When The Haunting of Hill House hit Netflix back in 2018, it left a strong impression. The horror show clearly had that effect not just on audiences, but on the streaming platform, even though it stepped through a once-off storyline. So, anthology series-style, the service is bringing viewers a follow-up — in the form of The Haunting of Bly Manor. As the name makes plain, an eerie abode definitely plays a very prominent part once again. Created and co-directed by filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), just like its predecessor, The Haunting of Bly Manor adapts Henry James' 1898 horror novella The Turn of the Screw. That means that it heads into gothic chiller and even romance territory; however, given that it's set in 1980s England, you can expect a few tweaks to that story. As both the initial teaser and the just-dropped full trailer demonstrate, the show's narrative kicks off when Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas, Stargirl) hires an American nanny (Victoria Pedretti, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) to look after his orphaned niece Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) and nephew Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). Her employment follows the death of an au pair, and her arrival at Bly Manor exposes the estate's centuries of secrets. If you're a fan of The Haunting of Hill House, you will have spotted that both Thomas and Pedretti return from that series, as do The Invisible Man's Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Gerald's Game's Kate Siegel — all playing different characters this time around. And, if you'd been wondering what you'll be watching to celebrate the spookiest month of the year — October, obviously — The Haunting of Bly Manor has you covered, as it'll drop on Friday, October 9. A word of warning: if you're not too fond of creepy dolls (are there any other kind in horror movies and TV shows?), expect to feel extra unsettled. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tykS7QfTWMQ The Haunting of Bly Manor will hit Netflix on Friday, October 9.
That whole car ownership caper can now be a little less stressful, thanks to the arrival of Melbourne's new car subscription service. Operating a bit like Netflix, only with cars, Carbar+ can hook users up with a vehicle based on their needs, for a minimum one-month period. Prices currently run between $169 to $400 a week and cover all insurance, services and expenses, such as rego. If you want to opt out, a simple two weeks' notice is required before returning a car. To hire a car, you'll also need to hand over either $2000 as a bond or $495 for a lifetime membership. It works out to be cheaper than renting a car and way more flexible than leasing one, with customers able to swap between car models depending on the sort of driving they're doing. So one week you could drive around the city in an Audi A4, the next go off-road with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The group's new program Carbar Connect, which will launch later this month, also offers users extra fuel savings and benefits for servicing. Car subscription services have already proved popular overseas, though Carbar is the first to operate on Aussie shores. After tackling Melbourne, the group has got plans to roll out its program across Sydney and Brisbane. That said, it could face competition further down the track, as international car companies claim a piece of the local action — Audi On Demand is already set to launch here by 2020. Pitched as a "vehicle owning experience", Carbar's four founders — Desmond Hang, Davie Saw, Richie Chen and Kenneth Teo — launched the company three years ago as a car sales website that allowed users a three-day road test period when buying a new or used car online. For more information and to sign-up for a car, head to the Carbar website.
With house prices constantly on the rise, the Great Australian Dream of owning your own home feels pretty distant to most of us, but a group of architects and industrial designers in Beijing have an answer: the Tricycle House, a collapsible house that fits on the back of a tricycle. The house was a collaboration between the People's Architecture Office and the People's Industrial Design Office as part of the Get It Louder exhibition in Beijing. According to the designers, "Through this design, single family homes can be affordable and sustainable, parking lots are not wasted at night and traffic jams are acceptable. The Tricycle House is man-powered allowing off-the-grid living." The house is about 30-35 square feet, depending on how far out you expand it, and can be used as a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room and workspace, with space for storage. There is no electricity in the house, but the translucent shell allows light to pass through. It's an inspiring idea from a housing and sustainability perspective, but it also carries a message about the land ownership situation in China, where government 'land grabs' and rapidly rising real estate prices are the norm. Via LifeEdited and Treehugger.
The National Gallery of Victoria has been displaying a plethora of Chinese masterpieces lately, and the opening of its new dual exhibitions — Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape — are two more unmissable additions. The most monumental part of the exhibition is undoubtedly the Terracotta Army: a collection of sculptures that were created for the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang's gigantic tomb back around 221–206 BCE but were only discovered in Shaanxi province in 1974. It's one of the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds. The NGV had displayed some of them before back in the 80s, but has managed to score eight (of the estimated 8000) terracotta warriors for its 2019 Winter Masterpieces exhibition. They're supported by a cast of two breathtaking life-size Imperial Army horses and two smaller replica bronze chariots, and complemented by a remarkable selection of gold, jade and bronze artefacts that date back a thousand years. Finding parallels with the terracotta warriors, Cai Guo-Qiang's exhibition provides a contemporary perspective on China's culture and ancient philosophies. Across installation, exhibition design and paintings forged with gunpowder, Cai's work illuminates his sincere commitment to the idea that history and ritual can inform great contemporary art. Below, we've picked out six artworks that highlight why this exhibition is one you have to catch — whether you live in Melbourne or interstate. It will be showing right up until October 13. CAI GUO-QIANG [caption id="attachment_722861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] TRANSIENCE (PEONY) From good fortune to compassion and romance, peonies have held an important significance within Chinese culture for centuries. This artwork is made up of two works, with Transience I (Peony) being a huge mound of porcelain, which has been singed with gunpowder. The second part, Transience II (Peony), is an immersive 360-degree painting where Cai Guo-Qiang showcases the peony throughout its four stages of life — from its emergence to its bloom, wilting and eventually its decay. Each colourful petal displayed across the work was created using colourful gunpowder (in a Williamstown warehouse) to scorch the silk underneath forming unique characteristics and shapes. Together, the two works explore the fragility of life and hint at the downfall of the Qin empire — it was the first dynasty of Imperial China and lasted only 14 years as advisors fought for control. [caption id="attachment_722859" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Titz[/caption] MURMURATION (LANDSCAPE) Featuring 10,000 porcelain starlings, this mind-bending installation seeks to recreate the bewildering phenomenon of 'murmuration', where large flocks of birds move effortlessly in harmony — something that scientists still haven't landed on a conclusive answer for. Simultaneously, Cai's intricate work also resembles the undulating slopes of Mount Li, a culturally and spiritually significant place that was chosen by Emperor Qin Shihuang to house his giant terracotta army. Meanwhile, each of the birds in the artwork were produced in Cai's hometown of Quanzhou, which has strong traditions of crafting high-quality white porcelain. However, Cai used gunpowder to ignite his flock into a dramatic shade of black. [caption id="attachment_723262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Titz[/caption] FLOW (CYPRESS) Like peonies, cypress trees have long been an important emblem in ancient Chinese history. Symbolising resilience and integrity in art and literature, this large-scale creation saw Cai draw with gunpowder and mimic what's known in Chinese as dimai, or 'veins of the earth'. According to feng shui, the Chinese study of energy forces, locations that feature distinct valleys and rivers represent the earth's most abundant settings and have been chosen throughout ancient history as the sites for tombs and other places of supreme importance. This work depicts China's Central Plains, which is considered to be the birthplace of the concepts of yin and yang, Taoism, and the starting point for 400 years of the Han Dynasty. TERRACOTTA WARRIORS [caption id="attachment_723265" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] ARMOURED MILITARY OFFICER With an estimated 8000 terracotta warriors buried at the Xi'an excavation site, so far only about 2000 have managed to be successfully removed. However, what has astounded experts is that every figure they've managed to unearth has its own unique attributes, whether that be the uniforms they're wearing, the weapons they carry or the hairstyles of the people. This fact has led many to believe that each of the warriors could actually represent a real-life person from Emperor Qin's army of the time. [caption id="attachment_723264" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] KNEELING ARCHER Discovered in one of the excavation site's enormous pits, the kneeling archers are some of the Terracotta Army's best-preserved items that have been discovered to date. Highly realistic with their armour and facial expressions crafted in stunning detail, on average, the kneeling archers stand at about 1.2-metres-tall and are considered absolute masterpieces of ancient Chinese sculpture. It's said that the craftspeople responsible for the Terracotta Warriors paid extra careful attention to the kneeling arches, which can be seen in the stitching on their shoes and the immaculately produced armour plating. [caption id="attachment_723263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] MYTHICAL CREATURE The huge cache of ancient marvels didn't just include thousands of soldiers. For his journey into the afterlife, Emperor Qin decided that he'd need a host of other possessions, people and creatures to help him on his way. So far, archaeologists who remain hard at work digging through the earth have found a wealth of civilian figurines, carriages and even animals, including this remarkably preserved pair of mythical creatures. From singers and acrobats to strongmen, other findings include bronze cranes, horses and suits of armour, plus a host of buildings from his own imperial palace such as halls, stables and offices. Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape will both be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne until Sunday, October 13. Admission is $30 for adults and includes entry to both exhibitions. You can buy tickets at the gallery or in advance here. Images: courtesy NGV International.
The idea is that you dress in camouflage (see above) or as a zebra — not because sharks don't like zebras, but because the black-and-white stripey look signals poison. Rather than go in for the attack, the nearest great white will either fail to see you at all or avoid you like the plague. Australian company Shark Mitigation Systems (SAMS) worked in conjunction with the University of Western Australia's Ocean Institute to develop the technology. The institute, led by Professor Shaun Collin and Professor Nathan Hart, have been studying the workings of shark sight for years. Among their discoveries are that our predatory friends see in black and white, and that their vision is the sense upon which they depend during the decisive moments leading up to attack. 'Many animals are repelled by a striped pattern, which indicates the potential prey is unsafe to eat,' Collin told the BBC. In initial tests, dummies wearing old school black wet suits were attacked by passing tiger sharks, while those in the stripey numbers were ignored. The onset of summer will see further trials. The impact on the behaviour of great whites remains to be seen. Over the past two years, shark attacks have caused five fatalities in Australian waters and New Zealand suffered its first fatality in over 30 years recently. 'Everyone's looking for a solution, everyone's nervous about going in the water now,' SAMS entrepreneur Craig Anderson said. However, Ali Hood, conservation director for the UK's Shark Trust, pointed out that, 'To suggest that "everyone's nervous of entering the water" is rather strong . . . Sadly, a great number of the fatalities attributed to sharks occur in avoidable circumstances'. She suggested that, relative to the growth in the masses of people engaging in water sports, the number of shark attacks has not increased. SAMS technology has also been applied to stickers, which are said to transform surfboards, water skis, kayaks and underwater air tanks into shark deterrent objects. This weekend, SAMS makes an appearance on National Geographic's documentary, Australia's Deadliest: Shark Coast. [via Grind TV]
If you spend your free time binging on true crime, then you're probably familiar with the Golden State Killer. Between 1974–1986, the serial killer, rapist and burglar terrorised California, committing at least 12 murders, over 50 home-invasion rapes and more than 100 burglaries. Until 2018, however, the culprit hadn't been caught. Accordingly, it's the type of case that has kept more than a few folks wondering over the years and decades — including writer Michelle McNamara. HBO's new true-crime docuseries I'll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles McNamara's obsession with the case, as well as her hunt to find the perpetrator. Her tale is filled with intrigue, too, with her nights spent sleuthing through unsolved crimes and penning the blog True Crime Diaries while her family slept. Fixating on the Golden State Killer led McNamara to an article for Los Angeles Magazine, plus a book deal. But before she could finish her manuscript, McNamara — who was also married to comedian Patton Oswalt — died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in her sleep. Based on McNamara's book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, which was published two years after her death (and before an arrest was made in the case), the six-part series steps through this whole scenario. When the series hits HBO in the US at the end of June — with dates Down Under yet to be revealed, but Australian airings likely to happen via Foxtel — viewers can obviously expect quite the detective story. On offer, as both the initial teaser and just-dropped full trailer show: archival footage and details from police files; interviews with detectives, survivors and family members of the killer; and McNamara's own words, via original recordings as well as excerpts from her book read by actor Amy Ryan (Late Night, Beautiful Boy, The Office). The series also doubles as an exploration of the handling of sexual crimes in the 70s and 80s by law enforcement, as well as an examination of true-crime obsession and pursuit of justice. Check out the full trailer the below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_EVR1fI68o I'll Be Gone in the Dark starts screening on HBO in the US on June 28. An air date Down Under is yet to be announced — we'll update you when further details come to hand. Top images: Robyn Van Swank/HBO.
There are some marketing ideas that are so bizarre, so outrageous and so goddamn random, they're bound to work. The beloved Sydney sinners at Poor Toms Gin are currently executing one such campaign, and it's proving to be very effective. Basically, if you call 1800 GINSUS, say "Forgive me Ginsus for I have sinned,", and proceed to confess your juiciest sins to a most-certainly-non-ordained figure, Ginsus, he will bestow both forgiveness and free gin upon you (#blessed). The best/worst confessions are being anonymously published on the 1800 GINSUS website, and the winners will pick up a bottle of Poor Toms limited edition strawberry gin. Plus, the biggest sinners are in with a chance to win the mantle of best confession and a $600 prize pack — which is probably a better prize than your local church is offering for your confessions. Makes perfect sense to us. Some of the things confessed are so mouthwatering they truly deserve a bottle of gin — even if it's just to wash away the shame. Confessions published so far include "I made out with my first cousin," "I rubbed one out at work", "I got mad at my friends for suggesting my boyfriend looked like my father (he did)", "I told my sister I was too drunk to help her move [house] but I was not drunk at all", and "I made out with someone on the grass and rolled in dog shit. We went back to his tent and had sex then I stole some of his clothes to replace my dog shit clothes”. If you've got a sin to get off your chest, this really is a win-win — all those shameful experiences you've be keeping secret can now be transferred into sweet gin... which may or may not fuel the creation of more shameful experiences and so on. It's the sweet, sinful circle of life. For your chance to win some Poor Toms gin, call 1800 GINSUS and start confessing. The hotline will be open until midnight Tuesday, December 15. For more info, visit the 1800GINSUS website.
Yearning to get a taste of proper winter? White snow, sharp alpine air, rugging up in a big coat with a hot mug of something decadent? Or maybe you're restless and keen for a change of pace, whooshing down hills and through forests on skis, snowboards or even sleds. Well, you don't have to go far to make your ski-life dreams come true. Mt Hotham is Australia's highest alpine village and the best-kept secret of the snowfields. Just under five hours' drive from Melbourne, this tucked-away spot offers a winter wonderland of powdery slopes, vibrant après ski culture and magnificent natural beauty, with high mountain ranges and snow gum forests all around. By day, explore the vast trails of ski runs for every level, and get out on snowshoe tours and husky sled adventures. By night enjoy fondue and mulled wine under the stars or burgers, beer and DJ sets. Whatever way you holiday, there's a perfect escape waiting at Mt Hotham — we've planned a getaway that'll make you feel on top of the world. MORNING: BREAKFAST AT THE BIRD, THEN HIT THE SLOPES The early bird catches the cafe breaky. The Bird is an unfussy, rustic lodge-style spot. Located next to the Summit chairlift, it should be your first stop of the day before hitting the slopes. Start off with something hearty, like the Big Breaky Burger, scrambled tofu burrito or classic fry-up, or opt for something lighter like granola and yogurt or smashed avo on cornbread toast (it's not that far from Melbourne, after all). For something a bit different, warm up with an aromatic, mushroomy breakfast pho or a rich, comforting tagine with eggs. If you're peckish later, it's also open for lunch and light afternoon snacks — lemon and saffron arancini and gooey baked brie. The perfect après ski treat. Perk up with a hot espresso coffee or kick back with a selection of beers, wines and cider. HIT THE SUMMIT, THEN HEAD TO ROAD RUNNER OR HEAVENLY VALLEY Once you've fuelled up for your adventure, it's time to carve up the slopes. Mt Hotham's elevation provides a much more reliable powder and snowfall in the winter. If you are a novice snow bunny or just need to brush up on the basics, then the easy slopes of The Summit are the place to start. Whereas, Heavenly Valley offers some of the best moderate and advanced runs for those with a bit more skill who want to cut some serious tracks in the snow, swooping through gum tree terrain and making the most of the momentum on the slopes. For more black diamond runs, take the Road Runner chairlift to Beauchamps, Lower Sun Run, Lower Wendix and Upper Wendix. Head out early straight after breakfast so you have ample time and more space to yourself. AFTERNOON: LUNCH AT HOFF HUT, THEN PREPARE FOR SLEDDING Take the Heavenly Valley chairlift to the top of Black Snake and you'll find Hoff Hut, a charming stone-walled nook amidst some incredible mountain scenery. Built in 1949, this little piece of Mt Hotham history was transformed into a ski-in ski-out cafe in 2019. It's got everything you need to warm up and refuel after a morning on the slopes: hot, flaky pies and sausage rolls, wings hot from the outdoor BBQ smoker, comforting daily soup with buttered bread and its famous fresh jam doughnuts. Snuggle up to a hot chocolate, coffee or sweet mulled wine or relax with a cool beer. Sit on the outdoor deck to enjoy the view, gazing down the valley and watching the skiers whizz by. It's open 7 days a week, all snow season. STRAP IN FOR A HOWLING HUSKY SLED DOG TOUR Rug up and slide through a snow gum wonderland of the alpine bush in a genuine dogsled. Howling Husky Sled Dog Tours are more than just a cool way of getting around — each of the Siberian Huskies pulling you along your little adventure is full of personality, and so darn cute. They're trained for pulling freight, not racing, so it's a steady pace rather than an adrenaline ride. Choose from three tour types: The 30-minute Polar Paws Express is an easy little jaunt, while the Stumpy Tailed Trail takes 1 hour and 15 minutes along the looped trails of Hotham where you can head uphill and learn some local history — and maybe take a turn at driving the sled yourself. The Winter Dreams Family Tour is 2 hours and 15 minutes, where you learn commands for guiding the huskies, as well as a local history lesson. All three include the most important activity: husky-hugging time. Book ahead, it's obviously very popular. NIGHT: ENJOY PROPER APRÈS SKI AT MISS MARY'S The fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down. Downstairs at Hotham Central, you'll find Miss Mary's, a stylish and lively little spot open from 11.30am until late into the evening. But don't go expecting standard alpine fare: it's all Asian fusion. Snack on steamed gyoza, ika karaage and edamame with Szechuan salt, or go for something more substantial like tonkotsu ramen, chicken yakitori, ginger and sesame ceviche, Thai pumpkin and coconut curry or Vietnamese caramelised pork belly. It's all perfectly complemented by their signature cocktail list, featuring original riffs like the Vietnamese espresso martini, a Sünching bloody mary with gochujang and sriracha, pandan colada and yuzu mojito. Bright and flavourful, zesty and zingy — who says après ski fare has to be heavy? Plus, there are tap beers, a fridge of crafties and a solid Australian wine list. PARTY INTO THE MORNING AT JACK FROST Jack Frost is your ski-town party spot in Davenport Village, Mt Hotham, open daily from 4pm–1am. There's neon, a dancefloor, DJ sessions and $1 wings every day. What more could you want? Drinks. Well, there are beers, wines and a special High Country Negroni and famous Hot Buttered Whiskey — a take on a hot buttered rum, perfect after a day spent in the snow. When the hunger hits, there's an eclectic offering to suit every craving, from adobo jackfruit tacos with mezcal spiked slaw to a candied Satan bacon cheeseburger, spiced beef brisket with yuzu verde and whiskey pickled zucchini and, of course, chicken parma with a house-made Napoli sauce. Flavourful and filling. It's a place the locals love, where visitors are always welcome. ENJOY THE MOUNTAIN AIR AT ALPINE NATURE EXPERIENCE These eco-tours offer a snow experience unlike any other. For one, Alpine Nature Experience is the only place in Australia that can give you a night in a genuine snow igloo. Take a sunset snowshoe tour to the little purpose-built eco-village of snowdomes, igloos and hypedomes. Enjoy a dinner of French fondue in the firelight and rug up in blankets under the stars with homemade mulled wine. Sleep in the tranquillity of alpine nature, then wake to a hot breakfast and leave your splendid seclusion with a skidoo tour back to civilisation. Don't want to spend the night? Just take the evening tour, with a 3-course dinner in the communal tipi. Alpine Nature Experience offers other experiences throughout the season. Take a skidoo to a private hot tub in the snow, enjoy a feast of raclette cheese and watch the sunset in the hot tub with a bottle of bubbly. Or take a wine and cheese pairing course with a snowshoe tour. All this and more can be found in Mt Hotham, Australia's alpine wonderland. To find out more and start planning your trip, visit the website.
The popularity of Harry Potter has proven as enduring as comparable world-beating IP like Star Wars, for which the audience's appetite for newness and further exploration of the world has no apparent ceiling. Case in point: the epic two-part production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has enjoyed a huge run in Melbourne's Princess Theatre since debuting in February 2019. The production estimated 326,500 theatre-goers experienced the show in the first year alone — not bad for a play with a five-and-a-half hour run time. The two-parter finally wraps up its run this month with the final show on March 27. But, fortunately for theatre lovers and Potter stans alike: as one Cursed Child closes, another one opens! Tickets are now on sale for the new, condensed version of the play opening at the Princess Theatre from May 4, 2022 — a one-part iteration that's currently in the midst of a hugely successful Broadway run. The run time for the reimagined version comes in at far more manageable three-and-a-half hours (including one interval) and, while a third of the length has been removed, none of the magic has. It's the same story, just streamlined. And the brilliant Australian cast from the two-parter is almost entirely the same. So, what exactly is The Cursed Child about? The story picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry is now a Ministry of Magic employee, married to Ginny Weasley and the play focuses on his youngest son Albus Severus Potter coming of age at Hogwarts in the shadow of his famous father, as both father and son grapple with the past and the future. It's a fantastic production with plenty of heart, humour and incredibly well-executed magic, which is a credit to those pulling the literal and figurative strings (ropes?) behind the scenes. The new shorter format will mean a much wider audience can experience what is destination theatre-going. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in its two-part form, running until Sunday, March 27, 2022. It switches to a one-session production from May 4, 2022, with tickets for the latter on sale now. For more information, head to the play's website. Top image: Tim Carrafa. Cast images by Dan Boud.
Most Lego creations don't take four years to build. Of course, most Lego creations aren't real, actual, life-sized houses. In the town of Billund in Denmark, aka the place where Lego was invented by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen nearly a century ago, the 12,000-square metre Lego House has just opened its doors. It's filled with 25 million bricks, and while it isn't actually made out of the plastic toys, it is shaped to look like 21 white Lego pieces stacked on top of each other (complete with clay tiles giving off a glossy exterior sheen). Welcoming the public since September 28, and featuring free and paid spaces, Lego House is every kid's dream come true — and every adult who was once a Lego-loving child as well. In colour-coded sections that are themed according to the types of skills they tap into (creative, cognitive, social and emotional), visitors can learn about the evolution of Lego, view Lego showcases, eat in one of three Lego cafes, play on nine rooftop Lego terraces, shop in a huge Lego store, get their own Lego mosaic portrait, and, yes, just have fun constructing their own Lego concoctions. Among Lego House's highlights is the 15-metre tall Tree of Creativity, which took 24,350 hours and 6,316,611 bricks to build, making it one of the largest Lego structures ever made. Elsewhere, the masterpiece gallery pays tribute to the impressive structures created by Lego fans, as hand-picked by the sites curators. In the history collection, the first Lego set ever produced is on display, plus other milestone pieces. A number of behind-the-scenes tours are also on offer, in a space designed by architecture firm BIG. As part of their massive feat, the top part of the building — which resembles one of Lego's iconic 2 x 4 keystone bricks — shines eight beams of light into the sky like the knobs on top of a standard piece. While general entry is free, advance bookings are required in what's destined to be quite the popular spot. Timed tickets for specific areas cost approximately AU$40, and Lego expects that more than 250,000 people will visit each year. Images: Lego.
If you've got a hard-earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered, and that's been the case for a couple of years. Hankering not just for branded VB gear for your wardrobe, but also for a VB fragrance? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just added a new scent to its range. Called Thirst, the brand's newest addition has also been dubbed "eau de hard work". That's by VB itself, of course. And, to answer the first question that will have instantly popped into your head — yes, it comes in a bottle that looks like a stubby. As for second query that we're sure you're currently pondering, the fragrance is made from perfume oil combined with "the essence of Australian Super Pride hops" — aka an extract from the same hops that are used to brew VB. So, while you hopefully won't reek like the stale aroma that sticks to your clothes after you've accidentally spilled your beer, you will definitely smell like hops, it seems. Apparently the scent has whiffs of "bitter citrus" and "icy aromas", too. If you're eager to not only drink VB, but bathe yourself in a cloud of its distinctive bouquet, you can purchase Thirst from Chemist Warehouse, either online or in-store. Sadly but unsurprisingly given how popular the brand's merch always proves (case in point: its retro Christmas sweater from earlier this year), the small amount of the stock that was up for sale via VB's 'Big Cold gear' website has already sold out, though. If you're keen on other VB-themed items as well, you can still head to the brand's site to check out its retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. Victoria Bitter's Thirst scent is available to purchase from Chemist Warehouse — either online or in-store. For more information, visit VB's 'Big Cold gear' website.
Dumpster diving found itself well and truly Brooklynised over the weekend, when 20 diners feasted on day-old bread, bruised apricots and super ripe bananas in a old Williamsburg dumpster. Brooklyn-based initiative Salvage Supperclub served up course after course of revisualised foods deemed unworthy for selling — wilting vegetables, semi-stale loaves and old cookies. Held once a month to make a big public statement about sustainability and how much food we throw away for aesthetic reasons, Salvage Supperclub was developed by Josh Treuhaft, an MFA in Design for Social Innovation at New York's School of Visual Arts. Linked to his own graduate thesis, 'Eat Everything', and raising funds for a non-profit, Treuhaft teamed up with chef Celia Lam (Manhattan's Natural Gourmet Institute) to create the entirely vegetarian menu. The pair dropped by Migliorelli Farm, Bushwick Food Coop and Natural Gourmet Institute to collect ingredients — the chipped, bruised and totally edible vegie heroes who would have found themselves in a dumpster anyway. With only 20 spots at the table, the Salvage dining experience was one of NYC's one-to-brag-about tickets this weekend. All proceeds from the $50-a-plate dinner were donated to the US non-profit organisation Culinary Corps. With diners happily seated at a long bench snuggled inside the dumpster, chef Lam served up a dazzling six-course tasting menu on old subway tiles — we're talking rescued root vegetable fettuccine, super ripe banana custard with captured cookie crust — alongside a cheeky illegal champagne cocktail hour. Lam took time to explain to guests the rewards from working with 'spoiled' foods — bruised fruits are better for pureeing, for example. While the stunt might cause many an "Oh, Williamsburg," head shake, Salvage has harnessed that pressing sustainability conundrum for well-off, aesthetically obsessed countries. Just because it's ugly, doesn't mean it's inedible. Via Pixable and Grub Street.
With Melbourne being the kind of place where new cafes pop up faster than you can say 'soy latte', it's hard to distinguish the good from the bad. But after opening earlier this year, The Grain Store, tucked in the bottom end of Flinders Lane, is setting itself apart. The space has the ability to make you feel relaxed and calm in an instant. Wooden tones are coupled with design details like crates filled with apples and whole pumpkins and fresh produce, which may make you feel a little like a Southern Belle. Add taps of beer, down to earth waitstaff and a gorgeous private dining space and you've got yourself one little cafe with a big personality. Local and sustainable produce is front-of-mind when experienced chef Ingo Meissner creates his European brunch fare — it's modern fine dining done with skill and diligence. The breakfast menu items like the sweet Grain Store toasted muesli parfait with mandarin, chia seed yoghurt and quince ($10), chilli and fennel sausage with winter vegetable mash, poached egg, Russian red kale, pear and cider relish ($17) and, if you're lucky, a special of sweet brioche French toast with rhubarb, apple and caramel are indulgent and distinctive. Lunch sees larger dishes like Coq au Vin with mash potato, double smoked bacon and mushrooms ($27) and Nicola potato gnocchi and tomme cheese with mushroom taleggio cream, broccoli, brown butter and nigella seeds ($21). If you feel like a sweet treat, a lemon meringue pie ($11) will come delightfully deconstructed, while the cookies and milk sees four perfectly, baked to order chocolate chip cookies served along alongside glass of milk ($9). It's divine. They are just as serious about their drinkables as they are about their eatables at The Grain Store. For the caffeine addicts there is the house blend coffee from St Ali ($3.50) or the single origin of the day ($4). Teas come from Larsen & Thomson, juices from Emma & Tom's and soft drinks from Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co. When coffee and tea just isn't cutting it, go for a wine or beer. Try a glass of Dominique Portet Brut Rose ($11 glass), or perhaps a bottle of Hennings Shiraz from Heathcote ($59 bottle). Beer drinkers can match a True South Pilsner ($6 pot) or a 3 Ravens golden alt bier ($8 bottle) to their lunch. The Grain Store is a cafe that you want to spend time in, and the fact that they take bookings means you might just be able to. Arguably boasting the best menu on the business end of Flinders Lane, it's a little slice of comfort for any occasion.
There's something about the combination of chocolate and hazelnut that encourages a particularly fierce strain of food fandom. If you're fond of the pairing, you don't just like it — you flat-out love it more than almost every other food there is. That's why everything from Nutella recipe books and hotels to festivals and food trucks keep popping up. It's also why almost every dessert menu seems to feature the spread these days. And, it's clearly why Koko Black has opted for choc-hazelnut as well when it comes to releasing its first beer. This brew has nothing to do with Nutella, but it is chocolate hazelnut-flavoured — as made with Belgian couverture chocolate, plus hazelnuts (obviously). The resulting Belgian stout clocks in at 6.9 percent alcohol by volume, and marks a collaboration between the chocolatier and brewer Modus Operandi. No one needs a reason to come up with this beer-meets-dessert hybrid; however, it takes inspiration from Koko Black's 'nuts to caramel' collection. Yes, that's exactly what you're meant to eat while you're sipping. The choc hazelnut Belgian stout is being released to coincide with this year's Great Australian Beer Spectapular (GABS) in Melbourne, which takes place between Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23. It'll be pouring as part of a masterclass during the fest, but that's not the only place you'll be able to find it. Head to Koko Black's website now to pick up a hamper featuring the brew — and some chocolate, naturally — or, if you're in Victoria, you can nab a four-pack from selected bottle shops from Sunday. Koko Black and Modus Operandi's choc hazelnut Belgian stout is on sale now via the Koko Black website — and will be sold in selected Victorian bottle shops from Sunday, May 23.
If you've ever stumbled down Russell Street at midnight searching for something cheesy, chances are you know Connie's: a nostalgic, pizza-shaped hole in the wall, operating from inside Heartbreaker, arguably the CBD's best rock-n-roll dive bar. Well, hold onto your parmesan shaker, because Connie's will be slinging its signature NYC-style pizzas from a brand new, much larger home above Heartbreaker from January next year. It's Connie's first dedicated space, and co-owners Michael Madrusan and his partner Zara, have ripped their playbook straight from the Italian American eateries of the 1980s, with warm hospitality, cheesy mozzarella sticks, and a generous slice of nostalgia. [caption id="attachment_834208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Connie's co-owners Zara & Michael Madrusan. Photography by Pete Dillon.[/caption] "We had always planned for Connie's to evolve beyond Heartbreaker's four walls, into its own restaurant, but the right location had never presented itself," says Zara. "Michael and I have had our eyes on the space for some time and when it became available, we jumped at the opportunity and immediately started working on the new concept." The new concept is this: crimson vinyl booths, seating for over 70 patrons, leadlight pendants dangling from the ceiling and '80s Italian film posters plastered on the walls. There's a jukebox in the corner, a pool table ready to roll, and several revolving disco balls (because it wouldn't be the 1980s a double dose of kitsch). The new Connie's will also feature a rooftop deck overlooking Lonsdale St, with room for another 30 hungry diners. "I have so many great memories of my younger years spent at my family's Italian restaurants. I wanted the new Connie's to showcase the best traits of old school family-run pizzerias," says co-owner Michael. "It will be fun, familiar food and a really good time. Our venues are known for the theatre and attention to detail. With Connie's, the music will play a huge role in bringing the experience to life." [caption id="attachment_825640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Connie's Grandma Pies which ran as a lockdown special.[/caption] Cooked to a soundtrack of Soul and Motown classics, pizza will still be the star of the show. The new Connie's menu revolves around their signature deep dish and classic NYC 18-inch pizzas, but Michael is also running pasta, eggplant parmigiana, baked clams, mozzarella sticks, cheesy garlic bread and retro gelato desserts (courtesy of Mr Pisa). It's the closest you're going to get to 1980s Little Italy in Melbourne. Connie's new pizzeria is set to open in mid-to-late January 2022 at upstairs, 234B Russell Street, Melbourne, directly above Heartbreaker. It will be open from 5pm until late, Wednesday—Saturday.
Across two seasons in 2016 and 2018, Fleabag was the only dramedy that mattered. If you weren't watching Phoebe Waller-Bridge's smash hit, you were hearing all about it from everyone you knew. If you were watching it, you were then rewatching it — and, of course, telling all of your friends. But before it was a hit TV series, Fleabag was a one-woman theatre show. That history behind Phoebe Waller-Bridge's award-winning series isn't new news, of course. As the television version of Fleabag kept picking up accolades — a BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy for its writer/creator/star; Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series; Best Actress and Best Television Series Golden Globes; and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series among them — that past was well-known. But if you haven't seen the OG stage production, a recorded version of that stunning performance is coming back to the big screen Down Under. The story remains the same, charting an incredibly relatable tale of trying to balance work, life, love and the like. When it was playing theatres from 2013–2019 after premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Fleabag was just as applauded. And, as plenty of hit UK productions are, it was filmed by NT Live, then beamed into cinemas. It's that recording that's heading to picture palaces across Australia again from July 13, complete with Waller-Bridge stepping through the story of Fleabag's titular character. Captured at London's Wyndham's Theatre, it initially started doing the rounds for filmgoers in 2019. Indeed, that debut silver-screen stint broke box-office records. If you're unfamiliar with the TV show, let alone the theatre production before it, Fleabag's existence is perhaps best described as chaotic. Friends, family, job interviews, keeping a guinea pig-themed cafe afloat — they're just the beginning. The idea behind it came at one of Waller-Bridge's pal's storytelling nights, as a challenge to create a character for a ten-minute slot. Timing-wise, Fleabag returns to the big screen just a couple of weeks after Waller-Bridge gets adventurous with Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Check out the trailer for NT Live's Fleabag encore season below: Fleabag returns to Australian cinemas from July 13, 2023. Images: Matt Humphrey.
Tasmania's north-west is a land of dizzying mountain peaks, ancient rainforests and rushing waterways. It's home to the Tarkine Wilderness, Cradle Mountain and the Franklin River. These wild places provide plenty of inspiration for local chefs and producers, who are spoilt for ingredients — be it pristine water, native berries, iron bark honey or fresh salmon. And the good news is, it's all too easy to spend a weekend indulging in their marvellous creations. Simply jump in your car and get yourself to Port Melbourne to board Spirit of Tasmania, which will sail you straight to Devonport and make your journey to Australia's southernmost state one to remember. Here, you can get a jump on your foodie road trip before you've even hit land. Partake in Tasmanian oysters in the ship's restaurant, indulge with ice cream from The Pantry shop, and enjoy the brews and sea views in the ship's bars. May to October there's even a Flavours of Tassie showcase, where you can sample everything from local cheeses and chocolates to wines and spirits. Here's your guide to eating and drinking once you drive off the ship in Devonport and hit the road to Launceston. SOUTHERN WILD DISTILLERY Your eating and drinking adventures begin as soon as you hit Devonport, with some gin tasting. You'll find Southern Wild Distillery on the western banks of the Mersey River. Master distiller George Burgess creates unique spirits that express Tassie's wild landscapes, using water from mountain streams and ingredients grown by locals. Meadow Gin, for example, is a heady mix of lavender, sage and oranges (alongside 12 other botanicals), while Ocean Gin features aromas of seaweed, nori, jasmine, ocean spray and rose petals. Burgess's weapon is a one-of-a-kind copper still, handcrafted for him by Stillsmiths, who live just up the road. Southern Wild Distillery is at 17 Fenton Way, Devonport SEVEN SHEDS BREWERY Now that you've tried some of Tassie's finest gin, it's time to find out how the brewers compare. Just half-an-hour's drive south of Devonport, in Railton, is Seven Sheds Brewery, Meadery and Hop Garden. Here, brewer Willie Simpson grows organic hops, which, along with mainly local malts, go into small-batch beers and Kentish ales. Meanwhile, local honey is turned into mead. Relax on a bar stool and (if you're not the designated driver) work your way through his creations, starting with Black Inca — a rich, black ale infused with cacao beans, as well as organic oats and quinoa — and working your way to Razzamatazz, a wheat ale infused with local clover honey. It also includes raspberries and blackberries from Christmas Hills Farm, your next destination. Seven Sheds Brewery, Meadery and Hop Garden is at 22 Crockers Street, Railton [caption id="attachment_666229" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Eugene Hyland[/caption] CHRISTMAS HILL RASPBERRY FARM CAFE Continue along Railton Road for another 20 minutes to reach the Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm Cafe, devoted to one of the best things in life: fresh raspberries. The farm cafe menu is an explosion of brilliant red, juicy goodness. Start with a raspberry daiquiri or Red Cow (blended raspberries, raspberry liqueur, Kahlua, milk, syrup), then tuck into crumbed mushrooms with raspberry chilli sauce or Petuna ocean trout with raspberry hollandaise, followed by raspberry ice cream. There's also a shop peddling jams, sauces and chocolates, letting you take some bucolic memories home with you. The Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm Cafe is at 9 Christmas Hills Road, Elizabeth Town [caption id="attachment_665957" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Adam Gibson for Tourism Tasmania[/caption] 41 DEGREES SOUTH By now, you could probably do with a stroll, so pop on your hiking boots and drive to 41 Degrees South, an inland salmon farm within Tasmania's World Heritage-listed wilderness. The self-guided walk takes you past the working farm and through wetlands before reaching Montana Falls. Along the way, expect to meet native birds, meandering creeks, diverse grasses, tranquil ponds and, if you're quiet and patient, maybe a platypus or two. Once you've worked up an appetite, sink into a chair at the cafe and prepare to taste some of the freshest salmon you've ever eaten. There are tasting plates, hot smoked salmon sandwiches and a mighty salmon burger, with local beers and wines to match. 323 Montana Road, Deloraine BLUE HILLS HONEY If you've time to explore further afield, head west to visit Blue Hills Honey, in Mawbanna – about 90 minutes' drive from Devonport. The Charles family have been making honey here since 1955 and, today, they sell it all over the world, from Hong Kong and Singapore to Germany and Russia. Every mouthful is created by European honey bees, who draw nectar from the flowers of leatherwood, manuka, blackberry and other Tasmanian natives. Bees wax and honey chocolate are on offer, too. 1858 Mawbanna Road, Mawbanna SLEEPING With so much eating and drinking to do, you'll need to make sure you get a good sleep. Stays don't get any more peaceful than Eagle's Nest Retreat, a luxe, totally private getaway on a rural property, with views directly over Tasmania's renowned Cradle Mountain wilderness. Expect a lush king-sized bed, floor-to-ceiling windows affording 360-degree views, your own campfire and an oversized spa. If you're really keen to float away, book a relaxation massage or a hot stone therapy session. You can also invite a private chef over to take care of dinner. THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS HOW TO GET THERE: Sail to Devonport on Spirit of Tasmania, which departs Port Melbourne. That way, you can take your car with you, and load it up with gourmet gifts galore on the journey back — there are no weight restrictions stopping you. WHEN TO GO: Tasmania is spectacular all year round. WHAT DOES IT COST: This varies, depending on how many fancy lunches you plan on indulging in. Expect to spend anywhere between $50 and $200 a day (plus accommodation). To book your Tasmanian adventure today, head to the Spirit of Tasmania website.
It has been a tumultuous two years for the Sydney Film Festival. First, the event moved completely online in 2020, as many fests did. Then, it hosted a brief summer season this January, welcoming cinephiles back to the State Theatre. And, in the hope that running the huge movie-filled festival as normal might've been more of a possibility later in the year, SFF then shifted from its usual June dates to the end of August for 2021. Obviously, the Greater Sydney region's current extended lockdown has now gotten in way of the latter, and its planned run Wednesday, August 18–Sunday, August 29 now during the city's stay-at-home period. So, unsurprisingly, the fest's organisers have announced that they're shifting this year's SFF to November. Movie buffs, you'll need to block out Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14 in your calendar, as that's when SFF's 68th edition is now scheduled to take place. And, you can start looking forward to a festival that won't require carting your winter coat around, sipping soup in the State or enjoying the rush between cinemas because it keeps you warm — because this year's fest will now be a late-spring affair. Which venues SFF will screen in, and how many of its already-announced first 22 films will still grace its screens — and what the rest of the program will look like, too — is all yet to be announced. It is expected that the fest's lineup will undergo some tinkering, however, given that some of the titles already unveiled will have already reached cinemas in general release before November. So far, that includes Zola, the wild Sundance hit based on a lengthy 148-tweet Twitter thread. When the rest of the program will be announced also hasn't been revealed, although SFF normally doesn't unveil its full lineup until around a month before the festival — so, it's safe to assume further details will arrive by early August. Standout movies currently on SFF's bill include New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Old); Riders of Justice, a revenge-fuelled Danish comedy led by the inimitable Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round); 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear winner There Is No Evil, a searing Iranian drama about the death penalty; and Undine, the alluring and beguiling latest film from German auteur Christian Petzold. The festival has also already announced a retrospective dedicated to Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. SFF joins Vivid in postponing due to the current outbreak and lockdown — and doing so after already delaying its 2021 dates in an effort to avoid cancellations, rescheduling or being impacted by restrictions. At present, Vivid is due to run from mid-September. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival will now take place between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14. For further information, head to the festival website.
If you've committed yourself to extending the holiday indulgence and enjoying a January stuffed with good food, the legends at Nomad are here to help you reach your goals. This weekend, Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor is bringing back a much-loved lockdown project — her next-level bomboloni, aka Italian doughnuts. After achieving cult status as a lockdown special served up by Nomad's OG Surry Hills restaurant last year, the bomboloni are back for a one-weekend-only appearance. On offer from 10am this Saturday, January 15, and Sunday, January 16 from the newly opened Flinders Lane outpost, you'll find two dreamy varieties of the treat: a savoury version comes loaded with sujuk, haloumi and a fried egg, and a fairy bread-inspired creation, starring burnt butter cream, strawberry glaze and a coating of 100's & 1000's, that sweet-toothed bombolone fans will be all about. Both are available for takeaway only, with the sweet bombolone going for $10 a pop and the savoury one priced at $16. If last year's are anything to go by, however, they won't be hanging around for long — you'd better get in as early as you can.
Architectural fusion with nature has been taken to a new level with Villa Vals. Constructed in 2009 by Bjarne Mastenbroek (of SeARCH) and Christian Muller (of Christian Muller Architects), the villa is designed to 'completely integrate into the landscape to avoid disturbing the unspoiled nature.' The building's underground location does not diminish visual access to the external world. A central patio and slanted facade provide scope for mountain views. Given that Villa Vals' address is above thermal springs, at a 1,250-kilometre height in the Swiss Alps, this means the kind of landscape that would have had Tolkien reaching for his pen: wildflowers, singing streams and secret valleys. Peter Zumthor's famous Therme Vals is just next door. A contemporary minimalist aesthetic informs the interior, expressed through airy, uncluttered perspectives and straight lines. Several Dutch designers, including Hella Jongerius, Demakersvan, Scholten & Baijings, Marcel Wanders, Claudy Jongstra, Royal Tichelaar Makkum and Vitra Nederland, have contributed furnishings and decorative objects. Despite this eclecticism of sources, the overall feel is coherent and tranquil. Villa Vals holds up to 10 people. A cool 3,850 Euros will buy a week's stay in the high season, and this drops to 2,100 during the low period. It is also possible to book for just 2 nights. Couples seeking one room only receive a 20% discount. An alpine village is just up the road and the area is brimming over with opportunities for hiking, cycling and skiing adventures. [via PSFK]
Love quirky facts? Spent your life amassing the kind of details that will probably never come in handy? Consider yourself a whiz at every trivia night around town? If so, you're probably a QI fan — and an avid listener of No Such Thing As a Fish. The former is, of course, the long-running British comedy panel quiz. The latter is the popular, award-winning podcast hosted by four of the show's researchers, aka the folks putting in the hard yards to come up with amusing pieces of information you didn't know you needed to know. Series staffers Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski and Andrew Hunter Murray aren't just finding tidbits for a raft of English comedians, or spending their spare time sharing the most bizarre facts they've come across over the last seven days, however. Come May 2018, they're also heading to Australia to shower our shores with trivia morsels. The live version of the podcast will include a live recording, so your laughter might be immortalised forever, plus a round up of the most astonishing things the team have discovered from the year's news. It has been a busy couple of years for the group, with their last UK and European tour proving a sell-out, and their 187 episodes to date scoring more than 55 million downloads. As Schreiber explains, "we started as four dorks sitting around a single microphone trying to make each other laugh. Things have changed a bit since we started — we now have four microphones — but it's a thrill to know there are hundreds of thousands of other people who love the same wild and hilarious facts that we do." No Such Thing As a Fish heads to The Comedy Theatre, Melbourne on May 12, the Sydney Opera House on May 15 and Brisbane's Queensland Performing Arts Centre on May 17. Tickets go on sale at 10am on November 1, with a pre-sale from midday on October 30. Check out the podcast's website for further details.
Gumboots at the ready: after a pandemic-enforced break, then a smaller tour in 2022, Groovin the Moo is returning in 2023 with a full nationwide run. The large-scale touring music festival will head to six different states and territories across April and May, finally marking a comeback in Western Australia, South Australia or Queensland — and returning to New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria as well. In the Sunshine State, it's also stopping at a new location — one closer to Brisbane, which is ace news for southeast Queenslanders. That destination: the Sunshine Coast. When it hits the state, and WA and SA as well, GTM will host fests in each of those parts of the country for the first time since 2019. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Groovin the Moo (@groovinthemoo) For folks in Queensland's north, GTM is sad not to be coming to Townsville in 2023, but had to adjust to pandemic-era logistical challenges and increased financial pressures. "We are so happy to be able to do a full tour across the country in 2023. We have missed you terribly and can't wait to bring back the good times around the country, said GTM's Steve Halpin. "Whilst we are very sad not be returning to Townsville, we look forward to bringing GTM to the Sunshine Coast." [caption id="attachment_885444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ash Caygill[/caption] It's a tad too early for a lineup announcement as yet, but cross your fingers for another impressive roster of talent when the festival bill does drop. For reference, 2022's included everyone from Peking Duk, Montaigne, Masked Wolf and Middle Kids through to Hilltop Hoods and Spiderbait, plus New Zealanders Broods and Chai, Germany's Milky Chance, and Wolf Alice, Thomas Headon, Riton and Snakehips from the UK. [caption id="attachment_885447" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] GROOVIN THE MOO 2023 DATES AND VENUES: Friday, April 21 — Adelaide Showground, Kaurna Country, Wayville, SA Saturday, April 22 — Maitland Showground, Wonnarua Country, Maitland, NSW Sunday, April 23 — Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country, Mitchell, ACT Saturday, April 29 — Bendigo's Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Bendigo, VIC Sunday, April 30 — Kawana Sports Western Precinct, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country, Warana, QLD Saturday, May 6 — Hay Park, Wardandi Noongar Country, Bunbury, WA Groovin the Moo will tour Australia in April and May 2023. We'll update you with lineup details when they're announced. For more information in the interim, head to the festival's website. Top images: Ruby Boyland, Ash Caygill and Chloe Hall.
SHOP225 is on a roll after being named Australia's Best Pizzeria by the 50 Top Pizza Awards back in September. Now the hole-in-the-wall Pascoe Vale hotspot — and its Moonee Ponds sister restaurant, Il Caminetto — have received three more major accolades, cementing their reputation as must-try destinations for Italian cuisine. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves pizza, SHOP225 has long been committed to making gluten-free innovations, serving an unbeatable slice that's also celiac-friendly. Now, this boundary-pushing research has been honoured at the 24th World Spicy Pizza Championship in Scalea, Italy, positioning the pizzeria as a global trailblazer. While SHOP225 is forward-thinking in its pizza-making philosophy, the team was also recognised for its respect for tradition. Picking up another award, the Movimento Italian Pizzaioli, a global organisation committed to the art of Italian pizza, gave the pizzeria its flowers for preserving the spirit of a tried-and-true slice. In a similar vein, SHOP225's Sicilian heritage was also lauded with a third award. Respected culinary guide Sicilia da Gustare gave the pizzeria a special nod for its promotion of traditional Sicilian recipes and culture, helping to spread the delicious word about the region. With both venues renowned for their Sicilian-focused menus, Il Caminetto was awarded for its Sicilian-inspired wine list. Serving homemade pasta and woodfired pizza from its inviting corner restaurant, guests encounter regional reds and crisp coastal whites that evoke a sun-drenched Italian summer. Now with even more accolades to hang on the wall, SHOP225 was already big news after beating out more than 1000 other pizza restaurants from around the globe at the 50 Top Pizza Awards. Currently ranked 28th in the world and number one in Australia, perhaps it's time for an award-winning slice, gluten-free or otherwise. Head to SHOP225 at 225 Melville Rd, Pascoe Vale South, or find Il Caminetto at 114 Pascoe Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds. Visit the website for more information.
Hollywood is giving video games to the film and TV treatment like it's collecting loot, with Borderlands the latest button-mashing favourite heading to cinemas. Cate Blanchett (The New Boy) as Lilith, Kevin Hart (Lift) as Roland, Jack Black (The Super Mario Bros Movie) voicing Claptrap, Eli Roth (Thanksgiving) writing and directing, treasure-hunting antics, seemingly trying to make the next Guardians of the Galaxy: that's all in store, as the just-dropped first trailer for the movie shows. Set for an August 2024 release, the Borderlands film isn't done with its familiar names and faces yet. Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis also features, alongside everyone from Edgar Ramírez (Dr Death) and Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie) to Florian Munteanu (Creed III) and Gina Gershon (reteaming with Roth after Thanksgiving). And the tale they're telling? It focuses on bounty hunter Lilith's return to the chaotic Pandora, her home planet — and a "dumpster fire of a world", she notes — to find Atlas' (Ramírez) missing daughter. To do so, she needs assistance from mercenary Roland, demolitionist Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), the beefy Krieg (Munteanu) and scientist Tannis (Curtis) — and, from robot Claptrap, with Black lending his voice to another flick based on a hugely popular game after his stint as Bowser in 2023. In the colourful debut sneak peek, mayhem ensues as the movie's main crew navigate bandits and aliens, and have saving the universe as one of their aims. So, if you're new to all things Borderlands and this first glimpse at the film has you thinking of Guardians of the Galaxy, that's understandable. The vibe invites the comparison, right down to the use of a 70s hit: Electric Light Orchestra's 'Do Ya'. A film version of Borderlands has been in the works for almost a decade, with the game itself first arriving in 2009 and spawning three more so far in its main series — 2012's Borderlands 2, 2014's Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and 2019's Borderlands 3 — plus a number of spinoffs. Shot in 2021 but finally hitting screens in 2024, the Borderlands flick comes after 2023 proved big for game adaptations thanks to The Super Mario Bros Movie, the TV take on The Last of Us and cinema's Five Nights at Freddy's. 2024 will also deliver a Fallout streaming series, plus the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The list of upcoming titles doesn't end there, either, including turning The Legend of Zelda into a live-action film. Check out the trailer for Borderlands below: Borderlands will release in cinemas releases in US cinemas on August 9 — we'll update you with a Down Under release date when one is confirmed. Images: courtesy of Lionsgate.
Michael Winterbottom and Steve Coogan, the team behind the cult favourites 24 Hour Party People and The Trip, are teaming up on the big screen again, this time presenting a biopic of the infamously rich British entrepreneur Paul Raymond in The Look of Love. Raymond, famous for opening Revue Bar in Soho and cultivating an empire built on the famous message 'sex sells', is portrayed by Coogan, who is perhaps a perfect fit given he once showered a topless model with £5000. The movie does much more than explore his world of erotica though, focusing on the King of Soho's personal relationships with the women closest to him and how he lost them on his way to gaining millions of pounds. The exploration of his life as a professional, husband, lover and father has already garnered acclaim, and whilst not everything Coogan touches recently has turned to gold, he seems to be onto a winner here. The Look of Love hits Australian screens June 27 and we have ten double in-season passes to give away, courtesy of Madman Entertainment. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Direct flights from Australia's east coast to New York — and London, too — are on their way, with Qantas committing to make the massive trips from 2025. But first, the Aussie airline is heading non-stop from Auckland to the Big Apple. The carrier has announced two pieces of exciting news for travellers Down Under, both of which might change your holiday plans from 2023 onwards. Firstly, it's starting those direct Auckland–New York routes, kicking off on June 14. Secondly, it's recommencing flying to NY in general, including a new Sydney–Auckland–New York flight. Initially, the new service will run three days a week, starting in Sydney before soaring non-stop from NZ to NY. The latter part will take a whopping 16 hours, which is slightly shorter than the 17-hour direct Perth–London route that first hit the air back in 2018, but will still be a mammoth undertaking. Yes, time feels like it means nothing when you're on one plane for that long. Yes, if you're keen on as few stopovers as possible whenever you're jetting around the world, that hefty non-stop leg is worth it. When Qantas returns to NY for the first time in three years due to the pandemic, travellers will be flying on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the airline taking delivery of three new aircraft in 2023. If you now know what you're doing next winter — enjoying a hot NY summer, obviously — the Sydney–Auckland–New York flights have just gone on sale today, Thursday, August 25. The airline will also increase its daily services from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Auckland from six to 11 when the new route commences, to help Aussies can take advantage of it. In flying direct from NZ to NYC, Qantas follows in the footsteps of Air New Zealand, which announced its plans back in 2019 and will start the route in September 2022. Qantas will restart flying to New York via its new Sydney–Auckland–New York route from June 14, 2023. For more information or to make a booking, head to the airline's website.
Wellington's inner heart beats with an amazing cultural offering all of its own. As New Zealand's capital, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the city is all political banter and suits. However, this microcosm of creatives is actually a place where artistry, quirkiness and creative risk taking are celebrated within one of the richest arts environs in the southern hemisphere. Best of all, you can walk anywhere in the inner city in around twenty minutes, tops. On any given night, you'll find something happening, whether it's a poetry reading, a new art showing, book launch, gig or interpretive theatre piece. If you're looking for entertaining sights during the day, you'll find Wellington's cultural identity woven along its beautiful waterfront, and tucked into its streets and laneways. Depending on the time of year, one of Wellington's many epic, internationally acclaimed arts festivals and shows might be lighting up its spaces — among them the Lit Crawl, Jazz Festival, Cubadupa, World of Wearable Arts or the New Zealand Festival (held in even years). The creatives of Wellington are wild, rigorous, obscure and genius all at once. They know how to make their own fun, and then take it to the world. Step into their home. CATCH A FLICK AT THE ICONIC EMBASSY THEATRE Wellington's Embassy Theatre is a jewel in the city's film history. The old bird has perched at the end of Courtenay Place, at the base of Mt Vic since 1924. And there's no better place to view a film in the city, whether it's a blockbuster or an arthouse piece. Maintained to the grandeur of old film theatres of yesteryear, the Embassy has hosted each world premier of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. Each year, the picture palace also hosts the New Zealand International Film Festival. Before or after your film, pay a visit to the old orchestra pit, which is now home to the Shelley Indyk-designed cocktail bar, The Black Sparrow. With its cocktail menu full of litterati and film references, the bar is the perfect spot for a tipple while you wait for your film upstairs to start, or a post-picture nightcap. [caption id="attachment_636658" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Te Papa.[/caption] BROWSE THE LATEST EXHIBITION AT TE PAPA Should you run into inclement weather during your Wellington stay, look to Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand. An excellent spot to sink a few hours, its floors of world-standard exhibitions and history are truly fascinating. Learn a bit about New Zealand itself in the permanent exhibitions, and venture to Nga Toi on level five for a revolving glimpse into Te Papa's extensive art collections — you could see anything from an early Picasso sketch to a Venice Biennale entrant. When it comes to exhibitions, the large spaces in the museum have hosted everything from gargantuan bugs to Monets and Warhols, making it a true lucky dip experience. [caption id="attachment_636607" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Stars Are Underground via Flickr[/caption] SEE A GIG AT ONE OF THE CITY'S MANY MUSIC VENUES If ever there was a place where you can find consistently good acts from Wellington and beyond, it's in the underground gig venues of the city — well not really underground, they're pretty well signposted. They're the home turf of a whole heap of great local bands — Fazerdaze, Mermaidens and Flight of the Conchords, for example — and they've all started out with Friday and Saturday gigs at either Meow, San Fran or MOON. This is where set lists are refined, live performances honed and fans made, all in intimate settings, and all with beers in hand and forgiving audiences who come out looking for a musical treat. Join them in the search for sonic gold, and you'll be rewarded. [caption id="attachment_636441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Enjoy Public Art Gallery[/caption] VISIT THE CUBA ART QUARTER Wellington's Cuba Street is known far and wide for its offbeat inhabitants and kooky spirit. A street that was once considered shady in the '80s has come into its own with an eclectic blend of art, vintage and antiques. The best street style can be found here, while the block around Cuba and Ghuznee has some of the best art and dealers in the country. The iconic Peter McLeavey Gallery has been selling art from Cuba Street since 1968, and its neighbour, the kookier Enjoy Gallery, is famed for its non-commercial artist-run initiative MO (as well as its annual art sale). Hamish McKay, Bartley & Company and Suite Gallery up the street round out a robust, artful offering in the heart of the city. [caption id="attachment_636598" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tony via Flickr[/caption] TAKE A STROLL ALONG WELLINGTON WRITERS WALK Opened in 2002 during the NZ International Festival of the Arts (New Zealand Festival's previous moniker), the Wellington Writers Walk is a project of the New Zealand Society of Authors. It's a beautiful route, mapped along the waters of the Wellington Harbour, that consists of 19 text sculptures. Each work features a quotation about the city from a piece of prose or poetry, penned not only by some of the world's best writers, but by scribes who made Wellington their home at some point in their lives. Writers featured on the walk include luminaries such as Katherine Mansfield, James K. Baxter, Lauris Edmond, Fiona Kidman, Patricia Grace and Maurice Gee. Art, literature and bracing beautiful sea air — it doesn't get much more Wellington than that. You can pick up a map of the walk from the Wellington i-SITE. Maybe you've been to Auckland, maybe you've gone to the snow in Queensland, but now it's time to set your sights on Wellington. The harbourside city may be compact, but that only makes for excellent walkability from its excellent restaurants, cafes and bars to its cultural hot spots and around the great outdoors. Use our planning guide to book your trip, then sort out your Wellington hit list with our food and drink, culture and outdoor guides.
Australians under the age of 40, it's time to roll up your sleeves — because the country's slow-moving vaccine campaign is finally opening up the Pfizer jab to all Aussies between 16–39. If you're in that age group, you don't fall into the high-risk or high-priority categories outlined by the Australian Government and you'd prefer to get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, you've been spending all of this year waiting to get vaxxed; however, come Monday, August 30, it'll now be your turn. In a press conference today, Thursday, August 19, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that "the cabinet met today to affirm that we will be moving to opening up 16–39-year-olds for the balance of the program and intend that to commence on 30 August." That doesn't mean you can book just yet, though. "I want to stress, do not make a booking yet. We will advise when bookings can be made. It isn't today. We will advise when the time will come over the course of the next week," the Prime Minister continued. The Pfizer jab is the recommended COVID-19 vaccine for all Australians under the age of 60, but the country's vaccination rollout has been targeting high-priority and high-risk groups first, and then working backwards in terms of age range. In New South Wales only, folks aged 16–39 who live in Greater Sydney's 12 Local Government Areas that are currently under tighter lockdown conditions have been able to get the Pfizer vaccine since today, but that's the only part of the country that's been giving that specific jab to adults under 40 that aren't considered high-risk. So, before the month is out, around 8.6 million Australians will get their chance to receive the Pfizer shot, which will obviously give the nation's vaccination numbers a considerable boost. At the time of writing, 21.9 percent of Aussies are fully vaccinated, which includes 27.29 percent above the age of 16. And, as announced by the Prime Minister, 50 percent of Australians have now had their first dose. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been available to Australians of any age since late June, and will still be available — but, until the end of this month, Pfizer has only been open to under 40s if they're of of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; work in quarantine, border or healthcare roles; work or live in an aged care or disability facility; work in a critical and high-risk job such as defence, fire, police, emergency services and meat processing; have an underlying medical condition or significant disability; are pregnant; or participate in the NDIS, or care for someone who does. From September, there'll also be a third type of COVID-19 shot available to Aussies, with the Moderna jab just getting local approval this month. If you're eager to look for vaccination clinics — to plan ahead for when you can get vaxxed — you can check out a handy online map that collates vaccination hub, clinic and GP locations. It covers all Australian states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Australia's Pfizer vaccination rollout will open to all Aussies aged between 16–39 from Monday, August 30. For further information, head to the Australian Government Department of Health website.
2022 was a huge year for Milly Alcock, with House of the Dragon bringing her into the Game of Thrones realm and Australian series Upright returning for its second season. Just a month into 2024, this year is already proving massive for the Aussie actor as well. After stepping into Rhaenyra Targaryen's shoes, Alcock is now becoming the Woman of Steel in upcoming DC Universe film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Filmmaker James Gunn, who is DC Studios' co-CEO and co-chairman — and, before getting those roles, directed The Suicide Squad — has confirmed that the Aussie talent is taking on the lead part in the upcoming flick. "Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I'm incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU. Yes, I first became aware of her in House of the Dragon, but I was blown away by her varied auditions and screen tests for Supergirl," Gunn posted on social media after reports of Alcock's casting started circulating. View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn) If you're looking for more details about Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, however, little else has been revealed as yet — including who else is starring, the filmmaker behind the lens and when the movie will arrive. Under Gunn and fellow co-head honcho Peter Safran (who was a producer on The Suicide Squad), all things DC on-screen are currently undergoing a shakeup. The DC Extended Universe is over, wrapping up with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with the new DCU taking the company's movies in a fresh direction instead. In 2025, the Gunn-helmed Superman: Legacy will kick off the reborn franchise, starring Pearl's David Corenswet as the eponymous figure and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. After that will come The Authority, focusing on a team of WildStorm characters; The Brave and the Bold, the DCU's first Batman and Robin flick; Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, as now starring Alcock; and Swamp Thing. Alongside House of the Dragon and her AACTA-nominated performance in Upright, Alcock's resume includes Australian shows such as Wonderland, Janet King, A Place to Call Home, Pine Gap, Fighting Season and Les Norton. As Kara Zor-El in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, she'll take on a figure also played by Helen Slater (Chantilly Bridge) in 1984's Supergirl film, Sasha Calle (The Young and the Restless) in 2023's The Flash, Laura Vandervoort (Sullivan's Crossing) in TV's Smallville and Melissa Benoist (Clerks III) in the Supergirl television series. There's no sneak peek at Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow yet, obviously, but you can check out the trailers for House of the Dragon season one and Upright season two below: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our interview with Milly Alcock about House of the Dragon and Upright. House of the Dragon images: HBO.
Fancy rolling through the festive season without a care in the world — on eight wheels? You can do just that in Carlton's Argyle Square this month thanks to the Melbourne Christmas Festival's new pop-up Christmas Roller Rink. Yep, from Friday, December 16–Saturday, December 24, the precinct is being reimagined as an openair roller-skating arena, complete with giant neon decorations, a towering Christmas tree and plenty of room to show off your wheely good moves. Open daily from 11am until 9 or 10pm, the rink is free to ride, with skate hire available for $5 and bookings made online. There'll be classic tunes to soundtrack your spin, while local DJs like OMG Becky, Sophie Joy and Pixelton are set to grace the decks across the weekend of December 16–18. Meanwhile, the adjoining Piazza Italia is a primo spot for a post-spin picnic — especially since Carlton Inc will be running giveaways and handing out free Italian eats here right throughout the festive season.
Brisbanites, you now have plans for 2032. Australians who reside elsewhere, you're going to want to make a trip to the Sunshine State that year, too. After first being named the preferred location back in February, and then earning the International Olympic Committee Executive Board's endorsement in June, Brisbane has just received the official tick of approval — and has been announced as the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Today, Wednesday, July 21, the full International Olympic Committee voted to choose the 2032 host, with Brissie emerging victorious. Given how the past few months have panned out, this result was expected; however, that doesn't make it any less exciting. The 2032 games will take place between July 23–August 8, 2032 at a range of venues not just in Brisbane itself, but around southeast Queensland. Brissie's bid included clusters of venues in the city, on the Gold Coast and on the Sunshine Coast. As revealed in April, the Gabba will also undergo a huge revamp in preparation for the games, which'll basically involve tearing the stadium down and rebuilding it again. https://twitter.com/iocmedia/status/1417763724291497989 It has been a big year for Brisbane, sports-wise, with the city making history last October by becoming the only place outside of Melbourne to ever host an AFL Grand Final. It's been a big few years for southeast Queensland, actually, given that the Gold Coast hosted the Commonwealth Games back in 2018. The 2032 games will be the first held in Oceania since 2000 — when Sydney did the honours, as every Australian remembers. It'll also mark just a 32-year gap between Australia's most recent hosting slots. The Olympics were first held on our shores back in 1956, in Melbourne. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1417764096678653952 Brisbanites can expect fireworks lighting up the sky tonight in celebration, as the Premier revealed in the lead up to the announcement. They're being set off from river barges and CBD buildings, and Brisbane's buildings, bridges and City Hall are also being lit up in green and gold hues as well. The news comes as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — delayed from last year due to the pandemic — kick off this week, running through until Sunday, August 8. Paris is on hosting duties in 2024, while Los Angeles will take the torch in 2028. Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics from July 23–August 8, 2032. For further information, head to the Games' website. Top image: IOC/Christophe Moratal.
It's close to breaking point. Just when you thought Fitzroy couldn't handle one more cafe, the bustling brunch capital welcomes Archie's All Day. It takes a pretty strong team to compete with the excellent cafes already dotted along Gertrude Street, and owner Anthony Brem has his formula down — he's previously opened Bluebird Espresso, just a quick bike ride down the road in Collingwood. It's with this confidence and pedigree that Archie's All Day looks set to make its mark in Fitzroy. Reinventing the space previously occupied by Southpaw, the fit-out is bright and welcoming, with a few splashes of colour and some cute small touches — like tulips in glass bottles. A backyard courtyard and street dining is available for warm days, or you can hide away from Melbourne's notoriously wet winter months inside, listening to vinyl. Coffee is by local roasters Proud Mary, and pumped out of a seriously huge Synesso Sabre machine. Archie's Ale is available on tap and a neat selection of craft beers are available for those people looking to relax into their day or night. Remember, this place isn't just a daytime venue — it's all day. And as the name suggests, food is available all hours of the day too — though it's the brunch menu that we are most excited about. Consider munching into some pumpkin puree, poached eggs, dukkah, Meredith goats feta and crispy polenta ($17), or the zataar eggs with chickpea chips, roasted eggplant, pomegranate, sumac yoghurt and mint ($17). The Huevos Sucio (dirty eggs) have been turning heads as a new hangover cure, with tater tots, jalapeno Monterrey Jack, avocado and tomato salsa, black beans, fried eggs and chipotle mayo ($17.50). This is brunch that goes beyond the standard offerings. Burgers are available from 7.30am until 10pm. Along with chicken, lamb, prawn and vegetarian burgers is the Juicy Lucy: a wagyu patty stuffed with jalapeno spiked cheese, mustard and pickles ($18). No matter what you're after, Archie's has you covered all day — from that first morning flat white to a nice red wine and cheese platter late at night.
If your spring routine usually involves bar-hopping around Brisbane — and around Fortitude Valley in particular — while listening to up-and-coming musicians, then you must already a devotee of BIGSOUND. The music-fuelled celebration takes over the Queensland capital every September or October, albeit virtually in 2020. And this year, it's back as a physical festival. Between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9, Brissie will once again become Australia's live music hotspot — even if a Melbourne survey generally claims otherwise. When BIGSOUND hits the city in its in-person format, it typically seems like every venue in Fortitude Valley is filled with bands, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. Expect 2021's iteration to be no different. The three-day program will include conferences, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties, with around 150 musicians taking to the stage and showing the industry why they should be pointing their ears their way. While specific lineup details won't be revealed until closer to the event, attendees can look forward to an Indigenous showcase and a women in music event on BIGSOUND 2021's opening night. Also on the bill: tunes galore, as well as talks about everything from changing industry and audience dynamics and the post-COVID world to inclusivity and gender equality. Announcing the event's return for 2021, QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND Executive Producer Angela Samut said that this year's program will "provide the chance for us to collectively grieve the losses the industry has faced over the past year, and celebrate the treasure trove of Australasian talent that has been incubating throughout this time." She continued: "our commitment to rebuilding a stronger, safer, more inclusive industry as we emerge from COVID has never been greater, and BIGSOUND is once again stepping up to the plate as the place where people come to discover the future of music and to be part of the future of music." [caption id="attachment_809942" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kymie at BIGSOUND 2019, by Lachlan Douglas[/caption] Past BIGSOUNDs have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, so its program is usually a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming talent. If you're keen to attend the BIGSOUND conference within the broader program — and hear its talks and speeches — it'll run on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9. And if you're an artist looking to take part in the event in general, applications are now open until May 28. BIGSOUND 2021 will take place between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information — or to apply to take part if you're an artist — visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: David Byrne.
According to Dean Sewell — Moran Prize winning photographer and part of the Oculi collective — there was this duffel bag. Inside it was a banner a hundred foot long, decorated with two words. This was on the maiden voyage of the Sydney to Hobart ship, the Spirit of Tasmania. There was strict security. Four passengers waited to get on as that security looked at the huge lump of canvas inside their bag. It was a spinnaker for a yacht, claimed the four men, and time consuming to fold back up. The security guards considered if it was worth unrolling for a closer look, squeezed it a little, and let it through. As the ship pulled out, most passengers and security wandered upstairs. Amid empty decks, the four men clipped themselves onto the boat, jumped over the side and unfurled their banner. The four had spent months preparing for the stunt, doing photo recon on the boat and practicing abseils down the side of a car-park at the University of New South Wales. They had even made sure the banner's font matched the writing on the side of the ship. And as they unrolled the result, Dean Sewell was across the harbour on a water taxi taking photos for the Sydney Morning Herald. He had been covering these men, part of the activist group the Lonely Station, since the previous year. A highly-skilled successor to BUGAUP, the group would meticulously rework ads into satire, leaving a much more political message in their place. As time went on Sewell became involved in the group's actions, and his photos form the basis of a new exhibition at the Museum of Sydney, Culture Jammers. Dean recently sat down with Concrete Playground to talk about the Lonely Station, photography and the usefulness of good rope skills. What happened after the banner dropped? They ripped the four Lonely Station guys off the boat. A police launch met up with the pilot launch, took 'em back and processed them. They wore a $6,000 fine for it. Who were they? The Lonely Station was a pretty loose collective of artists, environmental activists and legal minds, about 2004 to 2007. I think it was really born out of the environmental movement. A couple of them were arborists, highly skilled abseilers. So that allowed them to pull off all these actions. You can search globally for culture jamming, you'll be hard pressed to find anything the size of the works these guys were doing: they were hanging off building tops, off boats, all sorts of things. I think they were just looking at giving people a moment of pause. Being that circuit breaker. The spin cycle was in overdrive and they just really wanted to stop it, if only just for a moment in time, to let people recalibrate. Did you have a go at it? I did partake in some things. I think there were times when I was behind the camera, and other times I was taking an active role in producing work. What sort of things were done? One my favourites was a Vodafone billboard at Kingsford Smith Airport. They used that now infamous image from Abu Graib. They climbed up in early hours of morning, abseiled off, put it on, even had ropes dangling off the fingers. It looked very authentic. There was a sub quote under the main slogan, How are you? Underneath that they wrote "Liberated!" They got to hammer the telco company, and at the same time send a message straight to Canberra. It was on the evening news on Channel Ten. Vodafone got hauled over the coals. Vodafone had pulled a stunt, maybe twelve months earlier, where they'd had a guy arrange secretly to run onto a football match naked in New Zealand. It was great. So, the question put to them was "Is this a stunt you guys did? Because if so, it's in really poor taste." You've said that, as a photographer you look for 'the extraordinary in the ordinary.' For me that's the challenge in photography. Exacting something special out of the mundane, ordinary situations. A lot of people think that photographers chase around incredible things. We do sometimes, fantastic and incredible situations. But also it's the ordinary that attracts us. So becoming a full time paparazzo doesn't appeal? The interesting people are real people. The people living out in the middle of nowhere. Living quite humble lives, just in suburbia. Mostly no-one ever hears of these people. You go sit in a pub in outback Queensland or go up to the Corner Country. That's where you find really interesting people. They're normally not in front of you walking a red carpet. One of the images I got, I was just coming back from Cockatoo Island with my friends. We went to the Biennale on Cockatoo Island. And I took a picture on a the ferry. I won the Moran photographic prize with that. You'll see a lot of photographers take flight, chasing this and that. "Oh, it's too boring here, nothing happens here." And they want excitement or thrills or something. I just think I have a certain level of responsibility to document the issues here. You got these interesting, cosmopolitan suburbs of bustling, thriving places. They've got character. You know, you go to Auburn: where all these enclaves of culture exist. And for me, the most interesting cultural scene here is the Inner West, Marrickville, those areas. All the artists collectives. Underground stuff. It's thriving. Leading image of Dean Sewell (c) Tamara Dean. Images Spirit of Tasmania and Helping You Communicate Better (c) Dean Sewell.
Despite the challenges of the past couple of years, the Sapphire Coast continues to be a much-loved holiday destination thanks to its stunning coastline, beautiful national parks and friendly locals. There's also a booming arts and culture scene in the region for you to explore if you time your trip right. To help you decide when to explore this picturesque part of the world, we've picked eight cultural highlights happening in the region that will give you plenty of reasons to plan a trip sooner rather than later. WANDERER FESTIVAL For an event in its first year, Wanderer Festival has one hell of a lineup. From international acts like Curtis Harding and The Dandy Warhols to breakout Aussie stars like Confidence Man and Jack River, the festival features a diverse group of artists. It's not all about the music, though. This multi-day event will also feature comedy, cabaret and circus alongside delicious local artisan produce at its idyllic location. There's also a strong focus on sustainability, with festival organisers implementing a 'leave no trace' policy to ensure there's minimal impact on the natural environment. Keen to head along? It's all happening from Friday, September 23 till Sunday, September 25. [caption id="attachment_861448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Rogers Photography courtesy of Sapphire Coast Destination Marketing[/caption] GIIYONG FESTIVAL Meaning 'come to welcome' in the local First Nations language, Giiyong is a festival that showcases and celebrates First Nations culture across music, dance, comedy, film, workshops and the spoken word each April. Since its inception in 2018, the festival has evolved into a Regional Tourism Award-winning event that hosts nationally renowned names such as Briggs and Baker Boy while continuing its community links. There aren't many arts festivals that include a local primary school dance group on its lineup, but it's performances like this that make Giiyong the memorable festival that it is. FAR SOUTH FILM FESTIVAL The Far South Film Festival shines a light on regional and remote filmmakers from across Australia. For this year's iteration, the festival is taking a hybrid approach, meaning films can be viewed online or in the theatres in Merimbula from August 19–31. From music videos to short films and feature-length productions, the program's highlights include a recording of a dance performance billed as "a pirouette through the turbulence of life," a spoken-word examination of female familial relationships, and a documentary about the Snowy Hydro scheme. MERIMBULA FESTIVAL AND YARN BOMBING Yes, it does look like we're recommending two completely unconnected events under one heading here. However, that's most certainly not the case. Merimbula Festival and Yarn Bombing is one of the most unusual but original attractions on the Sapphire Coast. The two-week event will take place from Saturday, August 20–Sunday, September 4. Organised by the Merimbula Historical Society, the festival begins with a day of food, stalls and displays in the local museum. Then, over the following fortnight, the museum grounds and surrounding areas will be adorned by a host of crocheted, knitted and woven art. Everyone is encouraged to add a little colour to the area to help wrap the town in wool for winter. [caption id="attachment_861449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Marden courtesy of Sapphire Coast Destination Marketing[/caption] COBARGO FOLK FESTIVAL Having celebrated its 25th event earlier this year, the Cobargo Folk Festival is a long-established name on the folk and roots festival calendar. The event has been organised by the local Yuin Folk Club since 1996 and is staffed entirely by volunteers. In fact, any money the festival does make goes straight back into the local community. Folk musicians are known to break out into song at any opportunity, so you're just as likely to see a top-quality set in the middle of the campground as you are on one of the main stages. You've got a bit time to get organised for this must-do event — next festival is scheduled to take place from Friday, March 3 till Sunday, March 5, 2023. ART MONTH SAPPHIRE COAST This Sapphire Coast celebration kicks off with an art fair at the NIMO Motel on Friday, July 29, showcasing works from the best and brightest local artists. Following this, an entire month of events exploring visual art, dance, theatre and music at various venues across the region will take place. There are also partnerships with local eateries and accommodation providers, with the whole month geared towards helping visitors make the most of what the Sapphire Coast has to offer. Want to check it out? Book in a trip to the Sapphire Coast from Friday, July 29 till Wednesday, August 31 to see it for yourself. [caption id="attachment_861447" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sapphire Coast Destination Marketing[/caption] SCULPTURE BERMAGUI Sculpture is one art form that really encourages us to consider our surroundings. And when those surroundings are the picturesque landscapes of Sapphire Coast, it's nothing but a treat. If you're a fan of Sydney's Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture Bermagui will be a welcome addition to your Sapphire Coast holiday itinerary. Browsing the gallery of previous years' festivals shows a gorgeous landscape augmented by stunningly crafted artworks. You've got a bit of time to sort out your schedule to attend the event, the next one kicks off in March 2023. MERIMBULA JAZZ FESTIVAL Since 1981, the Merimbula Jazz Festival has been delighting jazz aficionados from the local region and beyond thanks to its roster of talented artists and its fiercely independent ethos. From the very beginning, the volunteer-run festival has prided itself on providing equal opportunity for jazz musicians and steering clear of paid advertising. Alongside the incredible independent music events at the festival, you can expect market stalls and a lakeside lantern walk and more. Want to head along? It takes place on the Queen's birthday long weekend each June, so you've got ample time to get prepped for next year's event. Keen to take a break on the Sapphire Coast? Want to pair it with Wanderer Festival? To peep the full lineup and book tickets, visit the website.
Every evening between now and October 2, Alice Springs will be the brightest place in Australia. Lights will illuminate a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the nearby MacDonnell Ranges, and luminous artwork will be projected onto the city's desert sands — and yes, that's just the beginning of the region's glowing wonders. Both form part of Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, which holds the honour of being the nation's first Indigenous festival of its kind. Showcasing contemporary and traditional Indigenous art, culture and stories using light and sound, it's also Australia's biggest-ever light installation. It is created by the Northern Territory Government and local artists in collaboration with AGB Events (aka the folks that light up Sydney each year for Vivid), after all. Visitors won't just celebrate Aboriginal culture by basking in the glory of a glimmering 300-million-year-old land mass — they'll also play a part in choosing just how the Ranges come to glowing life. An interactive component, called Range of Expression, allows festival-goers to pick their favourite colours and then see them projected onto the vast landscape. Looking down rather than up, Grounded immerses attendees in a sequence of artworks symbolising the return of Indigenous art to the country. The festival also features three light-filled caterpillar installations that tell the Yeperenye Dreamtime story, as well as five illuminated '50s-style skirts covered in watercolour landscape paintings by Alice Springs artists, including Albert Namatjira's granddaughter Lenie Namatjira. And while Parrtjima only brightens up the outback for ten nights, it's hoped that it'll become an annual drawcard. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until October 2 in the Alice Springs Desert Park, Norther Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
Exceptions exist, but Adelaide sadly remains something of a flyover city when it comes to touring artists. Yet things are looking up for a summer of Australian live music, as brand-new festival — A Day in the Gully — has revealed a stellar debut lineup. Taking over Civic Park in Modbury on Saturday, February 28, 2026, expect the good vibes to flow freely, whether you're getting up to groove or hanging with mates in the grass. Open to all ages, this one-day festival features chart-topping Aussie touring artists and emerging indie bands. Drawing thousands to the sprawling green space, much-loved headliners like Chet Faker, Ball Park Music, The Living End, Pete Murray and Mallrat bring serious credentials to the stage, having sold millions of records and toured the globe. "This new music festival is all about bringing people together. It will be a great chance to celebrate Australian live music and have some fun — right in our own backyard. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at Civic Park having an amazing time", says City of Tea Tree Gully Mayor Marijka Ryan. For those who love to get the inside word on the next big thing before they blow up, A Day in the Gully is inviting these acts too, with fast-rising bands like Teenage Joans and The Tullamarines delivering boundless live energy. Meanwhile, the festival is heightening the community spirit beneath the gum trees by making sure some of the region's food and wine purveyors get a spot to showcase their wares. Best of all, locals get a special treat, with City of Tea Tree Gully residents welcome to access an exclusive pre-sale, offering tickets at a $50 discount. For everyone else, first release tickets go on sale at 7am on Monday, November 17. "Our vision is to create an unforgettable experience that showcases amazing Australian artists, local food and wine, and the relaxed, welcoming vibe that makes this region so special", says Danielle Jones, Managing Director and Co-Owner of SRO Events. A Day in the Gully is happening on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Civic Park, Modbury. Head to the website for tickets and more information.
Vegans tired of being excluded from affordable mainstream menus or, at best, treated as an after-thought, got some cheerful news earlier this month when Domino's Pizza announced it would trial vegan cheese on its pizzas. If you were one of those people that rushed out to order some cheap vegan pizza, we have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that, due to such a huge response, Domino's is quickly running out of the plant-based mozzarella. But the good news is very good: when it's back in stock, it will be on the menu forever more. With the cheese on the menu permanently, you'll be able to turn any pizza on the menu into an animal-free one by asking for vegan mozzarella and parting with an extra $2.95 (which is quite reasonable, really). At the moment Domino's has three all-vegan pizzas on the menu: the vegan avocado veg, the vegan spicy trio and the vegan margherita. "We knew the response was going to be big after the demand we saw for the product on social media but we had no idea it was going to be this big," said Nick Knight, CEO of Domino's Australia and New Zealand. "We're excited that customers love this product as much as we do and that we have been able to source a cheese alternative that vegan customers have given their tick of approval on." The decision to introduce vegan cheese came about as a result of a survey that Domino's conducted via its Facebook page in late 2017. Domino's created the cheese — which is also free of gluten, soy and cholesterol — in its LuvLab, aiming to mimic the taste, texture and melting power of dairy-based cheese. Obviously our fair city has plenty of pizza options that we'd recommend over Domino's, but, nonetheless, a cheap vegan pizza option is a huge win (and convenience) for those who eat a vegan diet. If you're planning on ordering a pizza this week, best to check if your local joint has any vegan cheese left before you get too excited. But, according to Domino's, when it comes back in stock, it'll be on the menu permanently.
With every year that passes Melbourne gains more history — and with every renovation, new stories. But it's not often you dig up the kind of gold that was discovered when putting together the CBD's new bar, House of Correction. At 264 Swanston Street, lie allusions to a colourful past — as a medical supply store in the early 1900s, a manufacturer of death masks for the Old Melbourne Gaol and, most recently, the home of Australia's longest-running porn cinema, Shaft Cinemas. The renovators even found pornographic silhouettes beneath the layers of paint downstairs. But while the raciest finds have been re-hidden for future tenants to discover, interior architects ZWEI have used others — like the heritage ceiling and concrete slab floor — as the highlights of a very unique space. Headed up by bartender David Smillie (ex-Eau de Vie Sydney), the 52-seater will be throwing down a monthly rotating cocktail selection, which is built around simplicity, top-notch ingredients and classic styling. Expect plenty of clever extras, too, with house-made shrubs, vinegars, and fermentations popping up throughout. Rounding out the offering is a hefty back bar, solid craft beer lineup. And though the building's history might be a bit sketchy, its future is looking anything but. House of Correction will be a sister bar to rooftop venue Goldilocks and Mr Kwok downstairs, which has just opened in replacement of Noodle Kingdom. Sad news for fans of the old venue, but this new noodle house is helmed by the old chef's daughter — and food can be ordered up until last drinks at 3am each night of the week.
All across Australia, accommodation is popping up in unlikely places. There's the glamping set-up on top of a Melbourne CBD shopping complex, and — for the more low-brow traveller — a tent pitched on some dude's balcony for $90 a week. And now, in a more architecturally-sound and downright genius move, the Doma Group have erected their newest hotel on top of a four-level carpark. The site, which is located in the Parliament House suburb of Barton, was designed to accommodate 489 car parks for Canberra commuters. But rather than just being a place to house cars, Doma thought it would be an ideal spot to house humans as well. Working with Redgen Mathieson Architects, they've made clever use of the space and created 120 rooms over the fifth and sixth levels of the structure. There are also two very slick common areas, which have great views over Parliament House and Canberra, and might just be an ideal spot to run into a pollie or two. The hotel is another addition to Canberra's boutique accommodation selection, which includes the East Hotel and the much-lauded HotelHotel. Rooms start from $119 a night — and yes, fluffy robes are included. Little National Hotel is located at 21 National Circuit, Barton, Canberra. Find out more here.
It only takes one run for an event to establish itself as a much-loved addition to its city. The River Pride Parade achieved that feat in 2024. Last year, for the first time ever, boats went floating through Brisbane to give the Queensland capital a LGBTQIA+ celebration cruising down the city's main waterway. Held as part of Melt Festival, the flotilla's debut was such a success that the event is also locked in for a 2025 return. Sydney has the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which takes over Oxford Street for a night of celebration. Melbourne has the Midsumma Pride March, its equivalent in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Brisbane's show of pride is the only one that requires a watercraft, but that fits the River City. In 2025, River Pride Parade will help close out Melt on Saturday, November 8. This time, colourful, sparkles-adorned and flag-waving vessels will venture from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse, again embracing everything that a pride parade should be — just on the water. More than 50 boats and other watercraft are expected to take part, accompanied by daytime fireworks and a mood-setting playlist. You can register now to hit the river, or you can mark your calendar and make plans to score a prime viewing spot at South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane Powerhouse and New Farm Park. 2025's Melt Festival runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. So far, River Pride Parade isn't the only event on the lineup, after Brisbane Powerhouse announced that Broadway icon Bernadette Peters is coming to the fest for an Australian-exclusive show. "River Pride Parade is fast becoming a cornerstone event of Melt Festival — a much-loved community celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility and unity that floats through the heart of our city. After making waves in 2024, this year's parade will be bigger and bolder, with some fun surprises along the way," said Emmie Paranthoiene, Melt's Executive Producer. "We're thrilled to open Melt Festival with Broadway royalty Bernadette Peters and close it with a river-wide celebration of pride. It's the perfect way to bookend three extraordinary weeks of queer art and culture." Melt returns in 2025 after being reborn in 2024 as a fringe-style celebration of queer arts and culture that not only fills Brisbane Powerhouse, but spreads across the city — and onto the river, clearly. Last year, more than 120 events popped up in 70-plus venues across southeast Queensland, complete with a Wicked-themed Halloween ball, a pool party and plenty more. Melt Open 2024 will run from Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10, with the River Pride Parade taking place on Saturday, November 9. Head to the festival website for additional information, and to register for the parade. Melt Festival 2025 runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. Hit up the festival website for more details. Images: Markus Ravik.
"What do you say, Rick — we fly through space, come upon something, maybe I have a moral objection?" That's the second half of Rick and Morty's central pair in the just-dropped trailer for the show's seventh season, and he couldn't sum up the animated sci-fi comedy's premise better. As this sneak peek shows, that's exactly what's set to happen when the series returns in October. Get ready for more interdimensional chaos — and plenty of it. Also part of the trailer: Rick as a leg, Rick finding the version of himself that killed his wife, snowy climes, holograms, shooting the undead, trying to find someone that's sober, robot ghosts, collapsed societies, Rick's famous spaghetti and quiet apologies. Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) needs help with "a bit of a rake situation", too — and portals feature heavily. So, Rick and Morty looks set to get schwifty as it always has when it returns on Sunday, October 15 in America, which is Monday, October 16 Down Under — where it streams via Netflix. There is one big change, however, as fans can hear in the first footage from the new season: new voices. If you've been wondering how the show's titular chaotic scientist and his grandson will sound in the new episodes, here's the answer: much the same as before. But different talents are doing the speaking, after Adult Swim dropped Justin Roiland due to domestic violence charges earlier in 2023. While you can hear Rick and Morty's new stars in this, exactly who they are won't be revealed until the series' first season seven episode drops. Of course, anything can happen in Rick and Morty, with a change of vocal tones for Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith one of the least out-there developments within the show's narrative. As the trailer makes plain, audiences can still expect the show's eponymous pair to keep wreaking havoc, and the series to keep zipping between as many universes as it can. And, for Rick and Morty's hijinks to still draw in Morty's father Jerry, mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story) across season seven's ten-episode run. Check out the trailer for Rick and Morty's seventh season yet below: Rick and Morty's seventh season will premiere globally on Monday, October 16 Down Under — streaming via Netflix in Australia and New Zealand.
Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, and tastebuds across Australia thanked them. Then, it kept bringing the OTT dessert back when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness across the year. Those cravings haven't subsided, especially as lockdowns have kept popping up, so the dessert fiends have been serving up its special creations for well over a year now. Messina celebrated that 12-month milestone back in April; however, it isn't done with cookie pies yet. Here's hoping that it never will be, because the dessert chain just keeps finding ways to level up these mouthwatering creations. The latest example: the cone-ception cookie pie. If you like cookie pies and you like the waffle cones that Messina's gelato usually comes scooped in, you're in luck. This new limited-edition — and characteristically OTT — dessert combines milk and dark choc chips, caramel custard and waffle cone spread all in one bake-at-home cookie pie. Hang on, a cookie pie? If you're not familiar with the concept yet, it's a pie — obviously — but it's made of cookie dough. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. This time, you'll enjoy the scent of ice cream cones as well. What's waffle cone spread? It's what Messina makes when it blends a heap of waffle cones into a smooth paste. That's what's stuffed inside the cone-ception cookie pie, and a crumble made of waffle cones is also sprinkled on top. The new pies will be available for preorder on Monday, August 9, so that's your chance to get yourself a piece of the pie. This time, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is staggering the on-sale times — with folks in Queensland and the ACT able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 10am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 11am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 12pm; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 1pm). You can only buy this pie in kits, which means that you'll get some of the cult ice creamery's famed gelato along with it. You can opt for a 500-millilitre tub for $38, a one-litre tub for $44 or a 1.5-litre tub for $48. The catch? You'll have to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to pick up your order. They'll be available for collection between Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your pie — with a ten-kilometre limit in place for picking up food in most lockdown areas, and a five-kilometre limit in place in Local Government Areas of concern. Folks in southeast Queensland, if lockdown is extended until then, you'll also only be permitted to travel within a ten-kilometre radius to pick up food. You can preorder a Messina cone-ception cookie pie from Monday, August 9, to pick up from Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Chris Sörman has a pretty enviable lifestyle. As a pro snowboarder and member of the Beautifully Swedish Collective, he travels the world's most dreamy alpine regions and makes them his playground. Here he lets us in on what it's like to live in a permanent winter wonderland and why he never gets tired of going home to Sweden. How did you get into snowboarding? I was, as a kid, into all kinds of sports. Skateboarding was my main thing and I was living the lifestyle with baggy pants and dreadlocks listening to Wutang. When I was eight snowboarding came into my life and I fell in love from the first moment. I decided shortly after that to become a professional in that area. It's worked out pretty good so far. What is the greatest thing about snowboarding for a living? To be able to wake up every single day and do what you like the most in life with your best friend. I wish that for every single person on this earth. Who or what inspires you? A bunch of people have been a big inspiration to me during my ten years as a professional, people both inside and outside of the snowboarding industry. They could be very good snowboarders or just a random person with a good way of looking at life. I am always trying to capture the best of people into myself to create the best possible me. What do you like to get up to most when there's no snow around? I like to do a lot of different things. I am actually a bit of a 'workaholic'. I always have my hands full with different business ideas and projects. I love the feeling of being busy! You've also had a huge hand in a number of Pirate Movie Production films. How did you get into that and how big a role do you play behind the camera versus in front of the camera? Definitely had a bigger role in front of the camera. I mean, I am a snowboarder, not a director. But I definitely always have my input when it comes to angles and stuff like that. But it's not up to me to make that final call. In the end my mission is to always deliver high-class riding. I have spent many seasons filming with Pirate Movie Productions. They are now the biggest snowboard movie company in Europe, so it's pretty cool to have been part of it pretty much since day one. Why do you think snowboarding and film go so well together? I just think people enjoy watching it. I mean it looks like a lot of fun, right? Sometimes it's crazy and people like to watch things that are a bit crazy. The sun is shining, snow is flying and we are doing big jumps — what's not to like. You seem to have boarded in some pretty amazing places. Where is your favourite place to hit the slopes or film and why? I always get this question, and it's always the same answer. Where my friends are, that's where I have the most fun riding. Doesn't matter if it's on the big mountains of Austria, a small hill in Sweden or somewhere in Japan. It's not about the surroundings; it's about the people you're with. Is the travel and the lifestyle of a professional snowboarder such as yourself as amazing as it seems? Most of the time I really enjoy it, but for sure it has its bad sides as well, like anything in life — being away from family, travelling alone, no time for relationships and your sleep and health can really be affected when you're travelling, you have no structure in your life. Everybody has a favourite travel memory that will live with them forever. What's yours? So many! But when I won the Burton European Open back in 2005, that is my biggest and best memory from my career. You get to travel a lot but your home country of Sweden is pretty beautiful. What are your favourite things about her? I will never move from Sweden. I don't really know why? I have been to many countries all over the world in my life and they all have their specialties. Away is good, but home is always the best! Sweden is my home. You know what I'm saying.
Solar power? Wind power? Sure. But pee power? Human urine serves as an energy source for Melbourne's pop-up Greenhouse restaurant. Open March 2 through to the 21st as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Greenhouse is the brainchild of Joost Bakker, a designer who has proven that an entirely waste-free restaurant is indeed possible, and is making its debut in Melbourne after appearing in Sydney last year. The restaurant contains custom-built lavatory facilities designed to collect patrons' urine. The urine is then diluted and used as canola and soybean plant fertilizer. Nontraditional and maybe a little off-putting to some, pee collection is a surprisingly effective plant fertilising method. According to Bakker, “Urine is incredible for nitrogen, it’s so valuable — you only need the urine of 25 people to provide fertiliser for a hectare of crop.” Greenhouse boasts other eco-friendly features as well. The building is constructed out of a light gauge steel frame and ECO-ply plywood walls. Held together by glue made entirely of soybeans, the whole structure is 100% recyclable. The restaurant runs on energy generated and fuelled by pure canola oil, and is insulated by locally sourced straw bales, an agricultural by-product. [via Gristlist]
Radiohead's headline performance at Coachella last night had fans at the Indio, California festival completely entranced. The world's greatest band played some of their classics along with songs from their two latest albums, The King of Limbs and In Rainbows. A ponytailed Thom Yorke was in fine form, getting the set underway with 'Bloom'. The 43-year old lead singer told the audience "You know those people who are only talking to you because they want something from you? You need to take a cold shower afterwards", then launched into an incredible rendition of 1997's 'Karma Police'. Luckily for music fans around the world, the Coachella YouTube channel has been live streaming three festival stages simultaneously, and Radiohead's full performance is now available to watch online at your leisure. You can also see the full set list at At Ease. [via Pitchfork]
This story is the ultimate example of why hoarding is not necessarily a bad thing. Brooklyn-based artist Mac Premo was recently forced to downsize his apartment, and consequently had to throw out many of his belongings. Not wanting to just get rid of everything the normal way by making a trip to a particularly large dumpster, Premo decided to use the aforementioned dumpster as a canvas and turn it into a travelling exhibition. This he named The Dumpster Project, which has become the newest addition to Brooklyn's Dekalb Market, an esoteric collection of artists, chefs and farmers who've set up shop in a collection of salvaged shipping containers. The interior of a 30-cubic yard dumpster has been converted into a shrine to the detritus of his past, and is now open for public perusal. Items on display include a primary school math test with such killer questions as '11+1 = ?' (it's 12, guys), the shoes his eldest daughter first walked in, three waving Mao watches, one lonely floppy disk, somebody else's wisdom teeth, a flyer for a Broadway strip club, and an emotionally significant empty bag of chips - from the night he first professed his love for his wife. In the ultimate act of not being able to let go, he is also photographing the 500 objects included in the dumpster collection and composing a short history of each on The Dumpster Project site. If you have a smart phone you can then access the assorted eulogies while you're walking around the space to get a bit of nostalgic context. Alternatively, if you, like me, are not in New York, you can check out Premo's genuinely fascinating blog of the project. [Via PSFK]
If you're a fan of Ted Lasso, The Afterparty, Bad Sisters, Slow Horses, Hijack or Lessons in Chemistry, then you'll be more than accustomed to getting your streaming fix from Apple TV+. Across the first half of 2024, the platform has a heap more new shows vying for your eyeballs, plus a few returning series. And as Netflix just recently did, it has announced all the details, as well as a sneak peek of what's to come. To get your must-watch small-screen list started, new shows starring Ben Mendelsohn, Jonathan Banks, Noel Fielding, Kristen Wiig, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton and Jake Gyllenhaal are all on their way. Mendelsohn (Secret Invasion) will be gracing your television first, playing Christian Dior opposite Juliette Binoche (Both Sides of the Blade) as Coco Chanel in ten-part drama The New Look, which arrives from Wednesday, February 14. Also among the cast: Maisie Williams (Pistol), John Malkovich (Billions), Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love), Claes Bang (Bad Sisters) and Glenn Close (Tehran). Noomi Rapace (You Won't Be Alone) and Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul great Banks star in Constellation, which also drops from February, about astronauts grappling with the reality of returning home. As for The Mighty Boosh's Fielding, he leads comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, which has more than a bit of Our Flag Means Death about it. The series riffs on a real-life figure, a British highwayman, with Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey: A New Era) playing the lawman on his trail. March will bring the Tobias Menzies (You Hurt My Feelings)-led true-crime effort Manhunt, about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following Abraham Lincoln's assassination — and also Palm Royale, with Wiig (MacGruber) playing a woman trying to find a way into Palm Beach high society, and Laura Dern (The Son), Allison Janney (The Creator) and singer Ricky Martin also featuring. Sugar hits in April, enlisting Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) as a private detective looking into a Hollywood case. So does Franklin, with Michael Douglas (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) as Benjamin Franklin. Then in May, page-to-screen sci-fi thriller Dark Matter features Edgerton (The Boys in the Boat) and Jennifer Connelly (Bad Behaviour), while June has Presumed Innocent with Gyllenhaal (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant) as a Chicago chief deputy prosecutor mixed up in a complicated casw. Also, sometime midyear, dramedy Land of Women boasts Eva Longoria (Tell It Like a Woman). Among the returning slate, Apple TV+ has second seasons of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Maya Rudolph (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem)-starring billionaire satire Loot and The Big Door Prize on the way as well. And, the full lineup for 2024's first half also spans four-part documentary Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend, Acapulco season three and Trying season four. Check out Apple TV+'s trailer for its slate for the first half of 2024 below: New TV shows will hit Apple TV+ throughout 2024 — head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue.
