plenty of spare cash. It boasts a four-person plunge bath, home cinema, Dead Sea bath minerals and water feature made from a bullet-riddled water tank (or, "everything a corrupt head of state would need"). https://www.instagram.com/p/BRMHvSvBo5_/?tagged=walledoffhotel Throughout the building, Banksy-vandalised oil paintings and statues choking on tear gas fumes line the walls, setting a distinctive tone, but tea and scones are still served daily. Both a gallery and a museum will be open to the public, the former curated by historian and critic Ismal Duddera to showcase many of the most notable Palestinian artists from the past 20 years, and the latter providing a biography of the wall. In case you're wondering, no, this isn't a joke. As made clear on Banksy's website — which has been revamped to showcase the new venture — The Walled Off Hotel is a genuine establishment. The site is expected to run for a year to mark one hundred years since the British became involved in Palestine. Via The Guardian. Images: www.banksy.co.uk.
If there was a Morpho machine IRL rather than just in The Big Door Prize, and it dispensed cards that described the potential of television shows instead of people, this is what it might spit out about the Apple TV+ program that it's in: "comforting". This mystery-tinged existential dramedy is filled with people trying to discover who they are and truly want to be after an arcade game-esque console appears in their small town out of nowhere, and the series is both thoughtful and charming. In making the leap from the page of MO Walsh's book to the screen not once but twice now, The Big Door Prize has always also proven both cathartic and relatable viewing. Timing, dropping season one in 2023 as the pandemic-inspired great reset was well and truly in full swing, is a key factor in why the show resonates. Last year as well as now — with season two debuting on Wednesday, April 24 — this is a series that speaks to the yearning to face questions that couldn't be more familiar in a world where COVID-19 sparked a wave of similar "who am I?" musings on a global scale. Everyone now knows the scenario, then, before even watching a minute of The Big Door Prize. Everyone has been living this concept for half a decade. For viewers, of course, it was the drastic change of life as we know it due to a deadly infectious disease that got the planet's inhabitants probing how we're each meant to spend our lives — and to pine for an easy response at a time that's been anything but. Nothing IRL is doling out "royalty", "superstar" and "liar" in white lettering atop a gorgeous shade of blue, though. Actually, the Morpho in The Big Door Prize isn't anymore, either. The difference for the residents of the US midwest locale of Deerfield in the show's second spin: their path no longer simply involves pieces of cardboard that claim to know where the bearer should be expending their energy, but also spans new animated videos that transform their inner thoughts and hopes into 32-bit clips. Some snippets link to memories dating back decades. Some present alternative futures. Each ushers in a new wave of contemplation — because the focus of The Big Door Prize is how high-school teacher Dusty (Chris O'Dowd, Slumberland) and his neighbours react to the clairvoyant contraption and the information that it imparts. When the machine first made its presence known, Irishman-in-America Dusty was cynical. Initially, he held back as everyone clamoured for their business card-sized fortune. When he finally relented, he was unimpressed with the results: "teacher/whistler", the gizmo decreed about his destiny. Now, in a place where the Morpho remains the number-one talking point, he's taking the same route as everyone else in his community. As his wife Cass (Gabrielle Dennis, The Upshaws) and daughter Trina (Djouliet Amara, Fitting In) both are, Dusty has given in to letting the Morpho steer his decisions. Another question that The Big Door Prize poses: if being guided in the right direction was as straightforward as putting a quarter into a console, could you resist? Whether Dusty is making moves that'll impact his marriage, or his restaurant-owning best friend Giorgio (Josh Segarra, The Other Two) is leaping into a new relationship with Cass' best friend Nat (Mary Holland, The Afterparty), uncomplicated happiness rarely follows in this astute show. So when Dusty and Cass deem the Morpho's visions, as the townsfolk dub them, a sign that they need some space to stop being stuck in a rut, it isn't the move they think it will be. As their friends and acquaintances also hold up the Morpho up as a source of wisdom, the same keeps proving true. Trina's relationship with Jacob (first-timer Sammy Fourlas), the twin brother of her deceased boyfriend; Jacob's own efforts to grapple with loss and being without his sibling; his widowed father Beau (Aaron Roman Weiner, Power Book III: Raising Kanan) exploring echoes from his childhood; Cass' mum and Deerfield mayor Izzy (Crystal Fox, The Haves and Have Nots) working through her relationships: they all chart the same course. The Big Door Prize's tech element could fuel a Black Mirror instalment. In fact, The Big Door Prize is as concerned with what humanity does with the inventions that we create to better our existence as Charlie Brooker is. But bleakness never swirls through the mood here. Rather, this is a curious and empathetic series. While season two of the David West Read (Schitt's Creek)-developed show still treats its magical machine as a puzzle for characters and viewers to attempt to solve — and, especially through bartender Hana (Ally Maki, Shortcomings) and local priest Father Reuben (Damon Gupton, Your Honor), still ponders why the Morpho exists, how it knows what it knows and where it comes from — it firmly digs deeper into the quest for answers that we all undertake while gleaning deep down that there's no such thing as a simple meaning of life. In season two as in season one, it's no wonder that The Big Door Prize keeps feeling like staring in a mirror, then — and that it keeps constantly intriguing as well. When Dusty and company each return to the apparatus that holds such sway, they're greeted by a message: "are you ready for the next stage?". The show's audience may as well be asked the same. After 2023's episodes established The Big Door Prize's characters — and with Mr Johnson (Patrick Kerr, Search Party), who owns the store where the Morpho materialises, also among the main figures, there's no shortage of them — 2024's revisit can examine why they respond to the promise of knowing their life's purpose as they do. Not in its style of humour, but in its portrait of a town's eclectic residents, there's a Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons and, yes, Schitt's Creek vibe as the show unlocks another level of potential. It also helps that The Big Door Prize is extremely well-cast, starting with being well-led by O'Dowd. He isn't new to portraying a state of arrested development — going back to The IT Crowd, his resume is built upon it — but he turns in as sincere a performance as he ever has as someone beginning to confront the term. Everyone in Deerfield was cocooned in their routines, sometimes contentedly and sometimes not, before the Morpho appeared. Now, whether sporting oversized personalities (Segarra still steals every scene he's in) or as naturalistic as characters come (Amara, Fourlas, Maki and Gupton fall into that category), they're all fluttering towards finding light in their lives. The Big Door Prize knows that the story is in the journey, crucially — and if it continues flying, viewers will want to stay along for the ride. The Big Door Prize streams via Apple TV+. Read our review of season one, and our interview with Chris O'Dowd and Josh Segarra about season two.
